Christmas Traditions for Those Who Don't Celebrate the Holiday

Many local families mark the day

The Roth family of West Orange will spend Tuesday with "flicks and 'sticks," says Debra Roth. Three generations of her family, including her children and one set of grandparents, will gather at her home for a movie marathon, the "flicks," and their favorite Chinese food. "That's the sticks, as in chopsticks" she explains. While her family doesn't celebrate Christmas as a holy day, they have marked the day with movies and their favorite food for decades. The Roths are hardly alone; when Patch asked others how they will spend Tuesday, Nancy Janow of South Orange described a day of movie-going and food from two different Chinese restaurants. "Les Mis" is at the top of the agenda.  Many other local families go into the city for movies and a …

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Grab The Kids & Go

Library Catches Pottermania

Harry Potter Extravaganza sure to please wizards & muggles alike.

As the Harry Potter saga comes to a spectacular conclusion with the release of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 this weekend, the Livingston Public Library invites all wizards and muggles to its Harry Potter Extravaganza this Thursday, July 14, at 7:30 p.m. Join fans of all-things-Potter for a magical time celebrating this wondrous series of books and the movies they’ve spawned. Come in costume to experience some of the spellbinding sense of emotion and energy author J.K. Rowling has inspired as you create wands and (gasp!) potions!     For die-hard readers of the book and those who really know their Potter trivia, a horcrux hunt will take place from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This event is for kids entering grades 4 and up. …

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The Way I See It

Hooray for Hollywood

Roll out the red carpet: Tonight, the Oscars.

Tonight many of us will be watching the Oscars -- the beloved awards bestowed on those with already enormous egos by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.  There is no other industry that habitually pats themselves on the back, more than Hollywood.  In any other line of work, a job well done means ... that sometimes, if you're very, very lucky, you get to keep your job. That is, IF you are willing to do said job for less pay than last year. And if you show proper gratitude.    That said, I love the Oscars.  I love, love, love the movies. Movie stars are as close as we get to having royalty.  From the time the nominations are announced, we -- meaning, I -- become captivated.  The nominees make the media circuit and appear on talk…

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Where Best Pictures are Playing

Here's where to catch the nominees for the Academy Awards.

The nominees for the 83 Academy Awards have been announced, and with the number of Best Picture candidates doubled from five to 10 in recent years, it's become harder than ever to see them all. But if that is your mission, here's what you need to know. Oscar night is Sunday, Feb. 27 – that's 31 days away. So if you haven't seen any of the Best Picture nominees, you'd have to catch a movie every 3 days to reach your goal. But if you are a movie buff, chances are you have already viewed at least a couple of the top films of 2010. If you haven't seen Inception, however, you may be taking a road trip to Pennsylvania ... or just purchase it from your couch with On Demand. Below is a list of the 10 nominees and the two closest theaters (when …

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