The final fall of the mums
A tradition is set to end — Smith College cites challenges including resources, space
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
Every year, the Botanic Garden of Smith College Fall Chrysanthemum Show begins the first Saturday in November. But that tradition of mums, mums and more mums is about to end.
The last free 2024 Fall Mum Show, to be held from Nov. 2-17, runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and features an extraordinary display of chrysanthemums in a variety of shapes, sizes and hues. Botanic Garden staff and horticulture students begin preparing for the show months ahead to ensure that all of the popular flowers are ready in time.
Chrysanthemums have been captivating the imaginations of gardeners around the world for more than 2,500 years. First cultivated in China, ornamental chrysanthemums date in recorded history from the time of Confucius, in the sixth century B.C.E.
“Chrysanthemums as varietals have
evolved in the plant breeding world. And the show is a wonderful way to showcase the breadth of a plant that most people are familiar with, but not as they see it in our show ... there are a lot of varieties,” said John Berryhill, director of the Smith College Botanic Garden.
“We typically think of them as colorful
globes that we put in a pot outside our front steps at this time of year. The varieties that are available and the horticultural treatments can make them present differently, such as cascades, standards and our most recent addition called the bonsai. They all present the plants in
Scenes from a past Fall Chrysanthemum Show at the Smith College Botanic Garden. The show returns starting Saturday and runs through Nov. 17. (SUBMITTED PHOTOS / SMITH COLLEGE)
Whiskey Treaty Roadshow to celebrate 10 years
WHISKEY TREAty Roadshow is unique in the sense that it features five singers/songwriters. Many bands with just one or two people taking on those roles often find that so-called “creative differences” spell their demise.
Yet somehow, Whiskey Treaty Roadshow has avoided such pitfalls and will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Nov. 8 at Northampton’s Iron Horse Music Hall — where the band played its very first show a decade ago.
“We look at each other and honestly feel like this is the best time in our lives, musically, and as friends, none of us thought the project would last this long,” said band member Tory Hanna in an interview with The Republican. “It’s friendship, it’s collaboration, but for the most part it is musical creativity.”
In that interview, Hanna talked about the band and its collaborative nature.
Q. How did it happen
that five independent singers/songwriters decided to get together to form a band?
A. The genesis of this magical project goes back to 2012 when my wife, Susie Hanna, devised a music festival in Greenfield focused on community and sharing fan bases across the different audiences that each of the core members’ solo bands were building at the time. The name she gave it was the Whiskey Treaty Music Festival. She found that a common thread to our songwriting was about whiskey in the hills of Western Massachusetts — a band favorite beverage at the time, although we have admittedly
Not into gore and gloom?
Here’s a guide to some lighter Halloween viewing
slowed down — and “treaty” represented the coming together under one of our many different projects. The festival sold out the first year, so we did it again the second year, and it sold out. So we had the notion to take the show on the road, hence the name “roadshow,” and basically formed a super group of the band leaders who are the founding members still today.
Q. How does the collaboration work? Do you all write your songs separately and bring them down to the band and it’s decided democratically which songs you play/record? Do you write together sometimes?
A. For most of our career, we brought individual songs to the table, the core five would bring a pretty much baked song to the table, and we would play it either live at shows for the first time together or at rehearsals. Based on body language and general excitement, we’d
By Robert L loyd Los Angeles Times
I imagine that when you think of a TV critic, you picture some hard-boiled, crusty, even heartless type. But I have always been a sen-
sitive, delicate, please-leavethe-light-on sort of fellow. So Halloween is a holiday I greet with mixed emotions. I am fine with its brighter expressions — candy, pumpkins, cute costumes on little children, “It’s Halloween” by the Shaggs, all that. But you can keep your haunted houses, the latest “It,” your “Scream” masks, your
Whiskey Treaty Roadshow is celebrating its 10th anniversary at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton on Nov. 8. (DYLAN LAW)
George Lenker LIVE WIRE
Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams in “Wednesday,” Netflix’s take on “The Addams Family.” (VLAD CIOPLEA / NETFLIX / TNS)
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Calling all crocheters & knitters
Fiber festival returns to Eastern States Exposition
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
There will be a lot of “fleecing” going on this weekend on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition.
But it is the good kind.
As part of the annual Fiber Festival of New England on Saturday and Sunday — hosted by the Eastern States Exposition and the New England Sheep and Wool Growers Association — there will be a fleece sale. Fleece is the coat of wool covering a wool-bearing animal such as a sheep, rabbits, alpaca, llama and goat.
“Those of us who want the total experience begin with the fleece when making a sweater, rug, gloves, scarf, blanket or so many other items. But turning fleece into wool isn’t for the faint of heart. There are so many steps to processing raw fleece, among them cleaning, washing, spinning, dying and roving, as a few examples,” said Donna Woolam, president of the New England Sheep and Wool Growers Association.
But the show — to be held on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — offers much more than just the opportunity to buy fleece. Attendees will have access to countless thread counts and a vast array of high-quality and cozy items for purchase, as well as watching sheep shearing demonstrations, and the opportunity to see some wool-bearing animals up-close.
“The show has grown in
Produced by Eastern States Exposition and The New England Sheep and Wool Growers Association
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Mallary Complex | Eastern States Exposition
Workshops • Over 200 Booths
Llamas, Alpacas, Sheep & Rabbits
Yarn, Looms, Spinning Wheels • Shopping
Products, Supplies, Raw Materials & More
(ADOBE STOCK)
ways that people are not used to seeing them. To me, that is what is exciting about the show, that people come in and are surprised to see more than just a bunch of pom poms,” he added.
He explained the three different categories of mums exist: standards, cascades and bonsai.
“These are pruning and training treatments that we give to the plants so they are typical of the plant you are used to seeing. In the case of standards, they are pruned into one single tall stalk with a gigantic flower on top. In the case of cascades, they are varieties trained to grow to
Above is a scene from a past Fall Chrysanthemum Show at the Smith College Botanic Garden. The show returns, starting Saturday and running through Nov. 17. (SUBMITTED PHOTOS / SMITH COLLEGE)
“Not only are the plants different colors, but within the flowers themselves you will see a different mix of colors. The centers of the plants are different colors than the outer; what we think of as petals are actually individual flowers.”
JOHN BERRYHILL, DIRECTOR, SMITH COLLEGE BOTANIC GARDEN
look like a carpet, a cascading waterfall, if you will, out of a pot, so that it looks like a wall of color. But it doesn’t just happen, it takes months of careful work of pruning them because they don’t grow that way naturally. You have to force the growth pattern and train the growths where to go,” Berryhill said.
And then there are the bonsai mums.
“The bonsai plants, just like bonsai trees, are plants that would grow much larger and differently if you just let them grow on their own. So, it is the very careful labor-intensive training that gives them the impression of an extremely old plant in miniaturized form. They often like bonsai trees look like a miniature version of a larger plant that might be sitting on a rocky ledge in the wild. But that is not something you would actually encounter, it is a really breathtaking form and they all look different,” he explained.
And it will be a very colorful experience, the director noted.
“Not only are the plants different colors, but within the flowers themselves you will see a different mix of colors. The centers of the plants are different colors than the outer; what we think of as petals are actually individual flowers.
Chrysanthemums are part of the Aster plant family, what we think of having this one complicated flower on top. But they are actually a cluster of specialized flowers some designed to guide insects to the true flower in the center. They are genetically akin to the sunflower,” Berryhill said.
An article on The Botanic Garden webpage explains the demise of the Mum Show, citing challenges such as resources and space.
It reads: “The Fall Mum Show started as an extension of a horticulture class exercise teaching students the process of controlled plant hybridization. While these techniques are no longer part of the curriculum at Smith, the show still is. What is not easily apparent to guests is that the Mum Show requires
significantly more time, resources, space, and chemical inputs, than its springtime counterpart, the Bulb Show. It also draws only about a third of the audience. These
challenges have loomed larger and larger as we have sought to find the bandwidth to build the kind of programming and displays that align best with our strategic plan. As such, this
fall’s show will be the last of its kind and will be replaced with a wide variety of botanical displays and exhibits. These exhibits will range from special exhibits revealing the stories behind exceptional plant groups in Lyman, to student works, to reappearances of past Church Gallery exhibits that were only given a short time to be experienced many years ago.”
Since its founding in 1895, the Smith College Botanic Garden has been devoted to teaching, public education, scientific research, and beauty. Smith’s first president, L. Clarke Seelye believed in science education for women and also believed in the fact that the entire campus should be scientific, as well as having aesthetic value. From the start, he envisioned the Smith campus as a botanical garden. Today’s garden spans 127 acres and includes the 12,000 square foot Lyman Plant House & Conservatory (where the school’s Spring Bulb Show is held every year), Church Gallery, arboretum, and many outdoor gardens. Parking for the event is available in the many areas around campus, however, parking on College Lane is not permitted. Visit the Smith College website, smith.edu, for a parking map.
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 regular games $100 with 80 people or More. All Cards are included with Admission. Prizes climb with additional attendence. Full Kitchen 4-6:30pm.
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
popularity over the years as many of the fiber arts, such as knitting and crocheting, are becoming more popular than ever as crafters seek to create wonderful things with natural fibers,” Woolam said, noting some 5,000 women, men and children attended last year’s event.
“There is nothing like our fiber show in the New England area unless you want to travel to Rhinebeck, New York. This is a fun and educational show focusing on the world of wool and other fiber products and the opportunity to talk with the many growers and producers from vendors all over New England and the Northeast and as far away as Maryland and Ohio,” Woolam said.
“If you want to knit a sweater for the winter, here at the show you can decide what fiber animal to make it from, and you have the ability to pick from hundreds of fibers of all colors, types, and weights, as well as to purchase a unique pattern by designers. Not to mention everything else you need to help you get the job done such as special needles and more,” she added.
Nearly 20 workshops will be held throughout the weekend to allow attendees to try their hand at felting,
spinning, punch needling, crocheting and rug hooking. Among the many workshops include Begin To Spin, Beginning Tunisian Crochet, Circular Loom Weaving with the Heart in Hand Loom, Felted Soap, Corded Wool Stool, Folk Art Rug Hooking, Knitting with Sheep Locks, and Make a Beaded Cuff Bracelet. For a full list, times, pricing, and to sign up for one or more of the lessons, visit EasternStates Exposition.com
Other shopping opportunities while at Fiber Festival include the Eastern States Farmers Market and Wine Barn and Storrowton Village and its shops. Visitors can also take a free scenic ride aboard the Roaming Railroad to and from the Farmers Market and Storrowton Village.
Also on Saturday while at the Fiber Festival, visitors can attend a blacksmith event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Storrowton Village, where the annual Blacksmithing Day includes live demonstrations by more than 10 smiths.
Fiber Festival admission is $7 for adults and free for children 12 and under with tickets available in advance online at EasternStatesExposition. com.
And, no, Donna’s last name isn’t made up, it truly has “wool” as part of it.
“We’ve always thought of this project as a circus tent, or maybe better said, a community tent. We pitch it and underneath it everyone gathers.”
TORY HANNA, WHISKEY TREATY ROADSHOW
decide to play the song and bring it into our catalog or in some cases not.
Later on as the band grew, we did start to co-write in more of a shared fashion, bringing unbaked songs to the table and letting individuals of the core five offer lyrical or musical notes and shape the songs more collaboratively.
Q. It seems like so many cooks stirring the broth might cause problems, at least just statistically. How does it work for you guys?
A. The fact of the matter is, we were friends before we became bandmates, but we truly treat this as a brotherhood, as
a family. Also, we have professional management which definitely helps defer any of the bigger decisions, but we’ve worked together for over a decade so this collaboration works, and we certainly delegate aspects of the business to individuals who thrive at each part.
Q. The sheer number of people providing creative input means there’s definitely some diversity of sound, yet there seems to be a definite common thread throughout the music. How would you describe that common thread to listeners?
A. Over the years we have never boxed ourselves in. As of late, I feel like we’ve landed on the term “eclectic.”
I actually like that a lot; it feels right. But of course we have influences from bluegrass, Americana, singer/songwriter, folk, and of course a ton of indie rock.
The instrumentation and the five core songwriters brings so much diversity to the project and to the listeners’ ears; the five different singers bring so much as well.
Q. How do you and other members view the band? Everyone also does their own thing, so is the band a side project — or is the band the main thing for everybody, and everyone does their own side projects?
A. The band is the main project, but yes, everyone does their own on the side; there’s different focal points
for individual music-making. We’ve always thought of this project as a circus tent, or maybe better said, a community tent. We pitch it and un-
CuffingSeason!
derneath it everyone gathers. We hope we can raise this tent for community gatherings for the next 10 years or even beyond.
The Fiber Festival returns to the Eastern States Exposition this weekend and features vendors as well as nearly 20 workshops. (ADOBE STOCK)
Quarter Pounders back on menu at McDonald’s after E. coli scare
FRIGHTENING
news on the menu week for Chicago-based McDonald’s Corp.: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had tentatively linked illnesses caused by E. coli in 10 Midwestern and Mountain states to the consumption of Quarter Pounder sandwiches sold at McDonald’s restaurants. The outbreak in question sickened 49 people and led to one death.
The E. coli contamination was tentatively traced to “value added” produce in the form of slivered fresh onions used to garnish the hamburgers.
Reports as of Monday confirmed that the beef patties were not in fact contaminated (and the Quarter Pounder has returned to menus). At the time of this publication, the Food and Drug Administration was investigating whether Taylor Farms, which supplied slivered onions to McDonald’s in the areas where the outbreaks occurred, was the source of the contamination.
While most consumers understand that improperly handled or cooked chicken and meat can be a source of food borne illness, the risks associated
with fresh produce are equally significant but less well understood. A number of multistate food poisoning incidents over the past decade have been eventually traced back to fresh fruits and vegetables.
As the sourcing of fresh produce has become increasingly global, fruits and vegetables are handled more, increasing the chances for contamination as the produce moves through the supply chain.
Processed, “value-added” fresh produce like prepared salad greens (and the slivered onions implicated in this Quarter Pounder incident) are additionally subjected to both machine processing and human contact that can increase the potential for contamination by pathogens.
Major operators like McDonald’s are diligent about food safety procedures within their operations, but an increased reliance on processed-elsewhere produce may mean that ensuring food safety in restaurant dining is going to remain a challenge in the years ahead.
A six-pack of spooky Halloween beers
MOST BEERS DON’T elicit fear — at least not intentionally. We have all had a few brews that in retrospect could have frightened us, whether it was a matter of high alcohol content or just a foreboding sense that certain ingredients probably wouldn’t yield a pleasant result.
But overall, beers are pretty nonthreatening and certainly not spooky. But in the spirit of Halloween, I thought it would be fun to look at some beer names (and sometimes the stories behind them) that definitely fit well with the haunted holiday. These are not ranked in any particular order, but feel free to send along any ones I might have missed to geolenker@ yahoo.com.
Fallen Angel Black Death Chili: I have not had this beer myself, but the name alone is reason to include it. I also fear that it might fall into the category I mentioned earlier: Beers that should scare us because of the ingredients. Black Death Chili includes the daunting Naga chili pepper, which clocks in at more than 800,000 units on the Scoville scale (which is comparable to the famous Ghost pepper, for you chili fans). I doubt I’d bother trying it because although I’m not a strict traditionalist when it comes to beer, I don’t usually enjoy beers that are trying to be extreme for the sake of being extreme. And the name itself isn’t exactly inviting.
Rogue Dead Guy Ale: Let’s shift gears to a beer that has been around for decades and which I’d bet many readers have enjoyed. Dead Guy Ale is a classic beer with a spooky name and label that warrants its inclusion on any Halloween list. Rogue has won numerous awards for this malty Maibock-style brew –and deservedly so.
Couch Dog Brewing Portergeist: It’s only fitting to include a brewery from Salem where the Witch Trials occurred. While poltergeists are fairly low on the scary scale (as compared to, say, vampires, werewolves and zombies), Couch Dog gets a nod for the clever use of these spirits in the name of its porter. I’ve sampled this brew and it’s pretty tasty, with a ghost of cocoa notes that will bewitch your palate.
Lost Abbey Witch’s Wit: Speaking of Salem and witches, it wouldn’t be Halloween without a beer named in honor of these sorceresses. Witch’s Wit is, of course, a witbier, and is a fairly tame beer in terms of drinkability. But one glance at the label belies that modesty, as the artwork depicts an accused witch being burned at the stake. This might not be the best marketing tool for the Wiccan crowd, but this wheat beer itself is innocuously light and tasty — but better suited for drinking around a normal campfire.
Southern Tier Warlock: In fairness to witches’ male counterparts, let’s include this Southern Tier stout iteration of its renowned Pumpking brew. Warlock peers into the dark side of the pumpkingdom, bringing a rich, chocolate and coffee flavor to the mix. The sweetnees might mask the 8.6% alcohol content, but the overwhelming richness will probably prevent you from drinking too many of these beers anyway.
Unibroue Maudite: While “maudite” means “accursed” in English, it’s more the story behind the name that gets it included here. The label pictures some lumberjacks in a flying canoe, which is a reference to “La Chasse Galerie” (“The Flying Canoe”), a legend that describes the fate of some lumberjacks who sell their souls to the devil so they can make it home in time for Christmas. The most ominous version of the tale ends with one of the lumberjacks invoking the name of God, which causes the canoe to crash to earth. You can rest assured, however, that no such accursed fate awaits you for drinking this beer, although its 8% alcohol level might cause a descent into hangover-land if too many are imbibed.
Happy Halloween!
George Lenker Beer Nut
A McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburger meal is seen at a McDonald's on Oct. 23, in the Flatbush neighborhood in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
(MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO / GETTY IMAGES / TNS)
Hugh Robert Off The Menu
Sicilian Wines, Part 1: Grillo white wines & Cantania
Note: This is the first story in a three-part series about wines and wineries in Sicily recently visited by the author.
CATANIA, SICILY, ITALY — Black ash lingers in the cracks in the sidewalks.
You see the ash nearly everywhere you walk in this ancient, grand city nestled on the east coast of Sicily.
The ash came from a volcanic eruption just over a month earlier from Mount Etna, which looms in the distance north of the city.
Erupting volcanos might seem like something straight out of a science fiction movie. But they’re real and remain an active part of life in Sicily.
The same can be said about many things in Sicily, which often seems like a mixture of myth and reality rooted in the past.
Several memorable scenes in Homer’s epic Greek poem “The Odyssey” take place in Sicily, including Odysseus’ encounter with a one-eyed cyclops.
The recent, second season of “The White Lotus” takes place at a fictional, seaside resort in Sicily.
As for the real world, many civilizations have jockeyed for control of the largest Mediterranean island over the centuries, including ancient Greece, Rome, Spain and Italy.
You can see evidence of that history throughout the island and in cities like Catania, the second-largest city on Sicily.
The rambling ruins of a massive Roman amphitheater can be found here a few blocks north Piazza Stesicoro.
A few blocks away, Catania’s beautiful, Baroque-style cathedral stands majestically near Piazza del Duomo.
And down the maze of side streets in Catania, you’ll find many other charming plazas, squares and stunning, Baroque buildings like its opera house, Teatro Bellini, named in honor of world-renowned Sicilian composer Vincenzo Bellini.
The past feels alive around every corner in Catania.
Yet even though Sicily has a long, rich history, it’s firmly
focused on the future. This is especially true when it comes to wine in Sicily. Many Sicilian winemakers respect the traditions of the past. But they’re also open to new ideas and willing to experiment in an effort to produce the best possible wines.
Recently, I spent the week visiting several wineries in Sicily and learning more about wines from Sicily in general on a trip hosted by the Wines of Sicily. In this three-part series, you can learn more about these wines and Sicily’s winemaking history. And as part of this week’s article, you can also learn more about one of Sicily’s best-kept secrets — white wines made with Grillo grapes, along with tasting
notes for several Grillo wines tasted in Sicily. Hope you enjoy.
Sicily wine statistics
• 242,000 acres of vineyards;
• 7,200 wine growers;
• 530 wine bottlers;
• 30 percent of organic Italian wine comes from Sicily.
History of winemaking
People have been making wine on Sicily for more than 4,000 years, perhaps even longer, starting with the Greeks. There are several reasons why Sicily’s an ideal wine-growing location, including its hot summer and mild, rainy winters; a diverse variety of soils; a climate that’s suitable for sustainable wine
History of the Grillo grape
Cultivated on Sicily since at least the 1890s and found nowhere else, Grillo is best known for being the primary grape used to make Marsala, a sweet, fortified wine. However, since the 1990s, more winemakers have been growing Grillo to make delicious, refreshing white wines.
Grillo is a cross between Catarrato Blanco and Zibibbo grapes. Grillo is the second-most widely grown grape on Sicily after the red wine grape, Nero D’Avola. More than 22,000 acres of vineyards in Sicily contain Grillo grapes.
Wine tasting notes
(All five Grillo white wines were tasted side by side in Sicily last month.)
2023 Tenute Matranga ‘Jancu’ Grillo
production; an abundance of natural grape varieties (more than 70 grapes); and the influence of several significant wind patterns, including Mistral and Sirocco.
Winemaking regions
Sicily has four, distinct climates that produce different, distinct wines. Sicily’s four climates are:
• Coastal climate, which is milder than other parts of the island;
• Mt. Etna area, which is more humid and warmer on the eastern side and cooler on the northern side;
• Mountainous areas, which are colder than other parts of the island;
• Inland area, which is hotter and more humid.
Tasting notes: Delicate, soft lemon-like flavors with a hint of sea salt that taste great when the wine is slightly chilled but not too cold.
2023 Fina Kebrilla Grillo
Tasting notes: Saltier, refreshing, bright lemon flavors blend beautifully with hints of sea salt and floral-like aromas and flavors.
2023 Tenute Lombardo Grillo D’ Altura
Tasting notes: My favorite wine of the Grillo tasting, this soft, delicate wine has bright, intense lemon zest-like flavors with bright bursts of sea salt and mineral-like flavors and aromas.
2022 Casa Di Grazia Zahara Grillo
Tasting notes: Another outstanding mineral-rich wine with hints of lemon peel, sea salt and long, lush waves of floral-like aromas and rocky mineral notes.
2022 Villa Viticce Grillo
Tasting notes: Round, subtle wine with layers of flavors, including – you guessed it – lemon zest, sea salt and floral-like aromas that linger after each taste.
Cheers!
Wine Press by Ken Ross appears in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday.
Teatro Bellini in Catania, Sicily as photographed by columnist Ken Ross, above. At left, five Grillo white wines tasted by the author in Sicily last month.
(KEN ROSS PHOTOS)
Ken Ross Wine Press
Nightclubs
THURSDAY
Theodores': HCC Jazz Night. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
FRIDAY
East Mountain Country Club: Stealing Frequencies. 1458 East Mountain Rd, Westfield
MGM Springfield: MGM Comedy Roar Club presents Byron Bowers. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
The Drake: Battle of the Bands. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Jimmy Just Quit Halloween Party. 289 Main St., Greenfield
The Meeting House: Dave Brinnel. 827 Williams St., Longmeadow
Theodores': Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Tree House Brewery: Tom Savoy. 1 Community PL, South Deerfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
West Springfield's Irish House Restaurant & Pub: John Stokose. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SATURDAY
MGM Springfield: MGM Comedy Roar Club presents Byron Bowers. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
The Drake: Juliana Hatfield Three with Hilken Mancini Band. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores': Eric Ducoff Band. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
SUNDAY
The Drake: Wistaria String Quartet. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
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
THURSDAY
The Addams Family Musical: Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun, 2 p.m. Rooke Theatre, Mount Holyoke College Department of Film Media Theatre presents "The Addams Family." $15 to $20. Lower Lake Road, South Hadley.
The zom-B-52.0's Halloween Party!: Thu, 8 p.m. Marigold Theater, This Halloween, come dance this mess around with Western Mass' No. 1 (and only) B-52's tribute band, Bar opens at 7 p.m., music at 8 p.m. 21+ only, $13 in costume / $66.69 not in costume. 84 Cottage St., Easthampton, marigoldtheater. com.
FRIDAY
The Addams Family Musical: See Thursday listing
CiderDays 2024: Fri.-Sun., annual CiderDays takes place during the first weekend in Nov. For a complete of listing of venues and events visit ciderdays.org/schedule-of-events-2024.
Rainbow LGBTQIA+ & Allies Coffee Social Hour: Fri., 1 p.m. Northampton Senior Center, Gay Men's Group meets every Fri. at 1 p.m., 67 Conz St., Northampton. 413-587-1228 or northamptonseniors.com.
SATURDAY
The Addams Family Musical: See Thursday listing Billy Eagan: Sat., West Springfield's Irish House Restaurant & Pub. Event will include Irish shopping fair and Springfield Rifles Rugby match. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield, IrishCenterwne. org.
CiderDays 2024: See Friday listing Ciompi String Quartet with pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute: Sat., 7:30 p.m. Sweeney Concert Hall, adults $35, under 18 free, students $10. 7 College Lane, Northampton, smith.edu.
History on the Go — Western Mass Women's History Trail: Sat., Josiah Day House. For a full list of activities and locations, visit josiahdayhouse.com, 70 Park St., West Springfield. 413-734-8322.
Medicare Readiness Session: Sat, 9-10 a.m. Hilton Garden Inn, Learn about Health New England's 2025 Medicare Advantage options from your local team. Health New England Medicare experts will explain the company's 2025 Medicare Advantage options and what you need to know when choosing a Medicare plan. Register or find other community Medicare
CALENDAR
sessions at healthnewengland. org/medicare/sessions, or email msupport@hne.com for a one-onone meeting, 800 Hall of Fame Avenue, Springfield; Pay It Forward Series presents “Mirror, Mirror: Who’s My Role Model?”: Sat., 7:30 p.m. Blue Room at CitySpace. Tickets are $5-20 and are available online at CitySpaceEasthampton.org. 43 Main St., Easthampton.
Resilient Community Arts at Eastworks Open Studios: Sat.Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Eastworks, Visit Resilient Community Arts to purchase original artworks, prints and jewelry, holiday gift packages and much more . Day 1 of open studios will include an all-ages "Build a World" miniature workshop at 1 p.m.; preregistered tickets starting at $10. Day 2 will include all-day zinemaking with guests from Translate Gener. Visit resilientcommunityarts.org for more information. 116 Pleasant St., Easthampton. 413-527-1000 or eastworks.com.
SUNDAY
25 Hour Theater Festival at LAVA Center: Sun., 6 and 8 p.m. LAVA Center. Masks required for 6 p.m. show. Admission will be at the door only and by a suggested donation, 324 Main St., Greenfield.
The Addams Family Musical: See Thursday listing Bunka no Hi — A Culture Day Celebration with Mountain River Taiko & Friends: Sun., 3 p.m. Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, This
event is free and open to everyone; donations appreciated. The show will be followed by a family-friendly shishimai workshop with Eien from 5-6 p.m., Free. 130 Pine St., Florence.
CiderDays 2024: See Friday listing Resilient Community Arts at Eastworks Open Studios: See Saturday listing
Quadrangle
George Walter Vincent Smith
Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: “Ancient Treasures,” a display of artifacts from ancient China, Greece, Rome and Egypt. On the first Wed. of every month through the end of 2026, admission to the Springfield Museums is free. For more information, visit springfieldmuseums.org.
Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: “The 200th Anniversary of the Springfield Republican,” through Jan. 5. Permanent exhibit: More than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.
Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “Gilded Echoes: The Tiffany Influence in Josh Simpson’s Glasswork,” through Feb. 25. “Look Again: Portraits of Daring Women” by Julie Lapping Rivera, through Feb. 23. “Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass,” through Feb. 25. Museum a la Carte: Oct. 31, 12:15 p.m. “Literary and Artistic Depictions of Witches in Ancient Greece and Rome.” Cost is $4, free for members. This talk provides a broad overview of how the ancient
Greeks and Romans perceived witches. What qualities — whether physical or behavioral — identified someone as a witch? Were they dangerous or benevolent? Beautiful or hideous? Were witches revered or feared or persecuted? Did they represent male fears about women and power? Presented by Debbie Felton, Professor of Classics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Springfield Science Museum: Permanent exhibit: State-of-theart Zeiss Projector and updated International Space Station Exhibit. Stars Over Springfield: Nov. 1, 7:30-9 p.m. Cost $7, $5 members.. Join for a beginner’s astronomy program featuring a short talk by a local expert, hands-on activities or demonstrations, a planetarium show with the historic Korkosz starball and brand-new Zeiss projector, and stargazing in the rooftop observatory. Recommended for ages 8 and older. This month’s topic is “Features of the Moon.” To register, visit springfieldmuseums.org.
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. First floor exhibition offers interactive three-dimensional exhibits. Second floor contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia. Timed tickets required. For reservations, visit springfieldmuseums.org.
Quadrangle admission - $25 for adults, $16.50 for seniors (60+) and college students with ID, $13 for children ages 3-17; free to children under age 3 and members, Springfield residents are free with proof of residency. Welcome Center and Museum store. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
An apple picker checks the quality of apples in 2019 at Apex Orchards. The Shelburne Falls farm is among the regional farms participating in this weekend’s Cider Days, a Franklin County celebration of all things apple. (FREDERICK GORE PHOTO)
troublemaking teens using the cover of the holiday to terrorize a neighborhood. Even “The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror” I can find genuinely disquieting.
You will therefore find the following personal guide to Halloween viewing — some things specific to the day, some germane to the season, some featuring paranormal characters, some parodying monster movies — to be short on blood and guts (the kind worn outside the body) and long on comedy and cartoons. There is more than enough actual horror about.
More than anything, Halloween is an opportunity for me to once again steer you to the 2014 web comedy “Ghost Ghirls,” currently living its best afterlife on Vimeo.
Created by stars Amanda Lund and Maria Blasucci, it comprises a dozen 10-minute episodes, which by some magic have the substance of full-blown sitcom episodes. As self-involved, childish, competitive ghost hunters-whisperers-busters, Lund and Blasucci visit various locations (a baseball field, a tax office, a middle school, a brothel, a recording studio) to help conflicted spirits move on into the light; the impeccable guest cast includes Jason Ritter, Jake Johnson, Natasha Leggero, Kumail Nanjiani, Colin Hanks, Larisa Oleynik, Paul F. Tompkins, Jason Schwartzman, Brett Gelman, Kate Micucci, Molly Shannon and, as a dead ‘70s Southern-rock band fighting too much to finish their final song, Jack Black, Val Kilmer and Dave Grohl.
Helping spirits move on into the light also was the theme of the 2014 Tyler Labine comedy “Deadbeat” (Tubi), with a similarly impressive roster of guest stars. Labine was previously a regular on “Reaper” (stream on CWTV.com), in which Brett Harrison plays a slacker who, after his parents sold his soul to the devil (Ray Wise), sets to work as a kind of bounty hunter, returning the escaped damned to hell.
Both these series are funny and charming and worth your attention.
Filmed in suburban New Jersey, “The Adventures of Pete and Pete,” originally on Nickelodeon, was not only the most beautifully fashioned kids show of the 1990s but a series that argues well for the very existence of television. And yet you will have to go to the wilds of YouTube to find it. In the holiday episode “Halloweenie,” little Pete
“It’s
In its gorgeous, glorious evocation of autumn days and, especially, nights, its Vince Guaraldi score and Bill Melendez animation, it takes Schulz’s art somewhere new without betraying it.
(Danny Tamberelli) is out to beat a 31-year-old record for trick-or-treating 374 houses in one Halloween night, dragging along Halloween-hating older brother Big Pete (Michael C. Maronna), while avoiding the vandalizing Pumpkin Eaters. Helpful neighbor Nona (Michelle Trachtenberg, who would go on to play little sister Dawn Summers on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) pitches in. (Iggy Pop, who plays her father in a cardigan and khakis, would go on to re-form the Stooges.)
As to “Buffy” itself, vamps and demons and the occasional tragic death of a beloved character aside, the series, which debuted in 1997 and changed the nature of television teenage storytelling, is at heart a comedy, an extended metaphor for the ordinary horrors of high school. It produced several Halloween episodes, beginning with the much-loved Season 2 “Halloween” (Hulu, Disney+, Tubi), which finds enchanted Sunnydale residents becoming the characters they’re costumed as. (An idea used by “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide,” now streaming on Paramount+, the greatest Nickelodeon kids show of the ‘00s, for its own third-season Halloween episode.) The show’s legacy can be directly seen in such series as the recent, excellent “School Spirits” (Paramount+), in which a murdered teen, trapped in her high school among several generations of ghost students, attempts to find her killer, and
Netflix’s “Dead Boy Detectives,” about a pair of teenage ghosts helping other specters to settle their unfinished business. (See “Ghost Ghirls,” above.)
Most network sitcoms have fielded a Halloween episode, but none more appropriately than “The Addams Family.” Creepy, kooky, mysterious, spooky, altogether ooky, they’re a peerlessly happy, hospitable family, ever welcoming to the straight-world figures who stumble into their eccentric manse. In the redundantly titled “Halloween With the Addams Family” (Freevee, YouTube) from 1964, escaping bank robbers, played by Don Rickles and Skip Homeier, are invited in as adult trick-ortreaters and made to celebrate in ways they don’t understand.
The sitcom, more than the Charles Addams cartoons that inspired it, provides the architecture upon which are built all subsequent Addams revivals and reimaginings, including, of course, “Wednesday,” the ongoing Netflix series that made an instant star of Jenna Ortega. While I absolutely recommend it, my heart lies with “Adult Wednesday Addams,” Melissa Hunter’s witty 2015 web series about the Addams daughter as a young woman making her way in the world — finding roommates, learning to drive, internet dating. You can find it on YouTube and at Hunter’s own website.
Oddly, the sitcom episode that most frightened me as a child — and still does, for all
deep and troubling but endlessly relatable.
“Toy Story of Terror” from 2013, originally produced at the corporate nexus of Disney, Pixar and ABC, offers a delightful meta take on horror tropes — rainy night, roadside motel, characters imprudently wandering off. With the hedgehog Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton) offering commentary the whole time, it’s “Scream” without the murders, but not without its own brand of tension.
that it’s very funny — comes from “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” Not actually a Halloween episode, the 1963, “It May Look Like a Walnut” (streaming on Peacock, Prime, Filmrise and several other platforms) is a riff on “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” that finds Van Dyke’s Rob Petrie trapped in a science-fiction scenario in which walnut-loving aliens, led by a Danny Thomas look-alike, convert humans to their race, stealing their thumbs and sense of humor. Mary Tyler Moore emerging from the living room closet on an avalanche of nuts is the stuff of nightmares — and one of the series’ most replayed moments.
Given my predilections, it’s not surprising that there are a lot of cartoons on this list.
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” (Apple TV+) is the second-greatest Peanuts special, and the only other one I’d call ‘required viewing.’ In its gorgeous, glorious evocation of autumn days and, especially, nights, its Vince Guaraldi score and Bill Melendez animation, it takes Schulz’s art somewhere new without betraying it; perhaps most important, Cathy Steinberg is back from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” as the voice of Sally Brown, the series’ secret star. (And you thought it was Snoopy.) Linus’ unique belief in the Great Pumpkin takes some heat off Charlie Brown, who nevertheless remains the victim of his friends, random neighbors and the universe. But that’s the “Peanuts” spirit,
New this year is the special “SpongeBob SquarePants: Kreepaway Kamp” (Paramount+), in which practically the whole of Bikini Bottom is invited to a reunion at Kamp Koral, where a dark figure lurks and one by one the campers disappear — a moth-eaten premise immeasurably improved by its cast of cartoon sea creatures (and a squirrel). From 2019 comes “The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants: Hack-a-ween” (Netflix), a delicious mix of animation, puppetry and photograph, in which elementary-school pranksters George and Harold fight a movement to cancel the holiday, with the help of their personal superhero, a hypnotized version of their principal and nemesis. Some classic Halloween shorts can be found on Disney+ at most any season, and are worth your attention by virtue of being drawn and animated by hand — still the best way to make cartoons. In “Lonesome Ghosts” (first released on Christmas Eve 1937, of all days), Mickey, Goofy and Donald are unemployed ghostbusters called to a creaky old house by the bored specters themselves — derby-wearing, cigar-smoking — for their own slapstick entertainment. In “Trick or Treat,” from 1952, Donald pranks his nephews with firecrackers in their candy bags and dumps water on their heads; friendly Witch Hazel, passing by, helps them get revenge. Not on Disney+ but easy to find online is the 1933 Mickey Mouse short “The Mad Doctor,” in which Pluto is abducted by a scientist planning on putting the pup’s head on a chicken’s body.
the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” is a Halloween classic that’s more fun than scary. (APPLE/TNS)
Side Dishes
• Smiarowski Farmstand and Creamy on River Road in Sunderland is celebrating its annual Potato Fest this weekend, Nov. 2 and 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Baked Potato Bar will be back, as will Smiarowski’s own hand-cut French fries and potato chips. Those offerings will be complemented by Polish plates, grilled burgers, hot dogs, and more.
Live music will be part of the appeal both days from noon until 3 p.m., with polka music featured on Sunday.
Smiarowski Farmstand and Creamy answers at 413-6653830.
• This week, Fitzwillys Restaurant in Northampton is celebrating a landmark — its 50th anniversary.
One of the first dining establishments opened during Northampton’s 1970s downtown renaissance, Fitzwilly’s chose to mark the occasion by “giving back.”
On Wednesday, the restaurant donated 50% of its sales to Manna Community Kitchen, a Northampton-based nonprofit that combats hunger by serving 1,800 meals a week at two locations.
Fitzwilly’s can be reached at 413-584-8666.
• CiderDays 2024 will take place starting Friday, Nov. 1, wrapping up Sunday, Nov. 3, with an assortment of talks, tastings, and community events that promote the crafting of fermented ciders and apple wines.
Unlike the more social aspects of years past, CiderDays events now tend to be very much focused on educational workshops and tastings, with cider producers and sellers from across the Pioneer Valley holding “open house” sessions.
The weekend will include two dining options — a Wild Apple “After Party” at the Dirty Truth Beer Hall in Northampton (Friday, Nov. 1, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and an Apple Cider Pancake Breakfast at Cameron’s Winery & Cidery in Northfield (Sunday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m. to noon.)
Go to ciderdays.org for a complete listing of CiderDays events.
• The Delaney House in Holyoke has announced that, for the fall and winters months ahead, it is bringing back Trivia Sundays from 6 to 8 p.m.
Trivia and podcast host Bobby Roast Beef will be serving as quizmaster for this trivia series, which will be held in The Mick.
Call the Delaney House at 413-532-1800 for more details.
• The Starting Gate at Greathorse in Hampden is holding a Veterans Day luncheon on Monday, Nov. 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event benefits the Salute Military Golf Association, an organization that promotes the use of golf in the mental and physical rehabilitation of wounded and injured veterans.
Cost to attend the lunch is $45 plus a convenience fee; tickets are available online at Eventbrite.com
The Starting Gate at Greathorse answers at 413566-5158.
• Mezze Restaurant in Williamstown is bringing back Oyster Thursdays this November and December.
Starting on Thursday, Nov. 7, and continuing through Thursday, Dec. 12, Mezze will be offering oysters along with a selection of Spanish white wines. The bivalves will be available from 5 p.m. until Mezze sells out the supply on hand.
Mezze’s telephone number is 413-458-0123.
• St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church in Indian Orchard will be host its annual Fall Festival on Saturday, Nov. 2, from noon to 5 p.m.
The festival will include hot meals and authentic Armenian pastries as well as raffles, music, and dancing.
For more details contact the church at 413-543-4763.
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.
