Bloomfield Weekender: Holiday Delights & Ways to Help Others

Check out some of the festive events around the city and nearby.  Click the EVENTS tab on the home page to see all the possibilities for the weekend.  Feel free to add your own in the comments section. 

WHAT:   
WHERE:  Bloomfield Middle School 
WHEN:    Friday    8pm
WHY GO:  Bloomfield Youth Band conducted by Patrick J. Burns, will perform a concert entitle “Tributes,” on Friday, Dec. 9 (Snow date: Dec. 10.)  Featured pieces will include “The Sun Will Rise Again,” by Philip Sparke; “Splendid Star,” by Patrick Burns; and “All Those Endearing Young Charms,” by Simone Mantia. Guest artist Steven Wasco will perform “Euphonium on Asturias,” by Isaac Albeniz (arr. Lopez)
COST:   $15

WHAT:    Murder under the Mistletoe
WHERE:  Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center , 240 Belleville Avenue, Bloomfield
WHEN:    Friday    7pm
WHY GO:   Toy Company owner Harry Humbug has been murdered and it will be up to the audience to help our Detective figure it out as they form mini-CSI Teams at each table and try to win clues before time runs out!
COST:   $64.95 per person, includes dinner, show, tax and gratuity.   (973) 429-0960
http://bloomfield.patch.com/events/murder-under-the-mistletoe-85fc3ae6

WHAT:  
WHERE:   The Essex Bar & Grill, 41 Broughton Ave, Bloomfield
WHEN:   Friday   8:30pm
WHY GO:  Come join the Karaoke fun with a Great variety of Songs and Talent.   

WHAT:  Cathedral Basilica Concert Series: Christmas at the Cathedral "Navidad Latina 2011"
WHERE:  The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge St, Newark
WHEN:     Friday   8pm  
WHY GO:  The Cathedral Spanish Choir under the direction of Olfary Guitérrez joins forces with singers and instrumentalists from other Latin-American communities of the Archdiocese of Newark to present a program of ethnic Christmas music. The program, conducted in Spanish, includes Ariel Ramíerez's "Navidad Nuestra" along with Villancicos Tradicionales. Come celebrate Christmas from the many aspects of Latin-American traditions.
COST:  Free will offering

WHAT:  Live Bands Play Piano's Weekend Blowout
WHERE:   Pianos Bar & Grill
WHEN:   Friday  & Saturday  9:30pm
WHY GO: Support the best bands in our tristate area! Young and veteran musicians bring down the house every Friday and Saturday night in the Main Lounge at PIANOS. Dance or just listen and enjoy your favorite rock and roll, soul, funk, and blues. Drink specials at the bar. Never a cover and no minimum... Bring your friends for a terrific time...where live entertainment makes your night!

WHAT:  Annual Recreation Holiday Celebration
WHERE:   Bloomfield Civic Center
WHEN:     Saturday   1pm to 4pm
WHY GO:   Children will enjoy light refreshments, arts and crafts, holiday movies and a visit with Santa.

WHAT:    "Save A Life" Blood Drive at the Bloomfield Library
WHERE:   Bloomfield Public Library
WHEN:     Saturday  10am – 3pm
WHY GO:      Please come and pledge your blood donation. You can help the blood Center of NJ and the Bloomfield Public Library at the same time! The Blood Center of NJ supplies blood and blood products to approximately 30 NJ hospitals and conducts more than 225 blood drives per month in 15 NJ counties with a total resident population of approximately 5.8 million.   The NJ hospitals we serve need blood every minute of every day for patients who require life saving transfusions.   To assist with this effort, Blood Center of NJ has established the Library “Save a Life” Recognition Award.  This is a “win-win” program.  The library can better serve the needs of the public and BCNJ will have the blood needed for those who require life saving transfusions. 
For a library that sponsors a blood drive during the year, if we have: 
30 or more donations, then the library will receive a $300 “Save a Life” Recognition award. 
40 or more donations, then the library will receive a $350 “Save a Life” Recognition award. 
50 or more donations, then the library will receive a $40 “Save a Life” Recognition award. 
For each additional 10 donations, the “Save a Life” Recognition Award will be increased by $50.    

WHAT:  Free Seasonal Concert by The Garden State Concert Band
WHERE:  Saint Thomas the Apostle Church, 60 Byrd Ave, Bloomfield
WHEN:   Saturday  7pm
WHY GO:  The Garden State Concert Band will perform a free seasonal concert.  The concert will include a feature performance by soprano Andrea Covais, as well as holiday selections by the band, conducted by Dominick Ferrara III.    Rev. Fr. Charles Miller will narrate “The Night Before Christmas,” a poem by Clement C. Moore.

WHAT:   
WHERE:  Fire Dept Headquarters, 375 Franklin Street
WHEN:    Sunday   1pm to 5pm
WHY GO:  For a $10 donation to the Bloomfield Animal Shelter's Medical Fund ,your child, dog, kitty, bunny, etc can take a photo with Santa Claus & Mrs. Claus.   Hot chocolate, cookies and other goodies will be available.  Fire prevention and safety tips will be taught to anyone interested.  Learn how to stay safe during the Holiday Season.

WHAT:    
WHERE:    Piano’s Bar & Grill
WHEN:     Saturday   7pm
WHY GO:   Lots of quirkly and entertaining suspects, loads of clues and lots of laughs all through this original murder mystery...Your Detective Agency can use your deductive skills to solve the crime and win a fabulous gift..full menu and beverages available.
COST:   $15 Ticket and $10 food and drink minimum per person

WHAT:   Welcome Christmas! A Holiday Music Celebration
WHERE:   Glen Ridge Congregational Church
WHEN:   Sunday   3pm
WHY GO:   Get into the holiday spirit and share the magic of the season by joining in this community tradition.  You'll be treated to a wide variety of holiday music in a beautiful candlelit setting.  Favorite carols for all to sing!    Glen Ridge Choral Society, Children's Choir, Handbells, Brass, Percussion, Piano & Organ.  Thomas Mustachio, Music Director

WHAT: 
WHERE:   Bloomfield Municipal Building
WHEN:   Daily  
WHY GO:  Bloomfield Township Human Services is collecting clean, reusable coats, scarfs and gloves.  Coats will be distributed to needy Bloomfield Residents.  Please don’t hesitate to call for more information:  (973) 680-4017

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Bloomfield (John A. Bukowski) Animal Shelter
WHEN:   Tuesday   4pm – 7:30pm
WHY GO: The Bloomfield Animal Shelter will be holding an Open House on Tuesday, December 13th.   Stop by and visit the shelter and see the wonderful cats and dogs longing to be a part of your family.   There will be a variety of homemade baked goods, appetizers, finger sandwiches, and beverages - including hot chocolate & coffee - will be available. 
*** Approved Cat & Dog adoptions between December 13th through December 25th will be only $25.

WHAT:   
WHERE:   Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange
WHEN:     Friday, Saturday, Sunday
WHY GO:  Experience Turtle Back Zoo in the winter as 100,000 bulbs and 40 lit displays illuminate the zoo this holiday season!
COST:   Free.   Turtle Back Zoo will be collecting non-perishable food, winter coats and unwrapped new toys for the needy each evening of holiday lights.

WHAT:  
WHERE:   Newark Museum, 49 Washington Street, Newark
WHEN:     Friday, Saturday, Sunday    12:00pm–5:00pm
WHY GO:   This historically accurate installation offers the opportunity to step back in time to learn about nineteenth-century life and traditions. From the Christmas tree (a German tradition) to the wooden shoes by the hearth (a Dutch tradition) to the stockings on the chimney and plum pudding in the dining room (English traditions), visitors can get a sense of how Christmas evolved into a home-based secular holiday in the nineteenth century, linked to but distinct from the religious commemoration that was celebrated in church.
COST:  Museum Admission: Adult $10; Children, Seniors & Students with Valid I.D.: $6; Members free

WHAT: 
WHERE:   Newark Museum, 49 Washington Street, Newark
WHEN:     Friday, Saturday, Sunday    12:00pm–5:00pm
WHY GO:   Season of Light (Limited run)   Saturdays & Sundays, 2 pm - Recommended for adults and children ages 6 and up    40 minutes
Trace the development of many of the world's endearing holiday customs, all of which involve lighting up the winter season—from Yule logs and sparkling Christmas tree lights to the lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah. This show recounts the historical religious and cultural rituals practiced during the time of winter solstice—not only Christian and Jewish, but also Celtic, Nordic, Roman, Irish, Mexican and Hopi.
Seven Wonders    Fridays, 2 pm  Saturdays & Sundays, 2 & 4 pm - Recommended for adults and children ages 9 and up    40 minutes
Turn back the pages of time and witness the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World as they have not been seen for thousands of years. 
The Little Star that Could    Saturdays & Sundays, 1 & 3 pm - Recommended for adults and children ages 5 to 8   35 minutes
A little star is born all by himself.  Lonely for some friends, he embarks on a journey through the galaxy.  Along the way he meets different stars, learns about their lives, colors and temperatures.  At the end of his voyage he is introduced to a star cluster, the Milky Way and the planets in our Solar System.
COST:   Adults $15; children under 12, seniors, and college students $9 - includes Museum & Planetarium admission .

WHAT:   
WHERE:  Kip's Castle, 22 Crestmont Road, Verona
WHEN:    Friday & Saturday    12:00pm–4:00pm
WHY GO:  Visit Kip’s Castle during the month of December for a self-guided tour of the first floor and experience the holidays circa 1928.

WHAT:  White Christmas
WHERE:  Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ
WHEN:    Nov 16 – Dec 24    (showtimes: http://www.papermill.org/whats-playing/season-at-a-glance/cat/cat_id/1.html)  
WHY GO:  Based on the beloved Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye film, this merry musical tells the tale of two famous song-and-dance men who stage a show in a scenic, snow-topped Vermont inn — and end up finding love with two singing sisters under the mistletoe.
COST:   $25 to $80

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This Friday December 9, 2011 and Saturday December 10, 2011 from noon to 4 pm and next Wednesday December 14, 2011 - 9am -1pm.
The Bloomfield College Department of Creative Art and Technology has gracious accepted to participate in Bloomfield Township Community Art Project.    Clark Stoeckley –Adjunct Professor (718) 213-5054 and his students will commence painting two walls under Memorial Park Footbridge walls; located JFK drive North, near Skate Park.