Articles
by Meg Bantle | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, Featured, News, Newsletter
Emily Cooper, 23, is a graduate student at UMass Amherst who has taken oral contraceptives since she was 15 years old. In 2013, when a condom failed during a snowstorm, University Health Services (UHS) and the university bus system were both closed due to the weather....
by Dave Eisenstadter | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, Between the Lines, Featured, News, Newsletter
Let me start by saying that I would avoid the internet if I could. It is creepy to think about huge corporations tracking each page I visit, and, potentially through my smartphone, actually physically tracking me wherever I go. Social media interactions are a far cry...
by Jason Pramas | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, News, Newsletter
With a little help from its friends, the “regulators” at the Department of Public Utilities It is perhaps understandable that one of the most important Massachusetts news stories of the year was buried in the avalanche of reports coming out of Washington last week....
by Advocate Staff | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, Staff Picks
Overcoming Depression // SATURDAY Chris Goudreau wrote a great piece on transcranial magnetic stimulation (in a crude sense getting zapped by a magnet) as a way to treat depression. The treatment has been shown to be effective enough that the FDA approved its...
by Letters from our readers | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, Letters from our Readers, News
Editor’s Note: Welcome to our letters to the editor page. Here you’ll find reader comments on Advocate articles and other news. We collect readers’ opinions from emails, letters, Facebook comments, and comments to valleyadvocate.com. Want to get in on this? Email...
by Gina Beavers | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, Featured, Newsletter, Review
Celebrating 10 years of performance theater, The Royal Frog Ballet trades the wild outdoors for the pristine white walls of A.P.E. Gallery in downtown Northampton this month. Their retrospective, HINDSIGHT/FORESIGHT, is a thoughtful and vivid collection of paintings,...
by Advocate Staff | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, Bizarro Briefs, News
For more than 40 years, Mumtaz Begum has been reading the fortunes of visitors from within the cage of a Pakistani zoo. With a body of a fox and a head of a woman, Begum is one of the oddest attractions at the zoo. However, the fortune teller is actually played by...
by Chris Rohmann | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, Columns, Stage, Stagestruck
In this season of holiday entertainments that cater to our appetite for cozy tradition (I’m talking about you, Nutcracker, Messiah, and Christmas Carol), two shows this weekend hit the nostalgia nerve from contrary angles. In the Berkshires, a new play adds a “What...
by Lena Wilson | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, Columns, Film, Stream Queen
If you’ve turned on a radio recently or gone into any store, you may have noticed that the holidays are approaching — some faster than others, as Hanukkah began this week. For most of us, that means that it’s time to prepare for family gatherings, gift exchanges, and...
by Jack Brown | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, Cinemadope, Columns, Newsletter
Even among artists, Joseph Beuys has often flown under the radar, someone known more for his enduring impact than his individual works. During my days in art school, Beuys was a name dropped conspicuously into conversations by those who wanted to make sure you knew...
by Yana Tallon-Hicks | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, Columns, Newsletter, The V-Spot
Hi Yana, So, I was recently dumped. Woo! During “the conversation,” my now-ex told me a lot of confusing reasons as to why he thought we should break up, but the one that I can’t stop thinking about: “You’re too nice.” He said that he didn’t know how to be in a...
by Naila Moreira | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, Columns, Down to Earth
Well, Congressional Republicans have passed the tax bill. The only thing remaining before it becomes law is reconciliation between the House and Senate versions of the bill. I’m not the columnist to describe the full span of ways this bill will hurt the middle class....
by Rob Brenszny | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): According to a Sufi aphorism, you can’t be sure that you are in possession of the righteous truth unless a thousand people have called you a heretic. If that’s accurate, you still have a ways to go before you can be certified. You need a few...
by Jennifer Levesque | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, Arts, Columns, Featured, Music, Newsletter, Uncategorized, Valley Show Girl
About a month ago, Valley musician Nate Martel came into the Advocate office to drop off his debut solo album “Short Stay.” Being a fan of his role in rock group, Outer Stylie, I was pumped to get the CD into my car as soon as I left work. And that I did. Recorded at...
by Hunter Styles | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles, Columns, Food + Booze, Food Booze and Beyond, Newsletter, The Beerhunter
Now that the colder months have blown in, bar managers across the Valley are pulling IPAs, pale ales, and pilsners from their tap handles to make room for some thicker, darker brews like stouts, porters, and barrel-aged specials. Seasonal variety is all well and good,...
by Meg Bantle | Dec 11, 2017 | Articles
Many people call this the season of giving. The Network for Good Digital Giving Index found that in 2015, 29 percent of giving occurred in December alone, and that 11 percent of giving happened in the last three days of the year. With those three days fast...
by Advocate Staff | Dec 8, 2017 | Articles
Esperanto is a blues-driven alternative rock band from Westfield. Check out the band’s full Valley Advocate Sessions in the video below. Interview with Esperanto:
by Chris Rohmann | Dec 7, 2017 | Articles, Arts, Stage, Stagestruck
“Bedlam” is an apt moniker for the ever-adventurous theater company going by that name. Their whirlwind adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility recently wowed New York (and comes to Cambridge beginning this weekend – see below). Now they’re back on sort-of...
by Advocate Staff | Dec 6, 2017 | Articles
Esperanto is a blues-driven alternative rock band from Westfield. Check out a teaser video for the band’s Valley Advocate Sessions performance, which will be online this Friday.
by Advocate Staff | Dec 4, 2017 | Articles, Featured, News, Newsletter
We know our winters in Western Massachusetts. As the last of the color fades from the leaves, the realization sets in that it’s going to be a while before the warm and colorful days of spring. But winter doesn’t have to be all about darkness and cold. Winter is a time...
by Dave Eisenstadter | Dec 4, 2017 | Articles, Between the Lines, Featured, News, Newsletter
During now-President Donald Trump’s hateful and divisive campaign, Northampton’s Human Rights Commission noted anecdotally how even in this Western Massachusetts community, there seemed to be an increase in racism, sexism, and anti-semitism, spurred on by Trump’s...
by Letters to the editor | Dec 4, 2017 | Articles, Arts, Letters from our Readers, News
Editor’s Note: Welcome to our letters to the editor page. Here you’ll find reader comments on Advocate articles and other news. We collect readers’ opinions from emails, letters, Facebook comments, and comments to valleyadvocate.com. Want to get in on this? Email...
by Chris Goudreau | Dec 4, 2017 | Articles, Featured, Music, Newsletter, Review, Review
Northampton-based funk sextet Fat Bradley’s new self-titled five-song extended play (EP) recording is an acid jazz fusion of instrumental kaleidoscopic funky rock that grooves along with frantic energy and a sense of reckless abandon that’s downright entertaining....
by Advocate Staff | Dec 4, 2017 | Articles, Staff Picks
Nate Martel Album Release at Hawks & Reed // SUNDAY Nate Martel, best known for being the singer/guitarist of Northampton rock group Outer Stylie is releasing his debut solo album — and it’s on his birthday! The release show will feature a handful of musicians...
by Will Meyer | Dec 4, 2017 | Articles, Basemental, Columns
The joke about Eastampton shoegazers Kindling is that if they play a house show, some uptight neighbor might call the cops. There’s a reason for this: Kindling is very loud. Too loud for poorly insulated residential basements. When they play gigs, their three...
by Meg Bantle | Dec 4, 2017 | Articles, Newsletter, Wellness
On a blustery and cold November morning last week, people inside the Northampton Senior Center were keeping warm in a group exercise class and in the fitness room. Stan Plaza and his wife, Darlene Plaza, try to come to the Fitness Center a few times a week to use the...
by Advocate Staff | Dec 4, 2017 | Articles, Bizarro Briefs, News, Newsletter
Celery isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about a flavor of soft drink, but surprisingly it was one of the first. In 1869, Dr. Brown (Is that you, Doc?!) founded the Cel-Ray soda company. The good doctor made tonics intended to alleviate bowel and...
by Chris Goudreau | Dec 4, 2017 | Articles, Newsletter
Winter 2018 in the Pioneer Valley is bursting at the seams with interesting cultural and artistic events. Whether that’s checking out the latest art exhibit at MASSMoca or seeing a performance by world renowned musicians. This is just a snippet of what’s taking...
by Yana Tallon-Hicks | Dec 4, 2017 | Articles, Columns, Featured, Newsletter, Valley Show Girl
Hi Yana, I’m with a guy with an uncircumcised penis for the first time in my 16 years of being sexually active. I love how he looks, and it feels great when we can have sex. But, after three years, we haven’t been able to get into a good rhythm, sex-wise. I’m not...
by Monte Belmonte | Dec 4, 2017 | Articles, Monte Belmonte Wines, Newsletter
Holiday get-togethers are like a minefield of bad wines. A winefield, if you will. You are casually exchanging theories about The Last Jedi with your nephew when a well-intentioned relative hands you a glass of “red” because they know you like “red wine.” What on...
by Jack Brown | Dec 4, 2017 | Articles, Cinemadope, Columns
The Valley and the Berkshires have long offered a snug home — or a cozy getaway — for artists, musicians, and playwrights looking for a nourishing balance of quiet and culture. For visiting New Yorkers, especially, it seems to be an irresistible draw as a spot to...
by Rob Breszney | Dec 4, 2017 | Articles, Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): You may get richer quicker in 2018, Aries — especially if you refuse to sell out. You may accumulate more clout — especially if you treat everyone as your equal and always wield your power responsibly. I bet you will also experience deeper,...
by Advocate Staff | Dec 1, 2017 | Articles
Check out the full Valley Advocate Sessions performance for Brattleboro-based indie jazz-tinged rock group, Nomad v. Settler. The band, consisting of local teens, performed a set at the Valley Advocate Offices in November. Interview with Nomad vs....
by Advocate Staff | Nov 30, 2017 | Articles
Check out Brattleboro-based indie jazz-tinged rock group, Nomad v. Settler. The band, consisting of local teens, performed a set at the Valley Advocate Offices in November. Check out our teaser video filmed by Northampton Community Television and recorded by Signature...
by Chris Rohmann | Nov 30, 2017 | Articles, Arts, Stage, Stagestruck
Perhaps surprisingly, the Brits do American musicals really well. The National Theatre, in particular, has a long history of reinvigorating Broadway classics. The theater’s extensive relationship with Stephen Sondheim’s works continues with its current hit production...
by Chris Goudreau | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles, News
When Andrea Marian, executive director of Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry in Chicopee, first read an email offering to match the funds the pantry raises over Facebook this Giving Tuesday on Nov. 28, she thought it was a spam message. “We got an email from Facebook...
by Chris Goudreau | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles, Featured, News, Newsletter
It’s been more than two years, since former Valley Advocate staff writer Amanda Drane wrote an article about residents in the Mason Square neighborhood of Springfield who rallied together, collecting 1,300 grocery receipts totaling more than $50,000, to entice...
by Dave Eisenstadter | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles, Between the Lines, Featured, News, Newsletter
Each year, Gateway Regional High School in Huntington holds an event welcoming back alumni to share their experiences about college and post-graduate life. This year, however, the event was closed to one graduate: Marcelle LaBrecque, who spent 12 years in the Gateway...
by Chris Goudreau | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles, Music, Review
Northampton-based garage pop and indie rock trio Hammydown excels at tapping into youthful angst with charming, sarcastic glee on its debut five-song extended play recording, “Pizzaface,” released July 21. At its heart, Pizzaface is a record about dual identities and...
by Letters from our Readers | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles, Letters from our Readers, News
Editor’s Note: Welcome to our letters to the editor page. Here you’ll find reader comments on Advocate articles and other news. We collect readers’ opinions from emails, letters, Facebook comments, and comments to valleyadvocate.com. Want to get in on this? Email...
by Chris Rohmann | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles, Arts, Columns, Newsletter, Stage, Stagestruck
Serious Play! Theatre Ensemble, rooted in the Valley for over two decades, is spreading its limbs. Long the area’s prime site for physical-theater training and performance that explores the reaches of expression through voice and movement, the company has lately...
by Advocate Staff | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles, Bizarro Briefs, News
Two churches in San Jose, California, have a whole new take on the Bible’s burning bush. In Coachella Valley Church, cannabis is treated as a sacrament. For a $10 donation you get an identification card and become a lifetime member, with access to a store in the back...
by Advocate Staff | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles
Cotton Mill Open Studio & Holiday Sale // FRIDAY – SUNDAY Put simply, open studios are awesome. The chance to peek in at an artist’s work space and see how they set things up and where the do their creative work really gets the creative juices flowing for...
by Meg Bantle | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles, Newsletter, O Cannabis!
To start, an introduction. My name’s Meg, I’m a writer, a farmer, a gardener, a joker, a midnight … I’m the new cannabis columnist. Massachusetts is in the middle of its cannabis revolution and I don’t want you to miss a thing. With a new author comes a new...
by Jennifer Levesque | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles, Columns, Featured, Music, Newsletter, Review, Valley Show Girl
A couple weeks ago I wrote my column based on the fiasco that is Wikipedia Vs. Women, where locally and nationally non-male musicians are getting edited out of the popular DIY online encyclopedia due to male editors not accepting articles from certain publications...
by Yana Tallon-Hicks | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles, Columns, Featured, Newsletter, The V-Spot
Hi Yana! I am a 21-year-old cisgender female living with my partner of 1.5 years. I’ll make it simple: a partner has never been able to make me orgasm. Either I do it solo or I do all the work for myself during sex with a partner. My partner and I communicate about...
by Jack Brown | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles, Cinemadope, Columns
We all die. That great inescapable fact is the one sure thing we all share, but how the knowledge of it affects each of us is a profoundly personal thing. Some people rarely think of it until it is upon them, while others dwell in thoughts of dying. Some are paralyzed...
by Rob Brezsny | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles, Astrology, Uncategorized, Wellness
ARIES (March 21-April 19): I hope that everything doesn’t come too easily for you in the coming weeks. I’m worried you will meet with no obstructions and face no challenges. And that wouldn’t be good. It might weaken your willpower and cause your puzzle-solving skills...
by Meg Bantle | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles
As a self-identified foodie, the holiday season is one of my favorite times of year. I get to eat food, make food, and give food away basically non-stop through the New Year. Whether it’s something that I canned over the summer or a product made by a local company,...
by Meg Bantle | Nov 27, 2017 | Articles, News, Newsletter
Many residents of Greenfield will have an additional bucket on their curb next year. The Compost Cooperative is a newly formed worker-owned business that is going to start picking up commercial and residential compost in in Greenfield in 2018. The idea for the Compost...
by Advocate Staff | Nov 24, 2017 | Articles
Kelsey Birk, who goes by her stage name Celseigh, is a local singer-songwriter who writes doom drenched murder ballads with acoustic bluegrass inspired guitar. Interview with Celseigh
by Advocate Staff | Nov 22, 2017 | Articles
Kelsey Birk, who goes by her stage name Celseigh, is a local singer-songwriter who writes doom drenched murder ballads with acoustic bluegrass inspired guitar. Check out a teaser video of Celesigh’s full Valley Advocate Sessions performance set to be released...
by Meg Bantle | Nov 21, 2017 | Articles, News
Even though the holiday lights were strung up before the kids even trick-or-treated for their Halloween candy this year, the official start to the holiday season is this weekend by most people’s assessment. The Pioneer Valley will be abuzz with activity over the...
by Chris Goudreau and Meg Bantle | Nov 20, 2017 | Articles, Arts, Featured, News, Newsletter
The Pioneer Valley is home not only to a bountiful music scene, but to dozens of open mics where artistic communities blossom. Open mics are places where the generational lines between artists blur while they’re jamming out to a bluesy ballad or talking about their...
by Dave Eisenstadter | Nov 20, 2017 | Articles, Between the Lines, Featured, News, Newsletter
Gun control. It’s a topic that rarely gets any traction at the federal level, even after the most devastating and horrific mass shootings. After the Sandy Hook shooting, which resulted in the deaths of 20 children: nothing. After Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, the...
by Advocate Staff | Nov 20, 2017 | Articles, Staff Picks
Snow Farm Seconds Sale // FRIDAY-SUNDAY My number one goal for the holiday season is to get as much of my shopping done before December as possible. Shopping in December is the worst, and I am trying to avoid giving Amazon my money so I’m heading to the last...
by Meg Bantle | Nov 20, 2017 | Articles, Featured, News, Newsletter
Two painted planks of wood covered one of the main display windows in front of Shop Therapy in Northampton on Monday morning. The smashed pane, which looked like someone’s elbow or head was pushed through it from the outside, was covered with a message in red...
by Chris Goudreau | Nov 20, 2017 | Articles, Featured, Food + Booze, Newsletter
A flaky crust, delicious filling, and a bite of nostalgia make pie the dessert of choice for many. Whether it’s pie with a damn fine cup of coffee or a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, you’ll instantly be transported to sweet comfort heaven with just a bite … if it’s...
by Letters from our readers | Nov 20, 2017 | Articles, Letters from our Readers, News
Editor’s Note: Welcome to our letters to the editor page. Here you’ll find reader comments on Advocate articles and other news. We collect readers’ opinions from emails, letters, Facebook comments, and comments to valleyadvocate.com. Want to get in on this? Email...
by Lena Wilson | Nov 20, 2017 | Articles, Arts, Columns, Newsletter, Stream Queen
Dearest streamers, as the year draws to a close and we start to gather with our families (chosen or otherwise), it’s customary to take stock of how our lives have changed in the past 365 days. To say that the entertainment industry and all its iterations have changed...
