Despite the fact that I’ve been living in good ol’ Jersey for two years now, I went to Trenton for the first time in my life on Sunday. My fellow WPRB summer staffers and I were attending a volunteer orientation session for Art All Night Trenton, and let me tell ya, this event is going to be cool.

We entered the Roebling Wire Works site where the event will be held, and I felt like I was at the 1889 Parisian Exposition ie it was very industrial, very hip (yes, hip can be applied to 19^th century France), and had a great, open feel for a 24-hour arts event.

Divided into multiple sections, the Art All Night organizers will transform the Wire Works into an art extravaganza. Artists will not just hang their pieces on the walls but also construct their works in front of your face. Outside, the New Jersey Blacksmiths Association will make a candelabrum, while two muralists will plaster the outdoor brick walls with graffiti and paint. Inside, there will be a black-light graffiti lounge, a theatre featuring local filmmakers, and zone for the kiddies. You can check out all the cool events and demonstrations here.

Of course, what would a summer shindig be without food? AAN will have cupcakes, empanadas, crepes, Caribbean food, sushi, kebabs, and vegetarian noms. Also, at the orientation session, the organizers disclosed that Keifer’s Kettle Korn will have Blue Moon-infused kettle corn. Needless to say, my summer eat-less-than-usual plan is temporarily on hold.

Okay, yes, I am clearly plugging this event, but why wouldn’t you go? There are going to be so many cool things for all ages, and it goes on for 24 hours, 3pm June 16^th to 3pm June 17^th. And your best friends at WPRB will be there tabling and playing music along with local bands.

So come! Art is a good thing, and Trenton is about to be transformed into the hip capital of the US of A, am I right?