For the most up-to-date listing of events, go online to masslive.com/entertainment
Weekend
SSO: Musicians to perform at Springfield Museums event, E5 OFF THE MENU: UMass maintains powerhouse reputation for food service, E8 BEER NUT: Modest proposal for opening bars, E8
PLUS
Enjoy fall foliage with a hike, Page E3
PumpkinFest gets a twist Westfield on Weekends event promises safe, family-friendly fun, E2
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WEEKEND
THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM
PumpkinFest is WOW’s most popular event that has attracted thousands to the green since its inception three years ago. As such, we decided that rather than disappoint many fans, we would think outside the box and create events that were safe and responsible. ROBERT A. PLASSE, PRESIDENT OF WESTFIELD ON WEEKENDS
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PUMPKINFEST 2020
Scarecrow Trail: Friday - Oct. 31, free, map available at westfieldon weekends.com Drive-by Tour of Haunted Houses: Friday - Oct. 31, free, map available at west fieldonweekends.com Drive-in Movie Night: Presentation of “Hocus Pocus” on Saturday at 7 p.m., preceded by a program of children’s music provided by a JP’s Sound and Lights at 6 p.m. at the middle school athletic field at the Boys and Girls Club with an entrance on Broad Street. Attendance is free with donations suggested, but reservations are required by calling 562-2301 or emailing cosella@ bgcwestfield.org.
colorful scarecrows will displayed for all to see. As part of the tour, Amelia Park Ice Arena will present a Haunted Garden in Amelia’s Garden at the complex on South Broad Street. People can participate as scarecrow makers as well as tour participants. They may make their own scarecrows using materials from their homes or purchase $20 scarecrow kits from WOW that include PVC piping pieces Robert A. Plasse, president of Westfield on Weekends, and board member Lisa Sunderland Burns fashion scarecrows and joints to create a life-size scarefor WOW’s Scarecrow Trail. (SUBMITTED PHOTO) crow. Pre-made scarecrows are available for $50. Kits may be purchased at ON THE COVER Amelia Park Ice Arena while supplies last. Register there to be listed as part of the trail. A list of the locations of more than 50 scarecrows and their owners is available at WOW’s website. Families “PumpkinFest is WOW’s most popu- who follow the trail will be able to vote lar event that has attracted thousands for their favorite entries at @Witalisz Associates on Facebook; special prizes to the green since its inception three will be awarded to the winners. years ago. As such, we decided that “Folks will have plenty of time to rather than disappoint many fans, we tour as many neighborhoods as they would think outside the box and creBy Cori Urban ate events that were safe and respon- wish,” Plasse said. “It’s a veritable Special to The Republican sible,” Plasse said. moving celebration of the season. A variety of events that can be “An expansion of the Scarecrow or many people, Westfield’s PumpkinFest marks enjoyed by families on their own will Trail from a downtown event to a the beginning of autumn and is a time to get drive-by activity for the entire city was take place during a two-week period an easy reach,” Plasse said. “Quite beginning tomorrow. together to celebrate the harvest and the vibrant honestly, the sales of kits have been so PumpkinFest will include a Scarecommunity, said Robert A. Plasse, Westfield crow Trail, drive-by Tour of Haunted successful that we just might continHouses, a drive-in Movie Night, scare- ue it in its present format in years to on Weekends co-president and co-chairman of crow-making workshops and coloring come.” PumpkinFest. activities. Recognizing the many residents of But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s PumpkinFest will feature an exWestfield that decorate the outside of their homes for Halloween, WOW festivities will be different than those that drew more than panded version of last year’s Scarecrow Trail, a self-guided drive-by tour also will present its first drive-by 6,000 attendees and volunteers to last year’s event. SEE FEST, PAGE E4 of local houses and businesses, where
PumpkinFest gets a twist Westfield on Weekends event promises safe, family-friendly fun
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WEEKEND
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | E3
MONSON
Enjoy fall foliage with a hike Peaked Mountain offers views of forested landscapes
elevation. However, the trail is good for all skill levels. It’s not Mount Everest, but it is uphill with some rocky sections. Leave the sneakers and sandals at home, but bring a camera. And the dog, too, as long By Steve Smith as it’s on a leash. Special to The Republican The trails are well marked with blazes, numbered checkpoints and trail signs. When you The views from the summit of reach checkpoint No. 7 you will have a choice. Peaked Mountain are spectacular If you want the strenuous (rocky) section of the at any time of year. But during the trail on the way to the summit, take a right. If you want the more strenuous section for your fall foliage season, the views are descent, take a left. The summit offers views of undisturbed and beyond be-leaf. forested landscapes, including Mount MonadBefore you go, be aware that the name of the nock to the north and Mount Wachusett to the mountain is pronounced pea-kid, not peak-ed. Al- northeast. The city of Springfield can be seen to though you may feel a little peaked by the time you the west. And color in all directions. reach the peak. It is a 2-mile loop trail described by Peaked Mountain is a property of Trustees of hiking associations as moderate in difficulty, but Reservations, a nonprofit land conservation organization. strenuous in places. The hike is a 467-foot gain in The hike to the summit of Peaked Mountain in Monson is a 467-foot gain in elevation. However, the trail is good for all skill levels. See more photos at MassLive. com. (STEVE SMITH PHOTOS)
The hike to the summit of Peaked Mountain in Monson is a workout, but the views from the top are spectacular. (STEVE SMITH PHOTO)
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Fest CONTINUED FROM PAGE E2
Tour of Haunted Houses tomorrow through Oct. 31. The residences that are scheduled to participate with spooky decorations are listed at westfieldonweek ends. com. Like the Scarecrow Trail of PumpkinFest, Westfield residents may join the list of more than 40 haunted houses already on the map on WOW’s website for the chance to be voted a fan favorite and perhaps win a special prize. WOW is asking people to register by submitting their address on WOW’s Facebook page or calling WOW at 579-5967.
“Outdoor movies in the fall spark fond memories for many of us who grew up in the ’50s and ’60s.” Robert A. Plasse
The drive-by events are free with maps provided at the WOW website. In association with the Greater Westfield Boys and Girls Club, WOW will present a free showing of the Halloween classic “Hocus Pocus” on Saturday at 7 p.m., preceded by a program of children’s music provided by JP’s Sound and Lights at 6 p.m. The family-friendly Disney film will be projected onto a huge screen at the middle school athletic field at the Boys and Girls Club with an entrance on Broad Street. Attendance is free with donations suggested, but reservations are required. They may be made by calling 5622301 or emailing cosella@bgcwestfield.org. All donations made on Movie Night will be shared by The Boys and Girls Club and WOW. Cars will be allowed onto the grounds at 5:30 p.m. with limited spaces available to allow safe distancing. Masks must be worn in common areas.
“The Drive-in Movie sprang from the success of this summer’s outdoor film series at the Greater Westfield Boys and Girls Club,” Plasse said. “Outdoor movies in the fall spark fond memories for many of us who grew up in the ’50s and ’60s.” As a prelude to the opening of the Scarecrow Trail, WOW’s Creative Arts Center will offer a series of five scarecrow-making workshops that have been designed for families, following the Massachusetts COVID guidelines. WOW will offer families a variety of PumpkinFest drawings to color that can be displayed in their homes when completed. The coloring art may be downloaded from the Westfield on Weekends website or clipped from the pages of the Westfield News and The Reminder. The coloring activity was a concept developed with the Westfield School Department over the last three PumpkinFests. “Recognizing that schools might not be in session, because of COVID, we joined with Reminder Publications and Westfield News and artist Shannon Chiba to create designs that could not only be posted on our website but also in area newspapers for children and their families to color and display,” Plasse said. This year’s reimagined PumpkinFest format has been fun to produce and so well-received that Plasse said its model will be used in two months for a DecemberFest calendar of activities for the challenging pandemic times. Details will be announced closer to the holiday season. “I love the idea of families touring various neighborhoods to see the scarecrows on the Scarecrow Trail and/ or seasonal designs created by homeowners for the Haunted Houses tour,” Plasse said. “Perhaps they will discover sections of the city that they have never visited while getting tips on how they can participate in future drive-by tours.” For details about PumpkinFest events, visit west fieldonweekends.com or WOW’s Facebook page.
THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM
MUSIC
Flaming Lips pitch fan ‘bubbles’ for live shows
Donnie Moorhouse
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LiveWire
LAMING LIPS ARE planning a unique live concert alternative in the age of COVID-19 — fan bubbles. Lead singer Wayne Coyne is pitching large plastic bubbles for fans attending a Flaming Lips show in Oklahoma City. The idea has apparently moved past the concept phase as the artist posted a photo on social media of the setup over the weekend. The picture shows dozens of pods (uninflated) spread out in rows in front of a concert stage. “I mean, it seems absurd, but we at first were just doing it as not a joke, but just as a kind of funny thing, and now it’s becoming kind of serious and real,” Coyne said in an interview. “I think that’s kind of the dilemma we’re all in is that are we waiting for it to go back to normal or are we starting to plot, ‘What’s the future look like?’ What is the future of live music?” Hard to imagine that THIS is the future of live music, but credit to the band for the effort. With few exceptions, live entertainment has been on hold since March with every major concert tour canceled and postponed and music venues of all sizes closed down.
Liner notes • The Iron Horse Music Hall has postponed Jonatha Brooke’s upcoming show. Originally scheduled for Oct. 24, the event has been moved off the calendar with a future
The Flaming Lips lead singer Wayne Coyne is pitching large plastic bubbles for fans to wear at an upcoming show. (BEN FLANAGAN / AL.COM)
date to be announced. Tickets purchased for the original date will be honored when the new date is established. Brooke and fellow Bostonian Jennifer Kimball met at Amherst College in the late 1980s and began performing together as The Story. As a solo artist she recently won the overall grand prize in the 15th annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards), as well as best female artist with her song “Put the Gun Down.” SEE LIVEWIRE, PAGE E5
“I think that’s kind of the dilemma we’re all in is that are we waiting for it to go back to normal or are we starting to plot, ‘What’s the future look like?’ What is the future of live music?” Wayne Coyne, lead singer, Flaming Lips
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WEEKEND
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SPRINGFIELD
SSO musicians to perform at Museums Performance tomorrow part of ‘Into the Autumn Mist’ program
LiveWire CONTINUED FROM PAGE E4
Her latest release is called “Imposter.” • Kim Gordon, considered a rock icon by many, will release her new book “No Icon” next week. The Sonic Youth star’s latest work is not an autobiography (she delivered that in 2015 with “Girl in a Band”) but will include “unpublished personal photographs, magazine and newspaper clippings and other assorted things from across her career,” according to Spin magazine. Gordon formed Sonic Youth with Thurston Moore in 1981 and the outfit became one of the most influential bands of the alternative rock era. She and Moore later married and for a time lived in Northampton. She recently released “No Home Record,” her first solo effort, which came out in 2019.
A
By Clifton Noble Jr.
nity Music School of Springfield, including SSO Maestro Kevin Rhodes, performed on lthough the steps of City Hall during the full a Black Lives Matter mural Springfield painting project at Court Square in Springfield. Symphony According to SSO principal Orchestra trumpeter Thomas Bergeron, who organized the music side may remain momenof that occasion, “We were just tarily silenced by the so desperate to play together, Springfield Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Masako COVID-19 pandemic, a to make music together, and Yanagita will take part in a performance at the Springfield the cause meant something trio of its string musiMuseums as part of the “Into the Autumn Mist: Fairies and to us. Players drove in from Boston, New York, Vermont — Fantasy” program. (THE REPUBLICAN FILE PHOTO) cians will perform at one string player flew in from the Springfield Mu“More than anyone, we California!” (Intro to Music Composition), seums as part of the The pandemic has thrown SSO musicians want to play baritone and conductor (and the world into disarray (to together,” Bergeron said, “and the fabulous Figaro in Panop“Into the Autumn Mist: era’s recent production “The put it mildly), and of course we want the orchestra to start Fairies and Fantasy” the business end of the SSO performing again – being able Barber of Seville”) Cailin Maris not immune. Since the SSO • The Wu Tang Clan’s show to get out there making music cel Manson (Score Study and program. at Mohegan Sun Arena on Oct. is a per-service orchestra, no as some of our peer orchestras Repertoire), trumpeter and The SSO trio will perform 23 has been officially posteducator Peter Hoyle (Beginfull-orchestra concerts means are already doing.” ning Music Theory). poned. While a new date has tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. at the no payment to the musicians. Bergeron added that a These classes are available yet to be announced, tickets Quadrangle, while families However, a collective barnumber of SSO musicians are purchased for the original date and children build fairy houses gaining agreement between participating in a series of mas- to members of the Springfield terclasses organized by SSO musicians and management Symphony Youth Orchestras, will be honored. from materials provided by Education Director Kirsten but there is a possibility that One of the most influential the museum staff. The Build a remains in place and is legally the course may be offered hip-hop groups ever, Wu Tang Fairy House event is free with binding, so individual services Lipkens at Belchertown High Clan formed in New York in the School. the musicians provide as SSO to the general public in the museum admission. early 1990s and has delivered Concertmaster Masako Yan- members should be compensat“The band director in future. They begin on this agita (violin), principal violist ed in accordance with that CBA. Belchertown, Ryan Caster, four gold and platinum studio weekend. According to Bergeron and Ronald Gorevic, and assistant albums. got a grant to support guest For more information, visit: his colleagues on the SSO principal cellist Aron ZelkoThe group’s entire “Saga masterclasses,” Bergeron said, springfieldsymphony.org/ wicz will play fairy-themed Players Committee, the Build a “so I’m doing classes with Continues” tour has been live-virtual-course-offerings/#ensemble music — including some Men- Fairy House museum performoved to 2021. the brass section and Ellen delssohn, no doubt. mance this weekend is very Redman is working with the Since the pandemic began, encouraging, as it will come flutes.” numerous individual SSO as close to normal operating Lipkens has also organized members (including Gorevic, procedure in terms of conLive Virtual Course Offerings, who shared Schubert’s “Arpeg- tracts and compensation as presented by distinguished gione Sonata,” and Zelkowicz any orchestral activity thus far professional musicians like who played Bruch’s “Kol in the pandemic. trumpeter Haneef N. Nelson Nidrei”) and the Young People’s Symphony have brought SSO patrons into their homes or studios every Wednesday as part of the online “Home! NEW grown” video series, combining chamber music perforThree hearty Irish mance with personal insights into their musical lives and dinner options prepared careers. Wednesday – Saturday. at the Last month, a string chamCall 413-342-4358. Irish Cultural Center ber orchestra comprised of musicians from the SSO, Youth IrishCenterwne.org FOR MENU & ORDER INFO. Orchestra, and the Commu63 Cabot Street, Chicopee Center (413) 592-0220 Special to The Republican
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MOVIES DVD RELEASES
‘El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie’ a fun ride By Katie Foran-McHale
pearer” Ed Galbraith (Robert Forster, who died on the same day the film was Familiar faces from a beloved AMC se- released). ries reappear in the top new DVD releases After all the trauma Jesse endured for for this week. five seasons, it’s nice to see the charac“El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie”: ter get the story he deserves, written, The last time we saw Jesse Pinkman (Aar- directed and produced by “Breaking Bad” on Paul) at the end of “Breaking Bad,” creator and head writer Vince Gilligan. which aired in 2013, he was fleeing the It’s wholly unnecessary, but it’s fun, and massacre at the Brotherhood compound the combination is oddly satisfying. initiated by his former partner in crime, Walter White (Bryan Cranston), who died Also new on DVD “Bad Mothers”: Australian mystery in the process. series follows five women involved with In “El Camino’s” opening flashback, infidelity and murder. Jesse and a not-yet-dead Mike (Jonathan “Broil”: After making a shocking disBanks) discuss what they would do with covery about her family, a teenager’s (Avtheir lives if they could successfully get out of the game, with Mike planting Alas- ery Konrad) lifeline may be a culinary-inka as a fantasy for Jesse’s hypothetical clined assassin (Timothy V. Murphy). escape. The film follows the immediate “Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite!”: The aftermath of Jesse’s escape from the com- fight between cats and dogs reignites after pound, with the help of old friends Skinny a tech evildoer uses frequencies only the Pete (Charles Edward Baker) and Badger pets can hear and manufactures drama. (Matt L. Jones), to flee from authorities “The Good Witch: Season 6”: The SEE DVD, PAGE E11 and find vacuum repairman/ “disapTribune News Service
Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman in a scene from “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.” (BEN ROTHSTEIN / NETFLIX)
ONLINE STREAMING
‘Dolly Parton: Here I Am’ leads new releases
Washington Post
“Aggie” is a documentary about the life and work of Agnes Gund — made by the art collector and philanthropist’s daughter, Emmy-nominated filmmaker Catherine Gund — focusing on Gund’s sale of an expensive painting to create
a fund for criminal justice reform. According to the New York Times, “The mother-daughter dynamic might have given ‘Aggie’ a perspective distinct from other adulatory profiles of Gund. But it’s not clear that the filmmaker had the distance needed to separate interesting material
Phylicia Rashad, left, and Mamoudou Athie in “Black Box.” (ALFONSO BRESCIANI / AMAZON STUDIOS)
from banal reminiscence.” Unrated. Available at afisil ver.afi.com and themiracle theatre.com. 91 minutes. The documentary “Dolly Parton: Here I Am” looks back at the people and places that were important in the singer’s life and career. TV-14. Available on Netflix. 89 minutes. A decade in the making and running more than 14 hours long — including a 40-minute closing credit sequence — the Argentine film “La Flor” tells six distinct stories in six distinct genres, each starring the same four actresses: Elisa Carricajo, Valeria Correa, Pilar Gamboa and Laura Paredes. According to the New York Times, “There’s a lot to think about. Too much, perhaps, and also maybe not enough.” Unrated. Available at afisilver.afi.com.
Ujon Tokarski in “Major Arcana.” (GOOD DEED ENTERTAINMENT / KINO LORBER)
In English, Spanish, Catalan, Quechua, French, Russian, German and Swedish with subtitles. 868 minutes, presented in three parts. A recovering alcoholic (Ujon Tokarski) returns to his Vermont hometown, only
to encounter complications in the form of an old flame (Tara Summers) in the drama “Major Arcana.” According to Film Threat, the movie “works on every level to convey the sense of a place in slow decay and the sad futility
SEE STREAM, PAGE E7
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WEEKEND
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | E7
Author shares ghost Stream stories virtually
CONTINUED FROM PAGE E6
By Heather Morrison
hmorrison@masslive.com
Jeff Belanger spends all year researching and telling stories of ghosts, vampires and witches. But his stories aren’t just to scare listeners. “I believe in my heart of hearts that these legends will save the world,� Belanger said. Jeff Belanger Belanger, author and paranormal investigator, is telling these stories through virtual events in Massachusetts this month. Currently, he said, there’s a lot of interest in vampires and the White House. “One of the stories I’m telling a lot this fall is stories of New England vampires,� he said. “And there’s several prominent stories, probably Mercy Brown of Rhode Island is the most famous.� Vampires, he said, are often said to came around during times of plague, something that has been on people’s minds during the coronavirus pandemic. “When medical science didn’t have a good answer for you, when your religion didn’t have a good answer for you, folklore always has an answer,� he said. “It’s incredible the parallels that we can look at between then and now.� New England Legends has also created an app to help people find these spooky sites near them or to take a fun socially distanced road trip. The app includes a map with information and a podcast about each haunted site. Belanger hopes people use the map to go to some of these places and enjoy the podcast in the car while there. You don’t have to believe in
ghosts to be haunted by these stories either. The real reason we continue to tell the story of Lizzie Borden isn’t because everyone believes the location is filled with ghosts, he said. “Two people were murdered in that house. No one was ever convicted or punished for the crime,� he said. “We do not like people getting away with murder in our state, town, city, region, country, whatever. We don’t like it. It haunts us. And we know it could happen again. “So, we allow these ghosts from the past to haunt us, because these are issues that we still worry about, we still think about,� he said. Belanger grew up near Ed and Lorraine Warren, known for “The Conjuring,� in Connecticut. He’s always found these stories interesting. But with the pandemic he needed to find a new way of sharing them. Now he’s telling them through virtual events on Zoom and through his app and podcast. In fact, because things have gone virtual due to the pandemic, he said he’s able to reach more people than ever before. “There’s people that just can’t get to some of the venues and now I feel like I’m reaching more people than ever,� he said. Typically he has the same or similar talks at various locations throughout the season. But because the events are virtual, people are attending more than one. So, he’s had to adapt to make sure he’s telling different stories each time. But don’t worry, he said, there’s plenty of legends. And he’s always finding more. During in-person events, it’s common for him to turn the floor over to an attendee to talk about their experiences with the supernatural. Sometimes he even writes down tips from those stories to chase later. But Zoom makes
SEE GHOSTS, PAGE E12
“Mighty Ira� is a documentary portrait of Ira Glasser, the former ACLU executive director, serving from 1978 to 2001, who is considered to have shaped the organization into what it is today. Unrated. Available at Angelika virtual cinema. 99 minutes. Directed by Italian filmmaker Nanni Moretti (“Caro Diario�), the documentary “Santiago, Italia� tells the story of how the Italian Embassy in Chile worked to save and relocate citizens targeted by the fascist regime of military dictator Augusto Pinochet. According to the Hollywood Reporter, filmgoers who are used to Moretti’s “outspoken swagger and barbed wit,� will need to “reorder their priorities for this incredibly straight documentary, made in the most classic way possible.� Unrated. Available at afisilver.afi.com. In Spanish and Italian with subtitles. 80 minutes.
Ruby Rose, left, and David Sakurai in “The Doorman.� (DRAGOS BARBACIORU / LIONSGATE)
Former ACLU Executive Director Ira Glasser in “Mighty Ira.� (FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL
filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza (“Hillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Partyâ€?), the documentary “Trump Cardâ€? purports to be a exposĂŠ of the “socialism, corruption and gangsterizationâ€? of the Democratic Party. PG-13. Available on iTunes. Contains some strong sexual material and drug references, mature thematic elements, some violence and brief crude language. 102 minutes.
RIGHTS IN EDUCATION)
“Welcome to the Blummovie kind of way, smart and houseâ€? is a series of horror films debuting this month on insightful and respectful in Amazon. The series opened its depiction of modern-day teens, brimming with sly and last week with “Black Boxâ€? (101 minutes) and “The Lieâ€? satiric social commentary — (97 minutes) and continues and legitimately profound.â€? this week with “Evil Eyeâ€? and PG-13. Available on various Ruby Rose (“Orange Is the streaming platforms. Contains “Nocturne.â€? The last four New Blackâ€?) stars as the title some disturbing violent content installments in the anthology, for a total of eight movies, character in the action thriller and terror. 116 minutes. will be released in 2021. “The Doorman,â€? playing a Unrated. Available on Amazon former Marine with lethal Written and directed by Prime Video. combat skills working at a conservative writer and luxury New York high-rise who must fight off violent thieves and their boss (Jean Reno). R. Available on various streaming platforms. Contains .BJO 4U 8FTUĂśFME t (Across from Walgreens & Rocky’s Hardware) violence throughout, language and brief teen drug use. 93 minutes.
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Charlie Plummer (“Words on Bathroom Walls�) and Katherine Langford (“13 Reasons Why�) star in “Spontaneous,� sci-fi romcom about teens who fall in love — while struggling to survive as their high-school peers are literally exploding around them. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, “It’s funny in a drive-in splatter
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Jeff Belanger examines vampires in New England
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WEEKEND
E8 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020
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DINE & WINE
George Lenker Beer Nut
Modest proposal for opening bars
I
’VE NEVER BEEN ONE to dine out a lot. But I probably have gone out just for drinks more than the average person. And when I say “drinks,” I mainly mean beer, as you would probably guess. Of course during the current pandemic, that option has (rightly, in my opinion) been shut down. I am definitely in the camp that leans toward less gatherings of people until we get COVID-19 under control. However, since my state of Massachusetts is allowing restaurants to reopen, I am perplexed and a bit miffed that bars are not allowed the same option. Bars, pubs and clubs supposedly will remain dark until Phase 4 of the state’s plan, which may not occur until a vaccine has been created. A few weeks ago, Gov. Charlie Baker announced that the state would loosen restrictions on eateries by increasing the number of people allowed at tables from six to 10 and permitting bar seating for food service. So you can sit at a bar with proper social distancing, but the catch of requiring patrons to order food obviously remains. I get that there are some valid reasons behind this: By adding food, establishments
SEE BEER, PAGE E10
P
UMass maintains powerhouse reputation for food service
URSUING A STRATegy of enrollment growth at a time when colleges and universities are facing a demographic headwind, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst has relied on a number of promotional tactics to reach its headcount goals, and one of them has been the powerhouse reputation of the school’s food service program, UMass Dining. Under the leadership of Ken Toong, executive director of UMass Auxiliary Enterprises, UMass Dining has cultivated a national reputation for its inventive restaurant-style food and commitment to sustainable locally sourced ingredients. Toong is the founder of the Tastes of the World Chef Culinary Conference, an annual event that draws hundreds of culinary professionals to the Amherst campus. During his tenure, UMass Dining has consistently earned recognition as one of the country’s top college dining programs, most recently having received Princeton Review’s “Best Campus Food” honors for the fifth year in a row. All this excellence doesn’t come cheap — UMass Dining has an annual budget in excess of $100 million, student board fees are higher than those at other schools, and Toong competes aggressively to prevent student, faculty and staff dollars from leaking off campus to area restaurants and catering establishments. UMass Dining has also invested heavily in physical plant. This fall a new $50 million Worcester Dining Commons, which will include a restaurant, bakery, retail food store, fitness center, and student social spaces, will open. With many students unable
Hugh Robert Off The Menu
to live and dine on campus this fall, UMass Dining has had to reduce its operations dramatically. However, that downsized presence hasn’t much diminished the enthusiasm “UMies” have for the dining experience to which they’ve become accustomed. Faced with repeated student requests for recipes over the past few months, Anthony Jung, executive chef of retail dining at UMass Dining, worked with colleagues to create a series of cooking videos documenting the preparation of dishes that receive lots of student love. Demonstrated in the videos Jung and his staff have put together is the preparation of dishes such as fiery Nashville chicken, Korean scallion pancakes, butternut lasagna with sage cream, and zucchini bread. The UMass Dining series “Cooking at Home” can be viewed at umassdining. com/videos. Side dishes • Chef Jakub Koziara has worked with the staff of Loophole Brewing Services in Holyoke to create a Beer Dinner for Max Burger in Longmeadow. Scheduled for Monday, the evening will feature a lineup of Loophole brews. Chef Koziara’s menu, which is designed to complement those beers, begins with puff pastry braut “pockets,” then
Under the leadership of Ken Toong, executive director of UMass Auxiliary Enterprises, UMass Dining has cultivated a national reputation for its inventive restaurant-style food and commitment to sustainable locally sourced ingredients.
goes on to a second course of buletten (German meatballs). Maultaschen (German ravioli) will be the third slot savory course; the dish features pasta pockets filled with sausage, spinach, and caramelized onions. The main event for the dinner is a presentation of coffee rubbed short ribs, a creation to be plated with a Gorgonzola polenta and Brussels
sprouts. For dessert Koziara and his culinary team will be baking a gingersnap spice cake. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. and costs $65 per person, not including tax or gratuity. Call 413-798-0101 for reservations. • For the final week of The Big E’s Food-to-Go Drive-
SEE MENU, PAGE E9
WESTFIELD Open for Lunch & Dinner
OPEN ‘TIL MIDNIGHT 7 DAYS A WEEK Indoor and Outdoor Dining Curbside Take Out Service Available 2 Broad Street, Westfield • 562-0335
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WEEKEND
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020 | E9
DINE & WINE
Menu CONTINUED FROM PAGE E8
Thru, an interesting collection of vendors will be on site in West Springfield. Angela’s Pizza will be offering its signature giant mozzarella sticks as well as large pizzas and pizza slices, while Billie’s Baked Potato will be featuring a “Billie’s Special” spud with broccoli and cheese or chili and cheese. The Calabrese Market & Grill will be selling fairground favorites such as cotton candy, kettle corn, and caramel apples, while Chompers will be dishing up snackables in bacon cheeseburger, chicken parm, and taco variations. Poppie’s Concessions features corn dogs in four flavors as well as fried cheesecake and frozen lemonade, while Porky’s Pork Palace will be all about things barbecue, with options ranging from smoked turkey legs and a pulled pork sandwich to a beef brisket plate with cornbread and sides. The Big E Bakery will be open during each drive-thru, selling its signature Big E Cream Puffs and Big E-clairs. The Big E Drive-Thru operates Tuesday through Sunday weekly until Sunday. Drive-Thru tickets are $5 and advance time slot reservations can be made at TheBigE. com.
The Big E Food-to-Go Drive-Thru runs through Sunday. Each week’s drive-thru has featured different vendors that would normally have operated at The Big E. This week Chompers, Angela’s Pizza, Billie’s Baked Potato, The Calabrese Market & Grill, Poppie’s Concessions, and Porky’s Pork Palace are offering fair favorites. The Cream Puffs are also available every day the event is open. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN)
• The New England Craft Pub pop-up at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meetinghouse in Holyoke will continue through Sunday with a selection of fine craft beers, a menu of finger foods, sandwiches, and comfort food entrees, and live entertainment. Open Thursday and Friday evenings as well as from noon until 8 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays, the Craft Pub provides indoor and outdoor seating, both of which are socially distanced. Reservations, which are strongly encouraged, can be made by calling 413-535-5077.
snacks, small plates, and sandwiches, although choices like quiche, mac ‘n’ cheese, and thin-crust pizza can also be enjoyed. For reservations or more information, contact Champney’s at 413-772-3087.
noon until 6 p.m. In addition to its “dine-in” menu, the Salem Cross Inn has also developed a takeout program that features many of the restaurant’s most popular selections. Both menus reflect the Inn’s commitment to what’s fresh and local. The current dining agenda can be viewed at the Inn’s website, salemcrossinn.com The Salem Cross Inn answers at 508-867-2345 for those wanting more details or who wish to make reservations.
• Though it’s not able to offer its traditional Fireplace Feast events, the Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield is open for indoor and outdoor dining Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from
Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community College’s hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 45 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com.
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• Max’s Tavern at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield has been running a weekly series of Tavern Tastings. Available for enjoyment Fridays anytime between 5 and 8:30 p.m., the Tastings are themed, prix fixe menus created by Executive Chef • The Duck in Sturbridge Nate Waugaman. is holding a Bavarian-themed Each week’s five-course • Champney’s RestauOktoberfest dinner on Oct. 22 rant at the Deerfield Inn in menu takes its inspiration Deerfield, which is open for at 6:30 p.m. from a particular beverage Eric Jolin, The Duck’s head dinner seven nights a week offering. A recent Friday chef, will be preparing a vari- from 4 to 8 p.m., is now also lineup was an homage to gin, ety of traditional Oktoberfest serving lunch on Fridays, Sat- with tastings of five gin-based urdays, Sundays, and Monday cocktails served alongside specialties. The multi-course menu will holidays. creations such as sweet potato include a special cocktail, Inside and outside seating and lacinato soup, seared wine, or beer in the event’s is available for both meal scallops with sugar pumpkin $55 per person price. Addioccasions; to-go service is puree, New York strip steak, tional-charge German beer available as well. and a matcha tea cheesecake selections will be available to Champney’s specializes bombe. go with each course. in a gastropub-style menu. To learn about any upcomThe event will be held ing Tavern Tastings menu or Entrees available in the eveindoors with appropriate ning include chicken potpie, to make a reservation, contact table spacing and protectively grilled salmon topped with Max’s Tavern at 413-746garbed staff. slow-roasted grapes, bouilla- 6299. Reservations can be made baisse, and a mushroom risotby contacting the restaurant at to perfumed with truffle oil. • Take 5 Restaurant in 508-347-2321. Lunch is mostly about Feeding Hills is offering Take
5 To Go, a selection of family meals designed to serve four or five. Offerings vary from evening to evening, but typical choices include the likes of chicken piccata with ziti and sauteed spinach, pulled pork served over mac ‘n’ cheese, and an Italian Feast that includes chicken parmesan, eggplant parmesan, meatballs, sausage, and baked ziti. For more details on what’s being featured or to place an order, call Take 5 Restaurant at 413-786-0962.
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DINE & WINE
D
Bordeaux wine stands out at any price
ECIDING WHICH wines to write about each week can be relatively simple, yet also complicated. The simple answer part involves simply finding a great wine worth writing about, which can also sometimes be the complicated part. The problem has less to do with finding great wines. There are lots of them out there. It’s deciding which ones to highlight, which ones to recommend. Sometimes, I go in search of great wines from certain wine regions. If I haven’t written about wines from New Zealand or Chile or South Africa in a while, I might taste a few wines from one of these regions and hope I find a great ones. Other times, I just happen to come across a great wine I didn’t even expect to encounter, which is always the best way to find a great wine or many of the things we love in life. Who doesn’t love an unexpected and welcome surprise? But even then, I might find five or six great random wines from different parts of the world.
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can make more money, making up for the reduced seating capacity under the coronavirus restrictions. It also increases the bottom line of each check, which means (or should mean) a bigger tip for servers. I am totally on board with both reasons. However, if restaurants can have small groupings of people at a table (or now even at an eatery’s bar with proper social distancing), why isn’t a straight-up bar or pub allowed the same courtesy? As I noted above, I
Ken Ross Wine Press
Which deserve the spotlight? Many times, price plays an important role. If a wine tastes great and costs $40 or more a bottle, frankly, I’m not that surprised. Every expen-
sive bottle of wine should be a great bottle of wine. That’s why I was so thrilled to recently come across this outstanding red wine from France’s famous Bordeaux region. And best of all, this
wine costs less than $9 a bottle! The wine is the 2016 Chateau Les Valles Bordeaux ($8.99 at Table & Vine in West Springfield). Made with a blend of 70% merlot and 30% cabernet Sauvignon, this soft, subtle wine has the understated flavors you would expect from a Right Bank Bordeaux wine, which are made predominantly with merlot grapes. Although I should add that I can’t say for certain where the grapes came from since the bottle unfortunately only states that it’s a Bordeaux wine, nothing more specific. However, there is one clue on the wine’s label that might explain why this wine tastes so velvety smooth and yet slightly earthy and robust
don’t often want to dine out. But in order to meet friends and have a few drinks, I am compelled to order at least some nominal food. Because the plant-based diet I follow restricts my choices, I often just get a basket of fries. Fries are good, but I don’t necessarily want them all the time. And frankly, a lot of times I don’t want any food. But I have to order it. Last week, I ordered a basket of fries, ate about three of them so I could have a drink, and left the rest. What a waste of time, effort and food. But, again, I get some of the rationale behind the restrictions. However, I have a
modest proposal of my own. Hear me out: If a bar wants to open, why not allow that option as long as it follows the same social distancing rules as restaurants and requires patrons to pay an upfront “cover charge” of sorts. The latter provision would be to cover revenue lost due to reduced seating capacity and to add to the servers’ reduced bottom line due to fewer customers per shift. The cover charge money could be pooled and split in some way (maybe 50-50?) that was agreeable to both management and staff. How much should this cover charge be? Well, I’d leave
that up to the individual bar. And it could be a sliding scale depending on the number of folks in a particular group. Maybe a solo bar patron (as I often am) has to pony up $10 to sit at the bar. Maybe groups of two, three or four, pay less than that (each). I’m certainly not rich, but I’d be glad to pay $10 to be able to have a few beers without the onus of ordering food I don’t want. More importantly, I’d be glad to pay the surcharge in order to go to a bar that doesn’t have the means to serve food. I have spent money in worse ways, trust me. Bars could decide if this option would work for them or not, and maybe in some cases
The 2016 Chateau Les Valles Bordeaux is an outstanding Bordeaux wine that is under $9 a bottle, says Ken Ross. (KEN ROSS PHOTO)
According to the label, the grapes were grown in a blend of clay and limestone soil. Rocky, limestone soil consistently produces outstanding wines in my opinion. And this one’s a gem.
at the same time. According to the label, the grapes were grown in a blend of clay and limestone soil. Rocky, limestone soil consistently produces outstanding wines in my opinion. And this one’s a gem. Let me add that this wine more than holds its own against wines that cost double or triple or even more. I tasted two bottles of this wine over four different occasions in the past two weeks. And each time, this wine was an absolutely wonderful blend of soft, subtle fruit flavors (dried raspberries and blackberries) with an austere, long finish. Researching this wine, I discovered that I previously wrote about the 2014 vintage in a 2016 wine column. In that column, I described the 2014 vintage as a “smooth, refined red wine ... truly made for people who appreciate low-key, understated flavors.” The same can said for this lovely 2016 vintage ready to enjoy now. Cheers! Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s weekend section every Thursday.
it wouldn’t. But I believe they deserve the option of having patrons, provided they follow all the other coronavirus-related rules. Part of me suspects that some of the motivation behind keeping bars closed comes from vestigial Puritanism, where demon rum is still seen as the devil’s elixir. But I (and I suspect plenty of others) just want to have a beer with a few friends at our local. As long as we follow the same social distancing rules we would in a restaurant, why can’t we? I’ve got a $10 bill in my pocket for that surcharge just itching to be put to good use. Come on, Gov.: Give us a chance.
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SPRINGFIELD
Garden Club readies for remote program October talk focuses on native plants
from the University of Maine and an advanced certificate in Native Plant Horticulture and Design from the New By Cori Urban England Wild Flower SociSpecial to The Republican ety. He is currently the staff photographer, horticulturalist pringfield and propagator for Norcross Garden Club Wildlife Sanctuary in MonHorticulture son. During the Zoom meeting, Education he will discuss how to select chairwoman and combine the right species for specific site conditions and master gardener and how this community-oriJanet Dolder is pasented approach can be applied to plantings of all sizes. sionate about native Participants will learn how to plants. create healthy, resilient plant “It is not unusual for garcommunities that are beautideners and landscapers to ful and ecologically vibrant. label any plant that wasn’t inQuestions for Jaffe, co-autentionally planted as a weed thor of “Native Plants for New that needs to be eradicated,” England Gardens” — which she said. “There are so many features his photographs — beautiful native shrubs, trees, will be accepted through the perennials and groundcovers chat function of Zoom and that will easily adapt to grow- will be answered in real time. ing in our backyards. It only “It’s time to reestablish takes a little research and a native plants in the urban presentation or two with an landscape before it’s too late,” expert … to get started.” Dolder said. “As more space The garden club’s October is developed, the ground beprogram, “Why We Care comes covered with concrete, About Native Plants,” is just lawns and exotic, hybridized shrubs and perennials, such a presentation. Featuring Dan Jaffe, it will take place starving native vegetation of tomorrow at noon via Zoom. its natural habitat. In turn, inJaffe is a well-known sects that have evolved alonghorticulturist, propagator side those plants and adapted and landscape designer. He their diets to the native plants’ earned a degree in botany pollen and nectar also starve,
and the birds who counted on those insects to feed their young are becoming extinct.” Most of the plant materials garden club members use in their arrangements
are found in their yards and gardens, so there are natives included. “While you could make an arrangement from all natives, we generally use a mix for variety,” said Mary
E. Bandouveres, garden club publicity chairman. “Using natives in arrangements is a fun benefit of growing them. You can beautify as well as benefit the environment. In addition, as this is their ‘native’ land, native plants can be easier to grow than some imported ones.” She particularly likes using milkweed in her arrangements. “It’s not the most flamboyant plant, but it is the only food a monarch caterpillar can eat. So, the survival of the monarchs is dependent on the availability of milkweed plants. And they are easy to grow,” she said. For Dolder, the vibrant colors from native maples and oaks, with a groundcover of goldenrod, wild aster and native ferns, are a reminder that “fall in New England is one of the most beautiful places on earth.” Current Springfield Garden Club members will receive information on accessing the native plant lecture, and guests can request access information by emailing sp fldgardenclub@gmail.com. For more information on this and other Springfield Garden Club events, go to gcfm.org/springfieldgar denclub or to Facebook at facebook.com/Springfield MAGardenClub.
“The Dance”: A couple (Irene Esser and Gabriel Aguero) hide secrets from each other. In Spanish. “Fatima”: A group of Portuguese children sees apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1917, leading to challenges by officials. “Seized”: An ex-special agent (Scott Adkins) must take down a gang to save his son. “Sibyl”: A therapist (Virginie Efira) becomes too interested in an actress patient’s (Adele Exarchopoulos) life, drawing on her as writing inspiration. In French. “The Wall of Mexico”: A rich Mexican American fam-
ily builds a wall around their property to stop passersby from taking their water. Stars Jacson Rathbone, Esai Morales and Marisol Sacramento. “When the Storm Fades”: Docudramedy follows the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. “Alone”: A killer (Marc Menchaca) hunts a woman (Jules Willcox) who escaped from his clutches in the Pacific Northwest wilderness. Out on Digital HD tomorrow and on DVD and Blu-ray Oct. 20. “Don’t Look Back”: A woman grappling with past trauma experiences a supernatural being that stalks her. Out on
Digital HD tomorrow. “Love and Monsters”: Post-apocalyptic action romcom follows a man (Dylan O’Brien) fighting monsters for miles in order to reach his girlfriend (Jessica Henwick). Out on Digital HD tomorrow “Monochrome: The Chromism”: In a black-and-white world, those who begin to show color are hunted. Out tomorrow. “The Secrets We Keep”: A woman (Noomi Rapace) kidnaps her neighbor (Joel Kinnaman) after she’s convinced he committed crimes against her during World War II. Out tomorrow.
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The 2000 film starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto and Jennifer Connelly is being released CONTINUED FROM PAGE E6 in 4K Ultra HD for its 20th Hallmark Channel fantasy anniversary. series continues as Cassie “Vikings Season 6: Vol. 1”: (Catherine Bell) and Sam The History channel drama’s (James Denton) host a suspisixth season follows King Bjorn cious houseguest. (Alexander Ludwig) as the “The American West, leader of Kattegat, and Ivar Season 1”: Documentary series (Alex Hogh Andersen) and explores the history of the U.S. Ubbe’s (Jordan Patrick Smith) transformation after the Civil erstwhile quests. War. Out on Digital HD “Doorman”: An ex-soldier (Ruby Rose) must protect her “DC Showcase – Batman: family from a group of sinister Death in the Family”: Animated film serves as a prequel to thieves. “Requiem for a Dream”: “Batman: Under the Red Hood.”
A photo of the front of the Geisel home on Fairfield Street in Springfield where “Dr. Seuss” author Theodor Geisel lived from the age of 2 until he left home. The home had fallen into disrepair until the Springfield Museums began a restoration project. The Springfield Garden Club has taken on the landscaping and plantings as part of the renovation process and has used almost exclusively native plants. Non-native annuals were used for color and to fill in as the perennials grow to maturity. (SPRINGFIELD GARDEN CLUB PHOTO)
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that part of the talk difficult. Instead, he encourages people to share their stories on another of his websites called GhostVillage.com. “I usually recommend if you want to get it off your chest, just write it up and we’ll just publish it,” Belanger said. “And there’s this sort of like relief that comes in like, ‘Alright, I said it. It’s out there. Other people have had the experience too, and I can sort of deal with that better now.’” Although this is a busy time of year for Belanger he said the scary stories that surround Halloween have nothing on Christmas. Halloween, he explained, is the time when the veil is thin between the living and the dead. Typically that just involves ghosts meddling in our affairs, he said. But Christmas monsters can kill you, Belanger said. “Like you could die from the monsters and folklore that surround yule and Christmas,” he said, talking of Krampus, Belsnickel and the Yule Lads. “Dear Lord, stay inside. You are not safe at Christmas.” In the end, though, they’re all the key to understanding our world, he said. “They’re a glimpse into who we were and who we are and who we will probably become,” Belanger said. “Because when you talk about ghosts, what you’re really asking is, ‘Is there life after death?’ And when you talk about aliens, what you’re really saying is, ‘Are we alone in the universe?’ And when you talk about Bigfoot, and
“Because when you talk about ghosts, what you’re really asking is, ‘Is there life after death?’ And when you talk about aliens, what you’re really saying is, ‘Are we alone in the universe?’ And when you talk about Bigfoot, and lake monsters and things like that, you’re really asking, ‘Do we know every creature that walks the earth with us?’ These are the big ones. Those are the big questions humans have asked for thousands upon thousands of years.” Jeff Belanger
lake monsters and things like that, you’re really asking, ‘Do we know every creature that walks the earth with us?’ These are the big ones. Those are the big questions humans have asked for thousands upon thousands of years.” You can tune into one of Belanger’s events through various public libraries in the commonwealth this month. Or download the app and enjoy your own ghost hunt. See jeffbelanger.com/eventslist for more information.
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