Get Out: October

Posted December 20, 2007 by Jennifer Melick

::GALA Concert::
house party
20 NJPAC is turning ten, and it’s ready to party, with Newark’s own Queen Latifah and the New Jersey Symphony. Performance tickets are a modest $35–$50; for a ticket to the full-blown gala—with cocktails, dinner, dancing, and fireworks—you’ll have to fork over $1,500. Either way, an event not to be missed. 7 pm. 1 Center St, Newark (888-466-5722; njpac.org).

::ETC::
wonder dogs
11–15 Dog lovers rejoice: For five days this month, you can see 1,800 canines of 147 breeds competing at the Harvest Cluster Dog Shows in scenic Sussex County. There will be conformation judging (of breed characteristics) and Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs will demonstrate cart pulling. In the obedience and rally trials, the pooches will perform a variety of tasks—from the everyday “sit, come, and stay,” to scent work (identifying the one article in twelve carrying their owner’s scent) and jumping. Check out Mady, a champion Chesapeake Bay Retriever (pictured). 9 am–5 pm, rain or shine; $3 parking. Sussex County Fair Grounds, Augusta (973-697-9456).
Photo: harvest cluster dog shows—Courtesy of joanne silver

::art::
Medical Muse
4–Jan 2008 As Breast Cancer Awareness Month kicks off, so does “Artists Plant Seeds of Hope,” an exhibit that includes curator Steven C. Fleisch’s circle-of-life dedication to Marge (pictured), a friend who succumbed to cancer in 2004 and, in her eight-year battle, “taught me more about life than I’ll ever know.” His piece joins those of eleven artists from around the state—all created in response to a life-changing event, such as a cancer diagnosis. A Hall of Hope includes photos and stories of cancer patients. Fleisch hopes the show will encourage women to get screened and everyone to reach out to friends with the disease. Mon–Fri, 8 am–5 pm; Sat, 9 am–4 pm. Summit Medical Group, 1 Diamond Hill Rd, Berkeley Heights (908-273-4300).
Photo: Summit medical group/dedication to marge—Steven c. fleisch

::Tours::
night moves
October is the perfect time to explore Cape May’s haunted side. If you suspect that a ghost lives in your home, train to become the next “Ghostbuster” at a dinner and lecture (Oct 5) with psychic author Craig McManus, or accompany him on a trolley ride (Oct 25–27). Visit Victorian residences during the “Haunted Inns Tour” (Oct 6), take in Henry James’s spine-tingling The Turn of the Screw at Cape May Stage (Oct 5–14), or see if you can feel the presence of spirits on the eerie path that leads to the Cape May Lighthouse (pictured). For details, call 609-884-5404 or visit capemaymac.org.
Photo: Cape may lighthouse—Maciej nabrdalik

Oct 5 Witness the rapid-fire wit of comedian/actress Kathy Griffin, who wants you to “laugh until you puke” (just a little). 8 pm. Call for tickets. Commerce Bank Arts Centre, 519 Hurffville-Crosskeys Rd, Sewell (856-338-9000; cbcartscentre.com).

Oct 6–Nov 2 See “Mixed Bag in Black,” fifteen monochromes by Toms River artist Paul Russo, at the hip Jersey City club/gallery Love Is the Message. Sun, 4 pm–midnight; Mon–Thurs, 5 pm–1 am; Fri–Sat, 5 pm–2 am. 140 Newark Ave, Jersey City (201-536-5557; litm.com).

Oct 7, 13 Two vocal ensembles well worth a listen: Chanticleer (7 pm; $35–$45; 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, 973-275-1114; sopacnow.org) and Anúna (8 pm; $30–$55; State Theatre, 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, 732-246-7469; statetheatrenj.org).

Oct 13 Head to downtown Mount Holly for its Cirque de la Lune masquerade, an outdoor Halloween celebration with costume contest, music, fire spinners, contortionists, and Tarot readers. 6–11 pm (609-914-0811; mainstreetmountholly.com).

Oct 20–21 Visit NJ’s 11 land-based lighthouses in the annual Lighthouse Challenge (Sat, 6–8 pm). Sat–Sun, 8 am–6 pm; night climbs at some lighthouses (856-546-0514; njlhs.org).

Oct 26–Jan 13, 2008 Ansel Adams fans will want to see a new exhibit: “Moonrise: Print the Legend”: four prints of his famous Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico. Tues–Sat, 10 am–5 pm; Sun, 1–5 pm. McCormick Hall, Princeton University campus (609-258-3788; princetonartmuseum.org).

Oct 27 Check out these two kid-friendly planetarium shows at Raritan Valley Community College this month: “The Skies Over Hogwarts” and “Fright Light,” featuring music by They Might Be Giants (Oct 27, 3–5 pm and 7–9 pm). $5–$10. East Bldg, Parking Lot 7, Rt 28 and Lamington Rd, North Branch (908-231-8805; raritanval.edu/planetarium).

For more stories about: Latifah, Queen