b'Events That Matter SumFmaelrlMontclair FilmMovie Nights Under the Stars: June 21 Wicked: Sing Along at Lackawanna Plaza (near Crane Park) July 20 Dazed and Confused at Essex County Anderson ParkJuly 31 The Sandlot at Nishuane ParkAugust 23 The Wild Robot at Essex County Brookdale Park (Archery Field)DETAILSVenues open at 7:00pm and films will begin at sundown; picnicking welcome, early arrival recommendedJune 26-29 Summer Showcase: 22 of the seasons leading festival-worthy independent, documentary, Members of the South Orange Community Garden gather for a potluck meal,and international films prior to their theatrical release; made with produce from their gardens, under the shade of beautiful old trees nexttickets $17/$15 for Montclair Film Membersto the garden. Photo courtesy of the South Orange Community Garden.DETAILSThe Clairidge, 486 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair; 973-duce.) Last year, they donated morerecipes, and sample other gardeners381-5588, theclairidge.org/events/2025-summer-showcasethan 700 pounds of food. In Maple- tomatoes. wood, one of the gardeners also col- Its an opportunity for people toMaplewood Community Musiclects produce for local food pantries. makeconnections,getgreatrecipeJune 257PM The Maplewood Concert band Theres also the South Orange Elksideas and say, Oh, what did you tryperforms a concert for all agesRent Party Garden, a volunteer-runthis year that worked? What didnt community garden at the Elks Lodgework?Whatwouldyourecom- DETAILSThe Gazebo on Springfield Avenue, Maplewood; onProspectStreet.Itgrowsmoremend?Thomas says. MaplewoodCommunityMusic.orgthan 2,000 pounds of produce eachSo, whats the secret to garden- July 17PM Jammin\' in July: Waterfront MusicMaplewoodyear that is donated to local food pan- ing?Series: The Maplewood Concert Band performsConcert Bandtries such as St. Josephs and Our LadyThesecretofgardeningisre- DETAILSClipper Pavilion at Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex, 9 Cherry Lane, West Orange; of Sorrows, and partners with otheralizing that you are a small part ofMaplewoodCommunityMusic.orgcommunity initiatives such as SOMAamuchbiggerthing,Yagidsays.July 236:30 PM Swing Town performsJustice to provide bags of food to lo- Once you accept that, theres a hu-calfamilies.Itsalwayslookingformility that sort of releases you fromDETAILSMaplewood Community Pool, 187 Boyden Avenue, volunteers (of all levels) to help plant,unrealistic expectations you have onMaplewood; MaplewoodCommunityMusic.orgharvest and deliver food to local foodyourself.Swing Townpantries.Emailrentpartygarden@ CindyPermanisafreelancewriter,Meadowland Park Conservancy and gmail.com to get involved. editor,petsitterandbackyardgar- South Orange VillageBringing people togetherdener who has lived in Maplewood forJune 285PM Star-Spangled South Orange with 15 years. She is still in pursuit of thefree kids activities and dance performances, food The season starts and ends with aperfect tomato to grow in New Jersey. trucks, the Town Hall Deli Sloppy Joe Eating Contest, clean-up day in the community gar- a performance by the South Orange Symphony and dens. Both towns alsoan evening showing of "A League of Their Own"havepotluckgath-DETAILSFloods Hill, 100 North Ridgewood Road, South eringsatthegardenOrange; MeadowlandPark.org throughoutandat theendofeachsea- The Theater Projectson,wheremembers can bring a dish usingJune 287:30PM , June 292PM Broadway something they grewJukebox: Alumni of Theater Project Jr program inthegarden.Thereunite to perform songs and skitsMaplewoodCom- August 1-2 7:30PM ,August 32PM Kaleidoscope munityGardenalsoKabaret: Annual festival of songs and short plays hasatomatopartyfrom Playwrights Workshop and Young Playwrights in August, where gar- At the Maplewood Community Gardens tomato partyCompetitionBroadway Jukeboxdeners can share theirin August 2024 gardeners made dishes with their toma-toes and brought some of their favorites for others toDETAILSEvents held at different area locations. For information favorite tomatoes andsample. Photo by Jane Verber. and tickets, visit thetheaterproject.org/summer-season-2025 contd on p. 29feature story /27'