January 2010

Greetings!

Massachusetts is rich in arts and culture, so it's no surprise that exciting events, exhibits and festivals are held in the state's 13 regions all year long. Find out more below and visit us now!

RAZZLE DAZZLE

Banish the winter blues with dazzling colors and jump-up-and-dance music! In North Adams, MASS MoCA has installed 105 of Sol LeWitt’s large-scale drawings – think geometric forms and electrifying colors. Ongoing exhibit. The Dixie Diehards Jazz Band delivers toe-tapping trad jazz and a healthy dose of fun at the Amazing Things Arts Center on January 10th in Framingham. Quilters are master colorists and in Lowell, the New England Quilt Museum brings together quilters from around the world in "Masters: 40 Contemporary Art Quilters" through February 25th.

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Two Massachusetts regions - Cape Cod & the Berkshires - were included on National Geographic Traveler's "133 Places Rated" round-up of iconic worldwide destinations. Read it here!

FEATURED REGION: GREATER BOSTON

The 19th Annual Boston Wine Expo will be held January 23-24, 2010 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. The expo is the largest trade and consumer wine event in the country! Over 450 wineries from around the globe pour over 1,800 wines for you to sample. Watch over 15 celebrity chefs in action and taste samples, or attend one of over 25 educational seminars. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.wine-expos.com/boston. From January 12-24, The Boston Opera House presents the Tony award-winning classic “In The Heights.” This acclaimed musical tells the universal story of a vibrant community in Manhattan's Washington Heights –a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind.

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FRANKLIN COUNTY

Yankee Candle Village in South Deerfield presents some great family-friendly “Stories for Tots” events this January! “Fancy Nancy” Luncheons will be held at 11 a.m. on January 2, 16 & 30. Dress fancy and enjoy a reading of “Fancy Nancy” by Jane O’Connor. Then, bring your favorite Teddy Bear for tea, lunch and a reading of “The Brown Paper Teddy Bear” at Teddy Bear Teas on January 9 & 23 at 11 a.m. Call 877-636-7707 for more information. Located off Exit 24 off I-91, Routes 5 & 10 in South Deerfield.

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CAPE COD

On January 9-February 6, 2010, the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod presents “First Things First,” a free exhibition of over 50 established Cape Cod artists at the Cotuit Center for the Arts in Barnstable. On January 23-24, the Annual Cape & Islands Orchid Show will be held at the Resort & Conference Center at Hyannis, highlighting amazing displays of this beautiful flower! Also that weekend, Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra’s Classical Series continues with “A Touch of Romance,” featuring guest pianist Jon Nakamatsu.

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GREATER SPRINGFIELD

The members of Museums10 have much to offer in January 2010! Exhibitions include "Golden Legacy: Original Art From 65 Years of Golden Books" at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst through February 28th; "A Journey to Jewish Cuba" exhibit at the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst through March 15th; and "Hadley Sampler: An Anniversary Celebration" at Historic Deerfield in Deerfield through January 31st. For more information about Museums10, its members and their events, visit www.museums10.org.

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MARTHA'S VINEYARD

It's Chili time again! The 23rd annual WMVY Big Chili Contest on Saturday, January 30, 2010 is the place to be to warm up on a chilly winter day. Get out that recipe or just come to sample all the many different kinds of chili. This is always a fun day for all! Event starts at 11 a.m. at the Portuguese American Club in Oak Bluffs. Live entertainment includes The Mariachi Band. Proceeds benefit the Red Stocking Fund. Call 508-693-5000 for more information.

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MOHAWK TRAIL REGION

Williams College Museum of Art in Williamstown presents "Landscapes of the Mind: Contemporary Artists Contemplate the Brain” from January 31-May 2, 2010. The exhibit features the work of four contemporary artists—Susan Aldworth, Andrew Carnie, Jessica Rankin, and Katy Schimert—who blend the worlds of art and science. Their work visualizes the internal processes of the brain such as memory, thought, and perception using images drawn from or inspired by the brain.

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NORTH OF BOSTON

Kick off the New Year by the Sea! Enjoy great musical performances at the new Tupelo Music Hall in Salisbury, a unique performance venue with a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. The January line-up includes Eddie Money, Martin Sexton, and Joe Piscopo. Open year-round, this oceanfront venue offers spectators seating within 50 feet of the stage. “Catch a new wave of entertainment” at Tupelo Music Hall! For more cultural happenings North of Boston, visit www.escapesnorth.com.

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GREATER MERRIMACK VALLEY

Experience the excitement of the best synchronized team ice skating in New England at the Colonial Classic Synchronized Team Skating Competition on January 7-10, 2010 at the Paul E. Tsongas Arena in Lowell. Teams will participate from across the Northeast! Tickets, schedules, accommodations information and more can be found at www.colonialclassic.org. For directions and parking information, visit www.paultsongasarena.com.

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SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS

On January 9-10, 2010, the New Bedford Whaling Museum hosts the "14th Annual Moby Dick: The Marathon," a non-stop reading of the great American classic commemorating the anniversary of the departure from the whaling port of New Bedford of the Fairhaven ship Acushnet with 21-year-old Herman Melville aboard. Readers will include descendants of Herman Melville and their families, professors, fishermen, schoolteachers, selectmen, students, journalists, legislators, physicians, clergy, and other lovers of Melville and Moby-Dick. Admission is free.

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NANTUCKET ISLAND

The Nantucket Whaling Museum’s 16th Annual Festival of Trees continues into the New Year, January 2–4, 2010, transforming this historic museum into a festive winter wonderland with eighty brilliantly decorated holiday trees. From the traditional to the whimsical, each tree is designed by members of the community, including artists and artisans, merchants, schoolchildren, and nonprofit organizations. More than 3,000 visitors enjoy this annual event that has engaged and enchanted the community for 15 years.

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THE BERKSHIRES

From January 23 through June 6, 2010, the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield presents "Armed & Dangerous: The Art of the Arsenal." This exhibit spans centuries and continents, with exquisite examples of early weaponry, such as elaborately designed swords, shields, daggers, clubs, maces and scimitars. The show includes culturally diverse regalia, including a Sioux war headdress, a Persian horned helmet, Filipino chainmail, medieval armor and a genuine Samurai suit all of which display fine craftsmanship and protective functionality on the battlefield. Armed & Dangerous is drawn primarily from the Museum’s own collection of more than 30,000 objects.

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CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS

First Night Worcester 2010 is the place to catch a rising star, wish upon a star, or be a star! Ring in 2010 enjoying continuous world-class lineup of performing artists with music from Rock to Bach, comedy, puppetry, juggling, storytelling, emerging local talent, and ice skating at the DCU arena! First Night button admission: $8 December 1–24; $12 December 25–31; $15 at the door; children under 10 free. More info at www.firstnightworcester.org or www.centralmass.org.

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PLYMOUTH COUNTY

The "Members Exhibition" at Fuller Craft Museum, a tradition dating back to the 1970s, is running now through March 21, 2010. This biennial event features work ranging from turned wood and digital photography to wood-fired stoneware and oil on canvas. This exhibition includes all types of media to represent the talented artists who comprise Fuller Craft's nationwide membership. The museum is located at 455 Oak Street in Brockton.

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