Art, Music, History – and Fuzzy Lemons: An August weekend in Morristown

Summer Drawing Studio at St. Peter's
Summer Drawing Studio at St. Peter's
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From studio drawing to Revolutionary War-era history to a Sunday afternoon Baroque Chamber Music concert (to, well, Fuzzy Lemons):  it’s all happening this weekend in Morristown and environs.

Check out the Calendar for more – and please add your own events.

FRIDAY, August 5

Summer Drawing Studio at St. Peter's
Summer Drawing Studio at St. Peter's

The Open Drawing Studio Project at St. Peter’s started August 3 and continues five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays,  till August 28.   The brainchild of Chris and Danielle Merzatta, the Open Drawing Studio Project – a pop-up art project – takes over a portion of the building at 125 South Street (behind Cottage II restaurant) owned by St. Peter’s Church, whose artistically minded congregation invited them to reinvent the space for the month of August 2011.   The project is open to anyone and everyone looking to draw; there will be models and still-lifes, with opportunities to draw the surrounding architecture, too;  drawing materials & equipment will be supplied.  The project is something of a draw-a-thon, with three sessions offered daily: 9 am – Noon, 2 pm – 5 pm, and 7 pm – 10 pm. See the Merzattas’ video at Kickstarter or call 770-853-9727 for more information.

The Third Annual Play it Forward Golf Benefit happens all this month, too, from August 3 – August 23, at various golf courses in New Jersey.  This is a challenge event sponsored by The Roots & Wings Foundation (New Jersey), a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose worthy focus is to provide support, safe housing, and practical skills to young adults who have aged out of the child welfare system.  In “Play it Forward,” we’re told, golfers pledge to raise funds and test their endurance by playing up to 36 holes of golf in one day; they can choose from courses like Baltusrol, Mountain Ridge, Saucon Valley, Fiddler’s Elbow, White Beeches and more.  See the Event page on the Roots & Wings website for participation information and rules.

Mara Levine & Caroline Cutroneo
Mara Levine & Caroline Cutroneo

Mara Levine & Caroline Cutroneo, with opener Bill Buttner, appear tonight starting at 8 pm at The Minstrel Coffeehouse. Mara and Caroline, we understand, “have gorgeous vocals, tight harmonies & sing original, traditional & contemporary folk with a dash of the blues. They always encourage audience participation.” Sounds like fun! Mara and Caroline sing (and Caroline plays guitar) – and are joined by Bob Wright on guitar, banjo, mandolin, and vocals, and Bill Doerge, on 12 string ans upright bass. You can listen to some of Mara’s very pretty songs at her MySpace page. Opener Bill Buttner’s songs are “best described as folk/Americana with his major influences being Steve Earle, Springsteen, and Bob Dylan.” See the Minstrel’s page at the Folk Project website for more information. At the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown. The website says that admission is “$7.00 on your way in, plus the rest of what you thought the show was really worth on your way out. This additional amount goes to supplement what we pay the feature performer. All tickets are sold at the door.”

SATURDAY, August 6

The Urban Farm at Lafayette again offers both Produce Sales and Open Hours this morning from 9 am – 12:30 pm. They’ll team you up with a volunteer and you’ll walk through the farm, learning about the plants and harvesting items of your choice. Low prices and fresh produce; what more could you ask for? They also appreciate and accept donations above their low market rates. If you’d like to help out while you’re there, please offer your services for chores around the farm; children are welcome to work with their caregivers. 31 Hazel st, Morristown (behind the Lafayette Learning Center).

Portrait of George_Washington
Portrait of George_Washington

You’re invited to “muster in as a militiaman” this morning at 10 am, as part of Morris Tourism‘s Join the Continental Army! walking tour with former NPS ranger and Revolutionary War expert Ted Edgar.   Take the oath of allegiance to the Continental Army, learn marching techniques and drill on the Green, and visit the resting place of 135 Revolutionary War soldiers.  The tour also includes a visit to the site of Arnold’s Tavern where General Washington lived during the winter of 1777.  Find out for yourself why Morristown is known as the “Military Capital of the Revolution.”   We’re told that both loyalists and rebels are welcome!   Cost is $10.00 per adult, $5.00 per child 10 and under, and reservations are required.  Call 973-631-5151 for information and to reserve a spot.  The tour begins at 6 Court Street, Morristown.

Also today:  visit George Vail’s Willow Hall, with docent Carol Barkin, in a separate Morristown in Three Centuries walking tour.  Reservations and prepayment ($10 per person) are requested.  Call 973-631-5151 for information and to reserve a spot.

From 10:30 am to 8 pm the Jerzey Derby Brigade roller derby team is hosting a kickball tournament at Sunrise Lake in Lewis Morris Park, Morris Township.  It’s $175 for a team of up to 15 people. There will be a barbecue, swimming, alcohol for purchase, and more, according to the ladies’ Facebook page.

Morris Township Mayor Scott Rosenbush will cut the ribbon to open the new Jockey Hollow Top Preserve Trail this morning at 11 am.   This is a new trail constructed with the supervision of local Eagle Scout candidate Eric Minor, and many hours of volunteer labor.  The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will be held at the Mt. Kemble Avenue trail head, approximately one-eighth mile south of Harter Road, and the public is invited to attend the trail opening ceremonies and enjoy hiking the new trails.   Refreshments will be served. If you’re attending the ribbon cutting ceremony, please park on Frederick Place.

The Fuzzy Lemons
The Fuzzy Lemons

See The Fuzzy Lemons Live! today at the Bickford Theater in one of two performances (11 am and 1 pm).   The Fuzzy Lemons make their first journey to Morristown  to play family-style Rock ‘n’ Roll.   (Listen here.)  The Friends of Historic Speedwell sponsor this Bickford Theatre show;  included with admission to the concert is a Family Fun Day at Historic Speedwell, where the museum hosts face painters, jugglers, and other family-oriented activities.  Visit Historic Speedwell after the 11 am performance, and until 3 pm.  Cost is $8; call the Bickford Theatre Box Office at 973-971-3706 to find out more.  For more information about Historic Speedwell, call 973-285-6550, or e-mail the museum at info@speedwell.org.

The Morristown Neighborhood House celebrates its ninth annual Community Family Day from noon to 5 pm at the Cauldwell Playground, at the corner of Flagler Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. (Rain date: Aug. 13.)  Enjoy free food, games and music by the kids band Amor, which gave a rousing performance at Festival Earth in May. For more details contact Perla Hayashida at 973-539-1229.

THEY DON'T MAKE 'EM LIKE THAT ANYMORE: Classic cars are the stars at the Two Kids Charity Car Show. Photo courtesy of Morristown Medical Center.
THEY DON'T MAKE 'EM LIKE THAT ANYMORE: Classic cars are the stars at the Two Kids Charity Car Show. Photo courtesy of Morristown Medical Center.

The Urban Farm at Lafayette is, of course, Crazy for Compost, and they’ll talk about it tonight from 6:30 – 7:30 pm.   No questions left unanswered, they promise — and no pile left unturned!   At 31 Hazel St., Morristown (behind the Lafayette Learning Center).  Free!

Tonight from 8 – 10 pm, Jefferson Highlights Community Television (a non-profit organization) presents a Bon Jovi Tribute Concert with Bad Medicine at Camp Jefferson Amphitheatre, 81 Weldon Road, Lake Hopatcong. Bench, stadium, lawn & wheelchair seating areas. Parking is free, but please carpool. No smoking, alcohol or coolers permitted; food is sold on site.   Adults: $20; Seniors (+62): $15; Children 9-15: $10.  Children under 9 get in free.  Call 973-663-5590 for information.

SUNDAY, August 7

UPDATE!  THIS SHOW HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR AUG. 14 BECAUSE OF A SOGGY FORECAST. Do you love classic cars? Then the Two Kids Charity Car Show at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany is the place to be, from 9 am to 4:30 pm. Admission is free, parking is $5. Special treats this year include the Batmobile (from the 1960s TV series), the Scooby Doo Van and the Dracula Car. Actor Butch Patrick, best known for his role as Eddie Munster on the classic TV series The Munsters, also will be on hand to sign autographs.The event raises money for families of pediatric cancer patients.

Baroque Music at Macculloch Hall
Baroque Chamber Music at Macculloch Hall

The “Over Here and Over There: Morris County’s Role in World War II” exhibit continues at Acorn Hall this afternoon from 1 – 4 pm.   The exhibit focuses on  ordinary citizens and their sacrifices during the WWII era – both those of soldiers and those they left behind at home.  Oral histories, documents, objects, photos, and more; the exhibit will run for the rest of the year, and is included in the price of a tour of Acorn Hall.   Acorn Hall is at 68 Morris Avenue, Morristown; the museum is open Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Cost of admission:  $6/adults, $5/seniors, $3/students, children under twelve free – also free w/military ID.   Call 973-267-3465 to find out more.

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum presents a “Baroque Chamber Performance by Adriane Post and Friends” this afternoon at 4 pm.    It’s a special performance by family descendent Adriane Post, the great-granddaughter of Dorothea Miller Post, who was born, lived, and died at Macculloch Hall (from 1878 – 1947) – the last family member to live there.   Ms. Post will play the violin that Dorothea received as a gift from her brother; she’ll be joined by Juilliard, Yale, Peabody, and Oberlin graduates Arceci/McKean & Friends.   The ensemble will play French and Italian chamber music — by Lully, Forqueray, Corelli and Vivaldi — for soprano, two violins, viola da gamba, harpsichord, and theorbo.  (What’s a theorbo, you ask?  Wonder no more.)  The museum will open at 1 pm for house tours of the family home; the musical program will begin at 4 pm.  Reservations are required;  call 973-538-2404 for more information, and to reserve a spot.  Sounds like a wonderful, atmospheric way to spend a Sunday afternoon in August….

MONDAY, August 8:

Submit your videos for the Fourth Annual MorristownGreen.com Film (& Music!) Festival. This year’s festival, on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Pioneer Park at Headquarters Plaza, Morristown, will be our biggest yet. The audience will vote for Best Picture–the trophy could be yours! Our movie theme is Sustainability. Videos should be under five minutes and suitable for family viewing. More details are here.

1 COMMENT

  1. Please visit the Jerzey Derby Brigade Kickball BBQ raising funds for the Morris County Park Commission THIS Sat 11-6. Free to attend. Kids & pets welcome. Hula Hoops Frisbees Lake Hiking Trail Beer Pong. Directions: Go towards Frog in Morristown on Washington. Straight on that road. Pass Delbarton on left. Lewis Morris Memorial Park is a left shortly after. Turn into park. Follow signs-Sunrise Lake. See http://www.jerzeyderby.com or email lawlesslizzie@yahoo.com

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