General Events

• Give Kids A Smile, KIDZDENT, 2455 Route 516, Old Bridge, (732)679-2323, www.kidzdent.com. KIDZDENT offers free preventive and emergency dental care for underprivileged children ages 12 and under as part of National Children’s Dental Health Month. The Give Kids a Smile. Children who attend receive a comprehensive dental examination, oral healthcare instruction, fluoride treatments, radiographs and free dental hygiene materials, including toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss. In addition, emergency dental care is provided where necessary. 2/3.
• All Seasons Chamber Players, Woodbridge’s Barron Arts Center, 582 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge, (732)634-0413. The All Seasons Chamber Players, one of New Jersey’s most popular performing ensembles, returns to the Barron Arts Center. Admission is free and refreshments are available at intermission. Seating is limited so it is important to call in advance for reservations. The Art Center is handicapped accessible and welcomes all. 2/3, 8pm.
• Free Crafts, Lakeshore Learning Store, 275 State Route 18, East Brunswick, www.lakeshorelearning.com. Kids ages 3 and up can enjoy free craft activities. 2/4, 2/11, 2/18 and 2/25, 11am-3pm.
• Audition: Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Livingston Theatre Company, Livingston Student Center, 84 Joyce Kilmer Ave., Piscataway, (732)445-3561. Attend the theater’s first open call audition of the season. This is your chance to show your stuff to the audition panel and see if you have what is needed to be in one of the playhouse’s shows. Remember to bring a copy of your fall semester schedule, a list of conflicts that you have throughout the rehearsal process, a headshot and your theatrical resume. 2/10, 7-10pm.
• Jazz Jam, PJ’s Coffee and Planet Smoothie Cafe, 315 Raritan Ave., Highland Park. An open jazz jam sponsored by the Somerset Jazz Consortium every Sunday at PJ’s Coffee. 2/5, 2/12, 2/19 and 2/26.
• Roller Magic Events, South Amboy Arena, 270 N. Stevens Ave., South Amboy, (732)727-1122, www.rollermagic.com. CHEAP SK8: Stop by incredibly low rates on skating sessions. Wednesdays, 6:30-9pm. VALENTINE’S DAY CHEAP SK8: Bring your date and enjoy treats and prizes. 2/15, 6:30-9pm. PRESIDENT’S DAY SKATE: Honor the country’s past Presidents at this family-friendly event. 2/20.
• Sing with the Princeton Garden Statesmen Barbershop Chorus, Plainsboro Public Library, 9 Van Doren St., Plainsboro, www.menwhosing.org. Those interested in singing barbershop a capella style music are welcome to stop by and join in rehearsals. 2/14, 7-10pm.
• New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison. New Jersey Flower and Garden Show: Expect all things flora at the expo, which offers attendees garden displays, seminars and shopping opportunities. 2/16, 1-9pm, and 2/17, 10am. NEW JERSEY BOAT SALE AND EXPO: The show will feature something for every age and interest with hundreds of boats on sale from the top dealers in the state. Also be sure to check out the numerous activities and seminar scheduled. 2/23, noon.

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Puppets and Plays

• Red, George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Ave. New Brunswick, (732)846-0825. In 1958, abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko had just landed the biggest commission in the history of modern art, a series of murals for New York’s famed Four Seasons Restaurant. Find out what happens in the two fascinating years that follow. Through 2/26.
• The Adventures of Fishy Waters: In Bed with the Blues, Crossroads Theatre, 7 Livingston Ave., (732)545-8100. Enjoy songs and stories about fictional blues man Fishy Waters, told by storyteller and blues singer Guy Davis. 2/16-2/26.
• Dan Zanes & Friends, The State Theatre of New Jersey, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, (732)246-7469. Grammy-award winning Dan Zanes & Friends hosts a music party. The performance offers classic children’s tunes like “The Hokey Pokey” with a fresh twist and different musical genre infusions. Presidents’ Day is Family Day at the theater, too. Enjoy enjoy food, free face painting and balloon animals, live characters from popular children’s shows and other festivities. 2/20, 10:30am.  

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Museums

• Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University, 71 Hamilton St., New Brunswick, (732)932-7237. FREE FIRST SUNDAYS: Family-friendly scavenger hunts are offered in both English and Spanish, with museum tours geared towards children offered during the day. First Sunday of the month, 12:30-4pm (scavenger hunts), 1pm and 2pm (tours). “Popcorn & Starbaby: Children’s Book Illustrations by Frank Asch:” Illustrations from two delightful children’s storybooks are on view in the Duvoisin Gallery. It displays artwork featured in Asch’s Popcorn and Starbaby. Frank Asch is a noted author and illustrator of kids’ books, poetry, juvenile nonfiction and children’s novels. Through 6/24. “Rachel Perry Welty 24/7”: The exhibit spotlights the artist’s beautifully crafted work about life in the 21st century. Held in the Voorhees Special Exhibition Gallery, the exhibit addresses issues of consumerism, social networking, narcissism, language and time through the use of everything from fruit stickers and restaurant take-out containers to medical records and e-mail spam. Through 7/8.  

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Ongoing: Support Groups, Programs, Workshops & More

• Family Friends, www.familyfriendsinc.org, familyfriendsinc@yahoo.com. This non-profit, non-sectarian, 100 percent volunteer-run organization was founded in 1984 and sponsors playgroups, social activities and more for families with young children. Playgroups run Monday and Wednesday mornings from September through May..
• Seeking Volunteers! JFK Medical Center, 65 James St., Edison, (732)321-7083. JFK Medical Center is looking for friendly, helpful and upbeat people to be greeters and to assist at the information desk at the front lobby. To find out more about available opportunities and donating your time, please call the JFK Medical Center Volunteer Services Department.
• MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), First Baptist Church of Metuchen, 225 Middlesex Ave., Metuchen, (732)549-4716. If you are a new mom seeking encouragement, then this is the group for you! Childcare is provided and registration not required. Second Tuesday of each month from September to May, 9-11:30am.
• Natural Childbirth and Breastfeeding Classes, Green Brook, (732)626-5525. April L. Larsen, a certified natural childbirth educator, helps you prepare for a positive birthing experience. Create your birth plan and find support for natural birthing with her six-week series. Learn everything from birthing, nutrition in pregnancy, philosophy of birthing and choosing supportive a birth team, to relaxation, positive communication, drugs/myths and birthing. Other lessons include labor support during birth from coach, the role of doulas and midwives, informed decision making and informed consent, creating a birth plan, transition, stages two and three of labor, working with your body, positive pain, medical interventions, postpartum healing, avoiding difficulties breastfeeding, avoiding unwanted and incorrect advice, infant care, limiting visitors, attachment parenting and postpartum depression. Former students give presentations and Q-and-A time is available.
• “Working Moms Secrets to Success” Coaching Group, newyorkaddcoach@rcn.com, (800)929-7176. Are you a professional mom with young children? Don’t just survive— learn to thrive at work and home. Come join this telephone coaching group, which is run by two experienced personal and professional coaches. Through guided discussions and information sharing, you will learn strategies to find quality time with your children, reduce stress and guilt, find more time for yourself, maintain friendships, better manage household chores and more. You will also have the opportunity to work on a personally meaningful goal during course of this group. Through specific exercises, structure, and support, our group will help you stay focused and on track towards achieving your goals.
• Tomboy Tools Parties, Angela Pryor, Tomboy Tools Home Consultant, (732)684-7697, njtomboy@yahoo.com, www.tomboytools.info/angelapryor. Parties feature a line of tools perfect for women who want to learn how to make their own home improvements.
• Parent Education Classes/Infant Massage Instruction, (732)264-2088. These classes allow parents to learn the art of infant massage from a certified instructor in the Monmouth and Middlesex areas. Ongoing.
• ASSE International, (800)677-2773, www.asse.com, ASSE International, a non-profit organization is looking for volunteer families in this area to host high school exchange students from around the world. Hosts who welcome students into their homes are asked to provide room, board and guidance for the student during his or her stay. This is a once in a lifetime chance to experience a foreign culture, right at home.
• Project TKE, www.projecttke.org. Encourages kids and adults of all ages to take any amount of time they want to focus on creating art which will go on the wall of children recovering from illness in local hospitals. There is little to no cost for participating with this project because only basic art supplies such as paper, markers, crayons and paint are needed. Volunteers making the art will have the opportunity to reflect on their many blessings while creating something that will have special meaning to a child in need. As a result of your contribution and time, you will have the opportunity to show these sick children that there are compassionate people outside of the hospital who care about them and want to encourage them in their fight to recovery.
• Partners in the Arts Festival, Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission, Middlesex, (732)745-4489. Provides opportunities for children and adults, with and without disabilities, to engage in an enriching and accessible celebration of the arts.
• Support Groups, Sunrise Institute for Mental Health, 313 State St., Suite 408, Perth Amboy, (732)324-8188. Sunrise Institute for Mental Health offers free bilingual (English-Spanish) sessions on behavior problems in children and adolescents, helping parents deal with ADD, ADHD and conduct disorders; Other groups cover domestic violence by helping victims stop psychological, physical and mental abuse, as well as divorce or separation.
• Donate Like a Rockstar, www.imermanangels.org. This free one-on-one cancer support group connects a person fighting cancer with someone who has beaten the same form of the disease. The relationship provides a fighter the opportunity to ask personal questions and receive encouragement from someone who is uniquely familiar with the situation.
• After Baby Comes (ABC), St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 5635 Berkshire Valley Road, Oak Ridge, (973)663-6960. This is a friendly non-religious group of mothers and their small children (preschool age and younger) who meet every week to share experiences, give support, find advice and make new friends. Moms relax while children play in a supervised age-appropriate environment with their peers learning social skills and making new friends, too. September-June, Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30am.

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