The Beat Goes On: Melody Gardot in smoky jazz duo; a hot slate at the Drake, and more

Best Bites: In Hadley, ice cream is king

Book Bag: ‘Abracadabratude’ by Chris O’Carroll; ‘Darkest Before Dawn’ by Robert T. McMaster

A journey to the Valley’s musical past: Amherst native is restoring a viol built two centuries ago in a town underneath the Quabbin Reservoir

Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun: An expert plantsman takes the reins at Sugarloaf Gardens

Best Bites: Eat up Shelburne Falls

McGovern gleans input from farmers ahead of White House conference 

Earth Matters: Role-playing games, storytelling and the fate of the earth

Blue Heron’s newest owners look to keep tradition alive in Sunderland

Earth Matters: English farmer takes journey back to older, deeper ways

Roaming with the dinosaurs: Beneski Museum a popular destination since reopening in June

Nice time for cool, cool art: Local galleries feature a range of work in August