1st ANNUAL METUCHEN TREASURE HUNT (FULLY BOOKED, SORRY!)
The Raconteur, in conjunction with the Metuchen Masonic Lodge, is sponsoring a Metuchen based treasure hunt! In keeping with the rollicking spirit of The Man who Would be King, Freemason Rudyard Kipling's fantastic tale of two masonic scoundrels who set off from 19th century British India in search of gold and adventure and end up as kings of Kafiristan, and The National Treasure, in which hoard hunter Benjamin Gates follows a series of cryptic clues to find an ancient cache intertwined with the arcane history of Freemasonry, young adventurers (boys and girls 1st through 5th grade) work in teams, following clues and unraveling a variety of knotty riddles as they move from one mysterious location to another within the town limits of Metuchen proper. Each cracked conundrum will lead players ever closer to the final treasure! Expect anagrams, number puzzles, and a brass plated, cylindrical device known as a Cryptex. FREE! Raconteur gift certificates awarded to all participants. Again, this weekend's hunt is, unfortunately, FULLY BOOKED (40 Kids!). But due to the overwhelming response, we will be organizing a second one late this summer. Watch the sea and skies for an upcoming announcement!
11 AM, Sun. June 7
Musicians Wanted!
TRANSATLANTIC WEB CAM JAM SESSION
Live Music
The first Sun of each month The Raconteur hosts a transatlantic jam session. The shop's session is concurrent with a very similar session occurring in Reading, England at a pub called The Retreat. Participants alternate, collaborate, and symphonize via a Google web cam. Web Cam Jam is more about the performers than the performance, but that doesn't you can't come in watch. Raconteur musicians drink coffee and play in the rear of the shop. Retreat musicians quaff pints (morning here, Happy Hour there) and are projected onto a movie screen behind local performers. All instruments welcome. Expect a triple necked guitar, electronic bagpipes, a jaw harp, two kazoos, a beer bottle organ, and something called a fluba, which appears to be a tuba-sized fluegel horn. NOTE: If you watched the Oscars this year, you heard Best Actress winner Kate Winslet mention this very same pub and the pickling contest her mother recently won there. Indeed, February's Web Cam Jam, Kate's mom, Sally Winslet (now known as the Queen of Shallots), was in the foreground eating bangers and in April’s Mr. Winslet sang the old broadside Darlin’ Old Stick. Seriously! FREE! COMP CORNBREAD (fresh from the oven)!
8 PM, Friday June 19
OFF THE RAILS: Hoboetry and Gallery Night
Six NJ Poets (Joe Weil, Deborah LaVeglia, Sarah Maloney, Tony Gruenewald, Rebecca Nison, Andrew Erkkila) and seven NJ artists (Seth Goodwin, Daniel Brophy, Diana Marsh, Robert Rubin, Bryant Jefopoulos, Jessica Kizmann, Charles Laskowski) present railroad infused readings, paintings, photographs, screen printings, drawings and sculpture. Followed by an open mic. Complimentary wine, cheese, and desserts. Free!
8 PM, Sat. June 27
POSITIVELY MAIN STREET
Featuring John Raido & The Cucumbers
Live Music
Musicians from all over New Jersey jam locally. Hosted by celebrated music zinester/Jersey Beat editor Jim Testa. Testa published the first issue of his zine Jersey Beat in 1982. It covers the music scene in New Jersey and beyond. Jersey Beat covers a wide cross section of music but most particularly Punk and its many off-shoots, including Hardcore, Old-Skool, Pop Punk, Synth Punk, Anti-Folk, etc. Several well-known zine writers have contributed to Jersey Beat over the years, including Donny The Punk, Jim DeRogatis, Ben Weasel, and Tris McCall. The Cucumbers' very first song, “My Boyfriend” became a hit on the college radio charts, leading to national tours, a couple of videos on MTV, reviews in Rolling Stone, People Magazine, The New York Times, etc. Their 6th album, All Things to You, was mixed by producer/engineer Roger Moutenot (Sleater-Kinney, Yo La Tengo, Lou Reed)."What makes the band major (besides Deena Shoshkes’ incredible voice) is the songwriting” The Village Voice. “Cool as you-know-what; sexy and bittersweet” People Magazine. “…budding with talent” Rolling Stone.
FREE! CDs on sale at event. Complimentary wine.
Morris Men 3:30 PM, Mon. July 6; Summer Bash (it's summer! show off your rac!) Fri. July 10; Risk Relay & Co. Fri. July 17; Michael Wexler & John Hulme (The Seems)Fri. July 24; Barry Monush (Everybody's Talkin') Sat. Aug 1; Sung Woo (Everything Asian) Fri. Aug. 7; Faces in the Rocks doc & The Beast of Bourbon Flip Fri. Aug 28; Michael Agovino (The Bookmaker)Sat. Sept 12; Padma Viswanathan (The Toss of a Lemon) Sat. Sept 26; A Clockwork Orange: A Staged Adaptation, Oct. TBA
