Lifestyle

The Lookout: Action-packed film exposes 'Children of Winter'

The Lookout
Sonya Vartabedian
Published: January 1, 2009

Deep powder. Huge air. World-class skiers and snowboarders. Once again, they combine in Warren Miller's latest sports film, "Children of Winter," which will be screened in two showings Saturday at Newburyport's Firehouse Center for the Arts.

Set to music by Radiohead, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Beck and others, the film showcases athletes attacking the slopes in Japan, Austria, British Columbia, Iceland, Colorado and other notable winter venues. Presented in high-definition and narrated by skiing icon Jonny Moseley, the film spotlights such athletes as Chris Anthony, Daron Rahlves, Marco Sullivan, Seth Wescott, Gerry Lopez, Pep Fujas, Wendy Fisher and more.

This is the fifth year the Firehouse has screened Miller's annual release. Showings are planned at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, $8 for Firehouse members, students and seniors, and include the film only; no prizes or giveaways will be offered. For information or reservations, call the Firehouse box office at 978-462-7336 or visit www.firehouse.org.

Railway Express chugs into new year

Railway Express, the annual Christmas train and model railroad show originally scheduled for last month, finally pulls into Amesbury's Carriage Mills Building #2 on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hosted by the Salisbury Point Railroad Historical Society, the event was rescheduled to this weekend after last month's ice storm. It will feature about a half dozen train layouts in a variety of gauges, including HO, S (American Flyer), O (Lionel), G, N, and OO (Thomas the Tank) that will appeal to train enthusiasts ages 3 to 93. There will be an opportunity to drive some of the trains, particularly the Thomas the Tank, and test out an old locomotive on one of the layouts as well.

A collection of historic railroad prints and maps, including a large map of the Amesbury branch; plus books and an array of railroad artifacts will be on display, train videos will be playing in the society's library and there will be a sale of train items. Light refreshments will be available.

Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for ages 12 and under. Children under 6 get in free. The Carriage Mills Building is at 9 Water St., off Elm Street near Market Square in downtown Amesbury.

The nonprofit Salisbury Point Railroad Historical Society was established to preserve and make available information pertaining to the history of the Boston & Maine Railroad, in particular the Amesbury branch, as well as the history of railroads in New England. The organization meets on Wednesday nights; new members are welcome. Call 978-388-8888 or visit http://salisburypoint.tnsing.com,info@tnsing.com for more.

Spending New Year's Day with the birds

Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport and Parker River Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island are offering several opportunities to usher in 2009 with the birds. Here's what's on tap:

What's That Bird: An outing for beginning birders ages 8 and up today; two sessions available, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Each outing is limited to seven participants. Meet at the Joppa Flats Center, 1 Plum Island Turnpike. Cost is $5 for Mass Audubon members, $7 for nonmembers, free with purchase of new membership.

New Year's Madness: An all-day excursion to Plum Island, Salisbury Beach and Cape Ann today from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Meet at the Joppa Flats Center. Cost is $40 for Mass Audubon members, $50 for nonmembers.

Nature on New Year's Day: Search for wintering birds and enjoy the wildlife of Plum Island with refuge volunteer and Essex County Ornithological Club President Sue McGrath today from 2 p.m. to dusk at the wildlife refuge. Meet at parking lot 1 with binoculars and a snack. Wear warm clothing and waterproof shoes or boots. Free admission.

For more information, contact the Joppa Flats Center at 978-462-9998 or visit www.massaudubon.org/joppaflats or the wildlife refuge at 978-465-5753 or visit http://parkerriver.fws.gov.

Neil Simon family memoir at Amesbury Playhouse

The first part of Neil Simon's autobiographical trilogy, "Brighton Beach Memoirs," kicks off the 2009 season at Amesbury Playhouse Dinner Theatre, 194 Main St., Amesbury.

The script offers a portrait of the writer as a young teen in 1937 living with his family in a crowded, lower middle-class Brooklyn walk-up. Eugene Jerome, standing in for the author, is the narrator and central character. Dreaming of baseball and girls, Eugene must cope with the mundane existence of his family life in Brooklyn: formidable mother, overworked father and his worldly older brother, Stanley. Throw into the mix his widowed aunt, Blanche, and her two young (but rapidly aging) daughters and Grandpa the Socialist, and the Playhouse promises what it calls a recipe for hilarity.

The show runs through Jan. 18. Reservations are required. Call 978-388-9444, or visit www.amesburyplayhouse.com for show dates and times.

Moving and trunk show at Port's Bridge Gallery

Bridge Gallery at 113 Merrimac St. in Newburyport is holding a major moving and trunk sale during the month of January in anticipation of its move to its new central downtown Newburyport location at 1R Water St. on Feb. 1. Bridge Gallery will be moving into the former Ferry Wharf Gallery space.

The trunk show features framed and matted artwork at bargain prices.

Bridge also continues its "Second Sundays at the Gallery" series in 2009 with a presentation by artists Susan Jaworski Stranc and Joanna Hammond on Sunday, Jan. 11. Stranc and Hammond will lead a talk titled "Artists and their Sketchbooks" at 2 p.m. Sketchbooks from various Bridge Gallery artists will be on display at the program, which is open free to the public.

Bridge Gallery hours are Thursday through Monday from noon to 6 p.m. Visit www.bridgegallerynewburyport.com for more.

Mayan Indian's paintings at Anna Jaques

Oil paintings by Julio Chirix, a Mayan Indian from Comalapa, Guatemala, take center stage this month in the main halls at Anna Jaques Hospital, 25 Highland Ave., Newburyport.

Chirix supports his wife and family of six children by selling his paintings. Nine of his works will be on display through January.

Amesbury artist shines in hometown show

Amesbury artist Margery Jennings of Amesbury is showing off her recent paintings this month at The Provident Bank's Amesbury branches, located at 5 Market St. and at the corner of Route 110 and Haverhill Road.

A lifelong resident of New England, Jennings has been an artist for more than 30 years, working in oil, pastel, acrylic, pen and ink, and computer imaging. After years in the printing trade as a graphic artist, she became a full-time painter in 2007. She paints with the "Newburyport Ten," a group of plein air painters that has an annual show at the Newburyport Art Association. She is a member of both the Newburyport and Greater Haverhill arts associations.

An artist's reception takes place Thursday, Jan. 8, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Market Square main office. Light hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served. The exhibit runs through Jan. 23.

The Provident Bank's Lobby for the Arts program is an ongoing series of local art exhibits, displayed in each of The Provident Bank lobbies. The bank doesn't receive any commissions for artwork sold and pays all expenses associated with the exhibit. Call Anne Bonaventura at the Amesbury branch at 978-834-8540 for more.

Spiritual film screening at Unity on the River

Unity on the River in Amesbury presents three pre-release showings of Dr. Wayne Dyer's newest film, "Ambition to Meaning, Finding Your Life's Purpose," the next two weekends at the church, 58 Macy St. (Route 110), Amesbury.

In the film directed by Michael Goorjian, Dr. Dyer explores the spiritual journey from ambition to meaning in what is described as an entertaining film intended to not only inspire but also teach how to create a life of meaning and purpose. The film is officially slated for release on Jan. 13.

The film will be shown this Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. and next Saturday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. New York Times best-selling author Cheryl Richardson of Greater Newburyport will lead a discussion on the film following this Sunday's screening at 3:30 p.m. She also will be on hand prior to the screening on Sunday to sign copies of her new book, "The Art of Extreme Self Care" at 12:30 p.m.

Admission to the screenings is $10. Call 978-834-7830 or visit www.unityontheriver.org.

An evening with a good book in Newbury

Newbury's 375th Anniversary Committee is hosting three Authors' Nights on Wednesdays in January at the Newbury Public Library on Lunt Street in Byfield.

Jean Foley Doyle is up first with a discussion of her book, "Life in Newburyport 1900-1950," on Jan. 7. Photographer Dorothy Kerper Monnelly offers a visual presentation on "Between Land and Sea —The Great Marsh" on Jan. 14. And Mary and James Gage highlight the who, where and why of the early American folk art found in Newbury in their book, "Stories Carved in Stone," on Jan. 21.

All of the events start at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by book signings. Books will be available for purchase. Call the library at 978-465-0539.

Port Choral Society begins spring rehearsal

The Newburyport Choral Society begins registration for its spring concert rehearsal season on Monday at 6 p.m. at the Rupert A. Nock Middle School cafeteria, 70 Low St., Newburyport.

The registration will be followed by rehearsal at 7 p.m. New singers are invited. Registration continues on Jan. 12 and 19 at 7 p.m. Regular rehearsals are held every Monday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Performance dates are May 16 and 17. The choral society will be featuring J.S. Bach's "Mass in B Minor" for the performances.

Dues are $50 per semester, $40 for seniors, with an additional $16 fee for music. For more, call Kathleen Wooten at 978-462-0650 or visit www.newburyportchoralsociety.org.

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