Westfield-Born Actor, Author Andrew McCarthy Appears in Metuchen Sunday

Best known for his days with the 'Brat Pack,' actor Andrew McCarthy has continued his creative journey, literally. An award-winning travel writer, McCarthy, who was born and raised in Westfield until the age of 15, penned his critically-acclaimed memoir The Longest Way Home in 2012.

Taking a day off from directing a new film, the editor-at-large for National Geographic Traveler returns to his roots—or close to them—when he appears as the guest of the Friends of the Metuchen Library Sunday, March 3 from 1 to 4 p.m. 

A fundraiser, proceeds from McCarthy’s appearance will go toward improvements to the Metuchen Library’s children's room and public meeting room. 

“We are delighted that New Jersey native Andrew McCarthy has agreed to come to Metuchen for our library fundraiser," said Alisa Schleif, a member of the Friends of the Metuchen Library. “He's a contemporary of the 40-50-something generation and almost everyone knows some part of his work. We hope to make new friends through this event and raise funds for much-needed library enhancements.”

Originally scheduled to be held at The Forum Theater, this event has been relocated to the Social Center at the Metuchen Presbyterian Church, 270 Woodbridge Avenue. (The Social Center is adjacent to the Metuchen Train Station.)

After appearing in dozens of films, including The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Joy Luck Club, Mulholland Falls, Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo's Fire, Less Than Zero, and Weekend At Bernie's, McCarthy, an Edison Intermediate School grad, went on to try his hand at writing and found success in that medium as well. 

The author has garnered high praise from fellow travel writers and soul-searchers Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) and Cheryl Strayed (Wild). In The Longest Way Home, McCarthy, a consummate wayfarer, travels the world trying to decide if he has the courage to commit to his fiancé, with whom he has a daughter. Can one immerse himself in family, yet still satisfy his need for solitude?, McCarthy asks while journeying to the jungles of Costa Rica and the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

To see if he finds his answer, reserve a ticket for Sunday's appearance. Tickets can be purchased online at www.FOTML.org, in person at the Metuchen Public Library (480 Middesex Avenue, Metuchen) or at Marafiki Fair Trade (20 New Street, Metuchen). Copies of ‘The Longest Way Home’ can be purchased at the Metuchen Public Library. The ‘Meet and Greet’ will begin at 1 p.m. Ticket price options are:

• $12/person for a ticket.
• $40/person for one ticket plus one place at the 1pm meet & greet with Andrew.
• $75 for two individual tickets plus two places at the 1pm meet & greet with Andrew McCarthy.