The Weekender: What's Happening in Belleville, Bloomfield, Newark & Nutley

Here are just a few events happening in the area this weekend. Click on "events" on the homepage to see more.

WHAT: 
WHERE:  City Hall, 920 Broad Street, Newark
WHEN:  Friday    11am – 3pm
WHY GO:  The City of Newark will be having it’s 2012 Earth Day Celebration in the City Hall Basement Rotunda.  Feel free to stop by between 11am – 3pm to pick up energy savings tips for your home/business, adopt a baby tree, register for a City Hall beautification project, learn about recycled art, and much much more!

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Clinton Branch Newark Library, 739 Bergen St, Newark
WHEN:  Friday    3pm-5pm
WHY GO:  In celebration of Earth Day, children of all ages may join us for an animal craft activity. Make a duck, frog, mouse, owl, and other forest and rainforest animals

WHAT:  
WHERE:  Nutley Little Theater, 47 Erie Pl, Nutley
WHEN:    Evening performances are at 8pm on April 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28.   Matinees are 2pm on April 22 and 28.
WHY GO:  In the mountains of Connemara, County Galway, unfolds this darkly comic tale of Maureen Folan, a plain and lonely woman in her early forties. Mag, her manipulative, aging mother, interferes in Maureen's first and possibly final chance for a loving relationship, setting in motion a train of events that leads inexorably towards the play's terrifying dénouement.

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:  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:  
WHERE:   Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Drive, Nutley
WHEN:    Friday  2pm
WHY GO:  This magical adventure is set in a 1930’s Paris train station and involves an orphan trying to uncover a mystery involving his father and an automaton. Martin Scorsese directs this winner of five Academy Awards (PG)

WHAT: 
WHERE:   Church of St. Valentine, 125 N Spring St, Bloomfield
WHEN:   Friday    Doors open at 6:45
WHY GO:  All proceeds from this event are donated to our church and we are, once again calling upon the generosity of our friends and parishioners to ensure its’ success.  Tickets are $10 and include prizes and refreshments. Doors open at 6:45pm.  No tickets will be sold at the door.  For tickets please call Cathy King after 6pm at 973-429-7567.
COST:   $10

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Westminster Arts Center, 449 Franklin St, Bloomfield
WHEN:   Friday & Saturday   8pm  -  Sunday  2pm  (doors open 30 minutes before show time)
WHY GO:  With music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and book by Neil Simon (based on Federico Fellini’s film Nights of Cabiria), the show tells the story of dancer-for-hire Charity Hope Valentine’s sweet and hopeful search for love. The Tony award-winning musical comedy featuring lively choreography, snappy dialogue, and show-stopping numbers including such favorites as “Big Spender,” “Rhythm of Life,” and “If They Could See Me Now” opened to rave reviews on Broadway in 1966.
COST:   Tickets for Sweet Charity are $25 for Adults, $22 for Senior Citizens, $15 for Students with a valid ID, and $4 for Bloomfield College Students with a valid ID

WHAT:  
WHERE:    Bradley Hall Theatre - Rutgers NJIT
WHEN:  Friday & Saturday  7pm;   Sunday 2pm
WHY GO:  "Two young women in Manhattan seek love and happiness, but they'll settle for rent money. Along the way, they volunteer for a community advocacy group called SAFE ("Stay Away From Ed") named for an elusive serial attacker terrorizing the city. (There's a hefty reward for his capture.) Their new circle of "friends" includes their ruthless, socially stunted roommate; the celebrated author of a fictional memoir; a lonely man who feels a kinship with crime victims; and a mousy "Ed survivor". 
COST:  $12 general admission; $10 students

WHAT: 
WHERE:   Little City Hall, 113 Monroe St, Newark, NJ 07105
WHEN:  Saturday  9am – 1pm
WHY GO:  During these Outreach times, we process only NEW Passports, Notary Public Oaths, and Veterans Peddler Licenses. No other services are available

WHAT:
WHERE: 41 Broughton Ave., Bloomfield
WHEN:   Friday, 8:30 p.m.
WHY GO: Great variety of songs and talent.

WHAT:   
WHERE:  Ladybug Montessori , 617 Washington Ave, Belleville
WHEN:    Friday   6pm – 9pm
WHY GO:  This is an evening for the children as well as the adults.  We are offering a babysitting service for parents so that they can get a fun night out without having to worry about their little ones.  We have been hosting date nights like this for the past 6 years.   We will be entertaining the children with a movie on our large screen and a fun craft. 
COST:  $20 per child includes pizza,juice and ice cream for dessert. 

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Vincent United Methodist Church at 100 Vincent Place in Nutley
WHEN:    Saturday  9am – 4pm
WHY GO:  Great Bargains and Treasures to be found to help reach their goal for the United Methodist Women!  Entrance is on the Right Side Rear.  Located across from the Nutley Library    

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Bloomfield Public Library, 90 Broad Street, Bloomfield
WHEN:   Saturday  9am
WHY GO:  In celebration of Earth Day (April 22) we’ll build and decorate our own Earth Day City out of cardboard boxes. Come to the Children’s Library any time on Saturday to help build the city and see how much fun reusing our Earth’s resources can be!  

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

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Belleville Public Library, 221 Washington Ave, Belleville
WHEN:     Saturday  2pm
WHY GO:    The Belleville Library will host their annual Teddy Bear Tea Party for the young and their beloved bears.  Don't forget the white gloves and other tea party finery!  Bring your stuffed animal!

WHAT:   
WHERE: 5 Washington Street, Newark
WHEN:   Friday  11am – 4pm;  Saturday   9am – 5pm
WHY GO:  Hardcover and paperback books, magazines, posters, VHS tapes, CD's & DVDs for children and adults.  Wide selection and great prices. All proceeds from the sale are used to support the Newark Public Library's programs and collections.

WHAT:  
WHERE:   44 Park Ave, Nutley
WHEN:   Saturday  9am
WHY GO:    This town wide, community clean up will take place under the direction of the Nutley Parks & Recreation Department.  “Our goal is to bring the community together and raise awareness of the effects that pollutants have on our environment.  Our water, air and ultimately the Earth are sustaining more and more damage with each year that passes” stated Mayor Mauro G. Tucci.    The Department of Public Works staff will be stationed at each individual site beginning at 9:00 a.m., to guide volunteers on our mission.    A closing ceremony will be held at Kingsland Park at which time awards will be distributed and refreshments will be served.   If you are interested in participating in this event, please contact the Nutley Recreation Department at (973)284-4966, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

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, and give kids the chance to serve at nursing homes and community meals. All elementary-aged kids are invited to join.

WHAT:  
WHERE:  Branch Brook Park, Newark
WHEN:    Sunday  11am – 5pm
WHY GO:   Enjoy a family day in New Jersey’s pinkest park! A packed schedule of events includes Japanese cultural demonstrations, children's activities, live music, a crafter's marketplace, food, and more.   Performances by:Cobu Japanese TAIKO Drum & TAP Dance Co., Samurai Sword Soul, Tomofuji Kai Dance Troupe, Yosakoi Dance Project 10tecomai

OTHER AREA EARTH DAY EVENTS

Party For the Planet at Turtle Back Zoo
The Turtle Back Zoo invites humans to celebrate Earth Day with other beasts who share the planet with them.  Special activities are scheduled throughout the day; bring in a reusable mug and get free fountain drinks at the zoo cafe. Call 973-731-5800 or go to www.turtlebackzoo.org for more information.   
Zoo Admission:  Adults $10; Children $7; Seniors $7; Under 2 Free
Date: Sunday, April 22    11am-4pm 
Place: 560 Northfield Ave, West Orange, NJ

Earth Day at the Essex County Environmental Center
"Earth Day" is for all ages.  The public is invited to the Environmental Center's annual outdoor Earth Day festival.  Play in nature with crafts, games, recreation opportunities, demonstrations, local green vendor products and services, and information on all partner groups at the Center.  The event is sponsored by Public Service Electric and Gas, Covanta Energy-Essex, and Whole Foods of West Orange. This is a free event, but some vendor items will be for sale. Earth Day will be held as follows: 
Date: Saturday, April 21, 2012, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Essex County Environmental Center, 621B Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland, NJ