The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 39

Shopping mm Four hundred participants reenact a Revolutionary battle, If you're seeking an oversized armoire or a whimsical garden sculpture, chances are you'll find it in Closter, where you can also find the staples of retailing. Page SL-3. 11a.m. to 5 m. Jn today and Sunday, i 1 Concert and 18th i I n.

century dancing, 7 to 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. rntnT? 9 tonight. Historic New Bridge Landing, River Edge. $5, $3 kids.

487-1739. YOUR WEEKEilD GUIDE i SECTION SL SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1995 THE RECORD The American wsr I Museum of JII.IIIILII I. I I Natural History unveils its grand dinosaur halls STAFF PHOTOS BY CARMINE GALASSO or By EVONNE C0UTR0S Stetf Writer nyone 8tm calling that big old dino-f saur "Brontosaurus" may want to visit the Museum of Natural History for a refresher course or risk being called a r. dinosaur themselves. Friday, after $14 million in renovations, the museum reopened two dinosaur halls that house some 100 specimens of fossils, 85 percent of them authentic.

The renaming of the Brontosaurus to the Apatosaurus is just one small part of the mammoth updating of the halls, which are bathed in natural light from windows. The renovation is a wonder in itself, with 12 interactive computer stations, dazzling videos, a dinosaur family tree, time lines, and robotics. The fourth floor exhibit is now divided into the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs and the Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs, the former's subjects characterized by hand anatomy and the latter's by pelvic structure. The renovation marks the completion of the second of three phases of a $46 million project that will result in six fossil halls. The first phase, the Lila Acheson Wallace Wing of Mammals and Their Extinct Relatives, opened about a year ago.

The final phase which will house a theater, classroom, and a hall on the evolution of fishes, amphibians, and non-dinosaurian reptiles is to open next spring. Both new dinosaur halls are designed to reestablish the grand old atmosphere of the museum. Visitors may get closer and in some cases touch dinosaur relics while moving through halls designed to resemble the trunk and branches of the dinosaur family tree. "Subdivisions have been removed, windows have been revealed ceiling heights have been brought back and restored," said Ralph Appelbaum, president of the company that designed the renovation. The air-conditioning system is even hidden behind the showcases so that the original museum ceilings are exposed, as they were prior to the remodeling of the halls in the 1950s.

The result is a spacious, bright ambience about as close to the open-air feeling of "Jurassic Park" as humans will get. Because the dino fossils have no skin, the streams of natural light pouring through the windows enliven the mega-skeletons. Families can gape skyward at the new fossil See DINOSAURS Page SL-2 What's old Is new again. The Brontosaurus, right, Is now known as the Apatosaurus, and has a new skull, additional neckbones, and a tall that has been raised and lengthened by 20 feet. At top, the dinosaur family tree and a big foot (not Foot, mind you).

1 1 fi PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Van Saun doings Firefighting facets tell jokes like Eddie Murphy." Pro-; vided, of course, they, have a "memory bank" of images to draw fcom. "I like to call it psychological bungee-: jumping, where you just jump and we got that elastic umbilical cord holding you up. We don't let you go too far, but you might do some wild and crazy things." Born and raised in Linden, Conrad has worked as a stockbroker and in the shipping business. He's also a major in the Army Reserve. His interest in hyp- notism goes back to 1980, when he was' training for a body-building competition.

Discovering that controlling his mind could maximize his workouts, he studied hypnotism for several years. He See TONIGHT Page SL-8 If you believe in the power of suggestion and like to be entertained along the way the way, head for Bananas Comedy Club in Saddle Brook tonight. Gary Conrad, a New Jersey native and hypnotic entertainer, will be tickling the imagination of his audience. First things first: Conrad is not a hypnotist who tells jokes. And he doesn't hypnotize people so they can quit smoking or lose weight.

There's another function for hypnosis to create theater and that's Conrad's specialty. "You bring a group of people up, you have them enter hypnosis, then you assign them roles to play, or you allow them to select roles." Such as? "They might sing like Madonna or Events are free. For information, call 596-6550. To get to the museum, take the New Jersey Turnpike to Interstate 280 west. Take the second exit for State Street.

Turn right at the end of the ramp and follow signs for Broad Street. Make a sharp right at the light onto University Avenue, heading south on University to Central Avenue. Turn left onto Central and again at the next light onto Washington Street. The museum parking lot is on the left. Hot on the trails Today is National Trails Day, and parks and recreational areas throughout the state are sponsoring events.

The New Jersey Trails Council celebrates See JUST DO IT Page SL-8 There's a hot time in Newark on Sunday as the Newark Fire Department Historical Association presents its annual Antique Fire Apparatus Muster and Parade at the Newark Museum. Fire companies and private owners will display their equipment in the parking lot, following a 1 p.m. parade through downtown Newark. The Metropolitan Miniature Fire Apparatus Association will display hand-built models of firetrucks. Adding to the festivities will be a bagpipe concert, trophy presentations, and a slide show of Newark firefighters at work.

The Newark Fire Museum, featuring antique firetrucks, photos, and memorabilia, will be open for business as usual, noon to 4:45 p.m. Tune your ear into the Garden State Harmonica Club's annual picnic, and catch some of the harmonica music that will be played throughout the day, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Van Saun Park, Area Paramus. 664-1787.

Also in the park, take a stroll through the Bergen County Outdoor Art Show and Concert, with a juried fine arts show from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today, and hear a concert from noon to 4 p.m. featuring show tunes, classical music, and marches performed by the Saddle River Valley Concert Band. Van Saun Park is at Forest and Continental avenues.

Free. 646-2780. Shopping. SL-3 Home. SL-4 Other Events.

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