Weekend
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| THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026
Come out & get
Springfield Museums fundraising gala to mark reopening of George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, Page D2
SPELLBOUND
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THE REPUBLICAN | MASSLIVE.COM
At right, guests enjoy a past year's October fundraising gala at the Springfield Museums. This year's event, "Spellbound," is scheduled for Oct. 22 and also marks the reopening of the oldest museum on the Quadrangle: The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum. (SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS)
Come out & get
SPELLBOUND
Springfield Museums he Springfield Museums are inviting to reveal restoration everyone to come out and get “Spellbound” this month. of art museum at That is the theme of this year’s fundraising gala, scheduled for Oct. annual gala 22, which also marks the reopening of the
T
By Ashley Potter
apotter@repub.com
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum following a restoration project.
“The museum is very near and dear to people’s hearts, and we’re thrilled to be able to open it back up again,” Larissa Murray, director of education at the Springfield Museums, told The Republican. The art museum is the oldest museum on the Quadrangle campus, which also houses the Springfield Science Museum, the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, the Michele and Donald D’Amour
SEE MUSEUMS, PAGE D3
The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum on the campus of the Springfield Museums. (THE REPUBLICAN, FILE PHOTO)
WEEKEND
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026 | D3
“The evening brings together art, history, science, mystery and a sense of play — all while helping support the exhibitions and educational experiences.” Kay Simpson, president & CEO, Springfield Museums
Guests enjoy a past year's fundraising gala at the Springfield Museums. (PHOTO COURTESY SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS)
Museums CONTINUES FROM PAGE D2
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LOCATION
Amelia Park Memorial Gardens Amelia Park Arena Westfield, MA
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ADMISSION Adults $20 Seniors
$15
Children
$10
Ages 3 & Under FREE
SENSORY-FRIENDLY DAYS & NIGHTS Will also be offered for guests who would enjoy a modified experience.
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Museum of Fine Arts and the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History. In February, the art museum closed in order to undergo “important restoration work,” according to a post on the Springfield Museums’ social media page. Those who attend the Spellbound gala Oct. 22 will be among the first visitors to step foot into the newly renovated museum, which will be open that night to ticketed attendees only. New exhibits at the museum include “Visions of the Supernatural” and Tara Sellios’ “Ask Now the Beasts.” Drawn from the collections of the Springfield Museums, “Visions of the Supernatural” is an expansive look at the beliefs, rituals, objects and cultural phenomena that shaped the Victorian era. It features interactive stations, inviting guests to read Tarot cards, gaze into crystal balls, consult Ouija boards, or try their hand at automatic writing. “Ask Now the Beasts,” presented as a companion exhibit to “Visions of the Supernatural,” features still-life photographs by artist Tara Sellios that draw on symbolism, spiritualism and
natural history. Sellios’ work highlights animal skeletons, swarming insects and dried flowers, balancing the beauty of nature with the grotesqueness of human suffering. “They coincide with the theme of ‘Spellbound’ and support the general idea of Victorian spiritualism and mysticism,” Murray said. Both exhibits will be open to guests during the Spellbound gala before opening to the general public Oct. 24 — the same day the Museums hosts its annual Halloween day for families. Costumes are encouraged at both events, though guidelines for costumes — which includes no face masks — can be found on the Museums’ website. People interested in attending the gala are asked to purchase tickets by end-of-day today, Oct. 15. Tickets, priced at $100 per person, include admission to the event, hors d’oeuvres, a welcome cocktail and live entertainment. “‘Spellbound’ offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the return of the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum and invite our community to experience this extraordinary building in a whole new way,” Kay Simpson, president and CEO of the Springfield Museums, said in a statement. “The evening brings together art,
Josh Simpson, a personalized cosmic music experience in the Museums’ Seymour Planetarium, a custom-painted Louis Vuitton handbag, paintings by local artists, golf foursomes and lessons and explorations of cultural destinations around the region. Some items being listed as The items are being aucpart of a silent auction to bentioned entirely online, with efit the Springfield Museums bids opening today at 10 a.m. include, above, glass art by and closing on Oct. 22 at Josh Simpson and at right, a 7:45 p.m. Proceeds will help custom-painted Louis Vuitton support future exhibits and handbag. (SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS) programming at the Springfield Museums. In addition to the gala on For more information on the history, science, mystery and a Oct. 22, the Museums is gala or the reopening of the sense of play — all while help- launching a silent auction as art museum, visit spring ing support the exhibitions part of its fundraising initaand educational experiences.” tive. Items include glass art by fieldmuseums.org.
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Deerfield’s Jordan Bashaw a quick study in music
The Weight Band will bring their “Woodstock sound” to 52 Sumner in Springfield.
SPRINGFIELD
Deerfield country music artist Jordan Bashaw will play several local venues this month and in November.
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EERFIELD’S JORdan Bashaw didn’t grow up dreaming of being a country music artist. In fact, he didn’t even learn to play guitar until three years ago. He also was not much of a country music fan, preferring hip-hop growing up. Yet Bashaw now finds himself playing gigs throughout the Pioneer Valley. And the biggest kicker of all is that he only plays original songs that he writes himself. Bashaw, 27, who will play the Voo in Turners Falls on Oct. 29, The O’s in Sunderland on Oct. 31 and Element Brewing in Millers Falls on Nov. 28, has certainly had a different path to becoming a performer. “Starting in high school, my whole life was doing MMA, but when I hit 24, my body realized I can’t do it anymore, and I need something else to do,” he told The Republican during a recent interview. “My trainer at
George Lenker LIVE WIRE
the time gave me a guitar, so I picked it up and started playing it, just needing something to do with my time, and I became obsessed with it.” That obsession led Bashaw to getting good enough to play out fairly quickly, but his route to doing so also differed from the ones that most players take: He didn’t really learn any cover songs. “I kind of picked a guitar in order to write songs. So, I didn’t care too much for learning covers. I would learn them, but just enough SEE LIVE WIRE, PAGE D10
The Weight Band comes to 52 Sumner
By Keith O’Connor
Special to The Republican
Jim Weider, who founded The Weight Band in 2013 inside Levon Helm’s legendary Woodstock barn, calls the music they will be performing at 52 Sumner in Springfield on Friday “The Woodstock Sound.” Led by Weider — a guitarist and vocalist from Woodstock,
SEE BAND, PAGE D12
WEEKEND
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NIGHTCLUBS & OUTINGS THURSDAY Theodores': Rockstar Karaoke. 201 Worthington St., Springfield Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
FRIDAY MGM Springfield: MGM Free Music Friday: Dookie. 1 MGM Way, Springfield The Drake: Gold Dust with Stella Kola & Miles Hewitt. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst Theodores': Buddy McEarns. 201 Worthington St., Springfield Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield West Springfield's Irish House Restaurant & Pub: Frank Serafino. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SATURDAY The Drake: Oh He Dead. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield West Springfield's Irish House Restaurant & Pub: Dee Reilly. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SUNDAY Uno Chicago Grill: Jazz. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield West Springfield's Irish House Restaurant & Pub: Trad Irish Session. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
MONDAY Uno Chicago Grill: 50% off individual deep dish pizza (dine in only). 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
TUESDAY Uno Chicago Grill: Blues Music. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
WEDNESDAY Theodores': Justin "Jabbo" Martin. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Despite Cube shutdown, Holyoke haunt never felt more alive
DEMENTEDFX
M
By Ashley Potter
apotter@repub.com
y fiancé and I are horror aficionados. Every weekend during the month of October, we look for a new spot to get our haunt on. Sometimes we return to previously tried and true experiences. Such was the case with DementedFX in Holyoke this past weekend, a haunt we’ve been going to every year since we first got together. Of course, this time, we went into the experience just days after the Holyoke City Council ordered DementedFX to stop operations of its newest installment, The Cube, calling it a “safety hazard.” We weren’t sure what to expect when we arrived on Saturday night. Would the experience be a watered-down version of what we had seen in past years? Would there be fewer actors on site? From the moment we stepped through the front doors at 530 Main St., we immediately realized we had nothing to worry about — well, except for the zombie virus running rampant throughout the building. For those of you who haven’t been to DementedFX before, the Holyoke haunt sets itself apart from traditional haunted houses by creating a fully immersive storyline that feels a lot like a real-life horror movie. You enter BioMedCorp, a facility that has been working on top-secret experiments behind closed doors, including the production of a monstrous virus that transforms people into
The Republican Entertainment Editor Ashley Potter, shown second from left, visited the DementedFX facility in Holyoke last weekend.
mutated zombies. By the time you arrive at the facility, it has already been overrun by these monsters, but you are told there’s a cure somewhere in
the building — you just have to find it first. Along the way, you meet members of the Resistance, Skull and Bone Crusher, who
warn against trusting the scientists at BioMedCorp. But before you even step foot into BioMedCorp, there’s SEE HAUNT, PAGE D7
SPRINGFIELDDOWNTOWN.COM
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Uno Chicago Grill: Light Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield
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Jessica Chastain, foreground, and Jay Duplass, background, are shown in a scene from "Other Mommy."
WHAT TO STREAM
Katseye, ‘VisionQuest,’ ‘Tenzing’ and a new ‘Castlevania’ game
(UNIVERSAL PICTURES)
‘OTHER MOMMY’ Tom Hiddleston, left, and Genden Phuntsok in a scene from Apple TV’s “Tenzing.” (APPLE TV VIA AP) The Associated Press
A new album from Katseye and the Marvel series “VisionQuest” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Judd Apatow’s tribute to Norm Macdonald, “Dopamine Chamber” from Fontaines D.C. and a new entry in the “Castlevania” video game series.
New music to stream • Call Katseye the great, global girl group experiment of the decade. The band officially debuted at the end of 2023, created by the Hybe Corporation and Geffen Records in a TV competition process that was documented on the Netflix series “Popstar Academy: Katseye.” SEE STREAM, PAGE D11
By Beatrice Loayza
The New York Times
The one big thing the sometimes-creepy, sometimes-hilarious schlockfest “Other Mommy” has going for it is that it gets straight to the point. A few minutes after we meet 7-year-old Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark), her stay-at-home father (Jay Duplass) and her girlboss mother (Jessica Chastain), the “other mommy” emerges from Bela’s closet — a swampy, gothy version (also played by Chastain) of Bela’s real mom, with a rictus grin. And rather than keep other mommy contained to Bela’s brain or bedroom, it’s not too long before the shape-shifting demonic entity steps out, crashing Bela’s parents’ anniversary fete and sending the desperate family on the run in a futile attempt to escape their haunting. Along the way, there are a few casualties and gruesome impalings; a seaside seance with a team of ghostbusters; and several limbs turned to putty, and then pulverized into a cloud of sparkle dust. All of this prompts the
question: What is the other mommy supposed to be? Well, under the umbrella of Blumhouse, director Rob Savage makes the character something of a campy cross between Samara from “The Ring” and Pennywise the clown. Chastain’s Stepford-wife smile does a lot of heavy lifting, but the fun of the performance comes from seeing the pristinely manicured actress transform into
(among other mommy’s many guises) a gloopy Slender Man or a twisty-armed insectoid with seemingly unlimited powers. Catering to the whooping and wailing of a rowdy horror crowd, the film is extra generous with its shocks, but as it goes on, this relentless pacing also somewhat dulls their effect. Instead of periods of tension buildup punctuated
SEE ‘MOMMY’, PAGE D11
SUMMONING ALL SPIRITS!
Thursday, October 22 6:00-8:30 pm An alluring evening inspired by a time when science and the supernatural intertwined. Ages 21+. Themed attire encouraged. Tarot Readings ◆ Palmistry Harpist & DJ ◆ Silent Auction Complimentary Welcome Cocktail Hors d’oeuvres & much more!
RSVP by October 19 at SpringfieldMuseums.org Preview auction items at Spellbound26.givesmart.com
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New movies to stream this week • Director Judd Apatow pays affectionate tribute to Norm Macdonald with the documentary “Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald” (Netflix). Apatow’s film about the stand-up comedian, who died in 2021, plays with Macdonald’s still constant ubiquity on social media, where bits and late-show appearances still regularly flood the feeds of comedy fans. • Jennifer Peedom’s “Tenzing” (Apple TV) is a biopic and historical drama
about an often unsung hero of mountaineering: Tenzing Norgay. Genden Phuntsok and Tom Hiddleston star as Tenzing and Edmund Hillary, respectively, in Peedom’s film about the first climbers to ever summit Mount Everest. Co-starring Willem Dafoe. • “The Death of Robin Hood” (HBO Max) stars Hugh Jackman as a grizzled and violent outlaw little like most contemporary versions of Robin Hood. Michael Sarnoski (“Pig,” “A Quiet Place: Day One”) eschews cheerier mythologies for a brutal telling of the medieval tale. In my review, I wrote that it “drains the blood, and life, out of an old English legend.” — AP Film Writer Jake Coyle
Jessica Chastain pulls double duty in horror film
WEEKEND
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Haunt
You walk down dark hallways. At times, you have to squeeze your way through tight spaces or get down on all fours and crawl your way through tunnels.
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a lobby where you wait in queue. On busy nights, that queue can be hundreds of people deep. While you’re waiting, loud music blares overhead and every so often, DementedFX actors come out and put on a show to get you ready for what you’ll see inside of the haunt. Or, if you’re like me, and hate standing in long lines, you can upgrade your ticket to a VIP pass, which includes access to a private lounge. That’s what my fiancé and I did on Saturday, and we both agreed that the VIP experience this year was even better than in years past. After you check in as a VIP passholder, you’re guided to the lounge with booths and stools and perhaps most importantly of all, a bar. You get a free drink with the purchase of a VIP pass, alcoholic or nonalcoholic, but in my case, I knew I needed the shot of courage. I went for the alcoholic drink, a Demented FX exclusive with White Lion Brewing called “Bone Crusher Blueberry.” Both my fiancé and I agreed: It was delicious. A second bonus to the VIP lounge: You get the occasional visit from DementedFX actors, fully in character. As we were sitting in the VIP lounge, enjoying our Bone Crusher beverages and taking in the ambiance, Skull Crusher — complete with the facepaint, weaponry, piercing contacts and more — sat down across from us. He struck up a conversation without breaking character once — even remembered my fiancé from a previous year, much to the surprise of us both. It was a great way to get the night going. You can enjoy the VIP lounge for up to an hour and enter the haunt at any time during that hour. By the time we finished our drinks, my fiancé and I were ready to enter BioMedCorp and face the monsters within. We were led to the front of the line (another perk of VIP) and immediately let into the haunt. Because there were only two of us, we were
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026 | D7
The line to get into the attraction at DementedFX in Holyoke offers live entertainment. Above, Skull Crusher, one of the costumed characters at the haunt, addresses the crowd. (HEATHER MORRISON / MASLIVE)
paired with a group of three from the general admission line. The haunt itself follows the same general storyline year after year. You are taken into the lobby where a flustered BioMedCorp employee is pacing the floor and instructs you to take the elevator and meet up with the head scientist who has the cure for the virus. But one thing my fiancé and I were both impressed by is that no matter how many years in a row we visit, there’s always a new scare or something that’s just ever so slightly different to make the experience still feel fresh each year. You walk down dark hallways. At times, you have to squeeze your way through tight spaces or get down on all fours and crawl your way through tunnels. There are actors waiting to scare you at virtually every turn in the facility, and they do so exceptionally well. Wherever there isn’t an actor, there’s an animatronic, or a video, or other special effects that keep you on edge the entire time. Without spoiling too much, if you survive your tour of the BioMedCorp facility, you will come face-to-face with the members of the Resistance, who help lead you to safety.
(And the gift shop.) Jeremie LaPointe, owner of Demented FX, and other staff worked fast in response to the city shutting down the Cube — the highlight in the gift shop this year was a shirt that read “I missed out on The Cube, deemed too intense by the city,” something that many of the employees were wearing with pride. One thing was for certain —
Cube or no Cube, the actors and staff at DementedFX continue to step their game up year after year. On our way out the door, my fiancé and I happened to run into Skull Crusher once again. “What is your name again?” He asked me, staring at me with those piercing contacts. “So I can remember you for
next time.” “Ashley,” I told him. We’ll see if I’m remembered next year. Ashley Potter is the Entertainment Editor for The Republican and a lover of all things Halloween. She purchased her own tickets to DementedFX and this story is entirely her own opinion.
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Chicopee Elks #1849
Polish American Citizens Club
Fairview Knights of Columbus
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
A building facade at DementedFX in Holyoke. (SUBMITTED)
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 with additional attendence. Full Kitchen 4-6:30pm.
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CALL TODAY 413-788-1250 TO LIST HERE
WEEKEND
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Outstanding Malbec wines from France’s Cahors region
W
hen people think of Malbec wines, many probably think of inky, red wines from Argentina. That makes sense, since roughly 75% of the world’s Malbec grapes are grown in this South American country.
But what many people might not realize is that’s not where Malbec grapes come from. In fact, during a recent wine tasting class I taught, a few people were surprised to learn that the Argentinian Malbec everyone loved in the class — 2025 Domaine Bousquet Malbec ($12.99 at Table & Vine in West Springfield) — can trace its lineage back to another place far away in another part of the world. Long before winemakers in South America were making these Malbecs, a small corner of southwestern France was creating outstanding wines using the same, hearty grape. That out-of-the-way region in France is called Cahors. And in case you were wondering, the “s” is silent in Cahors. This week, you can learn more about several outstanding Malbecs from southwest France, which still produces many magnificent Malbecs, but still somehow always seems to be overlooked. I figured this was a great time to feature them since these wines are perfect for hearty, cool-weather meals, especially stews and grilled meats. And best of all, Malbecs from Cahors and Southwest France in general remain some of the best bargains around. All of the wines featured this week cost less than $19 a bottle. Hope you enjoy. History of Malbec Officially, Malbec (which was originally called ‘cot’) was first planted in the Cahors region in southwest
France in the 1760s. However, wine historians believe winemakers started growing Malbec grapes much earlier. Romans in southwest France likely started growing Malbec grapes to make wine around 50 B.C. or during the second century. The bottom line is that people in Cahors have been growing Malbec grapes for centuries to make great, robust red wines.
Ken Ross Wine Press
be leading this wine tasting course and I would love to see you there. Please visit HCC’s culinary page at hcc.edu to learn more.
More recommended wines Everyday Wine (Wines under $15) 2023 Chartreuse De Bonpas Cotes-Du-Rhone ($15 Suggested Retail Price): The three Malbec wines from southwest France featured in Earthy, elegant, blended red this week’s wine column. (PHOTO BY KEN ROSS) wine from France’s Rhone wine grapes there. Soon after, watering helpings of cherry, region, one of my favorite Argentinian officials realized black licorice and raspberry. wine regions for affordable, certain regions there were ide- Absolutely magnificent. dry red wines. This fragrant, 2023 Chateau Combel al for growing Malbec grapes, floral, smooth red wine has a Why has Malbec Cahors Le Pur Fruit Du especially the high-altitude well-rounded, subtle finish, thrived in Cahors? mountainous region of Menwith hints of plum, blackberry Causse ($18.99 at Table & Vine): This delightful Malbec and cherry. doza, where Malbec grapes As with any wine grape, the reason why winemakers wine from France’s Cahors Weekend Wine (Wines under continue to thrive. $40) in Cahors started growing region strikes just the right Other Malbec regions Malbec grapes there comes balance between lighter, more 2024 Brancaia Chianti down to two important floral-like wines and the meat- Classico DOCG 2024 ($28 While Argentina’s Menier Malbecs many of us love. elements — climate and soil. doza region has become the SRP): I have become a huge Cahors is close to two bodies epicenter for Malbec wines, fan of Chianti Classico wines The flavors include subtle of water (the Atlantic Ocean these grapes can still be found yet intense notes of cherry, in recent years and this gem and Mediterranean Sea) and in France’s Cahors region and raspberry and strawberry that shows why. These Italian red has warm, summer weather several other wine regions wines often have complex, linger after each taste. Truly as well as a fair amount of around the world, including dense flavors, including flinty memorable. rain. In addition, the region Chile, California and Austrahints of cherry, blackberry and Local wine events strawberry. This particular has limestone-rich soil. Mix lia. these elements together Italian Wine Fest: ProviChianti Classico is a big wine Malbec wine tasting notes sions Longmeadow will host and you have a recipe for that somehow manages to re2022 Pyrene L’Irresistible a free wine tasting featuring outstanding Malbec grapes, main understated and subtle. Lune Noire Malbec ($13.99 a wide range of Italian wines Splurge Wine (Wines under which have thick skins and from some of the country’s robust flavors. $100) at Table & Vine in West best small producers. The 2025 Chateau Montelena Springfield): While not speHow Malbec made its cifically from Cahors, this out- free event will be held Oct. 24 Napa Valley Sauvignon way to Argentina standing wine from Southwest from 2 to 5 p.m. at 686 Bliss Blanc ($50 SRP): Delicious, Road in Longmeadow. France has a lighter, brighter So how did Malbec grapes refreshing white wine made get all the way from France Piedmont Wines: Learn finish than many Malbec with Sauvignon Blanc grapes by one of the best white wine more about wines from this to Argentina? Not surpriswines. Flavors here include many fresh, ripe fruit flavors, iconic wine region in northern producers in California’s ingly, it was a Frenchman who brought these grapes to including hints of blackberry Italy, which includes many of Napa Valley. The wine’s Italy’s most famous subreSouth America. In the 1850s, and raspberry. flavors are floral with hints of green apple, lemon, lime and 2024 Le Gouleyant Malgions and styles of wines, a French agricultural expert, Michel Pouget, was working in bec ($14.99 at Table & Vine): including Barolo, Barbaresco, mango — the perfect white Chile and helping people there This outstanding, earthy wine Langhe and more. Holyoke wine to transition from lighter Community College’s MGM develop the country’s wine from France’s Cahors region summer flavors to heartier, beautifully illustrates why Culinary Arts Institute at 164 earthier wines. industry. Pouget and others were experimenting with sev- Malbec wines have become Cheers! Race St. hosts this non-credit eral different grape varieties in increasingly popular in recent wine tasting class on Oct. 22 Wine Press by Ken Ross from 6 to 8 p.m. The class is appears on Masslive.com and Chile, including Malbec. Then years. The inky, rich flavors officials in Argentina invited here are big, bold and beauopen to the public. Tickets are in The Republican’s Weekend $79. Seating is limited. I will Pouget to cultivate different tiful. This includes mouthsection.
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HOLYOKE
Haunted sights await at Wistariahurst Wistariahurst Museum is celebrating the current season of all things spooky with a screening of the 1922 silent film “Nosferatu” on Friday.
Archive in Longmeadow. “It was fascinating to research how mourning impacted people during the late 19th century, and how many of the traditions they started continue to this day,” exhibit curator Rachel Powell said of “Memento Mori” in a statement. “It’s amazing to see The screening, which the similarities we have with requires tickets that can be those who mourned so long ago, and how we can connect purchased in advance online, will take place outdoors in the with them through the keepsakes they collected.” museum’s historic garden on a Other spooky offerings large, 12-foot screen courtesy Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke will be offering Hallowat the Museum this month of One Holyoke. een-themed programs in late October. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN, Guests are invited to bring include: FILE) their own blankets and chairs • Skinner Specters Tour: to get comfy. The museum Eventbrite page. The ticket Wistariahurst’s volunteers play historic items related to notes that the outdoor garden price includes the film screen- mourning and teaches visitors portray the Skinner family has spots of uneven terrain ing, as well as a snack and a and their servants in this what common mourning and that guests who use beverage. practices were like in the immersive character tour, to be held on Oct. 23 at 5:30 mobility aids should keep that The screening coincides 1880s. Items on view in the p.m. Their ghostly perforin mind. with an ongoing exhibit at “Memento Mori” exhibit Tickets, priced at $10 for Wistariahurst, “Memento come from Wistariahurst Mu- mances will reveal dark tales seum’s own archives as well as of death, loss, and the spirits adults and $5 for children, are Mori,” on view through Nov. 3. The exhibit puts on disthe Storrs House Museum and that are said to still roam the available on the museum’s
museum’s halls. This unique character tour of Wistariahurst Museum includes standing, walking, and transitioning between the first and second floors using a grand staircase in dim lighting. This tour may include loud noises and possible jump scares. Parents are advised to consider these factors before purchasing tickets. The tour is included with general admission, which is priced at $18 for the general public and $15 for members. Reservations are strongly encouraged as space is expected to fill up. If any guest has a question about accessibility or how to register for this tour, email info@wistariahurst.org or call 413-322-5660. • Sensory friendly trick-ortreat: Wistariahurst will offer SEE MUSEUM, PAGE D11
From mountain trails blazing with color to pristine waters rippling under crisp, clean breezes— let go and embrace fall in the Lake George Area. Plan your getaway today at VisitLakeGeorge.com
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2 youth productions lined up this month at
Academy of Music Presenting: ‘Beetlejuice Jr.’ The Academy of Music Theatre will bring a beloved Halloween-time tale to the stage later this month. “Beetlejuice Jr.,” being produced by Academy Youth Productions, will be staged on Oct. 29 and 30 at 6:30 p.m. Based on the blockbuster motion picture-turned-Broadway-musical, “Beetlejuice Jr.” tells the story of a strange and unusual teenager named Lydia Deetz, who is grieving the loss of her mother and is obsessed with death. Luckily for Lydia, she and her father move to a new house haunted by a recently deceased couple and Beetlejuice, a delightful demon with a real zest for life. When Lydia calls on Beetlejuice to scare away anyone with a pulse, this double-crossing specter shows his true stripes, unleashing a (Nether)world of pandemonium. This 60-minute show will be performed by children ages 11-17. With music and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Eddie Perfect and a book by the Tony Award-nominated pair Anthony King and Scott Brown, “Beetlejuice” was nominated for eight 2019 Tony Awards, including Best New Musical. The young actors in the Academy Youth Productions performances are the children of Pioneer Valley families, and they have been rehearsing this show since September. The production is directed and choreographed by Education Director Kyle Lawrence, music directed by Lauren Fleit, and stage managed by
Live Wire
Presenting: ‘Pinocchio: My Puppet Pal’
from $15.20 to $23.95, including fees, and can be purchased online at aomtheatre.com, by calling the Academy box office at 413-584-9032, ext. 105, or in person during box office hours Tuesday through Friday, from 3 to 6 p.m. The Academy of Music participates in the Card to Culture program, and there are limited Card to Culture seats available for this performance; call or visit the box office in person for more information. “Beetlejuice Jr.” is being presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
The Academy of Music’s first Academy Youth Productions show of the 2026-2027 season will be staged Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. “Pinocchio: My Puppet Pal,” a brand-new 30-minute musical, will be performed by Western Massachusetts children ages 6-10. Follow Katie and her puppet pal, Pinocchio, as they journey to the Harvest Festival. Along the way, they meet new pals and learn what it is to be a "real friend." The young actors in the Academy Youth Productions performances are the children of Pioneer Valley families, and they have been rehearsing this show since early September. The production is directed and choreographed by Education Director Kyle Lawrence and Associate Education Director Zazie Tobey, and is stage managed by Madison VanDeurzen. Tickets for “Pinocchio: My Puppet Pal” are $12 including fees and can be purchased online at aomtheatre.com, by calling the Academy box office at 413-584-9032, ext. 105, or by visiting during box office hours Tuesday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.
in music leaned more to artists like Eminem and Lil Wayne? “When I was maybe 23 or 24, I discovered Zach Bryan. I remember when I heard his music for the first time, I thought ‘this is a regular guy with a guitar. making songs,’ and that’s something that resonated with me,” he said. “And so, when I pick up a guitar and I play it, those are the kinds of sounds that come out of it. I didn’t even really know I was
making country music.” While Bashaw is interested in refining his craft, he doesn’t take himself too seriously. When asked about his approach to writing, he was humble. “My answer is going to sound funny, but I don’t know what the hell I’m doing anyway. So, with that said, every single song that comes out of me is a surprise,” he said with a laugh.
Film patrons wait for the opening of the theater doors at the Academy of Music in Northampton in this file photo from 2024. (ED COHEN PHOTO)
Madison VanDeurzen. The Academy will be hosting a giveaway in the lobby before the performance, and winners will be announced at the end of the show. Audience members are also encouraged to come to Northampton early on Friday, Oct. 30, to see the first annual Thriller Parade — a flash mob-style dance happening on the plaza in front of the Academy of Music at both 5 and 5:15 p.m. Attendance to the Thriller Parade is free, and many of the “Beetlejuice Jr.” actors will be participating in costume. Tickets for “Beetlejuice Jr.” are priced
his own. So, a few months ago, he called his MMA coach’s dad, who just happened to CONTINUES FROM PAGE D4 be local music notable Mark to learn how things work,” Snow. he said. “And I got just good “So, I called him and said, enough to be dangerous, and I ‘I’ve been playing guitar, do started writing stuff.” you have any ideas of where I Bashaw said he wrote his can play?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I’m playing a two-hour set on first song on Dec. 15, 2024, and hasn’t stopped since. Not Friday. Come on down and too long after, he started play- I’ll let you play for an hour,’” ing open mics, but he wanted Bashaw said. That show was at The O’s, to step and play a real gig of
where he has been playing the weekly open mic. “They’ve been really great,” he said. “People seem to enjoy what I’m doing.” If all that wasn’t enough, Bashaw recently released an EP in May and a new single last week. You can hear his music on Spotify and other streaming platforms. But what made him choose country music as the genre to pursue when his earlier taste
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larger than others in cultural memory. At the forefront is Kathleen Hanna, the feminist CONTINUES FROM PAGE D6 punk pioneer and celebrated That feels like ancient history Bikini Kill frontwoman, as well as acts like Bratmobile. now. Today, they’re easily The list should also include one of the biggest groups on Heavens to Betsy, the duo the planet, and their swift ascent is further documented of drummer Tracy Sawyer in a new film, “Katseye: Wild and singer-guitarist Corin Heart,” available to stream on Tucker (who would later form Sleater-Kinney with Carrie Disney+/Hulu. • If the Irish post-punk Brownstein.) On Friday, they will release “Baby’s Gone,” a band Fontaines D.C. is still unknown to you — that’s sure newly unearthed demo tape originally recorded in Febto change. Their last album, ruary 1992 by Bratmobile’s 2024’s “Romance,” was certified platinum in the U.K. Molly Neuman — and two 7-inch EPs. It’s a miracle for off the strength of its singles followers of the DIY musical “Favourite” and “Starburster.” Their latest album, “Dounderground and a gift for pamine Chamber,” is on track others just discovering it now (perhaps in no small part to be one of the biggest rock releases of the year, from the due to Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy trip-hop-adjacent “Tongue” Chain Festival)? to the dizzying “Marianne.” — AP Music Writer Maria (If their pop-and-then-some Sherman experiments are not enough New series to stream of an incentive to press play, just know that Rosalía • Paul Bettany returns as Vision in the Marvel series appears on the track “Where “VisionQuest,” that closes Is Gone?,” their first guest feature. That’s unexpected!) out the WandaVision trilogy. Vision is now a fugitive after • When it comes to Riot the events of “WandaVision,” Grrrl, the ’90s feminist movement, some names loom with authorities hunting him
Members of the girl group Katseye perform on stage.
down. James Spader reprises his role as Ultron, an evil artificial intelligence that built Vision to be his own ultimate physical form. The first two episodes drop on Wednesday on Disney+. • “Hollywood Arts,” a sequel to the Nickelodeon sitcom “Victorious” that ran from 2010 to 2013, arrives on Netflix. It follows Daniella Monet’s Trina Vega, a downon-her-luck actress with no teaching credentials who takes a substitute job at her old high school. Original stars Victoria Justice and Ariana Grande are not among the
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a safe place to trick-or-treat on Oct. 25, with timeslots available from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The program invites sensory-sensitive children and their families to trick-or-treat throughout the halls of Wistariahurst. Gentle exploration of the museum’s exhibits is encouraged, and the trick-ortreaters can choose from different “treats” ranging from candy to fidget toys. Costumes are also encouraged. Families can sign up for 10-minute time slots between 1 and 2:30 p.m.; each time slot will be limited to two families. This trick-or-treat exploration event will continue until 3 p.m. to allow children to explore at their own pace and enjoy a stress-free experience. Sign up for a time slot on the Wistariahurst’s Eventbrite page, online at eventbrite. com.
main cast, but Justice has said she may make a cameo in the future. The first 13 episodes drop on Thursday and the second half of the season will premiere at a later date. • Before Jason ever picked up a machete, his mom was doing the bloody work. A new “Friday the 13th” prequel series called “Crystal Lake” goes back to where the legend began. It’s an eight-episode series starring Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees, who is Jason’s mom. The full season debuts Thursday. — AP Writer Alicia Rancilio
A scene from the 1922 silent film “Nosferatu,” being screened at Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke.
• “Victorian Sentiments” presentation: Wistariahurst Museum will host a presentation on mourning jewelry and grave iconography on Oct. 27 at 5:30 p.m. The program will be presented by historians Joanne and Dennis Picard, of Westfield, who will share images and stories about
the changes to cemeteries in Western Massachusetts’ and the formal ritualization of mourning. Admission is donation-based, with a sliding scale of $1 to $10. For more information about Wistariahurst’s Halloween programs, visit wistaria hurst.org.
New video games to play • William, the hero of “Valor Mortis,” takes the title (which means “the value of death”) a bit too literally. He has already died fighting for Napoleon, but somehow he has come back to life. That unholy resurrection gives William some wicked supernatural powers to go along with his slick swordplay. Meanwhile, Napoleon’s endless war has corrupted a broad chunk of 19th-century Europe, so hordes of “plague-ridden abominations” have joined the fight. Take up arms on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. • While we’re messing around in France, let’s travel back in time to 1499 for “Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse.” A new protagonist, Rose Belmont, has inherited the mighty whip known as the Vampire Killer. Dracula has been defeated for good, but his castle has plunked itself down in Paris and all sorts of demons — not to mention Joan of Arc — are on the loose. Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and PC. — Lou Kesten
(Are we really watching “Other Mommy” for the sophistication of its doCONTINUES FROM PAGE D6 mestic drama?) Though far by jump scares, Savage opts above the material they’ve for surreal extended sebeen handed, Chastain and quences that are sort of neat Duplass, at least, show they on paper but that often feel don’t take themselves too limp and scattershot — as seriously, and they don’t in a (fluidly orchestrated, have to do much to nail their admittedly) scene in which “types” — melting ice queen Bela is sucked into a ball pit, and lovable goofball — with resurfaces in the ocean, and decent charisma. reappears in the back seat of Based on its advertising, her family hatchback. the film would seem to For its part, the script by promise an evil mom versus Nathan Elston creates a rath- good (er, real) mom face-off, er perfunctory explanation but any opportunity for dopfor other mommy’s raison pelgänger skirmishes is sided’être. stepped in what is actually a Bela’s growing awareness supernatural coming-of-age of her parents’ problems — chiller about Bela learning to mom may be in love with accept her family’s imperfecdad’s ultrawealthy best tions. Very cute — and Clark friend (Arian Moayed) — is an excellent shell-shocked makes other mommy’s kid — but I’d have chosen promise of a happily-evmore powerful thrills and er-after sound comforting. bloody chaos over thematic Thankfully, these marital niceties any day. tensions are built up withThis article originally apout much fuss or effort. peared in The New York Times.
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New York, who replaced Robbie Robertson in The Band and later performed with Levon Helm in the Levon Helm Band — The Weight Band featuring former members of The Band and The Levon Helm Band will perform original material from their two albums alongside favorites from The Band’s extensive catalog. “We started by playing songs by The Band. Then I said, ‘We should write some originals,’ and we recorded an album in 2018 called ‘World Gone Mad’ followed by ‘Shines Like Gold,’” Weider told The Republican. Prior to starting The Weight Band, Weider was The Band’s lead guitarist, writing songs and performing on their three studio albums, “Jericho,” “High on the Hog” and “Jubilation.” He toured internationally with original Band members, including Helm, Garth Hudson, and Rick Danko for 15 years and was featured with them on numerous albums, films, videos and in television appearances. Weider was a wide-eyed, 17-year-old Woodstock resident back in 1969, so he didn’t have very far to travel to attend the historic festival billed as “An Aquarian Experience: 3 Days of Peace and Music,” which later became known as “Woodstock.” “I was there primarily to see The Band perform. They were my hometown band from Woodstock. Besides The Band, I thought Sly Stone was fantastic and really crossed barriers bringing everyone together. The Who played most of the songs from their rock opera ‘Tommy’ and they were amazing, and so was Joe Cocker. It was an unforgettable period of songs with lyrics that carried real messages in the day,” Weider said. Flash forward nearly 60 years later and the music of his hometown still resonates with Weider, who together with the veteran musicians in The Weight Band, deliver
a dynamic set that blends classic Americana with roadhouse rock, funky swamp pop, blues, country soul, and folk. While there was plenty of good music coming out of “Woodstock” the festival, it is Woodstock the town Weider was referring to, where musicians like Bob Dylan and The Band helped coin the phrase “Woodstock Sound.’ “Growing up in Woodstock, we had Bob Dylan, The Band and others who settled here. Dylan crossed blues and rock with folk music, while The Band’s music came out of a combination of blues, rock and roll, rockabilly, country ... songs like the country ballad ‘Long Black Veil’ all the way to ‘Life Is a Carnival,’” Weider said of the Woodstock Sound. Weider’s interest in music was only further piqued when he heard the rock and roll sounds of Elvis, Chuck Berry, and The Ventures. “Back then rock and roll was just exploding. Then the English thing came about, and I was very influenced by Jeff Beck, The Yardbirds, and John Mayall playing the blues. That turned me on to going deeper and learning about the real blues players like B.B. King, Freddie King and Albert King and, of course, Jesse Ed Davis who recorded with Taj Mahal. They all influenced my plan and I was hooked,” he said. Joining Weider on Friday will be band members Brian Mitchell on keyboards and vocals, who performed with the Levon Helm Band; Albert Rogers on bass and vocals, who has also shared the stage with Levon Helm and Garth Hudson; drummer and vocalist Michael Bram, who splits his time between The Weight Band and drumming for Jason Mraz; and Matt Zeiner on keyboards and vocals, who has toured extensively with Dickey Betts, a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band. Showtime at the Forest Park venue is 8 p.m. Tickets are $39 and $55. For more information, visit 52sumner.com.
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