What’s Happening in Amherst?
Photo: Pixbay.com
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 (more or less)
SATURDAY AUGUST 31: TUTTI—A YOUTH CONCERT SERIES. 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Atrium of the Jones Library, 43 Amity Street.Tutti is a youth concert series to benefit the Jones Library Capital Campaign. Performers of all ages and levels are welcome! Suggested donation of $5 for seniors and students; $10 for adults. Learn more and register to perform here.
SATURDAY AUGUST 31: STRINGS AT THE STRONG. 2 to 4 p.m., Strong House Garden, 67 Amity Street. The Wistaria String Quartet will be performing works by Alesandro Scarlatti, Joseph Hayden, Scott Slapin, and Erwin Schulhoff. Formed in 2013, the Wistaria String Quartet is made up of local musicians violinists Sarah Briggs and Kaila Graef, violist Gregory Diehl, and cellist Karl Knapp who all share a commitment to highlighting works of local composers. Free.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3: COUNCIL ON AGING SENIOR LUNCH. Noon, Bangs Center 70 Boltwood Walk. The Council on Aging senior lunch is moving to the first Tuesday of every month, beginning in September.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4: BEGINNER BIRDING. 9 a.m., Notch Visitor Center, 1500 West Street. For ages 12 and up. An easy, level, 1/4-mile guided hike to discover more about birds: their behaviors, needs, habitats and significance. Listen, observe, sketch, photo or journal. Free.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4 THROUGH SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28: VISUAL/VERBAL: ART EXHIBIT AT THE PALMER LIBRARY. Palmer Library 1455 North Main Street, Palmer. Featuring several Amherst artists. Artists: Janet W. Winston, Marianne Connolly, Sue Katz, Nancy Meagher, Laura Holland, Rochelle Shicoff
Hours: Monday, 10-5; Tuesday-Thursday, 10-8; Friday-Saturday, 10-2
Reception and Open Mic: Thursday, September 12, 6-8 pm
Online Reading: September 24, 7 pm; pre-register at www.womenofwords.myportfolio.com
Contact: connolly.marianne@gmail.com Or laurajholland@gmail.com
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 5: CREATING SONGS: A SONGWRITER SHARES HIS CRAFT. 4 p.m. on Zoom. Richard Berman, known to many as Luke, worked for over two decades as a singer/songwriter from 1990-2012, traveling across the country playing his lyric driven songs and picking up four wins in songwriting competitions. In his Zoom presentation, Luke will play six of his songs, describing how they came into being. Presented by Amherst Neighbors. Zoom link.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6: DOGPARK WITH JUNIPER. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Dogpark goth their start performing at the University of Richmond. Infectious stage presence and an homage to the indie-rock of the 90’s have kick-started their career from a backyard band to a mainstage group. Juniper opens. Tickets.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7: HAZARDOUS WASTE DROP OFF. Wildwood Elementary School. Pre-registration is required for this event. Registration closed on August 27.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7: STRINGS AT THE STRONG. 2 to 3:30 p.m., Strong House garden, 67 Amity Street. The Cushman String Quartet performs in the garden at the Strong House in the heart of downtown Amherst–a wonderful way to spend the afternoon outside enjoying local musicians. The concerts are free and open to the public, thanks to the generous support of the Amherst Cultural Council and our sponsors, Stamell Stringed Instruments and PeoplesBank.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8: CHAMBER AT THE DRAKE: SOLOMIYA IVAKHIV AND MELVIN CHEN. 4 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Ukrainian born violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv is a highly celebrated soloist, chamber musician, and educator. Dr. Melvin Chen has received acclaim for solo and chamber performances throughout the United States, Canada, and Asia. Clarinetist Romie de Guise-Langlois joins. $15 in advance, $20 day of the show, $5 students. Tickets.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8: BLACK ROOTS FOLK FESTIVAL. 12 to 6 p.m., Town Common. Cultural crafts and local food venders. Performers include Amherst Area Gospel Choir, storytelling with Dr. Nancy Tolson, Back in Time, Aimee Salmon, DJ Cancer, DJ Mikey Don, Jazz Quintet, Kamal Peters, Maria Del Carmen, and Lost Tribe. Presented by 80 Acres.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 10: PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE WATCH PARTY. 8 p.m., White Lion Brewing, 24 North Pleasant Street. Watch along with NEPM News! The first debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is Tuesday, September 10 at 9 p.m. Take it all in with us at White Lion Brewing. Come early for a bite and brew as UMass polling expert Tatishe Nteta and Jill Kaufman and Adam Frenier from NEPM News get us up to speed on the latest national polls ahead of the main event.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11: INDIGENOUS LIFEWAYS, LOSS AND RENEWAL IN THE CENTRAL CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY. 5:30 p.m., South Congregational Church, 1066 South East Street. A family-friendly dinner featuring authentic indigenous recipes will begin at 5:30 p.m., and a presentation by David Brule, President of Nolumbeka Project a Greenfield-based organization committed to honoring the Northeastern tribes, will follow at 7 p.m. Indigenous Lifeways, Loss, and Renewal in the Central Connecticut River Valley is presented as part of the South Congregational Church’s 200th Anniversary Arts and Social Justice Series. Admission to the presentation is free, but free-will donations at the door will be greatly appreciated. There is a nominal charge for the dinner of $5 per person up to a maximum of $15 per family. Dinner reservations, which are required, may be made by calling (413) 253-2977 or emailing office@amherstsouthchurch.org.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 12: LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF AMHERST OPENING MEETING. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Amherst Women’s Club, 35 Triangle Street. Potluck finger food 6:30 to 7, speaker and business meeting 7 to 8:15. Special guest speaker Amel Ahmed, “What Is Lost and What is Gained by Abolishing the Electoral College.”
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 12: BOOK LAUNCH: LIVING TOGETHER ACROSS BORDERS, BY LYNNETTE ARNOLD. 6 p.m., Amherst Books, 8 Main Street. Living Together Across Borders tells the stories of families living stretched between a rural Salvadoran village and the urban locations in the US where migrant relatives have settled. The book explores how these families use communication to sustain connection, despite long-term separation.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13: CUPPA JOE WITH TOWN MANAGER PAUL BOCKELMAN. 8 to 9:30 a.m., Atkins Farms Country Store, 1150 West Street. Bockelman will be joined by Police Chief Gabe Ting. Stop by, do a little shopping (it’s apple season!), get a cup of coffee and pastry, and join in the conversation. The “Cuppa’ Joe with Paul” coffees are a monthly event. Residents and others are welcome to ask questions, share their concerns, or just get to know each other.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13 AND SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14: WORKSHOPS ON DOWNTOWN DESIGN. The Town of Amherst invites the community to participate in a series of workshops on September 13 and 14, 2024, to help envision the future of downtown Amherst. The Town is working on updated downtown design standards that will guide how streetscapes and private properties in the downtown area look and feel in the future. Walking tour, September 13, 3:30 to 5 p.m.; listening session, 6 to 8 p.m. (high school cafeteria); visioning session, September 13, 9-12:30 (high school cafeteria. Register here (registration not required).
There will be opportunities to learn about and meet members of:
- Amherst Senior Center
- Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Department of Public Health
- Veteran’s Services
- CRESS – Community Responders for Equity, Safety, & Service
- John P. Musante Health Center
RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bangs-center-open-house-tickets-943649710687?aff=oddtdtcreator
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13: KARINA RYKMAN: JOYRIDE FALL TOUR 2024. 8 p.m., The Drake, 43 North Pleasant Street. Karina Rykman plays bass, sings, jumps around and laughs a lot. Straddling the worlds of jam rock and indie pop drenched in psychedelia, Karina has garnered rare attention and avid listernership. Eric Slick. $20, $25 at the door. Tickets.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14: MASTER YOUR MUSIC IN FEWER PRACTICE SESSIONS: USING NEUROSCIENCE TO UNLOCK YOUR MUSICAL POTENTIAL. Lecture 10 to 11:15 a.m., Master class 11:30 to 12:30, Bezanson Recital Hall, UMass. Think of a piece of music you can perform at the drop of a hat. Now imagine if you could perform new repertoire with the same level of confidence, security, and expression. Efficient practice is the key. Christopher Prestia is a keyboard and bowed-string teacher and player, vocalist, and amateur composer. Visit www.TheWellPracticedMusician.com for more information. Register at https://bit.ly/3QokDpx . Free.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 17: BANGS CENTER OPEN HOUSE. Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Town of Amherst, in partnership with the John P. Musante Health Center, is excited to host an Open House at the Bangs Community Center where the community can learn about and meet staff from the Center’s various departments and resources. Meet staff from Town and Musante Health Cente, listen to music from Eli Elkus, enjoy refreshments, and enter raffles. This family friendly event is free and open to all!
There will be opportunities to learn about and meet members of:
- Amherst Senior Center
- Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Department of Public Health
- Veteran’s Services
- CRESS – Community Responders for Equity, Safety, & Service
- John P. Musante Health Center
RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bangs-center-open-house-tickets-943649710687?aff=oddtdtcreator
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 18: LABOR DAY SCREENING OF “WORKS FOR ALL.” 4 to 5:30 p.m. On Zoom. You’re invited to join us for a screening of the new film “WORKS FOR ALL: Reshaping Cincinnati’s Economy Together,” a story of the cooperative and labor sectors working together to build “an economy that works for all.” Join us via Zoom for this exciting documentary on Co-op Cincy which since 2011 has built a unique network of unionized cooperatives. Discussion with the filmmakers and Co-op Cincy personnel follows the showing. Register to receive a Zoom link.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 19: 11th ANNUAL BID ANNUAL BLOCK PARTY. 5 to 9 p.m., North Pleasant Street. The Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) is thrilled to announce the 11th Annual Block Party, set to take place on Thursday, September 19th, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM on North Pleasant Street in Downtown Amherst. This beloved community event promises an evening of fun, entertainment, and celebration of all things Amherst. The Annual Block Party is a cherished tradition, drawing thousands of residents and visitors to our dynamic downtown. This year’s event will feature an exciting lineup of live music and performances, showcasing local talent and captivating acts. Attendees can look forward to aerialists, acrobats, stilt walkers, jugglers, and a variety of street performers that will delight audiences of all ages.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20 TO SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22: AUDITIONS FOR AMHERST COMMUNITY THEATER’S DISNEY’S “NEWSIES”. Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Amherst Community Theater announces auditions for Disney’s Newsies! Directed by Megan Healey, musical direction by Cindy Naughton and choreography by Sue Dresser. Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy who leads the teenage “newsies” to strike against unfair conditions. Packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message, Newsies is perfect for every audience. 9 performances in Jan., 2025. Actors, singers, and dancers ages 7-107 encouraged to audition! Auditions Sept. 20–22, callbacks Sept. 23, Bangs Center, Amherst. For audition appointments and more info, including character descriptions, audition music, and readings, visit amherstacts.org/auditions or contact producer@amherstacts.org.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 21: AMHERST VOLUNTEER FAIR. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Amherst Town Common, Boltwood Avenue. Ready to plant the seeds of kindness in your community? Curious about how you can lend a hand to support the local organizations that keep Amherst happy and healthy? The Amherst Volunteer Fair is your gateway to a world of opportunities, whether you’re a one-time wonder or a weekly warrior! It takes all skill types and levels to create a thriving community, so why not consider trading some spare time to rejuvenate your sense of fulfilment this year? Let us help you discover your perfect volunteer role and experience the joy of giving back!
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22: 14TH ANNUAL WILL BIKE FOR FOOD. This annual fundraiser for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts returns for its 14th year and brings together cyclists of all levels and ages to pedal towards a hunger-free future on scenic routes through the Connecticut River Valley. Ride and fundraise individually or with a team of friends, family, or coworkers! Participants can choose between a 4 mile family fun ride, a 100 mile century ride and several intermediate length routes. When you’re finished with your ride, celebrate with food and drinks at the Will Bike 4 Food After Party. Register at https://secure.foodbankwma.org/site/TR?fr_id=1120&pg=entry
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 23 THROUGH SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 29: 12TH ANNUAL TELL IT SLANT POETRY FESTIVAL. Hybrid format. The Emily Dickinson Museum’s annual Tell It Slant Poetry Festival is an event with international reach that celebrates Emily Dickinson’s poetic legacy and the contemporary creativity she and her work continues to inspire from the place she called home. This year’s FREE and hybrid Festival includes events happening online, as well as in-person at the Museum under our heated tent. This year’s line-up features a talented group of poets from around the country including readings by Pulitzer Prize winners Carl Phillips (2023) and Diane Seuss (2022), generative writing workshops, poetry panels, a masterclass with celebrated poet Oliver de la Paz, a musical theater performance by the Wilde Irish Women exploring Dickinson’s relationship to her Irish maid Margaret Maher, and more. The cornerstone of the Festival, the Emily Dickinson Poetry Marathon, is an epic reading of all 1,789 of Emily Dickinson’s poems across the Festival week. Click here for a full schedule and to register.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 24: BIA FERREIRA AT THE DRAKE. 8 p.m., The Drake, 44 North Pleasant Street. Brazilian artist-activist Bia Ferreira calls her mind-blowing blend of R&B, funk, blues, reggae, and folk Música de Mulher Preta (Black Woman Music). | Advance tickets $25; Five College Students and Youth 17 & under $12.50 | Door tickets $30; Five College Students and Youth 17 & under $15. Tickets.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26: CONCERT -TERENCE BLANCHARD “FLOW”. 8 p.m., Tillis Performance Hall, UMass. Terence Blanchard is one of the leading lights of modern American music. Blanchard is celebrated as a musician, bandleader, and composer. His work cuts across jazz, new music, opera, and cinematic scoring. He is the winner of eight Grammy awards, and has been nominated for two Oscars. In this performance, Blanchard and his sextet will focus on music from the critically acclaimed 2005 album Flow. On that record, Blanchard, along with many of the band members who will join him on stage, explored themes related to psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s theories on the connections between creativity, a sense of meaning, and happiness. $40 to $70, Students $15 to $20. Tickets.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28: MOTHER TONGUE BY FIRST GENERATION: STORIES OF CULTURE, STRUGGLE, IDENTITY, AND REVOLUTION. 7 p.m., Bowker Auditorium, UMass. Mother Tongue is an original multilingual physical theater performance created by the Performance Project’s First Generation Ensemble. The piece is inspired by the experiences of First Generation ensemble members, their families and communities who are from Congo/Tanzania, Bhutan/Nepal, South Sudan/Darfur, Holyoke, and Springfield, Massachusetts. The 90-minute performance weaves together movement, music, dance, and stories in Arabic, Swahili, Nepali, and English. The piece incorporates themes of language, culture, identity, diaspora, hypermasculinity, xenophobia, transphobia, racism, the school to prison pipeline and revolution. Appropriate for ages 12 and up. $25, Free for students.
ONGOING AND MULTI-DAY EVENTS
EVERY MONDAY EXCEPT HOLIDAYS: AUTOHARP WORKSHOPS. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Senior Center, Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Join Marie Hartwell-Walker and autoharp players throughout the country who participate on Zoom. Participants on Zoom also welcome.
FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH: COUNCIL ON AGING SENIOR LUNCH. Noon. Bangs Center, 70 Boltwood Walk.
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 : 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. Our 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 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.
WEDNESDAYS AUGUST 7 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1: SOUND AND VISION MUSIC SERIES AT THE AMHERST CINEMA. 7 p.m., Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity Street. It’s summer at Amherst Cinema, which means it’s time to shake a tail feather with Sound & Vision, our summer celebration of music culture through film. Now in its 8th year, the series features documentaries, concert films and narrative storytelling. Enjoy monumental performances on the big screen and explore artists whose music inspired and shaped grassroots culture and history. At select screenings, special guests will introduce the film, sharing their insights about the artists and/or genre. For a schedule, see https://amherstcinema.org/series/sound-and-vision . More information
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4 THROUGH SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28: VISUAL/VERBAL: ART EXHIBIT AT THE PALMER LIBRARY. Palmer Library 1455 North Main Street, Palmer. Artists:Janet W. Winston, Marianne Connolly, Sue Katz, Nancy Meagher, Laura Holland, Rochelle Shicoff
Hours: Monday, 10-5; Tuesday-Thursday, 10-8; Friday-Saturday, 10-2
Reception and Open Mic: Thursday, September 12, 6-8 pm
Online Reading: September 24, 7 pm; pre-register at www.womenofwords.myportfolio.com
Contact: connolly.marianne@gmail.com Or laurajholland@gmail.com
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 5 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28: REBECCA MULLER: WHEN MATTER TALKS BACK. Gallery A3, 2 Amity Street. A mixed media installation by Rebecca Muller, combines inked prints, hand-poured “paper” of acrylic medium, and 3-dimensional assemblages of eroded organic and inorganic material including grit, ground duff, rusted metal, plastic, pigment, caulking cord, bits of wood, and wire. For the first time, she also brings words into the multi-media mix, hanging written vignettes throughout the installation. Gallery Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 2-7:00 pm. Opening Reception: Thursday, September 5, 5-7:00
Dialogue with the Artist: Thursday, September 5, 2-4:30 pm; Friday, September 6, 4:30-7 pm; Friday, September 20, 4:30-7 pm; Friday, September 27, 4:30-7 pm
Artist Forum Online: September 19, 7:30 pm, preregister at www.gallerya3.com Contact: Rebecca Muller, rebmuller@comcast.net
EVERY THURSDAY: IRISH MUSIC SESSION. White Lion Brewery. 24 North Pleasant Street. 4 p.m – 7 p.m.
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.
EVERY FRIDAY IN AUGUST: ROCKS TO ROOTS – GEOLOGY INTERPRETIVE HIKE. Notch Visitors Center, 1500 West Street. 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. Ages 14 and up. Half mile guided hike on challenging trails. Sturdy footwear required. Explore how basalt bedrock makes up the Range supporting an ever changing microclimate where rare plant communities thrive.
SATURDAYS UNTIL OCTOBER 2024: CAMBODIANS IN AMERICA. Exhibit 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Amherst History Museum, 47 Amity Street. Cambodians in Amherst exhibit: a history of the Khmer community. Telling the 45-year history of Cambodians in Amherst through oral histories, photos, art, and archived footage. On exhibit until October 2024. Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or any other day by appointment.
EVERY SATURDAY UNTIL NOVEMBER: AMHERST FARMERS’ MARKET. 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Amherst Town Common. Widely known as one of the best places for local food, fun, and community. Offering farm to table produce and selections from your local growers and valley producers. Come out for food, music, events, and community offerings in downtown Amherst.
EVERY THIRD SUNDAY FROM APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER: CARS AND COFFEE AT THE MILL DISTRICT. 8:30 to noon, Mill District, 91 Cowls Road. CARS & COFFEE IS OPEN TO EVERYONE – Exhibitors and Spectators alike are welcome! CAR OWNERS: There is no fee to exhibit your car, and pre-registration is NOT required. Aim to arrive by 8:30am for best parking spots. We’ll have our trophy ceremony at 11:45am and the show wraps up at 12 noon sharp. SPECTATORS : Come to the HQ tent and pick up your ballots. Vote for your favorite Domestic, Import, Exotic, and Best Overall. Every complete ballot returned puts you into a drawing for a Mill District Gift Card! Enjoy our expanding array of shops and discover your favorites! Next Cars and Coffee is June 16.
NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER 3: METAFICTION IN ART. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Road. The art in this exhibition contains an extraordinary sense of playfulness and surprise. It comes from metafictive books: those that tell stories about stories and about the art of storytelling itself. Artists experiment with styles, typography, and page design to delightfully disrupt the rules of how books usually work. Guests can enjoy work by 29 artists in a variety of media. They can read books and “remix” story titles on a magnetic bookshelf. Gallery graphics add a sense of surrealism. Open Wednesday through Sunday.
NOW THROUGH – SATURDAY AUGUST 31: IMPERMANENCE – 9TH ANNUAL JURIED SHOW AT GALLERY A3. The theme is IMPERMANENCE,” noted exhibit co-coordinator Paula Hite, “embracing art that speaks to the ever-changing, transient, and often cyclical nature of all things as experienced in the realm of human relationships and emotions and as encountered in the material and natural worlds.” The juror, Maria Timina, is the Curator of Russian and European Art at the Mead Art Museum at Amherst College. An Opening Reception will be on Thursday, August 1, 5-8:00 pm, and an online Art Forum, open to the public, is scheduled for Thursday, August 15, at 7:30 pm. Galley A3 is located a 28 Amity Street 1D. Gallery hours are Thursday – Sunday, 2 p.m.- 7 p.m. More information
NOW THROUGH FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13: DONATE TO POP-UP CLOSET FUNDRAISER FOR THE AMHERST SENIOR CENTER. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Amherst Senior Center, Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Give us your jewelry please!! The Friends of the Amherst Senior Center will be holding its second Pop-Up Closet Fundraiser on Saturday, September 21st. The fundraiser will be located inside the Amherst Farmers’ Market. To help prepare for the event, The Friends are seeking donations of gently used purses, jewelry, scarves, wallets, and other accessories. We ask that donations be clean and in good condition. Donations will be accepted until September 13th and dropped at the Senior Center between 9:00am and 3:00pm, Monday through Friday. Contact info: Dennis Vandal 413.687.9580 or dennisvandal@gmail.com