Eight Great Things To Do This Weekend – 3/4/21

ONE: Enjoy live, virtual jazz music by The Nick Goumas Quartet, hosted by the Chelmsford Center for the Arts. Tenor and soprano saxophonist Nick Goumas is a jazz musician who has developed his own mature and imaginative style. Goumas is known to perform with energy, feeling and musical integrity. His Quartet includes three Boston area musicians: Steve Hunt on piano , Bruce Gertz on bass and Jack Diefendorf on drums. The free virtual concert takes place this Saturday. Click here for details.

TWO: TONIGHT! The Newburyport Documentary Festival is partnering with The Screening Room to bring you a virtual screening of “Welcome to Commie High” to be followed by a live Q&A panel. “Welcome to Commie High” explores an experiment in public education—Community High School. The film will premiere tonight, March 4, at 7 p.m. and will be immediately followed by a live Q&A session with the filmmakers, the Dean of Community High School and others. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

THREE: Honor those on the frontlines and check out Gratitude & Solace, an exhibition of work by artist Laurie Simko at The Brush Art Gallery in Lowell. Simko’s art features portraits of frontline workers, inspired by a selfie from her daughter who is a nurse. She went on to paint nineteen more portraits of her daughter’s coworkers, all nighttime COVID-19 nurses at a small community hospital. The Brush is open Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

FOUR: Get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit early at the Tyngsboro America Legion’s Early St. Patrick’s Day Party this Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. This is a St.Patrick’s Day-themed party featuring a DJ, games and more. Everyone is welcome. For more information, click here.

FIVE: Are you a singer or songwriter with some original pieces you’d like to share? Join The Hearing Room in Lowell for a virtual themed open mic night. Either share your own compositions or listen to others’ for this open mic night is featuring original compositions only—no covers. This virtual event runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday night. For more information, click here.

SIX: Celebrate the beginning of spring during the Western Avenue virtual Open Art Studios this Saturday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event promises a virtual art experience like no other, featuring studio tours, demos, talks, artwork and more all from the safety and comfort of your own home. For more on the event, click here.

SEVEN: History buffs should check out the Museum of Printing in Haverhill, who is currently showcasing their extensive collection of rare Bibles. The Museum has one leaf from every Bible printed in Colonial America, including the first Bible printed in America—the Eliot Bible of 1663 in the Algonquin Indian language. The Museum is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. For more information, click here.

EIGHT: For those looking to spend the night in, check out the Joan-Watson Jones YouTube page for her interviews with drummer William Hooker. In this two-part podcast, Hooker discusses his poetry, podcast and insight into his own brand of music. Check out Watson-Jones’ interview with Hooker here, and for more videos from Joan Watson-Jones, click here.

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BONUS EVENT: National Meatball Day is Tuesday, March 9! Celebrate with newly opened 34 Park in Andover for their Big Meatball appetizer — an oversized meatball with pomodoro sauce, whipped ricotta, Parmesan, basil, and a side of grilled bread.