This Week on the South Shore

Headlines

• Braintree: Cape Cod Coffee, a longtime Cape staple founded in 1970, is expanding to the South Shore with its first Braintree location, bringing its small-batch roasts and 40+ coffee varieties off-Cape. - Patch

• Carver: Public health officials in Carver are warning residents after a rabid skunk and woodchuck were confirmed in separate recent incidents, urging people to avoid wildlife and keep pets up to date on rabies vaccinations. No human or domestic animal exposures have been reported, but officials are reminding residents to stay alert and report any unusual animal behavior immediately. - Shrewsbury Post

• Hingham: Hingham is gearing up for a Revolutionary Weekend on May 16–17, featuring guided historic tours, bell ringing, family-friendly storytime, and a reenactment of the Battle of Grape Island with local militia and community celebrations. The town-wide event honors Hingham’s deep Revolutionary War history with interactive programs and activities designed to bring the past to life for all ages. - Hingham Anchor

• Plymouth: Plymouth’s Old Sandwich Road offers a rare drive through nearly 400 years of living history, tracing a route that began as a Wampanoag path and still winds past preserved farms and family-run landmarks today. The feature highlights how local stewards are keeping its historic character alive, blending conservation, heritage, and everyday life along one of the South Shore’s most timeless byways. - WCVB

South Shore Spotlight

The James Library Announces Full Summer Lineup of Exhibits, Talks & Community Programs

The James Library & Center for the Arts in Norwell is kicking off its Summer Entertainment and Events Series, featuring a full calendar of visual art exhibitions, author talks, hands-on workshops, and family programming running from May through July. The historic arts center continues its role as a South Shore cultural hub, showcasing regional artists and offering accessible community programming in its gallery and concert hall.

Exhibits

Madeleine Lord: Solo Exhibition
Friday, May 1 – Saturday, June 13: A striking collection of large woodblock prints inspired by musical instruments and the performers behind them. Madeleine Lord’s work blends printmaking, drawing, photography, and sculpture, reflecting a long multidisciplinary career rooted in formal training at Smith College. The exhibition highlights both visual rhythm and narrative storytelling through bold, graphic compositions. - More Information

Scott Ketcham – The Wild Iris
Friday, May 8 – Saturday, June 13: A contemplative series of paintings inspired by the poetry of Louise Glück, exploring themes of nature, emotion, and reflection. With over 30 years of experience, Ketcham brings a refined, expressive approach shaped by classical training and academic instruction. The works invite viewers into a quiet dialogue between language and landscape. - More Information

4 Seasons: Paintings by Daniel Lloyd-Miller
Friday, June 26 – Friday, July 31: This exhibition showcases a painter working in both studio and plein-air traditions, capturing shifting light, structure, and seasonal change. Lloyd-Miller’s work bridges observation and abstraction, informed by studies at MassArt and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The series reflects a deep engagement with place, time, and visual rhythm. - More Information

Summer Events

Art Unplugged: Off The Grid, On The Wall (Paper Making with The Spare Studio)
Saturday, May 30, 2:00–4:00 PM: A hands-on workshop introducing simple, sustainable paper-making techniques using recycled materials. Participants will create original handmade paper and contribute to a collaborative piece displayed at the library. - More Information

James Book Club: An Unfinished Love Story
Wednesday, June 10, 7:00–8:30 PM: A community book discussion offering space for conversation, reflection, and shared interpretation of contemporary literature. - More Information

Art Unplugged: Paper Lanterns with Liz Helfer
Saturday, June 13, 4:00–6:00 PM A creative workshop where participants design bamboo and paper lanterns in an accessible, guided art-making session open to all experience levels. - More Information

Children’s Storytime (Weekly Series)
Fridays, May 29 – June 26, 11:30 AM–12:00 PM: A weekly program designed for young children and caregivers featuring storytelling, early literacy activities, and exploration of the library’s children’s space. - More Information

Mark Your Calendar

Upcoming Events

• South Shore Books & Brews Meetup: Thursday, May 14, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM – Marshfield: Book lovers and beer enthusiasts are invited to gather for a relaxed social meetup featuring conversation, community, and craft brews in the taproom. – Stellwagen Beer Company

• Nature for Everyone: All Persons Trail Re-opening Celebration & Walk: Friday, May 15, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Marshfield: Celebrate the reopening of the newly enhanced All Persons Trail at North River Wildlife Sanctuary with a guided nature walk featuring accessible pathways, updated boardwalks, interactive signage, and opportunities to spot spring songbirds and local wildlife while exploring the sanctuary’s forests, wetlands, and fern glens. – Mass Audubon North River Wildlife Sanctuary

• The Rich History of the North and South Rivers & NSRWA: Friday, May 15, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Duxbury: Discover the fascinating maritime history of the North and South Rivers during this engaging slideshow presentation exploring the region’s historic shipyards, the legacy of shipbuilding from the 1600s through the 1800s, and the ongoing conservation work of the North and South Rivers Watershed Association to protect these treasured waterways. – North & South Rivers Watershed Association

• Talking Dirt: Soil Build-Up and Composting: Friday, May 15, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Plymouth: Join Wildlands Trust and agricultural educator Meg Riley for a hands-on outdoor workshop exploring composting, soil health, and practical gardening techniques, complete with live demonstrations and plenty of opportunities to dig into the dirt. – Wildlands Trust

• Live Music with Fil Pacino: Friday, May 15, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Scituate: Enjoy an evening of live music as Fil Pacino brings creative guitar looping and a crowd-pleasing mix of classic and modern hits to the taproom. – Untold Brewing

• Evening Nature Exploration: Friday, May 15, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Milton: Join Mass Audubon naturalists for a family-friendly twilight adventure at the Blue Hills Trailside Museum, where participants will explore forest trails as day turns to night, discovering nocturnal wildlife like owls, insects, and hidden forest creatures while learning about the seasonal rhythms of the natural world. – Mass Audubon

• Pat McGee: Friday, May 15, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Plymouth: Singer-songwriter Pat McGee brings his signature blend of melodic rock, heartfelt storytelling, and jam-band spirit to the Spire Center, joined by longtime collaborator Patrick McAloon for an evening of soaring harmonies, guitar-driven tunes, and songs shaped by decades of touring alongside legendary acts like The Who, Fleetwood Mac, and the Allman Brothers Band. – Spire Center for Performing Arts

• Spring Birding at Trailside: Saturday, May 16, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM – Milton: Explore the Blue Hills Trailside Museum grounds during peak spring migration on an accessible birding walk with a Mass Audubon educator, where participants will observe and identify local and migratory birds around ponds, feeders, and museum exhibits, learn about bird ecology and conservation, and even meet an animal ambassador up close. – Mass Audubon

• Open Barnyard at Weir River Farm: Saturday, May 16, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Hingham: Experience life on a working South Shore farm during this family-friendly open barnyard program at Weir River Farm, where visitors can meet pigs, rabbits, goats, and sheep, learn about daily farm life and animal care, and explore the surrounding trails at their own pace in a hands-on outdoor setting. – The Trustees of Reservations

• Vinyl Pop-Up Shop: Saturday, May 16, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Marshfield: Browse records, discover new music, and enjoy a laid-back afternoon of crate digging and craft beer at this taproom vinyl pop-up event. – Stellwagen Beer Company

• The Mallett Brothers Band: Saturday, May 16, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM – Plymouth: Maine’s acclaimed Mallett Brothers Band brings its signature blend of Americana, alt-country, roots rock, and jam-band energy to the Spire stage, delivering heartfelt storytelling, gritty musicianship, and dynamic live performances that have earned the group a devoted national following. – Spire Center for Performing Arts

• Birding on the Hill: Sunday, May 17, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Marshfield: Take a guided spring migration birding experience along the Fox Hill Trail at Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, where participants will hike to a scenic overlook and observe a wide variety of migratory and resident birds such as warblers, Bobolinks, Purple Martins, Eastern Kingbirds, and Tree Swallows while learning about the sanctuary’s role as a key Atlantic Flyway stopover habitat. – Mass Audubon

• The Art of Sun Printing: A Cyanotype Workshop: Sunday, May 17, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM – Hingham: Explore the creative process of cyanotype printing at Weir River Farm with a hands-on workshop that begins with a guided walk through the English Woodlands to collect natural materials, followed by an introduction to this historic sun-printing technique where participants use UV light to create unique botanical artwork to take home. – The Trustees of Reservations

• Loretta LaRoche Presents: Life Is Short—Wear Your Party Pants: Sunday, May 17, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM – Plymouth: Internationally acclaimed humorist and stress expert Loretta LaRoche brings her signature wit and wisdom to the Spire Center for an uplifting afternoon focused on finding joy, reducing stress, and embracing life with humor, blending practical advice with laugh-out-loud stories and insights drawn from psychology, brain science, and everyday life. – Spire Center for Performing Arts

• Landscaping for Wildlife Presentation: Monday, May 18, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Plymouth: Learn how to turn your yard into a thriving habitat for birds, butterflies, bees, and other wildlife during this free presentation with Mass Audubon’s Mark Faherty, featuring practical gardening tips and a live Q&A. – Wildlands Trust

• Musical Bingo with Good Thomas: Tuesday, May 19, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Plymouth: Test your music knowledge and sing along to favorite hits during this interactive bingo night where song clips replace numbers and winners score gift cards and bragging rights. – Untold Brewing

Know about a cool event? Let us know! Email it to [email protected]  and we might feature it.