551 Observer, 9D Hoboken, NJ 07030

Hoboken has lured many to its shores with its proximity to Manhattan and then quickly converted the curious into Hoboken loyalists. Hoboken is, of course, a commuter town to New York City, but it also has its own identity and charms. Though only about a square mile big, the city has two major historic claims to fame: It’s the birthplace of both baseball and Frank Sinatra. But Hoboken doesn’t rest on its pop culture laurels, as the city transforms with each generation—in more recent decades, the city produced indie band Yo La Tengo and the late, great rock club Maxwell’s. Even Maxwell’s—which hosted the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Nirvana—was itself an evolution from its original role as a tavern for local Maxwell House Coffee factory workers. Today, the former coffee factory, along with the Lipton Tea warehouse and the Wonder Bread factory, have all been renovated into luxury condominiums.