WEEKEND: IDEAS, MUSIC, FOOD, ART & TRUCKS
Local faves Brian Kirk and the Jirks, above, return for the fourth Red Bank Guinness Oyster Festival on Sunday. Below, Touch-a-Truck parks it at the Red Bank Middle School Saturday in a fundraiser for the Monmouth Day Care Center. (Click to enlarge)
Friday, September 20:
LINCROFT: Carpe diem at TEDxNavesink, where attendees will get to experience 25 live talks in addition to livecast sessions from the “TEDxCity2.0” conference. TED is a nonprofit organization devoting to sharing “Ideas worth Spreading.” The nine-hour day is filled with sessions on topics like redrawing our oceans, repicturing paradise, remapping the self and more. The sold-out event runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Brookdale Community College Performing Arts Center and is followed by a light reception. Newman Springs Road.
RUMSON: The second annual Canterbury Arts: A Tapestry of the Arts show features works by New Jersey artists, with all proceeds going to Outreach Grants to benefit Lunch Break, Family Promise, HABcore, 180 Turning Lives Around and more.The three-day exhibition kicks off Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Saint George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church. Tickets include a wine, beer, and hors d’oeurves/dessert and admission to all days of the show. Reserve tickets in advance. Tickets are $10 day admission, $40 reception (in advance), $50 at the door. 7 Lincoln Avenue.
RED BANK: Phoenix Productions stages its rendition of the musical comedy Damn Yankees, by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, at Count Basie Theatre. Michael Kroll directs thestory of a baseball fan who makes a deal with the devil to bring his team of underdogs to victory. He soon realizes the devil throws temptation in the way in the form of a woman named Lola. Damn Yankees begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22, $26, and $36. 99 Monmouth Street.
RED BANK: Two River Theatre Company opens the new season with On Borrowed Time, directed by Tony and Oscar winner Joel Grey, who starred in the play as a child more than 70 years ago. The Paul Osborn play follows a relationship between a grandfather and his orphaned grandson and touches on life, love, death and devotion. The play begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 – $42. 21 Bridge Avenue.
RUMSON: A Band of Rogues plays Molly Maguire’s Black Point Inn. The Irish-rooted cover band dips into other genres such as American folk, rock-n-roll, and narrative song writing. The music begins at 9 p.m. 132 East River Road.
SHREWSBURY: Acoustic cover artist Dale Toth plays C.J. McLoone’s for a relaxing Friday night set. The music begins at 9 p.m. 560 Shrewsbury Avenue.
Saturday, September 21:
MIDDLETOWN: Tindall Park hosts a fine art exhibit and sale outdoors. Browse through original paintings, photographs, sculptures, poetry and more on display and available for purchase. The art exhibit and sale runs from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Located across from Middletown High School North.
RED BANK: Get touchy-feely at “Touch a Truck,” a rain-or-shine fundraiser for Monmouth Day Care Center. On top of fire trucks and bulldozers, kids can get their face painted, win prizes, and more. Tickets are $12 for a family of four in advance, and $15 at the door, and $1 for each additional person. At Red Bank Middle School runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 101 Harding Road.
LITTLE SILVER: Chow down on some burgers, dogs and fries at the 13th annual Little Silver Men’s Softball ‘One Pitch’ tournament at the Borough Fields to benefit the family of the late Gerry Derevin. Entertainment includes DJ music by the East Side Princes. The tournament begins at 1 p.m. Twenty-dollar donation suggested. 480 Prospect Avenue.
RED BANK: Children ages 5 and up are invited to learn about the art of Henri Matisse and create their own brightly colored pieces modeled after his works at the Red Bank Public Library. Artsy Smartsy runs from 2 to 3 p.m. 84 West Front Street.
MIDDLETOWN: Expand your spiritual horizons when Middletown Main Library hosts author RL Keller. He will provide a free reading from his book “There are No McDonalds in Heaven: Waiting on God,” which aims to help readers strengthen their faith in God. The event begins at 2 p.m. 55 New Monmouth Road.
RED BANK: The River Read series at Red Bank Public Library welcomes Jim Kelleher for a dramatic reading of his work, “Mick: A Celestial Drama,” that follows a Vietnam veteran through a positive personal transformation. The River Read monthly poetry reading lasts from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. 84 West Front Street.
MIDDLETOWN: Rev your engines for the auto show and motorcycle meet in the parking lot of the Middletown Shopping Center. The Middletown Lions Club Foundation pairs with the NJ Blind Citzens Association to host the 8th annual event to benefit the NJBCA’s programs. The theme this year is “Happy Together,” music will be provided by “that” band and DJ Stephen Munger. The car show isn’t just for adults, kids can get their faces painted, watch magic tricks performed by a magician and get a visit from Leonardo the Ninja Turtle. The show isn’t just for motorcycles – all classes of vehicles including stock, custom, antique, hot rod, collector, imports, luxury, and trucks are encouraged to participate. The car show runs from 3 to 7 p.m. (rain date Sept. 22). Route 35 North & New Monmouth Road.
MIDDLETOWN: Change a life by going to the music festival benefit for ChangeALife Uganda at Knightsbridge Farm, an organization to create a better life for children in Uganda by providing clean water and a schooling system, and more. Local bands like Sam Sims, Aardvark Smile, NY5 and other special guests play for a change. The festival offers more than just musical entertainment, pony rides, soccer, African dancing, s’mores and more are also on the agenda. The music festival runs from 4 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $50 ($20 students). 181 Whipporwill Valley Road.
FAIR HAVEN: Red Bank Regional High School’s Booster Club fundraiser mixer (21 and over) includes music, food and drinks, sports tournament fun, with all of the proceeds benefitting the RBR sports teams at the Knights of Columbus in Fair Haven. The mixer runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $30. 200 Fair Haven Road.
RUMSON: Country band Big Hix hits Molly Maguire’s Black Point Inn for some Saturday night fun. The music begins at 9:30 p.m. 132 East River Road.
Sunday, September 22:
RED BANK: The Galleria Red Bank Farmers Market presents fresh produce from local farms and highlights area eateries and unique crafts. Support the community and gain knowledge about local business development. The market runs every Sunday through November form 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Corner of Bridge Avenue and West Front Street.
LINCROFT: The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County hosts Executive Director and Board President of HABcore, Steven Heisman and Susan Harbison, for a presentation on prodiving housing, support, and stability to the homeless. HABcore is a local nonprofit organization. Sunday morning dialogue runs from 9 to 10 a.m. 1475 West Front Street.
RED BANK: The Guinness Oyster Festival, organized by Red Bank RiverCenter and produced by RUE Events, returns in support of the Booker Cancer Center at Riverview Medical Center and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey with the fourth edition of this one-day seafood and music festival. Two stages house live music performances by Black 47, The Nerds, Billy Hector, Brian Kirk and the Jirks and more. Samplings of fare include offerings from 25 Red Bank restaurants. The festival runs from 12 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for people over the age of 10. White Street Municipal parking lot.
RED BANK: Test out your pipes at Open Mic with Rob Dye and Mike Ghegan. Jamian’s Food & Drink is the place to find musicians, new ideas, classic covers, and a relaxed hangout spot. Open Mic runs from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. 79 Monmouth Street.
RED BANK: Igor Butman, Russia’s current top jazz personality, plays the stage of the Middletown Arts Center with the Moscow Jazz Orchestra. The concert runs from 1 to 3 p.m. Tickets are $35 and $40. 36 Church Street.
