For
‘ETERNAL ECHOES’: Springfield Symphony Orchestra hosts Saturday concert, D2
COUNTING CROWS: Rock band to play MassMutual Center in Springfield, D5
BIG BAD BOLLOCKS: St. Patrick’s Day concert at Iron Horse Music Hall, D6
STICKY & SWEET
Storrowton Village partners with Ferrindino Maple of Hampden for Maple Harvest Day, Page D4
Guest conductor
Cailin Marcel Manson to lead Springfield Symphony Orchestra
‘ETERNAL ECHOES’
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
Guest conductor Cailin Marcel Manson will lead the Springfield Symphony Orchestra during Saturday’s concert, “Eternal Echoes,” featuring works by Ennio Morricone, James Rutter and Tchaikovsky with vocal accompaniment by the Springfield Symphony Chorus and guest soprano Jamie-Rose Guarrine.
Showtime at Springfield Symphony Hall is 3 p.m. “Gabriel’s Oboe” — an iconic piece known for its stunning simplicity and emotional power — will open the performance. Featured in the film “The Mission,” the work conveys profound grace and beauty through the voice of the oboe, setting a contemplative and soothing tone for the concert. The rich, spiritual tapestry of John Rutter’s “Requiem” follows combining traditional Latin texts with English Psalm settings, creating a celestial fusion
of choral and orchestral elements. The “Requiem” is renowned for its lyrical poignancy and ethereal harmonies, providing moments of reflective solace and uplifting hope. The program culminates with the electrifying drama of Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4.” The symphony is a compelling narrative of human struggle and triumph, featuring Tchaikovsky’s signature sweeping melodies and powerful orchestration. With its explosive
SEE ‘ECHOES’, PAGE D3
At left, soprano soloist and UMass vocal professor Jamie-Rose Guarrine and above, guest conductor Cailin Marcel Manson, will join the Springfield Symphony Orchestra for “Eternal Echoes” on Saturday.
“We are lucky to have Cailin as guest conductor. He is a remarkable talent. I met him last year and we asked him to conduct our youth education concert. He did a wonderful job and it was a huge success.”
special afternoon and I hope the weather cooperates and many people will come out and have a good time,” he added.
Stoia praised Rutter’s “Requiem.”
“Rutter is known for his absolutely beautiful choral writing, and that is what this concert is all about.
The Springfield Symphony Chorus will have a major role in his ‘Requiem’ as well as smaller parts in ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ and ‘Symphony No. 4.’ Saturday’s concert will be a great experience for our audience to hear Rutter’s ‘Requiem’ and for our singers to learn and perform. Audiences might even forget that they are listening to a requiem with Rutter’s work evoking all different kinds of emotions. He writes
good melodies and it is a pleasure for choruses to perform his works,” Stoia said. Stoia has worked with both the guest conductor and guest soprano in the past.
“I was an accompanist at one of Cailin’s concerts at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls and I am a colleague of Jamie-Rose at the University of Massachusetts Amherst,” she said.
Guarrine is assistant professor of voice at the college and Stoia is now an accompanist in the Music Department after retiring in 2020 as associate dean of undergraduate education for the College of Humanities and Fine Arts.
For tickets — ranging in price from $25 to $80 — go online to springfield symphony.org.
brass fanfares, haunting motifs, and eventually, an exuberant finale, this symphony captures the relentless spirit of destiny and personal resilience.
A Philadelphia native, Manson, baritone and conductor, studied voice performance at Temple University, and opera performance and orchestral conducting at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg. He has toured as a soloist and master teacher at major concert venues throughout the United States. He has also been a guest cantor and soloist at some of the world’s most famous churches and cathedrals. Manson recently made an acclaimed Carnegie Hall conducting debut with MidAmerica Productions
in March 2023, leading Giuseppe “Verdi’s Messa da Requiem,” becoming the second Black person in the performance history of Carnegie Hall to conduct the work at that historic venue. He is an advocate for rarely-heard repertoire and the work of underrepresented composers.
“We are lucky to have Cailin as guest conductor. He is a remarkable talent. I met him last year and we asked him to conduct our youth education concert. He did a wonderful job and it was a huge success. When we asked him to conduct that concert, we were already thinking of asking him to work with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, where he could show off his wonderful conducting skills.
Cailin has a vast repertoire and history of conducting beautiful choral concerts,
which led us to working with him and putting together this amazing concert featuring Rutter’s ‘Requiem.’ There are many beautiful requiems writ ten by Mozart, Brahms and others. But Rutter’s is particularly beautiful and uplifting,” said Paul Lambert, president and CEO of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
In concert with the festivities surrounding the 2025 Holyoke St Patrick’s Parade The Ancient Order of Hibernians James A. Curran Division One of Hampden/Hampshire Counties invites the public to attend The Annual
“It is always a joy to feature our Springfield Symphony Chorus as part of our concerts. They are a wonderful group who love music and are dedicated to performing with us. Our guest soprano Jamie-Rose Guarrine is a local talent and we are delighted to feature her after Nikki Stoia, who is director of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, brought her to our attention for this concert. It’s going to be a very
Sunday March 16, 2025At 8:00 a.m. a Memorial Mass at St Jerome’s Church followed by Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. at the Wyckoff Country Club 233 Easthampton Rd., Holyoke Honoring Owen Donohue with the 2025 Hibernian Christian Charity Award; Guest Speaker will be Teri Schindler- writer, director, producer; worked for NBC, HBO, and ESPN; won an Emmy for her work in 2000 Sydney Australia Olympics; founding member of WNBA; First woman to produce live NCAA broadcasts; all American Swimmer; married to announcer Mike Gorman; daughter Kristen and son in law Marc. For reservations call Atty, John J Driscoll at 413-534-0445 by March 14. Tickets are $25.00 per person. Tables of 10. Tickets can also be purchased on Eventbrite.com
Guest conductor Cailin Marcel Manson speaks to the audience during the first of two Education Connections concerts at Springfield Symphony Hall for fourth and ninth graders from Springfield and surrounding towns on April 23, 2024. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Sticky sweet
&
Maple Harvest Day, Pancake Breakfast returns to Storrowton Village
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The
Republican
It’s sticky and utterly delicious.
Maple syrup — often referred to as “liquid gold” — will be on tap for the annual Maple Harvest Day and Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, March 15, at Storrowton Village on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield.
The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — however, breakfast is served only until noon and is pay-by-plate. Maple harvesting is an authentic, centuries-old New
England tradition. Early European settlers learned how to make maple sugar from Native Americans then set up sugar camps where maple trees were most plentiful. Despite the time and labor production required, maple sugar was a very important resource that was regularly traded and sold.
“People come out to attend our semi-outdoor Maple Harvest Day for many reasons. Spring is just around the corner and many visitors each year are anxious to get outdoors again no matter what the winter has been like. It’s also all about the maple syrup, which is a big draw for them. Maple sugaring is so quintessential New England and very prevalent in Western Massachusetts,” said Jessica Fontaine, director of education and human resources for the Eastern States Exposition.
“Settlers back in the days of our recreated Early American village [circa 1700s and 1800s] would have been tapping trees and making maple syrup at this time of
year. We will have multiple taps on our maple trees including one outside the Gilbert Farmhouse where many of our events will be taking place,” she added. During the event, Storrowton Village’s historic Gilbert Farmhouse will be transformed into a sugarhouse, allowing visitors to learn how maple syrup is made, from tree tapping to sap boiling. Guests will also have access to craft demonstrations, docent-led tours, 19th century open-hearth cooking demonstrations, and a glimpse at the second floor of
Above, a demonstration is held during a past Maple Harvest Day celebration at Storrowton Village on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. Top left, maple syrup at Ferrindino Maple LLC in Hampden and, immediately at left, Jerry Ferrindino, owner of Ferrindino Maple, checks the density of the syrup. (SUBMIT-
TED; THE REPUBLICAN / FILE PHOTOS)
280 MEMORIAL AVE, WEST SPRINGFIELD MA
HAMPDEN STREET, HOLYOKE, MA
MANSFIELD
Cyndi Lauper’s farewell tour comes to Mass.
Cyndi Lauper is bringing her farewell tour to the Xfinity Center in Mansfield. Here, she performs on Dec. 5, 2024, at the United Center in Chicago.
(PHOTO BY ROB GRABOWSKI/INVISION/AP)
By David C ifarelli dcifarelli@masslive.com
Cyndi Lauper is showing that she can still have fun all through the night by extending her farewell tour to North America this summer.
The legendary musician announced the final leg of her “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour” on Monday, March 10.
Lauper will play 25 shows across North America, starting in Buffalo, New York, on July 15 and ending in Los Angeles, on Aug. 30.
The tour includes a stop at Xfinity Center in Mansfield on Thursday, July 17.
With a career spanning four decades, Lauper is a Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning musician who has sold more than 50 million records worldwide.
Lauper won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist with her 1983 debut album, “She’s So Unusual.” She also became the first woman in history to have four top five singles from a debut album, including her anthem “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.”
Counting Crows performs at St. Joseph’s Health Amphithe-
in Syracuse, N.Y., on July 1, 2023. (SCOTT
Counting Crows will bring rock downtown
Tickets go on sale Friday
Multiplatinum Grammy-nominated rock band Counting Crows have announced “The Complete Sweets! Tour” in support of their forthcoming album, “Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!”
Kicking off on June 10 in Nashville, Tennessee, the tour will bring the band’s legendary live show to fans across North America and Europe, delivering the timeless storytelling, raw emotion and rich melodies that have defined their career for over three decades — and on Wednesday, July 2, the MassMutual Center will be a key stop on the tour, presented by MGM Springfield.
“Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!” marks the band’s first full-length album since “Butter Miracle: Suite One,” which received critical acclaim in 2021. Embodying the contrast between intimate storytelling and larger-thanlife themes, the forthcoming album promises to deliver the signature storytelling and rich melodies that have made
Counting Crows one of the most beloved bands of the last three decades. Frontman Adam Duritz delivers a raw and compelling vocal performance, backed by the band’s dynamic instrumentation that blends rock, folk, and alternative influences.
The first single from the album, “Spaceman in Tulsa,” introduces this new era with a compelling narrative and dynamic instrumentation. As the band’s first new music in nearly five years, the song seamlessly blends their signature sound with a fresh, modern energy. “‘Spaceman in Tulsa’ is about metamorphosis — the way music breaks down who we were and spins us into something new. It’s about broken lives becoming something better,” said frontman Adam Duritz. The tour will feature special guests The Gaslight Anthem on most North American dates, adding to the electrifying energy that fans have come to expect from a Counting Crows live performance. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 14, at 10 a.m. Fans can get tickets and more information at Counting Crows.com and mass mutualcenter.com.
By M aria SHerMaN Associated Press
NEW YORK — She hath returned: A new Lady Gaga, like the old Lady Gaga, but a different Lady Gaga. “Mayhem,” released last week, is a satisfying fulllength project of big pop material, both a return to her roots and a hard press on the gas pedal.
Her 2008 debut “The Fame” introduced a new generation to the addictive properties of expertly crafted electropop. “The Fame Monster” a year later cemented her position as a modern great, a savior of theatrical pop that once recalled Madonna and now serves as a reminder that big belts are cinema. Then came the genre explorations of “Born This Way,” “Artpop,”
“Joanne” (arriving years before pop would go country — she has long been prescient), and 2020’s “Chromatica.” Half a decade later, is the world ready again for her club anthems? Or is “Mayhem” an attempt to revitalize a big pop sound left behind in the streaming era? Can an artist return home
Half a decade later, is the world ready again for her club anthems? Or is “Mayhem” an attempt to revitalize a big pop sound left behind in the streaming era? SEE GAGA, PAGE D6
SPRINGFIELD
ater
SCHILD PHOTO)
Lady Gaga's latest album, "Mayhem.”(INTERSCOPE VIA
PRESS)
Night clubs
THURSDAY
Drawing Board Brewing Company: Song Share Sessions: Nonbinary, Trans & Women Singer
Songwriters. 36 Main St., Florence
The Drake: Sings Like Hell with Peter Case and Sid Griffin. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores’: HCC Jazz Night. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
FRIDAY
Delaney House: Fred Marion. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
East Mountain Country Club: Union Jack. 1458 E. Mountain Road, Westfield
MGM Springfield: MGM Roar Comedy Club: Karen Morgan. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
Shaker Farms Country Club: Just Me & Her. 866 Shaker Road, Westfield
Tangle Chocolate Lounge: Open Mic. 5 Main St. Route 9, Williamsburg
The Drake: HOT TO GO — The Chappel Roan Party. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst
The Meeting House: Dave Brinnel. 827 Williams St., Longmeadow
Theodores’: The Christopher Dean Band. 201 Worthington St.,
Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House
Restaurant & Pub: Baird Souls. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SATURDAY
Delaney House: Billy Egan. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
MGM Springfield: MGM Roar Comedy Club: Karen Morgan. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
The Drake: Mengers- w/ WAAAH, Sapien Joyride, Phroeggs. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores’: The Amplifiers. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
SUNDAY
Delaney House: Trivia. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
The Drake: Now Ensemble. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst
Uno Chicago Grill: Jazz. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. 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
NORTHAMPTON
Big Bad Bollocks return to Iron Horse Music Hall
Saturday’s show is a celebration of St. Pat’s Day
By G eorge L enker
Special to The Republican St. Patrick’s Day seems to have innumerable traditions associated with it, and a local one is almost as enduring as parades, shamrocks and green beer: the Big Bad Bollocks playing the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton. While the venue just reopened in 2024 after a four-year closure, the Big Bad Bollocks seem to have played there since the days when St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland.
“I think this will be our 32nd or 33rd St. Patrick’s show at The Iron Horse,” frontman John Allen said in a recent interview. “In 2020, our St. Pat’s show was the first night
“Spring is starting to tickle everyone’s fancy, and the desire to celebrate is fired up in a really positive way. It’s a grand old time, and we bloody love it!”
John
Allen,
frontman of the Big Bad Bollocks
to be canceled, by mutual consent, due to the COVID-19 outbreak. So this year is our first time back since then.”
The pub-punk-folk band will take the stage this year on March 15 at 7 p.m. Allen said the current lineup consists of “myself, John Allen, lead vocals, brandishing occasional squeezeboxes and tin whistles, Paul ‘Pino’ Scarpino on 12-string electric guitar, backup vocals and being Italian, Bob Richards on drums and attitude, Ernie Wilson on bass and noisy ripostes.”
Bollocks’ gigs in general are raucous, booze-fueled affairs, so Allen was asked how a St. Patrick’s Day show is different from a regular one.
“It isn’t! But there is a special feeling, which comes with
the time of year and proximity to St. Patrick’s Day,” he said. “Spring is starting to tickle everyone’s fancy and the desire to celebrate is fired up in a really positive way. It’s a grand old time, and we bloody love it!”
Of course, Father Time has had a hand in toning down some of the band’s antics, but only marginally.
“I don’t stage-dive as much as I once did. Actually, I haven’t stage-dived in several years, since I injured my ankle making a quick and painful descent onto a dance floor,” Allen said. “All other forms of rowdiness remain intact — including our penchant for copious amounts of Guinness and Irish whiskey.”
without playing some parody of themselves?
The answer, of course, is up to the listener. Some will hear “Abracadabra” as life-affirming dance music. Others will press play on “Killah” and balk at its Gesaffelstein-aided sound. They might read the earworm “Disease” as a song that too easily recalls the mid-2010s of her heyday, but to do so would strip it of stadium-sized pleasures. It is a great song, a familiar song, a return to a classic Gaga. (And for what it is worth, there’s a lot more energy there than in the Grammy-winning power ballad “Die with a Smile,” her collaboration with Bruno Mars.)
The truth is, Gaga has
reclaimed her early dark-pop sensibilities and ushered them into her 2025 reality across “Mayhem.” It manifests in a few ways, most prominently in her delivery.
Lady Gaga sounds like she is having fun here, from the modular Moog of the ballad fake-out “Vanish Into You” and the “Bad Romance” easter egg of “Garden of Eden,” to the springy synth of “Perfect Celebrity,” which furthers Gaga’s quest to use fame to question fame’s legitimacy. Now that is timeless pop meta-commentary. Autonomy was top of mind for Gaga on “Mayhem,” and it’s yielded great results. “Something that was really important to me on this was really taking from myself my own inventions,” she told The Associated Press in a recent interview.
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
Min. Entry Package $15 Electronic Bingo Aval. Snack Bar, Open Seating, Handicap Restrooms
Local fun on tap for St. Pat’s Day
ST. PATRICK’S DAY ALways includes all types of celebrations — from food showcases to cultural heritage gatherings to pub crawls.
But our focus here is mostly music, and Western Massachusetts has plenty of parties that include tunes, so here is a (mostly musical) sampling up and down the Pioneer Valley.
We might as well start with one of the most Irish venues in the area, Springfield’s John Boyle O’Reilly Club.
The JBO Club is the oldest Irish-American cultural club in the country and will celebrate St. Paddy’s Day (March 17) with corned beef sandwiches all day long, with music by The Corner Boys starting at 2 p.m. The Corner Boys hail from Holyoke and play traditional Irish folk music. The club is at 33 Progress Ave.
While we’re looking at Springfield, we should mention Theodores’ Blues and BBQ downtown. The club will stray from the blues on March 17, with traditional Irish music taking the stage there, courtesy of Jeff King with Noelle Saison on bass and mandolin, joined by Emma Kales on violin. The music runs from
5-8 p.m. The venue is at 201 Worthington St.
If you want to start celebrating a bit early on St. Patrick’s Day, The Daily Pint in Wilbraham will have Irish music by The Healys from noon to 3 p.m. The Daily Pint is at 2523 Boston Road.
Over in Westfield, Bright Ideas Brewing will tap its Lark & Lion Dry Irish Stout and bring the swing band ch’CHUNK to the stage. The brewery will also have Chappy’s food truck on hand with a special St. Patrick’s Day menu. Bright Ideas is at 109 Apremont Way.
On the other end of the geographic spectrum, The Brewery at Four Star Farms in Northfield gets the party started a day early on March
the farmhouse, which is open only once a year.
The West Springfield Lions Club will be flipping pancakes and serving them hot off the griddle with pure Ferrindino maple syrup in the Village’s Greenwich Barn. Plates include a side of sausage with coffee or juice. Pancake breakfast tickets can be purchased the day of the event or at a discounted price through March 14 online at StorrowtonVillage.com/ MapleHarvestDay. Advance tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for those 12 and under. Day-of tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for those 12 and under. All proceeds from the breakfast will be donated to Storrowton Village Museum’s year-round educational programming.
rindino Maple in Hampden in 2012 with his wife Carrie. Ferrindino Maple with its roadside stand is a yearround business for the couple.
“We’re always making maple syrup and maple-inspired products throughout the year and we supply the Big Y, area restaurants and colleges such as Amherst and Mount Holyoke,” Ferrindino said about harvesting enough sap to last them beyond the main season.
As for predicting what kind of season this year will yield, Ferrindino said, “You never know until it’s over.
“However, it should be good because we’ve had a cold winter. We haven’t seen a winter like this for temperatures since 2017. The trees need to freeze hard during the night followed by a rise in temperature during the day so the sap will flow,” he said.
16. Along with a beer release of the brewery’s Four Star Red Ale, the brewpub will also offer a corned beef & cabbage dinner and music by Ragged Blue starting at 3 p.m. Ragged Blue is a Greenfield-based band that plays a diverse blend of Celtic, bluegrass, jazz and folk music. The Brewery at Four Star Farms is at 508 Pine Meadow Road.
If you can delay your celebration until Holyoke Road Race weekend, Brennan’s Place in Holyoke will have Union Jack on March 22. Although my guess is that the classic Irish bar will have plenty going on before that this weekend. Brennan’s is at 175 High St. Also on Road Race weekend, Francie’s Tavern in Holyoke will have music from Thursday through Sunday, with acts such as Trailer Trash, Midlife Crisis, Moose & the High Tops and The Storytellers. Francie’s is at 108 Maple St.
Finally, if you simply cannot wait, Drawing Board Brewing will kick things off on March 15 with the Irish band Wild Thyme from 4-6 p.m. Drawing Board is at 36 Main St. in the Florence section of Northampton.
Under a heated tent, Ferrindino Maple will be offering information sessions, product tastings and selling maple items such as their organic maple candy, maple spread and their special maple creme. But, you will have to wait until The Big E this year to again savor their maple bacon hot dog and maple creme cannoli.
“I will be talking with people who come to our tent and helping to educate them about how maple syrup is made and how you don’t need to go to Vermont for good maple syrup,” said Jerry Ferrindino, who founded Fer-
The Eastern States Exposition Farmers Market and Wine Café will be open throughout the Maple Harvest Day festivities, offering a wide variety of New-England-made gifts and apparel, edible delights, hot wine and wine slushies. Free trolley rides allow visitors transportation to and from Storrowton Village and the Farmers Market.
For more information, call Storrowton Village Museum at 413-205-5052, visit StorrowtonVillage.com. You can also find updates on Storrowton Village’s social media pages.
Kalin Veraidi sits at a table with her three friends at Theodores’ in Springfield. Theodores’ is getting in on the St. Patrick’s spirit, offering live Irish music on March 17. (DOUGLAS HOOK / MASSLIVE)
George Lenker LIVE WIRE
Major restaurant chains taking sales hits in 2025
THE FIRST TWO months of 2025 have proven to be unexpectedly challenging for the restaurant industry. Coming off of a promising November and December, many in the industry were expected to see further signs of recovery in the new year, but that has yet to be the case.
For instance, all three major burger chains — McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King — experienced year-over-year sales declines during January and February. Family dining chain Denny’s also posted substantial sales setbacks in February while Texas Roadhouse, which had generated considerable sales growth throughout 2024, turned in less-than-stellar early-2025 results.
Reports of restaurant closures and bankruptcies have also grown more frequent. Tex-Mex cantina brand On the Border filed for Chapter
or by calling the Munich Haus at 413-594-8788.
The Munich Haus also will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year by adding a corned beef dinner to its lineup. Starting Wednesday, March 12, the restaurant will be serving its own housemade corned beef along with boiled potato, carrots, cabbage and Irish soda bread. Like other entrees at the restaurant, a choice or salad or soup will also be included.
Priced at $19 during lunch and $25 during dinner, the corned beef dinner will be available through Monday, March 17.
Fries.
Now Arby’s, the roast beef sandwich chain, is engaging in similar marketing shenanigans with its Potato Cakes side dish. Dropped from Arby’s menu during the pandemic, the Potato Cakes have since become the focus of social media activism.
The cakes, which were given a limited-time-only reprise last summer, returned to Arby’s permanent menu last month along with a commitment from the brand that they will “never be discontinued again.”
what similar announcement.
A number of smaller regional chains have also continued to close locations and, in a few instances, shut down altogether.
Some of what’s been going on in the industry over the last several months is a result of short-term factors — harsh
doubt also playing a role in the restaurant industry’s lackluster performance to date with overdevelopment, changing consumer preferences, and shifting demographics the likely culprits. In any case, it’s beginning to look like 2025 may prove to be a more challenging year than industry pundits had predicted.
Side Dishes
11 bankruptcy on March 4, and Hooters of America, with 239 locations nationwide, is reportedly behind on its bills and is in the process of preparing for a similar bankruptcy filing.
Restaurant closures and “rightsizings” also continue, with Denny’s announcing that it plans to close more than 70 restaurants in the year ahead. As part of its own turnaround strategy, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Brew made a some-
winter weather, the horrific wildfire outbreaks in California and what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is calling “the worst flu season in a decade.”
Other causes are likely rooted in economics and politics. Consumer confidence has dropped sharply over the last several months, thanks to persistent inflation and public policy turbulence in Washington
Longer term trends are no
• On Saturday, March 15, the Munich Haus German Restaurant in Chicopee will be hosting another of its Wild Game Feasts, a buffet-style presentation that features a considerable array of game specialties. In addition to choices like venison sausages, roasted wild boar, and wild turkey schnitzel, the feast will include a carving station stocked with roast venison, bison, elk and kangaroo. The feast begins at 6 p.m. and costs $65 per person. Tickets can be ordered online
• The Storrowton Village Museum at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield will be celebrating their annual Maple Harvest Day on March 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A highlight of this event is a pancake breakfast put on by the West Springfield Lions Club. Proceeds from the breakfast support Storrowton’s educational programs. Docent-led tours and 19th century craft demos will also be part of the day’s activities.
Pancake breakfast tickets can be ordered online at storrowtonvillage.com/ mapleharvestday; Storrowton Village Museum answer at 413-205-5051.
• Bryson’s Maple Syrup in Monson will host an open house on March 15 and 16 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Visitors can see maple syrup being made (weather permitting) and sample food and beverages made with the sugarbush’s own syrup.
Bryson’s Maple Syrup, which is located on Lower Hampden Road, answers at 413-262-0537.
• Taking items off the menu and then bringing them back again has become a popular (and apparently effective) restaurant marketing technique, as demonstrated by McDonald’s now-you-seeit, now-you-don’t McRib sandwich and the similar promotional shell game Taco Bell has played with its Nacho
To underscore that promise, Arby’s promise to “sue itself” if the chain ever did stop serving the Potato Cakes, committing a $1 million payout to be shared among impacted customers if and when it went back on its word.
The marketing gimmick was dubbed a “pre-class action lawsuit,” and Potato Cake fan were urged to sign up at arbyspotatocakeslawsuit.com in order to become parties to the “litigation.” Those responding were also rewarded with a digital code for free DoorDash delivery and a two-piece order of the cakes.
• Shattuck’s Sugarhouse in Belchertown will host its third annual Sugarfest on March 15, from noon until 5 p.m.
The festivities will include live music under the tent, locally made maple beer from Vanished Valley Brewing Co. in Ludlow, lots of food options, and a selection of other vendors.
More details can be had by calling Shattuck’s Sugarhouse at 413-323-7639.
• Burger King has officially “dropped” its new spring menu, a collection of newly developed items and returning favorites.
Among the new items debuting was a Steakhouse Bacon Whopper. Assembled using the existing Whopper patty, the new sandwich incorporates lettuce, tomato, peppercorn aioli, crispy onions, Swiss cheese, bacon, and
A Denny’s restaurant is shown Sept. 14, 2017, in Cranberry, Pa. Denny’s has announced that it plans to close more than 70 restaurants in the year ahead. (KEITH SRAKOCIC / ASSOCIATED PRESS, FILE)
The Munich Haus German Restaurant in Chicopee will host another one of its Wild Game Feasts on Saturday, March 15.
(DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN)
Hugh Robert Off The Menu
Garden Cinemas to host film historian in time for St. Pat’s Day
Olivia de Havilland and James Cagney appear in a scene from “The Irish in Us.” The 1935 film will be screened at the Greenfield Garden Cinemas on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. The screening will be accompanied by a talk with historian Jonathan A. Boschen.
On St. Patrick’s Day, Monday, March 17, the Greenfield Garden Cinemas will feature its seventh “Talking Talkies” event with a screening of 1935’s “The Irish In Us,” starring James Cagney, Pat O’Brien and Olivia De Havilland.
Prior to the movie, local film and theater historian Jonathan A. Boschen will introduce the movie and offer viewers background information on this fun Warner Brothers movie and information on James Cagney’s career.
Boschen’s introduction starts at 6:30 p.m. and a screening of the movie will immediately follow.
“The Irish In Us” is a comedy that follows a boxing promoter, Danny (Cagney), who struggles to hold a steady job while living with his mother and his two more responsible brothers, Pat (O’Brien), a police officer, and Mike (Frank McHugh), a fireman. Trouble arises when Danny falls for Lucille (de Havilland), the fiancée of Pat.
The movie was released on Aug. 3, 1935, and was first shown in the Greenfield area at the Lawler Theater on Aug. 24, 1935, where it played for several days.
Admission to this special St. Patrick’s Day event is $10.50 adults and $8.50 for children, seniors, and students. Tickets are available online at gardencinemas.net or at the door.
The Garden Cinemas also serves beer to patrons, allowing attendees to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day to the fullest.
The “Talking Talkies” series was first brought to the Greenfield Garden Cinemas in autumn 2023 when the owners partnered with local film and theater historian Boschen. Boschen has given presentations on film history and has had articles on film and theater history published.
The “Talking Talkies” film series reintroduces contemporary audiences to both classic and forgotten movies that were produced during the 1930s.
Some Irish craft beer suggestions
IT’S A SAFE BET THAT all the St. Patrick’s festivities going on are making a lot of people think about summer vacation plans and possibly even heading over to the Emerald Isle.
As I often do at some point in the year, I let those of you traveling to Ireland know about some Irish craft beers and where they can find them.
Everyone knows about Guinness and Harp and Murphy’s Stout, but you’d be doing a disservice to Ireland’s great craft beer scene by sticking to those old classics.
As I have often noted, beer is a very social drink. This is especially true in Ireland, where pubs serve even a bigger role as gathering places than they do here in the United States. In more rural parts or in small towns, it’s not unusual for whole families to gather in pubs. I’ve also found that as long as you’re reasonable, a lot of Irish people will strike up a conversation with you very easily.
Bollocks
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While the group is not strictly an Irish band, they certainly know plenty of Irish tunes that get the Paddy’s Day crowd going.
“‘Irish Rover’ and ‘Star of The County Down’ always get a good response. But so do our own compositions and our covers of Shane MacGowan/Pogues songs,” Allen said. “I would have to say that ‘Wild Irish Rover’ is a perennial St. Pat’s favorite and this year we’ll be relaunching our rather unique cowboy version of that little gem, a version we’ve not played in many years.”
Speaking of Shane MacGowan, Allen has the utmost reverence for the late singer-songwriter, who died in 2023. Allen met MacGowan when he booked The Pogues at Pearl Street Nightclub on their first two tours of the U.S. in the 1980s. He also got to tag along with the band on other Northeast stops of the tour.
I’ve been to Ireland enough now to have people I call actual friends over there. I’ve met them in various ways, but I’ve certainly forged a few of these relationships over beer. One of my longest friendships is with a gentleman named John Stephens, a former professor at University College Dublin who I met more than 15 years ago via our mutual love of craft beer. John and I have met up numerous times over the years, and I always try to make it a point to get together with him when I’m there. He
“Shane and The Pogues’ inspirational influence is everything really,” Allen said. “I never wanted to copy The Pogues, but I was very much inspired by their musical energy and by Shane’s brilliant songwriting. What they were doing detonated, in me, a long-suppressed desire to write songs and perform on stage.”
Reflecting on the band’s rambling and shambolic three-decade history, Allen noted that the Iron Horse also holds a special place on the band’s memories aside from the St. Patrick’s Day shows.
“When I stop to consider how long Big Bad Bollocks has been a major creative vehicle for all four of us, and the adventures it has provided us with, it just amazes me,” he said. “Especially when I recall that the band, which I started as a duo with my old friend Patrick Owens, had one goal, which was to play The Iron Horse just one time.”
Little Fawn by White Hag Brewing. (GEORGE LENKER PHOTO)
George Lenker Beer Nut
THURSDAY
HADESTOWN The Musical, Teen Edition: Thu.-Sat., 7 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Northampton High School, This full-length teen edition of Anaïs Mitchell’s haunting, jazz-inflected folk opera follows Orpheus’ mythical quest to overcome Hades and regain the favor of his one true love, Eurydice. Its Broadway version won a Tony for best musical in 2019. $5 students, $15 general admission. 380 Elm St., Northampton; 413-587-1344 or www. hamphigh.org.
FRIDAY
Catch Me If You Can: Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Society, eventbrite. com/e/catch-me-if-you-canpresented-by-the-unity-houseplayers-tickets-1222365220279, $15-$20. 245 Porter Lake Drive, Springfield.
Friday Fish Fry: Fri., 5-7 p.m. Swift River Sportsman's Club, running through April 18. Prices range from $14 for fish and chips to $18 for a fish, shrimp and chip combo. Clam chowder also will be available. Come out and enjoy one of the best fish dinners in the area with generous portions. For more information, please call the club at 413-323-9387. 350 Cold Spring Road, Belchertown.
HADESTOWN The Musical, Teen Edition: See Thursday listing Kevin Hart: Fri., 7:30 p.m. MassMutual Center. For tickets, visit mgmspringfield.mgmresorts. com/en/entertainment/mass mutual-center.html, tickets start at $75. 1277 Main St., Springfield. 413-787-6600 or massmutualcen ter.com.
SATURDAY
Catch Me If You Can: See Friday listing
Chair Caning & Basket Weaving Classes: Sat., 1:30 p.m. Holyoke Creative Arts Center. Restore heirloom pieces or create new ones with traditional crafts of a bygone era: chair caning, rush seating, flat reed seat weaving, and basket weaving. Students can bring their own project or learn on one of the chairs in the HCAC studio. This class is taught open studio-style and is open to beginners as well as advanced students. To register email Admin@HolyokeCAC.org, $115. 150 Front St. Suite 5, West Springfield; holyokecac.org.
Easthampton Theater Company presents “On Golden Pond”: Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Williston Theatre-Williston Northampton
CALENDAR
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: Museum a la. March 13, 12:15 p.m. “A Conversation with Scott Strong Hawk Foster and ‘the Why’ Behind His Work as an Indigenous Artist.” Cost $4, free for members. In person or online. Presented by Scott Strong Hawk Foster, photographer.
Northampton
Connecticut Trolley Museum: Open Saturdays in March, weather permitting. 58 North Road, East Windsor or cttrolley.org.
School, $21-23. 18 Payson Ave., Easthampton.
HADESTOWN The Musical, Teen Edition: See Thursday listing Maple Harvest Day & Pancake Breakfast: Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Storrowton Village Museum, Storrowton Village Museum celebrates all things maple on Maple Harvest Day. The annual event highlights the history and tradition of maple sugaring in New England. For tickets or more information, visit storrowtonvillage.com/p/events/ maple-harvest-day. Tickets are $5 adults, $3 children 12 and under advance and, at the door, $7 adults, $5 children 12 and under. 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. thebige.com.
The Rhizome Project presents Moira Smiley in Concert: Sat., Montague Common Hall, 6:30pm (workshop at 3 p.m., potluck at 5 p.m.); Suggested donation $20 concert, $30 workshop, $40 both. No one turned away for lack of funds. Tickets available online at www.weathervane-arts.org, 34 Main St., Montague. Springfield Symphony Orchestra Concert: Sat., 3 p.m. Springfield Symphony Hall, "Eternal Echoes"; with Cailin Marcel Manson, Conductor; Jamie-Rose Guarrine, Soprano and the Springfield Symphony Chorus, Nikki Stoia, director. For tickets visit springfieldsymphony. org/event/eternal-echoes/. Tickets $25-$80. 34 Court St., Springfield. 413-733-2291 or www. symphonyhall.com.
SUNDAY
Catch Me If You Can: See Friday listing
Easthampton Theater Company presents “On Golden Pond”: See Saturday listing HADESTOWN The Musical, Teen Edition: See Thursday listing South Hadley Chorale Concert: Sun., 3 p.m. Abbey Chapel, Pergolesi’s Magnificat, Thompson’s Frostiana. Tickets in advance are $20 general, $15 senior citizens, $5 students and children 12 and under. Preconcert tickets may be purchased at Odyssey Book Shop in South Hadley or through Eventbrite. Tickets at the door: $25 general, $20 senior citizens, $5 students/children 12 and under, 50 College St., South Hadley, mtholyoke.edu.
“Why Are We Still Here?" Performance: Sun., 2 p.m. Lenox Community Center, the performance will be on the second floor in the ballroom, accessible via stairs and an elevator. Run time is approximately 1 hour with a brief intermission. This performance is family friendly and open to all. Tickets are sliding scale, $10-$20+, and ticket sales will be split evenly amongst all performers. For more information or tickets visit www. shannonnulf.com/upcoming, 65 Walker St., Lenox.
Quadrangle
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: “Ancient Treasures,” a display of artifacts from ancient China, Greece, Rome and Egypt. On the first Wed. of every month through the end of 2026, admission to the Springfield Museums is free. For more information, visit springfieldmuseums.org
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 & teachers receive a 10% discount off the price of regular admission; members/infants free. 29 South Broad St., Westfield or ameliaparkmuseum.org.
Anchor House of Artists: Rotating art exhibits, self-staged by fine regional talents. The best leastknown gallery in the Pioneer Valley. Free public receptions on the 2nd 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.,
East Longmeadow Historical Commission Museum: Permanent exhibit: Open every third Saturday of the month, 1-3 p.m. with free admission, featuring displays of local history. Guided tours are available. For more information about seasonal events, search “East Longmeadow Historical Commission” on Facebook. 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. “Free to Be.You and Me: 50 Years of Stories and Songs.” Through April 6. 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or carlemuseum.org.
Historic Northampton Museum and Education: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Wed.-Sun. noon-5 p.m. $5 suggested donation, 46 Bridge St., Northampton or historic-northampton.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: 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: “All for Laughs: The Artists of the Famous Cartoonist Course” exhibition, through June 15. Online exhibit: “Imagining Freedom.” The exhibition highlights the important role of Norman Rockwell and other artists in advancing and communicating these ideals, envisioned as
Kevin Hart attends Netflix Is A Joke Fest’s “The Greatest Roast Of All Time: Tom Brady” at the Kia Forum on May 5, 2024, in Inglewood, California. The comedian will bring his “Acting My Age” Tour to the MassMutual Center in Springfield on Friday.
(PHOTO BY ELYSE JANKOWSKI / FILMMAGIC)
Calendar
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: Illustrating Humor,” through June 10. $0-$25. Permanent exhibit: Gallery. hours: Thu.-Mon., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Tues. and Wed. $20 adults; $18 seniors, AAA, retired military; $10 college students; free children ages 18 and under, members and active military. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or nrm.org.
Old Sturbridge Village: “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. “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. Kids Free Standard Daytime Admission, through April 30. During this springtime offer, up to two children, ages 17 or younger, will be admitted for free with each adult full price standard daytime admission ticket. Route 20, Sturbridge or 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 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. “SCMA Second Friday,” March 14, 4–7 p.m., featuring hands-on art making for all ages, inspired by works on view. Design and draw your own special place inspired by architectural forms in Younes Rahmoun’s Ghorfa series, in Hubert Robert’s Pyramids, and in Lilly Martin Spencer’s painting Reading the Legend. Also, drop by the museum’s Cunningham Center on SCMA’s second floor to see a special installation of portraits by and of Trans and Non-Binary people from the museum’s collection. Free admission. 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 New England 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 Street. Sign up for the newsletter at the website: NEVA-museum.org, or by phone, 413-588-4337. $10 suggested day admission donation asked at the door. Pleasant St., Northampton Titanic Museum: Permanent exhibit: Exhibits from the collection of the International Titanic Historical Society. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $4, $2 children and students. 208 Main St., Indian Orchard or www. titanic1.org.
University Museum of Contemporary Art - Fine Arts Center: Permanent exhibit. The University Museum is open through May 1; Tue.-Fri., 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sat.Sun., noon–4 p.m.; and first Thursdays until 8 p.m. Closed Mondays, holidays, and academic breaks. 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst, umass. edu
Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum: “Witness: Sharing Cancer Stories at Ventfort Hall,” through March 31. This is a quilt exhibit created by Francesca Olsen. 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 413637-3206. Admission is $18 adults, $17 seniors (65+), $10 students with ID, $7 children 5-17, and free for children 4 and younger. 104 Walker St., Lenox or www.gildedage.org. 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. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke, volleyhall.org.
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lives in Dublin, so most of our get-togethers have been there in the capital city, but he also made a trip out to visit me in Galway last year.
I mention him not only because he is a wonderful, funny and engaging gentleman, but also because has also introduced me to some great beers that I would not have found on my own. (He also has great taste in music — which means he likes a lot of the same stuff I do.)
But let’s get back to the beer. Here are some of the beers that I have discovered, mostly because of my friendship with John. I’m sure some of them will be ones you’d like to try, so read on.
First up is an IPA named Little Fawn from White Hag Brewing Co. This is a clean and refreshing IPA with an intense citrus hop aroma. That somewhat tropical aspect is present but more muted in the flavor and encased in a bread-like malt structure. It’s also pretty low on the alcohol scale, coming in at 4.2% ABV, so it’s perfect as a session beer after a long day of sightseeing. John and I sampled this at the King’s Inn on Bolton Street. Our next offering today is one I had by myself at the Dew Drop Inn in Galway: Triból Czech Pilsner. Brewed by Galway Bay Brewing Co., This beer is fairly true to style and hits all the marks. It features a crisp malt framework with enough mild floral notes to keep things interesting. The Dew Drop Inn is
definitely a place beer fans should stop when in the City of Tribes.
While The Long Hall is one of my favorite oldschool pubs in Dublin, it has branched out in recent years and now has a handful of craft beer taps. Based on my love of the brewery’s other beers I’ve had over the years, I couldn’t resist trying O’Hara’s Irish Red. While it’s not going to bowl anyone over, it’s certainly more flavorful than, say, Kilkenny’s, if Irish Red Ales are your go-to. It relies on a tasty blend of biscuit and toffee notes to hold your attention, then brings in a mild but firm hop guardrail to prevent it from becoming cloying. Back to my Dublin pub crawl with John, we visited a fantastic craft beer bar named Underdog, I sampled an excellent pale ale with a mouthful of flavor — and a name — Catch the Colours Everywhere. This beer comes from Verdant Brewing in England and is true to its name. Both the nose and flavor feature a melange of tropical tangs. Despite the complexity of the brew, it finishes quite crisp. It probably leans more to the IPA style than a pale ale, but it’s delicious either way. I also sampled an American-style session pale ale at Underdog: Sesh from Lough Gill Brewing in Co. Sligo. As a fan of the American West Coast style, I have to say that Sesh is as good as or better than many of America’s recent attempts at the style. Light and zesty, the flavor profile is satisfying without beating you over the head with too many hop hammers.
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A1 sauce in order to create a steakhouse flavor experience. Burger King also brought back its popular Jalapeno Cheese Bites and is, for a limited time only, offering premium-sized sides at no extra charge with Combo purchases.
• Though recent news from Starbucks has detailed
menu cutbacks, last week the chain announced its series of spring-season, limited-time-only menu add-ons. These include a new Iced Cherry Chai and the return of several popular drinks from the past — Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha, Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte, and Lavender Creme Frappuccino. The Iced Cherry Chai, which Starbucks is calling “a sip of springtime,” features black tea infused with cinnamon, clove,
and other warming spices that’s combined with milk and ice. Cherry cream cold foam and a sprinkle of cherry crunch topping garnishes the drink.
In the food area, Starbucks is serving, as long as supplies last, a Jalapeno Chicken Pocket fashioned from toasted chili lavash flatbread and a filling of diced chicken, charred poblanos, green jalapenos, three-chili-pepper cheese and jalapeno cream cheese.
Starbucks has also rolled out a lighter roast coffee in the form of a new Sunsera Blend. The new roast is in response to a growing consumer interest in less intense coffee flavor profiles.
• On Thursday, March 20, at 6 p.m., Provisions in Amherst will be presenting a “Cheese 101” workshop and tasting. The session will explore the basics of flavor, texture, and pairings, while covering how to pick, taste,
and enjoy cheese like a connoisseur.
The workshop will be repeated at the Provisions location in Longmeadow on March 27 at 6 p.m.
Tickets to either workshop session are $35 and can be ordered online at provisions wine.com/events.
The telephone contact for Provisions is 413-727-3497. Hugh Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@ aol.com.
