Our holiday guide for bookworms in Boston and beyond
Bookish happenings across Massachusetts are sweeping in with the holiday season, with many to help gift-seekers ahead of Christmas and Hanukkah.
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Concerts to Watch
GBH Music presents violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing - Live at GBH
GBH Music welcomes Norwegian violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing for the next installment in our music series, playing Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, and icy music from her new album, "Arctic."
Music & Culture Events
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In PersonLounge Thursdays featuring Ken Field Trio
Ken Field is a saxophonist & composer. He leads the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, an experimental & improvisational brass band, and is a longtime member of the electronic modern music ensemble Birdsongs of the Mesozoic. His solo releases document his work for layered saxophones and his soundtracks for dance and film. Field's music is heard regularly on the children's television program Sesame Street. He is the host of WMBR Radio’s “The New Edge”, former President of the Board of Tutoring Plus of Cambridge, Member of the HONK! Festival Organizing Committee, President of the Board of JazzBoston, and former member & chair of the Cambridge Bicycle Committee. Field was named a Finalist in Music Composition by the Mass Cultural Council.
Join us for an evening of music, wine, and food. Registration is encouraged for this free event.
Registration is encouraged for this free event. -
Virtual
Author Talk: Neil King, Jr. with American Ramble
Hear from the author of a revelatory memoir about a 330-mile walk from Washington, D.C., to New York City—an unforgettable pilgrimage to the heart of America across some of our oldest common ground.
Neil King Jr.’s desire to walk from Washington, D.C., to New York City began as a whim and soon became an obsession. By the spring of 2021, events had intervened that gave his desire greater urgency. His neighborhood still reeled from the January 6th insurrection. Covid lockdowns and a rancorous election had deepened America’s divides. Neil himself bore the imprints of a long battle with cancer.
Determined to rediscover what matters in life and to see our national story with new eyes, Neil turned north with a small satchel on his back and one mission in mind: To pay close attention to the land he crossed and the people he met.
What followed is an extraordinary 26-day journey through historic battlefields and cemeteries, over the Mason-Dixon line, past Quaker and Amish farms, along Valley Forge stream beds, atop a New Jersey trash mound, across New York Harbor, and finally, to his ultimate destination: the Ramble, where a tangle of pathways converges in Central Park. The journey travels deep into America’s past and present, uncovering forgotten pockets and overlooked people. At a time of mounting disunity, the trip reveals the profound power of our shared ground.
Following the discussion that will happen both in-person in the Rabb Lecture Hall of the Central Library in Copley Square and online over Zoom webinar, there will be time for an audience Q&A. At approximately 7:00 PM, there will be an author signing facilitated by Trident Booksellers and Cafe for in-person attendees. During the program, online attendees will be provided with a link to order copies of the book from Porter Square Books.
This program is part of the American Inspiration Series from American Ancestors/NEHGS and presented in partnership with with the Leventhal Map & Education Center at the Boston Public Library and the GBH Forum Network.Partner:Boston Public LibraryAmerican Ancestors -
In PersonVirtual
GBH Music Holiday Spectacular
Experience the magic of this season with GBH Music's Holiday Spectacular, an enchanting evening featuring some of the best musical acts in Massachusetts. The event offers families a front-row seat to an unparalleled lineup of performers, including The Renaissance Men, a Boston-based ensemble of eight male voices known for their close-knit a cappella harmonies; Blue Heron, a Renaissance and medieval vocal ensemble led by Scott Metcalfe which will bring audiences back to the sounds of the earliest holiday celebrations; pianist John Paul McGee, who will perform holiday favorites in his signature "Gospejazzical" genre; the angelic singers of the Handel and Haydn Youth Chorus Chamber Choir led by conductor Alyson Greer Espinosa; and members of the triumphant and jubilant New England Brass Band led by Music Director Mark Olson.
One of the most accessible events for families this season, GBH Music's Holiday Spectacular, invites music lovers to be part of a live studio production inside GBH's Calderwood Studio, which will glow with festive cheer, including a dramatic snowscape of light designed to herald the start of winter. Musical selections will transport listeners into an unforgettable journey into the holiday spirit with everything from traditional carols to new compositions, each capturing the harmony and passion of this special time of year. WCRB Classical 99.5's charismatic morning drive host, Laura Carlo, and afternoon drive host, Greg Ferrisi, will team up for the first time as the live presenters of this one-of-a-kind holiday experience.
This event is offered for both in-person and virtual guests. You have two ticket options:
The in-studio experience is taking place from 7:30 to 9pm ET. $40 in-studio ticket includes general admission seating.
Join the virtual event, from 7:30-9pm ET. This event is free, but registration is required.
Photo credit: A scene from the GBH’s 2018 Holiday Concert in Calderwood Studio (Meredith Nierman)
The event is sponsored by the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund and The Boston Foundation.
Culture in the News
Two New England Scrooges break down 'A Christmas Carol'
Actors Karen MacDonald and David Coffee join GBH News Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen to talk about their experiences playing the lead in the Charles Dickens classic
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Why the 'Battle of Versailles' still resonates 50 years later
On November 28, 1973 a fashion show rocked the Palace of Versailles and forever changed our understanding of style. -
The Genius Next Door: Harvard's Imani Perry on the history and culture forged by Black Americans
Last month, interdisciplinary scholar and writer Imani Perry was named as one of the MacArthur "genius" grant fellows for 2023. She's one of four local awardees, part of Under the Radar's series, "The Genius Next Door." -
Latinx News Roundtable: Boston Schools' English learners advisors resign in protest of 'harmful' plan
Eight members of the schools' task force stepped down after BPS' new "Inclusive Education Plan" announced that English language learners will receive English as a Second Language support as needed and not be taught separately in their native language. -
Author Marta McDowell explores how gardening inspires mystery writers
It’s the month of all things spooky and scary, from horror movies to haunted mansions. But what about gardens? Turns out there's an unexpected sinister side to gardening, and writer and gardener Marta McDowell traces the connection between gardening and crime fiction in her book, "Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers."
GBH Music
Open Studio with Jared Bowen
You & Julia
“You & Julia” is a series that celebrates the legacy of Julia Child. Top chefs share their favorite stories, recipes, kitchen hacks, and other culinary tasks that they learned from the unforgettable chef, exploring how her contributions to the culinary world still resonate with cooking today. In the spirit of Julia, we encourage viewers to “be fearless, and above all have fun” by following along at home.
More Culture Programs
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Behind the Scenes with Lea Salonga
Lea Salonga takes us behind the scenes of Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir. -
Backstage with Sir David Suchet
Go behind the scenes of Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir with actor Sir David Suchet. -
Saving The Children: Insights from Nick Winton
The son of Sir Nicholas Winton talks about his father's rescue work during World War II. -
The Christmas Story: Luke 2
Sir David Suchet’s narration of the Nativity, accompanied by The Tabernacle Orchestra.
