November 27, 2024

Let Us Now Praise James Agee on His 115th Birthday

By Stuart Mitchner

The day after I wrote an article on Elon Musk referencing his first and foremost “life lesson,” that “empathy is not an asset,” the New York Times came up with a front page that instantly connected with my post-election state of mind. Lead head: “Chop First and Fix Later: How Musk Tames Costs.” The story directly beneath: “Trump Stands by Defense Pick Who Denies Sex Assault Claim.” Directly under that: “Robots Still Lack Human Touch in Warehouses.” And just below came two smaller heads previewing stories in the Business section: “Social Media Veers Right” and “Spirit Files for Bankruptcy.”

While the “spirit” in the story is a low-fare airline, what stands out in the current news cycle is the primary meaning of the word as understood by James Agee, who was born on this day in 1909. In his biography James Agee: A Life (Penguin 1985), Laurence Bergreen underscores Agee’s “eloquent” response to the April 12, 1945 death of President Roosevelt. Writing in The Nation, Agee celebrated Roosevelt as someone whose passing would inspire men with a “metaphysical yet very literal faith” in a “unanimity and massiveness of spirit.” Bergreen adds that Agee “perceived the same massiveness of spirit among Southern blacks.” more

McCarter Theatre Presents Innovative String Quartet Ensemble

By Nancy Plum

It would be hard to choose who was the greater teenaged composer — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart or Felix Mendelssohn. The prodigious musical childhood of Mozart has long been documented, but the works of the young Mendelssohn were no less remarkable. The New York City-based Renaissance String Quartet brought one of Mendelssohn’s early works to life in a concert last Thursday night at McCarter Theatre Center’s Matthews Theatre. Violinists Randall Goosby and Jeremiah Blacklow, violist Jameel Martin, and cellist Daniel Hass played Mendelssohn’s youthful String Quartet No. 1 in E-flat Major in an evening beginning with the early 19th century and ending with a composer born almost at the turn of the 21st century.

The Renaissance Quartet’s inventive approach to chamber music was evident from the moment the musicians came onstage. The Quartet began Mendelssohn’s first published work —emphasizing a sadness in the opening “Adagio” — with expressive motivic gestures which may have been meant as a tribute to the recently deceased Beethoven. The Quartet musicians kept chipper passages bright, with violist Martin bringing out lush melodic lines. The second movement “Canzonetta” reflected Mendelssohn’s ballet A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with an elfin middle section abounding with fluttering fairies in the violins. The Quartet showed its playful side in this music, but never lost the required rhythmic precision.  more

Music by Three Composers on Richardson Program

AN AFTERNOON OF MUSIC: Princeton University Sinfonia, conducted by Ruth Ochs, appears at Richardson Auditorium on Sunday, December 8.

The Princeton University Sinfonia will present a concert on Sunday, December 8, at 3 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium. Ruth Ochs will lead the program.

The concert will open with an early work by Jean Sibelius, his Karelia Overture, a musical tribute to the region in Finland’s southeast.

The world premiere of Kindly as dust I scatter towards light by Princeton undergraduate composer, Romit Kundagrami ’26, is also featured. A student in Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs, where he researches migration, Kundagrami devotes significant time to Princeton’s musical ensembles, and he credits those experiences as inspiration. more

Motown Greats to Perform at New Brunswick Venue

TWO LEGENDARY GROUPS: The Four Tops, shown here, will appear with The Temptations at State Theatre New Jersey on December 12.

State Theatre New Jersey presents The Temptations & The Four Tops on Thursday, December 12 at 7:30 p.m.

The two iconic Motown groups will perform their biggest hits including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch),” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “Baby, I Need Your Loving,” and many more.

The Temptations are revered for their phenomenal catalog of music and prolific career. While the group has evolved over the years, founding member Otis Williams has continued to lead the group. They were ranked No. 1 in Billboard magazine’s most recent list of the Greatest R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of All Time. The Temptations are the recipients of numerous awards and honors, and have been the subject of the Broadway musical, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations. more

Folksinger David Roth Returns to Local Stage

FOLK HERO: David Roth brings his bold style of singing and songwriting to Christ Congregation Church on Friday, December 13 at 8 p.m. (Photo courtesy of Michael and Suz Karchmer)

The Princeton Folk Music Society welcomes back singer-songwriter David Roth to Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane, for a concert on Friday, December 13 at 8 p.m.

Roth’s unique songs have made him a favorite of the Princeton Folk Music Society, which is presenting him for the sixth time. Roth’s songs have been recorded by Christine Lavin, Anne Hills, and Tom Chapin, among others. His appearances have ranged from singing the national anthem in front of a sold-out Chicago Bulls/New York Knicks game to intimate house concerts and innumerable workshops to singing for the United Nations 40th Anniversary celebration.

Tickets are available online or at the door (if not sold-out): $25 ($20 members, $10 students). Visit princetonfolk.org for tickets and livestream access.

Passage Theatre Company Celebrates a Milestone

PEACE AT PASSAGE: Singer-songwriter/activist John Flynn performs at the 40th anniversary fundraiser for Trenton’s Passage Theatre Company on December 7.

Singer-songwriter and activist John Flynn is the headliner at a night of song and peace Saturday, December 7 at 6 p.m. to mark the 40th anniversary of Trenton’s Passage Theatre Company. The event, hosted by Leticia Williams, includes pre-show refreshments provided by Gingered Peach and Kafe Ojala.

Flynn is considered a champion of justice and healing the community through group song. His voice is an ardent yet whimsical battle cry and he will inspire you to join the fight. The late Kris Kristofferson, a longtime friend of Flynn, has called him “an important artist whose work in prisons, rehabs, and half-way houses is distilled into the truth and the beauty of heartfelt and heartwarming slices of life.” more

“Flora, Fauna, and Water” at Gourgaud Gallery

“AUTUMN IN CRANBURY”: This work by Linda Gilbert is featured in “Flora, Fauna, and Water,” on view December 4 through December 27 at the Gourgaud Gallery in Cranbury. An opening reception is on December 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Cranbury Arts Council and the Gourgaud Gallery will present this year’s Open Call exhibit, “Flora, Fauna, and Water,” December 4 through December 27. An opening reception is on Sunday, December 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The show features works from a number of artists in two-dimensional mediums. Open Call has been run by Linda Gilbert, chairperson of the Gourgaud Gallery, for a number of years. more

“Mostly Small Works” Group Exhibition at Artists’ Gallery

“CAUGHT IN THE LIGHT”: This acrylic painting by Michael Berardesco is featured in “Mostly Small Works,” on view December 5 through January 5 at Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville.

Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville will present a gallery-wide group exhibit, “Mostly Small Works,” December 5 through January 5.

“WINTER CHILL”: This watercolor work by Beatrice Bork is part of “Mostly Small Works,” on view December 5 through January 5 at Artists’ Gallery in Lambertville. An opening reception is on Saturday, December 7 from 2 to 5 p.m.

 more

McCarthy Named Chief Curator at the Zimmerli Art Museum

The Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick has named Jeremiah William McCarthy as chief curator. In this new role, effective January 6, McCarthy will serve on the museum’s senior leadership team and participate in shaping its mission and vision. He will oversee the museum’s curatorial department and assume responsibility for the Museum’s scholarly and artistic program while managing the development of the Museum’s permanent collection and exhibitions.

“It’s a great honor to take on this leadership role at the Zimmerli,” said McCarthy. “The Zimmerli’s mission to use art as a tool to educate, inspire, and challenge resonates deeply with me. I am thrilled to lead and empower the curatorial team to advance an experimental program that is diverse, accessible, and academically rigorous.” more

Arts Council to Host Event with Patrick McDonnell

MCDONNELL AT ACP: The Arts Council of Princeton will host an artist interview and book signing with artist-author Patrick McDonnell on Saturday, November 30 from 3 to 4 p.m.

The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) will host an artist interview with Patrick McDonnell on Saturday, November 30 from 3 to 4 p.m. McDonnell — a Princeton resident — is the creator of the worldwide syndicated comic strip, MUTTS; a New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor-winning children’s book author, painter, and award-winning playwright. His original works are on view at the Arts Council through December 7.

The paintings in his Taplin Gallery exhibition — created with acrylic latex, oil stick, ink, and collage — are a continuation of the story of self-discovery told in his graphic novel, The Super Hero’s Journey, created for Marvel and Abrams Books.  more

“Perspectives on Preservation” Photo Exhibit Open House

On Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8, join Friends Of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) between 12 and 4 p.m. for a Holiday Open House at Mountain Lakes House, 57 Mountain Avenue.

View the FOPOS annual “Perspectives on Preservation Photo Exhibition,” enjoy complimentary refreshments, and stroll around the Christmas tree. Free. RSVP requested at fopos.org/events-programs.

“Rhythms of the Land” at Hutchins Galleries

“EMERALD ASH BORER GALLERIES ON WHITE ASH”: This work by Susan Hoenig is featured in “Rhythms of the Land,” on view December 5 through January 25 in the Hutchins Galleries at the Lawrenceville school.

“Rhythms of the Land,” an exhibition of paintings, forest compositions, leaf sculptures, cross sections of trees, and wildlife reliefs by Susan Hoenig is on view December 5 through January 25 in the Hutchins Galleries at the Lawrenceville school on Route 206. An opening reception is on Friday, December 6 at 6:30 p.m.

According to the artist, “The land upon which we gather is part of the traditional territory of the Lenape, called ‘Lenapehoking.’ The Lenape People lived in harmony with the land for thousands of years. Paintings, forest compositions, leaf sculptures, cross sections of trees, and wildlife reliefs are part of my ecological practice. I connect Earth and art to make visible the relationship between habitat, plant and animal life. My artwork explores the impact of ecological issues. ‘Rhythms of the Land’ engages the viewer to see the relationship between humans and their environment that sustains them. more

FiNNBAR, Formerly the Historic Frenchtown Inn, Offers Array of Dining and Beverage Options

DINING OUT: “The food will be casual and beautiful, surprising, yet not unfamiliar, with options for snacking and drinks,” says Cal Peternell, chef/owner of FiNNBAR, formerly The Frenchtown Inn. “In addition, we envision this to be a community gathering place for people to relax, be together, and enjoy good dining.”

By Jean Stratton

FiNNBAR, the very successful Frenchtown restaurant at 7 Bridge Street, is the result of the vision of a remarkable team of talented individuals who have transformed the historic Frenchtown Inn into a modern, vibrant dining opportunity.

With its new name, alluding to that of its predecessor, it offers both a lively and relaxed atmosphere, attentive and knowledgeable service, and high-quality Italian and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. In addition, an important focus is its welcoming community theme. more

Sparked by Volker’s Sensational Senior Day Effort, Princeton Football Edges Penn 20-17 in Season Finale

SENIOR MOMENT: Princeton University football running back John Volker looks for an opening in recent action. Senior Volker ended his Princeton career on a high note last Saturday, rushing for 130 yards and one touchdown and catching four passes for 40 yards to help Princeton edge Penn 20-17. The Tigers ended the fall at 3-7 overall and 2-5 Ivy League. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

John Volker was determined to keep his cool as he stood in the end zone with his classmates and their families last Saturday when the Princeton University football team held its annual Senior Day ceremony before hosting Penn in the season finale.

“Of course it is emotional, the focus for me was just remaining focused and not looking at the big picture,” said Princeton senior running back Volker. “I owe it to my teammates, my coaches, and everyone who put a lot into this program to have my full attention on this game for 60 minutes.” more

PU Women’s Volleyball Falls to Yale in Ivy Final, But Young Squad Showed Growth with Late Run

SET UP FOR SUCCESS: Princeton University women’s volleyball player Sydney Draper sets the ball in recent action. Last Saturday, sophomore star Draper tallied seven kills and 31 assists in a losing cause as top-seeded Princeton fell 3-0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-20) to second-seeded Yale in the final of the Ivy League Tournament at Dillon Gym. The Tigers ended the fall with a final record of 15-11 as they rebounded from a shaky 4-9 start. (Photo provided courtesy of Princeton Athletics)

By Justin Feil

Twice this year the Princeton University women’s volleyball team fell at home to Yale.

The second time came in the Tigers’ 3-0 loss (27-25, 25-23, 25-20) to the Bulldogs last Saturday at Dillon Gym and it hurt far worse than their 3-1 defeat back on October 5.

This time, it came in the Ivy League Tournament championship and the loss ended Princeton’s season that had come on so strongly down the stretch. more

PHS Boys’ Soccer Gets Edged in Group 4 Semis But Loss Can’t Dim What Team Achieved this Fall

TO THE MATT: Princeton High boys’ soccer player Matt Chao kicks the ball in a game earlier this season. Senior Chao helped key a strong defensive effort as PHS fell 1-0 to Southern High in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state semis on November 19. The Tigers ended the fall with an 18-3-4 record. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden 

Playing at Southern High in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Group 4 state semis last week, the Princeton High boys’ soccer team faced some challenges in terms of a talented foe and a choppy pitch.

“They are really big, athletic and we knew that Aidan Donnelly, their forward, was really a handful,” said PHS head coach Ryan Walsh. “They were really senior heavy so we knew that we were going to have to handle them athletically. It was going to be a different style of soccer because of their grass field. We spend so much time training to play some quality soccer. We knew it was going to be a different game, so we had to change our style a little bit.” more

Bringing Keen Focus Into Non-Public B Group Meet, Wilberforce School Girls’ Cross Country Placed 2nd

SPECIAL FORCE: Members of the Wilberforce School girls’ cross country team are all smiles after they placed second in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public B state championship meet at Holmdel Park earlier this month. Junior Laura Sallade placed third individually at the meet to lead the way for the Wolverines. In the team standings, Wilberforce had a team score of 53 with Villa Walsh taking first at 25. Pictured, from left, are Stella Tobey, Sophia Vardeman, Gwen Mersereau, Sallade, Stella Blanchard, and Adeline Edwards. (Photo provided by Lois Szeliga)

By Bill Alden

Heading into the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public B Group championship meet earlier this month, the Wilberforce School girls’ cross country team had extra motivation to excel.

“Having no county meet made a difference, the goal all season was Non-Public B,” said Wilberforce head coach Lois Szeliga, referring to the decision by the Mercer County Tournament Association last spring that it was discontinuing county competitions in favor of Colonial Valley Conference Tournaments which bar local private schools who are not members of the CVC. more

Adding Inside Punch To Go With Sharp Shooting, Hun Boys’ Hoops Primed for a Stellar Campaign

TYME TO SHINE: Hun School boys’ basketball player Drae Tyme heads to the hoop in a game last season. Senior forward Tyme, who also stars at football, will be looking to give Hun some muscle in the paint. The Raiders start their 2024-25 campaign by hosting Malvern Prep (Pa.) on November 30. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

As the Hun School boys’ basketball team rounds into shape for the upcoming season, adding some muscle from the school’s dominant football program should give it some more punch.

“We have got three football players, they are getting into the fray pretty quickly here,” said Hun head coach Jon Stone, who guided the Raiders to a 10-14 record last winter. “There is a lot of energy, there is a lot of enthusiasm. It is a really good group.” more

Featuring a Mix of New Faces, Veterans, Hun Boys’ Hockey Produces a 0-1-1 Start

By Bill Alden

Having lost a stellar group of nine seniors to graduation from last year’s squad, the Hun School boys’ hockey team will have a different look this winter.

“We have a lot of new faces but at the same time we still have a lot of guys who are familiar with the program and have been around for a few years,” said second-year Hun head coach Eric Szeker, who guided the Raiders to a 5-12 record last season. “One of the things I try to build is a good culture and that starts with the guys inside the locker room. They have done a really good job of making everybody feel welcome, whether it is the JV guys, the varsity guys, or new transfers, whatever it might be. There was a lot of excitement coming into the season.”

Hun started the season with two exciting games, falling 4-3 to Devon Prep (Pa.) last Thursday in its season opener and then skating to a 3-3 tie with Father Judge (Pa.) a day later.  more

November 20, 2024

Chemistry For Kids

Children enjoy a hands-on “elephant toothpaste” experiment at an event led by Princeton University chemistry graduate students at Princeton Public Library on Saturday afternoon. Attendees discuss their favorite experiments in this week’s Town Talk on page 6. (Photo by Sarah Teo)

Council Hears Report on Harrison Street Corridor

By Anne Levin

At a meeting on Tuesday, November 12, Princeton Council was given a first look at a study being designed to improve safety along a 2.5-mile stretch of the Harrison Street corridor. Representatives from the consulting firm Michael Baker Inc. made a presentation in which the enhancement of pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist safety is the priority.

Municipal staff members and Pete Kramer of the consulting firm stressed that the presentation is still in conceptual form. The study, which covers Harrison Street from its southern border to Route 206, considered five years of data related to traffic and crashes.

“It’s really about safety more than moving traffic,” said Kramer, who showed a graphic compiled from national data on traffic speeds. While a pedestrian hit by a vehicle traveling at 40 miles per hour has an 80 percent chance of being killed, that figure is down to 10 percent if the vehicle is going half the speed. more

Dems, Republicans, Nonpartisans Look to Uncertainties Ahead

By Donald Gilpin

Two weeks after the culmination of the fiercely fought and — at least for many — surprising, 2024 elections, politicos, local organizations, and Princeton residents from across the political spectrum are wondering what comes next.

Donald Trump and JD Vance registered a dramatic victory nationwide, winning all the swing states, and made significant gains in New Jersey in losing by only 46.1 percent to 51.9 percent. In Princeton, however, the total was about 83 percent (10,201 votes) for Kamala Harris and 16 percent (2007 votes) for Trump, and the Democrats won the mayoral election and two Council seats unopposed. Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman coasted to reelection in the 12th Congressional District, and Andy Kim handily won in the New Jersey race for U.S. senator.

Nick DiDomizio, president of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization (PCDO), expressed concerns shared by many of his fellow Democrats. “The results in New Jersey were obviously disappointing,” he said. “It was really close, just a single digit margin for New Jersey, and I think that’s been causing a lot of despair as it pertains to next year’s governor’s race and the Assembly race.” more

“Battle Window” Unveiling Marks New Era, Upgrading Princeton Battlefield Experience

“BATTLE WINDOW”: The November 18 ceremony at Princeton Battlefield State Park was highlighted by the unveiling of a “battle window,” designed to help visitors better understand the Battle of Princeton. That interpretive device is just one of many enhancements preparing the Battlefield for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. (Photo by Dan Komoda)

By Donald Gilpin

In a ceremony at Princeton Battlefield State Park on Monday, November 18, a gathering of about 50 heard how new tourist-friendly historical signage and other upgrades will be providing future visitors with a better understanding of the Battle of Princeton, which was a decisive moment in American history and has been called the battle “that saved the American Revolution.”

The event was highlighted by the unveiling of a “battle window,” an interpretive sign that includes elements from a James Peale painting applied onto a clear acrylic window so that viewers can peer through to gain a sense of the battle action that took place on the landscape. more

McCarter’s Holiday Production of “A Christmas Carol” Brings Back Popular Actor as Ebenezer Scrooge

SCROOGE IS BACK: Veteran stage and screen actor Joel McKinnon Miller returns to the lead role in McCarter Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” running December 10-29. (Photo courtesy of McCarter Theatre)

By Anne Levin

When Joel McKinnon Miller signed on in June 2023 to play the notorious miser Ebenezer Scrooge in McCarter Theatre’s production of A Christmas Carol last December, he wasn’t entirely familiar with the Charles Dickens classic. But he immersed himself in the play, reading the script numerous times before rehearsals began.

Miller’s characterization was a success; so much so that McCarter has brought him back for this year’s run of the show. A Christmas Carol, adapted by director Lauren Keating, opens December 10 and runs through December 29 in McCarter’s Matthews Theatre. more

Womanspace Renames and Rebrands to Better Serve Domestic Violence Victims

By Anne Levin

In an effort to make its services to victims of domestic violence more inclusive, the local nonprofit Womanspace has changed its name to Younity. The rebranding was made official at a gathering of staff, board members, community leaders, survivors, and supporters at Trenton Country Club on
November 13.

“We know that our community is diverse, and we also know that domestic violence does not discriminate,” said Nathalie Nelson, Younity CEO and president, this week. “It doesn’t only affect women. It affects men, children, the elderly — people from all backgrounds. We want to reflect that.”

Founded in 1977 to provide critical services for those affected by domestic violence and sexual abuse in the Mercer County region, Womanspace provides emergency and follow-up services including round-the-clock crisis intervention, short-term emergency shelter, short-term and long-term transitional housing, counseling, and support groups for adults and children. In the last fiscal year, more than 10,000 people received assistance from the nonprofit, according to Nelson. more