Whether you’re sunning at the beach or staying local in Jersey City, we’ve gathered a handful of must-read news and stories about downtown Jersey City (and a few surrounding neighborhoods).

*Gothamist delivers a tour de force look at downtown’s newest and most established restaurants and bars. Included in their whirlwind visit are Razza, The Kitchen Step, ME Casa, The Archer, Torico’s, Broa, and Departed Soles, to name a few. —Gothamist

*GP’s Restaurant has one of the most eclectic interiors you can find in all of downtown. Jersey Digs sat down with HGTV star and GP’s designer Vanessa DeLeon to find out how a dog named Oreo helped inspire the restaurant’s unique look. —Jersey Digs

*A new mural in the downtown Newark could soon become the largest mural on the East Coast, and the second-largest mural in the country. —NJTVNews

*Jersey City is filled with hundreds of creative small business. The Jersey Journal reports that the city has unveiled a program aimed at helping small businesses grow, network, and establish themselves. —Small Business Navigator

*The new underground passage that links the WTC hub to the Fulton Center is officially open. —CBS New York

*Port Authority police report that several commuters helped thwart an alleged robbery at the PATH WTC hub on Monday at 3pm. —Metro

Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies

*Mayor Steven Fulop cuts a ceremonial ribbon to officially open Cast Iron Lofts II, a new 27-story tower that forms part of the Cast Iron Lofts collection in the growing SoHo West neighborhood of Jersey City. —Cast Iron Lofts

*PJ Ryan’s Squared, a new restaurant/bar/venue space at 1 Path Plaza, celebrated its first official week of business in Journal Square. —NJ.com

(Image: Gothamist, Cast Iron Lofts)