Barista Kids » 2009 » February

More Concerts Rock Montclair: Grandparents Who Rock & The Bloomingfields

Kristen Kemp — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:47:34 +0000

As you probably know, Parents Who Rock threw a kids’ concert last weekend at Montclair High School to raise money for the nationwide, locally based Little Kids Rock organization. Even though there were three concerts on that day, PWR’s concert was packed. PWR diva Alma Schneider says, “Turnout was huge–around 300 people. Kids were running and dancing around the entire auditorium. We had a healthy kid’s cafe, and Mama Doni was like the Pied Piper with a long line of kids following her around yelling, ‘Oy vey!’

She reports they raised $5,000.

To help them reach their donation goals, PWR is throwing another adults-only concert tonight at Diva Lounge. This one is called Grandparents Who Rock.

Headliners will be local singers Jane Susswein, The Schuchinskis, Jim
Steiner and others. There will be an auction during the show from 7
p.m. to 10 p.m. It’s $10 at the dor with all proceeds going directly to
Little Kids Rock, which helps put more music into Montclair Public
Schools.

Another local band–also affiliated with Parents Who Rock, The Bloomingfields, will be playing tonight at Tierneys, as reported on Baristanet. I love them. The Bloomingfields are my wonderful next door neighbors who are kind enough to snowblow my sidewalk. Plus, Janet and David rock. I hear them practicing several times a week in their basement.

What are you doing this weekend?

Woot: Our Interview with Dan Zanes

Georgette Gilmore — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:30:00 +0000

I’m not embarrassed. I am a huge Dan Zanes fan. I don’t need to pretend that I have Alison Krauss on my iPod. Dan Zanes does it for me. Oh, and my kids dig him, too. We’re groupies who have seen him 8 times. It will be 9 this Sunday at the Wellmont for his Montclair Pre-K benefit show.

Call me a soggy graham cracker. But Dan Zanes’ music is real music. He covers American folk, rock, gospel and gets all multi-cultural. His music makes me–and my kids–happy.

And unlike Alison Krauss or Coldplay, Dan Zanes talked to me on the phone for MontclairKids.

Dan Zanes has been making family music since 1994 and won a Grammy for his album, Catch That Train in 2007. He’s sung on Sesame Street, Playhouse Disney and Noggin. He lives in Brooklyn, and he tells me his brother lives here. His words were music to my ears this morning.

MontclairKids: Sunday at the Wellmont will be your third performance in Montclair. What do you love about this town?

DZ: For me, it’s all about my personal connections. My brother and his family, Linda Brumbach–who books our shows–and lots of other friends live in Montclair. It’s a great town.

MontclairKids: Why did you decide to help out the Montclair Pre-K with this benefit concert?

DZ: I have a commitment to building healthy communities. Anything we can do to be helpful, we’ll do. It’s easy for us, we just show up and play music, and we’re helping out at the same time. This show will be a one-of-a-kind show. It’s an extended family show for the New York area. We have some great special guests: Derick K. Grant, the amazing tap dancer; La Bruja, the Nuyorican rapper; and Rebecca Naomi Jones, from Broadway’s Passing Strange. We hope everyone comes out to make music with us and help out the Pre-K.

MontclairKids: Your new CD, The Welcome Table – Songs of Inspiration, Mystery and Times is a collection of Dan Zanes and friends recording of tunes drawn from North American gospel traditions. What inspired you to chose that music genre?

DZ: After I stopped playing rock n’ roll, I didn’t want to listen to it anymore. I started listening to The Five Blind Boys and gospel from the ’40s and ’50s, and it got me excited about music for the first time in many years. It’s all I listened to for awhile.

We decided to do this album to bring awareness to The New Sanctuary Movement, a coalition of interfaith religious leaders and participating congregations called by their faith to respond actively and publicly to the suffering of our immigrant brothers and sisters living in the United States. There is a social aspect of gospel music that fits in perfectly with this issue.

MontclairKids: You call your music “family music.” What’s your favorite part about performing for families?

DZ: What I love the most is being able to spread the message that music making is something everyone can do. Having a musical household is good for everybody. It’s fun too, because family audiences are up for anything. The parents are usually sleep deprived and they’re open-minded!

Tickets are still available here, and you’ll see me and my girls front row center. I hope he has a good security guard. My kids and I are serious moshers.

Are you going on Sunday?

Crime In Baristaville Gives Me the Creeps

Kristen Kemp — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:00:00 +0000

I shivered last night when I took my dog out. I looked over my shoulder, and I surveyed the sidewalks of Bloomfield Avenue where I live. I had a feeling a monster–maybe that scary lady at Mountain Auto Body–was right behind me with a car jack in her hand.

I had the creeps.

I used to get the creeps when I lived on 27th Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan. The neighborhood was great, but my building was right across from a park where hookers and druggies camped out at night. I got used to them–but if a new druggie hooker showed up, I’d get the creeps.

This is why I moved to Montclair. I wanted to feel just a little safer while walking my dog. Oh, yeah, and I wanted a safer community for my kids.

After four serious crimes around town just in February, I don’t feel that safe.

Here are 4 incidents that happened in February as reported by Baristanet:

Shooting at Sunoco. Sunday, February 22, at about 5 p.m., 29-year-old Daniel Pritchard was shot and killed during a robbery. I wonder if he’s the nice guy who would full up my minivan when I’m on the way to King’s.
Fake Utility Worker Trying to Get Into Homes. The Montclair Police Department confirmed that a black male posed as a utility worker to get into a local home to “check the water and furnace.” He did not succeed.
Shooting at a Montclair Chinese Restaurant. There’s an uncomfirmed report that someone was shot at a Chinese restaurant in Montclair.
Armed Robbery on Valentine’s Day. A man wearing a ski mask and holding a handgun went into Bob’s Cleaners on Orange Road and $100 from the cash register.

My family is on high alert. I’m holding their hands tighter. We’re making sure we don’t forget to lock the doors.

And I feel like I should walk the dog with cayenne pepper spray in my hands. I just have to be careful. With my luck, I’ll pepper spray myself instead of the perpetrator. I have accidentally pepper sprayed myself before, but that’s a whole other story.

Are you feeling uneasy with all of this criminal activity?

This Week’s Highlights: February 25 – March 3

Georgette Gilmore — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Our Upcoming Events calendar has plenty to keep you entertained this week. Check it often for all local happenings. Here are this week’s highlights:

Get in Touch With Nature
Feb. 25

Head over to Van Vleck House & Gardens today with your preschooler and learn about Sugar Maple Trees. Take a walk, hear a story and do an activity.

Let the Little Gym Babysit

Feb. 27

Drop off your kids (ages 3 1/2 and up) at the Little Gym from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. and enjoy a kids-free night out.

Cut loose, footloose

Feb. 28

Head over to Montclair Kimberley’s Upper School to see their production of Footloose.

Attend a cool concert and help the Pre-K

March 1

Check out Dan Zanes & Friends over at the Wellmont. Proceeds benefit the Montclair Community Pre-K

Wednesday, February 25

Van Vleck House & Gardens Pre-K Discovery Program

Who: Children ages 3 -5.

What: Guided hands-on activities and a story.

Where: Van Vleck House & Gardens, 21 Van Vleck Street, Montclair NJ, 07042

When: Wednesday, February 25 from 1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Sugar Maple Trees

Cost: $7: Friends of Van Vleck / $12 all others. Adults free. Registration required by calling (973) 744-0837.

Website

Friday, February 27

The Little Gym’s Monthly Parent Survival Night

Who: Members of The Little Gym

What: Drop off your kids and enjoy a night out.

Where: The Little Gym, 1 Greenwood Avenue, Montclair NJ 07042

When: Friday, February 27, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Cost:  $20 per child the first time and $10 each additional time. Call (973)744-1002 to register.

Saturday, February 28

Footloose

Who: Tweens, teens and their parents.

What: Montclair Kimberley Academy’s Upper School’s production of Footloose.

Where: MKA Weiss Auditorium, 6 Lloyd Road, Montclair, NJ, 07042.

When: Saturday, February 28 at 8:00 p.m.

Cost:  Tickets are available at $10, $15 and $20 and may be purchased from the Box Office, by calling the Ticket Hotline at 973-509-3927 or online here.

Sunday, March 1

Dan Zanes and Friends

Who: Families who like cool music.

What: Dan Zanes & Friends perform a benefit concert for the Montclair Community Pre-K.

Where: The Wellmont Theatre, 5 Seymour Street, Montclair, NJ, 07042.

When: Sunday, March 1 at 3:00 p.m.

Cost:  $25, can be purchased here

Website

Diary of Free Pancake Day at IHOP

Kristen Kemp — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:45:33 +0000

Hey, these are lean economic times. So we headed right over to Free Pancake Day at IHOP on Broad Street in Bloomfield to get fat for free. Or almost free–we had to buy drinks to get the goods. Because we needed chocolate milk to go with our buttermilk short stacks.

It was a tough dinner in the trenches, but we survived. The only problem was, after such a butter-laden, carb-filled, sugary feast, our butts were the size of Belgium waffles. If you want a Belgium waffle butt, too, you can still make it to IHOP by 10 p.m. tonight. Or just be sure to get there early this time next year.

Here is my advice if you go:

Be prepared to wait at least 20 minutes.
Bring toys or iPhones or patience–service is understandably slow.
The place is filled with college kids and big families with babies.
Watch out for the blond homeless woman in the ladies’ restroom who reeks

Keep reading to see photos from our pancake adventure.

Did you go for free pancakes today?

Free Pancakes at IHOP for National Pancake Day

Georgette Gilmore — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:46:09 +0000

Today is Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras. Traditionally, the Tuesday before Lent was also called Pancake Tuesday, because all the fats, eggs and dairy needed to be eaten before the forty days of fasting.

But here’s what you really need to know: IHOP has named today, National Pancake Day and they are giving away a free short-stack of buttermilk pancakes to everyone. All they ask in return is for you to make a donation to the Children’s Miracle Network.

National Pancake Day will run from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. tonight.

I’m bringing my girls over to our nearest IHOP for a free pancake
dinner tonight. I might even splurge and order a side of bacon.

National Pancake Day

Who: Everyone – who doesn’t like a stack of pancakes?

What: IHOP celebrates National Pancake Day by giving one FREE short stack to everyone.

Where: IHOPs everywhere, and we have several local ones:
IHOP, 542 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield, NJ
IHOP, 1129 Bloomfield Ave., Bloomfield NJ
IHOP, 680 Route 3 West, Clifton, NJ
IHOP, 360 Route 46, Totowa, NJ

When: Tuesday, February 24 from 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

Website

Are you going to get your free pancakes today?

Very Important Breaking News: Henry Winkler Coming to Short Hills

Kristen Kemp — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:04:31 +0000

I thought the only thing interesting in Short Hills was the Spa. Or maybe that little mall out there.

But now there’s another reason to schlep to the softer side of Essex County: Arthur ‘Fonzie’ Fonzarelli will be speaking on March 25. You know, Henry Winkler.

I don’t understand what he’s going to say, but the event is free, Henry Winkler always smiles a lot, and everyone in middle school and up is invited.

The Annual Winston Speaker Series Presents
Actor, Writer, Producer and Director Henry Winkler
Who: Anyone in middle school and up
Where: Temple B’nai Jeshurun
1025 S. Orange Ave.
Short Hills, NJ
When: March 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free with plenty of free parking
RSVP: e-mail them to save your spot.

Oscar Awards 2009: Are There Any Local Parties?

Kristen Kemp — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:00:50 +0000

I stay up way too late for the Oscar Awards every year, even though I need to know who wins Best Film Editing about as badly as I need to know how much it costs to join The Short Hill Spa.

I’ll be home rooting for Slumdog Millionaire. The Clairidge sold out yesterday when I saw it for the early bird matinee. I just hope M.I.A. performs Paper Planes, so I can swagga like her.

I will swagga at home. Alone. My kids will be sleeping. This actually sounds fun to me–watching the Oscars at home in the quiet of my Bloomfield Avenue house. I guess that means I’m mature (i.e. boring) and a parent (i.e. my social life is over).

But I’d still like to know: Are there any local parties? Or do you prefer to stay home–and awake way past your bedtime–too?

Get Greener This Weekend

Georgette Gilmore — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:31:00 +0000

Green is a religion in these here parts. So I am not sure I should admit that I have put the milk carton in the garbage can once or twice in my life. A few of my friends might condemn me to fiery pits in hell.

But I can redeem myself with the Green Expo this weekend, and I can take those previously not recyclable yogurt cups to the local Whole Foods.

Montclair’s first Green Expo begins Sunday, February 22, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Learn about recycling, environmentally-friendly cleaning products, and how to make your home more energy efficient. Check out product demonstrations, presentations and info about Fair Trade. Montclair’s First Green Expo is free, as we learned on Baristanet.

Green Expo
Bnai Keshet Synagogue
99 South Fullerton Ave.
Montclair, NJ 07042

Drop off your #5 containers at Whole Foods. #5s include most yogurt cups, cottage cheese containers, hummus cups, take out plastic and other polypropylene plastics. Most municipalities, including Montclair’s, don’t recycle #5. So cart them on over to Whole Foods where they are partnering with the Gimme 5 program. Now, if only I can remember to bring my own shopping bag.

Whole Foods Market

701 Bloomfield Avenue

Montclair, NJ 07042

(973) 746-5110

Whole Foods Market

235 Prospect Avenue

West Orange, NJ 07052

(973) 669-3196

Have you noticed the new Religion of Green? Are you a follower?

Party With Your Kids at Kid Kat Kabaret

Kristen Kemp — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:14:58 +0000

To me, there’s nothing better than taking my kids to an event where I can also drink hard liquor. So tonight, we’re heading to Kid Kat Kabaret at Piano’s Bar & Grill in Bloomfield.

It’s a win-win. We support local kids who come to perform, my little ones shut up to watch, and I get to drink gin and tonic.

Kid Kat Kabaret happens every Friday night at 6 p.m., and all performers are 18 and under. The young performers get to take home a small portion of the door.

Kid Kat Kabaret
Who: All ages
What: Watch local kids perform their hearts out while you drink alcohol and eat Piano’s pizza.
Where: Piano’s Bar & Grill
36 Broad Street
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
When: Fridays, 6-7:30 -.m.
Cost: $10 cover plus 2 item minimum. Your two items can be apple juice or Jack Daniels–you choose.

What are your Friday night survival plans?