Date Night Destinations In and Around South Orange

The Borgata, Atlantic City

THIS WEEKEND: Saturday: La La Anthony (aka Mrs. Carmelo Anthony) hosts a party at mur.mur, with music supplied by DJ Nick Cannon; DJ Scene keeps the party going at MIXX.

NEXT WEEK: Whoopi Goldberg brings her stand-up act Friday, Oct. 7. 

BOOK IT NOW: Grab your shorts and sandals to recapture the Endless Summer as The Beach Boys perform Friday, Oct. 14, followed by Steven Stills on Saturday, Oct. 15. Check out theborgata.com for details about these and other shows.

Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown

THIS WEEKEND: Saturday: Jim Gaffigan brings his brand of observations silliness; shows at 7 and 9:30. Sunday: Motown superstar Diana Ross trots out her greatest hits for an 8 p.m. show.

NEXT WEEK: Calling all Deadheads! Singer/producer Marc Muller has assembled band for "Dead On," a show in which the Grateful Dead's iconic Workingman's Dead and American Beauty albums will be played note-for-note; 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8;  Kings of Salsa brings the best of Cuba's Salsa and hip-hop music; 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9

BOOK IT NOW: Jackson Browne, icon of the '70s singer/songwriter; performs his greatest  hits and more; 8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 17; Jazz/pop guitar legend George Benson performs, 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20. 

Check out mayoarts.org for details about these and other shows.

NJPAC, Newark

THIS WEEKEND:  Saturday: Tony- and Emmy-winning singer/actress Kristen Chenowith headlines NJPAC's Spotlight Gala, tickets are available for the concert, but you also can buy a separate ticket for the Spotlight Gala GLAM after-party; the concert starts at 7 p.m.

NEXT WEEK On Saturday, Oct. 8, the Royal Comedy Tour, featuring New Jersey native "Sommore," brings the laughs at 7 p.m.; On Saturday, Oct. 8, the Devils and the Flyers take to the ice again, at 7 p.m. 

BOOK IT NOW Jill Scott, Grammy-winning soul/jazz/hip-hop singer/songwriter, performs at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 19;  the Tedeschi Trucks band, the rockin' collaboration of husband-wife team of Susan Tedeschi-Derek Trucks, cranks up the amps at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21; Wicked Grammy-winning comedian Lewis Black brings his observations on, well, everything, at 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27. 

Check out njpac.org for details about these and other shows.

The Prudential Center, Newark

THIS WEEKEND  Saturday: The Devils lace 'em up again for a showdown with the Broad Street Bullies, aka the Philadelphia Flyers; the puck drops at 7 p.m. 

NEXT WEEK "So You Think You Can Dance Tour 2011" flips, flops, pops and locks all over the stage on Tuesday, the hoofin' starts at 7 p.m.;The Devils can't get enough of the Flyers, lacing 'em up and taking to the ice at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8.

BOOK IT NOW The Foo Fighters, with special guests Social Distortion, rocks the Prudential Center stage at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14; If you want to go to the Devils' house, but prefer your on-ice action to be a little less rough-and-tumble, grab tickets for Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream, which starts at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16.

Check out prucenter.com for details about these and other shows.

Scotty's, Springfield

THIS WEEKEND  Saturday: Kyle Grooms, whom you'll recognize from "Tough Crowd w/Colin Quinn" and "P. Diddy's Bad Boys of Comedy," leads a show that also features Carmen Lynch and Mike Warsaw; show starts at 9 p.m. 

NEXT WEEK Paul Bond, fresh off the road from opening the shows on comedian and Jersey guy Jim Breuer's national tour, headlines Scotty's onFriday and Saturday; the shows, which will also feature Lori Chase, start at 9 p.m.

BOOK IT NOW Keith Purnell, who's performed on Comedy Central, the Howard Stern show and Last Comic Standing, headlines a show that features Vinnie Nardiello and Rob Epple; 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14; Dena Blizzard, from NJ101.5 and the warm-up act for The Nate Berkus Show, takes the stage at 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 16. 

For details and more information, log onto scottyssteakhouse.com.

Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Madison

THIS WEEKEND: Othello, The Bard's tale of love, jealousy, and betrayal follows the epic downfall of the Moor of Venice and his beautiful Desdemona at the hands of the elusive Iago. Runs through Sunday.

BOOK IT NOW: To Kill A Mockingbird, one of contemporary American literature's most important novels, comes to life on the Shakespeare Theatre stage; runs from Thu., Oct. 12 through Nov. 20; Something Wicked This Way Comes, an eventing of spooky readings from classic ghost and horror tales, is a perfect kickoff to Halloween! 7:30, Monday Oct., 24

Click on shakespearenj.org for details.

Shanghai Jazz, Madison

THIS WEEKEND Saturday: The Billy Drummond Trio, featuring Bruce Barth on piano and Mike McGuirk on bass.

NEXT WEEK Cornet player and singer Warren Vache brings a variety of friends to the stage; Wednesday; Junior Manse, and his trio, celebrate his 88th birthday and the release of the legendary pianist's new album, Letter from Home; Friday, Oct. 7 and Sat., Oct. 8. 

 BOOK IT NOW: Don Braden, the saxophonist/composer/musical director for The Cosby Show, performs with his quartet; 
Saturday, Oct. 15.

All shows 6:30 and 8:30. Check out shanghaijazz.com for more details.

South Orange Performing Arts Center

THIS WEEKEND:  Saturday: The "Giants of Jazz" series continues with  legendary drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath, who's played with John Coltrane, Herby Hancock and Dexter Gordon, among others; show, which features guest performers such as T.S. Monk, Cyrus Chestnut, Cecil Brooks III, starts at 9 p.m.

NEXT WEEK: Significant Others, a production of SOPAC's resident theater company, Midtown Direct Rep, will be performed as a reading Thursday and Friday, with a Q&A session with the actors and writers. Shows start at 8 p.m.

BOOK IT NOW: Steppin' Out With Ben Vereen, features a musical autobiography with the dancer/singer/actor; 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22.

Go to sopacnow.org for more details about all shows.

State Theatre, New Brunswick

THIS WEEKEND: Country legend Randy Travis brings his smooth baritone and 25 years worth of hits to the State at 8 p.m. tonight!

THIS WEEK: The Mariinsky Orchestra, led by conductor Valery Gergiev, celebrates the 228th year of this Russian orchestra; 8 p.m., Wednesday

BOOK IT NOW:  Wanda Sykes delivers her hilarious comedy act, 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14; The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, led by the former Black Crowes frontman, plays their version of bluesy rock at 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21.

 Check out statetheatrenj.org for more details.

Stress Factory Comedy Club, New Brunswick:

NEXT WEEK Jim Jeffries, fresh from an HBO comedy special and his work on Comedy Central, performs Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 8.

BOOK IT NOW Jay Mohr, The veteran of SNL, Jerry Maguire and The Ghost Whisperer, performs one show only! 8 p.m., Weds, Oct. 12.

Check out stressfactory.com for more details.

Union County Performing Arts Center, Rahway

THIS WEEKEND No shows this weekend

NEXT WEEK Comedian Bobby Collins performs at a comedy fundraiser for UCPAC, at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 8. 

BOOK IT NOW Smooth harmonizing hip-hop crooners Boyz II Men will bring their Motownphilly sound to the stage on 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15; blues legend Buddy Guy will try to rip off the roof at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4

 Check out ucpac.org for details about these and other shows.

Wellmont Theatre, Montclair

THIS WEEKEND Saturday George Thorogood & The Destroyers will still try to crank it up and  make the paint peel from the walls. 8 p.m.

NEXT WEEK Explosions In The Sky and The Antlers perform at 8p.m. Monday; Bryan Ferry brings his Phenomenal handclap Band to the stage at 8 p.m. on Tuesday; Elvis Costell and The Imposters perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; Psychedelic furs and Tom Tom Club double-bill; 8 p.m. Sat, Oct. 8.

 BOOK IT NOW Cyndi Lauper and Dr. John deliver an eclectic show at 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14; Goo Goo Dolls and Ryan Star perform at 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 11. 

Check out wellmonttheatre.com for more shows. 

Any place we missed? Tell us where you go for a night on the town!