The Weekender: Art, Music & Toys

Check out some of the festive events around the city and nearby.  Click the EVENTS tab on the home page to see all the possibilities for the weekend.  Feel free to add your own in the comments section.  

WHAT:
WHERE: Newark Public Library, 5 Washington St.
WHEN: Friday & Saturday, 9 a.m.
WHAT: B-Boys and Butterflies: The Stencil Art of Jerry Gant features a collection of original stencils created by the artist between 2001 and 2011, and spray-painted images on cloth created from them specifically for the present exhibition. While Gant’s art has been shown extensively in galleries, museums, and other institutions, the present exhibition is the first to focus exclusively on his stencil work.

WHAT:
WHERE: Newark Public Library Clinton, 739 Bergen St.
WHEN: Friday, 3:30 p.m.
WHY GO: Bingo is its name-o and it's at the Clinton Branch! For children up to 8th grade.

WHAT:  
WHERE: The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge St, Newark
WHEN: Friday, 8 p.m. 
WHY GO: The Cathedral Spanish Choir under the direction of Olfary Guitérrez joins forces with singers and instrumentalists from other Latin-American communities of the Archdiocese of Newark to present a program of ethnic Christmas music. The program, conducted in Spanish, includes Ariel Ramíerez's "Navidad Nuestra" along with Villancicos Tradicionales. Come celebrate Christmas from the many aspects of Latin-American traditions.
COST: Free will offering

WHAT:
WHERE: Central High School, Newark
WHEN: Saturday, 10 a.m.
WHY GO: The Master Plan effort heads a major round of work aimed at creating a uniform development strategy for Newark, which will be implemented in conjunction with individual neighborhood plans, to guide Newark’s continued growth. The Plan’s core policy goals include creating jobs for residents, fostering healthy and safe neighborhoods, and enhancing Newark as a city of choice.

WHAT:
WHERE: Central High School, 246 18th Ave.
WHEN: Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
WHY GO:  Girls; Live, Love, Laugh, Inc. is hosting our First toy drive giveaway and Christmas party. Come out to support our day of giving back to our community. Rita's Ice will be giving out icecream & gift certificates; Queens Daughters Cakes will have a table full of holiday treats; Coffee Vintage Boutique will be giving out coats, hats & gloves; music by DJ Anthony Cooper, photos with Santa by Photographer Michelle Padilla, free toys & gifts for boys & girls ages 3-17 will be given out by Girls; LLL, Inc, Hayes Homes Organization, Central Ward Community Group; Titans & Chargers Football/Cheerleader Squad; New Jersey Finest Drill Team; AnJaya Mone' Artistry; Irvington Rotary Club; Respect 8; & WISE Women's Center of Essex County College. Bring the youth out to enjoy in the holiday fun, games, music, arts/crafts table. Everything is FREE.

WHAT:
WHERE: Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange
WHEN: Friday, Saturday, Sunday
WHY GO: Experience Turtle Back Zoo in the winter as 100,000 bulbs and 40 lit displays illuminate the zoo this holiday season!
COST: Free. Turtle Back Zoo will be collecting non-perishable food, winter coats and unwrapped new toys for the needy each evening of holiday lights.

WHAT:
WHERE: Newark Symphony Hall
WHEN: Sunday, 4 p.m. 
WHY GO: Join us for an afternoon showcasing the power of the Gospel experience through music, dance, song and spoken word rendered by some of the best and brightest ministries in the Metropolitan area
COST: $10

WHAT:
WHERE: Newark Museum, 49 Washington St.
WHEN: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 12–5 p.m.
WHY GO: This historically accurate installation offers the opportunity to step back in time to learn about nineteenth-century life and traditions. From the Christmas tree (a German tradition) to the wooden shoes by the hearth (a Dutch tradition) to the stockings on the chimney and plum pudding in the dining room (English traditions), visitors can get a sense of how Christmas evolved into a home-based secular holiday in the nineteenth century, linked to but distinct from the religious commemoration that was celebrated in church.
COST: Museum Admission: Adult $10; Children, Seniors & students with valid ID: $6; Members free

WHAT:
WHERE: Newark Museum, 49 Washington St.
WHEN: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 12-5 p.m.
WHY GO: Season of Light (Limited run) Saturdays & Sundays, 2 p.m. - Recommended for adults and children ages 6 and up (40 minutes).
Trace the development of many of the world's endearing holiday customs, all of which involve lighting up the winter season—from Yule logs and sparkling Christmas tree lights to the lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah. This show recounts the historical religious and cultural rituals practiced during the time of winter solstice—not only Christian and Jewish, but also Celtic, Nordic, Roman, Irish, Mexican and Hopi.
Seven Wonders, Fridays, 2 p.m.; Saturdays & Sundays, 2 & 4 p.m. - Recommended for adults and children ages 9 and up (40 minutes)
Turn back the pages of time and witness the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World as they have not been seen for thousands of years. 
The Little Star that Could, Saturdays & Sundays, 1 & 3 p.m. - Recommended for adults and children ages 5 to 8   (35 minutes)
A little star is born all by himself.  Lonely for some friends, he embarks on a journey through the galaxy. Along the way he meets different stars, learns about their lives, colors and temperatures. At the end of his voyage he is introduced to a star cluster, the Milky Way and the planets in our Solar System.
COST: Adults $15; children under 12, seniors, and college students $9 - includes museum & planetarium admission.

Coming this week...

WHAT:
WHERE: Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral, 608 Broad St.
WHEN: Wednesday & Thursday, 8 p.m.
WHY GO: Now in its 41st consecutive year, the Carol Sing has become one of the most significant Christmas concerts in northern New Jersey. The ambiance of candle light and season décor, combined with the Cathedral Choir, organ, brass, percussion and thousands of participants, to create an event that must be experienced.
COST: Free-will offering