Drone View of Franklin Parker Preserve. (Photo by Richard Lewis)
Samuel W. Lambert III of Princeton will be honored for his land preservation efforts in the Pine Barrens on Thursday, June 1, at New Jersey Conservation Foundation’s 2023 Gala in Peapack-Gladstone.
The event to be held at the Mansion of Natirar will celebrate land preservation throughout New Jersey — most notably the 20th anniversary of the Franklin Parker Preserve in the heart of the Pine Barrens. more
Princeton Montessori middle school students learn about macro invertebrates and stream health with Sourland Conservancy staff. (Photo by Laurie Cleveland)
Princeton Montessori middle school students took a field trip to the Sourland Mountains recently where they were guided by the Sourland Conservancy staff. The morning began with a trip to the Foraging Forest in Hopewell Borough Park where students learned about climate change, edible plants, invasive species and more. Afterwards, they got their hands dirty by planting native trees and shrubs to provide critical habitat for birds, pollinators, and other native species. more
The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM), Central New Jersey’s only African American history museum sharing the story of Black Americans since the trans-Atlantic Slave trade, will hold its second annual Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17 from 12 to 4 p.m. (rain or shine).
The Juneteenth celebration, “Freedom Forward,” is a family-friendly event that aims to educate, celebrate, and promote unity and cohesion within Central New Jersey’s culturally diverse communities. The day will feature live music, an outdoor theater performance, spoken poetry, a mosaic workshop, and a family tree heritage workshop. more
Join The Watershed Institute for their 9th annual Solstice Trail Run on Wednesday, June 21. Run or walk the 5K, 10K, or 15K trail options. As it is an outdoor run over uneven terrain, expect to traverse exposed rocks, roots, and possible mud. This evening event has a 6 p.m. start time in honor of summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Runners will receive an event T-shirt if they register by June 1. Women have the option of a tank top. Complimentary s’mores around the fire pit await the event finishers. The post-race beer sponsor is Old Hights Brewing Company in Hightstown. more
As Richardson Auditorium will be closed for repairs for most of the summer 2023 concert season (it will be the site for one concert), Nassau Presbyterian Church at 61 Nassau Street will host the Princeton University Summer Chamber Concerts season instead. As usual, these world-class concerts are free to attend. more
On Sunday, May 28 from 1 to 3 p.m., Washington Crossing Historic Park will hold its annual Memorial Day observance near the gravesite of Continental soldiers. The gravesite is located near the Thompson-Neely House, about 2 miles south of New Hope, Pa., at the intersection of Route 32 and Aquetong Road (1638 River Road in New Hope).
The observation will include a colonial color guard, a fife and drum corps, Revolutionary War reenactors, veterans, and other honored guests. During the ceremony, American flags will be placed on all graves. more
The nonprofit organization Friends for the Abbott Marshlands (FFAM) has announced two concurrent events to celebrate the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day.
Saturday, June 3 is the Bordentown Bluffs Ramble from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. This is a fairly easy 2-mile hike that will head to the bluff above Crosswicks Creek. There will be several expansive views of the Abbott Marshlands. Many native plant and tree species will be seen along the route, along with lichen, mosses, and the possibility of hawk or eagle sighting. This hike is for adults or families with supervised children. RSVP is required by emailing marshtrails@abbottmarshlands.org. Attendees should park and meet at Stanton Avenue (off Route 206 South) trail head. Water bottle, camera, binoculars, and sturdy shoes are recommended. more
Celebrated singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae will perform live at McCarter Theatre on Tuesday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m.
From the very start of her career, Rae has demonstrated her talent for writing and performing songs with a free, airy quality that belies their emotional heft. The soulful rhythm and blues crooner debuted her self-titled solo album in 2006, which hit No. 1 on U.K. charts driven by singles “Put Your Records On” and “Like a Star.” Her second album, The Sea, was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2010 and she’s taken home two Grammys — her first for her work on Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters, and another for her version of Bob Marley’s “Is This Love.” Rae’s music has frequently appeared in film and television. She composed the theme to Stan Lee’s Lucky Man, covered Coldplay’s “The Scientist” for Fifty Shades Darker and “New to Me,” which Tracee Ellis Ross performed in the 2020 film The High Note. Her latest album is 2016’s The Heart Speaks in Whispers. more
Labyrinth Books will host an informative presentation on “Abortion Access in NJ: Rights and Realities” on Tuesday, May 23 at 6 p.m.
Amol Sinha, executive director of the ACLU New Jersey, and Jackie Cornell, executive director of Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, will discuss how New Jersey fits into the new reality of reproductive health care being tied to and determined by a person’s zip code. more
Join the Arts Council of Princeton on May 18 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for Story & Verse Open Mic Night. All are invited to perform original works based on the month of May’s theme — Knowledge is Power. This can be interpreted as broadly or specifically as the performer wishes. Those who don’t choose to perform on stage can join the enthusiastic audience. more
Internationally best-selling acoustic group Time For Three will perform an outdoor concert at Morven Museum and Garden on Friday, June 9 at 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $30 to $90. Half-priced tickets are available for youth ages 5 through 17. more
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, an opportunity to explore the stories and perspectives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Princeton Public Library has programming and content on AAPI heritage throughout the year but has a particular focus during May. more
On April 28 and 29, Princeton Academy Middle School students presented their spring performance of the multi-award-winning musical Guys and Dolls Jr. They performed alongside middle school students from Stuart Country Day School and the show took place at Stuart Little Theater. Corinne Sekinger served as stage director and Heidi New served as music director. more
When smart, creative children fall behind with classwork, even the most resilient may lose motivation and the self-esteem to do their best. Continually, concerned parents have turned to The Lewis School and Clinic of Princeton to understand the reasons, and unlock their child’s potential. more
Amtrak recently announced that they are the official rail transportation partner for the Broadway show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, now playing at the Lyric Theatre in New York City. As part of the collaboration with the show and Audience Rewards, the official rewards program for Broadway, Amtrak Guest Rewards members, Broadway enthusiasts, and Wizarding World fans can earn and redeem Amtrak Guest Rewards points on tickets to the show. It’s free for Amtrak Guest Rewards members to register with Audience Rewards. more
The Arts Council of Princeton’s April ARTS celebration will culminate on Saturday, April 29 with the second annual Princeton Porchfest from 12 to 6 p.m. Porchfest is a family-friendly event featuring musicians of all kinds playing free shows on porches throughout the neighborhood. Attendees are invited to stroll from porch to porch and relax on front lawns and sidewalks as they enjoy live, local talent. more
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) will host their annual NAMIWalks event in Mercer County on May 20. The event begins at 9 a.m. at The Gazebo at West Lake Park in Robbinsville. The goal is to make every mile and “milestone” count in this walk towards mental wellness and health support. With the aid of participants and particularly those who have chosen to fundraise for the event, NAMI takes one step closer to the goal of “Mental Health for All.” more
Join Longwood Gardens for Mother’s Day Weekend 2023 and celebrate the opening season of Festival of Fountains with the return of daily fountain performances. Guests can take in an Illuminated Fountain Performance on Thursday, May 11 through Saturday, May 13 when the gardens are open until 10 p.m. Another option is to stroll the spring flower displays where the gardens are open until 6 p.m. On Sunday, May 14 from noon to 3 p.m., enjoy guitar duo Chris Braddock and Dan Graper in the Conservatory. more
On May 26 at 2 p.m., join Labyrinth Books for a special discussion on the art and craft of fiction writing. Princeton University alumnae novelists will read from their work and speak with each other about inspiration, craft, and process. They will discuss the journey to publication, the themes that haunt their writing, completing their sophomore novels, and the lessons they took from writing at Princeton. This will be an open discussion with audience Q&A. more
Running from July 9 through July 22, Peddie Summer Academy (PSA) is a window into the world of boarding school and academic study. The aim is to provide summer students with the opportunity for concentrated and supportive academic growth along with extracurricular activities, socialization, collaboration, and innovation. When students are not in the classroom, they are challenging themselves on the athletic fields and in the art studio.
PSA mirrors the Peddie experience in the sense that students go to classes, pursue extracurriculars, eat meals together, and live in the dormitories. The program runs for 14 days with an on-campus “weekend” partway through. All students will live in the dormitories and stay on campus for the program duration. The days will be fast paced, with three elective courses in the morning and creative and athletic programs in the afternoon. more
