By Sarah Morrison
The Jewish State

"Go to a famous parade."

"Take care of a pet."

"Make a time capsule."

These are only three of the "101 things" author Joanne O'sullivan believes "you gotta do before you're 12."

The book, showcased by Central Jersey Barnes and Noble stores through the end of June, went to the next level at the North Brunswick branch when Community Relations Manager Miriam-Libove Goldfarb decided to turn the book into a Family Fun Day on June 22.

"This book is a family book, so why not introduce the book with a family day?" Libove-Goldfarb said. "This is something to read to your kids as a family, It's good family fun with activities that meet everyone's needs."

"Going to a fair" was demonstrated by Ben Winter and Elana Mischel, both of Highland Park. Winter, a 17-year-old student at Solomon Schechter Day School, West Orange, has been practicing magic and making balloon animals for years. He even has his own business, "Ben's Best Magic," where he performs at children's parties and carnivals.

"I got my start in magic when my cousin showed me tricks," Winter said. "Our entire family was sitting at the Thanksgiving table, and he made a soda bottle disappear. He only put the bottle under the table, but I was a little boy and it fascinated me. I went to magic camp at Middlesex County College for four years after that, and I was hooked!"

"Usually, my mom's friends want me to perform for their kids' parties," Winter continued. "In fact, it's how I found out about this Family Fun Day. Someone told me about it, I called up and told Barnes and Noble I wanted to come, and here we are."

However professional Winter's business cards might look, his act is just for laughs. Nobody can mistake the roaring laughter of dozens of kids watching a white bunny turn blue or a magic wand suddenly go limp.

"I love to do this, although I don't think it will be career for me," Winter said. "I want to be a doctor someday. I'll be the next Patch Adams!"

What started as an interest for 11-year-old Elana Mischel quickly became a profitable hobby.

"I got interested in face painting when I was seven," Mischel said. "I didn't paint so much, but when I was nine, I started to face-paint for real. It seemed like a lot of fun when I saw face painting at carnivals at my shul. I wanted to try it, so I taught myself. I looked at other face painters and saw how they painted different things."

In her young career, Mischel has painted faces at synagogue carnivals, barbeques, and at Netivot Montessori Yeshiva, Edison, which her mother runs. Because of Mischel's beautiful face painting, every child in Barnes and Noble was transformed into a butterfly, a dog, or even Spiderman.

"Along with the fair, Ben and Elana are doing another '101 Things' suggestion-- making money," Libove-Goldfarb said.

Libove-Goldfarb's daughter, Ariella, suggested demonstrating O'Sullivan's idea to "start a journal" by making books. To do that, Libove-Goldfarb brought in The Academy of Art, Highland Park, to help participants make their own lists of 20 things they want to do before they're 12. Along to help was Art Academy student-turned-teacher Aaron Balavram.

Balavram, a 17-year-old Highland Park resident, literally started his interest in art out of boredom.

"I was so bored during class that I would doodle in my notebooks," Balavram said. "I also had a teacher that encouraged creativity in elementary school and I took advantage."

This boredom-busting hobby soon became a passion for Balavram as he started taking classes at the Academy, and he quickly improved his skills well enough to win second place in Highland Park's "Arts In The Park" art contest last year. For the past year, he has been working for the Academy as an "art coach."

Balavram sat in the front corner of Barnes and Noble with eager kids around him, teaching them how to fold their paper just right and encouraging them to write and draw whatever their hearts desired.

"Art is a kid-oriented business and is a wonderful way to contribute to the '101 Things' Family Fun Day," Balavram said.

Libove-Goldfarb, a member of the Highland Park Minyan and the Highland Park Conservative Temple-Congregation Anshe Emeth, wanted to open the event to the whole community.

"We chose Friday as opposed to Saturday to accomodate for the religious community," Libove-Goldfarb said. "We wanted to reach out to the greater community, and with Highland Park and East Brunswick so close, we wanted to get everyone involved."

In addition to Winter's magic show, Mischel's face painting, and Balavram's book making, the Plainsboro Preserve held a live reptile demo, Family Martial Arts Academy, Highland Park, stopped by for a karate demo, and Mad Science held a wacky science demonstration.

"This book is a book that appeals to families, despite its title," Libove-Goldfarb said. "Most of these things have to be done with a parent present, so there was really no better way to introduce '101 Things' than to bring families together and show them that they can do the 101 things too."