Her Life on the PTSD List
Kathy Griffin brings comedy tour to Academy of Music, Page D2
‘Have a little talent involved’
Kathy Griffin talks life on the comedy trail after a federal investigation
By Ashley P otter apotter@repub.com
In “My Life on the D-List,” a show that ran on the Bravo network from 2005 to 2010, comedian Kathy Griffin performs everywhere from a men’s prison to the war zone in Iraq.
In the episodes between, she appears on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The Tyra Banks Show,” as well as sneaking in a guest appearance on the TV show “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” At one point, she even travels to the Bad Girls Club in Brooklyn to learn how to “pop off.”
“It’s like a time capsule. They would never let you do a show that real now,” Griffin said in a phone interview with The Republican. (She also noted that “My Life on the
D-List” is available for streaming, exclusively on Peacock.)
Now, in her “My Life on the PTSD List” tour, Griffin is taking to stages to talk about her life from the D-list to the no-fly list. That’s where she landed for seven years while being investigated by the U.S. government after she posed for an infamous 2017 photo of herself holding a Donald Trump mask made to look like a severed head.
“I took a rather controversial photo you may have seen seven years ago, although the Trumpers think I took it seven minutes ago,” she said, “and Donald Trump thinks I took it seven seconds ago. He can’t let go. He can’t quit me.”
But this tour is about her, so there won’t be much talk of Trump at her shows — at the Academy of Music in Northampton on Jan. 30 and Boston Symphony Hall on Jan. 31.
Instead, she will talk about life challenges she’s faced in the past several years, includ-
machete, look like Kathy Griffin — which unfortunately I still do, or maybe you could convince a few people it was Reba, but I’d hate to do that to Reba because I just love her. And then they’re supposed to believe that I just broke into the White House and chopped his head off. I mean, the fact that that picture lives on is half comical and half tragic. And that’s where PTSD comes in — the intersection of comedy and tragedy.
Q. Can you share more about how your PTSD symptoms first manifested?
ing this second Trump era?
A. Somebody’s going to shoot me! Some lunatic’s going to get in there and shoot me on stage, and then I’m going to be a martyr, which is my real dream. So, you know, if I get shot, first of all, don’t shoot my face off — like, shoot me in the arm. Then I want a long martyr period where they write a docuseries about me,
“That’s where PTSD comes in — the intersection of comedy and tragedy.”
KATHY GRIFFIN
ing cancer that resulted in the removal of half of her lung and a permanent change to her voice, as well as a pill addiction that led to a suicide attempt and the loss of her mother.
In a recent conversation, Griffin spoke of her ongoing fight with PTSD, Trump’s second presidency and the importance of comedy in today’s political climate.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q. Not to make this interview about Trump, but your show is coming to Northampton only a couple of weeks after his inauguration. How do you feel, as a female comedian, enter-
and then young comedians are seen crying at my bedside.
And then, you know, since he says we’re not going to have elections anymore, just take me out at that point.
Let me tell you something, JD Vance isn’t going to be any better, so we need to be worried about the whole line of succession. In fact, I would feel safer with the cast of the series “Succession” than our actual line of succession. Sorry, that’s an obscure reference of a now-cancelled series, but your readers will get it if they’re good and over 60, which is what I hope.
Q. Well, they’re newspaper readers, so fingers crossed!
A. Those are my people! Let me tell you something. Traditional media still sells tickets. I can do 50,000 f——ing podcasts, and those criminals have me sit there interviewing me for two hours, and then you never know who’s going to see it, you never know when it’s going to air. Good old newspapers. I still do drive-time radio, morning radio, afternoon radio. Some markets even have local TV. But look, I just want a little credit, because I was quite literally on the no-fly list, the Interpol list (which is the international version of the no-fly list), and the Five Eyes list, which is the terror watch list. No comedian in history has ever been on those lists; they were held to a different standard. I’m not putting myself in the class of the great George Carlin or the great Lenny Bruce, but even those guys were only hassled by local PD. I have the feds knocking at my door multiple times a week — the feds!
Q. That’s completely insane.
A. And they don’t f—k around! They were dying to arrest me. They were looking. They wanted to know if I had weapons, they wanted to know if I had made travel plans. Like I’m going to fly to D.C., waste that money, climb over the fence of the White House with a f—-ing
A. First of all, I talk about this in the show and I’m just going to give you the laundry list, and I hope you can handle it. It’s an evening of honesty, honey. I don’t hold back. I’ve now been doing this show for a year, I have it where I want it, I’m dying to do a special. I don’t even mention Trump in the new show. The only thing I do is a laundry list of the things that happened post the photo, which were, like I said, a feder-
al investigation — not just one call from the Secret Service like all these other celebrities, I mean investigated, interrogated, under oath, trying to charge me with the crime of conspiracy to assassinate the president of the United States. And they were really trying to pin that ... on me. I filed a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) and it came back and it was quite chilling because it showed how serious the Oval Office was, and the entire DOJ (Department of Justice) was, about trying to charge me with that crime. Then I was fired from CNN, became a CNN talking point, was labeled a terrorist, was put on the no-fly list, the Interpol list, the Five Eyes list, had to cut my tour in half, halfway through, all the cities cancelled because of death threats to me. I then became addicted to prescription pills because I didn’t know what to do with myself — I was kind of in hiding. Then I got sober — I’ve been sober for four and a half years now, which I’m
Kathy Griffin attends the 2019 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival screening of “Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story” at the Ford Theatres. (PHOTO BY WILLY SANJUAN / INVISION / AP)
SEE GRIFFIN, PAGE D6
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Show transports passengers back to Golden Age of railroads
Event for all ages returns this weekend to Eastern States Exposition
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
The Golden Age of railroads, which lasted from the 1880s until the 1920s, may be a thing of the past, but don’t think for a minute the popularity of live railroads and model railroading is waning.
“People say the hobby is dying, but I disagree and believe the interest is growing. Last year we had a single day record of 17,336 people attending our show. My goal is to reach a total of 30,000 people for the two-day weekend. We ended up with 26,157 last year and I think we would have met that goal if it wasn’t for some bad weather on
Sunday,” said John Sacerdote, director of this weekend’s Railroad Hobby Show at the Eastern States Exposition. The annual event is organized by the Amherst Railway Society.
“We have exhibitors and visitors from all over the world, including several exhibitors from the United Kingdom this year and many
‘Dirty
Dancing’ live in concert at The Bushnell
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican Audiences at The Bushnell in Hartford on Saturday, Jan. 25, are promised “the time of their life” as the global phenomenon of “Dirty Dancing in Concert” brings its magic back to North America for a tour spanning 50 cities.
Showtime for “Dirty Dancing in Concert” — after captivating
from Canada. We have ticket sales from all 48 contiguous United States and as far away as South Korea and the Netherlands,” Sacerdote said.
Hours for the Railroad Hobby Show are Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Occupying four buildings and 400,000 square feet of space, the show covers all facets of the railroad hobbies — model railroads in all scales, railroad art and photography, railroad history and preservation, tourist railroads, railroad artifacts, and railroad books and videos. Major railroad publications and model railroad manufacturers, some from outside the United States, attend the show, and many use the Railroad Hobby Show to introduce new products.
Brothers Luke and Levi Onofrio, of Farmington, Conn., check out train accessories at the 2024 Railroad Hobby Show on the grounds of Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield.
(STEVEN E. NANTON PHOTO)
HARTFORD
“Dirty Dancing in Concert” brings its magic back to North America for a tour spanning 50 cities, and will stop at The Bushnell in Hartford on Jan. 25. (DEFINING STUDIO)
SEE ‘DIRTY’, PAGE D7
Green River Festival announces 2025 lineup
George
IF THE RECENT SNOW has you longing for summer, here’s some good news: The Green River Festival has just announced its lineup for this year.
The annual three-day showcase of music will take place at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Greenfield on June 20-22. This will be the second year that the festival will be run by DSP Shows. Jim Olsen
and his company, Signature Sounds Presents, sold the festival to DSP in 2023. While last year’s festival was a success, the transition meant that DSP Shows had a smaller window to book the acts.
“For the 2024 festival, the transfer of ownership wasn’t complete until mid-September of 2023, so we didn’t start booking the festival until then,” John Sanders, a
partner at DSP Shows, said in a recent interview. “For 2025 we started sending offers in April of 2024 so we had much more lead time to get the festival booked, and when we saw that everything would be wrapped up before the holidays, we set the announcement date.”
Sanders said that any changes to this year’s event will be minimal.
“There will be a few small operational changes including the location of the makers market,” he said. “Overall we love the layout of the fairgrounds and the way it allows us to provide four different experiences at the four stages and the flow it creates throughout the festival grounds.”
One change that fans might
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
Semifinalist on last year’s Season 25 of NBC’s “The Voice,” singer-songwriter Madison Curbelo and her band are all tuned up for their first performance of the new year at The Drake in Amherst.
Showtime on Saturday, Jan. 25, is 8 p.m. Curbelo, who has been busy performing since “The Voice” ended last May, finished
off the year on a high note performing with Season One winner Javier Colon at Infinity Music Hall in Hartford on Dec. 21.
“It was a nice little reunion. One of the last songs I sang on ‘The Voice’ was Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time,’ which Javier sang on his blind audition on ‘The Voice.’ I remember watching him as a little kid on the show and was inspired by his version of her song. Javier found out that I sang the song on the show and that I had mentioned him. He graciously reached out to me on Instagram saying if I needed anything to let him know. We became friends and he is a great mentor who
Lenker LIVE WIRE
Madison Curbelo is preparing for her performance at The Drake in Amherst. (ED COHEN PHOTO)
thrilled about. The rest of the show is really about the PTSD stuff that stemmed from that, but I also got lung cancer a year after I got sober, even though I never smoked, and half of my left lung is gone. And that’s sort of comical, like, the comedian that loses half a lung. I just decided to make fun of all of it.
Q. How do you handle your PTSD symptoms?
A. I have all of these ridiculous remedies that I do to help me with my PTSD, because when it manifests itself, I just get these panic attacks that last for like 14 hours. You can’t even function. I do all of this woowoo bulls—t. I did this thing called kundalini yoga for like three years, and then I saw that f—king documentary about it. The whole thing’s bulls—t, there’s not even a guy named “kundalini.” He made it up because it sounded like a good yogi name. And so, I had to stop doing kundalini yoga, because I found out that it was made up by some dude that used to be a taxi driver. A taxi driver! That’s enough to give you PTSD on its own.
Q. How do you still find comedy in it all?
A. That’s just how I’m hardwired, and I always have been, but especially since I’ve been doing it professionally for decades. I’m in the Guinness Book of World Records, I’ve done more TV streaming comedy specials than any comedian – male or female, living or dead – and don’t talk to me about the boys, I love Dave Chappelle, but he doesn’t come close. Matt Rice is the hot thing now, but I write my own s—t. You know, these other comics have three, four openers, but not me. You better be on time for this show, because I go on right at 8 o’clock. I do two full hours. In fact, I do two hours when I’m a good girl, and I do two hours and 15 minutes when I’m a bad girl.
Q. So what happens during those 15 minutes?
A. You know, if the audience is extra good, I make them pay. I make them pay the price by doing those few more minutes. But I love it. It’s the only thing that gets me through. Even all those years I was blacklisted; I was still writing s—t and planning s—t. I pitched every game show you can think of, every talk show you can think of, every sitcom you can think of, every reality show. Nobody bit. Not one single soul in seven years. Thank God for real, live people that buy tickets with real, live money, because now they’re all eating s—t and they’re like “oh, Kathy Griffin just played 50 f—-ing cities.” I have no love for my own industry, but I have nothing but love for the actual audience.
Q. How has your comedy philosophy changed from “My Life on the D-List” to today, after everything you’ve been through?
A. OK, it’s called evolve. You have to evolve. I can’t stand these comics that think, because I was so supremely canceled, that I’m against the “woke mind virus.” No, I don’t listen to Steve Bannon’s “War Room” or read Breitbart or watch Fox News. That’s a bulls—t made-up phrase for people that don’t know how to be funny unless they’re purely offensive. If you’re going to be offensive, you better be funny.
When I started, I said s—t I would never say now. Like, there’s a part of me that’s almost afraid to look at my old specials, because God only knows what I said in 1994, but I can guarantee you that it’s not what I’d say today. I just think it’s really important that we as comics evolve with the times.
Look, I don’t want to use a bad word. When I started, if you went to the Midwest and went to a comedy club, you’d be shocked at how many bros say (the f-word about gay men) out loud like nothing. As if people haven’t died at the behest of that word. As
if Matthew Shepherd didn’t happen. As if there aren’t gay bashings that are brutal every single day.
I don’t want any f—-ing part of that. That’s not what I consider to be “edgy.” Now, if I used certain words in the ’90s and 2000s, then I wouldn’t use them now. I like it when my younger friends or younger comics are like “hey, this is the expression we use now” or “this word isn’t so cool anymore.” I don’t want to be the last one in the room not to know, I’m not looking to make anybody actually cry. I mean, I love a good laugh with a gasp, but I want to keep up on stuff.
Q. How do you feel about comedians that go for the low-hanging fruit?
A. I don’t like to make fun of people’s looks. I would rather make fun of their behavior, because their behavior is something they’re choosing. As someone who’s been made fun of for my looks my whole career — my big nose and my butterface and “you couldn’t pay me to f— her, she’s so ugly” and blah, blah, blah — that’s the lowest hanging fruit. Any idiot can look at somebody and go “you’re really ugly and I wouldn’t f—k you, goodnight every-
body!” No. Have a little talent involved. If you’re going to make fun of somebody, make fun of something that they did.
If I’m going to tell a Taylor Swift joke, I don’t want to tear down Taylor Swift. She’s wildly talented, she’s a hard worker, but yeah, I’ll make fun of the way she stomps around on stage like a little bit of an awkward Victoria’s Secret model. That’s funny. It’s not going to ruin her career, it’s not going to take away from the fact that she’s the No. 1 touring artist in the world, and the first female to have her man — literally the football star — going to her concert and cheering her on.
I’ve never even seen that in my lifetime. Cher didn’t have that luxury. Stevie Nicks didn’t have that luxury. I think it’s awesome that Taylor Swift gets to be the star, but I’m a comic, so yeah, I’m going to make fun of her a little bit. That’s the direction I’m going in. I want to keep abreast of what folks are actually finding funny, and it’s always changing.
Q. We can’t wait for you to bring this energy to Northampton and the Academy of Music.
A. Do you know what a joy
it is to play these theaters? I’m telling you. When I was finally unblacklisted enough to get a manager and an agent, I said “I have one request. I’ll go anywhere, but I won’t play clubs.” I’m sorry, but at 64, and accomplishing the s—t I’ve accomplished, I can’t go back. When you’re doing a club, people are ordering drinks and the cocktail waitress is there, and people are drunk, and guys are hitting on their dates.
In these theaters, it’s heaven. It’s like a theatrical experience, and that’s really my material. My material is not really appropriate for clubs. I don’t do crowd work. I’m not going to stick a mic in your face and say “are you from Queens? Really, I’m from normal parents.” I tell stories and I keep the audience laughing. And I don’t mean to be a dick, but I have had a standing ovation every single show on this tour, and I’m just bragging because, for seven years, I didn’t even know if I could step foot on a stage again.
For information about Kathy Griffin’s Northampton show, visit the Academy of Music’s website at aomtheatre.com For information about her Boston show, visit the Boston Symphony Orchestra website at bso.org
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The classic love story of Baby and Johnny is set in the summer of 1963. Baby Houseman and her family vacation to the beautiful Catskills resort, Kellerman’s. Intrigued by the staff’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle, and the vastly different lifestyle of others, Baby finds herself learning to dance while having the time of her life and falling in love.
The live-to-film concert experience, directed and choreographed by Alexandra Herzog, includes a screening of the digitally remastered movie while the band and vocalists play the hit songs live and in time with the movie. There will also be a special
Curbelo
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D5
asked me to open for him at the Hartford show. We have sung together a few times and it’s getting better each time. He’s an amazing guy,” Curbelo said.
Curbelo and her band will play a 90-minute set of some 20 songs, both new and old.
“It’s going to be a super fun and upbeat night combined with an intimate acoustic set when it is just me and my red guitar. There will be something for everyone,” Curbelo said.
“There will be fan favorites from ‘The Voice’ and some other popular songs we’ve been doing including ‘Creep’ by Radiohead, ‘Hotel California’ by The Eagles and ‘Linger’ by the Cranberries. I definitely will be doing some of my original works like a slightly different version of ‘My Baby Mine’ and ‘Juliette.’ And I expect to add a new song which will make its debut at the show called ‘Honeymoon,’” she added.
There is a story behind her popular red guitar.
“When I was young, I really
after-party, where the audience is encouraged to sing and dance to favorite songs featured in “Dirty Dancing” while being taken back to their best memories.
When the film was released in 1987, it became an international box office phenomenon. It was directed by Emile Ardolino, written by Eleanor Bergstein, produced by Linda Gottlieb, and starred Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in their most well-known roles, alongside Jerry Orbach and Cynthia Rhodes. The soundtrack generated two multi-platinum albums and numerous singles, including the Academy Award-winning original song “(I’ve Had)
The Time of My Life.” With a global box office total of more than $214 million, “Dirty Dancing” won over audiences all around the world.
Herzog, who is director and choreographer for the tour
wanted to play an instrument. My parents bought me this Hannah Montana training guitar, not really a legitimate guitar. At the age of 12, I got my first big-girl guitar and still have it and named it Big Red. It’s one of those Ovation guitars with a nice round hump on the back, so it’s kind of like a red tank. Over the years it has become my staple. I bring it everywhere when I perform because I know it sounds good and plays well, and it has a wonderful memory attached to it,” Curbelo, who has three red and one bright pink guitar in her collection, said.
Curbelo noted her mom says, “I’ve been singing since I was born,” but it began seriously when she was 9 years old.
“I attended one of Dan Kane’s Summer Singing Enrichment Camps. It helped me to gain more confidence. I was okay singing in front of family, but otherwise super shy with others. It completely changed my life and by the age of 12, already confident with performing, I began writing and found I could express myself more by using my own words and that once again totally changed my life,” she said.
in many productions across Canada and the United States, including five seasons at the Stratford Festival. In advance of “Dirty Dancing” at The Bushnell, Herzog took time to answer a few questions for The Republican.
Q. When did you first see “Dirty Dancing” and what struck you about it?
“Dirty Dancing in Concert” brings its magic back to North America for a tour spanning 50 cities, and will stop at The Bushnell in Hartford on Jan. 25. Above right is director and choreographer Alexandra Herzog. (DEFINING STUDIO)
show, is a much sought-after director/choreographer in both film, television and theater. Recent projects include two seasons as choreographer for Apple TV’s “See” starring Jason Momoa, and an upcoming film for 20th Century starring James Marsden and
Vince Vaughn. She has also directed and choreographed “Mary Poppins,” “Rock of Ages,” “Nine,” “Cinderella,” “A Chorus Line” and “The Little Mermaid.” As a performer, she has appeared in many television shows and movies and has played leads
A. As a little girl growing up in dance classes, “Dirty Dancing” was one of those iconic dance movies that we were introduced to at a youngish age because the dancing is so phenomenal in it. What struck me about it was the fact that dance is such a visceral art form. Every art form evolves, but the dancing in the movie still holds
Curbelo would go on at age 16 in 2019 to appear on “American Idol” and then in 2021 on Season 20 of “The Voice” while a freshman at Berklee College of Music. It was a call from “The Voice” asking her to come back and try again in 2024 that led to her making the semifinals before being voted off.
“I went in with the mindset that this is not going to be the be-all and the end-all for me. Even people who win ‘The Voice’ go on to struggle to breakthrough in the industry. I just really wanted to learn so much and it really felt like a crash course in all things in the music industry and all things Hollywood. They would help us dress ourselves with their big wardrobe team, do our hair and makeup, and we would work with a professional band and professional vocal coach. So, I really went into it not thinking it was going to be my big Hollywood break, but instead being a sponge and soaking up as much as I could and take what I learned and try it on my own. The real work starts after the show,” she said.
As for 2025, Curbelo said she is “blessed to be doing
some exciting things.”
“I have gigs currently in the works to perform all over America. There is also a ton of new music that I am working on with different people that will amplify up my style. Hopefully there will be a recording contract. And there are other things I cannot mention until they happen,” she said.
Northampton-based musician and songwriter Lucia Dostal will open for Curbelo.
As a songwriter Dostal is known for her collaborative
work writing for herself, other musical artists, and sync and supervision opportunities. She specializes in folk, soul and indie pop styles. Dostal graduated from Holland College’s School of Performing Arts (SOPA) and is currently attending Berklee College of Music with a major in contemporary writing and production.
Tickets to Curbelo’s Amherst show, priced at $15 in advance and $20 at the door, are available at thedrake amherst.org.
Never underestimate the power of good the power of good lingerie on a bad day... lingerie on a bad day...
SEE ‘DIRTY’, PAGE D11
Valentine’s Week
Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Your Favorite Table 3 Restaurant
THE DUCK & AVELLINO’S talented chefs have crafted some fantastic Valentine’s specials sure to make your Valentine’s celebration a memorable one. Valentine’s specials will be available Tuesday through Saturday, February 11–15. To celebrate with that someone special, please visit theducksturbridge.com for on-line reservations or call 508-347-2321. We expect to fill up quickly so don’t delay.
CEDAR STREET GRILLE will be open for some amazing Valentine’s specials Wednesday through Sunday, February 12–16. Along with Valentine’s specials, Cedar Street Grille will also be serving up our signature small plates, entrées, and dessert specials. We’ll also be offering our brunch on Sunday from 10am–2pm. Valentine’s is always busy, so visit cedarstreetgrille.com to make your reservation now or call 508-347-5800.
Duck & Avellino
$20.25 3-Course Lunch or Dinner Specials Tues.–Thurs. Expires 3-27-25. Not Valid Feb. 11-15.
Two Small Plates for $20.25 Wed & Thurs. Expires 3-27-25. Not Valid Feb. 12-16. The Duck & Avellino | 508-347-2321 | theducksturbridge.com | avellinorestaurant.com Cedar Street Grille | 508-347-5800 | cedarstreetgrille.com Cedar Street Café | 508-347-6800 | cedarstreetcafesturbridge.com
for Two
Coffee Included. Tues.-Fri. Expires 3-28-25.
Two imperial IPAs show diversity of style
IRECENTLY GOT A LITtle wistful over my all-time favorite imperial IPA: Building 8′s The Double.
Of course, that beer is lost to history since Building 8 closed last year.
Fortunately, there are plenty of good local/regional imperial IPAs that help fill that void. I was on an imperial IPA kick recently and decided to write about two of them: one from Western Massachusetts and
one from Vermont. Let’s head north first and talk about Fiddlehead Imperial IPA. Fiddlehead, out of Shelburne, Vermont, has long been a favorite brewer of mine. The company’s Fiddlehead IPA is a go-to brew. There might be some confusion, however, about this imperial version. Fiddlehead already has an imperial IPA named Second Fiddle. So when I happened upon this other one, I was curious.
One difference is that Second Fiddle is dry-hopped.
It also has a slightly lower alcohol content, landing around 8.2%, compared to the 9% of Fiddlehead Imperial IPA. But what about the flavor? Both are very heavy on citrus notes, and the Imperial IPA is a bit hazier. Second Fiddle’s aroma and first sips are more to my liking, as it leans closer to a West Coast IPA — but neither beer is in the classic West Coast category. The Imperial IPA is thicker on the palate and finishes somewhat
sweeter, although not cloyingly so. Both are enjoyable, but I think I prefer Second Fiddle by a slight margin.
Heading back to Western Massachusetts, I grabbed a four-pack of Microburst Imperial IPA from New City Brewing in Easthampton. Although I’ve always enjoyed it, I’ve never really investigated it outside of having one or two at the brewery itself, so I wanted to sample it in a less
Kids’ ‘dining disconnect’ slowing restaurant recovery
ARE KIDS RESPONsible for the frustratingly slow recovery of traditional on-premises dining out?
The “kid factor” is at the heart of a hypothesis developed by Lisa W. Miller, a marketing consultant and author who has extensively researched the lasting impacts the pandemic has had on consumer behavior.
Writing in Nation’s Restaurant News, Miller suggests that the pandemic experience that began in 2020 caused children to develop what she calls a “dining disconnect.”
Five years of lockdowns, remote schooling, and contactless interaction with others has led a rising generation of youngsters to view the idea of “going out to dinner” differently than their parents and older siblings. According to Miller’s own research, when asked, some 25% of parents describe their children as not enjoying being in crowded places or going out to eat.
That altered view is consequently leading to a “kid veto” when it comes dining out decisions. Not feeling entirely at ease with a traditional restaurant experience, youngsters instead advocate for staying at home and having the family order takeout or even prepare a meal in their own kitchens.
Miller’s solution to this disconnect with the restaurant experience is for restaurant
operators to “elevate the kid experience” through special menu selections and kid-focused service. The goal, she asserts, is to be sure that kids leave the restaurant happy and eager to come back again.
Failing to change young attitudes about dining out may, Miller warns, lose the industry an entire generation of future restaurant patrons.
Side Dishes
• The Delaney House in Holyoke is holding its annual Game Dinner on January 30. The meal, which is scheduled to start at 6 p.m., will begin with welcome nibbles that will include kangaroo queso, wild boar chili, and vegetable crudites. The first course is to be a winter game salad featuring blood sausage croutons and goat cheese.
A hunter’s soup made with venison, sausage, white beans and kale will follow the salad course.
The main dish for the feast is
to be a bison ribeye medallion paired with pheasant sausage; cranberry wild rice and broccoli rabe are to be the side dishes. A wild cherry bread pudding is planned for dessert.
Tickets for the event are $75 and include tax, gratuity and welcome drink. A cash bar will also be available during dinner.
Tickets can be purchased online on the Delaney House’s website.
The Delaney House answers at 413-532-1800.
• The Friendly’s Sundae of the Month is a Celebration Conehead Sundae. The ice cream fantasy is assembled
from a scoop of vanilla ice cream that’s topped with a sugar cone “hat.” The sundae is further decorated with hot fudge, rainbow sprinkles, M&M candies, whipped topping and a cherry.
The Celebration Conehead Sundae will be available until the end of January at participating Friendly’s Restaurant locations.
• On Saturday, Feb. 1, Tucker’s Restaurant in Southwick will host Patrick Tobin, a tribute artist and vocalist, in “A Tribute to Sinatra.” Tobin’s performance will cover all segments of Sinatra’s career and will feature many favorites
from the American songbook.
The evening will begin with dinner at 5:45 p.m.; the show will start at 7:15 p.m.
Tickets, which are $65, can be ordered by calling Tucker’s Restaurant at 413-569-0120 or stopping by the restaurant itself.
• Tower Square in downtown Springfield is getting a new lunch hour option this week.
On Jan. 20, Tower Pizza, which is located in the center’s food court, began serving pizza and sandwiches as it ramped up operations with a “soft” opening.
In early February, Tower Pizza plans on holding a fullmenu grand opening celebration. Operated by Michael Baez and drawing on his experience working in food trucks as well as several Springfield area restaurants, Tower Pizza will also be serving calzones and specialty creations with an Island flair to them by the time the establishment is fully operational.
During its soft opening phase, Tower Pizza will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Their telephone number is 413-333-2880.
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.
Michael Baez and Maritza Baez are the owners of Tower Pizza in the Tower Square Food Court. (JIM KINNEY/ THE REPUBLICAN)
Hugh Robert Off The Menu
George Lenker Beer Nut
Affordable, low calorie wines that taste great
IF YOU ENJOYED THE holidays and you’re still having trouble buttoning that top button on your pants, fear not.
Help is on the way.
This week, you can learn all about low-calorie wines.
In addition, you can find out which low-calorie wines taste best.
And because the holidays can be budget busters as well, all of the low-calorie wines featured this week cost less than $20 a bottle.
Let me add that all of the affordable, low-calorie wines recommended this week come from France.
Hope you enjoy.
How many glasses of wine in a bottle?
First, let’s get a few numbers out of the way.
A standard bottle of wine contains 750 milliliters (or roughly 25 ounces) of wine.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), one bottle of wine contains five glasses.
Personally, I disagree. And I’m not alone. For many years, people like myself have insisted that a bottle of wine contains four glasses, which works out to 6.25 ounces per glass.
The difference might seem small. But it’s part of a larger trend towards smaller and smaller glasses of wine in restaurants, even though many of them still charge the same amount or more for that increasingly smaller glass of wine. But that’s a whole different story.
Below, you can find information about how many calories are in a 5-ounce glass and 6.25-ounce glass of wine.
Which wines have the fewest calories?
In most cases, wine contains roughly 570 to 650 calories per bottle, according to the USDA. The difference between 570 and 650 might not seem like a lot. But when most people only consume 2,000 to 2,700 calories per day, two glasses of wine can add up fast over the course of a meal.
So how many calories do different types of wines have per glass? The USDA has information about the number of calories found in a 5-ounce glass of wine made with some of the most common grape varieties. You can find those numbers
Which wines have the fewest calories? Learn more about affordable, low-calorie wines this week.
In most cases, wine contains roughly 570 to 650 calories per bottle, according to the USDA.
below, along with the number of calories for the same grapes for a 6.25-ounce glass.
• Monastrell: 130 calories for a 5-ounce glass, 162 calories for a 6.25-ounce glass;
• Sangiovese: 126 calories and 157 calories;
• Cabernet Franc: 123 calories and 153 calories;
• Chardonnay: 123 calories and 153 calories;
• Cabernet Sauvignon: 122 calories and 152 calories;
• Merlot: 122 calories and 152 calories;
• Pinot Grigio: 122 calories and 152 calories;
• Syrah: 122 calories and 152 calories;
• Grenache: 122 calories and 152 calories;
• Pinot Noir: 120 calories and 150 calories;
• Riesling: 120 calories and 150 calories;
• Sauvignon Blanc: 120 calories and 150 calories;
• Chenin Blanc: 118 calories
and 147 calories;
• Gewurztraminer: 118 calories and 147 calories;
• Gamay: 114 calories and 142 calories.
There’s also another wine, Muller Thurgau, that weighs in at 113 calories, but this white wine — grown primarily in Germany and Austria — isn’t readily available in many American wine stores.
Fortunately, you should have no problem finding wines made with Gamay grapes. Some of the most popular red wines made with Gamay grapes can be found in France’s Beaujolais region. This includes Beaujolais Nouveau, the red wine made with Gamay grapes fermented for just a few weeks and released in November.
Recommended wines
Jean Marc Burgaud Les Vignes De Lantignie Beaujolais Villages (French red wine made with Gamay
Ken
Ross Wine Press
grapes) ($17.99 at Table & Vine in West Springfield)
Hugel Alsace Gentil (French white wine made with Gerwurtztraminer grapes) ($14.99 at Table & Vine)
Les Aumones Vouvray (French white wine made with Chenin Blanc grapes) ($14.99 at Table & Vine)
Guy Saget La Petite Perriere (French white wine made with Sauvignon Blanc grapes) ($9.99 at Table &
Vine)
Clean Slate Riesling (French white wine made with Riesling grapes) ($9.99 at Table & Vine)
Two of my favorite white wines near the top of the list of low-calorie wines: Gewurztraminer (there are many great, affordable ones from the Alsace region of France) and Chenin Blanc (the grape used to make many great, dry white wines from the Vouvray region in France’s Loire Valley).
Let me add that most winemakers don’t list how many calories are in each bottle of wine.
Why?
I suspect it’s because they know that most people don’t count calories when they’re drinking their favorite wines. Personally, I know I’m normally not that concerned about how many calories are in a glass of wine.
I know I’m kidding myself – one calorie is the same as another. And yet, I know I think of the calories in wine differently.
I’d rather skip dessert and have a glass or two of wine with a meal.
Why?
Because wine enhances food. Because it vividly brings to life a particular place – the place where the wine comes from.
And when a wine tastes great, it captures a specific region’s character, weather and soil. Great wines are unique. Great wines have soul. Upcoming wine events Cheers!
Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday.
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casual setting.
The first thing you’ll notice is that Microburst separates itself from a lot of imperial IPAs on the market these
days, as it falls much closer to the West Coast IPA style than most. While there is definitely a juicy presence to the aroma — probably due to the Citra hops — the flavor centers more on some earthy and piney notes played by the Simcoe hops — and possibly
the Willamette hops which are also in the blend here. The alcohol level comes in at 8.2%, and while it’s not overwhelming, it’s a bit more noticeable than many of the juicier (and frankly often candy-like) imperial IPAs out there today. To me, that’s a
welcome change of pace. The beer has a nice, full mouthfeel and a slight chewiness, probably due to the use of oats in the grain bill. The oats also seem to provide a nice finish to the beer — dry and sustained. These two beers show that
the style has a lot of diversity, depending on the brewer. In a few weeks, I’ll be writing about a few other imperial IPAs I’ve had over the past few months. If you have any favorites, please send them along to geolenker@yahoo. com.
(PHOTO BY KEN ROSS)
Additional show highlights include:
• Birthday celebrations honoring 125 years of Lionel model trains and 90 years of the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA);
• Train Rides: CTrail Railroad Hobby Show pass, see the show website at railroad hobbyshow.com for more information;
• Long freight trains on the Dry Hill Model Railroad: 250 plus cars;
• HO-scale models of you, the modeler — from miniprints full-body scanning and printing system.
For insights into the latest modeling techniques and inspiration for new modeling ideas, two days of pre-show clinics will be held for a price at the Sheraton Springfield on Thursday and Friday. There will also be free mini clinics for all ages offered by manufacturers, exhibitors and experts during the show.
Women are playing an increasingly important role in the model railroad hobby. According to a recent survey by UK-based model manufacturer Hornby, women now make up 28% of the model railroad community. And, that number is growing.
In recognition of this developing trend, the National Model Railroad Association established a special interest group (SIG) in 2022 — Women in Model Railroading (WIMRR) — with the goal of introducing, encouraging, and connecting women interested in the hobby.
“In the past, model railroading was considered a man’s hobby and fathers and sons would do it together while the girls were sent to do things with their mother. However, in our modern times where women are allowed to pursue any interest they have, many women have found that model railroading is their preferred creative outlet. The hobby of model railroading has so many aspects to it and more and more women are finding that they enjoy some or all of the hobby,” said Michelle Kempe-
For the kids, Maggie the Clown — adults love her, too, noted Sacerdote — the show’s goodwill ambassador will appear on stage as well as roaming the show buildings performing magic tricks and juggling feats.
‘Dirty’
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ma, executive director of the Colorado Model Railroad Museum, who noted she took the position because she fell in love with “the magical miniature world that I was immersed in when I had brought my family to visit.”
“This hobby creates so many relationships and friendships. I know that because, at first, I felt like as a woman I might not be a good enough modeler and I definitely had insecurities about getting started. This is why I wanted to help create the Women in Model Railroading Special Interest Group with the NMRA. Nancy Workman from Sountraxx had the idea to get this group going and I immediately jumped onboard because I know what the journey to start in the hobby is like for a woman,” she added.
The WIMRR SIG has more than 230 members around the world. At the Railroad Hobby Show, they plan to create activities to help women meet each other and learn new parts of the hobby. On Saturday, they will be holding an operating session on the Dry Hill Model Railroad Club layout where women can feel comfortable trying out running trains on a layout. There will also be a Meet and Greet on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. to help create connections among women in the hobby.
“Over the years I have found that I love the hobby and have been learning to build my own modules in N Scale. I love the art side and the painting and weathering of my trains and buildings. When there are parts I did not fully understand or needed help with, I found that the other modelers were more than happy to help out,” Kempema said.
Maggie, aka Nicole Portwood of Brimfield, knows a thing or two, or three, about railroading and the circus. She attended the prestigious Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College and spent three years traveling by rail with the “Greatest Show on Earth.”
“Not everyone can say they ran away to the circus and rode the rails like I did. I want kids to know there is more about the circus and railroads than just what they see in Disney’s ‘Dumbo’ movie,” Portwood said, noting she tells stories about being a Ringling Bros. clown and living on a train as part of her act.
“John (Sacerdote) has done an excellent job through the hobby show and programs offered by the Amherst Railway Society to get the younger generation interested in model railroading. You see a lot of grandpas at the show with their grandkids and if they can get them interested in trains through the show, that is a great thing. I never attended a train show as a youngster and I never had a model train. It wasn’t something I thought about,” she added, noting the fact that “more girls today” are becoming interested in all aspects of model railroading, especially the creative side of building layouts.
The Amherst Railway Society has used proceeds from the show to support the work of many railroad-related nonprofit organizations. Since 1991, the society has donated $829,252 to railroad preservation and restoration projects all over the country.
Tickets for adults are $18 and children 15 and under are free accompanied by an adult. Eastern States Exposition parking is $5.
To avoid long lines in the cold weather, tickets will be sold on the grounds beginning one hour before the show opens. For more information and advance tickets, go online to railroadhobbyshow.com.
up today when you watch it again. ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Dirty Dancing’ are two of the most iconic dance movies of all time. The dancing in them today is as impressive as when the movies first came out. As for Patrick Swayze, he is such a star and just so handsome and magnetic and known as such a nice guy in the industry that it made seeing the movie an even richer experience.
Q. What led to your accepting the role as director/ choreographer for “Dirty Dancing in Concert”?
A. I think one of the coolest things about the show is it combines a lot of different amazing elements. One of the best parts of “Dirty Dancing in Concert” is, of course, the live music. There is a reason people love going to concerts. There is something about live music ... it is just such an in the moment, amazingly incredible experience that lights you up in a way that nothing else can. So, there is the concert element of the show and the nostalgia of the movie. We nod to the dance and choreography in the movie as well. And there are just all these incredible elements coming together that make it exciting for a director/choreographer to approach.
Q. What is the greatest challenge in directing this show, especially one where choreography is such an important aspect?
A. We have a fairly small cast. There is a Baby, a Johnny and a second male singer who embodies a number of characters from the show. We also have three additional singers and a band of six. There are so many great scenes in “Dirty Dancing” where everyone is dancing together, and one of the big challenges for me is building that huge energy with our three singers and our band, which I think they do so incredibly successfully. And when they are doing their thing, people are jumping out of their seats and singing and dancing with them ... the show is incredibly interactive. And I think it is a challenge we have achieved really beautifully.
Q. What do you think is the lasting appeal over the years for the original film and now stage shows like ‘Dirty Dancing in Concert’?
A. Again, I think the dancing is just incredibly spectacular. The second aspect is the nostalgia where the movie is a nod to simpler times. Life in the world today is complicated and not easy for people. But I think when you watch the movie you are transported back to those times and can escape for a couple of hours to a time when life was easier for many people.
Q. What has been your best gig?
A. That’s a hard one to answer because they are all so different. ‘Dirty Dancing in Concert’ has been such a massive success and is in its third North American tour. We are hitting some cities again for the second time because some audiences loved it so much the first time around. One of my greatest joys was to be able to fly home to the city where I grew up and take my mom to the show which was sold out that night. I’ve had a ton of successes in different areas. But this North American tour going out for the third time and hitting cities that have seen it before is quite a remarkable achievement for me.
Tickets to “Dirty Dancing in Concert” can be purchased on The Bushnell’s website.
Cathy Cross of Tim Landis Antiques shows off some lanterns at the 2024 Railroad Hobby Show. (STEVEN E. NANTON PHOTO)
Live Wire
notice is a slight shift in the nature of the acts. While the tried-and-true Americana artists that have dominated the festival will still have a major presence, Sanders has expanded the event to draw in some younger fans, something he started last year and is expanding upon this year.
“2024 was my first year programming the festival and it was a transition year from previous ownership, Jim Olsen, who did a tremendous job booking the festival from its inception,” Sanders said. “My goals for booking that first year were to go after some bigger headliners, lean into the indie and Americana music that I love and is a good fit for the festival, to establish the Dean’s Beans stage as the stage where you can find upbeat roots music from around the world that makes you want to dance, have a good representation of local artists on the festival and to make sure the folks on stage at the festival represented a diverse range of life experiences.”
Sanders is particularly excited for this year’s headliners, such as Mt. Joy, which has exploded since they first played Western Massachusetts 10 years ago, having played a sold-out Madison Square Garden show this past September.
“I wanted to introduce more indie rock to the festival this year, and Courtney Barnett is an incredible songwriter who I’ve loved for a long time,” he said. “Waxahatchee is nominated for a Grammy this year for
Best Americana Album, and her last two records are my favorite records of the last five years. All of the headliners are under 40 but their fan bases range in age from 3 to 103, which is perfect for Green River.”
After building each day around the headline acts, Sanders said he also tries to ensure the supporting acts are strong as well.
“Kathleen Edwards was the first artist confirmed for the festival this year. I’ve been a fan of hers for over 20 years and she has been a Western Massachusetts favorite since her first album, ‘Failer,’” Sanders said. “I knew I wanted her to close the back porch stage on Saturday night. MJ Lenderman is another artist who I targeted early on, even before his new record came out and got such amazing reviews.”
Sanders also mentioned acts such as LA LOM and Julien Baker & Torres as newer artists he targeted. He ended by noting that the festival is still a bargain, considering the acts being presented –especially if you act soon.
“There is a price increase happening on Jan. 31, so now is the time to buy to get the best price on tickets for the festival,” he said. “And I would note that we purposefully have kept prices for Green River as low as possible while still being able to deliver a stellar lineup. If you look at other two-three-day festivals in the Northeast that are similar to us, I don’t think you’ll find a better price.”
Visit greenriverfestival. com for more information and to see the complete lineup of music planned.
Michael Byrnes, left, Sam Cooper, Matt Quinn, Jackie Miclau, and Sotiris Eliopoulos of Mt. Joy are among the confirmed acts set to play this year’s Green River Festival, returning to the Franklin County Fairgrounds in June.