Enjoying Hoboken On The Cheap This Summer

Hoboken residents interested in outdoor workouts, watching an award-winning film, or entertainment need not stray not far from their doorstep, or often even open up their wallets.

Tuesday night, as the temperature slowly began to creep back and a warm wind set in, a large group convened at Pier A Park for a free outdoor yoga class, the first of a summer-long series.

While Devotion Yoga of Hoboken sponsors this almost every Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. through August, other gyms host free class on Monday nights. Fitness in the Park, also held at Pier A Park at 7 p.m. will feature Tiger Schulmann Karate June 13, while residents can look forward to different gyms throughout the summer, including Local Barre, Club H, Hudson Dance & Movement, and Cross FIT Hoboken.

Lea Vaccarello, 29, of Hoboken, said that she plans on using the free fitness events to decide which gym she might join.

“Having something like this is nice because it’s another option,” said Vaccarello. “It’s free. It doesn’t even have to be free as long as its cheap.”

Yoga instructor Julie Pasqual, 49, of Jersey City, said that these free classes were more than just a workout.

“You know, when you live in a city, we all hunker down and no one goes outside,” she said. “With events like this, people come out and they get to hang together.”

For the past six years, the Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse, operating in partnership with the City of Hoboken and the Downtown Boathouse of New York City, has enabled 3,100 individuals to kayak in the Hudson River for free. The boathouse is located in Maxwell Place Park.

Your next opportunity to get into the water is on June 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. No reservations or prior experience are required, but paddlers must know how to swim and wear a life-vest, which are supplied, to take the double and single kayaks into the Hudson.

Jodi Rigotti, 32, of Hoboken, said that an “awesome way to stay entertained and not bust your budget” was Movies Under the Stars, free movie screenings held at Pier A Park every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. The event is sponsored by the City of Hoboken, Projected Images of Hudson County, and the Hudson County Division of Cultural Affairs.

“It’s something that me and my friends always look forward to,” said Vaccarello. “A nice, fun relaxing event to come and hang out here, have the views form the city and everything and get to see a good movie i like it.”

“True Grit” will start off the series on June 15, while “The King’s Speech,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” and “The Social Network” are also scheduled for this summer.

Looking for live action like theatre and music? Check out Hoboken’s Cultural Affairs website at www.hobokennj.org/departments/human-services/cultural-affairs for a more complete list of the free events in town.