Bees, Books, Bowls and More This April in Western Massachusetts
April is all over the place when it comes to the weather in western Massachusetts. Some years, winter’s chill hangs on far too long and other years, it’s downright tropical. The list of things to do this month is about as diverse as the weather can be, with really only the letter ‘B’ as the common thread—but who doesn’t love a little alliteration? We hope you enjoy all the ‘B’ words April has to offer!
Bees: Starting April 7, you can explore The Art of Eric Carle: Bees, Butterflies, and Other Bugs at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (April 7 through August 30). As a child, Carle became very interested in small animals, a curiosity sparked by his father, who would take him on walks in the woods and fields, exploring the tiny creatures that lived there. Carle says "I remember the excitement of lifting stones or peeling back the bark of dead trees to discover the living things that crawled, crept and scurried about there." The exhibit celebrates the wings, stings, and crawling things that have appeared throughout Carle’s work, ranging from allergy tab advertisements he created in the late 1960's to familiar picture book favorites including The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Grouchy Ladybug.
Later this month, Grow Food Amherst celebrates its second annual Amherst Bee Week April 24 through May 1. Amherst Bee Week offers a unique blend of pollinator-inspired arts, science, education and community-building in order to raise awareness of the plight of pollinators while providing tools for helping bees thrive in their communities.
Bikes: April is the perfect time to get your bike ready for the season (or maybe go bike shopping!) If you’re looking to tweak your existing wheels, Northampton’s famous Pedal People offers a Bike Lab every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone wanting to learn more and/or share what they know about basic bike maintenance and repairs is welcome to stop by these free informal workshops. If you have questions about fixing flats, understanding gears, bike fit, brake adjustments, suspicious squeaks or creaks, or riding safely in traffic or the cold, Pedal People has answers for you!
Books: It’s all about books and our rich literary culture in western Massachusetts on Saturday, April 11 at the first ever Easthampton BookFest. The day’s schedule is packed with readings and book signings by distinguished local authors; workshops about illustration and zine making; a series of 10-minute original plays; a lit marketplace featuring work by local literary artists, small presses and self-published authors; and even a literary trivia contest at Easthampton’s Abandoned Building Brewery. See a complete schedule here.
Borscht Belt: Did you know that the Catskills region of upstate New York was long known as the Borscht Belt because of its popularity as a vacation spot for Jews? (Think Dirty Dancing for example!) The Yiddish Book Center’s upcoming exhibit Echoes from the Borscht Belt: Contemporary Photographs by Marisa Scheinfeld (April 26 though October) documents the dramatic decline of the region’s iconic resorts and clubs in recent years. The opening coincides with the Yiddish Book Center’s spring Community Open House, Sunday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free daylong celebration features a gallery talk by Scheinfeld and talk by award-winning author and filmmaker David Bezmozgis, whose novel, The Betrayers, was named a best book of 2014 by both the New Yorker and the Wall Street Journal.
Bowls: Nine western Massachusetts pottery studios open their doors to visitors on Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26, for the 11th Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail. This free, self-guided springtime event showcases both the work and the work spaces of a group of nationally-known local potters, along with 12 guest potters from around New England and as far away as Oregon State. In barns, reclaimed factory buildings, and even a converted Airstream trailer, visitors will find much more than bowls along the trail: tableware, garden sculpture, architectural tile, and decorative pieces in a range of styles and prices. All nine studios will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days with work for sale, and several of the studios will offer demonstrations during the weekend.
Buress: The first of April isn’t the only time for jokes this month. Comedian Hannibal Buress performs at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton April 25. Widely known for having an “irresistible” comedic presence that lands squarely between “cerebral and swagger,” (New York Times), Buress, was the 2012 winner of Comedy Central’s award for Best Club Comic and is a series regular on Amy Poehler’s Broad City.