SOMAPSO Pod

Join us as we shelob our way into October with leg-crafted spider webs and a little boogie--oogie-oogie.

We rewind to Ban This art exhibit at 1978 Arts Center, Perch grand opening, a drive down the GSP, and a teaser for our interview with Tori Chickering. We’re looking forward to Pedrito Martinez (meet us at the Village Hall Pump House at 6pm!), the Mapso Book Fest, BannerdBooks Week events, Special Mushroom Hike, South Orange Downtown Fall Festival, and the Manet/Degas lecture series. Three things with an Alzheimer’s fundraiser, Oakland Road Art Club Adult Costume-Making workshop, Outer-Borough Deli, a call for vendors, and—drum roll please—information about the infamous MAPSO Scary house decorating contest!

I hope we didn’t shelob things up too badly… and stay tuned for our bonus episode with Tori Chickering coming this weekend!

LINKS:
Live Love Lens | Meryl Streep in Silkwood | Pedrito Martinez | Banned Books Week | Manet/Degas lecture | Outer-Borough Deli | Oakland Road Art Club | Free COVID tests

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the events on the SOMAPSO calendar…

We rewind to Superfine, Rock Spa Club, Coda, and Rocky Horror Picture Show with Ordinary Kids NJ.

We’re looking ahead to Ban This art exhibit, Pre-Halloween Spooktacular, Whiskey and Sugar, Lightning Brook Clean Up, Dance in the Loft, Kegs and Eggs, Pet Pride March, and the Oktoberfest Beer-Pairing Dinner at Pickett’s.

Three things with another bra collection, Avenue Pub, Noiré, Trash Pandas, and Asado (again!) Plus, more info about our pre-Pedrito Martinez meet-up.

Join our Raccoon Party and a fish taco and let’s go!

LINKS:

Boqueria Restaurant

ACLU Drag Defense Fund

Ordinary Kids

Oktoberfest Beer-Pairing Dinner

Bra collection

Free the Girls

Pedrito Martinez at SOPAC

Giant skeletons, talking burgers, and gin, oh my!

We rewind to the Framing Mill, Ariyoshi, and Oysterfest, with an official recap sent by organizers. Who won the burger bash? We tell you! 

Looking forward to the latte art showdown at The Order, Full Circle art opening at SOPAC, Monday Night Music Bingo at Osteria del Corso (and pizza!), Lucky 7s night at Fox and Falcon, and Local Heroes at Pickett’s. 

Three things with Scratch Taco + Asado, Painters in the Park, and a CHS reunion. 

If you're coming to the pre-Pedrito meet-up, we tell you where we’ll be. 

As Sweet Vermouth sings: One more sip of gin and then we’ll go…

LINKS:

Framing Mill

Pedrito Martinez

CHS Class of 1973 Reunion

It’s hot enough to drink a frozen White Russian and, if our inceptioning works, we might just!

We rewind to Porchfest, Honey and Hive, Broadway in the Park, and Tea & Tunes ribbon-cutting. We revisit our crossover episode with MAPSO Podso — have you listened yet? This week, we are looking forward to the Community Health Fair, South Orange Elks Back to School Dance Party, Apple Cider Making at Durand-Hedden, the South Orange Food Stroll, and the Taylor Swift Singalong Party. Plus, a clip from Oysterfest founder, Grace Miller — it’s going to be a great evening at Oysterfest this year!

Three things with bras, workouts, drag queen story hour, and solidarity. Our final SOPAC Thing to Know with a Soultown to Motown (not Moletown) discount code.

LINKS:

Soultown to Motown
Tea & Tunes
Bob Miller Oysterfest
South Orange Elks Dance Party
Apple Cider Making at Durand-Hedden
Pollock Art Fair
I Support the Girls
These Are the Daves I Know

It’s a SO-MAPSO-PODSO Mashup! 

We join Eric Greenberg, host of MAPSO Podso, in his studio for a chat about upcoming events, past episodes, local favorite spots, Dirty Dancing, Andrew McCarthy, and of course Muppets.

LINKS:
MAPSO Podso
Village Green Interview
SOPAC Shows
Porchfest
The Order
General Store Shops and Cafe
Tea & Tunes

Do you know where you’re going to? We can help! Meet the SOMAPSO staff and get ready for some Dirty Dancing as we gear up for Porchfest and more this week.

Rewind to Miss Abigail’s Guide, West African Beats Night, and Water Towers at Pickett’s. We’re looking forward to Porchfest, Broadway in the Park, DJ Jimmy’s Dance Party and Karaoke, and Pops and Pups. Three things include Community Coalition on Race, free COVID tests, and even more Porchfest (can you tell we’re excited??) SOPAC thing to know with a discount code for John Pizzarelli Trio.

Meet up with us before Pedrito Martinez at SOPAC on September 30! 

Sweet Vermouth returns, and boy, have we got a song for you.

LINKS:
John Pizzarelli Trio 
Mapso Podso
Porchfest
Broadway in the Park
Community Coalition on Race
Theme from Mahogany

Clear the spiderwebs from your doorway and grab a Negroni because we have a lot to cover this week and some of it is even about upcoming events.

We rewind to DJ Preston and Friends in Maplewood Village, Luna Stella, and Chrissy’s trip to Long Island. Next week brings Stuff Bros. at Village Hall, Miss Abigail’s Guide, Mapso Funk Fest, West African Beats Night, Bill Tally Trio, and a movie in Borden Park. 

Three things with Maplewood Garden Club greenhouse sign-up, a local book club, Studio Tour registration, and street closures. SOPAC Thing to Know: get your tickets for The Weeklings with our special discount code!

We’ve been Sweet Vermouth. Thank you and goodnight!

Notes:
The Weeklings at SOPAC
SOMA Studio Tour 
SOMA+ Books Club
Miss Abigail’s Guide
Luna Stella
Mapso Funk Fest

We’re back from vacation and trying to remember how to do this thing. 

We rewind all the way back to recap Ladies of Laughter at SOPAC and the House Music Festival in Memorial Park. Cat had dinner at Luna Stella and saw Blues People Live; Chrissy hit up Village Hall, but missed Tristate. 

We’re looking forward to The Theater Project’s Miss Abigails Guide, the Mad Slap Tones and DJ Preston + Friends in Maplewood Village, Sarah Hodd and the Drive in South Orange, and Music Bingo at Osterio del Corso (did we say that right?). Plus there’s a hike in South Mountain, Mary Poppins Returns with Emily Blunt (Emma Lee Blunt if you’re from Texas), movies at Floods Hill, and we talk downsizing so you don’t have to.

So many things to know with Honey and Hive ice cream, Maplewood Pool, Porchfest, a sales tax holiday, and Noire Dispensary. This week’s SOPAC thing to know features a discount code for An Evening with Kaki King. 

Plus, a Red Hot Chili Pepper’s reference that you’l lget if you’re (ahem) of a certain age.

Links:

Kaki King at SOPAC
House Music Festival
Luna Stella
Miss Abigail’s Guide
Sara Hodd and the Drive
Honey and Hive Ice Cream
Porchfest
Map of South Mountain
Red Hot Chili Peppers in tube socks

Mary Barr Mann and Carolyn Parisi from Village Green stopped by the SOMAPSO studio to chat and it was interesting and a whole lotta fun!

We heard how they got started with VG and a hot paywall tip. 

Find out what happens when we turn the SOMA Spotlight around on them. And hear how they feel about Dirty Dancing (spoiler, there’s a +1 for Cat) and, of course, we talk Muppets.

We’re off next week, but back to our regularly scheduled program on August 17.

LINKS FROM THE SHOW: 
Village Green
Artie’s
Able Baker
The Order 

Join us as we discuss why Kermit is a SOMAPSO dad. You know it’s true.

We rewind to Forget the Whale in Spiotta Park, Lynette Sheard in Maplewood Village, wine in a can from Neighbor’s, cesare salad at Village Hall, Barbie, and Harrison Ford still looking good at 80. A visit to General Store Shops and Cafe with a mystery red drink.

We’re looking ahead to Ladies of Laughter, History and Mystery of Tarot, Lydia Johnson Dance and Blue Sphere Jazz, 80s Theater Celebration with INTERact Theater, and spicy food at Tandoori Chef. Three things with Joyce Carol Oates, Maplewood Pool, SOMA Action, senior art show, and a tennis tournament. 

Get a special SOPAC ticket code for Damn the Torpedoes: Tom Petty Concert Experience. 

Next week we have a bonus episode with Village Green you don’t want to miss!

NOTES:
Damn the Torpedoes
Forget the Whale
Lynette Sheard
History and Mystery of Tarot
Mapso Book Fest
Essex County Senior Art Show 
Tennis Tournament