Historical Fiction Book Group: “Libertie: A Novel”

The Historical Society of Princeton introduces their next historical fiction book group on Monday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. with Libertie: A Novel by Kaitlyn Greenidge.

Named by the New York Times Book Review as the Best Historical Fiction of 2021, Libertie is “a coming of age story, tracing the travails of a free-born Black girl raised in Deconstructionist-Era Brooklyn. Libertie Sampson defies her doctor mother’s stifling dreams that her daughter will follow in her footsteps, instead following her fiancée to his home country of Haiti — where Libertie escapes American-style racism but not the misogyny that leaves her subordinate to all men.” more

New Jersey’s Latest Hot Spot — Fresco Da Franco

Located at 15 Church Street in the bustling town of Montclair, Fresco Da Franco has attracted a lot of attention for its vibrant, party-like atmosphere combined with authentic Italian cuisine that is always fresh, and always made with love. 

Created by chef/owner Franco Porporino Jr., a first generation Italian American, Fresco Da Franco is a destination for brunch, lunch, and fine dining. The success of the place is owed a great deal to authentic cucina all nonna — delicious comfort food that it always satisfying and refined.  more

Seventh Annual Nassau Film Festival

The Seventh Annual Nassau Film Festival will take place in person on May 21 and 22 at Princeton Garden Theatre. Attendees can also participate virtually from May 23 through June 8 at nassaufilmfestival.festivee.com.

The event will screen independent short films and music videos from filmmakers all over the world. Guests can participate in a question-and-answer panel with selected filmmakers. Proceeds go toward the Lisa Goldstein Education Foundation, a nonprofit that provides scholarship money from West Windsor-Plainsboro District students attending college. Showtimes vary and ticket prices range from $15-25.  more

Food for Thought: “Julia” Film Screening and Supper Club

Photo Credit: Julia Child in her kitchen as photographed ©Lynn Gilbert, 1978, Cambridge, Mass. (wikipedia.org)

On Tuesday, May 24 at 6 p.m., Hopewell Theater presents never-before-seen archival footage, personal photos, first-person narratives, and cutting-edge food cinematography that traces Julia Child’s 12-year struggle to create and publish the revolutionary Mastering the Art of French Cooking (1961), which has sold more than 2.5 million copies to date, and her rapid ascent to becoming the country’s most unlikely television star. It’s the empowering story of a woman who found her purpose — and her fame — at the age of 50 and took America along for the whole delicious journey.  more

Join ACP for an English High Tea

On Sunday, May 15 from 4 to 6 p.m., the Arts Council of Princeton will host a traditional English High Tea courtesy of Samira Ghani, known for her popular Instagram blog Slice of Gourmet (https://www.instagram.com/sliceofgourmet/). 

Each elegant station will represent a country’s traditional beverage and assorted small bites. Guests will have the chance to sample English High Tea, Greek coffee, Arabic Mint Kava, and Pakastani Kashmiri. As a bonus, stations will include literature about the country’s beverage customs. Wear your best hat and come hungry!  more

Ansel Adams Photography Exhibition at Kean University

Photo Credit: From Wawona Tunnel, Winter, Yosemite, 1935. Photo by Ansel Adams. @The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

Works by iconic 20th-century landscape photographer Ansel Adams are now on display at the Galleries at Liberty Hall Academic Center at Kean University. 

The “Early Works” exhibition features 42 original vintage photographs by the master photographer of the American West, ranging from the 1920s to the 1950s. It is open to the public with a pay-what-you-wish (PWYW) admission. more

Rock for Greenwood House: Battle of the Bands

Rock out to a good cause on Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m. at the Princeton Airport Hangar, 41 Airpark Road in Princeton, in a benefit for Greenwood House. Live music will be accompanied by dinners prepared by award-winning chef Max Hansen and desserts from featured food trucks, Glazed & Confused Fresh Mini Donuts and Rita’s Italian Ice. Guests will also be able to eat, drink, and bid on auction items such as rock star-autographed guitars and world-class vacations.  more

The Weary Blues: Celebrating Langston Hughes at NJPAC

Join New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) for a special virtual presentation on Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m. to celebrate International Jazz Day, National Poetry Month, and the playwright and novelist Langston Hughes. 

Viewers will be treated to song and poetry performances by NJPAC’s Verses and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Two local Newark poets, Dimitri Reyes and Treasure Borde, will share poetry inspired by Hughes’ life and times. Renowned jazz saxophonist Mark Gross and his quartet will also share their interpretations of Hughes’ compendium of writing.  more

Cambridge School: Where Children Who Learn Differently Thrive

Located at 100 Straube Center Boulevard in Pennington, Cambridge School is an independent K-12 day school that specializes in helping students with language-based learning differences, such as dyslexia, ADHD, dysgraphia, auditory processing disorder, and executive function difficulties, among others. However, the school prides itself on teaching to learning differences, not disabilities, as some educational institutions perceive it.  more

Michener Art Museum Presents “Keith Haring: A Radiant Legacy”

Now on view at the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pa., “Keith Haring: A Radiant Legacy” is drawing visitors from around the region for this intimate and extensive collection of a beloved artist. The exhibit will run through July 31, 2022.

Born in Reading, Pa., and raised in nearby Kutztown, Pa., Haring (1958-1990) developed an early love for drawing, which eventually expanded into paintings, prints, posters, sculpture, and his famous street art. Completely unique to himself, Haring developed a style that became as recognizable as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Kenny Scharf. Haring’s colorful graffiti, which punctuated New York City’s streetscape, helped to contribute to his meteoric rise.  more

Princeton Junior School Odyssey of the Mind Teams Qualify for World Final Competition

On Saturday, April 9, Princeton Junior School’s Odyssey of the Mind teams competed in the New Jersey State Finals at Princeton High School. There, both teams qualified to advance to the World Finals taking place at Iowa State University, May 25-28.

The Grade 6 Team competed in Division II against other New Jersey middle school 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students and placed second in their long-term problem, Escape Vroom. The Grade 5 Team competed in Division I against elementary students and placed third for their Matryoshka Structure.  more

The Story Behind Peace Pie Ice Cream Sandwiches – A Cape May Favorite

Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/peacepieworld/

Everyone has their favorite ice cream shop and ice cream flavor, but have you ever tried a Peace Pie? With locations in Cape May and Lambertville, .(among others), Peace Pie has established itself as a unique ice cream destination.

According to founder and creator Jerry Klause, Peace Pie began Thanksgiving night 2010, over a delicious batch of pie filling and a forgotten pie crust. Klause baked the pie filling and two giant shortbread cookies, then combined it all in layers with vanilla ice cream. Thus, he served a Pecan Pie Lasagna for dessert and it was a hit with the whole crowd. The following summer, the Klause family decided to take their delicious idea and put it into action with the design and production of Peace Pie, an ice cream sandwich with a layer of pie filling! more

Celebrate Children’s Day at the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center

Image Source: https://japanphilly.org/shofuso/

Located in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, every year the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center celebrates Children’s Day on May 5. Children’s Day is a Japanese national holiday and is the final celebration of Golden Week, a collection of four national holidays within seven days. It is a day set aside to respect children’s individual personalities and to celebrate their happiness. more

Drew University Announces New Musical Theatre Minor

Image Source: https://drew.edu

Drew University in Madison, N.J.  has recently announced the addition of a musical theater minor. This new program will supplement the popular theater arts major and four other program minors.

The minor is an interdisciplinary program incorporating the study of acting, dance, movement, vocal arts, performance history, and related musical subjects. The program distinctively offers students the opportunity to create original musicals as well as to participate in immersive experiences. more

Local Organizations Partner to Save the True Family Farmstead in Skillman

True Farmstead (Image Source: www.ssaamuseum.org)

The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) and Sourland Conservancy have joined forces to purchase and save the historic True family farmstead in Skillman, N.J.

The property was originally owned by an African American Union army veteran who worked as a farmer after the Civil War. In 1891, after his death, his wife Cordina married Spencer True, a descendant of the former slave Friday Truehart. Interestingly, Truehart had gained his freedom in 1819 and became an early African American landowner in the Sourland region. Spencer and Corinda made their home on the farmstead, which originally included the land on which the National Historic Register-listed Mt. Zion AME Church stands today. Spencer and Corinda donated the land for the church in 1899 after the original church, built around 1866 on the Sourland Mountain, burned down. Mt. Zion AME Church welcomed its African American congregants until 2005, and now serves as the home of the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum. more

Paul Robeson’s 124th Birthday Celebration

Join the Arts Council of Princeton and the Paul Robeson House of Princeton to commemorate Paul Robeson’s 124th birthday on Saturday, April 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The gathered community will celebrate with the laying of a wreath on Robeson’s bust outside the Arts Council and the acknowledgement of the first Robeson Scholars to honor area students who excel in the arts and athletics. A reception will follow with cake for all to enjoy.  more

The Annual Big Red Race at The Lawrenceville School

The Annual Big Red Race at The Lawrenceville School’s campus will take place on Sunday, May 1. The 5K (3.1 mile) race is mostly a flat, twisting course in and around the campus of The Lawrenceville School, located at 2500 Main Street in Lawrenceville. All proceeds from the race will go directly to support Lawrence Township children who have been selected to attend the School Camp, a summer camp serving underprivileged youth for over 100 years. Pre-register for the race here: https://www.raceforum.com/bigred  more

John Wind Jewelry Trunk Show and Art Talk

Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton Township will play host to the John Wind Jewelry and Trunk Show on Saturday, April 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event is free with admission to the park (no cost to GFS members). 

Local designer John Wind’s vintage inspired charms and new designs are a sight to behold. The artist will deliver a lecture at 10:30 a.m. in which he will discuss his process, how he was influenced by his mother’s tastes and fashions, and his ideas for new designs. The Trunk Show will follow the lecture, and will be located outside of the gift shop.  more

17th Annual Sourland Festival Rocks the Mountain

The Sourland Mountain Festival, presented by Unionville Vineyards, returns on Saturday, July 23 from 3 to 8:30 p.m. at Unionville Vineyards, 9 Rocktown Road, Ringoes. Purchase discounted advance-sale tickets online for adults and young people (12-18); children under 12 enter free. For more information, visit http://www.SourlandMountainFest.com. Proceeds benefit the Sourland Conservancy.

New Jersey musical artists featured at this year’s festival include The Outcrops, Rainbow Fresh, and James Popik and Supernova. more

Historical Society of Princeton Spring Walking Tours

Photo Credit: Historical Society of Princeton

March 26 at 10 a.m.

Join author Clifford Zink for a walking tour outside Princeton University’s eating clubs. Learn about the architecture, origins, and development of the 16 Classical and Gothic-style clubhouses, which date from 1895 to 1928. 

Copies of Zink’s 2017 book, The Princeton Eating Clubs, will be available for sale at a discounted price at the tour.  more

Stuart Community Comes Together to Support Aid to Ukraine

The war in Ukraine has touched the minds and hearts of many, including the greater Stuart Country Day School community. Cindy Michalak, Stuart’s college counselor whose family has roots in Ukraine, and science teacher Natalie Voicu, who was born in Ukraine and whose extended family remains, recently gave a presentation on the history of Ukraine and the current war. more

Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt 2022

Join The Watershed Institute after dark for one of its most exciting events of the year! The 2022 Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt will take place on Friday, April 8 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Bring your flashlight and Easter basket to search the fields for over 1,000 real, colored eggs. Arrive at 7:30 p.m. for photos with the bunny, then head out to the field at 8 p.m. for the start of the hunt. Be sure to wear boots as the fields will most likely be muddy. This event is intended for ages 4 and up. Parental attendance is required. Pre-register at https://bit.ly/3qoGxvQ.

Harry Potter Exhibition Now Open at The Franklin Institute

Visit the world premiere of “Harry Potter: The Exhibition” at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, open now through September 18. Ticket prices range from $30-43 for adults and $30-39 for children. 

This groundbreaking exhibition celebrates the iconic moments, characters, settings, and beasts as seen in the films and stories of Harry Potter and the Wizarding World using best-in-class immersive design and technology. From the mysteries of Hogwarts castle to the antics of its mischievous yet brilliant students; from daring duels to dragons and Dark Arts; and from glittering Gringotts to the magnificent Ministry of Magic — the exhibition brings magic to life, connects visitors with the larger global community of fans of the Wizarding World, and reveals the artistry and craftsmanship behind the blockbuster films.  more

Monmouth President Leahy Recognized as Influencer in Higher Education

Monmouth University President Patrick F. Leahy has been named to ROI-NJ’s Influencers: Higher Education 2022 list. The list highlights university leaders in New Jersey who have spearheaded meaningful improvements to their institution in the past year. According to ROI-NJ, presidents selected for the list represent schools that “graduate some of the top students in the country, many of whom will have global impact. Just as important, they will teach first-generation graduates that will have local impacts of equal measure.” more

Asbury Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade, March 13

New Jersey residents — it’s time to get your green on! The 8th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Asbury Park will take place on Sunday, March 13 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.., rain or shine. The parade will begin on Ocean Avenue at Sunset Avenue and proceed south to Cookman Avenue. Walkers will continue west on Cookman Avenue through the downtown and finish outside of Asbury Park City Hall. The parade is free to all participants! more

TCNJ’s School of Business Ranks as a Top Program in Nation

The College of New Jersey School of Business ranked 79th in Poets&Quants for Undergrads’ sixth annual best Undergraduate Business Schools 2022 ranking report. This year, the study ranked the top 94 business programs based on admissions standards, academic experience, and employment outcomes.  more

All-New, Outdoor Princeton Festival Being Planned for June 10-25

Scene from the Princeton Festival’s 2015 performance of Mozart’s opera The Marriage of Figaro (Photo Credit: Jessi Franko). 

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) promises to deliver an all-new, outdoor Princeton Festival June 10-25, with a cohesive campus plan, community cooperation, and exciting artists. A cadre of opera singers are poised to inhabit the comic characters of Derrick Wang’s Scalia/Ginsburg and W.A. Mozart’s The Impresario, as well as Benjamin Britten’s full-length opera Albert Herring. Concerts featuring top performers such as Storm Large, the Signum Quartet, and Baroque ensemble The Sebastians ensure multiple evenings of first-rate, live music covering a variety of genres of yesterday and today. more

All About Rutgers Preparatory Summer Camps

It’s the summer conundrum that every parent faces — what camp do I sign my child up for this summer? While there are seemingly unlimited options for every interest in greater central New Jersey, one all-inclusive program that might appeal to your child is Rutgers Preparatory School Summer Programs. From in-classroom science classes to lacrosse coaching, Rutgers Prep has a variety of camp programs for different age levels. more

Pruning Demonstration with Gary Mount of Terhune Orchards

On Saturday, March 5 at 11 a.m., join Gary Mount, owner of Terhune Orchards, for a free pruning class in his own orchards located at 330 Cold Soil Road in Princeton. Mount is frequently asked for his advice on pruning and will answer attendee questions through formal demonstrations and conversation. He will also discuss the varieties of fruit trees suitable for planting by the homeowner and the difference between various rootstocks.  more

“Bruce Springsteen Live!” at the Grammy Museum Experience at Prudential Center

On view through March 20, 2022

Fans of Bruce Springsteen are invited to explore 49 years of Springsteen and the E Street Band history through exclusive interviews, iconic performances, and artifacts from the Bruce Springsteen Archives at Monmouth University. Partnering with the Grammy Museum Experience at the Prudential Center in Newark, the “Bruce Springsteen Live!” exhibit will be on view through March 20, 2022, before traveling to Los Angeles. more