Member Profile: Family Living in the Heights
With Nicole D’Anna Long
From Brooklyn, NY to Jersey City
Welcoming, diverse, exciting. Three words that Nicole D’Anna Long uses to describe the City that she has grown to love. As a native New Yorker, making the shift from the Bushwick bustle to quiet life in the City was just what Nicole, and her husband Bobby, had in mind when they first found out they were pregnant. In search of a neighborhood that was a little quieter and more family oriented than their previous home while still being in close proximity to their work in Manhattan, Jersey City was a natural fit.
For four years, the Long’s have made The Heights their home. Nicole, a Senior Creative Project Manager for a larger beauty brand based in New York City, and Bobby, a musician and songwriter, have lived in Jersey City since 2013.
Their Local Favorite Spots
On the weekends, their family feasts are followed by a walk to Milk Sugar Love for dessert and Bobby serenading the neighborhood with his piano, playing in front of the family’s front window and giving an enchanting concert for passersby.
When venturing out in their immediate neighborhood, one staple for the Long’s is Corto on Palisade Avenue. When not at Corto, the family feasts on pizza from Bread & Salt each week, choosing Orale for their Mexican cravings.
Outside of The Heights, the Long’s enjoy frequenting Hooked, Harry’s Daughter, and Pinwheel Garden in Bergen-Lafayette on Communipaw. For the vegetarians in the City, Nicole recommends Wurstbar, where they make all dishes to order and will cater to the vegetarian lifestyle with fantastic substitutions.
In the community, the Long’s are faithful supporters of their local business owners and entrepreneurs. Hazel Baby is one of Nicole’s favorite shopping spots, with all of the brands their family loves most in one place. Long’s other recommendations are Dulce de Leche Café in The Heights, Kanibal & Co., a lifestyle shop with a penchant for supporting local artists, The Grind Shop for your daily pick-me-up, and Another Man’s Treasure for all things vintage.
In fact, Bobby, a talented musician and UK native, is an entrepreneur in his own right and has been seeking to enrich the neighborhood by offering guitar and songwriting lessons for any age. Those interested in taking lessons can write BobbyLongLessons@gmail.com to inquire.
An Average day around the Neighborhood.
An average day for Nicole and her guys is usually centered around being outside. The family spends quality time together walking around Pershing Field or on a nice scenic drive to Liberty State Park to picnic on the grass by Black Tom Island. Often, the Long’s will travel to the Hudson Valley, an upstate New York jewel, to visit Nicole’s family. After living in Brooklyn, Jersey City is the ideal mixture of suburban and urban lifestyles, a perfect blend of both worlds, and convenient enough to raise a family safely.
Find more about Nicole and her beautiful family images on her Instagram @ncldna
N E I G H B O R H O O D G U I D E
Discover The Heights, Jersey City
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