Greater Morristown weekend preview: From Baroque to Botti, with Alfresco, farm-style

Grow It Green Morristown says a little rain won't stop 'Alfresco at the Farm.'
Grow It Green Morristown says a little rain won't stop 'Alfresco at the Farm.'
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Compiled by Kevin Coughlin

From Baroque to Botti, your musical bases are covered in Greater Morristown this weekend.  You can even hear some old Kootz.

Get back to the farm, Alfresco-style.

Support an up-and-coming author of kids’ books.

Tour some spectacular churches. Pray with their members on the Green.
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Scroll down for details on all these events, and more.

And check our handy calendar for even more great activities.

 


THURSDAY, AUG. 6, 2015:

Lashone Murphy, author of the children's book 'The Day I Made the Sky Smile.' Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Lashone Murphy has written a second children’s book, ‘The Last Leaf Left.’ Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Lashone Murphy, who has worked for the Morristown Neighborhood House for a decade, returns at 6:30 pm in a different capacity: Author. She will be signing copies of her second children’s book, The Last Leaf Left,  illustrated by Charles Caldwell, an alumnus of the Nabe’s youth programs. The Nabe is at 12 Flagler St. Read our interview with Lashone.

 

 

last leaf left by lashone murphy

Trumpet virtuoso Chris Botti is the world’s best selling jazz instrumentalist. See why at 8 pm, at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center, tickets $49-$89. At 100 South St. Call 973-539-8008 for more.

Chris Botti
Chris Botti

FRIDAY, AUG. 7:

David Massengill
David Massengill

At 8 pm, the Minstrel Acoustic Concert Series in Morris Township presents David Massengill, a superb songwriter (My Name Joe, Great American Dream) and master of the dulcimer, with opener Sharon Goldman of the Folk Project. Admission: $9, plus what you think the show really is worth. Kids 12 and under, free. At the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship,  21 Normandy Heights Road.

 

 

 


SATURDAY, AUG. 8:

Our friend Marty Epstein of Marty’s Reliable Cycle in Morristown is helping launch the Tour de Blairstown,   Sorry, cyclists– this ride is canceled!

A busy day at Grow It Green Morristown‘s Urban Farm at Lafayette commences at 8:30 am with Yoga at the Farm, and continues with produce sales from the farm stand between 9 am and noon.  Scroll down for details about the afternoon’s Alfresco event. The Urban Farm is behind the Lafayette Learning Center at 31 Hazel St. in Morristown.

The Morris Plains Farmers Market is back for its 13th season, every Saturday through Oct. 10, 2015, from 9 am to 2 pm. It’s on the Merchant Block, at the Speedwell Avenue extension, just before the train trestle.

The Morris Tourism Bureau’s popular walking tours continue at 10 am with a tour of Morristown’s historic churches.  Compare architectural flourishes of grand edifices erected between 1895 and 1929, the town’s Gilded Age. The tour starts at 6 Court St. Tickets are $15,  available online or by calling 973-631-5151.

Grow it Green Morristown’s annual Alfresco at the Farm fundraiser runs from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Urban Farm at Lafayette. Savor fire-grilled pizza from Millie’s Old World Meatballs & Pizza, desserts from The Artist Baker, and SmartWorld coffee, with music by Jordan Greene and the Original Music School. Activities include kids crafts and face painting, country relay races and plant sales. Tickets are $40 for adults and $75 for a couple.  Children ages 6-15 are $10; age 5 and under are free. Behind the Lafayette Learning Center at 31 Hazel St., Morristown.

alfresco at farm logo 2015

The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey continues its Summer Music Festival with cabaret at 7:30 pm in Grace Church, at 4 Madison Ave.  (Route 124)  in Madison. Nine singers will perform selections from opera and Broadway, with cabaret table seating. Patrons are welcome to bring refreshments. Admission:  $20 adults, $15 seniors. More details are here.

Video: A preview of Cabaret Night with the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey

 


SUNDAY, AUG. 9:

The Morristown Farmers Market  celebrates its 25th season, from 8:30 am to 2 pm every Sunday through Nov. 22, 2015, in municipal lot 10. That’s behind the Morristown Post Office, accessible via Morris Street or Dumont Place. Organized by the Morristown Partnership, the market features 16 area farms and specialty vendors, with entertainment offered once per month.

Jazz saxophonist Matthew Willis will play at a 10 am worship service on the beautiful Morristown Green. The service is a joint offering of the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, the Morristown United Methodist Church and the Bethel AME Church; all are welcome.

Video: Matthew Willis solos on ‘Sound Over All Waters’

Extra Baggage– The Women and Children of the Continental Army is a free talk by Park Rangers at Jockey Hollow, in the Morristown National Historical Park.  It can be heard between 1:30 pm and 4 pm at the Soldiers’ Huts; admission is free. George Washington wasn’t keen on having families travel with his troops…but he realized many had nowhere else to go. Learn about the jobs family members performed to keep soldiers in fighting trim during the War for Independence. Jockey Hollow is off Route 202 in Harding.

The Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey celebrates chamber music at 3 pm, as part of its Summer Music Festival. The program includes Mozart’s Divertimento; guitarist Stanley Alexandroniwicz will premiere Early Morning Suite by BONJ Director Robert W. Butts, plus 19th century Romantic guitar music; violinist Agnes Kwasniewska and pianist Paul Zeigler will perform Karol Szymanowski’s Sonata in D Minor. Admission: $20 adults, $15 seniors. At Grace Church, 4 Madison Ave. (Route 124),  Madison.  More details are here.

Video: Preview of Chamber Music Celebration with Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey

Meet artists from the Contemporary Art Group, which kicks off its new multimedia exhibit at the Mayo Art Upstairs Gallery with a free reception from 3 pm to 5 pm, at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown.  The exhibition runs through Sept. 15, 2015.  At 100 South St.

Conclude your weekend with free music from the Kootz band, 6 pm at Ginty Field in Morris Township. These rock oldies-but-goodies are presented by the Township department of parks and recreation. Bring a lawn chair or beach blanket.

The Kootz Band will perform at Ginty Field on June 25, 2013
The Kootz Band

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