This Weekend: Poetry Jam and 'Free to Be'

The Livingston Library will celebrate the power of words on Sunday with distinguished poet Christopher Parker.

Parker will lead two . The first is Poetry Writing for Adults, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. This is hands-on workshop for adults who write poetry, or would like to expand their creative writing skills.  At 3 p.m., Parker will offer another session for teen poets and writers.  

Space is limited and registration required. Call (973) 992-4600, John Sitnik at extension 240 for the Adult session or Karen DeWilde at extension 270 to sign up for the Teen program.

What else is happening? Here are our Patch Picks for the weekend.

1. Presented by the Children's Theatre of Livingston, nearly 100 children are involved in the show. Performances are at Mount Pleasant Middle School on Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. A special 5-year anniversary show will be Sunday, April 10 at 2 p.m.  For information about tickets please call (973) 740-1855 or visit www.childrenstheatreoflivingston.org.

2. The Candle Lighters present an afternoon of fun and shopping!  Grab a friend and come and shop the day away at Trinity Covenant Church, 343 E. Cedar St., Livingston. Featuring vendors who offer handcrafted gifts, jewelry, clothes, scents and more. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a portion of all proceeds going to The Candle Lighters.

3. The cherry trees are beginning to bloom, and Branch Brook Park is the place to be! The will offer several events in the coming weeks, including a bike race and a walk/run this weekend.

:Essex County Branch Brook Park 263 Elwood Ave., Newark; Saturday morning, April 9. Come watch (or compete in) this competitive bicycle race through the park. Cyclists must pre-register, but cheering is free!  $30/$35 for racers, free for spectators

Branch Brook Park, Newark; Sunday morning (registration at 8 a.m., Fun Run at 9 a.m., Race at 10 a.m.)

In addition to the 10K Run, a Children’s 1-Mile Fun Run and a Race for the Disabled will take place amid the cherry tree groves. A portion of race proceeds will go to the Special Olympics. Registration fees apply to runners. Free to enter the park and watch!

: New Jersey Wine Festivals invites you to celebrate the coming of spring at the 4th Annual Spring Wine Festival on Friday at the Hilton Short Hills.  With 100+ fine wines hand-selected for your tasting pleasure by the experts of the Wine Library, come relax, mix n’ mingle with wine lovers just like you. Sip a diverse array of wines, nibble on accompanying fare, and kick back with the smooth sounds of live jazz. $84, Friday, April 8, 7 p.m.–10 p.m., Hilton Short Hills.

5.: Words Bookstore, in honor of Autism Awareness Month, presents Dr. Ricki Robinson, who is perhaps the leading pediatrician in the field of autism.  She will speak about her brand-new book, Autism Solutions: How to Create a Healthy and Meaningful Life for Your Child, in which she discusses innovative strategies for developing the right treatment plan. Free, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Words Bookstore, 179 Maplewood Ave., Maplewood.

6.: The award-winning journalist and writer, Anita Diamant, who received national recognition from her novel, The Red Tent, comes to the temple with her latest novel, Day After Night, to tell the inspirational stories of women who lived through the Holocaust and await the future. Her stories explore the complexity of resiliency then and now.  $25-$36, 6 p.m. Friday, April 8, 432 Scotland Rd, South Orange.

7. Turtle Back Zoo’s resident wolves, Methos and Atticus, are having a birthday on Saturay, April 9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be wolf activities and educational programs throughout the day, plus all the usual fun the Zoo has to offer. Adults $10, Children and Seniors, $7, Children under 2 free.

8.at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 at the  in Morristown. Why Go? Because, according to the Community Theatre’s website, Perlman is “undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin.” Tickets range from $75 to $125 and are available online.