What’s Happening in Amherst?

by Art and Maura Keene

You can help us make our events calendar more comprehensive by sending us your listings and including contact information and/or a link for more information. Send events listings to amherstindy@gmail.com.

SINGLE DAY EVENTS

SATURDAY JANUARY 13 (Rescheduled): ANNIE PATTERSON AT SONG AND STORY SWAP. 7 to 9 p.m. First Church, 165 Main Street. Singer and folksong ambassador Annie Patterson will be the featured performer at the January 6 Song & Story Swap. Annie Patterson is one of America’s premiere song leaders. She has been leading singing around the globe for over 30 years and is well known for her work as co-creator/editor of the songbooks Rise Up Singing and Rise Again. Sponsored by the Pioneer Valley Folklore Society. Free, Donations accepted ($5 to $10 suggested). Free parking in the lot behind the Church. For information contact Paul Kaplan, (413)-687-5002 or visit https://pvfs.us.

MONDAY JANUARY 15: CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. 1 p.m. Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. This event is sponsored by the Human Rights Commission and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “All that I have said boils down to the point of affirming that mankind’s survival is dependent upon man’s ability to solve the problem of racial injustice, poverty, and war; the solution of these is in turn dependent upon man squaring his moral progress with his scientific progress and learning the practical art of living.” Registration not required, but is appreciated. Register here.   .

TUESDAY JANUARY 16: NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING AT UMASS. 9-11 a.m., Student Union, UMass and streaming. Please join us in community to contemplate our shared values, celebrate our common humanity, and inspire collective action to create a more just and equitable world. Our featured speaker is author, activist, and jazz singer, LaTosha Brown. Brown is a contributor to The New York Times and a Senior Practice Fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. As co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund organization, LaTosha is dedicated to increasing the political power of Black people. Brunch is sold out. Join by livestream at https://youtube/live/x00pfwrWUo

TUESDAY JANUARY 16: NATiONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING IN AMHERST. Crocker Farm Elementary School, 280 West Street, 6-8 p.m. Join the Conversation. Free and open to the public. Register here. Sponsored by the Amherst Officce of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

“We can’t heal or create greater racial equity if we don’t know each other. Racial healing involves building trusting relationships that help us work together to address the impact and damage caused by racism. Changing the systems that separate us starts with challenging our individual impulses to separate. On this National Day of Racial Healing – and year round – find a way to connect across racial and ethnic differences with people who we share our community with.” We can start by joining the conversation.

THURSDAY JANUARY 18: VALLEY VOICES STORY SLAM: MISSED CONNECTIONS. 7:30 p.m. The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. The NEPM January Story Slam is about “missed connections.” $17.

THURSDAY JANUARY 18: FORUM ON RACIAL EQUITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY. 6-8 p.m. at Town Hall and on Zoom. The Town of Amherst seeks input on peoples’ experiences with the Amherst police. Tell us about your experiences with the Amherst Police and learn about the Resident Oversight Board. Share your views on how to best assure public safety and accountability. Moderated by Rabbi Debra Kolodny. Spanish and Chinese translation available. Childcare provided. Another forum will be held on Sunday January 21, 1-3 p.m.

FRIDAY JANUARY 19: MUSWELL HILBILLIES: THE MUSIC OF TOM PETTY. 8 p.m. The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Returning to The Drake stage, the Valley’s Muswell Hillbillies offer a career retrospective on the works of Tom Petty, covering the guitarist’s formative in Gainesville and subsequent five decades of success with longtime backing band, The Heartbreakers. $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Join us

SATURDAY JANUARY 20: OWL PROWL WITH DAN ZIOMEK. 6:30-9 p.m. Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 285 West Street. Have you been on an owl prowl, it is a special treat of the heart of winter.  Come seek out the Great-horned owls on a winter (hopefully snowy) night with expert birder Dan Ziomek. Space is limited. Sliding scale $20-$40. Register at https://hitchcockcenterfortheenvironment-bloom.kindful.com/e/owl-prowls-with-dan-ziomek-saturday-january-20. Bad weather date is Friday, January 26.

SATURDAY JANUARY 20: SHALINI BAHL BOOK READING AND CELEBRATION. 1 p.m. Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Join mindfulness expert Dr. Shalini Bahl as she celebrates the launch of her empowering new book “Return to Mindfulness: Disrupting Default Habits for Personal Fulfillment, Effective Leadership, and Global Impact.” Eight essential skills, eight mindfulness practices, 48 daily reminders for real world change This event is free to attend.

SUNDAY JANUARY 21: COLLAGE WORKSHOP WITH HEATHER GEOFFREY. 12:30- 3 p.m. Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Putting pieces together: a collage workshop. Join Springfield artist, Heather Geoffrey for an afternoon creating a beautiful multimedia/decoupage shadow box for your home. No experience is necessary, and all are welcome! Heather will lead you through the process using some very simple and fun techniques.$35, all materials provided. Feel free to bring any images, photographs, paper, fabric scraps or anything else that you think you may want to use in your creation. Ages 12+ with an accompaniment. Preregistration required.

FRIDAY JANUARY 26: QUARTERLY ART OPENING. 5-7 p.m. Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Come celebrate the over 30 local artists who are exhibiting in the Local Art Gallery this Winter Quarter at this FREE reception.

SATURDAY JANUARY 27 – SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3: AMHERST WINTERFEST FESTIVAL. Assorted locations and times. The Amherst Recreation Department, in collaboration with several community partners, invites you to join a community celelbration of the magic of winter and community togetherness at WinterFest Amherst 2024! The festivities offer an array of exciting events for residents and visitors of all ages.  Most events are free and all are open to the public. See here, for a selected schedule of events.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2: MAGGIE HODGES PAINTINGS RECEPTION. 5-7 p.m., Mill District Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. Please join us in welcoming Maggie Hodges and Family Outreach of Amherst to the Front Window Gallery on Friday, February 2 from 5-7pm. Complementary light refreshments served. Exhibit runs from January 4 through February 27, 2024. All paintings are available for immediate purchase and Maggie is donating 20% of sales to Family Outreach of Amherst.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3: NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY. 10 a.m to 12:30 p.m., Alumni Gym at Amherst College. The Amherst College Department of Athletics, in partnership with the Town of Amherst and Amherst Recreation Department, is proud to host National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). This event, dedicated to honoring the achievements of girls and women in sports, aims to recognize the power of sports and play in unlocking limitless potential. NGWSD at Amherst College will provide girls in grades 4-6 with a unique opportunity to explore various sports, play, and have fun together. The event will feature activities led by women’s sports teams, including: squash, basketball, softball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, field hockey, lacrosse, golf, cross country and track & field. After an introductory program, girls will be divided into teams so they can try different sports and games.  Parents and guardians must remain on the premises; however, they will have the opportunity to attend presentations by our nutritionist and receive details about local sports and fitness organizations. Additionally, refreshments will be provided for their enjoyment.
For more information, contact Jennifer Chuks at jchuks@amherst.edu. Register here:  https://forms.gle/Sx38q4dLhcGQ7E9v7

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3: AMHERST FIRE AND ICE FESTIVAL. Town Common, 2 p.m – 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. The fourth annual Amherst Fire and Ice Festival will be held on the Town Common on February 3 with events running from 2 p.m to 7 p.m.  The event is a family friendly festival that will include s’mores, fire pits, hot cocoa, crafting, ice and metal sculptures, and fire performances. As in years past, the highlight and finale of the event will be a lighting of luminaria which will begin at 6 p.m.
Sponsored by Amherst Downtown BID, Amherst College, Amherst Recreation Department, and the Amherst Fire Department.  Fire & Ice is part of WinterFest Amherst, a Town of Amherst series of events celebrating the winter season. Schedule of events here.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 6: FREE FACULTY JAZZ CONCERT.  7:30 p.m, Bezanson, UMass. Featuring jazz faculty Felipe Salles, sax; Ben Griffin, trombone; Haneef Nelson, trumpet; Catherine Jensen-Hole, vocals; Bob Ferrier, guitar; Jeff Holmes, piano; Fumi Tomita, bass; Tom Giampietro, drums. Free.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 9: FACULTY CONCERT: GILLES VONSATTEL, PIANO. 7:30 p.m. Bezanson. All Beethoven program featuring the Op. 26 “Funeral March” Sonata, the Op. 57 “Appassionata” Sonata and the Op 106 “Hammerklavier” Sonata. Free.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 10 AND SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11: UMASS OPERA ON THE AIR: 3 ONE-ACT OPERAS. February 10 at 7:30 and February 11 at 3 p.m. Bowker Auditorium, UMass. Marjorie Melnick, William Hite & Jamie-Rose Guarrine, faculty coordinators. Three one-act operas portrayed as if on a radio station: Samuel Barber: Hand of Bridge, Douglas Moore: Gallantry, and Gian Carlo Menotti: Old Maid and the Thief. Snow date: Monday, Feb. 12, 7:30pm. Tickets: $25 public, $20 seniors, free to students. Tickets at https://fac.umass.edu/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=musicanddancedepartment&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=

ONGOING AND MULTI-DAY EVENTS
FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH. RAINBOW COFFEE HOUR. 10-11 a.m. Amherst Senior Center, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. The Rainbow Coffee Hour is a new LGBTIA+ social coffee group for ages 50 and above. Join us for this welcoming space to socialize. No format, no agenda, just community. The July coffee hour will be held on July 11, due to July 4 being the first Tuesday of the month.

FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH (EXCLUDING JULY): NORTHAMPTON JAZZ WORKSHOP. The Drake. 44 North Pleasant Street. 7:30 p.m. Free (donations accepted). Featuring the Green Street trio with a special guest. Featured set at 7:30 followed by an open jam session. Bring your axe. Full calendar of events here.

SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH (EXCLUDING JULY): OPEN MIC NIGHT AT THE DRAKE. 44 North Pleasant Street. Free event. Performers arrive by 5:30 p.m. Stage time: 6 p.m – 10 p.m. All ages. Younger performers will be slotted earler. All performers and styles of performances welcome, including but not limited to: music (of all kinds) – acoustic, folk, rock, hip hop, jazz, classical, etc…comedy, spoken word / readings, poetry, dance, performance art. House rules and more information.

FIRST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: MOBILE FOOD PROGRAM. 1-2 p.m. The Boulders, 156 Brittany Manor Drive. Free produce. No registration necessary. Open to everyone. Brought by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and the Amherst Survival Center. The Food Bank truck will be in the parking lot near apartments 115-125.

LAST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: CRAFT AND CONVERSE. Mill District General Store and Local Art Gallery, 91 Cowls Road. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Are you tired of creating in solitude? Looking to connect with other artistic individuals? Grab your sketchbook, knitting bag, or water color gear and join our monthly coworking group! Craft and converse, hosted by Easthampton artist Kaia Zimmerman, is held the last Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. This welcoming, intentional space is designed for community members to come together for a casual, social evening while pursuing their own creative projects. Drop-ins welcome, but registration encouraged for any weather-related changes in schedule. Bring your own arts or crafts project (BYOA) to work on. Ages 16+.

EVERY WEDNESDAY : CAN’T REMEMBER CAFE. Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Are you or a loved one experiencing memory loss? At the Amherst Senior Center, we understand memory changes and have developed a new program based on the popular Memory Café format. The Can’t Remember (CR) Café offers fun, relaxation, and of course, snacks. This program is perfect for caregivers, people with mild memory loss, or anyone in the community who enjoys good conversation and strong coffee. Each Can’t Remember Café opens with a coffee and conversation hour, followed by a group activity. Join us on Wednesday, November 30th for a performance by our special musical guests, “Healing Hearts with Harmony” at 11:00am. Come for the coffee, stay for the connections! Email seniorcenter@amherstma.gov or call 413-259-3060 with questions. 

EVERY THURSDAY: STITCH CIRCLE. 4 to 6 p.m. Mill District Local Art Gallery and General Store, 91 Cowls Road. Grab your needles, venture to the General Store, and join us for our first Stitch Circle. Knitters, quilters, embroidery artists, and crocheters are all invited. Free.

NOW THROUGH JANUARY 24: ART EXHIBIT – PORTALS AND PASSAGEWAYS. Jones Library Burnett Gallery, Monday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Sunday, 1:00 p.m – 5:15 a.m. Free and open to the public. In this exhibit, Amy A. Crawley explores her ongoing journey with portals. With a focus on the movement of spirals and circles, she draws the viewer’s eye toward the center of a space and take the viewer on a visual meditation that transports them from one place to another. More information here and here.

NOW THROUGH SATURDAY JANUARY 27: ARTISTS FROM ART FOR THE SOUL GALLERY AT GALLERY A3.
Artists from Art for the Soul Gallery, in Springfield annouce their exhibition IN RESIDENCE: Art for the Soul Gallery Artists at Gallery A3 in January. There will be an opening reception, free and open to the public, on Jauary 4 from 5-7 p.m. There will be a free online art forum on Thursday January 18. Gallery A3 is located at 28 Amity Street 1 D. Hours are 2-7 p.m. Thursday – Sunday. More information

NOW THROUGH MARCH 2024: SELF-PORTRAITS BY FIRST GRADERS FROM WILDWOOD SCHOOL. Mead Art Museum, Amherst College. First graders from Wildwood School had a gallery opening at the Mead Art Museum at Amherst college on Thursday evening, December 14. Their self portraits are the culmination of a partnership with the Mead that included art educators visiting the Wildwood classrooms and a field trip.

NOW THROUGH JUNE 7: DAILY YOGA AT THE MUNSON LIBRARY. Free outdoor yoga is now inside at the Munson Library. The schedule is: Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays at 8 a.m., Mondays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m., Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 a.m. No pre-registration necessary. Bring your own mats, blocks, straps, and blankets. Donations welcome.