This weekend is for moms, and yours would surely love a visit to the Spring Bazaar, taking place Saturday and Sunday in Asbury Park, and Sunday in Long Branch.
The events feature “perfect gifts and goods for mamas, kids activities like face painting and a jean jacket patch bar, Mother’s Day brunch, delicious food and libations, flower bouquet bar and immersive photo stations, music and entertainment … and more,” said Jenny Vickers Chyb, founder of the Asbury Park Bazaar, in a news release.
There will be plenty of local designers, makers and artists selling handcrafted and vintage goods.
The musical lineup in Asbury Park includes Emily Grove, who will perform on Saturday, and Jarod Clemons, who performs Sunday. In Long Branch, DJ Dusty Dubbs will play.
Go: Spring Bazaar, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, and Sunday, Grand Arcade of Convention Hall, 1300 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park, and Sunday at Whitechapel Projects, 15 2nd Ave., Long Branch; free admission; asburyparkbazaar.com.
Here are more things to do this weekend at the Jersey Shore and beyond:
Trade Nights in Matawan
eBay recently kicked off Trade Nights Across America, a multi-city tour of trading card events, hosted at local trading card and hobby stores, to celebrate the passion of the collector community. The second stop of the tour is on Saturday at Santiago Sports in Matawan.
From 4 to 8 p.m., sports fans and collectors can attend the free event, bring cards, make trades, learn tips to enhance trades, and enjoy free food and drinks courtesy of Mr. Q’s Island Eats.
Tyler Santiago, owner of Santiago Sports, says there will be giveaways, and collectors also can enroll and explore the eBay vault to unlock bespoke swag.
You can RSVP here, or just show up, Santiago said.
Santiago Sports has been at its current location, 419 Route 34, since April 2022. For information and updates, follow them on social media @Santiago_Sports_.
Go: Trade Nights Across America, 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Santiago Sports, 419 Route 34, Matawan; 732-242-9528, santiagosportsnj.com.
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Tea Party with Alice and her Wonderland Friends in Red Bank
Red Bank Theatre for Young Audiences is hosting a Tea Party with Alice and her Wonderland Friends at 3 p.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church of Red Bank, 247 Broad St.
Tickets are $20, $10 per child, and can be reserved at umcredbank.org/tea-party. Reservations must be made by 10 p.m. Thursday.
At the Tea Party, families will meet Alice and her friends — and have the opportunity to take photos with them. There also will be games and crafts. The menu will feature mini pinwheel sandwiches, mini donuts, as well as iced tea and lemonade. Each child will receive a special treat box to take home.
The tea party is a fundraiser for “Alice in Wonderland,” the next RBTYA production. Appropriate for all ages, the 45-minute show is a darker, more faithful version of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale that reimagines the experience of Wonderland, and ends with an unexpected new twist. It takes place at 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at United Methodist Church of Red Bank. Tickets are free (donations are accepted) and can be reserved here.
Built on inspiration from Joseph Papp’s Public Theater and Jon Bon Jovi’s Soul Kitchen, RBTYA teens from around the area present plays for children at a pay-what-you-can ticket price.
Go: Tea Party with Alice and her Wonderland Friends, 3 p.m. Saturday, May 13, United Methodist Church of Red Bank, 247 Broad St., $20, $10 per child; umcredbank.org/tea-party.
More:5 Jersey Shore restaurants that offer food, fun for children
Les Paul Experience at Monmouth University
Les Paul is not just the name of the guitar made by Gibson.
Paul was a real person and a guitar playing legend, who lived much of his life in Mahwah. Some of Jersey’s greatest guitarists will converge Friday at the Pollak Theatre on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch for “The Les Paul Experience” musical tribute to the great one.
Participants include Jim Babjak from the Smithereens; Lenny Kaye from the Patti Smith Group; Bobby Bandiera from Bon Jovi; Anthony Krizan from the Spin Doctors; Sonny Kenn; Billy Hector; and Reagan Richards, who was Paul’s back up singer later in his career.
The concert is presented in conjunction with the photography exhibition “Les Paul: Thru the Lens,” running in the Pollak Gallery through May 31 at the university. See rare photos highlighting the life and career of Paul, the inventor of the electric guitar.
Go: The Les Paul Experience, 8 p.m. Friday, Pollak Theatre, Monmouth University, 400 Cedar Ave., West Long Branch, $69 to $75; monmouth.edu/MCA.
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Exhibit chronicles booming family business in Red Bank
The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County’s mission is to present exhibits, programs and publications that celebrate, preserve, explore and illustrate the rich history of local Jewish residents, and their contribution to the community.
Its new exhibit is “The Eisner Family: From Stitching Military Uniforms to Stitching Together the Red Bank Jewish Community.”
Beginning with two sewing machines in his Red Bank house, Sigmund Eisner built a booming family business that provided enormous opportunities for him and his descendants to employ hundreds of Jewish immigrants, support the founding of Congregation B’nai Israel of Rumson and Temple Beth Miriam, and serve the Jewish community in myriad ways.
Eisner and his children provided military uniforms for American soldiers, and later the Boy Scouts of America. The exhibit includes items on loan from the Eisner collection at the Red Bank Public Library, and Jan Eisner.
In place through 2023, visitors can schedule visits by appointment, or walk in when the museum is open: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Admission is $5, $3 for members and free for students.
Go: “The Eisner Family: From Stitching Military Uniforms to Stitching Together the Red Bank Jewish Community,” through 2023, Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County, 310 Mounts Corner Drive, Freehold, $5, free for children; 732-252-6990, jhmomc.org.
Creative Arts Festival in Lincroft
The Monmouth County Park System hosts its annual Creative Arts Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft.
This juried arts festival features pottery, photography, jewelry, paintings and other mediums. With more than 45 artists displaying their works, booths will be located both inside the barns and outdoors under tents. The family-friendly festival also includes live music, art demonstrations and children’s activities.
Musical performances include The Band of the Two Rivers, Zydeco Revelators, Chuck Lambert, Musicians on a Mission and more.
Sculptor Konstantin Zingerman will work on his latest piece, and artist Karin Trunz will demonstrate silk painting.
Other demonstrations include pottery and bonsai. Children are invited to contribute to the community mural and make crafts.
The event will also feature two food trucks. Admission and parking for the festival are free.
Go: Creative Arts Festival, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, free; 732-842-4000, monmouthcountyparks.com.
Heather McMahan in Red Bank
Comedian and Instagram storyteller Heather McMahan performs at the Count Basie Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. Friday.
McMahan has seen her fandom skyrocket with fans falling for her voice, her wit and her southern flair. In May 2022 she wrapped her debut tour “Heather McMahan: The Farewell Tour.” She’s now on “The Comeback Tour.”
On Netflix, McMahan starred opposite Nina Dobrev and Jimmy O. Yang in “Love Hard” — and is featured in “Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin: Ladies Night Live” at the Hollywood Palladium.
Her podcast, Absolutely Not with Heather McMahan, was included on Entertainment Weekly’s top 10 podcasts of 2021.
Tickets for “The Comeback Tour” are $39.75 to $89.75. VIP add-ons are available.
Go: Heather McMahan, “The Comeback Tour,” 8 p.m. Friday, Count Basie Center for the Arts. 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, $39.75 to $89.75; 732-842-9000, thebasie.org.
‘Pass the Mic’ in Newark
You’ve seen it online and on BET, now see it in person.
DJ Cassidy’s “Pass the Mic” is going live Friday at the Prudential Center in Newark, with performances by Ashanti, Fabolous, Ja Rule, Lil Kim, Ma$e, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke, 112 and more. The show was born during the dire days of the pandemic, and featured more than 200 of hip-hop and R&B’s biggest stars.
Now it’s time to go live.
“I am overwhelmed with excitement and emotion as I announce the first in a series of one-night-only ‘Pass The Mic Live!’ events,” said DJ Cassidy in a statement. “Transforming a show that began in my living room into a live arena concert is simply surreal. I am so honored to be uniting yet another iconic list of my musical heroes, this time live on stage, and I am so grateful for the Black Promoters Collective, whose grand vision, foresight and experience is my guiding light.”
The Black Promoters Collective is a Black-owned entertainment business. A second show, July 21 at Radio City Music Hall, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with performances by Big Daddy Kane, Doug E. Fresh, Rakim, Slick Rick, Black Sheep, the Sugarhill Gang and more.
Go: DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic Live, 8 p.m. Friday, Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, starting at $69.50; prucenter.com.
Sarah Griesemer and Chris Jordan contributed to this story.