WinterFest at Fruitlands
Fruitlands Museum will continue its WinterFest Weekends through Sunday, Feb. 26, from 1 to 5 p.m. Free for members, $20 per car for nonmembers. Enjoy the snow-covered trails and hills. Bring a sled. Eastern Mountain Sports will be on hand Jan. 28 and 29 and Feb. 11 and 12, with snowshoes and x-country skis to try out. A bonfire will be roaring, and hot chocolate will be on sale.
Winter Art Gallery Exhibit
Fruitlands is hosting two new exhibits, Zen Dust by artist Linda Hoffman, and Photographs from the Harvard Shaker Village, in the Fruitlands Art Gallery. Both exhibits will be on display during WinterFest weekends, along with landscapes from the Hudson River School and nineteenth-century portraits from Fruitlands' collection. Admission is free with suggested donation. The art gallery will be open weekends from 1 to 4 p.m. through Feb. 26 and by appointment until April 15.
Indoor Yard Sale
The Harvard Unitarian Universalist Yard Sale Saturday, Jan. 28, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., in the Fellowship Building on Elm St. promises bargains galore. For information: call 978-456-8752.
Knit Wits
Teen volunteer Janet Sorrells will lead the Knit Wits knitting group for grades 4 to 12 on Monday, Jan. 30, at 3:30 p.m. at the library. All levels of knitters are welcome. Projects will depend on skill levels of group members; more advanced knitters may bring their own projects to work on. Limited to 12; please preregister.
Garden in the Woods Speaker at Garden Club
The Harvard Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting Monday, Jan. 30. Guest speaker Scott LaFleur, the horticulture and botanic garden director at Garden in the Woods, will discuss how to capture storm water runoff, beautify home gardens, and create biodiversity. The meeting will begin at 11:15 a.m. at St. Theresa's Church and is open to the public. Lunch and a business meeting will precede the speaker.
Family Movie Night
The Harvard Public Library will host a Family Movie Night, Friday, Feb. 3, at 6:30 p.m. The movie is rated PG for all ages. Please preregister, so the librarians will know how much popcorn to buy.
Winter Trail Challenge
The Harvard Conservation Trust is partnering with Fruitlands Museum to offer a Winter Trail Challenge Saturday, Feb. 4, from 1 to 5 p.m. Participants can try out their map reading skills and collect items along the trails to win a mystery prize.
African Drumming at VNS
Village Nursery School will host an African drumming and interactive music session led by Tom Foote's Rhythm Kids group Thursday, Feb. 2, from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at the school at 40 Poor Farm Road. The event is free, but an RSVP is required by Jan. 31 by calling 978-456-3993. The school's website is www.villagenurseryschool.org.
Oxbow Winter Outing
The public is invited to enjoy snowshoeing or cross country skiing in the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge with a guided tour Sunday, Feb. 5, at 1 p.m. The terrain is mainly level with one small hill. Gather at the Refuge parking lot at the end of Still River Depot Road and bring water to drink. Hot cocoa and cookies will be ready on the return. In the absence of snow, the group will hike. Families are welcome. The event is free of charge, but donations are welcome. For more information and to indicate an intention to participate, call Rona at 978-779-2259.
Lionheart Founder at Woman's Club
Robin Casarjian, founder and director of the Lionheart Foundation, will be the featured speaker at the Harvard Woman's Club Monday, Feb. 6, at St. Theresa's Parish Hall. Luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. followed by the program at 12:15 p.m.
Since its beginning in 1992, the Lionheart Foundation has helped thousands of prisoners, high risk youth, and teen parents build productive and meaningful lives through programs such as their National Emotional Literacy Project. All are welcome. For membership information call Sue Guswa at 978-456-8580.
"Connected" at the Cronin
The award-winning feature-length documentary "Connected" will be shown at the Cronin Auditorium Thursday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m.. Follwing the screening there will be a discussion with Sawyer Steele, who is one of the film's co-writers and is a Bromfield alum. There is no admission charge. Register at www.harvardschoolstrust.org. SEE STORY
Under the Parisian Sky Concert
The Worester Chamber Music Society (WCMS) will perform a concert, Under the Parisian Sky, Friday, Feb. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at the Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church. The full WCMS roster will be joined by international guest artists Demetrius Karamintzas, oboe, Douglas Metcalf, clarinet, and Anthony D'Amico, double bass. A pre-concert talk will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30, $25 for seniors, student rush $8 at the door with a WOO card, and children under 17 free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets and information are available at www.worcesterchambermusic.org or phone 978-456-2730.
Warner Free Lecture Series
The Warner Free Lecture series will present a talk by Susan Jackson on Friday, Feb. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in Volunteers Hall at the Harvard Public Library. "Period Frames: History, Materials & Conservation" will cover a brief history of frame styles, the basics on the art of gilding, how to distinguish between different gilded surfaces, and the process of gilding conservation, including examples from a variety of projects. Jackson is an accomplished gilder and conservator and a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation.
OUT OF TOWN
Concert Series at the Bull Run
The Bull Run Restaurant on Route 2A in Shirley continues its concert series with:
- Friday, Jan. 27: Johnny Winter
- Saturday, Jan. 28: Vance Gilbert
- Friday, Feb. 3: Tinsley Ellis Band
- Friday, Feb. 11: Stephen Donovan & Friends
- Friday, Feb. 27: Boogaloo Swamis
Ticket prices at tickets.bullrunrestaurant.com.
Refuge Fledgling Hour
The Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge's Fledgling Hour will offer a nature-themed program series that will include crafts, stories, and games or songs that relate to a different topic each month. The series will begin Friday, Jan. 27, at 10:30 a.m.,at the refuge Visitor Center in Sudbury. Programs will be held the fourth Friday of every month for 2- to 5-year-olds; siblings are welcome.
Gardening Chat
Nothing makes a winter day seem warmer than thinking about your next garden. The Bolton Community Garden will kick off the New Year with a chat on gardening Saturday, Jan. 28, at 1 p.m. at the Bolton Public Library. Discuss what grew and went well (or not) in 2011 and have an opportunity for a group seed order from Fedco Seeds in Maine, which will offer a discount to those participating.
Oak Meadow Montessori School Tour
Oak Meadow Montessori School will offer an admission group tour for propsective parents for the 2012-2013 school year Monday, Feb. 6, from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. at 2 Old Pickard Lane in Littleton. To register, call 978-486-9874, ext. 226, or email admissions@oakmeadow.org.
Cross Country Ski Outing
Sudbury Valley Trustees will offer a cross country ski outing Saturday, Feb. 4, from 11 a.m to 1 p.m around Memorial Forest in Sudbury, an extensive and varied trail system of old-woods roads through forests and wetlands. The program is dependent on a snow cover and designed for experienced skiers. Participants must provide their own equipment. Register at 978-443-5588 or www.svtweb.org/events-calendar. Free for members, $10 for non-members.
Cormac McCarthy at New Revival Coffeehouse
Folk singer Cormac McCarthy will perform Saturday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m. at the New Revival Coffeehouse, First Parish Church of Stow and Acton, at Routes 117 and 62. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Contact Johanna Pyle at 978-274-2593 or johanna.pyle@gmail.
NRWA February Vacation Programs
The Nashua River Watershed Association is offering two outdoor programs for children ages 6 to 12 during February school vacation week:
- Science of Winter Program for 6- to 8-year-olds will meet Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 20 and 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Young scientists will try experiments indoors and spend time each day hiking outdoors and trying some science in the field.
- Winter Survival Program for 9- to 12-year-olds will meet Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 23 and 24, from 9 a,m, to 3 p.m. for two days of outdoor adventure focusing on winter survival-based activities for students who want to learn how to build a shelter, find their way home, and cook over a fire.
Both programs are based at the NRWA River Resource Center located at 592 Main Street in Groton. The fee is $35/day for NRWA members and $45/day for non-members. Space is limited; pre-registration is required. To register, contact Mary Marro, NRWA Environmental Education Director, at 978-448-0299, or email MaryM@NashuaRiverWatershed.org.