Find special gifts like this sugar and creamer set by local artisan James Guggina Ceramics at the Holiday Craft Fair.

 Nestled in the basement and spilling out into the courtyard of the First Parish Church in Harvard Square each December is the Harvard Square Holiday Craft Fair.
 Selling handcrafted gifts such as glass and beaded jewelry, and lanterns and lights created from old tomato cans, the fair offers a selection of beautiful, original and affordable gifts.
 “It’s a wonderful atmosphere,” said Leslie Gray, one of the fair’s founders and organizers. “A lot of the artists come back year after year and are really comfortable in the space. They are happy to talk to the patrons and explain their crafts.”
 The Holiday Fair captures something of the old Harvard Square, which featured lots of mom-and-pop stores and a creative energy that birthed the folk music movement of the 1960s.
 “The fair is distinctly not corporate,” Ms. Gray said. “All of our vendors make their own wares, or they have founded very small business with a select group of artisans making the crafts. They don’t just sell a product, but things that come from who they are.”
 Things such as woven textiles, wind chimes fashioned from forks and spoons and artisan chocolates. Whether you’re looking for body care products, silver jewelry, one-of-a-kind handbags or a unique gift for someone who is difficult to shop for, you’re sure to find something at the Harvard Square Holiday Fair.
 The fair begins the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving and runs on weekends only through Dec. 13. It’s open daily from Dec. 18 to 23.
 University Parking, just off Mount Auburn Street, offers reasonable rates. Or, park at the Alewife T station and take the Red Line.
 For more information, go to www.harvardsquareholidayfair.com.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

Capture an impression of your child’s hand at Wax Works and enjoy holiday decorations at the Yankee Candle Village.

 Yankee Candle Village in South Deerfield has candles, and thousands of them, but it also has enough activity and December events to make it a fun stop during your holiday travels.
 Of course, the big draw is the candle and home fragrance selection, with scents like Wedding Day, Mistletoe and Autumn Wreath. But while you are searching for your favorite, you can marvel at the rest of the offerings.
 At the Candlemaking Museum, you can watch yellow beeswax candles being dipped the old-fashioned way, or see the hot wax poured into star-shaped or votive-sized candle molds. On the museum walls, you will read news clippings noting Yankee Candle’s history and learn that all the company’s candles are produced right in South Deerfield.
 One of the biggest attractions for both young and old is the candle-dipping station, where you can dip your own tapers or candle shapes. At Wax Works, visitors dunk their hands in colored wax to bring home their own wax statuary.  Some place their hands into an OK sign, while others fashion their fingers into an “I Love You” in sign language. If you prefer to make your own personal Yankee candle, you can fill a jar with wax pieces that are then warmed under lamps to meld into a unique creation.
 If you find yourself famished from walking through the village, visit the kid’s wonderland otherwise known as Dylan’s Candy Bar or rest at Mrs. Claus’ Bakery and Café, where you can sit with a cup of coffee and a pastry and watch the hustle and bustle.
 Everyone loves the twinkling trees and snow showers in the Black Forest, and the Bavarian Christmas Village holds myriad Christmas ornaments and fun items representing different nationalities. There is even a waterfall with a star-lit sky to lend a magical atmosphere for the holiday season.
 For information, visit www.yankeecandle.com.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

Enjoy a sleigh ride at Bright Nights, celebrating 15 years.

 As Springfield’s Bright Nights celebrates its 15th season, visitors will find more light and delight than ever before at the Northeast’s largest holiday light display.
 The traditional route through Forest Park has increased by a quarter mile through the new Winter Garden. There will be frosty urns, fountains, deer, snowflakes and a carousel awash in blue-and-white light. Traffic will be routed to the display from Spirit of the Season and then to Seuss Land.
 “Words come to mind like snowy, icy, cool and magical when describing the Winter Garden in all its simple beauty. The brilliance of the lights will dazzle and delight,” said Bright Nights Designer John Catanci.
 Bright Nights is more than a drive-through experience. Visitors are welcome to get out of their cars and explore.
 Santa welcomes visitors wanting to whisper a wish list or pose for a photograph. He takes up residence among the dancing trees, singing elves and leaping deer of Santa’s Magical Forest from opening night until Christmas Eve.
Fridays, Saturdays and Sun­­days, visitors can see the sights and lights aboard horse-drawn-wagon and car­riage rides. Tours depart every 30 minutes from Santa’s Cottage.
 In addition, there are events like Supper with Santa, Dinner with Dickens, Military Night and ice-carving demonstrations.
 The glow from Forest Park will emanate Wednesdays through Sundays from Nov. 25 to Dec. 6, and nightly from Dec. 9 to Jan. 2.
 The lights turn on at 5 p.m. nightly and off at 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and at 11 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day).
 For more information, call (413) 733-3800 or visit brightnights.org.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

New Bedford Ballet presents “A New England Nutcracker.”

 “The Nutcracker,” that perennial Christmas favorite, intersperses the romance of the Victorian era with the excitement of a journey to a far-off land where exotic creatures and characters are certain to be found. Interestingly enough, so does New Bedford’s whaling heritage.
 Now the two have come together in the New Bedford Ballet’s version of “The Nutcracker,” to be performed by an all-student cast this December.
 Artistic Director Rebecca Waskiel said “A New England Nutcracker” will follow the same traditional tale, but this time the father is a whaling captain who returns home to New Bedford with the Nutcracker after an around-the-world voyage.
 Parrots and monkeys cavort, and sailor dancers search for whales. Instead of the marzipan and coffee dances of Act 2’s “Land of Sweets,” this version will showcase cultures of the many sailors found on the seas – Native American and Spanish, Portuguese and Asian.
 With this brand-new idea in mind, Ms. Waskiel did extensive research at the Whaling Museum to try and find a captain for her story line, but to no avail. Most of the detailed information from the whaling era concerns merchants or boat owners, she said. So Ms. Waskiel took all the facts she could gather and created a composite captain and his family, including little Mary, who still dreams of battles between mice and toy soldiers and adventures with her beloved Nutcracker.
 Performers include 26 dancers aged 11 to 18 from the New Bedford Youth Ballet, a by-audition-only group from throughout the New Bedford area, as well as 40 younger dancers from the New Bedford Ballet studio.
 For 15 years the Ballet has been performing “The Nutcracker” for public audiences, at children’s hospitals and nursing homes, and with the New Bedford Symphony.
 “It’s wonderful as a dancer to have these performance opportunities,” Ms. Waskiel, a former professional dancer, said. “It’s also great for younger kids to see children just a bit older than themselves dancing like this.”
 “A New England Nutcracker” will run Dec. 12 and 18 at 6:30 and 8 p.m.; and Dec. 13, 19 and 20 at 1:30 and 3 p.m. at the ballet’s studios, 2343 Purchase St., New Bedford. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

The museum boasts three dozen trees with book-inspired decorations.

 If books were trees, wouldn’t it be fun to wander through a forest of childhood favorites? The Concord Museum brings this fanciful idea to life with “Family Trees,” its 14th annual holiday celebration of children’s literature.
 Some three-dozen enchanting trees with decorations inspired by well-loved children’s books will fill the museum’s galleries Dec. 4 to Jan. 3. Visitors of all ages will enjoy finding old favorites like “Anne of Green Gables,” as well as more recent classics like “Olivia,” Richard Scarry’s “Cars & Trucks & Things that Go” and David Weisner’s “Flotsam,” 2007 winner of the Caldecott Medal.
 Teams of volunteers create the ornaments and decorate the trees, taking their inspiration from the characters, illustrations, storyline or setting of a particular book. This year’s trees will also feature brand-new books that are destined to become classics, including “The Imaginary Garden,” “Fancy Nancy: Explorer Extraordinaire” and “The Snow Day.”
 On weekends, kids can meet beloved storybook characters in person, including “Olivia the Pig” (Dec. 5 and 6), “Nate the Great” (Dec. 12 and 13), “Frog and Toad” (Dec. 19 and 20), Max from “Where the Wild Things Are” (Dec. 26 and 27) and “Madeleine” (Jan. 2 and 3). These life-sized, costumed characters make their appearance at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. (parents are advised that small children might find them scary).
 Santa himself will visit the museum on Saturday morning, Dec. 5. Kids can have their picture taken with him and participate in a treasure hunt and all sorts of fun seasonal activities.
 Admission to “Family Trees” is $6 for children, $15 for adults and $10 for seniors; AAA members receive a $1 discount. The Dec. 5 “Morning with Santa” is by reservation only; an additional fee applies.
 Proceeds from “Family Trees” benefit the museum’s educational programming, including more than 600 annual school and public programs.
 For more details visit www.concordmuseum.org.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

Chocolate lace is one of Hauser’s delectable treats.

 Traditions change with the years, but sweets and song are two enduring staples of the holiday season. This year, you can find them both in Westerly.
 Hauser Chocolatier offers a whole new experience for your sweet tooth, with unusual recipes and high-quality ingredients that elevate chocolate to an art form.
 If you’re looking for a surefire way to please your friends, coworkers or holiday party guests, truffles are guaranteed to steal the show.
 “What makes Hauser Chocolatier different,” said owner Rudi Hauser Jr., “is that every truffle is unique. We don’t start with a milk chocolate or dark chocolate base and add flavoring — we create each recipe from scratch, paying careful attention to the way the ingredients complement one other.”
 Case in point: the magnificent Blueberry Port Wine truffle, which combines dark chocolate with real blueberry port and blueberry puree to produce a complex, sophisticated confection that’s “adult” enough to please even the most jaded connoisseur. Other noteworthy creations include a Japanese Black Vinegar truffle (earthy and surprisingly mellow) and a tart, juicy Cranberry truffle, which pairs perfectly with warm holiday drinks.
 If you have a “chocoholic” on your shopping list, be sure to check out Hauser’s Open House from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 5. Sip hot chocolate, sample some of the fine flavors, browse gift package and custom party favor options, and even watch chocolate being produced on the manufacturing floor, thanks to an enormous window in the self-guided tour area. Admission is free, and families are welcome.
 Once your sweet tooth is sated, it will be time to do some caroling — with the acclaimed Chorus of Westerly, the nation’s only intergenerational choral group. Of its members, 80 are aged 8 to 18. The children sing in every performance, no matter the material and have cultivated a musical discipline far beyond their years.
 “The Chorus really starts and ends with the kids,” said Executive Director Ryan Saunders, who sang in the chorus as a child. “Our founder, Music Director George Kent, strives to give kids the experience of singing great music with professionals.”
 This season’s big event will be the Christmas Pops, with three performances on Dec. 20. Family ticketing options are offered, but be sure to register early: most performances sell out.
 Besides their locale, these two Westerly institutions have another connection: Rudi and Fal Hauser’s son, Ruedi, is entering his fourth season with the chorus.
 “This exceptional group has made such a difference in his life and in all our lives,” said Ms. Hauser, who serves on the Board of Directors. “The Chorus is our pride and joy.”
 For more on Hauser Chocolatier, call (401) 596-8866 or visit www.hauserchocolates.com. For more on the Chorus of Westerly, call (401) 596-8863 or visit www.chorusofwesterly.org.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

The “Polar Express” takes passengers from Sandwich station to the North Pole.

 For decades, on one special night each December, residents of Sandwich Village would gather on the steps of the First Church of Christ and raise their voices in song to celebrate the season. That simple, neighborly gathering – oh so reminiscent of hometown Christmases past – has grown into a gift bag of seasonal cheer known as “Holly Days.”
 “Holly Days is all about slowing down and enjoying our community,” said Kate Bavelock, Sand­wich Chamber of Commerce executive director. “Christmas in Sand­wich has always been a very special time. This is our way of staying true to that tradition of the small New England town.”
 Holly Days features a holiday handbell concert, Pancakes with Santa, a tree lighting, open houses and – of course – the traditional candlelit Community Sing. Yet per­haps its most-anticipated activity is the North Pole Express, Sandwich’s version of the popular “Polar Express” children’s tale, which runs Dec. 4 to 6.
 Families board the Cape Cod Central Railroad at the Sandwich station and are off to the North Pole, where they will disembark at Santa’s workshop (actually, another historic train depot along the line that has been decked out for the occasion). Elves scurry about, wrapping and preparing gifts, while Santa and Mrs. Claus greet the children. There’s cocoa and favors for all, then it’s back on the train for the ride home.
 “It’s all just magic, a very special time for families,” Ms. Bavelock said.
Sandwich over­flows with private homes of his­torical and architectural importance, and on Dec. 13 from noon to 4 p.m., a half-dozen will be featured in the annual Home Tour. Docents will talk about the history or pertinent features of the homes, each especially decorated in seasonal splendor.
 Businesses join in the holiday cheer Nov. 27 through Dec. 18. Brochures available at the Chamber and throughout town detail the participating merchants offering discounts, entertainment or shopping-spree giveaways. Some stores will greet shoppers with Christmas cookies; others will help kids create Christmas crafts.
 “These business owners, who, after all, are our neighbors and friends, go all out to make this a lovely time,” said Ms. Bavelock. “It’s a wonderful experience. You will actually enjoy gift shopping again!”
 Visit www.sandwichchamber.com for details and for North Pole Express and Home Tour tickets.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

“In the Numbers” teaches kids math through an interactive, football-themed game.

 When you think educational field trips, what comes to mind? Museums? Aquariums?
 “We want to be in that rotation for schools,” Bryan Morry said, sitting in his Foxborough office. Behind him, a window frames Gillette Stadium.
 Mr. Morry is the Executive Director of The Hall at Patriot Place, Presented by Raytheon, and he wants to teach kids. About football? Well, yes. Mr. Morry does get a little excited when it comes to the game. But with “The Physics of Football” sitting atop his bookshelf, it’s obvious he’s got more in mind than tossing a pigskin.
 The Hall is on its way to establishing itself as a destination education museum, not a “graveyard of artifacts,” as Mr. Morry put it. It’s a modern, shiny, interactive example of the awesome power of science.
 In “In the Numbers,” kids – and adults – compete at touch-screen kiosks, answering questions about football statistics, basic math and word problems. A correct answer advances your player on a large screen in front of the kiosks. The winner is greeted with congrats and words of wisdom from an onscreen Patriots player.
 “We’re really fortunate to have Raytheon involved,” Mr. Morry said. According to Raytheon, a defense contractor children start to lose interest in math and science once they reach middle school.
 The collaboration’s aim is to show children that “things they love involve science,” Mr. Morry said. “Including football.”
 So far, it’s been a success. The Hall opened in September 2008 and since has had more than 110,000 visitors, including nearly 10,000 kids on field trips.
Teachers can visit the Hall in advance to tailor a trip that fits the class’ lesson plan and the state’s education standards.
 And the education team can arrange for guests – word is, they have an “in” with a local sports team. After reading his book, one school group was surprised by an appearance by Tedy Bruschi.
 “The kids were ecstatic,” Mr. Morry said.
 You don’t have to be a member of a school group to get the educational benefits of the Hall.
 Anyone can make their way through the exhibits, along the way kicking footballs, getting into the middle of a huddle, standing under a rain of confetti or hanging out in a replica of the swank Patriots locker room.
 The Hall of Fame exhibit consists of four 30-foot pylons. In front of each is a kiosk; flip through the players’ stats, videos and other information while the player’s image is displayed on the pylon using high-tech, non-reflective digital ink. It uses 20 to 30 percent less energy than LCD would, according to Mr. Morry.
 In fact, the entire Hall is a showcase to the cool things that math and science can accomplish.
 Children have no choice but to leave with an idea of the awesome things technology is capable of.
 AAA members save 10 percent off adult general admission to The Hall (up to six per party) when they show their AAA cards.
 For information, visit www.patriot-place.com/thehall.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

The Hyannis museum honors JFK through personal photos.

 Greeting visitors at the John F. Kennedy Museum in Hyannis is an oversized photo of nine brothers and sisters in matching striped bathing suits, each a stair-step shorter than the last. Their grins hold the promise of the future, one of big dreams and ambitions woven by father Joseph.
 The story of how many of those ambitions were realized — and how so many dreams dissipated in tragedy — is left to other museums. This small Main Street museum isn’t the whole history book but simply a front-page dedication – from JFK to his beloved Cape Cod.
 Photographs are the main medium; captions are to the point. Instead of facts, it’s a feeling of JFK that visitors get – this was Jack, summer of ’62, wind-blown hair, squinting into the sun, smiling.
 These were the days when locals kept up with the latest fashions by spying on Jacqueline as she exited St. Francis Xavier Church. There’s Carolyn, sticking out her tongue, riding a pony, and John Jr. pretending to drive a car, feet dangling mid-air. And photos of sailing, always sailing, as if the family lived on the waters of Nantucket Sound instead of in the expansive compound perched ashore.
 The docent will happily talk about how celebrations for Rose’s birthday were held on the beach, how many rooms are in the main house, how cousin Maria Shriver and hubby Schwarzenegger this summer had coffee across the street when Ethel was in the hospital. The famous couple had to sneak out the back, but the curious were there for him, not her. Hyannis folk generally leave the Kennedys alone, she said. Always have.
 The John F. Kennedy Museum is a snapshot of a man without cares, without pain — finding peace and relaxation, as so many do, along the shores of Cape Cod.
 For info, call (508) 790-3077, or visit www.jfkhyannismuseum.org.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

Worcester’s Higgins Armory Museum is home to one of the nation’s top three armory collections.

 How did I not know this place existed? Me, a “Lord of the Rings,” Arthurian-legend, Hogwarts-lovin’ geek who can’t get enough of the Black Plague or the Black Knight – how in Merlin’s beard had I never visited the Higgins Armory Museum?
 This gem not only contains a marvelous display of authentic suits of armor and weaponry of all kinds, but also presents it in a reproduction of a Medieval castle’s grand hall.
 The owner of Higgins Pressed Steel opened the museum in 1931 to show his growing collection. Insides, knights are frozen mid-joust, and workers delicately feather-brush the gleaming suits lest a hint of dust mars their magnificence.
 Even with one of the country’s top three armory collections – from Corinthian helmets circa 550 to gladiator-era Roman garb – the best thing the museum possesses is a sense of fun. On special days, fully clad knights somersault down the halls to demonstrate the armor’s flexibility, or sauntering Imperial Stormtroopers compare a 15th-century suit with their own.
 Children play with giant chess pieces and squint through the visors of replication helms. Want to learn to talk like a pirate or brandish an ax like a Viking? The Higgins offers that, plus all-night gaming sessions, a Festival of Ale and audience-participation combat drills.
 A new exhibit features the elusive (and imaginary) Professor Rufus Excalibur Bell. Amid packing crates and field journals are the oddities he’s collected on travels around the globe – dragonheads and shrunken goblins, boggarts and fairies and The Golden Fleece.
 Education Director Devon Kurtz isn’t surprised I didn’t know about the Higgins. “We don’t want to be a secret anymore,” he said. “What makes this so much fun is not just the true history, but the stories and mythology of it all. We get excited about it, and want people to share in our excitement.”
 Higgins Armory Museum: 100 Barber Ave., Worcester, 508-853-6015, www.higgins.org. In November, active military, veterans and families receive free admission.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

Mechanics Hall dates back more than 150 years.

 Mechanics Hall, the pre-Civil War music hall in downtown Worcester, is offering a noon-time respite from the holiday overload that sometimes settles in this time of year. Taking in some magnificent music in a beautiful setting at one of Mechanics Hall’s free Brown Bag Concerts might just be the ticket to the slower pace you are craving right about now.
 The Brown Bag Concerts kick off Nov. 11 and will be offered at noon on select Wednesdays through Dec. 16. Bring a lunch or buy one on site, sit down at a table, and listen to the strains of jazz, a cappella voice harmony or even big band.
 The concert series started in 1982 as a gesture of thanks from Mechanics Hall to members of the greater Worcester community who generously supported the renovations of the Hall’s Hook organ, said Publicist Kathy Gagne.
 The events were so popular that they became a tradition, with annual concerts held in spring and fall and broadcast live over WICN radio (90.5 FM). Thanks to financial support from Bank of America, there is no charge to come listen. The concerts attract 300 to 400 attendees, including many families, seniors and business people on lunch break, said Ms. Gagne.
 This year performances will include the a capella vocalists of Syncopation, Eguie Castrillo and His Latin Jazz Band, folk artist Miss Tess, 17-year-old jazz performer Grace Kelly, and the U.S. Air Force Band of Liberty, which will perform a holiday-themed show. To wrap up the series, the Worcester Organ Concert will be held on Dec. 16.
 “This is an opportunity for everyone to hear great music in a great hall during the day,” said Ms. Gagne.
 For more information, visit www.mechanicshall.org.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

More than 80 airplanes and helicopters are on display at the New England Air Museum, near Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn.

 The New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Conn., has undergone many changes in the past few years.
 “Our collection of historic aircraft is as impressive as ever, but our current focus is on making it come to life with special events, interactive exhibits and all kinds of educational programs both formal and informal,” according to Michael Speciale, the Museum’s Director.
 The museum, on the west side of Bradley International Airport, consists of three large hangars that house more than 80 aircraft such as a vintage airliner; a great collection of WWII airplanes including the B-29 Superfortress, the Corsair and P-47 Thunderbolt; many jet fighters like the F-14 Tomcat; and numerous helicopters.
 Special events held throughout the year include the Annual Space Expo, Open Cockpit Days and the Women Take Flight Program.
 Women Take Flight honors the contributions of women in the fields of aviation and aerospace, and this event will be held Sunday, Nov. 8.
Santa Claus will visit the museum on Friday, Nov. 27.
 Museum educators are on duty each weekend to meet with visitors and offer impromptu activities for families with children.
 The museum is especially proud of its new interactive KidsPort exhibit, which is geared toward children ages 5-12. KidsPort is a children’s size airport complete with 12 structures including a passenger terminal, air traffic control, maintenance hangar and more.
 Each structure contains touch-screen computers that come alive with animated characters and music — all of which are aimed at teaching children about aviation: how airplanes fly, checking in at a passenger terminal, aircraft maintenance and more. The exhibit was installed last May and has proven to be a big hit with the museum’s younger visitors.
 The New England Air Museum is open daily, year round. AAA member discounts are offered for adult admissions. Contact the museum at (860) 623-3305 or www.neam.org.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

"Crosspulse” is one of many unique acts at Springstep.

 A cappella vocals and body music will combine for a special performance Nov. 14 at Springstep, a nonprofit center for cultural music and dance in Medford Square.
 “VOICES” is a performance piece created by award-winning composer Philip Hamilton. Keith Terry and Evie Ladin of “Crosspulse” make music out of anything and everything, blending traditional and contemporary music and dance, from jazz and world music to Appalachian banjo and step dancing traditions.
 “This is a unique, original piece,” said Kerry Donahue, Springstep’s Manager of Marketing and Communications. “It showcases the human voice as a truly versatile and expressive instrument.”
 In addition to performances on Saturday evening at 7 and 9:30, there will be workshops with the performers throughout the weekend. A family-friendly workshop at 2:30 p.m. Saturday will feature the hambone — a style of dance that involves stomping and slapping – and “found sound.”
 Springstep’s mission is to celebrate dance and music traditions from cultures around the world. Dozens of classes are offered year-round, ranging from hip-hop to waltz to belly dancing, including many selections for kids and teens.  Drop-in social dances include weekly tangos, swing dances and Scottish country dancing. Performances such as VOICES and upcoming Klezmer & Beyond (in December) are monthly events.
 “We offer something very special,” Ms. Donahue said. “There are not too many places where you can experience so many types of dance. Springstep is a place for cultures of the world to display their art.”
 Springstep also has an art gallery that features three to four culturally diverse exhibits per year. The current exhibit, “Vistas del Pueblo: Images of Community from Nicaraguan Villages,” features an extraordinary collection of work by  Nicaraguan artists of all ages.
 For more information about performances, classes and workshops, call Springstep at (781) 395-0402 or visit www.springstep.org.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

Iris Apfel: Tastemaker and style icon.

 Any woman who has ever worn a pair of jeans has Iris Apfel to thank.
 In the 1940s, when only lumberjacks and field hands wore blue cotton denim, a persistent young girl hounded the owner of a Wisconsin Army Navy store until he finally ordered her a pair of boy-sized denims.
 Her intent: to wear them with a turban and large hoop earrings.
 Such was an early milestone in the career of a fashion visionary and muse who quite possibly launched a trend in women’s fashion — jeans — that now represents a $10 billion industry yearly in the United States alone.
 And that was just the beginning. Inspired by the music of Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and other jazz musicians, Ms. Apfel was already synthesizing high and low, classical and ethnic elements in her manner of dress and aesthetic outlook. The result is a life and career of remarkable creativity and verve proving that it’s not only what you wear, but how you wear it.
 “Rare Bird of Fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel” will be on view at Salem’s Peabody Essex Museum through Feb. 7, featuring more than 80 dramatic ensembles from the personal collection of the legendary tastemaker and style icon.
 Now in her 88th year, Ms. Apfel continues to challenge visual culture with radical juxtapositions of far-flung influences. These spectacular and unexpected wardrobe combinations are exhibited with inventive staging and playful displays that underscore Apfel’s inexhaustible creative spirit.
 AAA members save $1 off general admission. For information, call (866) 745-1876 or visit www.pem.org.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

The Warwick Museum of Art is located in an old armory.

 Patty Martucci, programming director at the Warwick Museum of Art, wants to bring art to the greater community. To do that, she wants the community to come to her.
 “My goal is to get everybody here,” she said, seated in the museum’s newly redesigned gallery. “Make it a community place.”
 In April, the Museum celebrated its renovations with a grand re-opening.  There was a crowd of visitors from around Rhode Island and, to Ms. Martucci’s surprise, around the country.
 The renovation added usable space to the former armory building, thanks to a grant from the Champlin Foundation. The open gallery boasts exposed brick and piping, and nine arched windows that had been blocked by wall partitions now flood the room with light.
 “You can’t believe what a difference it makes,” Ms. Martucci said.
And the new stage is perfect for groups like “The Unexpected Company,” which performs improv at the museum every Sunday at 7:17 p.m., and the Cornerstone Playhouse, which practices and performs at the space.
 Ms. Martucci is working on having something at the museum for all age groups. A seven-week art camp for kids this summer was so popular that she developed another four-week session for ‘tweens, teens and adults.
 In the near future, she will implement more community-oriented activities. Using her connections as a former City Hall employee, she is planning a program that will bring speakers, artists and performers to the museum on weekdays for seniors.
 But one of the most exciting events will be this December.
 “I want an affordable, original art show and sale,” she said, with high-end crafts and art at prices that make it ideal for holiday shopping. “The idea is to promote local artists and help people during this economy.”
 Nothing will be priced higher than $32.95 – the museum’s address on Post Road.
 Ms. Martucci is overflowing with ideas, so expect more to come. She’s just getting started.
 The museum is open noon-4 p.m. Tues.-Sat. For information, visit www.warwickmuseum.org.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

Lawrence B. Walker, with his 1932 Cord, spent day and night documenting New England transportation history.

 For car lovers – and those enamored with planes, trains, trolleys and boats – the Walker Transportation Collection in Beverly is a treasure.
 Walk up to the Beverly Historical Society, in the historic Cabot House, at 117 Cabot St., and ring the doorbell. You’ll be escorted to the basement of the 18th-century home. Here, volunteers staff a one-of-a-kind collection of artifacts pertaining to transportation in New England.
 The collection has 5,000 photographs, including images of just about every make of car from the beginning of the automobile. There are photos of diners, gas stations and construction of the Southeast Expressway (the original Big Dig) in the 1950s.
 Also on display are model cars, license plates and other automobile paraphernalia. Of particular note is a collection of model Ford cars and trucks. Most are die-cast vintage from the Franklin and Danbury Mints, plus plastic models given out by dealerships to promote their cars.
 “This is probably the only collection of its kind anywhere,” said curator Dave Fletcher. “It is even bigger than what the Smithsonian has in terms of showing transportation in New England.”
 One of the unique things about the collection is that it has been developed over 40 years exclusively by the efforts of volunteers. This is a labor of love for the men who keep the collection impeccably organized. Ask to see something in particular and your request can usually be met in a matter of minutes.
 Whether you are a collector, researcher or curious transportation buff, The Walker Transportation Collection is a must-see. The collection is open for viewing and research from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday and from 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Admission costs $5.
 For more information, call (978) 922-1186 or visit www.walkertrans.org.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

In this game, the object is to get the disc into the basket.

 I was hiking at Borderland State Forest when I noticed a curious metal basket stuck on a pole on a hillside. Odd, I thought. Was it a place to tie up a horse? Some kind of unusual bird nesting spot?
 Turns out there’s a golf course at Borderland, but rather than Titleist and nine irons, this golf is played with hard rubber flying discs. Get the Frisbee in the basket – it’s like getting the ball in the cup. Except you don’t play with Frisbees, as my family found out one day – aiming a few practice shots, the Frisbee struck the metal basket and flopped down with a huge chunk out of its circumference.
 We might have been amateurs, but that didn’t stop us from having loads of fun. Borrowing a few authentic discs from the park rangers (they collect lost ones), we set out on this 18 “hole” course. Immediately, the frustrations became clear.  Some holes weave through dense forest, where trees try their best to get in the way of every throw, others through lush meadows, where tall grasses work to camouflage wayward discs.
 Every hole has two options, white or blue tees: the whites are shorter and easier, say, 430 feet vs. 910 feet. Signage at each tee shows you about where the basket is – sometimes you can spot it through the trees, sometimes not. Sometimes, the disc bounces off a rock into prickly underbrush or lands in a stream.
 It wasn’t long before we understood why the other golfers, who could whip their discs in a straight line, carried professional-looking bags stuffed with a dozen brightly colored discs. Not only are there specific discs – “drivers,” for instance, and “putters” – but they don’t have to stop playing if the underbrush swallows one.
 We didn’t stop either, despite losing our way to Hole 3, getting chased by a friendly dog and routinely scoring eights and nines on Par 3s. All I wanted was to return the borrowed discs and have a great family day in the outdoors – which we did. Fore!
 The course is open 8 a.m. to sunset. Park admission is $2 per car. Visit www.mass.gov/drc/parks/borderland or call (508) 238-6566.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

A rare 1928 experimental roadster built by Indian Motocycle.

 The first gasoline-powered car. The first American motorcycle. The first basketball. Clamp-on skates. Rolls-Royce cars. Board games. Guns. Dictionaries. The paper cutter.
 The list goes on and you start to wonder – is there anything that wasn’t invented or made in Springfield?
See for yourself at the new Museum of Springfield History, set to open Oct. 10.
 An original copy of that first gasoline car, an 1893 Duryea, will be on display in the museum, alongside vintage Rolls-Royces (made in Springfield from 1921 to 1931) and other locally produced cars.
 Indian Motocycle Co. created the first American motorcycle in 1901, and in 1929 the company developed a car. One of the rare cars will be on display along with 32 vintage motorcycles.
 You can also see a 1937 Gee Bee aircraft, the Zeta, built by the Granville Brothers, Zantford, Thomas, Robert, Mark and Edward. Only one of the planes was ever manufactured.
 One of the Gee Bee racers, Maude Tait, is also recognized in the museum. Tait set several records, including an unofficial altitude record for women in 1929, and she was the first woman in New England to earn a Transport Pilot license, issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
 For fun closer to the ground, look to Milton Bradley. A native of Maine, Bradley settled in Springfield in 1856. Several years later, he produced “The Checkered Game of Life,” the board game that would eventually become “The Game of Life.” He was also intensely involved in childhood education. Adding to the advancement of education is Merriam Webster, another Springfield company.
 And, of course, there’s the basketball, the game created by James Naismith, athletic director at a Springfield YMCA.You may have noticed, the game has gone on to achieve some popularity. Remember, it started in Springfield.
 On Oct. 10, see where it all began at the museum’s grand opening, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. See memorabilia from these innovations and more, including the AAA-sponsored car and motorcycle show.There will be food vendors, children’s activities and more.
 The museum is at 21 Edwards St. Visit www.springfieldmuseums.org.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

An olfactory oasis awaits at the Ocean Spray cranberry bog, located behind Bass Pro Shop at Patriot Place.

 All of a sudden, it’s quiet. No shoot’em up games, no golden oldies, and no sounds of feet shuffling around the floor.
 And it smells different. It smells like outside; like plants and standing water – but not the putrid kind – and flowers all rolled into one olfactory treat.
 There’s no whiff of gasoline in the breeze, and the shade doesn’t come from buildings. It’s that dynamic shade, shifting as branches move in the wind.
Where am I? Within the sprawling Patriot Place complex in Foxboro. No, really?
Yes. Really.
 The Nature Trail and Cranberry Bog at Patriot Place sits behind the Bass Pro Shop. Walk through the store – stop at the Educational Aquarium, a collaboration with the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife, where you can see more than 400 native New England fish.
 If you can take your eyes off the walleye, turn around. A two-story observation window looks out over the bog. Spotting scopes (for sale) let you take a closer look. But for the best view, walk through the Blue Fin Lounge, off the patio, and head to the water.
 The bog, sponsored by Ocean Spray, is the last working cranberry bog in Foxboro.
 Signs along the path to the bog talk a bit about the history of the tart berry (native to the United States); give practical information about farming the berries (they’re harvested late September to early November); and explain the unusual way the fruit is grown.
 Along the way, keep an eye out for turtles – they’re tiny, but plentiful — dragonflies of exceptional size and flora unique to the bog landscape.
And a word of advice, two, actually: bug spray.
 After the bog, the trail proper begins. It’s a half-mile of wood chips with an average grade of 3 percent, reaching 12 percent in places. This is where you’ll see the bigger animals; deer, swans, Canadian geese, foxes and others.
The trail is open daily dawn to dusk; access is free.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE

 Harry Potter is casting his spell over New England.
 Whether you’ve read the books, watched the movies, or just want to add some magic to your day, you’re in luck. The Boston Museum of Science has the clothes, the settings, the props – yes, even the original wand – used in the “Harry Potter” movies.
 The layout of the 10,000-square-foot “Harry Potter: The Exhibition” is based on themes borrowed from the movies – look for The Great Hall, Hagrid’s hut, the Gryffindor common room and other familiar places.
 Museum President and Director Ioannis Miaoulis said the exhibit will be fun for kids and adults because — like he and his teenage daughter — many families have shared the books and together followed the story of Harry Potter.
 “This will attract visitors of all ages, some of whom have never visited the science center,” Mr. Miaoulis said. “We always look for exhibits that expand our audience. Then, we can engage them in science and technology.”
 Yes, if you bring kids to the exhibit, you can sneak some learning into the day – a lot of learning, actually. The museum has more than 700 interactive exhibits – about space, Earth’s oceans, math, birds, dinosaurs, physics and just about anything else.
 No matter how old you are, you can’t help but learn something as you push, spin, crank and build your way through the museum’s hands-on facility on your way to see Harry and company.
 This summer, more than 200 onlookers got a sneak peak at the exhibit – an outfit worn by Professor Slughorn and a giant horse, the knight from a game of chess that Harry played in the first movie. There were ecstatic children, excited parents and a lot of confetti.
 A live owl delivered to Mr. Miaoulis a package containing a pair of glasses and a wand.
 But that was just the beginning. The full exhibit features more than 200 artifacts – costumes, props, settings – from the movies, including some from the latest: “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.”
 The exhibit has only been on display once before, at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. The Boston Museum of Science will be the first to display the items from the latest movie. It will also be the only New England stop.
“Harry Potter: The Exhibition” runs through Feb. 21. The exhibition space was created with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Exhibitgroup/Giltspur.
 It’s not exactly magic, but thanks to the “art and technological wizardry of moviemaking,” Mr. Miaoulis said, “the ‘Harry Potter’ films have brought to life an enchanting and complex world.”
 As complex as the world of wizards and warlocks may be, it should be easy to reach the exhibit, no matter where in New England you are coming from. Trains, buses, even duck boats will transport you between the two worlds.
 Tickets are on sale now. Visit www.mos.org.

BACK TO HORIZONS MAIN PAGE