LepreCon: Crowds Grow, Temps Drop, But Less Arrests Than Last Year [Updated]

UPDATED 6:30 p.m. — As of Saturday evening, Hoboken police had arrested seven people, 25 calls were received to the Hoboken Ambulance Corps and multiple house parties were broken up on the second annual LepreCon pub crawl, police said.

The first two people were arrested early in the morning police said. One was charged with sexual assault — the incident happened early in the morning — and another was charged with theft.

Last year, 18 people were arrested on LepreCon. The year before, parade day saw 34 arrests in Hoboken.

The Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Corps received around 25 calls as of early evening. Last year a total of 64 calls came in, according to HVAC personnel. Friday night, however, saw more calls than usual. The majority of the calls involved intoxicated people.

Per usual, the house parties caused some disturbances around town. The Hoboken Fire Department performed regular checks of bars and house parties through out the day. 

Most parties, police said, seemed to be on the west side of town. On Park Avenue between Fifth and Sixth Streets a couple was spotted making out on the roof of a building. 

Police enforced the zero tolerance policy all throughout the day. Around 3 p.m. two men were written up for urinating against City Hall. Fines are $2,000.

Crowds of people still trickled into town as the morning progressed and the usual packs of green clad twenty somethings wandered through town, looking for a house party or a bar without a cover.

The usual thumping of music coming from house parties and piercing sirens of police and ambulances rushing through town was significantly less than in years passed, though.

The Pour House and The Shannon saw long lines to get inside. Other bars had no lines in the morning. While prices vary, most bars charge a $20 or $30 cover.

Waiting in line to get into the Pour House were 23-year-old John (who preferred to not give his last name) and 23-year-old Ben Pierson, both from Ho-Ho-Kus.

"It seems a bit quieter than last year," said John, who celebrated LepreCon last year for the first time. "I have a buddy inside (the bar)," he continued, "and it's a significant difference."

For those who came into town on Saturday, the lack of a parade didn't seem to matter.

"It's incredible," said one 24-year-old Manhattan resident on the corner of Fourth and Washington. "It's the vibe." 

Hoboken police, Jersey City police and the Hudson County rapid deployment team were all present on Saturday. The entire Hoboken Police Department was on duty on Saturday, and cops were present in the streets.

The Hoboken Parking Utility was present to crack down any illegally parked cars. Most visitors on Saturday, however, came in by public transportation.

Since last year, four major bars in Hoboken have closed — Lana, Oddfellows, Whiskey Bar and Quays — which together had a capacity of about 1,500 people.

"It's not the mad rush to the bar it was four or five years ago," said Matt McCabe, standing at the bar at Room84.

Most people, he said, will start the day off with a house party and go to the bars later. But, after nine St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Hoboken, he's no longer dressed in green.

"Now that I'm 32," said McCabe, "I'm not jumping in there and start doing shots at 10 a.m."