This Weekend: Powers Music Tells Babar’s Story Saturday, Recycling Day Saturday

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The Powers Music School is teaming up with the Belmont Public Library in presenting “The Story of Babar”, part of the school’s Musical Storytelling Series taking place on Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. There will be two showing’s of the popular story at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. But be advised to come early as space is limited. The show is free and sponsored by Cambridge Savings Bank.

The Belmont Department of Public Works is holding its Belmont Recycling Day on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the town’s “transfer station” – the site of the former incinerator – at 1130 Concord Ave. near the Lexington town line. This is the day when residents can bring all those big ridged plastic items, textiles (Are you really going to keep those old drapes in the basement for another year?), paper that needs shredding, Styrofoam and electronics (you may have to pay a small charge). Belmont Savings is bringing its Universal Shredding machine and will be raffling off a $100 Target gift card. For more information, call 617-993-2689 or go online to.

Saturday afternoon, Oct. 25 will see a rare weekend sports doubleheader at Harris Field with Belmont High School Field Hockey taking on arch rival Lexington High at 2 p.m. – rescheduled from Wednesday due to the rainstorm – while Belmont High School Girls’ Soccer hosts Winchester High under the lights at 6 p.m. Come early for the soccer match as it’s Belmont’s Senior Night.

The Belmont Historical Society presents ‘The Belmont Uplands: A History of the Changing Use of Land and Water” by Belmont resident Anne-Marie Lambert on Sunday, Oct. 26 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. The presentation is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Contact the Belmont Historical Society for more information at 617-993-2878.

Bridging Cultures at Belmont Gallery’s ‘Continental Drift’ Exhibit Opening Friday

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The print above is a detail of Iréne Jensen, Troðnar slóðir l /The Paved Way 1, Etching

The Belmont Gallery of Art invites the public to the opening of its latest show: “Continental Drift: Printmakers Converge,” an exhibit of work by members of the Boston Printmakers and the Icelandic Printmakers Association.

The reception takes place this Friday, Oct. 24, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The exhibit will run from Oct. 24 to Dec. 5.

The Gallery is located on the third floor of the Homer Building in the Town Hall Complex, 19 Moore St., right off Leonard Street in Belmont Center behind the Belmont Savings Bank building.

The 60-plus prints showcase a variety of ancient and modern printmaking techniques including etching, Chine-colle, silkscreens, monoprints, woodcuts, intaglio, lithography and digital and electro-photo processes.

 

This cross-cultural show was inspired by the Boston printmakers’ August 2014 trip to Iceland and the resulting collaboration between the two groups of artists.

“Continental Drift” showcases the similarities as well as the differences that exist between the two printmaking groups, but ultimately forges a bridge between the two cultures. “Continental Drift” showcases the art that was created during that process — first exhibited in Reykjavik two months ago and now displayed in Belmont and Newton.

The Scandinavian Cultural Center’s Nordic Hall in West Newton hosts a “Continental Drift” companion exhibit through November with a collection of recent prints by Icelandic artists “inspired by landscapes and human nature.”

The Belmont Gallery of Art will host an Artists Print Talk with American and Icelandic printmakers on Nov. 23, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Scandinavian Center’s Nordic Hall will host its Artists Reception and Talk, Thursday., Nov. 20, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.

Society has long embraced the printed image: from the earliest depiction of saints in medieval woodcuts through Andy Warhol’s Pop Art silkscreens of modern day symbols. Printmaking as an art form is practiced around the globe—with the images as varied as the regions and cultures that practice the craft.  “Continental Drift: Printmakers Collide” gives art lovers the opportunity to celebrate printmaking traditions—new and old–from two unique–yet connected–world cultures: the US and Iceland.

Please visit the BGA’s website for gallery hours and directions and for more information. Nordic Hall Icelandic Prints exhibit/Artists Talk information can be found at www.scandicenter.org

‘Shubha Deepawali’: Diwali Festival Begins Today

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http://vimeo.com/53444736

Diwali, the festival of lights for Hindus, Jains and Sikhs, is celebrated today, Thursday, Oct. 23.

Diwali – Sanskrit for “a row of lights” – symbolizes the victory of light over dark, good over evil and knowledge over darkness. The festival is celebrated for five continuous days with the third day, today, as the day for celebrations. 

Diwali is celebrated by wearing new clothes, lighting oil lamps, setting off firecrackers which the festival is associated, decorating the home, giving out mithai – sweets and pastries – and partying with friends and family. Diwali is never complete without the exchange of gifts. This is also the day on which many Hindus begin their new fiscal year.

Sikhs celebrate by reading from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy text.

Here is a great article by the Wall Street Journal on 5 Things to Know About Diwali. 

 

Rain? Today Remains the Penultimate Market Day in Belmont This Season

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It may be the second straight week in which it’s raining on Thursday but that will not stop the vendors and staff of the Belmont Farmers Market from showing up for the penultimate Market Day of the 2014 season.

The Belmont Farmers Market is open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Belmont Center municipal parking lot at the corner of Cross and Channing.

It might be late October, but there is plenty that’s “in season” at the market today: acorn squash, amaranth, apples, broccoli, carrots, chard, collards, cucumbers, delicata squash, eggplant, garlic, kale, onions, parsley, peppers, potatoes, pumpkin greens, radishes, scallions, summer squash and turnips.

Occasional vendors Bedford Blueberry Goat Farm, Coastal Vineyards, Matt’s Amazing Smokehouse, Seasoned and Spiced and Soluna Garden Farm join the regulars this week: C&C Lobsters and Fish, Carlisle Honey, Dick’s Market Garden, The Farm School, Fior d’Italia pasta, Flats Mentor Farm, Foxboro Cheese Company, Goodies Homemade, Hutchins Farm, Kimball Fruit Farm, Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery, Nicewicz Family Farm, Sfolia Baking Company and Stillman’s at the Turkey Farm.
In the Events Tent:

  • Music by Bridget Curzi; 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Storytime; 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Clay demo and “clay play” by Indigo Fire; 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Belmont’s il Casale Is On ‘Top Chef’ Main Course Tonight

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Belmont Center’s il Casale will be featured tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 22 on this week’s episode of Bravo TV’s hit cooking series “Top Chef.”

The episode will be aired at 10 p.m. and repeated at 11:30 p.m.

It was back on May 20 when a production company decamped with trucks and vans on Leonard Street for most the day with the contestants and the series stars – Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and Padma Lakshmi – seen outside Dante de Magistris’ award-winning restaurant to the thrill of many residents who are fans of the show.

According to the Bravo website, tonight’s show, titled “Boston’s Bravest and Finests,” will include Boston Police and Fire department personnel.

Here is what Bravo says about the episode:

The famous signal “one if by land and two if by sea” plays a role in the ingredients the chefs must use in their Quickfire Challenge to create the ultimate surf and turf dish for guest judge Todd English. Then the chefs break into teams for the Elimination Challenge to serve Boston’s Finest in the police and fire departments. Using surprise ingredients, each team must work together to cook one cohesive dish. Tempers and dishes boil over in the kitchen as the chefs learn how to cook together for the first time. Chef Dante de Magistris guest judges the Elimination Challenge.

Local Celebs Will Walk the Fashion Runway Sunday for the Homer House

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If you missed going to New York Fashion Week last month, no need to fret. This Sunday, Oct. 26, Belmont will be home to a unique jour de haute couture.

The Belmont Woman’s Club is holding its own fashion show with some of the most sought after local celebrities modeling the latest from CAbi (women) and UNIQLO at 3 p.m. at the historic Oakley Country Club off Belmont Street in Watertown.

And look who will be strutting the catwalk this Sunday:

  • Selectman’s Andy Rojas (known for his taste in ties),
  • School Committee’s Laurie Slap,
  • Belmont Fire Chief David Frizzell,
  • TV legal analyst Wendy Murphy,
  • Belmont Savings CEO Bob Mahoney,
  • Henry Frost Children’s Program’s Iris Ponte,
  • Town Treasurer Floyd Carman,
  • Belmont Police’s Jamie MacIssac,
  • and all the way from the French Department at Belmont High, Jacqueline Kaiser, to name just a few.

This afternoon of fashion and fun will raise funds for the Preservation of the historic Homer House, the long-time headquarters of the Woman’s Club located across Pleasant Street from Belmont Town Hall.

Tickets are $65 per person and checks can be made payable to the Belmont Woman’s Club.

Three Night Run of ‘Twelfth Night’ by BHS Performing Arts Company

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It’s a story about Viola, a shipwrecked noble-woman who is disgusted as a boy to become the page of Count Orsino, who loves Lady Olivia but she, Olivia, falls for Viola (who is going by the name Cesario) who is madly in love with Orsino.

So Viola loves Orsino, Orsino loves Olivia, and Olivia loves Cesario which makes everyone miserable.

And I haven’t gotten to Olivia’s relatives, a right lot who are about to foul things up to the ‘n’th degree. Oh, did I tell you about Viola’s presumedly drowned twin brother, Sebastian? Olivia marries him, thinking he’s Cesario. Or Viola.

If this sounds like a comedy by Shakespeare, you’d be right. And “Twelfth Night,” will be performed over three nights by the Belmont High School Performing Arts Company: Thursday, Nov. 6 to Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. at the high school auditorium.

Tickets are adults: $12 in advance/$15 at the door; students: $10.

Tickets are now available online.

Tickets will be on sale soon at Champions Sports in Belmont Center later this month.

Chenery 8th Grade Students: reserve a free ticket when you order online using coupon code: CMS8. Belmont Schools Staff: reserve a free ticket online with coupon code BPSSTAFF or by e-mailing tickets@bhs-pac.org 

Books for All People, Purposes at Yearly Friend’s Library Sale

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Ninety-one year old Rosemary Cancian headed straight from the front of the line to where the non-fiction books were on sale.

“I’m always the first one at the door,” she said as she with two dozen other patrons came into the Belmont Public Library exactly at 9 a.m. for the first day of the annual Friends Book Sale on Saturday, Oct. 18.

“I’m here looking for books that I shouldn’t buy because I have so many unread at home,” said Cancian, viewing a few biographies.

For most of the participants in the annual event, the aim was finding a book – all donated to the library throughout the year – they would be interested in reading.

“There is always something here that you can put on your bookshelf. It will take you years to get around reading them, but it’s there when every you want it,” said Cancian.

Artist Hai Nguyen stacked a large column of coffee table art books outside the main sales room as he continued to browse.

“I will take some of the pages out [of the books] for some inspiration,” he said.

The sale’s proceeds allows the Friends to purchase museum memberships, bring authors and demonstrations to the library while adding to the technology available to patrons, according to Gail Gorman, a Friend who helped managed the sale Saturday.

“This is the biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Gorman, noting the books were priced to be sold with hardcover and upscale paperbacks sold for $1.50 and art and coffee table books at $3.

As with every year, the children’s section was the place to be as parents and children saw their opportunity to store up on books that can be read during the holidays, snow days and when it’s just too cold to go outside.

Maggie and her dad, Josh Loewenstein, where sitting outside the children’s room to read a little bit of the books they just purchased.

“We’re here to get books,” said Maggie, who is seven years old and from Belmont.

The day before, 32 Belmont school teachers from all grades were able to take 900 books for free back to their classrooms.

“A lot of first-year teachers come every year to build up their personal libraries,” said School Committee’s Laurie Graham who volunteers at the sale.

The real bargain came Sunday when anyone could haul away a bag full of books for $5, which lends itself to helping groups that can use the reading material.

“We have people who run shelters for women who come for the bag sale to stock their shelves. That’s nice to hear,” said Gorman.

After the sale, the remaining books were being packaged up by high school volunteers to be taken away by a book wholesaler.

“On Monday, we start the process all over again for next year,” said Gorman.

The Week Ahead: Know More About Your Civil War Relative, Health Fair at the Beech

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On the government side of this week, the Board of Selectmen will meet an hour earlier than usual, at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 20, and at a new location, the Beech Street Center, as the board will lead a major discussion on pension and OPEB costs to town residents and Town Meeting members. The School Committee will hold its annual Boston meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Central Boston Elder Services at 2315 Washington St. to discuss the METCO program with Boston parents and students. The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on changes to three residential properties at 7 p.m., Oct. 21 in Town Hall.

The American Red Cross is holding a Belmont Community Blood Drive at All Saints Church on Monday, Oct. 20 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the church located at the corner of Common and Clark streets.

Librarian and genealogist Connie Reik will share her knowledge of Civil War-era documents in an illustrated talk, “Beyond Pension Files: Discover Your Civil War Veteran in Federal Publications and Documents,” being held at the Belmont Public Library, Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the library’s Assembly Room. Those documents include histories of the individual battles, private laws, and petitions, claims, and pension record information found in the U.S. Congressional Serial Set.

The Council on Aging is holding its Health Program and Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 21 starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. Spend an afternoon learning interesting information designed to improve your health. Presenters such as dentists, a physical therapist, an optometrist, a dermatologist, an audiologist, as well as representatives from the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Drive Safe Program, Belmont Health Department and the Belmont Food Collaborative will speak briefly about their topics. Before the fair, at 11:45 a.m., there will be a presentation about “Mindful Eating,”

Staff from US Rep. Katherine Clark‘s office will be holding office hours to meet with Belmont residents on Tuesday, Oct. 21 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St..

 

The Belmont Art Association is holding a general meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 22 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Flett Room of the Belmont Public Library.

The Belmont Public Library is hosting a baby signing workshop on Thursday, Oct. 23 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Flett Room. Please register by stopping by the Children’s Room or by calling 617-993-2880.

 

Belmont Yard Sales on Oct. 18-19

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Here are this weekend’s yard/moving/garage sales happening in the 02478 zip code:

Permitted yard sales by the Town Clerk

• 92 Clark St., Saturday, Oct. 18, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• 130 Common St., Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Supports the Belmont Cooperative Nursery School.

• 227 Common St., Saturday, Oct. 18, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• 421 Common St., Saturday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• 285 Waverley St., Saturday, Oct. 18, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Not (yet) permitted sales

• 76 Becket Rd., Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to noon.

• 567 Belmont St., Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to noon., Helps the Christ Lutheran Nursery School.

• 25 Elm St., Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

• 44 Harding St., Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to noon.

• 6 Oakley Rd., Saturday, Oct. 18, 8 a.m. but the owner will be out there earlier.

• 354 Payson Rd., Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• 42 Pine St., Saturday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• 26 Wilson Ave., Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.