Bar LITM (140 Newark Ave) will be holding an opening reception for Darin DeField’s “Afrocentricity,” an exhibition of mixed media collage that explores race, gender, sexuality, and identity, on Tuesday, February 7th, from 6pm-8pm.

One of Jersey City’s most influential artists, DeField’s work has appeared in both public galleries and private collections such as the Merrill Lynch Corporation in New York, the Case Museum in Jersey City and Goldman Sachs Corporate Offices in New Jersey. He has also spoken in reference to his work at Essex County College (Newark campus) and The Jersey City Museum.

Gallery goers may recognize Defield’s most acclaimed work, “Head Series,” in which he re-considers the idea of indigenous tribal masks by extrapolating from African sculpture and archaeological artifacts.

For more information, please contact LITM.COM

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The people over at No Yo Mama Crafts Fair, promoters of local artisans citywide, is calling on artisan-vendors to participate in their April Fools-themed event ‘Fools Fair’ at bar LITM (140 Newark Avenue) on Sunday, April 1, from 11am to 5 pm. NYM brought out 1,500+ people to their two-day holiday craft fair at the end of 2011, so expect big things. ‘Fools Fair’ kicks off NYM’s Blitzcraft 2012 craft fair season following the long winter empty of crafts-buying opportunities. The deadline for vendors is midnight on March 2nd, and applications can be found here.

Not Yo Mama’s is also working in conjunction with the Central Avenue Special Improvement District (CASID) to bring their craft-vendors to the Everything Jersey City Festival on Saturday May 19th. The deadline to participate is Sunday April 1st, and the application can be found here.

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Start your night off at Creative Grove, which is back to brave the winter season with a performance by members of Thomas Francis Takes His Chances (3 – 9 pm, free).

There’s also a night of classic old music greats. Loew’s hosts Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals and The Duprees (7:30 pm, $45-$55).

There’s a new open mic tonight at Art House. The Experience will feature PureMusiq and an iPad2 raffle (9 pm, $10).

Meanwhile, Twisted Charm plays covers with a twist at a free show at O’Hara’s (10 pm).

TOMORROW

Art House hosts Kid Fest!, a day of workshops and performances for 3-17 year-olds (10 am – 2 pm, free).

Made with Love starts Saturday off with a Jazz Brunch with Adam Lomeo (12 pm), then follows up with Painted Hearts, an exhibit featuring porcelain heart-shaped dishes painted by local artists (6 pm).

Actress Piper Laurie will be meeting, greeting and selling her book at Loew’s, along with screenings of The Hustler and Carrie, which she starred in (5:15 pm, $10 for one film, $16 for both).

Another free rock show at Lamp Post promises to “rock your filthy little faces off” with The Everymen, Creepoid, They Had Faces Then (10 pm).

SUNDAY

Get a cat at the JerseyCats Adoption Event, hosted by Hound About Town (12 pm).

Peace by Piece Studio presents the 3rd annual Hygiene Hi-Jinks for the Homeless Holiday Party at LITM with drink specials and art raffles (5:30 pm).

Hudson County Declares Cold-Weather Emergency: As temperatures plunged into the mid-teens Sunday night, Hudson County Office of Emergency Management declared a cold weather emergency and opened a shelter in Union City to take in homeless persons who can’t get into the county’s two main shelters.

Reval Underway; Homeowners on Edge: The city’s long-feared revaluation of privately-owned, taxable properties is now in full swing, with 22 inspectors canvassing neighborhoods in the Jersey City Heights and Greenville.

Controversial Former Jersey City School Administrator Headed Back to the District as a State Monitor: Cathy Coyle, a controversial former Jersey City Public Schools administrator is headed back to the district to serve as a state-appointed monitor, according to local school officials.

More Businesses Landing and Growing in Jersey City: Last week Mayor Jeremiah Healy recognized the accomplishments of three firms that have moved here from New York and are now considered among the state’s 50 fastest growing companies by NJBiz, a business news publication.

Jersey City Woman Sentenced to Six Years in Jail for Hiring Hitman to Kill Romantic Rival: A Jersey City woman, who used stolen credit cards to buy a hitman online to kill her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend, was sentenced to six years in jail and $2,300 in fines and fees yesterday, according to a news release from the office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Former New Jersey Attorney General Condemns Religious Attacks, Praises “Dream” of Martin Luther King Jr. in Jersey City: Former state Attorney General Paula T. Dow was the featured speaker Saturday as Temple Beth-El in Jersey City celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in an interfaith service honoring the civil rights leader.

A Great-Great-Grandmother Turns 100 in the Jersey City Church Where She’s Worshipped Since 1932: Susie Mumford-Pierce, a great-great-grandmother who has devoted her life to caring for needy children, celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday at the Jersey City church she’s been a member of for eight decades.

Hoboken St. Patrick’s Day Parade is Canceled Due to ‘Inability to Protect Spectators’: The Hoboken St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been canceled by the parade committee, the committee announced on its website.

Today’s Best Bets:

Jersey Cares hosts an arts and crafts event at Snyder High School to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Sign up to volunteer at the school and paint inspiring murals or help kids create crafts promoting values that Dr. Martin Luther King fought for (9 – 12 am, Free).

If you want to get on stage, Just Add Laughs returns to Made With Love. This open mic is open to comedy, spoken word, music and all other arts. Hosted by comedian Rich Kiamco (7 pm, Free). If you want to dance and drink, WFMU’s DJ Meghan McKee spins ’80′s music and it’s Happy Hour all night at Detention Night at LITM (7 pm).

In Statewide News:

New Jersey Launches Drug Abuse Database: More than five years after New Jersey passed a law to start tracking prescription drug use, the state is launching a long-awaited database monitoring use of dangerous drugs with the intent of helping doctors spot abusers more quickly and authorities stop drug dealers.

Two Years After Being Approved, New Jersey Medical Marijuana Program Still at Seedling Stage: As Wednesday’s two-year anniversary of Gov. Jon Corzine signing New Jersey’s medical marijuana act approaches, one thing is clear: The health department isn’t close to opening the first dispensary.

New Cancer Therapy Center to Open in New Jersey: Beginning this spring, the ProCure Proton Therapy Center will become one of 10 proton therapy facilities in the country, and the only in New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area.

Gov. Christie Tells Oprah He’ll be “Much More Ready” in 2016: Gov. Chris Christie told Oprah Winfrey in an interview broadcast Sunday night on OWN that a lot depends on whether he’ll run for president in 2016, but one thing’s for sure: “In terms of me, I’ll be much more ready four years from now,” he said.

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Danielle Fotopoulos and Nancy Ghani try to capture the movement and detail found in the architecture, landscape and people of the places they have visited in Postcards from aBroad, a photo essay opening tonight at _gaia (6 pm, free).

Students from St. Peter’s Prep and St. Dominic’s Academy star all weekend in Barefoot in the Park, the 1963 romantic comedy by Neil Simon (8 pm, $10).

Holiday Road plays a free show at Zeppelin Hall (9 pm).

TOMORROW:

Celebrate the grand opening of Hound About Town at Hamilton Square today with raffle prizes from local vendors, gift bags for first 50 attendees, pet service providers on hand to answer questions and special discounts (12 pm, free).

Oliver Stone’s 2009 documentary about Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, South of the Border, screens tonight at NJ Action 21 (8:30, donations).

Let out your inner gypsy at the Lamp Post’s Gypsy Night, featuring Balkan fusion, jazz and gypsy punk with Stomping Ground, Amour Obscur and Wakah Chan (9 pm, free).

Amp’d stops by Zeppelin Hall for a free show (9:30 pm).

SUNDAY:

Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer star in Beginners, the acclaimed 2011 film about a father’s late-in-life journey to becoming a fulfilled gay man. The film screens as part of Chillfest, the LGBT film festival at LITM (4 pm, $7–$10).

The St. Michael Singers celebrate the Epiphany in This Hallowed Season: Celebrating Christ’s Birth in Word and Music (4 pm, free).

Bar Majestic is offering a $25 open bar from 8-10 pm, a $35 open bar from 8 pm-midnight and a no-cover, pay-as-you-go option, plus champagne and prosecco specials and the chance to watch the ball drop on a big screen. 275 Grove Street, barmajesticjc.com.

At Boca Grande, the Fusion Fridays Group hosts a New Year’s Bollywood Dhol Party with drink specials throughout the night. The event starts at 9:30 pm. Early-bird discount entry is $20 per person with a $5 discount for couples. 564 Washington Boulevard, bocagrandenj.com.

The Brightside Tavern for $99 has a buffet with carving station, open bar til 1 am, hors d’oeuvres, three rooms of music and a dance floor, plus a champagne toast and free shuttle service, starting at 9 pm. The bar will stay open til 4 am. 141 Bright Street, brightsidetavern.com.

Casa Dante‘s New Year’s Eve Bash starts at 8:30 pm and includes live music with Julian & Dominique, dinner, dancing, party favors, hors d’oeuvres, and a champagne toast for $175 per person plus gratuity and tax. Reservations are required (only the early dinner seatings are still available); call (201) 795-2750. 737 Newark Ave, casadante.com.

The Hamilton Inn has three seatings for dinner at 5, 7 and 9 pm, plus a $75 open bar from 9 pm to 2 am that includes passed hors d’oeuvres and a champagne toast at midnight. 708 Jersey Avenue, hamiltoninnjc.com.

The Iron Monkey is hosting a masquerade party with a prize for best mask, games and contests and live music by DJ MC and DJ Cool Kid. The party runs from 8:30 pm to 1 am and the bar stays open till 4 am. $40 includes a buffet and rooftop champagne toast; $110 includes the buffet, 5 hours premium open bar, and the midnight toast; $130 includes all that plus a craft beer station; and $200 is a couple’s package with the buffet, 5 hours open premium bar, craft beer station and midnight toast for two. Reservations are required for the $110 and $130 packages. For more information or reservations, email alex@ironmonkey.com or cindy@ironmonkey.com or call (201) 435-5756. 97 Greene Street, ironmonkey.com.

The Light Horse Tavern is offering a special holiday menu from 5 to 8 pm for $55, vegetarian menu $45, with piano music from 7 to 9 pm. At 9:45 pm, the tasting dinner ($85, with a vegetarian option for $65) includes live jazz music, a midnight champagne toast, a cash bar after midnight and dancing into the early morning hours. Black tie optional. To make reservations, call (201) 946-2028. 199 Washington Street, lighthorsetavern.com.

LITM‘s 2012 Mayan Apocalypse Party includes Mayan-inspired cocktails, a special dinner menu and DJ Kevlove spinning from 9 pm to 3 am, plus themed movies, noisemakers and more. Early dinner seatings from 5 to 7:30 pm with a 2 and a half hour table limit and no reserved seatings after 10:30. Reservations are a must for dinner before midnight; call (201) 536-5557. 140 Newark Avenue, litm.com.

Lucky 7′s has an all-night dance party with DJ Leonard Smalls, drink specials and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. The festivities start at 8 pm. 322 2nd Street, lucky7tavern.com.

Maritime Parc is offering two menus from chef Chris Siverson and a late-night party. At the first dinner seating (6:30-7 pm), $75 per person includes a 3-course prix fixe menu and a glass of bubbly; at the second seating (9:30-10 pm), $125 per person includes a 5-course prix fixe menu and a glass of bubbly; and the special New Year’s party (9:30 pm to 2 am), $150 per person, includes a full premium open bar, DJ and dancing all night, dinner buffet until 11 pm, cocktail buffet until 11 pm and a midnight toast with views of the New York skyline. For reservations, call (201) 413-0050. 84 Audrey Zapp Drive, maritimeparc.com.

Michael Anthony’s is offering a five-hour premium open bar from 8 pm to 1 am and a Neapolitan Hot & Cold Holiday Buffet from 9 pm to 11 pm with views of the New York skyline. $125 in advance, $160 at the door. The party is hosted by 20 Pack from VH1 with music in the Waterfront Room by DJ Alex Perez and Alpha Mix and live music by the Eamonn Ryan Band in the Bayview Room. The winners of the King & Queen of 2012 Contest will be announced at midnight and the best new year’s kiss will receive a complimentary hotel room and a bottle of champagne. Doors open at 8 pm. For reservations, email chris@michaelanthonynj.com or call (201) 798-1798. 502 Washington Boulevard, michaelanthonynj.com.

The Morelli Gallery, one of Jersey City’s newest gallery and event spaces, is hosting a party at its three-floor digs at 165 Belmont Avenue starting at 8 pm. Music by DJ Neva & Music for the Masses. $10 admission with part of the proceeds going to benefit Ed’s Salvage Co. GIVES.

O’Connell’s Restaurant has a three-course dinner menu for $40 from 6-8:30 pm and $45 from 9-11 pm. There will be a DJ, an open bar from 9:30 pm to 1:30 am and a champagne toast at midnight. 111 Montgomery Street, oconnellsbarandgrill.com.

Pint Bar is offering a free New Year’s Eve party complete with hats, noisemakers, music by VJ Wildcard and a midnight toast. The bar will be open from 5 pm to 4 am with happy hour specials from 5-8 pm. 34 Wayne Street, pintbar.com.

At Port-O Lounge, $90 gets you a three-course dinner, champagne toast at midnight and open bar from 8 pm-midnight. 286 1st Street, portolounge.com.

At Satis Bistro, food will be served from 8 pm to 2 am ($95), and house music will play until 2:30 am. BYO. 212 Washington St., satisbistro.com.

Instigatorzine, an indie literature and art magazine based in Jersey City and Bayonne, is throwing a New Year’s Eve bash at Tommy 2 Scoops. Dress is formal — “you should dress like you’re going to a wedding or your prom,” according to the Facebook invite. The party runs from 10 pm to 3 am and is BYO. 177 York Street, tommy2scoops.com.

The White Star Bar is offering an open bar, buffet and champagne toast at midnight for $40. 230 Brunswick Street, whitestarbar.com.

Zeppelin Hall is offering a no-cover, no-reservations event with a DJ and dancing, plus the chance to watch the ball drop on the bar’s high-def screens. 88 Liberty View Drive, zeppelinhall.com.

Also this Sunday, bar LITM will be holding a holiday party and benefit with NoGasPipeline.org from 7pm-11pm. Your donation of an unwrapped toy will benefit Montgomery Gardens After School Holiday Party for Children. WFMU’s DJ Meaghan will be spinning.

City Suing Municipal Courthouse Developer: The City of Jersey City is suing the developer of the $23 million municipal Justice Complex on Summit Avenue, which the city claims was so poorly constructed that the building’s foundation is “in a state of collapse” that puts the public “at risk of bodily harm.”

No New Clues in Missing Prostitute Case: Police investigating the killings of 10 people whose bodies were found strewn along a desolate beach highway found no new evidence when they returned to the crime scene yesterday or clues that might lead them to a prostitute from Jersey City whose disappearance prompted the initial investigation, an official said.

Crime Blotter: A Jersey City party ended early Sunday with two Summit Avenue men being stabbed in their necks, according to a police reports.

Today’s Best Bets:

LITM’s fifth annual exhibition of small works, Little Wonders opens tonight with a free party (7 pm). The exhibition features tiny, gift-sizes pieces, and Art House Productions will be on hand to wrap purchases.

In Statewide News:

State Assembly Passes Hypodermic Needle Bill: Nearly two decades after it was first introduced in New Jersey, lawmakers yesterday gave final approval to a bill that would allow intravenous drug users to buy needles without prescriptions in an effort to stem the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.

In Postal Service Cutbacks, Six NJ Mail Processing Centers Could Close: Proposed cost-cutting changes by the US Postal Service would slow delivery and close or consolidate 252 processing facilities — including a half-dozen in New Jersey.

Gov. Christie Receives Leadership Award in Washington: Gov. Chris Christie accepted a leadership award from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and The Washington Post yesterday in Washington.

Health Benefit Reform for Government Workers Saved Little: Governor Christie’s health care reforms will save less next year than expected after fewer than 1 percent of workers chose cheaper insurance options — just as new figures show the cost of providing benefits continues to spike.

Legislative Candidates Spent $13.6 Million in Last-Minute Campaigning: Democratic and Republican legislative candidates spent $13.6 million in the final days of their election campaigns in October and November, almost 36 percent of the money spent during the entire campaign, the state Election Law Enforcement Commission reported Monday.

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TODAY

Indie singer-songwriter (and New Jersey native) Jenny Owen Youngs plays Brennan Coffee House ($15–$20, 7:30 pm). The concert is followed by an open mic session, but for another opportunity to get on the mic, Grace Church Van Vorst hosts Grace Space, an open mic for performers ages 13 to 19 (7 pm, free).

The Loew’s Jersey screens films about World War II this weekend. Tonight is The Train, John Frankenheimer’s 1964 film starring Burt Lancaster and Paul Scofield (8 pm, $5–$7).

TOMORROW:

Start Something NJ rounds out its week of events with ARTFest!, a celebration of local entrepreneurs making their living through art. The free event at Art House Productions features a day of live performance, jazz, artwork and photography (1 to 7 pm).

Milosz Koziej’s Now and Here examines the interdependence of objects and color and their situational relationship. The exhibition opens tonight at 8 pm at the Friends Building.

Hear topical spoken word from the leading area artists at the third edition of the Activist Art & Poetry Slam at the Journal Square Cafe (6 pm, $5 donation).

The Loew’s Jersey’s series continues, first with Alfred Hitchcock’s Saboteur (1942) at 6 pm, followed by David Lean’s The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) at 8:20.

SUNDAY:

LITM celebrates its eighth anniversary at A Vintage Affair, a party with vintage-themed cocktails, passed hors d’oeuvres, rotating DJs and gift certificate giveaways (7 pm, $35).

4th Street Arts hosts the third annual Mac & Cheese Bake-Off, in which individuals and restaurants compete for the title of ‘Best Mac & Cheese in JC’. General admission begins at 2 ($5), but VIPs can enter at 12:30 for some extra tasting time ($25).

Council Caucus Last Night: The Jersey City City Council met last night to discuss continued efforts to privatize the city car pound, a $35,000 legal settlement to a man who was involved in a car accident with a city vehicle and setting up the 2012 meeting schedule. Look for more from JCI this week.

Boggiano Defends Liberty State Park Statement: At-large council candidate Richard Boggiano responded yesterday to an accusation that he supported the development of Liberty State Park, saying that he meant only that the park should have some shops that promote New Jersey and Jersey City.

West District Precinct Improvements Complete: Problems regarding the cleanliness and safety of Jersey City’s West District police precinct, including bulletproof glass that still had holes from a 2005 shootout, have been completely resolved, to the tune of $25,000, according to city officials.

West Bergen Library Reopening Postponed: Reopening the West Bergen Branch of the Jersey City Free Public Library has been postponed to Nov. 15, library officials said yesterday.

Montgomery Street Fire: Four families were displaced yesterday when a two-alarm fire spread to the upper floors of a five-story Downtown Jersey City building at 358 Montgomery Street, officials said.

Crime Blotter: After five years on the run, a 33-year-old Jersey City man was formally charged yesterday with fatally stabbing a prostitute in Jersey City in April 2006; a bullet burst through the outside wall of a Dales Avenue home Sunday and had lodged in a living room wall, piercing a framed painting of Hindu religious figures, just a few feet from where a woman was watching television with her two children; a 54-year-old Chinese-food delivery man was ambushed, robbed and beaten at a vacant Jersey City house Saturday evening, police reports said; a 26-year-old Jersey City man told police he was robbed early Sunday of $10,000 worth of designer accessories and other items by a cabbie who was carrying a gun; a 12-year-old Jersey City boy was robbed at gunpoint of his bicycle on Van Nostrand Avenue Friday night, police said; a 40-year-old man was slashed with a razor blade early Sunday by a woman who followed him to his house after she argued with his girlfriend at a Jersey City Heights bar, police said; a 29-year-old Jersey City man is in a stable condition after being shot four times early Sunday morning, with one of the bullets lodging in his neck, police said yesterday; a man trolling for spare change outside a Jersey City store Friday night, grabbed a man’s cell phone instead and took off with it, police said; a Jersey City man, 44, was charged with stealing a $2.99 bottle of laundry detergent Friday.

Today’s Best Bets:

Animal lovers and art lovers come together tonight at the opening of Rescue Me, a group exhibition and fundraiser for See Spot Rescued at LITM beginning at 7 pm.

Also at 7, at the Gothic Lounge, C. Alexander London, author of the children’s series, An Accidental Adventure, will conduct a professional development workshop that will focus on how to use his books in the classroom.

In Statewide News:

Voters Optimistic About Gov. Christie: New surveys suggest people are feeling more optimistic about Gov. Chris Christie’s performance and the direction of the state.

Gov. Christie Against Pennsylvania Coal Plant: The governor said Monday that the state will continue a court fight that aims to cut air pollution from the Homer City coal-fired power plant in Pennsylvania.

NJEA Announces Ideas Ahead of Convention: New Jersey’s teachers union has made public its own ideas for major changes to the state’s public school system, which clash with Gov. Christie’s plan, ahead of the union’s convention in Atlantic City this week.

Paterson Great Falls National Park Dedicated: The dedication of Paterson Great Falls as the nation’s 397th national park marks the beginning of a detailed federal planning process that will take two to three years to complete.

Botox Makers Move to New Jersey: The pharmaceutical company behind Botox, California-based Allergan Inc., will build a new $12 million research facility in the state, Gov. Christie announced Monday.

Latino Health Institute Opens in New Jersey: The new institute plans to document the disparities between the healthcare of the state’s 1.5 million Latinos and that of its overall population.

Victory for Occupy Wall Street Protestors: A New Jersey judge says police must return items confiscated from Occupy Wall Street protesters at a memorial across the street from the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton.

Beekeeping in New Jersey: A three-day course offered by the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station is designed to revive interest in New Jersey’s honey bee industry.