Art, Theater, Music, Flea Market, Bingo, and SCIENCE

Not as busy as last weekend, but still quite a few events, for families or an adult night out. Enjoy the summer-like weather.

Friday, April 28, 6:30 pm at Stewart Middle School cafeteria. Family Bingo Night. $15 per family includes 12 games and one raffle ticket. Additional games and raffles available for purchase. Refreshments available.

Friday, 8 pm at Theatre Horizon, "White" continues its run. Other shows this week are Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 2 pm (limited availability) and a second Norristown Night on Tuesday at 6:30 pm because the NN show on Wednesday is already sold out. Tickets and performance schedule at this link.  The show runs through May 21.

Saturday is the last chances to see Norristown Remembered: The Art of Frank Batson, at The Historical Society of Montgomery County (1654 DeKalb). Exhibit is FREE and open to the public. Hours vary. For info, contact 610-272-0297 or contact@hsmcpa.org. The Society is handicapped accessible.

Saturday, 10 am-1 pm at Covenant of Praise Church (900 W Airy). Community Flea Market. Rent a 10X10 Spot for $15 (you supply the table) or for $20 (we supply the table). $5 entry fee for best table theme along with a gift card give-away every hour. Music, food and fun. Contact Daniel Phaeton for info, 610-633-8182, copupc@gmail.com

Saturday, 10 am-2 pm at the Norristown Police Department (235 E Airy, rear). Prescription Take Back Day. Turn in unused or expired medicine for safe disposal.

Saturday, 8-11 pm at Five Saints Distilling (Main and Green). Brian Horoho performs.

Monday, 6-7:30 pm, Christian Network Outreach Church (1001 Swede). Norristown Community Meeting of Habitat (for Humanity) Montco to discuss our future Neighborhood Revitalization efforts.

Tuesday, 2-3:30 pm at the Norristown Library Board Room (2nd Floor). Mystery Tuesdays Book Club. Meets the first Tuesday of each month, led by Monica D'Antonio. This month's book is the classic “And Then There Were None," by Agatha Christie. Copies of the book are available at the Front Desk. Pre-registration is encouraged. Stop by the Front Desk or call to pre-register. 610-278-5100, x0 or averma@mclinc.org

Tuesday, 7:30 pm, Council Meeting at Municipal Hall.

Wednesday, 6:30-7:45 pm at the Norristown Library. Healthy Choices workshop. Learn to make better food choices. Includes food tasting. $5 material fee. Register at the front desk.

Thursday, at the Norristown Library. Registration for Science in the Summer begins. Children entering grades 2 through 6 in the fall can sign up for this free, fun science enrichment program provided by The Franklin Institute. This year: the Science of Sports. Behind every professional basketball player, gymnast, swimmer, and sprinter is a team of scientists who help athletes excel in their sport, from trainers, nutritionists and physical therapists to statisticians and equipment engineers. Students will learn about these scientists and tackle basic scientific concepts through fun, hands-on activities like experimenting with healthy sports drink recipes and creating their own bouncy balls to test bounce height against other sports balls. Two-day session dates are July 5 and 6, or July 31 and August 1. Sign up is online at this link and requires an email address. Please visit http://www.scienceinthesummer.com/ to sign up.

Earth Day Fest, Comic Fest, Theater(s), Music, History...Wow

Saturday is supposed to be the nice day sandwiched between 2 rainy ones this weekend. We got seven events going in N-town, but they're staggered enough that you could, say, go to Comic Fest, then over to Earth Day at the river, then take in the play at Centre Theater, then jazz at Five Saints. Most of the events are FREE. Plus, we've got plays in BOTH theaters this week.

Saturday, April 22, 10 am to 3 pm at The Norristown Library (Powell and Swede). Montco Comic Fest. FREE event. Dress as your favorite character, meet local artists and publishers, attend workshops and panels, and much more. For more information, visit www.mc-npl.org/comicfest.

Saturday is Earth Day. Three events in Norristown to choose from:

10 am-4 pm, Elmwood Park Zoo, Party for the Planet. Live entertainment and an Earth Expo with over 25 participating vendors of eco-friendly products and services. Requires zoo admission to attend.

1-5 pm at Riverfront Park (1 Haws Avenue), The Norristown Project and volunteers will clean up Riverfront Park. If you want to volunteer, come by 12:45 pm, wear long sleeves and pants (there might be early poison ivy in the wooded areas). Work gloves, bags etc. will be provided.

Also from 1-5 pm at Riverfront Park, the 1st Annual Earth Day/River Day Festival. FREE and open to the public. 15+ organizations (including The Norristown Diary) will help you celebrate Earth Day on the banks of the Schuylkill. Enjoy activities for kids and adults like wild edible plants foraging tours by Feed The Burbs (20 minutes, on each hour), a tree workshop by Out On A Limb, a Birding Station and free native plant seeds for your garden by the Audubon Society. Meet Conrad, the Audubon Society's resident bluejay (the 2nd half of each hour). Help build an interactive mosaic with recycled materials. Go on a scavenger hunt (2:30 pm). Learn about clean wind and solar energy from The Energy Co-op (including activities for kids). The Dragon Boat Club will be collecting river water for testing. Free boat rides for anyone who wants them. Food and music. Come reconnect with your river.

Saturday from 4-7 pm at Covenant of Praise Church (900 W Airy), Parent's Night Out (afternoon, technically). Games, pizza, live puppet show, prizes, and more. Ages 5-11. Free. Contact Olayemi Swindell, 301-613-9336, copupc@gmail.com, http://www.covenantofpraiseupc.com/events.html

Saturday night, 7 pm at Centre Theater (208 Dekalb), the play "Right Behind" by Raw Street Productions. Right Behind takes its audience behind the scenes of a restaurant, offering a brief glimpse inside the lives of the people that work there and depicting various extreme behaviors of the patrons. $15 Go to this link for tickets.

Saturday, 7-11 pm at Five Saints Distilling (Main and Green). Alex Otey Trio performs popular/jazz music.

Tuesday, 6 pm at the Historical Society (1654 Dekalb), Researching Your Home. For information, 610-272-0297 or contact@hsmcpa.org; hsmcpa.org  $25.00 per class for Society members/$30.00 for non-members.

Tuesday, 7 pm, Zoning Board Hearing at Municipal Hall.

Wednesday, 6 pm at the Norristown Library, CTC and Norristown Police present a special community conversation on underage drinking. For info, contact Viviann Schorle at vschorle@fsmontco.org or call 610-630-2111, x257.

Thursday, 7:30 pm at Theatre Horizon, the play "White" opens with a Pay What You Decide preview. The play will continue Friday and Saturday nights at 8 pm. Tickets and performance schedule at this link.

Ongoing through April 29, The Historical Society of Montgomery County (1654 DeKalb) is running the exhibit: Norristown Remembered, The Art of Frank Batson. Norristown native Frank Batson’s paintings are inspired by his memories of Norristown and the surrounding area from the 1940’s, ‘50’s, and ‘60’s. Many of the buildings and places are long gone, but through his art, they are brought back to life. Exhibit is FREE and open to the public daily, Monday and Thursday 10 am-4:30 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 1-7:30 pm. Saturday hours vary. For info, contact 610-272-0297 or contact@hsmcpa.org. The Society is handicapped accessible.

Egg Hunt, Movie, Music, History, Etc.

Get out and enjoy the holiday weekend.

Friday, the Municipal Offices and the Library are closed today.

Saturday, 10-11:30 am at Christ Church UCC (West Marshall & Noble), Easter Egg Hunt. Egg Decorating, Story Telling, & Egg Hunt. Bring a friend. Bring a neighbor.

Saturday, April 15, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, Centre Theater (208 DeKalb), Kids' Movie Club. The movie this month is Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. Children of all ages are invited. FREE. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Doors open at 10 am. For more information and to reserve your seats please send an email to centretheater@gmail.com. Since seating is limited, so reservations are recommended.

Saturday, 7-11 pm at Five Saints Distilling (Main and Green). River Bones Band performs.

Monday, 9 am-1 pm at Norristown Library (Powell and Swede). LAST session for AARP Tax-Aide Tax Preparation Assistance (taxes are due April 18th). Available free to taxpayers with low and moderate income, with special attention to those 60 and older. For info, contact Asha Verma at averma@mclinc.org or call 610-278-5100 x0. For more information on the documents you will need to bring with you, visit the Tax Aide website at AARP.org/taxaide, or call the toll-free number at 888-227-7669.

Tuesday, 6 pm at the Historical Society (1654 Dekalb), Reading Your House. Workshop covers introductory topics on historic architecture including: formal and vernacular architecture, regional differences in house types (pre-1850), basic styles and construction techniques from 1700 to 1920, how to measure and draw a house, and how to look around at the landscape of houses in Montgomery County. 2nd session next Tuesday (the 25th) covers researching your home. For information, 610-272-0297 or contact@hsmcpa.org; hsmcpa.org. $25.00 per class for Society members/$30.00 for non-members. Both sessions: $40.00 for members and $50.00 for non-members.

Tuesday, 6:30 pm at Municipal Hall. Council Workshop.

Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 pm, the NPD will conduct Neighborhood Watch Training at the Norristown Library. For information, contact Gina Davies (610)270-0490.

Thursday, 5-6:30 pm at the Historical Society. History of King of Prussia Mall (previously postponed because of the ice storm). Author and historian Michael Shaw, Presenter. FREE and open to the public. For more information contact the Historical Society at 610-272-0297 or contact@hsmcpa.org or visit hsmcpa.org

Thursday, 6-7:30 pm at Norristown Library. Town Hall Meeting hosted by Councilwoman Val Cooper. Sarah Peck and Francis Vargas have both confirmed their attendance. Topics of discussion will include the 1529 Dekalb St property (Tennis Club) and the Montgomery Hospital property on Powell St.

Ongoing through April 29, The Historical Society of Montgomery County (1654 DeKalb) is running the exhibit: Norristown Remembered, The Art of Frank Batson. Norristown native Frank Batson’s paintings are inspired by his memories of Norristown and the surrounding area from the 1940’s, ‘50’s, and ‘60’s. Many of the buildings and places are long gone, but through his art, they are brought back to life. Exhibit is FREE and open to the public daily, Monday and Thursday 10 am-4:30 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 1-7:30 pm. Saturday hours vary. For info, contact 610-272-0297 or contact@hsmcpa.org. The Society is handicapped accessible.

Next Saturday, April 22, 10 am to 3 pm at The Norristown Library (Powell and Swede). Montco Comic Fest. FREE event. Dress as your favorite character, meet local artists and publishers, attend workshops and panels, and much more. For more information, visit www.mc-npl.org/comicfest.

Also, next Saturday is Earth Day. Three activities in Norristown to choose from:

10 am-4 pm, Elmwood Park Zoo, Party for the Planet. Live entertainment and an Earth Expo with over 25 participating vendors of eco-friendly products and services. Requires zoo admission to attend.

1-5 pm at Riverfront Park (1 Haws Avenue), The Norristown Project and volunteers will clean up Riverfront Park. If you want to volunteer, arrive by 12:45 pm, wear long sleeves and pants (there might be early poison ivy in the wooded areas). Work gloves, bags etc. will be provided.

Also from 1-5 pm at Riverfront Park, the 1st Annual Earth Day/River Day Festival. FREE and open to the public. 15+ organizations (including The Norristown Diary) will help you celebrate Earth Day on the banks of the Schuylkill. Enjoy activities for kids and adults like wild edible plants foraging tours by Feed The Burbs (20 minutes, on each hour), a tree workshop by Out On A Limb, a Birding Station and free native plant seeds for your garden by the Audubon Society. Meet Conrad, the Audubon Society's resident bluejay (the 2nd half of each hour). Help build an interactive mosaic with recycled materials. Go on a scavenger hunt (2:30 pm). Learn about clean wind and solar energy from The Energy Co-op (including activities for kids). The Dragon Boat Club will be collecting river water for testing. Free boat rides for anyone who wants them. Food and music. Come reconnect with your river.

Also next Saturday, 7 pm at Centre Theater (208 Dekalb), the play "Right Behind" by Raw Street Productions. Right Behind takes its audience behind the scenes of a restaurant, offering a brief glimpse inside the lives of the people that work there and depicting various extreme behaviors of the patrons. $15 Go to this link for tickets.

Happy Easter and Passover.

Coffee, Crafts, Music and More

Get out and enjoy the (almost) nice spring weekend. Lots of events on Saturday.

Friday, April 7 at Theatre Horizon (401 Dekalb), Empowering the Heart (an evening of stories that unite) with speaker Kristin Pedemonti and educator Jennifer Melek Ozgur. Proceeds benefit Superkids of Montgomery County.

Saturday, 10:30 am-12:30 pm at the Little League Fields at Harding and Sterigere, Coffee With A Cop.

Saturday, April 8, 9:30 am-3:30 pm at Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). Spring Craft Fair. FREE and open to the public. Easter and Mother's Day gifts. Jewelry, baked goods, candy, bath soaps and bath items. Jewelry in candles, handmade crochet items. Autism Awareness crafts. Profits from the sale of vendor space benefits Norristown Preservation Society and the restoration of Selma Mansion.

Saturday, 7-10:30 pm, Coffee Talk (507 W. Marshall). CD release party. Performer Herman Bruning (her man 4 peace). CD is "Damaged Goods." $10.

Saturday, 8-11 pm at Five Saints Distilling (Main and Green). Alex O'Brien performs.

Saturday, 8-11 pm at August Moon. Second Saturday Jazz, featuring Lori Fulton and the Love, Lori Orchestra. Presented by Crying Sam Entertainment.

Monday, 9 am-1 pm at Norristown Library (Powell and Swede). Only 2 more sessions for AARP Tax-Aide Tax Preparation Assistance. Tax-Aide is available free to taxpayers with low and moderate income, with special attention to those 60 and older. For info, contact Asha Verma at averma@mclinc.org or call 610-278-5100 x0. For more information on the documents you will need to bring with you, visit the Tax Aide website at AARP.org/taxaide, or call the toll-free number at 888-227-7669.

Tuesday, 2-3:30 pm at the Norristown Library Board Room, Great Books Group. This month’s classic is “Catch 22," by Joseph Heller. New members welcome. Contact: Shirley Miller   (610) 272-4179.   

Tuesday, 5 pm, at Historical Society of Montgomery County (1654 Dekalb), The History of Trappe & Collegeville, Lisa Minardi, Presenter. FREE and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase. For information, contact the Society at 610-272-0297, contact@hsmcpa.org or visit www.hsmcpa.org.

Tuesday, 7:30 pm at Municipal Hall. Planning Commission meeting.

Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 pm, the NPD will conduct Neighborhood Watch Training at the Norristown Library. Continues next Wednesday after that (4/19) For information, contact Gina Davies (610)270-0490.

Wednesday, 6-7:30 pm at Greater Norristown PAL, Norristown Citizens Athletic Alliance will be conducting focus group meeting for the Norristown area athletic community. If you're a student athlete or the parent of one and would like to participate, go to this link and sign up.

Ongoing through April 29, The Historical Society of Montgomery County (1654 DeKalb) is running the exhibit: Norristown Remembered, The Art of Frank Batson. Norristown native Frank Batson’s paintings are inspired by his memories of Norristown and the surrounding area from the 1940’s, ‘50’s, and ‘60’s. Many of the buildings and places are long gone, but through his art, they are brought back to life. Exhibit is FREE and open to the public daily, Monday and Thursday 10 am-4:30 pm,
Tuesday and Wednesday 1-7:30 pm. Saturday hours vary. For info, contact 610-272-0297 or contact@hsmcpa.org. The Society is handicapped accessible.

Next Saturday, April 15, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, Centre Theater (208 DeKalb), Kids' Movie Club. The movie this month is Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. Children of all ages are invited. FREE. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Doors open at 10 am. For more information and to reserve your seats please send an email to centretheater@gmail.com. Since seating is limited we recommend making reservations.

2 weeks from Saturday is Earth Day (April 22). Norristown will boast 2 Earth Day Festivals, one at Elmwood Park Zoo, one at Riverfront Park. More info next week, but save the day.