‘Krispy Kreme’ Articles at Sweetnicks

The Empty Sky Memorial is the official New Jersey 9/11 memorial located at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Let’s take a look.

I had seen pictures of Empty Sky Memorial on Instagram over the past few years and made a mental note that I wanted to stop by and visit it with my kids. It’s different that any of the other memorials that we’ve seen, and despite the fact of the sober reminder of what it represents, it’s really beautiful. There was a design competition with 320 entries received, and this was chosen by unanimous vote from the Families and Survivors Memorial Committee, and it’s no wonder. Paying homage to victims of both the 1993 World Trade Center attack, and the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, its goal is to “reflect the legacies of those whose lives were lost, that their unfulfilled dreams and hopes may result in a better future for society. Their unique qualities and characteristics enriched our lives immeasurably and through this memorial, their stories live on.”

The memorial features twin walls with a path that leads towards a view of Ground Zero, and the walls are exactly 1,776 tall, a nod to the year the Declaration of Independence was signed. The two thirty-foot towers are the exact width of the World Trade Center Towers, and the names of the victims are etched into the stainless steel. The name, “Empty Sky” comes from a Springsteen song of the same name where he sang about the empty sky where the towers once stood.

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The flashing “hot donuts” sign beckons you. The taste keeps you. We finally have Krispy Kreme in New Jersey.

If I mention I’m excited about a Krispy Kreme donut location opening up, some parts of the country might roll their eyes.

But Krispy Kreme hasn’t really migrated into New Jersey until recently. They finally opened a flagship location in Jersey City a few months ago, and I was dying to go.

The first time we had Krispy Kreme donuts was on our trip to Tennessee a few years ago. We ordered a few donuts and my kids were not excited. Not at all.

Weirdos.

Flash forward a few years, and a few more attempts, and they’ve come around.

So when I announced an afternoon sojourn to check out the new Krispy Kreme donut shop, they weren’t exactly upset.

The location is easy to find, but parking is another story. There are a few spaces in front, and after three trips around the block on a Saturday afternoon, we got lucky enough that one opened up. I didn’t notice any parking lots or significant street parking in that area, so be forewarned.

When we walked in, the line wasn’t too bad, ten people deep. It snaked in front of large glass windows where you could see inside what appeared to be a factory setting. On a perfect day, I imagine there is staff behind the glass, making donuts in front of the happy waiting (and drooling) customers. On this Saturday afternoon, there was just one employee puttering around, but we were nonetheless mesmerized by the sheet of glaze that was pouring down over the (donut-less) belt. If you look at the below picture, the white you see in the exact center is the glaze pouring down. I wish there was more action going on, but alas, it was not meant to be.

There is a good selection of donuts available, and the, um, calorie count was displayed with each one. Sometimes it’s better not to know. YOLO and all that. My kids chose the original glazed, and I went with the jelly. So light, flaky, and soft, the donuts did not disappoint.

The cashiers were friendly and helpful, completely understanding our need to check out the donuts before making our choice. If you’re in line, you can’t really see the donut selection until you’re right at the register, so there isn’t really a good way to check out the varieties until it’s your turn (and unless you’re a regular who knows the menu already).

Four dollars later and we had the goods.

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Visit: Empty Sky Memorial {Jersey City, New Jersey}

Visit: Krispy Kreme {Jersey City, New Jersey}