Warren County Wanderings

Starting March 11, 2020

"May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow. And may trouble avoid you wherever you go." - Irish Blessing

If the approach of St. Patrick's Day puts you in the mood for corned beef and cabbage (and other traditional Irish fare), you will find plenty of leads in this issue! But if you don't see your favorite eatery listed, no worries! We don't claim to know everything, and strongly suspect your restaurant of choice will offer Irish specials this weekend through the holiday. The photo above depicts last year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Hackettstown, which will be stepping off for the 12th time on Sunday. (Check out the snow on the ground!) We also have Friday the 13th upon us, and other interesting happenings, so keep washing those hands and get out there and celebrate! (But please stay home if you are sick.) Happy Wanderings!

Coming Up

Reception to honor 2020 St. Patrick’s Parade Grand Marshal, Mr. Joe Barnes from Hacketstown, Ireland. The reception dinner features a live performance by Rory O’Moore School of Pipes and Drums and a dance performance by Slattery School of Irish Dance.

Blairstown Museum hosts 13 hours of fun on Friday the 13th to celebrate everyone's favorite slasher, Jason Voorhees! Events include photos with Bunny Jason all day; a F13-themed Moonlight Easter Egg Hunt; and meet the cast and crew of the highly anticipated movie His Name Was Jason... A Friday The 13th Fan Film! (Sorry, the Jason Trolley Tours of local sites where the original movie was filmed in 1979 is sold out!)

Get your hiking boots out and enjoy the fresh air! Hikes must be registered for in advance, please call 973-347-1835. Beginner, intermediate & advanced level hikes will be offered. Participants must start with a beginner hike before registering for increased levels.

Interested in raising your own flock of chickens or ducks for eggs or meat? Come learn the basics and have your questions answered by Hank Bignell Jr., M.S. Senior Program Coordinator. 

A fun and creative evening for a great cause (Habitat for Humanity). Amanda Noll, a local professional artist, will lead you through the process to create this scene on a 16x20" canvas.

They were warned… They are doomed… And on Friday the 13th, nothing will save them.

Citizens for Sustainable Development logo

Create your own Custom Wood Sign, let your imagination run wild and create a sign for your home, office, or a gift, at this craft and sip event that supports Citizens for Sustainable Development.

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day all weekend, Friday trhough Tuesday, with Irish fare specials and new Buck Brews to be released Friday, March 13: Blarney Stone Irish Stout, Mccliff's Irish Red and Irish Coffee Stout. 

Come enjoy free live music with family, friends, and delicious wines! 

Country recording artist and songwriter Bobby Clark "Plays it Hard" at Rock Creek Tavern!

Join National Park Service rangers and Millbrook Village Society volunteers to celebrate the approach of spring with the North American tradition of maple sugaring. American Indians, early settlers, and their descendants all looked forward to collecting and boiling the sap of locally abundant sugar maple trees. Experience this tradition for yourself! See and participate in the “sugaring” process from the tree to the table. Woodstove and outdoor cooking demonstrations will showcase the use of maple products in recipes common during the 1800s. Admission is free.

Welcome Spring with two fun crafts that will brighten any room! You will fill a 6" white basket - rimmed with a pastel ribbon - with dried flowers from the farm, then decorate a 7" straw hat with ribbon and dried flowers. $30.00.

We will TRAIN your tastebuds to taste! Learn to discern fruit and other flavor notes, levels of tannins, acids, oak and other characteristic flavor components for white vs. red wines; then learn the steps to properly tasting a wine. $30/person.

Festivities include piped music that will have everyone's toes tapping, traditional Corned beef sliders ($10), wine by the glass or bottle, and St. Paddy's Punch (prices vary). Informative wine cellar tours offered hourly beginning at 12pm. Wear special St.

An evening of good food, singing, and dancing with friends. Entertainment by George Moran, who has played resorts, country clubs, cruise lines, and adult communities. He is a music teacher and an owner of Valley Music Center in Long Valley, NJ.

$20/person includes entertainment by Kitty and Dave of DW Wilson Inc., snacks and prizes. Cash bar. Benefitting United Presbyterian Church of Belvidere and beiing held at Belvidere Manor.

Singer/songwriter Robbie Fulks was one of the more heralded talents in the alternative country movement, with a gift for writing incisive and evocative songs in the country and pop traditions and displaying an offbeat, sometimes dark sense of humor in many of his best moments. Self styled NJ singer/songwriter and all-around raconteur Don Elliker opens the show at 8pm.

Dance to rock and alternative hits of the 80s and 90s (formerly the Dexter Montana Band).

Hosted by Jimmy Farrell of the Celtic Rebel Band. Songs, stories, a bit of laughter along with dinner and Step Dancers as well.

Acoustic music from the duo of Kira Crissinger, lead vocals, and Jake Schmoyer, acoustic guitar and vocals.

Remember a favorite time of your life with covers of memorable hits over the decades with great showmanship, musicianship and high energy that will get you moving.

Join your favorite Leprechaun and our favorite Irish Bartender as we celebrate St. Patrick's Day! Brook Hollow Winery is providing you with delicious Corned Beef, Cabbage, Potatoes, Soda Bread, and live music. Maybe you'll hear your favorite Irish jig! $20/person (plus tax).

This Irish-American tradition attracts more than 14,000 visitors—making this parade one of the biggest events in Hackettstown. Streets fill with enthusiasm as families, residents and visitors line up along the curb, in store windows and porches to celebrate and witness the festive parade, stepping off at 3:30 p.m.

Enjoy listening to Rich Ortiz. Wine is available for purchase by the glass or bottle.

$2 food specials all day, including corned beef sandwiches, corned beef & cabbage, bangers and mash, shepherd's pie, and our annual Reuben Empanadas made by our neighbors Empanada Mamasita!

Celebrate the luck of the Irish with Irish stew, green beer and cheer!

 

Blairstown Inn will offer traditional Irish dinner and drink specials all weekend (homemade corned beef and cabbage, green beer) but stop in on March 17 in your best Irish garb for some shenanigans!

Continuing

BY APPOINTMENT: You can learn technology at any age! Warren Hills High School Streak Nation Service Club offers Free Tech Help by appointment to senior citizens in Warren County.

Budding Artists' spring session of classes (Where Art and Math Meet) is open for registration for kids ages 5-18. These free classes meet Mondays in March. Choose a time: 4-5:15pm or 6-7:15pm.

Community Corner

Come for lunch and information about the Warren County Economic Development Committee with EDC President Mitchell Jones and committee members Linda Stettler and Melanie Thiel.  Hear what the EDC does to benefit Warren County and come with any questions you may have.  The cost is $15.00

Abigail Adams, in a letter to John Adams dated March 31, 1776, exhorted him to "Remember the Ladies."  In celebration of March as Women's History Month, join Joel Farkas, volunteer docent at Washington's Headquarters in Morristown, to "remember the ladies" of the Revolutionary War.  Mr.