Events

Thursday

LAVA Center presents Beetle

7: Thu., 5-8 p.m., LAVA Center.

A new live music project from local Steve Koziol, featuring Joel Paxton, Kevin Smith, Steve Koziol and Leo Hwang. Masks are required for all patrons, Suggested donation of $5-$10. 324 Main St., Greenfield.

“The Glass Menagerie”: Thu., 7:30 p.m.; Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Majestic Theater, through April 2. For tickets, call 413-747-7797; tickets start at $29. 131 Elm St., West Springfield; 413-747-7797, majestictheater.com

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

“Rock of Ages” at Northampton High School: Thu.-Sat., 7 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Northampton High School presents “Rock of Ages,” a rock-n-roll musical set in 1987 on the Sunset Strip, featuring the hits of Journey, Night Ranger, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and many more. Play directed by David Grout; musical direction by Susan Dillard. Choreography is by Zazie Tobey, $15. 380 Elm St., Northampton; 413-587-1344, hamphigh.org/

Silverthorne Theater presents “Intimate Apparel”: Thu.-Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 3 and 7:30 p.m., Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center. Tickets available at silverthornetheater.org, $25. 289 Main St., Greenfield, hawks andreed.com.

Square Dance Classes: Thu., 6:30 p.m., American Legion 0239, $5. For more information, contact Gloria at 413-467-3352 or email ladicaller@gogtt.ent. 66 State St., Belchertown.

Friday

Friday Fish Fry: Fri., 5-7 p.m., Swift River Sportsman’s Club, through April 7. $14 Fish & Chips; $16 Shrimp & Chips; $18 Fish, Shrimp & Chips Combo. For more information, call 413-323-9387. 79 Moore Road, Belchertown.

“The Glass Menagerie”: See Thursday listing MGM Casino: See Thursday listing

Movie Life Stories Program: Fri., 6-8 p.m., South Berkshire Friends Meetinghouse. This program is created for and geared toward the Berkshire immigrant population and their allies. These workshops provide opportunities to share personal journeys, stories, and connections to places past and present through movement games, exercises, dancing and community building. For more inform, visit berkshirepulse.org/classes-programs/ special-programs/, 280 State Road, Great Barrington.

“Rock of Ages” at Northampton High School: See Thursday listing

Silverthorne Theater presents

“Intimate Apparel”: See Thursday listing

St. Patrick’s Day at the Irish Cultural Center: Fri., noon, West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub. The Irish House Restaurant and Trinity Pub opens early at noon for St. Patrick’s Day; offering a St. Patrick’s menu. Kitchen closes at 9 pm. Reservations for tables are strongly encouraged; call 413342-4358. At 5 p.m., students from the Cassin Academy of Irish Dance will perform. The festivities continue with traditional Irish music with New Leaf from 6 to 9 p.m. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield; IrishCenter wne.org.

The Young Dubliners with special guests Kilashandra: Fri., 7:30 p.m., Colonial Theatre. $50; for tickets visit berkshire theatregroup.org. 111 South St., Pittsfield; 413-997-4444 or thecolonialtheatre.org

Saturday

“The Glass Menagerie”: See Thursday listing

MGM Casino: See Thursday listing

On the Same Page-Amherst: Sat., 3 p.m. Jones Library, “Puerto Ricans Making the Valley Home.” In this talk, Maria Cartagena addresses the migration of Puerto Ricans to Holyoke and throughout the valley. 43 Amity St., Amherst; 413-256-3090, joneslibrary.org.

“Thomas De Hartmann: Rediscovering a Ukrainian Master”: Sat., 7 p.m., Bromery Center for the Arts, featuring acclaimed pianist and scholar Elan Sicroff. The concert will be approximately 90 minutes long with intermission. Face masks are required in the concert hall. A post-concert reception will be held in the lobby of the Bromery Center for the Arts, hosted by the Thomas de Hartmann Project. Sicroff’s appearance is sponsored by Thomson Financial Management as Sage View Advisory. This concert is made possible by the Thomas de Hartmann Project, Greenfield Cooperative Bank, New England Public Media, and Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, with additional support from the UMass Department of Music and Dance, $5-$25. Presidents Drive, Amherst.

Psychedelic Cinema Orchestra performs “South”: Sat., 7 p.m., Academy of Music Theatre. Film about the Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance Expedition was released back in 1919; running time is 81 minutes. For more information, visit northamptonartscouncil.org, $20. 274 Main St., Northampton, 413-5849032 or aomtheatre.com

“Rock of Ages” at Northampton High School: See Thursday listing Silverthorne Theater presents “Intimate Apparel”: See Thursday listing

WriteAngles Writers Conference Pop-up In-person

Brainstorm: Sat., 1 p.m., LAVA Center. Writers at all stages of development and all genres are invited to participate in the conversation about what kinds of programming would most benefit their writing practice. Local writers Nina Gross and Ellen Meeropol will facilitate the discussion. Masks are required for all patrons. 324 Main St., Greenfield.

SUNDAY

ClariConnect Concert: Sun., 2 p.m. Bezanson Recital Hall, with Andre Moison of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and UMass faculty pianist Steven Beck. Free and open to the public. North Pleasant Street, Amherst; 413545-2511 or umass.edu.

Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: “The Grinch: A Car with a History,” through Nov. 1, 2023. Permanent exhibit: More than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.

Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade: Sun., noon-3 p.m. Kicks off from the former Kmart Plaza and continues down Northampton Street. Northampton Street Route 5, Holyoke.

“The Glass Menagerie”: See Thursday listing

MGM Casino: See Thursday listing

“Rock of Ages” at Northampton High School: See Thursday listing

Square Dancing Classes: Sun., 6:30-8 p.m. Union Church of Christ, the first two dances are free and then it is $5 per person. The instructor is Gloria Vivier. For more information, call 413467-3352. 51 Center St. (Route 21), Ludlow, 413-583-5717.

“The Swindlers” Staged Reading: Sun., 2 p.m. Unicorn Theatre, in collaboration with Roundabout Theatre Company. For tickets visit berkshiretheatregroup.org, free. 6 East St., Stockbridge; 413-298-5576, berkshiretheatre.org

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. Part of the free family activities.

Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “Nelson Stevens: Color Rapping,” through Sept. 3. “New/Now: Contemporary Art Acquisitions,” through July 30. “Museum a la Carte” today, 12:15 p.m. Topic is “The Original Fly Girls: A History of the Women Airforce Service Pilots.” $4, free for members. During World War II, more than 1,000 American women served as Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) in support of the war effort. Presented by Amanda Goodheart Parks, historian, museum educator and historical interpreter.

Springfield Science Museum: “Leonardo’s Lab,” through April 23. Visitors can recreate Leonardo’s tool-and-hardware-free interlocking bridge and assemble an air-powered flying helicopter, making changes to improve the aerodynamics and more. “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.

More Online

For more information on events, galleries and markets in Western Mass, visit MassLive.com

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 sandwiches are being served, including “The Bistro,” which features egg, Applewood smoked bacon, sautéed spinach, Havarti cheese, and a smear of pesto. Another option, the Mt. Crumpit, includes meatloaf, egg, bacon, Vermont cheddar, and tomato-bacon jam. A Breakfast Burrito is also available — it’s stuffed with scrambled eggs, hash brown potatoes, cheddar jack cheese, peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Among the luncheon dishes the restaurant has in its current repertoire are the likes of a cod reuben assembled from a beer-battered cod filet and traditional Rueben garnishes, side orders of eggplant fries, and a hearty chicken potpie chowder. The Union Street Bistro & Bakery answers at 413-203-5759.

• Given that many restaurants are still operating on limited schedules, it’s often not easy to find a comfortable spot to enjoy a sit-down midday meal. Those in Westfield, however, have just such a resource in the Shortstop Bar & Grill, where Julie Hannoush offers a lunch menu that includes entrees such as chicken francaise, baked cod, and a traditional

Wine

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Why do old vine wines taste different? Winemakers love to talk about why their wines taste different. But when it comes to wines made with grapes from old vines, they’re telling the truth. Old vines don’t just look different than younger vines. They often have deeper roots in the soil to reach down for water, especially during drier years. And the grapes these old vines produce often taste different and have more character. That’s because many older vines produce fewer grapes with more concentrated flavors. Which grapes grow best on old vines? In theory, any wine grape grows well on old vines. However, certain grapes seem to thrive on older vines. In particular, zinfandel fish and chips platter. A soup and salad combination is available for those looking to eat light at lunch; hearty sandwiches like a meatball sub and a tuna melt are also available. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Shortstop Bar & Grill can be reached by dialing 413-642-6370.

• As a limited-time-only menu addition that will be available through May 14, participating Burger King locations have brought back BK Melts. Built on grilled, extra-thick toast, BK’s Classic Melt features two patties, cheese, caramelized onions, and a squirt or two of a proprietary Stack sauce. A Spicy BK Melt variation includes jalapeno slices and spiced-up sandwich sauce, while a Bacon BK Melt incorporates a bacon strip finish.

Spicy Chicken Fries - thin strips of fried chicken with a special spicy coating - are also currently being featured at Burger King.

• As part of an effort to grow their catering business, Nini’s Italian Ristorante in Easthampton will host “Taste of Nini’s” on March 26 starting at noon. A by-reservation-only event, the Taste will give those planning a party or celebration the chance to sample what grapes as well as syrah, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir often flourish on many older vines. But don’t just take my word for it. Try some old vine wines next time you see any in your local wine store.

Old Vine wine tasting notes

• 2020 Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel ($9.99 at Table & Vine in West Springfield)

Made with grapes grown on 60 to 80 year old vines, Bogle Vineyards was founded in 1979 but the winery located there has been making wine since the late 1800s. I first remember tying Bogle’s zinfandel in the 1990s. It was dense, complex and affordable. Trying the wine again recently, I’m not sure why it’s been so long since I’ve had this wonderful, dry wine. Straight out of the bottle, its flavors are spicy and flinty. A few minutes later, its texture turns softer and more

Nini’s has to offer. For more information or to book a reservation, call 413527-0149.

• Perhaps illustrating that “more” is never enough, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has introduced Cheesy Bacon Homestyle Fried Chicken, an entree that piles it on by topping fried chicken with cheese, bacon, fried onion strings, and buttermilk ranch dressing.

Loaded Steak Fries reflect the same flavor philosophy, coming to the table topped with cheese sauce, chopped bacon, shredded Colby cheese, and buttermilk ranch dipping sauce. Both items will be on the Cracker Barrel menu through the spring months.

• Max Tavern at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Irish Whiskey Dinner tomorrow at 6 p.m.

The spirits poured during the four-course dinner will be from one of Ireland’s new generation of whiskey producers, the Hinch Distillery in County Down.

Max Tavern Executive Chef Nate Waugaman has put together a menu featuring some traditional Emerald Isle flavors — glazed cod loin, housecorned beef brisket, and a delicate. As for specific flavors, toasted black cherry mixed with roasted blackberry first emerge, followed by a faint hint of raspberry, caramel and hard candy.

• 2020 Cline Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi California ($9.99 at Table & Vine)

Made with grapes grown on vines at least 50 years old in California’s Lodi region, this red zinfandel also has a spicy finish straight out of the bottle. But in just a matter of a few minutes, those flavors become less spicy but just as intense, with hints of bright, light plum mixed with dark chocolate and black licorice. An absolutely luxurious and decadent wine at an amazing price.

• 2020 Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel Contra Costa County ($14.99 at Table & Vine)

Made with grapes grown dessert of Irish stout pudding. mostly on 100 year old vines in California’s Contra Costa County, this Cline wine pushes those vibrant flavors even further than the Cline zinfandel from Lodi. The spicy notes are spicier straight out of the bottle, along with flinty hints of soft yet intense plum and blackberry. A few minutes later, those flavors become even more intense and flinty and yet somehow soft and silky. Something magical is at work here and it definitely must be due to the old vines.

Tickets for the dinner are $85 per person, not including tax or gratuity. Call the restaurant at 413-746-6269 for reservations.

• KFC locations have brought back a limited-time-only menu item that was a headline-grabber when it was first offered a decade ago.

The Double Down is a “sandwich” that replaces the bun with pieces of fried chicken. Two of KFC’s Extra Crispy filets have two slices of cheese and two strips of bacon layered between them; a smear of mayonnaise or a spicy sauce completes the sandwich build. The Double Down is available a la carte or as part of a combo meal.

• 2020 Turley California Old Vine Zinfandel ($25 Suggested Retail Price)

This is the old vine wine that inspired this column. For years, I have been huge fan of Turley wines. Like Larry Turley, who founded the winery and who I interviewed in Napa Valley in 2019, Turley wines have a lot of personality. They’re fun yet refined, elegant yet down to earth. This particular wine — the Old Vine Zinfandel — has long been one of my favorite wines. Big, velvety and spicy straight out of the bottle, the 2020 vintage has a bold, smooth finish. Personally, I would wait another 5 to 10 years to open another bottle of this wine. But already, it’s smooth and silky with hints of dried blackberry and almonds. No wonder Larry Turley and his winery have been so passionate about preserving old grapevines. As the winery often says on its website, “old vines, young love” — because what’s not to love about this beautiful young wine with an old soul. Cheers!

The 2023 version of the Double Down, which will be available through the end of March, differs from its predecessor in that the chicken filets are, according to company press materials, about 20% larger. The reintroduction of the Double Down is reportedly an effort on the part of KFC management to create interest in the brand among a younger customer demographic.

Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community College’s hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 50 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com.

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday.