Rainy Day Activities In and Around Parsippany

The National Weather Service predicts showers and thunderstorms will cover the Parsippany-Troy Hills area this afternoon and tonight. It's a welcome break for those beaten down by recent heat and humidity, but the wet stuff may not please folks with plans for outdoor events. No worries: There is plenty to do indoors.

• Indulge in retail therapy and do some good: Friends of the Parsippany Library is one of the organizations helping with Macy's "Shop for a Cause" effort. As part of the project, you buy a $5 ticket from the library. (All ticket proceeds benefit Friends of the Library.) The ticket entitles you to receive a 25 percent discount on any Macy's purchase, including all regular, sale & clearance items, even on electronics, furniture, mattresses, rugs and floor coverings. The discount is good at all Macy's locations, even online. Pick up a ticket before the rain gets too bad--they're available at any of the three library branches and at the Community Center Book Nook--and then shop 'til you drop.presents short stories, songs, and finger plays for preschoolers and their families.
• Speaking of the Parsippany library, if your little ones start whining about being bored, take them to the library's main branch for a Pajama Party at 7 p.m. The weekly event 
• Head out for a few laughs in Lake Hiawatha: It's Comedy Wednesday at the Mount Halloran Towne Tavern, and who knows what will happen tonight. It's Open Mic Night, so you'll see untried talent try to coax giggles from you. And if you have a dream of stand-up comedy success, well, here is your opportunity to tickle a few funnybones. The weekly event, which showcases up-and-coming comics (the stars of tomorrow!) kicks off at 8 p.m.
• Become an informed citizen: Parsippany's Zoning Board of Adjustment meets at Town Hall at 7:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend and to offer their views on the zoning proposals put before the board. These meetings are a great way to see firsthand how the township does business and to have input into the process.
• If you don't mind driving in the rain, take a short trip to Morristown to rock out with the band Queensryche. The metal mavens crank up the hits, including their Operation: Mindcrime classics, at the Community Theatre at 100 South St. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets range from $39 to $69. For more information, call 973-539-0345, extension 6516 or head to the Mayo Arts website.