Ride a train. Create a comic strip. See how Tony Orlando sounds after Dawn. It’s all happening around Morristown this weekend.
Love bargains? A slew of wonderful historical sites are free on Sunday, courtesy of the Morris County Alliance for Tourism.
Still want more? Check out our great calendar!
THURSDAY, May 12
There’s a Rummage Sale today from 10 am to 2 pm at the Morristown Jewish Center, to benefit its nursery school. Items will include “everything and anything”: Jewelry, household items, clothes, shoes, toys, books. At 177 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown. Call 973-538-9292 for information.
The 27th Annual Salaam Shrine Circus runs through Sunday, at the William G. Mennen Sports Arena in Morris Township. Shows at 11:00 a.m. and 7 pm on Thursday and Friday; at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm on Saturday; and 1:30 pm and 5:30 pm on Sunday. ATV 4-Wheelers (“Thrill Riders”), a human cannonball (“The Sensational Shawn Marren”), “The Flying Cortes Family,” and “Dulce & Benito: The Quick-Change Act” are just some of the performers on the slate. At 161 East Hanover Ave. Tickets are $15 general admission and $20 reserved seating; they can be purchased Friday from 10 am to 2 pm at the arena (call 973-992-2860) or via the website at www.salaamshrinecircus.com.
DJ Joshua Thomas appears tonight in his alter ego from 6 – 9 pm at Zebu Forno. As Josh Stephens, he reviews new music for MorristownGreen.com; come out and hear him do his DJ thing. Free. At 9 South St., Morristown. Call 973-538-0890 for info.
The EcoCenter Art Show reception is from 6-9 pm and the exhibition runs through Saturday afternoon at the Morristown EcoCenter, at 55 Bank St. (The former Mini Cooper dealership.) Enjoy some great cartoons, paintings, photos and collages from area artists. And check out the proposed EcoCenter, too. Admission is free.
Here’s a good question: Did the Victorians Have Any Fun? Take a look at “Victorian Pastimes” from 7 – 9 pm at The Bethel in Mount Tabor, presented by the Morris County Historical Society. Adults and students welcome. You can bring whatever Victorian toys and games you have or know about, too, to talk about. A social starts at 7; the program itself at 7:30. Sponsored by the Mt Tabor Historical Society; free. At 26 Simpson Ave. Call 973-586-1564 or see the Mt. Tabor website for more.
FRIDAY, May 13
The Bethel AME Church is sponsoring lunch and dinner today, between 11:45 am and 6:45 pm. Chicken and various dinners and sandwiches. “Come One, Come All. The Best in Town” — and I bet it’s true. Yum! Dinner is $8; sandwiches are $6. You can call for take-out, too: 973-267-8912. At 59 Spring Street, Morristown.
Fridays-on-the-Green Mid-Day Concert at the Presbyterian Church showcases soprano Galit Dadoun and pianist Jonathan Comisar, as they perform Israeli and Sephardi folk music. Free, from 12:15 – 12:55 pm. Lunch by C’est Cheese is offered before and after the concert. At 57 park Place, Morristown. Call 973-538-1776 or see their website for more.
MG Cartoonists Night: Doodling with a Message. The latest in this series runs from 7:30 – 9:30 pm at the Morristown EcoCenter. Ever doodled on a napkin and wondered if you could be a cartoonist? Find out what it takes from three great cartoonists from MorristownGreen.com: Paul Laud, Fred Caracci and Matt Keown. Bring your questions–and your favorite pen! At 55 Bank St., Morristown. Call us at 973-944-0530 if you have questions – or ask ’em below, in the comments.
Edge, A Contemporary Art Exhibition is being hosted by Gallery Egan at the Club Room of 40 Park in Morristown from 6-9 pm. The event will raise funds for the Goryeb Children’s Hospital though the sale of art.
David Mallett and Barry & Tessa Mitterhoff appear at the Minstrel, starting at 8 pm. Barry Mitterhoff introduces his 15-year-old daughter Tessa, as they open the evening on mandolin and tenor guitar, and ukulele, respectively; they’ll mix classics with songs from contemporary singer-songwriters. David Mallett‘s a songwriter, with titles like “The Garden Song” and “I Knew This Place” to his credit. His songs have been recorded by Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Emmylou Harris, Kathy Mattea, John Denver — and the Muppets! At the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown. Admission: Adults $7; children 12 and under free. Call (973) 335-9489 for information, or see the Folk Project website.
Tony Orlando opens at 8 o’clock at the Mayo Center for the Performing Arts. “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round The Ole Oak Tree,” “Knock Three Times,” “Candida” and “Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose.” Remember? At 100 South Street, Morristown; tickets $42-$77. Call the box office at 973-539-8008.
SATURDAY, May 14
There’s an Open Hearth Cooking Workshop at Historic Speedwell from 10 am – 5 pm. Learn how to cook a full meal on the hearth during this class led by Susan McLellan Plaisted, called one of the premier historic food specialists in the country. Students use period equipment and authentic ingredients. Cost is $50.00 per person; call to pre-register (required) at 973-285-6550.
The Presbyterian Church in Morristown continues its Saturday Volleyball Games and Lessons for All Ages from 10 – 11:15 am at the Parish House at 65 South Street, Morristown. Play a few rounds of volleyball; then get instruction and skill development from local high school players. Open to all ages and skill levels, including adults. Contact Angie Rines at arines@pcmorristown.org for information and scheduling.
The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms offers Spring Family Day from 12 – 4 pm this afternoon. “Welcome spring with pony rides, maypole dancing, a cakewalk, bubble station, May crowns and more!” Sounds like a great afternoon, and it’s a lovely and historic property, too. Cost: $5 Member children; $7 Non-Member children; Adults $7; Adults accompanying children are free. At 2352 Rt. 10-West, #5, Morris Plains. Call 973-540-0311 for more information.
An improvisational singing workshop with Martin Swinger is on tap today from 3 – 6 pm. It’s a Folk Project event; Martin Swinger, a founding member of the group ImproVox, is in town from Maine to teach the workshop. No experience necessary; bring water, juice or tea to drink, slippers, and comfortable clothing. For adults and “musically savvy” teens. A pot luck dinner follows the workshop. Cost is $25.00; call (908)-591-6491 for location and information.
Learn Knitting with Plastic Bags from 4 – 7 pm at Elliott’s Flower Shoppe. Isabelle Garbani teaches this “alternative material art workshop.” She’s the artist doing the upcoming installation “Knit for Trees” on Governors Island in NYC this summer. Refreshments and light snacks will be on hand; to register, please email: info@artsbythepeople.com. At 143 Morris St., Morristown; suggested donation is $5.
St. Peter’s begins its Saturday Night Worship tonight, at 5 pm. The service will be in the Parish House, not the church — that’s at 70 Maple Avenue, Morristown, just behind the church itself. Keyboardist Peter Moffitt and his band will lead worship; all are welcome. Take part in a new service — about an hour long — and enjoy “a joyful, music-filled time.” Free. 973-538-0555, x24.
Then, you can head for the Charity Fundraiser Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament II at St. Virgil Academy / Morris Catholic Junior School in Morris Plains. More information here, where you can download a printable entry form. The Tourney is tonight from 6 – 11:30 pm; cost: $100 buy-in. At 238 Speedwell Ave, Morris Plains.
Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary fame performs at the Sanctuary concert series in Chatham at 8 pm. The creator of Puff, the Magic Dragon and Light One Candle will be joined by his daughter and her duo, Bethany and Rufus. Tickets are $30. Call 973-376-4946 for more information.
SUNDAY, May 15
The Whippany Railway Museum offers excursion train rides: 10 miles, 45 minutes round trip. Trains depart from the Whippany Station at 1, 2, 3 and 4 pm, rain or shine. An interesting collection of restored, vintage cabooses from historic New Jersey rail lines of the past — or, for a bit more money, ride in an “elegant 1927-era Club Car” — the “Jersey Coast.” Find out more at their website, or call 973-887-8177. At 1 Railroad Plaza, Route 10 West & Whippany Road, Whippany. Tickets (you can purchase them at the website): Adults, $13.; children under 12, $8; infants (1 year & under) free.
It’s the last Sunday Morning Seminar for this season at the Presbyterian Church. From 9:15 – 10:15 am at the Parish House — 65 South Street, Morristown. Various topics up for discussion in this adult Bible study format.
It’s also “Be Our Guest Day” at several historic sites in the area, to celebrate National Tourism Week, sponsored by the Morris County Alliance for Tourism. Participating institutions will open their doors and waive their usual admission fees during those hours; guests are encouraged to contribute a non-perishable food item for the Interfaith Food Pantry in lieu of the normal admission fee. Several participating institutions we know about:
- The Children’s Community Museum, at 77 East Blackwell Street in Dover. Free from 11 am – 4 pm. Call 973-366-9060 for information.
- Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, at 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown. Exhibits include “Hearth & Home: A Century of Family Life”; examples of original images from the second half of the nineteenth century in the Thomas Nast gallery; “Coming of Age: Early American Silversmiths”; “Masters, Apprentices, Trade Partners and Taste” including pieces made by silversmiths including Paul Revere Jr. of Boston, Myer Myers of New York and Joseph Richardson Sr. of Philadelphia. Free from noon – 5 pm . Call 973-538-2404 ext 10 for more.
- Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, at 73 Kahdena Road in Morris Township. Free from 12 – 5 pm. For more information, call 973-631-5151; they note that there’s a free shuttle for transportation to other participating sites.
The Morris County Historical Society’s latest exhibit, “Over Here and Over There: Morris County’s Role in World War II,” is still on display at Acorn Hall, at 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown. Ordinary citizens willingly left their families and sacrificed their comfort and safety to fight on foreign shores; sacrifices were made at home, too. Oral histories, documents, objects, photos, and more; “World War II Weekend” is planned for June 18-19; watch this space for more about that. The exhibit is included with admission; $6/adults, $5/seniors, $3/students, children under 12 free. Free with military ID.
See The Orpheus Club Chorus Spring Concert today from 3 – 5 pm at Grace Church, 4 Madison Ave. in Madison. Cost is $10. The concert includes short classical selections and features a medley of contemporary Disney movie songs. The guest soloist is Judy K. Hahn. The Orpheus Club Chorus was founded in 1888 by Samuel Ward (who wrote “America, the Beautiful”), and has given an unbroken series of public concerts ever since then. Call 973-669-8421 for information.
TUESDAY, May 17
And don’t forget the MorristownGreen.com-sponsored Wordplay: Fun with Words!, from 7:30 – 9:30 pm. at the Morristown EcoCenter. In the era of multimedia, we sometimes take words for granted. Tonight, we celebrate them with poetry, oratory, monologues, improv and other surprises. Please join us for some fast-paced fun! At 55 Bank St., Morristown. Free! Call us at 973-944-0530, or ask questions in the comments below. See you there!
