A weekend of belly-busters and bargains awaits visitors to Red Bank’s International Flavour Festival on Sunday, above, and the Townwide Yard Sale on Saturday, below. (Photo by Alexis Orlacchio. Click to enlarge)
By ALEXIS ORLACCHIO
Friday, April 26:
LINCROFT: Score some points at the “Hoops for Hope” basketball tournament to support the Community YMCA’s Strong Kids Campaign and Dreams for Kids at Brookdale Community College. The night consists of a series of basketball matches between the Dreams for Kids All-star team, featuring current and former NFL players, and community teams including the Red Bank Police Department, Red Bank Charter School, Red Bank Catholic Girls Varsity Basketball Team and the Monmouth University Women’s Basketball Team. Other activities include a VIP reception with the NFL athletes, NFL store, student performers, gift and silent auctions, a 50/50 raffle and community organization booths. Tickets prices vary and family packs are available; purchase them online or at the door. “Hoops for Hope” runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Robert Collins Arena. Newman Springs Road.
RED BANK: “The Electric Baby” continues its run at Two River Theater. The drama follows three pairs – a middle-aged couple, a hopelessly devoted lover and the apple of her eye, and a Romanian mother and Nigerian father caring for their child – who discover the ways in which their lives are connected. The play, by Stefanie Zadravec, runs through May 5. Tickets are $24-$42 and the show begins at 8 p.m. 21 Bridge Avenue.
RED BANK: Sing your heart out at “Rock N Roll Karaoke,” a weekly happening hosted by the band from NYC’s Arlene’s Grocery. Attempt to master the vocals and music of classic rock favorites at The Downtown. The event begins at 10 p.m. 10 West Front Street.
RED BANK: Gallery U is proud to present “an evening of spoken word by local writers” in the latest edition of its monthly series, Poetry U. Scheduled readers include Tony Ciavolella, Jennifer Cory, Laury Egan, Robert P. Langdon and others. The event runs from 8 to 10 p.m. 80 Broad Street.
RED BANK: Come relax at the monthly BYOB house party at the old Anthony Reckless Estate, presented by the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation to benefit the scholarship programs of the JSJBF and the Woman’s Club. A $10 donation is encouraged. The party runs from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. 164 Broad Street.
Saturday, April 27:
RED BANK: The town of Red Bank turns into a dream for bargain hunters at the sixth annual daylong “Wide Yard Sale.” As of Thursday, 85 households had signed up to participate in the sale, with proceeds going to the Friends of the Red Bank Public Library. Register and look up participating addresses here. The Yard Sale runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Red Bank Library and other locations.
LOCATIONS VARY: Clean Ocean Action presents the 28th Annual Spring Beach Sweeps, in which volunteers take part in beach cleanup operations at several Monmouth County sites, including one on the Swimming River at the western end of Drs. James Parker Boulevard in Red Bank. Register here. The cleanup runs from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
RED BANK: Spend Saturday learning about your health the fun way at YMCA’s “Healthy Kids Day,” a free community event for kids and families across Monmouth County. Make your own trail mix, learn about nutrition and take a guided walking tour of Red Bank. Kids who finish the walk have a chance at receiving a jump rope (while supplies last). The event is free and runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m. 166 Maple Avenue
RED BANK:  “Anything Goes” at the old fashioned classic musical appearing at Count Basie. Directed by Gary Shaffer, the show is filled with laughs, love, and Cole Porter favorites. Tickets are $22, $26, or $32. 99 Monmouth Street.
MIDDLETOWN: Just in time for Mother’s Day, the Tatum Park activity center will be selling unique, handcrafted gifts at the Spring Craft Show. The Craft Show runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 151 Red Hill Road.
TINTON FALLS:Â The Jersey Shore Rose Society gathers for its monthly meeting. There will be a beginnerÂ’s clinic followed by the main meeting with speaker JSRS President Leslie Cox. The meeting runs from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. 864 Shrewsbury Ave.
RED BANK: Red Bank Library hosts “Acoustic Saturdays,” hosted by Anton Daub. The monthly series invites local musicians to perform; this month welcomes vocalist, pianist, and guitarist Mary Koth Lutton. The concert is free and runs from 2 to 4 p.m. 84 West Front Street.
RED BANK: Let children learn about the craft of collage and create their own Earth Day inspired pieces at the “Artsy Smartsy,” an event hosted at the Red Bank Library. The free program runs from 2 to 3 p.m. 84 West Front Street.
SHREWSBURY: April is National Poetry Month, so celebrate a late 20th century American poet, May Swenson at “Come What May,” a free event held at the Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library. Scheduled guest speakers include poets Joan Larkin, Timothy Liu, Grace Schulman and editor Andrew Rubenfeld. The celebration begins at 2 p.m. 1001 Route 35 North.
MIDDLETOWN: Laura McCullough, published poet and Brookdale Community College faculty member, reads from her most recent work, “Rigger Death and Hoist Another,” at the Middletown Main Library. The reading begins at 2 p.m. 55 New Monmouth Road.
LINCROFT: Pianist and Brookdale Community College professor Joe Accurso leads the school’s house band in a return to the Lincroft campus Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $15 or $17, the concert runs from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Newman Springs Road.
Sunday, April 28:
RED BANK: Twenty five of Red Bank’s restaurants and food purveyors come together for the International Flavour Festival. Come make the second annual event as successful as the first. With two stages, there will be plenty of live music to provide a soundtrack for the party. Dine on delicious food, sip some international beer and wine, and dance this lazy Sunday away. Proceeds benefit the Monmouth Day Care Center, Red Bank RiverCenter and the Red Bank Regional Buccaneers Athletics Foundation. Rain or shine, the festival runs from 12 to 7 p.m. The event is a $5, children ages 10 and under are free. White Street Municipal Parking Lot.
RUMSON: New Jersey Friends of Clearwater invites you to “Music on a Sunday Afternoon” at the Molly Maguire’s Black Point Inn. The fundraiser includes a rockin’ musical line up of musicians Poppa John, Gary Wright, The Wag & more. Fill your tummy with baked ziti and salad from the free buffet. Suggested admission is $12 and the concert runs from 1 to 5 p.m. 132 East River Road.
LINCROFT:Â Radio pop star and American Idol Season 11 winner Phillip Phillips visits the Robert J. Collins Arena at Brookdale. The doors open at 4:30 p.m., the show begins at 5:30 p.m. This concert is sold out. Newman Springs Road.
RED BANK: Take a 2.5 Minute Ride to Two River Theater to see a funny and moving autobiographical story. The story focuses on the relationship between author and storyteller Lisa Kron and her Holocaust survivor father. Tickets are $24 – $42. The one-woman show begins at 8 p.m. 21 Bridge Ave.
