When I was a little girl living in my grandfather’s house while my dad worked, Frankenstein came after me down the castle steps!
(Okay, he was actually outlined in lights on the bedroom wall, and he walked very, very slowly, but it was still terrifying!) My dear Aunt Edie-rest her soul-refused to let me into her room to hide from the monster: “Didn’t I tell you not to let her watch those scary movies?” she shouted to my cousin from her closed door, ignoring my pitiful pleas.
Still, I’ve always had a fascination for movie chills and thrills (remember Saturday nights watching “Chiller Theatre”?), and still ignore texts and a buzzing cell phone during every “Twilight Zone”, and “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” marathon (I can recite dialogue from most of the classic episodes!)
Halloween has already been fun for me. The last time I came to work in a Halloween costume, no one guessed my character except my supervisor who lives in Florida now. Apparently, we were the only two employees who remembered Denzel Washington’s stand-out performance as a lawyer attending a costume party dressed as a “character” that no one recognized. With several papers taped to his jacket (as I did for my coworkers) he was-you guessed it!-a “law suit”. Get it? (I know; no one else did either.)
Maybe you’ll have better luck this year!
On October 24th the Trenton Fright Fest: A Nightmare on Warren Street starts at 7:00 p.m. at Better Studios at 125 South Warren Street in Trenton and runs until 11:30 p.m.
Or take the family to Trenton Thunder’s Trick or Treat baseball event on October 23rd at 4:30.
On October 21st, take the kids to “Trunk or Treat” from 4 to 7pm at Avant Rehabilitation and Care Center at 1314 Brunswick Ave.
Or go to Zombie Fest! on Halloween night (Oct. 31st) from 5 to 8pm (rain date: Nov. 1st) when City Hall’s Recreation Dept. hosts an evening of family fun with haunted attractions, games, a bounce house, a movie, concessions, and…a FERRIS WHEEL!
(I love Ferris wheels, don’t you?) Zombie Fest will be held in Cadwalader Park. For more info, call: (609)989-3860, or go to trentonnj.org/rec for more information.
Don’t forget to stop at Trenton Farmers Market on Spruce Street this month and throughout the fall for fresh produce, homemade goods and much much more.
Did you know that the Trenton Public Library holds ongoing ESL classes on Thursday mornings at 10 a.m., community writing groups, and movies? I just spoke to a staff member there about their “show and tell” segments of their archives of documents and artifacts as a tie-in to the topics of each movie they present. And while you’re there, apply for a library card. The Trenton Free Library, the oldest free library in New Jersey, is conveniently located in downtown Trenton at 120 Academy Street, on most bus routes. Go to their website at Trenton Free Public Library – Website for the Trenton Free Public Library or call (609)392-7188 to ask about parking.
Looking for a job, or need career information? Go to the Mercer County Career and Resource Fair at Cure Arena on October 15th at 2:30 p.m.
Mark your calendar for The College of New Jersey’s Community Fest on Saturday, October 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Stroll their gorgeous campus, visit local vendors and crafters, listen to music, take a bike ride, enjoy family amusements and a free classic car show all day! Check the website at tcnj.edu/comfest for parking, or leave the car at home and take the #601 bus directly to the campus. (Rain or shine!)
On my way back from shopping, I spotted the sign for Oktoberfest on October 19th (rain date: Oct. 26th) at Veterans Park South in Hamilton, from 11:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kuser Road entrance. Food trucks and a craft beer garden on site. Enjoy hayrides, a pumpkin patch, and live music of your favorite ’80s bands!
When was the last time you saw “The Nutcracker live?” Have you taken your kids to see it yet?
Enjoy the experience and catch many other performances at The Kelsey Theatre on Mercer County Community College’s West Windsor campus. The Kelsey has added matinee performances for its entire season at 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays!
No ticket price is more than $30! (You can’t beat that for quality, live theatre! I know. I’ve lived in New York City myself!)
Season subscriptions are available, saving you up to 45%. You may also pre-order single tickets.This season’s shows include “The Little Mermaid”, “South Pacific”, “Twas the Night Before Christmas”, as well as comedy, drama, classics, and contemporary shows. The Kelsey Theatre is conveniently located on the MCCC campus in West Windsor. Go to their website at http://www.kelseytheatre.org or call them at (609) 570-3333 for directions and parking information. If you prefer to leave your car at home when you attend matinees, just take the #619 bus directly to the campus.
Looking for a college scholarship for yourself or an immediate family member? If you’ve been a full time, non-union employee of Capital Health for at least one year and meet other requirements, you or an immediate family member may be eligible for a
full-tuition scholarship to Rider University’s undergraduate program for four consecutive years or until the completion of the academic program (this offer is separate from other employee educational benefits).
If you’ve been reading my Trenton Daily articles since 2018, you know by now that I am also a writer, playwright, screenwriter, and producer, so it should come as no surprise that I’d like you to be aware of an excellent training opportunity for emerging filmmakers and artists.
“Let’s Film!” is a free, year-round, local, comprehensive film making program for ages 14 to 20, through the James R. Halsey Foundation for the Arts, that offers hands-on training in script writing, cinematography, lighting, sound, acting, and editing.
No experience is necessary. The Trenton program is located at the Mercer County Community College James Kearney campus at 120 North Broad Street, Tuesday nights, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. You may contact them at info@jrhfoundation.org or call (609) 938-3673.
Contact them today: we never know who the next Jordan Peele, Steven Spielberg, Ava DeVernay, or Spike Lee will be. It could be you. Why not?
Correction: Attention staff, patients, and visitors to Capital Health hospital’s Hopewell campus: the free daily shuttle from Bellevue Avenue to the hospital’s Hopewell campus continues all day, every day, from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with return trips back to Trenton on the half hour (please check with Capital Health for further information). In addition to this free service, the #608 bus route has been extended to include a stop at the Hopewell campus. My apologies for any confusion from my previous article.
Well, as you can see, Trenton offers a wide variety of activities for us this month. Let’s put on our warm, fall sweaters and get to it.
Enjoy!