Fine Arts Theater Schedule for Week of March 23rd

Fine Arts Theater, Maynard Mass. 

(978) 298-5626

19 Summer St., Maynard, MA

Monday March 23rd thru Thursday March 26th:

Cinderella 7PM

Insurgent 7:30PM

Friday March 27th:

Cinderella  6PM & 8:30PM

Insurgent 5PM & 8PM

Saturday March 28th:

Cinderella  1PM, 3:30PM, 6PM, 8:30PM

Insurgent 12 Noon, 3PM, 6PM, 9PM

Sunday March 29th:

Cinderella 1PM, 3:30PM, 6PM, 8:15PM

Insurgent 1:30PM, 4:30PM, 7:30PM

Fine Arts Theater is Loving the Kids

I love that the Fine Arts Theater has been showing special movies for kids during vacation weeks. I follow them on Facebook and read that they're going to have a screening of How to Train Your Dragon (the first one) on April 3rd. The movie starts at 11:00 and the cost is just $3. If it's anything like the showing they had of "Despicable Me", the place will be wonderfully full. Here's a link to the trailer.

I hope to see many of you there!

How Can You Close When You Haven't Been Open?

I was on Nason Street today and was delighted to see that not only was Picker's Pocket finally open, but that they were also putting things out on the sidewalk to draw customers. And then I saw noticed that among the items on the sidewalk was a going-put-of-business sandwich-board sign.

I hope they don't try to claim that they weren't getting the traffic that they hoped for. That would be a joke. You can't get any traffic if you don't open your doors or keep regular hours. I'm downtown every day—yes, every day—and I can't remember when I last saw the store open.

I will try to get down there soon to see what gives. In the meantime, if any of you know what the story is, please let me know.

So frustrated.

Strange Things Seen in Maynard, Episode No. 3

I realize that I just did a "Strange Things" post yesterday, but this also came along and I couldn't help myself.

This beauty was spotted in front of the ArtSpace Downtown storefront on Main Street. I don't think it requires any explanation, but I sure do wonder who it belongs to.

This Week's BOS Meeting to Cover 129 Parker Street, March 17, 7 PM

I heard that Capital Group is scheduled to present revised 129 Parker Street plans at Tuesday's Board of Selectmen meeting. As of the time of this posting, it doesn't look like the agenda is updated, so you'll need to check back on Monday to confirm and see what time they are scheduled to speak.

I believe the meeting is Tuesday, March 17, at 7 pm in Town Hall. Let's hope that the developer has come up with something that makes sense for our town.

Strange Things Seen in Maynard, Episode No. 2

Back in January I was driving down Summer Street when my eyes did a double take. Yes, the doorway of this multi-family house that's being remodeled did have old doors blocking it like a wall! The rhythm of it, the colors, the shape of an old porch—it was lovely!

I rushed to ArtSpace and pestered my studio mate to come with me to have a look—Andrew Child fellow-appreciator-of-deteriorating-human-structures and photographer, grabbed a camera and hopped in the car.

These pictures were taken back before all the snow started.

Battle Road Brewing Company to Open Brew Pub in CTP

It had been rumored that the brew pub Battle Road Brewing Company was planning to open in Maynard would go into the Walgreens space. It would have been nice to have that space get utilized. But I'm so happy to hear that they'll be taking space in Building 5 of Clock Tower Place. That's the old Monster building.

With waterfront views, ample parking, not to mention a perfect view of the fireworks during Maynard's Oktoberfest, I think the location is going to be fabulous.

Time for me to start learning about beer!

Here's a link to the announcement.

Tish Has Closed

I always hate to post sad news, but it happens.

It seems that Tish has closed her salon doors. I don't even know how many years she has been in town. I do know that the most recent location was her second. My understanding is that she has not been well. We wish her the best and thank her for years of being part of the fabric of Maynard.

So What's Happening With the Fine Arts Theatre's Theater Three?

I've recently had to explain to my six-year-old daughter what chomping at the bit means. "Well, you see, when you really want something and can't seem to wait for it, and start trying to get that thing before it's ready, you're chomping at the bit." She gets it.

Everyone seems to want to know when the Fine Arts Theatre will have theater three completed. I recently asked Steve Trumble (owner of the theater) that very question.


The answer is, it's not that simple.

Steve is a business person and he prides himself on being a smart investor. That said, he did allow himself go ridiculously over his budget—more than double!—on repairs and improvements to the theater, though his friends and lawyers were advising him against it. Maybe that wasn't smart, but I am so glad he did.

So now he finds himself in the situation where he really needs to listen to his advisors. "They've made it quite clear that it would be financially foolish of me to try to finish up theater three before I can afford to, and I'm not sure when exactly that will be, especially since I have to begin planning for a digital conversion."

So it seems that, though he's in love with the theater, he's going to have to resist the urge to just get it all done. As for the rest of us, like Steve, we'll be chomping at the bit for the completion of theater three.

------

In other theater news, the Fine Arts Theatre will not be showing any movies on the evening of Wednesday, March 4th, so that OARS can hold their annual film festival.  The event will host a selection of 2015 award-winning films from the nations largest environmental film festival. The event begins at 7 pm (doors open at 6 pm).

This organization's mission statement is to protect, preserve and enhance the natural and recreational features of the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord rivers, their tributaries and watersheds. Please consider attending this very cool event and supporting an organization that helps protect the river that runs through our beloved town.

Clock Tower Place Was Sold

Back at the end of last year, I heard from Joe Mullin (on the Board of CTP) that the bank that held the mortgage on Clock Tower Place was going to be selling that mortgage. It was unclear whether Wellesley Management would remain a partner.

As of Thursday, a new company called Saracen took over the Mill. This new group should have more capital and resources to put into it.

I got this message from Joe yesterday: "Thanks to one and all for the wonderful congrats on my latest "Friday the 13th" Birthday—just two snowy blizzard days ago! As it turns out my B'Day was also my last day at the Maynard Mill, a/k/a Clock Tower Place—in my hometown of Maynard, MA—after 18 terrific years. On to the next horizon—"management consulting", with my new sole proprietorship company, Commonwealth Consulting Service, Inc". "CCSI!"

Joe is a good guy, and we wish him well. Let's hope that this new change at CTP is a win-win, both for the new management company, and the town/citizens of Maynard.

For the Love of Art—February 14th is Second Saturday

Grab your Valentine and check out some art at Second Saturday in Maynard! Be part of the art scene as a new show opens in the ArtSpace Studio gallery (63 Summer St.).

This month the gallery features An Abstract Language, with works by Anthony Falcetta, Barbara Grad, Jo-ann Boback, Jennifer Moses, Lisa Reindorf (curator), Richard Kattman, Sean Mullins, Sebastian Harrington-Labarca, and Taylor Trew.

The event runs from 5-7 pm, but you can arrive earlier at 4 pm for "Mini" Open Studios. Many of artists will have their studios open for you to see their studio space and their work.

Also check out: "Local Martial Arts Master Becomes Digital Andy Bloch." 
Andy is the co-owner of Warrior's Way in Maynard. His martial arts movements have been digitized in the ArtSpace gallery. Andy's movements were captured using an innovative digital motion capture system developed by Noitom Limited based in Beijing, China. Curvin Huber, an artist at ArtSpace sharing a studio with Trina Baker, another artist here, was responsible for the "capture session" as it is referred to in the film and video games industry. The system is inertial which means the actor's movements are recorded by technology similar to what is found in smart phones that tells the phone which end is being held up or down. Most motion capture systems use optical capture technology which requires specialized lighting, making them less adaptable. The Noitom system called Perception Legacy can be used in any lighting environment and takes just minutes to set up. Curvin is planning on utilizing the system within his artwork as a method for interpreting human movement into procedurally-generated 3D imagery. Curvin will be demonstrating how this works during our "Mini" Open Studios. Come check it out!

And, at 3 pm, before all that gets underway at the studio building, head down to the ArtSpace Downtown store, where Leslie Zelamsky will be giving a talk about her powerful work in sculpture and painting.

Snow Removal Scheduled for January 30th, 11:00 p.m.

Our Town Administrator, Kevin Sweet, posted about the planned snow removal from downtown and other necessary areas in Maynard. Parking will be restricted.

All of us here certainly know that there's nowhere else to put the stuff, and with more snow on the way, they'll have to haul it away. Here's a link to Kevin's post.

Economic development study shows thriving downtown Maynard possible

In case you haven't read it, Lorne Bell (local freelance journalist) wrote this article about economic development in Maynard for the Beacon Villager. Give it a read.

Let's hope that we can put some of Pat Barringer's presentation proposals in place. Here's a link to the presentation. Scroll down to "Exploring Downtown's Potential". It lasts about an hour, but it's worth the listen and it will help you recognize how much we have going on.