Weekend - December 22, 2022

CALENDAR:

Bright Nights magic shines on

organizer, Spirit of Springfield, with Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management.

By K EITH O ’C ONNOR Special to The Republican

THERE IS STILL TIME to get in a visit with Santa at his Magical Forest at Bright Nights before the lights are turned off at the end of the day on New Year’s Day for another year.

Santa will be at his Magical Forest on Friday and on Christmas Eve greeting all boys and girls and posing for free pictures from 5:30 to 8 p.m. before taking off for the North Pole to begin his big journey with his sleigh and reindeer across the globe.

Bright Nights at Forest Park is a collaborative effort by the

“We’ve had some really wonderful nights this year and the snowfall always helps bring more people out for a romantic drive as the lights reflect off the white snow. Our Military and Emergency Responders Night was our biggest ever for them, and our last $10 Tuesday lasted 90 minutes over closing time,” said Judith A. Matt, president, Spirit of Springfield.

As drivers make their way into Forest Park’s premier holiday light display — joining over 6 million visitors from around the world who have visited Bright Nights over the years — they will be greeted at the front gate with some giant red flowers in Poinsettia Fantasy, then continue their tour

viewing displays called American Flag, Spirit of the Season, Winter Garden, Springfield Thunderbirds, MGM Springfield and Seuss Land.

So visitors don’t miss Santa’s Magical Forest, which comes up rather quickly on their journey through Bright Nights, there are candy cane light displays leading up to Santa’s Magical Forest that say rides, gifts, snacks, and turn to enter the area. Once inside Santa’s Magical Forest, you can also take a selfie with friends or family between two additional large, illuminated candy canes with a 2022 Bright Nights sign. It is also home to the Bright Night’s Gift Shop, a carousel children’s ride, and a refreshment stand.

As visitors leave Santa’s Magical Forest, they will turn left to continue their journey

past the Garden of Peace, Jurassic World, Victorian Village, Barney Mansion, Leaping Frog, Winter Woods, North Pole Village, Toy Land,

And, New Year’s Eve offers

Forest Park lights keep glowing until New Year’s Day

Giant Poinsettia Candles and ending with Happy Holidays, Springfield.

Bright Nights at Forest Park is a collaborative effort by Spirit of Springfield’s and the city’s Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management. Here is the Springfield Municipal Group display that features City Hall, the Campanile and Symphony Hall. (HOANG ‘LEON’ NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN)

Cars passing through Seuss Land at Bright Nights at Forest Park. This section of the light display pays homage to Springfield’s own Dr. Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel. (HOANG ‘LEON’ NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN)

Nightclubs

THURSDAY

Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee

Shadow Lounge: DJ with classics. 278 Worthington St., Springfield

Southwick Inn: Open mic hosted by Steve Piper of Roadhouse Band. 479 College Highway, Southwick

The Still: Drink specials. 63 Springfield St., Agawam

West Springfield Fish and Game Club: CD jukebox, pool table. 329 Garden St., Feeding Hills

Whip City Brew: DJ with dance. 287 Elm St., Westfield

FRIDAY

Delaney House: Luther Johnson. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke

Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee

East Mountain Country Club: Karaoke with Kris Sanders. 1458 E. Mountain Rd, Westfield

Happier Valley Comedy Theater: HVC’s Fun Fridays: Music Open Mic Night. 1 Mill Valley Road Suite B, Hadley

West Springfield Fish and Game Club: CD jukebox, pool table. 329 Garden St., Feeding Hills

SATURDAY

Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee

Whip City Brew: DJ with dance. 287 Elm St., Westfield

SUNDAY

Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee

TUESDAY

Tavern Restaurant: Trivia Night. 2 Broad St., Westfield

WEDNESDAY

American Legion Post 351: Open mic with Kevin Crane. 50 Saint Kolbe Drive, Holyoke

Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee

The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event. Items should be mailed to: Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329 or email pmastriano@repub.com or submit it to www.masslive.com/myevent

Boyz II Men will return to Symphony Hall

MULTI-PLATInum, fourtime Grammy award-winning R&B band Boyz II Men, will return to Springfield Symphony Hall on Feb. 18.

and co-host Dolly Parton for the event, which will be broadcast on NBC.

Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party is scheduled for Dec. 31, streaming live from Miami.

Boyz II Men remains one of the most popular R&B groups in music history. The trio redefined popular R&B and has penned and performed some of the most celebrated classics of the past three decades. The group also holds the distinction of being the best-selling, most commercially successful R&B group of all time, with an astounding 64 million albums sold.

Boyz II Men’s catalogue of hits include: “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “One Sweet Day,” “Motownphilly” and many others.

Tickets are on sale now at MGMSpringfield.com.

Liner notes

• Miley Cyrus has announced three more guests for her New Year’s Eve Party.

Cyrus, appearing on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” said that Sia, Latto, and Rae Sremmurd would be joining herself

The group Boyz II Men performed at Springfield Symphony Hall in Springfield as part of the MGM Springfield Performance Series on March 13. The group is due to make a return trip to Springfield on Feb. 18. (ED COHEN PHOTO)

George Lenker LiveWire

SEE LIVEWIRE, PAGE E12

McCray’s Holiday Light Stroll focuses on family traditions

By T INA L ESNIAK Special to The Republican

THE FIRST YEAR OF the Holiday Light Stroll at McCray’s Farm is off to a bright beginning.

Featuring more than 300,000 lights, the new family-friendly event offers an outdoor walk through the farm with brilliant tunnels, decorations galore and, of course, Santa Claus.

“We could not be happier with what we were able to pull together,” said Matthew Murdza, assistant organizer of the stroll and longtime friend of the McCray family. “Steve (McCray) and the farm really wanted to create a friendly, enjoyable event for the community. Everyone who has come through has very positive reviews for us and they take the time to thank us for putting together the show.”

Setup for the display started right after the farm wrapped up its Halloween haunted hayride and other fall activities.

From Nov. 1 through 25, the staff spent each day building

which is exciting for us as well because it’s creating new family traditions,” added Murdza. “Seeing families gather

Featuring more than 300,000 lights, the new family-friendly event offers an outdoor walk through the farm with brilliant tunnels, decorations galore and, of course, Santa Claus.

out various sections of the farm.

“Michael, Steve’s son, built a breathtaking white snow room that leads out to an all blue village. After all our hard work It was nice to see everything turn on and pull together,” said Murdza.

In the run-up to Christmas, Santa Claus has joined the walks on Fridays and weekend days to talk with children and be available for photos. “We created a lot of different places to take photos to create memories,” Murdza said.

The holiday stroll is something the McCray family had been wanting to do for a while. It was a true team effort to get it all up and running.

“It will be an annual event,

around to take pictures and laugh with kids smiling and

in awe was the whole point of trying to put this together.”

The stroll is open through Dec. 31. Hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 9 p.m. It will be closed Christmas Day.

The cost is $15 per person. Children age 2 and younger are free. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the farm’s website, mccrays-farm.com/holi day-light-walkthrough

A covered bridge in the mini-golf section of the Holiday Light Stroll at McCray’s Farm in South Hadley.

A family enjoys a walk on a path at the Holiday Light Stroll at McCray’s Farm in South Hadley. (DAVE ROBACK PHOTO)

The mini-golf section of the Holiday Light Stroll at McCray’s Farm in South Hadley. The farm’s team took most of November to create the walkthrough light experience for visitors. (DAVE ROBACK PHOTO)

(DAVE ROBACK PHOTO)

Dine out or eat at home, holiday meals best by pros

THE HOME-PREpared holiday feast seems like it’s on its way to becoming a thing of the past.

Data gathered by the National Restaurant Association as part of a recent survey of 1,000 consumers seems to indicate that fewer and fewer Americans are willing to prepare their own family feast at Christmas.

The survey revealed that 60% of those responding planned to dine out during the holidays, and that over half will be ordering food-to-go. When asked why, 82% agreed that having someone else do the holiday cooking helped reduce holiday-related stress as well as freeing up the time that would otherwise be used for holiday meal preparation and clean up.

Business trends in the restaurant industry over the past few decades certainly reflect consumer inclinations to have someone else do the cooking at Christmas. Every year sees more and more restaurants offering dinner and side-dish packages designed to fill in for home cooking efforts.

However, a related marketing opportunity, that for dining-out options on Christmas Day

itself, continues to mostly go unmet. From the scarcity of available reservations at those few restaurants that do open on Christmas Day, it’s clear there’s demand aplenty.

The problem is a lack of supply. Restaurant owners and their employees, especially in this most difficult of years for staffing, are unwilling to give up Christmas to serve a public that’s increasingly inclined to let someone else prepare and serve their holiday meal. Thanksgiving, once a iconic home-cooking holiday, has become one of the busiest dining out days of the year. The challenge for restaurant operators is to find ways to meet a similar demand for Christmas day dining.

Celebrating Irish beers

IDON’T GO TO IREland to drink beer, but I certainly drink my fair share when I’m there.

Yes, readers, I’m writing this from my hotel room in the center of Dublin. (Wren Urban Nest, if you want to know specifics. It’s a wonderful, modern and environmentally conscious venue.)

This trip was mostly for me to be in two major cities, Dublin and Galway, at Christmastime. I was in Ireland around Christmas about eight years ago but I didn’t really get to explore the holiday lights of either city as much as I wanted to. This time I was able to stroll around leisurely and soak in the holiday spirit.

Of course, one can look at pretty lights for only so long. So once that aspect was done, along with a small bit of shopping, and of course eating, it was time to hit the pubs.

My first couple of nights were spent in Galway, and I’ve already sung the praises of the great Salt House, so I won’t dwell on that fabulous venue. But it goes without saying I did spend some time there. But I also got to visit my other favorite place in Galway. the Bierhaus.

The Bierhaus was actually the first craft beer bar I ever visited in Galway, but I hadn’t been there in more than a decade. The place had changed a lot since my last stop there, but the changes were all cosmetic and none of them were bad. It still exudes a dark pub atmosphere, which is a characteristic I enjoy.

What hadn’t changed was the beer. I sampled several delicious ones there, but the one that struck me the hardest was a collaboration between the Bierhaus and O’Brother Brewing, named Lionn Ruadh na Samhna.

It’s a hoppy red ale that

George Lenker Beer Nut

pours a ruddy, deep reddish hue and has some great caramel malt notes, which are held in check by a nice hop envelope. It’s a perfect winter beer, and if you can ever get some, I recommend it.

While I could mention a few other impossible-to-get beers I had at the Bierhaus, I have to move on to my time spent in Dublin. I once again met up with my friend John Stephens, and while we had a few pints at several bars, what I’d like to focus on here is our time spent at Against the Grain.

It was at Against the Grain where I was invited to the Christmas party for Beoir, an

advocacy group that serves to promote Irish craft beer and educate people about it. John serves as treasurer for the organization.

But aside from being at one of my favorite Irish craft beer pubs with one of my favorite Irish friends, there was another exciting aspect: I got to meet another “Beer Nut” — literally.

John Duffy, who also uses the moniker “Beer Nut” for his blog, is the president of Beoir, but he’s also an esteemed beer writer and historian. He’s erudite and eloquent, and it was a real treat to meet him, even though the party circumstances didn’t allow a lot of time for one-on-one chatting. Check out his blog.

I did learn a few tasty morsels about beer industry news from the party, however. But those will have to wait for another week.

I hope your holidays — whatever and wherever you celebrate — are as enjoyable as my holiday sojourn to Ireland.

Cheers.

30Boltwood Restaurant and Bar in Amherst is among the restaurants in Western Massachusetts that will be open both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. A new survey by the National Restaurant Association found that 60% of the respondents planned to dine out for the holidays this year. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN)

Champagne, dessert wines perfect for holidays

CHAMPAGNE AND sparkling wine often take center stage this time of year.

Holiday parties, new year’s eve toasts and other festive occasions wouldn’t feel the same without a glass full of bubbles.

But there are many other wines perfect for celebrating the season, especially after a big, holiday feast.

This week, you can learn more about them.

So without further ado, let’s get to this week’s wines –Champagne, sparkling wines and dessert wines perfect for the holidays.

Hope you enjoy.

• Sparkling Wine

What it is: Sparkling wine refers to any wine made with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is what produces the bubbles in sparkling wine. Any grape can be used to make sparkling wine. The bubbles also depend on many other factors, including the amount of sugar and yeast in the wine, along with the amount of time the wine ages. In many cases, the way winemakers create sparkling wine is by adding additional yeast and sugar to wine already in bottles. The bottles are then rotated systematically for a few months to a few years depending on the wine. There are many other ways to make sparkling wine, but

this is one of the most popular ways, often referred to as the traditional, or classic, method.

Where it comes from: Sparkling wine can come anywhere in the world. France, Italy and Spain are best known for their sparkling wines, but there are also great ones from California, Argentina and Canada.

Recommended Wine –Mumm Napa Brut Prestige ($19.99 at Table & Vine in West Springfield): California winery founded by Champagne house of G. H. Mumm in the 1970s, this crisp, refreshing, dry sparkling wine has a beautiful, clean finish with hints of citrus and vanilla. If you love really dry wines, get a “brut” as it’s even drier than “extra dry” sparkling wines. I know. It makes no sense.

• Sparkling Rose

What it is: Sparkling wines that look pink are sparkling rose wines. Red wine grapes are used to make them, but

these same grapes can also be used to make sparkling wines that are not pink. So why are sparkling rose wines pink? Often, there are two different ways to get the pink color. In one, some winemakers simply add a little still red wine to the sparkling wine. In the other, the grape skins from red wine come into contact with grape juice during the winemaking process. It’s that simple - less grape skin contact, lighter-colored wine.

Where it comes from: Many places in the world.

Recommended Wine –Gruet Sauvage Sparkling Rose ($19.99 at Table & Vine) – Made with pinot noir grapes, this dry, refreshing sparkling wine from New Mexico proves you don’t have to spend a lot of money to find great sparkling wines. Gruet has long been one of my favorite sparkling wine producers. Here, the flavors are crisp and clean with hints of hazelnut,

strawberry and hay.

• Champagne

What it is: Champagne is sparkling wine from the Champagne region in north-

ern France. If it’s from anywhere else in the world, it’s not Champagne. It’s simply sparkling wine. Many

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

DOORS OPEN 4:30PM

MASKS OPTIONAL

Progressive Jackpot 6:15pm Early Bird 6:20pm Start Min. Entry Package $15

Electronic Bingo Aval. Snack Bar, Open Seating, Handicap Restrooms

Several of the wines recommended this week. (PHOTO BY KEN ROSS)

Nothing like a little bubbly to celebrate

Ken Ross Wine Press

MOVIES

10 Christmas movies to celebrate the season

By R Ay K ELLy Special to The Republican

ABRIEF DISCLAIMer: This Top 10 Christmas movies list does not include one of my favorite films — “Die Hard.” Fans have debated whether “Die Hard” deserves to be considered a holiday movie. I think not. While it may be set during the yuletide season, John McClane picking off international terrorists at the Nakatomi Plaza is not really Christmas fare. So, with apologies to Bruce Willis fans, here are 10 Christmas movies designed to make this season a little bit brighter.

• “Elf” (2003) — “Saturday Night Live” goofball Will Ferrell stars as Buddy, a human who’s grown up at the North Pole believing he is an elf. He travels to New York City in search of his biological father, played James Caan. Ferrell delivers the laughs and plucks the right heartstrings in a movie about family. For some Christmas movie fans, “Elf” is as good as it gets.

• “Christmas Chronicles” (2018) — Santa Claus has never been cooler than when he is played by Kurt Russell. His Snake Pliskin-tinged-Father Christmas makes this Netflix offering a true delight. Two children swipe – and crash –Santa’s sleigh in a film that mixes heart and humor. Russell channels his 1979 performance in “Elvis” for a jailhouse rendition of “Santa Claus is Back in Town.” The 2020 Netflix sequel offers some smiles for fans of the original.

• “A Christmas Carol” (1984) – Not enough can be said about this definitive version of the Charles Dickens’ classic with George C. Scott as the miserly, cold-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge. Handsomely photographed in Shrewsbury in Shropshire, the Clive Donner-directed film features David Warner and Susannah York as the Cratchits. Scott pulls it all together with a memorable

performance that puts Alistair Sim to shame — and that is no small feat.

• “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) – Post-World War II Jimmy Stewart reteamed with director Frank Capra in a look at the impact one man has on his town. The movie was not popular upon its release, but became a holiday staple thanks to endless showings on television. Portions of Capra’s film are dark in tone — Stewart’s George Bailey contemplates suicide when he finds himself facing scandal and financial ruin — but it all leads to an uplifting ending that celebrates community, family and the common man.

• “A Christmas Story” (1983) — Storyteller Jean Shepherd’s nostalgic tale of growing up in Hammond, Indiana. In the film culled from several of his short stories, Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) wants nothing more than a Red Ryder BB gun, despite warnings he will shoot his eye out. Darren McGavin turns in a memorable performance as Ralphie’s crusty father, The Old Man.

• “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989) — One of best installments in the “Vacation” franchise finds

the Griswold family at home coping with visiting relatives. John Hughes scripted a story about a merry assembly of oddballs led by Chevy Chase, who simply wants the best for his brood. Memorable comedic performance by Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie.

• “The Santa Clause” (1994) — In the Tim Allen oeuvre, “The Santa Clause” sits alongside “Galaxy Quest” and the first seasons of “Home Improvement” as his best work. Allen stars as a divorced dad who accidentally kills a man in a Santa suit and is transported to the North Pole to assume the role of Kris Kringle. The movie opened to mixed reviews, but was successful enough to spawn two sequels.

• “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993) — Tim Burton bridges the gap between Halloween and Christmas with this creepy animated tale. Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloween Town, has grown bored with the frights of Halloween. Excited after visiting Christmas Town, Jack tries to bring the holiday cheer to the denizens of Halloween Town — though they can’t seem to get it right.

• “The Preacher’s Wife”

(AMAZON.COM)

(1996) — This remake of “The Bishop’s Wife” finds Denzel Washington in the Cary Grant role. Washington is a debonair angel sent to Earth save the marriage of Whitney Houston’s choir singer and Courtney B. Vance’s church pastor. The movie has its flaws, like Houston’s costumes being a bit too Hollywood. Directed by Penny Marshall, the movie is very predictable, but it is definitely uplifting and, yes, Houston sings a lot.

• “Love Actually” (2003) —

Some may find writer-director Richard Curtis’ interrelated stories about romance a bit too sugary, but an all-star cast makes it work. The film boasts fine performances by such as heavyweights as Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson and the late Alan Rickman.

Additional to kudos go to Bill Nighy, who plays a washed up rock star forced into making a Christmas-themed comeback.

Pictured: (left to right, back row) Thomas Mitchell, Donna Reed, James Stewart, Karolyn Grimes, 2 extras, Beulah Bondi; (front row) Carol Coomes, Jimmy Hawkins, Larry Simms. “It’s A Wonderful Life” James Stewart and Donna Reed star in Frank Capra’s 1946 holiday classic that chronicles the life of George Bailey (Stewart), a troubled businessman who attempts suicide one Christmas Eve, and is given another chance in life by a second-class angel who shows him the value of life. (CREDITS: REPUBLIC PICTURES CORPORATION)

Side dishes

With Christmas Eve occupying a Saturday and Christmas Day a Sunday on this year’s calendar, restaurants have faced some holiday scheduling challenges.

In past years relatively few dining establishments did business past daylight hours on Christmas Eve, but given Saturday’s typical status as the busiest dining evening of the week, a number of operators have decided to remain open for dinner on Christmas Eve.

• Max’s Tavern at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, for example, is staying open until 9 p.m. on Saturday, as is Figaro Ristorante in Enfield, which plans to serve until 11 p.m.

• Tucker’s Restaurant in Southwick will also be open for dinner on Christmas Eve, with the welcome mat out until 7:30.

• 30Boltwood in Amherst is going all-in on Christmas weekend, offering dinner on Christmas Eve from 4 to 10 p.m., breakfast on Christmas morning from 7 to 11 a.m., and dinner on Christmas Day from noon until 9 p.m.

• Other Western Massachusetts dining landmarks are taking a different approach, capitalizing on the holiday weekend as an opportunity to take a serious block of time off. The Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield and the Dirty Truth Beer Hall in Northampton are typical;

Forest Park

something special for young ones celebrating the holiday at Bright Nights. Children will be given a ticket for a ride on the carousel and also have a choice between receiving a party hat or party favor.

When entering Bright Nights, don’t forget to tune into 100.7 FM, Bright Night’s own WELF — Elf

both will be closed the entire Christmas weekend.

• In Williamstown, a college community that gets “quiet” in late December, Mezze Bistro + Bar will be taking a week-long holiday that began on Sunday and will run through Dec. 28.

• On Saturday, the Boathouse in South Hadley will be serving a Christmas Eve brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will include both morning food selections as well as the restaurant’s regular luncheon menu. See the menus online at boathousedining. com. The Boathouse also answers at 413-536-2342.

The takeaway from all this? Expect that independently run restaurants will tailor their operating hours over the week ahead to reflect their staffing situation, their business level expectations and their own desires for time off with family and friends.

Though the labor crunch in the restaurant industry has eased somewhat, many independents and chains alike are still unable to “staff up” as much as they’d like.

• Denny’s Restaurants, the diner-family-casual chain, has had a particular problem. As recently as November, more than half the brand’s locations had yet to return to 24hour operation, a round-theclock operating policy that had fallen victim to post-COVID operational challenges.

Denny’s, which has traditionally styled itself as “a 24-hour brand”, is now using a two-stage approach to get franchisees back on a ‘round-

the-clock basis. Currently, financial incentives are being used, but corporate spokespersons have indicated that sanctions may eventually be necessary to bring the chain back to full 24-hour compliance.

Beyond the maintenance of Denny’s brand’s identity, there are solid business reasons for dusk-to-dawn operations. Locations that have returned to being open 24 hours are substantially outperforming, year-over-year, those that have not.

• IHOP is working with General Mills to bring the IHOP pancake experience to grocery stores across America. The two companies will be collaborating on a nationwide launch of “IHOP Mini Pancake Cereal” in January, a breakfast cereal formulated to taste like IHOP’s signature buttermilk pancakes served with blueberries and syrup.

IHOP executives have hinted that the cereal, which is shaped like miniature pancakes, is only the first of a number of similar IHOP-branded grocery products in the development pipeline.

• This month a Domino’s Pizza location opened in Wilbraham’s Hanover Plaza at 2030 Boston Road. The new Domino’s, which debuted in early December, is celebrating with a “grand opening” special designed to boost its social media footprint. Information on the deal is available at face book.com/WilbrahamDom inos. The new Boston Road Dominos is open late every night and features contactless delivery in the Wilbraham and

Ludlow area. Their telephone number is 413-648-8889.

• Villa Napoletana in East Longmeadow is holding its 2022 Guest Appreciation Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Complimentary appetizers will be available throughout the event, with live music by Joe Pereira.

At 5 p.m., the restaurant will begin serving a special Christmas Eve dinner menu; reservations can be made by calling 413-732-9300.

• HRFoodsafe will be offering a ServSafe food protection manager’s class and exam on Monday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 800 Hall of Fame Ave.in Springfield. Tickets for the class and exam can be purchased at hrfood safe.com/servsafe-sign-up. php. More information about HRFoodsafe’s array of food service certification programs is available at their website, hrfoodsafe.com.

• On Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. Champney’s Restaurant at the Deerfield Inn will be presenting an Italian wine tasting dinner. Hosted by wine consultant Michael Hooben, of Horizon Beverages, the five-course dinner will feature an equal number of selected Italian bottlings. Dishes featured during the dinner will include portabella mushroom rollatini, grilled lamb chops and orecchiette Bolognese. Dinner is $95 plus gratuity; reservations should be made by calling 413-774-5588. The Deerfield Inn is also offering a $100 room-rate discount for those opting to stay over after the wine dinner.

• Max Burger in Longmeadow is promoting its own

version of happy hour weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. The bar area at Max Burger will have nibbles and “sips” available, and the restaurant is promoting a menu of “Afternoon Delights.” Options include a 5-ounce Classic Burger, a Cheesy Bacon Dog, Nachos, Loaded Tots, and Spinach Artichoke Dip, all of which are priced at $6. Max Burger answers at 413-798-0101.

• Last month Chicago-based McDonald’s Corp. filed suit in federal court, alleging that 12 major pork producers have been engaging in price-fixing practices. The suit alleges that those pork producers had set up an entity known as Agri Stats, which collected from industry participants normally-confidential pricing and production information. The data that Agri Stats gathered was then shared among those pork producers to manipulate production levels — “maintain an orderly market,” in corporate jargon - and thereby keep the wholesale price of pork products artificially high.

The pork processors named in the suit control about 80% of the entire wholesale pork market. As a major end-user of pork products like sausage and bacon, McDonald’s, if its legal action is successful, stands to collect millions of dollars in restitution from those named in the lawsuit.

Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community College’s hospitality and culinary arts program and has more than 45 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached by email to OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com.

Radio.

The prerecorded radio show, put together by Santa at the North Pole, features popular chestnut holiday tunes sung by Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett and others alongside today’s contemporary artists like Meghan Trainor, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift and more.

Hours are: Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m.; Friday, Saturday and holidays from 5 to 10

p.m.; and buses with priority reservations between 5 and 6 p.m. Bright Nights is open Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Ticket prices are $23 per car, limousines are $35, mini buses seating 17 to 31 persons are $80, and buses with a seating capacity of more than 31 persons are $175.

Tickets must be purchased in advance at brightnights. org or at Big Y World Class Markets for $16.50 with

your Silver Savings Club Card.

After leaving Bright Nights, the light show continues in downtown Springfield, where buildings such as Monarch Place, MassLive, TD Bank, MassMutual Center, Tower Square, as well as MGM Springfield are shining brightly.

Also, Court Square has a 30-foot traditional Christmas tree decorated with colored lights and an illuminated fountain.

There are also halos on the park’s light poles and halos up and down the Memorial Bridge.

And as you travel Main Street into the North End, there are snowflakes adorning the light posts.

Before venturing out to visit Bright Nights at Forest Park, you can check bright nights.org/live-webcams to see how the traffic is flowing.

For more information, visit brightnights.org.

CALENDAR

Calendar

THURSDAY

Bright Nights at Forest Park: Thu.-Sun., Forest Park, through Jan. 1. Tickets must be purchased in advance at Big Y or online at brightnights.org. Cars $23; full size bus, 31+ passengers, $175; minibus, 17-30 passengers, $80. Sumner Avenue, Springfield.

Home for the Holidays 2022: Thu., 7:30 p.m. Majestic Theater, through today, $26, $28. 131 Elm St., West Springfield. 413-7477797 or majestictheater.com.

Menorah Lighting on the Green: Thu., 5 p.m. A grand menorah will be lit on the Longmeadow Town Green in front of the Community House. Enjoy Chanukah treats. No charge to attend, no reservations necessary. Route 5, Longmeadow.

MGM Casino: Thu.-Sun., MGM Springfield, featuring retail stores, restaurants, Regal Cinemas and more. For more information, visit mgmspringfield.com, 1 MGM Way, Springfield.

MGM Springfield Ice Skating Rink: Thu.-Sun., MGM Springfield, closed Mon.-Tues.; Wed.-Thu., 4-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 1-10 p.m.; Sun., noon-10 p.m. $14 adults; $10 children 12 and under, veterans, active duty military, and first responders (with ID). Skate rental $6. 1 MGM Way, Springfield.

FRIDAY

Bright Nights at Forest Park: See Thursday listing

MGM Casino: See Thursday listing

MGM Springfield Ice Skating Rink: See Thursday listing

SATURDAY

Bright Nights at Forest Park: See Thursday listing

Christmas Eve Service: Sat., 7:30 p.m. Christ Church Cathedral, musical prelude followed by Mass at 8 p.m. 35 Chestnut St., Springfield.

Christmas Services: Sat., 7 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m. On Christmas Eve, United Congregational Church of Holyoke will host its annual Candlelight Service at 7 p.m. in Skinner Chapel. Sunday worship service on Christmas Day will be held at 10 a.m. All are welcome, 300 Appleton St., Holyoke. 413532-1483 or uccholyoke.org

Christmas Eve Service: Sat., 7

p.m., Foster Memorial Church. This is a service for all ages, focusing on the story of Jesus’ birth and the singing of carols. Service will end with lighting of candles and singing “Silent Night.” Everyone is welcome. 1791 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, 413-782-2112.

MGM Casino: See Thursday listing

MGM Springfield Ice Skating Rink: See Thursday listing

Multigenerational Interactive Christmas Worship Service: Sat., 5 p.m. Agawam Congregational Church will celebrate Jesus’ birth with the ABCs of Christmas. This brief, family friendly service will allow all to participate and share in the joy of Christmas, free. 745 Main St., Agawam.

Traditional Candlelight Service: Sat., 10 p.m. Agawam Congregational Church will tell the story of Christ’s birth through carols and scripture, free. 745 Main St., Agawam.

SUNDAY

Bright Nights at Forest Park: See Thursday listing

Christmas Day Service: Sun., 10 a.m. Christ Church Cathedral, 10 a.m.; Holy Eucharist, Cathedral, 12:15 p.m. La Misa en Espanol, Catedral, 35 Chestnut St., Springfield.

Christmas Services: See Saturday listing

Glow in the Dark: Sun., 4 p.m.,

the Longmeadow Shops, The fun begins at 4 p.m., with Chanukah activities including a Chanukah Story Walk. A glow-in-the-dark menorah lighting will be held at 5 p.m. There will be music, dreidels, hot cocoa, hot latkes, donuts, LED Menorah & Dreidel wristbands. Open to the entire community. No reservations needed, free. 690 Bliss Road, Longmeadow.

Katz Family Channukah Breakfast: Sun., 9:30 a.m. Congregation B’nai Torah, breakfast, including latkes with all the trimmings. There also will be live music and entertainment, including a photo booth. For more information, call the B’nai Torah office at 413-567-0036, 2 Eunice Drive, Longmeadow.

MGM Casino: See Thursday listing

MGM Springfield Ice Skating Rink: See Thursday listing

Quadrangle

Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden: Outdoor sculpture garden of larger-than-life bronze statues of Springfield native Dr. Seuss at his drawing board surrounded by some of his most beloved characters including Horton the Elephant, the Grinch, the Lorax and others. Free on the green.

George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: “Ancient Treasures,” a display of artifacts from ancient China,

Greece, Rome and Egypt. Handson making activities in the Hasbro Games Art Discovery Center. Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: “The Grinch’s Grotto: A Wonderful, Awful Idea,” through Dec. 31. The Grotto is a cave-like structure with a highly decorated chair for the old curmudgeon himself to greet visitors for selfies and portraits. Visitors are invited to bring their cell phones or cameras to take a portrait with the Grinch. Visit the online calendar to see when the Grinch himself will be there. “The Grinch: A Car with a History,” through Nov. 1, 2023. Permanent exhibit: More than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.

Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “Josh Simpson: Visionary Explorations in Glass,” through Jan. 15.

Springfield Science Museum: “We’re Still Here,” through June 30. Native Voices Initiative begins with contemporary perspectives. Curated by Aprell May.

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. First floor exhibition provides interactive three-dimensional exhibits. Second floor contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia. Timed tickets required, for reservations visit springfield museums.org.

Quadrangle admission - $25 for adults, $16.50 for seniors (60+) and college students with ID,

$13 for children ages 3-17; free to children under age 3 and members, Springfield residents are free with proof of residency. Welcome Center and Museum store. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Museums

Amelia Park Children’s Museum: Permanent exhibit: Hands-on activities and creative exhibits, including the Hurricane Simulator. Sign up online for a play session at ameliaparkmu seum.org. Mon., 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Thu.-Sun., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Open for groups Tues. and Wed. $8 adults, $8 children (12 months and older), $4 grandparents/ seniors (60+), military personnel and teachers receive a 10% discount off the price of regular admission. Members and infants free, 29 South Broad St., Westfield or ameliaparkmuseum.org

Children’s Museum at Holyoke: Permanent exhibit: Amazing world of learning and play. Tues.-Fri, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun., noon-4 p.m. Closed Mondays, closed Christmas Eve Day and Christmas Day. In the event of severe weather conditions, check Facebook or Instagram, or local TV Station 22 for closures. Admission: Children and adults $8; seniors (62+) $5; children under 1 and members are free. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or childrensmuseumholyoke. org.

Connecticut Trolley Museum: Winterfest and the “Tunnel of Lights,” through Fri. Additionally the museum will be open from Dec. 26-30 during school vacation break. Fri.-Sun., 5-9 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance at ct-trolley.org. $15$20 per person, 58 North Road, East Windsor.

East Longmeadow Historical Commission Museum: Permanent exhibit: Historical artifacts. Featured at the museum are East Longmeadow artifacts pertaining to the quarries, local Native Americans, period clothing, the railroad system, and much more. 1-3 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month through June, weather permitting. Free, 87 Maple St., East Longmeadow.

Edith Wharton: The Mount: “Nightwood,” through Jan. 1, 5 p.m. An innovative outdoor sound and light experience that immerses visitors in a fantastical winter landscape.

Kristen Gaspar, of East Longmeadow, rides the carousel with her 17-month-old son Eli at Bright Nights on Nov. 23. The annual holiday lights show is open through Jan. 1. (HOANG ‘LEON’ NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN)

Closed Dec. 24-25. $22 adults; $10 kids 6-18; free for children 5 and under, 2 Plunkett St., Lenox or edithwharton.org

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: “Eric Carle’s Book Birthdays,” through March 5. “Celebrating Collage: A 20th Anniversary Celebration,” through Dec. 31. “The Carle Collection: Recent Acquisitions,” through April 9. Permanent exhibit: Gabrielle Healy Carroll Storytime Programs are held Tues. and Fri. 10:30 a.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m., free with admission. The museum will be closed Dec. 24-27 for the Christmas holiday; and Jan. 1-13 for routine maintenance. Museum will be open Dec. 28-31. Museum hours: Weds.Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, noon-5 p.m. $6, $9, $22.50 for a family of four, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or carle museum.org

Holyoke Heritage State Park: Permanent exhibit: Preserving the history and culture of Holyoke through permanent exhibits on the paper and textile industry. Also featuring a new scale model of Mountain Park. Visitor Center open Tues.Sun., noon-4 p.m. Closed Mon. Free admission. mass.gov/locations/ holyoke-heritage-state-park Free, 221 Appleton St., Holyoke, 413-534-1723.

Josiah Day House: Permanent exhibit: Featuring guided tours, artifacts, furniture, clothing and documents from 1754-1902. Call for open house schedule and individual tours. $3, $1 children 6-12, free for members, 70 Park St., West Springfield, 413-734-8322.

Mead Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: Various American and European paintings, Mexican ceramics, Tibetan scroll paintings and

more. Museum hours: Tues.-Thu. and Sun., 9 a.m.-midnight; Fri., 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free, 220 South Pleasant St., Amherst or amherst.edu

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Permanent exhibit: Three floors with dozens of hands-on exhibits, a regulation sized basketball court and more than 900 artifacts on display. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.4 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $28 adults (16-24); $23 seniors (63+); $19 youth (5-15); $23 students with valid high school or college ID; free for ages under 5. 1000 West Columbus Ave., Springfield or hoophall. com

Norman Rockwell Museum: Permanent exhibit: Gallery. Hours: Thu.-Mon., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Advance ticket purchase required; Closed Tues. and Wed. $20 adults; $18 seniors, AAA, retire military; $10 college students; free children ages 18 and under, members and active military. “Norman Rockwell Drawings, 1914-1976,” through Jan. 7. “Eloise and More: The Life and Art of Hilary Knight,” through March 12. “Norman Rockwell’s Spirit of the Holidays,” through Feb. 5. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or nrm.org

Old Sturbridge Village: Permanent exhibit. Through Jan. 1, OSV is only open during Christmas by Candlelight, Fri.-Sun., 2-8 p.m. $28, $26 seniors, $14 college students with ID & children 4-17, free for children 3 and under. Route 20, Sturbridge or osv.org

Pan African Historical Museum USA: Permanent exhibit: Exhibitions by local artists. Hours: Tues.-Fri., noon-4 p.m. Free, 1500 Main St., Springfield, 413-733-1823.

Polish Center of Discovery and Learning: Permanent exhibit: A living monument safeguarding historical objects representative of the material culture of the Polish people in America. Galleries include “Coming to America”; “At Home in America”; “Folk Art”; “Histo-

ry.” Mon.-Fri, 1-5 p.m., except for inclement weather and holidays. Other times may be scheduled by appointment. $5 donation, 33 South St., Chicopee or polishcenter.net

Springfield Armory National Historic Site: Ranger-led interpretive programs offered in the museum in the afternoon. Junior Ranger programs conducted frequently each day. Wed.-Sun, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 1 Armory Square, Springfield or nps. gov/spar

Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum: Permanent exhibit: Daniel Anthony’s Store, The Legacy Room, The Birthing Room, The Portrait Gallery. Open Fri.-Sun, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 students and children 6-17, free for children under 6 and NARM/ NEMA/ROAM members, 67 East Road, Adams or susanbanthony birthplace.com

The Emily Dickinson Museum: Homestead and Evergreens:. Admission to the museum is by guided tour, for which advance-purchase timed tickets are required. 280 Main St., Amherst or emilydickinsons museum.org

Titanic Museum: Permanent exhibit: Exhibits from the collection of the International Titanic Historical Society. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $4, $2 children and students, 208 Main St., Indian Orchard or titanic1.org

University Museum of Contemporary Art - Fine Arts Center: Permanent exhibit. The Fine Arts Center, requires patrons to be fully vaccinated to attend performances. Masks are not required, but are welcome and encouraged. The university museum is open through May 1; Tue.-Fri., 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., noon-4 p.m.; and first Thursdays until 8 p.m. Closed Mondays, holidays, and academic breaks. Check for snow days at umass.edu/closing/. 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst

Volleyball Hall of Fame: Permanent exhibit. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or volleyhall.org

Wistariahurst Museum: Permanent exhibit: Gardens and Grounds open daily from dawn to dusk. Carriage House and gift shop open Mon.Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For information about house tours, group tours and upcoming events, visit wistaria hurst org. $7 Holyoke residents; $5 seniors; $5 youth (under 18); free museum members, active military and family members. 238 Cabot St., Holyoke or wistariahurst.org

Yiddish Book Center: Permanent exhibit, “A Velt mit veltelekh: The Worlds of Jewish Culture.” Open Thu., Fri., Sun. and Mon., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Shabbos (Saturday) and Jewish and legal holidays. $8 adults, $6 seniors, free for members, students and children, 1021

West St., Amherst or yiddishbook center.org

Galleries

A.P.E. Gallery: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Tues.-Thu., noon-5 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., noon-8 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m. 126 Main St., Northampton or apearts.org

Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Tues.-Fri., 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. First floor of Building 28. 1 Armory Square, Springfield, 413-755-5258.

Anchor House of Artists: Art of Vision series/25th anniversary, through Dec. 30. Tues.-Sat., 1-6 p.m.; Closed Sun.-Mon. and Dec. 23, 24. 518 Pleasant St., Northampton, or anchorhouse artists.org

Forbes Library: Dec. gallery exhibits, through Dec. 29. Metal sculpture by Brian McQuillan; photographs by Dave Medeloni and “Above and Below: Prints and watercolors” by Olwen Dowling. 20 West St., Northampton or forbes library org

Gallery A3 Amherst Art Alliance: “Small Wonders” Holiday Show and Sale, through Dec. 30. Thu.Sun., 2-7 p.m.; Dec. 24, 2-4:30 p.m.; closed New Year’s Eve and Christmas Day. 28 Amity St., Amherst or 413-256-4250.

Hope and Feathers Framing and Gallery: 11th annual Small Works Show, through Jan. 12. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thurs. 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 319 Main St., Amherst or hope andfeathersframing.com

Indian Orchard Mills Dane Gallery: All new exhibits every month featuring the artists at Indian Orchard Mills. Sat., noon-4 p.m. or by appointment. 34 Front St., Indian Orchard, 413-543-3321.

J. H. Miller Custom Framing and Gallery: Featuring the works of local artists. Mon.-Fri., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thu., 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 86 Elm St., West Springfield, 413-732-9128.

Sunnyside Road Gallery: Featuring the work of Carolyn Avery. Sat., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by calling 413569-0384. 52 Sunnyside Road, Southwick.

Trinity United Methodist Church: “Quilts and Crocheted Creatures,” Sun. through Dec. Featuring the work of Herb Menzel, Molly Harwood, Clara Lee Sharrard, Ann Guyotte and Alison Smythe. Gallery open Sun., 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and during the week by appointment. Call 413-218-7391. 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield.

Outdoors

Great Falls Discovery Center: “Story Walk Series,” through Jan. 1. “Thanks to the Animals,” by Allen Sockabasin. Great Hall Art Exhibit: “Junior Duck Stamps,” through Jan. 1. Visit the duck investigation station in the Great Hall. Make your own duck stamp. Visitor Center hours: Tues., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Wed.Sun, 10 a.m. -5 p.m., closed Christmas Day. School vacation week: “Mammal Adaptations Investigation Station,” Dec. 23 - Jan. 1. Learn about local mammals and their unique winter adaptations. Explore through touchable artifacts, habitat diorama scavenger hunts, and a bingo game at the welcome desk.

Closed Christmas Day. Kidleidoscope Story Hour: Fri. (deer), Dec. 30 (raccoons), 10:30-11:30 a.m. For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult. Program includes a story, activities and a craft. activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. Meet in the Great Hall. Free, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls or greatfallsma.org

Mt. Greylock State Reservation: Winter tree identification hike Fri., 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., for ages 8 and older. Learn how to identify trees during their winter slumber with DCR Management Forester Kevin Podkowka. An easy walk for families. Be prepared for the weather by wearing appropriate clothing and sturdy snow boots (traction devices, trekking poles and snowshoes may also be advisable.) Inclement weather cancels. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough

Natural Bridge State Park: Visitors Center exhibits daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round; explore the park story through displays, artifacts and scavenger hunts. $2 parking fee, programs are free, 107 McAuley Road, North Adams.

Markets

Winter Farmers Market at the Hampshire Mall: Inside the Target Hallway of the Hampshire Mall. Find vegetables, meats, baked goods, crafts and more. Open Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m., through March 25. Family-friendly and handicap accessible. EBT/HIP accepted. Located on the PVPA 43 & FC buslines. Free and ample parking, wfmhm. com/. 367 Russell St., Hadley

The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event. Items should be mailed to Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub.com or submitted to masslive.com/myevent

Ray Guillemette, Jr. is co-host for “Home for the Holidays,” which runs through today at West Springfield’s Majestic Theater. In the background are Kait Rankins and Tully Russell, also featured in this year’s show.

other rules also apply to Champagne. It can only be made using any combination of the following three grapes: chardonnay; pinot noir; and pinot meunier. Champagne must also be made using the “traditional method,” a complicated, labor-intensive process that involves two fermentations, aging the Champagne in bottles with a type of yeast called “lees” and rotating each bottle (often by hand) using a process called “riddling.”

Where it comes from: Only from the Champagne region in France and nowhere else. I know I’ve gotten some grief about this over the years. What’s the big deal about calling other sparkling wines Champagne? Think of it this way. Would you call a Vermont cheddar a Wisconsin cheese? Or a Greek olive oil an Italian oil?

Recommended Wine –Taittinger Brut La Francaise Non Vintage Champagne ($59.99 at Table & Vine) – I have written many times about many different great Champagnes. I also probably have a soft spot for Champagne and Taittinger since it was the first winery in France I visited for this wine column. This particular Champagne remains a classic – crisp, dry, refreshing and bursting with flavor.

• Vintage Champagne

What it is: Many times, grapes from different years are blended together to make Champagne. These wines are non-vintage Champagnes. You’ll often see the letters NV on these bottles. Vintage Champagnes are made with grapes harvested during a single year. As a result, Champagne makers only make vintage Champagne when the grapes from a particular year (vintage) are outstanding. These wines are also often a lot more expensive than non-vintage Champagne.

Recommended Wine –

2012 Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose Vintage Champagne

($109.99 at Table & Vine) –

A relatively-affordable way to discover vintage Champagne (some cost hundreds of dollars a bottle), this delicious rose Champagne (you can learn more about rose sparkling wines below) has a dry yet rich, velvet-like finish with hints of strawberry and raspberry flavors.

• Prosecco

What it is: Like Champagne, prosecco refers to a particular place. Prosecco is sparkling wine from the Prosecco region in northern Italy. As far as grapes are concerned, most Prosecco is made using glera grapes, which used to be called “prosecco” grapes. But Italian wine officials changed the name since other winemakers around the world were calling their sparkling wines proseccos even though they aren’t from the Prosecco region. Confused? Welcome to my world.

Recommended Wine – Josh Cellars Prosecco ($12.99 at Table & Vine) – One of the reasons why I included so much information about where Prosecco wines must come from is partly because of this outstanding Prosecco from the United Statesbased Josh Cellars. Yes, it’s the same, great California winery founded by Joseph Carr. And yes, this Prosecco is made using grapes from Italy’s Prosecco region. So how does this Prosecco taste? Absolutely terrific! Its dry, subtle flavors and aromas range from fresh honeydew melon, ripe strawberries, apricots and macadamia nuts. There are also hints of fresh picked raspberries and black licorice.

• Cava

What it is: Sparkling wine from Spain made using the same “traditional method” as Champagne. Best of all, these crisp, dry sparkling wines cost a fraction of most Champagnes, which have definitely gone up a lot in price, especially in the past year. Hopefully, Champagne prices will come down next year. But forget about price. Cavas simply taste great.

Recommended Wine – Dibon Cava Brut Reserve ($9.99

at Table & Vine) – One of my favorite, affordable Spanish cavas, this wonderful, dry sparkling wine has a clean, crisp taste. I especially love this sparkling wine’s well-balanced finish. By well-balanced, I mean that the Dibon wasn’t too overpowering or underwhelming. It tasted just right. That might also explain why this wine tastes great with a wide range of foods (sliced meats, hard cheese) or on its own. Let me add that this delightful sparkling wine is made using a blend of three grapes — macabeo, parellada and xarello.

• Sauterne

What it is: Delightful, sweet dessert wine from the Sauterne region in the Graves region of Bordeaux in southern France. Sauterne wines are made with a blend of mostly Semillon grapes, along with sauvignon blanc and muscadelle. Let me add that Sauternes age well for decades (easily 20 years or more) but can taste great relatively young, meaning at least 10 years old. Sauternes pair especially well with dark chocolate, blue cheese or French desserts like creme brulee or macarons. Let me add that if you can find half bottles instead of full bottles, I recommend doing since Sauternes are best enjoyed slightly chilled in a small glass.

Recommended Wine –2005 Chateau Suduiraut Sauterne ($99.99 at Table & Vine) – Let me say right up front that these tasting notes are for the 2001 Chateau Suduiraut, not the 2005 vintage. I recommended the 2005 because it’s a great vintage and you can still find it for sale in stores, unlike the 2001 vintage. So what does this Sauterne taste like? Imagine liquid gold mixed with a velvet-like finish that tastes like figs and plums slightly dipped in sugar and marmalade. Simply divine.

• Sherry

What it is: A fortified wine (distilled alcohol is added) made with white wine grapes in southern Spain. Sherries come in a wide range but primarily in four different types: Fino (the

lightest and driest sherry); amontillado (slightly darker than fino); oloroso (slightly darker than amontillado); and Pedro Ximenez (the darkest, most luxurious sherry). The difference between them involves sugar levels. Fino sherry has the least amount of sugar, Pedro Ximenez has the most. Sugar levels vary often due to how long each sherry is aged in barrels and other factors.

Recommended Wine – El Maestro Sierra Pedro Ximenez Sherry ($19 Suggested Retail Price for 375 ML bottle) – I picked this particular sherry since Pedro Ximenez is an ideal dessert wine for the holidays. This particular Pedro Ximenez has a wonderful, thick texture and taste. Flavors include roasted plums, jam and cherry sauteed in maple syrup and black licorice. Let me add that this Pedro Ximenez tastes great with dark chocolate and candied nuts. Yum!

• Port

What it is: A fortified wine made with red wine grapes in the Douro region of northern Portugal. A wide range of grapes are used to make Port wine, including Tempranillo and Touriga Nacional. There are many different types of port wine, including ruby port, tawny port and white port. Differences in port often depend on how long the grapes are aged before bottling, as well as whether they’re aged in stainless steel tanks (ruby port) or wooden barrels (tawny port).

Recommended Wine –Fonseca Bin 27 Port ($15.99 at Table & Vine) – This particular non-vintage port from Fonseca has a rich, velvet-like finish with hints of blackberries and milk chocolate, along with hints of roasted almonds and candied cherries. The perfect dessert wine for a cold winter night nestled beside a warm fire.

• Vintage Port What it is: Like vintage Champagne, vintage port is port made with grapes grown and harvested one specific year or vintage. The

wine is then aged for about three years in barrels, before being bottled. Vintage ports take decades to develop and reach their full potential. The best vintage ports take at least 20 to 30 years of aging in a cool, dark place before being enjoyed. Let me add that like Sauternes, if you can find half bottles instead of full bottles of vintage port, I recommend buying them since vintage port is best in small quantities in a small glass after a large meal.

Recommended Wine –2018 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port ($99 SRP) – Like the Sauterne recommended this week, the tasting notes below are for the 1994 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port, which I tasted earlier this year to celebrate my mom’s 86th birthday. Thank you, Dad! I recommended the 2018 vintage since it’s another great year that you can still find for sale in some stores. Believe it or not, the 1994 vintage tasted a bit too young this year, even though the wine is 28 years old. Even so, the flavors were rich and dark and overflowing with dense fruit flavors, including plum, blackberry and intense dark chocolate. A great vintage port is the perfect way to end any long holiday feast with family and friends.

Cheers!

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday. Older “Wine Press” articles can be found here. Follow Ken Ross on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook.

“As we get closer to the show, I want to start revealing who else we have. But the lineup is very me,” the singer said. “It is curated in a way that makes no sense, but makes total sense.”

• Multi-platinum selling Christian band MercyMe will play Springfield Symphony Hall on March 4.

The band was named Billboard’s Top Christian Artist of the 2010 decade, and in 2020 received their eighth American Music Award nomination.

A major motion picture based on the life of frontman Bart Millard who wrote the hit song “I Can Only Imagine” after the loss of his father, opened at a remarkable No. 3 at the box office in 2018

Also in 2018, MercyMe was named Top Christian Artist at the Billboard Music Awards, and was the top winner at the fan-fueled K-LOVE Fan Awards including a win for Artist of the Year.

Tickets are on sale now at MGMSpringfield.com

• Legends in Concert, the longest-running and most-awarded show in Las Vegas, will present “Direct from London” on May 20 in the ARIA Ballroom at MGM Springfield.

The show pays tribute to some of the biggest icons in British music history, including Freddie Mercury, Adele, Rod Stewart and Elton John.

Each performer not only looks like the star they portray but uses their own natural voices to pay homage to their iconic music counterpart. Legends in Concert live tribute shows are known for their elaborate theatrical sets and costumes and full array of incredible special effects, including three-dimensional multimedia and state-ofthe-art lighting and sound.

Tickets are on sale at MGMSpringfield.com

• Despite already having released 42 albums during his career, Neil Young still has plenty of irons in the fire.

Along with just releasing a 50th anniversary edition of “Harvest” on Dec. 2, Young is also trying to finish up some older abandoned projects and still working on new music.

“I got a lot of stuff to clean up,” he said in Uncut magazine.

Young said that while he has “created a lot of unfinished records, unfinished this and that,” he always prefers working on new material.

“Once I start thinking about something new, I drop the old stuff right away and do the new thing.”