THIS SHOW SPARKLES
THIS SHOW SPARKLES
Find rare gems & minerals at this weekend’s East Coast
Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
Collectors, sellers, and buyers alike will travel from all over the country to attend this weekend’s East Coast Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show, while for some who live in the region it is only a “stone’s throw away” at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. The annual event opens its doors on Friday at 10 a.m.
&
display;
Kapadia of Nature Gems of Paramus, New Jersey, sits behind a necklace display; and Brandon and Anaise Hodgdon stand with their son, Jasper Hodgdon, all of Westfield, behind a prehistoric rhinocerous horn during a past East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show. This show returns this weekend.
Clockwise from top left: Polished quartz stones at Sunshine Gem
Jewelry of Fall River on
Jayshree
(STEVEN E. NANTON PHOTOS)
“I run a pure mineral show. That means only dealers who carry minerals, meteorites, and other gems and related products can set up a booth in our show.”
LAURA DELANO OF LLD PRODUCTIONS
dles with my text and pictures literally cut and pasted onto pages that I took to the printer for printing,” Powell said.
high-quality colorful PDFs (portable document format).
Some 180 dealers, miners, artisans and crafters from all over the county — and from as far away as Canada, Africa, South America, Asia, and Australia — will be selling a variety of “rocks” ranging from 50-cent tumbled stones to $50,000 mineral specimens, from shark’s teeth to fossil skeletons, and lapidary supplies and equipment.
“I run a pure mineral show. That means only dealers who carry minerals, meteorites, and other gems and related products can set up a booth in our show. You won’t find sage, candles or other items not related to the hobby,” said Laura Delano of LLD Productions, who produces the show.
But what you will find at the show are products such as beads and jewelry, lamps, and other items made using all kinds of gems and stones, including one vendor who sells leather-bound journals with a polished stone attached to the front.
“We try to always have different dealers to keep peoples’ interest and this year we have about 25 new vendors alongside others who have been coming for years,” Delano said.
“We printed 500 copies and, son of a gun, they sold. A friend, who is a salesman, told me if I put more work into them and cleaned them up then they may be profitable. My mom was artistic and a very creative person, and I picked up her ability to sketch and doodle and with practice and a few thousand drawings later, adding shading and other different tools, I improved on my drawings. And from there it morphed into a near fulltime business,” he added, noting all books are created today using sophisticated software which produce
That first coloring book was called “Diamond Dan the Mineral Digging Man presents Minerals to Color A to Z.”
“It remains our most popular today and is our mainstay which sells to families, teachers, mineral clubs on others. We now call it ‘The World of Minerals and Crystals’ and every time we reprint it, we improve upon the book,” Powell said.
One of the more fun titles in his collection of works is called “The Best Bathroom Book for Mineral Collectors Ever Written, Vol. 1.” There is also a second volume out now and available to purchase.
One of those “different dealers” is Darryl Powell, a seasoned mineral collector, artist and author, who founded Diamond Dan Publications in 1991 with the mission “to produce high-quality, fairly priced educational materials that will help mineral collectors, particularly young ones, to be successful mineral collectors.”
Powell’s interest in collecting began at the age of 10 — he is now 63.
“I was in the fifth grade when my teacher asked us to write a paper on anything. I picked rocks and minerals, then a teacher who lived in
the neighborhood noticed my interest in them and went to the store to buy me a tiny paperback on the subject. I got hooked and haven’t stopped collecting since then,” he said.
The idea to create a coloring book was born out of the fact that Powell’s home was strewn with Barney the Purple Dinosaur coloring books that his son, Aaron, loved.
“I thought to myself that what the world really needed is a mineral coloring book. So, I quickly slapped one together with simple black and white drawings that were barely two-dimensional doo -
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D2
Kyle Patty and Tanya Olenick, both of Norwich, Connecticut, look over gemstone trees at a Mineral Market during a past East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. The show returns this weekend. (STEVEN E. NANTON PHOTO)
Mindy Glickman of Turn the World Wonderful shines a light on a Wernerite mineral that turns yellow under light at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show at the Eastern States Exposition. (STEVEN E. NANTON PHOTO)
SEE GEM, PAGE D5
52 Sumner names new shows for fall
Co-founder of Springfield Performing Arts Ventures Inc. Angela Park at 52 Sumner, a former church turned performance space. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)
By Ashley P otter apotter@repub.com
SPRINGFIELD — It’s still summer, but Angela Park and Dan McKellick, co-founders of 52 Sumner, are thinking about the months ahead.
52 Sumner, the former home of Faith United Church in Springfield, has announced two new shows for its fall lineup.
The Candlelight Concert Series — which have been performed in more than 150 cities across the globe — will host three concerts at 52 Sumner. “Candlelight: Coldplay and Imagine Dragons” will be staged on Oct. 18 at 6 p.m.; “Candlelight: Halloween Classics” will be held on Oct. 18 at 8:30 p.m.; and “Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings” will be held on Dec. 19 at 6 and 8:30 p.m.
The candlelight concerts pair live music played by a full orchestra with the glow of thousands of candles. Also returning this fall is the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy troupe for “Chapter Two.” Guests will enjoy dramatic readings of Poe’s tales paired with specially curated cocktails. The event will run Sept. 18 to 20, with
The Fawns to play their eighth Transformance
Lesa Bezo of The Fawns will perform as Australia’s Courtney Barnett for Transformance at Look Park in Northampton this month. (GREG SAULMON)
EVERY AUGUST, Transformance offers local musicians the chance to shed their own identities and engage in some roleplaying as national and international stars at Look Park.
Each year organizers choose a theme for the acts. With this year’s theme being “Immigrant Song,” Lesa Bezo of The Fawns chose Australia’s Courtney Barnett. She explained why in a recent interview with The Republican.
“I was driving home late one night years ago and WRSI played ‘Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go to the
Party.’ I was like, ‘Who is this?’ I became a fan instantly,” Bezo said of her first encounter with Barnett. “It was one of those songs you hear as a songwriter and wish you had written.”
Country Club Road, Holyoke East Mountain Country Club: Nichols Brothers Band. 1458 East Mountain Rd, Westfield
The Meeting House: Dave Brinnel. 827 Williams St., Longmeadow
Theodores’: Theodore’s Presents Ottomatic Slim & The Deadly Sins. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House
Restaurant & Pub: Brothers By Law. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SATURDAY
Delaney House: Wes Parker Duo. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
MGM Springfield: MGM Roar
Comedy Club: Frank Santos JR. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
Theodores’: The Mark Nomad Band. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Nightclubs
THURSDAY
Delaney House: Buddy McEarns. 3
Country Club Road, Holyoke
The Drake: Las Cafeteras. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores’: Ed and Jules: The Next Je. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
Pridelands on Mane Street: Flip Factory. Live music, beer on tap, Tower Square Park, Springfield.
FRIDAY
Delaney House: Made Men. 3
Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House
Restaurant & Pub: Renburk’s Rovers. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SUNDAY
Delaney House: Trivia in The Mick. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke Uno Chicago Grill: Jazz. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event. Items should be mailed to: Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub.com or submitted to www.masslive.com/myevent
David Fuioni and Ashley Boger take a break from their job in association management outside the 1350 Main St. tower in Springfield. Main Street is home to many city eateries — including everything from booze and burgers, Indian, Mediterranean and more. (DOUGLAS HOOK / THE REPUBLICAN)
George Lenker LIVE WIRE
Admission is $10 for adults; children under 13 are free with a paid adult. The Eastern States Exposition charges $5 for parking.
“I publish a Mini Miners Monthly eBook for young mineral collectors. What I did was to gather a bunch of material from them and place them into a 100-page published paperback filled with word searches, pictures to color, biographies, interesting articles on minerals and other fun things,” Powell said.
Other coloring and activity books produced by Darryl “Diamond Dan” Powell include “Fossils: Traces of Ancient Life from the Sea & Land,” “Minerals of the Bible,” “World Class Minerals,” “Minerals of Arizona” and more. Some of his more educational titles include “Crystals & Crystal Forms: An Introduction to Crystallography for Mineral Collectors,” “Diamond Dan’s Mineralogical Dictionary,” and “Fluorescent Minerals of Connecticut” by John A. Pawloski Sr. as well as “Herkulees, Medusa & The Baby: The Story of an Historic Discovery in Sprakers, New York” by Bill Stephens. He also sells mineral note cards, tattoos and buttons,
and a notebook.
Each year the show brings in a different special exhibition for visitors to marvel at, and this year’s magnificent display is a gem among gems — some of the world’s most rare examples of beautifully crystallized mineral specimens will be on display from the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Texas.
For the kids, special booths at the show will offer free mineral specimens. There also will be geodes to purchase that they can have fun cracking open to reveal never-before-seen crystals.
Delano said she was pleased to learn that one of the top show guides for dealers and buyers, Xpo Press out of Colorado, recognized their show in a recent ranking of mineral events.
“They listed us as one of the top 12 mineral shows in the world, and there are some really big ones in Europe,” she said.
In addition to the public show, this weekend will also feature a special show in the Young Building with wholesale vendors. Those attending the wholesale show must be qualified buyers with resale credentials.
Hours are Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission is $10 for adults; children under 13 are free with a paid adult. The Eastern States Exposition charges $5 for parking.
For more information, visit mineralshowslld.com.
TUESDAY
Chicopee Elks #1849
431 Granby Road, Chicopee 413-592-1849
Bingo Tuesday
Doors Open at 4PM
2 Progressive Jackpots
6:15PM Early Bird
6:20PM Start
Min. Entry Package $15
Open Seating
2 Halls for Players
Handicap Restroom 1st Floor
WEDNESDAY
Polish American Citizens Club
355 East Street, Ludlow, 583-6385
Bingo Wednesdays 6:30-9:30pm
Doors Open at 4pm. Minimum Admission $50
1 - 1199 Progressive Betty Boop 50/50 Prize $900
2 - $500 Cover Alls
3 - $400 Special Games All regular games $100 with 80 people or More. All Cards are included with Admission. Prizes climb
THURSDAY
Fairview Knights of Columbus 1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee (413) 532-2011
DOORS OPEN 4:30PM
MASKS OPTIONAL Progressive Jackpot 6:15pm Early Bird 6:20pm Start
Electronic Bingo Aval. Snack Bar, Open Seating, Handicap Restrooms
Min. Entry Package $15
Doxia Damu, left, Iulia Zharku and Juliana Zharku, all of Southington, Connecticut, look over butterflies at the Mineral Movies/Jeff Fast booth during a past East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. (STEVEN E. NANTON PHOTO)
Melek Karacan of Horizon Minerals of Lewes, Delaware, holds a tray of handmade beads at the East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show at the Eastern States Exposition. (STEVEN E. NANTON PHOTO)
This ‘old-time country fair’ has new attractions
MIDDLEFIELD FAIR
By K eith O C onnor
Special to The Republican
It is already fair season in New England and one of the first out of the gates, starting Friday, is the three-day Middlefield Fair with food, crafts, live entertainment, agricultural exhibits and everything else you expect from a good old-fashioned country fair.
“We have so much happening this year. Our entertainment is outstanding and that is really exciting for us and our fairgoers, as well as our many other big favorites such as the horse, oxen, and truck pulls. And something really fun to watch out for, there will be a giant turtle roaming the fairgrounds escorted by the folks from Bubba’s Snakes and Reptiles,” said Maureen Basile, Middlefield Fair president.
Entertainment this year features internationally renowned psychic medium Lisa Lanno, who will help audience members connect with loved ones who have passed.
She will appear at 2 p.m. on the Main Stage, followed on Sunday at 2 p.m. by Ray Guillemette Jr. who will bring his acclaimed Ray of Elvis and King Country show to the fairgrounds. Matt York will be singing up a storm on Sunday morning and the sounds of fiddles will fill the air later in the afternoon.
The fair begins on Friday at 4 p.m. with an opening ceremony and flag raising followed by a ribbon cutting for the fair’s new museum and art barn.
“We have been trying to improve the fairgrounds step by step with major improvements this year. Thanks to the
State Department of Agriculture, we were able to purchase a prefab building to house our Farm Museum with its antique farming equipment and utensils women once used to cook for the family in days gone by,” Basile said. “We were also able to secure a gift which helped pay for another building we are calling our Art Barn, which will feature all of the photography entries once housed in the Exhibit Hall,” Basile said.
adults and youth can enter in many categories from flowers to baked goods, fruits to vegetables, arts and crafts to
Debbie Katsanos, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, uses a lemon press to make a fresh cup of lemonade, and Lindsay Alderman, of Hinsdale, participates in the children’s Chicken Chucking game during a past Middlefield Fair.
The nation’s earliest fairs were rooted in agriculture and organized as a way to introduce farmers to new animal breeds and agricultural innovations — and exhibit halls grew to become an important part of fairs over the years.
“Exhibit halls in the early days were a place where people in the community could show off their agricultural skills and domestic talents. Competitions back then took on a more serious tone as compared to today’s friendlier competitions, where both
Above, from left:
(FREDERICK GORE PHOTO)
‘The Bad Guys 2’ goes bigger
By M ARK K ENNEDy Associated Press
The good news for fans of “The Bad Guys” is the new sequel is stellar. But that’s because a good portion is actually set in — are you kidding us? — outer space. “The Bad Guys 2” has clearly lost its moorings.
Returning director Pierre Perifel, writers Yoni Brenner and Etan Cohen and the same voice cast have done what all sequels do these days — amp it all up like everyone is on molly, try to hit the same emotional notes and layer an insane plot with the fate of the world at stake. It’s hard to watch a franchise drift so expensively and pointlessly in
TELEVISION
It’s a
new world for Hank Hill
By M ARK K ENNEDy Associated Press
NEW YORK — Hank Hill is back and he’s the same ol’ Hank Hill, but a lot of things around him have changed.
The lovable animated hero of “King of the Hill” has returned from a 15-year lull and he isn’t sure what boba tea is, how ridesharing works and is confused by all-gender bathrooms. “What kind of food is poke?” he asks his wife, Peggy.
Hank and Peggy have returned to their hometown of Arlon, Texas — and our TV sets — but a lot has happened over the years and they’re stepping into a world they don’t always recognize.
“Hank, have things changed here more than we thought?”
Peggy asks, worried, in the first new episode. “Did we make a mistake coming back?”
Hulu is definitely hoping not, reuniting many of the same writers and voice cast who turned the propane-loving, beer-sipping Hill into one of TV’s few blue-collar icons. The first 10 episodes are now available to stream on Hulu.
A new ‘King of the Hill’ leader
Saladin K. Patterson, the executive producer and showrunner for the new season 14, hopes the original fans will return to see how Hill copes in the modern day.
“That’s always key because you want that core fan base to validate what you’ve done because they’re like the gatekeepers in a way,” he says. “So when they sign off and say, ‘OK, they didn’t mess it up, it’s still the same special show,’ I think other people who may be unfamiliar with it, or even on the fence, feel
Hank Hill, voiced by Mike Judge, from the animated series “King of the Hill.” (HULU VIA AP)
like, ‘OK, well, now we want to like it.’”
Viewers will learn that Hank and Peggy have been in Saudi Arabia all this time, where he served as “assistant manager in charge of Arabian propane and Arabian propane accessories.” Their son Bobby, now 21, is the chef of a “down home, German-Asian fusion” restaurant. (Sample dish: Grilled mackerel with a side of mustard pretzel.)
Hank and Peggy have retired and he happily rejoins his line of friends drinking cans of beer in an alley. Boomhauer gives him a hug and Dale has grown even more paranoid, becoming “an election-denier-denier.”
Bill has let himself go, staying indoors and living off Amazon deliveries. “I finished Netflix, Hank. Did you know that when you get to the end
Earth’s orbit.
The gang is all back: Sam Rockwell as Mr. Wolf, Marc Maron as safe-cracker Mr. Snake, Craig Robinson as master-of disguise Mr. Shark, Anthony Ramos as Mr. Piranha and Awkwafina as hacker Ms. Tarantula. We left them in the last movie walking out of prison early after good behavior and trying to turn their back on bad-hood.
It’s not that easy since would-be employers these days want to know about gaps in their job experience — they were robbing banks, after all — workplace trust issues and salary expectations. No one wants to hire a bunch of
TELEVISION Q&A
By R ich H ElDENfEls Tribune News Service
Q. I don't expect you to know the title of a Glenn Ford movie where he plays a chauffeur or butler who earlier in life had been an award-winning racing driver. His co-star may have been Hope Lange or Kim Novak, although it may have been someone else. But I hope you do know.
A. The movie you are wondering about is a romantic comedy called “Love Is a Ball,” from 1963, with Glenn Ford, Hope Lange, Charles Boyer and Ricardo Montalban.
Q: On “Storage Wars,” are Brandi and Jarrod still together?
A: Jarrod Schulz and Brandi Passante were partners in work and SEE HILL, PAGE D11 SEE Q&A, PAGE D11
This image released by Universal Pictures shows characters, from left, Shark, voiced by Craig Robinson, Piranha, voiced by Anthony Ramos, Commissioner Luggins, voiced by Alex Borstein, Tarantula, voiced by Awkwafina, and Wolf, voiced by Sam Rockwell in a scene from "The Bad Guys 2."
This image released by Hulu shows, characters, from left, Peggy Hill, voiced by Kathy Najimy, Bobby Hill, voiced by Pamela Adlon, and
TORCH SONG DIVAS
sewing, canning and an endless list of projects,” said Sara Foley, superintendent of the Exhibit Hall and a member of the fair’s board.
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican
For anyone who never got the chance to attend Torch Song Tuesdays at the Majestic Theater, now is your opportunity to catch all of them at one time in one place.
Appropriately scheduled on Tuesday, Aug. 12, Torch Song Divas, will feature all seven of the divas — Aimee Lyn Meunier, Natasha Ellis, Chelsie Nectow, Kait Rankins, Lori Efford, Stephanie Craven, and Myka Plunkett — who will be onstage together and performing some of the most heartfelt and best selections from each of their cabaret nights.
Showtime is at 7:30 p.m. It all began late last year with the idea to create a new series of intimate cabaret performances utilizing the Majestic’s candlelit café space to host a three-piece band and a different singer for seven weeks. It was an opportunity to provide a Manhattan-style nightclub experience in West Springfield with blues and jazz classics along with some surprises added into the mix. The small setting offers tables for two or four with a selection of hors d’oeuvres and desserts to choose from
alongside wines, beers and other beverages for purchase.
“Essentially our Monday and Tuesday nights are dark at the theater and staff came to me wanting to do something with our café, which was just sitting there empty.
Two friends of mine, Billy Stritch and Doug Major have done cabarets all over the world having worked with many talented artists. In fact, Billy served as Liza Minnelli’s musical director for many years. So, that is part of the inspiration for what became Torch Song Tuesdays,” said Danny Eaton, founder and producing director of the Majestic Theater.
While putting together a major production during the theater’s play season is no easy task, putting on a one-evening cabaret may sound easy, but it is not that simple, Eaton noted.
“I worked with our music director Mitch Chakour to select about 20 songs for each singer, so that meant we needed some 140 songs for the first season. And then they needed to be arranged to suit each singer,” Eaton said about the lengthy process.
Natasha Ellis, who has
“Today, our Exhibit Hall, which features some 300 entries or more, is the fair’s biggest building and central hub. It is the first thing fairgoers see as they enter the fair and is visited by most fairgoers throughout our three days,” she added.
Friday night’s big attraction is the annual Ken Boisseau Memorial Diesel Truck Pull beginning at 7 p.m. Fairgoers can also dust off their boots and join Stompin’ Boots at 5:30 p.m. for an evening of line dancing and lessons, or have a seat for fair bingo at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, highlights include gas-powered trucks taking their turn on the track alongside oxen pulls, which are located across the fairgrounds in the animal draw ring. Other activities and events throughout the day include the Massachusetts State Police K-9 demo; a Kid’s Zone full of old-fashioned games for a fee to play and a variety of free activities, Balloon Ben, free face painting; and the Middlefield Fair Car, Truck and Tractor Show. For those on the competitive side, there are family fun games at noon including children’s chicken shucking, lady’s skillet tosses and men’s chainsaw throwing.
For a final day of fun on Sunday, there is a cattle show, garden tractors will be on the mechanical pull track and the horses can be found in the animal draw ring. Balloon Ben
is back as well as free face painting, another exciting demonstration by the Massachusetts State Police K-9, and a crosscut saw competition. In addition to the Kid’s Zone, the fair promises more fun for younger fairgoers including a petting zoo, obstacle course and bounce houses set up by the National Guard, kid’s pie eating contest, and children’s entertainer Terry LaBerry on Saturday. You don’t have to look very far for something scrumptious to eat inside the fair. From one end to the other, fairgoers will find traditional fair foods such as fried dough, hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries, ice cream, sausages, corn dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, candy apples, kettle corn, and apple fritters.
If you are an early riser who skips breakfast to get to the fair when it first opens, the Fair Food Booth on Saturday offers something quick to grab, while Sunday morning features a traditional all-youcan-eat pancake breakfast served plain or with Middlefield’s own blueberries.
The Middlefield Fair, located on 7 Bell Road, opens Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. Gates close at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Tickets are $10 for the general public and $5 for seniors 65 and older. Veterans and children under 12 are free. For more information and a full schedule of all events and times, visit the fair’s website.
Susan Farber, of Amherst, enjoys her lunch during a past Middlefield Fair. (FREDERICK GORE PHOTO)
Top row, from left: Stephanie Craven, Lori Efford and Natasha Ellis. Bottom row, from left: Aimee Lyn Meunier, Myka Plunkett and Kait Rankins.
THURSDAY
GoNetspeed presents Back-toSchool Family Fun Day: Thu., 4-7 p.m. American Red Cross of Western Mass, GoNetspeed, the Northeast’s largest independent fiber internet provider, invites Springfield families to a Back-toSchool Family Fun Day. This festive community event will feature food trucks, games, exciting giveaways, and fun surprises for all ages. To kick off the school year, the first 100 attendees will also receive a free backpack filled with essential school supplies. For more information about the event, visit gonetspeed.com/go/red-cross/. Free. 150 Brookdale Drive, Springfield.
Jacob's Pillow Dance 2025 Season presents Ice Theatre of New York: Thu., 5:30 p.m. Jacob's Pillow Dance, Ice Theatre of New York on the Henry J. Leir Stage. Tickets from $40. 358 George Carter Road, Becket. 413-243-0745 or www. jacobspillow.org.
Jacob's Pillow Dance 2025 Season presents Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company: Thu., 7:30 p.m.; Fri. and Sun, 2 p.m.; Sat, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company in the Ted Shawn Theatre. Tickets from $65. 358 George Carter Road, Becket. 413-243-0745 or www.jacobspillow.org.
Jacob's Pillow Dance 2025 Season presents Shamel Pitts, TRIBE: Thu. and Sat., 8 p.m.; Fri. and Sun, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Shamel Pitts, TRIBE in the Doris Duke Theatre. Tickets from $85. 358 George Carter Road, Becket. 413-243-0745 or www.jacobspillow.org.
Thursday Night Live Music Series: Thu., 6:30-8:30 p.m. Liston's Bar and Grill. Performances will take place outdoors (weather permitting). Guests are welcome to bring their own lawn chairs, but seating will also be provided. While outside food or beverages are not allowed, the event will feature their outdoor bar offering up a limited selection of food and beverages. In addition, their regular restaurant and menu will be open, with indoor and patio seating available for those who want to enjoy a meal while listening to the music. Free. 324 Old North Road, Worthington. 413-238-5353.
FRIDAY
East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show: Fri.-Sat, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Eastern States Exposition, Better Living Center. Discover minerals from around the around the globe, Admission: Adults $10; children under 12 free with paid adult. Parking: $5 (col-
CALENDAR
Blast from the past
Have you heard of Rushville? It’s Springfield’s oldest neighborhood of Craftsman style homes— and residents and visitors will have the opportunity to tour it with the Springfield Preservation Trust on Saturday, Aug. 9. Rushville — named after real estate developer William Rush, whose family lived in Pine Point — is a quaint neighborhood perfect for those who admire Craftsman style architecture.
Tour attendees will delve into the rich history of Springfield as they explore the rise of Craftsman-style architecture in the early 20th century. This architectural style, born out of the Arts & Crafts movement, was a significant reaction to the ornate styles and decor of the Victorian era. Its arrival in Springfield, during a building boom in single-family houses, left a lasting imprint on neighborhoods such as Pine Point, Forest Park, Liberty Heights and East Springfield. The tour will be led by Bob McCarroll, a significant force for the preservation of Springfield’s historic properties since the mid-1970s, when he was part of the reactivation of the Springfield Preservation Trust into an advocacy organization. Now retired, McCaroll served for 11 years on the Springfield Historical Commission and has served on the Springfield Community Preservation Committee since its formation in 2017. McCaroll has served for more than 45 years on the board of the Springfield Preservation Trust, where he has organized house tours, worked on self-guide walking tour brochures, and applied for and coordinated grant work.
The tour will begin on Saturday from the corner of Berkshire Avenue and Dewey Street at 10:30 a.m. and conclude at noon. Cost is $5 for members of the Springfield Preservation Trust as well as Museum members, and $10 for nonmembers. Onstreet parking will be available on Dewey Street, Hobson Street, Rush Street and Berkshire Avenue. Tickets may be reserved online at Eventbrite.com.
lected by ESE Fairgrounds). 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. 413-737-2443 or thebige.com.
Jacob’s Pillow Dance 2025 Season presents Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company: See Thursday listing
Jacob’s Pillow Dance 2025 Season presents Shamel Pitts, TRIBE: See Thursday listing
Jacob's Pillow Dance 2025 Season presents Michela Marino Lerman: Fri.-Sat., 5:30 p.m. Michela Marino Lerman on the Henry J. Leir Stage. Tickets from $40. 358 George Carter Road, Becket. 413243-0745 or www.jacobspillow. org.
Summer Craft — Block Print
Anything You Bring!: Fri.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. High Five Books, You bring the fabric items — T-shirts, bags, hats, pillowcases, etc. This is your family's chance to print images from a wall mural (by local artist Sunny Allis) on the goodies you want. Instructor Corrie will have all the supplies ready for you to block print on the patio and bring your items home to rinse. Drop in anytime 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday or Saturday. All ages welcome. Grownups are expected to stay and supervise any kids under age 11. Registration is helpful, but feel free to invite friends and just drop in, too. $20. 141 North Main St.,
Florence.
Tanglewood 2025 Season presents Joshua Bell: Fri., 8 p.m.
Tanglewood presents the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Joshua Bell and “Dvořák Symphony No. 9, From the New World” in the Shed. TIckets range from $32-$127. 297 West St., Lenox. 888-266-1200 or www.tanglewood.org.
SATURDAY
East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show: See Friday listing Full Moon Concert with Home Body and Wishbone Zoe: Sat, 6:30 p.m. Peskeomskut Park, Free.
Avenue A and 7th Street, Turners Falls.
Jacob’s Pillow Dance 2025 Season presents Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company: See Thursday listing
Jacob’s Pillow Dance 2025 Season presents Shamel Pitts, TRIBE: See Thursday listing
Jacob’s Pillow Dance 2025 Season presents Michela Marino Lerman: See Friday listing Summer Craft — Block Print Anything You Bring!: See Friday listing Tanglewood 2025 Season presents John Williams’ Film Night: Sat., 8 p.m. Tanglewood, Boston Pops. John Williams’ Film Night. Shed, $44-$259. 297 West St., Lenox. 888-266-1200 or www. tanglewood.org.
Springfield Preservation Trust Walking Tour — Springfield's Oldest Craftsman Neighborhood: Sat, 10:30 a.m.-noon Corner of Berkshire Avenue and Dewey Street, The tour will focus on some of the earliest and more unusual Craftsman-style houses in Springfield. The early 20th century saw the rise of the Craftsman style architecture. It grew out of the Arts & Crafts movement, a reaction to the ornate styles and decor of the Victorian era. Its arrival in Springfield coincided with a building boom in single-family houses in several neighborhoods. The popularity of Craftsman homes also occurred at the same time as use of concrete block for foundations and sometimes for entire houses. The tour will begin at the corner of Berkshire Avenue and Dewey Street. Onstreet parking is available on Dewey, Hobson, and Elizabeth Streets, $10 general public, $5 for SPT and Museum members. Berkshire Ave. and Dewey St., Springfield.
Do these homes catch your eye? They are 46 Hobson St. and 575 Berkshire Ave. in Springfield. The Springfield Preservation Trust will host a walking tour of Craftsman-style homes on Saturday. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF MACRIS AND WORK PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION)
CALENDAR
Calendar
SUNDAY
Jacob’s Pillow Workshops with Festival Artists: Sun., 10 a.m. Jacob's Pillow Dance. Workshops with festival artists offer unique experiences for movers to explore repertory, genres, and techniques from leading dance artists. $25/ class or $20/class for dance educators with ID. August 10: Tap with Derick K. Grant, ages 12+; open to all experience levels. August 17: Ballet BC, ages 16+; intermediate/ advanced. August 24: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, ages 16+; open to all experience levels.Register online or by calling 413-2439919 , ext. 163. Questions about accessibility accommodations? Contact community@jacobspillow. org. 358 George Carter Road, Becket; 413-243-0745 or www. jacobspillow.org.
East Coast Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show: See Friday listing
Jacob’s Pillow Dance 2025 Season presents Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company: See Thursday listing
Jacob’s Pillow Dance 2025 Season presents Shamel Pitts, TRIBE: See Thursday listing Sevenars Concerts 57th Anniversary Season: Sun., 4 p.m. Sevenars Academy, Sevenars Concerts Presents: Young Artist to Watch, Taiwanese pianist Ching-Yi Lin, $20 suggested donation. Ireland
Street at Route 112, Worthington. 413-238-5854 or www.sevenars. org.
Summer Sing — Faure's Requiem with Anthony Ferreira: Sun, 4 p.m. Most Holy Redeemer Parish Hall, Sliding scale $15-$35. 122 Russell St., Hadley.
Sundays in the Park Music Series: Sun., 12:30 p.m. Lee Congregational Church. The Lee Cultural Council presents Sundays in the Park through Aug. 10 in the park in front of the First Congregational Church in downtown Lee. Musical performances will be held from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., sprinkle or shine. The audience is encouraged to bring their own chairs and to bring a picnic or order takeout from any of Lee’s area restaurants. If final concert cancelled, rain date will be Sunday, Aug. 17. 25 Park Place, Lee. Tanglewood 2025 Season presents Yo-Yo Ma: Sun., 2:30 p.m. Tanglewood, Boston Symphony Orchestra. Yo-Yo Ma, Pépin, SaintSaëns, and Mendelssohn. Shed, $44-$254. 297 West St., Lenox. 888-266-1200 or www.tanglewood.org.
Quadrangle
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum: “The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards” exhibit, through Sept. 14. Permanent exhibit: “Ancient Treasures,” a display of artifacts from ancient China, Greece, Rome and Egypt. On the first Wed. of every month through the end of 2026, admission
Full Moon
Home Body, a band comprised of duo Eric Hnatow and Haley Morgan, will play a Full Moon Concert at Peskeompskut Park in Turners Falls on Saturday. The concert starts at 6:30 p.m. and is free. The sound of Home Body is described on the duo's website as " juicy synthesizers, gritty beats, and tectonic bass with spirited, stormy vocals." Wishbone Zoe will open with her folk-rock style of music. Rain date is Sunday, Aug. 10. For more information about the concert, visit the River Culture Facebook page at facebook. com/RiverCulture.
Water, Little Water” by Jorge Tetl Argueta, through Aug. 19. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route. “Kidleidoscope Story Hour,” Aug. 8, “Ants”; Aug. 15, “Who Lives in the River?”; Aug. 22, “Bobcats”; Aug. 29, “Spiders,” 10:30-11:30 a.m.Program includes a story, activities, and crafts. For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult. Siblings and friends’ welcome. Meet in the Great Hall. Free. “Great Falls Coffeehouse Presents: Silverback Swing,” Aug. 8, 7-9 p.m. For all ages. Meet in the Great Hall. Sliding scale suggested donations, “River Baron Walk: Reshaping New England’s Longest River,” Aug. 9, 10-11 a.m. Easy 1.25-mile hike through downtown Turners Falls and along the Canalside Rail Trail. This walk is scheduled for rain or shine. For adults and children ages 9 and up. Meet at the main entrance. Free. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls or www. greatfallsma.org.
to the Springfield Museums is free. Summer at the Museums: Through Aug., featuring various activities throughout the museums. For more information, visit www.springfieldmuseums.org.
Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: “Witch Panic! Massachusetts Before Salem,” through Nov. 2 The exhibition explores how the first instance witchcraft hysteria in the American colonies influenced the early history of the city and how the conversation continues today. Permanent exhibit: More than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.
Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “Portraits in RED: Missing & Murdered Indigenous Peoples Painting Project,” through Sept. 7. In this striking series of portraits, artist and activist Nayana LaFond sheds light on the crisis affecting Indigenous peoples, particularly women, who are eleven times more likely to go missing than the national average. The exhibition is the last time the works will be on view together: at its close, the portraits will be returned to living family members. “Van Gogh for All,” through Sept. 14.
Springfield Science Museum: “Here Be Dragons,” through Sept. 14, on the second floor Changing Exhibits Gallery. “Reputation: Under the Stars in the Seymour Planetarium.” Fri, Sat, and Sun. at 4 p.m. The show features the original recordings from Taylor Swift’s 2017 album “Reputation” and dazzling effects created by a full-dome projector. Permanent exhibit: State-of-
the-art Zeiss Projector and updated International Space Station exhibit. The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. Firstfloor exhibition provides opportunities to explore new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories, and engage in activities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking, with interactive three-dimensional exhibits. Second floor contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia. For more information, visit springfieldmuseums.org.
Quadrangle admission - $25 for adults, $16.50 for seniors (60+) and college students with ID, $13 for children ages 3-17; free to children under age 3 and members, Springfield residents are free with proof of residency. Welcome Center and Museum store. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Outdoors
Bascom Lodge-Mt. Greylock State Reservation: Mount Greylock in Time and Space. Aug. 10, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at Bascom Lodge. Join Mike Whalen from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation for an entertaining slide show journey through time as we explore many of the unusual and forgotten events that shaped the identity of Mount Greylock. Free and recommended for ages 12 and older. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Wheelchair accessible. Meet inside Bascom Lodge. For more information, call 413-499-4262. Free. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough Great Falls Discovery Center: Outdoor Storywalk: “Agua, Aguita:
Mt. Greylock State Reservation: Visitor Center open daily 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Interpretive exhibits explore the park story through artifacts and displays. Trail maps, hike guidance, 13-minute orientation film, bathrooms, drinking water available. Wheelchair accessible. “Mountain Mindfulness: Summit Yoga Hike with Jacqui,” Aug. 8, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Jacqui will lead this yoga practice near the historic 1940 Thunderbolt Ski Shelter at the summit, followed by one a 1-mile hike down from the summit on the Appalachian Trail. Trail difficulty is strenuous. Dress in layers for outdoor activity in variable weather. Wear sturdy footwear, bring water and a snack. Trekking poles are highly recommended. Suitable for ages 12 and older. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Rain cancels. Meet at the Thunderbolt Ski Shelter at the end of the summit parking lot. For more information and to register, call 413499-4262. Free. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough River Studios DeVries Fine Art International Sculpture Trail: Open for the 2025 season, through Oct. 19. Art and nature enthusiasts can explore a half mile stroll through a wildflower meadow and shady groves adorned with 40 up to life size bronze sculptures by sculptor Andrew DeVries. Hours: Fri, Sat. and Sun. from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., other times by appointment. The trail is free, donations are graciously accepted to help with upkeep. 36 East River Road, Middlefield Items should be mailed to: Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub.com or submitted to masslive.com/myevent
ex-cons.
“Anyone who wants to change has to start somewhere,” Mr. Wolf, pushing the George Clooney-like charm offensive, begs one dubious interviewer. “I’m just asking for a chance.”
A life on the straight-andnarrow is hard for four of the former baddies, but not Maron — so perfectly cast as the grouchy, self-loathing snake. Now he spends his days doing Vinyasa yoga, listening to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso,” telling people “namaste” and sips wheatgrass kombucha with dandelion. He’s even more irritating.
Soon all five are caught in a series of traps and double-crosses by a new robbery crew — Danielle Brooks’ lollipop-licking venomous snow leopard, Maria Bakalova’s Bulgarian wild boar engineer and Natasha Lyonne’s wry raven, using her same vocal
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appeared in several plays at The Majestic, including “Mamma Mia” and “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” was the first “diva” to perform in the cabaret series.
“I was a little nervous at first. I had performed in plays at The Majestic and at live jazz gigs elsewhere, but this was going to be something new for me,” Ellis said.
But by intermission, she noted her nerves were calmed.
“Everyone in the audience was so warm and receptive and encouraging. They were very interactive, which I appreciated, and it made it even a more fun experience for all of us,” Ellis said.
“I’m excited to be performing with the other girls, many of whom I have worked with before and know well. I’m a huge fan of all of them, and it will be nice to hear their own takes on the songs we will be performing,” she added.
the wavy green air farts that emanate from Piranha. Based on Aaron Blabey’s popular graphic book series, the first movie in 2022 drove hard into the nature of good and evil — like asking if DNA determines behavior — as our heroes whipsawed between heroic and villainous, to the glee of all the kiddies in the theater. “We may be bad, but we’re so good at it,” was the slogan. It was all nicely set against a zombie guinea pig uprising.
When we say the gang is all here, they’re all here without any editing: Zazie Beetz returns as Gov. Diane Foxington, Alex Borstein comes back as the top cop and even the kitten from the first film meows in the second. So is Richard Ayoade as Professor Marmalade, the evil guinea pig who is now surprisingly swole and tatted up in prison. He threatens again to steal the show and may if there’s a “The Bad Guys 3.” (There’s going to be a “The Bad Guys 3.”)
tick as on “Poker Face.” These dames have a plan to get very rich using a substance known as MacGuffinite, a clever — or lazy — joke on the object that everyone wants in a movie like this, which drives the plot. There’s soon a trip to a Mexican wrestling festival and then a wedding needs crashing in order to gain control over a rocket owned by an Elon Musk-like billionaire — voice acted by Colin
Jost — who runs the MoonX company. Then the rocket has to be stopped before a gadget aboard creates a “24-carat catastrophe.”
The animation is amazingly kinetic and with no corners cut, from tiny bugs illuminated in a light beam at night to the bumpy way a truck moves on the highway. The franchise’s love of vroooming and fishtailing Looney Tunes-like car chases stays intact, as does
This time the writers have just given up on what side of the ethical divide their anti-heroes are on. “Are we bad again?” ask the confused piranha. Replies Mr. Wolf: “I get it. We’re all over the place.”
Left unexplored is the concept of doing wrong for a greater good, and can being bad be excused if it stops a worse badness? “What if the bad life was your best life?” asks one of the newcomers. (Another thing to chew on: If “The Bad Guys 2” is a worse sequel, does that make “The Bad Guys” good?)
The joy of “The Bad Guys” was that it was a respectful send-up of the movies of Quentin Tarantino and caper flicks like “Ocean’s 11.” This time, the “Fast & Furious” series gets mocked, as does “Silence of the Lambs,” “Men in Black” and maybe “Moonraker,” which is now 46 years old. But the subversion is painfully flat now: The first film in the franchise would have laughed at one climactic line in the second: “We’ve got one shot to save the world. Let’s make it count!”
Lori Efford, who performed at the April 22 Torch Song Tuesday, complimented Eaton on coming up with a great idea and creating a special vibe in the Majestic Café.
“I was praying he would ask me to be a part of the series,” Efford said.
And the compliment goes both ways.
“Lori has an unforgettable presence and much to our surprise the instant we announced her show it sold out,” Eaton said.
“That’s the most flattering thing I’ve ever heard, but I have a lot of friends,” Efford laughed.
Efford has been performing at The Majestic for about 20 years and said she “feels lucky” to have been cast in about 10 different shows including the theater’s annual Home for the Holidays performance where she recently sang a bluesy version of “Please Come Home for Christmas.”
Tickets, priced at $30, are available at majestictheater. com.
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love when they joined “Storage Wars” in 2010, but over time their personal relationship cooled and reportedly ended in 2018.
Q: In the "old" days, a program was said to air for a number of years. Now jargon is that a show has been on for a number of seasons. Is a season equivalent to years, or is a season now considered fall and spring?
A: For the most part television shows’ duration has been counted in seasons, but what constitutes a season has changed. It basically refers to a planned set of episodes for a series followed by a break before a new season begins. In the early years of television, the season lasted about 39 weeks, roughly from September through April, and TV shows filled those weeks. But over time, because of financial issues and other factors, a show’s season can have far fewer telecasts — six is not unusual. And even a season can be fragmented, with networks offering “midseason finales” before a show takes a weekslong break. Do you have a question or comment about entertainment past, present and future?
Write to Rich Heldenfels, P.O. Box 417, Mogadore, OH 44260, or brenfels@gmail. com. Letters may be edited.
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of Netflix, you get something called ‘a wellness check?’” Viewers in the second episode hear Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” a nice nod to the late rocker’s embrace of the show when it first appeared.
“The writers have found that balance between the vintage ‘King of the Hill’ that we adore and the new — and letting them coexist,” says Pamela Adlon, who voices Bobby.
Same gentle tone
Creators Mike Judge, the mastermind behind “Beavis and Butt-Head,” and Greg Daniels, who would go on to co-create “The Office,” helped Patterson navigate this world, which they sheparded during its first 13 seasons, airing from 1997 to 2009.
The show’s tone maintains its gentle mocking of modern life, from hipsters
and their craft ales to bike lanes. Hill at one point shakes his head over modern outdoor grills having sensors and app connections: “I shouldn’t have to call technical support to make a burger.”
Patterson says the humor is grounded in real life. “I do have a barbecue grill that is Wi-Fi- and Bluetooth-enabled. I have three devices to run it, but I’m calling tech support because I have guests coming over and the meat needs to be done,” he says. “And I do think over the pandemic, my wife finished Netflix.”
While there are changes, some things are immutable. “Hank’s still going to drink beer. Dale’s still going to be a conspiracy theorist. Bill’s still going to be a lovable sad sack,” says Patterson. “Those core character things had to be the same. I had a pastor who told me one time, ‘Grown folks don’t change.’”
Snake, voiced by Marc Maron, has a very chill demeanor early on in "The Bad Guys 2," playing at local theaters. (UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND DREAMWORKS ANIMATION / TNS)
Live Wire
Transformance (formerly known as Transperformance) serves as a fundraiser for the enrichment of arts programs in the Northampton Public School system and parent-teacher organizations, and will be held at Northampton’s Look Park on Aug. 19 at 4:30 p.m. Other acts this year include King Radio performing as The Hollies, Wildcat O’Halloran as Rory Gallagher, Ex-Temper as Björk, Lucia Dostal as ABBA, Soul Magnets as Toots & The Maytals and The Friendship Band as The Clash, among many others.
Tickets are $11 for adults, and $9 for seniors, students and veterans. Children 8 and younger are admitted free. Since first hearing Barnett, Bezo has collected all of her albums and has seen her perform six times at local shows at MassMoca, Iron Horse Music Hall, Solid Sound, and the Green River Festival.
Bezo said some of Barnett’s musical nuances can make playing her songs faithfully a bit formidable.
“The most challenging part of performing these songs is her phrasing of the many lyrics,” Bezo said. “Her guitar playing is totally unique as is her lyrical phrasing. To me she is raw, powerful, and authentic.”
The Fawns are veterans of Transformance. Bezo and her band have played the annual fundraiser seven previous times, but it’s been nine years since the group’s most recent performance,
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multiple showtimes.
The Edgar Allen Poe Speakeasy first performed to sold-out crowds at the venue in 2024. “We had just over 2,000 people through the doors in three days, and in three days, we did 12 shows,” Park said in an earlier interview with The Republican.
when they played as The Pretenders in 2016. They have also played as such acts as Joan Jett & the Blackhearts in 2007, Blondie in 2005 and even Johnny Cash in their first appearance in 2003.
Bezo said that whether she plays at the event or not, she looks forward to seeing all the other local bands.
“As with every year, this lineup is stacked with so much talent,” she said. “One of my favorite things about Transformance is being able to see so many acts that put so much into portraying some of their favorite artists and I am looking forward to seeing all of it.”
Over the years, many acts have been notable to Bezo, but she couldn’t pick a favorite. A few that popped immediately to mind, however, for her were Spouse as U2, Philip Price as Neil Young, Aloha Steamtrain as The Doors, School for the Dead as The Monkees, Drunk Stuntmen as Pink Floyd, Young@Heart Chorus as Led Zeppelin, and King Radio as Steely Dan. The Fawns normally play their own original music, which Bezo writes. Although the band released an EP a few years back, the last full album was “Goodnight Spacegirl” in 2016, and before that it was “A Nice Place to Be,” in 2006. Are there any plans for a new album soon?
“I’m currently writing, and we have been working on arranging some new material in preparation for recording,” she said. “I’m not really sure why it has been so long between albums. I guess life just gets in the way.”
“I love Edgar Allen Poe, and I just thought it was so macabre,” Park said.
Other fall highlights include the return of “The Voice” semifinalist Madison Curbelo with The 413s on Sept. 12 and Traveller: The Chris Stapleton Experience on Oct. 17.
For more information on the venue’s fall lineup and to purchase tickets, go online to 52sumner.com.
