Greetings Villagers! I am very happy to have been invited to join the Village 14 bloggers; I feel like there’s a bit of bowing down to greatness to be done but I’ll save that for later. In the meantime, I’ll be keeping you up to date with Newton’s many arts and cultural offerings and insights. Newton has such a staggering number of these arts and cultural organizations that it’s next to impossible to keep up with them all. I’ll do my best to help you out each Wednesday with a look at what’s happening in Newton during the week ahead. If I miss one, please add it in the Comments!
Now ignore the snow and grab yourcalendar…
THURSDAY, March 1
The Lowell Humanities Series and Poetry Days Present Billy Collins
Boston College
Thursday, March 1 from 7-8:30pm | FREE
Poet Billy Collins, former U.S. Poet Laureate and founder of the fantastic Poetry 180 project, will read at BC’s Gasson Hall. Mr. Collins’ poetry rivals Robert Frost’s in popularity; it is endearing and accessible and one of this English major’s favorites.
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William Landay, Author of Defending Jacob
Newtonville Books
Thursday, March 1 at 7pm | FREE
Hear award-winning author William Landay read from Defending Jacob, “the consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis—a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control.”
Monochrome and Minimalism
Newton Open Studios*
Through May 15, Monday – Friday from 9am-5pm
Mayor’s Office, City Hall | FREE
View NOS’s first juried art show at the Mayor’s Office! Ten NOS artists are exhibiting in this delightful show. More about the show from Newton Patch here.
“New Hampshire #1” by Marcy Stuart 8”x12” photograph Credit: Ellen Fisher
“Inspirational Families of Newton” Photography Exhibit
The Mall at Chestnut Hill, Bloomingdale’s Lower Level
Ongoing through March 5 | Open during mall hours | FREE
In case you missed the exhibit when it was at the Newton Free Library or when it was displayed at CRG Realty in December you can catch it for the first time – or again! View the beautiful exhibit of Newton families who have made a difference locally or globally. Photos are accompanied by a narrative and bio.
Photo of the Grossman family from “Inspirational Families of Newton” by Drew Hyman and Jennifer Nourse Rodman
FRIDAY, March 2
An Evening with Author, Storyteller Peter Rollins
Sponsored by Andover Newton Theological School, First Baptist Church in Newton, Boston University School of Theology, and The Pub Church of Boston
Union Street Restaurant
Friday, March 2 at 7pm | FREE
Join an evening discussion with author, theologian and storyteller Peter Rollins.
SATURDAY, March 3
Bring It Together: Project Big Heart’s Family Art & Game Fundraiser
At the New Art Center*
Saturday, March 3 at 2pm | FREE, donations accepted
The original description is too wonderful, I’m letting the girls speak for themselves: “We are a group of 4 3rd grade girls that are doing a program called Destination Imagination and our challenge is called World Canvas. We have to make the world a better place and our team is doing this by planning a field trip with the homeless children in Sojourner House. We are having a fundraiser to raise money for the field trip. It is free admission, but if you want you can donate money for the field trip.”
ANMS Rock Bands!
All Newton Music School
Saturday, March 3 at 2pm
at West Suburban YMCA* | Tickets: $5
Come hear young adults from the All Newton Music School perform during this Rock Band showcase concert!
Youth Coffeehouse
First Unitarian Society of Newton
Saturday, March 3 at 7pm | Tickets: $5-$10
This year’s annual Youth Coffeehouse will be filled with local talent, delicious food and friendly people. The proceeds will benefit the Chawama Family Home for AIDS orphans in Zambia.
FREE Admission at the Jackson Homestead and Museum
Historic Newton* (527 Washington St, Newton)
Saturday, March 3 & Sunday, March 4 from noon-5pm
Have you checked out the latest exhibits? Newton residents enjoy free admission to the museum this weekend!
(Historic Newton’s link is currently down. Maybe in connection to the city’s new website?)
SOLD OUT: A-Cappalooza 3
Countryside Elementary School PTO
at Newton South High School
Saturday, March 3 at 7pm
I realize this event is sold out but it deserves a shout out! Hopefully you bought your tickets early and will enjoy this high energy show and fundraiser. Congratulations to the PTO for its efforts!
SUNDAY, March 4
Mama Doni-The Purim Bash Show
JCC Magic Ark Performing Arts Series for Families
Sunday, March 4 @ 11am
Tickets: $10-$40
Awesome! “In the spirit of outrageous Purim fun, Mama Doni’s show will be filled to the brim with dancing, sing-alongs to catchy pop tunes, and a costume parade where kids can strut their stuff.”
Faculty Concert
Suzuki School of Newton*
Sunday March 4 @ 3pm | Tickets: $8-$20
at Wilson Chapel, Andover Newton Theological School
Do you ever wonder how Suzuki students learn to play so well? One reason is because they have incredibly talented teachers. Hear the entire faculty perform chamber music this Sunday!
MONDAY, March 5
B Side @ B Street, Restaurant & Bar
Monday, March 5 and Tuesday, March 6 from 8pm-10pm
I attended B Street’s first B Side this week and it was great! B Street’s cozy atmosphere lends itself very well to live entertainment. Plus the food is excellent.
TUESDAY, March 6
ICA/Boston Film Night at the New Art Center: Double Feature and Dialogue!
New Art Center*
March 6 from 7-9pm | $10 suggested donation
Anna Stothart, Curatorial Assistant & Bridget Hanson, Curatorial Associate from the ICA will join Kathleen Smith, Exhibitions Director at the New Art Center & the audience in a screening and dialogue about two films that follow the process behind contemporary art exhibitions. Stretch your brain!
Photo: Damian Ortega’s “Cosmic Thing 2002” from ICA Exhibit
*Newton Cultural Alliance Member
That does it for this round; remember, if I missed an event, please post it in the Comments. I’d also love to know if you attend an event and how it went! Cheers for now!
Wow. We’re really lucky to have Kara Robbins from the Newton Cultural Alliance contributing to this weekly feature. She clearly did a ton of work to put this together. Hope folks find it useful and will share it far and wide (starting with a Facebook “recommend” or a tweet)
What a great all-in-one-place local arts calendar. I think this a great regular feature for Village 14 and will get my family up and out for some local events that we’d otherwise miss. Thanks
Kara,
Fabulous job with your amazing amount of eye catching information which as Jerry says will help get his family up and out for some local events and hopefully this blog will inspire others to do so as well. There are fabulous cultural activities going on in Newton every week. Thank you Village 14 for inviting The Newton Cultural Alliance with it’s 20 and growing number of organizations to have this opportunity to be introduced the in the city in such an appealing way.