Hudson County, NJ – Free movies and popcorn on Wednesday and Friday nights this July and August at six different Hudson County parks. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy an evening in the park! Movies start at sundown each evening with rain dates, if needed, happening the following Monday and Tuesday. All movies are subtitled in Spanish and all events are wheelchair accessible.

Kicking off their third year with the support of Hudson County, the Movies in the Parks series brings family friendly films to 6 beautiful Hudson County parks, as produced by the Washington Park Association of Hudson County, Inc. (WPA).

The Movies In The Parks series for 2015 is brought to you by the Hudson County Executive Thomas DeGise and the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Movies In The Parks was originally a community initiative, until the WPAâ€s partnership with the County of Hudson in 2013, which expanded the program countywide.

The parks and communities included are: Stephen R. Gregg Park in Bayonne, West Hudson Park in Kearny, Washington Park in Union City, Columbus Park in Hoboken, Lincoln Park in Jersey City, and JJ Braddock Park in North Bergen. Movies in the Parks are a great way to see a free family-friendly film in your local community under the stars. The series is also an incredible opportunity to experience all of the amazing parks in Hudson County that may be less visited by those who are not residents. Free popcorn will also be available at all screenings. Bring your family, friends, or just come to meet your neighbors at all 12 screenings throughout July and August this summer.

Washington Park Association of Hudson County, Inc. (WPA) is an independent, community based, volunteer-run, 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing services and benefits to more than 6,000 community residents. Founded by residents of Jersey City and Union City, who were motivated to create positive change in the area, WPA works with the community to revitalize, maintain, and protect Washington Park, a 100-year-old, 22-acre park County park and promote its use through programs and activities that enhance the quality of life of park users and local residents. WPA members believe that engaging residents in activities that improve their neighborhoods, helps increase civic pride and care, which leads to healthier, wealthier, and more progressive communities.

WPA has some great volunteer opportunities available throughout the summer for those 16 and older. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, meet new people, and be involved in this fantastic series. Plus, all volunteers get a free WPA t-shirt and can earn community service hours for school.

For more info on how to volunteer for the Movies in the Parks series, please email Pat Byrne at: emailpatbyrne@gmail.com

For maps showing the exact movie locations and weather cancelations, “like” Washington Park Association of Hudson County on Facebook, follow @WPAHudsonCounty on Twitter or Instagram, or visit: www.wpanj.org.

Program and Details: Movies in the Parks 2015

July 2015 Wednesday, July 8, 2015 (Rain date: Monday July, 13th)- Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) Stephen R. Gregg Park, Bayonne

Friday, July 10, 2015 – (Rain date: Tuesday July, 14th) The Goonies West Hudson Park, Kearny

Wednesday, July 15, 2015 – (Rain date: Monday July, 20th) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Washington Park, Jersey City / Union City Border (*this date will feature a live Latin band as part of the Jersey City and NJCU Summer Concert Series)

Friday, July 17, 2015 – (Rain date: Tuesday July, 21st) Annie (2014) Columbus Park, Hoboken Wednesday, July 22, 2015 – (Rain date: Monday July, 27th) The Boxtrolls Lincoln Park, Jersey City Friday, July 24, 2015 – (Rain date: Tuesday July, 28th) Planes, Fire and Rescue

(*This date will have a fire truck on site for tours and photo ops) JJ Braddock Park, North Bergen August 2015 Wednesday, August 5, 2015 – (Rain date: Monday August, 10th) Hook Stephen R. Gregg Park, Bayonne

Friday, August 7, 2015 – (Rain date: Tuesday August, 11th) Stuart Little West Hudson Park, Kearny

Wednesday, August 12, 2015 – (Rain date: Monday August, 17th) Paddington Washington Park, Jersey City / Union City Border

Friday, August 14, 2015 – (Rain date: Tuesday August, 18th) 101 Dalmatians (1996) Columbus Park, Hoboken

Wednesday, August 19, 2015 – (Rain date: Monday August, 24th) Muppets Most Wanted Lincoln Park, Jersey City

(*this date will feature live jazz) Friday, August 21, 2015 – (Rain date: Tuesday August, 25th) Back To The Future JJ Braddock Park, North Bergen

All are invited to bring blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy the movies and popcorn at no cost. Movies will begin at sundown— (approximately 8:30PM in July and 8:00PM in August)

PARKING:

Residential street parking or lot parking is available near or in each park.

Photos and interviews available on request:

Contact: Pat Byrne (862)-202-6059 (cell), emailpatbyrne@gmail.com

Please promote using #MITP2015

For additional info visit www.wpanj.org

Twitter & Instagram: @WPAHudsonCounty

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonParkAssociationofHudsonCountyInc

The post MOVIES IN THE PARK SERIES COMES TO SIX HUDSON COUNTY PARKS first appeared on River View Observer.

River View Observer Holiday Picks -On the Go for Some Ho-Ho-Ho!

   by Sally Deering

 Feeling the holiday spirit can be as tough as finding a parking space in Hoboken. Sure, it’s there somewhere, but only after you go around the block a few times barking “bah-humbug” under your breath!

Well, not this year! There are plays, movies and other holiday events happening locally (or just a car or train ride away) guaranteed to get you in the spirit these next few weeks. Here’s a sampling:

The Spirit of Dickens

There’s a special performance going on in Hoboken, a beautiful and unique production of “A Christmas Carol told by the Spirit of Charles Dickens,” at the Mile Square Theatre, a charming 110-seat space on the second floor of the Monroe Arts Center (720 Clinton St.) It runs through Dec. 19^th and it’s a dreamy rendition of the classic tale of miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge performed by Lenard Petit, an accomplished actor who narrates the story as the incarnation of Charles Dickens and proceeds to play all the parts of the Christmas tale – 18 characters of varying shapes, sizes and genders in a performance that captivates the audience from beginning to end. At the Sunday matinee I attended, children in the first row seemed mesmerized and not one whisper of “Mommy, I want to go home!” could be heard in the theater.

 The stage is set to look like an 19^th century English salon, a drawing room where guests gathered for music, poetry and small theatricals and a likeness of the salons where Dickens was known to perform his cherished tale.  Musical accompaniment is provided by Sean Hagerty, an accomplished violinist who also plays bells, drums and other instruments to create a haunting soundtrack to Dickens’ that allows Petit to give a seamless performance of this classic story of a miserly old man visited by ghosts of his past, present and future who help him discover the true meaning of Christmas. 

Sound familiar? It should. There’s a reason “A Christmas Carol” continues to be one of the most important ingredients in our holiday season.  It cuts through the commercialism that assaults our senses this time of year and takes us to the core of what the holidays are all about. And Petit as Dickens and the other 18 characters he plays brings this story to life in a lyrical and intimate performance that’s pure magic.  Take the family; take your friends, don’t miss it! (www.milesquaretheatre.org)

 

Ebeneezer on the Silver Screen

If you’d like to see a more modern Scrooge – and on a big movie screen – then why not catch the movie musical “Scrooge” starring Albert Finney and Alec Guinness playing at the beautifully-restored Loew’s Jersey Theatre, a landmark movie palace in Jersey City (right across the street from the Journal Square PATH Station) on Sat, Dec. 11^th, 6:30-9:30 pm, where you can view this glorious black-and-white film on a big movie screen. There will also be a holiday concert and sing-along. (201-798-6055)

Happy Holidaze and Ho-Ho-Ho

Writer David Sedaris (who penned “Me Talk Pretty One Day” and other contemporary works,) once spent Christmas working as an elf in Macy’s Santaland.  Sedaris wrote a play about his experiences, “The Santaland Diaries,” which is being presented by The Theater Company in Hoboken on weekends at the Monroe Arts Center from Dec. 9-19^th (lots of free parking and a block from the 9^th Street Station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.) This hilarious show about the trials and tribulations Sedaris encountered as an elf will put you in a fabulous holiday mood and the material is a little “adult’ so get a babysitter and make a night of it! (www.thetheatercompany.org)

 

Ol’ Blue Eyes Brightens Up the Holiday

Celebrating Frank Sinatra’s 95^th Birthday, The City of Hoboken, Projected Images of Hudson County and Steven’s Institute of Technology (SIT) Division of Technology and the Arts presents “The Legend & Legacy of Frank Sinatra,” an evening of rare TV, concert and movie performances from the archives of historian Bill Shelley. Performances include Young at Heart, Strangers in the Night, My Way, New York, New York, It Was a Very Good Year, That’s Life, High Hopes, Lady Is a Tramp, and more. Also featured are excerpts of musical performances from his favorite Hollywood films including High Society, Young at Heart, On the Town, Robin and the 7 Hoods, and Pal Joey. These rare clips also feature Sinatra duets with Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Elvis. It happens Sat. Dec 11^th starting at 7 pm at the DeBaun Auditorium, 5^th Street (between Hudson St and River Terrace,) on the campus of SIT. Proceeds go to Hoboken’s Movies under the Stars Series 2011. (201-217-4077)

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Holiday Happenings off the Pike

A short ride to Milburn will take you to 19^th Century France and a beautiful performance of “Les Miserables” at the Papermill Playhouse (3 Brookside Drive) by a touring company that has played to appreciative audiences throughout the U.K and Jersey’s no exception. Audiences are rising to their feet for this redux of the Broadway production. This “Les Miz” is a smaller show  – no spinning turntable onstage – but its message of hope still resounds and to hear that beautiful song “Bring Him Home” sung by Jean Valjean is worth the price of admission. “Les Miz” performs through Dec. 30th. (973-376-4343, www.papermill.org)

 A Victorian Christmas

Remember when your family took long drives to “ooh” and “ah” the holiday decorations on other people’s houses?  Well, you can put that memory in your pocket and make a new one with a visit to the Cape May Christmas Candlelight House Tour, a self-guided tour of more than 20 bed & breakfast inns, guest houses, hotels and churches decorated for the Christmas season. It happens throughout December with free shuttle service (heated trolleys) and refreshment stations offering fresh baked cookies, Wassail punch, coffee and tea. (Call for dates and times: 609-884-5508.)

 

Cape May’s Lamplighter House Tours

Tour five of Cape May’s historic bed and breakfast inns decorated for the holidays on Dec. 5, 12, 19 and 20, 7 to 9 pm. At the Carriage House of the Emlen Physick Estate on Washington Street, tour-goers can enjoy home-baked goods and other refreshments and take in the latest exhibit in the Carriage House Gallery. (Tickets can be purchased at the Washington Street Mall Information Booth.)

 

Meet Scuba Santa

If you’re in the neighborhood of Camden, why not stop by the Adventure Aquarium on the Camden Waterfront for “Christmas with the Fishes,” where the aquarium is transformed into a winter wonderland with twinkling lights, glowing trees, gently falling snow and appearances by “Scuba Santa” who dives into Ocean Realm – Adventure Aquarium’s largest underwater exhibit and swims among sea turtles, hammerheads, stingrays, tiger sharks and schools of fish.  There are other events, too, great for the kids! “Christmas with the Fishes” runs through Jan 2^nd. (856-365-3300, www.adventureaquarium.com)

The post Holiday Events-Plays, Films and Festive Events Highlight the Holiday Season first appeared on River View Observer.