Community Corner

5 Things to Do in the Region

Laugh with Frodo, Sam, Gollum and comic Charles Ross; check out early holiday deals on Fair Trade gifts and more; and help the hungry while stepping toward fitness this weekend.

We hope you will enjoy the weekend on its way. Here are five suggestions for great ways for you, your family and friends to spend your time.

  1. The Holiday Market 2013 takes place Saturday at the Community Presbyterian Church, 220 Main St. in Chester. Unique gift ideas will abound: Featured will be Fair Trade gifts, Christmas and Nearly New items, handmade crafts and home-baked goodies, a Silent Auction, Soups to Go and more. The market is free and open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; it even accepts Visa and MasterCard purchases.  And from 10:30 to 2 p.m., enjoy a Tea with Savories and Sweets. Call 908-879-5091 for info.
  2. OK, you know the old saying that it's always time for pie? Well, this weekend, quite literally, it is time for pie. Free pie, and what could be more wonderful than that? Alstede Farms in Chester presents what it insists are some of the best home-baked pies in the world. Naturally, the farmers want you to buy their pies for the holidays. But they want you to try their pie varieties before you place your orders. To that end, free pie tastings will be offered at the farm, 1 Chesterfield Drive in Chester, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
  3. Long before New Jersey was known for its malls and highways, the state was inhabited by the Lenape Indians.  John Kraft, creator and director of Lenape Lifeways, will present Lenape Indian Family Day, an engaging demonstration at the Morris Museum exploring Lenape culture using authentic and recreated objects to teach about tribal life.  Other activities include making a corn husk doll, weaving and learning about Native American legends and constellations.  The presentation is Saturday at noon. Admission is free for museum members, $10 for non-member adults and $7 for non-member children. The Morris Museum is at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown. For more information, email programs@morrismuseum.org.
  4. This should be precious: William Paterson University's Shea Center for Performing Arts in Wayne presents "One Man Lord of the Rings," which is exactly what it says it is. Comic actorCharles Ross recreates the entire "Lord of the Rings" trilogy in 75 minutes filled with booming special effects, riveting stage fights and harrowing rescues—and Ross creates it all in this epic one-man show. Whether you read the books or saw the films doesn't matter, you will laugh, and that's backed up by the cinematic Gandalf himself, Sir Ian MacKellen, who says, “If you liked 'Lord of the Rings,' you’ll love Charlie Ross’ version.” Tickets are $25 for Gold Circle seating and $20 for Orchestra/Loge seats. The university is at 300 Pompton Road in Wayne.
  5. Sunday kicks off an interesting way to do some good. Title Boxing Club offers philanthropy with fitness—the exercise facility will collect nonperishable canned and boxed foods to benefit the Parsippany Food Pantry, and in exchange for your donation, you'll get a free single class at Title. (We've tried the boxing workout; it'll cure anything.) The drive starts at 8:30 a.m. Sunday and runs during operating hours through Friday. For info, call Ali Linkov at 973-396-8822. Title Boxing is located at 796 Route 46 in the Kmart Shopping Center.


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