Planet Princeton Weekend Picks, Feb. 19-21

Sarah Donner performs at the Arts Council of Princeton Sunday night.
Local musician Sarah Donner performs at the Arts Council of Princeton Friday night.

Friday, February 19

Judith Heath Benefit Art Exhibition Opening Reception 

World traveler and art adviser to Henry Luce at Time-Life  in New York, Judith Heath settled in the Princeton area at Windrows, where she continued to be a prodigious painter and printmaker until her death in 2015. This exhibition runs through the month of March. All proceeds from sales will go to benefit PSRC. 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Princeton Senior Resource Center, 45 Stockton Street, Princeton. Free.

4th Annual Cabernet Cabaret with Sarah Donner and Special Guests

The Arts Council of Princeton presents the fourth annual Cabernet Cabaret, a cabernet-infused cabaret performance. Join Sarah Donner and special guests Elizabeth Scoble Bennett, Mark Applegate and Rebecca Mullaney for a night of live music filed with drama, romance and comedy. Tickets to Cabernet Cabaret include a tapas reception provided by Mediterra, one drink ticket and the performance.  7:30 p.m. Arts Council of Princeton. General admission $18, $15 ACP Members, students, seniors.

Spirituals and Gospel Festival with the Princeton High School Choirs

J. Donald Dumpson, a composer, conductor, and performer, leads  the Princeton High choirs, singers from First Baptist Church and Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church, Revelation Praise Dance Ministry of First Baptist Church, and the Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church Dance Ministry. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.  7:30 p.m. Princeton High School Performing Arts Center, Walnut Lane.

Friday Wine and Music at Hopewell Valley Vineyards – Piano, bass, and jazz. 6 to 9 p.m. 46 Yard Road, Pennington. Free.

Organ Concert, Westminster Conservatory

Leipzig Chorales by J.S. Bach. 7:30 p.m. Miller Chapel, Princeton Theological Seminary. Free.

The Midtown Men Perform at McCarter Theatre

They took Broadway by storm in one of the biggest hits of all-time and now they’re together again! The Midtown Men bring to life favorite sixties hits from The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Motown, The Four Seasons, and more. The production reunites four stars from the original cast of Broadway’s Jersey Boys — Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard, and Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer. 8 p.m., 91 University Place, Princeton. Tickets $25 and up.

The Princeton Folk Music Society Presents Castlebay

The Castlebay duo performs mix of New England and Celtic music. 8:15 p.m. Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton. Admission $20. Get there early to park tonight because of other events in the area.

Saturday, February 20

Mercer County Electronic Waste Disposal Day

The Mercer County Improvement Authority will host an electronic waste disposal day on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Mercer County residents who wish to recycle electronics. The event will take place at Parking Lot 4 on South Broad Street, across from the Mercer County Administration Building in Trenton, and will be held rain or shine. The event is open to Mercer County residents only, and attendees will need to show proof of residency, such as a driver’s license. No commercial or industrial waste will be accepted. The Mercer County Improvement Authority will offer a document shredding service. Up to eight boxes or bags of paper may be discarded. Acceptable used electronic items include: camera equipment, central processing units, circuit boards, computer mouses, copiers, electric wire, fax machines, keyboards, laptops and peripherals, microwave ovens, networking equipment, phones, printers, scanners, stereo equipment, televisions and VCRs.  Mercer County Parking Lot 4, 80 S Broad Street, Trenton. Free.

Annual Formal Dress Sale at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South

Prom dresses, evening dresses, cocktail dresses, dance dresses and more for sale for a good, fun cause. Prices range from $10 to $60. Benefits post prom 2016 at the high school. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 346 Clarksville Road, West Windsor.

Read and Explore Program at Terhune Orchards

Fur, Feathers, Fluff: Keeping Warm in Winter includes stories and crafts. Inside event. Great for children pre-school to 8. 10 a.m., Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton. $7 per child.

Screening of the Iron Giant – The Princeton Garden Theatre shows the 1999 animated science fiction film that uses both traditional animation and computer animation, produced by Warner Bros. In this animated adaptation of Ted Hughes’ Cold War fable, a giant alien robot (Vin Diesel) crash-lands near the small town of Rockwell, Maine, in 1957. Exploring the area, a local 9-year-old boy, Hogarth, discovers the robot, and soon forms an unlikely friendship with him. 10:30 a.m. , 160 Nassau Street, Princeton. $4, free for members.

Introduction to Private Lands Stewardship Program

Do you want to support the natural diversity of New Jersey native plants and wildlife but do not know how to start? Established and implemented by the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space, PLSP supports stewardship efforts of local homeowners, specifically residents of Hopewell and Pennington, regardless of property size. Attend this information meeting at the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Center to learn how you can implement sound ecological practices – big and small. Light refreshments. 10:30 a.m. Free.

Art for Families: When Is Art Like a Jigsaw Puzzle?

Learn about the the art of ancient Rome and make a mosaic at the Princeton Art Museum. Drop in anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and enjoy an engaging gallery activity followed by a related art project. Each week has a different theme. Come for fifteen minutes or two hours—whatever your schedule allows! All ages are welcome; no tickets or reservations are needed.

Nursery Style at Pottery Barn

Join Pottery Barn for the Nursery Event at Pottery Barn Kids on February 20th from 4-6 pm. Expectant parents can come in to see  products, meet with designers for complimentary design tips, enjoy light refreshments, and enter to win some fun raffles.  Two outside vendors will be participating: a representative from Rodan + Fields as well as Avnida Photography. This is event requires an RSVP, so please call at (609)919-1720 to reserve your space.  4 p.m., Pottery Barn Kids, 3535 Rt 1 South, Princeton. Free.

Minister William D. Carter III Performs at the Arts Council of Princeton

Celebrate African-American History Month with the powerful vocalist and songwriter, Minister William D. Carter III. As a gifted entertainer, Minister Carter has appeared with the renowned male ensemble, Three2Five, and Peter Nero & the Philly Pops. 7:30 p.m., Arts Council of Princeton. $12/$10 ACP Members, seniors, and students.

XFPrinceton Performs at Nassau Presbyterian Church

Xiaofu Zhou on violin and Bertrand Giraud on piano with a program of works by Brahms, Faure, and Debussy. 7:30 p.m., 61 Nassau Street, Princeton. Tickets $25 and up.

Mitsuko Uchida Returns to McCarter Theatre

Mitsuko Uchida’s program will include Berg’s Piano Sonata, and then music by two composers with whom she has long enjoyed a musical partnership for the ages: Schubert’s Four Impromptus, Op. 90 and Schumann’s Piano Sonata No. 1. Pre-concert lecture at 7 p.m. by Scott Burnham of the Princeton University Music Department. 8 p.m., 91 University Place, Princeton. Tickets $25 and up.

Sunday, February 21

Meditation for Beginners

Stress Less. Now. Meditation for Beginners Sundays at noon at Princeton Center for Yoga and Health. Get more familiar with the quiet peace inside. Sure-handed guidance from Brandon Lewin of Ease and Lightness Meditation, and helpful energy of others. Princeton Center for Yoga and Health, 88 Orchard Road, Skillman.

Sacred Harp Singing Workshop

Dean Jens of Highland Park will lead a singing workshop for those interested in the American tradition of four-part, a cappella hymn singing from the tunebook, The Sacred Harp. He will teach the basics of Sacred Harp singing, its history and traditions. Sacred Harp music employs a four-shape notation system that was used in Colonial singing schools to teach sight-reading to people with no musical training. The tradition continues today in community singings across the U.S., and in Europe and Australia. The workshop is followed by group singing until 3:15. Loaner books available. 12:30 p.m., The Lawrenceville School, Edith Memorial Chapel, 2500 Main St. (Route 206), Lawrenceville. Free

Princeton Pong Open House

Free open play and ping pong instruction. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  , 745 Alexander Road, West Windsor. Free.

Richardson Chamber Players

Invitation to the Dance directed by Michael Pratt. 3 p.m. Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University. Tickets $15.

The Dryden Ensemble Performs at Miller Chapel (Rescheduled from January)

Bach Cantata Fest performed on period instruments. Miller Chapel, 64 Mercer Street, Princeton. Admission $25.

Family Barn Dance for All Ages

On Sunday, February 21, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., 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 will be led by callers Richard Fischer and Desiree Melegrito Halcomb. Live music is provided by the Mixed Age Dance Band. 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, NJ. $5 per person or $15 per family.

Cairn University School of Music Chorale Concert

The Cairn University School of Music Chorale group will present a choir concert on Sunday February 21 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Hopewell United Methodist Church, 20 Blackwell Ave., Hopewell. The chorale, conducted by David Schockey, consists of 53 very talented students who through their music ministry are sure to provide an inspirational program. The university is located in Langhorne, Pa. This program is free and open to the public. An optional free will offering will be taken to support the group’s expenses. For directions, see www.hopewellmethodist.org or call 609-466-0471.

Princeton Community Democratic Organization Candidate Forum

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, Mercer County Surrogate Diane Gerofsky, Mercer County Freeholder Andrew Koontz, Mercer County Freeholder candidate Anthony Verrelli, and surrogates for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders. Endorsement votes from members follow the presentations. 7 p.m. , Suzanne Patterson Senior Center, 45 Stockton Street, Princeton. Free.