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events@princetoninfo.com

To the Editor: Book Sale Success

The Friends and Foundation of the Princeton Public Library wish to extend our thanks for the exceptional public support for our 2024 Annual Book Sale. We rely on our local community here in Princeton for our dedicated volunteers and extraordinary book donations, and we thank our Library colleagues who go the extra mile to make everything run smoothly. The event was a resounding success, with many happy customers from as far afield as Massachusetts and Virginia.

Opportunities: Call for Donations

Between The Lines

Leggings and socks are in demand during the fall and winter. In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Mercer County Library System is teaming up with Womanspace, Inc. and RISE: A Community Service Partnership to collect donations of women’s leggings and socks throughout October. Stop by your local MCLS branch to donate and make a difference.

For more information, visit www.mcl.org.

Call for Volunteers

The funds we raised together will be used to purchase new materials for the Library’s collection. We also raise money for the Library throughout the year through our wonderful used Book Store. This would not be possible without the generous book donations we receive from our local community. To find out more about donating books and supporting the Library, please go to https://princetonlibrary.org/support/book-donationssales/

Sincerely,

Jeanine Rosen, Jane Nieman and Claire Bertrand 2024 Annual Book Sale Co-Chairs and Volunteer Coordinator

U.S. 1 WELCOMES letters to the editor, corrections, and criticisms of our stories and columns. E-mail your thoughts directly to our editor: hastings@princetoninfo. com.

Meals on Wheels of Mercer County (MOWMC), a leading nonprofit agency dedicated to providing nutritious meals and related services to homebound, isolated seniors, is actively seeking committed delivery volunteers to join our mission of enhancing the lives of our neighbors in need.

MOWMC serves seniors who are 60 years and older, many of whom are unable to cook or shop for themselves. Often these older adults are “invisible” in the community and vulnerable to food insecurity.

Volunteers deliver Monday through Friday. Meals are picked up at Rider University (Lawrenceville) between 10 and 10:30 a.m. Our service areas include: Ewing, Trenton, Lawrenceville, Hamilton, Princeton, East Windsor, West Windsor and Hightstown. Using their own cars, volunteers follow a route that takes about 90 minutes to complete.

While MOWMC encourages volunteers to take a permanent

route, there are open slots available where volunteers can help on days that fit into their schedules.

Interested volunteers should visit https://mowmc.mowscheduler.com/volunteerapplication or contact Lisa Kasabach at lkasabach@mealsonwheelsmercer.org or 609-695-3483, ext. 103.

Course on Compassion

JFCS of Greater Mercer County is offering a “Course in Self-Compassion” open to adults ages 18 and over. There is no fee to join, but pre-registration is required. The class will be held in person or virtually, based on responses from those registered. Sessions will be held on six consecutive Tuesdays: October 8, 15, 22, and 29, and November 5 and 12. For more information contact nicoles@jfcsonline.org.

Audition

Kelsey Theater on the West Windsor campus of Mercer County Community College holds auditions for “Tarzan the Stage Musical,” based on the Disney film. Performances are scheduled for Fridays through Sundays, January 3 through 12, 2025.

U.S. 1 Is in Print & Online

U.S. 1 has distribution to news boxes located in downtown Princeton and Trenton, at train stations, and in other high-traffic outdoor areas. Additionally, it is now possible to browse full PDFs of recent issues on U.S. 1’s website, www.princetoninfo.com. Click on “Read This Week’s Digital U.S. 1 E-Edition Here.” A full digital edition of U.S. 1 is also distributed by e-mail every Wednesday. Subscribe at www.communitynews.org/ newsletter.

Washed up on the shores of West Africa, an infant boy is taken in and raised by gorillas who name him Tarzan. Apart from striving for acceptance from his ape father, Tarzan’s life is mostly monkey business until a human expedition treks into his tribe’s territory and he encounters creatures like himself for the first time. Tarzan struggles to navigate a jungle, thick with emotion as he discovers his animal upbringing clashing with his human instincts.

Singing and acting auditions take place Saturday, October 5, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, October 6, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dancing auditions take place Monday, October 7, from 6 to 7 p.m. Call backs by invitation will be Monday, October 7, from 7 to 8 p.m.

Please sign up for an audition slot using Sign-up genius https:// www.signupgenius.com/ go/20F0549AAAB2DA5751074489-tarzan. Sides and audition forms will be emailed to you when you sign up for the audition. MCCC is located at 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. Prepare 30-60 seconds of any musical theater song in the style of the show. Songs from the show are acceptable. Bring sheet music for accompanist. No a cappella auditions. Dress comfortably for the dance / movement portion of the audition if auditioning for Tarzan or any non-human character. Bring a photo and resume.

Baryton Project

Signum Quartet

Black Oak Ensemble

SURVIVAL GUIDE

Saturday, october 5

New Arts Incubator Hosts Inaugural Fundraiser

A new arts non-profit, the New Jersey Arts Incubator (NJAI) is hosting its premier fundraiser, “Celebrate to Elevate,” on Saturday, October 5, at 862 Route 518 in Skillman. While the focus of the fundraiser is introducing NJAI and its mission to support the arts in the community, the event will also feature several prominent local artists, and present the launch of NJAI’s inaugural public art project, “Barn Quilts of Central Jersey.”

The October 5 event starts at 6 p.m. with a VIP mixology reception. General admission beginning at 7 p.m. includes light fare, cocktails, music, and art-making. Cost: $150 for VIP; $75 general admission. Registration required. Contact admin@NJArtsIncubator. org or visit njartsincubator.org.

NJAI has a dual mission. First, to elevate working artists through the “incubation” of artist brand identity, business development, strategic relationships, and strengthening avenues of revenue so that working artists can thrive and continue to be vibrant contributors to our communities.

Secondarily, the NJAI is committed to more directly elevating the arts in the community by hosting hands-on arts classes for a range of populations, from youth to adult amateurs, from high school portfolio preparation to programs for seniors.

INCUBATOR

the exterior of barns throughout the area, will develop a vibrant “trail” throughout the community meant to tell the story of our distinctive region.

Township Committee member Devra Keenan stated, “We’re excited to see the development of an open-air public art project that celebrates Central Jersey’s rich agricultural history, as well as the cultures of the people who have contributed to it.“

The New Jersey Arts Incubator is accepting inquiries from community members who are interested in volunteering, at: admin@NJArtsIncubator.org.

Business Meetings

Wednesday October 2

Networking BNI Falcons, IHOP, 610 Route 33, East Windsor, 877-264-0500. www.bninjpa.org. Hybrid meeting. Speakers: Allison Francis, property watch and concierge company presentation; and Alexi Reque, commercial and residential title insurance. 7 to 8:30 a.m.

Thursday October 3

Networking, BNI Top Flight, Town Diner, 431 Route 130, East Windsor, 609-4438222. www.bninjpa.org. 7 a.m.

‘Just like other small business owners, artists require support, guidance, and nurturing to create businesses that are financially viable,’ Tuveson says.

“Incubators aren’t just for the technology and science industries,” said Karen Tuveson, founder and president of the New Jersey Arts Incubator. “Just like other small business owners, artists require support, guidance, and nurturing to create businesses that are financially viable. NJAI was established to address the needs of the professional artist and to create a nurturing environment for artists of all skill levels to realize their potential.”

According to the mission statement on its website: “The New Jersey Arts Incubator believes that by placing a strong emphasis on creative development, skill enhancement, and forging meaningful connections, we can help empower artists to transform their visions into tangible and impactful expressions. As the artistic realm continues to rapidly evolve in today’s technology-driven world, we feel we can play a vital role in nurturing the next generation of talents, ensuring a vibrant and resilient cultural landscape for years to come.

Tuveson’s own path as a professional artist includes establishing and being the driving force behind the Montgomery Arts Council, a subcommittee of Montgomery Township’s Economic Development Commission. After almost four years and seven successful juried community art exhibits, Tuveson realized that in addition to hosting events and the natural extension of sponsoring arts classes, she saw an unmet need in providing industry-specific programming for artists. With both formal classes and affordable studio/gallery space, it is her goal to enable artists to flourish in a rapidly evolving landscape.

For its first project, the New Jersey Arts Incubator is sponsoring a collaborative public art project that combines the creativity and diversity of regional artists, with private agri-businesses, barn owners, and historical as well as cultural non-profit organizations to create a “Barn Quilt Trail of Central Jersey.” Creating one-of-a-kind, colorful, quiltinspired pieces on board, to be mounted on

Monthly Membership Luncheon, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, Princeton Marriott at Forrestal, 100 College Road East, Princeton, 609-924-1776. www.princetonmercerchamber.org. “American Exceptionalism: Why the U.S. Economy will continue to outperform the Rest of the World” presented by Joseph P. Quinlan, managing director and head of market strategy for the Chief Investment Office within Bank of America Corporation, private, and Merrill. Register. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Friday October 4

Networking, BNI Driven, Elks Lodge #2622, 1580 Kuser Road, Hamilton, 609585-9610. www.bninjpa.org. Speakers: Jay Neagle, credit card processing; and Morgan Sayre, life Insurance. 7 a.m.

JobSeekers Professional Service Group of Mercer County, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.psgofmercercounty.org. Bill LaChance and Sudha Anand discuss strategies to help with cash flow during a career transition, covering topics including insurance, taxes, the SECURE Retirement Act and more. 9:45 a.m. to noon.

Saturday October 5

Mid-Day Toastmasters Club, , Hickory Corner Library, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor, 908-421-6151. 4139.toastmastersclubs.org. Nonprofit dedicated to effective oral communication and leadership development. Meeting also accessible via Zoom. Visit tinyurl.com/zoomwithmidday. 10 a.m.

Tuesday October 8

Mid-Day Toastmasters Club, 908-4216151. 4139.toastmastersclubs.org. Nonprofit dedicated to effective oral communication and leadership development. Meeting via Zoom. Visit tinyurl.com/zoomwithmidday. 11:30 a.m.

JobSeekers. sites.google.com/site/njjobseekers. Virtual meeting for those seeking employment. Visit website for GoTo Meeting link. 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday October 9

Networking, BNI Falcons, IHOP, 610 Route 33, East Windsor, 877-264-0500. www.bninjpa.org. Hybrid meeting. Speaker: Marc D. Binder CPA, tax planning topics. 7 to 8:30 a.m.

Business Before Business Virtual Speed Networking, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, 609-924-1776. www.princetonmercerchamber.org. Network over morning coffee and re-engage with chamber friends. Register. $15; free for members. 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

PRE VIEW

DAY-BY-DAY EVENTS, OCTOBER 2 TO 9

Event Listings: E-mail events@princetoninfo.com

While many venues have returned to hosting in-person events, others are still taking place online. Event descriptions specify if an event is being held virtually or in a hybrid format. To include your virtual or in-person event in this section email events@princetoninfo.com.

Wednesday o ctober 2

On Stage

What the Constitution Means to Me George Street Playhouse Arthur Laurents Theater, 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. www.georgestreetplayhouse.org.

Playwright Heidi Schreck delves into multiple facets of this historic document, debating as to whether or not we should keep or abolish it. $25 and up. 7:30 p.m.

Dancing

Contra Dance, Princeton Country Dancers, Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive, Princeton. www.princetoncountrydancers.org. Lesson followed by dance. $15. 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Literati

Nathan Thrall & Razia Iqbal Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, Princeton. www.labyrinthbooks.com. In “A Day in the Life of Abed Salama,” Nathan Thrall presents an indelibly human portrait of the struggle over Israel/ Palestine and a new understanding of the tragic history and reality of one of the most contested places on earth. In conversation with Iqbal, visiting professor at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. 6 p.m.

Wellness

Wild Gentle Yoga: Yoga to Connect with Yourself and Nature, Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, 1635 River Road, New Hope, PA. www.bhwp.org. Gentle yoga that builds body awareness, strength, flexibility and a better understanding of how humans connect to and reflect natural systems with Priscilla Hayes. Register. Pay what you can, $8 and up. 8 to 9 a.m.

Lectures

Dean’s Leadership Series

Princeton School of Public & International Affairs, Arthur

the Queen of Rock n’ Roll

Karis Anderson as Tina Turner in ‘TINA – The Tina Turner Musical,’ which is on stage at the State Theater in New Brunswick from Thursday through Saturday, October 3 through 5. Photo by Manuel Harlan.

Lewis Auditorium, Robertson Hall, Princeton University. spia.princeton.edu. A conversation with General Mark A. Milley. The 1980 alumnus is a visiting professor who served as the 20th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the principal military advisor to the president, secretary of defense, and National Security Council. Register. 12:30 p.m.

Socials

Jersey Art Meetup, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. Weekly social event connecting creatives within the greater Central Jersey area through a shared passion for sequential art and new media. Attendees may use this open workshop space to draw, write, and develop their own artwork, with an opportunity to receive peer review and feedback from other members if desired. Illustrators, animators, writers, and generalists are all welcome to join and discuss their art and career goals, share learning resources, promote current projects, or find friends and collaborators. Must be 16+ to attend. Free. 7 to 9 p.m.

Thursday o ctober 3

Arthur Laurents Theater, 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. www.georgestreetplayhouse.org. Playwright Heidi Schreck delves into multiple facets of this historic document, debating as to whether or not we should keep or abolish it. $25 and up. 2 and 7:30 p.m.

An Evening with David Sedaris, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton, 609-258-2787. www.mccarter.org. Writer, humorist, and master of satire David Sedaris returns to McCarter for an evening of readings and recollections, Q&A, and book signing. His newest books are “A Carnival of Snackery” and “Pretty Ugly.” $33 to $93. 7:30 p.m.

Alma, Passage Theater, Mill Hill Playhouse, 205 East Front Street, Trenton. www.passagetheatre. org. Benjamin Benne’s family dramedy exploring the complex relationship between a mother, daughter, and what home means to them. $33. 7:30 p.m.

TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, State Theater New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. www.stnj.org. The inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll. $40 to $105. 7:30 p.m.

Farm Markets

Princeton Farmers Market Princeton Public Library, Hinds Plaza, 55 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, 609-924-9529. www. princetonfarmersmarket.com.

More than 30 vendors including local organic produce, pasture raised meat and eggs, farmstead cheeses, fresh baked goods, empanadas, all-natural dog and cat treats, homemade jam, oldworld style pickles, fresh flowers, handcrafted jewelry, knife sharpening, and more. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Friday o ctober 4

Classical Music

Ken Cowan in Concert Princeton University Chapel. chapel. princeton.edu. Performance by the performer, recording artist, and teacher. Free. No ticket required. 7:30 p.m.

Jazz & Blues

South Brunswick Jazz Cafe, South Brunswick Municipal Complex, 540 Route 522, Monmouth Junction. www.sbarts.org. Jazz4Soul performs. $6 at the door. Light refreshments served, BYOB. 8 p.m.

Live Music

Rob Silvers & Joe Hoyer,

Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Road, Pennington, 609-7374465. www.hopewellvalleyvineyards.com. Rock/pop/country. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Dance

C-Word: Stories of Triumph over Breast Cancer, Roxey Ballet, Mill Ballet, 46 North Sugan Road, New Hope, Pennsylvania. www.roxeyballet.org/riverdancefestival. Originally developed through interviews with 22 remarkable women, choreographer Mark Roxey, along with the songwriting team Robert Maggio and Matthew Hardy, used music, dance, and spoken word to capture the essence of the survivors’ lives and stories. $55. 7 p.m.

On Stage

What the Constitution Means to Me, George Street Playhouse, Arthur Laurents Theater, 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. www.georgestreetplayhouse.org. Playwright Heidi Schreck delves into multiple facets of this historic document, debating as to whether or not we should keep or abolish it. $25 and up. 7:30 p.m.

Empire Records, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton, 609-258-2787. www.mccarter.org. Empire Records tells the story of a band of idealist misfits fighting to save their beloved record store from a corporate takeover. Music and lyrics by Princeton native Zoe Sarnak. 7:30 p.m. Alma, Passage Theater, Mill Hill Playhouse, 205 East Front Street, Trenton. www.passagetheatre. org. Benjamin Benne’s family dramedy exploring the complex relationship between a mother, daughter, and what home means to them. $33. 7:30 p.m.

Beauty and the Beast, Music Mountain Theater, 1483 State Route 179, Lambertville. www. musicmountaintheatre.org. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a vain young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress who left him with only one way to reverse the curse - fall in love with another and earn her love in return. $32. 8 p.m.

A Thread of Golden Ashes Program in Theater, Wallace Theater, Lewis Arts complex, Princeton University. arts.princeton.edu. The story starts on Earth in a home fractured in the wake of loss. Two once-close cousins return on the anniversary of their father-figure’s death, only to unexpectedly encounter each other instead. Moving forward proves difficult for everyone. Turn the page to Irridia, a fantastical kingdom shattered after the deaths of its sovereigns. Two royal siblings strive to fulfill the oaths made to their parents but the kingdom is left wondering: can things really

be as they once were? This new play is written by senior Le’Naya Wilkerson and directed by senior Wasif Sami with lighting design by Wilkerson. Free; ticket required. 8 p.m.

Family Theater

Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton, 609258-2787. www.mccarter.org. Interactive performance and screening features live music by Banda de la Casita, bringing Disney’s film to life. $33 to $83. 7 p.m.

Dancing

Friday Night Folk Dance, Prince-

ton Folk Dance, Suzanne Patterson Center, 45 Stockton Street, Princeton. www.princetonfolkdance.org. Lesson followed by open dancing. No partner necessary. $10. 8 p.m.

Comedy

Jerrold Benford Catch A Rising Star, Hyatt Regency Princeton, 102 Carnegie Center, Princeton, 781-568-1471. www.catcharisingstar.com. $26.50 to $34.50. Reservations required. 7:30 p.m.

Saturday october 5

Classical Music

Princeton University orchestra Princeton University Music Department, Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University. music. princeton.edu. Conducted by Michael Pratt. $15. 7:30 p.m.

Jazz & Blues

Brahms and Mozart, Plainfield Symphony, Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church, 716 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield. www. plainfieldsymphony.org. Seasonopening concert features Brahms’ Piano Quartet No. 1, Op.25, transcribed for orchestra, and Mozart’s Symphony No. 36, K. 425, “Linz.” $45 to $65. 7 p.m.

Live Music

Catmoondaddy & Modern Rewind, Hopewell Valley Vineyards, 46 Yard Road, Pennington, 609-737-4465. www. hopewellvalleyvineyards.com. Rock/pop then rock. 1 and 5:30 p.m.

Jeff Miller Small World Coffee 14 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.smallworldcoffee.com. Rock/pop/folk/jazz. 7 p.m.

Outdoor Concerts

Fall Music Series Palmer Square Green, Princeton. www. palmersquare.com. Underwater Airines performs. Noon to 2 p.m.

Art

58th Annual New Jersey Senior Citizen Art Show, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Meadow Lakes, 300 Meadow Lakes, East Windsor. www.njseniorarts.com. First day for exhibit of artwork representing the first place winners from individual County Senior Art Shows hosted earlier in the year throughout New Jersey. The works are by both professional and non-professional artists in 11 categories: acrylic, craft, digital arts, mixed media, oil, pastels, photography, print, sculpture, watercolor, and works on paper. On view through October 30. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant returns to Richardson Auditorium with an ensemble of renowned improvisers for a performance presented by Princeton University Concerts on Wednesday, October 9.

plore fields dotted with large outdoor sculptures, and delight in two historic barns brimming with the work of 25 painters, sculptors, and photographers. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Campus Collections outdoor Walking Tour: Residential Colleges Neighborhood, Princeton University Art Museum, Ai Weiwei’s Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads, University Place. artmuseum.princeton.edu. Join a guided walking tour of the campus collections with an Art Museum guide and discover a variety of artworks by modern and contemporary sculptors, from Sol LeWitt to Maya Lin. 2 p.m.

Into Sight, Into Mind: Radiant Glory of the Anthropocene Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org.

First day and opening reception for Zoe Leach’s exhibit that explores the 6th mass extinction through the lens of the human experience of joy and anguish. On view through November 2. 3 to 5 p.m.

Reimagined Lives: Narratives in Motion, Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. First day and opening reception for exhibit featuring the work of South Brunswick sculptor and wood worker Sonia Yaco and painter and paper artist Ry An. On view through November 2. 3 to 5 p.m.

Exploring Abstraction Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www. artscouncilofprinceton.org. First day and opening reception for Exploring Abstraction, featuring the work of Ann Marie Miller and Deirdre Sheean, two artists working with different materials. Each has similar goals to simplify complexity, and is inspired by shapes, colors, and textures In nature. On view through November 2. 3 to 5 p.m.

A Golu Extravaganza West Windsor Arts Council, 952 Alexander Road, West Windsor. www. westwindsorarts.org. “From Ethereal to Real: A Navratri Golu” features an installation of intricately arranged, handcrafted dolls and heirlooms in settings that explore global warming through allegory, metaphor and mythology. The evening also includes impromptu, live Indian classical music, a presentation on the significance of the golu, and fun art activities for children. Register. 4 to 9 p.m.

Dance

C-Word: Stories of Triumph over Breast Cancer Roxey Ballet, Mill Ballet, 46 North Sugan Road, New Hope, Pennsylvania. www.roxeyballet.org/riverdancefestival. Originally developed through interviews with 22 remarkable women, choreographer Mark Roxey, along with the songwriting team Robert Maggio and Matthew Hardy, used music, dance, and spoken word to capture the essence of the survivors’ lives and stories. $55. 7 p.m. Flamenco y Más, Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre, Playhouse 22, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, 732-598-3979.

www.playhouse22.org. A celebration of Flamenco and Spanish classical dance and music. $25. 7:30 p.m.

On Stage

Empire Records, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton, 609-258-2787. Empire Records tells the story of a band of idealist misfits fighting to save their beloved record store from a corporate takeover. Music and lyrics by Princeton native Zoe Sarnak. 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Thousands of products now bear the Non-GMO Project Verified Label — your best assurance the foods you buy are Non-GMO. October is Non-GMO Month. We have special sales on Non-GMO Project Verified products all month long.

LOCATED IN THE HEART OF WALKABLE PRINCETON …ADJACENT TO PRINCETON UNIVERSITY’S CAMPUS

A Thread of Golden Ashes, Program in Theater, Wallace Theater, Lewis Arts complex, Princeton University. arts.princeton.edu. The story starts on Earth in a home fractured in the wake of loss. Two once-close cousins return on the anniversary of their father-figure’s death, only to unexpectedly encounter each other instead. Moving forward proves difficult for everyone. Turn the page to Irridia, a fantastical kingdom shattered after the deaths of its sovereigns. Two royal siblings strive to fulfill the oaths made to their parents but the kingdom is left wondering: can things really be as they once were? Play written by senior Le’Naya Wilkerson and directed by senior Wasif Sami with lighting design by Wilkerson. Free; ticket required. 8 p.m.

GOURMET KITCHENS QUALITY FINISHES

GAS FIREPLACES BALCONIES 255 NASSAU STREET PRINCETON

Continued on page 9

2 & 3 BEDROOMS / 2 BATH APARTMENT HOMES ROOFTOP PATIO OUTDOOR CAFE ON-SITE BANK ON-SITE PARKING & STORAGE

What’s Brewing in the Region’s Tea & Coffee Scene

It’s not just wishful thinking. Judging by the number of folks seen crowding cafes and other communal gathering places, we do seem to be returning to some semblance of post-Covid normalcy. And a lot of those folks don’t simply seem to be sipping between swipes and taps of their device of choice; actual face-to-face conversations are taking place. Less screen time, more face time (versus FaceTime), more, well, community.

In that spirit, here’s a rundown of some of the top gathering spots for a quiet “cuppa” and perhaps a quick bite, while you have a chat, take in the streetscape, and peruse the latest edition of U.S. 1.

Our guide begins with an update on three establishments, two of which opened this spring, and of one venerable establishment which underwent a change of ownership earlier this year.

Whatever and wherever your favorite “cuppa” happens to be, go forth and keep on sippin’!

Ooika Matcha

I wrote about Ooiks Matcha soon after it opened its doors on February 27. At the time I spoke to owner Joann Liu and Ooika’s master miller, Marc Falzon, about their commitment to serving beverages made with freshly ground matcha and offering the highest quality, single sourced matcha, grinders, and related gear from their online store, as well as membership in their Matcha Mill Club, giving subscribers the opportunity to “explore Japan’s rare, single-origin Matcha shipped to you within 24 hours of stone-milling every month.”

I frequently pass by Ooika in my travels and usually observe what appears to be a respectably sized gaggle of contented matcha sippers, both inside the shop and on the outdoor deck in warmer weath-

er.

So, what’s new? When I last spoke to Marc Falzon, he told me of plans to install a second authentic Ishi-Usu stone mill, the only such mills in the U.S. “We did get a second mill,” Falzon confirms, “so we’re able to keep up with production. We’ve been much busier, very busy in fact.”

He notes that Ooika remains true to its commitment to only serve matcha that’s been ground 24 hours or less before serving. “And we’ve come out with new specials,” he continues. “Every month we feature a new drink special. This month (September) it’s Ube.”

Note: Ube is a purple yam originally from the Philippines. With a sweet, mellow, slightly nutty, vanilla taste it is typically boiled and blended with condensed milk

According to Marc, the vibe at Ooika changes as the week segues into the weekend. “During the week it’s more relaxed,” he says. “People drop in to study (Ooika is across the street from Lawrenceville School) while they enjoy a bowl of matcha or a matcha latte. We have quiet music playing, so it’s a great place to talk or just relax. The weekends are a bit more crowded. We have people come in with friends or dates on the weekend; it depends on the day.”

What are the more popular items on your menu? Have your essential offerings remained the same? “It’s changed a bit,” he says. “Our most popular is the strawberry matcha latte. In addition to that we have drinks made with houjicha, a roasted green tea, roasted in a similar way to coffee beans that’s naturally low in caffeine, with a flavor profile that’s similar to coffee, with notes of chocolate. We also offer hot and cold black sesame lattes, which are caffeine-free.”

What about online orders? “The online business is a big part of our company,” he says, “but the online

by George Point

business focuses mainly on our single origin matcha, much like the single origin coffees used to prepare a pour over or an espresso in a coffee shop.”

Why should people who have not liked the matcha they’ve tried elsewhere give it another go at Ooika? “Tasting freshly ground matcha versus off-the-shelf matcha is like the difference between tasting a freshly made, baked croissant in an artisanal bakery versus a massproduced croissant made weeks or months ago,” he explains. “It may have croissant-like elements, but I wouldn’t call it a croissant. Matcha begins to degrade within hours after grinding, so people who have not tried freshly ground matcha have never really tried matcha.”

L’Annexe de Mamie Colette

I probably wouldn’t have included French bakery L’Annexe de Mamie Colette on Route 29 in Titusville on my list of venues for a quiet cuppa, had I not read a brief reference to the establishment in a Bucks County newspaper that lead me to the detailed May 29 profile of the business (“L’Annexe de Mamie Colette brings Brittany to Central NJ”) by Community News Service’s Joe Emanski. I recommend that you read it for a detailed lowdown.

Joe’s article on the offerings at L’Annnexe led to a few visits to sample them myself, and then a follow-up conversation with Isabelle Noblanc, co-owner of L’Annexe and Mamie Colette in Newtown, Pennsylvania, and with Lisa Raezer, one of L’Annexe’s friendly and helpful staff, to find out how things are progressing. I asked Raezer how she would describe the vibe at l’Annexe. “It’s a very welcoming environment,” she enthused. “As you walk in you savor the delicious aromas. It’s a place where it’s comfortable to sit,

OCTOBER 19, 2024 • 1-3 PM

ROSEDALE PARK, PENNINGTON, NJ

Raising critical funding for Senior Nutritional Services as well as the Meals on Wheels of Mercer County Pet Pantry–keeping our homebound seniors and their pets healthy, happy & together

EVENT CO-CHAIRS:

Jennifer Keyes-Maloney, Executive Director of the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities

Michael Cucciniello, Vice President-Branch Manager at OceanFirst Bank

FEATURING:

relax, and talk for a while, while you enjoy your morning or afternoon treats.

“We specialize in crepes here,” she continues. The Newtown location doesn’t do crepes, they specialize in all varieties of croissants, which are made there, brought here under refrigeration, and baked fresh. We take some of our brioche and breads over to Newtown.” The crepes, a regional specialty of Brittany, are made with buckwheat flour and are prepared to order with a variety of either sweet or savory fillings.

Raezer also spoke about her connection with Tabletop Games (titusvilletabletopgames.com) next door. Described on its website as “An independent tabletop game store featuring a cozy play space, a stately game library, a private Role Playing Game room, and a host of special events,” the shop is owned by Razer’s spouse, Robert Thompson, and features hundreds of board games; there are no electronic games whatsoever.

The tempting scent of baked goods wafting from L’Annexe often draws its patrons next door.

“Gamers love to snack while they’re gaming,” Raezer notes. “People stop in and buy their treats and then go to Tabletop and play games for hours.”

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What are the challenges and plans going forward? “This side of the river is very different from the other (Pennsylvania) side,” coowner Isabel Noblanc says. “People don’t get their news from social media as much, so it’s been a process to figure out how to get the word out. Getting the word out by word of mouth takes a little longer, so we’re still becoming known. I’d like to get more feedback before planning the next phase, but so far the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The comment cards we ask our customers to fill out have been very helpful.”

What’s next on the agenda for L’Annexe de Mamie Colette? “We’d like to provide a small quantity of artisanal breads to local restaurants,” Noblanc says. “We’re not a volume bakery. We don’t have a machine that turns out thousands of loaves; we have a baker who makes bread by hand.

“The main driver is to bring good food, healthy food, to the community,” she continues. “I grew up in Europe, where you go to your local bakery because it’s part of the soul of your community. That’s what we’re working to achieve here.”

Rojo’s Roastery

It’s been 14 years since celebrated restaurant reviewer, local radio host and food writing legend Pat Tanner wrote about Rojo’s Roastery, then a four-year-old establishment in an industrial space in Lambertville. A pioneering operation in its day, Pat reported that owner Da-

vid Waldman’s cafe and smallbatch roasting operation “was determined to go ‘beyond fair trade’ to source the very best beans directly from small, independent producers in every coffee-growing region in the world.”

Nowhere was Waldman’s dedication to managing every phase of his coffee brewing operation more evident than in his choice of equipment to roast the beans. Pat Tanner reported that “The heart of the space, though, is the red painted, gas-fired commercial roaster, vintage 1956. It is one of only 16 still in operation and Probat, the German manufacturer, once offered to buy it from Waldman to put in their company museum.”

Fast forward to March of this year, when David Waldman not only announced his retirement, but revealed that ownership of Rojo’s, now ensconced in Princeton’s Palmer Square, had been passed on to Joanne Canady-Brown, owner of Lawrenceville’s wildly popular Gingered Peach Bakery and the Purple Cow ice cream shop.

The change in ownership was a natural segue. The Gingered Peach had been supplying pastries to Rojo’s Roastery for nearly a decade, and Canady-Brown has been brewing Rojo’s coffee at her bakery. And she has apparently carried on with the commitment to overseeing every phase of the bean-tobrew process that was the hallmark of David Waldman’s tenure. The 1956 Probat UG-15 roaster is still hard at work, its roasting temperature and time continuously monitored. To ensure freshness, coffee beans are roasted daily.

Rojo’s also does a brisk online business, offering a frequently changing selection of beans from small-batch fair-trade producers, such as Midwives Moonshine (“dark chocolate, caramel; robust, snappy, balanced, full body”), Mexico Chiapas (“medium bodied with notes of tamarind, golden raisin, brown sugar, and dark chocolate”), Rojo’s Signature Espresso Blend (“lots of crema; bittersweet chocolate, caramel, fruity, nutty, sweet, complex, balanced, full body. Suitable for all brewing methods”) and more. Purchases via weekly and monthly subscriptions are also offered.

And the “Coffee 101” section of Rojo’s website offers a deep, deep dive into the ins and outs of brewing your favorite cuppa at home; types of coffee grinders, a tutorial that delves into the optimum PPM TDS (Parts Per Million of Total Dissolved Solids), advising that “you might consider investing in an inexpensive TDS meter,” use of a gram scale to weigh out your beans, use of paper versus mesh coffee filters, choosing the proper setting for your grinder, and proper storage of your beans.

A bit geeky? Ya think? Hey, do you want a good mug of java, or what? And don’t even think about

storing the pastries from the Gingered Peach. They’ll disappear before you can say “David Copperfield.”

That said, what follows is a highly subjective selection of places to enjoy your quiet cuppa. Explore! Sip! Enjoy!

Places to Enjoy a Quiet ‘Cuppa’

Bordentown: Turtle Beans Specialty Coffee Roasters

225 Farnsworth Avenue, Bordentown. 609-853-3029. turtlebeanscoffee.com.

A welcoming oasis in the center of Bordentown, Turtle Beans’ website invites coffee lovers to “...slow down and savor the moment…” with the goal of “...fostering a community where every visit feels like coming home.”

A recent visit confirms that Turtle Beans is meeting their goal. Surrounded by a mix of parents with young children meeting up to share the news of the day, folks absorbed in work at their laptops, service workers in search of a caffeine fix, and a stream of people grabbing a cuppa to go, the vibe is decidedly cozy and convivial. Check the website for workshops, music, coffee tastings, and other special events aimed at bringing people together.

The extensive menu of beverages includes a range of classic coffees, loose leaf teas, specialty tea preparations such as Tumeric Strawberry Fields Matcha (Organic Matcha and Strawberry) and London Fog (Earl Grey Tea & Lavender), “Lotus Seltzers” that include Cotton Candy Cloud (cotton candy flavored bubbly seltzer) and Dragonfruit Lemonada (dragonfruit and lemonade), and an extensive selection of seasonal specialties, like Blueberry Bliss (Iced Americano with Blueberry Cold Foam).

A selection of pastries and includes “Croffels”; a waffle-like pastry with a selection of sweet and savory fillings. A Croffel with avocado, feta crumbles, pistachios, ghost pepper honey, and pepper flakes? Oh, yes!

Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Princeton:

Chez Alice Patisserie

5 Palmer Square West, Princeton. 609-921-6760. chezalicecafe. com.

Chez Alice Patisserie’s comfortable and comforting location on Palmer Square is a great place to go

for good selection of carefully prepared coffees (hot and iced), tea, tasty pastries, cooked breakfast dishes, and more, including an ever changing selection of Frenchthemed merchandise for those looking for a special gift.

The menu includes bagels, breakfast sandwiches, a seemingly endless array of specialty cakes (Taramisu, Chocolate Rasberry Torte and Carrot...), tarts, tartlets, and a slew of “individual desserts” (Opera Cake, Mango Mousse, Tres Leches...), a delightful assortment of macarons, croissants, breads, and rolls.

Seating inside and outdoor seating when weather permits makes Chez Alice a popular gathering spot.

Hours: Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Maman

43 Hulfish Street, Princeton. 609-285-2974. mamannyc.com/locations/princeton

I featured Maman in the U.S. 1 Spring Dining issue as one of the newer additions to Princeton’s dining scene, and see no reason to change my impression of this charming, light-filled destination. I would still be hard-pressed to dispute the characterization of the Princeton location posted on its website: “This café feels like something straight out of a hallmark film ... grab a cup of coffee or pastry while you amble about town. Our spacious & sunlight-filled interior also makes the perfect study or lunch catch-up spot. What’s not to love?”

In addition to “Maman Classics” like Smashed Avocado Tartine, Farmhouse Granola Parfait, and Brenda’s Belgian waffles, a selection of pastries, soups, salads, and beverages are on offer. Calorie counts for each item are provided, and gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options are available. Maman also offers a kids’ menu, with sure-to-please classics like grilled cheese.

In addition to an extensive yearround selection of coffees, teas, juices, kombucha, and more, Maman offers seasonal beverages. For fall, they’re its signature pumpkin pie latte, mademoiselle’s brown sugar & sage latte, papa’s pecan pie latte and centre st’s whipped cinnamon honey cappuccino.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Rojo’s Roastery

33 Palmer Square West, Princeton. 609-924-7600. rojosroastery. com.

Rojo’s features an espresso bar,

coffee drinks (cappuccinos, lattes, and more), coffee beans and coffee equipment. The shop has recently undergone a thoughtful renovation. When weather permits, many patrons do their sipping at the picnic tables in the Palmer Square courtyard.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sakrid Coffee Roasters

20 Nassau Street, Princeton. 609-516-2444. sakridcoffee.com/ princeton-nassau-st.

Sakrid Coffee Roasters sports two locations in Princeton, each with its own personality. The location at 20 Nassau Street offers both indoor and outdoor seating.

The original café across from Princeton University on the corner of Nassau and Chambers streets bills itself as “a great space to stop in and hang out,” and friends of mine who meet there regularly agree, although if you’re really seeking the “quiet” with your cuppa they suggest arriving early, especially if you’re meeting up with a larger group.

From opposite left, L’Annexe de Mamie Colette in Titusville draws customers from the neighboring tabletop games space; and Princeton’s Small World Coffee’s Witherspoon Street Cafe and Sakrid Coffee Roasters on Nassau Street.

When it comes to beverage selection, Sakrid sticks close to the classics, like espresso, cappucino, americano, latte, et al. “Not Coffee” offerings include tea, chai, matcha, and hot chocolate, and a well-chosen selection of accompanying milks and flavorings is offered, as is a selection of pastries.

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

300 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. sakridcoffee.com/princetonwitherspoon-st

Those desiring to sip, chat and savor away from the center of town might like to give Sakrid’s Wither-

spoon Street location next to the Princeton municipal building a try. Sakrid Witherspoon invites patrons to “Sit & stay awhile. This is where you can settle down for an hour or more.”

While both locations offer cold brew, Sakrid Witherspoon offers their cold brew in bottles to take away, as both concentrate and ready-to-drink.

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Small World Coffee

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14 Witherspoon Street and 254 Nassau Street, Princeton. smallworldcoffee.com.

Small World Coffee first opened its doors in the center of Princeton in 1993. They upped their game in 1997, taking on new partner and head roaster Jon March and offering their own blends, like Grumpy Monkey and Joker Poker.

And yes, OK, it would be a stretch to categorize Small World Coffee, particularly its Witherspoon Street location, as a place to enjoy a quiet cuppa. But the appeal of Witherspoon’s pretty much constant buzz, whether generated by the hustle and flow of the constant comings and goings of its patrons, the sounds of bluegrass, jazz, pop rock, or funk music most Saturday nights, or the crush of art lovers attending an opening of its everchanging exhibitions by area artists and organizations cannot be denied.

For a more subdued vibe, head on down to Small World Nassau Street.

Both locations offer an excellent selection of hot and cold coffees and teas as well as other beverages, a nice assortment of baked goods and grilled sandwiches, desserts, and coffee beans for purchase onsite and online. Small World is also standing by to cater your next event, supplying their locally roasted coffee, house-made beverages, and freshly baked pastries and desserts.

Witherspoon hours: Monday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Nassau hours: Monday through Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun-

day, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Grill closes at 2 p.m.

Lambertville: Chez Alice Patisserie

15 Bridge Street, Lambertville. 609-493-0154. chezalicecafe.com

In many ways, Chez Alice Patisserie in Lambertville is the twin of Chez Alice in Princeton, with a few notable differences. The similarities in menu offerings aren’t surprising given that both establishments sit under the umbrella of Genesis Hospitality, whose portfolio of restaurants, bars, historical inns, event spaces, bakeries, and boutique hotels includes the Peacock Inn, Bread Boutique, and Nassau Diner in Princeton, Lambertville Station in Lambertville, and the Washington Crossing Inn and Yardley Inn across the Delaware.

As a Delaware River town and a tourist destination, Lambertville’s vibe is a bit different from university-centric Princeton and tends to be a bit lower key during the week. In the warmer months, Chez Alice Lambertville takes advantage of its location next to Lambertville Sta-

tion to offer a spot for outdoor sipping next to the Delaware and Raritan Canal. Then there’s the canal itself, its towpath providing an opportunity for a picturesque waterside meander with a hot beverage among the Fall foliage.

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Lawrenceville: Ooika Matcha

2661 Main Street, Lawrenceville. Ooika.co. hello@ooika.co.

To learn more about Ooika Matcha, check out the introduction to this guide and “Let’s Try... Ooika Matcha” in the March 13 edition of U.S. 1.

Hours: Monday, closed; Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Note: Hours are subject to change

Pennington: Terra Momo Bread Company

15 West Delaware Avenue, Pennington. 609-688-0108. terramomo.com/terra-momo-bread-com-

For some calories with your coffee, macarons from Chez Alice, left, bread from Terra Momo Bread Company, and sweet coffee drinks from Turtle Beans Specialty Coffee Roasters.

pany

The Terra Momo Restaurant Group, which includes local favorites Mediterra restaurant and taverna, Teresa’s restaurant and wine bar, Eno Terra in Kingston and Albarino tapas and wine bar in Shrewsbury has relocated its Witherspoon Street bakery to what had been the site of Pennington Hardware Store, a short walk to Pennington’s downtown and across from the Pennington School. In addition to a selection of coffees and other hot and cold beverages, an assortment of Terra Momo’s popular freshly baked breads and desserts are on offer to eat in or take away. Counter seating at the front windows offers a quiet spot to gaze out at the passing parade on Delaware Avenue. Limited outdoor seating is available, weather permitting.

Terra Momo Bread Company’s

catering menu offers breakfast and lunch platters for your next special event. Visit their website for full details.

Hours: Monday, closed; Tuesday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Titusville:

L’Annexe de

Mamie Colette

Titusville Marketplace, 14601464 River Road, Titusville. facebook.com/MamieColetteBakery

For more about L’Annexe de Mamie Colette, check out the introduction to this guide, and Community New Service’s reporter Joe Emanski’s May 29 profile of the business, “L’Annexe de Mamie Colette brings Brittany to Central NJ” at communitynews.org.

Hours: Monday and Tuesday, closed; Wednesday and Thursday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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5 Continued from page 5

Literati

Princeton Children’s Book Festival, Princeton Public Library, Hinds Plaza, Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.princetonlibrary. org. Authors and illustrators of children’s books gather in the plaza to share their work and meet young readers. Portion of proceeds benefit the library. Storytime with author/illustrator Sharee Miller at 10:30 a.m.; arts & crafts inside from noon to 3 p.m.; Princeton Symphony Orchestra instrument petting zoo from noon to 2 p.m. Rain or shine. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Benefit Galas

Light the Way Home Fall Fundraiser, Housing Initiatives of Princeton, Springdale Golf Club, 1895 Clubhouse Drive, Princeton. www.housinginitiativesofprinceton.org. Evening of food, music, and dancing, to support efforts to ensure that Princeton and the surrounding area continues to be a diverse community where people from various walks of life can thrive. Register. $150 and up. 6 to 10 p.m.

Comedy

An Evening with Nini Grace, Catch A Rising Star, Hyatt Regency Princeton, 102 Carnegie Center, Princeton, 781-568-1471. www.catcharisingstar.com.

$26.50 to $34.50. Reservations required. 7 p.m.

Fairs & Festivals

Fall Family Fun Weekend, Terhune orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Lawrence. www.terhuneorchards.com. Celebrate fall with corn and hay bale mazes, pedal tractors, ducky races, children’s games, live music by Heavy Traffic Blue Grass Band, pick your

own pumpkins and pumpkin painting, and more. $18. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Hopewell Community oktoberfest, Trenton Cyrus Lodge, 131 Burd Street, Pennington. hopewell.simpletix.com. Family friendly fall event featuring a variety of craft Oktoberfest and domestic beers on tap, local wine, and soft drinks. TC5 Pitmaster will be slow smoking pork shoulder, and a variety of other southern inspired sides. Cornhole, music, face and pumpkin painting, and other surprises. Register. $25 to $50; kids under 12 are free. 6 to 10 p.m.

Farm Markets

West Windsor Community Farmers’ Market, Vaughn Drive Lot, 877 Alexander Road, Princeton Junction. www.wwcfm.org. Up to 50 farms and other vendors on site selling fresh produce, meat, sweets, beer, tea, bread, pickles, and more. Live music and other special events weekly. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Farmers Market, Montgomery Friends of open Space, Montgomery Township Municipal Center, 100 Community Drive, Skillman, 609-915-0817. www.montgomeryfriends.org. Jersey Fresh produce and farm products, baked goods, sauces, fibers, honey, flowers, coffee, and music. Rain or shine. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

History

History/Nature Hike at Institute Woods, Historical Society of Princeton, Princeton Battlefield Parking Lot, 500 Mercer Road, Princeton. www.princetonhistory. org. Hike through the Institute Woods to explore bits of history, as well as the sites and sounds that form this unique and serene setting. Hear stories about the Woods’ origin and the ways IAS mathematicians, physicists, and other members have engaged with it. Stops along the way will highlight the history of early Stony Brook, the Battle of Princeton, the Old Trolley trail, the establishment

of the Institute for Advanced Study, and Founders Rock. Special stop at the Swinging Bridge, then hike over to the observation decks at the adjacent Rogers Wildlife Refuge. Register. $20. 3 to 5 p.m.

Outdoor Action

Princeton Canal Walkers, Turning Basin Park, Alexander Road, Princeton. 3 mile walk on the towpath, weather permitting. Free. Register to canalwalkers@googlegroups.com for notices of weather-related cancellations. 10 a.m.

Sunday o ctober 6

Classical Music

A Centennial Celebration of Gabriel Fauré Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton. www.capitalphilharmonic.org. With voice, piano, violin, viola and cello. Part of the Musicians’ Choice Chamber Concert Series. $25. 3 p.m. Princeton University orchestra Princeton University Music Department, Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University. music. princeton.edu. Conducted by Michael Pratt. $15. 3 p.m.

Outdoor Concerts

Music Fest Sundays, Palmer Square Green, Princeton. www. palmersquare.com. John McDermott Band, Sixties Rock & Roll Revue performs. 1 to 4 p.m.

World Music

Natalia Lafourcade, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton, 609-258-2787. www. mccarter.org. Mexican singersongwriter weaves together elements of rock, jazz, pop, bossa nova, and folk. $48 to $108. 6

Ken Cowan in Concert

Friday, October 4

7:30-9pm Princeton University Chapel

Concert Organist Ken Cowan is a world-class musician and one of the most sought-after organists in the USA. He is deeply respected as a performer, recording artist, and teacher. Come and experience the majestic, deep sound of the organ soaring through the Chapel.

Free, open to all. No tickets required.

Kimmie Fetters, top left, Linda Cunningham, and Christina Parke, and Eve Connolly; and Perry Zavetz, bottom left, and Maggie Gronenthal star in the ensemble cast of ‘Steel Magnolias,’ at Kelsey Theatre on Mercer County Community College’s West Windsor Campus weekends October 4 through 13.

HoBART Fall 2024: Art in the Native Landscape, Steinbeiser’s Farm, 718 County Road 519, Frenchtown. Exhibit and sale of works by artists from Hunterdon and Bucks counties. Visitors are free to roam meadow trails to explore fields dotted with large outdoor sculptures, and delight in two historic barns brimming with the work of 25 painters, sculptors, and photographers. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Reciprocal Inspiration and a Cranbury School Legacy: Elizabeth Grimaldi and Elaina Phillips, Gourgaud Gallery, 23A North Main Street, Cranbury. www.cranburyartscouncil.org. Opening reception for a joint show featuring Elizabeth Grimaldi, re-

tired Cranbury School teacher and administrator, who exhibits her original paintings, and works by Elaina Philips, her former student. Select original works and some prints for sale. On view through October 30. 1 to 3 p.m. Art and Science Campus Collections Walking Tour Princeton University Art Museum, Nassau Hall, Princeton University. artmuseum.princeton.edu. Unique walking tour of campus collections that blurs the lines between science and art. An Art Museum student tour guide will discuss the art historical significance of an artwork while graduate molecular biology students explore the science behind its creation, care, and restoration. Rain or shine, stair-free. 1 p.m.

Continued on page 11

Sound Journey with Ruth Cunningham

Princeton University Chapel October 9 at 5:30pm

Join Ruth Cunningham , founding member of Anonymous 4 and Sound Healing practitioner, in this time of live music for meditation and introspection.

Photo by: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

George Street Review: ‘What the Constitution Means to Me’

Heidi Schreck is lucky I was not among the American Legion members judging a speech she made during her teen years at Legion halls throughout the country to earn prize money she could put towards her college education.

She would have lost to the rival that plagued her throughout that adolescent journey.

The theme of Schreck’s speech was “What the Constitution Means to Me,” and she complied with contest rules by applying the U.S. Constitution and its amendments to incidents in her own life.

The speech, as we hear it as part of Schreck’s, play “What the Constitution Means to Me,” at New Brunswick’s George Street Playhouse through Sunday, October 13, smacks of juvenilia. It is the work of a smart kid who knows how to finagle an “A” and how to include remarks that dig, snidely but pointedly, at possible flaws in America’s foundational document, particularly those of omission or which reflect political leanings from the historic period in which they were written.

These digs are not necessarily unwarranted, but notice I’m, for the third time, calling them “digs” instead of criticism. I’m doing that because, as is fashionable today, they come off less as a discussion or scholarly inquiry and more as a polemic gimmick, an agenda.

These complaints about the Constitution, usually led up to with a “look what I found” or “see what I see” attitude, seep over to Schreck’s play.

Interestingly enough, they don’t completely sabotage the play, at least not at George Street.

For several reasons.

Three of them are Kate Baldwin, Nicholas Rodriguez, and Niara Beckwith. A fourth is Laiona Michelle. These are the actors and director of George Street’s bright, engaging production that forces you to admire it theatrically even if you are not one of the converted writers like Schreck must think are

the sole or dominant attenders of theater and expectantly rely on to nod at agreement at their philosophical maundering instead of judging them and categorizing them as being purposefully skewed, even if worth mentioning.

Schreck can get smug, overly assured, and heavy-handed. Her arguments are not without merit, but they are like a Stephen Colbert monologue, convinced one must see their point even if it’s overstated and one among several possible interpretations.

Kate Baldwin, who plays Schreck at several ages — 15, 21, and as a mature, successful playwright in her late 40s — before spending the last quarter of the play as herself, is so charming, it doesn’t matter if Schreck is smug. You can, if inclined, reserve your counter arguments, historic explanations, or fact correction for a different time because Baldwin does not register as smug. She finds the humor in Schreck as a woman while making any anger, discontent, sarcasm, issue begging, advocacy, or, frankly, pandering an integral part of a complete character.

Baldwin can’t hide where Schreck’s script wants to lead its audience, but she can convey the intelligence, wit, sincerity, and even some loopy eccentricities that make the Heidi Schreck on stage an interesting person to watch and hear.

Even when what you makes you seethe or take your feet off the floor so your shoes don’t get soiled from the bilge.

As she’s proven multiple times, including last season in Bucks County Playhouse’s “The Bridges of Madison County,” Baldwin is an artist with dialogue and phrasing. She paces and presents Schreck’s material excellently.

As Schreck, Baldwin exudes the spirit of a bright, lively woman who was shrewd enough to finance her entire college education by placing highly in enough public

by Neal Zoren

speaking contests to earn sufficient funds to do so.

Baldwin’s brightness carries over to Schreck’s more committed period, when she begins to question the Constitution, whom its phraseology includes, whom it excludes, and whether it is a document for all times, specifically our time.

Baldwin, with the congenial help of Nicholas Rodriguez, keeps all buoyant no matter how partisan it gets. She also captures the pathos in some of Schreck’s personal stories, the ones that illustrate how the Constitution might affect her and others, primarily women, in ways that transcend any political squabbling and move a situation from the polemic to basic humanity.

“What the Constitution Means To Me” works best when Schreck is living a case rather than pleading one, when she confines herself to a personal experience and how she felt while enduring it rather than making a case for the inadequacies in or the abolishment of the U.S. Constitution. (More of that later, including a full disclosure.)

It’s because Kate Baldwin relates Schreck’s experience in a properly moving way. Baldwin gets and conveys every nuance of Schreck’s piece. She also holds her own as a debater.

By now you can tell, I am not a fan of the play, “What the Constitution Means To Me.” I think it’s fundamentally flawed by limiting the U.S. Constitution to a feminist point of view without carefully acknowledging how the Constitution has adapted to changing times and how fixing it is less dangerous or disruptive than scuttling it.

Laiona Michelle’s production for George Street is a different story. Everything I’ve seen from Michelle, including her riveting offBroadway musical about Nina Simone, “Little Girl Blue,” is meticulous and entertaining throughout. Michelle knows how to mix personality with politics. Her pro-

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duction preserves a personal, conversational tone that never becomes preachy or overly activist.

Schreck’s progressive feminist views are there in the script, and while Baldwin and Michelle can’t help but point to them and convey Schreck’s emphasis, they keep them from being cloying. They remain opinions, firmly stated opinions, for you to consider rather than pronouncements from the mountaintop.

This is smart acting and smart direction.

“Smart” characterizes Michelle’s production. It entertains even when it might anger, as it may be designed on some level to do.

Nicholas Rodriguez, in a handful of roles, but mostly as the moderator of an American Legion contest in which Schreck is competing, matches Baldwin in charm. In some ways, Rodriguez’s portrayal is the antidote to the way Heidi Schreck regards men (as power figures; Schreck makes it clear she admires men as attractions).

Rodriguez plays an authority figure, but he plays him gently and with humor, blessedly never trying to satirize or lampoon a character who in lesser hands could be subject to such a dramatic interpretation.

I especially enjoyed Rodriguez in the last part of the play when he and Baldwin are said to represent only themselves. As Kate Baldwin is speaking in her own voice, Rodriguez, the co-star in Bucks’s “Bridges of Madison County,” looks at her with such friendship and joy. It was heartwarming.

As “What the Constitution Means to Me” progresses, it becomes less a story of a teenager who became an expert on the Constitution to win prize money and more of one about a woman who questions the Constitution and may believe, as Baldwin argues in debate, that Thomas Jefferson was right when he said it should be rewritten every generation.

Schreck makes a case for abolishing the Constitution and replacing it with a document that more openly recognizes women, indigenous people, and various categories of minorities. She also advocates for attention to climate change and abortion.

As a playwright, Schreck does more than advocate. Her script includes an after-play debate between the actress playing Schreck (Baldwin) and a student debater.

At George Street, this codicil was among the most exciting parts of the performance. Rodriguez flips a coin. Tails, Kate Baldwin chooses between arguing to abol-

ish or keep the Constitution. Heads, the teen debater selects.

The toss was “heads,” and the teenage debater, the piercingly brilliant Niara Beckwith, age 15, elected to defend keeping the Constitution.

The debate was done by strict rules — networks featuring matches between political candidates, take note. Baldwin made some keen points for the case to abolish, including quoting Jefferson. (I would have countered with Benjamin Franklin.)

Beckwith was sublime. Her reasoning, her classic manner of refuting Baldwin, then making her points, and her clear, cogent arguments were exhilarating.

Beckwith is one articulate young woman whose command of history and sense of logic could be a lesson to Heidi Schreck.

At the end of the debate, one member of the audience is chosen to be the sole judge of with side prevails.

Not knowing who I am or that I’m reviewing, Beckwith asked me to be that judge.

I accepted, naturally giving full disclosure about why I was at George Street that night.

By all standards, Beckwith easily won the day, and “Keep” was the deserved outcome of that debate. It made no difference that I firmly support keeping and amending the current Constitution than letting the likes of Marjorie Taylor Green, Lauren Boebert, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, or Maxine Waters get their mitts on it.

I can cavil with some of Schreck’s history, but my main objection to her play as a play is the self-righteous way she expected agreement and that she advocated as if her point of view was the only possible one.

Shoko Kambara’s Legion-post set was remarkably authentic and perfect for the overall play. Nilamar Felder’s costumes were right for each character and jaunty for Rodriguez’s. Christopher Barry helped set needed tones in his light design. Just that we could clearly hear tapes Baldwin’s Schreck cued is enough to laud Kwamina Biney’s sound design.

What the Constitution Means to Me, George Street Playhouse, New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Through Sunday, October 13. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. $25 to $80. www.georgestreetplayhouse.org or 7322467717

Kate Baldwin in ‘What the Constitution Means to Me’ at George Street Playhouse through Sunday, October 13.

Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

is Your teen ready for a Change? explore Princeton Learning Cooperative

If your teenager feels like a square peg in the round hole of conventional schools and would like a smaller, flexible, welcoming community where they can be themselves, Princeton Learning Cooperative currently has a few open spots. PLC believes that young people should like where they go every day and what they learn while they are there. We offer lots of typical academic classes in addition to interest-based opportunities that our students request. But perhaps just as important to our students, we bake a lot of cookies and play with puppies on a regular basis. We’re having an open house on Monday, October 14, from 2 to 3 p.m. at our space at 16 All Saints Road in Princeton. If you’d like to stop by, or set up a personal tour and chat, be in touch with us at 609-851-2522. After we explain all of the amazing learning opportunities that exist once you step out of the conventional classroom, the number

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Campus Collections outdoor Walking Tour, Princeton University Art Museum, Nassau Hall, Princeton University. artmuseum.princeton.edu. Join a guided walking tour of the campus collections with an Art Museum docent and discover a variety of artworks by modern and contemporary sculptors. Rain or shine; stair-free. 2 p.m.

Dance

On Stage

Steel Magnolias, Kelsey Theatre, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheatre.org. Play explores the relationships between a tight-knit group of Louisiana southern ladies who gather in Truvy’s small-town beauty parlor, celebrating the milestones in each other’s lives. $22. 2 p.m. Empire Records, McCarter Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton, 609-258-2787. www.mccarter.org. Empire Records tells the story of a band of idealist misfits fighting to save their beloved record store from a corporate takeover. Final day. 2 p.m.

thing we hear from parents is, “I wish I would have heard about you sooner.”

to Irridia, a fantastical kingdom shattered after the deaths of its sovereigns. Two royal siblings strive to fulfill the oaths made to their parents but the kingdom is left wondering: can things really be as they once were? This new play is written by senior Le’Naya Wilkerson and directed by senior Wasif Sami with lighting design by Wilkerson. Free; ticket required. 2 p.m.

Beauty and the Beast Music Mountain Theater, 1483 State Route 179, Lambertville. www. musicmountaintheatre.org. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a vain young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress who left him with only one way to reverse the curse - fall in love with another and earn her love in return. $32. 3 p.m.

Good Causes

Fall Fest Friends of Princeton open Space, Mountain Lakes House, 57 Mountain Avenue, Princeton. www.fopos.org. Family-friendly celebration to honor volunteers, raise funds for the environmental stewards internship program, and continue the summer internship program aimed at helping young people from underserved communities learn about job opportunities in conservation. Live music by the Ragtime Relics, plant-based fall food, naturethemed activities for all ages, and local craft beer, hard cider, and non-alcoholic drinks. Rain or shine. Register. $60; ages 12 and under free. 3 to 5 p.m.

Comedy

Brian Regan, State Theater New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. www.stnj.org. The stand-up comic is a regular guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and has released eight hourlong comedy specials. $49 to $233.50. 8 p.m.

Fairs & Festivals

Farm Markets

Hopewell Farmers Market, Fairgrown Farm, 62 East Broad Street, Hopewell. hopewellfarmersmarket.com. Fresh produce and vendors selling grass-fed beef, flowers, and more. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

History

Sunday open House Tours, New Egypt Historical Society, New Egypt Historical Museum, 125 Evergreen Road, New Egypt. Museum open with docents on hand to answer questions. Raffle tickets available for $5. 1 to 4 p.m.

Princeton History Walking Tour, Historical Society of Princeton Princeton Battle Monument, 1 Monument Drive, Princeton. www. princetonhistory.org. Walk around downtown Princeton and the University campus as you learn about historic sites in the area, including Nassau Hall, University Chapel and Palmer Square. $15. Register. 2 to 4 p.m.

For Families

Family Sundays Tulpehaking Nature Center, 157 Westcott Avenue, Hamilton, 609-888-3218. www.abbottmarshlands.org. Bring your family to help us keep our native plant garden beds in tip top shape with planting, mulching, weeding, and watering. For all ages. Free. 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Lectures

The Reflection of Political Intrigue and Treachery in Hamlet English Speaking UnionPrinceton Branch, Center for Modern Aging, Princeton, 101 Poor Farm Road, Princeton. www. eduus.org/princeton. Professor Rhodri Lewis will explore how Hamlet reflects the times in which Shakespeare wrote, an era of political intrigue and treachery. After spending 23 years at the University of Oxford as a student, faculty member, and ultimately full professor, Lewis joined the English Department of Princeton University in 2018. 3 p.m.

Say Cheese!, Dorothea’s House, 120 John Street, Princeton. www. dorotheashouse.org. Join Andy and Tina Marcelli, the brother and sister team of Marcelli Formaggi in Clifton, New Jersey, to sample and learn all about the raw milk cheeses they import from their cousin’s organic farm in Anversa degli Abruzzi. Their guided discussion will explain why the cheeses are so highly prized, not just in Italy, but in some of the U.S.A.’s most renowned restaurants. They will also talk about how the centuries-old transuman-

West Windsor Arts Vice President and local artist Padmaja Ganapathy and other artisans crafted the display ‘From Ethereal to Real: A Navratri Golu’ that is the centerpiece of a ‘Golu Extravaganza’ at the West Windsor Arts Council on Saturday, October 5.

za, the bi-annual migration from the lowlands in winter to the lush, mountainous regions in the summer, influences the delicious milk of their heritage breed sheep. Participants are encouraged to bring refreshments to share at a post-program reception. Free. 5 to 7 p.m.

Sports for Causes

Run for Rescue, Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad, TPC Jasna Polana, 4519 Province Line Road, Princeton. www.pfars.org. 5K race open to runners and walkers. Register at runsignup. com. $40 includes t-shirt while supplies last. 8:30 a.m.

Monday o ctober 7

Classical Music

In the Footsteps of Béla Bartók: Music of Asia Minor Princeton University Music Department, Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall, Princeton University. music.princeton.edu. Inspired by the groundbreaking research carried out by ethnomusicologist and composer Béla Bartók in the 1930s, this concert juxtaposes compositions for string quartet and traditional Turkish instruments. Princeton faculty violinist Anna Lim explores the influence of Bartók on the music of his contemporaries, including Saygun and Akses. Turkish composers Erberk Erylmaz and Mahir Cetiz offer new chamber works and co-moderate the program. Free; no ticket required. 7:30 p.m.

Literati

Jan Cohen-Cruz, Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, Princeton. www.labyrinthbooks.com.

“See Me: Prison Theater Workshops and Love” is a collection of intimate dialogues about collective experiences in the context of prison theater workshops. Each essay is a collaboration between two or three people who connected profoundly in the temporary community of a workshop. Jan Cohen-Cruz is a former professor of drama at NYU and founder of the department’s applied theater minor. 6 p.m.

Lectures

Continuing Conversations on Race Princeton Public Library 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.princetonlibrary.org. Nathalie Edmond discusses strategies for centering racial justice and balancing compassion with accountability highlighted in her book “Mindful Race Talk: Building Literacy, Fluency and Agility.” 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Schools

College Admissions for Homeschooled Applicants, Princeton Learning Cooperative. www. princetonlearningcooperative.org. Panel of professionals who will help to demystify the process of college admissions for homeschoolers including an admissions officer from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) who knows what colleges look for from homeschoolers, a homeschooling advisor who is knowledgeable on a large variety of colleges, and a staff member from Raritan Learning Cooperative who is experienced in preparing homeschooling transcripts and college applications. Via Zoom. Register on EventBrite. Free. 7 to 8 p.m.

Sports for Causes

Golf outing, Melissa’s Brigade, Peddie Golf Club, 671 Old York Road, East Windsor, 609-4686964. www.lisasarmy.org. In memory of Joe Franceschini. Melissa’s Brigade provides comfort packages to patients battling cancer at area hospitals. Register. $110 includes 18 holes of golf with a golf cart, continental breakfast, and boxed lunch. 8 a.m.

Tuesday o ctober 8

Dancing

Tuesday Night Folk Dance, Princeton Folk Dance, Christ Congregation, 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton. www.princetonfolkdance.org. No partner necessary. $5. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

one

Register for PLC’s October 14th Open House.

Cooking Up Communication Skills in the Kidz Kitchen

Some of lifetime Mercer County resident Rose Kesting’s earliest memories are helping in her mother’s kitchen — cooking, baking, and expressing her young creativity.

Now, after 30 years of experience as a speech language pathologist, she is coming full circle with those memories.

Kesting, also known as Chef Rose, held a passion for cooking throughout her adulthood, but until recently had never taken up culinary arts professionally. Instead, she studied speech and language science in her college, finding a career as a pediatric speech pathologist. For the last 13 years, she has been working with dyslexic children at a local private school.

In her lessons with those children, Kesting would occasionally incorporate small-scale cooking activities with no-bake recipes. The kids took so fondly to these lessons, on a productive level as well as a level of interest, that Kesting decided she would bring them up a measure. Thus, her idea for The Kidz Kitchen began to take shape.

To help get her new business off the ground, Kesting joined the Children’s Culinary Institute, a web-based network of professional and home cooks who operate cooking schools in the U.S. and around the world. The institute was founded by Chef Arlena Strode.

“It helped me gain a blueprint of how to go about setting up a kids’ cooking program,” Kesting said. “I have experience as a home cook and I have experience as a speech pathologist, but I needed someone to help me with the groundwork of how to organize the program. Other people in the program have cooking schools that are different from mine, but there are similarities that run through all of our cooking schools. We are teaching

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Lectures

Atelier@Large: Conversations on Art-making in a Vexed Era, Lewis Center for the Arts’ Princeton Atelier, Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University. arts. princeton.edu. In a series of conversations that bring guest artists to campus to discuss what they face in making art in the modern world, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon moderates a discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker (The Flick, Body Awareness, Janet Planet) and experimental music/ contemporary opera composer Kamala Sankaram, praised as “one of the most exciting opera composers in the country” by The Washington Post. 4:30 p.m. Latinx Superheroes, Mercer County Library. mcl.org/events/ amateur-photo-contest. Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage month with a fascinating, media-rich presentation of Latinx superheroes in comics films, television, and literature. Presented by Olivia Hernandez, an English instructor at Yakima Valley College. Register for link to program. 7 p.m. PSo Soundtracks: “Picture Perfect: Music and the Movies”, Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.princetonlibrary.org. Radio host and music journalist Ross Amico discusses the role of music in film, sharing personal interactions with some of his favorite film scores and observations on the evolution of movie music. 7 to 8:30 p.m.

proper techniques, how to do different knife skills, how to clean up, how to be organized in the kitchen.”

Attending the institute’s workshops gave Kesting a foundation to build on. “I took my ideas about speech and language and melded them with my ideas about how to use them in cooking and brought the two together,” she said.

In March of this year Kesting launched The Kidz Kitchen. She designs, practices, and teaches cooking classes for children ages 8 to 16 while simultaneously teaching them to improve their speech and language skills.

These classes expand beyond what Kesting was capable of in the classroom setting. Here, children follow more complicated recipes, creating things like pasta from scratch, homemade granola, and vegetable sushi. When a child is signed up for a Kidz Kitchen course, they are enrolled in four separate Saturday classes.

“I want [the children] to practice the skills I’m teaching them and come back to the next class to review them again. By having four sessions, I see the progress, see them grow, and see them making friendships,” Kesting said.

Not only are the kids taught how to cook these recipes, they are also taught lessons in critical thinking, problem solving, and vocabulary, among other things. They are given a Kidz Kitchen apron and resource binder, which includes recipe sheets, vocabulary definitions, and their focused communication concepts.

“This is the perfect platform for addressing that,” Kesting said. “Everything from direction following and sequencing to using your working memory, [the kids] are using all those skills when they are following a recipe. This is impor-

Wednesday o ctober 9

Classical Music

Cécile McLorin Salvant Princeton University Concerts, Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University. concerts.princeton.edu. Jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant returns with an ensemble of renowned improvisers from genres spanning early music, jazz, folk, and electronic music to create a new type of folk song inspired by timeless and universal stories. $35 to $60. 7:30 p.m.

World Music

Sound Journey, office of Religious Life, Princeton University Chapel. chapel.princeton.edu. Ruth Cunningham, founding member of the vocal ensemble Anonymous 4 and a sound healing practitioner, offers live music for meditation and introspection. Free. 5:30 p.m.

On Stage

Duel Reality McCarter Theater 91 University Place, Princeton. www.mccarter.org. Inspired by Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet,” two feuding families engage in a battle of skill, each competition more daring than the last — while a pair of star-crossed lovers

by Liz Ciocher

tant for kids not just in cooking, but for kids in school, too. These things apply to homework and studying.”

Though Kesting and her team have been in business for less than a year, they have an organized system and plan for the future. Parents will have the option to enroll their kids in either a fall or spring string of classes, held once a week for an hour and a half on Saturdays. Recently, the kitchen also had a summer camp course available, which was also successful.

Each course can hold a maximum of 10 students. The Kidz Kitchen is strongly family oriented, Kesting says, with her mother, sister, and niece assisting during each class.

The price per child is $180 for the four courses, with an additional $15 for the “starter kit” of apron and resource binder. Kesting, who has begun this business on the side of her full-time job, uses these funds to create a proper environment and experience for the children. The classes are held in Mercerville’s Grace-St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Kesting attended school across the street at Our Lady of Sorrows.

“It’s not about me or about how much money I will make doing this,” she said. “I want to deliver a quality class in a good environment for these kids and make a good experience for them.”

Because of Kesting’s experience with childhood education, she is not shy to any kind of student with an interest in her course. She is accepting of all neurotypes of children, only asking that she is made aware of their challenges ahead of time. She also makes it very clear to parents that the best way for this course to operate is in a “drop-off” style.

“I want kids to have their own time to themselves and to express

Friends of Princeton Open Space hosts its annual Fall Fest on Sunday, October 6, at Mountain Lakes house in Princeton.

struggles to escape the showdown. Cirque-infused show appropriate for all ages. $25 to $103. 7:30 p.m.

Dancing

Contra Dance, Princeton Country Dancers, Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive, Princeton. www.princetoncountrydancers.org. Lesson followed by dance. $15. 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Literati

Author: Daniel Chandler in Conversation with Angus Deaton, Princeton Public Library & Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, Princeton. www.princetonlibrary.org. Economist and philosopher Daniel Chandler discusses his recently released book “Free and Equal: A Manifesto for a Just Society” with Princeton University professor emeritus Angus Deaton. 6 p.m.

Good Causes

Dine for a Cause, Hopewell Valley YMCA, Hopewell Valley Golf Course, 114 PenningtonHopewell Road, Hopewell. hvymca.org. Pasta dinner night and live music by the Jack Furlong Jazz Orchestra to benefit the Y. Cash bar. Register. $30 per person. 6 to 8:30 p.m.

themselves and to learn to have a creative space,” she said. “Kids are like sponges and open to trying new things, so if you put things like this in front of them, they will respond to it.”

While Kesting has her own personal love for cooking and has seen children’s passion for it as well, this class extends beyond educating the children with proper kitchen etiquette.

She says she has received many positive reviews from parents and other kids, with many coming back for another round of courses and giving positive feedback. This is where Kesting truly feels she is being successful.

“I think that taking these classes is not just about food and cooking, it is about building confidence because they’re learning something, and there’s power in that,” she said. “I tell the kids, ‘You’re learning things that a lot of adults don’t know how to do. You should be

proud of yourselves. You have a skill.’”

Kesting has a detailed website for The Kidz Kitchen with more information on the classes, her background, and her mission.

The combination of Kesting’s knowledge in culinary arts and speech pathology, along with her love for children and family, is the driving force in the business’ success.

“It’s important to let kids help in the kitchen. I know we all live busy lives, but it’s important to try to find moments where we can slow down and let our kids get involved,” she said. “It is going to teach them independence and selfsufficiency. It’s not about doing something perfectly, it’s about becoming proficient.”

The Kidz Kitchen, Grace-St. Paul’s Church, 3715 East State Street, Hamilton. 6096383660 or thekidzkitchen.com

Wellness

Decoding Nutrition Labels, Mercer County Library. mcl.org/ events/amateur-photo-contest. Join Ricardo Kairios, Family and Community Health Sciences Educator, to learn about the Nutrition Facts Label. During this session, Ricardo will highlight easy ways to read the nutrition facts label, tips to avoid foods high in sodium and added sugars and find foods high in fiber and calcium, and gain resources to help support healthy eating behaviors. Register for link to program. 2 p.m.

Socials

Jersey Art Meetup Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. www.artscouncilofprinceton.org. Weekly social event connecting creatives through a shared passion for sequential art and new media. Attendees may use this open workshop space to draw, write, and develop their own artwork, with an opportunity to receive peer review. Illustrators, animators, writers, and generalists are all welcome to join and discuss their art and career goals, share learning resources, promote current projects, or find friends and collaborators. Must be 16+ to attend. Free. 7 to 9 p.m.

For Seniors

Rose Ann Kesting, left, founder of The Kidz Kitchen, working with student chefs.

PRE VIEW

Artist Rounds Gives New Meaning to Creative License

One could scan over

John Rounds’ garage and constantly see something new. Directly in front of his make-shift workshop is a collage of descended trees in different seasons, to the left are framed wine boxes, and a cut-out of New Jersey made with license plates takes center stage, reflecting light off its sharp corners.

All these pieces in his workshop, and more, will be featured at two upcoming events: Lawrence Township Community Fun Day on Saturday, October 5, and Lawrenceville Main Street’s Fall Arts Festival on Saturday, October 19.

Rounds is a retired carpenter who dabbles in unique craft art. He got the idea for his first piece in 2013 after having his knee scoped and being put on the carpentry disabled registry. While staring at some old license plates he never turned into NJ Motor Vehicle Commission, he wondered if he could make a map of the Garden State with all of its counties.

“The next day the sun came up and it’s shown off all those windows, and it reflected over here, and you can see how it catches the aluminum ... And it just exploded with light. And I went, oh gee, that was a good idea,” Rounds said.

It took around 80 to 90 hours to make his first piece, including designing, cutting, and assembling the plates. To shape the metal, he uses aviation snips with right and left cuts to get the counties’ precise curves and edges.

Most of the license plates are collected from flea markets and garage sales at around $2 apiece, but he also looks on eBay. In addition to large license plate maps, Rounds makes smaller maps, refrigerator magnets, and printouts of the art. People have commissioned him to do other states and New Jersey counties as well, including Texas, Vermont, Kentucky, and multiple Mercer County signs.

Most of his signs feature the iconic colors of New Jersey’s past three license plates from vintage black and cream to discontinued cream and blue to current goldfinch yellow. He said you can’t use just any license plate. It needs to have the right letters, spacing, and coloring to create one coherent artwork.

“It’s all about color coordination and it’s all about the different letters that represent the counties,” Rounds said.

It is no wonder why he has about 700 to 900 plates. None of which, he prefaced, are stolen.

The lifetime Mercer resident has always had a thing for maps. He majored in history at Quinnipiac College and has a vast map and flag collection, including a Betsy Ross flag hanging on the side of his garage.

“I really think that maps are artwork in and of themselves,” Rounds said.

Artistry runs in the family with three of his four brothers in artistic pursuits mostly encompassing mu-

by Emma Ferschweiler

Artist John Rounds, above, with one of his works as well as a selection of his raw materials — old license plates — and his Lawrenceville studio.

sic and one visual designer.

His artistic inclination came in handy when Rounds not only won first place in the 2018 Mercer County Senior Art Show for his category but took home “Best-InShow” for the non-professionals division.

Upping the stakes, he entered into the NJ State Senior Citizen Art Show, which gets more than 300 entries. Rounds’ artwork “New Jersey – County Map No. 4” won first place in the craft category, making him an award-winning artist. Both of these contests were the first time he ever entered into a show.

Mercer County residents can recognize another one of Rounds’ artworks that exhibits the famed Mercer Oak throughout every season. After a blizzard in 1996, Rounds took a picture of the Mercer Oak then went back the following April to get the tree in spring bloom. It took another year to complete the set with summer and fall making the entire display a twoyear project.

Rounds may be the only person to have photographed the Mercer Oak in all four seasons since three years after completing the set, the tree fell. This piece of his is shown all over Mercer County from the county administration building to

the Princeton Municipal Government Building to the Thomas Clark House.

“I’m very proud of New Jersey and Mercer County,” Rounds said. Looking forward, Rounds hopes to market printouts of the state metal signs more towards bars and restaurants that want vintage decor. Printouts are more affordable and reasonable to sell, he noted.

He said while the big, aluminum maps are a hugely fun, creative process, not too many customers buy them because they can be expensive. A few of his smaller license plate signs cost in the $800 to

$900 range which he said is a lot of work for not a lot of money. The biggest signs can even cost upwards of a couple thousand dollars because of the time, resources, and care that goes into one piece, but a printout could put you back just $150.

Rounds needs the time for other responsibilities besides maps. Along with his brothers, he helps care for his mother, who just turned 100. Rounds also welcomed a new member to the family a few years back who needs ample love, attention, and doggy daycare, a three-year-old Australian Shep-

herd. Even though balancing artistry with life is a lot of work, Rounds said it feels great going to the shows and making all forms of art.

“I have been asked many times, so what is that? That’s not sculpture, but it’s not flat art. And I kind of like to think of it as sort of basrelief … It’s got depth. It’s got some sharp edges, but it is what it is,” Rounds said.

See more of Rounds’ artwork on his company website, Mercer Art, LLC: mercerartnj.com/home

U.S. 1 Classifieds

Advertising in your local community works! Reach every household directly in their mailbox. Have an event or special promotion you need to share? Let’s advertise! Call me directly at 201-739-0450

GINA CARILLO

“Help me, help you.” Sales Executive 609-396-1511 x112 gcarillo@communitynews.org

Mail or e-Mail: That’s all it takes to order a U.S. 1 Classified. Mail your ad to 9 Princess Road, Suite M, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 or E-Mail class@ princetoninfo.com. We will confirm your insertion and the price. It won’t be much: Our classifieds are just 50 cents a word, with a $10 minimum. Repeats in succeeding issues are just 40 cents per word, and if your ad runs for 16 consecutive issues, it’s only 30 cents per word. Questions? Call us at 609-396-1511 ext. 105

o FFICE RENTALS

“Help me, help you.” Sales Executive 609-396-1511 x112 gcarillo@communitynews.org

oFFICE SPACE & VIRTUL oFFICE for START-UPs and SMALL BUSINESSES!!! 5 Independence Princeton City Office, LLC, 1 day/month/year or longer. Princeton Route 1. Flexible office space to support your business. Private or virtual offices, conference rooms, high speed internet, and friendly staffed reception. Easy access 24/7 and ample parking. Call Marga at 609-5145100, www.princetoncityoffice.com, mre@princetoncityoffice.com.

STo RAGE

Storage Unit for Rent in Skillman https://princetonstorage.homestead. com/ 609-333-6932 22x16 discounted rent $280.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Professional Ghostwriter: Press releases that grab editors’ attention and robust website content that rises above the run of the mill. Have your business history written to preserve the story behind your success. E. E. Whiting Literary Services. 609-462-5734 eewhiting@live.com

Princeton’s First Tradition Worship Service Sundays at 11am

LEGAL SERVICES Wills, Power of Attorney, Real Estate, Federal and NJ Taxes, Education Law. House calls available. Bruce Cooke, Esq. 609-7994674, 609-721-4358.

PERS o NAL SERVICES

Are you single? Try us first! We are an enjoyable alternative to online dating. Sweet Beginnings, 215-539-2894.

Professional Ghostwriter. Capture family stories or business histories for posterity. Writing your own memoir? Let me bring your memories alive. Memorialize special events with reminiscences of family and friends printed for all to share. Obituaries and eulogies are sensitively created. E. E. Whiting Literary Services. 609-462-5734 eewhiting@ live.com

We are here for You!!! Find Peace, Friendship, Happiness... All are Welcome! http://www.aplcnj.org

TRANSP o RTATI o N

A Personal Driver seeking to transport commuters, shopping trips, etc. Modern, attractive car. References provided. Less than commercial taxi services. E-mail to gvprinter@gmail.com or call 609-331-3370.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

I Buy Guitars and All Musical Instruments in Any Condition: Call Rob at 609577-3337.

WANTED T o BUY

Cash paid for World War II Military Items. Helmets, swords, medals, etc. Call: 609-581-8290, E-mail: lenny1944x@gmail.com

HappyHeroes used books looking to buy old Mysteries, Science Fiction, Children’s Illustrated, Signed books, Pulp Magazines, old postcards, nonsports cards, and old ephemera. Call 609-619-3480 or email happyheroes@ gmail.com.

Wanted: Baseball, football, basketball, hockey. Cards, autographs, photos, memorabilia. Highest cash prices paid! Licensed corporation, will travel. 4thelovofcards, 908-596-0976. allstar115@verizon.net.

HOW TO ORD e R

Singles By Mail: To place your free ad in this section mail it to U.S. 1, 9 Princess Road, Suite M, Lawrenceville 08648 or E-mail it to class@princetoninfo.com. Be sure to include a physical address to which we can send responses.

J o BS WANTED

Job Hunters: If you are looking for a full-time position, we will run a reasonably worded classified ad for you at no charge. We reserve the right to edit the ads and to limit the number of times they run. If you require confidentiality, send a check for $4 with your ad and request a U.S. 1 Response Box. Replies will be forwarded to you at no extra charge. Mail your ad to U.S. 1 Jobs Wanted, 9 Princess Road, Suite M, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. E-mail to class@princetoninfo.com. You must include your name, address, and phone number (for our records only).

After Noon

Concert Series

Thursdays at 12:30pm

Princeton University Chapel

A weekly opportunity for the Princeton Community to enjoy performances by local, national, and international organists. Performing October 3 is Thomas Gaynor, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, PA Open to all.