Planet Princeton Weekend Picks, June 3-5

Beppe Gambetta. Photo: Dirk Engeland.
Beppe Gambetta returns to Kingston this Saturday. Photo: Dirk Engeland.

Friday, June 3

Film: “The Lady in the Van” – In 1973 London, playwright Alan Bennett (Alex Jennings) develops an unlikely friendship with Miss Shepherd (Maggie Smith), a homeless woman who lives in a van in his driveway for the next 15 years. 1 hour, 44 minutes. Part of the First Friday Feature series. Princeton Public Library Community Room. 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Princeton Public Library, Princeton. More information

BSA ‘Reptiles & Amphibians’ Merit Badge Workshop – Join Merit Badge Counselor Jeff Hoagland on a night-time workshop to earn the Reptiles & Amphibians merit badge. We will begin at the Watershed Center and hike to Wargo Pond (approximately one mile). Pick up will be at the Pond House (directions sent with confirmation). Bring a flashlight and wear boots for muddy walking conditions. 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm, Watershed Center, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington. $30. More information

The Arts Council of Princeton and Princeton Shopping Center present “School of Rock” Summer Movie Sing Along Night – The Arts Council of Princeton and Princeton Shopping Center present the Summer Movie Sing Along Series, bringing elements of popular movies to life through live performance. On Friday, June 3, the Series features School of Rock. A pre-screening concert by School of Rock Princeton will begin at 7:30pm, and the movie will start at 8pm. Children. 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm, Princeton Shopping Center Courtyard, 301 N. Harrison St, Princeton. Free. More information

Dance Improv, Live! – A lightly guided dance improvisation with live music. $12 (students with ID, first timers, and folks bringing first-timer) $18 for returning folks. Princeton Center for Yoga and Health, Orchard Hill Center, 88 Orchard Road, Skillman.

Saturday, June 4

Free, Public Birding trip to Delaware Water Gap (New Jersey) with Washington Crossing Audubon Society – Join Washington Crossing Audubon Society (www.washingtoncrossingaudubon.org) Saturday, June 4 for a free, public birding trip led by Sharyn Magee, Brad Merritt and Charles Brine to several spots around the Stokes State Forest Area. Directions: We will leave the Princeton area at 7:00 am. Carpooling as possible. Meet at Princeton Shopping Center off Harrison St. Free. More information

18th Annual Cory’s Ride – A bike ride to benefit the Anchor House Cory C. Golis Memorial Scholarship Fund. A time to meet and socialize with friends and other bike riders. A day to remember and honor Cory Golis. Quite flat 20, and a somewhat hilly 40 mile route. Start and end at Rosedale Park 422 Federal City Rd. 8:30 am – 1:30 pm, Rosedale Park, 422 Federal City Road, Pennington. $35. More information

Montgomery Friends Farmers Market – Montgomery Friends Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. from June through October. It is located at the Village Shopper on Route 206, just north of the junction with Route 518. Operated by Montgomery Friends of Open Space, the market features local NJ farm products. 1340 Route 206, Skillman. Free. More information

Room to Read Book Fair at Barnes and Noble Market Fair, June 4 –   Barnes and Noble Bookfair, Market Fair, Route One (3535 US Highway 1, Suite 400, Princeton, NJ 08540), Saturday, June 4, 2016, 9am to 11pm. Fair supports Room to Read (www.roomtoread.org), an international nonprofit. 3535 US Highway 1 Suite 400, Princeton . Free. More information

Learn to Bike Event – Visit the West Windsor Community Farmers’ Market between 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.; the event ends at 12:30 p.m. For children 5 and up who are able to ride a bike with training wheels. More information

Cover to Cover Book Group for 4th and 5th Graders – This reading group for fourth- and fifth-graders meets the first Saturday of every month to discuss books, short stories and other interests related to books. Activities include group reads, writing short book reviews and learning to post booklists in Bibliocommons. Registration is not required. Princeton Public Library, Study Room 354. 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, Princeton Public Library . More information

Free Family-Friendly Bike Ride – Join the East Coast Greenway for a free, 8-mile, family-friendly bike ride down the D&R Canal towpath on Saturday, June 4 — National Trails Day! The D&R Canal towpath is part of the East Coast Greenway’s 3,000-mile route connecting cities from the Canadian border in Maine down to Key West, Florida. 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Meeting point is Turning Basin Park, Alexander Road, Princeton. Free. More information

Singer/Songwriter Showcase – Original songs and covers of some favorites are performed by singers and songwriters from Central New Jersey in a showcase hosted by Rich Bozic of Bozic Voice Studio. Local favorites including Helen O’Shea, Garry Pearsall, Faith Chambers and the acoustic duo Autumn Dragonfly will be featured. Part of the Listen Local series. Princeton Public Library. 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Princeton Public Library, Princeton. More information

Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra Spring Concert – The Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra presents its 56th Annual spring concert at Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium. The Concert and Symphonic Orchestras are presenting works by Bruch, Copland, Dvořák, Nicolai and Smetana under the batons of Dr. Arvin Gopal and Mr. Kawika Kahalehoe. 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall, Princeton University. More information

Beppe Gambetta Acoustic Concert in Kingston – World famous Italian guitarist, singer and composer Beppe Gambetta returns to Kingston for another unique musical performance. Beppe is a master of the American “flat-picking” style, but doesn’t limit himself to flat-picking and guitar pyrotechnics alone. 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm, Kingston Presbyterian Church, 4565 Route 27, Kingston. $10 – $25. More information

Sunday, June 5

Fashion Fete at the West Windsor Arts Center – Fashion Fete features a trunk show from Worth NY and natural and organic make-up by NUEvolution. Jewelry by India Hicks. 40 percent off Worth NY spring/summer designs. Raffle of “Must Have” Prizes. 10 percent of all proceeds donated to the West Windsor Arts Council spring fund drive. Light refreshments will be served. Free to attend. 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm, West Windsor Arts Center, 952 Alexander Road , West Windsor. More information

Phillips’ Mill Photographic Exhibition Opening Reception- For three weeks in June, the 146 photos chosen to be showcased as part of the 24th annual Phillips Mill Photographic Exhibition represent every theme, idea and concept imaginable. Held June 5-26, the exhibition, themed “Photography as Art” and “Photographer as Artist,” features a vast array of images. 5:00 pm, Phillips’ Mill Community Association, 2619 River Road, New Hope. $5. More information

Poetry in the Park – Picnic and poetry reading. Pack a picnic and lose yourself in the gentle imagery of local poets Daniel Harris, Dave Worrell, Pat Hardigree and Joan Goldstein.  2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Rock Mill Preserve, 360 Grandview Road, Skillman. Free. More information

Songs of Love and Joy Benefit Concert – “Songs of Love and Joy,” a benefit concert, will feature Alexandra Farkas and Hyosang Park performing works by Donaudy, Puccini, Fauré, Schwartz, and Hayes. An offering will be taken for for the Princeton United Methodist Church Appalachia Service Project. The church’s youth mission team will host a reception after the concert. 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm, Princeton United Methodist Church, corner of Nassau Street and Vandeventer Avenue in Princeton. More information

Screening of “Love & Friendship” and Q&A with Director Whit Stillman – The Princeton Garden Theatre, Princeton Public Library, and Labyrinth Books Princeton welcome writer and director Whit Stillman for a Q&A following a screening of his latest film, “Love & Friendship,” a humorous Jane Austen adaptation. Kate Beckinsale plays a beautiful widow who visits the estate of  her in-laws to escape uncomfortable social rumors.6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Princeton Garden Theatre, 160 Nassau Street, Princeton. More information