Art
Princeton University Art Museum
Feb 2-June 9 “Confronting Childhood” considers the complex reality of childhood and family life in the modern world. Spanning more than 150 years, the exhibition affords glimpses of children and their families through the vantage point of painting and photography, including artists such as Diane Arbus, Ruth Bernhard, Lewis Carroll, Lewis Hine, Dorothea Lange, Sally Mann and Clarence White.
Tues-Sat, 10 am-5 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm; Mon, closed; free
Ancestors Part II by artist Faith Ringgold. Courtesy of Faith Ringgold & Montclair Art Museum
Montclair Art Museum
Feb 16- June 16 The exhibit “New Diections in Fiber Art” gathers works created in traditional and contemporary fibrous materials and methods, such as Ancestors Part II (right) by Englewood-based artist Faith Ringgold.
Wed-Sun, noon-5 pm; $10-$12
Visual Arts Center of New Jersey
Feb 22–June 16 New York-based photographer and videographer Michael Nicholas Paras is passionate about basketball. “Michael Nicholas Paras: Shooting Hoops” represents a selection of photographs he took in urban, rural, and suburban locations, each one highlighting a solitary basketball hoop. The exhibition also includes several examples from Paras’s ongoing “First Hoops” project, which documents the basketball hoops famous players used when they first played the game. Paras resides in Maplewood.
Mon-Thurs, 10 am-8 pm; Fri, 10 am-5 pm; Sat-Sun, 11 am-4 pm; free
Summit
Part of the “Shooting Hoops” exhibit. Courtesy of Michael Paras Photography
New Jersey State Museum
March 2-Sept 8 Crocodiles in the Garden State? That’s right, learn about the evolution of these scaly creatures in the exhibit “Jersey Crocs Rule!” See a nearly complete skeleton of crocodilian Hyposaurus rogersii, which lived in what is now Gloucester County about 65 million years ago. Visitors will also come face-to-face with a skull reconstruction of Deinosuchus, one of the largest crocodiles that ever lived.
Tues-Sun, 9 am-4:45 pm; free
Trenton
Morris Museum
March 15-Aug 11 The second installment in a four-year exhibition series entitled “A Cache of Kinetic Art” features the creative energy and vitality of kineticism, by re-envisioning 19th century aesthetics combined with advances in machine technology. In “A Cache of Kinetic Art: Simply Steampunk,” you’ll see innovative engineering, design and imagination of present-day artisans juxtaposed with the technical ingenuity and functionality of a bygone era.
Tues-Sat, 11 am-5 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm; Mon, closed; $7-$10
Princeton University Art Museum
March 16-July 7 “Miracles on the Border: Retablos of Mexican Migrants to the United States” presents more than fifty Mexican retablos, or religious folk paintings. The pieces commemorate the difficulties of crossing the border into the United States.
Tues-Sat, 10 am-5 pm; Sun, noon-5 pm; Mon, closed; free
Music
Courtesy of Prudential Center
Elton John
March 2 Since September 2018, the superstar has been traveling the globe on his theatrical farewell tour. See him when he takes the stage, in Newark.
8 pm; $295- $1,790.
Prudential Center
Graham Nash
March 6 & 8 The legendary artist who is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee—with Crosby, Stills and Nash as well as with the Hollies—will perform his greatest hits and share stories.
March 6 at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank (8 pm; $25-$79)
March 8 at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood (8 pm; $45-$69)
Lionel Richie
March 22-23 Dance all night long with four-time Grammy-winning singer/songwriter and American Idol judge Lionel Richie.
8 pm; $75-$250.
Etess Arena, Hard Rock Casino, Atlantic City.
Courtesy of Derek Blanks
Gladys Knight
March 24 Gladys Knight, the “Midnight Train to Georgia” soul singer, has seven Grammy wins. For her State Theatre New Jersey show, she’ll perform her greatest solo hits and songs from her time with the Pips, accompanied by a full band.
7:30 pm; $45-$115.
New Brunswick.
Smokey Robinson
March 30 The Motown legend and former front man of the Miracles still charms audiences with his soulful tenor voice.
8 pm; $49-$89.
Borgata Event Center, Atlantic City
Mariah Carey
March 30 The Grammy-winning songstress performs her latest numbers, like “With You” and “The Distance,” along with past hits, such as “Fantasy,” “Honey” and “Hero.”
8 pm; $60-$110.
Etess Arena, Hard Rock Casino
Stage
My Very Own British Invasion
Thru March 3 The 1960s British music scene comes to life in this musical about young love, loosely based on the experiences of Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits.
Times and prices vary.
Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn
Theo
Thru March 24 When Margret Flynn’s health begins to decline, her son Theodore returns home after many years away. And so a family’s reckoning begins.
Times vary; $23-$73.
Two River Theater, Red Bank
Ghost the Musical
March 1-10 Happy couple Sam and Molly are walking back to their Brooklyn apartment when they are mugged at gunpoint. Sam is murdered and becomes trapped between this world and the next. He tries to tell Molly that she is in danger.
Times vary; $25.
Union County PAC, Rahway.
Steel Magnolias
March 8 L.A. Theatre Works brings stories to life with their unique audio theater style. Performers stand in front of microphones and speak directly to the audience for the entire show. This production, based on the 1987 play and 1989 film, is about the bond among a group of women in a small Louisiana community.
8 pm; $29-$59.
Mayo PAC, Morristown.
L.A. Theatre Works’ Steel Magnolias. Courtesy of Rich Rose.
The Immigrant
March 12-April 7 In The Immigrant Haskell Harelik arrives at the port of Galveston, Texas, in 1909 seeking refuge from his homeland. With only his banana cart in tow, he finds compassion and friendship from an unlikely couple, falls in love and creates a pastoral life for his family.
Times vary, $25-$72.
George Street Playhouse, New Brunswick.
Ken Ludwig’s The Gods of Comedy
March 12-31 A classics professor’s career and love life are in peril, so she calls on ancient Greek gods to save her. The divine beings who show up are the gods of comedy, and things certainly don’t go according to plan.
Times and prices vary.
McCarter Theatre, Princeton.
Native Gardens
March 21-April 15 Pablo and Tania just purchased a home next to Frank and Virginia, a D.C. couple with a prizeworthy English garden. A disagreement over the property line that separates their backyards soon spirals into an all-out war.
Times vary; $19-$39.
Eagle Theatre, Hammonton.
Atlantic City Ballet:Romeo & Juliet
March 31 This ballet version of Shakespeare’s classic story about star-crossed lovers and feuding families stays true to the text. The ballet is set to Sergei Prokofiev’s thrilling score.
4 pm; $45.
Circus Maximus Theater, Caesars, Atlantic City.
Comedy
Steve Martin and Martin Short
Courtesy of Mark Seliger
March 1 Expect nonstop laughs when Steve Martin and Martin Short present new material in a variety of musical sketches about their lives on television and the big screen. The funny guys will be joined by North Carolina-based bluegrass group Chatham County Line and Jimmy Kimmel Live band member Jeff Babko.
8 pm; $119-$299.
Mayo PAC, Morristown.
Impractical Jokers
March 20 The four truTV pranksters will have the audience in stitches.
7:30 pm; $59.50-$254.50.
Prudential Center, Newark.
Tom Segura
March 28 The comedian cohosts the podcast Your Mom’s House with his wife, fellow comedian Christina Pazsitzky. In January, Segura released his third Netflix special, Disgraceful.
7 pm; $29-$99.
Count Basie Center for the Arts, Red Bank.
Festivals
Photo by Scott Warman on Unsplash
Jersey City Wine Fest
March 1 Travel the world of wine without leaving New Jersey. Enjoy unlimited samples paired with live entertainment, food and games.
7-10:30 pm; $15-$70.
Harborside Atrium, Jersey City.
Sugarloaf Craft Festival
March 1-3 Meet hundreds of artists and makers, shop for one-of-a-kind handmade items, and experience interactive artist demonstrations.
Fri & Sat, 10 am-6 pm, Sun, 10 am-5 pm; $8-$10.
New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center, Edison.
2019 Atlantic City Restaurant Week
March 3-8 Restaurant Week is a six-day celebration of the culinary scene in Atlantic City. About 80 eateries offer pre fixe meals for $15.19 (lunch) and $35.19 ( dinner).
Visit Coney Waffle during the Belmar Restaurant Tour. Courtesy of Coney Waffle
2019 Belmar Restaurant Tour
March 10 Sample chef creations from more than 30 restaurants. Try everything from BBQ to pizza and ice cream.
11:30 am-3:30 pm; $35-$40.
Quilt Show
March 10-11 WheatonArts hosts A Garden of Quilts, a show with more than 150 traditional and contemporary creations on display. Shop at the vendor mall, enter the quilt raffle and watch hourly demonstrations.
Sat, 10 am-5 pm, Sun, 10 am-4 pm; $5
Millville
Spring CraftMorristown
March 15-17 Creations from 165 craftspeople will be for sale at Spring CraftMorristown. Shoppers can find functional and sculptural works in ceramics, glass, metal, fiber, wood and mixed media, as well as fine art. Bring your sweet tooth to the gourmet specialty-food boutique.
Fri, 4-8 pm; Sat, 10 am-6 pm; Sun, 10 am-5 pm; $8-$10.
Morristown Armory.
845-331-7900
Courtesy of Art Rider Productions/ Mary Angus
Montclair Literary Festival
March 20-24 Literature lovers can hear from authors including Joyce Carol Oates, Nathan Englander, Dani Shapiro, Christina Baker Kline, Wayétu Moore, Megan Abbott, David Ebershoff, Tressie McMillan Cottom, Sarah Weinman and others.
$195 festival pass includes entry to four ticketed events, a chance to meet authors at the festival party, a book from each talk, VIP venue access and preferential seating. Main program on March 23 from 10 am-7:30 pm at the First Congregational Church and the Montclair Public Library. After party from 7:30-9:30 pm.
Delaware River Towns Restaurant Week
March 24-28 The 10th annual, five-day event showcases the talent and diverse flavors of the area’s eateries. Local restaurants, farmers, brewers and winemakers will be participating. Fine-dining and prix fixe casual-dining menus will be offered by restaurants in Milford, Frenchtown, Lambertville, Washington Crossing and some Pennsylvania river towns.
Garden State Film Festival
March 27-31 The Garden State Film Festival welcomes movie enthusiasts and professionals from around the world to celebrate cinema. Enjoy screenings, panel discussions and parties.
$20-$50; $125 for awards banquet.
Various Asbury Park locations.
Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival
March 29-30 Try as many as 600 different beers while jamming out with rock, reggae and punk bands at the Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival. Go to the silent disco, watch cooking demos, attend mixology seminars, play cornhole, take a yoga class and more. At 10:30 am on March 30, jog around AC during the Hops Trot 5K.
Fri, 8 pm-midnight; Sat, noon-4 pm or 6-10 pm; designated driver, $25; general admission, $56.30-$115.
Atlantic City Convention Center.
Tribute band Liverpool, the house band for The Fest since 1979, performs. Courtesy of Mark Lapidos
The Fest for Beatles Fans
March 29-31 Beatlemania lives on! Liverpool, the Fest’s house tribute band, performs all three nights. Other guests include Mark Rivera, Ringo Starr’s music director; Denny Laine, Laurence Juber and Steve Holley of Wings; and Vivek Tiwary, author of The Fifth Beatle.
Fri, 5 pm-midnight; Sat, noon-midnight; Sun, noon-10:30 pm; $23.50-$180.
Hyatt Regency, Jersey City.
Artists in Action
March 30 Grounds for Sculpture opens its artist studios during the Artists in Action festival, where the public gets to watch the magic happen and ask questions.
11 am-4 pm; $10-$18.
Hamilton.