The Weekender: What's Happening in Belleville, Nutley and Beyond

Here are some of the events happening this weekend in Nutley, Belleville and neighboring towns.   To see all the events click on EVENTS at the top of this page.   Log into Patch and add your events anytime.

Turtle Back Zoo is celebrating  “Medieval Times” on Saturday.  In celebration of their new komodo dragon and the year of the dragon, the Medieval Times performers will be there in search of dragons.   Performances at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.  (Rain Date is July 21st).  Adults $10; Seniors & Children $7 and under 2 is free.

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: 
WHERE:  44 Park Ave, Nutley
WHEN:  Friday   9 a.m.
WHY GO:  The Old Guard meets weekly at the Frank A. Cocchiola Parks Building.  New members always welcomed. Stop in at any Friday meeting and say hello.

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Belleville Library, 221 Washington Ave, Belleville
WHEN:  Friday  2 to 4 p.m.
WHY GO:  Wii, board games, cards…  friendly competition is a good thing!  Gaming for teens every Friday!

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Belleville Library, 221 Washington Ave, Belleville
WHEN:  Friday  2 p.m.
WHY GO:   Bring the family and enjoy the film “Cinderella”.

WHAT: 
WHERE: New Life Body of Christ, 393 Washington Ave, Belleville
WHEN: Wednesday - Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHY GO: The Thrift Shop at Christ Church sells donated items of new and gently used clothing, household items, and some furiniture. All items are sold at very reasonable prices, which makes them affordable to local area residents and The Care Closet participants.

WHAT: 
WHERE: Brunswick Zone, 679 Washington Ave, Belleville
WHEN: Daily
WHY GO:  Students 18 and younger get one free game of bowling every day in June, July and August.  Join the Bonus Zone and GET FREE GAME coupons right in your inbox.

NUTLEY

WHAT: 
WHERE: Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Drive, Nutley
WHEN:  Friday 2 to 4 p.m.
WHY GO: Enjoy ‘Born To Be Wild”  in the air conditioned library.  Born to Be Wild is a 2011 American nature documentary short film about orphaned orangutans and elephants.

WHAT:  
WHERE:  Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Drive, Nutley
WHEN:  Saturday  10 a.m.
WHY GO:  Enjoy old and new picture books, create arts and crafts, and meet other children from the Nutley area.

WHAT:
WHERE: Municipal Parking Lot #1, behind Janette Shop, off of William Street
WHEN:  Sunday  9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WHY GO:  The Township of Nutley and the Greenutley Committee are proud to announce the return of the Famers Market!    Patrons will once again be able to purchase fresh produce, cheese, artisan breads, organic coffees and teas, pickles and olives and more.

WHAT:  Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
WHERE:  Our Lady of Mt. Carmel,   Nutley
WHEN:  Sunday  12:15 p.m.
WHY GO:  The Feast Mass will be Sunday, July 15 at 12:15 p.m. followed by a procession with music by the Red Mike Festival Band.  Join us for the celebration!

BLOOMFIELD    

WHAT:  
WHERE:  Bloomfield Public Library, 90 Broad Street, Bloomfield
WHEN:  Friday  11 a.m.
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:  Brookdale Park, Bloomfield
WHEN:  Friday 7:30 p.m.
WHY GO:  Enjoy Essex County Free Music Series!

WHAT:  
WHERE: 41 Broughton Ave, Bloomfield
WHEN: Friday   8:30 p.m.
WHY GO: Come join the fun with a Great variety of Songs and Talent.  Call for reservations 973-748-6590.

WHAT: 
WHERE: Bloomfield (John A. Bukowski) Animal Shelter, 61 Bukowski Pl, Bloomfield
WHEN:  Friday, Saturday & Sunday  9 a.m.
WHY GO: All adult cats and dogs will be available for a reduced adoption fee of $25.  Older pets over 3 years will be FREE - "If I'm 3  I'm free." 

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Bloomfield High School, Broad Street, Bloomfield
WHEN:  Saturday  8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
WHY GO:  The Garden State Yogathon, sponsored by  www.lookingforyoga.com,  is a marathon of yoga, in which all proceeds go to either Off The Mat, Into the World, Kula for Karma or Urban Zen Integrative Therapy Program. These organizarions provide yoga to those who need it the most. Each participant who signs up chooses which charity to fundraise for, and must raise at least $250.00 towards that charity. A grand prize goes to the individual who raises the most money.  The day of the Yogathon, participants practice yoga in teams of 4. There will be a new class every hour on the hour. Each class has a new teacher, and will vary in style. The Yogathon is appropriate for ALL levels and is designed to keep you on the mat!  Each team of 4 splits the 12 hours of yoga up as they wish. At least one team member is practicing at all times.  Refreshments, live music, massage and raffles throughout the day.

MONTCLAIR

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Montclair Art Museum Lawn, 3 S Mountain Ave, Montclair
WHEN:  Friday  7 to 8 p.m.
WHY GO:   Enjoy music, food, and fun for free, sponsored by the Montclair Art Museum and Whole Foods Market Montclair. MAM is excited to welcome Reginald 5000 and His Band for the first of our summer concerts. 

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Episcopal Church of St. James, 581 Valley Rd, Montclair
WHEN:  Friday  8 to 9 p.m.
WHEY GO:  “The Singers”, a community group of ten musicians will present a concert in St James’ Church.   This concert is dedicated to William and Taudie Simon
COST:  $10

WHAT: 
WHERE:  119 Grove St, Montclair, NJ 07042  (On the shady Oak tree knoll overlooking the baseball field)
WHEN:  Friday  5 to 7 p.m.
WHY GO:  A festive community event for families and all ages featuring an audience area, mud activities (barefoot mud stomping, mud blob making, mud blob passing, mud building/sculpting and mud skin treatments) rhythm and music making, refreshments and more.  Come on out and see the interactive performance- featuring the work/play of Montclair Mud Fun summer camp as we build a functional piece of community art-a walled bench structure. 

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: 86 Walnut Street, Montclair
WHEN:  Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHY GO: Variety fruits and vegetables; organic produce; baked goods; eggs; cheese; frozen meats; seafood; pickles; honey; roasted coffees; specialty food purveyors.

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Yogi Berra Stadium, Montclair State University, Montclair
WHEN:  Saturday   5:35 p.m.
WHY GO:  Game starts at 6:35 p.m.  Pre-game concert by PARENTS WHO ROCK at 5:30.  Please bring nonperishable food items to donate. They will also accept cash donations and sign-ups to volunteer in cooking or other roles to help provide nourishing and satisfying meals for Montclair's hungry.  TD Bank FIREWORKS after the game
COST:  Bleacher seats $9, Box seats $11, Standing Room $5

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Van Vleck House and Gardens, 21 Van Vleck St, Montclair,
WHEN:  Saturday   7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
WHY GO:  Enjoy French wine, sample delicious French food, including a buffet of charcuterie and cheese, dance to live French music by Les Chauds Lapins and best of all, win great prizes featured in the NJ Bastille Day Raffle. Prizes include a Nespresso “Citizdot” espresso machine, gift certificates to local restaurants, free French classes, and more! 
COST:  $30  (1 800 982 2787 )

WHAT: 
WHERE:  73 See Gallery, 73 Pine St, Montclair
WHEN:   Saturday   7 to 10 p.m.
WHY GO:  The 73 See Gallery is pleased to present John Kennedy professionally known as "Better Blue".  This talented musician, composer, arranger and producer kicks off our exciting line-up for 2012.    A cross between Neil Young and Van Morrison with intense spiritual force, "Better Blue" will move you… whether deep in your heart, or to your feet in applause.   Featured poet for the evening will be Montclair resident, Niraj Shah, a long-time writer since his youth, but a bona fide newcomer to professional recitation. Niraj is inspired by a deep inner need to create, and mostly writes about emptiness and heartache.
COST:  $15

WHAT:  Mark Chernoff Quartet
WHERE:  Trumpets, 6 Depot Sq, Montclair
WHEN:  Sunday  7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m.
WHY GO:  Come and enjoy the sounds of these wonderful musicians.  
COST:  $10 music, $5 minimum

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Tierney’s Tavern, 136-138 Valley Rd, Montclair
WHEN:  Sunday   Seating 7:30 p.m. --  Show 8 to  9:45 p.m.
WHY GO: Enjoy some of the area's best rising stars with Special Guests from Comedy Central, HBO, Network TV, XM/Sirius radio, major comedy clubs, casinos, etc.  Comedy -- Fun -- Free Stuff giveaways!
COST:  $15

NEWARK

WHAT:  
WHERE:  SR Sports Complex, Cafe in The Park, Branch Brook Park, Newark  (Bloomfield Ave and Lake Street)
WHEN:  Friday  10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHY GO:  Pick-up your vouchers and shop!!  For all qualifying  seniors ages 60+, you must  have ID, proof of residency and income—you will receive $20.00 in vouchers to spend.  For more information call -  973-395-8378.

WHAT:  Dream Big: Read  Summer Reading Programs
Main Library: Friday  10:30am - Moonstruck Arts & Crafts; 3:00pm - Quiet Reading Hour
Branch Brook Branch: Friday  10:30am - Surprise Activity; 3:00pm - Bingo
Clinton Branch:  Friday  10:30am-Space Lingo Bingo; 12:00pm - Reading Time;  2:30pm - Board Games & Puzzles
Vailsburgh Branch:  Friday  10:30am – Games;  10:30am - Daylight Gardening for Adults; 3:00pm - Sparkling Stars Craft 
North End Branch: Friday  10:30am - Go Batty for Puzzles & Table Games;  2:30pm - Movies to Dream About
Weequahic Branch: Friday  10:30am - Dream to Feel Good Aerobics;  2:30pm - Dreamer Features Movies
Van Buren Branch: Friday 10:00am - Imagine That! Creative Arts;  3:00pm - In The Night Kitchen with Chef Adam

WHAT:  
WHERE:   Newark Public Library, 5 Washington Street, Newark
WHEN:     Showing through July 21, 2012
WHY GO:  Prints, Photographs, Artists' Books and More.  Visit this exhibition of recent acquisitions of the Special Collections Division.

WHAT:  
WHERE:  Riverfront Stadium, 450 Broad Street, Newark
WHEN:    Friday    Game starts 6:35 p.m.
WHY GO:    FANtastic Fridays – Fireworks after the Game – come early for games and player autographs.
COST:   $10.  Seniors, 65 years+ take advantage of the Bears Senior Discount, 2 for 1 admission - all season

WHAT: 
WHERE:  The Newark Public Library, 5 Washington St, Newark  (The James Brown Reading Room)
WHEN:  Saturday  11 to 11:45 a.m.
WHY GO:  Spiritual author Marc Curtis Little, a native of Newark, will be discussing the Newark Riot of 1967 in conjunction with the release of his latest novel,Magnificent Redemption (CreateSpace/MLPR, 354 pages, 2012).  The book takes a fictional look at the civil disorder through the eyes of the main character, Desmond Moses Anderson, a Newark native who is convicted in the Deep South in the 1960s for a crime he did not commit.  His release after 40 years takes him back to the crime-ravaged community he left as an impressionable honor student and nationally recognized four-sport athlete from the city's South Ward. 

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Greater Newark Conservancy, 92 Prince Street, Newark
WHEN:  Saturday  1 to 4 p.m.
WHY GO:  A leisure-oriented event. visit our gardens during 1-4pm for a peaceful stroll along the trails, followed by a light snack. We'll be providing tea, lemonade and cakes. 

WHAT:    “Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway” to Riverfront Stadium
                 
WHERE:  Riverfront Stadium, 450 Broad Street, Newark
WHEN:   Saturday  Show starts at 3:30 p.m. / Game starts at 6:35 p.m.
WHY GO:  An ensemble of the best variety from several popular Broadway musicals, the show will be performed prior to the Newark Bears baseball game.  The show recreates the greatest moments from the finest shows of the century featuring the actual stars of shows such as The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar and Jekyll & Hyde.  After the show is a ‘meet & greet’ with the performers.   
At 6:35 the Newark Bears take on the Quebec Capitals
COST:  $10.  Seniors, 65 years+ take advantage of the Bears Senior Discount, 2 for 1 admission - all season

WHAT:  
WHERE:  Skippers, 304 University Ave, Newark 
WHEN:  Sunday   5:30pm – 9pm
WHY GO:  Come enjoy our Sunday Jazz Matinee every Sunday featuring a variety of well known and respected regional/local artists including Frank Noviello, Yotam Silberstein, Annette St. John, Marvin Horne, Bill Saxton, and more.
COST:  There is a $10.00 minimum purchase during live performances.

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Newark Museum, 49 Washington Street, Newark
WHEN:  Wednesday,  July 18  7 p.m.
WHY GO:  In a remote primary school in the Kenyan bush, children are jostling for a chance for a free education.  Maruge, an old Mau Mau veteran in his 80s, arrives for the education he could never afford only to be met by much resistance.  Moved by his passion, head teacher Ms. Obinchu supports his struggle to gain admission and together they overcome. (99 minutes)  Speaker: Richard Harding, Producer.