The Weekender: What's Happening in Newark and Beyond

Here are some of the events happening this weekend in Newark and neighboring towns.   To see all the events click on EVENTS on the home page.

NEWARK

WHAT:  
WHERE:  Newark Library– Clinton Branch, 739 Bergen St, Newark
WHEN:    Friday  3pm
WHY GO:  Celebrate National Cartoonists Day with an afternoon of classic TV / movie cartoons. Also, drawing materials available for you to show off your drawing and cartooning skills.

WHAT:  
WHERE:   Newark Library – Branch Brook Branch, 235 Clifton Ave, Newark
WHEN:     Friday   4pm
WHY GO:   Join us in making a maraca out of paper plates and rice

WHAT:  
WHERE:   550 Broad Street, Newark 
WHEN:    Saturday   9am – 12pm
WHY GO:  Prom gowns and dressy dresses will be offered by “Catherine’s Closet” on May 5th.   No ID is required, and all women are welcome to shop for beautiful dresses, accessories, purses and shoes at incredibly low prices!    The cost is a minimal fee of $20 per gown or $5 per accessory, and the proceeds are then distributed in the form of scholarships. 

WHAT:   
WHERE:  Willing Heart Community Center, 555 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Newark
WHEN:   Saturday   2pm
WHY GO:  The Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark is recruiting current 5th grade male Newark students. For more information, come out to the Open House on Saturday, May 5, 2012 from 2p.m. - 4p.m. at the Willing Heart Community Care Center.

WHAT:  
WHERE:  Bethany Baptist Church, 275 West Market Street, Newark
WHEN:    Saturday   6pm
WHY GO:  "Worship the Lord to the Sounds of Jazz" on the first Saturday of every month, from October through June. Our Jazz Vespers are at 6 - 7:30pm, with light refreshments afterwards, giving you time to meet and greet our musicians - NJSO & Jazz Group

WHAT:  
WHERE:  Branch Brook Park, Newark
WHEN:   Sunday   11am – Registration    1pm – Step Off
WHY GO:  Join us in making AIDS History in the Garden State! Organizations from every region of the state of New Jersey have joined together to unify efforts and produce a single state-wide event, the New Jersey AIDS Walk! On this day, in seven locations across NJ, at exactly the same time of day, thousands upon thousands of people will walk in solidarity to support of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.   http://­www.­njcri.­org/­  

BELLEVILLE

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Senior Citizens Building, Belleville
WHEN:    Friday  12:30 p.m.
WHY GO: Belleville Seniors meet every Friday, with coffee, buns and bingo following.  New members are always welcome.

WHAT:   Cinco de Mayo Craft
WHERE:   Belleville Public Library, 221 Washington Ave, Belleville
WHEN:   Saturday   11am
WHY GO:  Come and make a Mexican Craft to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

WHAT:   
WHERE: Wesley United Methodist Church, 225 Washington Ave., Belleville
WHEN:   Saturday, 3-4:30 p.m.
WHY GO: Our Kids Club is a little bit of Vacation Bible School each week. We play games, do crafts, learn about the Bible.   All elementary-aged kids are invited to join.

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Belleville Township High School, 100 Passaic Ave, Belleville
WHEN:     Sunday   9am
WHY GO:    Held mostly outdoors in the nice weather but for those vendors that like to stay indoors we always keep the gym open.  If it rains we all go indoors so we never have to be canceled due to rain.  Lots of vendors here, loads of bargains, some great vintage & collectible finds too!  Food is also available for purchase.

NUTLEY

WHAT:  
WHERE:  Good Shepherd Academy, 24 Brookline Ave, Nutley
WHEN:  Friday   6pm
WHY GO:  Enjoy a fun evening and maybe win a great gift!
COST:  Admission is $20 (includes one sheet regular tickets, beverages and dessert). Pre-event prize ticket packages are available for $20 (will be $25 night of the event). Super 50/50 tickets are available for $25 (only 200 tickets being sold). Admission tickets will not be sold the night of the event.  No one under the age of 16 permitted. If interested, contact Roberta Boland at 201-207-6522.

WHAT:  
WHERE:  St. Mary’s Gym,16 Monsignor Owens Pl, Nutley
WHEN:  Friday   7pm
WHY GO: The Phoenix Center invites all to attend their upcoming Casino Night Fundraiser (with Cinco De Mayo theme) to be held on Fri., May 4 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. in the school gymnasium. All guests will be provided with dinner, beer, wine, dessert and gaming chips. Guests will use their winning chips to bid on great prizes. 
COST:  Tickets are $100 for a VIP ticket (which includes a private reception with a guest impersonator from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) and $60 for a Regular ticket.   For tickets or information, contact the Phoenix Center at 973-542-0743 x300

WHAT:  
WHERE:  44 Park Ave, Nutley
WHEN:  Friday  7pm
WHY GO:  Nutley Volunteer Emergency & Rescue Squad’s Board of Trustee’s Fundraiser.  NO Tickets will be sold at the Door. Call for Tickets – 973-800-0949.  
COST:  Ticket price: $35 - Beef Steak, French Fries, Salad, Beer & Soda, Coffee & Tea

WHAT:   WHERE:   Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Drive, Nutley
WHEN:    Saturday  11am
WHY GO:  The American Humane Association celebrates the human / animal bond, and promotes humane education and treatment of pets and wildlife during the annual celebration, “Be Kind to Animals Week.”   Bring your leashed and/or caged pets to this fun event.   All pets will be winners.    Rain date 5/19

BLOOMFIELD

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Bloomfield Public Library, 90 Broad Street, Bloomfield
WHEN:  Friday   11am
WHY GO:   Do you knit, crochet, needlepoint, quilt?  Then come to the Bloomfield Public Library Friday mornings and share your patterns/techniques with other crafters!   Beginners welcome! 

WHAT: 
WHERE:   Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center, 240 Belleville Ave, Bloomfield
WHEN:      Friday  7pm
WHY GO:  The audience will assist the Private Eye as he tries to figure out who killed Mexican food entrepreneur, Hector Tamale.  Along the way you will unravel a twisting mystery plot that involves a disgruntled chef, a jealous food reviewer, an unsavory loan shark, a very unhappy wife and more.  Each table becomes an investigative team and will have the opportunity to win clues by answering fun food trivia questions.   Selected audience members will become Guest Snitches and Suspects in a side-splitting Comedy Mystery which will keep everyone guessing until the very end!
COST:   $64.95 per person and includes dinner, show, tax and gratuity; cash bar is available. 

WHAT:  
WHERE:   Bloomfield Municipal Parking Lot next to Post Office
WHEN:    Saturday   9am – 1pm
WHY GO:  Resident in the township are being provided the opportunity to bring all their personal documents to be shredded and recycled at no cost. Green Sky Industries, a company committed to recycling in Bloomfield, will provide a shredding truck, driver, and laborers for this event which will last for four hours or until the truck is full to capacity.

WHAT:  WHERE:   Bloomfield Public Library,  90 Broad Street, Bloomfield
WHEN:  Saturday  10am
WHY GO:  Learn breathing techniques, low  impact yoga and meditation. Introduction to powerful techniques that increase your well-being through reduced stress, increased health & well-being, more ease & joy in personal relationships, improved self-esteem, greater creativity & clarity of mind and a deeper sense of community.  

WHAT:   WHERE:  Comic Book Market, 28 Washington St, Bloomfield
WHEN:    Saturday  9am – 7pm
WHY GO:   Free Comic Book Day is an annual event held on the first Saturday in May by most specialty comic book stores across the nation. As one of the few remaining comic book shops in the area, The Comic Book Market in Bloomfield is pleased to host Free Comic Book Day on May 5th, 2012. Scores of free books are available for -- of course -- FREE!

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Watsessing ark, Bloomfield, NJ
WHEN:    Saturday  10am – 2pm
WHY GO:   the Watsessing Park Conservancy will be hosting a Watsessing Park clean-up, meeting at the Maolis Avenue and Glenwood Avenue entrance. Clean-up supplies will be provided. 

WHAT:
WHERE:  Bloomfield Public Library, 90 Broad St., Bloomfield
WHEN:    Saturday, 10 a.m.
WHY GO: Challenge your chess skills and have fun!

CALDWELLS

WHAT: 
WHERE:   Mount Saint Dominic Academy, 3 Ryerson Ave, Caldwell
WHEN:    Friday  6pm
WHY GO:  Sample choice wines from Fairchild’s Market and an array of hors d’oeuvres from various chefs. Our feature of the evening will be wonderful performances by Broadway stars Lawrence Clayton and Andrea Rivette.
COST:   $60

WHAT:  WHERE:  Caldwell College,120 Bloomfield Ave, Caldwell
WHEN:    Saturday   8:30am
WHY GO:  The keynote speech, "Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Principles for the Beginning Counselor," will be offered by current students Dennis Quinn and Eva Pena. Other presentations will address suicide screening procedures, working with clients suffering from schizophrenia, gaining on-campus counseling experience at the Caldwell Help-Line, and preparing for the National Counselor Examination and the Caldwell counseling graduate programs' comprehensive exam.  The event, to be held at Werner Hall, will begin with a light breakfast at 8:30 a.m. The keynote address will follow at 9:15 p.m. Attendees can then choose from a variety of workshops being offered at 10 and 11 a.m. The conference will conclude at 1:30 p.m.
COST:   Registration is free to Caldwell College undergraduate students and faculty. For Caldwell graduate students and members of the community, registration is $10 in advance or $13 at the door. 

WHAT:  WHERE:  Washington Elementary School, Caldwell
WHEN:    Saturday  9am
WHY GO:    Items for sale include: Toys, Books, CD’s and DVD’s, household items, bikes, sporting equipment and much more!! - Raindate is May 12, 201

WHAT:  WHERE:  West Caldwell Public Library Community Room
WHEN:    Saturday  9am to 3pm
WHY GO:    Collectibles are treasures from the attic, basement, closet or junk drawers that are no longer wanted. They are one step above garage sale items and are not new products or handmade crafts. All items will be gently used and in good condition.  Some of the items that will be available for sale include baseball cards, assorted ceramics, depression glass, war souvenirs, old postcards, LP and 45 records, bottle openers, jewelry, watches, sewing items and antiques bottles

WHAT:  WHERE:  James Caldwell High School, 265 Westville Ave, West Caldwell
WHEN:    Saturday  10am
WHY GO:    Spring is a perfect time to clean out all your old documents and have them securely shredded!
COST:   In lieu of a fee Donations to the JCHS Scholarship Fund will be accepted

WHAT:  WHERE:  Caldwell College, Bloomfield Ave, Caldwell
WHEN:    Saturday  Noon to 6pm
WHY GO:    Live music performances by:  Bubble Gum Octopus (techno), Saska (Cover band & originals), Elevator Art (Folk), Alias and the @IKT (hip hop) and Sammybritish (Reggae & cover).  Food, fun, fames, activities, craft vendors, Beer garden (21+ with valid ID) and so much more!!  Outside – Dominican Hall Lawn **Rain date- Sunday, May 6, 2012**
COST:   $5

WHAT:  
WHERE:  West Caldwell Public Library, 30 Clinton Road, West Caldwell
WHEN:  Sunday  2pm
WHY GO:   May 6, classical pianist Carolyn Enger will present a concert titled "The Art of Lyricism: From Beethoven to Bernstein" at 2:00 pm in the Community Room. The program will feature works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Mozart, Copland and Bernstein. This concert is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. To sign-up, call the Library at (973) 226-5441.

CEDAR GROVE

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Essex County Fleet Maintenance Facility, 99 W. Bradford Ave, Cedar Grove
WHEN:    Saturday   8:30am – 4pm
WHY GO:  Materials being collected at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day include pesticides and herbicides, paint thinners and solvents, oil-based paint, chemistry sets, barbecue propane tanks, pool chemicals, photo developing chemicals, 9-volt and NiCad batteries, fluorescent light bulbs and ballasts, products that contain mercury, car batteries, home fire extinguishers, aerosol spray paint and automotive fluids.   Items not being collected include latex paint, unlabeled or unidentifiable materials, asbestos, AA, AAA, C and D household batteries, regulated medical waste or infectious waste, commercial or industrial waste, empty containers, explosives, munitions, ordinance or reactive materials.

WHAT:   
WHERE:  Cedar Grove Library, 1 Municipal Plz, Cedar Grove
WHEN:    Saturday  8am  (before library opens)
WHY GO:  All are welcome to attend and participate in this relaxing routine that combines breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, healing, and meditation.

WHAT:  WHERE:  651 Pompton Ave, Cedar Grove
WHEN:    Sunday  8am – 1pm
WHY GO:  The Cedar Grove Ambulance & Rescue Squad, with the help of Mike Grabas, is hosting a Pancake Breakfast at the Squad building.  All proceeds will benefit the Squad.  We will be serving all-you-can-eat pancakes with bacon or sausage, and coffee, tea or juice.  Kingsley the Bear will be joining us to entertain the kids, and members will be available to give tours of the building and the ambulance/rescue vehicles as well.
COST:   $6 per person, children under 5 free

MONTCLAIR

WHAT:  WHERE:  St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 73 S. Fullerton Ave, Montclair
WHEN:   Friday  8pm
WHY GO:  Cabaret for a Cure is a concert of musical theater songs to benefit the American Cancer Society. Light refreshments included!
COST:   Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

WHAT: 
WHEN:  Saturday   8:30am – 11am
WHERE:   Grace Presbyterian Church, 153 Grove Street, Montclair  
WHY GO:   PANCAKES, SAUSAGE, BACON AND VERMONT SYRUP FOR ONLY $5 AT THE DOOR to support relief and re-builing efforts in Joplin, Missouri.  In the last year the Mid-West has been hit with Tornado after Tornado and Grace wants to remind our fellow Americans that we have not forgotten them.  Funds raised will go toward re-building homes in JOPLIN, Missouri.
COST:   $5

WHAT:   WHERE:   Terra Tea and Fair Trade at the Isabel Rose Cafe,  50 S Fullerton Ave, Montclair,
WHEN:    Saturday  2pm
WHY GO:  Full Afternoon Tea complete with assorted finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, sweets and savories, and steaming pots of fair trade, organic loose tea.  Honor the women, young and old, who make a difference in your life of the life of your child or a treasured family member.  Treat a grandmother, a mother, a tutor, a friend, a child to a lovely, relaxing afternoon.
COST:  $25 per person – RSVP  973-744-6600

WHAT: 
WHERE:   Watchung School Gym, Garden St & N Fullerton Ave, Montclair
WHEN:    Friday, May 4, 12pm - 4pm  &  Saturday, May 5, 9am – 2pm
WHY GO:   Clothing, Accessories, Household Items, Electronics, Toys, Books and more

WHAT:   WHERE:  New Jersey Center for Healthy Living,  292 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair
WHEN:   Saturday  11am – 4pm
WHY GO:  Join your community for a free health festival with something for everyone. Food Tastings, “Veggiecation” for Kids, Organic Garden Start-ups, a T’ai Chi Chih Workshop, Mother's Day Specials, Raffles and much more!!! 

WHAT:  
WHERE:   Montclair Historical Society, 108 Orange Rd, Montclair
WHEN:     Thursday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am to 3 pm
WHY GO:  Montclair Historical Society 34th Annual Herb and Plant Sale at the Israel Crane House.  The Herb Sale is a Montclair tradition and is eagerly anticipated by local gardeners who know that they can find unusual varieties of herbs for their gardens and their kitchens. On Saturday, May 5, everyone is encouraged to visit and participate in Family Day. There will be a Bee Keeper, Crafts, Kids’ Activities (make a gift for Mom), Museum Tours, Master Gardeners And More!

WHAT:   WHERE:   55 Edgemont Rd, Montclair
WHEN:     Friday  10am – 4pm and Saturday  9am – 2pm
WHY GO:  Annual plant sale by the Master Gardeners of Essex County. Great annuals, perennials, woodies, hanging baskets, herbs, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. The sale will be in the Edgemont Park, Valley Road, Montclair boathouse parking lot.

WHAT:
WHERE: The Café at the Montclair Public Library
WHEN: Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m.
WHY GO: All ages and skill levels are welcome to play chess on Saturday afternoons. This is a drop-in group, no registration is required.

WHAT:  WHERE:   486 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair
WHEN:     Saturday  11:30am – 1:30pm
WHY GO: Only 1% of Americans currently serve in the U.S. Military, and their families have borne the disproportionate burden of more than a decade at war. Many have turned to “Flat Daddies” and"Heroes on a Stick," life-sized cardboard cutouts of their husbands, wives, parents and children serving overseas, to ease the pain of repeated deployments. Using these two-dimensional surrogates as a connecting thread, the documentary film FLAT DADDY follows four such families over the course of a year to explore the lasting impact of the war on those left behind. 
COST: $12

WHAT:   WHERE:  Van Vleck House and Gardens 21 Van Vleck St, Montclair
WHEN:    Saturday 9 am to 4 pm and Sunday 10 am to 2 pm   
WHY GO:  Join us at the 9th annual benefit plant sale for the finest local plant selections, expert landscape advice and novel garden accessories.

VERONA

WHAT:
WHERE: Verona Community Center Annex, 880 Bloomfield Ave, Verona
WHEN: Friday 1pm
WHY GO: Drop in on Fridays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to play or to socialize at the Community Center Annex. No registration required.

WHAT:  
WHERE:  1st Presbyterian Church of Verona, 10 Fairview Ave, Verona
WHEN:  Saturday  9am – 10:30am
WHY GO:  Our mission starts and ends with helping you achive your weight loss or fitness goals in a fun, supportive, community rich with people who will encourage you towards your goals. Our free workouts are on Thursdays @ 7pm and Saturdays @ 9am 

WHAT: 
WHERE:   Our Lady of the Lake School, 26 Lakeside Ave, Verona
WHEN:     Saturday  7pm – 11pm
WHY GO:   DJ Dancing, Auction, Tricky Tray, Filet Mignon Dinner, Sangria, Dessert, Soda, Water, Coffee, Tea
COST:  $60