Things to do: Events

Donnell Patterson directs. / Mystic Chorale photo

Registration is now open for Arlington-based Mystic Chorale’s gospel season, with Covid precautions.

This nonaudition chorus welcomes all who love to sing to celebrate the joy and power of gospel music along with a predicted group of more than 150 other participants.

Leading the eight-week gospel season, known as "Simply Amazing," will be Donnell Patterson. It is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Jan. 3, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at First Parish, 630 Mass. Ave., Arlington.

The chorale is scheduled to perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, in Cary Hall, Lexington.

The program includes the hymn “Amazing Grace,” Deniece Williams’s “God is Amazing” and gospel trailblazer Hezekiah Walker’s “Amazing.”

True Story Theater, based in Arlington, presents issues to the public by involving the audience through "playback" -- by drawing stories from them and having actor present the stories that arise. 

The Menotomy Grill & Tavern, which opened in 2013, brews live music Thursday nights.

The pandemic closed the place in March 2020, and dining returned that June. See who's scheduled to perform at 9 p.m. >>

Plenty of parking, and never a cover.

UPDATED Jan. 25: The Arlington Center for the Arts' winter session is in full swing, and it looks forward to the start of more classes and workshops in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, summer registration has opened to ACA members, and it opened to the general public Wednesday, Jan. 25. See the summer catalog >> 

Register here >>

The lineup includes many new subjects as well as a great selection of community favorites. Pursue a creative outlet this winter and find inspiration and connection through art-making.

Join ACA's winter 2023 semester of dynamic and creatively nourishing art classes and workshops, whether trying your hand at a new creative medium for the first time or looking to hone your artistic craft, ACA has something for everyone this winter, as all is uinderway. Check out a few of our winter 2023 course highlights: 

Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, with Mark Harvey, first row center.

The celebration of the 50^th year of Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, led by Arlington's Mark Harvey, continues with the a spring concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at Church of the Covenant, Boston.

“Celebrating the Duke, Trane and Mary Lou” features music by Duke Ellington on his birthday and compositions by Harvey in honor of National Jazz Appreciation Month and International Jazz Day (April 30). 

Highlights include Ellington’s “Come Sunday” and “Chinoiserie” and wide-ranging works by Harvey:  “Soul on Soul” (for Mary Lou Williams), “The Seeker” (for John Coltrane) and the premiere of Harvey’s latest work, “Prayer for Ukraine.”

Plug In at Robbins invites all to make Valentine's Day cards for local Meals on Wheels clients on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. at the Community Room in the Robbins Library, 700 Mass. Ave.

In 2021 and 2022, these were remote events, and each year we made more than 200 cards. This year, our third, we will be together in person to make valentine cards to send and to share. Registration is required, as capacity is limited to 25. Please register by 7 p.m. on Feb. 7.

Register here >>

The Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra plans to present its midwinter concert, "It's All About Papa," on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 630 Mass. Ave., Arlington.

Led by music director Orlando Cela, the orchestra will perform works written by or influenced by “Papa” Franz Joseph Haydn. These works include the U.S. premiere of the Overture to “Isacco” by Marianna Martines, Johannes Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Haydn, and a special performance of Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 2 in D, featuring the 2022 PSA Young Artist Competition Winner, cellist Elena Ariza.

UPDATED Jan. 29: The winter art exhibition, "Look: Perspectives on Nature," is to be on display in the gallery of the Old Schwamb Mill, 17 Mill Lane, from Dec. 3, through March 11. 

An artists' gallery talk was held at 2 p.m. Jan. 28, immediately followed by a reception from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

The Cutter Gallery Arlingtonheld an opening reception for Herb Pearce and his exhibit "Nature and Mystical Art" on Sunday, Jan. 29.

A further date is set for Sunday, Feb. 12, 1 to 5 p.m.

Read what the artist says about his work.