Newton Cultural Alliance

Commonwealth Chorale Presents " Reverent Praise"
2024-11-24 16:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Church of the Holy Name, 1689 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA, 02132, United States
In November, we bring you Johann Sebastian Bach’s beloved Magnificat and compositions by two well-known contemporary British composers: Jonathan Dove’s Köthener Messe and Cecilia McDowall’s Laudate. Dove and McDowall’s compositions both pay tribute to Bach and, with the Magnificat, provide respite for uncertain times

AEM presents Practical Musicianship and Music Theory for Early Musicians
2024-11-25 17:30 - 19:00, 2024-12-02 17:30 - 19:00, 2024-12-09 17:30 - 19:00, 2024-12-16 17:30 - 19:00 | MA
with Shira Kammen – vielle, voice, harp

5:30 – 6:45 pm, 11 November 2024

Shira
Kammen **
Violin & Vielle

4 Monday sessions, November 11, 18, 25 & December 2, from 5:30 – 6:45 p.m. ET

Class Description

Newton Thanksgiving Holiday Market
2024-11-26 12:00 - 16:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
On Tuesday, November 26th, pick up ingredients for your Thanksgiving feast at the special Farmers’ Market at the Allen Center in West Newton. Fourteen local small businesses and a Massachusetts farm are selling farm-fresh produce, fresh seafood, all the sides for your Thanksgiving dinner, cheese and charcuterie boards, prepared appetizers, pies, desserts, chocolates, dried floral wreaths, hostess gifts–and that’s just for starters. There will even be a mobile knife sharpener so cutlery is in tip-top shape for holiday carving. All businesses will have products for sale on site, but for the best selection and to make sure you head home with exactly what you want, it’s best to place orders in advance. The market runs from 12-4. You can peruse the participating small businesses, and place online orders by clicking the button below.

Behind The Screen: WICKED with author Gregory Maguire
2024-11-28 08:00 - 17:00 | West Newton Cinema, 1296 Washington Street, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, joins us for a screening and discussion of the new musical film WICKED (2024), the world within his books, and all things Oz!
WICKED brings the untold origin story of the witches of Oz to life, based on Maguire’s bestselling novel and the beloved Broadway musical. Directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), this visually stunning adaptation stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.
Gregory Maguire is a New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels for adults and children in addition to Wicked, including Son of a Witch, After Alice, and A Wild Winter Swan. A former professor and co-director at the Simmons College Center for the Study of Children’s Literature, Maguire continues to enchant readers with his inventive storytelling and masterful prose.
Movie Screening followed by Discussion.
160 minutes | PG | Musical

Pro Arte presents Holiday Brass!
2024-12-02 19:00 - 20:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra presents the first concert in this season’s Salon Series- Holiday Brass Quintet, featuring traditional holiday favorites, at The Allen Center in Newton at 7pm on December 2nd. The Holiday Brass salon concert has become a recent tradition at the Allen House, after its first performance during the pandemic as a video offering. This year’s concert will include music by Handel and Bach, along with traditional carols and more familiar popular Christmas songs. This concert will also be offered at 2pm that day at the Scandinavian Cultural Center. For more information www.proarte.org or info@proarte.org.

Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra presents Holiday Brass Quintet
2024-12-02 19:00 - 20:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
The Salon Series is Pro Arte’s chamber music concert series. Each performance features a select handful of musicians from Pro Arte’s cooperative along with occasional guest artists to present musical gems not featured in the full orchestral Ensemble Series. They are a perfect way to get to know Pro Arte players better. If you haven’t been to one of these fun concerts, they are presented in a less formal manner and feature plenty of opportunities to interact with the musicians and to learn more about the music.

Historic Newton presents Museum Makerdays: Sewing
2024-12-05 11:00 - 15:00 | Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Ave,, Newton, MA, 02458
The school day is over early and the museum is open! Stop by Durant-Kenrick House to try out a handicraft and make something new to take home with you. This month’s theme is sewing! Explore the history of the craft and sew your own drawstring bag to keep. Kids can also explore the exhibits and gardens, build with LEGOs, and play outdoor games. This is a series, taking place each special early release day in school year 2024-2025, according to the Newton Public School calendar.
$5 per child, kids 5 and under are free. Suitable for kids ages 5-15, younger and older siblings welcome. Registration not required; drop in any time during the event. Adults must remain onsite during the program. Let us know you’re interested at: https://form-usa.keela.co/2425EarlyRelease

The New Art Small Works Exhibition
2024-12-05 18:00 - 20:00 | New Art Cooridor, 245 Walnut Street, Newon, MA
The New Art Small Works Exhibition, with an opening reception on
Thursday, December 5th, from 6 – 8 pm, this is your chance to mingle with some of this year’s artists, listening to the music of the ProArte Chamber Orchestra of Boston Musicians, and finding the perfect holiday gift with personalized Art Gift Wrapping while enjoying wine and appetizers.
The New Art Corridor hosts over 90 works of art under 12” x 12”, from 47 Local Artists including Abaigeal Wright, Abby Fenn, Alison H. Kaiser, Amanda Pickler, Avital Skolnick, Barbara S. Furstenberg, Carol Sacks, Caryn Liu, Cate Stabile, Cathy Wysocki, Claudia J. Doherty, Corinne Rhode, Debi Dulberg, Don Warner, Ellen Foust, Erin Palazzolo Loparo, Gabriel Polonsky, Hilary Hanson Bruel, Jennifer Martinelli Rybicki, Jennifer Rand, Jessica Cowher, Julia Purdy, Kathleen P. Dunn, Kathryn Gearon, Kelsey Hughes, Ken Reker, Kylie Weinzierl, Leah Kolidas, Lisa Benson, Lourdes De Leon, Lydia M. Kinney, Magdalena G. Riendeau, Markus J. Nechay, Meghan Littlefield- Whitston, Nora Farell, Nova M. Hill, Rowan Raskin, Sarah Moriarty, Sharon Schindler, Shea Stoner- Day, Sherwin J. Long, Sofia Plater, Susan Bienin Johnson, Suzanne Archibald, Tanya N. Nixon-Silberg, Victoria Riccardi, and Yu Cheng.
The 2024 Small Works exhibition is open from Monday, December 2nd , 2024, through Saturday, January 4th, 2025. The New Art Corridor, 245 Walnut St., Newtonville, MA, 02460, is open 24/7 and is monitored by security cameras and a security team.
The New Art Corridor is sponsored by the Mass Cultural Council, Village Bank, and Mark Development. For information or questions about New Art Center exhibitions, calls for art, art lending programs, and curatorial opportunities, visit our website at newartcenter.org/exhibitions or contact Lennon Hernandez Wolcott, Exhibitions and Special Projects Manager at (617) 964-3424, by email at lennon@newartcenter.org.

Good Food Farms Winter Pop-Up Market
2024-12-06 11:00 - 13:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
The Good Food Farm will host its Winter Farmer’s Market at The Allen Center from 11:00- 1:30 pm. Purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey, canned goods and more. There will also be Pasture Raised Pork for Pre-Order. If you’d like to buy pork on Friday, please email info@thegoodfood.farm by Thursday (12/5) at 8pm. See the list of cuts below. Click here to learn more about The Good Food Farm and their organic practices.

Pasture Raised Pork for Pre-Order
Italian Sausage – $15/lb
Breakfast Sausage – $15/lb
Regular Style Ribs – $15/lb
Hocks & Trotter – $4.5/lb
Tenderloin – $25/lb
Liver – $9/lb
Heart – $9/lb
Leaf Lard- $4/lb
Back Fat- $4/lb
Loin Chops – $15/lb
Butt Roast – $12/lb
Shoulder – $12/lb
NOTE: Pork must be pre-ordered by emailing info@thegoodfood.farm
Other items include: Local veggies (carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bok choy, squash, kohlrabi), apples, eggs, canned goods, honey, & pasture raised pork.

In the Key of Now
2024-12-06 19:30 - 21:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
The Allen Center in partnership with Berklee Voice Department presents “In the Key of Now” on Friday, December 6th at 7:30 pm. Featuring the Advanced Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Prof. Ned Rosenblatt and a special cameo appearance by renowned vocalist and Professor Emeritus Donna McElroy. Step into “In the Key of Now”, a live experience that celebrates the power of the present moment through the dynamic energy of jazz.

FUUSN Holiday Fair
2024-12-07 09:00 - 14:30 | First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, 1326 Washington St, Newton, MA, 02465, United States
The FUUSN Holiday Fair is a fun, festive Holiday marketplace. Shop for gifts, toys, homemade baked goods, wreaths and swags. Buy baked goods such as cookies, cakes, and sweets, or pick up a fresh green wreath, topped with a colorful bow. Join in on the fun of singing with a holiday caroling session open to all who want to join.

Find Your Light
2024-12-07 12:00 - 16:00 | New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newton, MA, 02460, United States
Join the New Art Center in Newtonville for Find Your Light, celebrations of Kwanzaa and Chanukah. The event will take place on Saturday, December 7 from 12:00pm – 4:00pm at 61 Washington Park and is part of New Art’s Cultural Access Program, a robust Community Outreach program providing free and inclusive art experiences.
Find Your Light will feature a series of art-making and performance activities centered on the principles of Chanukah and Kwaznaa. Presenters aim to highlight the similarities between the two celebrations, showcasing the diversity in our community, while connecting us to themes of unity. This is a family-friendly event, free and open to the public.
Rasheeda Brown will lead art-making centered on the seven principles of Kwanzaa: unity, self-determination, collective work & responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Participants will create seven unique handcrafted gifts, one for each day of the festival, to share with seven special people in their lives.
Shira Weiss poses the question, “What brought you light this year?” They will lead a family-friendly, immersive art experience celebrating Chanukah through artmaking, storytelling, and theater. Guests join in a collaborative performance and in the process share how light connects us all.
The Kwanzaa workshop starts at 12pm, and runs until 3pm., while the Chanukah sessions begin at 1pm and runs until 4pm.

Highland Glee Club presents A Holiday Feast of Song
2024-12-07 15:00 - 16:30 | Grace Episcopal Church, 76 Eldredge Street, Newton, MA, 02458, United States
Announcing this year’s holiday concert from The Highland Glee Club, “A Holiday Feast of Song”. Saturday, December 7, 2024, 3 PM at Grace Church, 76 Eldredge St Newton, MA. General admission $20 in advance; $25 at the door. Under age 18 free. Features traditional carols, a world premiere composition for Chanukah by Dan Wulf; Kreisler works from our 2024 HCG music award winner Keila Wakao; Alfred Burt carols with a solo by Connor Vigeant, tenor, and our rousing singalong. All followed by a beautiful reception with complementary goodies for the whole family. Details and tickets at www.highlandgleeclub.com

Newton Baroque presents Nativity: Meditations on the Annunciation, Visitation, and Nativity by Biber, Bach, and Others
2024-12-07 16:00 - 18:00 | St Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, 1 Morse Rd, Sudbury, MA, 01776, United States
This intensely contemplative concert ventures into both the gritty and the sublime in elements related to pregnancy, expectation, childbirth, and hope, featuring three of the Mystery Sonatas by Franz Heinrich Biber: The Annunciation, the Visitation, and the Nativity, along with Baroque-style improvisation and works by Pachelbel, Muffat, and Bach. We will perform this concert at St Elizabeth’s Church in Sudbury to take advantage of the spectacular English Baroque organ built by William Drake.
Susanna Ogata – violin, Andrus Madsen – Organ

Bay Colony Brass presents A Bay Colony Christmas
2024-12-07 19:30 - 21:00 | Second Church in Newton, 60 Highland St., West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Music director Philip Sanborn leads Newton’s 20-member BAY COLONY BRASS in a free, family-friendly concert of Christmas favorites ranging from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” to modern favorites. The concert features an audience sing-along. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Newton Cultural Council, a local council that is supported by the Mass Cultural Council and the City of Newton.
FREE ADMISSION
Parking is available adjacent to the building at Second Church in Newton. Parking lots are accessible from either Highland Street or Chestnut Street.
Access for those with limited mobility is available immediately uphill from the sanctuary via the side driveway or drive-up entrance through the main doors to the sanctuary.
And in case you can’t make the performance on December 7, you can still catch “A Bay Colony Christmas” on December 14 at 7:30 at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 280 Main Street in Woburn.

Historic Newton presents Candles & Cards
2024-12-08 10:00 - 14:00 | Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, 286 Waverley Ave,, Newton, MA, 02458
Get into the holiday spirit while you dip candles and craft cards! You’ll gain inspiration from vintage greeting cards and advertisements in our collection, enjoy seasonal music and refreshments, and craft candles and cards to keep or share with a friend. This program is appropriate for all ages; stop by anytime during the event.
This program is $5 for Historic Newton members and $10 for non-members. Register in advance at https://events.humanitix.com/candles-and-cards; walk-ins welcome.

Celebrate Newton Holiday Craft Fair
2024-12-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Newton South High School, 140 Brandeis Rd, Newton, MA, 02459
Celebrate Newton is a one-day holiday shopping extravaganza with live music and local artisans. With over 50 vendors to choose from you can buy a unique gift for everyone this season. For 2024 we have tons of textiles, loads of Fine Art, Jewelry galore, and new vendors you’ve never seen before. Admission is $7 and all proceeds go to the Newton Cultural Alliance, a non-profit advocacy organization operating The Allen Center for Arts and Culture.

These Are The Days - Newton Family Singers Celebrate the Music of Lilith Fair
2024-12-08 16:00 - 19:00 | Regis College’s Casey Theatre, 235 Wellesley St, Weston, MA, 02493, United States
Join the Newton Family Singers as we celebrate the music of Lilith Fair. This concert will be a bit different from our usual performances. Instead of focusing on a single artist, we’re honoring several talented musicians who were part of the traveling music festival, Lilith Fair.
Lilith Fair was a groundbreaking festival that took place during the summers of 1997 to 1999 and was revived in 2010. It featured female solo artists and female-led bands, providing a platform for their voices to be heard. This gives us the opportunity to perform a wide variety of favorites from musicians you know and love, such as Natalie Merchant, Sheryl Crow, The Chicks, Indigo Girls, Sarah McLachlan, Lisa Loeb, 10,000 Maniacs, Jewel, Alanis Morissette, Des’ree, Shawn Colvin, and Tracy Chapman!
Proceeds from this season’s concert will go to The Second Step. The Second Step fosters the safety, stability, and well-being of those who have experienced domestic violence. They provide comprehensive services, including safety planning, legal advocacy, counseling, peer support, transitional housing, and other essential services to adults, youth, and children in Greater Boston and MetroWest.
https://www.newtonfamilysingers.org/events.html

Tui T. Sutherland, Author of Wings Of Fire
2024-12-09 17:00 - 18:00 | West Newton Cinema, 1296 Washington Street, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
As part of the Newton Children’s Book Festival, West Newton Cinema is excited to host a children’s book event with Tui T. Sutherland, the New York Times best-selling author of the much beloved Wings of Fire series and other books. Tickets are $20/person and include a limited edition copy of THE DRAGONET PROPHESY or a $10 gift certificate to Newtonville Books, available at time of entry.
Learn more about the Newton Children’s Book Festival taking place on December 14th at the New Art Center: newtonchildrensbookfest.com

New Art Center presents Newton Children’s Book Festival
2024-12-14 10:00 - 14:00 | New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newton, MA, 02460, United States
The New Art Center and Read Your World have teamed up to create the inaugural Newton Children’s Book Festival. This free event will be held on December 14th, Saturday, from 10 am to 2 pm, at the New Art Center in Newtonville, MA. A snow date is set for Sunday, December 15th, from 10 am to 2 pm.
The Newton Children’s Book Festival will showcase 60+ children’s book authors and illustrators signing books. Newtonville Books will be selling the books, with a 20% discount for teachers! There is a free bookmark craft for children.
“We are pleased to offer the New Art Center space to the inaugural Newton Children’s Book Festival,” says Emily O’Neil, Executive Director of New Art Center. “Kids benefit from meeting children’s book authors and illustrators, and signed books make great gifts for the holiday season! ”
“Boston has one of the largest concentrations of children’s book creators in the United States, and we are thrilled to have more than 60 in the area at our event, including Caldecott Honor author and illustrator Brian Lies, and Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca,” says Mia Wenjen, President of the Newton-based non-profit, Read Your World.
In support of the Newton Children’s Book Festival, West Newton Cinema Foundation is hosting a children’s book event with the New York Times best-selling author of the Wings of Fire series, Tui T. Sutherland. It will be held on Monday, December 9th, at 5 pm at the West Newton Cinema. Newtonville Books will supply signed copies for this ticketed event. To order tickets, go to newtonvillebooks.com.

The Allen Center Craft Crawl
2024-12-14 13:00 - 15:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Newton’s Craft Crawl at The Allen Center– Saturday, December 14, 1-3:00 pm
Roll up your sleeves and get ready to get crafty at Newton’s 1st city-wide Craft Crawl. Visit creative destinations throughout the city on Saturday, December 14, to make holiday gifts, ornaments, cards–and that’s just for starters.
THE ALLEN CENTER -Decorate Cookies, Craft a Fairy, Make a Flake
West Newton’s Allen Center has three holiday craft activities for Crawlers of all ages. Even better? Participants will be serenaded with live holiday music while they’re busy creating. From 1-3 PM, decorate holiday cookies alongside Naisbel Azarak and Haylee Kulig—two professional pastry chefs from NaisLee Catering. Then, craft a fairy from bits of yarn, scraps of fabric, and a wee bit of holiday magic. Before crafters leave they can snip out a snowflake to decorate their home or hang on the Allen Center’s tree. Pre-registration for cookie decorating is requested by emailing: Naisbel@naisleecatering.com All ages are invited, but parents will need to assist younger children.

ANMS presents Celebrating Judy & Barbara
2024-12-14 16:00 - 18:30 | All Newton Music School, 321 Chestnut St, West Newton, MA, 02465, United States
Celebrating Judy & Barbara

Dive into the musical legacies of Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand in this special concert featuring performances by ANMS faculty and guest artists.

Classical with a Twist - I've Got Rhythm
2024-12-15 15:00 - 17:00 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
The first half of the Cherry Street Music season wraps up on December 15th with Classical with a Twist – I’ve Got Rhythm including Gershwin favorites such as Rhapsody in Blue, and Brahms’ G minor Piano Quartet. Rythm makers for this performance include Alex Velinzon; violin; Cathy Basrak, viola; Artist-in-Residence, Allison Eldredge, cello; and Max Levinson, piano.

New Phil & Boston Ballet present Celebrations!
2024-12-15 15:00 - 17:00 | Brown Middle School, 125 Meadowbrook Road, Newton Centre, MA, 02459
Celebrations!
Sunday, December 15, 3:00 pm
The New Philharmonia Orchestra + Boston Ballet School perform scenes from the Nutcracker at Brown Middle School. Celebrations! is all the Tchaikovsky you love, plus other holiday favorites like Sleigh Ride, Frozen, and Let There Be Peace on Earth.

Historic Newton Presents Newton History Series: A Pressing Matter - 18th Century Media Literacy and Bias
2024-12-17 08:00 - 17:00 | Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St, Newton, MA, 02459, United States
Media and information literacy are essential 21st-century skills in order to be an informed citizen. These are also skills that, when applied in a historical context, help us become better historians. In this discussion, we will analyze perspective, language, and bias in 18th-century newspapers, with a critical lens on how news was consumed in colonial America.
About the speaker: Michele Gabrielson is a local history teacher and historic interpreter of the 18th century. When she is not teaching in the classroom, Michele can be found leading tours, lectures, and demonstrations at historic sites in the greater Boston area. She specializes in interpreting the history of colonial women printers, the stories of loyalist refugees, and of 18th century chocolate makers! Most recently, she has taken on building a first-person impression of the revolutionary playwright and poet Mercy Otis Warren. Michele additionally serves on several historical committees dedicated to helping preserve the history of colonial America, is a member of the Authenticity Standards Committee for Minuteman National Historic Park, and is the coordinator for the Battle Road Guides for the annual reenactment of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. She was recently awarded a 2024 Rising Star Award for Public History by the Massachusetts History Alliance for her programming titled, “The Revolutionary Classroom,” and named a finalist for the 2024 Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year.
This program is part of the Newton History Series, co-sponsored by Historic Newton and the Newton Free Library. Look out for lectures in both February and March 2025.
Thursday, January 16, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Newton Free Library, Druker Auditorium
Free, registration not required

NAA Winter Expo at the Allen Center
2024-12-17 18:00 - 2025-01-21 19:30 | The Allen Center, 35 Webster St, WEST NEWTON, MA, 02465, United States
Winter Expo at the Allen Center
Exhibition dates: December 12, 2024 – January 21, 2025
Off to a fresh start for the New Year! Out with the old, in with the new. Join us for the first winter exhibition of the New Year at the Allen Center. A great place, a great time, and a great venue to celebrate the holidays. The awards ceremony will be held Tuesday, December 17th from 6-7:30pm with special guest juror Candice Driver, Associate Director of Cambridge Art Association.
