Zumba, Jazz Piano, at Watchung Arts Center This Weekend

Free Zumba Class on Saturday, Rio Clemente to perform Friday.

The Watchung Arts Center, at 18 Stirling Road in Watchung, has an active weekend coming up, to include a free Zumba dance session on Saturday morning and a performance by jazz piano player Rio Clemente to wrap up the center's "Jazz in the Gallery" series. Clemente, a Morristown native will present the ImpresaRIO Concert at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 16. When Clemente hits the stage, he brings fire and passion and with him talented musicians to tantalize jazz enthusiasts and music lovers alike, according to his fans. As a master pianist, educator, composer, arranger and recording artist, Clemente mixes a strong classical background with a rich knowledge of jazz history, then adds a sense of creativity and interpretation. Clemente has played jazz…

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World Famous Whiffenpoofs Come to Bridgewater

The Yale Whiffenpoofs performed at Arbor Glen in Bridgewater.

It is a love of music that led to three sold-out shows as Arbor Glen in Bridgewater welcomed the world-famous Yale Whiffenpoofs Tuesday. “I have heard a lot about them, and that’s the main reason I came,” said Bridgewater resident Joyce Lanigan. “I like a capella music. But the Whiffenpoofs have been famous for years.” James Wells, CEO of Arbor Glen, said they try to hold artistic programs that enrich the lives of the residents at Arbor Glen, and they opened these performances to both the residents and members of the surrounding community. Although the shows are free, Wells said, the auditorium will be filled to capacity for all three of them. “Music is important for the community, enriching lives,” he said. “It is sentimental and social, …

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Colorguard Wins Gold at Championships

The BRHS group participated in the Mid Atlantic Indoor Network championships.

The Bridgewater-Raritan High School Cologuard won the gold medal at the Mid Atlantic Indoor Network 2013 Championships. The competition was held April 20.

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Community Center Holding Music Festival

It will be a fundraiser for the Martinsville Community Center.

The Martinsville Community Center is holding a Spring Music Festival as a fundraiser for the organization. The event will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. May 5 at the center on Washington Valley Road. Admission is $5 per person, and children under 12 can get in free. Refreshments will be for sale. The event will feature five artists from across New Jersey and the tri state area showing off their special talents. John Hankinson moved to New Jersey 20 years ago, and has played many different venues over the last 10 years. Tom Byrne, a Long Island native, has been playing guitar for years, and his first song was called “Statute of Limitations.” Melissa Anthony, a Middlesex native, is the youngest of the performers, and brings original songs to …

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Business Writer to Sign Books at Barnes & Noble

Author of 'When Talent Isn't Enough: Business Basics for the Creatively Inclined,' to sign from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Author Kristen Fischer will be making an appearance at Barnes & Noble in the Somerset Shopping Center Sunday to sign copies of her latest book. Called “When Talent Isn’t Enough: Business Basics for the Creatively Inclined,” the book looks to provide some basic business knowledge for creative types, with stories from fellow writers, designers and artists. It also provides practical knowledge from Fischer herself, a New Jersey resident who podcasts about freelancing on Freelance Radio. According to a release, Fischer will be at the store from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday. “The book is like Business 101 for creative professionals,” Fischer said in the release. “What makes it unique and down to earth is the commentary from real-life creatives. Their …

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Three Moms Take a Comic Look at Parenthood in 'Moms the Word'

Temple Beth-El to host special show May 4.

Submitted by Gail Solomon On May 4, enjoy Broadway-quality theater without enduring NYC traffic or paying NYC prices. “Mom’s the Word,” a cabaret-style musical comedy about the challenges of motherhood, will be performed at Temple Beth-El for one night only. This event, which makes a perfect pre-Mother’s Day gift, starts at 7 p.m. with a wine and cheese reception. Written by Dana Covey, Ellen Cohen and Erika Radin, three Moms who also star in the show, “Mom’s the Word” turns a comic eye on the ups and downs of parenthood. The show covers such topics as tantrums, finding a reliable babysitter, excessive whining, overscheduled extra-curricular activities, managing homework, puberty, sagging body parts and much more.  Based on real-life …

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BRMS Band Rocks Open Mic Night

The eighth graders opened the recent show at the library.

Road Kill, a band made of Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School eighth graders, opened the Bridgewater Township Library’s Open Mic night April 11. The band opened the evening by performing three songs—“Brain Stew” by Green Day, “Blitzkrieg Bop” by the Ramones and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses. The members of the band are Chris Borell on electric lead guitar and lead vocals; Mike Avin on drums; Marcus Carollo on electric bass; and JJ Rosario and Ethan D’Alessandro on rhythm guitar. This was the second time the band had performed publicly, following a recent performance at the BRMS talent show in March.

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Great Escape

Piano Player Adds Atmosphere at Bernards Inn

You can slip into The Bernards Inn most Thursday evenings for a drink and a little jazz piano with John Bianculli.

Sometimes there's just not enough days to go around, but each week we'll give you an idea of something to do to relax, spend time with family and just take some time for yourself. This week, we let you know about an escape that you can enjoy many times over. Almost any Thursday evening, you can head on over to The Bernards Inn in downtown Bernardsville to hear piano player John Bianculli play it again — and again — as you enjoy some dinner, a drink or just a quick nibble while you listen to some sophisticated music. Bianculli is a musician and music teacher from New Jersey who last year was invited to perform at the Bernardsville Library as part of the Friends of the Bernardsville Library's Sunday at Three series. Bianculli performed that …

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'Legally Blond' Moves From Court to BRHS Stage

This year's spring musical is "Legally Blond."

The Bridgewater-Raritan High School spring musical is being performed this week, as the students bring "Legally Blond" to the stage. Under the direction of Joan Aniano and student director Joey Hanna, students will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, all at the high school. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students. Aniano is also the choreographer for the show, with student choreographer Kimani Key. Stage manager is Rebecca Murray. The cast list is as follows:

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