Morristown is such a happening place that it boasts not one, but two community walks this weekend. One fights AIDS, the other promotes art.
A celebration at the Morristown & Township Library will mark the official reopening of the 1917 wing, severely damaged by a still-unsolved explosion on May 3, 2010.
On the music front, you can choose from rock, classical, country, big band and choral offerings. For the kids, there is even a Winnie-the-Pooh musical. And our second annual MG Kids Art Show continues at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church until May 13.
If this isn’t enough, please check out our handy calendar for more choices.
THURSDAY, May 3, 2012:
A.A. Milne’s House at Pooh Corner comes to the Mayo Performing Arts Center at 4 pm with Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh and the rest of the beloved crew in this children’s musical. Admission: $12. At 100 South St., Morristown. Call 973-539-8008 for details.
The Thief of Bagdad starts a six-week silent film series at 6:30 pm at the Morristown & Township Library, 1 Miller Road. It stars Douglas Fairbanks as “a recalcitrant thief [who] vies with a duplicitous Mongol ruler for the hand of a beautiful princess.” Doors open at 6 pm. Admission: Free. Light refreshments will be served.
The Minstrel is hosting a free screening of the documentary Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune at 7:30 pm, at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship in Morris Township. The ’60s singer-songwriter is profiled via interviews with Joan Baez, Tom Hayden and others. Phil’s sister, Sonny Ochs, will field questions afterward. At 21 Normandy Heights Road. Call 973-335-9489 for more.
FRIDAY, May 4:
The Presbyterian Church in Morristown welcomes back its Fridays on the Green series at noon with Melissa Baker on flute, accompanied by Charity Wicks on piano. Admission: Free. A light lunch is available for purchase after to the 35-minute concert. At 57 E. Park Place.
Celebrate The Songs of Phil Ochs at the Minstrel in Morris Township, starting at 8 pm. Magpie, John Flynn, Joe Jencks, Greg Greenway and Pat Wictor will perform material by the iconic ’60s singer-songwriter. Phil’s sister, Sonny Ochs, will emcee the evening. At the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road. Admission: Adults $7, children 12 and under are free. Call 973-335-9489 for more.
Manhattan Comedy Night brings comics Melvin George MC, Andy Pitz, Tommy Drake & Joe Starr to Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center at 8 pm. Mature themes, language. Admission: $25. Call 973-539-8008 for more.
Universal Rebel plays Morristown’s Dublin Pub at 9 pm. No cover charge.
SATURDAY, May 5:
Volunteers at the 14th annual Jersey Cares Day will spruce up Morris Township’s Collinsville Playground and Kiwanis Field from 8:30 am to 5 pm. They are scheduled to paint a map of the USA and new hopscotch boards, repair fencing, perform landscaping and install handicap access ramp. Jersey Cares says: “These changes will create an invigorating environment for Morris County children and families who utilize the parks, strengthen community involvement and build the foundation for future volunteerism.” Call 973-424-1091 for more.
The All-County Garage Sale will fill Mennen Arena in Morris Township from 9 am to 5 pm, and again all day Sunday. Proceeds from sales of furniture, antiques, housewares, jewelry and toys will benefit Historic Speedwell. For details or reservations, call 973-285-6534.
Two years ago, an explosion severely damaged the Morristown & Township Library. At 11 am the library officially marks the re-opening of its 1917 wing. A barbershop quartet will sing, politicians will speak, and light refreshments will be served. Still no word on what caused the powerful blast…but at least everyone can admire the renovations and celebrate the fact that nobody was injured.
George Washington ordered its construction, and it became known as Fort Nonsense. Was it really nonsense? Ask a Park Ranger from 1 pm to 4 pm at Fort Nonsense, part of the Morristown National Historical Park, overlooking Morristown from behind the Morris County Courthouse. Call 973-539-2016 x 210 for details.
It’s Derby de Mayo at Inline Morristown, where the Jerzey Derby Brigade’s Major Pains battle New Brunswick’s Hellrazors in bruising roller derby action at 6:30 pm. At 38 Dumont Place. Tickets are $12 at the door.
Suzy Bogguss has a bagful of Grammys and Country Music Awards for hits such as Aces, Drive South, Someday Soon, Outbound Plane and Letting Go. You can hear her sing them live at 8 pm at the Sanctuary series in Chatham, at the Presbyterian Church on Green Village Road. Tickets are $25.
The Community band will be cranking up the volume at Morristown’s Dublin Pub on Pine Street starting around 8 pm. Myke Rivera and the boys always come to play!
SUNDAY, May 6:
The New Jersey AIDS Walk will raise money to help the 35,000 state residents affected by HIV/AIDS. Register at 11 am on the Morristown Green; the walk starts at 1 pm. Hosted by New Jersey AIDS Services (formerly known as the Eric Johnson House). Call 973-285-0006 for more.
The first Morristown Art Walk will tour nine venues across town, starting at ArtSpace on Elm Street and including the MG Kids Art Show at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. In one leisurely afternoon visitors can enjoy the works of more than 50 area artists. Free.
The Civil War rages on at Morristown’s Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, where from 1 pm to 4 pm author Joe Bilby will be signing his books about the roles of Jerseyans in that war. It’s part of the ongoing exhibition Gone for a Soldier: Jerseymen in the Civil War. Admission: Adults $8; seniors and students $6; children 6-12, $4. Members and children under 5 are free. The museum is at 45 Macculloch Ave. For more, call 973-538-2404 x 10.
The Morristown Unitarian Fellowship presents Music in Bloom at 3 pm. Enjoy the Morris Consort, MUF Combined Choirs, Chamber Ensemble and soloists performing music of Schumann, Stephen Foster and Persichetti, along with popular favorites and a premiere by Morristown composer George Aronson— against a backdrop of floral images by photographer Elaine Boucher. At 21 Normandy Heights Road in Morris Township. Tickets are $20, and $5 for youths 18 and under. The show will be reprised on May 12 at 7 pm. For more information, contact: music@muuf.org or 845-858-9895.
Experience the big band sound of the ’20s and ’30s with Vince Giordano and His Nighthawks, at 3 pm at the Mayo Performing Arts Center. Presented by the New Jersey Jazz Society. All seats $20. Call 973-539-8008.
At 4 pm baritone Drew Santini and pianist Charity Wicks will perform in the First Sundays concert series at the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, at 57 E. Park Place. Admission: Free.
Like to draw? Check out the weekly Open Drawing Session at Zebu Forno, 9 South St., Morristown, at 6 pm. Three hours of live models, friendly instruction and pizza cost just $10. Bring your own art supplies; Chris and Danielle Merzatta provide the rest. Call 770-853-9727 for more information.
