Planet Weekend Picks, March 22-24

Mario Mangone, owner of Chambers Walk Cafe, is one of several chefs who will conduct cooking demos at the Living Local Expo Saturday.
Mario Mangone, owner of Chambers Walk Cafe, is one of several chefs who will conduct cooking demos at the Living Local Expo Saturday.

Friday, March 22

Author Ifa Bayeza Visits the Princeton Public Library – The author discusses and signs copies of her book “Some Sing, Some Cry” as part of the library’s tribute to Women’s History Month and and part of a series on the Emancipation Proclamation. Co-written with her sister, Ntozake Shange, the book has been called “a rich mix of storytelling and African-American history,” by The New York Times, and follows seven generations of black women who, largely through music, are able to survive the violence of their national and personal histories. 7 p.m. in the Library Community Room, free.

Charlie Jarboe: Clavier à Lumières – The Arts Council presents Charlie Jarboe: Clavier à Lumières, a sound and light installation,with an artist talk at 7:30 p.m. and performances at 7:45 & 8:30 p.m., followed by a reception. The sound and light environment explores the relationship of the twelve notes in the chromatic musical scale and associating each with a color from the visible spectrum of light, based on Newton’s Color Wheel. The artist will speak about his artistic process and afterwards join us for a reception and a meet and greet with the artist. Free and open to the public.

Saturday, March 23

Mercer County Electronic Waste Disposal Day – County residents who wish to recycle electronics can stop by the parking lot on Hamilton Avenue across from the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Rain or shine. Bring proof of residency such as a driver’s license. No commercial or industrial waste will be accepted.The county will offer a paper shredding service. Up to eight boxes or bags of paper may be discarded. Acceptable used electronic items include: central processing units (CPUs), modems, printers, keyboards, computer mouses, fax machines, copiers, circuit boards, televisions, monitors, electrical wire, stereo equipment, laptops and laptop peripheral equipment, scanners, phones/telecommunications equipment, microwave ovens, networking equipment, VCRs and camera equipment.

Sixth Annual Living Local Green Expo – Visit Lawrence High (2525 Princeton Pike) between noon and 4 p.m. and check out fuel efficient cars, a farmers market, a green expo with more than 50 vendors, talks on a variety of topics about sustainability, and cooking demos. If you have unused bikes you would like to get rid of,  you can bring them and donate them to the Boys and Girls Club’s Trenton Bike Exchange. Lunch and snacks from Terhune Orchards available for purchase. Free.

Schedule of Speakers/Demos:

12:30 p.m.  Able Zakes – Global VP Terra Cycle

1 p.m.    Alan Rhodes – Direct Installation

1:15 p.m.    Mary Beth Madill – Exec. Chef Mrs. G’s, Cooking Demo

1:45 p.m.    Judith Robinson – Princeton Farmers Market Local Food

2:15 p.m.   Chris Albrecht – Exec. Chef Eno Terra,  Cooking Demo

2:45 p.m.   Phil Duran – Greening your Home

3 p.m.   Reed Gusciora – NJ Assemblyman, Solid Waste & the Environment

3:30 p.m.     Mario Mangone – Owner of Chambers Walk Cafe,  Cooking Demo

Insight Meditation Open House at Princeton Center for Yoga & Health – Whether you are curious about meditation as a way to deal with stress and calm your mind, or you are a long term meditator who wants some fine tuning, you can explore insight meditation, known in Asia as Vipassana. At the heart of insight meditation is the practice of mindfulness – a process that cultivates a clear, non-judgmental awareness of our thoughts, and actions. You will get the opportunity for periods of sitting and walking meditation and time for questions. Open to beginners and experienced meditators. 1:30 to 03:30 p.m., 88 Orchard Hill Center in Skillman.

Nature Camouflage Egg Hunt – Visit the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve and wander through the fields and forests of the reserve with teacher-naturalists to see how many naturally dyed eggs you can discover. Children should bring a basket or bag for egg gathering. Suitable for children ages 3-10. 2 to 4 p.m. Fee $8 per child, adults free.

Familly Dance for All Ages – The Princeton Country Dancers present a family barn dance with square dances, contra dances, play party games and other traditional American dances; it’s great fun for the whole family, from young children to parents and grandparents. The dances are led by a caller, and live music is provided by the Mixed Age Dance Band. This month’s dance will be called by Sue Dupre, and the bandleader will be Louise McClure.  Musicians of all ages and abilities are welcome to join the MAD Band – there is a rehearsal immediately before each family dance. Dances take place at the Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive, Princeton, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. There will be a potluck dinner at 6 p.m. after the dance.  Bring a dish to share.  Beverages will be provided. Admission $5 per person or $15 per family.  For more information go to www.princetoncountrydancers.org/pcdgroups/madband/ or call (609) 844-0459.

Cafe Improv at the Arts Council of Princeton – Music, poetry, comedy and more. For a list of performers, to register, or for more information visit Café Improv’s website www.cafeimprov.com. Runs 7 to 10 p.m. Stop by for a few acts or stay the whole time. Admission $2 for adults, $1 for Arts Council members, students and seniors.

Sunday, March 24

Shakespeare in the Age of Twitter – Can the Bard still speak to young people in the age of Twitter? Matthew Campbell will talk about staging Shakespeare for and with high school students.  Mr. Campbell is performing arts master at the Lawrenceville School, where just last month he directed Julius Caesar. He will speak at 3 p.m. at the Kirby Arts Center at the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville.  Free event, donations appreciated. The event is sponsored by the Princeton chapter of the English Speaking Union, an international organization that promotes international understanding through the shared use of the English language.

Screening of “From the ‘Burg to the Barrio” – Director Susan Ryan, who will attend the screening, presents a portrait of the evolution of Trenton’s Chambersburg neighborhood. Long recognized as the Little Italy of Trenton and famed for Italian restaurants and bakeries, today’s Chambersburg still attracts newly arrived immigrant families, but now they are from Guatemala, Costa Rica and other Latin American countries. Princeton Public Library Community Room, 4 p.m., free.