Text by Ruth Melville
Photo by Doug McDevitt

Norfolk quiets down in the winter months after the holidays are over, especially once the sun goes down, but several town organizations have activities planned to get people to put on their parkas and get out after dark.

The Norfolk Library is offering a Thursday night classic film series. On Feb. 20, they’re screening one of MGM’s most popular musicals, the 1951 film adaption of the Broadway musical “Show Boat,” about life on a Mississippi River showboat. On March 19 the film will be “My Left Foot,” the story of Christy Brown, an Irishman born with cerebral palsy who became a writer and artist. The movie stars Daniel Day-Lewis, who won his first Academy Award for playing Christy. Both movies start at 7 p.m., and light refreshments will be available. 

Holly Kelsey at the Berkshire Country Store has a Ladies Night planned for Saturday, Feb. 22, from 6 to 8. There will be dinner and a group activity (still to be decided). At the Ladies Night in December, the group had dinner and made Christmas table decorations out of wine glasses and candles. For more information, ask at the Berkshire Country Store or check their website. 

Infinity Music Hall has concerts on many weekend nights, and the Bistro is open Thursday through Sunday evenings. Go to Infinity’s website to see which acts are scheduled for the next few weeks. Thursdays feature Open Mic Night, at 8 in the Bistro. It’s a great chance to catch a rising talent or a local favorite, and if you want to participate yourself, sign-up is at 7, in the Bistro.

The Woodcreek Bar Grill Restaurant and Bar are open every night of the week except Monday. A highlight of the week is Tuesday Trivia Night, hosted by Bruce Paddock of Berkshire Trivia, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Teams of up to six people compete, and winning teams gets gift certificates for a future visit to Woodcreek. This is a popular event, summer or winter, so reservations are suggested.

The Hub hosts a series of lectures and seminars, or “Hubinars,” on Monday evenings from 6 to 7. This month, on Feb. 24, there will be a talk on historic stone restoration by Martin Johnson, of the Monument Conservation Collaborative, LLC. Hubinars are free, but reservations are suggested (go to the Norfolk Foundation website and look under Hub events).

Finally, one of the best cures for the winter doldrums is to sit by a glowing fire. Every Monday and Thursday evening during the winter, from 4 to 7, the library lights the fireplace in the Great Hall. They urge everyone to come, read a book or a magazine and enjoy one of winter’s special pleasures.