Summer and music seem to go together, with free concerts, musical comedies, and even an old-fashioned ice cream social featuring a live band and a sing-along.  Read on for the details of these events and others, and be sure to check the Patch calendar for even more local happenings.  Enjoy! Youth Musical: Think for Yourself Diversity Youth Theater presents a family-friendly musical, Think For Yourself! at Luna Stage.  Follow the mishaps and comedy as a group of friends attempts to save Marv's Marvelous Flea Market.  Entertaining for all ages! $20, $12 for kids; Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m…

  Groove to jazz fusion, experience interactive art, or belly flop at the pool – this weekend offers diverse choices for your leisure time.  Read on for some Patch Picks for local events to make your days off into something special.  For even more events, check out the Patch calendar.  Enjoy! The Luna Fusion Fest: The Heart and Soul of Rock and Jazz Two days of electric jazz and big band rock come to the Luna Stage with the Luna Fusion Fest.  Starting with a free children’s workshop, Short Fuse, featuring percussionist and educator Gregg Bendian, the weekend continues with The Mahavishnu …

Maplewoodstock, a bicycle ride, outdoor concerts, a gardens tour – some of the best things in life (and summer) are local this weekend, and most are free!  Read on for a list of exciting events happening in our area during the next few days that won’t be a drain on your wallet. Slather on some sunscreen, pack a bottle of water and head out for a good time! Maplewoodstock Maplewoodstock is the grooviest 2-day music and arts festival in our area. Memorial Park will be transformed as the weekend features bands such as Chris Berry and Panjea; James Maddock; Ollabelle; and Shamekia Copeland. The …

Summer has made its arrival known with a vicious heat wave, so for those who are not escaping to the beach, Patch has compiled a list of entertainments for the weekend that will be blissfully air-conditioned. From a luau to a charity art auction, the following events are indoors, so cool off and enjoy! Art Auction & Party to benefit Kohl Angelo Kohl Angelo, 12, has been diagnosed and is under treatment for a malignant brain tumor.  With insurance tapped out, his family is facing staggering medical bills.  The kind folks at Geralyn's Art Studio are hosting an Art Auction to help them out, so …

This is a weekend to celebrate. And no one does it better than Maplewood-South Orange, and our neighbors in nearby towns with Celebrate South Orange, India Fest, and even a celebration of the re-established bees at the arboretum on tap this weekend.  Read on for a listing of these events and others happening locally during the next few days, then get out there and party! Celebrate South Orange South Orange’s party of the year will bring the community into the streets of downtown for an afternoon and evening of live music and entertainment; a kid zone including carnival games, face-painting …

Grab a bottle of water, slather on the sunscreen, and prepare for a lovely weekend out of doors! So many events scheduled for the next few days include sunshine: Pride Festival in Maplewood, The Irish Sports Expo in West Orange, and the Greenwood Gardens Jazz Picnic, to name a few. Read on for the details of these events and others happening in our area, and be sure to check the Patch calendar for even more local things-to-do! SOMA Pride Festival Join your neighbors in celebrating diversity and show your support for full equality at the SOMA Pride Festival in Maplewood’s Memorial Park.  The …

If only the weekends lasted longer!  Then maybe we could fit in all the fun events that are happening in our area!  Below is a list of highlights over the next few days.  Be sure to check the Patch calendar for a complete listing of upcoming events. Annual Essex County Police and Public Safety Expo The Livingston Mall will be bustling with law enforcement this Saturday when local, county, state, and federal agencies provide live demonstrations and displays throughout the mall.  Many safety programs will be presented, including the Livingston Kiwanis sponsored Kid Care Child ID Program, where …

Some weekends slide by quietly, with little going on.  This weekend will not be one of them!  Big events on the calendar include the Fifth Annual Komen North Jersey Race for the Cure, the Maplewood Art Walk, South Orange River Day, the Kiwanis Karnival in Livingston, and several concerts, nature activities, and a magic show.  The details of these events follows below, and be sure to check  the Patch calendar for even more events of interest.  Feel free to add your own suggestions for weekend fun to the Comments section.  Enjoy! Susan G. Komen North Jersey Race for the Cure The big day is …

Spring is such a lovely time to be outdoors. Many events happening locally this weekend will take advantage of the (hopefully!) nice spring weather, from bird watching to Arbor Day plantings. Several happenings focus on wellness, such as Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA, and the Jack & Jill Health and Wellness Day.  Read on for the details of these events and others, and be sure to check the Patch calendar for even more events. Enjoy! Maplewood Green Day Maplewood takes environmentalism seriously, and Green Day at Memorial Park promises to be a BIG event!  With more than 100 green vendors and …

  Prepare for a full weekend ahead!  With everything from Earth Day celebrations to College for a Day, there is no excuse for boredom.  Below are some Patch picks for you to consider – check the Patch calendar for a full listing of events.  And feel free to add you own suggestions for weekend fun in the Comments section.  Enjoy! Seth Boyden 5K Run The Seth Boyden School of Maplewood/South Orange will host a 5K run and Kids’ Fun Run at the South Mountain Reservation to raise funds for the school.  Age-group winners and overall winners will receive prizes at the Awards Ceremony.  Fun for the …

If you have recovered enough from last weekend’s holiday festivities, prepare for another weekend full of interesting activities!All around our little corner of Essex County plays and comedies, concerts and children’s programs are planned for your entertainment. Read on for a list of highlights, and be sure to check the Patch Calendar for a complete list of what’s happening in our area. Feel free to add you own suggestions in the Comments section. Miss Witherspoon by Christopher Durang Miss Witherspoon is the first production by The Theater Project as resident company at the Burgdorff Center …

The coming weekend contains both Easter and Passover, and houses of worship in Maplewood and South Orange are planning special events. Friday is the first night of Passover, as well as Good Friday. Saturday is the first day of Passover and Holy Saturday, when many Christian churches hold Easter vigils. Easter will be celebrated on Sunday.  Below is a listing by each temple or church, of activities this weekend. Our Lady of Sorrows, 217 Prospect St, South Orange Good Friday, April 6th: 9:00 a.m. Morning prayers; 3 p.m. Liturgy of the Passion of Christ; 7:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross presented…

The coming weekend promises all kinds of fun — you can find out if you are smarter than a 5th grader, or hunt for Easter eggs, meet a teen author or catch a musical. There are also a few fundraisers in the area. Don’t forget to check the Patch calendar for a complete listing of events! Redwood School Presents 'Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?' For a fun, family-oriented night out, come play “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?” at Redwood Elementary School this Friday.  VIP Contestants Governor Richard Codey, Mayor Robert Parisi, Superintendant Dr. Cavanna, Principal Kivlon, American Idol …

High school and middle school spring productions continue around our area, while other stages host shows and concerts as diverse as a marionette show at SOPAC and a speakeasy show at the Women's Club from Studio B.  Columbia High School is opening its doors for adults to take classes for a day, and MoFiddles is bringing us a fine acoustic concert. Read on for the details of these events and others, and be sure to check the Patch calendar for a complete listing of everything happening this weekend.   SOMS Presents "Phantom of the Country Opera" South Orange Middle School presents "Phantom of …

Some events call for high heels and a little black dress, such as the Junior League fundraiser, and others are best attended in sneakers and jeans, like the Mr. Ray concert.  Events around our area this weekend will exercise your wardrobe, and leave you with plenty of choices for things to do and wear.  Jane Seymour will be introducing her artwork at the Wentworth Gallery (heels again!), and the Daughters of Israel will host a Purim Carnival (probably best in sneakers). There will be several opportunities for music, from a Blues/Rock/Jazz coffeehouse to a YMCA benefit. Read on for the details…

The music being performed locally this weekend is good.  Really good. Check out The Religion of Bebop: a Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie, or Jackie Jones singing for the Springfield Avenue Partnership. The Black History Month Celebration at the Maplewood Library also features jazz and drumming, along with readings and stories.  Other events include a wine tasting at the Paper Mill, a cook-off in Livingston, and a Big East Game when Seton Hall takes on Rutgers at the Prudential Center.  Read on for all the details, and feel free to add your own suggestions for weekend fun in the Comments section. …

Artists are out in force this weekend!  Musicians, dancers, and writers will perform for your entertainment at a variety of shows, from Story Slam to the South Orange Symphony.  The students of I.Dance will strut their stuff, and a djembe class will get you directly involved in making the music. The children’s classic film, The Black Stallion, is showing for free in Millburn. If you prefer to take advantage of the mild weather, enjoy the great outdoors at Edison Historical Park, or join the hike at South Mountain Reservation.  Read on for the details of these events and others, and feel free …

  Interesting things are happening in our corner of Essex County this weekend. Three Kings from the East bearings gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the new-born Messiah will appear in at least 2 local churches Sunday, in pageants celebrating the Christian holiday of Epiphany. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be honored at a community program hosted by the South Orange Civic Organization. Also around town are fundraisers for organizations such as Memories Live and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Add in a few parenting classes, and we have a full calendar on our hands! Read on …

Prepare to party!  2011 will come to a close this weekend with celebrations of all kinds: parties, First Night, gourmet dinners, theater, and a Broadway review.  The Holiday Lights Spectacular will conclude Saturday, and you have one last chance to catch A Christmas Carol before the run ends.  The Newark Museum is offering family fun all weekend, and the Dharma Center is offering an enlightening evening to ring in the new year. Read on for all the details of these events and others, and feel free to add suggestions of your own in the Comments section.  Happy New Year!   Maplewood & South …

  This is a weekend for celebrating. Happenings in our area focus on the joyful things in life: arts, faith, community, nature. Celebrate music at the Winter Solstice Concert or the Community Music Concert. Celebrate dance at the I.Dance Holiday Jam or at the Giwayen Mata Kwanzaa Show. Celebrate nature with a hike at South Mountain Reservation.  Celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanzaa at several different events.  Read on for the details of these events and others, and feel free to add your own suggestions for weekend fun in the Comments section. Enjoy! Di Modolo Presents Linked by Love …