Culture - Marblehead Current

Counting down to the Arts Festival, everything you need to know

26Jun

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Art, Culture, Entertainment, Top Stories

Counting down to the Arts Festival, everything you need to know

With just days to go before the start of 58th Marblehead Festival of Arts, hundreds of volunteers are busy setting up galleries, hanging art, organizing events and more. “In our hectic lives, we often overlook connecting with our neighbors,” said Festival Director Jodi-Tatiana Charles. “The Marblehead Festival of Arts provides a unique opportunity for our community to come together, build new relationships and celebrate our arts.” She added, “By championing the arts, we create enduring memories and a collective pride in our town's cultural achievements.” Kids enjoy meeting Big Nazo monsters at the Festival last year. This year, kids can attend a Big Nazo workshop. CURRENT PHOTO / CHRIS STEVENS The Marblehead Current is an official Festival sponsor and produced this eight-page ...

18Jun

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Art, Community resources, Culture, Environment, Local News, Theater

CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets

By Leigh BlanderCurrent Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming days. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current Editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org. ‘Something Rotten!’ at MLTFriday, June 21-Sunday, June 30 Check out the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce “Something Rotten” at Marblehead Little Theatre. The show received several Best Musical nominations and was hailed by Time Out New York as “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years.” Get your tickets at mltlive.org. Community Wellness DaySaturday, June 22, 1-4 p.m. Marblehead Counseling Center will host its first Community Wellness Day, with free activities for the whole family. Come chat with local wellness and well-being vendors, too. Hobbs Playground, 57...

13Jun

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Art, Culture, Entertainment, Local News, Nonprofit corner

CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming days. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current Editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org. Playing with sea glassThursday, June 13, 7-9 p.m. Join Marblehead Arts Association member and owner of Marblehead Sea Glass Amy Goldfarb as she guides attendees in the creation of their very own sea glass art. 8 Hooper St. Choose from three different templates or create a design of your own. Supplies provided to create one 9-inch-by-9-inch or smaller piece of art. You may choose to bring washed sea glass from your own collection. If not, there will be plenty of beach-procured pieces of sea glass at the workshop for your use. MAA members: $25, non-members: $30. Marbleheadarts.org. Library reope...

3Jun

By Will DowdNo Comments

Culture, Top Stories

INCLUSION: Town ushers in Pride Month with flag raising

On the gorgeous first day of June, a large crowd gathered on the lawn at Abbot Hall to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride and raise the rainbow flag. The annual Marblehead Pride flag raising event brought together people of all ages to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community. Bruce Hamilton hoists the Pride flag, symbolizing unity and support for the LGBTQ+ community. State Rep. Jenny Armini gave an impassioned speech, reflecting on the 20th anniversary of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. “We declare that barring an individual from the protections, benefits and obligations of civil marriage solely because that person would marry a person of the same sex violates the Massachusetts Constitution," she quoted from the historic Goodridge decision handed down in 2003. "That is the ultimate ...

28May

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Art, Community resources, Culture, Entertainment, Local News, Nonprofit corner

CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming days. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current Editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org. Cods & WhalesFriday, May 31, 5-7 p.m. The Festival of Arts will kick off its annual Cods & Whales Auction at Abbot Hall. Come see dozens of one-of-a-kind wooden cods and plastic whales, decorated by local artists. After this event, the works will be displayed in local retailers and then auctioned off. Soul PlayFriday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Come experience “Soul Play,” a project that “falls at the intersection of theater performance and personal transformation,” according to director Peyton Pugmire. Pugmire guided six local women as they identified storie...

28May

By Benji BoydNo Comments

Culture, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools

MHS celebrates Culture Feast with music, dance, food

On Friday, May 24, Marblehead High School hosted its annual Culture Feast. Streamers, flags and posters celebrating all the countries of the world decorated the tables and walls of the cafeteria, where students, teachers and guests gathered to enjoy food and musical performances. The festivities were organized and run by the METCO program. Guests enjoy the MHS Culture Feast in the cafeteria. CURRENT PHOTO / BENJI BOYD MHS student Francesca Thibideoux sings ‘Million Dollar Man’ at Culture Feast. CURRENT PHOTO / BENJI BOYD Beginning at 4 p.m., the cafeteria was transformed into a dance floor. A DJ handled the playlist until 6 p.m., when the performers took the stage. Christopher Vasquez started the night with a performance of “Dance, Dance” by Fall Out Boy on the electric guitar,...

22May

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Culture, Local News

Where in Marblehead…

Here is this week’s “Where in Marblehead…” photo by Marblehead High School sophomore Grey Collins. If you can identify this location in town, go to our social media pages (@MHDCurrent) and let us know your guess. We’ll reveal the spot in next week’s print edition.

20May

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Art, Culture, Entertainment, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools

CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming days. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current Editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org. Spring Paint-OutWednesday-Friday, May 22-24 More than 20 New England artists will join the Spring Paint-Out this week, painting scenes around Marblehead in plein (open) air. Meet the artists and view their completed works on Friday, May 24, 5-7 p.m. at Arnould Gallery, 111 Washington St. The exhibit will remain through July 4. Culture FeastFriday, May 24, 4-7:30 p.m. Come experience this year’s Culture Feast at Marblehead High School. There will be food, music and performances. $5 for students, $7 adults. Cure by the HarborWednesday, May 22, 6-10 p.m. Enjoy an e...

13May

By Leigh BlanderNo Comments

Community resources, Culture, Entertainment, Local News, Nonprofit corner, Religion

CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming days. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current Editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org. Jazz at the Arts with Akiko AokiThursday, May 16, 7 p.m. The Marblehead Arts Association and Gene Arnould present Jazz at the Arts, a concert series at the Marblehead Arts Association featuring Akiko Aoki. The singer, voice instructor and Japanese teacher is known for her “jazzy phrasing and pitch control,” according to the MAA. For more info or to buy tickets, visit marbleheadarts.org. 8 Hooper St. Plant saleSaturday, May 18, 8:30-11 a.m. The Marblehead Garden Club is hosting its annual plant sale at the Lee Mansion Gardens, 161Washington St. Rain date is May 19. JCC Fa...

8May

By Max ArboNo Comments

Culture, Local News

Town celebrates AAPI with lion dances, Asian cuisine and more

On Saturday, Marblehead celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month for the first time with an event organized by Kim Gubelman with the Task Force Against Discrimination. The event featured five performances, starting with a high-energy, traditional lion dance accompanied by live music. Snapshots from Marblehead’s first AAPI celebration. CURRENT PHOTOS / MAX ARBO Other performances included someone playing a guzheng (a Chinese zither), a Khmer classical dance showcasing the origins of Cambodia, martial arts moves from the VTMA Binh Dinh Academy, and a poetry reading by award-winning author Oliver de la Paz. Yasmin Padamsee Forbes with the Asian American and Pacific Islanders Commission of Massachusetts came to speak. “This month we honor not just...