What’s Happening in Amherst
Photo: istock
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 20: ARHS CABARET (rescheduled from January 6). 7:30 p.m. The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Join us for an entertaining evening of skits and small group musical performances featuring students from Amherst Regional High School. We are so excited for this long-running annual tradition to take place at The Drake this year. A pair of MCs will weave together musical acts from a variety of genres showcasing the many talents of the students in town. $10, $5 students.
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 JANUAARY 21: LISTENING SESSION ON RESIDENT OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT. Town Room, Amherst Town Hall and on line. 1 p.m. The town will hold the final of four open public forums to collect public opiion on the creation of a Resident Oversight Board that would be charged with hearing resident complaints about police midconduct. The public is invited to learn about the proposed board., to share views on how to best ensure public safety accountability, and to share their own experiences with the Amherst police, all with the aim of racial equity in public safety in Amherst. Spanish and Chinese interpretation will be available. Join the meeting on line here.
Or join by phone: 301-715-8592 or 305-224-1968 Webinar ID: 860 0209 3110
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.
SUNDAY JANUARY 28: MIDNIGHT NORTH. 8 p.m. The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Midnight North was formed in the Bay Area in 2012 by singer/songwriters Grahame Lesh and Elliot Peck, who were joined by bassist Connor O’Keefe and drummer/banjo player Nathan Graham. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. f
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 1: DRUM TAO 30TH ANNIVERSARY. 7:30, Frederick Tillis Performance Hall, UMass. Drum Tao celebrates 30 years at the vanguard of taiko. Founded in 1993 with the objective of creating the world’s greatest show using wadaiko (Japanese drums), Drum Tao has spread out from their base in Oita, Japan to perform in front of more than nine million spectators in 26 countries across four continents. The troupe’s performances are magnificent spectacles of musicianship and movement, incorporating wadaiko (or taiko) drumming, Japanese flute and harp, and extraordinary, acrobatic choreography. In their 30th anniversary tour, Drum Tao will revisit some of their greatest performance pieces. Tickets https://fac.umass.edu/Online/mapSelect.asp?doWork::WSmap::loadMap=Load&createBO::WSmap=1&BOparam::WSmap::loadMap::performance_ids=5E4254F7-4AEF-4508-A3A0-D31251B28238 $55, $45, $35. Youth and students: $15, $12, $10.
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.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 9: POP UP MARKET AND LADIES OF COMEDY. Market 6 to 7:30 (free), show at 8, The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Pre-Valentine market featuring Art of Intimates, Julie Nolan Jewelry, and Botanical Home. Comedy show features Jane Condon and Christine Hurley. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
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=
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 15: CIRCQUE MECHANICS: ZEPHYR. 7:30. Frederick Tillis Performance Hall, UMass. n Zephyr — A Whirlwind of Circus the ever-inventive Cirque Mechanics offer the latest expression of their celebrated blend of ingenuity, theater, and circus arts.
Founded in 2004 by Boston native and German wheel artist Chris Lashua, Las Vegas-based Cirque Mechanics, quickly established itself as a premier American circus troupe. The company is revered for its unique approach to performance, inspiring storytelling, and innovative mechanical staging. Spectacle hailed it as “the greatest contribution to the American circus since Cirque du Soleil.” Tickets https://fac.umass.edu/Online/mapSelect.asp?doWork::WSmap::loadMap=Load&createBO::WSmap=1&BOparam::WSmap::loadMap::performance_ids=AA4101FD-AF7B-43F5-BB8A-E738F68B3896 $55, $45, $35, Youth and Students: $15, $12, $10.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 22: BLUE NOTE RECORDS 85TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WITH THE BLUE NOTE QUINTET. 7:30, Bowker Auditorium, UMass. The combo Blue Note has assembled to play their traveling birthday party features five absolutely stellar current-day exponents of America’s greatest music form. There’s no way we’d miss an opportunity to host this quintet. We can’t wait to see what happens when they hit our stage. And we know you’re going to want to be here to see it, too. Led by pianist Gerald Clayton, a six-time Grammy nominee, the band features vibraphonist Joel Ross, saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, drummer Kendrick Scott, and bassist Matt Brewer. We don’t have enough time or space to list the artists these guys have performed with, because it’s pretty much everyone. We will tell you that their recorded output as leaders and sidemen has been remarkable. Tickets https://fac.umass.edu/Online/mapSelect.asp?doWork::WSmap::loadMap=Load&createBO::WSmap=1&BOparam::WSmap::loadMap::performance_ids=FCB2BF2B-50C4-4606-8A72-C1AE9FCD7AC7 $35, $30, Youth and students $10.
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.
FIRST AND THIRD FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH: VETERAN’S COMMUNITY BREAKFAST FOR ALL -8 a.m – 9 a.m. Large Activity Room, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. At each breakfast (bagel/donut/coffee), a veteran or veteran ally, will tell his or her personal story regarding military service. Generation after generation reveals that those going to war to defend our country come back spiritually and morally wounded, regardless of the bodily consequences of combat. We want to bring veterans together for food and friendship to help coalesce a spirit of camaraderie to enable authentic, veteran-oriented communities to flourish. WELCOME: Veterans, Spouses, Caregivers, Amherst Community Members. Let’s Build a Thriving Veterans Community. There are 387 Veterans in town! Sponsored by CRESS. FOR MORE INFORMATION: CALL THE CRESS OFFICE, (413) 259-3370 OR GENE HERMAN, VIETNAM VETERAN, (240) 472-7288 – CRESS VETERAN’S OUTREACH VOLUNTEER.
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 MONDAY JANUARY 29: A BECKER’S DOZEN: PRINT EXHIBIT. Hope and Feathers Framing, 319 Main Street. Open Monday through Saturday. Prints by Fred Becker and Jean Morrison Becker curated by their daughter Carla Becker. In 1968 the Becker family moved to Amherst when Fred joined the faculty at the University of Massachusetts. He retired in 1986. Jean taught in the UMass Continuing Education Division from 1972-86. In 1972 Jean continued her education and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from UMass in 1978. She became very active in University and Amherst town activities. Always interested in women’s education, she was one of the founders of Everywoman’s Center at the University. Jean was on the Amherst Public Arts Commission and was the initial director of the Burnett Gallery in Jones Library.
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.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23 THROUGH SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25: 9TH ANNUAL AMHERST COLLEGE LITFEST. a literary festival celebrating fiction, nonfiction, poetry and spoken-word performance, along with the College’s extraordinary literary life. Guest speakers include award-winning authors Natasha Trethewey, Paul Harding, Ed Yong, Blair Kamin ’79 P’15, Lisa Biggs ’93, and other distinguished editors and authors. Check https://www.amherst.edu/about/literary-amherst/litfest for schedule and speaker information.