This weekend’s offerings range from serious (hunger walks, benefit concerts and candlelight vigils) to seriously silly (costumed dog parades).
And then there is THE game: Morristown High School vs. Delbarton in the Battle for 07960.
If all this isn’t enough, dive into our great calendar for more ideas.
THURSDAY, Oct. 13
Roger Ebert calls it “one of the most astonishing films ever made.” Russian Ark (2002) shines a creative light on Russia’s art and history, featuring the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace of Saint Petersburg, Russia. It’s part of the Russian film series at the Morristown & Township Library. (Films in Russian with English subtitles.) Doors open at 5:30 pm, film rolls at 6:15. Admission: Free. Refreshments, too! Call 973-538-6161 for details.
After years of discussion, Morristown’s Speedwell Avenue redevelopment finally may get the green light. The Morristown Council is scheduled to vote on the plan at 7 pm in town hall.
Earlier this month, Revolutionary War hero Molly Pitcher sang for us. Why is Molly a hero? The Battle of Monmouth Court House holds the answer, and you can learn all about it at the North Jersey American Revolution Round Table, at 7:14 pm inside the Washington’s Headquarters Museum Auditorium, 30 Washington Place, Morristown. Joseph Bilby, a Vietnam veteran, will speak about his new book, Monmouth Court House: The Battle that Made the American Army. Admission: Free.
Humor writer David Sedaris shares his satirical views of modern life at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center at 8 pm. Includes book signing. Mature themes, language. Tickets: $37-$67. Call 973-539-8008 for details.
FRIDAY, Oct. 14
The Morristown Neighborhood House will host its 15th annual gala, A Cultural Celebration, at The Hyatt Morristown. Cocktails and a silent auction start at 6 pm, followed at 7 pm by dinner, dance and music by Pam Purvis and Bob Ackerman. Proceeds benefit programs at the Nabe that serve more than 1,500 children daily. For more information, callMable Stapleton at 973-538-1229 x 20.
DJ Joshua Thomas presents a mixtape, defined as “a conceptual mix of songs linked by a theme or mood,” starting at 6:30 pm at Morristown’s Zebu Forno, at 9 South St. Expect to hear classic rock, jazz, indie, ambient, alternative, hip hop, downtempo, soul, and electronica–the soundtrack of Joshua’s life. Admission: Free. BYOB.
The Dicey Riley Band and Randolph Strings Orchestra are teaming up to present an evening of music and song to benefit Africa Surgery, 7 pm at Assumption Church on Maple Avenue in Morristown. Since 2007, Africa Surgery has coordinated with health-care organizations in Africa and the United States to bring much-needed surgical care to Sierra Leone in West Africa, where hospitals mostly were destroyed during an 11-year civil war. All of the proceeds from the concert will go to the nonprofit. Refreshments will be provided by Melody McGinley Whitelaw of the Main Event, and by parishioners. Admission: $15 for adults; children free. For details, call 973-539-2141.
Get a jump on the bargain-hunters with a preview of the 87th Annual Presbyterian Church Bazaar. Starting at 7 pm, you can spend two hours buying collectibles, jewelry, home baked goods, housewares, electronics, toys, games, sporting gear and more. The goodies fill three floors at the Parish House on 65 South St. in Morristown. Admission: $10. Appetizers and dessert will be served. Dealers welcome. The bazaar opens to the general public at 10 am on Saturday. Call 973-538-1776 x21 for more info.
Cheer for new performers and hear veteran singers polish their acts at The Minstrel’s Open Stage, starting at 8 pm inside the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road in Morris Township. Admission: $7 for adults, children under 12, free. Call 973-335-9489.
Captain Lung–the Morristown High School trio that rocked our MorristownGreen.com Film & Music Festival last month–has a gig at Boonton’s Canvas Clash, a teen-friendly space on Main Street near the Darress Theatre. Travis Fielding, Johannes Burger and Andy McNally take the stage at 8:40 pm. Admission: $10.
SATURDAY, Oct. 15
The 87th Annual Presbyterian Church Bazaar runs from 10 am to 3 pm at the Parish House, 65 South St., Morristown. Shop for collectibles, jewelry, home baked goods, housewares, electronics, toys, games, sporting gear and more. The goodies fill three floors. All proceeds benefit local and global church mission projects. Call 973-538-1776 x21 for more info.
Who needs the Napa Valley when you can experience great wines right here in Morris County? The Garden State Wine Growers Association will hold its annual Grand Harvest Wine Festival at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, 73 Kahdena Road, Morris Township, from noon to 5 pm today and Sunday. Musical entertainment Saturday: To the Max, and on Sunday: Brian Kirk and the Jirks. Wine sampling is $20 (I.D. required); it’s free to non-tasters. A $30 two-day pass also is available.
The Morristown High School football team (3-2), fresh off a convincing victory against Morris Knolls, hosts unbeaten cross-town rival Delbarton (5-0) in a 1 pm battle for bragging rights.
“Halloween began with Colonial mourning customs, graveyard art and eerie tales of death and dying.” The Morris County Tourism Bureau has got our attention! Join its 5:30 pm lantern-light “ghosts and graveyards” tour, starting at the historic Morristown Green, and learn about murdered residents, smallpox epidemics, and more. Cost: $10, reservations required. Call 973-631-5151 for more details.
The Richard Reiter Swing Band kicks off a series of Abendmusik concerts that celebrate American music at the Morristown United Methodist Church, 50 S. Park Place. The concert starts at 7:30 pm. Suggested donation: $15 adults/$12 seniors. Students with I.D. Free. For advance tickets ($12/$10), call 973-538-2132.
Shawn Barker stars as the Man in Black, Johnny Cash, at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center, at 8 pm. Tickets are $32-$52. Call 973-539-8008 for more information.
Texas singer-songwriter Slaid Cleeves performs at the Sanctuary series in Chatham at 8 pm; British songwriter James Maddock opens the show, at the Presbyterian Church on 240 Southern Blvd. Admission: $25.
SUNDAY, Oct. 16
The Morristown Farmers Market is open for business from 8:30 am to 2 pm, at public parking lot 10 on the corner of Morris Avenue and Spring Street, adjacent to Dumont Place. Entertainment to be announced. See the Morristown Partnership for more details.
Dress up Spot, win prizes! It’s the second annual All Howl’s Eve Dog Parade and Costume Contest. Entry cost: $5. Proceeds benefit local animal shelters. Registration starts at 10 am behind Morristown Town Hall, 200 South St., with a parade to the Morristown Green at 11 am. Last year’s event was a howl of a good time. Rain date: Oct. 23. Call 973-255-9775 for more info.
The Grand Harvest Wine Festival resumes at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, 73 Kahdena Road, Morris Township, from noon to 5 pm. See Saturday entry for more details.
The Community Soup Kitchen and Outreach Center in Morristown is hosting its 15th annual Hunger Walk on “World Food Day,” rain or shine, starting with registration at 1 p.m. at the Church of the Redeemer on South Street. The three-mile walk gives participants an education about homelessness, with story cards distributed at key points along the route. This year’s fundraiser is especially vital, because new health regulations require all soup kitchen meals to be purchased and prepared on-site. No more donated casseroles, in other words. The new rules will cost the soup kitchen another $150,000 a year. To participate in the Hunger Walk or to make a donation, register on-line at www.cskmorristown.org or call 973-267-0709.
A 3 pm forum on domestic violence will be followed by a vigil to remember Nazish Noorani, the Boonton mother of two who was slain in Boonton this summer in what authorities say was a hit ordered by her husband. The forum will be held at Jam-E-Masjid Islamic Center, at 110 Harrison St., Boonton. A procession from Harrison and Washington streets will start at 4:45 pm and continue to the corner of Cedar and Cornelia streets where the tragedy occurred, for a candlelight vigil.
The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, conducted by Dr. Robert W. Butts, will launch its season featuring pianist Jarred Tafaro at 3 pm at Dolan Hall, at the College of Saint Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road, Madison. They will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Franz Liszt with the Concerto for Piano #1. The program also includes Vincenzo Bellini’s Overture to Norma and George Bizet’s Symphony in C. Jarred Tafaro is a music professor at the school; he gave a powerful performance of Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor last December. Tickets are $5 to $35. Call 973-366-8922 for more information.
Jason Warner and deMarco DiCiccio, singer-songwriters who advocate on behalf of gay youth, will give a free 7 pm concert at Morristown’sEpiscopal Church of the Redeemer at 36 South St. Jason and deMarco speak out about the seriousness of gay teen suicide and the need to provide increased support and resources for young gay people. Their music and message have been showcased in People magazine and the SHOWTIME documentary We’re All Angels. Donations will benefit SAFE (Safe Affirming Family Environment), a Houston-based service organization helping foster children and young adults find jobs and transition to independent living.
Bobby Vinton, the Polish Prince, sings at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center at 8 pm. Tickets are $47 to $67. Call 973-539-8008 for details.
MONDAY, Oct. 17
Don’t know who to vote for in Morristown’s council races? Come to the League of Women Voters candidates forum at 7:30 pm, in the Presbyterian Parish House at 65 South St.
