Hilltown Families 
Suggested Events for April 21st – 27th, 2018
To find out about more event, be sure to visit our Suggest an Event Bulletin Board to see what our readers have recently shared! Have an event to share? Feel encouraged to self-post community events here at any time!
If you have a community event, educational program, or service-learning opportunity happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, self-post your event at any time on our Suggest An Event bulletin board. The events below are “suggested.” Please take the time to confirm that these events are happening, along with time, place, age appropriateness, and costs before attending.
Serving Western Massachusetts since 2005, Hilltown Families supports development and enhancement of our local economy and community. Local businesses, individuals, schools, and non-profits are encouraged to partner with Hilltown Families through sponsorship and advertising. Let us help get the word out about your after school/homeschool class, event, camp, workshop, fundraiser, business/school, service, open house, volunteer opportunity or general announcement. Deliver your message to thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA while supporting the community development work of Hilltown Families! Click HERE to find out more.
Summer Camp
Our summer camp guide is up! Check out our featured post, 2018 Summer Camps and Programs in Western MA for a list that will wow and dazzle you! Summer opportunities featured range from music, art, farming, theater, dance, science, nature, sports, speaking, yoga, rock ‘n roll… to traditional summer day or overnight camps/programs! There’s something for all ages, toddlers to teens! Check it out and start making your summer plans! — Do you have a summer camp or program you’d like to have included in our comprehensive list? Find out how you can submit your listing HERE.
Bulletin Board
April 14 – May 6
Meet the newest additions at Hancock Shaker Village! Explore the hands-on Discovery Barn, try your hand at crafts, stay for story time, and then visit the Shaker Schoolhouse. Tour the renovated Dairy Ell. Play Barn Bingo. Hear about seed saving and plant a seed to take home. Tour our greenhouses where seeds get their start. Meet our merinos and follow wool from sheep to cloak. Walk and wonder on the accessible (stroller-friendly) trail to explore. Compete (for fun) in Farm Games with competitions like the Grain Bag Toss, Moo Juice Squeeze, and more. Pony rides, face painting, balloon art on weekends. Cooking, blacksmithing, woodworking, spinning, weaving, dyeing, and milking demos. There are hundreds of activities. See a full schedule at HancockShakerVillage.org.
Apr 22
The Academy at Charlemont (1359 Route 2 in Charlemont, MA) will host a Middle School (grades 6, 7, 8) Information Session for interested families on Sunday, April 22, from 3pm-4:30pm. Get a feel for the Academy’s creative and rigorous learning environment and warm community. The Middle School program includes a range of intellectual, artistic and civic engagement offerings, including arts electives, a full academic program to include Life Science, Pre Algebra, English, History, and foreign languages. The Academy offers vibrant arts, athletics, and an emphasis on critical thinking and ethical leadership. Academy students love school. Shouldn’t everyone? Details at www.charlemont.org.
Open House: Apr 29
Young World Child Care Center has been enriching the lives of children and their families in the Greater Easthampton Community since 1980 through the belief that children develop into strong, independent individuals when given the proper materials, challenges, and opportunities. Dedicated Educators welcome children aged 2.9 right through 11 years old. Young World proudly offers a variety of care options to meet the needs of families. Full Time & Part time Pre-school Care is available in addition to a traditional Nursery School Program. Young World also provides Before and After School Care for children in Kindergarten straight through 4th Grade. Make an informed choice about quality care. Open House: Sunday, April 29, 1:30-3pm. Call 413-527-3983 for a tour today. www.youngworldchildcarecenter.com
Jul 9 – Aug 3
College for Kids in Westfield provides innovative and creative educational programs for kids ages 5-16, promoting and maintaining an enjoyable learning environment. Each week from Jul 9-Aug 3 will feature different classes, giving the option for parents to enroll their child in a morning session, afternoon session, or both. College for Kids offers a range of subjects including science, digital media, magic, culinary, and the arts. In addition to returning favorites such as Digital Nature Photography, European Desserts, Super Science Adventures, and The Art of Magic, they are excited to offer brand new classes in 2018 including Broadway Bound, Programming Fun with Python, American Raku Pottery, and more! For more info: 413-572-8557; collegeforkids@westfield.ma.edu; www.westfield.ma.edu/cfk
Jul 16-27
Hampshire College Summer Academic Programs is accepting applications for summer 2018. Students who will be high school juniors and seniors in fall 2018 are encouraged to apply and experience Hampshire College, located in Amherst. Get a sense of Hampshire’s innovative approach to learning and what life is like on Hampshire’s campus and in the classroom during the following two-week precollege programs, July 16-27: Blacksmithing, Jewelry Design, and Metal Fabrication; Design for a Better World; Immersion Spanish; Inside the Cell; Making Music for Film, Games, & Other Media; Social Media Literacy; The Craft of Documentary; The Science of Food; and Young Feminist Collaborative. Apply by Friday, April 13, 2018 to receive a 10% tuition discount. For more info: 413-559-6843; summer@hampshire.edu; precollege.hampshire.edu.
A preschool experience that savors childhood. Nature walks by woods and stream, days of music and song, stomping in puddles, nourishing, shared meals: these are parts of the young child’s daily rhythm at The Hartsbrook School. Led by experienced, nurturing teachers, the early childhood program supports imagination and joyful play. Give your child the foundation for future learning and enjoy a vibrant parent community. The Hartsbrook School has limited openings for children 2.9 to 5 years old for the 2018-19 school year. Come take a tour of the school and experience our early childhood program for yourself. 193 Bay Road, Hadley, 413-586-1908. For more information: www.hartsbrook.org
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Hilltown Families Preschool Directory: Are you looking for a preschool that fits your child’s personality and reflects your family’s values? Check out our growing Preschool Directory, covering all four counties in Western Massachusetts, and find the perfect place for your young one! — Have a school you’d like to include in this list? Click here to find out how to have it added.
ADVERTISE HERE: Reach thousands of families in Western MA while supporting the community development work of Hilltown Families! See your summer camp, class, community event, school, open house, audition, homeschool program, workshop, volunteer opportunity, wellness program, local business, after-school class, or non-profit featured here in the Bulletin Board section of our list of Weekly Suggested Events and in our weekly eNewsletter, reaching thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA while supporting the community development work of Hilltown Families! Find out more about our advertising options and how you can partner with Hilltown Families in your online marketing by emailing us at at sales@hilltownfamilies.org.
JOIN OUR TEAM OF CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Interested in becoming a Contributing or Guest Writer for Hilltown Families? We welcome writings that reflect the community-building and educational efforts parents, teens, teachers, artists, activists and community leaders work towards and accomplish, and how that affects, supports and empowers our families. All writing styles welcomed, including local reviews, DIY posts, seasonal cooking/local food, and community-based educational & community service learning opportunities/resources. Send your query to info@hilltownfamilies.org.
LIST OF WEEKLY SUGGESTED EVENTS
April 21st – 27th, 2018
Saturday • Sunday
Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday • Thursday • Friday
Suggest an Event | Cultural Itineraries | Forecast | Museum Passes | Weekly eNewsletter | Farmers’ Markets | Storyhour & Playgroups| Berkshire Family Fun | Advertise/Sponsorship | en Español
Events Happening in the Hilltowns
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
9-10am – HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW: Tune in on your FM dial, or listen live via streaming audio at www.valleyfreeradio.org. Go on a musical hike with guest DJs Jeff and Paige to explore insects. Through music and story, you’ll learn: how to identify an insect, how insects connect with animals, how insects help humans, and how humans can help insects! Jeff and Paige will play some of their favorite songs as well as fun tunes from other children’s musicians and from a few adult acts. Make sure you have room to dance as you explore nature and science with Jeff and Paige. Encore of Saturday’s broadcast airs Sunday morning from 7-8am and podcast is posted here on Hilltown Families immediately following Sunday’s broadcast. Listen to the Hilltown Family Variety Show podcasts anytime. Click here select from over 10 years of archived shows!
Saturday, April 21, 9am-12:30pm
GARDENING/EARTH DAY
Saturday, April 21, 10am-4pm
LIVING HISTORY/FARM ADVENTURES
Saturday, April 21, 10am-12pm
HIKE/NATURE STUDIES
Saturday, April 21, 10am-5pm
PLACEMAKING/DESSERT CRAWL
This Saturday downtown Amherst will be transformed during a day of fun community activities for the whole family! Local artists will be turning the sidewalks into pieces of art and don’t forget to enjoy the delicious dessert crawl, featuring 10 different tasty treats. Amherst, MA (FREE)Saturday, April 21, 1-3pm
ART STUDIES/CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
Often young children will refuse to try something new out of fear of making mistakes. This can prevent them from engaging in activities and feeling confident about their abilities. Recognizing that mistakes play an important role in the learning process is thus a vital lesson for children. The Growth Mindset approach, developed by Carol Dweck, argues that we only really have the chance to learn and grow by making mistakes. Happy Oops! is a new multimedia project, designed to help children learn to accept their mistakes, through the use of art. Mill 180 Park. 180 Pleasant Street, Easthampton, MA ($$)Saturday, April 21, 1-4pm
POETRY WORKSHOP
Saturday, April 21, 2-5pm
SUSTAINABILITY/RAINWATER CATCHMENT
In 2015, the World Economic Forum identified water scarcity as the largest global risk in terms of impact. More than 4 billion people, or two thirds of the global population, face severe water shortages for at least part of the year. Half a billion people face severe water shortages year round and half of the world’s largest cities experience water shortage. As time goes on, this threat will only become more severe. Luckily, we are not at risk of water shortage in our area but learning how to gather rainwater is still an important, useful skill that will become more and more necessary in the future. If you are interested in learning how to set up a DIY water catchment system, this is the event for you! Local business Gathering Rain will be holding a workshop, featuring a brief overview of the main concepts in gathering rainwater, as well as a DIY question and answer session, and a tour of a nearby 200 gallon rain catchment system. 170 Main Street, Greenfield, MA (SUGGESTED DONATION)Saturday, April 21, 3-4:30pm
FILM SCREENING/ART STUDIES
In his 1908 Notes of a Painter, Henri Matisse wrote, “To paint an autumn landscape I will not try to remember what colors suit this season, I will only be inspired by the sensation that the season gives me; the icy clearness of the sour blue sky will express the season just as well as the tonalities of the leaves. My sensation itself may vary, the autumn may be soft and warm like a protracted summer or quite cool with a cold sky and lemon yellow trees that give a chilly impression and announce winter.” Matisse’s role in revolutionizing modern art may only be surpassed by Pablo Picasso. Early in his career, Matisse was at the forefront of the Fauve, or “Wild Beast,” movement in European art, which was defined by wild, aggressive brushwork and the use of strong colors. Matisse and the Fauves were less concerned with making representational or realistic art and deliberately employed a simplistic and abstract approach. In part, the Fauve movement was inspired by a growing interest in African and Oceanic art. While Matisse eventually moved away from the Fauve movement, he retained a deep commitment to the emotional, expressive qualities of color. Any fan of Matisse’s work won’t want to miss this screening of a behind-the-scenes look at the legendary Matisse exhibit at the Tate Modern, considered the most successful exhibit in the long and illustrious history of the museum. The Clark Art Institute. 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA ($)Saturday, April 21, 4:30pm
YOYOS/PHYSICS
Playing with yoyos is lots of fun, but did you know that they can actually be a great way learn about physics? The premise that allows yoyos to function is based upon the relationship between translational and rotational kinetic energies. The initial throw, the unwinding of the string, the weight of the yoyo, and the force of gravity all contribute to the generation of energy and this energy must be sufficient for the yoyo to overcome the friction of the string when it attempts to climb back up. All of the various yoyo tricks manipulate these energies. Come enjoy an evening of yoyo fun at A2Z’s Yo-Yo School! A2Z Science and Learning Store. 57 King Street, Northampton, MA (FREE)Saturday, April 21, 7:30-8:30pm
THEATER/LITERARY STUDIES
Best known for his plays The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Tennessee Williams is considered, by any estimation, to be one of the greatest 20th century American playwrights. Williams often drew inspiration for his plays from his own life, especially his troubled childhood and struggles with addiction and depression. The character of Blanche from Williams’ Pulitzer Prize winning play A Streetcar Named Desire is thought to be based, in part, on Williams’ sister Rose but critics also speculate that his earlier one-act This Property is Condemned also served as a character study for the immortal Blanche DuBois. The Simon’s Rock Theatre Program will be putting on a performance of This Property is Condemned alongside another celebrated American one-act, Trifles by Susan Glaspell. Bard College at Simon’s Rock. 84 Alford Road, Great Barrington, MA (FREE)Saturday, April 21, 8-9:30pm
GLOBAL POLITICS/ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
The organization Combatants for Peace was founded in 2006, when a group of Israeli soldiers and Palestinian freedom fighters came together, put down their weapons, and committed themselves to working as a group for peace and social justice in Palestine. In 2017 the group was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts. Come spend an evening with Combatants for Peace and listen to the personal stories of former combatants from both sides, describing their journey to nonviolence and the work they are doing to end the Occupation. This event will feature two speakers, one Israeli and one Palestinian, as well as a clip from their award winning documentary film, Disturbing the Peace. This event is an absolutely must for anyone who seeks to understand the nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Temple Israel of Greenfield. 27 Pierce Street, Greenfield, MA (FREE)Saturday, April 21, 8-10pm
CONCERT/YOUNG AT HEART CHORUS
Made internationally famous by the 2008 documentary, Young@Heart, the Young at Heart Chorus, founded in 1982 in Northampton, is one of the Valley’s greatest treasures. The chorus is made up of community members over the age of 70 and most of the singers are amateurs, many have had no previous musical experience of any kind. Young at Heart has also made a name for themselves for their broad repertoire, featuring contemporary pop music. Take advantage of this opportunity to come experience a Pioneer Valley institution! Academy of Music Theatre. 274 Main Street, Northampton, MA ($)
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Sunday, April 22, 10am-4pm
LIVING HISTORY/FARM ADVENTURES
Sunday, April 22, 11am-4pm
MUSEUM ADVENTURES/EARTH DAY
Springfield Museum is celebrating Earth Day with a day of fun, educational events for the whole family! This is a special day for us all to reflect on our impact on the earth and think about ways that we can live in harmony with nature. This Earth Day Festival will feature live music by the Boys of the Landfill, a local bluegrass band that specializes in environmental songs. There will also be a live presentation by the Massachusetts Bird of Prey Rehabilitation Program and visitors can also learn all about fish migration in our area. For more information and a complete list of events, please visit Earth Day Festival. Springfield Museums. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA (FREE)Sunday, April 22, 12-3:30pm
SUSTAINABILITY/REPAIR
Have you got a bunch of old broken things around your house that for whatever reason you can’t bring yourself to throw away? Come learn how to fix them yourself instead of just going to buy replacements! It’s surprising how easy it can be to fix things with just a little help and know-how and it feels great to learn how to do something new. Repair Public is hosting a special Earth Day repair event at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment. Knowledgeable experts will be there to help you learn to fix practically anything. The Hitchcock Center for the Environment. 845 West Street, Amherst, MA (FREE)Sunday, April 22, 1pm
SERVICE BASED LEARNING/COMMUNITY BUILDING PROJECT
The Berkshire Co-op Community Builders offers creative projects to benefit the community and the earth. In honor of Earth Day, the Community Builders will be constructing a number of play structures including a sandbox, climbing stumps, and a tire tunnel at Bartholomew’s Cobble. Come volunteer with the Community Builders, learn about building and help create something wonderful. For more information please visit Community Builders. Bartholomew’s Cobble. 105 Weatogue Road, Ashley Falls, MA (FREE)Sunday, April 22, 1pm
VEGAN COOKING CLASS
Veganism, a diet which avoids consuming any animal products, has been around for thousands of years but did you know that Massachusetts plays an important role in the history of the diet? In 1843, Amos Bronson Alcott, father of famed author Louisa May Alcott, purchased a 90 acre farm in Harvard, Massachusetts, which the aim of creating a utopian, Transcendentalist commune. 14 others joined Alcott and his family and the farm was renamed “Fruitlands.” The members of the Fruitlands community embraced an ideology of liberation, peace, and justice. All property was held in common, any kind of economic activity was eliminated, coffee and all stimulants were prohibited, and a strict vegan diet was maintained. Alcott and his fellow community members believed so strongly in not exploiting animals that they refused to use wool and did not use farm animals for labor. The Fruitlands community was short lived but today veganism is growing in popularity and more and more people are becoming inspired to work to end animal exploitation. Come check out this free Vegan Cooking Class and learn all about some of the delicious recipes you can make at home, without any animal products! Better Life Whole Foods. 1500 Allen Street, Springfield, MA (FREE)Sunday, April 22, 2-5pm
CHEESE WALK
Turophiles rejoice! Did you know that the technical term for a cheese fancier is “turophile,” from the Greek “lover of cheese?” The 3rd Annual Northampton Cheese Walk is coming this Sunday. Enjoy an afternoon of strolling through town, while sampling some of the finest local cheeses at five different venues. Northampton, MA (FREE)Sunday, April 22, 2pm
FILM SCREENING/BERGMAN
Swedish film master Ingmar Bergman’s 1972 visual masterpiece Cries and Whispers tells the story of four women confronting death and religious faith. The film was inspired by a vision Bergman had of four women in a red room and this is reflected in the film’s revolutionary use of saturated color. The film frequently features fade-ins and fade-outs in a vivid crimson red. Critics have extensively studied Bergman’s use of color in the film and have offered a variety of intriguing interpretations. Nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, the film ultimately would win for Best Cinematography for its striking visual qualities. Like all of Bergman’s films, Cries and Whispers focuses on the internal world of the psyche and emotions and explores the themes of family abandonment, loneliness, and despair. Cinephiles will not want to miss this incredible and challenging film! Amherst Cinema. 28 Amity Street, Amherst, MA ($)
Monday, April 23, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Storyhour & Playgroups: East Longmeadow, Pelham & Whately
Monday, April 23, 10am-4pm
LIVING HISTORY/FARM ADVENTURES
Monday, April 23, 11am
MUSEUM ADVENTURES/PADDINGTON BEAR
Beloved teddy bear Paddington first appeared in 1958 in Michael Bond’s A Bear Called Paddington. Since then, Paddington has become a children’s literature institution. Bond has written twenty books featuring the lovable bear and Paddington has also been featured in two television series and two films. Come celebrate Paddington as the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art becomes the first American museum to host Paddington, at the special exhibit “Paddington Comes to America.” Visitors can journey throughout the gallery and stop at some of Paddington’s favorite London locations. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. 125 West Bay Road, Amherst, MA (FREE W/MUSEUM ADMISSION)
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Tuesday, April 24, 10am-4pm
LIVING HISTORY/FARM ADVENTURES
Tuesday, April 24, 6:30-8pm
WORKSHOP/CULINARY STUDIES
It’s amazing how many delicious and nutritious foods grow wild in our area! Even in urban areas, you might be surprised to learn that wild edible greens can be found all around you. Certain types of wild greens, for instance, actually grow best in distressed areas. Adding foraged greens to your diet is a great source of vitamins and minerals and they taste great, too. Come learn all about edible plants at this special workshop at River Valley Co-op. Be sure to register! River Valley Co-op. 330 North King Street, Northampton, MA (FREE)Tuesday, April 24, 6:30-8:30pm
ACTIVE BYSTANDER TRAINING
We may often ask ourselves: “What would I do if I observed a dangerous event occurring in the world?” We may never be able to be completely prepared but there are skills we can learn to give us strategies for responding productively to harmful situations. Quabbin Mediation’s “Training Active Bystanders” program teaches ways to evaluate and analyze situations, assess possible consequences, and interrupt dangerous situations with positive actions. This program seeks to empower community members to be able to help those in need of assistance rather than passively observe. This program is appropriate for children ages 12 and above. JFK Middle School. 100 Bridge Road, Florence, MA (FREE)
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Wednesday, April 25, 10am-4pm
LIVING HISTORY/FARM ADVENTURES
Wednesday, April 25, 6:30-8:30pm
LAND TRUSTS/FILM SCREENING
The Community Land Trust model originates in India in the 1950s and 60s when two disciples of Gandhi walked through the Indian countryside, asking villagers who had more land than they needed if they would share some with their less fortunate neighbors. In time, this practice became known as the Land Gift Movement. To avoid violent peasant uprisings against the landlords, Acharya Vinoba Bhave sought to persuade community members to engage in voluntary land reform, with the stipulation that the gifted land could not then be sold. In total, more than one million acres of land were voluntarily redistributed in India following this model. The Community Land Trust movement in the United States was inspired by this brilliant concept and has led to a number of similar programs nationally. Attend a free screening of a film about the history of Community Land Trusts, followed by a discussion. Green Fields Market. 144 Main Street, Greenfield, MA (FREE)Wednesday, April 25, 7:30-9:30pm
THEATER/CIRCUS
Contemporary circus company Machine de Cirque specializes in blending arts and technology to create a magical circus experience unlike any other. Dedicated to interdisciplinarity, Machine de Cirque is always looking for ways to push the boundaries of circus arts and theater. In their latest show, Machine de Cirque tells the story of a world in which all technology has disappeared, along with all the women! What follows is a hilarious, slapstick post-apocalyptic tale, which blends circus and rock concert. UMass Fine Arts Center. 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst, MA ($$)
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Thursday, April 26, 10am-4pm
LIVING HISTORY/FARM ADVENTURES
Thursday, April 26, 5:30-7pm
STORY SLAM/WILDLIFE SCIENCE
Most of the time, we only hear about scientific work in terms of the research it produces. We rarely get a chance to hear the stories about how scientific research is gathered and the trials and tribulations scientists experience in their quests. As we know, sometimes the best stories are drawn from experiences that have gone horribly awry. This story slam, hosted by the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, will give scientists the opportunity to tell their stories about what happens when everything goes wrong. This is a great chance to learn about the real work that scientists do when they are out in the field. The Hitchcock Center for the Environment. 845 West Street, Amherst, MA (FREE)Thursday, April 26, 6-7pm
POETRY READING
April is National Poetry Month so come out and celebrate the beauty of the written word at this Community Poetry Night! As seventeenth century Japanese haiku master Basho once wrote, “In this poor body, composed of one hundred bones and nine openings, is something called spirit, a flimsy curtain swept this way and that by the slightest breeze. It is spirit, such as it is, which led me to poetry, at first little more than a pastime, then the full business of my life. There have been times when my spirit, so dejected, almost gave up the quest, other times when it was proud, triumphant. So it has been from the very start, never finding peace with itself, always doubting the worth of what it makes.” Poetry has this incredible power to put us in touch with the deepest, most personal parts of ourselves and the world. As Basho observes, this process is not without its challenges but the task of the poet is to work through this endless, cyclical journey. Come read your own poem or one written by somebody else and share this incredible gift with your community. Refreshments will be served and participants will receive 10 percent off on purchases of all poetry books! The Bookloft. 332 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA (FREE)
Friday, April 27, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Friday, April 27, 10am-4pm
LIVING HISTORY/FARM ADVENTURES
Friday, April 27, 12-3pm
BOTANICAL GARDEN/BOTANY
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the most famous botanical garden of the ancient world, exists somewhere between fact and legend. To date, there have been no archeological records of the site but numerous ancient sources attest to its existence. Josephus, the famous first century Roman-Jewish historian, writes of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar: “In this palace he erected very high walks, supported by stone pillars; and by planting what was called a pensile paradise, and replenishing it with all sorts of trees, he rendered the prospect an exact resemblance of a mountainous country. This he did to gratify his queen, because she had been brought up in Media, and was fond of a mountainous situation.” This image, of a towering man-made mountain of greenery, has persisted in the popular imagination. Botanical gardens have always enchanted us and now that spring is finally here, take this opportunity to bathe in the lush beauty of the Smith College Botanical Gardens. The Botanic Garden of Smith College. 16 College Lane, Northampton, MA (FREE)Friday, April 27, 5-6:30pm
SUSTAINABILITY/MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
In honor of Earth Day, come learn how to make musical instruments out of recycled materials! There’s a lot more we can do with our waste than throwing it in the landfill. In fact, this workshop will show participants how they can turn garbage into something beautiful. Using common items like cereal boxes, plastic bottles, steel cans, and paper cups, you can create unique musical instruments and participants are even encouraged to bring along their own materials to see if they can come up with clever musical applications for them. This event is a great opportunity to think of creative solutions to our garbage problems. Artspace Greenfield. 15 Mill Street, Greenfield, MA (FREE)Friday, April 27, 8-10pm
CONCERT/ORGAN MUSIC
The organ is a surprisingly ancient musical instrument. In the 3rd century BCE, Greek scientist and engineer Ctesibius of Alexandria developed an early type of pipe organ that was powered by water pressure. This water organ was the world’s first keyboard instrument and was very popular throughout the Hellenistic world. The organ was played in the Byzantine Empire, the heart of early Christendom, and then made its way to Western Europe, where it was eventually embraced by the Catholic church to be used in liturgical masses. Cameron Carpenter is one of the most dynamic organ players in the world today, changing views on organ music while remaining true to its oldest traditions. Come enjoy an evening of beautiful organ music, played by one of the instrument’s finest contemporary masters. UMass Fine Arts Center. 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst, MA ($$)
Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by a grant from the Belchertown, Buckland, Chicopee, Plainfield, Shelburne, Westhampton, and Worthington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
