March has arrived, and Essex County is gearing up for warmer weather events. This week’s local Montclair + beyond events guide has got you covered with a concert at The Wellmont, a wedding expo, the Montclair Farmer’s market, and more. Check out this list of all the events happening this weekend, March 3rd-6th.
Disclaimer: Events are subject to change. For the most up-to-date info, please contact the host directly.
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Lukin Center’s New Westfield Location + FREE Mental Health Consultation
Friday, April 1st | BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT
Lukin Center for Psychotherapy, is opening its 6th location at 128 South Euclid Avenue in Westfield on Friday, April 1st, in addition to its other locations in Montclair, Hoboken, Jersey City, Ridgewood, and Englewood. The family-owned and operated practice matches every patient with the clinician who has the right mix of skills, training, and personality for the best outcomes possible. MG readers can receive a FREE mental health consultation when you mention “Montclair Girl”. Call 973-920-3160 or email [email protected] for any inquiries or more information about the practice.
Click here to book your mental health consultation and click here to learn more about Lukin Center for Psychotherapy.
Personalized Help from the Access Navigator at Montclair Public Library
Thursday, March 3rd | 10AM – 4PM
Montclair Public Library’s Navigator will be meeting with individuals to help improve their digital literacy, guide them towards new employment, or develop new skills in general. This event will be held at 50 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Pastels: Independent Study at Congregation Shomrei Emunah
Thursday, March 3rd | 11AM – 12:30PM
This class will provides a supportive, educational, and friendly environment where you will be able to develop your own painting ideas using soft pastels. This event will be held at 50 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Codey Arena Senior Skating Session
Thursday, March 3rd | 10:45AM – 12:15PM
A skate session for seniors who are 40 years and older. This event will be held at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
Leaf Study Programs at Van Vleck House + Gardens
Thursday, March 3rd | 11:30AM – 12:30PM
Expand your botanical vocabulary and explore leaf shapes and structures, followed by a watercolor exercise inspired by the beauty of the leaves. This event will be held at 21 Van Vleck Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Memoir Writing at Montclair Public Library
Thursday, March 3rd | 1PM – 3PM
This class will be held at 50 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
French Class at Montclair Public Library
Thursday, March 3rd | 4PM – 5:15PM
Build your expertise by reading French texts and conversing in French. This is a virtual event. Learn more here.
Medieval Christianity + Gender at Montclair Public Library
Thursday, February 24th | 6:30PM – 8PM
This lecture will introduce German mystic, Hildegard of Bingen, including her life, vision, and medicine. This is a virtual event. Learn more here.
Showings at The Clairidge
Friday, March 4th
The Batman is opening on Friday. This event will be held at 486 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Intermediate Ukulele with Robert Mellman
Friday, March 4th | 1:30PM – 2:30PM
This event will be held at 50 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Codey Arena Learn to Skate
Friday, March 4th | 4:15PM – 4:45PM
A skate session for people who are looking to learn how to skate. This event will be held at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
Codey Arena Public Skating Session
Friday, March 4th | 4:45PM – 6:15PM
A skate session for people of all ages. This event will be held at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
Art Class + Pride Painting Hosted by One River School
Friday, March 4th | 5PM – 7PM
One River School teachers will host arts and crafts activities, including a collaborative art piece to be displayed at Montclair Pride 2022. This event will be held at 6 Seymour Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Fundraiser for Ukraine at Ruthie’s BBQ + Pizza
Friday, March 4th | 7PM – 9PM
Twenty percent of the proceeds will benefit Care, the international humanitarian agency that is getting emergency need to families and children in need in partnership with People in Need. This event will be held at 64 1/2 Chesnut Street in Montclair.
Indoor Live Music Night with Jane at Montclair Brewery
Friday, March 4th | 7:30PM – 9:30PM
This event will be held at 101 Walnut Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Adult Open Hockey at Codey Arena
Friday, March 4th | 8PM
You must be at least 16-years-old to participate. This event will be held at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
Kindred The Family Soul at SOPAC
Friday, March 4th | 8PM
This event will be held at One SOPAC Way in South Orange. Learn more here.
New Jersey Symphony: Ravel’s Boléro at NJPAC
Friday, March 4th | 8PM
This event will be held at 1 Center Street in Newark. Learn more here.
Justin Willman at The Wellmont Theater
Friday, March 4th | 8PM
This event will be held at 5 Seymour Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
A Portrait of Ray at The Vanguard Theater
Friday, March 4th | 8PM – 10PM
This event stars Broadway veteran Dwayne Clark and will be held at 180 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Event Horizon at Just Jakes
Friday, March 4th | 10:30PM – 1:30AM
This band will be performing at 30 Park Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Charity Ride for Ukraine at CycleBar Montclair
Saturday, March 5th
This event will be held at 656 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Readings With Mia at Houss Freya
Saturday, March 5th
This event will be held at 547 Valley Road in Upper Montclair. Learn more here.
Montclair Farmers’ Market at the Walnut Street Train Station
Saturday, March 5th | 8AM – 1PM
The Montclair Farmers’ Market brings together an array of local farmers and food artisans, offering fresh fruits & vegetables, meats, poultry, fish, cheeses, prepared foods, baked goods, condiments, honey, flowers, wine, pickles, and much more. This event will be held at 86 Walnut Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Codey Arena Learn to Skate
Saturday, March 5th | 11:15AM, 1:30PM
A skate session for people who are looking to learn how to skate. This event will be held at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
Codey Arena Public Skating Session
Saturday, March 5th | 11:45AM, 2PM
A skate session for people of all ages. This event will be held at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
Luxury Wedding Expo at Montclair State University
Saturday, March 5th | 12:30PM – 4PM
This event will be held at 1 Normal Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Codey Arena Family Stick + Puck
Saturday, March 5th | 3:45PM – 5:15PM
This event will be held at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
Russell Malone: Bethany Jazz Vespers at NJPAC
Saturday, March 5th | 6PM
Russell Malone is one of the signature guitar players of his generation. This event will be held at 1 Center Street in Newark. Learn more here.
Distillery Tour + Tasting in Newark
Saturday, March 5th | 6PM & 7:30PM
A history and technique-filled tour followed by cocktails at All Points West Distillery located at 73 Tichenor Street in Newark. Learn more here.
Wavey Saturdays at The ZuluBa
Saturday, March 5th | 7PM
Groove to a night of Afrobeats, Kompa, Soca, Dancehall, and music by Jhasirpow, Russian, and Ruthetruth. This event will be held at 437 Main Street in West Orange. Learn more here.
Ron White at NJPAC
Saturday, March 5th | 8PM
This Texas-born comedian is one of America’s most popular. This event will be held at 1 Center Street in Newark. Learn more here.
The Cliffs at Just Jakes
Saturday, March 5th | 10:30PM – 1:30AM
This band will be performing at 30 Park Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Codey Arena Public Skating Session
Sunday, March 6th | 11:45AM, 2PM
A skate session for people of all ages. This event will be held at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
New Jersey Devils vs. St. Louis Blues
Sunday, March 6th | 1PM
This event will be held at Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette Street in Newark. Learn more here.
Seong-Jin Cho at NJPAC
Sunday, March 6th | 3PM
This piano concert will be held at 1 Center Street in Newark. Learn more here.
Codey Arena Family Stick + Puck
Sunday, March 6th | 5PM – 6:30PM
This event will be held at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
Adult Night Roller Skating in Newark
Sunday, March 6th | 8PM – 11PM
Adult Night Roller Skating is Back at Branch Brook Park Roller Skating Rink. This event will be held at 7th Avenue in Newark. Learn more here.
Pop-Up Picnic in the Park Couple Date Night + 5 Love Languages (Self-Guided)
Ongoing
Enjoy a pop-up picnic sunset date with fun digital activities at Weequahic Park, Meeker Avenue in Newark. Learn more here.
Paper Bag Princess Day at Montclair Public Library
Saturday, March 5th | 11AM – 11:30AM
Celebrate with stories about girls with determination and grit followed by crafts. This event will be held at 50 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Chesstronauts at Montclair Public Library
Wednesday, March 9th | 6PM – 7PM
Chesstronauts uses Chesscall, software designed by five students from Montclair Kimberley Academy, who share a passion for chess. This is a virtual event. Learn more here.
French Speaking Class at Montclair Public Library
Monday, March 7th | 1:30PM – 3PM
This is a virtual event. Learn more here.
Italian Speaking Class at Montclair Public Library
Monday, March 7th | 6PM – 7PM
This is a virtual event. Learn more here.
American Sign Language Class at Montclair Public Library
Monday, March 7th | 6PM – 8PM
This is a virtual event. Learn more here.
International Women’s Day Summit
Tuesday, March 8th | 10:30AM – 2:30PM
North Jersey female business leaders come together to celebrate women’s empowerment. This event will be held at 1129 Valley Road in Clifton. Learn more here.
Codey Arena Senior Skating Session
Thursday, March 8th | 10:45AM – 12:15PM
A skate session for seniors who are 40 years and older. This event will be held at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
Breaking Barriers at NJPAC
Tuesday, March 8th | 6PM
This event talks about African American businesswomen in the early 20th century and will be held at 1 Center Street in Newark. Learn more here.
Mandarin Chinese Class at Montclair Public Library
Tuesday, March 8th | 6:30 – 7:30PM
This is a virtual event. Learn more here.
New Jersey Devils vs. Colorado Avalanche
Tuesday, March 8th | 7PM
This event will be held at Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette Street in Newark. Learn more here.
Poetry Writing Workshop at Montclair Public Library
Tuesday, March 8th | 7PM – 8PM
This event will be held at 50 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Birds of the Advancing Spring at Montclair Public Library
Wednesday, March 9th | 8AM – 10AM
This event is held at various locations. Learn more here.
The Creators Room at NJPAC
Wednesday, March 9th | 6PM
This event covers unique pathways behind the scenes of Jazz, and will be held at 1 Center Street in Newark. Learn more here.
Spanish Speaking Class at Montclair Public Library
Wednesday, March 9th | 6:15 – 7:30PM
This class is for those who are able to communicate in Spanish at a novice level and want to continue to improve their pronunciation and knowledge of the language while increasing vocabulary. This event will be held at 50 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Women + Wealth at Montclair Public Library
Wednesday, March 9th | 6:30PM – 8:30PM
Explore things that really matter to you – getting your vital documents organized, five important things you need to know about Medicare and Social Security, and basic estate planning documents. This event will be held at 185 Bellevue Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Film Club at Montclair Public Library
Wednesday, March 9th | 7PM – 8PM
See assigned movies, then join classmates to talk about themes, plot, characters, acting, directing, cinematography, costumes, score, trailers and/or viewer’s expectations. This is a virtual event. Learn more here.
Son Volt at SOPAC
Wednesday, March 9th | 7:30PM
Son Volt is an Americana Rock band that also infuses Folk, Country, Blues, and Soul into their sound. This event will be held at 1 SOPAC Way in South Orange. Learn more here.
Sip + Sing Karaoke at Montclair Brewery
Wednesday, March 9th | 7PM – 9:30PM
This event will be held at 101 Walnut Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Catholic Charities of Newark | Newark
A variety of options are available to support the community. Please contact Sharon Reilly-Tobin via email at [email protected] to learn about the greatest needs. Learn more here.
Communities Promoting Animal Welfare in NJ | Montclair
With options to help from home, at school, in-person, and virtually, the entire community can help save animals in the area. Volunteers are needed to help educate the community on animal welfare, help organize events, transport animals to and from doctor’s visits, and more. Learn more here.
Montclair Fund for Women | 41 Watchung Plaza
Originally known as the Young Colored Women’s Christian Association, this organization was founded by African American women who came to Montclair in search of education, employment, and opportunity. As time passed, the organization not only changed its name; it joined forces with women of all backgrounds and became a prominent force in the community. Since its inception, the Montclair Fund for Women has given over $800,000 in grants to provide opportunities to women. Learn more here.
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These Celebs Were Spotted in the Montclair Area This Month
Have an event you’d like included in our guide? Email it to [email protected] by Tuesday at 12PM each week. You can also email advertising@themontclairgirl.
Have a great weekend, xo
Before the Internet Hype, This New Jersey Cafe Drew Its Inspiration from Wicked
There's a lot of holding space for the belting banger, "Defying Gravity," in the new hit movie, Wicked. But for those local to New Jersey, you may already know that there's a cafe and bakery in Pequannock, New Jersey already dedicated to its mission. Gina Cassesse, a 5th-generation Italian chef opened her shop Defying Gravitea in May of 2023, dedicated to serving gluten-free and dairy-free treats, with a mission to show that there are "no limits" to eating foods without dairy or gluten. Over the last few years, Defying Gravitea has become a staple for those looking for delicious eats in the New Jersey area — especially if gluten-free, celiac, or dairy-free. Located at 211 Newark Pompton Turnpike in Pequannock, this cozy café is entirely gluten- and dairy-free, with every dish made from scratch in small batches with locally-sourced ingredients. But long before the Wicked internet hype and press tour, Defying Gravitea was just one New Jersey woman's dream of being limitless when it comes to allergy-friendly eating.
The Journey to Gluten-Free
Gina Cassesse has been gluten-free since 1993, which, in the '90s, was a difficult feat given the lack of availability of food choices. As a 5th-generation chef, being in the kitchen with family and food had always been a prominent part of Gina’s life. Growing up, she worked in her family’s restaurant where she learned to cook, butcher, bake, and the essentials of day-to-day operations, but then moved into a corporate job in the food industry.
^Gina with her son Nicholas, who helps run the food truck portion of the venture — a true family affair
At her corporate position, she was on a special catering team for VIPs and ran dining services for a large university, as well as cooking for many celebrities such as Phil Simms, Margaret Thatcher, as well as Governor Phil Murphy and former Governor Chris Christie.
Climbing the corporate ladder over 15 years, Gina became tired of the "limits" as she describes them, and felt her true passion was in food, having learned alongside her father for years, but also in sharing her own allergy-friendly recipes. "I was there for 15 years. During that time, I learned I was intolerant to gluten and dairy and had an autoimmune condition." This, in part, she says, inspired her to take some of her family's traditional Italian recipes and treats and work them into new gluten- and dairy-free versions.
"I had learned from my father for years, so it was a natural shift. I wanted to show the world that eating dairy- and gluten-free doesn't have to limit you," she explained. But after leaving corporate and working in the restaurant industry in a different way, she decided she wanted a place of her own, and to show that gluten- and dairy-free eating doesn't have to "not be cardboard-flavored," (her words — not ours!). Gina decided to create her own cafe, opening Defying Gravitea in Pequannock, where she resides. She now runs it with her son, Nicholas — the 6th generation.
Read More: All the Gluten-Free Eats in the Montclair Area
Why Wicked-Inspired?
The outside of Defying Gravitea when it first opened.
Fun fact, per Gina: the spatula in the logo is Elphaba’s broom, and the cup is Glinda’s bubble.
Over the last few years, Defying Gravitea has become a staple for those looking for delicious eats in the New Jersey area — especially if gluten-free or celiac. It's an entirely dedicated kitchen, with every dish made from scratch in small batches with locally-sourced ingredients (Gina even gets gluten-free flour from Italy — it's better and much purer, she shares). But something that those who aren't familiar with Wicked may not know, is that it the inspiration behind Gina's creation.
"I saw Wicked over 20 years ago with the original cast, and it was so inspiring," Gina shared. "Around 11 years ago, I was going through a rebuild of myself, and that song got me through every single day. I would sing and cry, and when I stopped crying while singing — I knew I had evolved into the new version of myself." This, she says, inspired her to want to name her cafe Defying Gravi'tea' — a play on her favorite song.
Before All the Hype
It's no doubt that the Wicked trendiness has become international buzz around the internet. But before all of that, Gina was already serving up a hearty breakfast and lunch menu and providing in-house catering for special events and carry-out dinners, too, all with Wicked's mission in mind. The cafe recently launched its new event space, The Cottage House for special and intimate events including bridal and baby showers, birthdays, and more — and a food truck launched this fall 2024.
Defying Gravitea has a thoughtfully crafted menu that features unprocessed, farm-fresh ingredients and is entirely gluten- and dairy-free (GF/DF). Each dish is made from scratch, using whole ingredients and old-world grains (gluten-free flour even sourced in Italy!) to create meals that are both nourishing and delectable. She also has a full Defying GraviTEA line.
“We offer foods that are always fresh, made-to-order,” Gina shared with The Montclair Girl. “Though our bakery is dairy- and gluten-free, we assure you it’s got fat, sprinkles, and taste!”
The breakfast menu has a selection of hearty and comforting dishes. Think fluffy flourless oatmeal pancakes, savory breakfast crepes filled with house-made Goffle Farm chicken sausage crumbles, eggs, spinach, and DF cheddar cheese. You'll also find favorites like avocado toast on house-baked bread, egg sandwiches, + house-made banana bread. For lighter options, the menu also includes sweet potato and chia seed parfaits, waffles, granola, and made-to-order omelets.
For lunch, the menu features a range of sandwiches including the Bacon + Bleu, made with turkey bacon, sautéed onions + raisins simmered into a jam, and topped with bleu cheese. Other options include a chicken cutlet sandwich, a classic parm sub, seasonal salads, and flatbread pizza with fire-roasted tomatoes, house-made ricotta, and farm pesto, as well as eggplant caponata + chicken salad.
But the real clincher is dessert — decadent cakes, breads, scones, muffins, and brownies, all that taste like you're eating the real thing (trust us on that). Eating here really feels limitless when you're lactose or gluten-intolerant — a true testament to the fact that Defying Gravitea was just one New Jersey woman's dream coming to fruition: being limitless when it comes to allergy-friendly eating.
Defying Gravitea is located at 211 Newark Pompton Turnpike in Pequannock. Call 862-226-9692 for any questions, email [email protected], or visit the site for more info.
