Upcoming Events and Activities

Here is a short list of events for the next few weeks. Please add other events that you know of in the comments section.

• 5th Annual House Tour Of LBI. Saturday, September 16. 10am to 3pm.
  
  Tour newly constructed homes on Long Beach Island — beach front and bay front. St. Francis Community Center, 47th Street and Long Beach Boulevard, Brant Beach, (609) 494-8861. Tickets are $35. Proceeds benefit programs and services offered at St. Francis Community Center.



• War on Trash. Saturdays, September 16 and September 23
  
  Help clean up the Delaware River. Rain or Shine. More information at the Delaware River Journal.



• Gourmet Chefs in Designer Kitchens Tour. Saturday, September 16. 10:30am to 3pm.
  
  Tour six kitchens in Toms River, Island Heights, Seaside Park and Bayville. Each home will have a local Chef who will prepare and serve a specialty from their area restaurant. Sponsored by the White Pine Twig of the Community Medical Center Auxiliary Association.



• Walking Tour: Broad Street Highlights. Thursday September 21. 1pm to 2:30pm.
  
  Re-Discover Newark: Explore its architecture, history, and importance as an American city since 1666. Run by the New Jersey Historical Society. The tour is free.



• Lilac Restoration Project. Saturday, September 23. 10am.
  
  The New Jersey Botanical Garden Lilac volunteers "invite you to a hands-on learning experience in the Lilac Garden with Dan Ryniec, Lilac Curator at Brooklyn Botanical Garden." Free.



• Colts Neck Kitchen Tour. Wednesday, September 27th 9:30-2:30.
  
  Explore ten kitchens throughout Colts Neck. Complimentary wine and food sampling at Four JGs Vineyard (on Hillsdale Road) with chef Chris Brandl of Brandl Restaurant in Belmar as guest chef. Tickets are $45 each. Sponsored by the Colts Neck PTO.

Thoughts on the Upcoming Weekend

The weather forcast for the upcoming weekend looks perfect. There are many organized events planned and plenty else to just enjoy. Here are my picks.

The Hoboken Italian Festival in Sinatra Park starts Thursday and runs through Sunday. From their website - "The highlight of the feast, beyond the fabulous variety of foods and entertainment, is the day long procession through the streets of Hoboken, including a pain staking reenactment of the "Blessing of the Fleet" in the Hudson River, all culminating with a huge fireworks extravaganza over the park. Sinatra Park, named after Hoboken's favorite son, Frank Sinatra, is where On The Waterfront was filmed in 1954." For a full schedule, go here: Hoboken Italian Festival.

The Raritan Bay Seafood Festival is Sunday, September 10th in South Amboy at the Raritan Bay Waterfront Park. It runs from 11am to 6pm with the Marshall Tucker Band performing at 2pm. Admission is free and there is Shuttle Bus Service from the NJ Transit Train Station. Call 732.525.5977 for more information.

A Visit to Sandy Hook may be in order. I want to check out the recently completed 5-mile long Multi-Use Pathway. The 12-foot wide pathway accommodates walkers, bicyclists and in-line skaters. There is a ranger led Lenape Nature Walk on Saturday, September 9 at 2 pm. Meet at the Sandy Hook Visitor Center. On Sunday at 2pm there is a 2-hour tour of fortifications that once defended New York Harbor. The tour is free, however reservations are required. Call 732-872-5970. Remember to bring a flashlight.

Fungus Fest 2006

The New Jersey Mycological Association is hosting a Fungus Fest at Frelinghuysen Arboretum on October 8. Activites include Mushroom Identification, guided mushroom walks, indoor mushroom garden, mushroom cooking demonstrations, and a lecture on the medicinal uses of mushrooms.

There are a number of Fungus Forays scheduled for upcoming weekends. Venues include Washington's Crossing State Park, Cheesequake State Park, and Brendan T. Byrne State Forest. Start times and directions can be found on the associations website.