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Paper Mill Playhouse Announces Lineup for ‘Theatre Comes to You!’

From the Paper Mill Playhouse: The theater comes to you! Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Michael Stotts-Managing Director), recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, has announced the schedule for this week’s streaming events. Enjoy free, live events, never before accessible to the public! Every week Paper Mill offers no-barrier, live streaming events you can access from your living room couch. All weekly events are available through premium videos. THIS WEEK—MAY 11–15 Monday, May 11 at 7PM – New Voices 2016: Everything Old is New Again The annual “New Voices” concert is the culmination of Paper Mill Playhouse’s Summer Musical Theater Conservatory. Members of the competitive Conservatory who earned coveted spots in the Senior (ages 15–18), Junior Plus (ages 13–14), and Junior companies (ages 10–12) are directed and choreographed by Paper Mill Playhouse’s professional artistic staff in this fully produced, original concert. Thursday, May 14 at 7PM – Humanities Symposium Series: The Broadway Season of 1924-1925 “Straight from the Paper Mill Playhouse Vault”—A Look Back at Past Humanities Symposium Programs Join Paper Mill each week as we stream one of our Humanities Symposiums from years past. From Stephen Schwartz to Stephen Sondheim, these symposiums will take you […]

Theater & Dance

May 12, 2020

Mother’s Day: How to Celebrate Mom – Safely – in South Orange and Maplewood

Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday, so if you haven’t already, it’s time to scout out some ways to celebrate moms! Even though you can’t go out to dinner or shop in-person, there are plenty of South Orange and Maplewood businesses that are open for Mother’s Day takeout meals or selling beautiful gifts online, with delivery or no-contact pick-up. Here are a few local ways you can do something special for Mom this weekend. Maplewood Village Village Trattoria (2 Inwood Place) Trattoria is offering Mother’s Day brunch gift boxes. The box, which costs $100 and serves 4, includes bake-at-home croissants, an asparagus frittata, pea soup with pancetta, and more. Order by Friday at 4pm, and pick up your box between 3-4pm on Saturday at Village Trattoria in Maplewood. The first 25 orders get a free Jerry Rose Floral bouquet included with their order! https://www.facebook.com/Villagetrattoriamaplewood/ Meus (98 Baker St.) Meus is fully stocked with Mother’s Day gifts like Giles & Brother bracelets, earrings, candles, and care packages. You can also add petite dried bouquets. Orders placed by 12pm on Friday can be picked up no-contact on Saturday between 12-1pm. https://meusshop.com/ Perch Home (9 Highland Place) Check out this wrap […]

Family & Kids Food & Drink Holiday Shopping

May 9, 2020

Juilliard Artist Mackenzie Melemed to Perform Live Concert on Youtube April 5 after SOPAC Cancels due to COVID-19

From South Orange Performing Arts Center: With a can-do spirit that defies the isolation of “social distancing” Americans are currently experiencing, Juilliard post-graduate student Mackenzie Melemed will give a YouTube Live concert on Sunday, April 5 at 3PM. It can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/rapjtzu. The acclaimed young pianist was scheduled to give a live concert on March 15 at the South Orange Performing Arts Center only days after events at the iconic arts center were shut down due to the corona virus. Melemed saw an opportunity to reach an even wider audience through live streaming. Working with SOPAC staff remotely, the concert came together for a Sunday afternoon with relative ease. “I missed performing live and wanted to reach out to enthusiastic concert-goers from SOPAC and beyond with my music,” says Melemed. “I know how much joy music brings, and I wanted to bring that joy to virtual audiences as we all struggle with the corona virus’ impact on our society. I hope people will sit back and relax with a favorite beverage and enjoy the selections by some my favorite classical composers.” The program will be approximately and hour and will include: Gershwin: Three Preludes Bach: French Suite No.5 in […]

Health & Wellness Music Sponsored

April 4, 2020

2020 Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival Canceled due to COVID-19

From Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Freeholder President Brendan Gill and Vice President Wayne Richardson: Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Freeholder President Brendan Gill, Vice President Wayne Richardson and the Board of Freeholders announced that the 44th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Essex County Branch Brook Park has been cancelled because of the Novel Coronavirus. In addition, the officials are alerting the public that Essex County Branch Brook Park is closed and anyone coming to the park should remain in their cars to promote social distancing. “The Cherry Blossoms in bloom have significant meaning for us all and their spectacular blooming season annually attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. But as we take steps to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus, we are encouraging people to follow social distancing guidelines and stay out of the park. Everyone can enjoy the Cherry Blossoms in bloom again next year in 2021,” DiVincenzo, Gill and Richardson said in a joint statement. All events that are part of the 44th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival have been cancelled, including: The Cherry Blossom Bike Races on Saturday, April 4th The Cherry Blossom 10K Run on Sunday, April 5th The Children’s Fun Run […]

Community Health & Wellness

April 4, 2020

Ani Ramen House to Launch Non-Profit, Pop-Up Food Concepts: Rock City Pizza Co. & Bang Bang Chicken

From Ani Ramen House: Montclair Hospitality Group, owners of Ani Ramen House, the popular group of New Jersey craft ramen and Japanese izakaya restaurants, have announced plans to introduce short-term, nonprofit 501(c)(3) pop-up take-out and delivery concepts at four of their existing Ani Ramen locations, first in Jersey City and then Montclair, Maplewood and Summit starting April 24. Not one to sit idle while in-house dining is temporarily suspended at Ani Ramen House during this unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, Montclair Hospitality Group knew they wanted to do something to help first responders, frontline medical staff, displaced hospitality workers in their communities, as well as their own staff. MHG conceptualized temporary, nonprofit pop-ups that will not only provide guests with delicious pizza and Thai rotisserie chicken, but also a way to give back: thus, “Rock City Pizza Co.” and “Bang Bang Chicken” were born. These temporary concepts will offer guests take-out/delivery at a lower than normal price point, along with the opportunity to do something for those in need. When they purchase their own meal, guests will be encouraged to add a little extra to their tab to cover a donated meal. Owner Luck Sarabhayavanija stated, “We were heartbroken to have to […]

Food & Drink

April 3, 2020

McCarter Theatre Center Cancels all Performances Through June 30

From McCarter Theatre Center: In response to the continuing situation regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus), McCarter Theatre Center has announced the cancelation of all performances and events through June 30, effective immediately. The full production run of Nathan Alan Davis’ The Refuge Plays, all scheduled Presented Series events for the rest of the season including the Jazz in June Festival, and 2020 Gala featuring Michael Feinstein are affected. McCarter administrative offices and production shops will remain closed for the time being and the remaining staff will continue to work remotely. Regarding this expansion of cancelations, McCarter Managing Director Michael S. Rosenberg said “We do not take this decision lightly and think it is in the best interest of the many different communities and constituencies that we serve. We ask that you consider making a donation to McCarter to help ensure that we are ready to re-open our doors when the time comes and welcome everyone back for the magic and fellowship of live performance. In the coming days, we hope that you will join us online as we celebrate art and artists, keep an open dialogue with our community, and inspire you to embark on your own creative projects as we weather this storm […]

Theater & Dance

April 3, 2020

Turtle Back Zoo Announces Birth Of Baby Amur Leopard

From Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo: Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced the birth of a female Amur leopard cub at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange. The cub, named Nadya, was born on Friday, March 13th. The birth of the cub has great significance because the Amur leopard species is classified as critically endangered. “During these difficult times, it’s nice to share some good news. We welcome newborn cub Nadya to our zoo family and look forward to watching her grow,” DiVincenzo said. “Nadya’s birth demonstrates the important role zoos have in helping to strengthen the population of endangered animals around the world and raising the awareness about conservation and the importance of animals. I commend our Turtle Back staff for the care and attention they are giving Nadya,” he added. Nadya, whose name means “filled with hope” in Russian, is the first cub born for her parents, mother Annika and father Valeri. She was 540 grams and 9 inches long, with a 5-inch tail at birth and is expected to grow to be 55 and 90 pounds and 3 to 6 feet long, with a 2- to 3-foot tail. Mom Annika had been […]

Animals & Pets Family & Kids

March 27, 2020