Weekend - September 21, 2023

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

Weekend

LIVEWIRE: Bob Dylan makes Springfield return, E3

OFF THE MENU: Restaurants embrace artificial intelligence, E7

CALENDAR: Events at museums, galleries in WMass, E9

PLUS Cinderella comes to Academy of Music

Poor Monroe to celebrate album release at Gateway City Arts, Page E2

Poor Monroe to celebrate album release at Gateway City Arts

By Ashley P otter apotter@repub.com

BLUEGRASS FANS can get their fill of live music at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke tomorrow when New England band Poor Monroe hosts an album release party in the Divine Theater.

Featuring songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Eric Lee, of Easthampton; guitarist Sean Davis, of Worcester; bassist Gareth Buckley, of South Hadley; banjoist Chris Boucher, of Northampton; and mandolinist John Benjamin, of Spofford, New Hampshire, Poor Monroe plays a mix of original and traditional bluegrass material.

The band formed only two years ago in the spring of 2021. Getting off the ground in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic made certain things more tricky, but “the way it came together was unintentionally organic,” said Lee, the band’s frontman.

Since that time, the band has received two New England music award nominations in addition to playing live across the region – at the Green River Festival, Podunk Bluegrass Festival, Ossipee Valley Music Festival, Basin Bluegrass Festival, and Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival. Their album, by the same name as their group, was recorded locally at Sonelab Studios in Easthampton. It will be played in its entirety at the Divine Theater at Gateway City Arts tomorrow at 6:30 p.m.

Doors open ahead of the show at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door, and can be purchased online at gatewaycityarts. com. The Bistro will be serving food from 5 to 9 p.m.

Lee took the time to answer a few questions ahead of Friday’s show. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q. I saw the band was first formed in spring of 2021 —

that had to be no easy feat considering the COVID-19 pandemic happening at the time. How was the band formed? If you could, tell me a bit about how Poor Monroe came to be?

“John Benjamin (our mandolin player) called me up to say that he had a gig offer from a brewery up in New Hampshire, and asked if I’d want to jump on. It wasn’t much — I had to bring my own sound system and we played for three hours in a parking lot for not much money, tips, and burgers, but it was better than sitting around at home playing to only a metronome. They liked us so much that they asked us back. I figured I’d see just how much they liked us, so I told John that if they’d give us a little more money, we could bring in our friend Sean Davis to play guitar, and they were on board. Not surprisingly, they liked the sounds of the three

of us more than a duo, so I just kept up my little business strategy. Every time they asked us back, we’d ask for more money to bring on more members, and before long we had Gareth Buckley join in on bass, and finally we added Chris Boucer on banjo.”

“So we had pulled together the essential five-piece bluegrass band: mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo and bass. These were all guys that I had gotten to know over the years from different jams and the general bluegrass scene of the area, and I always respected their musical sensibilities. We all genuinely got along as friends too, which was maybe more important, since every gig, although outdoors, was still risky.”

Q. How did it feel stepping on the music scene as the pandemic was still rather current?

“Three of the band mem-

City Arts?

“The album is titled ‘Poor Monroe.’ It’s the name we chose for the band after a song recorded by Keith Whitley and Ricky Skaggs, which we also play in our sets. I’m a big rock fan, and I feel it’s appropriate for bands to release their first album under the name of their project. It’s a very ‘band-y’ thing to do!”

Q. Anything you can share about the album, as far as song titles, number of songs, and the kind of sound people can expect to hear?

bers have school-age kids, so we became our own COVID ‘pod’ kind of by default. That put a spotlight on the significance of the gigs we played; while we definitely weren’t playing to very critical audiences, we felt that (the) opportunity to play with each other in person was a really special thing, and we wanted the material to reflect that. At some point, we started talking about what tunes and songs we were all working on at home just to pass the time… and it occurred to us that maybe we should work up all the things we wanted to play for this band that we couldn’t get our real bands to learn before the pandemic. We ignored the fact that we were standing in parking lots in direct sunlight, and instead rehearsed as if we were booked to play the Grand Ol’ Opry.”

Q. What is the album being celebrated at Gateway

“The album features 12 tracks: five traditional songs, one traditional tune, four original songs (and a tune), and three covers. I’m really excited to see how some of the most traditional songs and the covers will be received, since they cover a lot of ground: from ‘Little Girl & the Dreadful Snake’ and ‘Oh, Death’ (from Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers, respectively) to ‘I Got A Name’ (performed by Jim Croce, written by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox) and our version of John Hartford’s ‘Old Joe Clark.’”

“I was really glad the band wanted to include my originals for the recording, and I think they’ve done an exquisite job bringing them into the world – from the bluesy stomp of ‘Bluegrass Boy’ to the chugging train-themed ‘Get Up & Get On Board!’ The whole thing is very dynamic, but has a remarkably cohesive feel, which I chalk up to our strong work ethic in rehearsals.”

Q.

What is it about the bluegrass sound that you think draws people in, or if people aren’t familiar with bluegrass music, how would you describe it?

“It’s incredibly energetic! Bluegrass, when done right, has an instant effect to get molecules moving. This seems obvious, given the nature of the genre’s inherently

Poor Monroe, an area bluegrass band, will host an album release party at the Divine Theater at Gateway City Arts on Friday. (PHOTO COURTESY POOR MONROE)

Bob Dylan makes Springfield return

BOB DYLAN WILL return to Western Massachusetts and play Springfield Symphony Hall on Nov. 1.

Nightclubs

THURSDAY

Delaney House: Baird Souls. 3

Country Club Road, Holyoke

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

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

The Drake: Winterpills, Original Cowards, Fancy Trash: Amherst Block Party. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst

The Ranch Golf Club: Tom Savoy. 65 Sunnyside Road, Southwick

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

West Springfield Fish and Game Club: CD jukebox, pool table. 329

Garden St., Feeding Hills

with The Baxbys and The Upstairs District. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: The Edd with Purple Dawn. 289 Main St., Greenfield

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

Theodores’: Johnny Marino and Blueshead. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

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

SATURDAY

BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity: Chris Pureka with Kym Register (of Meltdown Rodeo). 130 Pine St., Florence

Dylan is no stranger to the area, having played Springfield a number of times. While many fans of a certain age will recall Dylan’s triumphant 1975 show with his Rolling Thunder Revue (which also featured Joan Baez and Roger McGuinn) at the old Springfield Civic Center, Dylan actually first played the City of Homes a decade before at Municipal Auditorium on Jan. 29, 1965.

We learned that tasty nugget of information from one of the area’s foremost Dylanologists, longtime Springfield Republican/ Union News/Daily News reporter and columnist Tommy Shea. Shea first got into Dylan in 1974 and attended the 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue show. He recalled doing a bit of investigative work to find out about the 1975 “surprise“ concert.

“I read John Rockwell’s rock column in The New York Times on the previous Friday [before tickets went on sale]. He wrote that Dylan was planning a New England tour with a bunch of surprise shows,” Shea said. “I was covering high school sports at the time, and I knew Jerry Healy, the civic center director. So I called him and asked if Dylan was playing the civic center, and he paused.”

“He said something like that it was more than Dylan or bigger than Dylan. I must have mentioned Joan Baez.

and he paused for a good long time. I took that as a confirmation,” Shea said with a laugh.

Dylan played two shows in Springfield, both on Nov. 6, and Shea attended both. He also saw two Nov. 4 concerts in Providence, Rhode Island, and a Nov. 2 concert at Costello Gymnasium at UMass-Lowell. (Dylan later stopped at Jack Kerouac’s grave in Lowell’s Edson Cemetery with poet Allen Ginsberg — a scene depicted in Martin Scorsese’s documentary “Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder.”)

“What I really remember about the crowd was how people were amazed they were actually going to see Bob Dylan,” Shea said. “Dylan, of course, had toured with The Band in ’74, but had been off the road prior for seven and a half years. And all the shows with The Band were in big cities.”

Over the years, Dylan has also played the old Paramount Theater on Main Street in Springfield, as well as several other shows at Symphony Hall.

Tickets for the Nov. 1 show are on sale at Ticketmaster. com.

Liner notes

• The Mallett Brothers Band will play The Drake in Amherst on Oct. 5.

The band, which hails from Maine, has been touring the country since 2009, and has built up a dedicated fan base with its rock/Americana/ country blend. The group has opened for notable acts such as The Outlaws, Blackberry Smoke, Robert Earl Keen, .38 Special and Molly Hatchet over the years.

Vermont’s Saints and Liars open the show.

• Looking to show off your singing chops? There is no better place to do so than at Gateway City Arts at 7:30 p.m. every third Thursday of each month, when Cloud 9 Productions features a vast catalog of songs.

Cloud 9 also holds karaoke at 7 p.m. each Thursday at J.J.’s Tavern in the Florence section of Northampton and at New City Brewery in Easthampton every Friday at 7 p.m.

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

FRIDAY

BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity: Joe Louis Walker plus Misty Blues. 130 Pine St., Florence

Delaney House: Luther Johnson. 3

Country Club Road, Holyoke

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

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

The Drake: The Q-Tip Bandits

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

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

The Drake: May Erlewine, Matt Sucich. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Afterglow. 289 Main St., Greenfield

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Abbey Road Anniversary with Pamela Means. 289 Main St., Greenfield

Theodores’: Chris Ruest. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

SEE NIGHTCLUBS, PAGE E12

Saturday, September 30

Family day 10 am-5 pm

after hours 5-8 pm

Bob Dylan will play Springfield Symphony Hall on Nov. 1. (DAVE J. HOGAN PHOTO)

George Lenker

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Craft fair welcomes fall

Theme focuses on Native Americans

By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican

More than 100 quality craftspeople from 11 states, a food tent filled with good things to eat, and a focus on Native Americans set the stage for the annual Old Deerfield Fall Arts and Crafts Festival beginning Saturday.

One of three juried craft fairs held throughout the year, it is the only one to take place in Deerfield on the sprawling grounds surrounding Memorial Hall Museum. The spring and holiday craft fairs are held at The Big E.

“Deerfield played an important role in the American Arts and Crafts movement of the 1890s and was a center for fine craft making. Also, many artists are inspired by nature so holding our event outdoors speaks more to the artists and the public pur-

Take time out to visit ‘The Big B’

chasing their arts and crafts,” said Timothy Neumann about holding the annual fall festival in Deerfield. Neumann serves as executive director of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association (PVMA), organizers of the craft fair.

Admission is $5; children 12 and under are free. Hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine.

Visitors shopping for themselves or for gift-giving in advance of the holiday season will find jewelry, quilts, handbags, pottery, dolls, photography, fine arts, furniture and more. The festival will also showcase specialty foods to take home such as fudge, honey teas, gourmet veggie and oil dips, sauces, salsa, jam, mustard, butters, pickles, barrel aged balsamic vinegars and olive oils, fire cider and more.

Among the new exhibitors at this year’s fair will be Susan Shannon of Su Chi Pottery

By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican

This weekend there are two fairs to choose from — The Big E or the Belchertown Fair, which event officials fondly refer to as “The Big B.”

The popular hometown fair, held on the Belchertown Common, opens its gates on Friday for three days featuring all kinds of entertainment, a midway with fun rides, yummy fair food, things to buy, and much more. Also, you can’t beat the price — it’s free.

Hours are Friday from 3 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We’re hoping for good weather and a large turnout this year, especially for our oxen and horse pulls at the end of the Belchertown Common, and we expect a bigger parade than last year for everyone to enjoy,” said Mark Nute, fair chair.

The theme of this year’s 164th fair and parade is “Blue Jeans and Fair Dreams.” As stated on their website, in relation to the theme it is asked “What

does that mean to you?” before explaining: “To youngsters the fair is fun, rides and fair food. To teenagers it might mean going with a favorite friend or your first kiss. As you get older, it’s an opportunity to connect with family and friends you don’t see as often catching up to favorite music under the social tent. Or maybe you have a dream to show off your prizewinning vegetables and get a ribbon. Put your thinking caps on and show us what

it means to you.” There are special theme awards in the parade, vendor booths and Exhibit Hall.

The fair’s annul themed parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The parade route starts from the staging area on South Main St. and runs north along the Belchertown Common on Main Street and then to the corner of Routes 9 and 202. Prior to the parade, there will be a performance by the award-winning

Studio Closing

In-Person Art Sale Reduced Prices

10am - 6pm

Friday, Sept. 22

Saturday, Sept. 23

The Belchertown Fair — or ‘The Big B’ — is a free fair that runs tomorrow through Sunday on the Belchertown Common. (THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

DEERFIELD

A scene from a past Old Deerfield Fall Arts and Crafts Festival. (THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

Art by Helen Vaselacopoulos & the late Frank Carter

Dane Gallery - Studio 269 (3rd Floor) Indian Orchard Mills 34 Front Street, I.O.MA

Magic of Cinderella comes to Academy of Music

By C ori U rban Special to The Republican

This ballet version of the age-old Cinderella story is designed for modern audiences.

The fairy tale “uses cinematic effects in the choreography that allows the viewer to read the story in full without guessing,” said Gulya Hartwick, one of the producers.

Cinderella will be staged at the Academy of Music Friday, and audience members will be treated to a performance that honors classic ballet traditions. But “time chang-

Craft Fair

CONTINUES FROM PAGE E4

es, and our perceptions of things change. ... We have to make changes and not keep it as it was a hundred years ago,” Hartwick said. One of the oldest and most beloved folktales, the story of Cinderella dates to sometime between 7 BC and AD 23 with the Greek tale of Rhodopis. Since then, there have been more than 1,500 versions of it including the most widely known by French author Charles Perrault from which most ballet productions are derived. Set to a passionate score

SEE CINDERELLA, PAGE E11

tive patterns and 10 different colors,” she said.

Belchertown

CONTINUES FROM PAGE E4

Belchertown High School

Marching Band on the lawn of the Clapp Memorial Library.

True to its agricultural heritage as many fairs are today, the Belchertown Fair will feature a draft horse pull, rabbit show, ox draw, and poultry show there. The Exhibit Hall, a fair favorite, provides an opportunity for youth and adults, farmers and crafters, photographers and special interest groups to enter their displays for judging. Free demonstrations will be featured in the popular building throughout the weekend.

p.m., there will be games and prizes for youngsters ages 4-12. For competitive kids, there is a junior hay bale toss on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and a frog jumping contest on Sunday at noon — bring your own frog. There will also be a kids tractor pull on Sunday at 11 a.m. with prizes, trophies and ribbons. Other youth events include balloon artist and magician Ed Popielarczyk in the Kids Tent all weekend, magician Jonas Cain daily under the Social Tent, Henry Lappen’s juggling and stilt walking, 4-H petting zoo, and pumpkin carving in the Kids Tent on Saturday from 2-4 p.m. and the annual Baby Contest on Saturday from 1-2 p.m. in the Kids Tent.

in Pittsford, Vermont, who creates uniquely designed tableware with a simple spiral design, what she calls “pottery to soothe the soul and please the senses.”

“I’ve been doing this for 18 years and really enjoy meeting people in person. For many years I have been driving out of Vermont and passing by Massachusetts to do shows everywhere else. So, I finally thought, ‘Why not do one in Massachusetts?’ and the Old Deerfield Craft Fairs have a good reputation,” she said. Shannon, who calls herself a “passionate, curious potter,” noted she was making pottery long before looking at the functional aspects of her designs.

“At the time I just wanted to throw on the potter’s wheel and make things. But when I decided to build a business, I ended up noticing people coming into my booth were using plates over decorative vases, for example. I listened to what my customers were telling me about what they wanted, and that is when I honed in on making tableware in decora-

Shannon came up with the name Su Chi ware with her maiden name of Childers, holding the first three letters of an integral concept she connects to when throwing pots on the wheel — chi. As she explains on her website, “Essentially, better pots arise from this free flow of energy or chi.”

There will also be children’s craft activates and goats to view up-close from Sage Meadow Farm., as well as live demonstrations by members of the Western Mass. Wood Turners Association. New this year will be a Native American Storytelling Family Program by Seaconke Pokanoket Wampanoag artist and performer Deborah Spears Moorehead. Storytelling will be held on both days at 1 p.m. in the Blue and White Society Room of the 10 Memorial St. building. Moorehead’s appearance honors her original painting “50 Mishoonash on the Connecticut River.” The painting — a new addition to Memorial Hall’s Native American Gallery — depicts an important event in 1638 when the Pocumtuck sent 50 canoes

called mishoonash loaded with corn down the Connective River to relieve famine in the English settlements. PVMA’s mission from its founding in 1870 has included honoring the Pocumtuck.

Tours of Memorial Hall Museum and its three floors of historical exhibits are free with festival admission. Visitors can see “Facing the Fight — a Local Look at American Military History,” walk through the Arts & Crafts Gallery as Deerfield celebrates its arts and crafts history, as well as view Moorehead’s historic painting. The Old Deerfield Craft Fairs are organized by the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, which operates Memorial Hall Museum, Indian House Children’s Museum, PVMA Library, and the Deerfield Teachers’ Center. The proceeds from all three yearly craft fairs support the many historical and educational programs of the non-profit association.

Free shuttle buses and parking is provided at marked lots along Routes 5 and 10. For more information or to view the crafter list, visit Deerfield-craft.org.

Entertainment in the Social Tent on Friday includes the music of the Capabilities from Berkshire Hills Music Academy, Good Trouble Band and Baby Driver followed on Saturday by Looney Tunes, Hard Knox, Good Acoustics, and Side Tracked, and ending on Sunday with The Hicks: Musically Married, Rosie Porter and the Neon Moons and Jimmy Mazz.

The fun is never ending for kids at the Belchertown Fair.

Opening day is Kids Night Out when, from 6:30 to 8:30

“Our Baby Contest is by far the most popular ... the tent is full,” Nute said. For babies under 1, the contest includes categories such as nicest eyes, best name, chubbiest cheeks and more.

Other happenings include a visit from the MA State 911 Safety Trailer, musical bingo, Belchertown Police K-9 Unit Demo, Shoshin Ryu Jujitso Martial Arts Demo, and giant pumpkin display. For more information and a schedule of events, visit btownfair.com.

We Grow The Best

We have a nice selection of native produce, honey, and maple products. We also have CT made pies and breads as well as our own in store made apple cider donuts. We carry many other food items such as jams, sauces, bread mixes, pickled vegetables and much more. We also have some unique items made by local crafters.

Current Store Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9-6 pm and Sat. & Sun. 9-5:30 pm

We regret, due to heavy crop losses we will not have any pick your own this season. Stand address’ are:

185 West Road (RT 83) in Ellington

244 Hartford Turnpike (RT30) in Tolland (on the Vernon town line) (860)875-1000 www.johnnyappleseedfarmct.com

NORTHAMPTON

Cinderella arrives on the Academy of Music stage tomorrow at 7 p.m. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

More brewpubs should carry nonalcoholic beers

ARECENT POST AND resulting thread that I saw on Facebook discussed the supposed lack of good nonalcoholic beers at brewpubs.

I jumped in and noted a few local bars that had NA brews, and the original poster thanked but noted that she was referring to actual brewpubs, not just beer bars. This got me thinking, and I had to admit that I hadn’t really encountered any NA beers at places that brewed their own products. Then again, I don’t really drink NA brews, but I never even saw any evidence that anyone in this brewpub category carried craft NA beers.

I felt it was my duty to explore this question a bit and so I called around to a few places with mixed (but not totally disappointing) results. Now, I want to make it clear that when I say “brewpubs,” I’m mostly talking about places that are open more than one of two days a week, have seating and a full pour license and offer food (or often have a regular food truck outside). However, I did call some smaller places just to get a better sense of the overall picture.

I started with my local brewpub, the Northampton Brewery. Having been going there for more than three decades, I was aware that the venue used to carry Buckler’s, but that beer would hardly be considered a “craft” beer by anyone. However, I was happy to be informed that the place recently added Athletic beers to their lineup. (I wrote about Athletic’s excellent brews back in February.)

That was a good start, but the results were mixed, as I said above, afterward. I won’t mention all the results here but will highlight a few places that do carry NA craft options,

5 Spanish red wines in honor of American cyclist Sepp Kuss

EVERYONE LOVES an underdog, the guy who’s not supposed to win, but somehow manages to magically do so.

or something that might work for people avoiding alcohol. By the way, NA beers aren’t just for people who can’t drink due to alcoholism. There are plenty of reasons people don’t drink alcohol, and even for those of us who do, there are occasions where we might want an NA option. (For example, a person might have had a few beers and wants to extend their evening, but doesn’t want to get drunk. So a switch to NA beer makes that possible.)

Just up the road at Progression Brewing in Northampton, I was told that they don’t have any nonalcoholic beers, but they do brew their own beer-flavored kombucha which I was assured is popular for those who don’t want alcohol.

A lot of smaller places don’t offer any nonalcoholic options, but again, that’s to be understood. They’re open for limited hours and mostly just carry a few of their own beers. I can’t fault them for that.

The People’s Pint in Greenfield also carries Athletic brews, and so does Abandoned Building in Easthampton. Jeffrey Goulet, co-founder of Springfield’s partially open Loophole Brewing said the brewery definitely will carry nonalcoholic beers when they fully open for good.

I hope more brewpubs follow these leads.

The men’s U.S. hockey team upsetting the Soviet Union at the Winter Olympics in 1980.

Villanova beating Georgetown in the men’s college basketball final in 1985.

The Red Sox defeating the Yankees in 2004 after being down three games to none in the playoffs en route to their first World Series title in 86 years.

Add to that illustrious list American cyclist Sepp Kuss.

TUESDAY

Chicopee Elks #1849

431 Granby Road, Chicopee 413-592-1849

Bingo Tuesday

Doors Open at 4PM

2 Progressive Jackpots

6:15PM Early Bird

6:20PM Start

Min. Entry Package $15 Open Seating

2 Halls for Players Handicap Restroom

1st Floor

This past weekend, the 29-year-old Durango, Colorado native won the Vuelta a España. He’s only the second American to ever win the Vuelta since it was first held in 1935.

The Vuelta is one of the three “grand tours” of cycling held each year. A grand tour

is a grueling, 21-day race that literally requires the best professional cyclists to ride across a country for thousands of miles over three weeks. The winner has the lowest overall time for all 21 days.

The best-known grand tour

SEE WINE, PAGE E11

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

WEDNESDAY CALL

3 - $200 Special Games

All Games will be $100 with 90 People or More

All Cards are included with Admission

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

Ken Ross Wine Press

George Lenker Beer Nut

The five Spanish red wines recommended this week. (PHOTO BY KEN ROSS)

Restaurants embrace artificial intelligence

SINCE THE RELEASE of ChatGPT last November, businesses and popular media both have been full of speculation about how generative artificial intelligence (for which ChatGPT is now the poster child) are likely to remake the world.

The restaurant industry is already embracing artificial intelligence (AI), with many major chains and food service suppliers actively engaged in finding ways by which AI can cut costs, enhance worker productivity and improve the guest experience.

A recent article in Restaurant Business, a media outlet that reports on the food service industry, described a few of the AI efforts that restaurant brands are already implementing.

Chipotle Mexican Grill, working with a third-party vendor, is testing inventory management AI that helps store managers’ order supplies and prepare ingredients. The system even uses sensors in food pans on Chipotle’s “make line” to track food usage.

Similarly, Starbucks has been engaged in an AI effort it calls “Deep Brew” that provides store leaders with support when ordering product and scheduling employees. The software also tracks and predicts maintenance needs for key pieces of store equipment.

In its newest locations, Domino’s is using AI with predictive capabilities to help store staff start the pizza-making process before a customer’s order is even finalized.

Nearly all the major chains

are using AI tools to manage the customer data they collect, and using AI to make recommendations when that customer orders on a digital platform.

One nearly-universal characteristic of all these AI advances is that they are focused on managerial tasks, the part of restaurant operations that’s likely to be most heavily impacted by the new technology.

Though some efforts to automate food preparation itself have been successful, as with “Flippy” the burger-cooking robot, most of the hands-on work in restaurant kitchens remain resistant to such solutions.

Thus the AI-dominated restaurant world of the nearterm future is likely to be a place where humans still do the cooking and serving while AI makes many of the managerial decisions.

Side Dishes

• It’s Oktoberfest season, and the Student Prince Cafe and Fort Restaurant in downtown Springfield is ready to celebrate.

Their “Mighty Oktoberfest” is scheduled for Oct. 6 and 7,

with festivities beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a performance by the Berkshire Mountain Wanderers. Multiple musical acts will entertain on Saturday evening, when the fun begins at 5 p.m.

The party outside on Fort Street will feature German beers, brats, burgers, and more, and the Student Prince will be serving its full menu in the restaurant’s dining room.

Tickets for The Mighty Ocktoberfest can be purchased at studentprince.com. The restaurant answers at 413734-7475.

• Cold Stone Creamery locations have created two flavors for fall.

Frosted Pumpkin Bread is a pumpkin bread batter ice cream with caramel, graham cracker pie crumbs, cream cheese frosting, and pumpkin pie spice mixed in.

A second seasonal offering, Stuck on Caramel Apples, has been created from caramel apple ice cream with caramel pecans and apple pie filling blended in.

Both flavors will be available for an unspecified limited time.

There is a Cold Stone

lager and serving beer brats from Greenfield’s Bostrom Farm. Bavarian-style pretzels and beer cheese dip will also be available to enjoy along with other house beers and an autumn-inspired hard seltzer. Four Phantoms Brewing Company is located at 301 Wells Street in Greenfield. More information about Four Phantoms can be found online at fourphantoms.net.

• The Denny’s chain of family dining restaurants is featuring Pumpkin Pecan Pancakes though Oct. 24.

The buttermilk pancakes are flavored with pumpkin pie filling and studded with glazed pecans, then served with a pecan pie sauce. The pancakes can be ordered a la carte or as part of a breakfast that includes eggs, bacon, and hash browns.

Creamery in Springfield at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Cold Stone also has scoop shops in Leominster and Millbury.

• On Saturday, Sept. 23, the Four Phantoms Brewing Company in Greenfield will be holding its Oktoberfest and Stein Holding Competition. The festivities will start at 2 p.m., with the Stein Holding Competition scheduled for 5 p.m.

Four Phantoms will be pouring its own Oktoberfest

There are Denny’s locations on Boston Road in Springfield and on Northampton Street in Holyoke.

• Villa Napoletana in East Longmeadow is currently holding its yearly Lobsterfest. The event, which runs through Sept. 28, is an annual celebration of New England’s most famous of deep-sea denizens. During the “fest,” Villa Napoletana offers a traditional lobster dinner that includes sides of baked potato, corn on the cob, and a vegetable medley. The kitchen is also preparing other special

Liberator: Love Closer

Position Options for All Bodies

John Perry, assistant manager at The Student Prince & The Fort restaurant, fills glasses at a past Oktoberfest on Fort Street in Springfield. This year’s “Mighty Oktoberfest” celebration is scheduled for Oct. 6 and 7. (HOANG ‘LEON’ NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)

Hugh Robert Off The Menu

Events

THURSDAY

Big E 2023: Thu.-Sun., Eastern States Exposition, featuring Midway, live entertainment, food, vendors and more. For more information, visit thebige.com, $20 adults, $12 children (6-12), free for ages 5 and under, $70 17-day pass, $35 children 17-day pass (6-12), $11 after 5 p.m. Sun.-Thu. Seniors: $16 (60+) Sun.-Thu. 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield, 413-737-2443 or thebige.com.

Faculty Concert - Quattro Mani Piano Duo: Thu., 7:30 p.m., Bezanson Recital Hall, featuring Steven Beck, Susan Grace, piano. Free. North Pleasant Street, Amherst, 413-5452511 or umass.edu.

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

Werk Related: Chicago Footwork Conference: Thu.-Sun., UMass Amherst. For a complete list of classes and locations, visit the online calendar at umass.edu. Free and open to the public. 131 Commonwealth Ave., Amherst.

FRIDAY

3rd Annual Lava Film Festival: LAVA Center festival is a showcase of exclusive Massachusetts filmmaking talent, from students to professionals and everyone in-between. Reception on Friday, 5-7 p.m. For more information, visit thelavacenter.org. Sliding-scale tickets will be available at the door. 324 Main St., Greenfield.

Amherst Historical Society and Museum presents History Bite Lecture: Fri., noon-1 p.m., Jones Library, “Investigating Tan Brook.” The Tan Brook has been diverted, channeled and built over, but it still runs underneath Amherst. Join Dr. Christine Hatch as she rediscovers this historic stream. Takes place in the Woodbury Room, 43 Amity St., Amherst, 413-256-3090 or joneslibrary.org

Big E 2023: See Thursday listing Co-Creating Kin 2.0: A community-curated movement and multi-arts workshop; QT/BIPOC Affinity Event by Ebbie and Julissa Fri., 6 p.m., Blue Room at CitySpace. N-95 masks required to attend; masks will be available at the door if needed. This is an intentional space for participants who identify as Black, indigenous and people of color. For questions about the event, email blkglittermagic@gmail.com. This is a pay-it-forward project. 43

Main St., Easthampton.

Ebbie & Julissa present We:generate — A Multigenerational MultiArts Workshop: Fri., 4 p.m. Blue Room at CitySpace, We:generate

— A Multigenerational Multi-Arts Workshop is an invitation to participants across generations to gather for creative expression through movement and visual arts from 4 to 5:15 p.m. N-95 masks required to attend; masks available at the door if needed. Fifteen registrants maximum. For questions about the event, email blkglittermagic@gmail. com. Tickets are sliding scale from $8-$50. No one turned away for lack of funds. Contact CitySpace for further free or reduced priced tickets including MCC’s Card to Culture access. This is a CitySpace pay-it-forward project. 43 Main St., Easthampton.

Gorskaya-Hartwick Production presents “Cinderella”: Fri., 7 p.m., Academy of Music Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For tickets, visit aomtheatre.com/event/ world-ballet-series-cinderella/, $45-$89. 274 Main St., Northampton, 413-584-9032 or aomtheatre. com.

Longmeadow Stand Outs: Fri., 4-6 p.m., corner of Longmeadow Street and Forest Glen Road. A new sign about Stand Up Against Violence was added to the Stand Out display of diverse signs, next to the sign End Violence Now. The Stand Outs started in 2020, after the murder of George Floyd. The initial signs were Black Lives Matter and Unity Against Racism. Signs for Stop Asian Hate and United Against Antisemitism were later added. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, signs Ukraine In Our Hearts and Support Ukraine, along with the Ukrainian flag, were displayed, Longmeadow Street and Forest Glen Road, Longmeadow.

MGM Casino: See Thursday listing Werk Related: Chicago Footwork Conference: See Thursday listing

SATURDAY

3rd Annual Lava Film Festival: See Friday listing

Amherst Historical Society presents In the Garden Concert: Sat., 2-3:30 p.m. Amherst History Museum, The Montegue Quartet. Free. 67 Amity St., Amherst.

Big E 2023: See Thursday listing Bing Productions presents Springfield Chamber Players’ Horn Trio: Sat., 7:30 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, in Asbury Hall. Advance tickets available through Eventbrite or at the door, cash only. $20. 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield, 413-737-5311.

The Center’s Music & Car Show,

featuring Rave On!: Sat., 1-4 p.m., Cultural Center at Eagle Hill. In case of inclement weather, this outdoor concert will move indoors with general admission seating, $20, kids under 12 free. 242 Old Petersham Road, Hardwick, 413-477-6746 or thecenterateaglehill.org.

Church Fall Festival: Sat., 9 a.m.-3 p.m., St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, featuring gift basket raffles, 50/50 raffle, vendors, plants, bake sale, a cafe, and outdoor activities for families. Ample parking is located behind the church and all are welcome, 485 Appleton St., Holyoke.

Deerfield Fall Arts & Craft Fair: Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Memorial Hall Museum, $7 adults, children 12 and under free. 8 Memorial St., Deerfield, 413-7743768, ext. 10, or deerfield-ma.org. Ebbie & Julissa present KINetic / Temporal, a 3-dimensional performance diptych: Sat., 7:30 p.m., Blue Room at CitySpace. Is time travel a healing mechanism for grief? For queer multidisciplinary artists Ebbie and Julissa, this question is ever-present. In this presentation followed by a talkback, Ebbie and Julissa expand the definition of diptych (traditionally a visual arts term) to encompass their different but intersecting stories as queer BIPOC, gender-expansive beings shifting timelines and shaking off generational curses. N-95 masks required to attend; masks available. Sliding scale from $10-$50. 43 Main St., Easthampton.

Improv Comedy Show - The Happier Valley Championship Show: Sat., 7 p.m., Happier Valley Comedy Theatre. In this competitive comedy show, two teams of improvisers face off through scenes and games to see who can win the ultimate prize. Fourth Saturday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Happier Valley Comedy Theater. For more information, visit happiervalley.com/championship. html, $13 online and at the door. 1 Mill Valley Road Suite B, Hadley.

MGM Casino: See Thursday listing Music Bridge: Early Childhood Music Class: Sat., 10:30-11:20 a.m. Artspace Community Arts Center, eight Saturdays from 10:30 to 11:20 a.m., taught by Liz Tonne. Class dates are Sept. 23, 30; Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28; Nov. 4. For ages 5-7. This group class builds a strong foundation of basic musical skills through games and familiar songs. To explore additional financial support options, contact music@pvso.org or call 413-773-3664, $80-$160. 15 Mill St., Greenfield, 413-772-6811.

QT/BIPOC Dance Party + Celebration QT/BIPOC Affinity Event by Ebbie + Julissa: Sat., 9 p.m., Blue Room at CitySpace. Open to those who identify as Black, indigenous

and people of color. N-95 masks required to attend; masks available at the door if needed. Mask breaks welcome at outdoor covered entrance. For questions, email blkglittermagic@gmail.com. This is a pay-it-forward project. 43 Main St., Easthampton.

Werk Related: Chicago Footwork Conference: See Thursday listing Western Mass Pagan Pride Day: Sat., 10 a.m., Kirkland Plaza. People of all faiths (or none) are invited to join in. There is no admission fee to the event, but donations are requested for the Northampton Survival Center. You can come expecting to find information about paganism in its many forms, an open harvest ritual, live music, workshops, and many vendors for a fun, family-friendly community-driven event. For more information, visit facebook.com/wmppd or instagram.com/ western.ma.pagan.pride.day, Free, donations to Northampton Survival Center requested. Kirkland Avenue, Northampton.

SUNDAY

Big E 2023: See Thursday listing Deerfield Fall Arts & Craft Fair: See Saturday listing

A Double Dose of Sunday Jazz: Sun., 7 p.m., Marigold Theater, featuring The Argiro Quintet and Juke Joint Jazz. Doors open 6:30 p.m. For tickets, visit marigoldtheater. com, $15 advance. 84 Cottage St., Easthampton.

MGM Casino: See Thursday listing Northeast Unity Car Show: Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Unity Park & Skatepark, 200 vintage and custom VAG (Volkswagen/Audi) cars will be parked for viewing by the public on First Street, the lots around Town Hall and at Unity Park. Prizes will be awarded to Best in Show, Best Air Cooled, Best Euro, Best Lady’s Car and more. Holyoke Hummus Company, El Sotano Tacos, and Victoria Coffee Co. will be on site starting at 11 a.m. This event is free and open to the public, rain or shine. Vintage and custom motorcycles will be on display at Nova Motorcycles, 147 Second St. Nice Snack Parlor will be serving up their signature shaved ice and other tasty treats, 56 1st Street, Turners Falls.

Werk Related: Chicago Footwork Conference: See Thursday listing

Quadrangle

Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden: Outdoor sculpture garden of largerthan-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.

Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: “The Grinch: A Car with a History,” through Nov. 1. 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. Museum a la Carte: Today, 12:15 p.m., “Living and Breathing Stories.” $4, free for members. In this lecture and guided experience, explore how theatrical practices can help us to see, hear and feel the art in the Museum’s garden in unexpected and exciting ways. This lecture will take place outside on the Quadrangle Green and is in-person only.

Springfield Science Museum: Permanent exhibit: State-of-theart Zeiss Projector and updated International Space Station exhibit. Down the hall from the Planetarium, the newly upgraded, interactive International Space Station exhibit will provide visitors with a better understanding of what it takes and it’s like to fly among the stars, and living and working in outer space for months on end.

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. First 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. Second floor contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia. 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. Hours: Mon., 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Thu.-Sun., 10a.m.-3 p.m.

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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. 67 Amity St., Amherst.

Children’s Museum at Holyoke: Permanent exhibit includes the Wiggle and Wash/Vet Clinic, a toddler merry-go-round and a 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 Mondays. In the event of severe weather conditions, check Facebook or Instagram, or local TV Station 22 for closures. Admission: Children & adults $8; seniors (62+) $5; children under 1 and members are free. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke, childrensmuseumholyoke.org.

East Longmeadow Historical Commission Museum: Permanent exhibit: Featured at the museum are East Longmeadow artifacts pertaining to the quarries, local Native Americans, period clothing, the railroad system, and more. Open 1-3 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month, Sept.-June, weather permitting. Special tours are available upon request by contacting Bruce Moore at 413 525 3072. Find them on Facebook by searching “East Longmeadow Historical Commission.” 87 Maple St., East Longmeadow.

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: “The Art & Storytelling of Claire A. Nivola,” through Nov. 5. 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 carlemuseum.org.

Historic Deerfield: Exhibits: “Garden of Hearts: Madeline Yale Wynne & Deerfield’s Arts and Crafts Movement,” through March 3. “Celebrating the Fiber Arts: The Helen Geier Flynt Textile Gallery,” through Nov. 27. 80 Old Main St., Deerfield or historic-deerfield.org.

Historic Northampton Museum and Education: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Wed.-Sun., noon-5 p.m. $5 suggested donation. 46 Bridge St., Northampton or historic-northampton.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. For information on programs and tours, visit mass.gov/locations/ holyoke-heritage-state-park. Free. 221 Appleton St., Holyoke, 413-5341723.

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. Exhibits include “High Above Center Court,” “Hall of Honor,” “1891 Gallery,” “Players Gallery,” “James Goldstein Superfan gallery,” and “Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams.”; 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: “Noman Rockwell: The Business of Illustrating the American Dream,” through Sept. 30. “Tony Sarg: Genius at Play,” through Nov. 5.

“Art Tours: Rockwell Studio Tours,” through Nov. 12. Twenty-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. Closed Tues. and Wed. Advance tickets purchase required. $20 adults; $18 seniors, AAA, retired military; $10 college students; free children 18 and under, members and active military. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or nrm.org.

Old Sturbridge Village: “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. Permanent exhibit: Visit Kidstory, an indoor learning gallery in the Visitor’s Center where kids 3-10 can try on period costumes and imagine life in the 1830s; “Neat and Tasty: Getting

Dressed in Early New England,” apparel in portraiture. 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 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”; “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 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 Thu. and Fri. $5 adults, $1 children, 130 River Drive, Hadley or 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: 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. Summer hours: Open Thu.-Mon., 10 a.m.-4 p.m., through Oct. 10. $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 susanbanthonybirthplace.com.

FOR MORE EVENTS

For more information on events go to MassLive.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-purchase timed tickets are required. Visit EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org/Visit to purchase your tickets and for more information. 280 Main St., Amherst.

Menu

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lobster dishes and supplementing its Lobsterfest lineup with additional seafood classics.

For more details or to book a reservation, contact Villa Napoletana at 413-7329300.

• Sonic Drive In locations have brought back, as a limited-time-only treat, their Pickle Fries. Battered and deep-fried, the pickle spears are served with a side of ranch dressing.

There are Sonic Drive Ins at 1057 Boston Road across from Five Mile Pond in Springfield, and on Buckland Street in Manchester, Conn.

• Shortstop Bar & Grill in Westfield is currently promoting five special fall-season bar drinks. They include a Pumpkin Martini made with Mozart Pumpkin Liqueur, a Caramel Appletini flavored with Smirnoff Kissed Caramel Vodka, and a Spiked Apple Cider served with a cinnamon sugar rim.

An Iced Pumpkin Spiked Latte and an Autumn Apple Sangria made with Pinot Grigio, apple vodka, and cider are also part of the restaurant’s seasonal beverage repertoire.

The Shortstop Bar & Grill answers at 413-642-6370.

• Earlier this month, the news leaked out via social media that Panera Bread was testing a new streamlined menu in a “small number” of its bakery cafes. The menu downsizing reportedly affected 30 items, including Bistro French Onion Soup, all cold brew drinks, all grain bowls, and three bakery items.

Panera subsequently confirmed the test, which according to the company, is designed to provide guests with a faster and more convenient experience while also simplifying operations for the chain’s associates.

Others have suggested that a possible motivation for the slimdown is Panera’s preparations to go public. Held privately by JAB Holdings, Panera may be looking

to improve the company’s bottom line and increase its value for an upcoming initial public offering that will allow the current owners to “cash out.”

No further word has been forthcoming as to the outcome of the menu downsizing test.

• Figaro Italian Restaurant in Enfield will be presenting a Robert Black Tribute Show on Sunday, Oct. 8.

Black is a Providence-based tribute artist who specializes in Elvis and Johnny Cash impressions. His appearance at Figaro Restaurant will include a variety set as well as what’s billed as a “king-sized” Elvis show.

The 7 p.m. show will be preceded at 5:30 p.m. by a buffet dinner of Italian American favorites. Show tickets are $25 with an additional food and beverage minimum purchase also required.

Reservations may be made by calling 860-745-2414.

• Chipotle Mexican Grill has brought back one of its most popular protein options, Carne Asada. Grilled steak marinated with a special spice blend, Chipotle’s Carne Asada is prepared using responsibly raised beef that’s in very limited supply, so the product can only be offered on a periodic basis. During its current availability, Carne Asada can be enjoyed in the form of two quesadilla options, the Carne Asada Quesadilla and the Fajita Quesadilla. To promote the use of its digital platform, Chipotle is only making the two quesadillas available on the Chipotle app, web site, or through third party delivery services.

Carne Asada will be at Chipotle locations as long as current supplies of the product last.

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

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is the Tour De France, which was held for the 110th time this past July. In May, Italy hosted its 106th Giro D’Italia.

Kuss competed in all three Grand Tours this year. That means he rode a total of 6,217 miles in those three races. Racers must race every single mile of each race. No time outs. No substitutes. If you can’t finish one day (or stage as each day is called) of the race, you’re out.

To put such numbers in perspective, Kuss rode his bike this summer the equivalent of driving from New York City to Los Angeles … twice, then rode from NYC to Detroit, with an extra 25 miles thrown in just for fun.

Oh and did I mention that a good portion of all three races involves riding up and over some of the tallest mountains in Europe?

And along the way, Kuss crashed a few times, including one fall during the Tour de France this past summer, which left his face bloody but didn’t knock him out.

But what makes Kuss’ victory in Spain such a huge deal is no one expected him to win, including his own team. That’s because Kuss’ role on his team is known as a “domestique.”

A domestique’s role is to help the team leader win the race. That means Kuss is often blocking the wind by riding just a few feet ahead. Or heading back on his bike during the race to the team car to get food or water for his teammates.

Kuss played his role to perfection in the Giro and the Tour this summer. In particular, Kuss is one of cycling’s best climbers. That means he excels at biking up steep mountain roads. That skill allowed him to help teammate Primoz Roglic win in Italy. Then Kuss helped Jonas Vingegaard win in France.

Roglic and Vingegaard raced with Kuss in Spain the last three weeks. Most people thought Roglic or Vingegaard would win the Vuelta.

Then Kuss won Stage 6,

stone soil, this easy-drinking wine has a dense, mineral-like finish with hints of roasted cherries, blackberries and almonds.

• 2020 Rosario Vera Tempranillo ($17.99 Suggested Retail Price)

Made with tempranillo grapes from Spain’s famous Rioja region, this red wine’s the perfect Grand Tour wine since it tastes a bit like an Italian Chianti and a French Bordeaux. Flavors here cover a wide range, from roasted plums and black licorice to cherry, blackberry and cedar.

• 2018 Conde Valdemar Crianza Rioja ($19.99 SRP)

Cinderella

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by composer Sergei Prokofiev, the ballet tells of young Cinderella who is a victim of cruel circumstance but whose unwavering kindness is rewarded with her dreams of a better life coming true.

World Ballet Series’ classically styled production of Cinderella features original choreography by Estonia’s Marina Kesler.

IF YOU GO

Event: Cinderella ballet

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Academy of Music, Northampton

Tickets: $52.36-$99.96

For more information: Online at aomtheatre. com/event/world-ballet-series-cinderella or worldballetseries.com.

high-fiving fans near the finish line and taking an impressive 16-second-long drink from the winner’s bottle of sparkling Spanish wine.

Then Kuss took the overall lead in Stage 8.

After that, Kuss never gave up the lead throughout the 21-stage race.

Although Kuss came close to losing his lead in Stage 17 — thanks to two of his teammates. Near the end of that stage’s mountaintop finish, Roglic and Vingegaard took off and left Kuss all alone. That move violated an unwritten rule in cycling – teammates don’t attack each other, especially when one of your teammates is leading the race.

Amazingly, Kuss kept the overall lead after Stage 17. Then, Roglic and Vingegaard came to their senses and did what Kuss has been doing for years for them — work together to help Kuss win.

So this week’s wine column’s for you, Sepp — five great Spanish red wines worthy of a true champion.

You earned your historic win in Spain.

And thank you for giving cycling fans around the world a thrilling victory for the ages.

Hope you enjoy.

Tasting notes

• 2020 Juan Gil Jumilla ($14.99 at Table & Vine in West Springfield)

Like Kuss, this reliable red wine from Spain’s Jumilla region consistently delivers year after year. Made with monastrell grapes grown in lime-

Made with a winning combination of three grapes (89% tempranillo, 7% mazuelo, 4% graciano) from Spain’s Rioja region, this lighter red wine has a soft, smooth, long finish with hints of blueberry, cherry and blackcurrant. See what teamwork can accomplish?

• 2016 Herederos Del Marques De Riscal Reserva Rioja ($40 SRP)

Another great red wine from Spain’s Rioja region, this wine’s made with a blend of 96% tempranillo and 4% graciano grapes. This lively wine has an intense finish with flavors ranging from black licorice and ripe plums along with hints of black pepper, cherry and black currant.

• 2020 Vara Tinto Especial ($45 SRP)

This red wine’s like many cycling teams in each Grand Tour — some of the best riders from around the world competing together to produce the best result. In this particular case, this wine is made with seven different grapes from two countries — 29% carinena, 28% mencia, 8% garnacha, 5% syrah and 5% merlot from Spain and 15% cabernet sauvignon and 10% tempranillo from Central California — bottled in New Mexico. The result? A full-bodied wine with hints of blackberries, walnuts and dark chocolate fit for a champion. Cheers!

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

“The choreographic language is classical using the most complex elements of Vaganova ballet technique. The idea was to evoke a cinematic feeling in the viewer where every gesture and scene is made clear,” Kesler said.

The production features dancing by a multinational cast of 40 top-flight professional dancers from 10 countries including Italy, France, Poland, Japan, Belarus and the United Kingdom. It also features hand-painted scenery and more than 150 costumes that were handmade in Ukraine during the war there.

Procuring them is “not the easiest part of our job,” Hartwick said. “But we are in very close contact with a production house that makes them.”

Modern productions often use printed scenery, but Cinderella features the work of painters. “We still use painters because of the soul the artists put into the scenery, and the fact that it is made by hand makes it more special,” she said, explaining that the scenery is brought from theater to theater.

The artisans in Ukraine continue to work hard, but sometimes production is delayed because they have no electricity or are under attack. “That’s the terrible reality we live in,” Hartwick said. “But we are happy to support our partners by giving them the ability to do what they love. It’s very important to them … to stay sane among the craziness” of war. Their work, the co-producer said in a telephone interview from Los Angeles, “is

an example of how human beings can create beauty even when surrounded by terrible things.”

Hartwick said many members of an audience see ballet for the first time when they attend a performance of Cinderella, “and we realize the responsibility on us” to leave them wanting more.

“Ballet is a beautiful language, a universal language” and the dance tells a story, but she wants to be sure viewers are able to follow the story. “Ballet techniques and choreographic language are used to tell the story. The costumes, scenery — everything — is combined so the ballet is accessible.”

She hopes the production will be as magical as audience members imagine, and she said the amazing and skilled cast, the artistry of the dance, the gorgeous choreography, the set and costumes will ensure that. Cinderella, she said, “will ‘wow’ the audience.”

Plus, there is a “twist at the end” they should enjoy.

Cinderella is for all ages. “I promise (audience members) will exit the theater with a happy smile on (their) faces,” she added.

The performance in Northampton is part of a 130-city tour. It will take place on Friday at 7 p.m.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $45-$89 ($52.36-$99.96 after fees).

Purchase tickets online at aomtheatre.com/event/ world-ballet-seriescinderella or by calling the box office at 413-584-9032, ext. 105.

For more information go to aomtheatre.com/event/ world-ballet-seriescinderella or worldballetseries.com.

Sepp Kuss of Jumbo-Visma celebrates after winning the Vuelta cycling race in Madrid, Spain, on Sept. 17. (MANU FERNANDEZ / ASSOCIATED PRESS)

fast tempos, but the speed is the most surface element of what makes it effective. The instrumental prowess required for taking solo breaks is another aspect that is just plain fun to watch. I think most of all, it’s the work that goes into the musical arrangements and the vocal harmonies that makes it really stand out from other genres.”

“Most of that work goes right over the heads of an average listener, but I believe everyone who hears it recognizes on a subconscious level that there is a whole lot more going on than they may realize. In mid-tempo songs and slower songs, these things become more apparent, and there’s something deeply evocative about hearing multiple voices singing in harmony. I think that gets to be showcased more in bluegrass than maybe some other genres, where voices have to compete with drums or electric instruments. Wow, I’m really sounding like an old man now … hah!”

Q. Do you have any musical inspirations you draw upon?

“I have very eclectic and vast tastes in music. I love Indian ragas, early jazz, and the Harpischord works of J. S. Bach, and I’ve already mentioned my love of rock

Nightclubs

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Theodores’: Justin Monah Trio. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

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

SUNDAY

Delaney House: Westside Walk Trio. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke

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

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

and metal. When it comes to bluegrass, I have a pantheon of artists I look to for inspiration: The Stanley Brothers, Larry Sparks, Hot Rize, the Del McCoury Band, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, Dan Tyminski, J.D. Crowe and the New South, Don Rigsby, The Gibson Brothers … the list goes on and on. Bill Monroe, of course.”

“I particularly want to mention Vassar Clements. Vassar was and always will be my favorite fiddle player. He worked across so many genres and with such a diverse mix of artists, and always maintained his own unique and beautiful style … I just love Vassar.”

Q. Anything else you’d like people to know ahead of the album release party?

“The Divine Theater is one of the best listening rooms we’ve played, so you’ll be getting a superior show straight out of the gate! We’ll be playing the whole album in its entirety, then play another set of older and newer material. Afterwards, we’re going to have a meet-and-greet at Judd’s Restaurant (which is connected to the theater). They have amazing Czech food, so plan for that! You’ll learn odd and interesting facts about reptiles from John (Benjamin). I’ll be wearing what I affectionately call my ‘pumpkin spice suit’… It’s gonna be a night to remember!”

MONDAY

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

WEDNESDAY

Delaney House: Buddy McEarns. 3 Country Club Road, 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, emailed to pmastriano@repub.com or submitted to masslive.com/myevent