Comedy, Music and Theater Make Great Date Night Picks

The Borgata

THIS WEEKEND Tonight Colin Quinn's "Short Story Long" provides a humorous look at history, 9p.m., The Music Box 

NEXT WEEK Jersey guy and comedian/actor Jay Mohr performs his stand-up act, 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 3 

 BOOK IT NOW "The Deadmeat Tour," featuring Steve Aoki and Datsik, at the Event Center, 10 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 18; legendary Irish rockers The Saw Doctors help you celebrate St. Patrick's Day, 9 p.m., March 17, The Music Box

Check out theborgata.com for details about these and other shows.

Kean University, Union

THIS WEEK No shows

BOOK IT NOW George Winston, 3 p.m., Sunday, March 4; Ravi Coltrane, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 14; Kathy Mattea, 3 p.m., Sunday, May 6. 

Check out keanstage.com for details about these and other shows.

Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown

This Weekend Manhattan Comedy Night, Enjoy an evening of stand-up featuring some of rising young stars of comedy. Adults Only. Mature themes, language., 8 p.m.; Saturday Blast provides a look at the world of drum corps, bands and color guards and is the winner of the 2001 Tony Award for "Best Special Theatrical Event.", 8 p.m.; Sunday "The Intergalactic Nemesis," the graphic novel comes to life with more than 1,250 hand-drawn, full-color, hi-res comic-book images projected on a screen., 7 p.m.

NEXT WEEK: Legendary crooner Tony Bennett brings his heart to Morristown, Thursday; Paquito D'Rivera, the Cuban-born saxaphonist and clarinetist won two 2011 Latin Grammy Awards, brings his eclectic show to "Mo-town", 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 3; get your kitsch on and belt out "Sweet Caroline" with Super Diamond, the ultimate Neil Diamond tribute band, Saturday, Feb. 4  

BOOK IT NOW ; Grammy-winning guitar legend Peter Frampton celebrates the 35th anniversary of his iconic "Frampton Comes Alive" album, Tuesday, Feb. 7.; Outrageous comedian Lisa Lampanelli, known as "The Queen of Mean," brings her hilarious equal-opportunity attacks to crowds, 8 p.m.,  Saturday, Feb. 11, Celebrate Mardi Gras with the Soul Rebels Brass Band and Brother Jocephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra, 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 18.

Check out mayoarts.org for details about these and other shows.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark

THIS WEEKEND Saturday "Salsa Palooza" with Gilberto Santa Rose and Grupo Niche, 8 p.m.; Sunday Opera singer Renee Fleming performs with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, including slections from Ravel's Sheherazade and favorites from La Boheme, Tosca, Rusalka, Faust, and more, 3 p.m.,

NEXT WEEK Romeo and Juliet, performed by the State Ballet Theatre of Russia, 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 3  Liza Minelli, see the Oscar, Tony, Grammy and Emmy award-winning actress at NJPAC. 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4.

BOOK IT NOW Hugh Masakela, the South African singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist whom Rolling Stone calls "one of the most thrilling live performers around," 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25; The Chieftains celebrate their 50th Anniversary and help audiences kick off the countdown to St. Patrick's Day; 8 p.m., Saturday, March 10.

Check out njpac.org to check out these and other events.

The Prudential Center, Newark

THIS WEEK Sunday Nets v. Toronto Raptors, 6 p.m.

NEXT WEEK Devils v. New York Rangers, Tuesday, 7 p.m.; Nets v. Detroit Pistons, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday; Devils v. Montreal Canadiens, Thursday, 7 p.m. 

BOOK IT NOW Nets v. Minnesota Timberwolves, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 3; Devils v. Pittsburgh Penguins, 1 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 5; Nets v. Chicago Bulls, 7:30 p.m., Monday Feb. 6; The Harlem Globetrotters, 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18; Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Thursday, March 1 through Sunday, March 4

Check out prucenter.com for details about these and other shows.

South Orange Performing Arts Center, South Orange

THIS WEEKEND Friday "The Sounds of Sarah Vaughan," with Rosena M. Hill, Jason Jackson & Cyrus Chestnut, 8 p.m.; Sunday "Blues in the Loft" series of inexpensive shows highlighting up-and-coming performers. Tickets are $15, 5 p.m.

NEXT WEEK Inspired, a performance by the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4

BOOK IT NOW Jazz singer and cabaret performer Jane Monheit performs at 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 10; Author and monologist Malachy McCourt performs "Living Life and Laughing at Death" at 8 p.m., Friday, March 9; Country singer/songwriter Pam Tillis performs at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 10.

Scheduling Note The Suzanne Vega performance, originally scheduled for 8 p.m., Saturday, has been rescheduled for 8 p.m., Thursday, May 10.

Go to sopacnow.org for more details about all shows.

Scotty’s Steakhouse, Springfield

 NEXT WEEK Friday and Saturday Patrick O'Donnell, a regular performer in Atlantic City and Las Vegas who's been seen on Comedy Central and America's Funniest People, headlines a show that also features Lori Chase and Brendan Eyre

NEXT WEEK Chris Rich, who began her career as a singer and dancer ("I did Oklahoma so many times I qualified for Farm Aid.") before turning to comedy, is a regular performer on Comedy Central's Premium Blend and The View, headlines a show that also features Shawn Banks and Matt Jenkins; Friday and Saturday, Feb, 10 and 11.

 BOOK IT NOW Eddie Clark was a funny policemn in Mount Vernon, NY who decided to put down the gun and pick up the mic. He's appeared on a variety of TV shows and delivers his observation humor to Scotty's crowds in a show that features Phil Selman and Tim Hayes; Friday and Saturday, Jan. 28 and 29.

For details and more information, log onto scottyssteakhouse.com.

Shanghai Jazz, Madison

THIS WEEKEND Friday Rob Paparozzi Trio, featuring legendary Grammy-winning drummer Bernard Purdie; Saturday The Shanghai Jazz Special Chinese New Year Celebration continues with the Javon Jackson Quartet, (note: $59, for dinner and show; reservations required); Sunday Pianist Jay D'Amico brings his trio to the Madison stage

NEXT WEEK The Harry Allen Trio performs on Wednesday; Pianist/vocalist John Korba brings his trio in to perform selections from their new cd on Friday, Feb. 3; Grammy winner Nilson Matta Trio performs their Brasilian jazz on Saturday, Feb. 4

BOOK IT NOW Legendary Bucky Pizzarelli performs on Wednesday, Feb. 8; Billy Drummond, who played drums with jazz pioneer Sonny Rollins, performs with his trio on Saturday, Feb. 11; For Valentine's Day, the Tony DeSare Trio headlines a dinner/dancing show for jazz lovers ($75/person; reservations only) 

All shows 6:30 and 8:30. Check out shanghaijazz.com for more details.

State Theatre, New Brunswick

THIS WEEK: Friday Blast provides a look at the world of drum corps, bands and color guards and is the winner of the 2001 Tony Award for "Best Special Theatrical Event.", 8 p.m.

NEXT WEEK The Temptations and The Four Tops perform their catalog of the best R&B and pop hits in modern music; 8 p.m., Friday. Feb. 3; "One Man Lord of the Rings," a hilarious look at Frodo-philes, 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4.

BOOK IT NOW The Yardbirds and Vanilla Fudge ask you to find your tie-dyed t-shirt and reclaim your lost youth for an evening, 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9; check out an HD screening of the Oscar-nominated Woody Allen film, Midnight in Paris, at 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 10; Glen Burtnik and Friends: The British Invasion Concert, 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 11.

 Check out statetheatrenj.org for more details.

Stress Factory Comedy Club, New Brunswick

THIS WEEK Friday and Saturday Sebastian Maniscalco

NEXT WEEK American Red Cross Blood Drive, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday; Open Mic Night,Wednesday; Mitch Fatel, Thursday, Feb. 2-Saturday, Feb, 4.

Check out stressfactory.com for more details.

Wellmont Theatre, Montclair

THIS WEEK NO SHOWS

BOOK IT Longtime power-balladeers (and husband and wife) singer Pat Benatar & guitarist Neil Giraldo remind us that "Love is a Battlefield", 8 p.m., Thursday, March 1; Singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson, Friday, March 2; Levon Helm Band, led by the iconic member of The Band, performs on a bill that also includes former J. Geils Band frontman Peter Wolf, Friday, April 6 (Show postponed from Feb. 10). 

Check out wellmonttheatre.com for more shows.