Former Eagle Lands at Mayo, Garage Sales, Mutts Mania This Weekend

Looking for something to do by yourself, or with friends and family this weekend? Here's what The Weekender has in store for the region.

If you know the legendary country-rock band the Eagles, you probably know any peaceful, easy feeling could be found only in the famed Jack Tempchin song—all was not sunshine and roses for the supergroup behind the scenes. Squabbles, power plays and mindblowing excess led to a 2001 split that remains between band leaders Don Henley and Glenn Frey and guitarist Don Felder, the artist responsible for the memorable riff that makes the classic "Hotel California" so haunting. You can read Felder's take on the rift in his autobiography, "Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles," but you may be better off letting his guitar do the talking when he plays the Mayo Performing Arts Center Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets run from $39-$69.

Fall means garage and yard sales, and this weekend offers great opportunities for bargain hunters: In Chester Borough and Chester Township, 35 families will open up their homes Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for the Chester Town Wide Garage and Yard Sale. (Rain date is Sunday.) Antiques, sporting goods, tools, collectibles, and furniture are just some samples of the items you will find for sale. Also check out the Chester First Aid Squad, which will have its own garage sale offering at 100 North Road as part of the event. Look for balloons on homeowner’s mailboxes designating that they are part of the sale. Garage sale maps can be picked up Friday at the Chester Borough and Chester Township Municipal Hall or Chester Library Friday or check www.chestertownship.org for a link to the sale's listing on Google Maps.

Morris Township's Washington Valley School is going the garage sale route too. On Saturday at 9 a.m., the Washington Valley Community Association hosts its annual Country Garage Sale. If you are looking for gently used jewelry, antiques, small furniture, housewares, glassware, towels or other items, you'll likely find a lot to like at the event. Proceeds from the sale benefit the historic Washington Valley School House at the corner of Washington Valley Road and School House Lane in Morris Township.  For more information call Sue at 201-274-4285.

Is your child a speedster? Get him or her the best training possible from Morristown's acclaimed Parisi Speed School, whose Jump Start Program, for kids age 7-11, will be offered at Innovation Fitness Solutions in Butler's Bromat Shopping Center, 1574 Route 23 North. Parisi says Jump Start helps young athletes develop foundational athletic skills to help get a jump start on the competition and become fit, strong and healthy. For details, call Innovation Fitness Solutions at 201-951-8080.

C.H.A.N.G.E. Fitness in Morristown celebrates its first anniversary Saturday with a Zumba fitness party, vendors, fun and more. It should be cool, as is the nonprofit gym's mission to make fitness accessible to everyone. The family event starts at 6:30 p.m. at  65 Spring St. Admission is $15 per person, with all proceeds going toward keeping the egalitarian gym healthy. 

And did you know that there is a special form of Zumba for kids? Zumbini is what it's called, and a free trial class and registration for fall youth exercise classes takes place Sunday at  10 a.m. at 190 Main St. in Butler. The class is designed for children from birth to 3 years and their caregivers. The cost to register for a 10-week session is $180. Two distinct Zumbini sessions are offered—one on Fridays starting Sept. 20, the other meets Sundays starting Sept. 22. 

Food, fun and furry friends are the draw for the Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter’s annual Mutts Mania, which takes place Sunday from noon–4 p.m. at Lurker Park in East Hanover. The event features music, food, vendors and activities for pets, including the “PAWsitive Experience” agility course and the Unleash the Love fashion show. Celebrity judges include Evan Michelson and Mike Zohn from the Science Channel’s "Oddities," animal advocate Annemarie Lucas from the show "Animal Precinct" and Tracy DiMarco of the Style Network’s "Jerseylicious."  (To enter your fashionable canine, email info@sent-well.com.) There will also be a Pet Adoption Tent with animals available for adoption from several rescue groups.  Admission is $10 per person (dogs and children under 12 are free).  For more information email suzanne@njshelter.org or call (973)386-0590.

The Sweet Spot Bake Shoppe in Chester is the spot this Sunday, when Long Valley-based children’s author Kathy Lampert reads from her book, "Sophie’s New School," at 4 p.m. The bakery is located at 57 Main St, and admission is free.