AHA! highlights

AHA! invites visitors to get their antiques appraised. Bring up to three of your most interesting items to the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor's Center at 33 William St. between 5 and 8:30 p.m. for a free verbal evaluation by antique specialists in the areas of books, manuscripts, ephemera, jewelry, glass and china as well as general items. Leave large objects at home, please.
Select collections from the SouthCoast will be on exhibit in the Jacobs Family Gallery at the New Bedford Whaling Museum from 5 to 8:30. Chat with these collectors and view their playful and serious passions that include Southern folk art, prayer cloths, and a collection of thermometers from the Porter Thermometer Museum in Onset. If you have an old mercury thermometer, bring it to the thermometer collector to exchange it for a digital one.
While at the Whaling Museum, take AHA!'s fun survey: "What do you collect?" Bring pictures or web addresses too, if possible.
The Tryworks Art Collection (5 Dover St.) of international folk art will be putting on view for the first time a new collection containing religious artifacts — altars, crucifixes, paintings, statues, etc. — from various countries.
Come hear about the museum's logbook collection at the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library (791 Purchase St.) A talk entitled, "Legions of Logbooks," with research librarian Laura Pereira, takes place at 6:30 p.m.
Serlingpa Meditation Center (1 Johnny Cake Hill) presents "Collecting Wishes for the Happiness of All Beings." View the shrine's collection of Buddhas and the bookstore's collection of books and CDs. Center open 7:30-9 p.m., with program from 8-8:30.

Performances & Music

"Kids' Open Mic" with Tom Poitras from the Toe Jam Puppet Band, presented by The New Bedford Whaling Museum (18 Johnny Cake Hill), 5-7 p.m. Kids can bring a tune, a poem or a joke!
Café Arpeggio (800 Purchase St.) presents its featured performer, Don Hammontree of Fall River, from 6-7. Open Mic, hosted by Art Tebbetts, follows from 7-10.
The New Bedford High School Drama Club presents a preview of their April production of "The Wizard of Oz" at 8 p.m. in the Whaling Museum theater.
An opening celebration at Upstairs@384 (second and third floors of The ArtWorks! building). This new artist collective features a variety of decorative and functional artworks around the home and gift theme. Enjoy art demonstrations, live music and their creations.
Actor George Vafiadis presents "Mr. Lincoln's Public Opinion Bath," a 40-minute theatrical performance based on President Lincoln's practice of inviting fellow citizens into his White House office to hear firsthand their concerns, 7 p.m. in the Star Store lecture hall ( 715 Purchase St.).

Galleries & Museums

Eighth annual "High School Select" exhibit at Gallery X, 169 William St. See story on Page 12.
NBAM (608 Pleasant St.) presents a new exhibit of works by five artists, "Nature Interrupted," curated by Elga Wimmer.
Meet Mr. John Littlefield, a native New Englander and former whaler, 6-7 p.m. at the Seaman's Bethel ( 15 Johnny Cake Hill).
Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum (396 County St. ) presents the film "American Light: The Luminist Movement 1850-1875," running continuously from 5:30 to 7:30. The film sets photography of the New England coastline against scenes of the same sites painted in the 19th century by Fitz Hugh Lane, John Frederick Kensett, Martin Johnson Heade and other American artists.
ArtWorks! (384 Acushnet Ave.) presents "Connecting Threads," an exhibition featuring the work of hand weavers Janet Doyle, Amy Lund, and Sharon Northby, as well as a display of historic photographs and memorabilia of the New Bedford textile industry on loan from Spinner Publications. Curated by Blair Walker.
The University Gallery ( 715 Purchase St.) presents "Paul Rudolph: The Florida Houses," on the work of the architect of the main UMD campus. Curated by Christopher Domin and Joseph King. Gallery 244 at the Star Store presents "Imagination Can Meet Memory."
UMD CVPA Star Store (715 Purchase St.) present two additional exhibits: "Heads in the Hall," by junior ceramic students (fourth floor) and "Painting Exhibition," a selection of paintings from various class levels (fourth floor, Room 254).
Visit Tradewinds Studio (97 William St., second floor) to learn more about portrait photography. Another free photo session will be given away.
up/stair/fine/art (528 Pleasant St., second floor) hosts a closing reception for its exhibit of photos and handmade books by Providence artist Roxanne Carter. Open 7-10 p.m. with the adjacent Calico Boutique.
All activities are free and open to the public, and run from 5 to 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. AHA! is a collaborative non-profit project of Downtown New Bedford Inc. For more information call (508) 264-8859 or visit www.ahanewbedford.org.

Date of Publication: March 09, 2006 on Page A06