Things to do in Montclair NJ – NorthJersey.com
Emily Wittmann, the director of lifestyle for Montclair’s new MC Hotel, gives a tour with an emphasis on local collaborations. Julia Martin, North Jersey Record
Here are our top picks for can’t-miss culture, fairs, celebrations and entertainment in Montclair in the next seven days.
1. Free First Thursday at MAM/Fall Art Walk
When: Thursday, 5 – 9 p.m. (MAM); 6 – 9 p.m. (Art Walk)
The theme for this month’s Free First Thursday at the Montclair Art Museum is yoga —with free yoga and meditation classes, a yoga draw-along and yoga photography exhibit, plus guided tours of exhibits. Live music will be provided by the Silver Foxes and food available for purchase from Thai Elephant and Empanada Guy. Check the Montclair Art Museum website for a complete schedule.
And there’s more art on view at some 40 boutiques, gift shops, galleries, coffee shops and restaurants — even banks and hair salons — around town. Many will be open later than usual on Thursday, displaying the works of emerging and established artists for this event sponsored by Studio Montclair and the Montclair Business Improvement District.
Click here for a complete list of art walk participants. Or just go for an evening stroll downtown.
GO:Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Ave., and various locations around town. Free.
2. Fall Swap at Hillside School
When: Saturday, 9 – 11 a.m. (Drop-off donations, Friday 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.)
This twice-yearly Montclair institution is a great reason to (finally!) clean out your closets, and a fun way to nab gently used adult and children’s clothing; shoes; sports gear; baby equipment; backpacks, purses and luggage; Halloween costumes; small furniture, DVDs and CDs; children’s and young adult books; games, puzzles and toys.
The environment wins, too, because discarded stuff stays out of the waste stream.
(Please, no hangers, adult books, helmets, cribs, potties, car seats, booster seats, computers, computer manuals, outdated software, textbooks, cassette tapes, VHS tapes, large items or large furniture. Donations should be clean and in good condition.)
GO: Hillside School gym, 54 Orange Road. Free.
3. Harvest Home Tour
When: Saturday, 11 a.m – 4 p.m.
Explore up to 10 grand homes in Montclair, spanning four centuries, in this self-guided tour sponsored by the Montclair History Center and the Questers, an organization dedicated to the study, conservation and preservation of historical objects. Booklets, required for admission, may be purchased until 1 p.m. on Saturday, or in advance on Friday at the Crane House from 8:30 a.m until 2 p.m.
GO: Tour begins at Nathaniel Crane House, 110 Orange Road. $45.
4. Tour de Montclair
When: Sunday, 10 a.m. (departure); 9 a.m. (registration begins)
With police escorts through busy roads and three different route options, Bike & Walk Montclair’s fun family-friendly tour of the four wards of Montclair takes the stress out of cycling. Choose among the “Chill” 6-mile, “Cool” 12-mile, or “Hot” 15-mile routes, and take it at your own pace. Start and finish at Crane Park, where you’ll find food from Montclair Bread Company, ice cream from Gelati and music from Big Dig. Register online or arrive early Sunday.
GO: Crane Park, Lackawanna Plaza and Glenridge Avenue. Registration starts at $25 and includes t-shirt and membership in Bike&Walk Montclair.
5. Montclair Film’s ‘Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution,’ with Q&A
When: Monday, 7 p.m. (6:30 for free ice cream and swag)
This new documentary follows the colorful personal journey of filmmaker James Redford (Robert’s son) into a new era as clean energy creates jobs, turns profits, and makes U.S. communities stronger and healthier. Unlikely entrepreneurs reveal pioneering clean energy solutions while Redford shares his discovery of how clean energy works. A great story of technology and innovation, “Happening” also explores issues of human resilience, social justice, and finding hope for our survival.
A post-screening Q&A will include producer Jill Tidman, also the executive director of the Redford Center; Trina Mallik, climate change and energy policy manager at the Nature Conservancy in New Jersey, and Chris Potgieter, strategy manager for E-Mobility at BMW.
Those who arrive at 6:30 p.m. will receive free ice cream, a string backpack and a reusable metal straw, compliments of the Nature Conservancy.
GO: Montclair Film, 505 Bloomfield Ave. $10 (regular); $8 (members).
Email: jmartin@gannettnj.com
Notable neighbors: Montclair professor Jeffrey Miller among MacArthur ‘genius’ grant winners
Food: A taste of Montclair: A guide to the locally sourced snacks stocking the MC Hotel
Development: Another proposed Montclair building adds to downtown parking, traffic concerns
Coffee shop: Now open: Paper Plane Coffee Co. serves ‘coffee cocktails’ alongside classics in Montclair
Entertainment: Montclair comedy writer brings the funny to ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’
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