The Weekender: It's Spring Ahead Weekend

Here are just a few of the happenings in the area this weekend. Click on “EVENTS” on the Home Page to see all the possibilities.  Don't forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour beginning at 2 a.m. Sunday morning!

 
WHAT: Mount Saint Dominic Academy presents "THE DROWSY CHAPERONE"
WHERE: Mount Saint Dominic Academy, 3 Ryerson Ave., Caldwell
WHEN:  March 9 and 10 at 8 p.m., March 11 at 2 p.m.
WHY GO: The Drowsy Chaperone is an homage to American musicals of the Jazz Age, examining the effect musicals have on the fans who adore them. The Man in Chair, a mousy, agoraphobic Broadway fanatic, seeking to cure his "non-specific sadness", listens to a recording of a fictional 1928 musical comedy, The Drowsy Chaperone. As he listens to this rare recording, he is transported into the musical. The characters appear in his dingy apartment, and it is transformed into an impressive Broadway set with seashell footlights, sparkling furniture, painted backdrops and glitzy costumes.
COST: $15 adults ,$10 students/seniors. For tickets log on to showtix4u.com.

WHAT: Montclair Art Museum Displays ; ;  Patterns, Systems, Structures: Abstraction in American Art - Part II
WHERE: Montclair Art Museum  
WHEN: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Noon–5 p.m.
COST: $12 nonmember adults, $10 for seniors (65+) and students with I.D.  

WHAT:  
WHERE: St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church, 219 Bloomfield Ave, Caldwell
WHEN: Friday   5:45 p.m.
WHY GO: Saint Aloysius Parish invites everyone to come for a supper of meatless soup with fresh bread and crackers, beverages and dessert during the season of Lent. Each Friday, prayer starts at 5:45 p.m., with soup being served at 6 p.m. Donations will be accepted to benefit Operation Rice Bowl of Catholic Relief Services. Please RSVP to Sister Justine at (973) 226-0209, ext. 6. 

WHAT: 
WHERE: Temple Sholom of West Essex, 760 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove
WHEN:   Friday, March 9   
WHY GO: Come and experience a brief, song-filled service led by Rabbi Groffman and Cantor Epstein for children in grade one and below and their families. Tot Shabbot is a great way to meet others with young childen and to celebrate Shabbat together. Join us for dinner after the service. RSVP  (973) 239-1321

WHAT:     
WHERE: PETCO, 339 Pompton Ave., Verona 
WHEN:  Saturday 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
WHY GO:  PAWS adoption days are held at the PETCO in Verona. Cat and kitten adoption days are held the second through fourth Saturdays of each month from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Come and meet our cats.

WHAT: Verona Fit Club Saturday Morning Workout
WHERE: First Presbyterian Church, 10 Fairview Ave., Verona
WHEN: Saturday  9 a.m.
WHY GO: Our mission starts and ends with helping you achieve your weight loss or fitness goals in a fun, supportive, community rich with people who will encourage you toward your goals. Free workouts are on Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m.  

WHAT:
WHERE: Montclair Art Museum,  3 S. Mountain Ave., Montclair
WHEN: Saturday, March 10 7:30 p.m.
WHY GO: The Northern New Jersey Chapter of the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College will present a scholarship benefit concert, “Cabaret Blue,” featuring the Spelman College Jazz Ensemble and honoring the first couple of jazz, Grammy award-winning bassist Christian McBride and songstress Melissa Walker, who will be presented the "African American Classical Music Award” at the Montclair Art Museum. Music director Joseph Jennings established the Spelman College Jazz Ensemble in 1983. Its repertoire ranges from jazz standards and blues to bee-bob and swing. Camden native, Sharee Bookman, will be a featured tenor saxophonist with this year’s Ensemble. Additionally, she has been the recipient of a NNJC scholarship.
COST: $75

WHAT:
WHERE: The Café at the Montclair Public Library
WHEN: Saturday 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
WHY GO: All ages and skill levels are welcome to play chess on Saturday afternoons in the Café at the Montclair Public Library. This is a drop-in group, no registration is required. In case of inclement weather, please contact the Library at (973) 744-0500 to make sure the building is open.

WHAT: 
WHERE: First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell, 326 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell
WHEN:   Saturday, March 10 10 a.m.
WHY GO: Learn  the results of an archaeological survey and dig done at the site of Grover Cleveland's Birthplace, and hear about the plans to construct a Visitor's Center at the site.
COST: $20 Lunch is included

WHAT:           
WHERE: The First Presbyterian Church of Verona, 10 Fairview Ave., Verona 
WHEN:  Sunday, March 11 10:15 a.m.
WHY GO: Join with the Congregation of First Presbyterian Church of Verona as they celebrate and share their talents. Singing, Dancing, Skating, Trains, Poetry, Dolls, Cooking, Photography and more. Service starts at 10:15; Celebration follows.WHAT: 

WHERE: St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 73 S Fullerton Ave., Montclair
WHEN: Sunday, March 11, 2012, 5 p.m.
WHY GO: The 35-voice, critically-acclaimed choral ensemble, Schola Cantorum on Hudson (SCH) will premiere SCH Featured Composer Ivo Antognini’s ‘Ave Maris Stella’ for mixed voices in a concert on Sunday, March 11, 5 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 73 S. Fullerton Ave., Montclair. The concerts will feature Bach’s Cantata BWV 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden, for which SCH will be joined by the Con Vivo instrumental collective. SCH’s Cantorum Young Singers ensemble, the Caldwell College Choir, under the direction of Dr. Laura Greenwald, will collaborate with SCH singers in five of the concert selections. As a special treat, Con Vivo will perform Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, providing an exclamation point to the concert’s joyful choral conclusion. These concerts entitled ‘Rebirth,’ within the season-long theme of ‘Healing,’ mark the journey from a limited state of consciousness to a higher one as a kind of internal, personal rebirth. “The search for understanding of what is real beyond the grasp of our senses is the drama that underlies these concerts,” comments Artistic Director King.
COST: Tickets may be purchased in advance for $15 at scholaonhudson.org, by calling (888) 407-6002; or purchased for $20 at the door. Additional information regarding this concert, or any of Schola Cantorum on Hudson’s activities can be obtained online at scholaonhudson.org or by emailing info@scholaonhudson.org.

WHAT:  
WHERE: United Way, 60 S Fullerton Ave., Montclair
WHEN: Day, evening, and weekend hours are available by appointment only:  (201) 952-4235 or (201) 952-4040
WHY GO: United Way of Northern New Jersey is partnering with the IRS, AARP, and other community organizations to provide low-income residents with free tax preparation from IRS-certified volunteers. 
Day, evening, and weekend hours are available by appointment only. Residents in North Essex’s 11 communities can have their tax returns done at the United Way office, located at 60 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair.    To learn more about the United Way Income Tax Assistance Program, visit UnitedWayNNJ.org.
WHO: This free service is available only to families and individuals with a simple return (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, Schedules A & B). The service is not applicable to businesses, stockholders, or landlords.