How to watch Tyler Perry’s ‘House of Payne’ masslive.com/entertainment
LIVE WIRE: Easthampton’s Luthiers Co-op seamlessly blends two sides of music, D4
OFF THE MENU: Will Chipotle CEO bring his expertise to Starbucks? D6
WINE PRESS: 5 wine tips for an outdoor barbecue, D7
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican
THERE IS SOMEthing for everyone at this year’s Three County Fair in Northampton, from thrillseekers to animal lovers and from food connoisseurs to dedicated shoppers, when “the great late summer fair” opens its gates for the 207th consecutive fair.
America’s oldest ongoing agricultural fair begins on Friday at 4 p.m. and continues through Labor Day.
Originally founded as the Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden Agricultural Society back in 1818, the fair remains true to its agricultural heritage — with their many livestock competitions, agricultural exhibits, tractor pulls, draft horse challenge and more continuing this year — while over time adding crafts, demotion derbies, music, food, a midway and more seen at today’s Three County Fair.
“Agriculture has always been the center of our fair. I am excited to see everything coming to life on our fairgrounds,” said Taylor Haas, the fair’s new executive director.
“What is exciting is to see the long tradition of the Three County Fair continuing its legacy for fairgoers to enjoy. We are a part of the community and something wonderful that people look forward to every year,” she added.
Musical entertainment throughout the four-day fair includes on Friday, Jose Gonzalez and Banda Criolla and Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze; The Hendersons Blues Bands, Johnny Memphis Band, Janet Ryan & Straight Up and Tom Ingram Band will appear on Saturday; Sunday begins with Stomp Box Trio, followed by Lauren Fleit, Poor Monroe
old
A fairgoer enjoys a doughnut at a past Three County
“Agriculture
has always been the center of our fair.
I
am excited to see everything coming to life on our fairgrounds.”
Taylor Haas, executive director of the Three County Fair
with Eric Lee, and Moose & The High Tops; Monday ends the fair with Gary & Natalie Jones and Mojo Wagon with Lauren Fleit. Other fun entertainment
includes the Wee Wee Wee Racing Pigs, Real McCoy Stunt Comedy Show and Magic by Ed Pop.
Thrillseekers will have plenty of action to choose from at the fair from daredevil to slower kiddie rides provided by Rockwell Amusements to popular demolition derbies the fair refers to as a “smashing good time,” to the return of the AMDC Wall of Death — America’s Original Extreme Motorcycle Thrill Show.
The smash and crash fun begins Friday at 7 p.m. with the Minivan Demo Derby and 4-6 Cylinder Stock Compact Demo Derby, and continues
on Saturday at 7 p.m. with Enduro Racing and the ever-popular School Bus Demo Derby, followed on Sunday at 7 p.m. by Stock and Modified Lawnmower Racing and 4-68 Cylinder Demo Derby and ending with Monday’s Enduro Racing and School Bus Demo Derby at 2 p.m.
There is a $6 admission fee for the Grandstand events.
It is all about the food for many fairgoers and the Three County Fair turns into a giant restaurant for four days with classics like cotton candy, deep fried treats, ice cream, pizza, fried dough, hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries and a full menu of mouthwatering delights that also includes beer and other tasty beverages.
“We are beginning to take a different approach to your typical fair foods and over the years we will be expanding our menu to include new things like wood-fired pizza as well as Venezuelan food
which we have added this year,” Haas said.
For those who want to “shop until they drop,” the fair’s 18,000-square-foot Marketplace building features products from talented crafters to a variety of home improvement solutions. Vendors will be selling wine, cupcakes, crystals, jewelry, campers, fudge, art, candles and much more. For a complete list of vendors in the Marketplace, visit 3countyfair.com.
The Three County Fair also has two museums on its fairgrounds.
“Our Farm Museum depicts farming over the ages with its many displays of old tractors and farm equipment and a little house set up to show what life once was like for farmers in the Pioneer Valley. Our Racing Museum pays homage to the days when horse racing was once our bread and butter and includes racing silk, timers and other mementoes of those days,” Haas said.
Other fair attractions alongside the many agri-
(DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)
Gauge Clark, 5, of Westhampton, enjoys one of the many rides during a visit to a previous Three County Fair in Northampton.
(THE REPUBLICAN FILE
cultural competitions and exhibits include Parakeet Encounter, Classic Car Show, Antique Engine and Tractor Showcase, Kiddie Tractor Pull, Just Jumpers Horse Show, Apple Pie Contest, King Arthur Baking Competition and an endless list of things to do and see.
Gates open Friday at 4 p.m., and Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 10 a.m.
Tickets in advance online at 3countyfair.com are $30 for a four-day pass for ages 12 and older, $12 for ages 12-64, $9 for seniors 65 and older and veterans with ID, and free for youths 11 and
under. Tickets day-of are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and veterans.
Parking is free.
The Three County Fair is located at 54 Fair St. in Northampton.
For a complete list of activities and events, visit 3county fair.com.
ONE OF THE AREA’S most popular music spots not only sits in an unlikely venue, it also started out because the owner needed a rehearsal space for his band.
“We added the stage in 2012 because our band lost its rehearsal space and needed a place to practice,” Steven Baer of Luthier’s Co-op in Easthampton said. “The stage was just a way for us to separate the items actually for sale and the personal items that weren’t.”
Since the stage was fully equipped with amps and a drum kit, Baer & Co. slowly began adding other events, like weekly open mics and artist residencies.
“The early events were all BYOB and no money was being made after hours, so although it was fun, it wasn’t sustainable. We pursued a liquor license and added the first bar (beer and wine only) in 2013, and also beefed up the calendar with nightly free entertainment to try and fill seats.”
Since then, of course, Luthiers Co-op has expanded, adding its Backstage Bar in 2017 after acquiring a full liquor license from the city.
“It took us a full year to put the room together since it was a blank slate. We wanted it to have the impression that it had been there for a long time, so everything we put in there was old or made to look old,” Baer said. “The pews were from a church on Carew Street in Springfield that closed, and the bar itself came from the Boston Billiards that closed on Route 5 in West Springfield.”
Baer, who currently does the booking for the venue, but who is turning the job over
soon, says there are no specific types of music he looks for.
“There are really no parameters for booking; we are open to everyone and all kinds of music — but we do try to keep the solo artists in the 7 p.m. slots and reserve the 8 p.m. and 9:30 spots for larger acts,” he said “We typically ask folks to leave at least three months in between their gigs here to ensure room for everyone, but that is probably the only actual parameter for booking.”
The venue seems like a perfect marriage of two different types of businesses. One imagines they get musicians who come in for repairs who then want to play a gig there, but do they get a lot of sales of instruments from people who perform there?
“We actually have three different businesses operating out of here at this point. This past year, the guitar shop officially separated from the bar/venue side of the business which has allowed for us again to fine-tune our focus and provide better services across the board,” Baer said. “Instrument sales do happen after hours, and musicians who come in to play do on occasion pull the trigger with an instrument purchase, but it’s technically far more likely that we’d sell an instrument online. We obviously
prefer the in-store sales, but the majority of the guitar market has officially shifted online.”
As far as the instrument repair and sales side of the business, which is actually its main function, the original shop was founded by renowned local luthier Frank Lucchesi about 20 years ago. When Lucchesi passed away unexpectedly in 2007, Baer started volunteering shortly afterwards in the shop just to fill the gaps and help keep it going.
“After about a year of working for Frank’s wife and colleagues, I was offered the business for sale and decided to purchase it with my partners at the time,” Baer said.
Luthiers Co-op offers a wide range of services, but restricts repairs to mostly fretted instruments.
“We specifically work on fretted instruments; so no violins, cellos, uprights, etcetra,” Baer said. “This is mainly because the market is too different for bowed instruments, and given the amount of space we have, narrowing the window of focus to only fretted instruments just made sense.”
What’s the weirdest problem a customer has asked Baer to fix?
A disgruntled partner once smashed her boyfriend’s vintage 1980s electric guitar into numerous pieces. It was a rare one-off American build that was irreplaceable,” Baer said. “He was away for the week, and they had since made up, but she wanted it to be repaired like new — so he wouldn’t be able to tell — before he got home. We obviously couldn’t help her.”
Luthiers Co-op is at 108 Cottage St. In Easthampton.
“Instrument sales do happen after hours, and musicians who come in to play do on occasion pull the trigger with an instrument purchase, but it’s technically far more likely that we’d sell an instrument online. We obviously prefer the in-store sales, but the majority of the guitar market has officially shifted online.”
THURSDAY
Delaney House: New System. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
Northampton Brewery: Bands On Brewster 2024: Soul Magnets. 11 Brewster Court, Northampton
The Drake: Copilot and Blue Light Bandits. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
FRIDAY
Delaney House: Lisa Martin Band. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke East Mountain Country Club: Phoenix Band. 1458 East Mountain Rd, Westfield
MGM Springfield: MGM Free Music Fridays: Draw the Line. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
Shaker Farms Country Club: Looney Tunes. 866 Shaker Road, Westfield
The Drake: Jim Lauderdale. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Off the Common: STL GLD, Tem Blessed and Blessed Energy. 289 Main St., Greenfield
The Meeting House: Dave Brinnel. 827 Williams St., Longmeadow
Union Station/The Deck: Tom Savoy. 125A Pleasant St., Northampton
Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: Baird Souls. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SATURDAY
Antimony Brewing: Tom Savoy. 55 Pittsfield Road Building 2, Lenox
Delaney House: Woodford Way. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Israel Vibration and Roots Radio with Dub Apocalypse. 289 Main St., Greenfield
Theodores’: Tommy Whalen & The Ragged Edge. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: The Healys. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SUNDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: Jazz. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
MONDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: 50% off individual deep dish pizza (dine in only). 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
TUESDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: Blues Music. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
WEDNESDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: Light Rock. 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.
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
Religion, Portuguese culture and good times combine for five days beginning Thursday during the 76th anniversary Our Lady of Fatma Parish Festa 2024.
Since 1949, the Festa has celebrated the dedication of Our Lady of Fatima Parish to preserving the memory of Fatima, Portugal, where in 1917, the Blessed Mother is believed to have appeared to three shepherd children at the Cova da Iria.
“God sent his Blessed Mother to these three poor shepherd children with a message for the world - a message of mercy, love, salvation and peace ... a more unified, loving humanity,” said Friar Pedro de Oliveira, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish.
“Our Festa is an opportunity for everyone in the community to come and enjoy a fun event for five days, and to experience the warm hospitality of Portuguese American immigrants who want to share their proud culture, heritage and faith,” he added.
The popular event — attracting over 100,000 people from as far away as Canada to the tip of the Florida coast — will feature music and dance, yummy food, a beer garden, midway with over 20 rides, and two outdoor masses celebrated on Sunday.
“Last year we had some folks from Portugal who flew over, but we won’t know until the last minute if anyone from there will be attending this year,” said Scott Gomes-Ganhao, Festa chair for the past 15 years.
“I remember my parents bringing me to the Festa every year,” he added
about the fond memories that eventually led to him becoming involved with the event.
Music on Thursday will feature the James Paul Band and American Honey, Friday will showcase Project267 and Aquanett, Saturday will highlight the sounds of The Great Escape and recording artists 4Mens from Portugal, and popular singer and recording artist Jose Malhoa from Portugal will end the night on Sunday after the annual mass and candlelight procession. Also on Sunday, three different Portuguese folklore dancing and singing groups — from Newark, New Jersey; Waterbury, Conn., and Peabody — will perform, along with an appearance by Luizinho. The young concertina artist hails from Long Island, New York, but is originally from Penafiel, Portugal.
It wouldn’t be a Festa without some delicious Portuguese food including bifana, a traditional, grilled pork sandwich; caldo verde, which is Portuguese kale soup; and gallina asada, chicken marinated in white wine and Portuguese spices then grilled. There will also be Portuguese sardines and fish as well as shish-kabobs.
“The shish-ka-bobs are make-your-own. We provide the meat, spices, veggies and marinade and you make your own then grill it,” Gomes-Ganhao said.
For less adventurous young ones, there will be hamburgers, hot dogs, loaded French fries, chicken tenders, and for anyone who likes a good, healthy salad, it is a new option this year.
“We will also have authentic Portuguese fried dough, which we sell over 25,000 of every year, and Portuguese custard cups from a vendor in New Jersey who comes every to our Festa,” Gomes-Ganhao said.
Vendors will also be on hand, selling jewelry, pots and pans, jerseys and other items made in Portugal.
On Sunday, there will be an outdoor Mass celebrated in Portuguese at 11 a.m. There also will be an outdoor Mass in English at 6:30 p.m. celebrated by the Most Rev. Robert Chrzaszcza, Auxiliary Bishop from Krakow, Poland, along with three additional celebrants including the Most Rev. William D. Byrne, Bishop of Springfield. The Mass will be followed by a candlelight procession in which the statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be carried along the streets of Ludlow.
Festa will end on Monday with a special midway price and the annual raffle drawing. Tickets are $1 with the first prize being $1,000, second prize $500, and third prize $250.
Hours are Thursday, 5-11 p.m.; Friday, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Sunday, noon to 12 a.m.; and Monday, noon to 6 p.m. Admission on Thursday, Friday and Saturday is $3, and free on Sunday and Monday.
The Festa will take place at 438 Winsor St., Ludlow.
For more information, call 413-583-2312 or go online to facebook.com/OLOFFesta.
guese custard tarts),
Friday, September 6
presented by the mi museo committee
Closing celebration for Frida Kahlo, Her Photos
Music by The Goza Latino Band & DJ Cowboy
hors d’oeuvres & cash bar Free and open to the public!
CAN ONE MAN’S EFforts re-energize a global restaurant brand?
That’s the question that dominated the restaurant industry newsfeed last week following the announcement that Brian Niccol, the former Chipotle Mexican Grill chief executive was, as of September 9, joining Starbucks as CEO.
Niccol is coming off a successful tenure at Chipotle, a chain that has enjoyed double-digit sales growth while others in the restaurant industry have been dealing with lackluster performance. Prior to his tenure at Chipotle, Niccol was CEO of Taco Bell, another restaurant success story.
Niccol is what restaurant industry observers would label as an “operations guy.”
Brian Niccol
At Chipotle, he and his management team focused primarily on improving speed of service and upgrading the chain’s digital sales platform.
He’s also not a fan of what he calls “promotional prices.” During the past several years Chipotle has avoided “deals” and has not been shy about “taking margin” (increasing menu prices) at times when its competition was clearly not eager to do so.
The question is, however, can his success at the helm of two Mexican quick-service chains translate into a turnaround for Starbucks? Can he squeeze more efficiency out of an ever-more-complex array of drinks that, for the most part, need to be meticulously handcrafted?
He also needs to convince consumers to increase their visits to Starbucks, even though many of those potential visitors seem to have become increasingly value conscious.
Niccol is also likely to find himself having to deal with
Hugh Robert Off The Menu
Starbucks founder and past CEO Howard Schultz who has, in the past, not been shy about second-guessing the chain’s leadership team.
Finally, can an executive who is receiving a $10 million dollar signing bonus, an annual salary of $1.6 million and potential cash bonuses of up to $7.2 million effectively relate to an increasingly union-sympathetic Starbucks workforce?
The story of Niccol’s career at Starbucks is likely to be an interesting measure of the man and his stature as a restaurant industry leader.
• Lobsterfest continues at the Delaney House in Holyoke through Sept. 1. The restaurant is celebrating with a menu of lobster favorites that can be enjoyed either as a meal add-on or a separate course.
Lobsterfest appetizers at the Delaney House include lobster poutine, fried lobster ravioli, and lobster bisque.
Entree selections during the fest range from whole lobsters stuffed or boiled to lobster pappardelle with a champagne cream sauce.
Other entrees on the Delaney House menu can be enhance with sides of lobster risotto, lobster mac & cheese or a lobster tail.
Reservations at the Delaney House can be made by calling 413-532-1800.
• Chick-fil-A locations are currently supplementing their regular menu with a limited-time-only offering of a Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich. Features a chicken breast filet drizzled
with honey, topped with pimento cheese and garnished with mild pickled jalapenos, the sandwich can be ordered in either a “regular” or “spicy filet” version.
The chain is also introducing two drinks, a Banana Pudding Milkshake made with banana and vanilla wafer crumbles, and a Banana Frosted Coffee, made with cold-brewed coffee.
There are Chick-fil-A restaurants on Memorial Drive in Chicopee and 25 Hazard Avenue in Enfield.
• The Friendly’s Restaurant location at 19 Springfield St. in Agawam will be celebrating its 67th anniversary on Saturday, Aug. 31, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The restaurant will be offering 50-cent single cones for all ages and will be serving free Kids Meals with the purchase of an adult entree.
Fun activities are also promised as part of the daylong festivities.
For more details, contact the Agawam Friendly’s location at 413-786-4466.
• On Aug. 26, Subway reportedly began offering their own take on a value “deal,” a two-weeks-only $6.99 price
Chick-fil-A locations are offering a Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich for a limited time. (CHICK-FIL-A)
for any Footlong sandwich on the chain’s menu.
There’s a catch, however. The $6.99 deal is only available on the Subway mobile app, a “digital-only” proviso that’s increasingly being attached to fast food “offers.”
Availability of the $6.99 Footlong price may also vary with locations, since some franchises have been “turning off” Subway’s digital deals, complaining the discounting involved is too drastic.
• Arby’s restaurants have
brought back two sandwich favorites.
The Bourbon BBQ Chicken Sandwich incorporates a fried chicken breast, brown sugar bacon, cheddar cheese, fried onions and a Bourbon BBQ sauce.
Arby’s Bourbon BBQ Brisket Sandwich swaps out the chicken breast and replaces it with sliced smoked beef brisket. Both sandwiches will be available as long as supplies last.
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
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 regular games $100 with 80 people or More. All Cards are included with Admission. Prizes climb with additional attendence. Full Kitchen 4-6:30pm.
WEDNESDAY CALL TODAY 413-788-1250 TO LIST HERE
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
Apex Orchards in Shelburne will host a Peach Festival on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (THE REPUBLICAN
• Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations have made two permanent additions to their menus.
THE END OF SUMMER IS less than a month away. (This is the part where I duck to avoid being hit by flying objects.)
I realize this is a tough time of year, especially in New England for those of you who don’t pine for cold, snowy, wintery days.
But it’s also an ideal time for outdoor barbecues and the next few months.
Many of you are probably scratching your heads. Barbecues after Labor Day weekend? Seriously?
But hear me out.
There are Arby’s locations on Granby Road in Chicopee and on Southbridge Street in Auburn.
• On Saturday and Sunday, Apex Orchards in Shelburne will host a Peach Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The celebrations will include pickyour-own peaches, live music, craft vendors, and food prepared by Caravan Kitchen. Element Brewing Company of Millers Falls will be on site, and Apex will be operating its own “mini cider donut” trailer.
For more details, contact Apex Orchards at 413-625-2744.
• Leading one of Berkshire County’s most respected kitchens is no small matter, and successfully doing so for 10 years is a truly noteworthy achievement.
This weekend, from Friday through Sunday, Nick Moulton, chef at Mezze Bar + Bistro in Williamstown, will be ending his tenure as that restaurant’s longest-serving head chef.
Moulton, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, has gained a reputation for elevating the Bistro’s menu by giving vegetables as much attention as traditional protein items. Moulton’s appreciation of vegetables is such that, when he competed on the Food Network’s “Grocery Games” competition, Chef Guy Fieri, the show’s host, conferred the title of “Veggie King” on Moulton.
As of September Chef Kevin Orcutt will be succeeding Moulton at the helm of Mezze’s kitchen. Orcutt, who has cooked at Mezze for the past two years, will bring his interest in pasta-making, natural fermentation, and seafood cookery to his new position and presumably to the menu at Mezze.
More information on Mezze Bar + Bistro can be found at their website.
For breakfast, the chain has introduced a Signature Fried Apple French Toast Bake. The “bake,” which is topped with cheesecake filling, fried apples and brown sugar streusel, comes with butter pecan syrup and a choice of bacon or sausage.
Cracker Barrel’s Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd’s Pie features a pot roast, gravy and vegetable filling baked under a hashbrown casserole crust. The new Shepherd’s Pie comes with buttermilk biscuits or corn muffins.
In addition, several fall season features at Cracker Barrel will be available through October 20. They include a Southern Apple Cobbler dessert, a Granny Smith Apple Iced Tea and, in some licensed locations, Granny Smith Apple Mimosas
• On Aug. 26, Olive Garden Italian Restaurant locations once again began featuring their Never-Endling Pasta Bowl.
Priced at $13.99, the Bowls can be ordered with fettuccine, spaghetti, rigatoni or angel hair pasta. Sauce options include cream mushroom, marinara, five-cheese marinara, meat and alfredo.
The Bowls include homemade soup or salad and breadsticks. For a $4.99 upcharge, Bowls can be further enhanced with meatballs, Italian sausage or Olive Garden’s Chicken Fritta.
The Never-Endling Pasta Bowl promotion is scheduled to continue through November 17.
There are Olive Garden Italian Restaurants at the Riverdale Shops in West Springfield and on Hazard Avenue in Enfield.
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.
Or consider these two scenarios.
The first one – you’re standing outside in shorts and a T-shirt in the blazing sun, eating a burger with your sweaty, suntan lotion-covered fingers.
The second one — you’re wearing a flannel shirt, relaxing in the shade by a bonfire leisurely eating a warm, juicy burger.
I know which door I would pick, Bob Barker.
That’s why I think the next few months (basically from now until the end of October) are the best barbecue times in New England.
So with that in mind and another huge barbecue weekend coming up this weekend, here are five suggestions for dealing with wine at your outdoor barbecue.
Hope you enjoy.
Designated area
If you’re hosting a big barbecue, you probably have a lot of things to deal with — cooking burgers or smoking barbecue, making a salad or looking for more plates and napkins. Make your life easier when it comes to the wine and put it all in one place. That way, you’ll also be able to see if you’re running low or need to set out more wine. (Generally plan on half a bottle of wine for each wine-drinking guest.)
Self-serve wine
Now that you have all the wine in one place, don’t worry about which ones to open or refilling everyone’s glass. Let people serve themselves. This makes your life easier and makes your guests happy as well since they can pick whichever wine they want to have with their grilled hot dog or potato salad.
If your barbecues are anything like ours, there’s probably a lot of meat, whether it’s hamburgers, pork ribs, brisket or steak. Hearty red wines go great with all those grilled foods. And by hearty reds, I mean Argentinian malbecs, California red zinfandels and a wide range of red wines from France’s Rhone region, Spain’s Rioja region and Italy’s Tuscany region.
Another fan favorite at barbecues I have found is sparkling wine. These refreshing, bubbly, chilled wines go great with practically anything as well, whether it’s meat or pasta salad, watermelon or pie. And while there are a wide range of sparkling wines to choose from, I personally prefer drier ones, which have the name “brut” on the label. Obviously, Champagne from France is amazing. If you want something more affordable, California makes some great ones as well. Spanish Cava is another great option, as well as many Italian Proseccos.
So you have your red wine and your sparkling wine. Still feel like serving other types of wine at your barbecue? Serve anything you want! Like New Zealand sauvignon blanc with your moussaka? Or maybe South African chenin blanc with salmon burgers? Go for it. Take chances and have fun. Let me add that California chardonnays are also very popular. Trust me. I know.
Cheers!
Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday.
IF YOU REALLY WANT to know about brewing in Western Massachusetts, you probably can’t do better than talking to Gary Bogoff of Berkshire Brewing Co. in Deerfield.
Bogoff started the brewery with then-business partner Chris Lalli in 1994, making it only the second craft brewery in the area (after the Northampton Brewery, which opened in 1987). That means that Berkshire Brewing will celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with a party at the Franklin County Fairgrounds starting at noon on Sept. 28. Along with great beers and food, music will be provided by the likes of James Montgomery, The Lonesome Brothers, Eilen Jewell, and Briezy Jane & the Hurricane.
Although Bogoff has now passed the head brewer baton on to his son Noah, he still runs the operation, so we talked to him about his brewery and his thoughts on the beer industry in general.
On how he got into brewing: My first homebrew was probably back in 1988. My dad passed his love of beer on to me and I continued trying out new things. That’s when I met Chris, and we just started brewing a bunch of beer together. All our friends said, “this is great,
you guys have to go for it,” so we did.
On why Berkshire stays true to brewing traditions and doesn’t chase every new trend:
Back when we started, that generation of brewers was interested in trying to reproduce the great beers from around the world. We wanted to show the world that America could brew good beer too. There are so many great styles of beer that there was no need to put table top pies or gummy bears in the beer
And as things have evolved, I think that the consumer base has lost its understanding of the history of beer like where it came from and what traditional brews are and how they should taste.
On the brewery’s flagship Steel Rail Extra Pale Ale serving as a perfect gateway beer to craft brews: It was a very conscious
decision. We knew back then that if we had made anything darker than that, some people just wouldn’t try it. So we tried making something that looked like Bud, Miller or Coors, but which had a little more flavor. (Beer writer) Lew Bryson once said that “Steel Rail is what water ought to taste like in heaven.” (Laughs)
On the biggest change he’s
seen in brewing over the past three decades:
I think the old guys made it look so easy and now we have like over 10,000 breweries in the country. I think a lot of people jumped in thinking it was the way to the end of the rainbow. But I guess a lot of this is good because people are taking things to the next level and trying new things. But I don’t want to forget
where we came from. That’s not me, because I want to definitely remember where we came from.
On his favorite aspect of being a brewer: There’s great camaraderie within the industry. Way back in the day, everybody knew everybody, and if you needed to borrow something, they would be there for you. Everyone was so open and giving.
THURSDAY
Florence Summer Concert Series: Thu, 6:30-8 p.m. Florence Civic Center, Lonesome Brothers. Food Truck: Cousins Maine Lobster. Bring a lawn chair, 90 Park St., Florence.
FRIDAY
Cinema Northampton: Kiki’s Delivery Service: Fri, 8 p.m. Forbes Library, Bring drinks, snacks, bug spray, flashlights, and blankets. Rain date is one week after the following Wed, 20 West Street, Northampton. (413) 587-1011 or www.forbeslibrary.org.
Rainbow LGBTQIA+ & Allies Coffee Social Hour: Fri, 1 p.m. Northampton Senior Center, Gay Men’s Group, every Fri, 1 p.m., 67 Conz St., Northampton. (413) 5871228 or www.northampton seniors.com.
RPM Fest 2024: Fri, noon; Sat.Sun, 9 a.m. The Millers Falls Rod and Gun Club, RPM Fest is New England’s raddest heavy music campout, featuring over 40 bands, vendors, entertainment, food trucks, craft brews, and more. Join the community, pitch your tent, party in the woods, and headbang all weekend, $145/weekend, $4585 single day. 210 Turners Falls Road, Turners Falls; Summer at Buttery Brook Park 2024 Concert: Fri, 5 p.m. Buttery Brook Park, It Takes Two (Joe & Amanda), 123 Williamansett St., South Hadley.
Tanglewood Popular Artists Series: Fri, 7 p.m. Tanglewood, Judy Collins, Indigo Girls, and Rufus Wainwright. Shed. Tickets $29$69. 297 West St., Lenox. (888) 266-1200 or www.tanglewood.org
Three County Fair: Fri.-Sun, Three County Fairgrounds, For more information including ticket prices, visit https://www.3countyfair. com/, 41 Fair St., Northampton. (413) 584-2237 or www.three countyfair.com
Amherst Historical Society and Museum Strings of the Strong Concerts: Sat, 2-3:30 p.m. Amherst History Museum, Wistaria String Quartet, 67 Amity St., Amherst.
Friends of the Monson Free Library Used Books Sale: Sat, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sun, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monson Free Library, in the DeSantis Community Room. Adult, young adult and children’s books will be
$2 each per hard-cover and $1 each per paperback or bring a tote bag and fill for $10 (1/2 price on Sunday). Proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Monson Free Library. For inquiries, please email friends.monsonfreelibrary@gmail.com, 2 High Street, Monson. (413) 267-3866.
Live Music: Farley String Band. Sat, noon LAVA Center, 324 Main St., Greenfield.
RPM Fest 2024: See Friday listing Tanglewood: Boston Pops/Tanglewood Popular Artist Series: Sat, 7 p.m. Tanglewood, DISPATCH with the Boston Pops and special guest Kaia Kaiter. Shed. Tickets $39$129. 297 West St., Lenox. (888) 266-1200 or www.tanglewood. org
Three County Fair: See Friday listing
Friends of the Monson Free Library Used Books Sale: See Saturday listing Old Deerfield Sunday Afternoon Concert Series: Sun, 3 p.m. Memorial Hall Museum, The Valtchev-Tchekoratova Duo, $15 adults, $8 for seniors and students and available at the door. 8 Memorial St., Deerfield. (413) 774-3768 ext. 10 or www.deerfield-ma.org
RPM Fest 2024: See Friday listing St. Mark Armenian Fest: Sun, noon-6 p.m. St. Mark Armenian Church, Come enjoy delicious Armenian food fresh off the grill, baked goods to buy and take home, live Armenian music, raffle, and more! A true celebration of Armenian culture! Free admission and free parking. Rain or shine (plenty of seating under the tent!) Sponsorships welcome! Visit stmarkarmenianchurch.org for sponsorship opportunities. For more information, call (413) 783-5793, Free. 2427 Wilbraham Road, Springfield; Three County Fair: See Friday listing
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: “Ancient Treasures,” a display of artifacts from ancient China, Greece, Rome and Egypt. Beginning May 18 through Labor Day, the Springfield Museums will take part in the Blue Star Museum Initiative. During this time, military personal and their families will be admitted to the museums at no charge. The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the Unit-
ed States Military—Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force, members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), DD Form 1173-1 ID card or the Next Generation Uniformed Services (Real) ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum. On the first Wed. of every month through the end of 2026, admission to the Springfield Museums will be free. For more information, visit www.springfield museums.org.
Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: “Designing Downtown.” Through Sept. 8. Explore the history of downtown Springfield through centuries of plans that were never brought to fruition. Maps, drawings, blueprints, and more documents created by local citizens and nationally known city planners offer a glimpse into Springfield as it could have been and, at the same time, how the modern city came to be. “The 200th Anniversary of the Springfield Republican.” Through January 5. “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum: The Exhibit.” Through Sept. 1. Travel back in time and unravel the secrets of world-famous heroes. This new exhibit brings to life the PBS Kids TV series “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.’. Permanent exhibit: more than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.
Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “Frida Kahlo, Her Photos.” Through Sept. 8. On the Second Floor, Wheeler Gallery. “Look Again: Portraits of Daring Women” by Julie Lapping Rivera. Through Feb. 23.
Springfield Science Museum: “Did the Asteroid Really Kill the Dinosaurs?.” Sat. through Aug. 31, 2 p.m. This full-dome show uncovers the science behind one of Earth’s greatest mysteries: the fate of dinosaurs. Audiences will explore impacts, cosmic collisions, and different types of evidence that can be found on the moons and planets of our solar system. “Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies.” Through Sept. 1. This hands-on exhibition offers and astounding array of authentic dinosaur eggs and nests collected from all over the globe. Permanent Exhibit: State-of-the-Art Zeiss Projector and updated International Space Station Exhibit. The Planetarium’s Korkosz Starball in
continuous operation since 1937 will be enhanced with the addition of a state-of-the-art Zeiss Velvet full-dome projector. Down the hall from the Planetarium, the newly upgraded, interactive International Space Station exhibit will provide visitors with a better understanding of what it takes and it’s like to fly among the stars, living and working in outer space for months on end.
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent Exhibit. 1st floor exhibition provides opportunities to explore new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories, and engage in activities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking, with interactive three-dimensional exhibits. 2nd floor: contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia, including never before publicly displayed art, the original Geisel Grove sign which used to hang in Forest Park, and furniture from Ted’s sitting room and studio, including his drawing board and armchair. Timed tickets required, for reservations visit springfieldmuseums.org. Quadrangle admission - $25 for adults, $16.50 for seniors (60+) and college students with ID, $13 for children ages 3-17; free to children under age 3 and members, Springfield residents are free with proof of residency. Welcome Center and Museum store. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Amelia Park Children’s Museum: Permanent exhibits include spaceship, construction site, library, grocery store. Weekday activities. Visit ameliaparkmuseum.org for information. Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Open for groups Wed. $8 adults, $8 children (12 months and older); $4 grandparents/seniors (60+); Military Personnel & Teachers: Receive a 10% discount off the price of your regular admission. Members/infants free; 29 South Broad St., Westfield or www.ameliaparkmuseum.org
Amherst History Museum: Cambodians in Amherst Exhibit: A History of the Khmer Community.” Through Nov. 9, Sat. 11 a.m.-3 p.m., any other day by appointment. For more information visit their Facebook page or online at https:// amhersthistory.org/; 67 Amity St., Amherst
Anchor House of Artists: The New England Visonary Artists Museum. Offer a summer full of captivating new art events that are guaranteed to entertain. Plus they
have a rotating exhibits by regional contemporaries including the visionary Charles Miller, the representationalist Gregory Stone, and others. Always something to see and do. June hours: Wed. Thurs. and Sat. 2-6 p.m.; Friday, 2-8 p.m.; More at NEVA-museum.org; Arts Night Out, 2nd Friday every month, monthly, 5-8 p.m.
Rotating art exhibits, self-staged by fine regional talents. The best least-known gallery in the Pioneer Valley. Free public receptions on the 2nd Fri. of the month from 5-8 p.m. email: artists@anchorhouseartists.org, anchorhouseartists. org; 413-588-4337; 518 Pleasant St., Northampton.
Children’s Museum at Holyoke: Permanent Exhibit: Amazing world of learning and play. The newest additions are The Wiggle and Wash/Vet Clinic. A toddler MerryGo-Round and a state of the art, STEM based cash register for kid’s. Hours: Tues.-Fri, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun, noon-4 p.m. closed Mondays, closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day, and Christmas Day. In the event of severe weather conditions, check Facebook or Instagram, or local TV Station 22 for closures. Admission: Children & Adults $8; Seniors (62+) $5; Children under 1 year of age and members are FREE; 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or www. childrensmuseumholyoke.org
Connecticut Trolley Museum: 2024 Summer Fun. Through Sept. 2. New: LEGO Station, an interactive and educational experience for visitors of all ages. Included with general admission. For more information about summer fun, visit www.cttrolley.org
Storytime Trolley. Tues. and Thurs, through Aug. 29. Featuring stories about the adventures of trolleys and trains. The reading will be inside one of the historic trolleys and a trolley ride will follow. Every story is different, and all ages are welcome. Summer Evening Hours. Through Aug. 31, 5-8 p.m.; 58 North Road, East Windsor or www.cttrolley.org
@LS lead lst:Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: Permanent exhibit: Gabrielle Healy Carroll Storytime Programs are held Tues. and Fri. 10:30 a.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m., free with admission. Museum hours: Wed.-Fri, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, noon-5 p.m. $6, $9, $22.50 for a family of four, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or www.carlemuseum.org.
:Historic Deerfield: “Vermont Furniture from the Alley Collection.” Through Nov. 30.
“In Pursuit of the Picturesque: The Art of James Wells Champney.” Aug. 31-Feb. 23. 80 Old Main St., Deerfield or www.historic-deerfield.org.
Historic Northampton Museum and Education: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Wed.-Sun. noon-5 p.m. $5 suggested donation; 46 Bridge St., Northampton or www. historic-northampton.org.
Holyoke Heritage State Park: Permanent exhibit. Preserving the history and culture of Holyoke through permanent exhibits on the paper and textile industry. Featuring a scale model of Mountain Park. Visitor Center open Tues.Sun, noon-4 p.m. Closed Mondays. Check website for programs and tours. mass.gov/locations/ holyoke-heritage-state-park. free; 221 Appleton St., Holyoke (413) 534-1723.
Josiah Day House: Permanent exhibit: featuring guided tours, artifacts, furniture, clothing and documents from 1754-1902. call for open house schedule and individual tours. $3, $1 children 6-12, free for members; 70 Park St., West Springfield (413) 734-8322.
Norman Rockwell Museum: Permanent exhibit: Gallery. Hours: Thurs.-Mon. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Advance tickets purchase required; Closed Tuesday and Wed.; In July and Aug, museum open Tuesdays noon-7 p.m. $20 adults; $18 seniors, AAA, retire military; $10 college students, free children ages 18 and under, members and active military.
Online Exhibit: “Imagining Freedom.” The exhibition highlights the important role of Norman Rockwell and other artists in advancing and communicating these ideals, envisioned as core human rights for all people. The fee for accessing “Imagining freedom” is $5 for the general public, available on the museum’s website at NRM.org What, Me Worry? The Art and Humor of MAD Magazine. Through Oct. 27. This exhibition explores the unforgettable art and satire of MAD, from its beginnings in 1952 as a popular humor comic book to its emergence as a beloved magazine that spoke truth to power and attracted generations of devoted readers through the decades. $0 - $25, https://www. nrm.org/2023/11/mad/. Totally MAD! Artmaking Activities. Saturdays through Aug. 31, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Make your own art inspired by the art and antics of MAD Magazine. MAD fan of all ages are welcome, no previous experience required. Materials provided. Free
with museum admission; 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or www.nrm.org Old Sturbridge Village: “For the Purpose of Illumination.” Learn how New Englanders needed, used, and created artificial lighting methods in the 1830s and see first-hand artifacts from the era. Included with standard daytime general admission. Standard daytime admission is $30 for adults, $28 for seniors (55+), $15 for youth (4-17), $15 for college students (with a valid college ID), and free for children 3 and under.
Muster Day. Aug. 31. Old Sturbridge Village will have musket and cannon firing demonstrations, early 19th-century martial music, and a “Sham Fight” as rival militia companies square off against each other in the field. Visitors will also be able to talk to members of two uniformed volunteer militia companies, learn why many New Englanders were pushing for reforms to the militia system and the role that intemperance played in those reforms, and hear the Singing School practice for a concert to welcome Lafayette. For the younger visitors they will get the chance to learn early 19th-century drills and marches with the militia office and a toy musket/ Route 20, Sturbridge or www.osv.org
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Museum: Open for its 75th Season. Sat.-Wed, 1-4 p.m. through Oct. Featuring a new tour that includes the contributions of the laborers including enslaved, indentured and day workers as well as guided tours. Closed Thurs.-Fri. $5 for adults, $1 for children; 130 River Drive, Hadley or www.pphmuseum.org.
Smith College Museum of Art: Permanent exhibits: “Ancient World Gallery, Beyond the Museum: Art on Smith’s Campus.” Hours: Tues.Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Mondays and major holidays. Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) is free to all starting immediately. SCMA ends paid admission to all activities including exhibitions, public programming and art-making to provide access and inclusion in the arts.
“Younes Rahmoun: Here, Now.” Aug. 30 - July 13. Opening reception Sept. 6, 6 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. The exhibition galleries are located on the first floor and lower level. Complimentary light refreshments and cash bar in the atrium. Please note: During the opening, the first floor (including museum shop) and lower level will be open; the second and third floor will be closed to visitors. Free. Elm Street at Bedford Terrace, Northampton or www.scam.smith.edu
Springfield Armory National Historic Site: Ranger-led interpretive
programs offered in the museum in the afternoon. Junior Ranger programs conducted frequently each day. Wed.-Sun, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; 1 Armory Square, Springfield or www.nps.gov/spar.
Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum: Permanent exhibit: Daniel Anthony’s Store, The Legacy Room, The Birthing Room, The Portrait Gallery. Winter Hours: Fri.-Sun, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through May 26. $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 students and children 6-17, free for children under 6 and NARM/NEMA/ROAM members; 67 East Road, Adams or www.susanbanthonybirthplace. com
The Emily Dickinson Museum: Homestead and Evergreens: Permanent exhibit. Open Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Admission to the museum is by guided tour, for which advance-purchased timed tickets are required. Visit EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org/Visit to purchase your tickets and for more information. 280 Main St., Amherst or www. emilydickinsonsmuseum.org
Titanic Museum: Permanent exhibit: exhibits from the collection of the International Titanic Historical Society. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $4, $2 children and students. 208 Main St., Indian Orchard or www. titanic1.org
University Museum of Contemporary Art - Fine Arts Center: Permanent exhibit. The University Museum is open through May 1; Tue–Fri, 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sat & Sun, noon–4p p.m.; and first Thursdays until 8 p.m. CLOSED: Mondays, holidays, and academic breaks. Check for snow days here: www.umass.edu/closing/. 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum: “Breaking Glass & Breaking Ground: Obscured Stories of Baseball in the Berkshires.” Through Sept. 2.
Permanent exhibit: guided tours of the first and second floors.
Weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Self-guided tours are on the hour with the last self-guided tour weekdays at 2 p.m. Call to reserve at 413-637-3206. Admission is $18 adults, $17 seniors (65+), $10 students with ID and $7 children 5-17. Admission $18; $17 for seniors (65 and over); $10 for students (ages 18 – 23) with student ID/ Members Free $7 – Children 5-17 years Free –Children 4 or younger.
Opera Meets Hollywood: Prima Music Foundation Concert. Aug. 29, 4 p.m. For tickets, call 413-6373206 or visit www.gildedage.org
$45 per person.
BSO Principal Double Bass
Edwin Barker & Guest Artists Concert. Aug. 30, 7 p.m. in the Billiard Room. For tickets, call 413-637-
3206 or visit www.gildedage.org
$45 per person.
Ghost Tour with Robert Oakes. Aug. 17, 31 8 p.m. Robert Oakes, author of “Ghosts of the Berkshires,” will lead participants through the rooms and halls of this historic estate sharing tales of its hauntings. Stand in the places where the eerie encounters occurred, listen to the first-hand accounts of those who experienced them, and maybe even experience something unusual yourself. This is not an active investigation. Reservations required as space is limited. For ages 12+. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. For reservations visit gildedage.org or call 413-6373206. Please note that all tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Payment is required to make a reservation for an event.
$30. 104 Walker St., Lenox.
West Springfield Town Museum: Permanent Exhibit. The museum is open to the public every first Sat. of the month from 1-3 p.m. Items of Interest and on display include hand built models of early town buildings and other structures, local artifacts and historic items from the Civil war, Mittineague Park and Bear Hole area, as well as other local historic items and displays. 55 Altamont Ave., West Springfield Windsor Historical Society: Permanent exhibit:explore the people, places and events that have shaped Windsor for over four centuries. Hours: Wed.-Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with house tours at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. General admission to the library and historic houses is $10 for adults, 48 for seniors, $6 for students and free to children under 12 and WHS members. Visitors are free to browse the museums tore and exhibit galleries at no charge. “People of Windsor.” Through December. 96 Palisade Ave., Windsor or www.windsorhistoricalsociety.org. Wistariahurst Museum: Permanent exhibit: Gardens and Grounds. Gardens and Grounds open daily from dawn to dusk. Carriage House and Gift shop open Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For information about house tours, group tours and upcoming events visit www.wistariahurst.org. Standard Admission: $7 Holyoke Residents: $5 Seniors: $5 Youth (Under 18): Free Museum Members: Free Active Military & Family Members: Free. 238 Cabot St., Holyoke or www.wistariahurst. org.
Yiddish Book Center: Permanent exhibit, “A Velt mit veltelekh: The Worlds of Jewish Culture.” The center will be open to the public on Thurs, Fri, Sun, and Mon. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Shabbos (Saturday) and Jewish and legal holidays. $8 adults, $6 seniors, free for members, students and children.
“Yiddish: A Global Culture.” Free, https://www.yiddishbookcenter. org/events/grand-opening-yiddish-global-culture. 1021 West St., Amherst or www.yiddishbook center.org.
A.P.E. Gallery: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Tues.-Thurs. noon-5 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. noon-8 p.m.; Sun. noon-5 p.m.
“Surviving Together.” Through Sept. 7. Gallery Hours: Wed.-Sun. noon-5 p.m.; Fri. noon-8 p.m.; Closed Mon. and Tue.; 126 Main St., Northampton or www.apearts. org.
Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Tues.-Fri. 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. First floor of building 28. 1 Armory Square, Springfield (413) 755-5258.
Barnes Gallery of Leverett Crafts and Arts: LCA Artists Group Show. Through Aug. 31. 13 Montague Road, Leverett (413) 548-9070.
Forbes Library: Illustrations and Collage by Chaldea Emerson, Pamela Acosta Hernandez, and Wendy Woodson. Through Aug. 31. 20 West St., Northampton or www. forbeslibrary.org.
Gallery A3 Amherst Art Alliance: Gallery A3 9th Annual Juried Show: “Impermanence.” Through Aug. 31. 28 Amity St., Amherst (413) 256-4250.
Hope and Feathers Framing and Gallery: Original Mosaics by Isabel Margolin. Through Aug. 31. Gallery Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 238 Bridge St., Northampton or www.hopeand feathersframing.com
Indian Orchard Mills Dane Gallery: All new exhibits every month featuring the artists at Indian Orchard Mills. Hours: Sat. noon-4 p.m. or by appointment. 34 Front St., Indian Orchard (413) 543-3321.
Jasper Rand Art Museum: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 6 Elm St., Westfield or www.westath.org.
Old Town Hall: “Emotions in Reflections” Logan Kirkpatrick. Through Aug. 31. 43 Main St., Easthampton
Trinity United Methodist Church: “Celebrating Ten Years of Aid in Nicaragua.” An exhibit in photos and words. Open Sun. 9 a.m.3 p.m. and during the week by appointment. Call 413-218-7391 for more information. 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield (413) 737-5311.
By M ARK K ENNEDy Associated Press
One of the first things you see in the reimagined “The Crow” is the sight of a fallen white horse in a muddy field, bleeding badly after becoming entangled in barbed wire. It’s a metaphor, of course, and a clunky one at that — a powerful image that doesn’t really fit well and is never explained.
That’s a hint that director Rupert Sanders will have a tendency to consistently pick the stylish option over the honest one in this film. In his attempt to give new life to the cult hero of comics and film, he’s given us plenty of beauty at the expense of depth or coherence.
The filmmakers have set their tale in a modern, generic
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Andrew Devries Fine Art International Inc.: Open Studios with Casting Demonstrations. Aug. 31, Oct. 12, 1-4 p.m. Limited to 12 people by reservations. Tickets, are $25 per person and available online. Visit www.andrewdevries.com
42 East River Road, Middlefield or www.andrewdevries.com.
Great Falls Discovery Center: Great Hall Exhibit: “Local Birds in Colored Pencil” by Mark Majeski. Through Sept. 2. “Made in Montague?.” Through Oct. 27. In the Hallway Gallery. Kidleidoscope Story Hour. Aug. 30, “Butterflies,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Program includes a story, activities and crafts. activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult, siblings and friends welcome. Meet in the Great Hall.
2 Avenue A, Turners Falls or www. greatfallsma.org.
Lupa Zoo: Lupa Zoo 2024 Season. Tues.-Sun. through Sept. 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed most Mondays, except on Memorial Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day. $15 adults ages 13+, $12 seniors (62+), $10 children (2-12), infants are free. 62 Nash Hill Road, Ludlow or www.lupazoo.org
Europe and made it very clear that this movie is based on the graphic novel by James O’Barr, but the 1994 film adaptation starring Brandon
Mount Tom State Reservation:
Open for the Season. Stone House Visitor Center: Thurs.-Sun. 10:30 a.m.-noon and 12:30-2 p.m. Free admission. Exhibits on local natural and cultural history, park information, trial maps and guides. Visitor Center also open 2-4 p.m. if no afternoon programs.
Nice & Easy Hike. Thurs. 9-10:30 a.m. through Aug. For seniors but open to all. Join this easy-paced hike, about 1 mile long. Wear clothing for the weather. Bring water, insect repellent and snack.
Birding for Beginners. Fridays through Aug. 9-10:30 a.m. All ages. Learn birdwatching basics, how to use binoculars, guide books, and get a free bird list. Bring water, insect repellent. If you have binoculars bring them too.
Discovery Table. Sat. through Aug, 2-4 p.m. All ages. take a deeper dive into the unseen nature of the park. A different topic each week. Discoveries include: salamander search, animal tracking, tree ring challenge, scavenger hunts, nature games and more. Find the Discovery Table near the playground, or inside the Stone House Visitor Center. 125 Reservation Road, Holyoke (413) 534-1186.
Mt. Greylock State Reservation: Storywalk Stroll. Through Aug. 31 “Summer’s Flight, Pollen’s Delight,” by Flora C. Caputo. From dawn to dusk. Visitor Center: Open Daily. Hours: Daily 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Interpretive exhibits explore the park story through artifacts and displays. Trail
Lee hovers over it like, well, a stubborn crow.
Brandon, son of legendary actor and martial artist Bruce Lee, was just 28 when he died
maps, hike guidance, 13-minute orientation film, bathrooms, drinking water available. Wheelchair accessible.
Discover Greylock. Fri. through Aug. 31, 11 a.m. For all ages. Join a Park Interpreter for a guided hike, walk or special program the explore the unique natural and cultural history of Mount Greylock. Meeting locations and program times may vary. Call the visitor Center to register and get updates.
Scenic Summit Tours. Saturdays through Aug. 31 1 and 2 p.m. For all ages. Park Interpreter-guided short and easy walk along paths explore the cultural landscape and unique ecology of the highest point in Mass. Wheelchair accessible. Meet at the circular relief map at the summit.
Nature Scavenger Hunt. Ongoing, Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For children and families. Self-guided adventurous quests invited you to search for natural treasures along part trails and inside the Visitor Center. There are several seek and find scavenger hunts for different age and skill levels. Scavenger hunts are available at the Visitor Center. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough Natural Bridge State Park: Visitors Center Exhibits. Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year round; explore the park story through displays, artifacts and scavenger hunts. $2 parking fee; programs are free. 107 McAuley Road, North Adams Northfield Mountain: Kid’s Pirate
after being shot while filming a scene for “The Crow.” History seems always to repeat: The new adaptation lands as another on-set death remains in the headlines.
Lee’s “The Crow” was finished without him and he never got to see it enter Gen X memory in all its rain-drenched, gothic glory, influencing everything from alternative fashion to “Blade” to Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy.
Bill Skarsgård seizes Lee’s role of Eric Draven, a man so in love that he returns from the dead to revenge his and his sweetheart’s slayings in what can be best called a sort of supernatural, romantic murderfest. (The tagline, “True love never dies,” clum-
Cruise. Aug. 31, 11 a.m. and noon. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 12 and under must wear a life vest that will be provided. Cruises will run approximately 45 minutes each. Register at www.bookeo.com/northfield $8 per child. 99 Millers Falls Road, Northfield or www.firstlightpower. com/northfield
River Studios DeVries Fine Art International Sculpture Trail: River Studios Sculpture Trail. Through Oct. 27, Fri.-Sun, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. Visitors can wind their way through a wildflower meadow and shaded groves, dotted with 40 large bronze sculptures as River Studios begins a new season of its Sculpture Trail. Free, donations graciously accepted. 36 East River Road, Middlefield
The Zoo in Forest Park and Education Center: Zoo at Forest Park 2024 Season. Sat.-Sun, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Zoo is a private, non-profit organization governed by the Forest Park Zoological Society. Situated in Forest Park, a 735-acre woodland park in Springfield. The Zoo is home to over 225 native and exotic animal residents representing a large variety of species. Admission: $13 adults, $9 seniors 62+, $7 children (1-12). Park $3 in-state, $5 out of state, cash only. Sumner Avenue, Springfield or www.forestparkzoo.org. Springfield, MA 01102-1329 or e-mail pmastriano@repub.com or submit it to www.masslive.com/myevent.
sily rips off Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera.”)
William Schneider, who co-wrote the screenplay with Zach Baylin, has given the story a near-operatic facelift, by introducing a devil, a Faustian bargain, blood-on-blood oaths and a godlike guide who monitors the limbo between heaven and hell, which looks like a disused, weed-covered railway station. “Kill the ones who killed you and you’ll get her back,” our hero is told. The first half drags at it sets the table for the steady beat of limbs and necks being detached at the end. Eric and his love, Shelly (played by an uneven FKA Twigs), meet in a rehab prison for wayward
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Amherst Common: Amherst
Farmers Market. Sat. through Nov. 23, 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Boltwood Avenue and Spring Street, Amherst. Belchertown Common: Belchertown Farmers and Artisans Market. Sundays through Oct. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Park and Main Streets, Belchertown or www.belchertownfair.com.
Forest Park: Farmers’ Market at Forest Park. Tues. through Oct. 12:30-6 p.m. In the parking lot at Cyr Arena. Sumner Avenue, Springfield
Kirkland Plaza: Northampton Farmers’ Market. Tues. through Nov. 5, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Kirkland Avenue, Northampton
The Longmeadow Shops: Farmers Market - Longmeadow Shops. Every Thurs. through Oct. 31, 12 p.m.- 6 p.m. Credit cards are accepted with a minimum purchase. https://thelongmeadowshops. com/event-listings/. 690 Bliss Road, Longmeadow
Tower Square Park: Downtown Springfield Farmers’ Market. Fri. through Sept. 27, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 1477 Main St., 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,
action sequences this year, albeit another one of those heightened showdowns at the opera.
youth that is so well lit and appointed that it looks more like an airport lounge where the cappuccinos are $19 but the Wi-Fi is complimentary.
Eric is a gentle loner — tortured by a past the writers don’t bother filling in, who likes to sketch in a book (universal cinema code signaling a sensitive soul) and is heavily tattooed (he’s often shirtless). His apartment has rows of mannequins with their heads covered in plastic and his new love calls him “brilliantly broken.” He’s like a Blink-182 lyric come to life.
Shelly is more complex, but that’s because the writers maybe gave up on giving her a real backstory. She has a tattoo that says “Laugh now, cry later,” reads serious literature and loves dancing in her underwear. She clearly comes from wealth and has had a falling out with her mom, but has also done an unimaginably horrible thing, which viewers will learn about at the end.
Part of the trouble is that the lead couple cast off very little electricity, offering a love affair that’s more teen-like than all-consuming. And this is a story that needs a love capable of transcending death.
There are lots of cool-looking moments — mostly Skarsgård in a trench coat, stomping around the desolate concrete jungle in the rain at night — until “The Crow” builds to one of the better
By this time, Eric has donned the Crow’s heavy eye and cheek makeup. He adds to this ensemble a katana and an inability to die. As he closes in on his target, mowing down tuxedoed bad guys as arias soar, the group movements on stage are echoed by the furious fighting backstage. A few severed heads might be considered over the top at curtain call, but subtlety isn’t being applauded here. If the original was plot-light but visually delicious, the new one has a better story but suffers from ideas in the films built on its predecessor, stealing a little from “The Matrix,” “Joker” and “Kill Bill.” Why not create something entirely new?
“The Crow” isn’t bad — and it gets better as it goes — but it’s an exercise in folly. It cannot escape Lee and the 1994 original even as it builds a more allegorical scaffolding for the smartphone generation. To use that very first metaphor, it’s like the trapped white horse — held down by its own painful past, never free to gallop on its own.
“The Crow,” a Lionsgate release that hits theaters Friday, is rated R for “strong bloody violence, gore, language, sexuality/nudity and drug use.” Running time: 111 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.
