The Weekender: 25th Anniversary Concert

The weekend is nearly upon us and if you’re looking to make a plan, we’ve got more than a few weekend ideas here. Are you a sucker for great deals?  Then there’s shopping galore like Montclair Center’s annual Sidewalk Sale, the Affordable Art Sale at MAM, and the Pre-K Mega Tag Sale to name a few. 

Students shine this weekend as well, in loads of live performances including School of Rock, Jazz House Kids and Sharron Miller Dancers.  Want more choices? How about garden walking tours, a new brunch spot, fabulous fundraisers, and the grand re-opening of the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center. 

We’ve haven’t even told you everything, so be sure to check the whole list, (adults and kids alike), and Get Out!

—Live Music at Ruthie’s BBQ 

Where/When: Ruthie's Bar-B-Q, 64 1/2 Chestnut St., Montclair. Friday, June 10 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Why Go: The food at Ruthie's (great BBQ and Pizza) stands on its own, but combined with stellar bands and atmosphere, it's an elevated evening for sure. Tonight, get treated to some blues with Rob Signorile and Shuffle, Jump & Moan.

Pricing: No cover.

—Kids Cooking Workshop

Where/When: Whole Foods, 701 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair. Friday, June 10 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Why Go: Make your own fresh smoothies! Recommended for kids ages 5 and up.

Pricing: $10 per child.

–Live Jazz at InsaniTea 

Where/When: InsaniTea, 570 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair. Friday, June 10 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Why Go: The Paolo Cantarella Group is back—come hear these young jazz musicians play live while you drink tea, snack and chill.

Pricing: No cover, tips for band appreciated.

—Montclair Center Spring Sidewalk Sale

Where/When: Montclair Center. Saturday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Parents who Rock Performances begin at 12 p.m.

Why Go: Peruse the best of Montclair Center’s shops while snagging great deals along the way. Church Street will be closed to vehicular traffic (yay!) and Parents Who Rock will play live. Face painting and a reptile show round out the fun for kids.

Pricing: Free.

—Affordable Art Sale

Where/When: , 3 S. Mountain Ave., Montclair.  Saturday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, June 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Why Go: The wildly popular affordable art sale is back for a 2nd run at  MAM. Local and emerging artists will present paintings, drawings, sculpture and more, all in the range of $50 to $500.

Pricing: Free admission.

—Write Group Open Mic: All Ages

Where/When: Montclair Public Library, 50 S. Fullerton Ave., Montclair.  Saturday, June 11 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Why Go: The Montclair Write Group will hold its first “Open Mic for all ages.” Elementary school students and teens are welcome to participate. Sign up begins at 1:45 p.m. Bring material up to six minutes long, suitable for a general audience. Listener’s welcome! For more information, emailmackenziereide@yahoo.com or surewhynot4P@yahoo.com.

Pricing: Free.

—From Roses to Rock Gardens Walking Tour

Where/When: Van Vleck House and Gardens, 21 Van Vleck Street, Montclair. Friday, June 10 at 9:30 a.m. and Saturday, June 11 at 9:30 a.m.

Why Go: Van Vleck presents its 12th Annual "Roses to Rock Gardens" tour—a rare opportunity to stroll through seven spectacular private gardens in Montclair. The tour begins with a morning coffee reception and lecture at the Van Vleck House. A speaker will provide descriptions of what to look for on the tour, as well as planning and DIY  gardening tips.  Reserve a box lunch and enjoy it on the on the Van Vleck grounds. For more information go here

Pricing: Ticket prices for the tour: $25/Friends of Van Vleck, $30/Others. Buy three tickets, and get a fourth one free!

—Montclair Pre-K Mega Tag Sale

Where/When: Montclair Community Pre-K, 49 Orange Road, Montclair.  Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Why Go: Shop for bargains at this annual tag sale and help raise money for much-needed scholarships at the Pre-K. Have your own items to get rid off? You can donate your goods to the Pre-K to sell or set up your own table for $25 a spot. Call 973-509-4500 for more information.

Pricing: Admission is free.

—Imagination Station at the 

Where/When: Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Ave., Montclair. Saturday, June 11 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Why Go: MAM events always deliver, and Imagination Station is no exception. This very popular program focuses on a different artwork or theme each week—this week’s theme is Out the Window. Families will be engaged in active looking, lively discussion, interactive activities, and scavenger hunts, and have a unique opportunity to sketch in the galleries. Space is limited.

Pricing: Member adults free, nonmember adults $12, children $6.

—Drop-in Crafts at Bloomfield Public Library

Where/When: BPL, 90 Broad St., Bloomfield. Saturday, June 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Why Go: Literally drop in anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. for some fun crafts.

Pricing: Free.

—1000 Peace Cranes Project

Where/When: Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Drive, Nutley. Saturday, June 11 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Why Go: Come to the library and help make origami cranes. When 1000 cranes have been made, they will be displayed at the library, then sent to Hiroshima, Japan as part of a worldwide peace awareness program. Recommended for children ages 7 and up.

Pricing: Free, call 973-667-0405 to register.

—School of Rock Tribute Shows: Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers & The Doors

Where/When: , 6 Depot Square, Montclair. Saturday, June 11,Green Day/Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 12 Doors Tribute at 2 p.m.

Why Go: On Saturday, students from the SOR’s Performance Program will get down playing Chili Peppers and Green Day favorites, then on Sunday, they tackle Doors classics like “L.A. Woman” and the rousing “Roadhouse Blues.” If you haven’t seen these kids play yet, you are missing out.

Pricing: $10 adults/$5 for those 17 and under (per show). Seating on a first come first serve basis.

—A Silver Celebration: 25^th Anniversary Concert

Where/When: , 160 Broad St., Bloomfield. Saturday, June 11, at 7:30 p.m.

Why Go: This special 25^th anniversary concert will feature Guest conductor Dr. Shelley Axelson, Assistant Professor of Music Education at Montclair State University, Guest Soloist Elaina Frissell, a Montclair State University Senior Vocal Soloist and world-renowned composer Jared Spears.

Pricing: Admission is free.

—Live Folk & Rock at InsaniTea

Where/When:  InsaniTea  570 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair. Saturday, June 11 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Why Go: David William Weisner provides an evening of unique folk/rock music.

Pricing: No cover, tips for performers appreciated.

—Toni’s Kitchen Annual Dinner

Where/When: , 73 S. Fullerton Ave., Montclair. Saturday, June 11 from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Why Go: Spend your Saturday night eating, drinking and donating at Toni’s Kitchen annual fundraiser. Come for cocktails or stay the entire evening with dinner, live music, and the lovely folks of Toni’s Kitchen.

Pricing:  $40/pp (Cocktails); $75/pp (Cocktails and Dinner), or $140/couple. Buy Tickets.

—Project Oasis 15^th Annual Fundraiser

Where/When: , 3 S Mountain Ave., Montclair.  Saturday, June 11, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Why Go: The Montclair Neighborhood Development Center presents “Art Through the Eyes of Our Youth” an evening of art, music and great food—all to benefit the Montclair Adolescent Free Summer Program.

Pricing: $75 per person. Register here or by phone 973-744-9094.

—Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts Fundraiser

Where/When: Where: , 54 Orange Rd., Montclair. Sunday, June 12, at 3 p.m.

Why Go: Enjoy an afternoon of fabulous dancing by the talented members of The Performance Workshop Ensemble, along with other scholarship students from SMAPA. All proceeds will benefit Scholarship Funds, which serve hundreds of children each year.  

Pricing: $20 General Admission; $10 children (3-17), and senior citizens Tickets can be purchased at SMAPA, online or at the door. For additional information call 973-655-9819 or visit www.smapa.org. 

—Grand Re-Opening of Yogi Berra Museum

Where/When: Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center, 1 Normal Ave., Montclair. Sunday, June 12 at 12 p.m.

Why Go: The extensively renovated Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center  is set to reopen its doors to the public, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the unveiling of a life-sized statue of Yogi Berra.

Pricing: Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for students under 18.

—Multi-Family Garage Sale

Where/When: 228 Park St, Montclair. Sunday, June 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Why Go: It’s an “everything must go” kind of sale promising big savings on loads of items like furniture, clothing, toys, baby gear, and more.

Pricing: Free.

—Reading Between the Lines: A collection of historic newspapers

Where/When: , 108 Orange Rd., Montclair. Sunday, June 12 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Why Go: A father/son pair of teachers share their collection of historic newspapers. Discover how you can “read between the lines” and find that newspapers can be a window to the past, not only through news stories, but editorials, the ads, and more.  

Pricing: Suggested donation is $5 per person.

—Jazz House Kids Presents: The Student Sessions

Where/When: Cecil's Jazz Club, 364 Valley Rd., West Orange. Sunday, June 12 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Why Go: Jazz House Kids will host two student sessions for emerging musicians. Bring your instruments and join in on the action!

Pricing: $5 non-Jazz House Kids students and friends. Free for Jazz House Kids students, free for accompanying adults

—Picnic for Adoptive Families

Where/When: Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange.  Sunday, June 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Why Go: The Adoptive Parents Committee (APC) of New Jersey invites you to come out and meet other parents and children connected through adoption, and learn more about membership in the APC. Enjoy a picnic and, of course, the many attractions at the zoo.

Pricing: Tickets for pre-registered guests are $10 for adults, $6 for children for food. (Please enter through the group admissions window.) Walk-ins are also welcome, but will have to pay separately for zoo admission. RSVP directly to Laura or call 973-610-8745.

—Live Music at Terra

Where/When: Terra at the Isabel Rose located at the Montclair Public Library, 50 S. Fullerton Ave., Montclair. Sunday, June 12 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.

Why Go: Terra is continuing its live music events at its new space in the Library. This Sunday, enjoy musician Rebecca Turner and, of course, all the delicious fair-trade offerings at Terra.

Pricing: Admission is free.

—Sunday Brunch at Park Sports Bar

Where/When: 30 S. Park Street, Montclair. Sunday June 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Why Go: The newly re-vamped Park Sports Bar is looking to make its mark on the Montclair brunch scene. The brunch is buffet style and boasts a gourmet grilled cheese station (yum) as well as gussied up mimosas like the Pink Salty Dog, a puckering concoction of grapefruit juice, campari and champagne, complete with salted rim.

Pricing: $15.99 per person, $6 children under 12 and $10 senior citizens. Price includes one complementary mimosa or Bloody Mary.