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My mother wasn’t much of a cook, so when Thanksgiving came around, we all looked forward to going to Grandma’s house for dinner. Mom would make a couple of her box-top recipe dishes she was famous for, the green bean casserole and her sweet potatoes with marshmallows and Karo Syrup. Every branch of the family would bring a few dishes, so by the time it was all assembled, we had about 10 times more than we needed. Mom’s dishes fit right in with this huge strange family feast. Today, I’d give anything to have Mom and her box-top recipes back for just one more Thanksgiving at Grandma’s.
Here are some events you might want to check out after you get back from your own Grandma’s house on this 48th weekend of the year. In North Jersey, there’s Cinematic Titanic in Newark on Saturday and Nunsense in Chester all weekend. In Central Jersey, the Nutcrackers in Manasquan, the Messiahs in Princeton, and a Santa’s Coming Out in Trenton. In South Jersey, The Pier Shops are open on Thanksgiving Day and the Little Prince opens on Friday at Cape May Stage.
In every region of the state, Christmas Tree Farms will be open for their first big weekend of the season starting on Friday morning. Be sure and check them out in our tree farm guide for Jersey.
Thanksgiving Weekend in North Jersey:
Christmas In The Ballantine House
NEWARK – Enliven the holiday spirit and step back in time to 1891 for a traditional Victorian Christmas at the Newark Museum’s annual exhibition, Christmas in the Ballantine House: Feasting with Family and Friends, on view from Friday, November 26 through January 2, 2011. Daily tours of the Ballantine House will run throughout December at 2 pm.
Cinematic Titanic
NEWARK – Cinematic Titanic will be performed on Saturday, November 27 at 6:30 & 9:30 at the Victoria Theater of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Remember television’s Mystery Science Theatre 3,000 (MST3K) with Crow, Dr. Forrester, and Tom Servo? Now, the creator and original cast of MST3K bring their masterful movie riffing LIVE to NJPAC, featuring the same team that first brought the cult classic to life: MST3K creators Joel Hodgson and more.
Gustav Stickley Exhibition
NEWARK – Gustav Stickley and the American Arts & Crafts Movement, the first nationally touring exhibition to offer a comprehensive examination of the work of Gustav Stickley, considered by many to be the patriarch of the movement, will have its premiere at the Newark Museum, September 15. Organized by the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA), the exhibition examines Stickley’s contributions to the American Arts and Crafts movement during the most productive time of his life.
Nunsense the Musical
CHESTER – A hilarious musical you won’t want to miss! Nunsense begins when the Little Sisters of Hoboken discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters, and they are in dire need of funds for the burials. The sisters decide that the best way to raise money is to put on a variety show, so they take over the school auditorium.
Thanksgiving Weekend in Central Jersey:
Focus On Fiber Art Holiday Reception
FRENCHTOWN – Focus On Fiber Art, a new gallery dedicated to promoting fiber and textile art and artists is ending the year with a holiday reception To Everything There Is A Season, on Saturday, November 27th between 4 and 8 pm. Owner and resident artist, Elena Stokes, a quilt artist as well as a fiber artist, opened the gallery in May of this year. The reception will celebrate the successful first year of the gallery as well as give thanks to all the loyal customers.
Santa is Coming Out
TRENTON – A Passage Theatre favorite, Jeffery Solomon (MotherSon) returns to Trenton’s Mill Hill Playhouse with his hilarious, clever, and endearing new one-man comedy Santa Claus is Coming Out, directed by Joe Brancato. This special event will be on stage for two performances only on Saturday, November 27 at 8 pm and Sunday, November 28 at 3 pm. Developed at Penguin Rep Theatre, Santa Claus is Coming Out, is a theatrical mock-u-mentary.
Festival of Trees
CLINTON – Begin a new family tradition by joining us for this year’s Festival of Trees with hot cider, music, lights, and ornaments galore! This event showcases a collection of beautifully decorated Christmas trees and wreaths and is a wonderful kick-off to the holiday season. Trees and wreaths decorated by local individuals, organizations, and businesses will be on display and up for auction.
Celebrating Our Diversity
EAST BRUNSWICK – The East Brunswick Museum Corporation presents its 2010 Holiday Display – “Celebrating Our Diversity”. Local organizations have been invited to participate in decorating a tree or Museum case. The exhibit will open with a public reception on Sunday, November 28, 2010, from 1-4 pm and will remain on display through January 10, 2011.
Handel’s Messiah
PRINCETON – Nassau Presbyterian Church invites the public to hear some of the most beloved words and music from Part One of Handel’s masterpiece, Messiah, sung by a choir and soloist from Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church and Nassau Presbyterian Church, accompanied by a community orchestra of members and friends of both churches. The soloist will include Beverly Owens, soprano; Carlensha Bethea Grady, soprano; Carol Fagundus, mezzo-soprano; Nerissa Thompson, mezzo, and more.