Prepare to be horrified: Greenfield Garden Cinemas to screen 25 films over five weeks for Stephen King Film Festival

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

In an effort to bring movie buffs from throughout the region into the city, the Garden Cinemas, and, subsequently, Greenfield City Council, have declared the month of September “Stephen King Month.”From Aug. 30 to Oct. 4, Garden Cinemas will show 25...

Weekly Food Photo Contest: This week’s winner: Tim Diehl of Northampton

This late summer garden bounty was grown by Tim Diehl and Debbie Charren of Northampton. Pictured are sun gold tomatoes, shishito peppers, Japanese eggplant, and three varieties of squash. How to enter: Snap a pic of something delicious-looking and...

There is a Season with Molly Parr: What to do with all those eggplants: Creamy, soft eggplant gratin with tomato and goat cheese

By MOLLY PARR

We are now deep into what feels like the longest five-weekend August ever, which means it is eggplant and tomato season. Every year I forget just how much produce that actually means. Last week the CSA suggested I take 10 tomatoes for my little share....

Would you eat food off of a naked body?: Local event, Food & Form, has nothing – and everything – to do with nudity

By MELISSA KAREN SANCES

To Coco Bustin, the body is a beautiful vessel. She first came to appreciate it in figure drawing classes at Tufts University, where she met every curve and contour with wonder. Nudity, she realized, was an artistic invitation. As a natural foodie,...

‘Every family has a unique set of puzzles’: Sunderland Public Library to host Intro to Genealogy series

By CHRIS LARABEE

Have you ever wanted to figure out your family’s lineage but didn’t know where, or how, to start? If so, you may be in luck with the Sunderland Public Library’s upcoming Introduction to Genealogy series.Beginning Sept. 10, the library is partnering...

‘The ice cream is just better here’: New Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail features many Hampshire County shops

By PAIGE HANSON

This summer, ice cream enthusiasts statewide can explore the newly established Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail, a self-guided tour of more than 100 ice cream shops in Massachusetts.Of the 100 locations statewide, seven of them are in Hampshire...

Speaking of Nature: Too nice to stay home: Meeting a black swallowtail on my impromptu adventure

By BILL DANIELSON

There was an absolutely wonderful change in the weather last week. Gone were the days with oppressive humidity and scorching temperatures. In their place came days with highs near 80 degrees Fahrenheit, lower humidity levels and a reliable breeze that...

Fests to feel good attending: River Roads Festival, Sept. 7, and Arcadia Folk Festival, Aug. 23-24, center on environmental causes

By ALEXA LEWIS

Nature has served as an artistic muse for centuries, so it’s no surprise that music and environmental activism have historic connections.Two music festivals returning to Easthampton this summer embody the relationship between the natural and musical...

Valley Bounty: ‘More than just a farm stand’: Oliver’s Farm Stand in Goshen provides hyper-local food, 24/7

By JACOB NELSON

For people near Goshen, Oliver’s Farm Stand is bringing more local food within close reach. As they do, they’re bringing their neighbors closer together too.Farm stands come in many shapes and sizes. Since 2017, Oliver’s has grown into a nearly...

Is love blind?: Popular Netflix series ‘Love Is Blind’ holds first open casting for New England singles

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

The premise behind the Netflix series “Love Is Blind” is simple: fall in love and commit to marrying someone before you ever see them.The casting agency for “Love Is Blind,” Kinetic Content Casting, is looking for New England singles who are looking...

Weekly Food Photo Contest: This week’s winner: Janet Henderson of New Salem

“Bibi, my mother, learned to make these tomatoes when she spent a school year in France, right after WWII,” says Janet Henderson of New Salem. “Still a top family favorite with corn on the cob and steak on the grill.” How to enter: Snap a pic of...

Let’s Talk Relationships: Break free of defensiveness: How to recognize and stop unhealthy communication habits

By AMY NEWSHORE

If you have ever found yourself responding to someone in a conversation by being defensive, join the club. Whether in romantic, platonic, family or professional relationships, when someone lets us know we have done or said something we might not like...

Let them run wild: Doc from Hadley-born filmmaker explores the lives of wild horses

By ADA DENENFELD KELLY

Growing up in Hadley, Steven Latham had a wild Chincoteague pony on his family farm, but it wasn’t until he learned about a veterans’ program pairing veterans with mustangs to train that he was inspired to create his documentary.“A couple friends told...

Arts Briefs: Peach Fest in Westhampton, guitar greats in Northampton, and more

Peachy keenStone fruit season is in full swing and this Sunday, Aug. 18, there will be an opportunity to celebrate at the Outlook Farm Peach Festival in Westhampton. Located at the scenic Outlook Farm winery and brewery, the event will include a pig...

And for my next trick: Craig Browning to stage free afternoons of magic and ventriloquism in Northampton

By ELISE LINSCOTT

“Growing up somewhat poor, we learned how to get creative and use different things to do magic with,” said magician and ventriloquist Craig Browning, holding up a piece of yellow rope. “I went to a carnival when I was about 5 years old and saw a...

Speaking of Nature: I wasn’t expecting to see you here: How did this mink make it to my meadow?

By BILL DANIELSON

It was the middle of July and I was spending yet another morning in my beloved Thinking Chair. I had just returned from my trip to Cape Cod, where I had secured enough photos to give me columns until the end of the month and I had already committed to...

It’s a bird, it’s a plane: No, it’s the theme for this year’s Performance 34, Tuesday, Aug. 20 in Look Park

By PAIGE HANSON

Since 1991, Performance (formerly known as Transperformance) at Look Park has garnered the attention of people from all over the Pioneer Valley looking to enjoy musical performances from over 20 bands and artists, with a new theme every year.Themes...

Messages from beyond?: Local psychics ‘channeling the truth’ and spirits of the dead

By ELISE LINSCOTT

“The first thing I felt was cancer … she said ‘I was tired and there was no way back,’ which is pretty common for cancer,” South Hadley-based psychic medium and fiction writer Lisa Lanno said to a room of about 50 people one recent Thursday night at...

Kris Kringle is done clowning around: Wendell family business makes shoes for Santas, clowns, performers

By DOMENIC POLI

What are Jolly Old Saint Nicholas and his helpers supposed to do when they can’t find a cobbler shop at the North Pole?Apparently, they contact a clown shoe maker in rural Massachusetts.Gary Amiro has been hand-crafting footwear for professional...

Valley Bounty: Consistently delicious for 50 years and counting: Fitzwilly’s serves local ingredients with a side of Northampton history

By LISA GOODRICH

Fitzwilly’s Restaurant offers seasonal, local food in an iconic downtown Northampton location. As summer explodes with local crops on the farm stands, a revised menu at Fitzwilly’s bursts with local tomatoes, corn, fruit, and much more.Locals may be...