Weekend - July 06, 2023

For the latest listings of WMass events, go online to masslive.com/entertainment

Weekend

LIVEWIRE: Five for Fighting joins Barenaked Ladies for Mohegan Sun, Boston shows, E3

BEER NUT: Latest report from Ireland, E5

CALENDAR: Events at museums, galleries in WMass, E9 Circus

Circus Smirkus rolls into Three County Fairgrounds

Performances will be held Saturday and Sunday

By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican

Eva Lou Rhinelander loves clowning around. But even more, she likes wrapping herself up into all sorts of contortions, not to mention going round-and-round with the hula hoop.

Rhinelander, 18, who hails from Melrose, is one of the many young stars of Circus Smirkus, which rolls into the Three County Fairgrounds in Northampton on Saturday and Sunday.

Showtimes are Saturday at 1 and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

This year’s tour continues the tradition of Smirkus’ annual theme-based shows with The 2023 Big Top Tour: A Midsummer Night’s Circus. The show will feature a vast array of circus arts — including aerials, acrobatics, juggling, and clowning — as well as a dazzling display of brilliant costumes, and many other surprises.

It’s Rhinelander’s eighth season with Circus Smirkus, after her love for performing with the hula hoop and at the suggestion of a classmate’s parent after a school talent show, led her to Circus Smirkus.

“I applied to the Smirkus Camp, but also learned about the Big Top Tour and auditioned for the youth circus. I was surprised when I passed the audition and was invited to go on tour with them,” Rhinelander said about never having done any circus-like performing before her audition.

“Since it was my first year with Circus Smirkus, I didn’t have as many skills as some of the others troupers. I was a clown for the first year and was inspired by older talented troopers who were doing things like contortions and hand stands, which are now my favorite things to do,” she

added. The Smirkus Camp is a summer camp for youth of all ages and skill levels who want to train in the world of circus arts. Instruction is held in an immersive camp setting under Big Top circus tents at the Circus Smirkus headquarters in the rural hills of Greensboro, Vermont. Instead, Rhinelander opted to immediately become part of the Big Top Tour during which troupers are given the full experience of touring in a classic traveling tent show. Offering complete immersion in circus life, Smirkos, as they are called, endure rigorous training, daily chores and the loading in and

loading out of the Big Top. Rhinelander, who graduated from high school this year, will continue to hone her circus skills as a hula hoop major in the fall at Ecole nationale de cirque — ENC Montreal in Quebec, Canada. She plans to major in hula hoop.

The all-kids circus — no animals — features, in addition to Rhinelander, 29 budding circus stars in the 2023 troupe ranging in age from 11 to 18. Some — like Samantha Miel, 16, of Lexington — are performing for the first time, while others have been with Circus Smirkus for eight summers. They hail from 12 states, including California, Colora-

do, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

“I was inspired by seeing Circus Smirkus back in 2014 as a little kid. So, I started to attend the Smirkus Camp, which I’ve done for many summers now before participating in this year’s tour,” Miel said about being well-versed in the circus arts before finally auditioning and going out on the road as a performer.

Her specialty in the circus will be performing in the aerial hoop act.

“A lot of people might find it scary being up high, but not me. I’ve had a lot of experience in gymnastics flipping high into the air and have always enjoyed doing it,” Miel said.

She is excited for audiences to see what the troupers have in planned for them under the Big Top.

“It’s definitely a supper funny show, the clowns are really

great and I think the audience will enjoy the aerial act that I am part of this year. It’s going to be a ton of fun for everyone,” she said.

Celebrating its 36th year, Circus Smirkus is the only traveling “tented” youth circus in the United States performing under a traditional European-style circus tent. The award-winning circus company performs across New England to approximately 40,000 patrons each summer.

The 2023 Big Top Tour took to the road on July 1 and travels through mid-August with a tour caravan that requires some 23-support vehicles and 80 people— including performers, coaches, cooks, tech and tent crew and a live circus band playing an original score written specifically for this show.

Tickets for kids 2-12 are $20 and $35 for adults 13 and over. For advance tickets, go online to smirkus.org or call 877764-7587.

Circus Smirkus will bring The 2023 Big Top Tour: A Midsummer Night’s Circus to the Three County Fairgrounds in Northampton on Saturday and Sunday. Above is a scene from the troupe’s 2022 tour. (COURTESY PHOTO)

MUSIC

Five for Fighting joins Barenaked Ladies for Mohegan Sun, Boston shows

FIVE FOR FIGHTING

(aka John Ondrasik) will be joining Barenaked Ladies on their Last Summer on Earth tour, making stops at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on Friday and Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston on July 9.

Nightclubs

THURSDAY

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

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

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Funk Night with Oakland Stroke. 289 Main St., Greenfield

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

Uno Chicago Grill: Good Acoustic. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield

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

Burgy Brews: Tom Savoy. 4 Main St., Williamsburg

Ondrasik will bring along his band, drummer Randy Cooke, bassist Sean Hurley, and guitarist Peter Thorn. “The boys and I are thrilled to be back in the bus this summer opening for Barenaked Ladies across the United States,” Ondrasik said in a press release. “Our summer 2022 post pandemic headline tour was a poignant reminder of how fortunate we are to share the communal experience of live music with audiences, and we are grateful to be back…”

To date, Five For Fighting has released six studio albums, including the platinum-certified “America Town” and “The Battle for Everything.”

Liner notes

• The Machine will play the Academy of Music in Northampton on Oct. 13.

The band, founded in 1988, has forged a 30-plus year career playing the music of Pink Floyd. The New York-based quartet performs a diverse array of Floyd’s extensive 16-album repertoire, from faithful renditions of popular hits to deeper album cuts.

The Machine also explores the early improvisation of

Five For Fighting, aka John Ondrasik, will join Barenaked Ladies for shows at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday and in Boston on July 9. (COURTESY PHOTO)

1970s Pink Floyd, as well as employing the theatrical elements and elaborate lighting displays of the 1980s. The Machine has sold out theaters, premier showcase rooms and casinos across North America, Europe and Asia and performed at renowned music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Riverbend, and Gathering of the Vibes.

• Andre 3000 is working on a new album, according to Killer Mike.

In an interview on “Sway in the Morning,” Killer Mike responded to the host mentioning Andre 3000 having a solo album in the works.

“Yeah. I think we fly out in a couple weeks to go listen to it,” he said.

The LP will be the first solo album by the Outkast member. Although Andre 3000 has made numerous guest appearances on other artists’ works, he has otherwise been quiet. Outkast’s last album was in 2006.

• Madonna has postponed her “Celebration” world tour after a trip to a New York City intensive care unit to treat a

Andre 3000 of OutKast performs during the Forecastle Music Festival at Waterfront Park on July 18, 2014, in Louisville, Ky. (PHOTO BY

bacterial infection.

The upcoming 40th anniversary tour was set to begin in Vancouver, British Columbia, on July 15 and play two nights at Boston’s TD Garden Aug. 30-31. In a statement from Madonna’s manager, Guy Osears, said the singer is on the mend:

Digital Ancient Dub. 289 Main St., Greenfield

The Meeting House: Dave Brinnel. 827 Williams St., Longmeadow

The Stationery Factory: Selwyn

Birchwood. 63 Flansburg Ave., Dalton

Theodores’: King Saison. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

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

SATURDAY

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

MGM Springfield: MGM Roar

Comedy Club: Gerald Kelly. 1 MGM Way, Springfield

Mineral Hills Vineyard at Godard’s Red Hen Farm: Tom Savoy. 592 Sylvester Farm Road, Florence

Theodores’: Christopher Dean Band. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

Uno Chicago Grill: Tom Izzo. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield

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

Glendale Ridge Vineyard: Glendale Ridge Vineyard’s Sunset Series. 155 Glendale Road, Southampton

MGM Springfield: MGM Free Music Fridays: Cathedral. 1 MGM Way, Springfield

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Adam SZ/Root

Fiyah featuring Abdul Baki, DJ

WEDNESDAY

Polish American Citizens Club 355 East Street, Ludlow, 583-6385

Bingo Wednesdays 6:30-9:30pm

Doors Open at 4pm.

Minimum Admission $50

1 - 1199 Progressive w/ Climbing Consolation Prize

2 - $500 Cover Alls

3 - $200 Special Games

All Games will be $100

with 90 People or More

All Cards are included with Admission

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

SUNDAY

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

Glendale Ridge Vineyard: Glendale Ridge Vineyard’s Sunset Series. 155 Glendale Road, Southampton

Uno Chicago Grill: Ethel Lee

THURSDAY

Fairview Knights of Columbus

1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee (413) 532-2011

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

CALL TODAY 413-788-1250 TO LIST HERE

E12

George Lenker LiveWire

Boyz II Men return to Symphony Hall

By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican

A popular favorite with area audiences, Boyz II Men will return to Springfield for another MGM Springfield-sponsored concert at Springfield Symphony Hall on Friday.

The show is a rescheduled appearance after the postponement of their Feb. 18 concert. It will be their fourth return performance to the MGM Springfield stage.

Showtime is 8 p.m.

Boyz II Men - today’s lineup featuring Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman - redefined popular R&B with their smooth sounds and perfect harmonies. The group’s four Grammy Awards are just part of their success story. They have also won nine American Music Awards, nine Soul Train Awards, three Billboard Awards, and a 2011 MOBO Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. Boyz II Men also were gifted with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as well and a Casino Entertainment Award for their acclaimed residency at the Mirage Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, which launched in 2013.

It all began for Boyz II Men when they were boys in high school at the Philadelphia High School for the Performing Arts, where Nathan Morris and Marc Nelson started singing together. They later formed a group called Unique Attraction with Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman and began performing at local talent shows and events. They eventually changed their name to Boyz II Men after listening to the New Edition’s 1988 song “Boys To Men.” But there is also an irony to the story.

In 1989, the quartet met Michael Bivins at a concert, who had been a member of New Edition, and gave him an impromptu audition. He later signed on as their manager and the group signed their

first record deal with Motown and released their debut album “Cooleyhighharmony” in 1989. The album — their first of many with their latest in 2022 being a Walmart exclusive called “Twenty” featuring

10 newly recorded tracks and

10 updated versions of their classic tunes — earned them their first Grammy and top 5 singles “Motownphilly” and “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye

to Yesterday.”

For those hoping to hear their favorite Boyz II Men songs, setist.fm noted their average concert setlist includes “Motownphilly,” “On Bended Knee,” “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday,” “4 Seasons of Loneliness,” “A Change Is Gonna Come/Are You Gonna Go My Way?/ American Woman/Locked Out of Heaven,” a cover of

2023Summer Concert /Classic CarShow

“Come Together” by The Beatles, “Wonderful Tonight,” “Open Arms,” “Water Runs Dry,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “One Sweet,” and “End of the Road.”

Tickets, ranging in price from $49 to $99 and higher for preferred or official platinum seating, can be purchased online at mgmspringfield.com.

SPRINGFIELD

Boyz II Men will play Springfield Symphony Hall on Friday.

Latest report from Ireland

IRELAND’S CRAFT

beer scene has grown immensely since I first wrote about it in 2003. Yes, I’m back on the Emerald Isle once again, and because I know plenty of readers in Massachusetts either have roots there and or love/want to travel there, I’ll use this week’s column to provide some new craft beer discoveries I made on this trip. It was unusually hot (for Ireland) during this trip. That means it sometimes hit 75F, which might seem mild to Bay Staters, but coupled with Ireland’s constantly high humidity, it became fairly oppressive to someone like me. But it seems petty to complain about the sun being out here; I only mention it to say why I’m kicking off this column with my main first beer choice while I was here: Galway Bay Brewing’s Slow Lives Helles Lager (at the Salt House in Galway).

Galway Bay Brewing makes such a wide array of beers that it’s hard to stick to just one, but my first week in Galway City was so hot and sunny that I found it even more difficult to switch to anything else. This Helles is a stunning thirst-slaker, and except for two or three bottles of Galway Hooker Irish Pale Ale at my favorite Galway eatery, Quay Street Kitchen (and some Guinness pints at the legendary Tig Coili with my superb

Airbnb host, Daniel), I barely drank anything else for the first week.

Slow Lives is a Munichstyle lager employing German Pilsner malt, Saaz hops, and Galway water. It’s as crisp as you want it to be, with a nice bready underpin ning. It finishes clean and leaves you wanting a second or third. At 4.5% ABV, it’s a perfect session brew.

Of course I did eventually try another Galway Bay beer, the amazingly tasty I Hear You Like IPA. This is a smallbatch “cold IPA” release that uses cold-fermenting lager yeast to create a more crisp focus for the tropical hops. It’s brewed with pilsner malt and rice and fermented with a blend of house lager and ale yeasts, with simcoe, columbus and strata hops doing double-duty as the brew is both wet-hopped and dry-hopped with all three varieties.

Catch the year’s biggest concerts like Jonas Brothers, Lainey Wilson, Machine Gun Kelly and more.

Party with free live tribute bands every Friday on the Sun Patio and brand-new outdoor bar.

Don’t miss a salty good time at the Sun Tequila Tasting on July 22nd. Tickets on sale now.

Take your summer nights to the next level at your favorite hotspots like TAO Asian Bistro & Lounge and novelle.

Catch the hottest shows of the summer for free in the Wolf Den from acts like The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Lit, Sheena Easton and more.

Go all in on delicious dishes from your favorite restaurants like Michael Jordan’s Steak House, Todd English’s Tuscany and BALLO Italian Restaurant

The eye-catching tap lines at Fidelity, a craft beer pub in Dublin.

George Lenker Beer Nut

Visiting 2 wineries in Epernay, France

YOU CAN FEEL THE temperature falling as we walk down the long, stone staircase descending into the cellar. The cool air feels exhilarating, peaceful and wonderfully familiar.

There’s truly nothing quite like a wine cellar in Champagne — the barrel-vaulted ceilings, the near-total darkness of the labyrinth-like maze of tunnels and all those bottles, thousands of them neatly stacked floor to ceiling or upside down in V-shaped racks scattered throughout the cellars.

And then there’s that air.

That wonderful, brisk, damp air as cool as a foggy fall morning in New England. No matter what time of day or season of the year, the temperature in the cellars in Champagne always stays the same — roughly 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

That constantly cool air helps create these masterpieces in the bottle. So do the chalky stone walls. That’s why Champagne tastes so wonderfully crisp and dry. That’s why the French are so protective of Champagne. Only sparkling wine made in the Champagne region of France can legally be called Champagne. Everything else is sparkling wine.

As I walk down into the cellar and feel the goosebumps on my arms, I am instantly transported back to 2017.

That year, my wife and I visited three Champagne houses in Reims, France.

Six years later, just a few weeks ago, we visited two iconic Champagne houses nearby in Epernay — Moet & Chandon and Perrier-Jouet.

One of the great things about France’s Champagne region is how close it is to Paris. You can easily get there by train for a day trip.

Our journey to Epernay starts that morning in Gare De L’Est a few minutes after a long, antique-looking blue train with gold trim slowly pulls into the station. It’s the Orient Express. (Yes, that Orient Express, Mon Ami!) I wouldn’t believe it if I saw it in a movie.

Less than two hours later on

days of the year

Founded in 1743 by wine trader Claude Moet, this Champagne producer added Chandon to its name in 1833 when Pierre-Gabriel Chandon de Briailles, who was married to one of the Chandons, joined the company. Moet & Chandon also created Dom Perignon, a high-end vintage Champagne starting in 1921.

a direct train gliding through the French countryside, we arrive in Epernay.

The small, stone train station is right in the heart of this charming, compact village. From the station, you can easily walk to many restaurants and Champagne houses, including the two we are visiting that day. Overall, there are more than 300 Champagne producers in the Epernay area.

We have half an hour before our first appointment. It’s a beautiful, sunny day in late May. There’s barely a cloud in the sky. We wander through the narrow, tree-lined streets past banks, bars and brasseries made of stone.

Everything in Epernay seems to be made of stone. It’s no surprise. Many of the stones removed from the wine cellars to make those massive tunnels were then used to build many of the buildings throughout Champagne.

After we pass through a traffic circle, we stroll through a tall, black iron gate into D’Ventures Du Parc, a beautiful, treelined park with winding paths that looks like a miniature version of Central Park South in Manhattan.

A few minutes later, on the other side of the park, we find Avenue De Champagne, the boulevard where many Champagne houses are located in Epernay. One of the first ones we find is the massive stone and brick building containing Moet & Chandon, the largest Champagne producer in the world.

Moet & Chandon

• 20 Avenue De Champagne, Epernay

Public tours available most

Nowadays, Moet & Chandon and Dom Perignon are separate businesses owned by the world’s largest luxury brand company, Louis-Vuitton-Moet-Hennessy, which is better known by its acronym of LVMH.

Moet & Chandon’s sprawling limestone cellars meander 30 feet beneath the winery for 17 miles. You can easily get lost in this maze of caves. That’s why you have to be part of a tour to visit the Champagne house.

The tour starts in a stark white room on the ground floor filled with paintings featuring many of Moet & Chandon’s owners over the centuries. There are also historic Champagne bottles celebrating different milestones in history and an impressive tower of Champagne glasses, something Moet & Chandon is well known for, according to the tour guide.

Downstairs in the cellar, we learn about the Champagne making process as we walk through the long, dimly-lit arched stone cellars. Like other Champagne cellars, there’s a quiet calmness to Moet & Chandon’s cellars. There’s also a sense of history.

Moet & Chandon has long been a favorite among kings, nobles and aristocrats. The Champagne was especially popular with Napoleon Bonaparte, who was friends with Claude Moet’s grandson, Jean-Remy Moet, and who would often visit the Champagne house.

One of the cellars, the Imperial Cellar, is named in honor of Napoleon. In the Imperial cellar, there’s also a massive wooden port wine cask Napoleon gave to Moet & Chandon in 1810 when Napoleon was

the Emperor of France.

Tasting Notes

Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut: No, it’s not called “Imperial Brut” because it’s some tough thug working for the royal family. This is the Champagne house’s best-selling Champagne, named in reference to its Imperial cellar.

“Brut” means “raw” in French and refers to the sweetness

level of the Champagne. Brut Champagnes taste dry. That’s because they have less sugar than other Champagnes. This iconic Champagne is made with a blend of the three grapes that can only be used to make Champagne — chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier. The result — a light, refreshing, subtle Champagne with hints of pear, sea salt and

Several bottles of Champagne on the bar in Maison Belle Epoque at Perrier-Jouet in Epernay, France. (PHOTO BY KEN ROSS)

Champagne bottles on display in the store at Moet & Chandon in Epernay, France. (PHOTO BY KEN ROSS)

Ken Ross Wine Press

Restaurants work to reinvent themselves

THE CHANGE-DRIVen world of the 21st century is unforgiving to those who fail to innovate. Standing still too often means being left behind.

So it is in the restaurant world, where successful independents and chains alike are regularly reinventing themselves, reworking their menus, refreshing their physical appearance, and updating their business model.

As necessary as change may be, it often comes at a cost, not only in dollars and cents terms, but in the viability of a restaurant concept itself. Dramatic change in the way a restaurant does business risks confusing and even alienating customers.

In a recently published study of business strategies in the food service industry, Rabobank, a Netherlands-based financial services company, concluded that successful innovation strategies for restaurant companies are incremental, building on an operation’s basic menu and way of doing business without resorting to massive, disruptive overhauls.

Unlike a wholesale rework of a menu and the way a restaurant operates, incremental change is less risky, Rabobank’s analysis suggested. Such an innovation strategy is safer since it puts less stress on a restaurant’s supply chain and operating personnel. Costs associated with such change are usually lower, with less required in the way of training and new equipment. Incremental change thus allows a restau-

rant evolve to meet changing consumer tastes without having to raise prices or experiencing lower profits.

Unlike some of its competitors, burger giant McDonald’s Corp. has been successfully pursuing a strategy of low-key innovation for a number of years, most recently reflected in an announced plan to cautiously update its core product line. Over the next 12 months its burgers will begin to feature softer reformulated buns, “meltier” cheese, and a new cooking process.

Product innovation at McDonald’s is typically characterized by methodical test marketing, with new menu items often promoted as limited time only offerings as a way of gauging their acceptance before being considered for permanent menu status.

To that end on July 10, McDonald’s locations will be introducing the Cheesy Jalapeno Bacon Quarter Pounder as a limited-time menu addition. The sandwich, which is topped with American cheese, bacon, pickled jalapeno slices, and a cheddar cheese sauce, is seen as a tentative foray into more flavor-forward burger offerings by the brand.

The success (or failure) of this new sandwich may well indicate how McDonald’s innovates in the years ahead.

Side dishes

• The Still Bar & Grill in Agawam has brought back a popular summer menu itemLobster Buckets.

Available Wednesday evenings from 4 to 7 p.m., each bucket comes with a “chicken” lobster, a half-pound of steamers, and corn on the cob. The deal is priced at $29.

The Still Bar & Grill maintains a large number of craft beers on tap and serves a menu of bar snacks as well as entrée choices such as steak au poivre, chicken parmesan, and bourbon salmon.

The Still answers at 413304-2795.

• On Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Mineral Hills Winery in Northampton will be hosting live music by Tom Savoy.

The Primas Birrias Y Mas Food Truck will be on site, and Mineral Hills will be dispensing their own winery products. Springfield-based Primas Birrias Y Mas specializes in birrias tacos, stuffed

while supplies last.

• On Saturday, Quonqount Farm in South Deerfield will be holding a Blueberry Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to offering pickyour-own blueberries, the Farm will be hosting several food trucks and a beer tasting by Progression Brewing Company of Northampton. Live music and tours of the Farm’s pick-your-own flower garden will also be part of the afternoon’s activities.

Quonqount Farm can be reached at 413-588-2028.

• The Outlook Barn and Eatery in Westhampton is holding its annual Summer Festival on Sunday, June 9, from noon to 5 p.m.

empanadas, and more. Mineral Hills Winery can be reached at 413-586-2575.

• Sonic Drive-In locations are featuring two new slush beverages with South Sea Island flavors this summer.

A fruity Polynesian Punch Slush is available, as is a Tropical Colada Slush. The latter is a blend of coconut, pineapple, and banana essences. The beverages are available at all participating Sonic locations, such as the one on Boston Road in Springfield,

The event’s program includes a pig roast and barbecue from noon to 3 p.m. and a tasting of Outlook Farm’s wines, ciders, and malt beverages until 5 p.m.

Live music will be part of the goings-on; those attending are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and be ready to enjoy. For more details, contact Outlook Farm at 413-5299388.

• The Dugout Cafe in Willimansett is hosting its annual Pig Roast on July 15, starting at 2 p.m.

The menu includes roast pork, rice and beans, coleslaw,

Quonqount Farm in South Deerfield will be holding a Blueberry Festival on Saturday, including pick-your-own blueberries.

Hugh Robert Off The Menu

almonds. Let me add this glass of Champagne was served at about 45 degrees and tasted perfect.

2015 Moet & Chandon

Extra Brut: The 2015 means this Champagne is made with grapes grown and harvested that year, making this Champagne a vintage Champagne. The “Extra Brut” means this Champagne is even drier than a Brut Champagne. Made with a blend of the same three grapes as the Imperial Brut (with a bit more pinot noir), its flavors are rounder, softer, more delicate. There are also subtle hints of toast, vanilla, almonds and wood smoke. An absolutely lovely, crisp, dry Champagne.

Perrier-Jouet

• 26 Avenue De Champagne, Epernay

Public tours available most days of the year

A short walk up Avenue De Champagne from Moet & Chandon, Perrier-Jouet feels like a different place from a different time. Specifically, you feel like you’re stepping back into France’s famed Belle Epoque (“golden age” in French) era, circa the early 1900s.

Perrier-Jouet was founded in 1811, but the Champagne house is now more associated with the Art Nouveau movement nearly a century later. A response to mass industrialization, Art Nouveau celebrated craftsmanship and nature’s curving, sinuous lines.

The owners of Perrier-Jouet adored Art Nouveau and the “movement’s exuberance and creative freedom” during the Belle Epoque era, according to the Champagne house’s website. You can see that influence today on every bottle of Perrier-Jouet, which features gold-trimmed white flowers first painted on four bottles in 1902.

But to truly dive headfirst into Art Nouveau, make sure you visit Maison Belle Epoque, the former Perrier-Jouet family home built in the late 1800s. The house feels like a museum, filled with art by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and

Auguste Rodin as well as room after room containing original Art Nouveau furniture. In fact, Maison Belle Epoque has the largest private collection of Art Nouveau art in Europe.

However, the two Perrier-Jouet employees guiding us through Maison Belle Epoque insist that the house is not a museum. Instead, they hope visitors think of the house as a home where people still come to gather and celebrate and enjoy life.

Downstairs in Perrier-Jouet’s rambling cellars, there’s more art as well, including a stunning piece called “Lost Time.”

Several strands of beads hang from the ceiling above a pool of water. The beads look like stalactites and perfectly capture the way time seems to move at a glacial pace down here in this dark, mysterious world.

Back upstairs, we taste several Champagnes in a charming, intimate private bar in Maison Belle Epoque. We’re surrounded by glass artwork hanging from the ceiling, vintage Champagne glasses and many bottles of chilled Champagne. None of it seems real. It’s like I’ve somehow wandered into a beautiful Belle Epoque dream.

Tasting Notes

Perrier-Jouet Blanc De Blanc:

The first of three non-vintage Champagnes we try at Perrier-Jouet, this one is made entirely with chardonnay grapes and looks like a pale-yellow chardonnay. Taste wise, this refreshing Champagne has bright, floral-like aromas and flavors with hints of sea salt, citrus, peach, apricot and lemon. Distinct and delightful.

Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut: This non-vintage Brut Champagne will appeal to traditional Champagne fans. Here, you can practically taste the chalky, limestone walls in this crisp, toasty Champagne with hints of roasted almonds, melted butter and an unexpected dash of apricot.

Perrier-Jouet Rose: This non-vintage rose Champagne looks beautiful and tastes delicious. A delicate salmon-like color, this elegant rose Champagne actually tastes a bit like roses, along with hints of strawberry, raspberry, sea

salt and peach. Absolutely superb.

2012 Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque Cuvee Blanc De Blanc: The first of three vintage Champagnes we try at Perrier-Jouet, it’s difficult to move onto the other two after tasting this wonderful, complex Champagne. Like the other Blanc De Blanc, this vintage one is made entirely with Chardonnay grapes. However, the flavors here are bigger, brighter and yet somehow more subtle at the same time. In a way, this vintage Blanc De Blanc reminds me of Brut Champagne with its hints of toasted almond, roasted butter and a crisp, mineral-like finish. There are also surprising hints of pear and ginger.

2014 Perrier-Jouet Brut: Like the non-vintage Brut, this vintage one will definitely appeal to traditional Champagne fans. Its fresh, crisp, complex flavors are muted with a mineral-like finish along with dashes of toast, butter and sea salt. There’s a reason why certain foods or drinks become classics. Everyone loves their familiar, delicious flavors. This vintage Brut Champagne perfectly illustrates why.

2013 Perrier-Jouet Rose: The final vintage Perrier-Jouet Champagne we taste before catching our train back to Paris, this magnificent rose Champagne brings to mind a whole host of words that start with the letter S – subtle and soft, strawberry and sea salt, stunning and superb. There are also hints of raspberry and passion fruit. Drinking this wine with my wife, I’m reminded of the final scene of “Before Sunset,” one of my favorite movies, which also happens to be set in Paris. Not to give anything away, but one character says to the other, “You’re going to miss that plane.” Tasting these six Champagnes, I think it’s fair to say the last thing my wife and I care about is making our train. We do make it on time. But it’s not easy. We just want to stay. Who wouldn’t? Cheers!

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

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potato salad, mac ‘n’ cheese, baked beans, barbecued chicken, and more. Live music will also be part of the fun.

Tickets for the Roast, which are $20, can be purchased in person at the Dugout Cafe. Their telephone number is 413-533-1799.

• On July 20, Max Hospitality, the catering arm of the Max Restaurant Group, will be presenting their always-a-sellout “July Means Corn” Chef to Farm event.

A multi-course outdoor dinner held at Rosedale Farms & Vineyards in Simsbury, the evening, as the event’s name suggests, focuses on one of the season’s most anticipated flavors, that of fresh sweet corn.

General admission to the event is $125, and tickets can be purchased online. This summer’s calendar of other Chef to Farm presentations can also be found at that web location.

• Hardwick Vineyard & Winery in Hardwick has put together a sommelier-guided tour of wine and the barbecue world. Planned for July 21 with a 6 p.m. start, the event, “Flights & Bites: Wine & Summer Barbecue Pairing Experience,” will be led by wine educator Missa Capozzo.

During the program

Capozzo will present five of Hardwick’s wine paired with foods typical of a summer barbecue menu — pasta salad, cornbread, pulled pork, and more. The objective of the exercise is to illustrate for participants some of the fundamentals of successfully pairing food with wine.

Tickets for Flights & Bites are available at Eventbrite. com; they’re $49 plus a convenience fee.

Hardwick Vineyard & Winery can be reached at 413-967-7763.

• Wheelhouse Catering of Amherst and Black Birch Vineyard of Hatfield are

joining forces on July 22 to produce a five-course Farm to Table Dinner.

The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with cheese, charcuterie, house-made pickles, and seasonal preserves.

Leading off the menu is a watermelon crudo with feta, which is in turn followed by the service of sweet corn vichyssoise garnished with crab salad. A seafood course features tomato-infused halibut, while an orange and olive-braised lamb shoulder will be presented as the main entree. The planned dessert is a raspberry clafoutis, finished with lemon curd and whipped cream. Five selected bottlings of Black Birch Vineyard wine will be poured, one with each course.

The dinner will be held at Black Birch Vineyard in Hatfield. Tickets are $125 plus a convenience fee and can be purchased online at simpletix.com.

Black Birch Winery picks up at 413-247-3300.

• On July 24, the Vanished Valley Brewing Company in Ludlow will be hosting a Midsummer Night Beer Dinner.

Scheduled to start at 6 p.m., the five course dinner will begin with cheese tortellini tossed with lobster and chorizo; Mexican street corn is to be the second course. The street corn will be followed in turn by a Caprese salad.

Smoked short ribs are being billed as the dinner’s main course, and the promised dessert is Vanished Valley’s own interpretation of s’mores.

Five of Vanished Valley’s beers and ales will be poured during the dinner.

Tickets, which are $60 per person, can be purchased on Vanished Valley Brewing Company’s website.

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.

CALENDAR

Events

THURSDAY

2023 New England Mosaic

Unveiling: Thu, 5-7 p.m. Crestview Country Club, The Agawam Community Artists & Artisans invites the community to the unveiling of the New England Mosaic. Individual canvas “tiles” will be sold at the unveiling and at the Pioneer Valley Art Festival in Aug, 281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam, 413-786-2593 or crestviewcc.org/

Fountain Park Summer Concert Series: Thu, 6:30 p.m. Fountain Park, Savage Brothers. Admission is free, $5 for parking. 883 Tinkham Road, Wilbraham.

Friends of the Mount Holyoke Range Summer Concert Series: Thu, 6 p.m. Mt. Holyoke Range State Park, inside the Notch Visitor Center. The Green Sister. For tickets and more information, visit FriendsofMHR.org, $12 advance on-line, $15 at the door. 1500 West St., Amherst. 413-253-2883.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival: Thu. and Sat, 8 p.m.; Fri, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sun, 2 p.m. Jacob’s Pillow Dance, Dutch National Ballet. Ted Shawn Theatre. Tickets range from $60. 358 George Carter Road, Becket. 413-243-0745 or www. jacobspillow.org.

“Let Go” by No Theater: Thu.-Sat, 8 p.m. A.P.E. Gallery, Online ticket reservations for the performances are available on eventbrite at eventbrite.com/e/let-go-by-notheater-tickets-638862062627, $20. 126 Main St., Northampton. 413-586-5553 or apearts.org.

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

Querencia Dance Company: Thu, 6 p.m. Jacob’s Pillow Dance, Henry J. Leir Stage, choose what you pay. 358 George Carter Road, Becket. 413-243-0745 or jacobspillow.org.

Yankee Classic Cluster Dog Show: Thu.-Sun, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Eastern States Exposition, Better Living Center, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. 413-737-2443 or thebige.com.

FRIDAY

Clock Tower Artists Open Studios: Fri., 5-8 p.m. Clock Tower Business Park. See original artworks, learn about the processes, observe artist’s tools and techniques. The artwork ranges from realistic to abstract, and includes wearable art, oil painting, acrylic

painting, encaustic and more. On the 3rd floor, 75 South Church St., Pittsfield.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival: See Thursday listing

“Let Go” by No Theater: See Thursday listing

Majestic Theater Summer 2023: Fri, 7:30 p.m. Majestic Theater, Brad Shepard: “I’ve Heard That Song Before.” Box Office hours Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-1 p.m., $28/$26. 131 Elm St., West Springfield. 413-747-7797 or www.majestictheater.com.

MGM Casino: See Thursday listing

MGM Springfield Presents Boyz II Men: Fri, 8 p.m. Springfield Symphony Hall, Tickets available at ticketmaster.com/ event/01005D7CAB823266, starting at $49. 34 Court St., Springfield, 413-733-2291 or symphonyhall.com.

Tanglewood 2023 Season: Fri, 8 p.m. Tanglewood, Opening night with BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons. Shed. For tickets, visit tanglewood.org, $24-$112. 297 West St., Lenox. 888-266-1200 or tanglewood.org.

waheedworks: Fri, 6 p.m. Jacob’s Pillow Dance, Henry J. Leir Stage, Choose what you pay. 358 George Carter Road, Becket. 413-243-0745 or www.jacobspillow.org.

Yankee Classic Cluster Dog Show: See Thursday listing

SATURDAY

History Museum, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., featuring artists and crafters. See the museum’s newest exhibit, “The Magnificent Life & Art of Mabel Loomis Todd,” take a tour of the new reinstalled rooms in the house, peruse books in the reading room and view the extensive clothing textile collection, 67 Amity St., Amherst.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival

2022: See Thursday listing “Let Go” by No Theater: See Thursday listing Majestic Theater Summer 2023: Sat, 7:30 p.m. Majestic Theater, Joe Canata & The Memories. For tickets call 413-747-7797. Box Office Hours Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-1 p.m., $28/$26. 131 Elm St., West Springfield. 413-7477797 or majestictheater.com.

The MasterZ at Work Dance Family: Sat, 6 p.m. Jacob’s Pillow Dance, Henry J. Leir Stage, Choose what you pay. 358 George Carter Road, Becket. 413-243-0745 or www.jacobspillow.org.

MGM Casino: See Thursday listing Staged Play: Every Moment of Every Day” by Lindy Whiton: Sat, 7 p.m. LAVA Center, $5 suggested donation. 324 Main St., Greenfield.

Summer Entertainment Series: Roger Tincknell: Sat, 11 a.m. Odyssey Bookshop, Roger is a two-time Parents’ Choice Award-winning recording artist with numerous albums for children and adults. Bring your own blankets or chairs, 9 College St., South Hadley; 413534-7307 or www.odysseybks.

com.

Tanglewood 2023 Season: Sat, 8 p.m. Tanglewood, Shed. Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra reprising their presentation of “Ragtime: The Symphonic Concert.” For tickets visit tanglewood.org, $30-$171. 297 West St., Lenox. 888-266-1200 or www. tanglewood.org.

Yankee Classic Cluster Dog Show: See Thursday listing

SUNDAY

Foster Memorial Church Services: Sun., 9:30 a.m. Foster Memorial Church, During the summer, the church will play special music and continue to provide childcare and church school. All are welcome. For more information about the church, please visit their website at fostermemorial.org or call the church office at 413-782-2112, 1791 Wilbraham Road, Springfield. 413-782-2112.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival: See Thursday listing

MGM Casino: See Thursday listing Sevenars Concerts: Sun, 4 p.m. Sevenars Academy, Scharade and James family musicians, $20 suggested donation at the door. Ireland Street at Route 112, Worthington. 413-238-5854 or www.sevenars. org.

Tanglewood 2023 Season: Sun., 2:30 p.m. Tanglewood, Shed. Andris nelsons and the BSO, joined by classical singer Julia Bullock and violinist Hilary Hahn. For tickets, visit www.tanglewood.org, $24$112. 297 West St., Lenox.

Ware Fireworks: Sun, Grenville Park, 73 Church St., Ware.

Yankee Classic Cluster Dog Show: See Thursday listing

Quadrangle

Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden: Dr. Seuss National Memorial. outdoor sculpture garden of larger-thanlife 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.

Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: “Big Games, Big Fun.” Through Sept. 3.

“The Grinch: A Car with a History.”

Through Nov. 1, 2023. “We Have a Story To Tell: Stories, Maps, and

Relationship to Place.” Through Sept. 3. Permanent exhibit: more than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.

Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “Artifice: New Paintings” by Priya N. Green. Through Dec. 31. “Nelson Stevens: Color Rapping.” Through Sept. 3. “New/Now: Contemporary Art Acquisitions.” Through July 30.

Springfield Science Museum: “Molly of Denali: An Alaskan Adventure.” Through Sept. 3. Explore Alaska by way of this interactive exhibit that brings the acclaimed PBS KIDS series “Molly of Denali” to life. Set in the fictitious rural Alaskan village of Qyah, the show follows the adventures of Molly Mabray, her family, friends, and dog Suki and is infused with Alaska Native values, history, traditions, and language. Permanent exhibit: State-of-the-art Zeiss Projector and updated International Space Station Exhibit. Summer Spectacular Activities: Play, Explore and Create with Us.” July 5 - Aug. The Museums are open seven days a week and we invite you to play, explore, and create with us. Free with museum admission. For more information, visit www.springfieldmuseums.org.

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent Exhibit. 1st floor exhibition provides opportunities to explore new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories, and engage in activities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking, with interactive three-dimensional exhibits. 2nd floor: contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia, including never before publicly displayed art, the original Geisel Grove sign which used to hang in Forest Park, and furniture from Ted’s sitting room and studio, including his drawing board and armchair. Timed tickets required, for reservations visit springfieldmuseums.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 ameliaparkmuseum.org. Mon. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Thu.-Sun., 10 a.m.-3

Forrest, a samoyed dog, is pictured at a past Yankee Classic Cluster Dog Show. The show returns to the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition today through Sunday. (HOANG ‘LEON’

NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN)

Events

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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.

Amherst History Museum: Permanent exhibit. See the museum’s collection of artworks and more. Open Sat. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. during the summer. 67 Amity St., Amherst

Children’s Museum at Holyoke: Permanent exhibit: Amazing world of learning and play. The newest additions are The Wiggle and Wash/Vet Clinic. A toddler Merry-Go-Round and a state of the art, STEM based cash register for kids. Hours: Tues.-Fri, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun, noon-4 p.m. Closed Mon. Admission: Children & Adults $8; Seniors (62+) $5; Children under 1 year of age and members are free. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or www. childrensmuseumholyoke.org.

Connecticut Trolley Museum: Summer hours: Open daily except Mon., 10 a.m.-4 p.m., through Sept. 4. All summer long the museum will hold many activities. For more information visit www.cttrolley. org. Admission: $12 adults, $11 seniors, $11 for youth, $9 for children ages 2-11, half off for members. Storytime Trolleys: Tue., Fri. 11 a.m. through Sept. 4. Featuring stories about the adventures of trolleys and trains. Included with paid admission. 58 North Road, East Windsor or www.cttrolley.org.

Edith Wharton: The Mount: Open for the 2023 Season. The Main House & Bookstore are now open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Sept. 4. The grounds are free and open daily from dawn to dusk, unless otherwise posted. Please note: Special events may affect museum hours.

Admission: Adults $20,seniors $18 (65+); students with ID $13; children and teens free 18 and under; Military with ID $10, discount extends to one family member. 2 Plunkett St., Lenox or edithwharton.org.

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: “The Art & Storytelling of Claire A. Nivola.” Through Nov. 5. “Eric Carle Loves Japan.” Through Aug. 20. Featuring never-before-seen photos of Carle’s visits to Japan over a 32-year period. 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. 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 www. carlemuseum.org.

Holyoke Heritage State Park: Permanent exhibit. Preserving the history and culture of Holyoke through permanent exhibits on the paper and textile industry. Featuring a scale model of Mountain Park. Visitor Center open daily noon-4 p.m. Check website for programs and tours. 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 413-7348322.

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. The museum is now open. In addition to a new technologically advanced visitor experience including the following: “High Above Center Court,” “Hall of Honor,” “1891 Gallery,” “Players Gallery,” “James Goldstein Superfan gallery,” and “Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams.”

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 www.hoophall.com.

Norman Rockwell Museum: Art Tours: Rockwell Studio Tours.” Through Nov. 12. 20-minute guided tour of the historic studio where Rockwell painted, corresponded, and posed models for more than 20 years. Tickets at NRM.org/visit. Permanent exhibit: Gallery. Hours: Thurs.Mon. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Advance tickets purchase required; Closed Tuesday and Wed. Visit www nrm org for more information. $20 adults; $18 seniors, AAA, retire military; $10 college students, free children ages 18 and under, members and active military. Art Tours: “Rockwell’s Life & Art Tours.” Through Nov. 12. Tickets at NRM.org/ visit. “Tony Sarg: Genius at Play.” Through Nov. 5. “Noman

Rockwell: The Business of Illustrating the American Dream.” Through Sept. 30. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or www.nrm.org.

Old Sturbridge Village: Permanent exhibit: Visit Kidstory, an indoor learning gallery in the Visitor’s Center where kids ages 3-10 can try on period costumes and imagine life in the 1830’s; “Neat and Tasty: Getting Dressed in Early New England”; apparel in portraiture. Blue Star Museum Season. Through Sept. 4. To gain free admission, military family members will show their military or dependent identification card.

“For the Purpose of Illumination.” Learn how New Englanders needed, used, and created artificial lighting methods in the 1830s and see first-hand artifacts from the era. Hours: Through Oct. 1, Wed.-Sun. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Standard Daytime Admission tickets are good for one day and are not valid for special evening programs like phantoms by Firelight or Christmas by Candlelight. $30 adults, $28 seniors (55+), $15 college students with valid college ID, $15 children 4-17, free for children ages 3 and under, Route 20, Sturbridge or www. 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”; “History.” The Polish Center is open to the public daily, 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 www. polishcenter.net.

Porter-Phelps-Huntington

Museum: Open for the 2023 Season. Through Oct. 15. Guided tours are Sat.-Wed. 1-4 p.m. Tours will be offered at the beginning of every hour and last for approximately 45 minutes. The museum is closed Thurs, and Fri. Wednesday Folk Traditions, 6:30 p.m., July 12, Viva Quetzal, in the sunken garden. General admission is $12, or $2 for children 16 and under. $5 adults, $1 children, 130 River Drive, Hadley or www.pphmuseum. org.

Springfield Armory National Historic Site: Ranger-led interpretive programs offered in

the museum in the afternoon. Junior Ranger programs conducted frequently each day. hours are Wed.-Sun, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 1 Armory Square, Springfield or www.nps.gov/ spar.

Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum: Permanent exhibit: Daniel Anthony’s Store, The Legacy Room, The Birthing Room, The Portrait Gallery. Summer Hours: Thurs.-Mon. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Sept. 4. $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 www. susanbanthonybirthplace.com.

The Emily Dickinson Museum: Homestead and Evergreens: Permanent exhibit. Open Wed.Sun. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Admission to the museum is by guided tour, for which advance-purchased timed tickets are required. Visit EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org/ Visit to purchase your tickets and for more information. 280 Main St., Amherst or emilydickinsonsmuseum.org.

Titanic Museum: Permanent exhibit: exhibits from the collection of the International Titanic Historical Society. Hours: 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.

Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum: Permanent exhibit: guided tours of the first and second floors. Open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Self-guided tours are on the hour with the last self-guided tour weekdays at 2 p.m. and weekends at 3 p.m. Call to reserve at 413637-3206. Admission is $18 adults, $17 seniors (65+), $10 students with ID and $7 children 5-17. Hat exhibit, through Dec. Included with regular admission to the museum. Prima Music Foundation Concert and Cocktail Reception. July 6, 4 p.m. “Jazz and the Gilded Age.” There will be light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar offering beer, wine and a new signature cocktail, the Ventfort Vesper. The bar will open a half hour prior to the concert. Reservations are required as seats are limited. Visit, gildedage.org/events or call 413-637-3206. $45 general, $40 Berkshire country residents. Paranormal Investigation with David Raby. July 8 at 7 p.m. Before the investigation, Raby will give a brief history of the lives that once graced the hallways — and possibly still reside within. He will also share some of his favorite evidence

from previous investigations. This event is perfect for everyone; from someone who has never been on a paranormal investigation to the seasoned investigator. Non-refundable tickets for this exciting event are $40 per person with a reduced rate of $25 for ages 12–18 and 19-23 with student ID and are limited. Reservations are strongly encouraged as this event typically sells out. Walkins accommodated as space allows. Visit www.gildedage. org or call us at 413-637-3206 for reservations. 104 Walker St., Lenox or www.gildedage.org. West Springfield Town Museum: Permanent exhibit. The museum is open to the public every first Sat. of the month from 1-3 p.m. Items of Interest and on display include hand built models of early town buildings and other structures, local artifacts and historic items from the Civil war, Mittineague Park and Bear Hole area, as well as other local historic items and displays. 55 Altamont Ave., West Springfield

Yiddish Book Center:

Permanent exhibit, “A Velt mit veltelekh: The Worlds of Jewish Culture.” The center will be open to the public on Thurs, Fri, Sun, and Mon. from 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 yiddishbookcenter.org.

Galleries

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

Andrew Devries Fine Art

International Inc.: Open Studio: Sept. 2, Oct. 7, 1-4 p.m.; July 8, Aug. 5, 9:30 a.m.-noon. Witness an exciting bronze casting, weather permitting at 1:30 p.m. In the event of rain, a short video of a bronze pour will be shown inside the studio. Afterwards Andrew explains the intricacies of the ancient lost wax process needed to make his sculptures. the gallery, formerly in Lenox, has indoor works, both paintings and sculptures that are available for purchase and is open to the

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public Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 42 East River Road, Middlefield or www.andrewdevries.com.

Burnett Gallery at the Jones Library: Topographies: An Afrofuturescape - mixed media collage + assemblage x ebbie russell, through July 29. Opening reception July 15, 2-4:30 p.m. 43 Amity St.

Amherst Forbes Library: Textile Art by Lee Sproull and Mixed Media by Eva Lin Fahey, through July 29. Reception July 8, 3-5 p.m. Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed Sun. and holidays. 20 West St., Northampton or www. forbeslibrary.org

Gallery A3 Amherst Art

Alliance: “Inner Circles” by Paula Hite; “Immersions” by Evelyn Pye. July 6-29, opening reception, July 6, 5-7 p.m. Art Forum, July 20, 7:30 p.m., Register at www. gallerya3.com. 28 Amity St., Amherst 413-256-4250.

Hope and Feathers Framing and Gallery: “Personal Interiors” by Diane Nevinsmith. July 6 - 31. Hours: On.-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 www. hopeandfeathersframing.com.

Indian Orchard Mills Dane Gallery: All new exhibits every month featuring the artists at Indian Orchard Mills. Hours: Sat. noon-4 p.m. or by appointment. 34 Front St., Indian Orchard, 413543-3321.

J. H. Miller Custom Framing and Gallery: Featuring the works of local artists. Hours Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Thurs. 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 86 Elm St., West Springfield, 413-7329128.

Old Town Hall: “Landing” by Laura Radwell. Through today. 43 Main St., Easthampton

Sienna Patti Contemporary: “Something Old, Something New.” Through July 16. 80 Main St., Lenox

Sunnyside Road Gallery: Featuring the work of Carolyn Avery. Hours: Sat. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by calling 413-569-0384. 52 Sunnyside Road, Southwick

Trinity United Methodist Church: Arts and crafts by the Trinity community, through Aug. 25. Open Sun., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and during the week by appointment. Call 413-218-7391 for more information. 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield.

Outdoors

Andrew Devries Fine Art International Inc.: River Studios Sculpture Walking Trail. Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through Sept. 3 and other times by appointment. 42 East River Road, Middlefield or www. andrewdevries.com.

Great Falls Discovery Center: StoryWalk: “Mole Music” by David McPhail. Through Aug. 8. For readers ages 4-7 and everyone who dreams of being a musician and changing the world. Kidleidoscope Story Hour. Fri. in July, 10:30-11:30 a.m. July 7 “Eagles”; July 14, “Bobcats”; July 21, “Snakes”; July 28, “Rabbits.” For children ages 3-6 accompanied by an adult. Program includes a story, activities, and a craft. Activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. siblings and friends welcome. meet in the Great Hall or adjacent courtyard. Live Birds of Prey with Tom Ricardi. July 8, 2 - 3 p.m. For all ages. Meet raptors up close and personal. Gather in the Great Hall for birds of prey, presented by Tom Ricardi. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls or www.greatfallsma.org.

Lupa Zoo: Weather Permitting, the zoo is open Tues.-Sun. through Aug. 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.;

$15 adults (13+); $12 seniors (62+); $10 children 2-12; free for children under 2, 62 Nash Hill Road, Ludlow or www.lupazoo. org.

Mt. Greylock State Reservation: Firefly Frolic: July 7, 8:30-10 p.m. Free for all ages. Come learn about fireflies and how to best view these glowing lights of summer. Play a game inside the Visitor Center, learn safe “catch and release,” methods you can use at home. Bring a flashlight or Blue Light headlamp. Bring a small butterfly net if you have one. No glass or any collection devices be used outdoors. Space is limited, register at Eventbrite. com. Scenic Summit Tours: Sat.-Sun. through Sept. 3, 1 and 2 p.m. all ages. Park interpreterguided short and easy walk along paths explore the cultural landscape and unique ecology of the highest point in Mass. Wheelchair accessible. Meet a the circular relief map at the Summit. Program duration approx. 20-30 minutes. Parking fee may apply. Nature Scavenger

Hunt: Sundays through Sept. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free for all ages. Suitable for children and families. Self-guided adventurous quests invite you to search for natural treasures along park trails. Scavenger Hunts are available at the Visitor Center. 30

Rockwell Road, Lanesborough

Tamarack Hollow Nature and Cultural Center: “Learn About Ferns.” July 8, 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m. With Naturalist & Director Aimee Gelinas M.Ed. Learn tips on how to identify over 12 species of woodland ferns on this easy walk. Fern guidebooks will be available for purchase at the program. Registration is required, visit tamarackhollownatureandculturalcenter.org. $20 per person.

1515 Savoy Hollow Road, Windsor or tamarackhollow.com.

The Zoo in Forest Park and Education Center: Open for the 2023 Season, through Sept. 4. Hours open daily: 10 am-4 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., weather permitting. For more information visit www.forestparkzoo.org.

$12 adults, $8 seniors (62+); $6 children 1-12; parking: City of Springfield daily parking fee: $3 per in-state car, $5 per out of state car cash only. Buses and larger vehicles are $15 per vehicle. Sumner Avenue, Springfield or forestparkzoo.org.

Markets

Belchertown Farmers Market: Sun. through Oct. 1,10 a.m.-2 p.m., except on Sept. 24 (fair weekend). Park and Main Streets, Belchertown or www.belcher-

townfair.com.

Forest Park Spring Farmers Market: Tues. through Oct., 12:30-6 p.m. in the parking lot of Cyr Arena. Sumner Avenue, Springfield Northampton Spring Farmers Market: Tues. through Nov. 7, 1:30-6:30 p.m., located on Gothic Street right off of Main. Parking is available on Main Street, King Street and on Gothic Street (please enter Gothic Street via Trumbull Road). 8 Gothic St., Northampton

Downtown Springfield Farmers Market: Fri., 11 a.m.-3 p.m., through Sept, weather permitting at Tower Square Park. 1500 Main St., Springfield or www. visittowersquare.com.

Westfield Farmers Market: Thu. through Oct. 19, noon-5 p.m. Episcopal Church of the Atonement, 36 Court St., Westfield

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

The Savage Brothers will play the Fountain Park Summer Concert Series in Wilbraham today at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

Beer

Of course, later in the week, I visited my friend and beer maven John Stephens in Dublin. After a quick visit to The Long Hall (in honor of Phil Lynott, who shot part of his “Old Town” video there), John got us on the tram, and we headed to the North Side, where we enjoyed several brews at Fidelity, a sleek bar featuring mostly Whiplash Brewing beers.

The place was visually stunning, but the beers were even better. The weather wasn’t any cooler in Dublin, so I started out with a Whiplash Blue Ghosts Pilsner, a crisp lager with touches of citrus around the edges. I then decided to escalate my approach and went for a double IPA collaboration

LiveWire

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“On Saturday, June 24, Madonna developed a serious bacterial infection which lead (sic) to a several-day stay in the ICU. Her health is improving, however, she is still under medical care. A full recovery is expected.”

The statement went on to say that rescheduled dates for the tour will be announced as soon as possible.

• Paul McCartney said that he blames Bruce Springsteen for the modern trend of incredibly lengthy sets. During

Nightclubs

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ensemble. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield

MONDAY

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

Uno Chicago Grill: Smith & Ingram. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield

TUESDAY

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

Uno Chicago Grill: Gary Jones & Natalie Jones. 820 West Colum-

between Whiplash and Track Brewing from Manchester, England. Named Future Dust, this brew comes in at 8.2% and features a relatively new (2020) hop variety, New Zealand Nectaron. These hops bring some pineapple punch to the forefront – a nice change of pace from the usual citrus notes often featured in IPAs.

John and I stepped up our game even further with a U.S. imperial stout, Dark Apparition from Jackie O’s Pub of Ohio. This delicious concoction brought together a blend of cocoa and dark fruit flavors, with plum taking the lead. The alcohol was slightly noticeable in the taste, but not intrusive. But this was definitely a sipping beer that always should be the last drink of the night. And so it was.

Sláinte.

an episode of Conan O’Brien’s “Needs A Friend” podcast, Macca noted that The Beatles used to only play 30 minutes at the height of their fame, but The Boss changed any chance of that with his shows that often last more than three hours.

“These days, pretty much there’s the main act and there might be a warm-up act,” McCartney said. “Then [in The Beatles heyday], it was a lot of people on the bill because nobody did long; now people will do three or four hours. I blame Bruce Springsteen – I’ve told him so, I said, ‘It’s your fault man.’”

bus Ave., Springfield

WEDNESDAY

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

Uno Chicago Grill: Floyd Patterson. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield

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 www.masslive.com/myevent