The most fun you’ll have with a calendar of events all week. And you just might learn something, too.
Monday, Jan. 22 — Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles,” 6:30 p.m., Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St. “Blazing Saddles” back on the big screen? It’s twue, it’s twue!! The 1974 comedy classic takes on race, greed, corruption and pretty much all the stereotypes with an in-your-face smirk that only Mel Brooks and friends could pull off. Starring Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman and Madeline Kahn, this Western spoof endures as a prime example of Hollywood satire at its most fun.
This is also one of your last opportunities to help Mechanics Hall collect winter coats for disadvantaged youth in Worcester Public Schools. Through the end of January bring new winter outerwear to your event for donation to the Coats for Kids program, which distributes some 3,000 garments annually across the city.
Tickets to the movie are $7, $5 for members.
Thursday, Jan. 25 — “Flora in Winter,” 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. With another round of the white stuff fresh in the rear-view, and that whole April showers-brings-May flowers deal still oh-so-far away, it’s high time, indeed, for an indoor garden stroll. WAM bills its 16th annual “Flora in Winter” exhibit as “a premier floral design event that includes captivating and imaginative interpretations inspired by works of art.”
The four-day program begins with a special reception 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday ($35, $25 for members) and includes lectures, demonstrations, interactive stations and more Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Separate admission or fees apply to some events. Regular museum admission is $16, $14 for seniors, $6 children 4-17, free for kids 3 and under.
Friday, Jan. 26 — Holy Cross men’s hockey vs. Rochester Institute of Technology, 7 p.m., Hart Center, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St. [gate 7] Senior forward T.J. Moore is used to doing a lion’s share of the goal-scoring for the Crusaders the last few years, having led the team as a freshman and sophomore and lagging behind only winger Danny Lopez (17 goals to 13) last season.
With the emergence of Hobey Baker Award candidate Scott Pooley and his nation-leading 18 goals this season, Moore has lit the lamp only thrice, but the Minnesota native has found other ways to contribute: He leads the team with 12 assists and has won a formidable 59 percent of faceoffs.
RIT was 8-11-2 at press time, but a more-solid 7-6-1 in Atlantic Hockey Conference play, including splitting an early December weekend doubleheader vs. HC. The teams play again at the same time Saturday night. Tickets start at $8.
Saturday, Jan. 27 — “Fifty Years With My Camera, 1968-2018,” 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Worcester Center for Crafts, 25 Sagamore Road Ron Rosenstock has been around. The accomplished and acclaimed photographer, who taught for 30 years at Clark University, has had his work shown in more than 100 exhibits around the world, from Worcester to Iceland to New York. He also leads photography tours to places like Ireland, Morocco, Bhutan and Cuba.
His calling card is capturing a reality so distinct it seems surreal — which, we suppose, is something you have to see to understand in this exhibit that runs through March 3.
Ron leads a one-day workshop (limited capacity) today on developing your “personal vision” ($109 per person; registration required). A free artist talk is scheduled for 1-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10.
Saturday, Jan. 27 — Worcester Auto Show, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., convention center, DCU Center, 50 Foster St. Did your frugal husband talk you out of buying all-wheel drive? Maybe a Cambridge Street pothole swallowed your Civic? Perchance it’s but your time to dream of a new set of wheels after a few hundred thousand miles of Dunkin’ Donuts stains, lost french fries and whatever the heck that smell is.
“Insert reason here,” but make sure to find your way downtown this weekend for the 33rd edition of this Worcester-fried winter warmup. All the newest models from Lexus and Mercedes-Benz to Honda and Chevrolet. You could win a car from Hyundai, or at least $500, and take a test drive in a brand new Toyota on those pristine Worcester streets.
The show begins with a 4-8 p.m. session Friday and continues 10-5 Sunday. Tickets are $6. Go to the website for a free pass, good for two adults any of the three days.