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Consider these choices: Don McLean and a garden full of cool sculptures, a salute to firefighters and the web of life.
Now what was that about driving to Boston and paying 20 bucks for parking to visit a comedy club or see another "Nutcracker"?
Gone are the days when MetroWest was the Sahara of arts and entertainment.
From Labor Day through the holiday season, arts and nature lovers can enjoy affordable, convenient and fun activities for families and folks of all ages just a short drive away. Here's few.
At The Center for Arts in Natick, Executive Director David Lavalley aims to provide entertainment that "gets people to put down their cell phones, unplug their iPods, get off the Internet and experience a real human connection."
"Our whole idea is moving beyond cyberspace to human space," he said.
Lavalley has lined up several big first-time acts for TCAN's 280-seat theater at 14 Summer St. He's wildly enthusiastic about a group he saw in New York named Stringfever (Sept. 19), which plays "everything from the James Bond theme songs to the 'History of Music in 5 minutes."' "I was blown away by this completely entertaining string quartet from England. They're athletic, dazzling, hilarious," he said.
Over two weekends in November, the TCAN Players will perform this season's third and final mystery, Agatha Christie's "The Unexpected Guest." Directed by Matt Cederholm, this ingenious mystery runs Nov. 6, 7 and 8 and Nov. 13, 14 and 15.
TCAN will celebrate its 12th season as one of the region's premier arts venues Oct. 3 with a benefit fundraiser featuring singer-songwriter Don McLean who'll be accompanied by top musicians from Nashville. Lavalley said McLean is known for his "intimate shows and gorgeous voice," whether singing hits like "American Pie" or lesser-known tunes from his 23 albums.
At Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Marketing Director Michael Arnum is looking forward to a season full of first-time events, a multicultural holiday celebration and tribute to John Trexler for 25 years of devoted service as executive director of the Worcester County Horticultural Society.
Trexler will be honored Sept. 19 with a $250-a-plate Gala Tribute Dinner with proceeds endowing a Director's Chair at THBG.
On Sept. 20, Tower Hill will "throw open its gates" all day for a Director's Open House. Throughout the day, visitors can learn about hawk watching, hear a lecture on Italian culture and cuisine by travel writer Carla Capalbo, attend a concert by the U.S. Air Force Band and much more.
Starting on Sept. 26, Tower Hill will host its inaugural "The Sculpture Show" featuring 13 regional artists who'll exhibit more than 30 exciting and eclectic sculptures along the Loop Path through quiet woods.
Joseph Wheelwright transforms trees and stones into forest creatures. Morris Norvin turns "junk" into unicorns and magical fish. And Jill Nooney gives old farm equipment new lives as one-of-a-kind garden ornaments.
Adding a dramatic effect, the exhibit will be lit Wednesday evenings until 8 p.m. by Shadows and Light of Conway. Arnum said he expects the sculpture show to continue on a semiannual basis. Organized by Nancy Grimes, it runs through Nov. 1.
From the day after Thanksgiving to Jan. 3, visitors can enjoy Holly Days, a celebration in which volunteers decorate the education and visitors centers with trees, wreaths and flags from around the world, said Arnum.
"Tower Hill is a tranquil oasis," he said. "Our garden is a place to reconnect with nature."
At Amazing Things Arts Center, Executive Director Michael Moran thinks of performers as "old" and "new" friends. And he wants the audience at downtown Framingham's newest arts and entertainment venue to make their acquaintance.
To introduce some "new" friends, Amazing Things is starting this month a Sunday afternoon Emerging Artist series to provide visibility for new acts. Moran said the once-a-month events are perfect for "acts in all genres" and release parties for groups cultivating their own fan base.
The series kicks off Sept. 27 at 3 p.m. with Patrice Monahan who, along with her group, Shufflin' Time, mixes tap dance and jazz vocals.
In commemoration of the eighth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the center will host on Oct. 9 a twin dramatic bill, "The Guys," a play by Anne Nelson, and "A Salute to the Hollis Street Firehouse," a tribute to the men who served the community in the building now occupied by the arts center.
Aiming to provide family-friendly entertainment, Moran has put together a three-tiered comedy program including PG-rated Open Miques that's Open Mics, for everyone else standup comedy workshops and featured comedy performers from Boston and beyond including a big New Year's Eve show.
The center has already kicked off its once monthly Amazing Things Open Comedy Mique, to give aspiring comics a platform to deliver PG-rated acts suitable for families.
Moran said, "There isn't any comedy around here except in bars. Everything we'll do is PG, maybe heading a bit toward R. It's easy for comedians to take advantage of the shock value. It's harder for comedians to write PG jokes."
He's already booked a Nov. 28 Scamps Comedy night with featured performers Tim McIntire, E.J. Murphy and Ed Kopesky. And Moran is especially enthusiastic about the New Year's Eve show featuring comedians Joe Wong, Jon Lincoln and Peter Bowers. Wong, who performed at ATAC last year, has since appeared on "Late Show with David Letterman" and "Ellen."
Moran expects audiences will share his anticipation for several "old friends" who'll be returning once more to Amazing Things. They include blues rocker Geoff Muldaur (Oct. 3), musical storyteller Garnet Rogers (Dec. 12) and, for something completely different, internationally acclaimed flamenco guitarist Grisha Goryachev (Sept. 19).
As home of the nation's oldest native plant conservation organization, the New England Wild Flower Society, Garden in the Woods doesn't need any gimmicks to make it worth visiting. Again and again.
"We don't plan any change of direction," said Steven Ziglar, marketing and public relations manager. "During the fall, it's all about trees. The Garden (in the Woods) explodes in fall foliage."
He cited three upcoming events designed to help visitors enjoy the 45-acre site and appreciate its mission of promoting native New England species.
"This season's focus is on what's in the garden. We've got new interpretive signage to help visitors understand the conservation of flora," Ziglar said.
As part of that effort, staff will be testing a new computerized device designed to answer visitors' questions about native species on the grounds.
Ziglar said the eventual goal is to produce a hand-held computer that would identify plants and answer visitors' questions.
A Fall Family Festival, scheduled for Oct. 18 from noon to 4 p.m., will offer a scavenger hunt, do-it yourself mini dish gardens and leaf rubbings.
To help visitors needing mobility assistance, Ziglar said the Garden is now providing "cart tours" that will carry a driver and up to five guests along the main Curtis Path to the Lily Pond, and to the meadow and Hop Brook. He described the two vehicles as "oversized golf carts." "They've been going great. There's nothing like the fall for viewing the garden," he said.
Ziglar said visitors who want to use the carts should pre-register between Tuesday and Friday afternoon. The cart drivers have been trained to give "knowledgeable" tours, he said. There is a cart use fee.
Aiming to help younger visitors "protect and conserve nature," the NEWS is offering Holiday Nature Crafts on Dec. 10 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Education Director Bonnie Drexler will teach children "how to use nature's gifts" to make holiday gifts for family and friends. Youngsters from first- to fourth-grade will learn how to string seed pods or set up a "natural print shop" to make wrapping paper, gift tags and greeting cards.
Preregistration is required. A fee of $14 for members and $16 for nonmembers applies.
THE ESSENTIALS:
To learn more about The Center for Arts in Natick, call 508-647-0097 or visit www.natickarts.org.
To learn about Tower Hill Botanic Garden, call 508-869-6111 or visit www.towerhillbg.org.
To learn more about Amazing Things Arts Center, call 508-405-2787 or visit www.amazingthings.org.
To learn more about Garden in the Woods and the New England Wild Flower Society, call 508-877-7630 or visit www.newfs.org.
