Things to Do Today: Poet Burt at the Beech Street Center, Benton Storytime, Bates Touches New England

By Leave a Comment

• Belmont poet Stephen Burt, who literary critic Frank Bidart called “one of the most gifted poets of his generation,” will read from “Belmont: Poems” his highly-recognized collection inspired by his hometown from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. “Belmont: Poems,” received an NPR Best Book of 2013 and Publishers Weekly’s Top 10 Poetry Book of Spring 2013. His work was on the New York Times Book Review short list of best writing. Burt is a literary critic, poet, a professor of English at Harvard and a Burbank parent.
• Pre-School Storytime will be held at the Benton Library, Belmont’s independent and volunteer run library, at 10:30 a.m. Stories and crafts for children age 3 to 5. Parents or caregivers must attend. Siblings may attend with adults. Registration is not required. The Benton Library is located at the intersection of Oakley and Old Middlesex.
• Davis Bates who will be “Celebrating New England: Songs & Stories for Everyone” at 4 p.m. at the Beech Street Center. Bates, a noted chronicler who was called by the late Pete Seeger “… a fantastic storyteller” and a winner of a Parents’ Choice Award, will sing songs from the past and present, as well as tell ghost, Native American and farming stories. There will also be sing-alongs, and a lesson on how to play the spoons. Special appearance by a wooden dog named Bingo. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Belmont Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
• The Belmont School Committee will present and vote on the district’s fiscal year 2015 budget at 7:30 p.m. in the small community room at the Chenery Middle School.
• Belmont High’s Girls’ Outdoor Track team will take on Winchester High at 3:30 p.m. on Harris Field.

Inaugural Belmont High Coffeehouse to Help the Homeless

By Leave a Comment

The Belmont High School cafeteria will be transformed into a coffeehouse of old – without the cigarette smoke, of course – as the Belmont High School Working to Help the Homeless club will host its first-ever acoustic coffeehouse on Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m.

The event is open to public with advanced tickets being sold for $5 at Champions Sporting Goods in Belmont Center.. The ticket price includes the cost of ice cream and other treats once inside.

The performances include:

  • Rosy Fitzgerald
  • Amelia Fox
  • Joe Fitzgerald and Sydney Perkins
  • Brass Band (Michael El-Hayek, Max Davidowitz, Rowan Wolf, Jasper Wolf, Sami Belkadi, Jack Carbeck, Rafi Wagner)
  • Ribz Daddy G and The Jamboree (Ekim Otucu, Max Davidowitz, Eli Workman, Alex Gharibian, Sary Abi-Hassan)
  • Emma Taylor
  • Charlie Smith
  • Aimee Lin
  • Aidan Hamell
  • Ben Covell
  • Amy Wang
  • Barry Eom
  • Maerose Pepe

Each of these exceptionally talented performers auditioned for the chance to showcase their skills at the coffeehouse and is well worth the $5 entrance fee.

All of the proceeds will benefit Mary’s House, a shelter in Waltham for homeless families. The shelter provides temporary housing for these families and gives them access to help around issues such as parenting, nutrition, budgeting, substance abuse, and vocational and educational goals.

The Week to Come in Belmont: Promenade Friday, Blacker Awards Wednesday, Burt at the Beech Tuesday

By Leave a Comment

• What is becoming a great annual community event will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 16 with the Promenade, in which those high schoolers attending this year’s Belmont High School Senior/Junior Prom will be “presented” to parents, siblings, friends and the public in the Belmont High School auditorium and just before they board the buses to take them to some ritzy hotel for a night of dancing and having fun.
• The best of the Belmont High School senior thesis papers will be honored at the annual Lillian Blacker Awards being held on Wednesday May 14, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Belmont High School Library. 
• Friday, May 16, is also the final day of school for graduating Belmont High Schools seniors, for many, completing 13 years in the district. 
• Belmont poet Stephen Burt, who literary critic Frank Bidart called “one of the most gifted poets of his generation,” will read from  “Belmont: Poems” his highly-recognized collection inspired by his hometown on Tuesday, May 13 from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St. “Belmont: Poems,” received an NPR Best Book of 2013 and Publishers Weekly’s Top 10 Poetry Book of Spring 2013. His work was on the New York Times Book Review short list of best writing. Stephen Burt is a literary critic, poet, and professor of English at Harvard.
• Also on Tuesday, May 13, the Beech Street Center presents a free concert for the entire community with Davis Bates who will be “Celebrating New England: Songs & Stories for Everyone” at 4 p.m. Bates, a noted chronicler who was called by the late Pete Seeger “… a fantastic storyteller” and a winner of a Parents’ Choice Award, will sing songs from the past and present, as well as tell ghost, Native American and farming stories. There will also be sing-alongs, and a lesson on how to play the spoons. Special appearance by a wooden dog named Bingo. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Belmont Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
• The Belmont Public Library welcomes author Nicholas Basbanes to the Assembly Room at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 12 where he will discuss his book On Paper: The Everything of its Two-Thousand-Year History, which was named a Best Book of the Year by the American Library Association, Kirkus Reviews, Bloomberg News, Mother Jones, and the National Post of Canada.  The book is a consideration of all things paper; its invention that revolutionized human civilization; its thousand-fold uses, proliferation, and sweeping influence on society; and its makers, shapers, and collectors.  Donna Seaman writes of the book inBooklist, “Every facet of this celebration of paper is engrossing and thought-provoking.” Basbanes is the author of nine works of cultural history, with a particular emphasis on various aspects of books and book culture. All are welcome to attend this free program.  Books will be available for purchase and signing. Refreshments will be provided. The Assembly Room is handicapped accessible.
• The Belmont Historical Society is holding its annual Meeting on Wednesday, May 15 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Belmont Public Library’s Assembly Room. Joe Cornish will give a presentation on ‘Recognizing Belmont’s Historic Homes: Historic House Plaque Program.’
• The Belmont Board of Selectmen will be approving the fiscal year 2015 town budget at its Monday meeting being held at 5:45 p.m. in the Conference Room at Belmont High School.

Belmont’s Weekend Watch: Habitat Herb Sale, Belmont Pops, Mother’s Day Flowers

By Leave a Comment

• The Habitat Intergenerational Program is holding its 13th annual herb sale on Saturday, May 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Habitat Visitor Center at 10 Juniper Rd. just off Somerset Street on Belmont Hill. Here’s your chance to purchase parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, oregano, basil, chives, mint, dill, cilantro and lavender along with vegetables and more!

Come early to get the best selection.

Proceeds used to fund HIP projects including the Chenery Middle School courtyard gardens, Habitat butterfly garden, weekly programs for women and children in a homeless shelter, family bird walks, Trails Days and more!

• The Friends of Belmont Softball will be hosting their annual Mother’s Day Flower Sale at the Lions Club at the foot of the MBTA Commuter Rail station just off Common Street on Royal Road in Belmont Center Saturday, May 10, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, May 11, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Saturday is the last night of the annual Belmont Pops concerts. The entertainment, by Belmont High School musicians, will begin at 7 p.m., Saturday. May 10, the the school’s Lunch Room. Sales from tickets benefit POMS, Parents of Music Students.

• The Belmont Gallery of Art Spring 2014 exhibit, “Books on the Charles – 25 years of Charlesbridge Picture Book Illustrators” will be open Saturday, May 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday, May 11 from 1 p.m. to  4 p.m. This special exhibit celebrates 15 New England-area picture book artists who have created art for Charlesbridge Publishing, Watertown’s award-winning children’s book publisher. The Belmont Gallery of Art is located in the Homer Bldg., Town Hall Complex, 19 Moore St., Belmont Center (just off Leonard St., behind Belmont Savings Bank).

Annual Mother’s Day Flowers Sale Underway Today

By Leave a Comment

The Friends of Belmont Softball will be hosting their annual Mother’s Day Flower Sale at the Lions Club at the foot of the MBTA Commuter Rail station just off Common Street on Royal Road in Belmont Center.

Come by to purchase beautiful flowers and support the Belmont High School Varsity and Junior Varsity Softball teams.

The flowers will be on sale starting today, Friday, May 9 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, May 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, May 11, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Things to Do Today: Belmont Pops at 7 PM, ‘Sons and Lovers’ for Seniors in the Beech

By Leave a Comment

• It’s the annual Belmont Pops Concerts where the Belmont High School cafeteria is transformed into a “Pops”-style arrangement with table seating where audience members will be entertained by Belmont High musicians while having light snacks and other refreshments. There are two concerts, today at 7 p.m. and on Saturday. Sales from tickets benefit POMS, Parents of Music Students.

• The Beech Street Center’s Senior Book Discussion group will meet at 11 a.m. at the Center, 266 Beech St. to discuss “Sons and Lovers” – Chapters 1 through 7 – by D.H. Lawrence.

• What to do on a rainy Friday in Belmont? The Belmont Gallery of Art Spring 2014 exhibit, “Books on the Charles – 25 years of Charlesbridge Picture Book Illustrators” will be open today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This special exhibit celebrates 15 New England-area picture book artists who have created art for Charlesbridge Publishing, Watertown’s award-winning children’s book publisher. The Belmont Gallery of Art is located in the Homer Bldg., Town Hall Complex, 19 Moore St., Belmont Center (just off Leonard St., behind Belmont Savings Bank).

• Belmont High School Varsity Softball will be home against Reading at 3:45 p.m. while Boys’ Lacrosse will take on Lexington at Harris Field at 5 p.m.

In the Picture Books: Gallery of Art Showcases Charlesbridge Illustrations

By Leave a Comment

The Belmont Gallery of Art Spring 2014 exhibit, “Books on the Charles – 25 years of Charlesbridge Picture Book Illustrators” continues now through May 17. This special exhibit celebrates 15 New England-area picture book artists who have created art for Charlesbridge Publishing, Watertown’s award-winning children’s book publisher.

Featured illustrators in “Books on the Charles” include Jef Czekaj, David McPhail, Jamie Hogan, Robin Brickman, Tim Jones, Ryan O’Rourke, Brian Lies, David Hyde Costello, Wayne Geehan, Rob Bolster, Alan Witschonke, Judy Love, Leslie Evans, Ralph Masiello and Nicole Wong.

“We’re so pleased to be working with the Belmont Gallery of Art,” says Donna Spurlock, Marketing Director for Charlesbridge Publishing.

“For 25 years we’ve been very lucky to be working with extremely talented artists creating beautiful picture books for young readers. It’s wonderful to see so much of their work displayed in this show celebrating the unique art of children’s book illustration.”

The nearly 100 original works – many for sale – in “Books on the Charles” showcase a wide range of artistic techniques and visual storytelling styles ranging from whimsical pen and ink drawings to three-dimensional collages to delicate impressionistic watercolors to bold and realistic acrylic paintings to textured linocuts, with each page displayed reflecting that particular artist’s unique approach to bringing the reader inside the world of a picture book.

The BGA’s Books on the Charles show also includes several special exhibit events, including a visit with author/illustrator Leslie Evans taking place at the Belmont Public Library, Wednesday, May 14 during Children’s Book Week.

The Belmont Gallery of Art is located in the Homer Bldg., Town Hall Complex, 19 Moore St., Belmont Center (just off Leonard St., behind Belmont Savings Bank).

Gallery hours are Thursday, and Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday., 1 p.m. to  4 p.m. The gallery is wheelchair accessible.

You can also visit the Belmont Gallery of Art’s website at www.belmontgallery.org for more details.

Things to Do Today: Chenery Band Concert, Underwood Pool Committee Meets

By Leave a Comment

• The Chenery Middle School’s 7th and 8th Grade Band Concert will take place on Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at the Chenery’s auditorium.

• A day after Town Meeting members voted to approve the money to build the new Underwood Pool complex, the Underwood Pool Building Committee is meeting at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall’s conference room 2 to set a project schedule so the pool can be completed by June 2015 as well as sign contracts with the architect and owner’s project manager.

• Belmont Against Racism will discuss the book “The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration” by Isabel Wilkerson on Thursday, May 8 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• The Beech Street Center’s women’s musical group, the Bel Aires, get together on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. for a little singing. A suggested donation of $2 is requested to defray the cost of the leader and pianist.

• Belmont High School Girls’ Varsity Tennis takes on Wakefield High today at 3:30 p.m. on the tennis courts adjacent to the high school parking lot.

• On this day in 1945, V-E Day (Victory in Europe) is declared as combat ends after German forces agree in Reims, France, to an unconditional surrender.

What to Do Today: Lemonade and Cookies for Chenery Kids, Walk and Bike to the Butler

By Leave a Comment

• The Daniel Butler Elementary School is celebrating Bike & Walk to School Day by forming walking groups led by exemplary cyclists and walkers to travel by foot or pedal to the Butler. Co-sponsored by Sustainable Belmont and state and national Safe Routes to School organizations, walkers will depart from their various locations around Butler at 8:15 a.m. to arrive at school no later than 8:25 a.m.

• Chenery Middle School students who are out early on Wednesday can stop by the Assembly Room at the Belmont Public from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. to enjoy lemonade and cookies while doing your homework. This event is for middleschoolers only. High schoolers can hang out at Starbucks.

• Belmont High’s Boys’ Lacrosse will be in action vs. Woburn High at  4 p.m. at Harris Field. And Club Rugby will be traveling to Danvers to take on St. John’s Prep also at 4 p.m.

• On this day in 1824, the premiere of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is performed in Vienna. Deaf and in poor health, Beethoven stood next to conductor Michael Umlauf during the performance.