If you think the words "baby" and "free time" are mutually exclusive then read on. The YMCA Family Center has a new program called Drop and Go, for ages six months through kindergarten!

I love it when perfect worlds collide; parents can have an unencumbered few hours to shop, run errands, or just stare at a wall uninterrupted while their little ones enjoy time at the fun and familiar Family Center.

Drop and Go will be held on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week and will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $10 for one child, $15 for two children, and $20 for three children (minimum one hour and maximum four hours). Please call the Family Center to register and get all the details 973-783-7640.

Now you have no excuse as to why you can't bake that heirloom pumpkin pie recipe from scratch or finally catch up with a friend in person (and not just on Facebook)!

While we are hanging around Glenridge Avenue, there's some new art coming this weekend—and at two places! (Seriously what other town can boast that?) First up, Parlor Hair Studio is having a changing of the guard, err… of the art rather. If you weren't aware, Parlor doubles as an art gallery and is set to cover its buttery yellow walls again this weekend with drawings by Todd Saxton Carpenter. There is an opening ceremony on Saturday, November 20 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Carpenter's work will be at Parlor and available for purchase until Janurary 1, 2011.

A few shorts steps from Parlor is The Studio at Studio Kids Art, where local artist Jennifer Levine is doing a live mural making exhibition while also unveiling some new artwork. Come meet Levine and check out her work on Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Can't make it this weekend? No worries, her work will be on display at The Studio until January 3, 2011.

Levine continues to gussy-up Montclair with a new mural just hung at Church Street on the fence of the parking lot across from Starbucks. I met up with a Montclair parking attendant (and self-proclaimed Levine fan), who very nicely posed next to the new mural in the adjacent photo.

Speaking of art, sharpen your pencils (and preferably have a Japanese eraser handy) because Sugee, Watchung Plaza's Japanese fun-soaked store is having a Kids Winter Art Contest. There will be four age groups ranging from 0 to 18! (Yup, start collecting those washable Crayola scribbles from your 2 year old.) Winners from each group will receive a $20 gift certificate to Sugee. Winners will be selected
by in-store popular vote and entries must be submitted online or in person by December 12. Check out the Web site for all the contest details.

We hit Montclair Center and Watchung Plaza in today's column, so let's finish up with a mention of Upper Montclair, specifically Uptown Bistro. As it is still November, it is still Jazz Month and Uptown Bistro keeps the beats coming with live Brazilian Jazz featuring Jessica Valiente and Choro Down tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Added incentive to get there early—kids eat for half-price from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Tara Chowaniec is a very plugged-in writer, curious wanderer, and mother of two gorgeous girls.