A mash up is a song or video made my blending two (or more) others together. It can also be the combination of new with pre-existing texts. When I heard about “The Mash Up at Billings Forge,” I was a little confused about why they were calling it such when it’d be more accurate to describe this as a festival. Maybe the use of “mash up” was to appeal to the hipsters and young people, just like every staged public performance this year was called a “flash mob” by the media, even though press releases were even sent in advance of some of those events.
Whatever you want to call it — since it’s right at the Chinese New Year, I’m considering it a New Year’s festival — the Billings Forge compound has a number of activities planned for February 3rd.
The Winter Farmers’ Market has been operating in The Studio on Thursdays, but tomorrow’s market will have demonstrations and tastings for an organic herb and spice line based in Litchfield. The Executive Director of Northeast Organic Farming Association (CT NOFA) will give a talk on how to develop our local, organic food system. The farmers’ market goes from 3:30-6pm.
From 6-9pm there will be a discussion on drink and dessert pairings in The Kitchen. No word on whether or not any samples will be available. At the same time and in the same building there will be a “Bore(d) Game Night.”
WNPR, perhaps tired of being snowed in on Asylum Avenue, will be broadcasting for part of the day from Frog Hollow. At 9 in the morning, Where We Live will be broadcasting live from The Lyceum. At 7pm you can catch Catie Talarski’s Radio Adventure Theater: Exploration at 7pm in The Studio.
There will be beer-tastings and specialty cocktails. An “indie open mic” (which oddly has a list of musicians booked, making it seem like more of a show and less of an open mic) is schedule for the evening. The studios of several artists-in-residence will be open for visitors to wander through. Storytelling for adults, a capella, acoustic music, and hands-on projects are all promised.
The entrance fee to experience all of the above activities is $10. If you want to attend a cooking class, it’ll cost you an additional $55. Entrance to the weekly farmers’ market is typically free.
Most of the Billings Forge compound is on Broad Street between Capitol Avenue and Russ Street. The Lyceum is right around the corner on Lawrence Street. Both locations are easy to reach by bus and there is off-street parking available.