BEER GARDEN: Samuel Adams Beer Garden at The Big E open for summer, D4
DRAGON’S LAIR: Dragon Boat Festival returns to Springfield, D6
‘TABLE FOR TWO’: Musical duo to play concert at Majestic Theater, D7
Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival returns to Look Park, Page D2
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
Heavy stones will be tossed. Clans will be marching. The sounds of bagpipes and drums can be heard from near and far. And bridies will be served up.
It’s all part of the 29th annual Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival. Northampton’s popular Look Park will once again be turned into the lush and green countryside of Scotland for one day, on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
“We invite everyone to come out to Look Park this weekend to help us celebrate everything Scottish,” said Peter Langmore, festival chairman.
“Glasgow Lands is the second largest Scottish festival in New England and even though we missed a year because of COVID, we are now 30 years old after holding our first event in Blandford back in 1994.”
Five things to do and see at this year’s Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival include:
• A colorful, loud opening ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m., featuring pipe bands piping and drummers drumming while marching onto the field, along with tons of clans in traditional dress parading and yelling their clan’s war calls. Also as part of the ceremony, Sabrina Asheim,
representing the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, will sing the national anthem. Julie MacNayr Pike, an original member of the festival committee, will sing the “Flower of Scotland.” Sarah the Fiddler will play “Scotland the Brave” and “Oh Canada.”
• The festival’s Clan Village is where to go if you think you may have a “wee bit of Scot in you” or you know that you do and want to learn more about the history and origin of your clan or Scottish family name. Also in the clan area, the Historic Highlanders can be found reenacting life of early Scotland.
• All day long, watch kilt-wearing competitors, observe their pageantry, and hear their traditional sounds in piping and drumming, as well as
witness a drum major competition.
• New this year is a sports demonstration of rugby, which originated in Warwickshire, England. The demonstration will be hosted by the Irish Cultural Center team from West Springfield on the parade field after opening ceremonies; and the daring sport of fencing will be demonstrated by representatives from the Mass. Historical Swordsmanship in the Glen area all day.
• The Highland Athletic Games, usually beginning around 9 a.m. with the first event, the Braemar Stone, dating back some 900 years to Scottish King Malcom Canmore, who devised the first Scottish Games. The games, including both men and women, require a combination of strength
Wilder said.
and athleticism to participate in stone throwing, weight tossing, hammer-throwing, and caber toss.
“We had such an overwhelming response this year that we had to cut off registration early,” said Al Wilder, athletic coordinator for the Highland Athletic Games.
“Spectators are amazed by what these athletes are capable of doing, especially the caber toss,” he added.
A caber is a large tapered pole that Wilder said is usually made from the wood of a poplar tree, noting it is not unusual for one to measure 20 feet and weigh up to 120 pounds. The idea behind the traditional Scottish sport is to toss it in a way that sends it turning end-over-end so it falls away from the tosser.
“It takes a lot of finesse to do this — balance, strength and timing — and being able to pick up this 100-pound caber vertically, carry it, then toss it in the air away from you,”
“Obviously, for safety in the kids’ games, the caber is a painted PVC pipe with foam and bales of hay stuffed into a burlap bag for the sheaf toss using a dummy pitch fork to toss it as high as they can over a bar,” he added.
The sounds of Scotland can be heard from morning into night with Celtic-inspired music on the Main Stage with Sarah the Fiddler at 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. The party really gets started at 1:30 p.m. with the tribal drumming sounds of Albannach at 1:30 and 3:45 p.m., followed by Tartan Terrors, who blend the energy of a Celtic rock show with humor and stepdance, at 2:45 and 4:45 p.m. The music continues at 6:30 p.m. with a double set by longtime Glasgow Lands Festival stars Enter the Haggis, who lead the charge among today’s Celtic folk rock bands. There is additional music and fun in the Harper’s Tent when from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the enchanting harp music of the Pioneer Valley Harper’s Guild under the leadership of Rose-
mary Caine can be heard. The tent will also play host to the Bonnie Knees Contest at 4 p.m.
At the Dance Stage, Black Rose Academy of Irish Dance with perform at noon and 2 p.m., followed by the Cassin Academy of Irish Dance at 1 and 3 p.m.
For a taste of Scotland, festivalgoers can visit the vendor area, where they will find The Haggis Hut, new this year, serving up haggis, Scottish nachos; Bonnie Doon’s Scottish Shortbread; or Cameron’s Scottish Market for meat pies, bridies and sausage rolls. Some 13 food vendors in all will offer a variety of American and Scottish delights including gyros, British fish and chips, hamburgers and hot dogs, Filipino street food, wood-fired pizza and other quick bites, such as kettle corn, fried dough, soft serve, and creamy fudge, alongside a cooling lemonade or fruit slushie.
For those old enough (21 years or older), the taste of Scotland continues in the Celtic Pub, located next to the Main Stage, where you
For a taste of Scotland, festivalgoers can visit the vendor area, where they will find The Haggis Hut, new this year, serving up haggis, Scottish nachos; Bonnie Doon’s Scottish Shortbread; or Cameron’s Scottish Market for meat pies, bridies and sausage rolls.
can sit a spell, rest, listen to the music, all while imbibing in a tap list of brews from New City Brewery including their Scottish Ale.
Whisky is Scotland’s national drink and two years ago, the festival featured
their first-ever Scotch Whisky Tasting. It continues again this year with sessions at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. The event is hosted by Jay Cole, also known as “The Whisky Pirate,” and presented in partnership with ImpEx Beverages and Four Seasons Wine and Liquor in Hadley.
The Samuel Adams Beer Garden at The Big E is offering refreshing tastes for summer.
Start your weekends off right by sipping your favorite on-tap brews, listening to live music and tasting delicious new menu items through Aug. 24. Summer hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. until the last seating at 9 p.m.
The Beer Garden is introducing flavorful additions for this season’s patrons. If you’re looking for the perfect shareable appetizer, try the Pimento Cheese Dip served
with warm pretzel bites or the Loaded Tater Tots topped with bacon, cheddar cheese and scallions.
Other new offerings include:
The Summertime Burger, which features a patty topped with applewood bacon, bleu cheese crumbles, arugula, and freshly grilled peaches tossed with signature peach jam; and the Summer Stone Fruit Pizza Pie, a unique creation with mountain chevre, fresh peaches, basil, and arugula, finished with a drizzle of balsamic.
To satisfy your sweet tooth, grab an order of Churros served with chocolate dipping sauce, or indulge in the Lemon Berry Mascarpone Cake with layers of lemon cake, mascarpone cheese and fresh berries.
Each weekend, see live performances from local talent such as Storytellers, Steve Piper & Friends, and many more. Bands will take the stage at 5 p.m., and play until 8 p.m.
For more information on the summer beer garden, visit thebige.com/beergarden.
Start your weekends off right by sipping your favorite on-tap brews, listening to live music and tasting delicious new menu items through Aug. 24.
ALTHOUGH MARK Schwaber’s music has evolved over the years, there also have been solid threads of consistency from his first notable band, Home, through his late ’90s act Hospital, to his current solo work.
While Schwaber has used a palette incorporating everything from post-punk thrash to Elliot Smith-like folk and even heavy metal tones, he always paints a sonic landscape that makes sense of these potentially disparate elements. His new album, “Glacier,” features a wide panorama — sometimes contemplative, sometimes majestic, and often sublime.
“There is a song on this record that reminded me of something I would have written during my time with Home, which then made me think about Hospital as well. This record feels like an organic extension of those two times in my life,” Schwaber said in a recent interview.
“That is my hope of evolution in this way; to always remain
Mark Schwaber will celebrate his newest album, “Glacier,” at Luthier’s Co-Op in Easthampton. (SUBMITTED)
open to new sounds and influences, and most importantly, not judge newer creative platforms harshly.”
Schwaber said he now tries to let his ideas complete themselves before he says, “I don’t want that,” which was a bad
THURSDAY
Delaney House: Floyd Patterson. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke Florence Civic Center: Florence Summer Concert Series: Janet Ryan and Straight Up. 90 Park St., Florence
Iron Horse Music Hall: Toronzo Cannon. 20 Center St., Northampton
Northampton Brewery: Bands on Brewster 2024: King Radio. 11 Brewster Court, Northampton
Theodores’: Singer/Songwriter Series: Jake Manzi. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
FRIDAY
Delaney House: Tone Wolf. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke East Mountain Country Club: Phoenix Band. 1458 East Mountain Road, Westfield
Majestic Theater: Majestic Theater Summer 2024: Lisa Carter & Matt Foster: Table for Two. 131 Elm St., West Springfield
MGM Springfield: MGM Free Music Fridays: Sensacion Urbana. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
The Meeting House: Dave Brinnel. 827 Williams St., Longmeadow
Theodores’: Professor Harp. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
SEE NIGHTCLUBS, PAGE D12
Ashley Potter
have the opportunity to hone their craft this fall with the Suffield Players, a community theater group housed in Mapleton Hall.
The stage is set for the Suffield Players’ production of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None,” directed by Mary Fernandez-Sierra, to be staged in October.
“And Then There Were None” follows the story of 10 strangers, who are all lured to an isolated island by a mysterious host. As the guests start to die one by one, the remaining survivors realize that the killer is one of them.
Auditions will take place on Aug. 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. at 1305 Mapleton Ave. in Suffield. All levels of experience are welcome at auditions, seasoned actors and newcomers alike. All who audition will perform cold readings from Christie’s script.
Performance dates are scheduled for Oct. 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25 and 26.
The Suffield Players’ 2024-2025 season will continue with “The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge” by Mark Brown, directed by Kelly Seip, in December; “A Few Good Men” by Aaron Sorkin, directed by Becca Coolong, in February; and “Becky’s New Car” by Steven Dietz, directed by Chris Rohmann, in May. Audition times for those plays will be announced later in the season.
Not an actor yourself?
Advance tickets, which are close to being sold out, are $30 and available online at glasgowlands.org or day-of at the Garden House, where the event is held, or at the Celtic Pub. Tasting tickets do not include festival entry, which must be purchased separately.
Some 20 merchant vendors will offer a variety of goods for sale to take a little of Scotland home with you, such as antique Scottish jewelry, bagpipes, pipe band an dancer wear, kilts, tartan items, Celtic capes, Scottish and Celtic books, alongside poetry, leathercrafts, china cups, handmade carbon steel blades, etched glass, and many other treasures.
Moms and dads bringing their wee lads and lassies to the festival can find plenty to keep them busy when they are not eating or shopping.
The Water Spray Park will be open and the park’s popular train will be running for a fee. Kids can also participate in their own Children’s Highland Games — featuring rope pull, caber toss, Haggis toss and a sack race — from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. next to the water spray area. Always a favorite
“The weather in Scotland is often rainy, cloudy and cool. So come to Northampton prepared for whatever forecast. The show goes on rain or shine.”
PETER
at the festival, young participants can step up to a loom and do some weaving with the Spinners and Weavers Guild of Springfield.
While most vendors leave the event around 5 p.m., the festival continues with closing ceremonies at 6 p.m. and entertainment in the Celtic Pub until 8:30 p.m.
Tickets at the gate are $28 and $5 for children ages 6-12.
Kids under age 6 are free. Advance tickets are available online at glasgowlands.org are $25.
Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting other local nonprofits and providing scholarships for qualifying Scottish dance, pipe and/or drum students. Benefactors of this year’s proceeds are Forum House
in Westfield and River Valley Counseling Center in Holyoke.
“The weather in Scotland is often rainy, cloudy and cool. So come to Northampton prepared for whatever forecast. The show goes on rain or shine,” Langmore said. Visit glasgowlands.org for more information and to see a complete schedule of activities, or call 413-862-8095.
TUESDAY
Chicopee Elks #1849
431 Granby Road, Chicopee 413-592-1849
Bingo Tuesday
Doors Open at 4PM
2 Progressive Jackpots 6:15PM Early Bird 6:20PM Start
Min. Entry Package $15 Open Seating
2 Halls for Players
Handicap Restroom 1st Floor
WEDNESDAY
Polish American Citizens Club 355 East Street, Ludlow, 583-6385
Bingo Wednesdays 6:30-9:30pm
Doors Open at 4pm. Minimum Admission $50 1 - 1199 Progressive Betty Boop 50/50 Prize $900
2 - $500 Cover Alls
3 - $400 Special Games All
THURSDAY
Fairview Knights of Columbus 1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee (413) 532-2011
DOORS OPEN 4:30PM MASKS OPTIONAL Progressive Jackpot 6:15pm Early Bird 6:20pm Start
Electronic Bingo Aval. Snack Bar, Open Seating, Handicap Restrooms
Min. Entry Package $15
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
There will be dragons in the Connecticut River on Saturday, but there is nothing to worry about and no danger to humans.
The dragons are simply “dragon boats,” which will be racing as part of the 10th annual Dragon Boat Festival, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at North Riverfront Park in Springfield.
Admission is free for spectators to watch the races, and there will be food to enjoy from the PVRC Grille and Thai Chili truck beginning at 11 a.m., as well as cultural performances.
A dragon boat, some measuring up to 40-feet long and weighing more than 800 pounds, is a canoe-like vessel with ornate dragon heads and tails used in a Chinese water sport dating back some 2,000 years called “dragon boat racing.”
“Dragon boat racing is the fastest growing team watersport in the world, which we introduced locally 10 years ago as a way to align more people with our mission to provide healthy, outdoor water recreation for people in the greater Springfield area,”
said Ben Quick, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Riverfront Club, organizers of the event, held in collaboration with the Chinese Association of Western Massachusetts.
“It is a tradition that every boat has a dragon head and tail when racing on the water, but not when practicing. At 8:45 a.m. before our first races commence at 9 a.m., we will hold what is called a Waking the Dragon ceremony, when the eyes on the dragon head are dotted with white paint as a way to wake the dragon from slumber in order to race,” he added.
According to the United States Dragon Boat Federation, the success of a team relies on the complete synchronization and coordination of its 22 members — 20 paddlers sitting two-by-two and each with one oar along with a steersperson and a drummer to keep everyone in sync.
row for the Dragon Rays
dragon head adorns a racing canoe; Anne Diebold, of Westfield, warms up with members of the Dragon Rays of Springfield; and a team member adjusts a costume during a past Springfield Dragon Boat Festival. Below are members of the Titans Team.
(THE REPUBLICAN FILE PHOTOS)
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican
Sometimes you just need to be yourself.
And that is exactly what songstress Lisa Carter felt eight years ago when creating the show “Table for Two,” with piano man and crooner Matt Foster, coming to West Springfield’s Majestic Theater on Friday.
Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
“Lisa has been bringing her Cher tribute show to the Majestic for a number of years. She is stretching her horizons with this new show and isn’t content to rest on her laurels. She’s a hard-working woman and we are bringing this show to our stage for the first time as a way to offer something different to our audiences,” said Danny Eaton, founding producer of the Majestic Theater.
It is quite a change for the tribute artist to be playing herself and singing the songs of many other greats after years of being known as “New England’s premiere Cher tribute artist.”
“When you are a tribute artist, you are put into a box and that box is glamorous and filled with schtick, comedy and costumes. As a tribute performer you need to follow that particular artist’s regime. But when you strip down and take it all away, you see yourself and there is something liberating about that,” Carter said.
“Performing as Cher is like playing a part in a movie; you have to follow the script. But in ‘Table for Two,’ you can just be yourself and interact with the audience at that level,” she added.
The two-hour show, including a 20-minute intermission,
“Table for Two,” a duo composed of songstress Lisa Carter and pianist Matt Foster, will play the Majestic Theater in West Springfield on Friday. (SUBMITTED)
features a set list of mainly jazz blended with some blues, postmodern jukebox and nostalgic standards. There are songs by Diana Krall, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dusty Springfield, Bobby Darin, Maria Muldaur, Dionne Warwick, Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb, to mention just a few. The show will highlight popular tunes such as “The Nearness of You,” “Route 66,” “I’m in the Mood for Love,” “Peel Me a Grape,” “Midnight at the Oasis,” “One Less Bell to Answer,” “I Put a Spell on You,” “Say a Little Prayer,” “It Hurts So Bad,” “Alfie” and many others.
There will be duets between Carter and Foster on “I Got You Under My Skin” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing” as performed by Lady Gaga with Tony Bennett; “The Start of Something Big,” performed by Steve Lawrence and Eydie
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D4
habit he adopted in his earlier years of writing and recording, albeit one that stemmed from practical considerations.
“Back then, there was no budget and very little time allowed to be able to record due to financial restrictions,” he said. “Now that I do everything at home, I get a chance to take time and take risks that I didn’t have the opportunity to take in the past.”
The album’s title might seem like a mystery, since there is no song titled “Glacier,” nor are there any lyrics with that word in them. As it turns out, the album cover artwork inspired the title.
“I’ve always been of the ilk of ‘let me show you what it sounds like at the start,’ hence the solo acoustic stuff for years. I’ve been slowly getting sick of this for far too long to have not done something about it much sooner.”
Mark Schwaber
mals, fungi and insects.
Gorme; and “Guilty” by Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb. Foster will solo on a variety of songs including “More” and “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin, and “The Way You Look Tonight,” along with “The Lady Is a Tramp” by Frank Sinatra.
“Matt also does back-up vocals and is the perfect harmonizer. He has an incredible skill of being able to listen to a song just once, then going to his keys and playing it,” Carter said.
As a special encore, Carter noted that the duo will perform “Love Is a Losing Game” as a tribute to the late Amy Winehouse, which can be heard in a recent movie chronicling her short and tragic life as a prolific songwriter and performer.
“‘Table for Two’ started as a duo with just the two of
“I stumbled on that photo of the glacier on the cover and couldn’t take my eyes off it; this glorious, quiet, massive creature. Slowly being decimated and incapable of telling us its experience in any way,” he said. “We can infer, interpret and read data that allows us to understand how most other things on Earth experience destruction, but with water, the Earth’s most prevalent thing, we have no idea. It is voiceless. I found a great bittersweetness in this thought. I found something profoundly moving in its silence.”
Three of the songs spread out over the album have the subtitle “The Destroyer.” While Schwaber said he has never started with a theme for a record when writing songs, he’s often felt things leaning a certain way and paused to investigate if there was more to expand upon.
“In the case of this record, I wrote a couple of songs about how other animals and elements experience death and/ or destruction. This was due to reading ‘The Overstory, Underworld’ and a handful of other books on the life and death of trees,” he said. “I learned that a fallen tree in the woods is as alive as the one that stands near it.” Schwaber dove deeper into this phenomenon and began reading quite a bit about ani-
“It became something that has influenced my spiritual condition and has helped ease my anxiety and depression. We live in a culture that completely avoids death and destruction. We put a straightforward bow on it, and are told to live most of our lives in fear of it in all its regards,” he said. “If we rank taboos in America, I would feel confident putting death near the top. All of these marketing cultures that are built on selling you things to help you live longer, but without any attention as to why we are asking ourselves to do this. This is a long, deep, philosophical rabbit hole that has kept me seeking.”
The album is dense and layered with many sounds. What should the audience expect at the upcoming show where he is playing solo?
“I’ve always been of the ilk of ‘let me show you what it sounds like at the start,’ hence the solo acoustic stuff for years. I’ve been slowly getting sick of this for far too long to have not done something about it much sooner,” he said. “I’m happy to say that this show will include cassette tape loops, a bunch of soundscape looping, and maybe even film background while still having some form of guitar/vocal thing.”
Mark Schwaber will play Luthier’s Co-Op in Easthampton on Aug. 9. The CD version of “Glacier” will be available for sale there. A full release will be arriving in the fall.
JULY IS NATIONAL ICE Cream Month, a designation that reflects the popularity of ice cream and its importance to the restaurant business.
Greater Springfield has a history of ice cream lore, with the Blake brothers creating their iconic ice cream brand in the city, and Steve Herrell, a super-premium ice cream pioneer, using his Northampton shop to popularize the ice cream “mix-ins” process he had earlier developed.
Now two Miami-based entrepreneurs, Daniel Golik and David Leonardo, are taking customized ice cream experiences to a new level with their 15-location Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream chain.
Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream uses the intense “cold power” of liquid nitrogen to create ice cream to-order. Since the
liquid nitrogen freezing process is extremely quick (less than a minute), the resultant frozen product has an ultra-fine crystalline structure, a characteristic that makes the ice cream dense and smooth-textured.
The liquid nitrogen process can also be tweaked to offer “ice creams” beyond those made with traditional dairy formulations. Frozen treats
-
ers will know, I’ve been doing profiles of local breweries throughout this summer, providing glimpses of what beer lovers might expect when visiting various brew venues. Unfortunately, there is now one notable local beermaker I will not be able to include in this series, and so today, I’ll feature this brewery in a somewhat different way: a eulogy of sorts. I write, of course, of Building 8 Brewing in the Florence section of Northampton.
Last week, co-owner O’Brian Tomalin took to social media to announce that Building 8 was permanently closing, with just one more batch of The IPA, its flagship beer, hitting the market this month.
Building 8 opened in 2015 and was a hit right away. The IPA, a delicious West
Coast-style IPA, was a perfect example of the style and spearheaded a small lineup of brews at first. Of course, you could always grab a fresh pint of it at The Sierra Grille, Tomalin’s popular restaurant that closed during the pandemic.
I’ve been a friend of O’Brian for years, so this one hurts for more reasons than just the loss of some great beers. But I will keep most of that stuff private, except to say he’s been a great friend to both his close comrades and to the community at large. He rarely missed an opportunity to support local causes via either his eatery or his brewery. From hosting fundraisers to donating his talents to benefit those in need, O’Brian could always be counted on to step up.
But back to Building 8: Over the years, the brewery went through growing pains, but the end product was
George Lenker Beer Nut
I’ve been a friend of O’Brian for years, so this one hurts for more reasons than just the loss of some great beers.
always tasty beer, and that is what it’s all about. The IPA was a stalwart choice for local beer fans: As the New England-style IPA juggernaut seemed to push other styles off shelves, Building 8′s The IPA was always a welcome sight. But my personal favorite was The Double. Although O’Brian never brewed it often enough for my tastes (and he and I quibbled about that issue several times), whenever it hit the shelves, I grabbed
plenty of it. Double IPAs can be tricky. For me they’re often either hits or big misses, and The Double was one of the best — if not the best — I ever had. The Session was another splendid creation, providing a satisfying wave of flavor at just 4.8% ABV.
And if you need corroboration, the scores for those three Building 8 beers on Beer Advocate back me up:
This is the first in a series of three articles about wineries in Nuits-Saint-Georges, France visited by the author earlier this year.
NUITS-SAINT-GEORGES, FRANCE
— Two green street signs stand near a busy intersection on a two-lane road running through this small village.
One sign says “BEAUNE” and points south.
The other sign says “DIJON” and points in the opposite direction.
In a sense, those two street signs reflect Nuits-Saint-Georges’ position as an important crossroads with-
in the Cote D’Or, the name of the legendary, 50-mile-long wine region in Burgundy.
North of Nuits-Saint-Georges to Dijon contains the Cote D’Or subregion known as the Cote De Nuits, which is famous for its out-of-this world pinot noir red wines.
South of Nuits-Saint-Georges you’ll find the other Cote D’Or subregion known as the Cote De Beaune, which has world-class chardonnay white wines and many outstanding reds.
Even so, many motorists quickly drive through this busy intersection in Nuits-Saint-Georges on their
way to better-known places in Burgundy.
They also probably don’t even notice the winery tucked behind the nearly one-storyhigh, white stone wall located there.
Although if you’re a cycling fan, you may have recently caught of glimpse of Dufouleur Freres’ beautiful, two-story stone building just to the left of the starting line of Stage Seven of the Tour De France.
But this winery and the village it’s located in definitely deserve more attention. That’s because many of the wines produced by Dufouleur
Freres and other wineries in Nuits-Saint-Georges consistently taste great year in and year out. And while the prices have gradually started to increase like many other wines throughout Burgundy, you can still find outstanding bargains from Nuits-Saint-Georges and especially from Dufouleur Freres.
This week, you can learn all about this winery as well as about Nuits-Saint-Georges in general in this first story in a series of three articles about this charming, hard-working French winemaking village in the heart of Burgundy. You can also find tasting notes for
The IPA has a 4.16 (out of 5) average rating, The Session has a 4.07 and The Double sits at 4.18. Other favorites include The Lager (a German-style pilsner) and The Dark One — a scrumptious imperial stout. It’s a sad day in the Western Massachusetts craft beer scene. We can only hope that OB will be back at what he loves soon.
12 wines tasted at the winery this past January with Jean Dufouleur.
Hope you enjoy.
History of winemaking in Nuits-Saint-Georges Like many winemaking villages in Burgundy, Nuits-Saint-Georges has been making wine for hundreds of years. Exactly when people started growing grapes here to
SEE ROSS, PAGE D10
make wine remains unknown.
References to wine from here date back to the late 1600s, but people were making wine in Nuits-Saint-Georges long before then. And it wasn’t until 1892 that winemakers in Nuits-Saint-Georges were finally able to put the name of the village on the labels of wines from here.
This was also the same year (1892) when the village changed its name from Nuits to Nuits-Saint-Georges. Like many other villages in Burgundy, the name was changed to add the name of one of the best-known wine vineyards in the village, which in this case is Les Saint Georges.
Wine classification in Nuits-Saint-Georges
In 1930, winemakers and officials who regulate wine in Burgundy began classifying certain vineyards in Nuits-Saint-Georges and other villages. There are three classifications based on the quality of the wine from particular vineyards:
• Village wines: This simply means the wine comes from the village of Nuits-Saint-Georges and can be a blend of several different vineyards in the village. (427 acres of village wines in Nuits-Saint-Georges);
• Premier Cru: Better wines from a specific vineyard. Nuits-Saint-Georges has 41 premier cur vineyards. (363 acres)
• Grand Cru: Highest quality wines from a specific vineyard. Nuits-Saint-Georges does not have any grand cru vineyards, but don’t let that fool you. This village produces many world-class wines.
History of Dufouleur Freres
The Dufouleur family can trace its roots back in Nuits-Saint-Georges to the 1500s and began making wine at its current location in 1596. The family name, Dufouleur, means “grape crusher” in French and that’s what family
members reportedly did more than four centuries ago.
The winery’s beautiful two-story house dates back to the 1800s, when the Dufouleur family formally entered the wine-making business in 1848. Soon after, the family began buying parts of various vineyards in Nuits-Saint-Georges and throughout Burgundy. Dufouleur Freres remains a relatively small wine producer in Burgundy. They own 14 acres of vineyards throughout Burgundy. The winery also purchases a small number of grapes from other vineyards to produce many outstanding, mostly red wines.
Wine tasting notes
(Writer’s tasting notes for a handful of white wines and red wines, all tasted at the winery this past January with Jean Dufouleur.)
White Wines
2021 Dufouleur Freres Le Fouleur Vin De Bourgogne
Chardonnay
Winemaker’s comments: “Humble wine, easy to open, easy to understand, straightforward chardonnay, pure, unoaked.”
Tasting notes: Made with chardonnay grapes, this bright, lively wine has a light, mineral-like finish with hints of peach, lemon and citrus-like flavors. Very refreshing, easy drinking, delightful chardonnay.
2021 Dufouleur Freres
Bourgogne Aligote
Winemaker’s comments: “Has a little bit of oak, just 5 to 10 percent, just to make it a
THURSDAY
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2024 presents Social Tango Project: Thu., 8 p.m.; Fri. and Sun., 2 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m. Ted Shawn Theatre, tickets start at $65. For tickets, visit jacobspillow.org. 358 George Carter Road, Becket, 413243-0745.
Majestic Theater Summer
2024 presents Fortunate Sons, Woodstock Remembered: Thu., 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $26, $28. For tickets, call the box office at 413-747-7797. 131 Elm St., West Springfield, majestictheater.com.
Fri, 8 p.m. Tanglewood, Dima Slobodeniouk conducts Bernstein and Brahms featuring Conrad Tao, piano. In the Shed. Tickets $25$115. For tickets, visit tanglewood. org. 297 West St., Lenox, 888-2661200.
little more noble.”
Tasting notes: Made with 100 percent aligote grapes, this wine has a slightly tart finish with hints of green apple and just a touch of oak. Great food wine that beautifully brings to life this lesser-known white wine grape.
Red wines
All made with pinot noir grapes
2022 Dufouleur Freres Le Fouleur Bourgogne Pinot Noir
Winemaker’s comments: “Regional wine. The purpose is to create a simple, humble, interesting pinot noir.”
Tasting notes: Give this wine a few minutes to open up in the glass. Initially, it’s intense and a bit tight. But give this red wine a few minutes and those flavors become more open and fruit like with hints of cherry and blackberry.
2018 Dufouleur Freres Les Fourches Cotes De Nuits Villages
Winemaker’s comments: “Humble, complex, with fresh berries, a little tannin, maybe a hint of cherry pits.”
Tasting notes: Well-rounded, dense red wine with hints of roasted cherries, tobacco, dark chocolate and almonds. Not a sharp edge at all to this wine filled with compact flavors that last several seconds after each sip.
Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday.
Performing Arts Summer Workshops with Pioneer Valley Symphony: Thu.-Fri., Episcopal Church of St. James and Andrews Church, Workshops for all experience levels in strings, chamber music, theater, band, chorus, and more. Sign up for weeklong a.m. and p.m. workshops, sliding scale $175-$325 per workshop (register for two or more for 25$ off each workshop). 71 Federal St., Greenfield.
Rainbow LGBTQIA+ & Allies
Coffee Social Hour: Thu, South Hadley Council on Aging-Senior Center, Meets on the third Thu. of the month, 10:30 a.m.-noon, 9 East Parkview Drive, South Hadley. Tanglewood 2024 presents Tanglewood Recital series: Les Arts Florissants, Thu., 8 p.m. in Ozawa Hall. $20-$62. 297 West St., Lenox. 888-266-1200 or tanglewood. org.
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2024 presents Social Tango Project: See Thursday listing Movie in the Park: “Labyrinth”: Peskeomskut Park rated PG, free. Avenue A and 7th Street, Turners Falls.
Performing Arts Summer Workshops with Pioneer Valley Symphony: See Thursday listing Rainbow LGBTQIA+ & Allies Coffee Social Hour: Fri., Bernardston Senior Center, third Fri. at 11 a.m., 20 Church St., Bernardston.
Rainbow LGBTQIA+ & Allies
Coffee Social Hour: Fri., 1 p.m. Northampton Senior Center, Gay Men’s Group meets every Fri, 1 p.m., 67 Conz St., Northampton. 413587-1228 or northamptonseniors. com.
Springfield’s 2024 Summer ‘Movies in the Park’: Fri., 8:30 p.m. Nathan Bill Park, “Migration” (2023). Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and snacks. No rain date. Free. 119 Plumtree Road, Springfield. Tanglewood 2024 presents Boston Symphony Orchestra:
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2024 presents Social Tango Project: See Thursday listing Majestic Theater Summer 2024 presents Frank Manzi, Family and Friends: Sat., 7:30 p.m. $26, $28. For tickets call the box office at 413-747-7797. 131 Elm St., West Springfield. 413-747-7797 or majestictheater.com.
Tanglewood 2024 presents Boston Symphony Orchestra: Sat., 8 p.m. Tanglewood, Andris Nelsons conducts Act III of Wagner’s “Gotterdammerung.” Shed. $22-$90. For tickets, visit tanglewood.org, 297 West St., Lenox, 888-2661200.
SUNDAY
Easthampton Coalition for Veteran Wellness Summer Vet Fest: Sun., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Nonotuck Park, featuring food, activities and games for families. Information also available for the military veteran family community. The event is free to any U.S, military member or veteran of U.S. military service and thier invited guests to include family members, children and grandchildren. Entrance to the park to attend the event will be free. Lunch is free, but anyone attending is asked to register in advance at Eventbrite by searching for the Easthampton Coalition for Veteran Wellness “Summer Vet Fest 2024.” 1 Daley Field Road, Easthampton. Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2024 presents Social Tango Project: See Thursday listing Majestic Children’s Theater presents “Curious George-The Golden Meatball”: Sun, 1 and 4 p.m. $12. For tickets, call the box office at 413-747-7797. 131 Elm St., West Springfield. 413-747-7797 or majestictheater.com.
Sevenars Concerts 2024: Sun, 4 p.m. Sevenars Academy, Ronald Gorevic, violist, $20 suggested donation at the door. Ireland Street at Route 112, Worthington. 413-2385854 or sevenars.org.
Tanglewood 2024 presents Boston Symphony Orchestra: Sun, 2:30 p.m. Andris nelsons conducts Ives, Beethoven and Strauss featuring Emanuel Ax, piano. Shed. For tickets visit tanglewood.org, $22-$90. 297 West St., Lenox, 888- 266-1200
During a break from the racing action at noon, there will be entertainment provided by the Mountain River Taiko Drummers, Chinese Kung Fu Academy and the Hong Tinh Duong Lion Dance Team.
Races continue at 1 p.m. after the special performances.
Becky Mason, coach of the Dragon Rays, will be sitting in the drummer’s seat when her team competes on Saturday.
“I like the team aspect of the sport and supporting one another,” Mason said.
She has been dragon boating for about 10 years and turned to the sport when she was approaching the age of 40 as a way to get more physically active.
“I was Googling to find another gym or exercise class and dragon boating came up. I had to Google what it was and once I tried it, I fell in love with it and I’ve been dragon boating ever since,” Mason said.
Quick noted that the sport today has become associated with breast cancer survivors, many of whom have formed dragon boat teams around the world similar to the PVRC’s
Dragon Rays team.
“Over the years, a correlation was established between upper body exercise derived from rowing a dragon boat and the resulting therapeutic benefit for post-surgical cancer survivors. Equally important is the camaraderie provided for survivors by being on a team and the support offered from others who have been where they are,” he said.
It is also no coincidence that PVRC calls its boat “Dragon Rays.”
Baystate Health’s Rays of Hope has provided grant monies to PVRC and Paradise City Dragon Boat to provide
free access to dragon boat programs for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.
Following the races at 3 p.m., there will be a Cancer Survivor Flower Ceremony on the river.
“It’s a very emotional part of the day,” Quick said.
According to the United States Dragon Boat Federation, the Flower Ceremony has become “a heartwarming tradition of dragon boat festivals where paddlers out on the water throw flowers into the water to embrace their sisterhood and to honor those who have died from breast cancer.”
The day will end at 3:30 p.m. with a medal and award ceremony.
Parking is limited and Quick is asking spectators to consider alternate transportation to the event by carpooling or biking.
Festival proceeds benefit the Pioneer Valley Riverfront Club to continue their efforts in connecting people with healthy riverfront activity.
There will be a 50-50 raffle to raise additional funds for the club; the drawing is at 2 p.m.
For more information, go online to pvriverfront.org or call 413-736-1322.
can be based on yogurt, coconut milk, almond milk or oat milk.
To make an individual portion, flavorings like chocolate or vanilla are mixed into the customer-selected base, liquid nitrogen is introduced to freeze the dessert, then traditional mix-ins such as crushed candies, berries, or granola are folded in. Chill-N Nitrogen shops offer 30-plus such mix-in options.
Thanks to the speed and versatility of the liquid nitrogen process, Chill-N can efficiently produce a frozen dessert customized to each individual patron’s preferences.
Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream currently has locations in Florida, Texas, and Tennessee and, as it refines its technology, is continuing to recruit franchisees in those states.
On its YouTube channel Nation’s Restaurant News has posted an interview with the chain’s management team. That interview can be watched online.
• Belchertown Cultural Council is sponsoring another Food Truck Friday on July 19, from 4-8 p.m., on the Belchertown Town Common.
Eight different food trucks are slated to be on hand, including Birds Nest Italian Street Food, Macken’s Slid-
ers, Thai Chili and Batch Ice Cream.
Live entertainment and games will be part of the fun as well.
The Belchertown Cultural Council can be reached at 413813-5207.
• The All-American Bar, Grill & Patio in downtown Springfield is offering a special lunchtime deal during July.
On weekdays, except Tuesdays, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the All-American’s “Summer Score” promotion offers 20% off on lunch.
The menu at the All-American can be viewed online; the establishment answers at 413301-8337.
• Dunkin’, the coffee shop and snack brand, has turned to campfire traditions for its summertime inspiration, introducing several s’mores-flavored limited-time-only offerings.
A Bonfire S’mores Frozen Coffee brings pairs iced coffee with s’mores and vanilla flavored syrups; whipped cream and graham cracker crumbles top the drink.
The Dunkin’s S’mores Cold Brew is similarly garnished with marshmallow cold foam and graham cracker crumbles.
As a coffee go-with, the S’mores Donut has been brought back. It’s filled with marshmallow cream and chocolate icing.
Hot Honey Bacon is making a summer season appearance and is available as either a “snackin’” side order or in a Hot Honey Bacon Sandwich, where the honey-drizzled
Sally Nguyen hands a triple scoop cone to a customer while operating the Batch Ice Cream truck at The Farmers Market at Forest Park in Springfield. Batch Ice Cream will be among the food trucks present at Belchertown Cultural Council's Food Truck Fridays on the Town Common. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)
bacon keeps company on a brioche bun with an egg and white cheddar cheese.
• In an announcement that might inspire some to respond with “what can they be thinking?” streaming giant Netflix last month revealed that it will be opening two mall-based Netflix House “entertainment concept” locations.
The venues, which will open in 2025, will be screening Netflix series and film content as well as offering merchandise and dining. The dining experiences will be inspired by the handiwork of various celebrity chefs and mixologists that have appeared on the streaming service.
Menu specifics and operational details for the two Netflix House locations, which are
in Dallas and King of Prussia, PA, respectively, have yet to be announced.
• Champney’s Restaurant & Tavern at the Deerfield Inn will host a Christmas in July Dinner on Tuesday, July 23, from 5-7 p.m.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be table-hopping throughout the event, which features Champney’s regular menu as well as an extensive selection of meal options for kids. Tuesday is also a $16 burger night at Champney’s.
Reservations for the Christmas in July Dinner are strongly encouraged. They can be made by calling 413-774-5587.
• Oakholm Brewing Company in Brookfield is hosting its annual Summerfest on July 20 and 21.
The Saturday portion of the celebration will run from noon to 9 p.m. with four food trucks in attendance. Live music and an artisan market will part of the fun.
On Sunday, the Summerfest will be open from noon until 6 p.m. with food trucks, music and more.
A listing of brews on tap at Oakholm is always available online.
Admission is free, and more information about the Summerfest is available at 413-2729620.
• Head Chef Anthony Padilla at the Irish House Restaurant in West Springfield has introduced a new Potato and Onion Flatbread to the menu. Topped with roasted potatoes, bacon, green onions, garlic, and mozzarella, the flatbread is one of the several new items available. These include an Irish Cobb Salad, which features Swiss cheese and corned beef.
Padilla has also added a number of house-made desserts to the restaurant’s bill of fare; his Bailey’s Buttercream Brownie is an example.
Reservations for the Irish House Restaurant can be made by calling 413-3424358.
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.
us playing bars, restaurants and nursing homes, but I’ve always craved a bigger sound with a band,” Carter said.
Carter will have that big sound she was looking for at The Majestic with a band that, in addition to Foster on piano, includes Frank Varela on guitar, Mark Barowsky on saxophone, Ed Brainerd on trumpet, and Joe Fitzpatrick on drums.
“Each of these musicians is incredible ... virtuosos in their own right ... and I sometimes have to pinch myself and ask, ‘How did I end up with these guys?’ ”
For those who want to see more of Carter, she will be bringing her “Ultimate Cher
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Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
SATURDAY
BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity: here.gone. - Steven Santoro. 130 Pine St., Florence
Delaney House: Buddy McEarns. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
MGM Springfield: MGM Roar Comedy Club: Jeremiah Watkins. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: I Draw Slow. 289
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Community theater aficionados will have their first chance to support Suffield Players during “New Faces 2024.”
To be held on Aug. 17 at 2 and 7 p.m. at Mapleton Hall, 1305 Mapleton Ave., “New Faces” is an inclusive and educational experience open to those 16 and older. The program encompasses “all facets of theatrical production, including actors, directors, writers, designers, and techni-
Experience” — featuring all the spectacle, humor, great music and glitzy costumes that are Cher — to the Majestic Theater on Aug. 18 with two shows at 2 and 7 p.m.
“I am dedicated to all of my different audiences who come out to hear what I am doing. It is my job to make them feel different and happy when they leave one of my shows. That is my goal. And if I can do that, then I’ve done my job,” Carter said.
Tickets for both Table for Two and the Ultimate Cher Experience — priced at $26 and $28 — are available online at majestictheater. com, by calling 413-747-7797, or in-person at the box office. Box office hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 pm. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Main St., Greenfield
Theodores’: Eran Troy Danner. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
SUNDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: Jazz. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event. Items should be mailed to Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub.com, or submitted to masslive.com/ myevent
cians,” a press release states.
“We are excited to showcase the talents of our emerging performers and theater enthusiasts at the New Faces 2024 Performances,” said Mary Fernandez-Sierra, board member of the Suffield Players. “This event embodies our commitment to providing a welcoming and educational space for individuals to explore and cultivate their passion for theater.”
For more information on “New Faces” and Suffield Players’ upcoming season, go online to suffieldplayers. org.
