> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.vjarmy.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # October 2026 - URL: https://www.vjarmy.com/october-2026/ - Published: 2026-11-03T19:11:41.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-03T21:12:55.000Z - Description: "This whole premise is sweaty." - Author: Dan Dickinson - Tags: Monthly Recaps If there's one moment that encapsulates how my October went, it was randomly deciding on a Saturday afternoon to take a walk around Liberty State Park. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1173.jpeg) The weather was ideal, the skies were clear, and I was already in the vicinity, so I just started to walk. Not much of a plan, or even a firm path - just finding my way forward, as best I could. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1126.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1131.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1176.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1180.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1183.jpeg) Five miles later – into the park, across the grass, up the waterfront, through the 9/11 memorial I had never gotten around to visiting, near the abandoned train terminal, past a wedding party doing photography with a heard of geese looming, along the canal – I finally made it back up into my home corner of Jersey City. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1560.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1562.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1567.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1574.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1660.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1661.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1664.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1576-1.jpeg) The month was a lot of that sort of chaotic spontaneity, tinged with a question mark. This was greatly helped by our somewhat unexpected acquisition of a car, almost a quarter century after we ditched our prior car in the move to NYC. We can go to Six Flags with friends for a weird evening of Halloween scares? Let's go! There's [a bunny café in Tom's River](https://www.bunnyhavencafe.com/?ref=vjarmy.com)? I would absolutely love to spend an afternoon feeding rescue rabbits some lettuce! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1190.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1193.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1194.jpeg) There's a 30 Rock reunion? Of course we're there! And what a special night that was – Tom Hanks randomly appearing to accept an award for Elaine Stritch, Lin-Manuel Miranda performing Werewolf Bar Mitzvah, and Conan O'Brien being the opener when he was the last person I saw on stage at Radio City Music Hall *16 years ago*. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1052.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1535.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1580.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1587.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1614.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1620.jpeg) Paleyfest is back? Let's check out two panels with people we like, even though I haven't watched either of these shows! And if I can get in the room for the Paley International Council Summit the following week, let's do that too! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1045-1.jpeg) A Fontaines D.C. listening party at a nearby record store during lunch? Perfect! Even if I got to witness a fifteen-minute fight about who got the buy the final copy of the 7". Even if standing around Rough Trade Below with everyone staring at the floor vibing to an album is extremely weird. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1637.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1643.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1651.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1678.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1680.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1048.jpeg) Ghost of Uncle Joe's, the Jersey City tradition of listening to cover bands in a graveyard? Finally checked that box off my list, even if the "Green Day" lead singer was born before Dookie came out and Bryan Adams was very aggressive with the crowd. A Halloween morning listener bake-off at WFMU for a show I've never once listened to? It's in the neighborhood! Not only are we going, we're dressing up. (Turns out having gotten a cheap fedora at the NTBTSTM screening and having a light grey suit makes for an easy Matt Johnson costume.) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1548.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1551.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1552.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1187.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1631.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1034.jpeg) Food adventures? Food adventures! - I lucked out with the long shot solo diner walk-in at [Ha's Snack Bar](https://www.instagram.com/has%5Fdac%5Fbiet/?hl=en&ref=vjarmy.com), which had been on my list for a while; still thinking about those baked oysters, skate wing, and a perfect coconut bread pudding - I finally got delivery from [Korai Kitchen](https://www.koraikitchen.com/?ref=vjarmy.com), who welcomed me to the family with hand-written notes and free eggplant mash. (I very much need to make it in for [the feast that earned it three stars](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/dining/restaurant-review-korai-kitchen-jersey-city.html?ref=vjarmy.com) from the Times.) - We dipped in for a weeknight dinner at [Good Time Country Buffet](https://www.goodtimebuffet.com/?ref=vjarmy.com) – as described, it was a Good Time. - The best way to spend Sunday lunch is [Smithereens](https://www.smithereensnyc.com/?ref=vjarmy.com). - (not pictured) Had a reasonably good first impression at [Punjab Meet House](https://www.pmhnj.com/?ref=vjarmy.com) in downtown JC, although somewhat amused that the menu is entirely non-spicy? - (also not pictured) Also finally visited [the White Mana Diner](https://www.instagram.com/whitemanadiner/?hl=en&ref=vjarmy.com), which has probably been on my "I need to go here" list since moving to Jersey City in 2008. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1685.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1060.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1019.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1030.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1044.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1641.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1038.jpeg) And I have probably written this a hundred ways by now over the years, but still: I treasured every moment with friends, whether pre-planned or spontaneous or sometimes even a surprise to us both. As has become an impassioned cry around some of my circles lately: *always take the picture*. You really never know. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1043.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/53/7a/537a8df0-a25f-4592-ba2a-1d40c8d47705/content/images/2026/11/IMG_1635.jpeg)