Nerds in Fall: November 11, 12, 13

Book & Movie Nerds hit the jackpot this weekend: Between the Teaneck International Film Festival, the Holy Batvention event at the Landmark Loews Jersey City, and Gertrude Stein Radio Drama at the Raconteur in Metuchen, nerdy events are happening all over the North/Central Jersey map for you.

And on the Sports Nerd/Curiouser and Curiouser End: The Garden State Rollergirls host their last bout of the year in Wallington.

All unique, all nerdy, all in the $10 range, all in New Jersey.

Nerdy New Jersey: October 28-30

Boo! There are a LOT of Halloween-themed things happening around northern and central Jersey this weekend. We cannot cover them all and do them all justice, but we urge you to stroll around any Main Street of any of our adorable towns. They've all got something going on that's good for kids and Halloween nerds in general. While you're there, SHOP and support the local economy. Are malls charming, community-oriented and life-affirming? Heck no! Go downtown.

That said, here are some notable nerdtastic Halloweeny highlights:

Liberty Science Center's Spooktacular (Friday and Saturday, Jersey City, $15 & under)
Attend a traditional 19th-century style funeral at Historic Speedwell in Morristown (Friday and Saturday evenings)
Raconteur's Haunted Bookshop featuring scary literary characters (Metuchen, Saturday and Sunday, $5)
Classic scary (and campy) Halloween flicks at Loew's Jersey City (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, $7 and under, see website for details)

And for the disinterested, something non-Halloween-related:

Sugarloaf Craft Festival comes to Somerset (all weekend; click here for a discount on the entrance fee)

And whether you're in the Halloween spirit or no, we'll leave you with something seasonal to think about from one who thought a lot about these things:

"One need not be a chamber to be haunted,
One need not be a house,
The brain has corridors surpassing
material place."
-Emily Dickinson

Nerdy Things to Do: October 21-23

All weekend: Travel to Hawaii (figuratively, of course) through "Kulanihako'i: Living Waters" at Peak Performances in Montclair ($15). Also, the mother of all north Jersey craft markets returns to the Morristown Armory.

Friday and Saturday: The famous Clinton Haunted Mill is back open for business. The place did appear on an episode of Ghost Hunters, so it's a good spot if you like that sort of thing. Newark Bears are hosting something called Stadium of Screams every weekend this month.

Saturday and Sunday: It's here at last! The Last Fling Pumpkin Sling is all the nerdy goodness you could ever want. Check it out 9 am - 6 pm ($5/$3). Nerds who love a bargain should see what's for sale at the Playwright's Theatre of NJ Rummage Sale, from 9 am - 2 pm.

Saturday only: It's Pumpkin Patch Day at the Liberty Hall Museum in Union. They are charging $10 for adults and $6 for children (pumpkins not included), so something pretty special must be (better be) going on there. Morris County School of Technology has a similar thing going on with their Spooktacular Fun Fest in Denville, with a similar pricing scheme. For the grownup Book Nerds, The Raconteur in Metuchen hosts former High Times editor Mike Edison, reading from Dirty! Dirty! Dirty! "his wild and uncompromising history of four infamous magazines and the outlaws behind them." (This event is FREE.) There's also a Rummage Sale/Flea Market in Maplewood.

Sunday only: Crafty Nerds find their kinsmen (and -women) at the Teaneck Creek Conservancy EcoArt Day and Craft Fair, 11 am - 4 pm. The Morris K9 Campus hosts its Fall Festival; dogs welcome.

Heads up for the week ahead: On Thursday, former NJ Governor Richard Codey will speak, answer questions and sign copies of his book at FDU in Florham. It's free, but register if you're interested by contacting fdualumni (at) fdu (dot) edu.

Fun Things for Nerds to Do: October 8-9

Saturday:
Grounds for Sculpture hosts a pumpkin carving demonstration AND an Oktober Fest, or you can visit Oktoberfests in Verona Park and Warren (or just go to Zeppelin Hall in Jersey City).
Garden State Rollergirls host a home bout in Wallington ($10 advance/$12 door)
Pig Roast and Live Music (and pumpkins, and apples) at Peaceful Valley Orchards in Pittstown.

Saturday & Sunday:
The Dancing Henry V in Montclair ($15): Like Shakespeare? Like avant-garde performances? Like an inexpensive but impressive date? Check the website for details.
Korean Harvest Festival in Ridgefield. It will feature the Village People. What more need you know?
An all-female arts festival begins its run in Newton this weekend. It's a partnership between the Smithsonian, the NJ Council for the Humanities, and others, so it's no slouch.

Sunday:
Check out the Summit Street Fair from 11 - 5.

Things to Do for Jersey Nerds: Oct 1-2

Happy New Year, Nerds! Looking for something sweet to do after you've finished your apples and honey? Not sure what we're talking about? Either way, Nerd Alert is here for you.

Saturday, October 1:
Chante for Haiti in Montclair-- "a day of music, dancing, story telling and community" in support of Lamp for Haiti. ($20)
Shop and stroll at the Maplewood Village Fall Market, from noon to 5 PM.
Check out Piano Circus--"six performers circling six pianos" at Peak Performances in Montclair (8 PM/$15)
Undress for Success--literally--with lots of other ladies in South Orange as a benefit for breast cancer research and awareness. No fooling.
Bring the kiddies to the Essex County Octoberfest at the Environmental Center, or to the NJ Botanical Gardens in Ringwood for their Harvest Fest, which continues Sunday. For an event with kiddie and adult attractions, visit Unionville Vineyards for their Harvest Festival, where you can taste wine, stomp grapes, or get your face painted, among other things ($15/click for a coupon).
Catch a truly indie flick at the ongoing NJ International Film Festival at Rutgers New Brunswick

Sunday, October 2
NJ Botanical Gardens Harvest Fest continues, or check out Califon's Harvest Fest
The Musconetcong Watershed Association sponsors its 9th Annual Wine-Tasting Event in Asbury
The Whippany Railway Museum presents its Pumpkin Festival, plus old trains!
The Morristown Festival on the Green includes lots of local businesses and organizations from noon-5 PM
See dancers leap and frolic amongst the art at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton
Give historic Williamsburg a run for its money at the Lord Stirling 1770s Festival in Basking Ridge

Food Nerds, Festival Nerds Clean Up Sept. 24-25

New Jersey Restaurant Week wraps up this weekend with multi-course lunch and dinner specials for $19 and $35, respectively, or less! Locations throughout the state; see the website for details.

Get to do some actual grape stomping at Villa Milagro Vineyard's Feast of San Gennaro this Saturday.

Loew's Jersey City has some swinging 60s (and early 70s) films from the vaults that Movie Nerds may be interested in seeing (including the dashing Steve McQueen...)

Town Street Festivals happening this weekend:
Saturday & Sunday: Chester's Oktoberfest, Bloomfield's HarvestFest
Saturday only: Tewksbury's Harvest Fest, Hoboken's Arts and Music Festival, Morristown Green's Hurricane Irene Disaster Relief Drive (plus music, food, and other fun)
Sunday only: Westfield's Festifall, Englewood Cliffs Street Fair

Nerdy Things to Do: Sept 9-11

Crafty Nerds! Your time has come back! Kick off the handmade sweater-wearing season at the Chester Craft Show ($3 admission; check the website for a discount). You may also want to grab your Farm Nerd friends for the 17th Annual Sheep & Fiber Festival at the Hunterdon County Fairgrounds.

Movie Nerds welcome back the NJ International Film Festival at Rutgers with its Fall season. This weekend, free food!

Food, Festival and Multicultural Nerds never miss a good street fair, and the Hoboken Italian Festival puts the other street fairs to shame.... though the Brazilian Day Festival at Independence Park in Newark may give her a run for her money.

Music Nerds should bob their heads all the way to the Somerville Jazz Festival (FREE) on Sunday.

Lastly, some heads-ups for future nerdiness that may sell out quickly:
Sept. 15: The Somerset Patriots honor Joe Torre for his charitable work; Torre will greet fans and accept an award at the game.
Oct. 22: David Johansen and and Garland Jeffreys At the Tabernacle in Mount Tabor.