Revisiting his standup comedy roots, Bill Cosby brings it back to the Basie for a one night stand… while cartoonist Mark Alan Stamaty (below) is guest judge for a group show exhibition at the Art Alliance. 

Friday, November 8:

RED BANK: His credits include several of the most influential TV series of all time; bestselling books in both children’s and adult markets; a doctorate degree in education, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – and a trophy case that boasts everything from Golden Globes, Grammys, Emmys and People’s Choice Awards, to a Kennedy Center Honor and even the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

If you think that Bill Cosby has pretty much accomplished everything he set out to do and then some, the title of his upcoming Comedy Central concert special (“Far From Finished”) should put it into perspective. So when the Philly-born renaissance guy returns to the stage of the Count Basie Theatre, the smart money says he won’t relax until he’s won over everybody in the room. Having rediscovered his standup-comedy roots in recent times, the man whose long-form stories, skits and savvy observations kickstarted his career in the 1960s brings it back to the Basie for a single 8 pm show. Take it here for tickets ($39.50 – $89.50).

A pit-fired pedestal disc is among the works featured by potter Lauren Bellero in her annual Mudslingers Art Show open house, a Sunday afternoon event that also spotlights “Early to Rise” and other pieces by Emmy winning photojournalist Kristopher Schoenleber.

Saturday, November 9:

RED BANK: If you’ve never checked out one of the long-running River Read poetry sessions since the monthly series made itself at home inside the Red Bank Public Library, there’s probably no better time to take in some breathtaking panoramic seasonal views of the Navesink – not to mention some stimulating words and ideas – than when acclaimed poet Lauren Schmidt visits as this Saturday’s guest reader. The faculty member at Brookdale Community College joins series coordinators Linda Muhlhausen and Gregg G. Brown for an afternoon that begins across Front Street at Manhattan Bagel (scene of a free “generative” writing workshop starting at 12:15 pm), then heads upstairs at the Eisner Memorial Library for a 2:30 pm presentation that concludes with the now-traditional River Read open reading.

RED BANK: The rabbit season/ duck season for politicking kindles memories of WASHINGTOON, the quirky, crowded, energized syndicated comic strip created by Mark Alan Stamaty for the Village Voice in the 1980s and 90s. The Monmouth County native (son to cartoonist Stan Stamaty and irrepressible painter/illustrator Clara Gee Stamaty) has since racked up some awesome credits for the likes of the New Yorker, Slate, the New York Times and many other media outlets. Now, Red Bank’s Art Alliance of Monmouth County has secured the services of Stamaty as guest judge for the 27th Annual Juried Exhibition, opening with a public-welcome reception inside the art collective’s home gallery at 33 Monmouth Street. The work of more than 60 locally based member and non-member artists will be on display through November, with Saturday’s reception taking place between 6 and 8 pm, and up to $1,000 in awards presented for the friendly competition.

RED BANK: From Broadway to birthday parties, the epochal 1970s hits of international pop sensations ABBA have never even come close to going out of style – and with the band members having stuck Beatle-like to their guns regarding any specter of reunion, the market for maximum mamma-mia has been the province of acts like Abba Mania, the theater-scale tribute show that takes the stage of the Count Basie Theatre for what promises to be a “respectful and enjoyable” sound-and-vision sojourn through touchstones like “Voulez Vous,” “Dancing Queen,” “Winner Takes It All,” “Super Trouper” and many more. Take it here for tickets ($19 – $39).

Sunday, November 10:

LINCROFT: Brookdale Community College throws open its doors for a Fall Open House event at the school’s Robert J. Collins Arena and Recreation & Events Center (Lots 6 or 7). Between noon and 3 pm, high school students, adult learners, career changers and their families are invited to tour the campus, speak with faculty members and current students, learn about financial aid, and find out about BCC’s degree and certificate programs.

Then, before leaving the campus, stop in at the Monmouth Museum (adjacent to the Brookdale Performing Arts Center) for a last look at the exhibition “Covered in Gold.” A rare display focusing on the art around the art — the ornate gilded frames that are the specialty of The Society of Gilders — the installation is keyed to the Museum’s own golden anniversary celebration here in 2013, with members of the Gilders on hand for a workshop on the process of water and oil gilding, from 1 to 4 pm.

RED BANK: If you thought the season for mudslinging ended with Election Day, prepare to be pleasantly, even delightfully surprised. Between 1 and 6 pm, the 16th edition of the annual Mudslingers Art Show —— hosted by award-winning artist Lauren Bellero and presented in her Mudslingers home studio at 39 Leroy Place —— offers up an “all day hospitality reception” open-houser that spotlights the decorative and functional clay works of professional potter Bellero, with live fireside music by singer and songwriter Jim Crawford, “whose stories lilt between quirky characters he has known and work that reflects his concerns about the social and economic well-being of our country.” As has been her tradition over the years, Bellero has invited a special guest artist to join in the “cool little art show,” with the 2013 edition spotlighting the land/seascape fine art photography of Emmy winning, Princeton-based photojournalist— Kristopher Schoenleber.