LIVE WIRE: Arcadia Folk Festival shares early lineup, D3
‘THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG’: Majestic Theater stages final show of season, D4
‘THE OUTWIN’: Portraiture on display at Springfield Museums, D7
LIVE WIRE: Arcadia Folk Festival shares early lineup, D3
‘THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG’: Majestic Theater stages final show of season, D4
‘THE OUTWIN’: Portraiture on display at Springfield Museums, D7
Chorus, community organizations partner for Northampton show, Page D2
ADavid Fersh, a performer with the Young@ Heart Chorus, is just two years shy of Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones who is still rocking at the age of 80.
Just as Jagger would, but not quite as animated, Fersh plans on adding a few gyrations of his own when he sings the lyrics to the popular Rolling Stones’ tune “Sympathy for the Devil” at Saturday’s Young@Heart Mash-Up VIII.
“I’m a pretty good hoofer. I’ve danced the Lindy and I can do some of Mick’s stuff,” Fersh said, referring to Jagger’s onstage dance
antics including flapping his arms for his Chicken Dance and other wild dance moves on stage. The popular mash-up seriesshows have included PS22 Chorus, Chicago Children’s Choir, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Springfield’s SciTech Band and others - will be held at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton.
Showtime is 7 p.m.
Guest artists for the eighth installment of the Mash-up series include The Children’s Chorus of Springfield from the Community Music School of Springfield, The Pride Chorus, run out of the Northampton Community Music Center, and Noah Britton from the HBO series “On Tour With Asperger’s Are Us” with Jen Page on cello. “Audiences come to hear and see the Young@Heart Chorus, so we always do a set on our own. It is during the second set that we
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican t age 78, The Young@Heart Chorus is partnering with The Children’s Chorus of Springfield and the Community Music School of Springfield, The Pride Chorus, and Noah Britton from the HBO Series “On Tour With Asperger’s Are Us” for their Mash-Up VIII concert, to be held Saturday at the Academy of Music in Northampton. (SUBMITTED)THURSDAY
The Drake: The Motet with Consider the Source. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Dead Night featuring Mind Left Body. 289 Main St., Greenfield
Theodores’: Rockstar Karaoke. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
White Lion Brewery at Tower Square: Tom Savoy. 1500 Main St., Springfield
FRIDAY
Delaney House: Fred Marion. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
East Mountain Country Club: Union Jack. 1458 East Mountain Rd, Westfield
The Drake: Proxima Parada/Oliver Hazard. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Eric Phelps, Let it Rain. 289 Main St., Greenfield
The Meeting House: Dave Brinnel. 827 Williams St., Longmeadow
Theodores’: Eric Ducoff Band. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: County Line. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SATURDAY
Blue Room at CitySpace: Carol’s Jazz Night Presents Wanda Houston Project. 43 Main St., Easthampton
BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity: Bach In Your Body: Somatic Listening Workshop & Performance. 130 Pine St., Florence
Delaney House: Made Men. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
The Drake: Dustbowl Revival with Golden Oak. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: The Beatnuts: Golden Era Show. 289 Main St., Greenfield
Theodores’: Neal Vitullo and the Vipers. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House
Restaurant & Pub: Jimmy McArdle & Jerry Murphy. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SUNDAY
BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity: The Hot Sardines. 130 Pine St., Florence
SEE NIGHTCLUBS, PAGE D5
THERE ARE PLENTY of cool music festivals here in Western Massachusetts, but one of the most interesting is the Arcadia Folk Festival produced by Signature Sounds Presents.
What makes this annual event unique is its setting and the fact that it’s powered by the sun. Set in Easthampton’s Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary and totally run on solar power, the festival is “green” both aesthetically and environmentally.
Signature Sounds just announced the first round of artists that will play this year’s festival on Aug. 24, including Sarah Jarosz, The Felice Brothers, Mipso, Amythyst Kiah, Heather Maloney, and many more. Now in its sixth year, the outdoor festival will feature music on three stages (including the intimate “In the Woods” stage) running 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The festival celebrates the work of the sanctuary, which has long served as an environmental education model.
The Arcadia staff has been protecting important habitats, connecting people to nature, and advocating for environmental policies since 1944.
The Arcadia Folk Festival is the only one of its kind to be held on a Massachusetts Audubon site.
This year the festival will include a “Back Porch Songwriter Night” featuring the songs of Paul Simon at the
Academy of Music on Aug. 23.
That event will also benefit the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. Artists for the show are to be announced at a later date.
Early bird tickets are now on sale for $59.99. Tickets and general information are available online or by calling 413-341-3317. Children 10 and under are admitted free. Glass containers, alcohol, and pets are not allowed in the sanctuary.
The Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary is at 127 Combs Road in Easthampton.
Liner notes
• Three-time Grammy Award winners Maroon 5 will play an exclusive show at the MassMutual Center in Springfield on July 1.
The show is part of a limited series of performances on the East Coast in between segments of the band’s Las Vegas residency, along with their headlining shows at Milwaukee’s Summerfest and the Ottawa Bluesfest.
Maroon 5, of course, is known for hits such as
The Los Angeles-based band has sold more than 96 million albums and over 660 million singles worldwide.
Maroon 5 currently has more than 22 billion combined streams on Spotify. Tickets, which range from $79 to $299, are available at massmutualcenter.com.
Danny Eaton claims to have never had a play go terribly wrong for him as a director.
“At least not to the extent of what audiences will see in ‘The Play That Goes Wrong,’ which is our final production of the season,” said Eaton, founding producer of The Majestic Theater in West Springfield.
A contemporary farce by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields and Jonathan Sayer, “The Play That Goes Wrong,” which opens today, is a play within a play. Set on opening night of the Cornley University Drama Society’s latest production, “The Murder at Haversham Manor” begins to spiral out of control soon after the curtain rises. An exasperated detective, a corpse who can’t play dead, an unconscious leading lady and other embattled and eccentric characters must overcome technical issues, forgotten lines and unreliable scenery in order to make it to the final curtain call.
“The Play That Goes Wrong” has been described as “part Monty Python, part Marx Brothers, part Sherlock Holmes, and all mayhem.” The show has played to sold out audiences all over the world, and will be the final
production of the Majestic Theater’s 26th season.
Cast members include Jack Grigoli as Chris, Scott Renzoni as Max, Shaun O’Keefe as Robert, Elizabeth Pietrangelo as Sandra, Josh Karam as Dennis, Mariko Iwasa as Annie, Liv Cunha as Trevor, and Weston Pytel as Jonathan. Longtime stage manager and director for the Majestic’s children’s productions, and more recently for plays during the main season, Stephen Petit is the director and production manager for the play.
“I started out acting, then worked as stage manager running the lights and sound at The Majestic before directing. So, I can relate to the actors in this play within a play calling for lines, desperately working on how to get through their lines, or adjusting to a missing prop when needed. I can really sympathize when the light and sound operator misses a cue, I’ve missed some myself over the years,” Petit said.
“And I can imagine as a director sitting in the house and watching as things are not going well and wanting to crawl into a hole and just die because there is nothing you can do about it at the time,” he added.
Jack Grigoli plays the director Chris, who also has a role in the play - a character the actor describes as “a guy whose intents are good and is trying to put on a nice play for audiences, but obviously the whole production is cursed.”
“He is trying to put on a serious production and when these terrible things happen, he and the cast just role with them, and that is where the
Actors (clockwise
upper left) Josh
Scott Renzoni,
Pietrangelo and Weston Pytel are shown in a scene from “The Play That Goes Wrong,” which will be at West Springfield’s Majestic Theater through June 2. Tickets for the comedy are $31-$37 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 413-7477797.
“The Play That Goes Wrong” has been described as “part Monty Python, part Marx Brothers, part Sherlock Holmes, and all mayhem.”
The Washington Post
“Fallout” layers sharp pulp writing with the nostalgia politics of what “made America great.” There’s no post-apocalypse story quite like this in video games, and now, TV.
“Fallout,” an adaptation of the best-selling game series released last week on Prime Video, echoes many stories
Shaun O'Keefe, Elizabeth Pietrangelo and Scott Renzoni.
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D4
comedy comes in juxtaposed with their trying to do a serious play,” Grigoli said.
Looking back at their 20232024 season, Eaton said he was happy with the mix of plays offered to patrons and the fact that people kept coming through their doors.
“We’re just happy to still be open, a lot of theaters are not as lucky. We took a nose dive as did many during the pandemic, but our audience base has consistently been coming back,” he said.
As for the future, Eaton has
been working hard on putting together what he hopes will be another successful lineup when their new season begins in September.
The 2024-2025 season will begin with “Shear Madness,” an interactive whodunit play, that is one of the longest-running nonmusical plays ever, followed by Eugene O’Neill’s “A Moon for the Misbegotten,” “Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help,” a new comedy by Katie Forgette about a cash-strapped Irish-Catholic family trying to survive in 1973, August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning “Fences” which brings to life the
about the end of the world — including HBO’s “Westworld,” another creation from executive producers Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy. “Fallout’s” most distinguishing aspect is how it depicts a nuclear-ravaged America in arrested development, obsessed with 1950s culture and norms. The Fallout series of games were always ripe for adapta-
tion but not because of any specific narrative. Rather, the world building, from a team of game creators led by Tim Cain in 1997, rivals that of George Lucas or J.R.R. Tolkien. Wrapping it in 20th-century aesthetics of art deco and Coca-Cola makes it feel all the more relatable and accessible. In “Fallout,” the three global
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D3
BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity: Junction Piano Trio. 130 Pine St., Florence
The Drake: Nick Waterhouse with Ben Pirani Trio. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
TUESDAY
The Drake: A.R.P.S. Fundraising Yasu Suzuki and Marcia Gomes. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
WEDNESDAY
The Drake: Gary Smulyan/ Northampton Jazz Workshop. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
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
struggles of everyday black Americans, and ending with “Waitress,” the hit Broadway musical with music and lyrics by the talented and popular Sara Bareilles.
Prior to the new season, The Majestic begins its summer concert series on June 14.
Tickets for “The Play That Goes Wrong” range from $31 to $37 and are available in-person at the box office or by calling 413-747-7797.
Box office hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information, visit majestictheater.com.
“The Play That Goes Wrong,” a comedy by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields and Jonathan Sayer, will be presented at the Majestic Theater through June 2. This scene features actors (from left), Jack Grigoli, Mariko Iwasa, Weston Pytel, Liv Cunha, (KAIT RANKINS PHOTO)introduce the young singers into the performance,” said longtime director Bob Cilman.
Known for their unconventional covers of rock, punk and other modern pop music, the Young@Heart Chorus will be performing new versions of songs by The Who, Blur, Mavis Staples, Fiona Apple, Talking Heads, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Green Day and others.
Fersh said he is “excited” about the mash-up.
“Each group benefits from working with one another. We bring our years of experience to these younger performers, and it is heartening to work with them at the beginning of their singing and performing careers. They also bring a youthful enthusiasm to our shows, not that we old folks aren’t equally enthusiastic,” Fersh said, who will also be performing a Neil Young song along with the Children’s Chorus of Springfield.
What started out in 1982 at a Western Massachusetts elderly housing project developed over the years into the stereotype-defying, generation crossing musical experiment known as the Young@Heart Chorus. From write-ups in The New York Times to TIME magazine and appearances on The Ellen Show to The Daily Show, as well as starring in the hit Fox Searchlight documentary, Young@Heart, the senior chorus ranging in age
from performers in their 70s to 90s, has performed from Northampton to New Zealand, Europe to Japan, on over 55 tours around the world.
“The Young@Heart Chorus has always been about intergenerational programming and collaborating with others,” Cilman said.
“Most spaces in the Western world today are not intergenerational. Young people tend to hang out with others their age and the old tend to remain together as well. But, there is something moving about seeing young and old together. It’s very effective and leaves a lasting impression on both groups,” added co-director Julia van IJken
IJken has been working alongside Cilman with the Young@Heart Chorus for the past four years before becoming co-director in 2022. From her home in the Netherlands, she helped to produce several virtual performances before visiting America and finally meeting Cilman and the group in person. In 2021, she decided to make Easthampton her home.
“I came across a video of Young@Heart Chours on YouTube. I was amazed and at the same time bewildered by what I was seeing. I had recently finished my master’s degree at the Royal College of London and was working with choirs before the pandemic put an end to working together in person. So, I sent an email to the group about possibly collaborating with them, which resulted in my working with them on virtual
performances,” she said.
The Children’s Chorus of Springfield is based at the Community Music School of Springfield. CCS offers high-quality musical education and creative experiences to children from kindergarten through high school. Their three choruses are directed by Laurie Ellington and Julia Urbank.
The Pride Chorus is a group with over 60 members whose identities span the LGBTQIA+ community. They center music by Queer artists, sing music with messages of hope and belonging. Based in the Northampton Community Music Center, the Pride Chorus is directed by Mara Levi.
Noah Britton is most known
for co-founding the first comedy troupe composed entirely of autistic people, Asperger’s Are Us, who are the subject of a docuseries on HBO. His songs have been performed by Puddles Pity Party, Amanda Palmer, and Frankie Cosmos, among others. Dr. Jen Page is best known for appearing on season four of “American Idol” as a mime, never singing a note. Simon Cowell said she was the best he’d heard all day. Tickets, ranging in price from $20 to $50, can be purchased online at aomtheatre.com or by calling the Academy of Music box office at 413584-9032, ext. 105. The box office is open from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
“Each group benefits from working with one another. We bring our years of experience to these younger performers, and it is heartening to work with them at the beginning of their singing and performing careers.”
DAVID FERSH, YOUNG@ HEART CHORUS
Special to The Republican
What do you think of when you think of a portrait?
“When one thinks of portraiture, what often comes to mind might be slick, flattering oil paintings or a photograph of a person’s face frozen in time,” said Kris E. Ludwig, curator of art for the Springfield Museums.
If that’s the case, there’s an exhibit that might change the way you think of portraits.
“The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today” is on exhibit until May 5 at the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts.
“This exhibition reflects the state of contemporary artmaking in which the artists represented often push the
“This exhibition reflects the state of contemporary artmaking in which the artists represented often push the boundaries of that traditional approach through creative use of materials and techniques and expand on the idea of what portraiture can be.”
Kris E. Ludwig, curator of art for the Springfield Museumsboundaries of that traditional approach through creative use of materials and techniques and expand on the idea of what portraiture can be,” Ludwig said.
Launched in 2006 to support contemporary portraiture in the United States, the National Portrait Gallery’s celebrated triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition winters are on. A major survey of the best American portraits, selected by internationally prominent jurors and curators, “The Outwin 2022:
American Portraiture Today” presents 42 works selected from more than 2,700 entries, that foreground the vibrancy and relevance of portraiture today.
“This important show offers a stage for both emerging and established artists to explore contemporary issues through varied approaches to portraiture, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, time-based media, textiles and performance art,” commented Heather R. Haskell, vice president and
director of the art museums.
“Because all the artwork has been created after 2019, the Outwin is a unique exhibition in that it is truly a snapshot of portraiture today. We are presented with portraits that not only comment on people’s history, culture and internal lives but also the reality that these are lives that we share together as a people,” Ludwig said. “Often times, we are transported to shared experiences, for example, that of COVID-19 lockdowns. In Rania Matar’s photograph, Minty, Kayla, and Layla, Cambridge, Massachusetts, the subjects are seen framed in their window as viewed from the street. Their expressions are a reflection of the loneliness, boredom, frustration and uncertainty of the moment. Yet, the portrait also highlights the need for
nuclear powers destroy each other. A special class of people (later called Vault Dwellers) were able to hide out in individually numbered fallout shelters. Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell) is our protagonist from Vault 33. The show wisely understood that the most distinctive and interesting human story in this world is that of the Vault Dwellers. In “Fallout,” each vault has its own purpose. (One famous example from the games, Vault 11, revolved around a twisted democratic experiment in which citizens were annually required to vote on whom to sacrifice.) The binge-worthy mystery box question for the show: What is the purpose of Vault 33? The show tracks the journey of two of its Dwellers: Lucy, who leaves the vault after an invasion by mysterious strangers, and her brother Norm (Moisés Arias), who sticks with the survivors as they search for understanding. This is the rare video game adaptation that welcomes and embraces the quiet moments. Large chunks of the show resemble the introductory, wordless montages of Pixar’s “WALL-E” and “Up.” The game-accurate soundtrack filled with early-20th-century pop (Bing Crosby, the Ink Spots) add to this vibe of a modern silent film, where cinematography and sound are their own pleasures.
Purnell (“Yellowjackets”) shares top billing with Aaron Moten as Maximus, a soldier
training with an isolationist group of supersoldiers called the Brotherhood of Steel. Postwar lunacy is on full display as Maximus navigates peer pressure and fanaticism to survive and maintain a sense of manhood. Video game military machismo is tested and lampooned in laugh-out-loud slapstick violence involving power armor and some mutated wildlife. Moten turns in a convincing performance as a wildly ignorant yet clever survivor, and his story contains the biggest surprises.
Less surprising is our third lead character, the Ghoul, played by Walton Goggins, his granite face carved and mutated into a snarling, black-hat zombie cowboy. It’s a charismatic, scene-stealing performance, but his character relies too much on “Man in Black” tropes that Nolan and Joy thoroughly explored in “Westworld.” It’s far from boring, but a cowboy’s mean spirit isn’t as fearsome when it’s predictable. Luckily, his backstory (told through ample flashbacks throughout the season) contains earnest humanity.
The best part about the world of the Fallout games, and now this show, is that it’s among the most relatable science-fiction wastelands.
Unlike other geek properties, this ain’t about superheroes or Super Mario. The series is about the human experiment as a literal science project.
With “Fallout,” maybe we still won’t like the final result, as high-concept Nolan projects tend to fizzle when they run long. But also typically Nolan, this is a winning, must-see first season.
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D5 Ella Purnell, left, and Kyle MacLachlan in a scene from “Fallout.” (PRIME VIDEO VIA AP)Show Mom that you recognize and appreciate all she does throughout the year by celebrating Mother’s Day at her favorite Table 3 restaurant.
Celebrate Mother’s Day at one of Table 3’s highly acclaimed locations.
Cedar Street Grille will be offering their unique brunch menu all day plus some amazing Mother’s Day specials. Seating is 10am–4pm. We always sell out early for Mother’s Day, so visit exploretock.com/cedar-street-grille-sturbridge to make your reservations now.
The Barn at Wight Farm’s spectacular annual Mother’s Day brunch buffet will be brimming with all mom’s favorites and will be hosted in our beautiful Winthrop Room with seating from 10am to 4pm. The cost is $44.95 for adults and $20.95 for children 5-12 (not including tax and gratuity). To make a reservation* scan the QR code or visit thebarnatwightfarm.com or our Facebook event page. For questions, call 774-241-8450.
*Reservations require a $25 per guest non-refundable deposit which will be applied to your check the day of the event. No shows will forfeit their deposit. Tables are reserved for 2 hours per reservation and checks cannot be split.
The Duck and Avellino will be serving a pre-fixe menu with all mom’s favorites, fantastic holiday cocktails, and decadent desserts. Pricing is $43.95 for adults and a children’s menu is available for children under 12. Seating is 11am–4pm. For reservations, visit exploretock.com the-duck-avellino or call 508-347-2321.
Scan QR Code for more information on Mother’s Day with Table 3 and for reservations
WITH ANY LUCK, the wintery spring weather is behind us. We’ve had a handful of lovely days after the snow earlier this month, and while the rain has been insistent, consistent warm weather is certainly nigh.
For beer fans, of course, this means shifting the balance between beer styles from heavier and darker brews to
lighter and crisper beers. Of course we can still enjoy stouts and double IPAs, but spring always makes me gravitate to refreshing lagers.
I recently had two such animals in neighboring Easthampton breweries: New City Brewing’s Millside Pils and Abandoned Building Brewing’s Curbside Pilsner. Both are excellent and offer slightly different takes on the
It’s getting harder to find restaurants open all night
DURING THE FIRST two decades of this century, the restaurant world seemed well on its way to being a 24 /7 place.
Many of the major chains were experimenting with strategies that focused on what the industry then called “the late-night daypart,” and a fair number of independent eateries offered late-in-theevening dining.
The pandemic, with its social distancing and lockdowns, suddenly curtailed all that. Now, four years out from March 2020, some of those changes have yet to reverse themselves. Restaurants that are always open are now a rarity, and finding a place to enjoy a nice meal after 9 p.m. is a near impossibility, especially on weeknights.
Data seems to indicate that this trend is real. According to information compiled by Yelp, the number of restaurants open all night has dropped by 18% since 2020. Even chains like Denny’s, whose concept is based on catering to after-midnight patronage, still struggle to resume chainwide 24-hour operation.
It’s also becoming increasingly clear this change is not just about a lingering restaurant industry labor shortage. Instead, it looks increasing like a permanent reset in
consumer behavior driven by a host of forces - more work at home, less interest in evening events away-from-home, and a no-alcohol trend that works against socializing in bars and restaurants.
The population at large continues to reflect a demographic shift, with the proportion of individuals 65 and older now the fastest growing group. That’s not good news for restaurants interested in late night operations - older people are less inclined to be out and about after dark.
Another factor driving the shorter hours trend is the functional restructuring the pandemic forced on many restaurants. Having adapted to curtailed operating schedules during the health emergency, many restaurant franchisees and owners aren’t eager to go back to a longer, more grueling workweek.
• An email from Mike Desmarais, who runs the Comfort Kitchen and Bar in Huntington, brought news of a weekly specials update.
He is continuing his Monday Burger Night promotion, and on Wednesdays the Comfort Kitchen is still offering Parmesan “two ways” - chicken or eggplant.
Thursday’s featured entree is a Grilled Hanger Steak with
style.
Millside Pils is a Czech pilsner that sits at 5% ABV. Apparently it started as a small batch version of the brewery’s house lager, but it looks like it’s here to stay, which is a good thing.
The brew pours a pretty golden hue with a slight tinge of orange around the edges. It also leaves a delicate and ephemeral lacing on the glass
Bacon-Blue Cheese Butter, and his Friday evening Seafood Fry offers either fish or shrimp with French fries. New to the lineup, however, is a Saturday Roast Prime Rib served with au jus and fresh popovers.
On Sunday evenings appetizers are half-price.
Desmarais says this specials lineup should remain unchanged throughout the summer.
The Comfort Kitchen and Bar can be reached at 413265-5742.
• The Crestview Country Club in Agawam will be hosting a Comical Mystery Dinner on Friday, April 26, with doors opening at 5:45 p.m.
The show for the evening is “Un-Happy Days,” a murderously funny tale of a cast reunion from a hit 1950s-themed TV series.
The multi-act performance
as you quaff it. The flavor starts out with a lip-smacking dollop of malt goodness, hovering somewhere between a doughy biscuit cracker and a soda cracker. There is also a hint of fresh bread peeking out as the flavor develops. As the beer warms on the palate, a subtle hint of honey gently emerges, but is understated enough to prevent
is preceded by a buffet dinner. Tickets are available online; they are priced at $55 per person with an additional convenience fee added.
• “Too much is never enough.”
That phrase, often attributed to rock legend Mick Jagger, might very well apply to bacon’s role in the Whole Lotta Bacon Burger recently introduced to the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar menu.
Available for a limited time only, the Whole Lotta Bacon Burger has bacon seared into the hamburger patty before that burger is topped with
three strips of bacon and drizzled with a sweet-sour bacon sauce. Served on a brioche bun, the sandwich is garnished with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onion.
Plated along with fries, the Whole Lotta Bacon Burger has a suggested menu price of $9.99.
• Tucker’s Restaurant in Southwick and E. Sliver Charcuterie are partnering to present a Charcuterie Workshop on April 26 at 6:15 p.m.
The workshop will lead participants through the creation of a charcuterie board, with plenty of food styling tips
THURSDAY
Agrol Agra: from Branch to Branch: Thu., 7 p.m. BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity, $20 advance, $25 at the door. 130 Pine St., Florence. Amherst Cinema's Bellweather Series hosts filmmaker Michael Gitlin with "The Night Visitors": Thu., 7 p.m. Amherst Cinema, The documentary "The Night Visitors" explores the world of moths.
Following the film screening, Gitlin takes the stage for a Q&A with the audience, 28A Amity St., Amherst.
KidsBestFest 2024: Thu.-Fri, 11 a.m. Academy of Music Theatre. For a list of movies, visit aomtheatre. com. Free, donations accepted. 274 Main St., Northampton, 413-5849032.
Lucia Stavros Trio: Thu., 7:30 p.m. Bezanson Recital Hall. Free. North Pleasant Street, Amherst. 413-5452511 or umass.edu.
MHC Dept. of Film Media Theatre
Presents "As You Like It” by William Shakespeare: Thu.-Sat, 7:30 p.m.; Sun, 2 p.m. Rooke Theatre, For more information or to reserve tickets, visit https://mhc.Judus. com/index.php or contact the box office at MHCRookeTheatre@gmail. com, $10 general, $8 students and senior citizens. Lower Lake Road, South Hadley.
Online Education Session about Vernal Pools: Thu, 7 p.m. Online, join Brad Timm to learn more about vernal pools and what to expect on the 1-mile trek on April 20. There will be time for a Q&A. To register, visit https://bit.ly/VernalPoolTrekTalk, Free.
UPHA CH-14 Spring Premier Horse
Show: Thu.-Sat., Eastern States Exposition. Locations: C Barn, Coliseum, E Barn, F Barn, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. 413-737-2443 or thebige.com.
FRIDAY
Club d'Elf Performance: Fri., 8 p.m. Race Brook Lodge. For tickets, visit https://rblodge.com/event-calendar/2024/club-delf-april-19; $20 advance for the first 50 to register; $25 after that and $35 at the door. 864 South Undermountain Road (Route 41), Sheffield.
Ed the Wizard's Alchemy Laboratory: Fri, 3 p.m. South Hadley Public Library. Mixing real science with magic, patrons will learn, and help perform, magical transfigurations, vanishes, and other amazing feats using everyday household items, 2 Canal St., South Hadley.
History Bites Lunchtime Lecture Series: Fri., 12:30 p.m. Amherst History Museum, Lee McColgan will talk about his new book, "A House
Andrew Cappola (151) and his fellow paddler are all smiles after successfully navigating the Hill and Dale Rapids during the 2023 Westfield River Wildwater Races. The 69th annual races take place on Saturday. (HOANG
Restored," 67 Amity St., Amherst. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Fri.-Sat., 7 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Ja'Duke Theater, appropriate for all audiences and groups.
Rated: G; running time: 2 hours (one intermission). Note: Strobe and special lighting effects will be used throughout the show, $12-$25. 110 Industrial Blvd, Turners Falls; 413863-0001 or jaduke.com.
KidsBestFest 2024: See Thursday listing
MGM Roar Comedy Club presents Joe Machi: Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m. MGM Springfield, in the Armory. For tickets, visit https://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/1750491?venueId=9264, $25. 1 MGM Way, Springfield.
MHC Dept. of Film Media Theatre presents "As You Like It” by William Shakespeare: See Thursday listing
Music at Amherst presents Ray Chen, violin: Fri., 7:30 p.m. Buckley Recital Hall. For tickets visit amherst.edu/go/music-at-amherst, General public $28; seniors 65+ $22 ; students with ID $12. Intersection of Routes 9 and 116, Amherst; amherst.edu.
Three Stooges Festival: Fri., 7 p.m. Dalton United Methodist Church, Stooges fan Bernie Klem will host the event, introducing five Three Stooges short films and sharing behind-the-scenes details and trivia. There also will be an intermission with refreshments and desserts. There's no admission charge for the
event. A free-will offering will be taken, with all proceeds benefiting the church's Roof & Restoration Fund, 755 Main St., Dalton.
UPHA CH-14 Spring Premier Horse
Show: See Thursday listing
Zaza Green Cannabis hosts guest speaker Tim McBride: Fri.-Sat, Zaza Green Dispensary, Joined by Springfield podcast legend, Christopher DiMauro, McBride will record two live podcast episodes at Zaza Green Cannabis Dispensary. 311 Page Blvd, Springfield.
69th Westfield River Wildwater
Races: Sat, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Huntington Gazebo, Watch and celebrate the 69th Westfield River Wildwater Race. Race times: Expert Races (advanced/expert paddlers only) Knightville Dam, off Rt. 112 in Huntington, 9:30 a.m. start (30 second intervals); Classic Races (intermediate/advanced/expert paddlers) Huntington, off of Rt 20 and Rt 112, 11 a.m. start (30 second intervals). An awards ceremony will follow at Strathmore Park at approximately 3 p.m. Racers, family, and friends are all welcome. Food trucks from North Elm Butcher Block, Ginger Love and Broken Wolf, Blue Farm Bakery desserts, a live band (The 413s) and a DJ plus face painting for kids. Email wrwraces@gmail.com with questions and visit westfieldriver. org/races for more information, Route 20 and 112, Huntington. Disco Dance Party fundraiser:
liam Shakespeare: See Thursday listing
New England Spring Classic Dog Shows: Sat.-Sun, Eastern States Exposition, Better Living Center, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. 413-737-2443 or thebige. com.
Rummage Sale: Sat, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. St. Paul's Episcopal Church, featuring clothing, housewares, bedding, towels, books, toys and holiday and craft supplies. Parking is behind the church, 485 Appleton St., Holyoke.
UPHA CH-14 Spring Premier Horse Show: See Thursday listing
Young@Heart Chorus Presents "Mash-Up 8: Saturday Night at the Academy": Sat, 7 p.m. Academy of Music Theatre, with special guests Children's Chorus of Springfield, Pride Chorus of NCMC, Noah Britton from HBO Series "On Tour with Asperger's Are Us". For tickets visit aomtheatre.com or call 413-5849032, ext. 105, $20-$50. 274 Main St., Northampton. 413-584-9032 or aomtheatre.com.
Zaza Green Cannabis hosts guest speaker Tim McBride: See Friday listing
Sat., 6-10 p.m. American Legion Post 271, join for a night of fun, food, raffles , live music and lots of dancing. This fundraiser is being held to support and benefit the Whole Child Foundation. For further information and/or to purchase tickets, contact Carol at 413-275-7468, $20. 162 Russell St., Hadley.
Earth Day Vernal Pool Trek: Sat, 2 p.m. Bynan Conservation Area, hike begins at 2 p.m. and will be led by wildlife biologist Brad Timm and town Conservation Administrator Rebekah Cornell. Look for the egg masses of frogs, toads and salamanders at several stops along the trek. Be prepared for wet ground and light forest debris conditions, and bring bug spray. Meet at 1:45 p.m. at the dirt parking pull-off area on New Ludlow Road adjacent to Fairway Wholesale Distribution. Wear weather-appropriate clothing and waterproof footwear and if desired, bring walking poles and binoculars, along with water and optional snacks. For all ages, New Ludlow Road, South Hadley.
Friends of the Stone Church Concert: Sat, 7 p.m. The Stone Church hosts Mackenzie Melemed, piano. For tickets, visit FriendsoftheStoneChurch.org, $35. 283 Main St., Gilbertville.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: See Friday listing
MGM Roar Comedy Club presents Joe Machi: See Friday listing
MHC Dept. of Film Media Theatre presents “As You Like It” by Wil-
Amherst Historical Society Program: Sun, 2 p.m. Munson Library, Julie Dobrow's talk on "Mabel Loomis Todd and the New England Transcendentalists" which was rescheduled from an earlier date, 1046 South East Street, Amherst. The Ethel Lee Ensemble, Juke Joint Jazz: Sun., 7 p.m. Marigold Theater, doors open 6:30 p.m. For tickets visit marigoldtheater.com, $15. 84 Cottage St., Easthampton. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: See Friday listing
MHC Dept. of Film Media Theatre presents "As You Like It” by William Shakespeare: See Thursday listing
New England Spring Classic Dog Shows: See Saturday listing
Quabbin Valley Twirlers Square
Dance Club: The Quabbin Valley Twirlers square dance club has a new home for Sun. and Mon. evenings workshops. 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.
“Unsilenced - Hearing Afghanistan Today,” activist music of Arson Fahim: Sun, 1:15 p.m. First Congregational Church of Amherst. Arson Fahim is a pianist, composer, and conductor from Afghanistan, Donation at the door ($20 suggested). 165 Main St., Amherst.
FRANCE’S RHONE region has long been famous for producing delicious, affordable red wines.
Whenever we’re not sure what wine to have with dinner, my wife and I often open a bottle of red wine from this part of France.
Year in and year out, these wines consistently taste great - smooth, dry, earthy yet elegant.
What many people might not realize is this same wine region also makes many outstanding white wines.
I’m not surprised.
First and foremost, what makes this part of southern France such a great wine-producing region comes down to the soil. Often, it’s quite rocky. And all those rocks add a lot of character and personality to the grapes grown in these vineyards.
Also, there’s the weather. Because it’s so far south in France, many of these vineyards have a lot of warm, sunny days, often producing big, ripe, delicious grapes.
Finally, there’s the blending. Unlike some other French wine regions (I’m looking at you, Burgundy), winemakers in the Rhone region regularly blend together several grapes to produce powerful yet elegant wines. That’s true for red and white wines from here.
So this week, as the weather
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shared along the way.
All ingredients and tools are provided; workshop participants will finish the session with a completely arranged platter ready to take home.
Tickets, which are available at Eventbrite.com, are $60 plus a convenience fee. For more details on the event, email esilvercharcuterie@gmail.com.
Workshop participants are invited to arrive early and enjoy dinner or an appetizer and drinks at Tuckers. For more information on the restau-
finally starts to feel like spring in New England, I decided to focus on a few Rhone white wines as well as write about white wines from this region in general.
Hope you enjoy.
History: Red wines might be better known nowadays from France’s Rhone region. However, there was a time when white wines from this part of southern France were just as famous if not even more. President Thomas Jefferson raved about Rhone white wines, describing them in a letter in the late 1700s as “the first wine in the world without a single exception.”
As for how long people have been making wine from France’s Rhone region, that tradition dates back more than 2,600 years to at least 600 BC.
Production: The main reason why many people probably have not heard about white wine from France’s Rhone region is because there are not a lot of these wines to go around. Roughly 7% of all the wines produced in France’s Rhone region are white wines. The rest are red wines. Then again, it’s easy to understand why when their red wines are just so darn great and unbelievably affordable – roughly $15 or less per bottle.
Grapes: The three most popular white wine grapes
rant’s menu, visit the Tucker’s Restaurant website.
• The Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Sturbridge is teaming up with Glen Pharmer Distillery of Franklin to do a four-course pairing dinner on Tuesday, April 30. The dinner, which will feature four of Glen Pharmer’s distilled spirits, will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a first course of Savory Oatmeal with Bacon, an introduction that will be followed by a Buffalo Chickpea Salad.
Puller Pork Tacos are to be the main course, with a Banana Foster Bread Pudding for dessert.
Ken Ross Wine Pressin France’s Rhone region are roussanne, marsanne and viognier. Many times, these grapes are blended together, the same way that many winemakers in this region blend grapes together to make red wines. Other popular white wine grapes in France’s Rhone region include bourboulenc, clairette, grenache blanc, picpoul and ugni blanc.
Tasting notes
2022 Chateau Du Trignon
Viognier ($26 Suggested Retail Price)
Grapes: 100% viognier
Tasting notes: This temperamental grape can be difficult to grow. That’s probably why so few places in the world produce white wines made with viognier grapes. Fortunately, France’s Rhone region is one of them. When done right, these wines often have delicate mineral-like flavors with floral notes. This particular viognier wine has a wonderful, crisp, flinty finish with hints of pear and tart green apples.
2023 Chateau Pegau Lone Cotes Du Rhone ($20 SRP)
Tickets are $50 per person, with a no-alcohol “designated driver” ticket available for $40.
Reservations can be made by calling 508-347-6420.
• On Wednesday, April 24 from 4 to 7 p.m., HCC’s Culinary Arts Institute in Holyoke will be conducting an open house. Tours of the facility, tastes of what students are cooking, and a 4 p.m. ribbon-cutting to inaugurate the Institute’s new food truck will all be part of the fun.
The Culinary Arts Institute is located on Race Street in the heart of Holyoke’s Arts and Innovation District. The
Grapes: Blend of clairette and ugni blanc
Tasting notes: The Feraud family has been making wine in the Rhone region since the 1670s. This particular gem was created under the guidance of Laurence Feraud, who has been helping her father, Paul, produce great wines since she returned home from her wine studies. The result is a crisp, refreshing, aromatic white wine with hints of peach, honeydew melon and fragrant floral notes.
2022 E. Guigal Cotes Du Rhone Blanc ($17.99 at Table & Vine in West Springfield)
Grapes: 60% viognier, 15% roussanne, 10% marsanne, 8% clairette, 5% bourboulenc, 2% grenache blanc.
Tasting notes: All three white wines recommended this week are outstanding. But if I had to pick just one to start with, it would be this particular wine from the consistently reliable winery of E. Guigal. In recent years, Guigal has increased its white wine production to the point that 25 percent of its wines are now white wines. It’s easy to see why when you taste this flinty yet fragrant wine made with grapes grown in limestone and granite soils. Flavors range from hints of pear, peach and apricot along with subtle floral notes. Truly delightful. Cheers!
Institute picks up at 413-5522823.
• Springtime cupcake decorating is on the agenda next week at the Uno Pizzeria & Grill on Boston Road in Springfield.
On Tuesday, April 23 from 4 to 8 p.m., the restaurant will be hosting a springtime-themed cupcake decorating event which is being billed as a fun event for kids of all ages.
For more information or to make reservations, contact the restaurant at 413-5436600.
• Two student organizations at the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School in Northampton, Future Farmers of America and the Junior Chefs, have teamed up to present a Spring Pig Roast. To be held on Friday, April 26 from 5:30 to 7 p.m., the Roast will feature pulled pork, barbecued chicken, roasted potatoes, coleslaw, cornbread, baked beans, dessert, and beverages.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $9 for children ages 3 to 9. For more information, call 413-587-1414. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com.
The three white wines from France’s Rhone region recommended this week. (KEN ROSS PHOTO)togetherness.”
In addition to paintings, photographs, drawings and sculptures, “The Outwin” includes video, performance art and textiles, highlighting the limitless possibilities of contemporary portraiture.
Open to both emerging and established artists, the 2022 entrants were encouraged to submit work that moved beyond traditional definitions of portraiture and engage with the social and political landscape of the time.
“The portraits provide insight into a variety of social and political landscapes, some of which are hinted at already, relating to the discovery of self in this world shifting with technology and time,” Ludwig said. Several works deal with race, identity, origins, and connections to the cultures of our elders or ancestors.
Inga Guzyte’s portrait “Cutting Edge” is constructed from layered pieces of sawn and reassembled skateboards, imbuing its subject with the independent fearlessness associated with skateboard culture.
Using another unusual medium, TR Erickson’s portrait of his mother,
it from becoming cloying. The finish is right on style: crisp and mostly dry, with a lingering tartness on the tongue. This aspect is probably from the tandem of Amarillo and Citra ahops used.
While New City’s flagship is its Ginger Beer, Millside Pils could easily be considered a worthy rival. It’s a perfect afternoon brew for sunny summer days.
About 200 yards down the parking lot, Abandoned Building serves up an equally delicious take on the Czech pilsner style with Curbside. The beer pours a clean golden
“Bride,” was drawn from her wedding photo and recreated using nicotine on a white panel. Ludwig noted that many can relate to the lingering nature of cigarette smoke’s odor, its ability to evoke a strong scent memory and the indelible marks it leaves on a smoker’s spaces.
“One would be hardpressed to find a similar exhibition presenting such a timely survey of some of the best American portraiture in this moment,” she said. “‘The Outwin’ is unique in its mission and in the quality and variety of artists it attracts from across the county.”
The triennial Outwin Boucher Portrait Competition results in an exhibition that is first displayed at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.
“The exhibition presents a remarkably diverse and fascinating take on portraiture in America. The stories behind each piece and the incredible quality of the work are worth experiencing,” Ludwig said. “While each piece stands strongly on its own, taken together, the exhibition powerfully represents the human experience.”
For more information, go online to springfieldmuseums.org/exhibitions/ the-outwin-2022-american-portraiture-today.
color that also leaves a light lacing on the glass that doesn’t linger.
The malt structure here is more bready and understated than Millside, but also offers a nice complexity with tasty cereal notes coming to the fore as the beer warms. The hops offer a balanced bitterness and a bit of spice, and they bring the beer to a satisfying dry finish with a hint of citrus.
Both these brews are worth trying, with Millside offering a slightly sweeter flavor profile and Curbside having a more standard Czech pilsner construction. And another great thing is that you can try them back-to-back with just a three-minute stroll between the venues.