Planet Princeton Weekend Picks, March 18-20

JDKPHOTO Exhibition
Photographer Dariusz Kobajlo of JDKPhoto, has some of his work on display at the Blawenburg Cafe. A reception celebrating his exhibition will be held Saturday at 6 p.m.Kobajlo is a regular Planet Princeton contributor on social media.

Friday, March 18

Princeton High School Jazz Festival – The festival features jazz trumpeter Randy Brecker, a five-time Grammy winner. Come and see top middle and high school bands in the region compete starting at 6p.m. Friday and Saturday, followed by Randy Brecker with Princeton High School’s own award winning Studio Band at 8:30p.m. Princeton High School Performing Arts Center, 151 Moore Street, Princeton. $5 students, $10 adults.

Princeton Symphonic Brass Debut Concert – The Princeton Symphonic Brass, under the baton of Lawrence Kursar, will holds its debut concert. The theme of the concert is “Russia to America” and will feature the music of Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Lenotovich, DiLorenzo, Botschinsky and Prima. Admission is by voluntary contribution with all proceeds going directly to the performers. The Princeton Symphonic Brass is comprised of eleven brass players, two percussionists and a conductor. This all-star group includes some of the finest musicians from the top musical ensembles near Princeton and has a repertoire spanning from the renaissance to today.  7:30 p.m., All Saints’ Church, 16 All Saints’ Rd, Princeton. Donation.

The Diary of Anne Frank – The Pennington Players are bringing the classic play, The Diary of Anne Frank, to the stage of Kelsey Theatre. Now it’s history; once, it was a young girl’s life.  The Diary of Anne Frank is such a literary landmark that it’s easy to forget how it started out: as the personal journal of a young girl striving to become a woman. Written while she, her family, and four others hid from Nazis in Amsterdam in the early 1940s, Anne Frank’s diary has stood for generations as a tribute to the human spirit.  There will be a special talk back session with the cast and crew will be held after the performance. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $14 – $16.

Screening of  “CodeGirl” – In this 2015 documentary, teams of high school girls around the world develop apps to solve problems in their communities. Screening followed by panel discussion led by Montgomery Upper Middle School teacher Violet Markmann. 6:30 p.m., Princeton Public Library Community Room. Free.

Wine and Music at Hopewell Valley Vineyards – Silent Q with acoustic rock. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., 46 Yard Road, Pennington. No cover.

The Princeton Folk Music Society Presents Atwater and Donnelly – The husband and wife duo perform traditional folk music. 8:15 p.m., Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton. $20.

Pete Seeger Songfest – Jim Scott, a personal friend of Pete Seeger, shares songs including “If I Had a Hammer,” “Turn, Turn, Turn,” “Where Have all the Flowers Gone,” and more. Scott was the guitarist with the Paul Winter Consort and co-composer of their songs. he has compiled ‘Earth and Spirit Songbook,’ a collection of more than 100 songs of earth and peace. 7:30 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton. $15.

Saturday, March 19

Mercer County Household Chemical and Electronics Waste Disposal Day – Safely dispose of computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, stereos, televisions and microwaves, aerosol cans, batteries, photographic chemicals, used motor oil and oil filters, lighter fluid, propane gas tanks, pesticides, pool chemicals, paint thinner, stains and varnishes, anti-freeze, driveway sealer, gasoline, and insect repellents. Must show proof of Mercer County residency such as a driver’s license. 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., John T. Dempster Fire School, 350 Lawrence Station Road, Lawrence. Free.

Clean-up Day at the Princeton Battlefield – Come out and enjoy the spring while sprucing up the park. Cut bamboo and porcelain berry, trim branches, pick up sticks, fill ruts. A fun family activities. Age-appropriate gloves, saws, clippers, and pruning shears provided or bring your own. Sponsored by the Princeton Battlefield Society with special assistance from the Sierra Club – NJ Chapter/Central Group. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Princeton Battlefield, Mercer Street. Meet at the Clark House.

Easter Egg Hunt at Washington Crossing Park – Kids of all ages are invited to an Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Washington Crossing-Yardley. The hunt begins at 10 a.m.  on the village lawn in the Lower Park near the intersection of Routes 32 and 532. Free.

Screening of the Goonies – See this classic film for kids on the big screen. 10:30 a.m., Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau Street, Princeton. Admission $4, free for members.

Hopewell Community Closet Winter Bag Sale – Spring is on its way and the Hopewell Community Closet will hold its fall/winter clearance “bag” sale from 9 a.m. to noon. at the Hopewell Methodist Church. All the clothing and accessories that fit in a bag for $3. All our fall and winter  inventory must go to make way for spring and summer fashions. Men’s, women’s, infant and children’s clothing, shoes and handbags, accessories are included in the sale. We have sizes for infants and children and ladies clothing to size 3X. This outreach is sponsored by the United Methodist Women of Hopewell Methodist Church and donations accepted support UMW missions and outreach. The closet is regularly open each Saturday for shopping and accepting donations of gently used clothing, shoes and handbags. 9:00 am, Hopewell United Methodist Church, 20 Blackwell Avenue, Hopewell.

Tenth Annual Living Local Expo – The tenth annual Local Living Expo: Being Green Pays Off will be held at Rider University for the first time, and has expanded to include partners from five local communities. The popular event will feature sustainable local businesses, community groups, local farms, demonstrations  and speakers throughout the day. In addition to more than 60 eco-friendly vendors at the expo, visitors can learn about  a variety of sustainability issues and  community projects such as bike paths, food waste recycling, energy efficiency and wellness. A farmers market will feature local farms and local artisan food producers. A lunch celebrating locally sourced and seasonal ingredients will be available for purchase. The Expo will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Rider University gymnasium, which is located on the main campus, 2083 Lawrenceville Rd, in Lawrenceville. The expo is free and open to the public.

College Admissions Essay Workshop – Novelist, former English teacher and Princeton native Molly Moynahan, author of “Pitch Perfect: How to Write a Successful College Admission Essay,” helps students access their personal stories and turn them into focused, engaging and effective essays. Participants are asked to bring their laptop or notebook and pen. Copies of “Pitch Perfect” will be available for signing and purchase. 2 p.m., Teen Center, Princeton Public Library. Free.

Photography Exhibition Reception at Blawenburg Cafe and Catering – Photographer Dariusz Kobajlo, who is known in Princeton for his shots of the university and downtown area and regularly shares his photos for readers on Planet Princeton’s Facebook page, is exhibiting his work at the Blawenburg Cafe and Catering Company in Montgomery. Meet him at a reception at the cafe from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Blawenburg Cafe and Catering Co., 391 Route 518 , Blawenburg. Free.

Sunday, March 20

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

Purim Carnival – Moonbounce, crafts, interactive storytelling, games, and more. Food available for purchase. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Princeton Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton.

Children’s Author Laurie Wallmark Visits the Princeton Public Library – Wallmark will read from her children’s book “Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine,” an illustrated biography of Ada Lovelace. More than 100 years before the invention of the electronic computer, Byron followed her creativity in science and math to become the world’s first computer programmer. This story serves as an inspiration for children, especially girls, to be fearless in pursuing their passions. Two craft activities appropriate for grades 1-5 will follow the reading. 2 p.m., Princeton Public Library Story Room. Free.

Spring into Song – Family friendly, free concert. Five local vocal groups: Hopewell Valley Chorus, Trenton Children’s Chorus, Con Brio, Vox Nova, and Across the Street. Free-will donations support summer music scholarships for Trenton Children’s Chorus. 2 p.m., Central Church, 2015 Pennington Rd., Ewing. Free.

Family Friendly Strings Concert – The faculty of Princeton String Academy will perform. A string quartet performing “Star Wars” like tunes will begin the program.  Other works to be performed include Schumann, Faure and Saraste.  2 p.m., Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church, 154 South Mill Road, West Windsor. Free.

Bach Birthday Celebration with the Dryden Ensemble – “An Organic Bach’s Birthday” in honor of Bach’s 331st birthday. All Bach organ recital features Eric Plutz on the Joe R. Engle pipe organ. 3 p.m., Miller Chapel, Princeton Theological Seminary, 64 Mercer Street, Princeton, Tickets $25.

Palm Sunday Tea and Music – Event hosted by the Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church at the Arts Council of Princeton features Latisia Lewis, violinist. 2 p.m., Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. $20 admission, $15 for seniors.
Baby Got Bach – Concert geared towards children ages 3-6 and their families. World-renowned pianist Orli Shaham will host Baby Got Bach: “Principally Percussion,” featuring Princeton’s esteemed Ensemble-in-Residence So Percussion and American Ballet Theatre dancer Rachel Richardson. This interactive concert will explore all of the sounds a piano and percussion can make through the music of J.S. Bach, Steve Reich, John Cage, and Steven Mackey. The audience is invited to stay afterward to come on stage and jam with the musicians. 1 p.m., Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University. Admission $10,  $5 for students.

Family Barn 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 children to parents and grandparents.  Dances will be led by caller Sue Dupre. 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

17th International Chopin Competition Medalist Performing with Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra – Kate Liu, the 21-year-old American pianist who stormed the world by winning the bronze medal of the 17th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw last fall, and the first American to have won any of the top three prizes in the Chopin International Competition in 20 years, will be soloing with the award-winning Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra. Led by music director and conductor Chiu-Tze Lin, this concert marks the first performance Ms. Liu is making with an orchestra in the US since winning the International Chopin Competition. Ms. Liu will perform the Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor. The Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra will also perform The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra by Benjamin Britten. The program includes the “Haffner Symphony,” a famous work that was written by Mozart for his patron and mayor of Salzburg, Sigmund Haffner. 7 p.m., Nicholas Music Center, Rutgers University (Mason Gross Performing Arts Center), 85 George Street New Brunswick, NJ Rutgers University, Douglass Campus, New Brunswick. $35 – $60.