When the snow piles up, I can think of nothing better than sipping something hot in front of a fireplace. Hot Toddy, anyone? But that doesn’t mean you have to stay holed up inside your apartment. Many of Hoboken’s watering holes have comfy couches to curl up on and several such as Carpe Diem have rustic looking fireplaces that will help chase away the winter blues.

February, of course, is known for Valentine’s Day. For some, the holiday culminates in a romantic dinner for two. But here at hMAG, we think that love can take many forms. In this issue, we give you two very different perspectives on the idea of romance. Our male writer explores the traditional date night with his fiancé. Yet our female writer enjoys a night out with the ladies and the romance of a fancy cocktail.

In Heritage, our writer takes you on a journey from Hoboken’s once bustling waterfront to the iconic Erie-Lackawanna Train Terminal. Both areas have provided a dramatic backdrop in many notable films including the award-winning “On the Waterfront.” In addition to big studio productions, Hoboken is also home to the film series Projected Images, which brought film buffs up close and personal with well-known directors like Kevin Smith and Nora Jacobson. Many memorable characters have been brought to life or death – (Remember, “Sleepers”?) – in the famous Mile Square.

And speaking of characters, I spoke with celebrity Adam Poch, who loves bacon, heavy metal and Tori Spelling almost in equal measure. Hobokenite Poch is larger than life, but he also has a generous heart. He uses his newfound celebrity to support many charities.

We know there are many memorable stories out there and we hope to cover them all! So bring us your quirky, your fabulous, or just plain fun. We want to hear from you. We thank you and invite you along on our journey.

Enthusiastically yours,

Diana Schwaeble – Editor & all of the hMAG team