APRIL
8 2022
Opera House Cinema Series to Present The Automat
FREDONIA – The next film in the Cinema Series at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is the charming documentary “The Automat,” featuring cameos by Mel Brooks, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Colin Powell, among others. It will be screened on Sat., Apr. 9, and Tues., Apr. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Before fast food we had something better. Our grandparents told us stories of gathering around communal tables, sharing their lives, their struggles, and their dreams with strangers at The Automat. Relive the phenomena of America’s original and most beloved restaurant chain with never-before-seen archival footage and photographs and a cast including celebrity customers, company executives, historians, and members of the Horn & Hardart families.
Richard Brody, in The New Yorker, calls the film “a delight.” Peter Rainer, in the Christian Science Monitor, calls it “a celebration of what for so many people was among the happiest of times.” Owen Gleiberman, in Variety, says the film “taps into so many resonant aspects of what America used to be that to watch it is to be drawn into an enchanting and wistfully profound time-tripping reverie.” Tim Cogshell, in FilmWeek, calls the film “ just fantastic.” Unrated, “The Automat” runs one hour, 59 minutes. Tickets are available at the door the night of each screening. A book of 10 movie passes is available at the door or online at www.fredopera.org. For more information, call the Opera House Box Office at 716-679-1891. The Opera House Cinema Series is
sponsored by Lake Shore Savings Bank. In addition, Opera House programming is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. The Opera House is equipped with individualized closed captioning eyeglasses for the deaf as well as with assistive listening headsets for the hearing-impaired. Simply request one from any usher or Opera House staff member. Opera House Executive Director Rick Davis notes that “because the transmission level in Chautauqua County has declined to a LOW status, masks are no
longer required at Fredonia Opera House events. We do still encourage patrons to wear masks while in the venue; and staff and volunteers may continue to be masked.” The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is a member-supported not-for-profit performing arts center with a mission to “present the performing arts for the benefit of our community and region … providing access to artistic diversity … and high quality programming at an affordable price.” It is located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.
Grape Discovery Center Re-Opens for Season The Concord Grape Belt Heritage Association Board of Directors announces the 2022 season at the Grape Discovery Center in Westfield, NY, began Thur., March 31. Hours of operation are Thursday-Saturday, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. The Center features a tasting room, gift shop, exhibit room and outdoor patio seating. Interactive displays in the exhibit room tell the history of grape growing in this region, & the tasting area features wines from Lake Erie Wine Country. Unique gifts, many of which are crafted locally, make a shopping experience very special. A Mother’s Day Wine Tea is planned for Sat., May 7 from noon to 2:00 p.m. This event is popular with mothers, grandmothers, granddaughters, nieces and friends & is geared toward providing a relaxing experience. (Dads are welcome, too.) The Tea includes a light lunch, music & vendors featuring gifts for that special lady in your life. For more information and tickets, visit www. grapediscover ycenter. com/events. Seating is
limited and reservations are due by May 4. New this year are Festive Final Fridays. Happening the final Friday of the month, May-August, each of the four Fridays has a theme. Join us for the first of the season, a Mexican Fiesta, on May 27 from 5:008:00 p.m. Enjoy tasty food & beverages along with some end-of-theweek down time on our relaxing patio featuring our new fire pit, or relax indoors in the tasting room. A d d i t i o n a l information for upcoming events is available on the Center’s website or Facebook page. Rental space for showers and celebrations of up to 40 guests is available. Contact the Center by calling 716-326-2003. Leave a message & the friendly staff will return a call Thursday through Saturday each week Limousines and bus tours are welcome. Please call in advance to ensure sufficient staff is available to meet your needs. The Center has ample parking and turn-around space. Taste. Explore. Learn. Shop. Come join us.