Here are just a few of the events happening in the area this weekend. Click on “EVENTS” on the Home Page to see all the possibilities.  

WHAT: Beefsteak Dinner with Montclair Celebrates
WHERE: Commonwealth Club, 26 Northview Ave., Montclair
WHEN:  Friday, 5:30 p.m. for take out;  Dinner starts at 6 p.m.
WHY GO: Great night of food, fun and friends. Catering by the Brownstone and includes: cold antiapasto, pasta, beefsteak, french fries, dessert, beer, wine & soda. Gift baskets and raffles too!
COST: $60

WHAT: Verona LIVE: Card and Games Club
WHERE: Verona Community Center Annex, 880 Bloomfield Ave., Verona
WHEN: Friday 1 p.m.
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:  Seussical Jr
WHERE:  Trinity Academy 235 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell
WHEN:  Friday 7:30 p.m.
WHY GO: Trinity Academy Drama Club Presents Seussical Jr on April 19 & 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
COST:   $5 & $7

WHAT: “MUSIC AT IMMACULATE”
WHERE: Church of The Immaculate Conception, 30 N Fullerton Ave, Montclair
WHEN: Friday  8 p.m.
WHY GO: "The Three Cantors", on Friday, April 20th, at 8 p.m., will feature 3 cantors from our archdiocese singing a variety of musical genres from classics such as Ave Maria, to opera arias, jazz and musical theater.
COST: $15

WHAT:   Dinner Theater “A Feast for your Eyes” - Manlow and Baltus…Magician and Mentalist
WHERE: Rose Mediterranean American Cuisine 435 Bloomfield Ave, Caldwell
WHEN: Friday 7p.m.
WHY GO: With a combined 70+ years of professional experience, Manlow & Baltus blend two completely different arts, making this duo a truly unique act. Baltus’ Intimate Magic is a personal interaction that leaves a memorable impact on all in attendance. Manlow’s Mind Mysteries will have the audience astounded and thinking, “Did he really read my mind?” It's the kind of thing you see on television, only it happens right in front of you!

WHAT: How To Think Like a World Changer with Alex Steffan   (Earth Day Event)
WHERE: The Montclair Kimberley Academy, 201 Valley Road, Montclair
WHEN: Friday  7:30 p.m.–9 p.m.
WHY GO:  "How to Think Like a Worldchanger" a provocative and insightful evening with Alex Steffen, a leading expert on sustainability and green design.  Event is free and open to the public. After working as a journalist around the world, Steffen co-founded and ran the online magazine Worldchanging.com from 2003-2010, which became one of the world's leading sustainability-related publications with a large global audience. 

WHAT: “Sweet Charity” presented by Montclair Operetta Club
WHERE: Westminster Arts Center, 449 Franklin St, Bloomfield
WHEN: Friday & Saturday 8 p.m.-Sunday 2 p.m. (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: Qigong With Maxxine Becker
WHERE: Cedar Grove Library, 1 Municipal Plaza, Cedar Grove
WHEN: Saturday  8 a.m. (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: Mother's Market - Juniors Women's Club of CG
WHERE: Cedar Grove High School, 90 Rugby Road, Cedar Grove
WHEN: Saturday  9 a.m.
WHY GO: It's time for the Cedar Grove Junior Women’s Club Annual Spring Mother’s Market, which is to take place on Saturday, April 21. This is a Giant Indoor Sale with more than 40 vendors selling new and used bargains for Babies and Young Children.
COST: $1.00 admission price donated to Valerie Fund

WHAT: North End Springtime Garage Sale
WHERE: North End School, 122 Stevens Ave., Cedar Grove
WHEN: Saturday  9 a.m.
WHY GO: This 30+ table sale will take place RAIN or SHINE. Vendors will be selling used, as well as, new merchandise. 

WHAT: Celebrate Earth Day at the Montclair Shred-Fest!  (Earth Day Event)
WHEN: Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
WHERE: Community Services Yard, 219 N. Fullerton Ave., Montclair  
WHY GO: Montclair's paper recycling is a valuable commodity, earning us around $100 per ton. But if thrown out as garbage, paper costs us over $80 per ton to burn at the Essex Incinerator. Paying $80 to burn something worth $100 means we’re actually burning our own money!

WHAT: New Jersey Arts Annual: Fine Arts 2012
WHERE: Montclair Art Museum, 3 S. Mountain Ave, Montclair,
WHEN:   April 21–July 22  Wed through Sun Noon - 5pm
WHY GO:  New Media, New Forms is theme of MAM’s New Jersey Arts Annual: Fine Arts 2012. As the world becomes increasingly digitized, many contemporary artists are incorporating new technologies and forms into their work. This juried show will feature New Jersey artists producing work that actively and innovatively engages with digital media, in terms of process, form, or content.
COST: Museum Admission - $12 nonmember adults, $10 for seniors and students w/ID, free for MAM members and children under 12

WHAT: New Clothes for the Emperor
WHERE: Studio Players 14 Alvin Pl, Upper Montclair
WHEN: Performances are at 1:30 and 3:30 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, April 21, 22, 28 and 29.
WHY GO: Two fast-talking con men help a kind but misguided emperor learn that the heart–not the clothes–make the man. Full of physical humor and dynamic, lovable characters, this new telling brings zip and zing to the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale.
COST: $8

WHAT: Chess at the Library
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: Eagle Scout Project: Autism Awareness Day
WHEN: Sunday 1 p.m.–4 p.m.
WHERE: Cedar Grove Public Library,  1 Municipal Plaza, Cedar Grove 
WHY GO: Daniel Fanelli is a junior at Cedar Grove High School and a Boy Scout in Troop 65 in Cedar Grove. On April 22nd from 1-4 p.m. he will be holding an Autism Awareness Day. The goal of the project is to educate the community on Autism. Throughout the day, feel free to drop by and check out the dozen tables set up from different organizations that benefit children with Autism and their families. Light refreshments will be available. Merchandise such as T-shirts, wrist bands, car magnets, etc. will also be sold. All are welcome to come enjoy the day and learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorders.

WHAT: Hon. Patrick J. McNally Benefit
WHEN: Sunday 3 p.m.–7 p.m.
WHERE: Macedonian Orthodox Center, 1050 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove
WHY GO: This event will assist with the educational needs of Pat’s four children.  Live Irish entertainment will be provided along with food and refreshments.
COST: $35 per person.

WHAT: TASTE OF THE CALDWELLS
WHERE: Caldwell College, 120 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell
WHEN: Sunday 4 p.m.
WHY GO: Enjoy signature menu items from local restaurants and caterers.
COST: $50

WHAT: Comedy Sundays in Montclair
WHERE: Tierney's Tavern, 136-138 Valley Road, Montclair
WHEN: Sunday 8 p.m.-10 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. 
COST: $15

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    11 a.m.-4 p.m. 
  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, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  Place: Essex County Environmental Center, 621B Eagle Rock Ave., Roseland