MAJESTIC THEATER: Entertainment lined up through St. Pat’s Day, D3
LIVE WIRE: February off to a hot start with local concerts, D4
WINTERFEST: Daylong celebration of winter in Easthampton, D5
GODMOTHER OF SOUL
Patti LaBelle to play Springfield Symphony Hall
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
Musical icon Patti LaBelle, whose music has crossed a number of genres from R&B to progressive soul and pop to funk over seven decades, will bring her incredible pipes and dynamic stage presence to Springfield Symphony Hall on Friday, Feb. 7.
Showtime is 8 p.m.
“We are thrilled to bring the legendary, world-class talent of Patti LaBelle to Symphony Hall. As a global music icon whose timeless voice has inspired generations, her performance represents the kind of unforgettable entertainment experience MGM Springfield is proud to deliver. This is more than a concert; it’s a celebration of culture and artistry happening in the heart of downtown Springfield,” said Andres Gomez, director of restaurants for MGM Springfield.
The Philadelphia-born entertainer, nicknamed the “Godmother of Soul,” captured her first hit in 1962 as lead singer of The Bluebelles and went on to receive worldwide acclaim with the trailblazing and genre bending trio, Labelle. A solo artist since the 1970s, LaBelle has earned numerous honors, including
Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards and more. She has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Apollo Theater Hall of Fame. LaBelle’s success on the musical SEE LABELLE, PAGE D3
Above, R&B legend Patti LaBelle is pictured performing at the New York State Fair. At right, LaBelle is pictured performing at the IMA Sports Arena in Flint, Mich., on June 17, 1997. (CHARLIE MILLER / CMILLER@SYRACUSE.COM; FILE PHOTO)
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Majestic Theater offers packed schedule through St. Pat’s Day
The Majestic Theater, at 131 Elm St. in West Springfield, has announced several upcoming shows in celebration of both Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day, according to producing director Danny Eaton.
The lineup includes:
• The improv comedy troupe The Majesters returns for St. Patrick’s laughs on Monday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m. The Majesters take audience suggestions to create original sketches and songs on the spot. There’s no preparation, no rehearsal and lots of chaotic fun to be had. Tickets for Majesters shows are $15 per person and only available at the door on the night of the performance. There
are no assigned seats.
• Torch Song Tuesdays, a new series of intimate cabaret performances, on March 4 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. This show utilizes the Majestic’s candlelit café space for a three-piece band and a different guest singer (usually a Majestic Theater performer) to offer a Manhattan-style nightclub experience, with blues and jazz classics along with some unexpected selections. Seating is at the café tables for two and four; larger parties will be seated as closely together as possible. Patrons are encouraged to dress to impress. All Torch Song show tickets are $35 and can be purchased
LaBelle
charts have included hits such as “If Only You Knew,” “New Attitude,” “Stir It Up,” “Lady Marmalade,” and “When You Talk About Love.” She has sold over 50 million records worldwide.
Equally talented on the Broadway stage, in movies and on television, LaBelle has appeared in the movies “A Soldier’s Story” and “Beverly Hills Cop.” Her television credits include “A Different World,” “American Horror Story,” “Greenleaf” and “Star.” LaBelle was also a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars” and also on the reality competition “The Masked Singer.” In 1982, she appeared
in the Broadway gospel musical “Your Arm’s Too Short to Box with God.”
Here are 10 additional facts about LaBelle that you may not know ahead of Friday’s show.
1. In 2019, LaBelle had a street named after her in Philadelphia called Patti LaBelle Way.
2 The New York Times called LaBelle one of three of “America’s Most Beloved Divas,” in good company with Dolly Parton and Barbra Streisand.
3. Trusted as a wonderful caregiver, LaBelle is Mariah Carey’s godmother and godmother of Cyndi Lauper’s son, Declyn.
4. Her biography, “Don’t Block the Blessings,” had a several weeks’ run on the
2008.
top of The New York Times best-seller list.
5. LaBelle has also written the diabetic cookbook “La-
Belle Cuisine: Recipes to Sing About” and “Recipes for the Good Life.”
6. Cindy Birdsong, who
went on to join the Supremes, was a member of the Ordettes, a group formed by LaBelle in 1960.
7. When Aretha Franklin died in 2018, Fox News announced her death with a photo of Patti LaBelle onscreen instead.
8. LaBelle was quickly rushed off stage during her Christmas concert in Milwaukee in 2022 after a bomb threat forced evacuation of the theater.
9. She was once engaged to Otis Williams of The Temptations.
10. She passed out on stage in New York City in 1995 and was diagnosed with diabetes. Standard admission tickets range in price from $69 to $99 and can be purchased online at MGMSpringfield.com.
Singer Patti LaBelle with her group Labelle perform in a reunion concert at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City on Dec. 19,
Michelle-Brooks Thompson will play a Valentine’sthemed show at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield. (SUBMITTED)
February off to a hot start with handful of local concerts
FEBRUARY MIGHT be the shortest month, but it’s certainly not short on entertainment here in Western Massachusetts.
There is a handful of events coming up in the next few days, so let’s run down the list in chronological order.
First up is The Machine at the Academy of Music in Northampton on Friday. The Machine is a renowned Pink Floyd tribute that has been entertaining fans for more than three decades. The New York-based quartet plays an expansive sampling of Pink Floyd’s 16-album repertoire, mixing popular hits in with deeper cuts.
The band features founding member Tahrah Cohen (drums), longtime bandmates Scott Chasolen (keyboards, vocals) and Ryan Ball (guitar, vocals) and newest member Chris DeAngelis (bass, lead vocals). DeAngelis replaced Joe Pascarell, who co-founded the band with Tahrah and who died in 2022.
Beyond the music, the band incorporates theatrical
George Lenker LIVE WIRE
Atlanta, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and San Diego Symphonies.
Next up is a longtime local tradition: the 41st annual Silver Chord Bowl on Sunday at 2 p.m. The event is the oldest collegiate a cappella showcase in the region, hosted in John M. Greene Hall on the Smith College campus. This year’s event will begin, as usual, with a performance
Steve Sanderson of the Northampton Arts Council and WRSI 93.9 the River will host the Silver Chord Bowl with Smith College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton and Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra.
elements with stage displays and lighting. The Machine is also known for recreating entire Pink Floyd albums as a part of their show. The group has sold out theaters, premier showcase rooms and casinos across North America, Europe and Asia, performed at renowned music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Riverbend, and Gathering of the Vibes, and shared the stage with full symphony orchestras, including the
NIGHTCLUBS
Singer-songwriter Heather Maloney will celebrate her new album, “Exploding Star,” at the Iron Horse Music Hall on Friday.
THURSDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
FRIDAY
East Mountain Country Club: Rock 201 Band. 1458 E. Mountain Rd, Westfield
Iron Horse Music Hall: Heather Maloney Exploding Star Album Release Shows. 20 Center St., Northampton
MGM Springfield: Free Music Fridays: Gold Dust Refugee. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
MGM Springfield: MGM Comedy Roar: Marcus Monroe. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
The Drake: Big Richard with The Shoals. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst
The Meeting House: Dave Brinnel. 827 Williams St., Longmeadow
Theodores’: Mark Nomad Band. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: Piper-Hopkins Band. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SATURDAY
Iron Horse Music Hall: Heather Maloney Exploding Star Album Release Shows. 20 Center St., Northampton
MGM Springfield: MGM Comedy Roar: Marcus Monroe. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
The Drake: Alex Rohan with special guest PrideFalls. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores’: Buddy McEarns. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: Last Night’s Fun. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SUNDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: Jazz. 820 W. 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 www.masslive.com/myevent
by Northampton High School’s very own Northamptones, followed by Smith College Smithereens, Berklee College of Music Upper Structure A Cappella, Rochester Institute of Technology Eight Beat Measure, UMass Amherst Duly Noted, The University of Connecticut Extreme Measures, Northeastern University Treble on Huntington. Steve Sanderson of the
FEBRUARY 1 - 14
The 41st annual Silver Chord Bowl, the oldest collegiate a cappella showcase in the region, returns to Smith College on Sunday. (THE REPUBLICAN, FILE PHOTO)
Celebrate the beauty of winter, both inside and outdoors
WINTERFEST
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican
Plenty of activities outdoors in the cold, crisp winter air as well as in the warmth of the indoors await funseekers as part of the 12th annual WinterFest on Saturday, Feb. 8, in Easthampton.
“What
The event, a major fundraiser to support the health of Nashawannuck Pond, is hosted by the Friends of Nashawannuck Pond and Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee.
“What began as a small fundraiser with just two activities, an ice harvest and a fire by the pond, has grown over the years into a major fundraiser to include some 40 activities for all ages,” said Beth Tiffany, treasurer of the Friends of Nashawannuck Pond.
“By the third year we added an artisan craft and vendor show in Keystone Mill, and the fundraiser continued to grow and evolve
began as a small fundraiser with just two activities, an ice harvest and a fire by the pond, has grown over the years into a major fundraiser to include some 40 activities for all ages.”
Beth Tiffany, treasurer of the Friends of Nashawannuck Pond
Irish Night in Holyoke 2025
“Tis the event of the season! Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all!”
The Night will Feature The Keohane and Kenneally Irish-American Band
Additional Entertainment by *The Cassin School of Irish Dance and Matt O’Connor of The Springfield Kiltie Band and a Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner with Ribs
Above and at left are scenes from past WinterFest celebrations in Easthampton. The 12th annual event returns on Saturday, Feb. 8, with a day full of activities planned both indoors and outside. (THE REPUBLICAN, FILE PHOTOS) SEE WINTER, PAGE D7
Saturday, February 22, 2025 at the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke Doors Open at 5pm ● Dinner 6:30pm $50 per person (advance reservations required) ● Valet Parking
Tickets or table reservations available until February 18, 2025 by calling Joe O’Connor @ 413-627-7148 or Fran Hennessey @ 413-785-5687 or online at Eventbrite.com
In memory of Daniel P. Curran to benefit The Maurice A. Donahue Memorial Scholarship
Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon collide in ‘You’re Cordially Invited’
By JAKE C OyLE
Associated Press
Are you with the bride or the groom?
Hold on, scratch that. Are you with Reese Witherspoon or Will Ferrell?
“You’re Cordially Invited,” a new comedy directed by Nicholas Stoller, brings together two stars whose movie worlds are nearly as divided as wedding guests on separate sides of the aisle. Ferrell is most closely associated with broad comedies and Witherspoon the more romantic variety. And while both have expanded beyond their wheelhouses, they are each A-list refugees from movie genres — laugh-out-loud comedies, rom-coms — that have largely faded from theaters in recent years.
“You’re Cordially Invited,” which is now available on Prime Video, unites these two once-ubiquitous box-office forces in a streaming-only wedding comedy that cross-pollinates “Father of the Bride” with “Wedding
Live Wire
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D4
Northampton Arts Council and WRSI 93.9 the River will host the Silver Chord Bowl with Smith College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton and Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra.
John M. Greene Hall is located at 60 Elm St. in Northampton.
Last on today’s list are two nights of (early) Valentine’s Day shows at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield on Feb. 10-11. The Feb. 10 show, to be held at 7 p.m.,
Crashers.” The combination works well enough, though it’d be fairer to deem “You’re Cordially Invited” a funnier-than-average wedding movie than it would be a topgrade Ferrell comedy. It’s been two decades since, in “Wedding Crashers,” Ferrell so gently called to his mother, “Hey, Mom! Can we get some meatloaf!” But a whole era has passed. “You’re Cordially Invited” is an attempt to rekindle some of the spirit of those early ’00s comedies while
will feature 2012 finalist from “The Voice,” Michelle Brooks-Thompson, who returns to the Majestic after her sold-out performances over the summer. Brooks-Thompson will celebrate the upcoming holiday with an evening of songs about love and romance.
Then, on Feb. 11, Freddie Marion, music director Dan Kane and special guests will stroll down memory lane by playing some of the world’s most renowned love songs over two shows, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets are $28 and $30 for each of these shows.
‘YOU’RE CORDIALLY INVITED’ rrts
Rated: R
Running time: 109 min. Streaming on: Prime Video
growing it up a little, and roping in a new generation of funny people. Here, Ferrell
plays the overly doting father to Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan). He’s a widower whose happiness rests to an unsound degree on his daughter. Jim steams her clothes and styles her hair. He’s not crashing the wedding this time; he’s baking the cake.
When Jenni returns home
with a ring on her finger and her now-fiancé (Stony Blyden) in tow, Jim experiences the happy news more like a nightmare. Still, he gathers himself together and books a destination wedding on the small Georgia island where he and his wife were married.
TUESDAY
Chicopee Elks #1849 431 Granby Road, Chicopee 413-592-1849
Bingo Tuesday
Doors Open at 4PM
2 Progressive Jackpots 6:15PM Early Bird 6:20PM Start
Min. Entry Package $15 Open Seating
2 Halls for Players Handicap Restroom 1st Floor
Polish American Citizens Club 355 East Street, Ludlow, 583-6385
Bingo Wednesdays 6:30-9:30pm
Doors Open at 4pm. Minimum Admission $50 1 - 1199 Progressive Betty Boop 50/50 Prize $900 2 - $500 Cover Alls
3 - $400 Special Games All regular games $100 with 80 people or More. All Cards are included with Admission. Prizes climb with additional attendence. Full Kitchen 4-6:30pm.
WEDNESDAY CALL TODAY 413-788-1250 TO LIST HERE
THURSDAY
Fairview Knights of Columbus 1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee (413) 532-2011
DOORS OPEN 4:30PM
MASKS OPTIONAL Progressive Jackpot 6:15pm Early Bird 6:20pm Start
Electronic Bingo Aval. Snack Bar, Open Seating, Handicap Restrooms
Min. Entry Package $15
Reese Witherspoon, left, and Will Ferrell appear in a scene from "You're Cordially Invited,” now streaming on Prime Video.
(GLEN WILSON /AMAZON PRIME VIDEO VIA AP)
From left, Jimmy Tatro, Meredith Hagner and Reese Witherspoon appear in a scene from "You're Cordially Invited."
(GLEN WILSON / AMAZON PRIME VIDEO VIA AP)
Restaurants offer Super Bowl promotions to boost sales
OVER THE GAME’S 59-year history, a love-hate relationship has evolved between the Super Bowl and the restaurant industry.
For those food service establishments that have strong takeout and delivery components to their business model, Super Bowl Sunday has become a major revenue
also at Keystone Mill. Tickets are $20, with a portion being donated to the Friends of Nashawannuck Pond.
to what it is today as many organizations throughout the city became involved,” she added.
Tiffany noted that the fundraiser continues to grow, with several new additions this year.
This year, the Easthampton Police Department will be joining all the activities with Gino the K9 and his handler at 10 am. in Keystone Mill. You can also meet Brown from Fletcher Farm, who will be bringing the cow to Easthampton Feed from 1-3 p.m.
Also new this year, visitors to Keystone Mill at 10 a.m. will be serenaded by the Cider House Boys Barbershop Quartet. And for some evening entertainment, The Legible Bodies will present “The Whispering Line,” an informal showing of selections from their newest work,
opportunity. In the pizza business, Super Bowl Sunday has the reputation of being the biggest day of the year, with orders piling from early afternoon onwards.
It’s much the same with other takeout favorites like wings, sub sandwiches, and tacos; there are customers aplenty as football fans stock up on game day sustenance.
the plunge, and we are hoping for the same or bigger turnout this year,” Tiffany said.
Super Bowl Sunday has additionally become the biggest occasion annually for chicken wing sales, with an estimated billion-and-a-half wings eaten before, during, and after the gridiron spectacular.
For restaurants that are focused on dine-in business, however, Super Bowl Sunday is a different story. In late afternoon, as kick-off ap -
Showtime is 7 p.m. in the East Boylston Room.
Outdoor activities on Saturday will include a historical ice harvest at noon on Nashawannuck Pond, led by historian Dennis Picard. Participants will be able to try their hand at using a pond saw to “harvest” blocks of ice as they learn about Easthampton’s important role in the area’s ice industry. Other outdoor activities include a nature walk at Arcadia at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Clay Hill Farm draft horse wagon rides from the municipal lot on Payson Avenue with a suggested donation of $2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and a community fire where you can toast marshmallows by the pond from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Last year the Easthampton Fire Department sponsored a polar plunge in the icy waters of the pond. We had a huge turnout of 84 people who took
There is a suggested donation of $5 for the event, called “Freezin’ for a Reason,” which will be held from 3-4 pm.
All outdoor events are weather permitting and may be canceled without notice.
Indoor activities at various times at Keystone Mill on 122 Pleasant St. will include an Art in Motion dance demonstration, magician Ed Popielarczyk, puppeteer Tom Knight, and Family Jungle Entertainment’s exotic animal and reptile show. Easthampton Library, Valley Art Supplies, Council on Aging, Arcadia, and Easthampton Skate also have special activities planned.
Abandoned Building Brewery will be hosting a night of bingo on Thursday, a chili tasting on Friday, Feb. 7, and WinterFest After Dark with live music on Saturday, Feb. 8. For foodies, The Grill food truck will be stationed in the
municipal lot, and there will be a Coffee Counter by Vegan Pizza Land and food from Myer’s Catering, both in Keystone Mill.
The food and drink offerings continue at Abandoned Building Brewery. WinterFest After Dark begins at 6 p.m., with Ch’Chunk playing live music.
“The folks at Abandoned Building Brewery have graciously given us space to hold several events before Saturday including a night of bingo on Thursday and our chili tasting on Friday,” Tiffany said.
Greenfield Saving Bank is providing the Boylston Room Trolley from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to shuttle participants between the pond, Keystone Building and Arcadia.
Nashawannuck Pond is one of two manmade ponds bordered on the north by the planned and preserved open space of Nonotuck Park, its center being in the downtown business district and at the gateway to the Cottage
Pizza and wings reign supreme during Super Bowl Sunday and local restaurants — like Christopher’s Tavern in Springfield, which is where the two pictured plates are from — are getting in on the action.
(THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)
proaches, traffic in restaurant dining rooms falls off dramatically, so much so that some independent operations that would normally be open on a Sunday evening instead elect to close early.
This year many major chains, in creating promotions designed to win a game day share-of-stomach, have
Street Cultural District. Its waters extend over an historic dam, past One Cottage Street Studios mill building, along the Manhan Rail Trail and on toward Millside Park where it is known as Lower Mill Pond.
“I love the pond, it’s just fabulous and offers a variety of activities throughout the year such as canoeing, kayaking and ice fishing. It’s just a great place to walk around and enjoy an ice cream from Mt. Tom’s Ice Cream close by,” Tiffany said.
Funds raised over the year through WinterFest sponsorships, merchandise sales, donations, and other efforts have paid for annual herbicide treatment for invasive Eurasian Milfoil. Ongoing projects include monitoring and treating invasive species and barley straw deployment to deter cyanobacteria.
Most WinterFest activities are free. To view the full list of happenings, visit https:// www.nashawannuckpond. org/winterfest.html.
Hugh Robert Off The Menu
SEE MENU, PAGE D9
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
restricted those offers to the brand’s digital ordering channels and, by doing so, streamlining throughput.
Participating Applebee’s locations, for instance, are offering 20 free Boneless Wings with any online (web or app) purchase of $40 or more.
Some chains, like Buffalo Wild Wings, are “wagering” on the game’s outcome in order to encourage future business. For the seventh year in a row, “B-Dubs,” as the chain calls itself, is offering a free six-piece order of chicken wings to all customers if the Super Bowl goes into overtime. If need be, the wager will be paid on Monday, Feb. 24, between 2 and 5 p.m. to those ordering in-store for dine-in or takeout.
In 2024, when the Super Bowl did go into overtime, Buffalo Wild Wings had to “pay out” an estimated 2.5 million free wings.
Chipotle Mexican Grill this year is focusing on social media as its Super Bowl Sunday marketing tool. Using X and Instagram, the chain will give away up to 50,000 free entrees during the game.
Chipotle is also extending its promotional efforts into Monday, Feb. 10, when it will be offering free guacamole and queso on digital orders. The giveaway ostensibly celebrates “Extra Sunday,” the “Monday-after” that some Super Bowl fans take off from work in order to recuperate from game day festivities.
Locally-owned operations need not stand on the sidelines while the Super Bowl is in progress. For instance, Christopher’s Tavern in the Sixteen Acres section of Springfield is promoting a Complimentary Half-Time Buffet on Sunday, Feb. 9. The buffet is a way of getting fans up from the couch at home and into the Tavern, where food and beverage specials await those who stay to watch there.
Christopher’s Tavern answers at 413-363-0650.
Side Dishes
• On Saturday, Feb. 15, Champney’s Restaurant & Tavern at the Deerfield Inn will host a Chocolate Wine Dinner.
The occasion, which begins at 6 p.m., will pair chocolate as an ingredient in both sweet and savory dishes with a curated selection of compatible wines.
A starter course of cocoa chevre mousse will begin the dinner, which will then move on to a seared scallop presentation that’s dusted with chocolate nibs and sauced with an orange beurre blanc.
Pistachio-crusted lamb chops are to be one of the entrees; duck breast with a chocolate fig reductions is to be the second.
A salted caramel tart glazed with chocolate ganache will conclude the dinner.
For more details or to reserve seats, contact Champneys at 413-774-5587.
• Dunkin’, the beverage and snack chain, has brought back two specialty donuts for the Valentine’s Day season.
The Cupid’s Choice Specialty donut is filled with Bavarian “kreme” and topped with strawberry icing, while a Brownie Batter specialty donut features brownie batter-flavored butter kreme.
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, all of Dunkin’s filled donuts, including the two specialty donuts, will be
Brickroad Productions of Monson.
The murder-mystery “Class Reunion” will be featured that evening, with a buffet dinner served before the show’s 7 p.m. curtain. Tickets are $50 per person and can be ordered by calling 978-874-5941.
• 99 Restaurant & Pub locations are featuring three limited-time-only entrees and a special dessert this winter.
Double BBQ Turkey Tips are being served with fries, coleslaw and a honey-glazed biscuit, while a Spicy Crispy Shrimp Salad features fried shrimp arranged over mixed greens.
dessert pierogis, is being preparing in conjunction with Westfield’ North Elm Butcher Block. A selected Tin Bridge beer will be poured with each course. Tickets, which are $70 plus a convenience fee, may be ordered on Eventbrite.com.
The Tin Bridge Brewing Company can be reached at 413-642-6418.
• Irving, California-based Taco Bell is well known for its rapid-fire product churn. A cornerstone of the chain’s marketing strategy is to create buzz around the brand by the frequent high-profile cycling of items on and off its menu.
made using a heart-shaped donut shell.
The brand is also releasing an assortment of “merch” to mark the season of romance.
• The Willits-Hallowell Conference Center at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley is presenting a Valentine’s Brunch on Sunday, Feb. 16.
The brunch, which will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will feature a buffet menu embellished with exotic touches.
Items scheduled to be served include a sweet potato and red pepper soup, seasonal fruit salad and a chicory salad with apple and fennel.
Breakfast-themed buffet offerings are to be waffles with pomegranate-blood orange syrup, house-made chorizo, bacon and scrambled eggs. Entree selections such as herb-crusted roast chicken, pepita-crusted salad and boneless leg of lamb will be the luncheon representatives on the buffet, which will also include a selection of desserts.
The Valentine’s Brunch is $35 for adults and $18 for children under the age of 12. Reservations are required and they can be made by calling the Willits-Hallowell Center at 413-538-2217.
• On Friday, Feb. 21, the 1761 Old Mill Restaurant in Westminster will be presenting a dinner theater evening in conjunction with
Chicken & Sausage Al Forno is a Monday-through-Wednesday-only option. Made with penne pasta and a tomato cream sauce, the dish is topped with two cheeses before being finished in the oven.
For the winter Salted Caramel Cheesecake will be supplementing Ninety
Even so, some in the industry were taken by surprise last week when Taco Bell announced that, barely a month after their introduction, its new Crispy Chicken Nuggets were no longer available. The Nuggets, which debuted in late December, had garnered much favorable mention on both social media and in the popular press and were thought
Nine’s dessert menu. There are five 99 locations across the Pioneer Valley in Springfield, Westfield, Chicopee, East Longmeadow and Greenfield.
• On Wednesday, Feb. 12 starting at 6 p.m., the Tin Bridge Brewing Company in Westfield will be hosting a Valentine’s Day Beer Dinner.
The four-course menu, which will include lobster bisque, candied double-smoked bacon, a choice of beef tenderloin or chicken marsala and blueberry-apple
by some to be worthy of permanent menu status.
In commenting on the surprisingly short window of availability afforded the Crispy Chicken Nuggets, a company spokesperson left the door open for their return “at a later date.”
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.
Dunkin' has dropped its Valentine's Day menu, and it includes the return of two sweet treats.
Less than a month after they were introduced, Taco Bell has removed Crispy Chicken Nuggets from its menu.
Wide disparity between states’ oldest breweries
ALTHOUGH BREWing is an ancient art, the practice can be seen as “new” in some ways.
A recent piece on Vinepair. com identified the oldest brewery in each state. What that meant was the oldest brewery still operating, which in most states, was not that long. Prohibition made sure that most smaller breweries wouldn’t survive, leaving only the largest businesses to take over after the ill-advised amendment was repealed in 1933.
So, while Missouri can boast about Anheuser-Busch, which opened in 1852, we here in Massachusetts can only look back to Harpoon Brewery (1986). Technically, Boston Beer Co. (Sam Adams) also opened in 1984, but it gets an asterisk because it initially brewed its beer via contract in Pennsylvania.
But Anheuser-Busch is certainly not the oldest in the nation, that honor goes to Yuengling (1829), which as I’ve mentioned before, was just 20 miles down the road from where my parents grew up. I guess I come to this beer writing job naturally. Other older breweries include Wisconsin’s Minhas (1845) and Schell’s (1860) in Minnesota. Only a dozen breweries predate the craft beer movement, if you consider the start of it to be circa 1980.
New England, unfortunately, lost most of its small breweries during Prohibition. Connecticut’s oldest brewery is Willimantic Brewing (1997), while Maine has Geary’s (1983) and Rhode Island has the newest, Union Station Brewing (1993). Vermont’s oldest is Vermont Pub & Brewery (1988) while New Hampshire has Portsmouth Brewery (1991), which began as sort of a sister brewery of our own Northampton Brewery.
Speaking of the Northampton Brewery, it’s also one of the
CALENDAR
George Lenker Beer Nut
oldest continuously operating breweries in the Northeast, having opened in 1987, when there were only a handful of such places in the region. But Massachusetts certainly didn’t lack for beermakers before Prohibition strangled the industry. I did some research and found some interesting information on oldbreweries.com
Here in Western Massachusetts, most beer fans are familiar with Hampden Brewing Co., where Leadfoot Brewing now resides. Hampden grew out of a few earlier iterations on the Chicopee-Holyoke line, and later became Piel’s before closing in 1975. Springfield was also a hotbed of brewing before Prohibition, with places such as Springfield Breweries Co., Liberty Brewing, and, of course, Christian Kalmbach & Theodore Geisel Brewery (partly owned by Dr. Seuss’ grandfather).
Also in Western Massachusetts, Pittsfield had Berkshire Brewing Association (not to be confused with today’s Berkshire Brewing Co. in Deerfield) which lasted a robust 27 years, between 1891 and 1918.
Most of the breweries on the Vinepair list started in either the 1980s (15) or 1990s (21), with a handful opening in the 2000s. It’s somewhat startling to me that the oldest brewery in South Dakota (Fargo Brewing) wouldn’t even be old enough to drink yet if it were a person, having first opened in 2010.
THURSDAY
Montague Shakespeare Festival 2025 Workshops: Thu.-Sun. online, "The Digital Bard: Live Online Workshops," through Feb. 28, 1-2 p.m. A nine-part Zoom workshop series offering insights into Shakespeare’s works. Learn from acclaimed actors and directors from Shakespeare's Globe and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Cost is $25 per workshop. Register online at montagueshakespearefestival.com
FRIDAY
“Love Letters”: Fri.-Sat, 7:30 p.m. Black Birch Vineyards, The Valley Players present A. R. Gurney’s classic play of romance-by-post, “Love Letters.” The show runs Feb. 7–15, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, at Black Birch Vineyard (108 Straits Road, Hatfield MA) and features a rotating cast of different Valley actors each evening. Local fine wine available for purchase and light bites by pre-order. As part of the Valley Players’ mission to support the community through community theater, half of net ticket revenue from the show will be donated to River Valley Counseling Center. Seating is limited so reservations are strongly encouraged, $15 and up. 108 Straits Road, North Hatfield.
Montague Shakespeare Festival 2025 Workshops: See Thursday listing
Opera House Players presents “A Chorus Line”: Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Enfield Annex, Visit operahouseplayers.org/ tickets for more information or get tickets at the door. Call the box office for discounts on groups
of 10 or more at 860-498-8899. Performances are at the Enfield Annex, 124 North Maple St. This show contains adult themes and language. Some content may not be suitable for young children, 124 North Maple St., Enfield; Patti LaBelle: Fri., 8 p.m. Springfield Symphony Hall, For tickets visit mgmspringfield.mgmresorts.com/en/entertainment/ symphony-hall.html, tickets start at $69. 34 Court St., Springfield, 413-733-2291.
SATURDAY
Benefit Concert for JFSWM: Sat, 6:30 p.m. First Church of Christ Longmeadow. A special concert featuring student-led groups from the Longmeadow High School Music Dept. to benefit Jewish Family Service’s New American Refugee Resettlement Program. The concert is free and open to the public. Donations encouraged at the door. 763 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow.
“Love Letters”: See Friday listing Montague Shakespeare Festival 2025 Workshops: See Thursday listing
Nu-Blu: Sat., 7 p.m. Cultural Center at Eagle Hill, $35 adults/ $30 students & seniors. 242 Old Petersham Road, Hardwick, thecenterateaglehill.org
Opera House Players presents “A Chorus Line”: See Friday listing Winter-Themed Zine and Diorama Festival: Sat., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Forbes Library, Forbes Library’s resident Zine Club is hosting a winter-themed/inspired Zine and Diorama Festival in the Reading Room on the main floor of the library. The event will accommodate 20 artist vendors,
12 dioramas, plus host Western Mass Electronics electronic music open-mic from 12-3 p.m., all in an immersive winter-scape. This all-day Zine Fest will counter the perceived eeriness of mild Winters by summoning the cold, wind, and snow into the library, and inviting the associated psychological effects of introspection, conviviality, and coziness to do their restorative work. Please dress warmly. 20 West Street, Northampton. 413-587-1011 or forbeslibrary.org.
SUNDAY
Lydian String Quartet with pianist Jiayan Sun: Sun, 3 p.m. Sweeney Concert Hall, The internationally recognized Lydian String Quartet will play quartets by Haydn and Debussy. After intermission, they will be joined by pianist Jiayan Sun of Smith College Music Faculty in a performance of the formidable and breathtakingly beautiful Piano Quintet in F Minor by Cesar Franck, $35. 7 College Lane, Northampton; smith.edu.
Montague Shakespeare Festival 2025 Workshops: See Thursday listing
Opera House Players presents “A Chorus Line”: See Friday listing Romance at the Ranch: Sun., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Berkshire HorseWorks Inc, Grab your favorite person and join in for the annual Romance at the Ranch pre-Valentines Day photo-op with rescued horses and donkeys. Hot cocoa and cookies will be served. A $25 donation is suggested; all proceeds will go toward medical care and food for the rescued herd. Enter a raffle with a chance to win an equine activity of your choice at Berkshire
The Lydian String Quartet, accompanied by pianist Jiayan Sun, will play Smith College’s Sweeney Concert Hall on Sunday.
Meanwhile, we’re introduced to Margot (Witherspoon) a high-powered reality TV executive in Los Angeles whose younger sister (Meredith Hagner) is getting married to her boyfriend (Jimmy Tatro). Her abiding issue is a disconnect with her Atlanta-era family and their disapproving mother (Celia Weston), a fissure that the wedding, which Margot opts to plan herself, quickly exacerbates.
When, a year later, these two groups arrive on the island, Jim and Margot eye each other suspiciously right up until they each attempt to check in at the same time. Thanks to the untimely death of the inn’s longtime owner, the place has been double-booked for the weekend — a particularly awkward situation given the island can only accommodate one wedding at a time. The supporting roles throughout “You’re
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HorseWorks. 101 Patton Road, Richmond.
Silver Chord Bowl: Sun, 2 p.m. John M. Greene Hall, This year’s event will begin with a performance by Northampton High School’s very own Northamptones, followed by Smith College Smithereens, Berklee College of Music Upper Structure A Cappella, Rochester Institute of Technology Eight Beat Measure, UMass Amherst Duly Noted, The University of Connecticut Extreme Measures, Northeastern University Treble on Huntington.Steve Sanderson of the Northampton Arts Council/WRSI 93.9 the River will host the Silver Chord Bowl with Smith College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton and the Mayor of Northampton, Gina-Louise Sciarra, $15-$35. College Lane, Northampton, or smith.edu.
Quadrangle
George Walter Vincent Smith
Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: “Ancient Treasures,” a display of ar-
Cordially Invited” are well cast, including the inn’s new, very apologetic manager, played by Jack McBrayer. After some hesitation, Margot and Jim resolve to share the venue. This, of course, is the not particularly subtle concept of “You’re Cordially Invited.” The arrangement is momentarily copacetic but gradually devolves into an all-out war between Margot
and Jim, while the two very different wedding parties — one a multicultural DJ-ing crew, the other longtime Southerners — mingle congenially.
The main deficiency of “You’re Cordially Invited,” also scripted by Stoller (“Neighbors,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”), is that everything about it proceeds from its concept. The char-
tifacts 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 www.springfield museums.org.
Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: 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: Feb. 6, 12:15 p.m. “Sweethearts at Sea: A Love Story from the Age of Whaling.” $4, free for members. Presented by Dr. Amanda Goodheart Parks, historian and educator.
Springfield Science Museum: “The Robot Zoo,” through May 4. Discover the magic of nature as a master engineer. Free with museum admission. Permanent exhibit: State-of-the-art Zeiss Projector and updated International Space Station Exhibit. Stars Over Springfield: Feb. 7, 7:30–9 p.m. Cost: $7, $5 members. Join in for a beginner’s astronomy
acters feel engineered to suit it, and everything in its plot is orchestrated to serve the rival wedding feud. Nothing in how things evolve will surprise you or feel particularly organic. For a not especially long movie, “You’re Cordially Invited” drags, a byproduct of its artificial conception. This is the kind of film where the post-credits sing-along feels forced.
That said, there’s a wide array of comic talent throughout Stoller’s film that enlivens it. That includes Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Rory Scovel, Leanne Morgan and even, briefly, Peyton Manning. This should be a showcase for Viswanathan, the talented star of “Blockers” and “Bad Education,” but her character, while primary, doesn’t give her much to work with beyond shedding an overly dependent dad. The highlight of the cast, really, is Weston, who is so good as a hard-toimpress matriarch that you could just as easily drop her into a family drama. Ferrell, who has made
unadjusted fathers a specialty since “Saturday Night Live,” finds more ways to make Jim a compelling comic character than most anyone could. Having the chance to see him in a big studio comedy has gotten so foolishly infrequent that “You’re Cordially Invited” is worth RSVP’ing to for that too-rare opportunity, in itself.
Somewhat surprisingly, “You’re Cordially Invited” doesn’t culminate in a big comic set piece but puts much — maybe too much — of its energy into talking through Jim and Margot’s hang-ups. There’s a clever, self-aware theme of honesty: too little of it in Jim and Jenni’s performative dynamic, and too much of it in Margot’s cynical family relationships. That all of this hangs together is a testament, most of all, to Witherspoon deftness as a performer. In a movie in which Ferrell wrestles an alligator and Nick Jonas cameos (winningly) as a singing pastor, you don’t doubt Witherspoon for a moment.
program featuring a short talk by a local expert, hands-on activities or demonstrations, a planetarium show with our historic Korkosz starball and brand-new Zeiss projector, and stargazing in our rooftop observatory. Recommended for ages 8 and older. This month’s topic is “Gravity.” Registration is required, visit springfieldmuseums.org.
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. Firstfloor exhibition provides opportunities to explore new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories, and engage in activities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking, with interactive three-dimensional exhibits. Second floor contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia. For tickets and more information, 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.
Outdoors
Great Falls Discovery Center: Indoor StoryWalk, through Feb.
12: “Tracks in the Snow,” by Wong Herbert Yee; Feb. 13-28: “Rabbit’s Snow Dance” by Joseph Bruchac. Explore the lives of active and resting winter wildlife through stories. For ages 3 and up, accompanied by an adult. Meet at the welcome desk. Nice & Easy Walks. Fridays, Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28, 1-2 p.m. Easypaced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all. Enjoy natural and local history along the way. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Meet at the main entrance. First Friday: Navigate Your Neighborhood. Feb. 7, 4-6 p.m. Every First Friday of the month, Turners Falls businesses and organizations stay open late for activities. Drop in to learn how to get your bearings with just a compass and map. For all ages; families welcome. Meet in the Great Hall. “The Secret Lives of Turners Falls Germans,” Feb. 8, 2-3 p.m. After the canal was rebuilt in 1869, German immigrants were among the first to move to Turners Falls and first to witness the planned village’s growing pains. Join DCR staff through photos, news clippings, and oral history to figure out how they built their community and traditions through mutual aid and
hard work. For youth and adults. Meet in the Great Hall. “Who do you Love? Valentines for Wildlife.” Feb. 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Stop by the Welcome Desk to make Valentines to give to the ones you love, keep for yourself, or give to your favorite wildlife biologist, all in honor of your favorite animal. For all ages. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls or greatfallsma.org.
Mt. Greylock State Reservation: Visitor Center open daily, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Interpretive exhibits explore the park story through artifacts and displays. Trail maps, hike guidance, 13-minute orientation film, bathrooms, drinking water available. Wheelchair accessible. Nature Scavenger Hunt. Ongoing, Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For children and families. Self-guided adventurous quests invited you to search for natural treasures along part trails and inside the Visitor Center. There are several seek and find scavenger hunts for different age and skill levels. Scavenger hunts are available at the Visitor Center. Cabin Fever Story Time. Feb. 9, March 9, 1-2:30 p.m. For all ages. Join Park Interpreter Mike by a warm fire for an hour of tall tales and legends from Mount Greylock’s past. Hot cocoa provided. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough
Reese Witherspoon, left, and Will Ferrell in “You’re Cordially Invited.” (GLEN WILSON/PRIME VIDEO/TNS)
Majestic
at the Majestic box office or online at majestictheater. com.
Other upcoming shows include:
• Chelsie Nectow (“The Ladyslipper,” “Bright Star,” “The Buddy Holly Story”): Tuesday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m.;
• Kait Rankins (“9 to 5,” “Marvelous Wonderettes,” Home for the Holidays,” “The Full Monty”): Tuesday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m.
• Michelle-Brooks Thompson, 2012 finalist from NBC’s “The Voice,” returns to the Majestic Theater on Monday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. Her evening show will celebrate love and romance in time for Valentine’s Day. Tickets range from $28 to $30 and are available by contacting the Majestic’s box office or online at majestictheater.com.
• Freddie Marion, one of the Majestic’s favorite performers, will celebrate Valentine’s Day with the greatest love songs from A to Z. Joined by director Dan Kane and a number of special guests, Marion will host two shows on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets range from $28 to $30 and are available by contacting the box office or online at majestictheater.
com
• Craig Eastman, of the YankCelt band, returns to the Majestic Theater on Tuesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. He will bring with him special guests for an exceptional evening of virtuoso fiddle music from Ireland and beyond. Through his illustrious career, he has worked with legends like Steve Martin, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, Elton John, Dolly Parton and Hans Zimmer. Tickets range from $28 to $30 and are available by contacting the box office or online at majestictheater. com
• Join Father Patrick Aloysius for “Misgivings,” a “divine” comedy of belly laughs, blessings, blarney,
Freddie Marion will bring his Valentine’s-themed show to the Majestic Theater this month.
and bingo, on Monday, March 17, at 2 and 7 p.m.
From miracles and marriage counseling to bazaars and birth control, nothing escapes the good Father’s razor-sharp Irish wit. Tickets range from $28 to $30 and are available by contacting the Majestic’s box office or online at majestictheater.com.
• Banish Misfortune will play the Majestic Theater on Tuesday, March 18, at 7 p.m.
Since 2007, Banish Misfortune has been entertaining audiences in Western Massachusetts and beyond with a broad range of Irish music, stories and craic (fun). The band’s current lineup features seasoned musicians on fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki, flute, whistle, concertina and guitar. Expect to be transported to Ireland with rousing jigs and reels, songs both humorous and touching, and stories and poems springing from the soul of the Emerald Isle. Tickets range from $28 to $30 and are available by contacting the Majestic’s box office or online at majestictheater. com.
The Majestic box office can be reached by phone at 413-747-7797. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Doors to the theater will open one hour before the start of a show, which is also when the café opens.
