wknd-20250220 by repubnews

‘GIRL’S NIGHT’: Musical about female friendship comes to The Bushnell, D4

LIVE WIRE: Adam Dunetz and the Whodunnits to play Easthampton, D4

‘SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’: Times show made a cultural bang in its 50-year history, D6

The great outdoors

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Springfield Sportsmen’s Show returns to Eastern States Exposition this weekend

By K eith O ’C onnor Special to THe Republican

The wild is calling all outdoor lovers to the Springfield Sportsmen’s Show this weekend on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition.

The popular event, which opens tomorrow for three days, features sporting vendors from all over the country selling the latest hunting, fishing and outdoor gear. Those attending can also meet and talk turkey with hunting and fishing celebrities, industry experts and participate in seminars to further their knowledge.

“What keeps everyone, both exhibitors and attendees, coming back each year is the fact that we are the largest pure sportsmen’s show in the Northeast. It’s like a big sportsmen’s club, a magical movement, where you see old friends and everyone gets together to talk everything sports,” said Doug Sousa of the Outdoor Sports Expo Group, Inc., organizers of the show.

“For the kids, we have a number of fun activities to keep them busy, including the opportunity to catch a fish at our indoor trout pond. Our Outdoor Sports Kids Fun Area features games from Pete and Chris Amusements as well as their Hillbilly Magic Show,” he added.

Above, from left, Philip Miesel, left, and Chris Caputo, both of Bristol, Conn., inspect a fishing rod; and hunting enthusiasts check out rifle scopes at the Osprey Global display during a past Springfield Sportsmen’s Show. Below, Dan Jennings, of Lanesboro, is framed by antlers as he views the Northeast Big Buck Display at a past show. The show returns to the Eastern States Exposition this weekend. (STEVEN E. NANTON PHOTO)

“It’s like a big sportsmen’s club, a magical movement, where you see old friends and everyone gets together to talk everything sports.”

DOUG SOUSA OF THE OUTDOOR SPORTS EXPO GROUP, INC., ORGANIZERS OF THE SPRINGFIELD SPORTSMEN'S SHOW

Outdoors

Sousa offered his thoughts on the top 10 things to do at the show, broken down by “Don’t Miss Attractions” and “Others Worth Seeing.”

Top 5 “Don’t Miss” Attractions

1. Giant 14’ Brook Trout: “This is a real show-stopper wherever it is displayed and people love to take selfies in front of it,” Sousa said. The fabricated sculpture is the creation of artist Joe Rizzo, who creates props for Dollywood, Six Flags and the television and film industry.

2. Door prizes: “Make sure you sign up as you enter the show for plenty of free stuff to be given away, including our big prize, a Napier Backroadz Camo Truck Tent,” Sousa said. Also, some exhibitors will have their own special prize packages.

3. Bwana Jim’s Wildlife Show: “It’s a family favorite,” Sousa said about the exotic birds, snakes and more that are part of the educational aspect of the show.

4. Seminars: “We have a wide range of hunting and fishing seminars and they are all free throughout our three-day show,” Sousa said.

5. Trout pond: “What can be better than seeing your child cast a line and catch their very first fish at our trout pond for a fee? I can’t tell you how many longtime fishermen tell me they caught their first fish here,” Sousa said.

Others worth seeing before leaving the show

Kelly’s Casting Competition will be held throughout the weekend at the Retrieving Pool for kids and adults.

10. Massachusetts Environmental Police: They will be registering ATVs, snowmobiles and boats at the show, along with hunting and fishing licenses. Mobile registration hours are Friday from noon to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m.

to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Show hours are Friday from noon to 8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $18 for adults, $5 for kids 6-2, and free to those under 6. Advance tickets are available online at osegsports mens.com or at the door.

6. Captain Michelle Bancewicz and First Mate Lea Pinaud: “Last year this outstanding fishing duo made their first appearance at our show and people loved them and asked us to bring them back,” Sousa said. Stars on National Geographic’s series “Wicked Tuna,” will be on hand to greet fans, answer questions and will be available to book a charter with them.

a safari and it is full of taxidermy and additional educational experiences.

7. The SCI Mobile Wildlife Education Center: Back again for another year, the massive trailer is compared to going on

8. LISharkman: “This Long Island sharkman, whose real name is Chris Stefanou, is so popular that he has millions following him on YouTube and TikTok. For him, it’s all about catching sharks from the shore,” Sousa said.

9. Competitions: Pat

Closing This Sunday

Curated by

Sponsored locally by the Campbell Family

Scenes from a past Springfield Sportsmen’s Show.

(STEVEN NANTON PHOTOS)

It’s a ‘Girls Night’ at The Bushnell

Tickets for tonight’s show can be purchased online

By Ashley P otter apotter@repub.com

It’s going to be a “Girls Night” at The Bushnell in Hartford this evening.

That’s the name of the “tell-it-likeit-is” musical that first began touring off-Broadway in the United States in 2007. Since then, it has been described as “an infectious, exhilarating sense of intoxication” in the Hollywood Reporter and “As funny and outrageous as ‘Sex and the City’” in The Advocate.

“Girls Night” follows five friends on a night out as they revisit their past and celebrate the present — and don’t worry, despite its name, you can bring the guys out for this one, too.

“This five-woman show explores friendships, relationships and the bonds that stick with you through thick and thin, all while showcasing your favorite songs from the ’80s and ’90s,” said Kate Alden, who has played multiple roles

in “Girls Night” and serves as the musical’s associate director. “It’s a hilarious homage to a multitude of eras that doesn’t shy away from raunchy jokes, all the best classic girl anthems and plenty of audience involvement.”

Audiences can expect to hear performances of songs like “I Will Survive,” “Lady Marmalade,” and “We Are Family,” just to name a few.

“You can’t do a show with

“There’s something really special about being a woman and having girlfriends that totally get you and this musical celebrates that in a way that is very unique.”

Kate Alden, ‘Girls Night’

girl anthems without featuring ‘I Will Survive’ and ‘Man I Feel Like a Woman,’ but I’d say my favorite song to sing is ‘Lady Marmalade’ because all of the girls sing it together and it’s such a powerhouse song,” said Alden.

What makes “Girls Night” such a special production is that it features rotating cast members, and all of the women involved with the production are just as close as they appear to be on stage. “We’ve been in each other’s weddings, traveled the world together, and have genuinely close friendships with each other outside of the show,” Alden said.

And as fun as “Girls Night”

Adam Dunetz and the Whodunnits to play

Easthampton

ADAM DUNETZ said his latest album, “Seasides Volume 1: How to Build a Better Rocket,” is made up of what he refers to as “ditties.”

“I just felt they were kind of goofy, one-off afterthoughts,” he said in a recent interview. “Calling them ditties felt like a self-deprecating way of saying ‘There’s nothing to see here!’ Another

way to think about them is as process songs — the songs you write in between the songs you write where you have a

HARTFORD

“Girls Night: The Musical” comes to The Bushnell. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

George Lenker

LIVE WIRE

Adam Dunetz and his band, the Whodunnits, will play Luthier's Co-op in Easthampton next month. (JOANNA CHATTMAN)

SEE LIVE WIRE, PAGE D5

Nightclubs

THURSDAY

The Drake: Marco Benevento. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst

Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield

SATURDAY

Irish Cultural Center: The Healys. Morgan Road, West Springfield

MGM Springfield: MGM Roar: Frank Santos Jr. 1 MGM Way, Springfield

Shea Theater: Tommy Castro & The Painkillers. 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls

Theodores': Six Pack of Blues. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield

SUNDAY

Uno Chicago Grill: Jazz. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield

MONDAY

FRIDAY

Irish Cultural Center: Brothers By Law. Morgan Road, West Springfield

MGM Springfield: Free Music

Fridays: The '69 Show. 1 MGM Way, Springfield

MGM Springfield: MGM Roar: Frank Santos Jr. 1 MGM Way, Springfield

Shaker Farms Country Club: Just Me & Her. 866 Shaker Road, Westfield

The Drake: Rebirth Brass Band. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst

The Meeting House: Dave Brinnel. 827 Williams St., Longmeadow

Theodores': Arno and the Low Down. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield

Live Wire

more immediate sense upon finishing them that you wrote something particularly authentic or resonant.”

Dunetz and his band, the Whodunnits, will play some of these ditties along with his older songs at Luthier’s Co-op in Easthampton on March 7 at 8 p.m.

Dunetz, who formerly owned two Northampton eateries, The Roost and The Green Bean, started writing songs in college, and later toured with a band in the Pacific Northwest. The birth of his daughter in the middle of all that made him shift priorities.

“After that experience with the band in my late 20s, I just kind of buckled down in all the responsible ways. Committed to my child and partner. Tried to reign in some chronic health issues. Opened up a couple of restaurants that were all-consuming,” he said.

But despite the success of his businesses, Dunetz felt a gap in his lifestyle and recorded some songs in 2015.

“After a while, when all of that had kind of stabilized, I had a moment to think, ‘This is all great, but something’s missing. What could it be?’

And it didn’t take long to real-

Uno Chicago Grill: 50% off individual deep dish pizza (dine in only). 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield

TUESDAY

Uno Chicago Grill: Blues Music. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield

WEDNESDAY

The Drake: Joe Magnarelli/NoHo Jazz Workshop. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst

Uno Chicago Grill: Light Rock. 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

ize that this foundational part of who I am had kind of gone into hibernation for several years,” he said.

For several years after that, Dunetz recorded his music and played out sporadically, all while running two businesses. Then the pandemic hit and it gave him a reset in more ways than one.

“Accompanying the pandemic, for me, were two other fairly seismic events: I used the time to make my exit from the restaurants I had opened and operated for several years, and I had an accident/injury that was pretty traumatic. I escaped with a couple of fractures in my back, but it could have been so much worse,” he said.

This meant that the bulk of the pandemic was about recovery for Dunetz. He said the businesses had taken a pretty significant mental and emotional toll on him over time and, coupled with a life-changing accident that gave him “the ultimate wake-up call,” he used the downtime of the pandemic to heal.

“And writing songs and producing music has always been an integral part of that therapy process for me,” he said.

Dunetz lists Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Bruce Springsteen as his influences, but as a music fan, he

said he’s more of a generalist. “I tend to take a little bit from a lot of influences. I’m not the type of aficionado that knows a lot about any one artist’s catalog or history. I’m just kind of a Mr. Magoo, stumbling through my days, soaking up inspiration from the things I come across that really move me,” he said.

Dunetz has no illusions about rock stardom, and while creating art for a small audience can be frustrating, he has found peace with his musical career.

“There are times when I’ve written and produced a lot of work, but I felt like no one was really paying attention or caring. It felt a little like singing into a void. And I’ve needed to take a break because I didn’t like that feeling,” he said. “As far as my audience, I’ve got a handful of folks that I know are paying attention, but for the most part, not much has really changed.”

“My mindset, however, has done a 180. I’m back to wanting to write, produce, play, record — almost compulsively. Regardless of whether anyone is paying attention or not. Either way, I think I’m in the right headspace these days where making songs is its own reward. And good thing, too, because it happens to be the thing I love doing the most.”

TUESDAY

Chicopee Elks #1849

431 Granby Road, Chicopee 413-592-1849

Bingo Tuesday

Doors Open at 4PM

2 Progressive Jackpots 6:15PM Early Bird

6:20PM Start

Min. Entry Package $15

Open Seating

2 Halls for Players Handicap Restroom 1st Floor

WEDNESDAY

Polish American Citizens Club

355 East Street, Ludlow, 583-6385

Bingo Wednesdays 6:30-9:30pm

Doors Open at 4pm. Minimum Admission $50

1 - 1199 Progressive Betty Boop 50/50 Prize $900

2 - $500 Cover Alls

3 - $400 Special Games All regular games $100 with 80 people or More. All Cards are included with Admission. Prizes climb with additional attendence. Full Kitchen 4-6:30pm.

THURSDAY

Fairview Knights of Columbus 1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee (413) 532-2011

DOORS OPEN 4:30PM

MASKS OPTIONAL Progressive Jackpot 6:15pm Early Bird 6:20pm Start

Electronic Bingo Aval. Snack Bar, Open Seating, Handicap Restrooms

Min. Entry Package $15

Marco Benevento will play The Drake in Amherst tonight.

(CHRIS BRYCE)

Tommy Castro & The Painkillers will play the Shea Theater in Turners Falls.

(ASSOCIATED PRES,S FILE PHOTO)

12 times ‘Saturday Night Live’ made a cultural bang over the past 50 years

Show celebrates 50th anniversary

By M ARK K ENNEDy Associated Press

NEW YORK — “Saturday Night Live” was built with a cast of young no-names performing countercultural comedy. Fifty years later, it is firmly part of the culture, dictating mainstream comedy instead of throwing spitballs from the margins.

The show has become an incubator of talent — think Will Ferrell, Chris Rock, Amy Poehler, Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Phil Hartman, Pete Davidson and Tracy Morgan. Its sketches have sparked Hollywood movies, from “The Blues

Brothers” and “Wayne’s World” to “MacGruber” and “Coneheads.”

But “SNL” has embedded itself in our culture in deeper ways, from slogans like “We’re not worthy!” to “You look mahvelous!” It inspires Halloween costumes, connects viewers to the news via “Weekend Update” and may even have influenced elections.

As the show celebrates a monumental milestone, here are 12 moments over the past five decades when the show didn’t just reflect pop culture — it drove it.

“Wolverines,” 1975

This was the first sketch from the first show, an absurdist-meets-physical

comedy interaction between a student — played by John Belushi — and his English teacher, played by head writer Michael O’Donoghue. “I would like to feed your fingertips to the wolverines,” the teacher asks his pupil to repeat.

The show, then called “NBC’s Saturday Night,” would have George Carlin as the first host. Jim Henson’s Muppets had a sketch and Andy Kaufman lip-synched the “Mighty Mouse” theme song. Billy Preston played his hit “Nothing From Nothing” and later folk singer Janis Ian sang “At Seventeen” and “In the Winter.” Preston closed things out with “Fancy Lady.”

New York magazine called its promise “enormous”

with a donkey/Funky Tut/ He’s my favorite honky!”

The song was riddled with errors: King Tut was not “born in Arizona,” he did not live in a “condo made of stone-a” and he was not “buried in his jammies.”

Nevertheless, the song went viral long before there was an internet.

“The French Chef,” 1978

Dan Aykroyd parodied iconic chef Julia Child in a cooking segment gone horribly wrong: She cuts “the dickens” out of her finger, releasing staggeringly large spurts of blood, tries first aid and then collapses face-first in a puddle of her own blood. It was inspired by a real injury on the set of Child’s “The French Chef” and was written by Tom Davis and Al Franken (the future former senator was also under the table pumping blood out of a tube on Aykroyd’s arm).

Instead of being offended, Child enjoyed Aykroyd’s parody of herself so much that the book “Baking With Julia” recounts she would play the tape at her own dinner parties, crying out, “Save the liver!’”

and the Chicago Tribune said it “premiered in superb fashion.” The Los Angeles Times said it was “bright and bouncy” and even suggested it move to prime time.

“King Tut,” 1978

Steve Martin saw this offthe-wall novelty song about ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun capture the nation’s imagination during a goofy performance. It eventually reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over 1 million copies after he performed it on “SNL.”

The comedian was parodying the hysteria and commercialization surrounding a traveling Tutankhamun exhibit, dancing sideways as he sang “King Tut/Buried

“White Like Me,” 1984 Long before white privilege became a mainstream concept, Eddie Murphy in a landmark sketch put on white face makeup to see how he would be treated as a white man in New York.

It was a parody of the famous 1961 book “Black Like Me,” in which a white journalist went undercover as a Black man. You can see the legacy in “Chappelle’s Show,” Whoopi Goldberg’s “The Associate” and “White Chicks.”

In the skit, a cashier won’t take his money for a newspaper (“Slowly, I began to realize that when white people are alone, they give things to each other for free”), a city bus turns into a party after the lone Black passenger gets off and a bank clerk simply hands him $50,000 in cash. “So what did I learn from all of this?” Murphy asks at the end. “I learned that we still

White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen, left, appears on the “Saturday Night Live” set with producer Lorne Michaels, right, and cast members Chevy Chase, foreground center, Laraine Newman, background left, Dan Aykroyd, background right, Jane Curtin, second row from left, Gilda Radner, John Belushi and Garret Morris, partially obscured, on April 17, 1976, in New York.

have a very long way to go in this country before all men are truly equal.”

Sinéad O’Connor, 1992

The Irish singer capped her a cappella cover of Bob Marley’s “War” by holding up a photo of Pope John Paul II and tearing it into pieces. “Fight the real enemy,” she said. “SNL” was blindsided. During rehearsals, O’Connor had instead held up an image of a refugee child. She was protesting child sex abuse in the Catholic Church, a decade before the Boston Globe revealed a systematic cover-up that forced the church to apologize and pay millions.

NBC banned O’Connor from “SNL” for life, Joe Pesci mocked her during the next week’s show and Frank Sinatra called her “one stupid broad.” Her albums were crushed by a steamroller in Times Square. Less than two weeks later, O’Connor made her first public appearance following the incident at a Bob Dylan concert at Madison Square Garden and she was jeered as Kris Kristofferson consoled her.

White House vs. “Wayne’s World,” 1993

White House figures are a long-standing target for “SNL.” In 1993, the White House fired back.

In a “Wayne’s World” sketch, Mike Myers and Dana Carvey’s immature, basement-dwelling characters suggested first daughter Chelsea Clinton, then 13, wasn’t as attractive as then-vice president Al Gore’s daughters.

Hillary Clinton scolded producer Lorne Michaels and his writers for “having nothing better to do than be mean and cruel to a young girl.” Michaels issued an apology, Myers apologized to the Clintons and the joke was cut from subsequent reruns of the sketch.

“More Cowbell,” 2000

Another wacky skit that permanently entered the culture was when Christopher Walken, playing a producer as Blue Öyster Cult recorded “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper,” insisted: “I gotta have more cowbell.”

Republican vice-presidential candidate Palin once uttered: “I can see Russia from my house.” She never said that. That was Fey in her first appearance as Palin on “SNL.”

Fey’s spot-on impression — later leaning into the more ridiculous sayings the candidate had offered — may have changed some minds and therefore influenced the presidential election, an amazing thing for a comedy show. CNN coined the phrase the “Tina Fey Effect.”

People actually did studies on the “Tina Fey Effect” after the 2008 election and found

The sketch — widely regarded as one of the show’s greatest — lampooned the excess of ’70s rock and became a shorthand for adding one too many layers. The irony is that the idea was submitted some seven times before finally airing.

Blue Öyster Cult had to ban people from bringing actual cowbells to their concerts and Walken has said people tease him about cowbells everywhere he goes. The sketch was so influential that producers of the four-part “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night” dedicated an entire episode to the parody.

First show after 9 /11, 2001

Less than three weeks after 9/11, “Saturday Night Live” aired one of its most memorable openings. Rudy Giuliani, then New York City’s mayor, was flanked by firefighters and police officers who had just left ground zero.

Calling “Saturday Night Live” one of New York’s greatest institutions, Giuliani said: “Having our city’s institutions up and running sends a message that New York City is open for business.”

“Can we be funny?” Michaels

asked, to which the mayor responded with perfect timing, “Why start now?”

That joke told everyone that things could be all right.

Ashlee Simpson, 2004

The younger sister of Jessica Simpson, making her “SNL” musical debut, first performed her hit “Pieces of Me.” All good. But when she came back to play the title track from her album “Autobiography,” the audience heard the vocal track from the first song by mistake. Awkwardness ensued. Simpson did a silly shuffle and then walked off stage as her group continued to play and the show cut to commercial. She later said a case of acid reflux forced her to lip-sync that night.

The incident drew attention to one of pop culture’s worstkept secrets: Lip-syncing was way more common than performers or the music industry wanted us to think. Billboard magazine ranked it second among lip-sync scandals in modern pop history — after Milli Vanilli.

“Lazy Sunday,” 2005

“SNL” is live, of course, but

sometimes the funniest bits are pretaped, like the digital shorts from Andy Samberg and his Lonely Island compatriots, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer. They crafted 101 digital shorts between 2005 and 2012 — many of them destined for virality, from “Dick in a Box,” with Justin Timberlake, to “Natalie’s Rap” with Natalie Portman and “Shy Ronnie” with Rihanna.

“Lazy Sunday” was the second video “SNL” viewers got from the trio, starring Samberg and Chris Parnell rapping about hilariously mundane yuppie activities, like grabbing cupcakes and using Google Maps. It inspired an entire genre of video-shot joke raps and fed a fast-growing site that people had only just become aware of — YouTube.

“Lazy Sunday” was the first TV show clip to have a viral second life online, with 2 million-plus viewings in its first week alone. That week, YouTube’s traffic was up 83%.

Tina Fey does Sarah Palin, 2008

Many people believe that

Republican and independent voters liked Palin less after watching the “SNL” rendition of the politician, even though Palin herself appeared on the show alongside Fey to show she was in on the joke.

“Welcome to Hell,” 2017 “SNL” addressed the #MeToo movement with a pitch-perfect video — a bubblegum song with lyrics about how women have suffered abuse and harassment for centuries.

Guest host Saoirse Ronan was joined by cast members Melissa Villaseñor, Leslie Jones, Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon and Cecily Strong, many of whom had teamed up for hysterical pop girl group songs like “First Got Horny 2 U,”“Back Home Ballers,” and “(Do It on My) Twin Bed.”

This time, the comedy was bleak: “Now ‘House of Cards’ is ruined,” goes the song, “and that really sucks. Well, here’s a list of stuff that’s ruined for us: parking, and walking, and Uber, and ponytails, and bathrobes, and nighttime, and drinking, and hotels, and

vans.”

At left: Chevy Chase, a cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” holds his Emmy Award as he watches a monitor showing producer Lorne Michaels accepting another Emmy for the show, while writers Alan Zweibel, left, and Tom Davis, right, look on, during the 28th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on May 17, 1976. At right: “Saturday Night Live” host Bill Murray, a former cast member, is pictured with producer Lorne Michaels, left, during rehearsals on March 19, 1987, in New York. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Which films have the most beer mentions?

George Lenker Beer Nut

IWONDER HOW MANY

of you also indulge in this habit of mine: Whenever I see a beer in a film, I try to figure out if it’s an actual brand or just a fake can from the prop department.

Another aspect I have noticed over the years is that in many movies — especially in older or small-budget independent films — beer is

often treated generically. I recall in Hal Hartley’s 1991 film “Surviving Desire,” Martin Donovan’s character bellies up to a bar and tells the bartender, “I need a beer” and receives one without any further discussion. He doesn’t mention a brand or style, he just orders “a beer.”

Even back then, customers in real life would usually men-

tion some sort of description: Budweiser, something light, a stout — something. These days of course, especially in any bar that carries craft beer, giving the bartender at least a starting point is mandatory.

Of course, as a large part of American culture, beer — and alcohol in general — is often mentioned in films.

Sometimes booze is used as

a simple prop; other times it’s featured as a driving force — good or bad — in a character’s development or backstory. And there are plenty of other occasions where alcohol finds its way into a film script. I recently received a note about a study done by Vinarium, a wine and food tourism agency, which compiled a

Sometimes booze is used as a simple prop; other times it’s featured as a driving force — good or bad — in a character’s development or backstory.

Dine Out Boston returns on Feb. 23

THE WINTER 2025 edition of Dine Out

Boston, the hub’s version of a restaurant week promotion, is set to begin on Feb. 23. Organized and promoted by Meet Boston, the recently rechristened Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Dine Out Boston will run through March 15, a full three-week period.

As is traditional for this sort of event, participating restaurants are offering set-menu lunch and/or dinner options at four different price points.

Dine Out Boston’s 2025 lunch options range from $22, $27, $32 and $36 and dinner options range from $36, $41, $46 and $55, all excluding tax and gratuities.

Meet Boston currently has more than 140 eateries in metro Boston signed up to participate. A current listing of restaurants and menus along with reservations links can be found online at meetboston.com/dine-outboston/.

Dine Out Boston also sponsors a Dine Out Boston auction that puts $100 restaurant gift certificates up for bid. Proceeds from the auction benefit various charitable organizations.

Individual restaurants have

considerable latitude as to the extent of their participation in Dine Out Boston. Many, for instance, do not offer the promotion’s fixed price menus on Saturdays.

A number of Boston-area hotels are offering special “Overnight Stay” packages during Dine Out Boston. Information on those deals can be found on Meet Boston’s website.

Meet Boston, which answers at 1-888-SEE-BOSTON, also promotes a late summer edition of Dine Out Boston, the exact dates of which will be announced in June.

Side Dishes

• Chef-owner Jeff Daigneau, of Lattitude Restaurant in West Springfield, has put tickets on sale for his Winter Dinner Series.

MIDA, a restaurant known for its clam pizza, is among the eateries participating in the winter edition of Dine Out Boston. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Hugh Robert Off The Menu

Beer

database of beverage references in films.

The study reveals how frequently different drinks are mentioned in movie scripts. While the data looks at many types of beverages, including wine and spirits (and all sorts of soft drinks) I was obviously interested in the beer numbers.

The study analyzed publicly available movie scripts from IMSDb (the Internet Movie Script Database), identifying mentions of drinks across more than 1,200 scripts. Keyword frequency was measured to determine the prominence of different beverages in each category.

The data on beer in films was interesting but not surprising. One of the insights

As it turns out, “Superbad” is the film that includes the most references to beer (40 mentions), but was followed closely by “Silver Bullet” (38), which is not a reference to Coors, but a horror film based on a Stephen King novella. In third place, we find “Kalifornia” (36), a serial killer thriller with Brad Pitt.

“The Deer Hunter” isn’t far behind with 32 references to beer, with “Hotel Rwanda” (a film where beer is prominently used as bribe) mentioning beer 28 times. Other films with more than 20 mentions of beer include “American Pie,” another coming-of-age movie, with 26, “Training Day” (25) and “Henry Fool” (24) by the aforementioned Hal Hartley.

cakes come with two eggs and a choice of bacon or sausage. Cajun flavors characterize two seasonal entree options.

A Louisiana-Style Shrimp Skillet, which features grilled shrimp in a Creole sauce, also comes with seasoned rice, a choice of side dish and grilled parmesan bread.

Shrimp n’ Grits plate features shrimp in Creole sauce served over creamy grits. Sides and bread are also included.

Other choices on Cracker Barrel’s spring menu include deep-fried Onion Petals with Country Comeback Sauce and a Strawberry Icebox Pie. There are Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations in Holyoke at Ingleside and on Route 20 in Sturbridge.

• As inspiration for its February Pancake of the Month, menu development specialists at IHOP turned to an iconic sweet treat, the chocolate-dipped strawberry, to come up with IHOP’s Chocolate Covered Strawberry Pancakes.

A stack of chocolate chip pancakes topped with cheesecake mousse, sliced strawberries, and chocolate drizzle, the Chocolate Covered Strawber-

ry Pancakes are available as an entree which additionally incorporates a choice of bacon or sausage. The Pancake of the Month is also available as a “short stack” side when ordered with IHOP’s breakfast combination plates.

There are IHOP locations on Riverdale Street in West Springfield and in the Five Town Plaza in the Sixteen Acres section of Springfield.

• Participating Friendly’s Restaurants are currently offering the Cupid Conehead as the Sundae of the Month for February. Made from a scoop of strawberry ice cream, the conehead sundae is decorated with red M&M’s and a cherry before being drizzled with hot fudge and topped with whipped cream.

The Cupid Conehead Sundae will be available through Feb. 28.

• The Papa Johns pizza chain garnered plenty of media attention with its limited-edition release of a Garlic Bath Bomb earlier this month. Promoted as a celebration of the garlic sauce that Papa John’s offers as a pizza “side,” the Garlic Bath Bomb was supposedly crafted for those customers who so loved the sauce that

they would “bathe in it.”

The garlic-scented bath bombs were primarily distributed to selected social media influencers who used it to create content promoting Papa Johns, including a special heart-shaped pizza the chain developed for Valentine’s Day.

• This month Mezze Bistro + Bar in Williamstown is celebrating its 29th anniversary, a significant milestone for an independently owned and operated restaurant.

Mezze first opened on Water Street in Williamstown on Feb. 13, 1996, serving an innovative menu of small plates. Now located on Cold Spring Road on the other side of town, Mezze is currently running a Sunday evening “Breaking the Boot” promotion, during which the restaurant features trattoria-style specialties from various regions of Italy.

Mezze answers at 413-4580123.

• Feb. 21 represents the official “drop date” for the latest Frosty flavor at Wendy’s restaurants.

Teaming up with the Girl Scouts of America, the Dublin, Ohio-based hamburger chain has created a new, limited-edition frozen dairy dessert. The

Girl Scout Thin Mint Frosty flavor will be available as a swirl mixed into a Vanilla or Chocolate Frosty dessert, contributing a chocolate-mint flavor and “cookie butter” texture to the frozen treat.

The Girl Scout Thin Mint Frosty is a limited-time-only menu offering and will be available at participating Wendy’s locations as long as supplies last.

• The Subway sandwich chain has expanded its selection of foot-long cookie offerings with the Valentine’s Day week introduction of an Oreo Footlong Cookie.

Made with chocolate cookie dough into which Oreo pieces have been blended, the cookie is topped with vanilla cream and garnished with additional Oreo cookie pieces. Served warm and priced around $5, the Oreo Footlong Cookie will be available on a limited-time-only basis at participating Subway location.

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.

The film “Hotel Rwanda” mentions beer 28 times.

THURSDAY

KidsBestFest 2025: Thu.-Fri., 11 a.m. Academy of Music Theater. This is a weeklong movie festival for kids and their adults with free admission held during the winter school break at the Academy of Music Theatre. There is one movie a day, with doors opening at 10:30 a.m., 274 Main St., Northampton. 413-584-9032 or aomtheatre. com.

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 Shakespear'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 montagueshakespeare festival.com

Open Stage at LAVA: Thu., LAVA Center, every third Thursday, 6:30 p.m. signup and 7 p.m. showtime. An open stage is similar to an open mic, but more inclusive to all types of the performing arts. Artists are encouraged to sign up to perform theater, dance, music, literature, spoken word, magic, puppetry, circus, sideshow, comedy, improv — any form of art or entertainment that can be staged, in any stage of development. There will be a five-minute limit for each act. Artists can plug into the sound system if they’d like audio to backup their act; plugin using 1/8″ mic jack input, bring adapter if needed. Questions? Email info@thelavacenter. org, There is an optional $1–$5 suggested donation for this event. 324 Main St., Greenfield.

FRIDAY

8th annual Black Experience

Summit: Fri., 12:30 p.m. Elms College, “Harambee: A History of Cultivating Black Togetherness through Food Justice.” This includes cherished recipes passed down through generations, cultural celebrations, kitchen gardens, community farms, free breakfast programs, and advocacy for food sovereignty. 291 Springfield St., Chicopee.

KidsBestFest 2025: See Thursday listing

M@A presents Limmie Pulliam, tenor: Fri., 7:30 p.m. Buckley Recital Hall, rising dramatic tenor Limmie Pulliam comes to Buckley after recent debuts with the Gewandhaus Orchester, Metropolitan Opera, Cleveland Orchestra and The Philadelphia Orchestra under the baton of Yannick Nézét-Seguin.

CALENDAR

“Ancient Treasures,” a display of artifacts from ancient China, Greece, Rome and Egypt. On the first Wed. of every month through the end of 2026, admission to the Springfield Museums is free. For more information, visit springfieldmuseums.org; Feb. 17-21, school break program “Critter Crossing.”.

Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: Permanent exhibit: More than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.

General public $28; seniors 65+: $22; student with ID $12. Intersection of Routes 9 and 116, Amherst; amherst.edu.

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 or get tickets at the door. Call the box office for discounts on groups of 10 or more, 860-498-8899. Performances will be held at the Enfield Annex, 124 N. Maple St. This show contains adult themes and language. Some content may not be suitable for young children. 124 N. Maple St., Enfield.

Springfield Sportsmen's Show: Fri., noon-8 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Eastern States Exposition, Better Living Center. Purchase admission tickets online at www.osegshows.com.

Adults $18; children (6-12) $5; under 6 free; parking $5, collected by ESE. 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. 413-737-2443 or thebige.com.

‘Sweet Prince’: Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m. Northampton Center for the Arts, Junkyard Shakespeare presents “Sweet Prince,” a one-woman adaptation of Shakespeare's “Hamlet” that challenges the audience to take a stand, $20. 33 Hawley St., Northampton; 413584-7327 or nohoarts.org.

SATURDAY

Alice Parker Festival: Sat., 4 p.m. Abbey Chapel, $15-$35 (youth & students $5). 50 College St., South Hadley; mtholyoke.edu.

Freedom Moves — Embodying the Legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois: Sat., 2-5 p.m. First Congregational Church of Great Barrington. For questions about accessibility accommodations, contact community@jacobspillow.org. Free. 251 Main St., Great Barrington.

Montague Shakespeare Festival 2025 Workshops: See Thursday listing

Opera House Players presents “A Chorus Line”: See Friday listing Springfield Sportsmen's Show: See Friday listing

“Sweet Prince”: See Friday listing Winter Tree Identification: Sat., 10 a.m. Forest Park, ReGreen Springfield, in partnership with the Greening the Gateway Cities Program, the U.S. Forest Service, and the City of Springfield Forestry Division is offering a special two-part workshop series to teach participants how to identify trees in the winter landscape. The workshop will focus on recognizing trees by their structure, bark, and buds, as well as sharing essential winter maintenance techniques. During this session, arborists from Springfield Forestry will lead participants on a plant walk to practice identification skills

and demonstrate tree maintenance techniques. All materials, including resource books and tools, will be provided free of charge. Pre-registration is required to ensure training materials are available for all attendees. To register, visit www.re greenspringfield.org/treeid2025

Dress appropriately for the weather conditions that are forecast for the day of the outdoor session, Sumner Avenue, Springfield.

SUNDAY

Jazz Bones music concert: Sun., 4 p.m. Trinity Episcopal Church, free. 17 Park St., Ware.

Lonesome Brothers 40th Birthday Party: Sun., 7 p.m. Iron Horse Music Hall, The Northampton Arts Council presents Lonesome Brothers 40th Birthday Party at The Iron Horse. For tickets, visit parlorroom.org

Tickets starting at $18. 20 Center St., Northampton.

Montague Shakespeare Festival 2025 Workshops: See Thursday listing

Opera House Players presents “A Chorus Line”: See Friday listing

Springfield Sportsmen's Show: See Friday listing

Quadrangle

George Walter Vincent Smith

Art Museum: Permanent exhibit:

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. 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. The live animal center has been reopened as “Living Waters: From Oceans to Valleys”. 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 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.

Museums

Amelia Park Children’s Museum: Permanent exhibits include spaceship, construction site, library, grocery store. Weekday activities. Visit ameliaparkmuseum.org for information. Hours: Tue.-Tue., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Open for groups Wed. $8 adults; $8 children (12 months and older); $4 grandparents/ seniors (60+); military personnel and teachers receive 10% discount off the price of regular admission; members/infants free. 29 South Broad St., Westfield or ameliapark museum.org.

Anchor House of Artists: Rotating art exhibits, self-staged by fine

From left, Justice Smith, Detective Pikachu (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) and Kathryn Newton, in a scene from the 2019 adventure “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu.” The film is being screened at the Academy of Music in Northampton as part of the free weeklong KidsBestFest movie festival.

Calendar

regional talents. The best leastknown gallery in the Pioneer Valley. Free public receptions on the second Fri. of the month from 5-8 p.m. For more information, email artists@anchorhouseartists.org, go online to anchorhouseartists.org, or call 413-588-4337. 518 Pleasant St., Northampton

Connecticut Trolley Museum: Open on Saturdays and Saturdays in Feb. and March, weather permitting. 58 North Road, East Windsor or cttrolley.org.

East Longmeadow Historical Commission Museum: Permanent exhibit. Open every third Saturday of the month, 1-3 p.m. with free admission. Guided tours are available. For more information about seasonal events, visit them on Facebook at East Longmeadow Historical Commission. 87 Maple St., East Longmeadow

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: “Created in Color: The Picture Book Art of Raul Colon,” through June 1. Permanent exhibit: Gabrielle Healy Carroll Storytime Programs are held Tues. and Fri. 10:30 a.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m., free with admission. Museum hours: Wed.-Fri, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, noon-5 p.m. $6, $9, $22.50 for a family of four. “Artful Collaboration: Eric Carle & Ann Beneduce,” through March 9. “Free to Be.You and Me: 50 Years of Stories and Songs,” through April 6. 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or carle museum.org.

Historic Deerfield: “In Pursuit of the Picturesque: The Art of James Wells Champney,” through Feb. 23. “Building a Collection: Recent Acquisitions,” through Feb. 23. Winter Lecture Series: Online. The 2025 Winter Lecture Series will take place on Zoom on the following Sundays: Feb. 23, March 30, April 27, 2-3 p.m. Lectures are free, but registration is required. 80 Old Main St., Deerfield or www. historic-deerfield.org.

Historic Northampton Museum and Education: Permanent exhibit.

Hours: Wed.-Sun. noon-5 p.m. $5 suggested donation, 46 Bridge St., Northampton or historicnorthampton.org.

Josiah Day House: Permanent exhibit: Featuring guided tours, artifacts, furniture, clothing and documents from 1754-1902. Call for open house schedule and individual tours. $3, $1 children 6-12, free for members. 70 Park St., West Springfield, 413-734-8322.

Mead Art Museum: Permanent exhibit features various American

and European paintings, Mexican ceramics, Tibetan scroll paintings and more. Museum hours: Tues.Thurs. and Sun. 9 a.m.-midnight; Fri. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 220 South Pleasant St., Amherst or amherst.edu.

Mount Holyoke College Art Museum: “Northern Exposure: Painting from the Low Countries in the Permanent Collection,” through May 25. “Mariam Ghani: Like Water from a Stone,” through May 25. Lower Lake Road, South Hadley or mtholyoke.edu.

Norman Rockwell Museum: Online exhibit: “Imagining Freedom.” The exhibit highlights the important role of Norman Rockwell and other artists in advancing and communicating these ideals, envisioned as core human rights for all people. The fee for accessing “Imagining freedom” is $5 for the general public, available on the museum’s website at NRM.org. “Anita Kunz: Original Sisters Portraits of Tenacity and Courage,” through May 26. $10/$25. “Norman Rockwell: Home for the Holidays,” through Feb. 23. $0 - $25. “Norman Rockwell’s Life and Holiday Art Guided Tours,” through Feb. 23. Reserve an engaging and inspiring guided tour to enhance your museum visit. Tours held daily. $0-$10 in addition to museum admission. “Shining a Light on Norman Rockwell Family Programs,” Feb. 17, 18, 20, 21. Feb. 21, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. A week of special family-focused programs where art and science come together to inspire wonder and imagination. Take a tour with one of the museum’s family educators. Explore Norman Rockwell’s paintings illustrating the power and beauty of electric lighting. Artmaking activities will continue the theme of light with art and science inspired experiments that explore the qualities of light and darkness, reflection, and illumination. Family tours at 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. Recommended for ages 5-12. $0/$25. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or www.nrm.org.

Old Sturbridge Village: “For the Purpose of Illumination.” Learn how New Englanders needed, used, and created artificial lighting methods in the 1830s and see first-hand artifacts from the era. Included with standard daytime general admission. Standard daytime admission is $30 for adults, $28 for seniors (55+), $15 for youth (4-17), $15 for college students (with a valid college ID), and free for children 3 and under. Maple Days, through March 9 on selected days. For more information visit www.osv. org. “Hands & Hearts: Courtship and Marriage in 19th Century New England,” through June. Explores marriage and partnership by telling the stories of four couples from the 19th century. The new exhibit

is located in the Visitor Center and is included with standard daytime admission. Route 20, Sturbridge or www.osv.org.

Pan African Historical Museum USA: Permanent exhibit: exhibitions by local artists. Hours: Tues.Fri. noon-4 p.m. Free. 1500 Main St., Springfield, 413-733-1823. Polish Center of Discovery and Learning: Permanent exhibit: a living monument safeguarding historical objects representative of the material culture of the Polish people in America. Galleries include “Coming to America”; “At Home in America”; “Folk Art”; “History.” The Polish Center is open to the public daily, Mon.-Fri, 1-5 p.m., except for inclement weather and holidays. Other times may be scheduled by appointment. $5 donation, 33 South St., Chicopee or www.polishcenter.net.

Smith College Museum of Art: “Younes Rahmoun: Here, Now.” Through July 13. The exhibition galleries are located on the first floor and lower level. Complimentary light refreshments and cash bar in the atrium. Permanent exhibits: “Ancient World Gallery, Beyond the Museum: Art on Smith’s Campus.” Hours: Tues.-Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Mondays and major holidays. Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) is free to all. Elm Street at Bedford Terrace, Northampton or scma.smith.edu.

Springfield Armory National Historic Site: Ranger-led interpretive programs offered in the museum in the afternoon. Junior Ranger programs conducted frequently each day. Wed.-Sun, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 1 Armory Square, Springfield or www.nps.gov/spar.

The New England Visionary Artists Museum: The New England Visionary Artists Museum in Northampton has five exhibition showrooms hosting regional artists’ work in all media and is home to Anchor House of Artists, the region’s subsidized studio and representation support to artists living with neurodiverse conditions. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 2-6 p.m., with regular free public receptions on the second Friday of the month, from 5-8 p.m. Find them at 518 Pleasant St. Sign up for the newsletter at the website, NEVA-museum.org. For more information, call 413-588-4337, $10 suggested day admission donation asked at the door. Pleasant St., Northampton

Titanic Museum: Featuring exhibits from the collection of the International Titanic Historical Society. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $4, $2 children and students. 208 Main St., Indian Orchard or www.titanic1.org. University Museum of Contem-

porary Art - Fine Arts Center: Permanent exhibit. The University Museum is open through May 1; Tue.-Fri., 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sat.Sun., noon–4 p.m.; and first Thursdays until 8 p.m. Closed Mondays, holidays, and academic breaks. 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum: Permanent exhibit: guided tours of the first and second floors. Weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Self-guided tours are on the hour with the last self-guided tour weekdays at 2 p.m. Call to reserve at 413-637-3206. Admission is $18 adults, $17 seniors (65+), $10 students with ID, $7 children 5-17 and free for children 4 or younger.

“Ghost Tour with Robert Oakes,” Feb. 22, 7 p.m. Robert Oakes, author of “Ghosts of the Berkshires,” leads you through the rooms and halls of this historic estate sharing tales of its hauntings. Stand in the places where the eerie encounters occurred, listen to the first-hand accounts of those who experienced them, and maybe even experience something unusual yourself. This is not an active investigation. Admission is $30 and minimum age to attend is age 12. Reservations are strongly recommended as tickets are limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. For reservations visit https://gildedage.org/pages/ calendar or call 413-637-3206.

“Victorian Tea & Talk,” Feb. 23, 3-5:30 p.m. Celebrate the release of “Harlem Rhapsody,” the latest solo novel by acclaimed New York Times best-selling author Victoria Christopher Murray. Get your copy signed and have tea at Ventfort Hall. Tickets are $45. Reservations are strongly encouraged as seats are limited and this event is expected to sell out. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. For reservations visit https:// gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call 413-637-3206. Please note that all tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable. 104 Walker St., Lenox.

Volleyball Hall of Fame: Permanent exhibit. Volleyball Hall of Fame: Open Tues.-Sun, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Closed Mon. Last admission is 30 minutes prior to close. $8 adults; $5 seniors 65 and older; $5 students, active and retired military; and free for children 12 and under. Group rates also available online. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or volleyhall.org.

Windsor Historical Society: Permanent exhibit: explore the people, places and events that have shaped Windsor for more than four centuries. Hours: Wed.-Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with house tours at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. General admission to the library and historic houses is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for

students and free to children under 12 and WHS members. Visitors are free to browse the museums tore and exhibit galleries at no charge. 96 Palisado Ave., Windsor or www. windsorhistoricalsociety.org.

Wistariahurst Museum: Permanent exhibit: Gardens and grounds open daily from dawn to dusk. Carriage House and gift shop open Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For information about house tours, group tours and upcoming events visit wistariahurst.org. $7 Holyoke residents; $5 seniors; $5 youth (under 18); free museum members, active military and family members. 238 Cabot St., Holyoke.

Yiddish Book Center: Permanent exhibit, “A Velt mit veltelekh: The Worlds of Jewish Culture.” The center is open to the public on Thu., Fri., Sun. and Mon. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Shabbos (Saturday) and Jewish and legal holidays. $8 adults, $6 seniors, free for members, students and children, “Yiddish: A Global Culture.” Free, yiddishbook center.org/events/grand-open ing-yiddish-global-culture. “Litvaks in Love, a conversation with Professor David G. Roskies,” Feb. 20, 7 p.m. Zoom, free. To register or for more information, visit yiddish bookcenter.org. 1021 West St., Amherst.

Galleries

A.P.E. Gallery: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Tues.-Thurs. noon-5 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. noon-8 p.m.; Sun. noon-5 p.m.; 126 Main St., Northampton or apearts.org.

Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Tues.-Fri. 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. First floor of building 28. 1 Armory Square, Springfield, 413-755-5258. Center for the Arts Trust Building: “If These Feet Could Fly,” through March 2. Hours: Wed.-Fri. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. noon-7 p.m. In the Split Level Gallery. 33 Hawley St., Northampton

Cooley Dickinson Hospital: A3 @ North Gallery. Through Feb. 27. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Daily. 30 Locust Street, Northampton. Gallery A3 Amherst Art Alliance: “Depth be Depth,” through March 1; Art forum, Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m. Register at gallerya3.com; Thu.-Sun. 2-7 p.m. 28 Amity St., Amherst, 413-256-4250.

Indian Orchard Mills Dane Gallery: All new exhibits every month featuring the artists at Indian Orchard Mills. Hours: Sat. noon-4 p.m. or by appointment. 34 Front St., Indian Orchard, 413-543-3321.

Jasper Rand Art Museum: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Mon.-Thurs.

‘Night’

CONTINUES FROM PAGE D4

is, the importance of a musical about female friendship t cannot be understated, Alden explained.

“There’s something really special about being a woman and having girlfriends that totally get you and this musical celebrates that in a way that is very unique,” she said. “It taps into the empowerment of female bonds and embodies parts of certain time periods that wouldn’t necessarily showcase those kinds of conversations and relationships.

It peels back the lens and allows women to embrace their own experiences, humor, joy and strength as well as the beauty of their close friendships.”

“Girl’s Night: The Musical” will be staged at The Bushnell in Hartford on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at bushnell.org. Be sure to bring your singing voice and favorite dancing shoes, because audience involvement is encouraged.

“‘Girls Night’ is such a fun night out, so grab your besties and some boas and hit the town with us,” Alden said.

8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 6 Elm St., Westfield or westath.org.

Old Town Hall: “Samedi Gras,” a group exhibit, through Feb. 22. 43 Main St., Easthampton Taber Art Gallery: “Absurd Appetites (Tables for Two)” by Sheryl Anaya, through March 13. 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke. 413-552-2614.

Trinity United Methodist Church: Paintings by East Longmeadow artist Ann Bagge, through Feb. 28.

Trinity Community Gallery hours: Mon-Fri, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield, 413-737-5311.

Outdoors

Great Falls Discovery Center: Indoor StoryWalk. Through Feb. 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. “Investigation Station: Amphibians and Reptiles in Winter,” through Feb. 22. Explore through touchable artifacts and habitat diorama scavenger hunts. For ages 4 and up. “Kidleidoscope Story Hour,” Feb. 21, “Winter Birds”; Feb. 28, “Beavers,” 10:30-11:30 a.m. Program includes a story, activities, and crafts. Activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. Siblings and friends welcome. For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult. Meet in the Great Hall. “Nice & Easy Walks,” Fridays, Feb.

21, 28, 1-2 p.m. Easy-paced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all. Meet at the main entrance. “Author Reading with Astrid Sheckels,” Feb. 22, 3-4 p.m. Sheckels will read “Hector Fox and the Map of Mystery.” Look for animals from the story with a Map of Mystery scavenger hunt. All ages. Meet in the Great Hall. Sponsored by the Montague Public Libraries. “A French/Breton Jam Session,” Feb. 23, 2:304:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public to come and go at will. All ages. Meet in the Great Hall. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls or www.greatfallsma.org.

Mt. Greylock State Reservation: Visitor Center open daily. Hours: 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. “Family Friendly Outdoor Adventures,” Feb. 22, March 22, 12:30-3:30 p.m. For all ages. Free. Cone out and join in for an afternoon of winter fun. For more details and to register, call 413-499-4262. “Midfulness Forest Walk,” Feb. 22, March 22, 1-3 p.m. Free for all ages and skill levels. Space is limited, registration is required, call 413-499-4262. “Nature Scavenger Hunt,” Ongoing, Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For children and families. Self-guided adventurous quests invited you to search for natural treasures along part trails and inside the Visitor Center. There are several seek and find scavenger hunts for different age and skill levels. Scavenger hunts are available at the Visitor Center. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough