Weekend - March 28, 2024

Western Mass. band to play Parlor Room in support of new album, Page D2

FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS: 11th annual event returns to Springfield Museums, D4

LIVE WIRE: Lexi Weege talks music, experience on ‘American Idol,’ D5

WINE PRESS: 6 red wines perfect for Easter or any special occasion, D8

‘i know i know i know’

Western

Mass. band Cloudbelly is out with a new album

By G reta Jochem gjochem@repub.com

MONTAGUE — When two formative relationships ended in Corey Laitman’s life, they processed their loss and grief through creating music.

That comes through in the tracks of the new album from their band, Cloudbelly.

In “November,” Laitman sings: “Old November, haven’t seen you in a year/Old friend, you carve the space between my ears/Into a cavern, clamoring with birds/Their feathers — softest sound I ever heard/Say my love’s marked ‘return to sender’/

Teach me mercy, cold November.”

It’s one song from the Montague-based band’s second album “i know i know i know,” released in late February.

Alongside Laitman — lead songwriter, singer and rhythm guitarist — the band is composed of Sam Perry, lead guitarist, backing vocals and soundscape creator, Nate Mondschein, drummer and producer, and Ciarra Fragale, base player and harmony singer.

The new album’s songs are emotionally tender

Western Massachusetts-based band Cloudbelly. (PHOTO BY ROBERT D. KRYZKOWSKI AND COURTESY OF CLOUDBELLY)

Nightclubs

THURSDAY

BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity: Takuya Kuroda. 130 Pine St., Florence

The Drake: Couch with Sophia James. 44 N.Pleasant St., Amherst

Theodores’: Rockstar Karaoke. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

FRIDAY

Delaney House: Ask Me Now. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke

East Mountain Country Club: The Dukes of Hazardville Band. 1458 E. Mountain Road, Westfield

MGM Springfield: MGM Roar Comedy Club: Dave Williamson. 1 MGM Way, Springfield

The Drake: Battle of the Bands Hosted by WMUA 91.1. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Tony Vacca and Fusion Nomads. 289 Main St., Greenfield

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Simon White send off show with Rhythm Inc, Wheel Out and Burniet. 289 Main St., Greenfield

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

Theodores’: Frankie Boy and the Blues Express. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: Timbreweed. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield

SATURDAY

BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity: Saje-Spring 2024 Tour. 130 Pine St., Florence

Delaney House: Myke Rose. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke

MGM Springfield: MGM Roar Comedy Club: Dave Williamson. 1 MGM Way, Springfield

The Drake: Bella’s Bartok with Aubrey Haddard and Padded Waltz. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Minstrels in the Gallery: A Tribute to Classic Jethro Tull. 289 Main St., Greenfield

Theodores’: Darrell Nulisch. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: Terry Brennan. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield 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

Cloudbelly

CONTINUES FROM PAGE D2

and dreamy with layers of ethereal sounds, while at the same time the tracks are still full of energy. They’re songs that after some listens you’ll find yourself humming. In short, the record is beautiful and catchy. As the band puts it, the album includes pop songs and folk ballads and “each highlights Laitman’s unique ability to send listeners spiraling into reverie, only to grab them by the collar and set them back on solid ground.”

The indie folk and chamber pop sound was largely recorded in West Springfield at Ghost Hit Recording. Post production on the music was done in Vermont at Mondschein’s Echo Base Productions.

Western Massachusetts is baked into the recordings.

“There’s a lot of actual field recordings of Western Mass that kind of make appearances throughout the record,” Mondschein said. “There’s Western Mass. in the literal bones of the music.”

Perry took recordings in the Montague Plains, for example, and captured sounds of birds, crickets and frogs in the nature preserve.

“It’s just a really special magical place that has really vibrant energy,” Perry said. “Sonically it just is a really rich and magical feeling place.”

The region comes through from the influence of its vibrant music scene, too. “So many great friends have lifted us up over the years,” Perry said. “There’s a sense of community and the integrity and thriving of community being the priority for everyone,” said Laitman, who previously lived in New York City, where the feeling of the music scene was starkly different.

Laitman originally started Cloudbelly in 2020 with a former collaborator. When that collaboration ended, Laitman found themself at Mill River Music in Northampton looking for a harmonizer pedal.

“Everyone at the store was like, ‘You should really come back tomorrow, because our pedal guy, Sam will be in to -

morrow,’” Laitman said.

They took the advice and met Perry the next day

“My old band kind of dissolved during the pandemic, so I was looking to be in the new project,” Perry said. “Then we learned that we both live in Turners Falls on the same street, literally two houses from one another,” he said. “We have no excuse not to play together. So the next week, we had a little jam, and it really clicked right away.”

The two later added in Mondschein as a drummer and producer, and Fragale — a solo artist based in North Adams — recently joined the band after meeting Laitman at Arcadia Folk Festival in Easthampton.

Though the band’s membership has evolved since its inception in 2020, the band’s name has stuck.

Laitman’s former collaborator had a pet parakeet, and a 5-year-old child named the bird Teddy Thomas Cloudbelly after a cloud-shaped pattern on the bird’s belly.

“At first it was just an homage to the bird,” Laitman said of the name. “But since then, it’s kind of taken on a life of its own.”

This winter, Laitman was

a guest on a Steve Sanderson’s WRSI radio show. They were giving away free tickets to an upcoming show and asked listeners: What does Cloudbelly mean?

“Immediately the phone started ringing,” Laitman said. One man’s response stuck with them. “Cloudbelly is a feeling you get when your child is about to take a really significant risk,” Laitman recalled the person saying, “and you’re rooting for them on the sidelines, and you’re

feeling all the feelings that come from having a child who has grown enough to take risks of their own,” Laitman said. “I like that version of what Cloudbelly is more.”

The caller came to the band’s show at The Stone Church in Brattleboro, Vermont, in January, where Laitman was able to talk to him.

Cloudbelly is currently on a multicity tour and has upcoming shows in Northampton at The Parlor Room on April 6 and 7.

Cloudbelly is playing two shows at The Parlor Room in Northampton on April 6 and 7.

(ROBERT D. KRYZKOWSKI PHOTO)

SPRINGFIELD

Festival of Flowers fresh every year

By C ori U rban

Special to The Republican

Even though the Festival of Flowers at the Springfield Museums is in its 11th year, it remains fresh year after year thanks to the flowers being “such a colorful and creative medium with which to work,” said Larissa M. Murray, director of education. “Every year the show is entirely new — from the museum objects being interpreted to the composition of the arrangements and the materials used.”

This year the festival will take place April 4-7 throughout the Springfield Science Museum, the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, the GWV Smith Art Museum and the Wood Museum of Springfield History.

With input from museum staff members, locations and museum objects are selected by walking through the galleries and thinking about what

has been interpreted recently. The goal is to create a show that will be original and flow well through the galleries.

“When selecting the museum objects to be interpreted, we try to pick items and artwork that have not been featured in the show for several years, if at all,” Murray said. “Due to their interpretive nature, the floral arrangements highlight the artwork, allowing visitors to really look at the object, considering its composition and meaning in a way they may not have during prior visits.”

The vibrant colors and wonderful fragrance enliven each space. “It really does feel as if spring has arrived in the galleries,” she said. “Additionally, it’s always great to see so many people enjoying the museums, considering the artwork and appreciating the talent of our local community.”

The Festival of Flowers is back at the Springfield Museums April 4 to 7. (HOANG

Some visitors go to see the flowers more than once over the four-day show.

The interpretive floral arrangements are designed by local florists and garden club members.

More than 50 arrangements will be displayed within the four museums, and there will be an insect interpretation to celebrate the opening of the new outdoor exhibit “Habitat,” on loan from the Smithsonian.

“Every year the show is entirely new — from the museum objects being interpreted to the composition of the arrangements and the materials used.”

LARISSA M. MURRAY, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Flower girls Rachel Rojas, Lauren Hufnagel and Alexis Landry are all smiles at the 10th annual Festival of Flowers at the Springfield Museums on March 30, 2023. At right are flowers from a past show. (HOANG ‘LEON’ NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN)

‘LEON’ NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN)

Westfield’s chanteuse extraordinaire Lexi Weege

Singer talks about her work and experience on ‘American Idol’

IF LEXI WEEGE

wasn’t exactly born with a song in her heart, it certainly didn’t take long for one to be implanted there.

Weege grew up in Westfield, where her mother ran a cabaret troupe for most of her childhood. She started singing with the troupe at around age 8 and has never looked back. These days, Weege can be seen singing on numerous local stages as well as plenty of others across the country.

One place she performed in 2022 was on “American Idol,” where she made several cuts but ultimately (and oddly) was told she was “too unique.”

She discussed her singing, her writing and her general career in a recent interview. Weege will play Friday at The Nook in her hometown Westfield with the JJ Slater Band, April 10 at Marigold Theater (also with the JJ Slater Band) and an Allman Brothers Tribute with Slater and other friends on May 19 at the Westfield Woman’s Club.

On her childhood with the cabaret:

I was exposed to so much music. Jazz, blues, Elvis, Streisand, funk, show tunes. It was wild. I started young and never stopped. I started touring when I was 19, in lieu of pursuing a degree, which felt kind of silly when I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

I became addicted to the road; seeing new places, meeting new people and getting to sing my songs and stories to strangers. My experiences inspired me and the more I did, the more I grew.

On her “American Idol” experience:

“Idol” was weird to say the least. I got to hear some incredible singers and meet more folks like me. I’ve never felt like I was too old to pursue a career in music or that “Idol” was my “last chance,” but that was the narrative that was shaped for me during my time there. I knew right away that it wasn’t for me, but I ended up making it pretty far in the competition, met some friends I still play music with and flew alone for the first time.

Lionel Richie did tell me I was a “true artist,” which felt pretty unreal. They let me go for being “too unique” — whatever that

MOVIE REVIEW In ‘Immaculate,’ things get scary for Sydney Sweeney

By L InDSey BAHr Associated Press

“I knew right away that it wasn’t for me, but I ended up making it pretty far in the competition, met some friends I still play music with and flew alone for the first time.”

Lexi Weege, on ‘American Idol’ experience

means — but I made it to the top 60, which feels like one hell of an accomplishment. I’m pretty proud of that.

On her current musical pursuits:

I came home and JJ Slater and I started making music that I’m really proud of. We formed an seven-piece band and have been performing songs we each write in addition to some covering blues classics. We’ve started writing together and that has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my creative life. He, alongside Anni

It’s not your imagination: Sydney Sweeney is everywhere. In the past four months, she’s been in a romantic comedy that turned into a sleeper hit, a superhero movie that didn’t and, as of this weekend, a bloody horror. Results have varied, quality-wise, but for someone the culture seems to want to (unfairly) pigeonhole as a specific type, she is really blowing through movie genres in record time.

She also happened to produce the horror, “Immaculate,” in which she plays a young American nun, Cecilia, who’s decided to join an Italian convent. Her character found God after a near-death experience at a young age and, after her parish closes, she gets a lifeline to go abroad and help tend to older, dying nuns. The prettiness of the new surroundings is just a front, of course, and she starts to discover some sinister happenings within the ancient walls.

Sponsored by

Lexi Weege and JJ Slater. (DESERT RAY’S PHOTO STUDIO, MARFA)

George Lenker Live Wire

This image released by Neon shows Sydney Sweeney in a scene from the film “Immaculate.” (NEON VIA AP)

A tale of 2 restaurants

CONSIDER THE REcent tale of two restaurant chains.

The first storyline involves the sad final days for Boston Market, the rotisserie chicken brand. A high-flying concept in the early 1990s, Boston Market became financially overextended and was subsequently taken over by McDonald’s Corp, which converted a number of Boston Market locations to McDonald’s restaurants.

Eventually purchased by Sun Capital, a private equity firm, Boston Market finally ended up as part of the Rohan Group in 2020. Rohan soon stopped paying vendors and honoring other financial obligations while at the same time shutting down Boston Market’s headquarters operation.

By 2023 there were only about 300 Boston Market locations still open. With employee continuing to go unpaid and restaurant rents remaining past due, as of this month fewer than 20 stores nationwide continue to operate.

Rohan Group’s owner, Jay Pandya, has filed for personal bankruptcy.

The second tale is that of Panera Bread. That narrative is not one of dire finances but instead what may be prove to be a quiet hollowing out of a chain’s brand and reputation in order to boost its shortterm market value.

Privately held by a German conglomerate, JAB Holding Company, Panera recently announced plans to rework the chain’s menu.

Discussions posted on social media by Panera employees (and subsequently reported in the restaurant industry trade press) also suggest that the chain’s management may be backing away from its prior commitments to “clean” ingredients, such as pasture-raised beef and antibiotic-free meats and poultry.

Similar sources report that Panera has been experimenting with eliminating baked-inthe-store products in favor of

frozen breads and pastries. This all coincides with continuing media speculation press that Panera may be preparing for an IPO (initial public offering). Such an offering would allow the brand’s current owners to “cash out” of their Panera holdings.

Side Dishes

• On Wednesday, April 10, Dewey’s Jazz Lounge in Springfield will be holding a special event, “The Supper Club.”

Beginning at 6:30 p.m. the evening will include a fourcourse dinner with three wine pairings, a dessert cocktail, and a special take-home gift, The dinner agenda is to include a citrus salad followed by butternut squash bisque. Supper Club guests will have a choice of entree — apricot-glazed salmon or braised sirloin — and dessert is to be a poached pear with a sweet mascarpone filling.

Tickets for The Supper Club, which are $75 plus a convenience fee, can be ordered at Eventbrite.com.

Dewey’s Jazz Lounge can be contacted at 413-301-8337.

• Digital technology is playing an increasingly significant role in restaurant operations, managing everything from employee scheduling to guest reservations. But with such dependence on technology comes risks as well as operational enhancements, as hamburger giant McDonald’s Corp. discovered earlier this month.

On March 15, McDonald’s found itself experiencing a

major technology outage that impacted company operations in a number of countries including the U.K., Australia and Japan. Problems the outage caused led to store shutdowns as well as the disruption of the brand’s digital ordering channels.

McDonald’s reported that the technical glitch was caused by system main-

tenance being done by a third-party service provider. The event underscored, however, just how vulnerable a restaurant chain can become when it is dependent on digital systems to maintain day-in, day-out operations.

• On April 6, New England Barbecue Inc., a promoter

Rohan soon stopped paying vendors and honoring other financial obligations while at the same time shutting down Boston Market’s headquarters operation.

Boston Market, a successful restaurant in the ‘90s, has fewer than 20 stores still operating nationwide today. (STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE / PAMELA SILVESTRI)

Hugh Robert Off The Menu

Live Wire

CONTINUES FROM PAGE D5

Casella, produced my latest record, “lw” which is out and streaming everywhere.

Slater and I are currently mixing and mastering two singles which will be out this spring.

Slater and I have been touring for the last two years — maybe more at this point?

We’ve played festivals deep in the desert, cowboy bars in border towns, record shops, dives, theaters and anywhere that will have us.

On her voice and vocal style, which incorporates everything from rock to blues and jazz: I’ve been studying voice since the cabaret days. I started with Emily Harnish here in Westfield and eventually studied under Danny Madden in my adult years. He’s trained some of the greats and teaches the “prolonged speech” method of voice. One of my most influential teachers was Pat Kennedy down at Westfield High. He broke down jazz in a way that was unpretentious and kind. He taught me how to play

music with others. I love jazz to this day.

On her writing process: I do try to write every day; poems, songs, nonsense, etc.; it keeps the muscles sharp. I wrote a book of poems this year while I was on the road, and it was fun to try a different medium. I typed them up on a ’60s typewriter and bound them by hand. I’ve got a few left up on Bandcamp, I think.

I feel lucky that I make my living doing what I love. I never really knew anything else, and I don’t care to.

‘Immaculate’

CONTINUES FROM PAGE D5

“Immaculate” is a project that Sweeney originally auditioned for a decade ago, when she was 16. If anything, it is a great showcase for Sweeney’s range (she gets to go from somewhat meek to primal scream) and is full of interesting visuals, beautiful costumes and accomplished makeup work showing all manner of bloody, mangled faces and limbs. But it’s also a movie that does not seem as sure of itself or the point it’s trying to make.

It’s not hard to make a remote Italian convent creepy, or say something provocative and interesting about organized religion — quite a few horrors have succeeded here in the past. But “Immaculate” is not even confident

enough to let us experience this place exclusively through Cecilia. No, it opens with a nightmarish prologue to give us a tease of what’s in store for our innocent heroine, like it’s a straight-to-streaming film that doesn’t want you to click onto something else. Being a theatrical release, however, you have to imagine that ticket buyers are going to give the movie the benefit of the doubt and not flee 15 minutes into an 89-minute run. Or perhaps horror audiences want as much carnage and jump scares as possible — if that is the case, this should be satisfying enough. There are plenty of comically squeaky doors and close-ups of a terrified face wandering around corners in the dark by only candlelight. And the finale is fiery and violent and gruesome as well, with a very

The Festival of Flowers is included with museum admission.

silly and perhaps unearned explanation of everything that’s been happening. At least it’s wrapped up, I guess?

But it also doesn’t stand up to much interrogation. Take, for example, its use of subtitles. Cecilia doesn’t yet understand Italian so is beholden to bilingual nuns to translate — which they don’t do entirely accurately or faithfully. Later, when she’s being interrogated by the cardinal (Giorgio Colangeli), we the audience are not privy to any subtitles and have to rely on Father Sal (Álvaro Morte) to translate. Are we to take him at his word when everyone else has proven to be unreliable? Again, why not just trust us to be in Cecilia’s shoes throughout?

This script, written by Andrew Lobel and directed by Michael Mohan, does not seem to really care much about Cecelia and what makes her tick beyond that one story from her childhood. The main nuance she gets is through Sweeney’s performance, which shows us that she does have a spark and the personality to rebel. There were some lofty ideas behind “Immaculate” that seem underserved (about bodily autonomy and such) and she gets several memorable movie star moments, but I want more for Sweeney than whatever this adds up to. She has the chops (a reminder to watch Tina Satter’s great film “Reality” ), she just needs the material.

Flowers

CONTINUES FROM PAGE D4

There will be several programs during Festival of Flowers including a Museums a la Carte lecture on Botanical Illustration Then and Now; Festival of Flowers: After Hours; Family Day; The Flower Lab; a Link to Libraries activity; and making mini bouquets and butterfly notebooks.

“Regardless of the severity of winter, people remain eager for the arrival of spring and the return of plants and flowers,” Murray said. “Museum visitors ask about the (Festival of Flowers) event all year long.”

The Festival of Flowers is included with museum admission.

For more information, go to springfieldmuseums. org/flowers.

Colorful flower arrangements at the 10th annual Festival of Flowers at the Springfield Museums. (HOANG 'LEON' NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN)

Simona Tabasco appears in a scene from the film “Immaculate.” (NEON VIA AP)

George Lenker Beer Nut

Is this actually the ‘silver age’ of beer?

IT’S BEEN SUGGESTED – I’ve said it myself – that we are living in a “golden age” of beer.

Although there have been blips and hiccups along the way, the craft beer movement has electrified the beer industry over the past fourplus decades, especially in the early part of this century. Double-digit growth in the craft brewing industry year after year for a good chunk of time was not shocking – but certainly somewhat surprising in its consistency.

This brewing bull market, of course, had its roots in many places, but a lot of the explosion came from the innovation of brewers. They stretched boundaries, questioned norms, and performed a sort of alchemy, shifting styles in new directions. And at some points, some truly great beers were birthed.

And maybe it’s my age and history with beer that’s giving me pause these days, but lately I’ve been wondering where the next truly great beer is coming from?

Don’t get me wrong, there are some really good beers coming out these days. Some of them I buy regularly. But I have to say that nothing has really “tripped my trigger” (as my niece Mary Beth from Kentucky likes to say).

We can quibble about what qualifies as “great.” That’s subjective of course. But while a consensus of Beer Advocates might give some weight to

SEE BEER, PAGE D11

6 red wines perfect for Easter, special occasions

GREAT WINES ALways make special occasions even more special.

That’s why I often recommend several great wines worth splurging on for the holidays every December.

But why wait until then to break out a great wine?

There are so many special occasions between now and then.

This month, there’s Easter.

Next month, there’s Passover.

And if you don’t celebrate either holiday, I’m sure there’s something worth celebrating soon.

In fact, I firmly believe that opening a great bottle of wine can be a special occasion itself.

So whatever the occasion, here are six great red wines for Easter or any special occasion.

Let me add that these are all outstanding wines I have tasted within the past three months.

And don’t get too hung up on which wines to pair with which foods.

Ham, turkey and duck

(which are often served on Easter) all go well with many different types of red and white wines.

And if you’re specifically looking for kosher wines, I promise I will recommend several kosher wines before Passover begins on April 22.

Hope you enjoy.

2022 Seghesio Family Estates Sonoma County Zinfandel ($26 Suggested Retail Price)

Region: Sonoma County, California

Grapes: 100% zinfandel

Tasting notes: Red zinfandel wines from California often get overlooked as overthe-top high-alcohol wines. But when done right, these wines can be just as elegant as any California cabernet sauvignon. This particular gem has a bold array of subtle flavors, including hints of blackberry, cherry and toasted almonds.

2019 Renwood Ranch Estate Zinfandel Amador County ($28 SRP)

Region: Amador County, California

Grapes: 100% zinfandel

Tasting notes: Made with zinfandel grapes from California’s Amador County southeast of Sacramento, this delightful, opulent zin has many fascinating flavors, including hints of smoked cedar, dark chocolate, roasted almonds and cherries.

2022 Archery Summit Dundee Hills Pinot Noir ($65 SRP)

Region: Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Grapes: 100% pinot noir

Tasting notes: Oregon’s Willamette Valley has a well-earned reputation for producing outstanding pinot noirs. This bright, lively pinot starts out slightly spicy

but quickly takes on more soft, understated flavors, including a delicate blend of plums, cherries and roasted walnuts.

2016 Ramon Bilbao

Mirto Rioja ($80 SRP)

Region: Rioja, Spain

Grapes: 100% tempranillo

Tasting notes: Elegant yet earthy flavors, including subtle hints of blackberry, roasted coffee beans, black licorice and dark chocolate that last at least half a minute after each taste. An outstanding Rioja ready to drink now.

2013 Pasqua Mai Dire

Mai Amarone Della

Valpolicella ($85 SRP)

Region: Amarone Della Valpolicella, Italy

Grapes: 65% corvina, 15% corvinone, 10% rondinella, 10% oseleta

Tasting notes: Red wines from Italy’s legendary Amarone region consistently deliver outstanding, austere flavors mixed with beautiful hints of vibrant fruit notes, including ripe blackberries,

The six special occasion red wines recommended this week. (PHOTO BY KEN ROSS)

Ken Ross Wine Press

Ham, turkey and duck (which are often served on Easter) all go well with many different types of red and white wines.

THURSDAY

Abortion as a Human Right, A Dialogue: Thu, 6-8 p.m. Smith College, How does viewing abortion through a human rights lens shift our analysis, understanding, and approach to this highly contested issue? What is the relationship between human rights and reproductive justice, and how can these approaches help bridge the diversity of viewpoints about abortion?

How might embedding abortion in the human rights framework contribute to the global fight against authoritarianism and in defense of democracy more broadly? This talk is free. Green St., Northampton.

Easter Bunny is Back: Thu.-Sat, Holyoke Mall, Hop by the lower level near JCPenney through March 30 to grab your pictures with the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny's hours are Mon.-Fri., 2-7 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., noon-6 p.m. Reservations are encouraged.

Walk-up visits available as space permits. For reservations, visit holyokemall.com/events/, 50 Holyoke St., Holyoke.

Guest Artist Concert: Thu, 7:30 p.m. Bezanson Recital Hall, Seychelle Dunn-Borbin, baritone saxophone "Deep Voice." Free and open to the public. North Pleasant Street, Amherst, 413-545-2511 or umass.edu.

Montague Shakespeare Festival: Shea Theater presents a three week celebration of Shakespeare's Timeless Works with workshops, performances, professional training. Main Stage performances of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on March 29-31 and April 5-7. For more information, visit montagueshakespearefestival.com. 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, 413-8632281 or theshea.org.

Puppetry Percolator Workshop

Series: Thu., 5-8 p.m. LAVA Center, This is an informal exploration of the worldwide art of puppetry. Drop in to examine puppetry's history and evolution as an art, play with different forms, and workshop simple puppets and performance. This series is appropriate for teens and adults, 324 Main St., Greenfield.

South Hadley's National Vietnam War Veterans Day Commemoration: Thu., 6 p.m. South Hadley Public Library. The South Hadley American Legion Post 260, South Hadley Sons of the American Legion, South Hadley VFW Post 3104 & The Military Order of the Purple Heart invite fellow veterans and a grateful public to South Hadley's National Vietnam War Veterans Day Commemoration. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with light refreshments for all. This event is

CALENDAR

family friendly and appropriate for all ages, 2 Canal St., South Hadley.

FRIDAY

Allegory, Race and the Four Continents: A Lecture by Charmaine Nelson: Fri, 5-6 p.m. Neilson Library-Smith College, For disability access information or accommodation requests, please call 413-585-2407, Free. 7 Neilson Drive, Northampton; Easter Bunny is Back: See Thursday listing

Friday Fish Fry: Fri, 5-7 p.m. The Swift River Sportsman's Club

Friday Fish Fry is running through April 5. Prices range from $14 for fish and chips to $18 for a fish, shrimp and chip combo. For more information, call the club at 413-323-9387. 79 Moore Road, Belchertown.

MHC Dept. of Dance Presents "Composite Objects" A Senior Capstone Dance Concert: Fri.Sat., 7:30 p.m. Kendall Sports and Dance Complex. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit mhc.ludus.com/index.php or email hglick@mtholyoke.edu, $10 general admission, $5 student tickets. 50 College St., South Hadley, mtholyoke.edu.

Montague Shakespeare Festival: See Thursday listing

Small Victories Grand Opening: Fri, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Small Victories (Thornes Marketplace). Shop art prints, plantable seed paper greeting cards, pronoun wear, and

more—plus deals on studio seconds in a vintage vending machine. The first 100 visitors who sign up for the store’s mailing list will receive special goody bags. 10% of profits are donated to LGBTQ+ and ecological organizations. Sustainable materials and processes are used. 150 Main St., Suite 150, Northampton.

SATURDAY

Easter Bunny is Back: See Thursday listing

MHC Dept. of Dance Presents "Composite Objects” A Senior Capstone Dance Concert: See Friday listing

Montague Shakespeare Festival: See Thursday listing

Western Mass. Flute Festival: Sat., Bezanson Recital Hall. For more information visit umass.edu. North Pleasant Street, Amherst, 413-545-2511.

SUNDAY

Easter Sunday Brunch: Sun, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Crestview Country Club, Featuring carving station, omelet station, Belgian waffle station, Viennese sweet dessert station, coffee and tea station and a buffet selection. Reservations are required, call 413-786-2593. $48.95 per person; children 4-12 $19.95; children 3 and under free. Tax and gratuity not included. 281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. 413786-2593 or crestviewcc.org.

and Politics are Personal: Black Women in Service to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the 21st Century.” Presented by Dr. Annalise Fonza, lecturer, Department of Urban & Regional Planning, California State Polytechnic University Pomona. $4, free for members. Online or in-person. For online visit springfieldmuseums.org.

Springfield Science Museum: “Animationland.” Through May 5. Permanent exhibit: State-of-theArt Zeiss Projector and updated International Space Station exhibit.

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.

Montague Shakespeare Festival: See Thursday listing

Quabbin Valley Twirlers Square

Dance Club: Sun, First Church in Ludlow. The beginner dancing starts at 6:30 p.m. Sun. and the plus classes for advanced dancers is from 6-8 p.m. on Monday. The donation is $6 for each class per person, 859 Center St., Ludlow.

Quadrangle

George Walter Vincent Smith

Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: “Ancient Treasures,” a display of artifacts from ancient China, Greece, Rome and Egypt. On the first Wed. of every month through the end of 2026, admission to the Springfield Museums will be free. For more information, visit springfieldmuseums.org.

Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: Permanent exhibit: More than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.

Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “A Gathering: Works from Contemporary Black American Ceramic Artists,” through March 31. “The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today,” through May 5. The Springfield Museums is one of only four museums in the country to host this major exhibition organized by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. Museum a la Carte. March 28, 12:15 p.m. “Politics are Local

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 exhibits include spaceship, construction site, library, grocery store. Weekday activities. Visit ameliaparkmuseum.org for information. Hours: Tue.-Tue, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Open for groups 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/infants free. 29 South Broad St., Westfield or ameliaparkmuseum.org.

Anchor House of Artists: Rotating art exhibits, self-staged by fine regional talents. The best leastknown gallery in the Pioneer Valley. Free public receptions on the 2nd Fri. of the month from 5-8 p.m. For more information, email artists@anchorhouseartists.org, visit anchorhouseartists.org, or call 413-588-4337. The New England Visonary Artists Museum: The off-center art center in Northampton, featuring rotational exhibits in five showrooms by regional accomplished visionary professionals and self-taught artists. Public receptions offered

"Animationland," an interactive exhibit that breaks down the art and science of animation, is open at the Springfield Science Museum through May 5. (PHOTO COURTESY SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS)

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on Northampton’s Arts Night Out, each month’s second Fri, 5-8 p.m. See websites for details at neva-museum.org, email vision@ neva-museum.org or call 413-5884337. 518 Pleasant St., Northampton

Children’s Museum at Holyoke: Permanent exhibit: Amazing world of learning and play. Hours: Tues.Fri, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun, noon-4 p.m. Closed Mondays. Admission: Children & Adults $8; Seniors (62+) $5; Children under 1 and members are free. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or childrensmuseumholyoke.org.

Connecticut Trolley Museum: Easter EGGSpress Trolley, March 29-30. The Easter Bunny will be roaming the grounds and posing for pictures from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Each child will receive an Easter egg with a surprise inside when they complete up to five craft activities. $13 for ages 2 and up, under 2 is free with lap seating. Museum members receive half off admission. Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, March 30. Breakfast includes eggs, pancakes, assorted donuts, coffee, juice and water. All activities included with admission. $30 any age, $23 museum members. 58 North Road, East Windsor or cttrolley.org.

East Longmeadow Historical Commission Museum: Permanent exhibit: Historical artifacts. Featured at the museum are East Longmeadow artifacts pertaining to the quarries, local Native Americans, period clothing, the railroad system, and much more. Hours: 1 - 3 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month, Sept - June, weather permitting. New exhibits and events are planned. All are welcome and admission is free. Special tours are available upon request by contacting Bruce Moore at 413 525 3072. 87

Maple St., East Longmeadow

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book

Art: 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 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 Tues.-Sun, noon-4 p.m. Closed Mondays. Check website for programs and tours at mass.gov/locations/holyoke-heritage-state-park. Free. 221 Appleton St., Holyoke, 413-534-1723.

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

Mead Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: various American and European paintings, Mexican ceramics, Tibetan scroll paintings and more. Museum hours: Tues.-Thurs. 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.

Norman Rockwell Museum: Online exhibit: “Imagining Freedom.” The exhibition highlights the important role of Norman Rockwell and other artists in advancing and communicating these ideals, envisioned as core human rights for all people. The fee for accessing “Imagining Freedom” is $5 for the general public, available on the museum’s website at NRM.org. “Between Worlds: The Art and Design of Leo Lionni,” through May 27. “Mystery and Wonder: Highlights from the Illustration Collection,” through June 16. Explore the captivating worlds of mystery and wonder in this exhibition featuring highlights from Norman Rockwell Museum’s permanent collection. Permanent exhibit: Gallery. Hours: Thurs.-Mon. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Advance tickets purchase required; Closed Tuesday and Wed.; In July and Aug, museum open Tuesdays noon-7 p.m. $20 adults; $18 seniors, AAA, retired military; $10 college students, free children ages 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. Winter Hours at OSV, through March 31, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission for kids through April 28. For more information, visit osv.org. Standard daytime admission is $30 for adults, $28 for seniors (55+), $15 for youth (4-17), and free for children 3 and under. Purchase online and save $3 per person. 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.

Smith College Museum of Art: Permanent exhibits: “Ancient World Gallery, Beyond the Museum: Art on Smith’s Campus.” Hours: Tues.-Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Mondays and major holidays. Smith College Museum of Art is free to all. Elm Street at Bedford Terrace, Northampton or scma.smith.edu.

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

Susan B. Anthony Birthplace

Museum: Permanent exhibit: Daniel Anthony’s Store, The Legacy Room, The Birthing Room, The Portrait Gallery. Open Fri.-Sun, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through May 26. $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.

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 to purchase your tickets and for more information. 280 Main St., Amherst.

Titanic Museum: Permanent exhibit. 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: Slavis Easter Egg Decorating Workshops. March 28, 2-4 p.m. The workshop will take place at the mansions former gatehouse. Reservations are required and seats are limited. Children should be at least 12 years of age. $40 and includes all materials. Permanent exhibit: guided tours of the first and second floors. 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. Masks are required and social distancing will be practiced. Call to reserve at 413637-3206. 104 Walker St., Lenox or gildedage.org.

Beer

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certain beers, I don’t always trust the vox populi. Popular things can be great, but I find that most fashionable or well-received items (be they movies, music, books or food) are often middling at best. This actually makes sense logically, and honestly, there is nothing wrong with something that is “pretty good.”

I also feel that to be truly great, a beer has to stand the test of time. This is particularly true in my case, as I tend to get overly excited by a new, cool thing. I have declared many a beer to be “great” (maybe even in this column), only to reassess its luster at a later date. Part of this is the mutability of our palates, but part of it is my overzealous attitude about finding a great beer.

For quite a while back in the day, the holy grail of beer was Westvletren 12, a fantastic quad from the famed Trappist brewery in Belgium. It’s still ranked eminently high, of course, as it really is a great beer. I’ve had it

Wine

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cherry and cedar in this particular powerhouse of a wine from Italy’s historic Pasqua winery.

2020 Trapiche Iscay ($110 SRP)

Region: Mendoza, Argentina

Grapes: 50% malbec, 50% cabernet franc

Tasting notes: Bold,

and concur with the general opinion of it. For my money, however, Trappistes Rochefort 10 (also a quad) is better, but both are phenomenal. And taste is subjective, but I feel that part of the allure of Westie 12 was its unavailability. Since more people have had access to it over the past decade, some of the shine has come off the apple.

Both those beers were originally brewed in the middle part of the previous century, so they’re both at least 75 years old. And I’m certainly not saying there have been no great beers since then; there have been plenty. I’ve had some that I consider preeminent, but none in the past decade or so. Yet we must admit there never before has been the sheer amount of good beers we see today, so that counts for something, quantity-wise.

But how many new ones are great? So today I’m wondering if we are actually now living in a Silver Age of beer, not golden. What are your thoughts? Have you had any truly great new beers in the past decade? They can be any style. Let me know at geolenker@yahoo.com.

full-bodied Bordeaux-style blend that tastes like a combination of a powerful Argentinian malbec and a subtle French cabernet franc. Flavors include subtle hints of blueberries, blackberries, lavender and espresso. Absolutely outstanding. Cheers!

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

of pit master competitions, will be sponsoring the New England Steak Championship. To be held in collaboration with the Steak Cookoff Association, the all-day event will give amateur teams the chance to compete in several areas, including steak cookery, ribs, and homemade pizza.

Cash prizes will be awarded.

Teams wishing to compete can sign up at steakcookoffs. com; New England Barbecue can be reached at nebbq.org.

• Little Caesars Pizza has introduced Crazy Puffs to its menu.

Tart-like pastry shells filled with pizza sauce, mozzarella, cheese and pepperoni, Crazy Puffs are after baking brushed with garlic flavor and dusted with an herb blend. A meatfree variation of the Crazy Puffs made with just sauce and cheese is also available.

There are Little Caesars locations on St. James Avenue in Springfield and at 749 Memorial Drive in Chicopee.

• Johnny’s Tavern in Amherst will be offering an Easter Prix Fixe dinner on March 31, from noon to 3 p.m.

The three-course menu will feature eight entree options ranging from Grilled NY Strip and Rack of Lamb to Cast Iron Roast Chicken and Mushroom Ragu.

Price for the dinner is $50; reservations can be made by calling 413-253-8000.

• The Farm Table Restaurant in Bernardston will be celebrating Easter on March 31 with a daylong Easter Sunday Buffet.

Featuring an assortment of dishes, the buffet will be offered from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will be priced at $49 for adults and $24 for children.

The Farm Table will also be hosting several Easter egg hunts for children as well as a contest awarding prizes for the “most fabulous” of Easter hats.

The Farm Table answers at 413-648-5200.

• Easter Sunday at the Comfort Kitchen and Bar in Huntington will be celebrated with a special three-course dinner. Priced at $27.95, the Easter dinner will be served from noon to 6 p.m. and will feature a choice of honey-grilled ham steak, sliced roast sirloin of beef, herb roasted leg of lamb, or a roast turkey dinner.

The special dinner will include a cup of soup or a garden salad. Three dessert options — warm bread pudding, lemon mousse, or ice cream sundaes — will be included.

The Comfort Kitchen will be offering selections from its regular menu as well. Call 413-265-5742 for information or reservations.

• Continuing its foray into packaged consumer goods, Dunkin’, the coffee and snack chain, has partnered with Frankford Candy, a manufacturer of custom confections, to develop and market three Easter season candies.

Dunkin’ Donut-Flavored Filled Assorted Chocolate Eggs are foil-wrapped candy eggs that come in three shell and filling variations — white chocolate with jelly and cream centers, milk chocolate with brownie batter filling, and dark chocolate with a coconut cream filling.

A second custom confection, Dunkin’ Brownie Batter Chocolate Cups, are donut-shaped milk chocolate shells filled with brownie-batter cream and finished with chocolate sprinkles. Like peanut butter cups, the Brownie Batter Chocolate Cups are sold two to a package.

Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Flavored Jelly Beans are being marketed in five-flavor assortments, each flavor inspired by a popular Dunkin’ iced coffee. All three candy products are available, for a limited time only, at retailers such as Walmart and CVS as well as online at Amazon.com.

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.