Fall into fall with the ABCs of Montclair

Get out your phones, your datebooks, your Hipster PDAs — whatever you use — and put down some dates. Fall in Montclair is already hopping, and the season hasn’t even officially started yet!

To help guide you along during this busy season, we’ve put together 26 (and then some) events and activities for all ages and interests, in a handy A-to-Z format, but the list is by no means comprehensive: don’t miss Montclair Local’s popular “Local Listings” each week for a comprehensive tally of what’s going on in Montclair each week. (And if you’ve got a listing you’d like to add, email it to listings@montclairlocal.news no later than the Friday before the following week’s publication.)

Registration and reservations may be required and fees may be charged for some of these events and activities, so be sure to check the websites.

Animals, Carnival of the: The Montclair Orchestra’s annual children’s concert has already become a tradition for many Montclair families. This year, on Nov. 3, the orchestra will visit the zoo in music, with “Carnival of the Animals” by Camille Saint-Saëns. Young listeners will be able to envision lions, elephants, tortoises, donkeys, cuckoos, swans. The MO’s website says, “A special guest will join the orchestra to provide the narrations for our journey.”

Also on the program are some favorite orchestral selections, and at the intermission, an interactive instrument “petting zoo.”

Tickets and information on this and the orchestra’s other concerts (the season begins Sept. 22 with “1001 Nights”) is at montclairorchestra.org.

Bald eagles: Yes, you can see them in Montclair, and for those who grew up thinking the eagle’s extinction was imminent, the first sighting of one is thrilling.

The bald eagle is just one of the many raptors to be seen at the Montclair Hawk Watch, the second-oldest hawk watch in the U.S. The fall migration is already underway and runs till Nov. 30.

If you’ve never been, let this 60th anniversary year prompt you to go. To get there, take Edgecliff Road off Bradford Avenue and go 0.2 miles. Park on the shoulder and look for the path to the lookout on the south side of the road. Climb the steep steps in the rock and walk onto a level platform with sweeping views of Montclair and New York to the east. You’ll see hawks as they head south over the ridges of the Watchung Mountains. Bring a hat, water, and binoculars.

The sanctuary is maintained by the New Jersey Audubon Society, and NJAS’s official counter, David Weber, and members of the Montclair Bird Club will show you where to look. For information, go to https://tinyurl.com/y8w3guc6. Montclair Hawk Watch will hold an Open House on Thursday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Conversations: We are so lucky to have the Open Book/Open Mind series of conversations on books and ideas!

Brought to us by the Montclair Public Library Foundation, OB/OM’s new season starts on Sept. 15 with two Montclair writers, Marcy Dermansky and Kate Tuttle. Dermansky is the author of “The Red Car,” “Twins” and “Bad Marie,” and she’ll discuss her latest book “Very Nice,” with Tuttle, former president of the National Book Critics Circle.

On Oct. 20, Dan Barry, the New York Times’ incomparable storyteller, will discuss his book, “This Land: America, Lost and Found” with NYT managing editor, Matt Purdy.

On Nov. 3, Daniel Okrent and Montclair’s Jonathan Alter will discuss Okrent’s new book, “The Guarded Gate: Bigotry, Eugenics, and the Law That Kept Two Generations of Jews, Italians, and Other European Immigrants Out of America.”

In a program that was rescheduled from 2018, B. A. Shapiro and Caroline Leavitt will talk about creating fiction and Shapiro’s novel, “The Collector’s Apprentice” on Nov. 7. If you registered then, you don’t have to re-register.

Matt Purdy returns to OB/OM on Nov. 22 to talk with Pulitzer-Prize-winners Jodi Kantor and Meghan Twohey about their book, “She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement.” While most OB/OM events are free, this event requires a ticket purchase, which includes a copy of the book.

Venues vary; check the Montclair Public Library website for program and ticket details, and don’t tarry because OB/OM seats go fast.

Duck Derby: The Montclair Ambulance Unit holds an annual Fall Fest, the highlight of which is the Duck Derby fundraiser. MAU partners with the Montclair Department of Recreation & Cultural Affairs to have dozens of yellow rubber ducks splash down into the pond at Edgemont Park.

Each duck has a numbered tag that corresponds to someone who has purchased that duck. Racing ducks, at $10 each, must be purchased by adults, but children will enjoy seeing all the rubber ducks dumped (editor’s note: not our word) into the pond. The top three lucky ducks are crowned winner immediately after the race.

The MAU Fall Fest is on Saturday, Oct. 19, beginning at noon with entertainment, according to MAU. The Parade to the Pond is at 3:15 p.m. with splashdown at 3:30.

Ducks are sold at the Parks & Recreation office, 205 Claremont Ave., and at MAU Headquarters, 95 Walnut St., and can also be bought online, or on race day from noon till about 3.

For more information or to buy a duck (or 10), go to mvau.org/duck-derby.

All Duck Derby proceeds benefit MAU, an independent emergency medical service.

Environmental education: A great resource for families is the Essex Environmental Center in Roseland. It offers nature clubs for kids as young as age 2, a garden club for kids in grade K-12, birding field trips, training for Rutgers Master Gardeners, family nature outings and a campout, paddling on the Passaic River, an edible plant identification walk, and more. The Essex County Beekeepers Society and the New Jersey Woodturners Association both meet at the EEC and welcome new members.

Preregistration is required for all programs unless noted otherwise on the website.

The EEC’s 15th annual Fall Family Festival will take place on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with nature games, crafts, canoeing, Native American life, a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, food, and more. The county’s 4-H Fair will be held the same day. Some activities are weather dependent. Admission is free.

The Essex Environmental Center is at 621 Eagle Rock Ave., Roseland. Information is at 973-228-8776 or essexcountyparks.org.

Frisbee: The third annual Frisbee Fun Day, hosted by Montclair High School’s Ultimate Frisbee team is set for Saturday, Sept. 21, from 11 to 3 p.m., at Edgemont Park.

It’s a day of Frisbee for all ages, including young children, and it’s free. The Mounties Ultimate Frisbee teamplayers will be there to teach everyone how to play Frisbee-related games.

Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase, and all proceeds will go to benefit the student-run, student-coached Mounties Ultimate Frisbee team. For information, email mountiesultimate@gmail.com.

Greatness: In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues in 2020, the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center will present “Discover Greatness: An Illustrated History of Negro Leagues Baseball.”

The exhibit opens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, from noon to 5, and runs till next June.

The traveling exhibition was organized by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, a not-for-profit organization devoted to the preservation of Negro Leagues baseball history, and features close to 90 photographs showcasing the history of African-American baseball from the late 1800s to the 1960s.

And don’t miss Yogi Berra Tribute Day, Saturday, Sept. 28, from noon to 5, a day to celebrate the life and legacy of the great Yogi Berra at the museum built in his honor. In addition to “Discover Greatness,” visitors can try out the interactive exhibition “PITCH!” and see how fast they can throw a ball. There will be other activities and giveaways throughout the day. Admission is free.

At the same time, the annual Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival will be taking place at Yogi Berra Stadium, hosted by the stadium and by the New Jersey Jackals baseball team.

The Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center is at 8 Yogi Berra Drive, Little Falls, on the MSU campus. For information, go to yogiberramuseum.org, or call 973-655-2378.

Hometown History: No matter when you moved to Montclair, or even if you’ve always lived here, there’s more to learn about this wonderful town, and you can do that on the Hometown Historic Bus Tour.

Offered by the Montclair History Center, the two-hour, 21-mile ride rolls on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 10 to noon.

Helen Fallon, an MHC trustee, will give riders a sweeping overview of Montclair’s history, architecture, businesses, and people.

Tickets are $30, with a discount for MHC members. Registration is required. The bus leaves from 110 Orange Road.

For more information about this and the Montclair History Center’s many other programs, go to montclairhistory.org, call 973-744-1796, or send a note to mail@montclairhistorical.org. (And see the letter R, below, for an October event.)

Impossible: Many museumgoers have stopped in the stairwell at the Montclair Art Museum to puzzle over Box II, the bronze sculpture on the wall that looks like a tangle but casts a simple shadow of an opened carton.

The artist is Larry Kagan, the subject of one of MAM’s two new shows opening this week.

“Impossible Shadows: The Art of Larry Kagan” is Kagan’s first solo show in New Jersey, will feature 21 of his welded metal sculptures.

An emeritus professor of art at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Kagan says of his sculptures: “We are more or less aware of the presence of shadows, since they tell us something about our environment, but we do not actually look at them – unless they call attention to themselves by some unfamiliar or unexpected behavior. My challenge was to induce viewers to actually look at the shadow rather than solely at the steel. I began shifting more of the narrative burden to shadow. The more content the eyes could detect in the shadow, the more time and attention they would expend on exploring its details.”

According to MAM, each sculpture starts with a simple pencil drawing on a wall. The images Kagan’s sculptures create are diverse and include ordinary objects, such as books and chairs, and extraordinary ones, like Andy Warhol and Barack Obama.

The exhibit runs through Jan. 5, 2020. For information on this and on “Virgil Ortiz: Odyssey of the Venutian Soldiers,” MAM’s other major ongoing exhibit, go to montclairartmuseum.org.

Jupiter: The North Jersey Astronomical Group holds weekly Public Telescope Nights during the fall and spring semesters at Montclair State University. These are at 8 p.m. on  clear Thursdays through Dec. 19, except for Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving).

Small kids are invited to see the first-quarter moon at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 12, Oct. 3, Oct. 10, Nov. 7, and Dec. 5.

This fall, you’ll see the constellations Cygnus, Lyra and Aquila. Planets to look for are Jupiter in September, Saturn from September to mid-October, Neptune from October through December, and Uranus in December. Star clusters and galaxies are also out there.

Look for the telescopes in front of Richardson Hall and CELS on the Science Quad, just east of the Student Center on the MSU campus. Park in the Red Hawk Deck just off Normal Avenue on the south side of campus, or in the metered spots in Lot 19 behnd Blanton Hall.

From NJAG: “Our telescopes cannot see through clouds! Public Telescope Night will be canceled if the weather is cloudy, very cold (sub-20-degree Fahrenheit), or very windy. It is considered clear if you can see the moon or 10 stars clearly. A cancellation message can be found by calling 973-594-6524.”

For information, go to montclair.edu and search for Stargazing.

K, as in 8K: Glen Ridge’s annual Thanksgiving tradition, the Ashenfelter 8K Classic is turning 20 this year. The Ashenfelter Classic is a USA Track & Field-New Jersey championship road race and it is open to all: walkers, joggers, runners and racers.

This year, the running event will be held on Nov. 28. The Tom Fleming Mile begins at 8:15 a.m. and the 8K (4.97 miles) begins at 9.

The Ashenfelter 8K Classic and Tom Fleming Mile are produced by the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. Proceeds support innovative programs in the Glen Ridge Public Schools.

Register early at Fleet Feet Sports, 603 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair. For details on online registration and race day packet pickup, go to ashenfelter8k.org.

Listen: Outpost in the Burbs, the nonprofit outreach organization, has a full lineup for the fall:

Sept. 20: Jonatha Brooke

Oct. 4: Jeffrey Gaines

Oct. 18: Emily Duff

Nov. 8: Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Nov. 16: The Weeklings plus Horns & Strings

Nov. 22: Amy Helm, with The Restless Age opening

Concerts are at 8 p.m. at Outpost’s main venue, First Congregational Church. Tickets can be bought at Watchung Booksellers, 54 Fairfield Ave., payable by cash or check; or at the Ticketleap link on the Outpost web page, or by mail: send SASE with check payable to Outpost in the Burbs to Outpost Tickets, 40 South Fullerton Ave., Montclair, NJ 07042.

If you only know about Outpost because of the music, you should also know that it has about 100 volunteers, who not only run the concert series but also donate their time to Habitat for Humanity, the Human Needs Food Pantry, MESH, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, and the soup kitchen at Christ Episcopal Church in East Orange, among other efforts. For information about programs and volunteering, go to outpostintheburbs.org.

May in Montclair: Yes, it’s September, but May in Montclair takes lots of planning — and more than a little digging.

You can help make May 2020 beautiful on Saturday, Nov. 2, when the Friends of Anderson Park plant more than 600 May in Montclair tulip bulbs.

Planting is from 1 to 3 p.m.; the raindate is Nov. 3 at the same time. Bring a shovel, trowel or tulip digger if you have them. (Shovels are most useful.) The Friends of Anderson Park have lots of gloves.

Meet at the north end of Anderson Park, near Bellevue Avenue. For information, call 973-477-7207, go to friendsOfAndersonPark.com, or email lisanne@friendsofandersonpark.com.

Need: The Partners for Health Foundation reminds us: Our local food pantries and soup kitchens are always in need of help. From their websites, here’s the scoop on four main organizations:

• The Human Needs Food Pantry provides food, clothing, and other services to people in Montclair and neighboring communities. Information is at humanneedsfoodpantry.org.
• Toni’s Kitchen serves a hot, nutritious meal every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11:30 to 1, and on Sunday at 5 p.m., as well as Christmas dinner. Information is at slechurch.org/?page_id=321
• MESH (Montclair Emergency Services for the Homeless): MESH partners with houses of worship and other community members to provide a nutritious evening meal, six days a week, to needy adults and families in Montclair and the surrounding areas. MESH also provides overnight respite at local churches and synagogues during extreme weather. Information is at meshmontclair.org.

The Salvation Army Montclair Citadel offers emergency food bags Monday through Friday, 9 to 4; a noontime feeding program Monday through Wednesday; and breakfast each Wednesday morning at 9. Information is at montclair.salvationarmy.org/montclair/.

Partners for Health Foundation adds that there are many ways you can help keep their shelves stocked and kitchens open:

• Organize a community food drive to collect food;
• Collect and donate food for backpack programs distributed to children and families in need;
• Donate diapers, wipes and feminine products;
• “Volunteer to deliver food to the home-bound; and
• “Donate fruits or vegetables from your own home garden.”

For information on the Partners for Health Foundation, go to partnersfdn.org

Oratorio: We could have listed the Oratorio Society of New Jersey under the letter G for Glorious — the Fall 2019 concert is “A ‘Glorious’ Evening of Music,” with Glorias by John Rutter and Francis Poulenc. The concert takes place on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 8 p.m., at Church of the Immaculate Conception, 30 North Fullerton Ave. Tickets are $30 at the door, less if you order online, and even less if you purchase from an OSNJ member. So find an alto or tenor, bass or soprano!

Don’t miss OSNJ’s annual Community “Messiah” Sing, which will be on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at St. James Episcopal Church, 581 Valley Road. The donation price of $10 includes the use of a score. It starts at 7:30 p.m., and last year the church was packed, so arrive early.

For information about the rest of the 2018-19 season, and information on the rehearsal schedule for anyone who’d like to join the chorus, go to oratoriosocietynj.org.

Papillon: “The quick, curious Papillon is a toy dog of singular beauty and upbeat athleticism. Despite his refined appearance, the Pap is truly a ‘doggy dog’ blessed with a hardy constitution. Papillon fanciers describe their breed as happy, alert, and friendly.”

It strikes us that the American Kennel Club says glowing things about all dog breeds. Can this be true? And what about mutts?

Essex County loves mutts! And it wants you to bring your dog (and yourself) to the county’s annual Strut Your Mutt: Canine Halloween Costume Contest. The Brookdale Park edition takes place on Saturday, Oct. 26, with registration at 9:15 a.m. and the parade at 10. Entry is free, and there are prizes. The rain date is Oct. 27.

Details are at essexcountyparks.org.

Queens: Queens of the Blues, that is. The Adult School Department of the Montclair Public Library offers an amazing variety of lectures this fall. Here’s one that caught our eye: Blues Queens of the 1920s.

From the catalog: “Although only a handful of records by women of color were made during the first decades of the U.S. recording industry, consumer interest increased exponentially after Mamie Smith’s first sides were issued in 1920. She was among hundreds of African American women, known as ‘blues queens,’ who recorded and performed blues songs during the 1920s.

“Blues queens like Smith broke barriers by challenging gender stereotypes for women of color, bringing African American musical traditions into the mainstream, and by publicly giving voice to the concerns of black women. This class will provide an overview of the era along with a closer look at four of these trailblazing artists — Mamie Smith, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, and Ma Rainey — and will feature their original music and related historical documents in a multimedia presentation.”

The lecture is by Elizabeth Surles, and takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at the main library. Surles is a faculty member at Rutgers University-Newark, where she serves as archivist at the Institute of Jazz Studies.

Also at the Adult School: Betye Saar and the Black Arts Movement, a lecture by Onnie Strother, on Monday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m. at the main library.

From the catalog: “The Black Arts Movement (BAM) of the 1960s and ’70s sought to redefine the image of Black people. Their art emphasized racial pride, self-determination and political activism. Explore the art of legendary BAM artists Betye Saar and Faith Ringgold, icons of 20th-century art. In addition, this talk will prepare you well for the Museum of Modern Art’s exhibition Betye Saar: The Legends of Black Girl’s Window, on view beginning Oct. 21.”

Strother is a multimedia artist who taught art and art history for 35 years in New Jersey public schools.

Check out the rest of the Adult School offerings at adultschool.org.

Rosedale: The green space at Montclair’s southernmost point, near the border with Orange, is Rosedale Cemetery, a 152-acre burying ground that was founded in 1840 and originally known as Orange Cemetery.

Among those who are buried there are Althea Gibson and George Inness.

The Montclair History Center periodically offers walking tours of the cemetery, and if you’ve been meaning to go, sign up for the next tour, Sunday, Oct. 27, at 1:30 p.m.

According to the MHC, “Rosedale Cemetery marked the beginning of a new movement in how America took care of its deceased.

“We’ll venture into the old section for this guided tour, discussing grave imagery as well as the people who are buried there.”

The tour will be led by Jane Eliasof, MHC’s executive director. Admission is $10 and registration is required, at montclairhistory.org.

The tour begins with a brief introduction at the Rosedale Chapel, at 408 Orange Road.

Carpooling is suggested because there’s limited parking on site, says MHC. The tour goes till 3:30 p.m. and is about 1 mile of walking.

Sidewalks and art walks: We once got a pair of cashmere socks for $3 at the Upper Montclair Sidewalk Sale and that has kept us going back every year ever since. This year the sale is on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 10 to 4.

And the Fall Art Walk is on Thursday, Oct. 3, from 6 to 9 p.m. Walk around Montclair Center and see the works of emerging and established artists, and get a bite to eat. The Art Walk is sponsored by the Montclair Center Business Improvement District, in cooperation with Studio Montclair and the Montclair Art Museum. For information, go to montclaircenter.com

Thrift (and rummage): Who doesn’t love a bargain? Who doesn’t feel good buying secondhand and knowing they’ve kept at least one more thing from the landfills? Not to mention snagging something gorgeous for a low, low price. We think everyone loves a bargain and doing good deeds, so here are three charity thrift shops in town.

• St. James Episcopal Church’s “The Sky’s the Limit,” open Tuesdays 11-3, and Fridays and Saturdays 10-3 at 581 Valley Road. The shop employs transition students from West Essex Regional High School, and accepts donations on Tuesdays and Saturdays during store hours.

It does not accept books, electronics, underwear, pajamas, bathing suits, appliances, or furniture. For information visit stjamesepiscopal.org/skys-limit-thrift-store

• St. Luke’s “Second Time Around Shop” is currently closed for construction, but when it reopens, you’ll find an all-volunteer nonprofit thrift store. Some 40-plus volunteers staff the shop and work sorting, pricing, pressing, mending, and selling donated items to customers from Montclair and surrounding communities. It offers half-price sales and bag sales in July and February. All proceeds go to charity.

The shop accepts donations of clothing for the whole family (especially men’s clothes), jewelry, small household items, books, toys, and collectibles. All items must be clean and in good working condition. But not: baby equipment, televisions, computers/printers, furniture, telephones, record albums, textbooks, or encyclopedias. Shop hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 to 3, and Saturdays 10 to 12:30.

• The Hospice Thrift Shop, at 51 North Fullerton Ave., is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11 to 5. For information, call 973-509-2060.

As for rummage sales, you’ll find us browsing the vintage sewing notions at Grace Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 9 to 3. The church is at 153 Grove St. For information, go to gracemontclair.org.

Submit your organization’s rummage sale info to listings@montclairlocal.news and we’ll tell everybody about it.

Used books. Does anyone really need more books? All together now: Yes! Members of the College Women’s Club of Montclair work year round to put on two amazing used book sales. For those new to this bibiophile’s delight, you’ll find thousands of books and paperbacks, LPs, CDs, DVDs, audio- and videotapes, sheet music, software and ephemera. All proceeds support college scholarship awards for girls in Montclair and neighboring towns.

Opening day is Nov. 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., with an admission fee of $20 that morning only; after that, entry is free. Hours on Friday, Nov. 8, are 9:30 to 9; on Saturday, Nov. 9, 9:30 to 7; and Sunday, 1 to 6 p.m. Credit cards are accepted; bring a sturdy bag to carry your haul. Book sale headquarters is at 26 Park St., through the side door. For information, call 973-783-7040, write cwcbooksale@gmail.com, or go to cwcmontclair.org.

Van Vleck: We almost don’t want to mention Van Vleck House & Gardens, because we like to think of it as our own special secret place where we go for peace and tranquility. But Van Vleck’s programs are open to the public, so share we must.

There are gardens for everyone at Van Vleck. Just walk around the 12-acre private gardens any day of the year. No agenda, just soak up the peace (despite traffic sounds; this is New Jersey, after all), and beauty of it. Or take part in Van Vleck’s many programs.

For adults, there are birding walks, gardening classes on gardening,a workshop on making pine cone wreaths, and yoga classes.

For children, there’s the Garden to Table cooking class for kids ages 8-11; the Garden Discoveries Pre-K program, which looks at a new topic each time ( this fall it’s butterflies, pumpkins, amazing owls, and animals in winter); and Outdoor Adventures, a Saturday-morning drop-in program for ages 4 and up, featuring an environmental educator and self-guided activities on the property. Topics this fall are monarch butterflies, bats, birds of prey and decorations from nature. For families, there’s a Raptor Walk on Nov. 8.

Van Vleck House & Gardens is at 21 Van Vleck St. For schedules and fee information, or to register, go to vanvleck.org, call 973-744-4752, or write education@vanvleck.org.

Wheels: The Tour de Montclair, Montclair’s community bike ride, returns this year on Sunday, Oct. 6. The Tour organized by Bike&Walk Montclair, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that has been advocating for safe streets since 2002. Registrants for the ride sign up for Chill (easiest 6-mile ride), Cool (12-mile tour at your own pace) or Hot (“for the fast-riding folk”). All riders will roll through all four wards of the town.

Although you can register on the day, Bike&Walk Montclair recommends preregistering for the ride. Registration ($35 for individual, $50 for family, $25 for youth/senior) includes a commemorative T-shirt (if you’re quick enough) and one-year membership in B&WM.

Bike&Walk Montclair reminds riders to do an ABC check (air, brakes, chain) and don’t forget your helmet! Information and registration are at bikewalkmontclair.org

Xmas: “Madeline’s Christmas” is one of the offerings for children this season at Studio Playhouse, the all-volunteer, nonprofit theater company that has been entertaining Montclair since 1937. Based on the book by Ludwig Bemelmans, with book and lyrics by Jennifer Kirkeby and music by Shirley Mier, “Madeline’s Christmas” is directed by Beatriz Esteban-Messina.

“In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived 12 little girls in two straight lines,” begins the classic story. The day begins like any other day. Miss Clavel takes the 12 little girls on their morning walk. They go to the zoo and then back to school for their French history lesson. Suddenly disaster strikes when everyone gets the flu! Everyone that is, except for the ever resilient Madeline.

Performances are on Dec. 7, 8, 14, and 15.

The Studio Players offer a full fall season for adults, with “The Receptionist,” by Adam Bock, now playing; “Complete Game,” written and directed by Mark Liebert, later this month; “Superior Donuts,” by Tracy Letts, in October-November; and Terrence McNally’s “It’s Only a Play” in January. For information on performance times and tickets, go to studioplayhouse.org or call the box office at 973-744-9752. The theater is at 14 Alvin Place, right near Acme.

Y: The YMCA of Montclair is celebrating Welcoming Week Sept. 13-22. Created by the national YMCA’s partner Welcoming America, Welcoming Week celebrates the growing movement of communities that fully embrace new Americans and their contributions to the social fabric of our country.

“At the YMCA of Montclair, we believe our community is stronger when everyone in the community feels welcome, can connect, find common ground and celebrate our shared values,” said Buddy Evans, CEO & president, in a release. “We are proud to be a part of Welcoming Week, which is demonstrating that in places large and small, people of all backgrounds are coming together to create stronger communities.”

During Welcoming Week, the YMCA of Montclair will host two free events open to all:

A Global Arts & Crafts event at the Geyer Family YMCA, 159 Glenridge Ave., on Tuesday, Sept. 17; and a Global Dance Event at the Park Street YMCA 25 Park St., on Thursday, Sept. 19.

For more information, including times, go to montclairymca.org

The YMCA of Montclair will end the week a Welcoming Week Global Eats Dinner on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 6 to 9 p.m., at the Geyer Family YMCA.

The event is organized by The United Tastes of America.

“The United Tastes of America builds belonging and integration for refugees and asylum seekers through shared food, social enterprise and community connections,” said Melina Macall, co-founder of The United Tastes of America, in a release. “Our shared meals, prepared by our skilled female cooks, reaffirm our families’ rich cultural heritage and competence, building a path to greater social integration.”

Proceeds from the event directly help resettled refugee families. The cost is $58 per person (includes service charge). Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl.com/y3vb9wtz

Babysitting is available at $15 per child for ages 6 months to 6 years; register by contacting the Geyer Family YMCA at 973-783-7640.

Zzzzzzz: for the sound of buzzing bees. Take a break from all the action and soothe your soul at the Avis Campbell Gardens behind the United Way Building, 60 South Fullerton Ave. The garden is maintained by the Garden Club of Montclair and is open to the public. Designed by Avis Campbell, a landscape architect and Garden Club member, it was installed in 1952. A fountain in the center is surrounded by roses and beds of flowering perennials and annuals. The grounds include a 9/11 memorial to Essex County residents. Information is at gardenclubofmontclair.com