Come see why The College of New Jersey (TNCJ) has been ranked No. 1 during a scheduled open house day. The 2023 open houses will be held on Saturday, September 23, Sunday, October 15, and Saturday, November 18. Pre-registration is required at admissions.tcnj.edu/visit/lions-day-open-houses/. more
Early bird registration fee for the Sourland Spectacular cycling event is ending soon. The early bird registration fee of $50 ends on Thursday, August 17. The regular adult registration will then become $65, so don’t delay and register today! more
With the 2023 summer season in full swing at Bucks County Playhouse, the iconic New Hope theater recently announced new partnerships to create travel packages with several area boutique hotels and inns.
The all-new “Stay and Play” packages are designed to provide an unforgettable experience for theater enthusiasts and visitors alike. The packages combine top-notch performances with luxurious accommodations, making for the perfect getaway in picturesque Bucks County, Pa. more
NBC10, Telemundo62, and NBC Sports Philadelphia are sponsoring their annual Clear the Shelters pet adoption and donation campaign for the ninth consecutive year, now through August 31. As part of the event, these news stations have partnered with local animal shelters and rescues to promote pet adoption and to help raise funds for Philadelphia’s greater animal welfare community. more
Harvey S. Firestone Library, Princeton University. (Shutterstock.com)
Compiled by Wendy Greenberg
Libraries, like most other organizations, have seen a decade adapting to new technology, to shutting down completely in the pandemic, taking on new community roles, and reopening, some with changes. Through it all, librarians have been steadfast leaders of their staffs and captains of their physical spaces. more
Summer is in full swing and that means that outdoor movie screenings have returned to Palmer Square Green. These free admission events are perfect for the entire family. Bring your own blankets and lawn chairs. Movies will begin at 8:15 p.m., but feel free to arrive early for dinner and shopping in downtown Princeton. Parking is conveniently located at the Hulfish and Chambers Street garages. The fee is $5 after 4 p.m. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own food and drinks to the outdoor event. more
Twenty Sailors, assigned to Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), visited their ship’s namesake city June 6-8 to engage with the community, share the Navy’s story, and learn more about the historical connection to their vessel’s namesake.
During the visit, the crew met with the mayor, city officials, and public figures, toured the campus of Princeton University with NROTC representatives, visited important landmarks, and gave presentations at the local schools. more
Join Penn Medicine Princeton Health for a special event with cancer survivor and TV host Al Roker on Wednesday, June 28 at 7 p.m. at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village.
During this moderated conversation, NBC TODAY’s weatherman and co-anchor Roker will describe his own experience with cancer. Roker was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2020. He shared the news on-air with the TODAY audience and helped to raise awareness about prostate cancer and the importance of screening and early detection. more
North America’s most popular interactive dinosaur experience is back — bigger and better than ever! New Jersey families can walk among the nation’s largest herd of photorealistic dinosaurs when Jurassic Quest migrates to the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center in Edison July 21-23 and the Atlantic City Convention Center July 28-30.
Walk through 165 million years of the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods to learn about the creatures that once ruled the earth. In addition to life-like dinosaurs, Jurassic Quest’s classic experiences for the whole family include some of the largest ridable dinosaurs in North America; live dinosaur shows; interactive science and art activities, including a fossil dig and fossil-like items to play with; bounce houses; inflatable attractions; and photo opportunities. more
On Saturday, July 22, Longwood Gardens will offer a unique introductory class on The Art of Kusamono. Attendees can choose from either a 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 2 to 4 p.m. class time.
Often paired with bonsai, kusamono are potted arrangements of wild grasses and flowers in unique pots or trays selected to suggest a season, place, or natural habitat. The class will be led by U.S. kusamono artist Young Choe, who teaches the art of kusamono worldwide and has exhibited her work at the U.S. National Arboretum and National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, among others. The class will include a lecture, demonstration, methods for creation, guided teaching of kusamono styles, display techniques, and care. Lastly, those in attendance will create their own kusamono to take home and enjoy. more
State Fair Meadowlands has announced a new Summer Concert Series featuring Latin, rock, pop, and R&B bands. The daily concerts round out the fair’s already robust free entertainment, which includes high wire shows, cycle stunts, magicians, and more.
State Fair Meadowlands, which runs June 22-July 9, is the largest long-lasting New Jersey event of the summer. Fairgoers will have their pick of everything from Latin rock favorites to funky dance tunes, soulful ballads, and popular rock covers. The concerts will take place at 7 and 9 p.m. each day. more
Learn fly-fishing basics with Orvis’ free Fly-Fishing Class 101 on Saturday, June 17 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Based on 50 years of running fly-fishing schools and educational programs, the class will provide learners with the basics on fly casting, rigging, fly selection, and more. Perfect for newcomers of all ages, this class will get anyone started with the right fly-fishing tools and knowledge. All equipment will be provided. The class is best suited for ages 16 and older (anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult). The event will be held at the Orvis retail location at Princeton Shopping Center, 301 North Harrison Street. more
Join Princeton Public Library on Sunday, June 11 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a special Book Brunch Event with author Cassandra Jackson. Doors open at 10:45 a.m. and coffee and pastries will be served.
Jackson’s recently released memoir The Wreck: A Daughter’s Memoir of Becoming a Mother is an introspective look at the tendency for history to repeat itself and the challenge of turning inherited grief into a fresh start. Jackson also reveals the chilling parallels between the harrowing inhumanity of Jim Crow medical care and the underlying discrimination that still colors American health care today. During the course of retracing her family history, Jackson is left with a powerful sense of love and optimism that hope can transcend family trauma and be washed away for future generations. more
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
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
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
By Stuart Mitchner
A year before the invasion of Ukraine, I said in the Fall/Winter 2021 Book Scene that while I’d never actually been to Russia, I lived through “a St. Petersburg summer” in Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment and spent “my first Russian winter” reading The Brothers Karamazov. The phrasing suggests a naive belief in a literary realm beyond time, space, and politics, a land of no boundaries when, in fact, the novels I was reading were American editions published in New York. more
