AHA! (Art, History & Architecture)

Welcome to AHA! night when downtown New Bedford comes alive with Art, History and Architecture! On September 9thjoin us in celebrating the rich diversity of New Bedford’s cultures through the arts, stories and foods of the many groups who help create the fabric of New Bedford and make it the authentic city that it is.

It feels like summer. It looks like summer. And on Aug. 12, it will sound like summer.

Join us for Summer Sounds AHA! Night in Downtown New Bedford. Stroll the streets and be serenaded by a sampling of musical styles including jazz, folk, traditional bag piping, Caribbean steel drums, good ol’ rock-n-roll & more.

Join us for the June AHA! Night & explore New Bedford’s rich history and outstanding architecture. Local experts lead tours on cobblestone streets, docks and lesser known byways. June 10th is also the Day of Portugal’s annual celebration and the festivities stretch across Downtown!

Join us for the May 13 AHA! Night as art, history and architecture come alive through a celebration of the houses of worship and other unique spaces of Downtown New Bedford. May is also Preservation Month, the perfect opportunity to recognize the hard work of those who protect and care for our City’s history as well as taking the opportunity to explore the built environment & how it adds to the vibrant texture of New Bedford.

* Architectural Preservation Trolley Tour of New Bedford presented by WHALE
* Custom House Square Design Slide Slam: Visions by Roger Williams University students @ NB Whaling National Historical Park
* NB Preservation Society hosts Elm Award Ceremony @ the NB Public Library
* Evening Neighborhood Walking Tour led by Citizen Schools students & NB Preservation Society (presented in part by the RJD House & Garden Museum)
* Guided tour including Tiffany mosaic @ Pilgrim UCC
* UMD Kekeli African Drum and Dance Ensemble @ Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
* Calling all kids! Get a fresh view of Downtown with the Junior Ranger Program @ NB Whaling National Historical Park
* KiwiGreenLeft16: Works by Joel Monty @ Salon Lola
* NB Symphony Duos @ Grace Episcopal Church & Seamen’s Bethel.
* “Community Places”: Student exhibit featuring the Taylor, Gomes & Ashley Elementary Schools @ Artworks!
* What is the Sky? A community chalk mural created by the NB Boys & Girls Club & UMD CVPA
* AHA! Night Classical Music Series plus stroll the Labyrinth @ First Unitarian Church
* New AHA! Partner! The Performing Arts Coalition of the Zeiterion Theatre: The Z, NB Symphony Orchestra, NB Festival Theatre & the Southcoast Children’s Theatre
* Ribbon cuttings for the new location of Michelle Carr Photography & the restoration of the Custom House Square fountain

Join us tomorrow night as we celebrate the joys of Spring as well as the Emergence of fresh ideas, young talent & budding artists. The weather is going to be beautiful so come early and stay late. And be sure to tell everyone you know that it’s all happening in Downtown New Bedford!

* NB Public Schools Continuous Concert @ Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
* Celebrate Earth Eve with Massachusetts’ only Eco-Friendly People Powered Parade
* Right Whale Science Activities @ NB Whaling Museum
* Sicilian Reflections: Anthony J. Miraglia showing @ Judith Klein Art Gallery
* 2010 Graduate MFA Exhibition at UMass Dartmouth CVPA @ Star Store
* WHALE presents "Transforming New Bedford: The Story of WHALE” plus hear about the John Howland Jr. House Project
* NBAM’s Art@8: New Bedford Invitational Slide Slam featuring artists from central/downtown NB
* Mini-Spa: celebrate Spring with a night of beauty @ Calico
* Return of the AHA! Photo Booth @ the Garage
* Seed planting & newly-hatched Cardinal Fish @ NB Ocean Explorium
* Kite-making @ the NB Whaling National Historical Park
* Join special guests WCAI FM, the Cape and Islands NPR Station, for Pub Night @ Candleworks
* NB Public Schools District Wide Art Show Highlights featuring over 600 pieces of art

Spring has arrived bringing with it new life, warmer weather and longer days. Join us for the April AHA! Night when we celebrate those joys of Spring as well as the Emergence of fresh ideas, young talent & budding artists.

This evening also plays host to the annual "Earth Eve" People Powered Parade--Massachusetts’ only eco-friendly parade geared toward the 3 Rs: reducing, reusing and recycling!

Join us on the March 11 All Sewn Up AHA! Night as we celebrate New Bedford's rich textile history. Downtown New Bedford will come alive in celebration of our textile artists, both past and present. We will also salute St. Patrick’s Day, and the fact that March is Women's History Month.

Grab your friends & family & head to Downtown New Bedford for the AHA! Night Carnevale Celebration! AHA! is pulling out all the stops & this evening has something for everyone.

# Dance to the Latin Roots Rock of Santa Mamba @ the Ginger Grill
# Carnevale Celebration with the Cummings Building Artists: mask making, steel drums & Carnival paintings by Alison Wells
# Toe Jam Puppet Band @ the NB Whaling Museum
# Paint Along with Roger Kizik @ NBAM
# The Olympic Challenge in Wings Court--stay tuned for exciting info!
# Carnevale music & cake tasting @ Sound Xplosion
# Poetry readings & musical interludes to celebrate National Poetry Month @ Pilgrum UCC
# Pre-Valentine’s trunk show with stationary designer Heather Toupin @ Calico
# Textile Talk by AHA! Artist of the Month Elin Noble @ CVPA
# NB Whaling National Historical Park 19th century interpreters, Abby and Ruth, discuss slavery and abolitionism in honor of Black History Month
# "Two if by Sea" pre-Valentine's dinner @ the Waterfront Grille
# 6 NEW exhibits @ Crowell's Fine Art, Gallery X, Colo Colo Gallery, CVPA @ the Star Store, Second Story Studio and Gallery & Artworks!

Join us for the January AHA! Night (Jan. 14) as we begin the New Year by experiencing some of the great stories of our community. A collective memory may be defined as a shared remembrance that develops throughout time and is held by a group of people passed on from generation to generation. As we step into a new decade this evening offers a chance to celebrate our past through art, history & architecture as well as embracing the future & the continued renaissance of Downtown New Bedford.

Ring in 2010 with fireworks in Custom House Square—and be home in time to watch the ball drop in NYC Times Square. AHA! and the City of New Bedford present City Celebrates! New Year's Eve 2009 in the heart of the downtown historic district.

Season Greetings from your friends at AHA! Only two more days until the December AHA! Night when we spotlight all things holiday. On this evening we will be celebrating the arrival of the both the winter & holiday seasons and all the spectacles that come with them. Downtown New Bedford will be all decked out with holiday lights to brighten the night, creative window displays, & holiday décor. Stroll the streets & enjoy the sounds of carolers & school choruses or join in a sing-a-long. The shops & galleries will be bursting with holiday sales of locally created goods & other unique gifts perfect for everyone on your list. See you soon!

# Orchestral Petting Zoo & Gallery Xmas Show @ Gallery X
# Holiday music w/UMass Dartmouth Chorus @ the First Unitarian Church
# Homecoming: Swain School of Design Alumni Exhibit @
# Crowell’s Fine Art & Fine Framing
# A Cup of Cheer: holiday cocktail mixology @ Cork wine & tapas
# Holiday Collections & holiday music @ the RJD
# Holiday crafts & Holiday-Sing-Along @ the Pilgrim UCC
# Opening exhibition of Mike Mazur @ the NB Whaling Museum
# First Anniversary Exhibition @ the Judith Klein Art Gallery
# Your Theatre presents a reading of THE GIFT OF THE MAGI @ the Celtic Coffee House
# New AHA! partners the Celtic Coffee House & Sound Xplosion
# Plus strolling carolers, holiday window displays & plenty of good cheer!

2nd Thursdays are happening in downtown New Bedford.
Help spread the word! Click here for more listings!

www.ahanewbedford.org | 508-996-8253 x205
AHA! is a monthly FREE celebration of arts & culture in Downtown New Bedford.

Join us for the December AHA! Night (dec. 10) as we spotlight all things holiday! On this evening we will be celebrating the arrival of the both the winter & holiday seasons and all the spectacle that comes with it. Downtown New Bedford will be all decked out with holiday lights to brighten the night, creative window displays, & holiday décor. Stroll the streets & enjoy the sounds of carolers & school choruses or join in a sing-a-long. The shops & galleries will be bursting with holiday sales of locally created goods & other unique gifts perfect for everyone on your list. Tonight we also welcome new AHA! partners the Celtic Coffee House & Sound Xplosion!

The November AHA! Night is a celebration of local art & artists and the environments in which they grow. This evening showcases the flourishing Downtown NB art scene in ways both fresh & traditional.

Museum collections, an Artist Slide Slam, live window displays, artist demos, plenty of live music & an I Art NB Gallery Tour are just a few of the things happening this night. November also features art from local Vets in honor of Veterans Day (Wednesday, Novemver 11) and a storytelling program to celebrate Family Literacy Month. Don’t forget all of Downtown’s culinary artists serving up creative cuisine as well as the many boutiques & shops most of whom sell locally made goods perfect for gift giving!

* Search for the Real: Drawings by Hans Hofmann and His Students @ UMass Dartmouth CVPA Star Store
* Celebrating Creativity: Work by NBPS Middle School Students @ NBPS Roderiques Administration Building
* Book A Trip Around the World with storyteller Karen Chace @ the NB Public Library
* Back Eddy Bluegrass CD party @ the NB Whaling Museum
* Slide Slam: Open Mic for artists @ Hibernia
* Teen Mural unveiling by Artworks!
* Calyso and Cueca: Paintings by Alison Wells & Luis Villanueva @ Crowell’s Fine Art
* I ART NB Gallery Tour

The November AHA! Night is a celebration of local art & artists and the environments in which they grow. This evening showcases the flourishing Downtown NB art scene in ways both fresh & traditional. Museum collections, an Artist Slide Slam, live window displays, artist demos, plenty of live music & an I Art NB Gallery Tour are just a few of the things happening this night. November also features art from local Vets in honor of Veterans Day (Wednesday, Novemver 11) and a storytelling program to celebrate Family Literacy Month. Don’t forget all of Downtown’s culinary artists serving up creative cuisine as well as the many boutiques & shops most of whom sell locally made goods perfect for gift giving!

* Search for the Real: Drawings by Hans Hofmann and His Students @ UMass Dartmouth CVPA Star Store
* Celebrating Creativity: Work by NBPS Middle School Students @ NBPS Roderiques Administration Building
* Book A Trip Around the World with storyteller Karen Chace @ the NB Public Library
* Back Eddy Bluegrass CD party @ the NB Whaling Museum
* Slide Slam: Open Mic for artists @ Hibernia
* Teen Mural unveiling by Artworks!
* Calyso and Cueca: Paintings by Alison Wells & Luis Villanueva @ Crowell’s Fine Art
* I ART NB Gallery Tour

2nd Thursdays are happening in downtown New Bedford.
Help spread the word! Click here for more listings!

www.ahanewbedford.org | 508-996-8253 x205
AHA! is a monthly FREE celebration of arts & culture in Downtown New Bedford.

Join us for the October 8th AHA! Night when Downtown New Bedford comes alive with Art, History & Architecture! This month we celebrate the local community and culture through the art of storytelling. There will be stories for kids, stories by kids and stories told through live music. Talks about art. Talks about history. Talks about architecture. Autumn evenings in Downtown New Bedford are great for strolling so be sure to hit the streets and check out new exhibits, kids crafts & don’t forget to shop & eat. Enjoy!

Fall is the perfect time to get to know more about what makes Downtown New Bedford such a vibrant place to live, work and play. On October 8th join us for a Storytellers AHA! Night that is chock full of interesting programming. Sit back & enjoy stories of the local community and culture as well as tall tales, fables and fancies. Autumn evenings in Downtown are great for strolling so be sure to hit the streets and check out new exhibits, live music, kids crafts & don’t forget to shop & eat!

For the past 10 years, AHA!—Art, History and Architecture— has generated an enthusiasm and sparkle in the city center and made New Bedford a Southern New England destination.
And you can help AHA! grow by—just by partying.

For the past 10 years Downtown New Bedford has come alive with Art, History & Architecture on the second Thursday of every month. AHA! Night has delivered a FREE arts & culture experience to thousands of people & has played a vital part in the revitalization of the Downtown as well as the City’s ever growing creative economy.

On September 26, please join us at Meditech SouthCoast for the Creatives Party as we once again showcase the creative economy at work in your community. In a setting that combines high end architectural & interior design with a breathtaking view of South Watuppa Pond, this unique event offers an opportunity to view an astounding collection of local art paired with good wine, good eats and good people!

We hope to see you there & please pass this along!

Thursday August 20 / 5-8pm
Join the Downtown Celebration & enjoy live music, lectures, walking tours, kids’ activities, films, galleries & museums open late, plus plenty of opportunities to dine & shop locally!

* “50’s Night”! Flashback to the 1950’s featuring, music, dancing, antique cars and more- presented by Joe Jesus and the Veterans Transition House.
* Arts on Acushnet: Artworks!, Crowell's Fine Art & our newest AHA! partner Navio
* Urbana: Artisans Market & Acoustic Music
* Summer in the Park: Live Music with Jason Roseman featuring a steel drum band & “19th Century Whaling Port Living History Program” in the NB Whaling National Historical Park
* Farmer’s Market in Wing’s Court
* Traditional Portuguese Fado with Ana Vinagre at the NB Whaling Museum
* Open Mic at Cafe Arpeggio
* Kid Central at the Y:
• Solstice Skate Jam
• Carabiner’s Climbing Wall
• Y Batting Cages
• NB Art Museum ArtMobile

Plus plenty of shopping & dining!!
For more information go to www.ahanewbedford.org

The August 13th NB Cultures AHA! night celebrates the arts, stories and music of the many groups who help create the fabric of New Bedford. Stroll the streets and enjoy offerings from the Cape Verdean, Azorean, Polish and Irish traditions as well as presentations on the culture of whaling and fishing. Our summer sounds samplings include jazz, Celtic, and pop along with the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra. With something for everyone, this evening will truly provide a taste of what makes New Bedford the authentic city that it is!

NEW BEDFORD — Downtown appeared Thursday night the same way it appears at this time every month: alive.

Families with small children strolled the sidewalks, stopping at stores to explore arts and crafts or to grab dinner. On Center Street, live jazz music filled the air while a Flamenco dancer performed outside the Whaling Museum. Living statues stunned onlookers by the fountain at Custom House Square, art galleries opened their doors to the public and local musicians played into the night at pubs lining the streets.

Urban Adventurers, get ready: Summertime is here, and downtown New Bedford is ready to rock.

Every Thursday, the cobblestone streets of downtown New Bedford will be hopping with festivities as City Celebrates! kicks off July 16 and continues on each of the six non-AHA! Thursdays this summer.

• Toe Jam Puppet Band in the Visitor Center Garden
• Build a Historic House with WHALE @ the Corson
  Maritime Learning Center
• Centre Street Sessions presents jazz vocalist Marcelle Gauvin
• Band Jam in Custom House Square Co-sponsored by NBrock and calico
• SouthCoast Children’s Theatre, Inc. presents a “Disney Cabaret” on the steps of the NB Library
• New LIVE exhibits, Science Sphere & W.O.W. Mobile @ the
  Ocean Explorium
• AHA! Artist of the Month: family photographer Michelle Carr
• The Showstoppers @ the Rotch-Jones-Duff Museum
• “Fish” printing & tours on the Ernestina
• Root beer floats & kids crafts @ Pilgrim Church Home
  
  

2nd Thursdays are happening in downtown New Bedford.
Help spread the word! Click here for more listings!

www.ahanewbedford.org | 508-996-8253 x205
AHA! is a monthly FREE celebration of arts & culture in Downtown New Bedford.

On the July 9th Kids Rule AHA! Night, kids and adults alike are invited to spend an evening exploring and enjoying downtown New Bedford. Highlights include performances of song, dance and theater, creative arts activities especially for kids, and a Band Jam in Custom House Square! The summer music series, The Centre Street Sessions, continues with a special performance by jazz vocalist Marcelle Gauvin. Enjoy performances by SouthCoast Children's Theatre Inc. of a Disney Cabaret and local favorites, the Toe Jam Puppet Band. AHA! doesn’t end at 9pm – enjoy entertainment and food at the AHA! partner restaurants.

On the June 11th AHA! night visitors are invited to spend an evening of walking tours exploring both the contemporary and historic landscape of downtown New Bedford. Highlights include preservations tours, a waterfront tour, a sunset photographic tour and a mini golf tour challenge! The summer music series, The Centre Street Sessions begin tonight with a special performance by Fado singer Ana Vinagra. The Day of Portugal celebration kicks off the evening with a flag raising, parade, crafts and music on the Whaling Museum plaza! AHA! doesn’t end at 9pm – enjoy entertainment and food at the AHA! partner restaurants.

On the June 11th AHA! night visitors are invited to spend an evening of walking tours exploring both the contemporary and historic landscape of downtown New Bedford. Highlights include preservation tours, a waterfront tour, a sunset photographic tour and a mini-golf tour challenge! The summer music series, Centre Street Sessions begins tonight with a special performance by Fado singer Ana Vinagre. The Day of Portugal celebration kicks off the evening with a flag raising, parade, crafts and music on the Whaling Museum plaza! AHA! doesn’t end at 9pm – enjoy entertainment and food at the AHA! partner restaurants.

Amid a setting of historic architecture and cobble stone streets, Downtown New Bedford is a vibrant community with a working waterfront, boutique shopping, museums, artists and art galleries and many outstanding restaurants. It is also a continuously growing neighborhood as more & more people call Downtown NB their home.