READYTO WRESTLE Weekend
Champion wrestler Kris Statlander among those stepping into
MassMutual Center for
AEW: Collision, D2
ALSO INSIDE: Kalliope Jones to celebrate release of new album, ‘Carnivorous,’ at Iron Horse Music Hall, Page D4
READY TO WRESTLE
Champion wrestler among those stepping into the ring at MassMutual Center
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
They’re
coming back.
After making their Spring field debut last September, AEW: Collision returns to the MassMutual Center on Saturday, April 12, for another round of ac tion-packed wrestling. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. and the event is being broadcast live on TNT.
All Elite Wrestling (AEW)’s star-studded roster, which AEW notes may change, includes “The Rated R Superstar” Cope, Christian Cage, Jon Moxley, “Timeless” Toni Storm, Hangman Adam Page, Swerve Strick land, Mercedes Mone, Adam Cole, Jack Perry, Mariah May, Orange Cassidy, Kazuchika Okada, Mark Briscoe, and many others, including former AEW TBS Champion Kris Statlander. For much of her early career — she is one of the AEW Wom en’s Division original stars debuting in 2019 at age 24 — Stat lander was aligned with the Best Friends stable, featuring AEW original and former International Champion Orange Cassidy, Chuck Taylor, Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero. She held the TBS Championship for 174 days, with successful defenses against a variety of top AEW stars including Ruby Soho, Julia Hart, Skye Blue, Willow Nightingale, Nyla Rose and more. Tickets, ranging in price from $28 to $450, are available online at massmutualcenter.com.
Statlander wrestled some time from being in the ring to an swer a few questions for The Republican.
Q. How would you describe what fans will see in Springfield this weekend?
A. Fans will see a lot of excitement in the ring and that is the
Kris Statlander is among the wrestlers taking part in AEW: Collision on Saturday at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
5Rhythms classes offer transformation through dance
IF THE WARM WEATHer puts a spring in your step and makes you feel like dancing, you might want to check out 5Rhythms. 5Rhythms is a movement practice created by Gabrielle Roth “designed to release the dancer that lives in everybody, no matter what its shape, size, age, limitations and experience.”
Here in Western Massachusetts, classes are held the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. The next class will be at Bombyx in Northampton on April 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Class instructor Jilsarah Moscowitz talked about what you can expect if you’re interested in attending, after she first got involved with 5Rhythms
more than two decades ago.
“A friend of mine told me about 5Rhythms and that the practice had changed his life, off the dance floor,” she said. “That got my attention and brought me to my first class in February 2002 in Brooklyn.”
As the name implies, the classes and workshops employ five distinct types of
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D2
beauty of our live shows — you never know who you are going to get, who might show up and what will happen. That is what makes wrestling and AEW, in particular, so exciting and a fun experience. I always say being there live and in person is such a great way to experience wresting for the first time, 100th time or 10,000th time. Everyone in the building is a part of the show one way or another, and I think it’s just going to be fun all around for everyone just as it usually is.
Q. What brought you to wrestling as a career, and eventually to AEW?
A. I started out as a stunt performer and trained in stage combat, then I found wrestling and started managing a team.
I realized that I wanted to be in on the action and started wrestling, eventually finding my way to AEW and apparently, I’m really good at wrestling.
Q. Do you have a signature move?
A. Yes, it’s the single leg cradle tombstone which I call ‘night fever.’ I came up with it and it works every time and never fails me. And once I hit it in the ring, then I win the match.
Q. Who is your greatest adversary?
A. Myself. I don’t have many friends on my side, but one thing I do know is that I always have my own back.
Q. So, you don’t have anyone you can count on?
A. There are some people
musical rhythms: flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical and stillness. Together, these five rhythms are called a “wave,” and the classes cycle through two waves over two hours.
Moscowitz explained the purpose behind these rhythms, each of which builds upon the next one.
“Yes, each rhythm offers the
“My biggest
goal is to lessen the gap between how
people perceive women’s and men’s wrestling and to leave wrestling better than it was.”
Kris Statlander
who are nice to me. I’ve been teaming up a lot with Thunder Rosa and I feel as if I might be on the good side of Toni Storm, who is the AEW Women’s World Champion.
Size: 3.5 x 3.6
Q. In recent weeks, you have been teaming with Thunder Rosa in a feud with Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford. What started the feud, and how will it continue in Springfield?
A. Megan came in all big, bad and tough and she has been beating me up a lot. She formed an alliance with a former enemy of mine, Penelope Ford. And I just can’t have my enemies being my friends. So, I’m trying to hurt them for hurting me now. And there is a chance this feud might go all the way to Springfield because I still have some checks to cash with them.
Q. You have overcome ACL tears in both legs, and after your second injury returned triumphantly to win the AEW TBS Championship against the then-undefeated champ Jade Cargill. Wrestling can be dangerous and it can’t be fun getting hurt.
A. No, it’s not fun. I think we all get that it’s part of the risk that something very dangerous can happen. But I think
that is part of the fun in competing in a sport like this ... that we are always out there risking our lives, risking our health and well-being. However, being able to perform on such a high level for so many people and giving them the emotional rush that we feel when you are in the ring is the payback. And you almost forget that getting injured is a very real possibility.
Q. What do you want to achieve before retiring from
wrestling?
A. I feel that it is an easy answer to say to win every single title and to wrestle all over the world. But my biggest goal is to lessen the gap between how people perceive women’s and men’s wrestling and to leave wrestling better than it was, that is my ultimate goal.
Tickets to AEW: Collision at the MassMutual Center begin at $28 and can be purchased online at massmutualcenter. com
Kris Statlander fights Mercedes Mone in 2023. Statlander is one of the wrestlers appearing at Saturday's AEW: Collision in Springfield. (ALL ELITE WRESTLING PHOTO)
George Lenker LIVE WIRE SEE LIVE WIRE, PAGE D12
‘CARNIVOROUS’
Kalliope Jones to host album release party at Iron Horse Music Hall
By Ashley P otter apotter@repub.com
Coming to the Iron Horse Music Hall to celebrate their latest album “Carnivorous” is a lot like a homecoming for Kalliope Jones.
“This is our first time playing the Iron Horse after it reopened,” said Wes Chalfant, who along with Isabella DeHerdt and Alouette “Lou” Batteau, make up the band. “And the first time I walked into the Iron Horse after it reopened, I had tears in my eyes. I feel like we grew up there.”
Their band Kalliope Jones, which was first formed in 2012 when the three met as students at the Institute for the Musical Arts in Goshen, is no stranger to playing the Iron Horse. In their early years, they opened for other regional acts like The Nields, And The Kids and Antigone Rising.
But now, returning to the Iron Horse stage on Friday at 7 p.m., Kalliope Jones is the main act.
“These local bands brought us in and let us open and broke open this whole musical world of us,” said DeHerdt. “We are, in a way, carrying on that lineage.”
For their tour, which is spanning the Northeast with shows planned in New York City, New Haven, Portland and Cambridge, Kalliope Jones is bringing along opener Hazel Foucault, a high school musician from Western Massachusetts. Dov Plotkin, the group’s drummer who is heavily featured on “Carnivorous,” will also be joining the tour.
“We just feel like we’re getting to be the generation playing and witness the next generation coming in, which is a really special moment,” DeHerdt added.
“We just feel like we’re getting to be the generation playing and witness the next generation coming in, which is a really special moment.”
Isabella DeHerdt of Kalliope Jones
The trio’s new album, “Carnivorous,” set to launch today, is described by Kalliope Jones as “a collection of songs you can sink your teeth into.”
The blend of three voices — which have drastically matured, and harmonies strengthened since their amateur release, “Don’t Mind,” in 2016 — is what makes them so unique. With three lead singers, each song on the 12-track album highlights each of their strengths, from the upbeat
SPRINGFIELD
This tribute band has the blessing of Lynyrd
Vyntyge Skynyrd to play 52 Sumner
Skynyrd
Vyntyge Skynyrd, appearing at 52 Sumner in Springfield on Saturday, April 12, does.
tempo of “Get In Trouble” to the loud powerhouse anthem “Not My Body,” the trio also slows down their vocals into beautiful, quiet harmonies on “Brakes” and “Holy.” Each member of Kalliope Jones also contributed to writing different songs on the album, while making sure it all flows together into one big story.
The release of “Carnivorous” also comes with a new music video inspired by vintage baseball films and the “Twilight” movie for their lead song, “Playing the Field.”
Before their album release party at the Iron Horse Music Hall, the members of Kalliope Jones sat down for a phone interview with The Republican to talk about “Carnivorous” and their upcoming tour. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q. How does it feel to not only be releasing this album but to also be going on tour?
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
Not every Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band can boast having the blessing of important people in the Lynyrd Skynyrd realm.
“We have the blessing of Johnny Van Zant, who is singing with the currently touring Lynyrd Skynyrd band. And we have the blessing of Artimus Pyle who played drums with the original band, as well as
Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band Vyntyge Skynyrd will play 52 Sumner in Springfield on Saturday.
The members of Kalliope Jones are, from left, Alouette “Lou” Batteau, Isabella DeHerdt and Wes Chalfant. (CARLY RAE)
Produced and designed by Dolores Kohl Education Foundation
SPRINGFIELD
Celebration of ‘The Mighty Zep’ comes to Symphony Hall
Get the Led Out pays tribute on Saturday to Led Zeppelin
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican
You “better get the led out,” as the popular saying goes, if you plan on attending Saturday’s performance at Springfield Symphony Hall by one of America’s top Led Zeppelin tribute bands, who just happen to be called Get the Led Out: A Celebration of “The Mighty Zep.”
It was the band’s drummer back then who came up with the inspired name.
“We were throwing out names and going back and forth. One day he called me and just said, ‘Get the Led Out,’ and I thought that was pretty cool because back in the day it was always The Beatles, The Doors, The Rolling Stones. And at a time when all these names were beginning with ‘the,’ Get the Led Out felt unique and different,” said Paul Sinclair, the band’s lead vocalist, in an interview with The Republican.
“At the time already, there were classic rock stations around the country who at night would play a block of songs by Led Zeppelin which they referred to on air as time to Get the Led Out. So, it was very identifiable with Led Zeppelin and we liked it and ran with it and it stuck,” he added.
Considered as the progenitor of hard rock and heavy metal, Led Zeppelin was an English rock band formed in 1968 as an offshoot of another British band called The Yardbirds. With eight consecutive UK No. 1 albums to their name, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 after disbanding in 1980. Among their most popular songs included “Stairway to Heaven,” “Whole Lotta Love,
“Immigrant Song, “Kashmir” and numerous others. Get the Led Out isn’t your ordinary “tribute band.”
Their mission is to bring the studio recordings of Led Zeppelin to life in concert. In the studio, Led Zeppelin layered many guitars, vocals, keyboards and various other instruments in a process known as overdubbing. It was physically impossible for only four people to recreate those technically perfect record-
“I never wanted to be in a tribute band, because back in the day for most it meant impersonating and dressing like the original band members. I wanted nothing to do with that, but I liked the idea of a Zeppelin tribute band.”
Paul Sinclair
ings in a live performance, something the Zeps never attempted to do, which would have required them to bring in additional musicians. But as Sinclair goes on to explain, Get the Led Out is all about that.
It was back in 2003 that Sinclair received a phone call to meet with several musicians who wanted to put together a Led Zeppelin show, and they needed a lead singer.
“These guys haven’t been a part of the band for quite some time now. Originally, we had a difference of opinion on how to approach the show. I never wanted to be in a tribute band, because back in the day for most it meant impersonating and dressing like the original band members. I wanted nothing to do with that, but I liked the idea of a Zeppelin tribute band,” Sinclair said.
Eventually, those early members came around to Sinclair’s idea of making the music great and sounding as close as possible to the Led Zeppelin recordings.
“There were a number of bands already doing this, like
the very popular Fab Faux, who were faithfully recreating The Beatles’ catalog of songs just as if you were listening to one of their records. And it took more than four of them to do it. They
inspired me to do just that. And I never knew of any other Led Zeppelin tribute bands trying to achieve what we went on to do,” Sinclair said.
In addition to Sinclair, the
band includes Paul Hammond, electric and acoustic guitars and mandolin; Tommy Zamp, electric and acoustic guitars and vocals; Seth Chrisman, bass guitar and vocals; Derek Smith, drums and percussion; and Eddie Kurek, keyboards, electric and acoustic guitars, vocals and percussion.
Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets, ranging in price from $29.50 to $69.50, are available at symphonyhallspringfield. com
TUESDAY
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WEDNESDAY CALL TODAY 413-788-1250 TO LIST HERE
THURSDAY
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DOORS OPEN 4:30PM
MASKS OPTIONAL Progressive Jackpot 6:15pm Early Bird 6:20pm Start
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Paul Sinclair, left, is the lead vocalist and Paul Hammond plays guitar and mandolin as part of Get the Led Out, a Led Zeppelin tribute band. (LISA SCHAFFER)
Kalliope
Isabella: Exciting, to put it in one word. For the album, we’re really excited because it’s been a long time since we released a full-length record, and this project we’ve probably spent the most time preparing [for], which has been really great, but we’re also so ready to release it into the world and let people do with it what they will.
This is also the first many shows in a row we’ve done in a few years. So, I think that everything feels like we’ve been building to this, and the culmination has come and we’re moving onto the next step, which is actually getting to do the shows.
Wes: We’re also playing some new markets that we haven’t played before. We get to play Portland, Maine, which we’ve never done before. We get to play New Haven, which we’ve never done before. I’m really excited to both be able to bring new music to people, but also to be able to bring music to new people. Both are very exciting to me.
Lou: Yeah, I think it’s been so much work leading up to the album release, especially because we don’t have a team behind us. The three of us do everything, so we’re budgeting and we’re reaching out to press and we’re doing all of our own
“The three of us do everything, so we’re budgeting and we’re reaching out to press and we’re doing all of our own booking and social media. So it’s kind of like a very intensive, all immersive, all encompassing process.”
Alouette “Lou” Batteau, Kalliope Jones
Tribute
Gene Odom, their security manager and best friend of Ronnie Van Zant when growing up,” said Tom Rossi, pianist for Vyntyge Skynyrd, in an interview with The Republican.
“Gene absolutely loves us and flies up every once in a while, to help us sell merchandise at our shows. He tells us we are the closest he has ever heard to capturing the sound of the legendary band. And when you hear that from someone who was on the front lines with the band, it just gives you a jolt,” he added.
road manager for Aerosmith and Ringo Starr. He ultimately found time to form another band called Klassik ’78, which achieved international attention with their “what if” approach of creating a lost album of the group KISS.
“Tommy was the mastermind behind Vyntyge Skynyrd of which two founding members of the group remain from the original lineup, which we like to jokingly tell people that we have more original members in the band than Lynyrd Skynyrd does today,” Rossi said about the reformed band in 1987 which continues to tour today with no founding members still alive.
booking and social media. So it’s kind of like a very intensive, all immersive, all encompassing process.
We were speaking maybe a week ago, we were saying “please let it be done, let it be released into the ether so we don’t have to hold it so tight anymore.” And it’s really exciting because we have so many friends who have been following us for many years who have shown so much support for the album and these songs, especially because a lot of the songs are written from a very personal, vulnerable place.
Q. How did you all decide on the album’s name, “Carnivorous”?
Wes: There were many iterations of the album name. I feel like we had a giant word dump of every line from the album that felt grabby or like it encompassed everything, and “carnivorous” just kind of floated to the top as simple and easy to remember.
But also, I think we’re dealing with a lot of primal emotions on this record, like sadness and anger, and that’s coming from a very raw place.
Lou: Yeah, I’ll say, the “carnivorous,” The line that it comes from is in “Bog Song.”
The first lyrics of the song are “I think I’m in the bog with all the insects and the carnivorous plants.” I think throughout the long process of going through every single lyric and
every single line on the album, especially because all three of us are writing the songs, so it’s coming from three different little noggins. We wanted to have a through line while also being attentive to each of our songwriting styles and each of our messages.
“Carnivorous,” in addition to the primal emotions that Wes mentioned, I think it also is kind of a reflection on our relationship with the world and the fascist capitalist state we currently are trudging through. And so, a lot of our songs are talking about the relationship between the killer and the killed, or like, the perpetrator and the perpetrated. I think we really wanted to depict some of those relationships that we’ve experienced and also highlight that you can be both, and often, everyone experiences being on both sides of that kind of relationship. And so “Carnivorous” is a call to that and a call out of parasitic relationships or, you know, vertical hierarchical systems of power.
Q. Something that really caught my attention on “Carnivorous” is just how wide-ranging the vocals are. You have upbeat powerhouse songs and then you slow things down with songs like “Holy.” Can you speak about the effort to showcase such a wide range?
Isabella: We have such different styles, and that includes our dynamic shifts,
Founded in the summer of 1964 by teenagers Ronnie Van Zant, Bob Burns and Gary Rossington, the band would gain additional members before calling themselves Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1969. Embodying the soul of Southern rock, the band would go on to sell over 28 million records scoring numerous hits including “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Free Bird,” “Simple Man,” “Saturday Night Special” and others. The band disbanded after a tragic plane crash in 1977 killed Van Zant and member Steve Gaines, as well as seriously injured its other members.
Tribute band Vyntyge Skynyrd was founded in 2014 by the late Tommy Higgins, who passed away last November.
Higgins stayed with the band only until 2016 due to a busy schedule of also serving as
Rossi never had the opportunity to ask Higgins why he founded the band.
“I think it had to be his appreciation for their music. But what I do know is that tribute bands at that time were starting to get a foothold on the market. They were dominating almost every venue you saw ad nauseam, and I think I can say that with a clear conscience given my circumstance. Tommy had a great business acumen. I think he saw a niche as the scene was churning up and was of the mindset that if he could get some guys together to faithfully play their music, then the band was going to blow some minds,” Rossi said.
Tickets, available at 52sumner.com, range in price from $19 to $39.
Located at 52 Sumner Ave., doors open at 7 p.m. with showtime at 8 p.m.
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D4
Kalliope Jones is hosting an album release party at the Iron horse Music Hall to celebrate their newest album, “Carnivorous,” due out today.
Easter dining options still available at local restaurants
THOUGH THE EASter holiday is drawing closer, there are still plenty of options out there for those who want someone else to do the special occasion cooking.
The Farm Table in Bernardston is offering an Easter Day buffet on April 20 that features a hickory ham carving station as well as a selection of entrees. The buffet is available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and includes dessert.
The Table 3 Restaurant Group in Sturbridge has put together Easter dining options for three of its venues.
An a la carte brunch menu will be available all day at the Cedar Street Grille in Sturbridge, while down the road at The Duck and Avellino a pre-fixe menu is being served, with seatings from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
An Easter brunch buffet is being featured at Table 3’s function venue, The Barn at Wight Farm, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In Holyoke, The Delaney House and its sister operation, the Log Cabin Banquet and Meetinghouse, are both offering the same Easter brunch buffet, serving it at each location from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The menu features a half-dozen main course selections as well as breakfast favorites such as crustless quiche, waffles, French toast and pancakes.
Storrowton Tavern in West Springfield is offering a sit-down Easter dining experience in its Tavern dining room as well as a Grand Easter Buffet in the Carriage House. Call 413-732-4188 for more details or to make reservations.
Figaro Ristorante in Enfield is also on hand, featuring a choice of buffet experiences on Easter with a brunch buffet being served from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and a dinner buffet from 2:30 p.m. until closing time. Contact Figaro at 860745-2414 to make reserva-
in Sturbridge, in which a Pomegranate Pisco Sour cocktail and a Good Humor cocktail are pictured, above. (DON
/
tions or get details.
Side Dishes
• On Saturday, April 19, Nathan Bill’s Restaurant in Springfield will be holding an Easter Bunny Brunch from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The occasion will include a breakfast buffet stocked with eggs, French toast sticks, bacon, sausage, potatoes and fresh fruit as well as coffee and juice.
The Easter Bunny will be on hand to pose for pictures with
Comparing Sierra Nevada’s ‘Hazy Little Things’
ALTHOUGH MY ENthusiasm for hazy
IPAs has been tamped down quite a bit over the past few years, I don’t dismiss them out of hand.
This is especially true when a beer is made by a reputable brewery such as Sierra Nevada.
the kids, and complimentary candy and crafts will also be part of the fun.
Tickets for the brunch are $20 each, and children under 3 are free. Advance reservations, which can be made by calling 413-737-6135, are a must.
• Beverage and snack chain Dunkin’ has added three limited-time-only items to its spring menu “refresh.”
These include an addition to its Dunkin’ Energy beverage lineup in the form of an Arctic Cherry flavor. Like other Energy drinks at Dunkin’ the new flavor contains vitamins, minerals and caffeine.
Short-term additions to the pastry lineup at Dunkin’ include a Cotton Candy Specialty Donut. Filled with blue cotton candy-flavored buttercreme, the donut is finished with a pink strawberry-flavored icing and blue sprinkles.
I’ve enjoyed most of Sierra Nevada’s “Hazy Little Thing” series — a lineup of hazy and juicy beers that run the gamut of hop-induced flavors. I recently had the opportunity to do a side-by-side comparison of four of these beers and thought I’d share my thoughts. (Although my favorite of the series is Big Little Thing, I felt that because it’s an imperial IPA, comparing it to the others would be unfair, if not downright difficult.)
The four on the menu today
are Dank Little Thing, Juicy Little Thing, Tropical Little Thing, and the original Hazy Little Thing.
There are certain similarities between these four beers, but it’s not in the hop profile. It’s the grain bill for each beer that grounds the series. They each have oats, two-row pale malt and wheat as a malt structure, and except for Juicy Little Thing, they all also include Munich malt.
This continuity gives the
Many local restaurants are offering buffets and brunches for the Easter holiday, including the Cedar Street Grille
TREEGER
THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)
Hugh Robert Off The Menu
George Lenker Beer Nut
A line-up of Sierra Nevada's "Hazy Little Thing" beers.
(GEORGE LENKER)
SEE BEER, PAGE D12
280 MEMORIAL AVE, WEST SPRINGFIELD MA 825 HAMPDEN STREET, HOLYOKE, MA
NEW LOCATION IN HOLYOKE NOW OPEN!
SUNDAY, APRIL 20
Easter
WITH TABLE 3 RESTAURANT GROUP
For a special Easter celebration leave the cooking to Table 3 Restaurant Group. Our talented chefs have prepared sensational menus so you can enjoy a stress-free and relaxing holiday meal. Celebrate Easter at one of Table 3’s highly acclaimed locations. We have so many terrific options it may be difficult to choose!
For reservations and menus, scan the QR code or call the restaurant of your choice.
CEDAR STREET GRILLE will be offering their unique brunch menu all day plus some tasty Easter specials. Seating is 10am–4pm.
THE BARN AT WIGHT FARM’S spectacular annual Easter brunch buffet is brimming with all your favorites. Cost is $46.95 for adults and $21.95 for children 5–12. Seating is 10am–4pm. Reservations require a non-refundable deposit of $25 per guest which will be applied to your check.
THE DUCK AND AVELLINO will be serving a pre-fixe menu with all your holiday favorites, fantastic holiday cocktails, and decadent desserts. Pricing is $44.95 for adults and a children’s menu is available for those under 12. Seating is 11am–4pm.
TABLE 3 RESTAURANT GROUP has you covered for the best Easter holiday catering around. We can provide your complete meal, or you can add a few key items to enhance your celebration.
THE DUCK & AVELLINO | 508-347-2321 | theducksturbridge.com | avellinorestaurant.com
CEDAR STREET GRILLE | 508-347-5800 | cedarstreetgrille.com
CEDAR STREET CAFÉ | 508-347-6800 | cedarstreetcafesturbridge.com
THE BARN AT WIGHT FARM | 774-241-8450 | thebarnatwightfarm.com
SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025
Mother’s Day
WITH TABLE 3 RESTAURANT GROUP
Show Mom that you recognize and appreciate all she does throughout the year by celebrating Mother’s Day at her favorite Table 3 restaurant.
CEDAR STREET GRILLE will be offering their unique brunch menu plus some amazing Mother’s Day specials from 10am–2pm, as well as dinner reservations featuring our daily menu from 4–8pm. We always sell out early for Mother’s Day, so make your reservations now.
THE BARN AT WIGHT FARM’S spectacular annual Mother’s Day brunch buffet will be brimming with all mom’s favorites and will be hosted in our beautiful Winthrop Room with seating from 10am to 4pm. The cost is $46.95 for adults and $21.95 for children 5-12 (not including tax and gratuity).
*Reservations require a $25 per guest non-refundable deposit. Tables are reserved for 2 hours per reservation and checks cannot be split.
THE DUCK AND AVELLINO will be serving a pre-fixe menu with all mom’s favorites, fantastic holiday cocktails, and decadent desserts. Pricing is $45.95 for adults and a children’s menu is available for children under 12. Seating is 11am–4pm.
*Reservations require a $25 per guest non-refundable deposit.
Scan QR Code for more information on Mother’s Day with Table 3 and for reservations
THURSDAY
Longmeadow Historical Society
Daffodil Fundraiser 2025: Thu.Sun., noon-5 p.m. For the fifth year, the Longmeadow Historical Society will sponsor a spring fundraiser. “Daffodil Days” will feature the gardens of Jeff and Nancy Hayes. Hundreds of daffodils are there for the cutting. The property will be open to the public for cutting every day through April 20. Hours are noon-5 p.m. There are numerous varieties of daffodils available, from early bloomers to later in the season. Please bring your own flower clippers. After you cut your bouquet, leave the contribution of your choosing in the available containers. All donations will go directly to the Historical Society. Checks may be made to the Longmeadow Historical Society and cash donations left in the donation jars in the yard, 56 Williams St., Longmeadow.
"Talking Like You" Event: Thu., 8-10 p.m. Mount Holyoke College, A special event honoring the life and legacy of Mount Holyoke College alum Connie Converse '46, who was a pioneering songwriter. This event will take place in Pratt Music Hall’s McCulloch Auditorium on campus and will feature a book discussion, concert and conversation celebrating Converse’s contributions to music. Biographer Howard Fishman will lead the discussion. The event will also showcase performances by several musicians, including Miriam
Piilonen and Mount Holyoke lecturer in music Ben Geyer, voice instructor Sarah Callinan, associate professor of music Adeline Mueller and alum Sarah Smith '23. The Odyssey Bookshop will host a book signing after the program. This event is free and open to the public. Guests can attend in person or virtually via Zoom. For virtual participation, please register online at mountholyoke.edu, 50 College St., South Hadley.
FRIDAY
Amherst College Department of Music presents "Voicebox": Fri., 7 p.m. A program of sung, spoken performances by Amherst College artists in Buckley Recital Hall in the Arms Music Center at Amherst College. The performance showcases works by faculty, staff, and students that deploy the human voice across a range of styles and traditions. The concert is free and open to the public; seating is by general admission, Intersection of Routes 9 and 116, Amherst, amherst.edu.
Community Within Crisis — A Reflection on Hurricane Helene: Fri., 7:30 p.m. Earle Recital Hall Sage Hall. The concert synthesizes live music, performed by Smith College students, and quotes from Hurricane Helene survivors, By donation. 1 College Lane, Northampton; www. smith.edu
"Disaster! The Musical": Fri.-Sat, Westfield Women's Club, Prepare for
CALENDAR
a whirlwind of laughter, suspense, and toe-tapping tunes as "Disaster! The Musical" hits the Westfield Theatre Groups stage. Tickets are now available at westfieldtheatregroup. com. Rated: PG for adult language and content. 28 Court St., Westfield. Friday Fish Fry: Fri., 5-7 p.m. Swift River Sportsman's Club, 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. For more information, call the club at 413-323-9387. 350 Cold Spring Road, Belchertown.
Longmeadow Historical Society
Daffodil Fundraiser 2025: See Thursday listing
"Over the Rainbow" Fundraiser: Fri., 7-11 p.m., De La Luz Soundstage. Holyoke Pride invites you to start the party early with the Over the Rainbow fundraiser on April 11. It’s more than just a night out — it’s a chance to fuel the spirit of Pride. Headlined by local sensation Richard Parris Scott and the Band, the evening will also feature powerhouse performances from Avery Joi, Chestina Thrower, Natasha Ellis, and Evyan Diaz. Tickets are available on a sliding scale ($20 - $50) Tickets available at holyokepride.org, 114 Race St., Holyoke.
SATURDAY
BroadwayVox: Sat., 7 p.m. Cultural Center at Eagle Hill, Broadway stars
A blooming daffodil at Jeff Hayes' home at 56 Williams St. in Longmeadow. Hayes and his wife, Nancy, will again host their daffodil fundraiser to benefit the Longmeadow Historical Society. (HOANG 'LEON' NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN)
come to Hardwick for one night only. Jared Trudeau (BroadwayVox cofounder) and Carolyn Berliner (NY actor and BroadwayVox acting coach) bring colleagues from Broadway and beyond to the Abby Theatre stage for a lively evening of Musical Theater and pop music, $35 adults / $30 students & seniors. 242 Old Petersham Road, Hardwick; thecenterateaglehill.org.
"Disaster! The Musical": See Friday listing
Drive-Thru Collection of Food Donations: Sat., 1-3 p.m. Foster Memorial Church, in the church’s
back parking lot. Nonperishable food will be collected for the Emergency Food Cupboard of the Open Pantry. All donations are appreciated. The church is located in the Sixteen Acres section at 1791 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, 413-782-2112.
Longmeadow Historical Society Daffodil Fundraiser 2025: See Thursday listing
Westfield State University Chorale Concert: Sat., 7 p.m. United Congregational Church of Holyoke, The concert is called "Connections", a choral experience exploring the bonds of human experience. The performance features music by Ola Gjello, Zanaida Robles, Josquin Despres, Emma Lou Diemer, William Dawson and Margrit Kits. The WSU Chorale is directed by Scott Bailey. Free and open to the public. 300 Appleton St., Holyoke.
SUNDAY
Longmeadow Historical Society Daffodil Fundraiser 2025: See Thursday listing
West Springfield Coin Club Meeting: Sun., 7 p.m. Mittineague Congregational Church. A presentation and discussion will include facts about the first regular issue U.S. silver dollar from 1794. Refreshments will be available. Guests are always welcome. For further information, contact Peter Setian at 413-596-987, 1840 Westfield St., West Springfield.
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Also currently available is a Spring Munchkins Bucket, which holds an assortment of the brand’s Munchkin donut holes.
• The Amherst Business Improvement District is sponsoring an Amherst Dessert Crawl on Saturday, April 12.
The event, which will run from 3-6 p.m., has local businesses offering crawl participants complimentary dessert samples as well as the option of participating in a scavenger hunt and a raffle.
Tickets, which are $10, can be purchased online at Eventbrite.com.
The Amherst Business Improvement District answers at 413-345-2945.
• A message from Michael
Anderson, the chef-owner of Tucker’s Restaurant in Southwick, brought news of the 26th anniversary celebration Anderson and his wife, Karen, have planned for their restaurant.
Throughout the month of April Tucker’s will be offering a Prix Fixe menu specially priced at $26.
The three-course menu offers a choice of soup or mixed green salad as a starter as well as six entree possibilities; those include beef potpie, chicken teriyaki, vegetable ravioli, coconut-crusted shrimp and more. The anniversary menu also lists four desserts — a hot fudge sundae, tapioca pudding, whiskey bread pudding and raspberry sorbet.
This year, Anderson reports, Tucker’s is preparing family meals for takeout on Easter Sunday.
The meals, which serve four, include choices like baked cod, sliced ham, roast sirloin of beef, turkey with homemade stuffing and roast lamb. Whipped potatoes and a vegetable are included.
A separate dessert-for-four option is available, as are an assortment on add-ons to enhance the family meals or your own, prepared-at-home dinner. Orders for takeout must be placed by April 13. Tucker’s takes reservations and answers inquiries at 413569-0120.
• On April 16 from 4-7 p.m. the UNO Pizzeria & Grill in Sturbridge will be hosting a Dinner with Bluey. Bluey, an animated character inspired by the real-life blue heeler dog once owned by series creator Joe Brumm, will be the guest of honor at the event.
The kid-focused get-togeth-
er will include face painting, crafts, music, and various goodies. Reservation are essential and can be made by calling 508-347-6420.
• Though the sugaring season is now behind us, Shattuck’s Sugarhouse in Belchertown will be holding an Easter Pop Up on Sunday, April 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The sugarhouse’s retail space will be stocked with maple candies, maple cream and this season’s syrup; there will also be a photo space set up for “selfies.” Kids visiting will be receiving an Easter Bag as long as supplies last.
Shattuck’s Sugarhouse answers at 413-323-7639.
• McKinstry Market Garden in Chicopee is holding its first-ever Farm to Table Dinner on Saturday, April 19 at 5 p.m. to celebrate the start of a new growing season. The dinner, which is being held in
McKinstry’s newly-erected greenhouse, is being catered by Wheelhouse Catering of Amherst and will feature locally sourced ingredients.
The evening’s menu is to include appetizers, a main course buffet of chicken confit and mac & cheese, and a dessert of apple and pear crisp. The event will also include live music, a farm tour and a thank-you gift.
Tickets for the dinner start at $65 plus a convenience fee; they can be ordered online at buytickets.at/mckinstry farm/1606253.
McKinstry Market Garden answers at 413-536-2043.
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.
so figuring out how to cohesively place them in the story of “Carnivorous” that we built was a long journey. I think we hacked it, I hope, but that’s a big part of like, when you make an album, figuring out how songs relate to one another and how they lead into each other. I think of it like we’re in the bog with the carnivorous plants, floating among these different experiences we’ve had, these relationships, these friendships, growing up, getting older. Each song demonstrates a different chapter in our lives, in all of our individual lives. I mean, that’s what life is, right? It’s the major ups, it’s the major downs, it’s the angry, it’s the loving, it’s the mess, it’s the cleaning up. And with that comes those dynamic shifts.
And when it comes to vocal recording, we worked with Andrew Oedel, who we’ve worked with before on our previous EP, and this man is just a genius about how to record vocals. Having a sound engineer who understands those different dynamics changes the game and makes recording an album like this possible because everything is so different, our voices are so different.
Editor’s note: Andrew Oedel is a Grammy-nominated mixer with over a decade of experience in audio. He owns and operates Ghost Hit Recording in West Springfield.
Wes: A memory that stands out to me about recording was walking in that first day and Andrew was like “by the way, I’ve picked out a mic for each of you.” He just thinks so deeply about every project that he works on, and we are just so lucky that he worked on ours.
Lou: Despite some of the very heavy content in the album, we had such a fun time with Andrew just working on this, and we didn’t bring in a producer or anything. It was just us and Andrew stewing for hours on end. For more intimate vocal moments, it was about spacing with the mic and what kind of mic is gonna pick up that small, almost whispering emotion. And his brain was
just so in tune with ours that we kind of just became this one creative machine.
This album is a little bit like the different stages of grief and being able to make that fun and silly and warm and open was really meaningful to us.
Q. What would you say the importance is about having this album come out at this time when things are so tense and politically charged?
Isabella: Before getting into the actual album and the music on the album: We are three people who are queer, members are non-binary, mixed, on birth control. We are the people they don’t want taking up space, and we have microphones, and we are f———g loud.
And we are raising money at these shows for different mutual aid funds in different cities. So I think that we are trying to take up the space some people don’t want us to take up and use that space to lift others as well. So disregarding the album, just as Kalliope Jones, I think that’s something that’s really, really important to us. One of the lyrics in the songs says “I’m loud.” We’re not gonna be quiet. We’re not gonna not take up space. If anything, we’re just gonna get louder and louder, as I think we all need to right now, and then actually put money where our mouths are and support the way we can and raise money the way we can for the people doing real work on the ground.
And I think that translates into the album, into how we write. So much of this [album] is about that feeling of anger when you’re in situations you can’t control, and people do things that are bad and that you can’t control and figuring out how to take that angry feeling and translate that into both healing or anger or frustration that goes to freedom and all of the steps in between. Because anger isn’t bad. Everyone’s like “well, we just have to be nice.” And I’m like, no, sometimes being nice isn’t enough. Sometimes we need to be angry because anger is power.
ADVANCING CANCER CARE IN SPRINGFIELD
Basketball Hall of Fame
April 17, 2025 5:30-7PM
Join us for the healthcare event Advancing Cancer Care in Springfield featuring a panel of local doctors from the Sister Caritas Cancer Center and a guest speaker from TheDana-Farber Cancer Institute. Discussion will include advances in medical oncology, innovations in breast and lung cancer surgery, and creating patient access to care. We’ll also highlight The Sister CaritasCancer Center’s new partnership with The US Oncology Network and what that means for the community.
beers a solid common base that means the brewers can get creative and playful with the hops. For example, while Hazy Little Thing provides plenty of fruitiness woven with a resinous note from the Simcoe hops, the overall bitterness is light, and nothing is there to try and clobber you over the head.
On the other end of the scale, Tropical Little Thing ditches the resin and throws an island beach party of flavors from melon to mango and beyond. My guess is that the Sultana and Sabro hops used in this one formed a conga line collaboration that leads the way, although the Citra hops certainly hold sway on the aroma side of things.
In a similar vein, Juicy Little Thing also brings a cornucopia of fruit notes, but keeps things a bit more muted, which allows the beer to sit more smoothly on the palate. The Mosaic and Sterling hops push the flavor profile in a drier direction with their herbal and earthy notes. This is a really drinkable beer. It’s also the lowest in alcohol at 6.5% — although only by a smidgen: Hazy Little Thing is just 6.7%. (For the record, Tropical Little Thing is 7% and Dank is 7.5%.)
Live Wire
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dancer a different opportunity to experience themselves through dance. Flowing is a receptive, continuous movement; dancers may experience ‘go with the flow.’ Staccato is a more percussive rhythm where dancers can explore what it feels like to move in a direct, clear, angular way,” she said.
“Chaos is a rhythm of release where dancers get to let go — as much or as little as they desire. In chaos, dancers can release tension they are holding. Lyrical is the rhythm of feeling a bit lighter, having let go of tension in chaos. Stillness is a meditative movement, just moving with whatever is left.”
Of course, plenty of people can be somewhat self-conscious about dancing. Does Moscowitz find that she has to encourage some people more than others to not be self-conscious?
“Yes, we begin the class with some sort of warm-up where dancers get to settle in a bit, and the teacher offers guidance to help new dancers
And speaking of Dank Little Thing, it certainly balances the scales here with its piney punch. The Chinook and CTZ hops seem to hold court here with their earthy resinous notes. Of course, there still is a generous amount of fruit undertones courtesy of the Amarillo and Mosaic hops. This one was a good palate cleanser after the fruit festivals of the other three.
begin to relax into the dance,” she said. “A friend of mine who dances regularly told me that it is not until the second wave that they feel a bit more relaxed. Dancers get to go at their own pace.”
Moscowitz said the general goal of the sessions is to allow dancers to become “present to the moment” and provide them with a “deeper presence and relaxation.”
“In my experience, the more I give myself to the dance, to the practice, the more I get from it. Sometimes, I feel more mentally and emotionally clear after dancing,” she said.
When asked if there are any physical limitations that might prevent someone from participating, Moscowitz said, “the dance is open to all bodies. We have a dear friend who attends classes in a wheelchair. But if someone has special needs or an injury they are caring for, they may wish to check in with the teacher before the class to hear about special options for moving throughout the class.”
For tickets, go online to https://bombyx.ludus. com/index.php?show_ id=200480433
- Chicken Francaise Served in a Lemon Wine Sauce -12 Jumbo Coconut Shrimp - Baked Glazed Ham - Roasted Carrots with Brown Sugar - Roasted Brussel Sprouts - Garlic & Herb Potatoes
- Shadone: A Frigo’s Traditional Easter Pie Made with Basket Cheese, Fresh Egg, and Asiago - Raspberry Lemon Drop Cake Add On: Bourbon Atlantic Salmon l $12.95 per serving $275 l Serves 8+ People
All Orders Must Be Made by April 16th and Picked Up by Saturday, April 19th by 4:00 PM
Place your order today by calling us at 413-732-5428 (Springfield) or 413-525-9400 (East Longmeadow)