General Events

• First Friday New Jersey, Maize Restaurant, 50 Park Place, Newark, www.firstfridaynewjersey.com. Be a part of the event that has been the premiere happy hour and networking party for the urban professional in the New Jersey/New York metro area since 1987. You do not need to be a member to attend. 2/3, 7pm-1:30am.  
• Fitness Classes, FUZE Fitness Studio, inside the Annex off Forest Street, 65 Chestnut St., Montclair, www.fuzefitnessnj.com. FUZE Fitness invites families to enjoy being active in two programs that kick off during the new year. EAGLE CLAWS KUNG FU: 2/3, 2/10, 2/17 and 2/24. ZUMBA FITNESS PARTY: Ongoing daily throughout February.  
• Programs for Children, Express Yourself Studios, 1912 Springfield Ave., Maplewood, (973)763-5256, www.expressyourselfstudios.com. PAINTING-N-PAJAMAS: Children should don their most comfortable PJs for a night of nonstop entertainment complete with a creative project to do and take home as well as pizza to eat. 2/3. CRAFTY TODDLERS PROGRAM: Children ages 2-4 may play with paint, shape clay, experiment with collage and explore other art materials in this hands-on program. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in February.  
• Camp Horizons Summer Camp Open House, Newark Academy, 91 South Orange Ave., Livingston, (973)992-7767. The camp that has been around for a quarter-century invites families to explore all they have to offer at an informative Open House program. 2/4, 1-2:30pm.  
• An Afternoon of Music, Temple Emanu-El, 756 East Broad St., Westfield, www.njworkshopforthearts. The New Jersey Workshop for the Arts invites families to an afternoon of music featuring the 80-plus members of the NJWA Concert Band and Conductor Howard Toplansky, an instrumental instructor with more than 30 years of experience. 2/19. 

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Puppets and Plays

• Boeing-Boeing, The Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, (973)376-4343, www.papermill.org. There’s hijinks in the air when an American playboy in swinging 60’s Paris attempts to juggle three flight-attendant fiancées: one American, one German and one Italian. 2/1-2/12.  
• Mammoth Follies, The South Orange Performing Arts Center, 1 Sopac Way, South Orange, (973)275-1114, www.sopacnow.org. One-of-a-kind songs, fantastic choreography and prehistoric excitement take center stage for this delightful family presentation. For ages 4-10. 2/11, 11am.  
• Charlotte’s Web, The Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, (973)376-4343, www.papermill.org. Theatreworks USA presents this loving story of the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a little gray spider named Charlotte based on the classic tale by E.B. White. For ages 5 and up. 2/18, 10am, 1:30pm.  
• Twinderella, Studio Playhouse, 14 Alvin Place, Upper Montclair, (973)744-9752, www.studioplayhouse.org. A classic fairy tale takes on a new look as this original adaptation focuses on Cinderella’s long lost twin brother Bob, who’s living in the same kingdom with a different wicked step family. 2/18, 2/19, 2/25 and 2/26.

• Luna Stage Company, 695 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, (973)744-3309. Offering a wide array of culturally diverse theater productions for all audiences. Call the box office for tickets and more information.   

• 12 Miles West Theater Company, 562 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, (973)259-9187. An award-winning, not-for-profit theatre company, 12 Miles West offers performances for all tastes and ages throughout the year. Call the box office to reserve/purchase tickets.      
• Dreamcatcher Repertory Theater, 5 Mead St., South Orange, (973)378-7754. A small, professional, not-for-profit theater group, Dreamcatcher focuses on allowing the audience to connect with their core group of professional lead actors in each performance they put on. Call the box office for tickets, or log on to www.dreamcatcherrep.org.      
• Paper Mill Playhouse, Brookside Drive, Millburn, (973)376-4343. A professional theatre with a long history of successful productions devoted to enriching the cultural lives of a wide and diverse audience. Call the box office for tickets or log on to www.papermill.org for schedules, showtimes and more information.      
• Burgdorff Center for the Arts, 10 Durand Rd., Maplewood, (973)378-2133, Host a number of concerts, festivals and much more, including the annual Maplewood Jazz festival. Call for events schedule and more information.      
• Pushcart Players, 197 Bloomfield Ave., Verona, (973)857-1115, Award winning professional theater company, the Pushcart Players offer the finest artists and art educators available in the field to bring the best of theater arts to young viewers in schools and local theaters. Call for more information.      
• Rascals Comedy Club, 499 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, (973)744-3711. A special way for friends to get together and have a good laugh, while enjoying good food and drinks and excellent live entertainment for the same cost as dinner and a movie. For tickets, call the box office or visit their Web site at www.rascalscomedyclub.com.      
• What Exit? Theater Company, 482 Summit Ave., Maplewood, (973)763-0805. Dedicated to producing contemporary comedies and comic dramas for a variety of audiences, all complete with the healing power of laughter. Call now for tickets and further information.      
• Trumpets Jazz Club, 6 Depot Square, Montclair, (973)744-2600. Presents an array of jazz music, to complement their delicious Italian/Continental menu. Call for more information.  

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Museums

• Ongoing Exhibits and Programs, The Jersey Explorer Children’s Museum, 192 Dodd St., East Orange, (973)673-6900, www.jerseyexplorer.org. STARGAZER: Kids become cadets on their maiden voyage into space. Pre registration required. Grades 4-8. THE VILLAGE: The museum’s youngest visitors explore miniature stores lining Main Street including a realistic construction site, grocery store and cafe. Grades PreK-4. SCIENCEWORKS LAB: Visitors discover that science is good and fun through hands-on demonstrations and experiments. Grades PreK-8. TIME TRAVELLER THEATER: Multi-media presentations bring historical events to life! All ages. TREASURES OF THE ANCIENT KINGS: Take an exciting archaeological excursion to ancient Egypt filled with exciting twists and turns. Grades PreK-8. JUKEBOX TIMELINE: Visitors travel back in time enter a café exploring time-line from the 1940-1970s. They also join in a singing and dancing party centered around an old Juke-box. All ages. PUPPET SHOWS: The focus of the museum’s new theater is most often on storytelling and puppet presentations. It is also the home base of their Off the Page Theater, Roscoe ‘s Farm. Museum Hours: Open year round, Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-3pm.  
• The Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Ave., Montclair, (973)746-5555, www.montclair-art.com. Dedicated to collecting and preserving high quality American and Native American art in contemporary and traditional pieces. Visitors are welcome to tour the museum on their own, although group tours are available. Museum Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, noon-5pm.  
• The Newark Museum, 49 Washington St., Newark, (973)596-6550, www.newarkmuseum.org. Awesome exhibits and hands-on activities define the Newark Museum. Just a few of the attractions that are worth seeing include the recently refurbished Dreyfuss Planetarium, a mini zoo representing more than 50 species and an amazing 83,000-specimen natural science exhibition. Museum Hours: Open year-round, Wednesday-Sunday, noon-5pm.  
• The Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center, Montclair State University, 8 Yogi Berra Drive, Little Falls, (973)655-2378, www.yogiberramuseum.org. More than half a century after his big league debut, this Hall of Famer and New York Yankee legend continues to prove that “It ain’t over till it’s over.” This fun and educational museum is home to a wide variety of permanent and rotating exhibits which highlight baseball’s social history and the life of one of the greatest catchers in all of baseball history. Visitors will have an opportunity to stroll through a multitude of memorabilia including baseballs and bats Yogi used in games to childhood photos and World Series trophies borrowed from the city of New York and the New York Yankees. Museum Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, noon - 5pm.  

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Parks and Nature

• Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange, (973)731-5800. Committed to providing an enriching environmental experience so that future generations will be inspired to appreciate and protect all wildlife, the zoo is home to a variety of plant and animal life, and provides children’s workshops throughout the year. Call for zoo hours and more information.   

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Ongoing: Support Groups, Workshops & More...

• After School Programs, The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), One SOPAC Way, South Orange, (973)275-1114, ext. 401, www.sopacnow.org. Develop your child’s natural love of performing in the After School Programs at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC). SOPAC Education encourages children from as young as kindergarten to explore their creative sides and have some fun in classes presented by two award-winning youth theater companies: TADA! Youth Theatre and New Jersey Youth Theatre. Pre reg. req. The winter season of classes are underway now.
• Burgdorff Center for the Arts, 10 Durand Rd., Maplewood, (973)378-2133, Host a number of concerts, festivals and much more, including the annual Maplewood Jazz festival. Call for events schedule and more information.
• Dreamcatcher Repertory Theater, 5 Mead St., South Orange, (973)378-7754. A small, professional, not-for-profit theater group, Dreamcatcher focuses on allowing the audience to connect with their core group of professional lead actors in each performance they put on. Call the box office for tickets, or log on to www.dreamcatcherrep.org.
• Language Programs, The Language Workshop for Children, (800)731-0839, www.LanguageWorkshopFor Children.com. Children 13 months - 9 years are invited to open themselves up to the wonders of another culture through “the Thibaut Technique®,” which has been perfected for nearly 40 years. Your child will be immersed in programs designed to teach French, Spanish, Italian or Chinese. Classes are available in Montclair, Madison and Ridgewood. Free cultural and Language Events are also presented. Call for more info or to find out more.
• Luna Stage Company, 695 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, (973)744-3309. Offering a wide array of culturally diverse theater productions for all audiences. Call the box office for tickets and more information.
• More Great Adventures!, Six Flags Great Adventure & Wild Safari, Jackson, (732)928-1821, www.sixflags.com. All of the amazing sights, animals and live entertainment that have made Six Flags Great Adventure & Wild Safari a must see attraction for decades are back for another season! Step aboard a pulse-pounding roller coaster like The Great American Scream Machine or the brand new Green Lantern Coaster. Enjoy a great live concert, fireworks display, or the glow-in-the-dark parade! Open seven days a week from Memorial Day weekend through October. Call for times, admission prices and more information.
• Ready to Perform, The Newark School of the Arts, 89 Lincoln Park, Newark, (973)642-0133, www.newarkschoolofthearts.org. This winter, Newark School of the Arts invites you to discover an amazing world of visual and performing arts. Aspiring performers of all ages are welcome to study music, dance, drama and visual arts in a supportive and friendly environment. Classes are offered in two 17-week sessions throughout the school year on afternoons, evenings and Saturdays. The spring semester is ongoing now. Call for more info. or to reg.
• On The Ice, The Codey Skating Arena at South Mountain, 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, (973)731-3828. WINTER GROUP INSTRUCTION. People ages four to adult interested in learning basic ice skating skills are encouraged to register for these classes that are offered on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Each session offers a total of seven half-hour lessons in groups based on age and ability. Spring season is underway. Call for more info., or to reg.
• Paper Mill Playhouse, Brookside Drive, Millburn, (973)376-4343. A professional theatre with a long history of successful productions devoted to enriching the cultural lives of a wide and diverse audience. Call the box office for tickets or log on to www.papermill.org for schedules, showtimes and more information.
• Pushcart Players, 197 Bloomfield Ave., Verona, (973)857-1115, Award winning professional theater company, the Pushcart Players offer the finest artists and art educators available in the field to bring the best of theater arts to young viewers in schools and local theaters. Call for more information.
• Rascals Comedy Club, 499 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair, (973)744-3711. A special way for friends to get together and have a good laugh, while enjoying good food and drinks and excellent live entertainment for the same cost as dinner and a movie. For tickets, call the box office or visit their Web site at www.rascalscomedyclub.com.
• Soccer Programs for Kids, Kiddie Soccer, (973)543-1197, www.kiddiesoccer.com. Add a little “kick” to your child’s spring season with some help from Kiddie Soccer. Specially designed for children ages 3½ - 6 years old, Kiddie Soccer is dedicated to providing its young participants with their first exposure to the exciting world of soccer in a fun-filled, non-competitive yet instructional learning environment. Kiddie Soccer offers programs throughout Bergen, Morris, Essex and Passaic Counties. Spring sessions are underway and summer sessions are forming now!
• Trumpets Jazz Club, 6 Depot Square, Montclair, (973)744-2600. Presents an array of jazz music, to complement their delicious Italian/Continental menu. Call for more information.
• What Exit? Theater Company, 482 Summit Ave., Maplewood, (973)763-0805. Dedicated to producing contemporary comedies and comic dramas for a variety of audiences, all complete with the healing power of laughter. Call now for tickets and further information.  

   

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