Welcome to the Marblehead Current’s new feature, Best Bets, spotlighting exciting events and happenings in the coming week. If you want to contribute a listing, please email lblander@marbleheadnews.org.
Spring Celebration
Presented by Discover Marblehead and the Chamber of Commerce, the Spring Celebration on Saturday, May 13, will feature local artisans, stores and restaurants in locations around town. There will be live music, games and more. For the full schedule of events and locations, click HERE.
Film Festival
The JCC of the North Shore’s Jewish Film Festival is screening four movies this week: “Matchmaking” on May 10 at 7 p.m.; “Farewell Mr. Hoffman” on May 12 at 1 p.m.; “Our Story” on May 13 at 6 :30 p.m. and “Lost Transport” on May 16 at 1 p.m. The movies are showing at Cinema Salem. The JCCNS’ 10th annual Film Festival runs through May 24, featuring movies from around the world with a Jewish connection. Read more about the festival in the Current HERE. Get tickets at jccns.org/film-festival/.
Rock the Arts Night
Come support the Marblehead Friends of the Performing Arts on May 11, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and enjoy music by local band 5XFast, appetizers, desserts, cash bar, raffle, silent auction and beautiful views of the harbor from the deck of the Dolphin Yacht Club. Money raised will help support performing arts students in town. Learn more and get tickets HERE.
Green Thumb?
As part of the Spring Celebration, two garden clubs will be holding plant sales on Saturday, May 13.
The Driftwood Garden Club will be at the Masonic Temple, 8 a.m. to noon, and the Cottage Gardeners of Marblehead and Swmapscott will be at St. Stephen’s Church 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Both sales will feature perennials, annuals and other plants from local gardens.
Poetry Salon
Love Bob Dylan? Join Salem State Professor Emerita Claire Keyes at the Abbot Library’s May Poetry Salon to discuss the singer/songwriter’s lyrics. Dylan won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” Come share your favorite songs. Thursday, May 11, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more HERE.
Cooking from the Heart
The owner of the Soall Vietnamese Bistro hosts the first evening in a cooking series, where Sa creates a four-course meal with her favorite dishes, May 11, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m at the restaurant. Dishes will be paired with beverages that bring out the vibrant Vietnamese flavors. On the menu this evening: green papaya salad, salt and pepper spring roll, “five space” coffee rub pork chop and matcha tiramisu. For more info and tickets, click HERE.
Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist who has written hundreds of stories for local newspapers, including the Marblehead Reporter. She also works as a PR specialist.