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Mike Lombard, owner and operator of Ms. Vicky’s Plymouth Tours, reopened for business on Friday, April 10, offering three tours a day in the company’s electric cars – the same type of vehicle that Ride Circuit uses – to give passengers a view of town’s landmarks, with historical narration and extra “tidbits” peppered throughout. The tour season will continue until Thanksgiving.
Lombard says Plymouth has a lot to offer – and he wants visitors to agree, and to tell their friends and neighbors.
“Our main goal is to let everybody know that we’re so much more than a rock and a boat,” he said. Lombard got the idea for the business as a former Ride Circuit driver.
In its third year of operation, Ms. Vicky’s GEM e6 cars seat five passengers, and there are three tours a day, seven days a week, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. It’s a small business, with only four employees: Lombard; his wife Vicky Lombard, the bookkeeper; his sister, Paula Deorocki, the other driver; and his sister-in-law, Terri Lombard, the “marketing and engagement officer.”
Dressed in his “uniform” of a Red Sox shirt and hat, Lombard, originally from Somerville, says visitors enjoy when he leans into his “big Boston accent.” Having worked on the Mayflower for five years, as well as being a member of the Old Colony Club, Lombard says he has some good stories to tell.
“Is it all history? Yeah, there’s so much history in Plymouth, you’d have to go on and on, and I’m not a history major,” he says. So the aim is to provide enough history without making the tour a history lesson. “We want people to have a good time, so we add some little tidbits.”
Since the town is so hilly, electric car tours are a good option for seniors and others who might have mobility problems and find walking tours difficult. The tours start at the Visitor Center, 130 Water Street, and the drivers narrate the history of the many landmarks and sights along Water Street, continuing up to the Forefathers’ Monument, a “wow” experience for passengers. As the tour continues down Court Street, Lombard said visitors are impressed with the historic buildings being preserved rather than demolished.
“They love the idea that Plymouth hasn’t knocked down buildings – they bring them back,” Lombard said. The guests also get to see the many other historic sites in town, including Coles Hill, the Town Square, and Brewster Gardens.
Tours usually last about an hour and a half, and are $20 for adults, and $15 for seniors (a senior is anyone who claims to be one). Children under 12 are free, but must be able to sit on their own. There is no website (yet), but there is a Facebook page. Passengers can pay with cash, a credit card, or Venmo, the day of the tour. For reservations, call 774-426-0628 or 816-507-2026.
Monday, April 13
The science fiction movie “Project Hail Mary,” starring Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller, is screening at Plimoth Cinema in the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. The film is based on a novel by Andy Weir, and follows a junior high biology teacher who wakes up with amnesia on a spacecraft. “Fantasy Life,” a New York rom-com starring Amanda Peet and Matthew Shear, is also showing. Shear plays an anxious law school dropout who ends up babysitting for his psychiatrist’s three granddaughters, and falls for the girls’ mother (Peet), an actress in a troubled marriage. Film times are 4:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.50, $11 with a club card, $10 for seniors or members, and $8.50 for seniors with a club card.
Monday, April 13
Enjoy a free Mass Brass concert presented by the Plymouth Salvation Army from 7 to 9 p.m. in the New Testament Church, 1120 Long Pond Road. The public is welcome to attend.
A Pop-up Law Library event with Emily Morin, head law librarian of the Plymouth Law Library, will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the boardroom at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. Morin will provide in-person help for legal research and answer legal questions. This is an opportunity to receive law library support without having to go to the courthouse. When applicable, Morin will also give referrals to relevant resources.
Wednesday, April 15
Teens and tweens age 12 and older are invited to create an Emotional Support Rubber Duckie from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. There will be accessories to choose from to decorate each rubber duck, making it perfect as an emotional support “animal.” Along with the creative part of this event, learn healthy tips for coping with stress. There will also be snacks and drinks provided. Registration is required, and can be done here.
Enjoy an intimate concert titled “Raise a Glass: A Night of Irish Music” at the Spire at 7 p.m. in celebration of the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra. The night will feature Katy Nickerson on fiddle, Kevin Quinn on flute and uilleann pipes, and Stuart Peak on guitar, banjo, and tin whistle. The concert will capture the “warmth and joy of a traditional Irish season.” Proceeds from the concert will support the orchestra’s artistic and community programming. Tickets are $65, and include an invitation to attend a post-concert reception. Tickets are available here.
This is the last day to sign up for workshops scheduled for Saturday, April 18, at Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North St. Some of the newer workshops include: The Business of Art, Felt Beading, Poinsettia and Patchwork Origami Wreath, and Color Influence. Find out more about times, class details, and costs, and sign up for a one-day art workshop here.
Thursday, April 16
Sustainable Plymouth invites anyone who loves books and appreciates nature to combine the two passions and attend Green Reads from 5:30 to 7 p.m., a monthly book club at Independent Fermentations Brewing, 127 Camelot Road. This month’s selection is “Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants,” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Anyone is welcome to join the conversation, even if there was no time to read the whole book.
The Kingston Trio may bring back memories as the group performs at the Spire at 7 p.m. The current members of the group, Mike Marvin, Tim Gorelangton, and Buddy Woodward, all have connections to the trio’s original members. These connections will inform their renditions of the classic songs, including “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” and “Tom Dooley.” Tickets are $59, and can be purchased here.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, on its “All the Good Times: Farewell Tour,” will perform at Memorial Hall at 8 p.m. The Grammy-winning band famous for “Mr. Bo Jangles” – among many other Americana, bluegrass, country, and folk songs – currently consists of original members Jeff Hanna (lead vocals, guitar) and Jimmie Fadden (drums, harmonica, vocals); longtime member Bob Carpenter (keys, accordion, vocals); Jim Photoglo (bass, vocals); Jaime Hanna (Jeff’s son, on guitar, vocals); and Ross Holmes (fiddle, mandolin, vocals). Tickets are $58 and $113, or $56 and $111 for Spectacle Live members. There’s also a VIP package for $283, which includes premium seating with a meet-and-greet, along with band swag. Fans can order tickets here.
Friday, April 17
Atlanta-based blues guitarist Tinsley Ellis will perform his solo, acoustic show at the Spire at 8 p.m. Known as one of great electric blues guitarists, he is now considered one of the best contemporary acoustic blues guitarists. His most recent album, titled “Labor of Love,” consists of 13 “raw, edgy” original songs that he self-produced. Tickets are $39.10 and $43, and can be purchased here.
Attend a Health Care Proxy Palooza from noon to 2 p.m. at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St. The library will be joined by Beth Israel Deaconess Plymouth and the Plymouth Center for Active Living to offer this community event. April is National Health Care Decisions Month, and Dr. Angela Landerholm, chief of psychiatry at BID Plymouth Senior Behavioral Health, will be available, along with other medical staff and volunteers, to share information, answer questions, and offer health proxy forms to fill out.
“The Christophers,” starring an McKellen and Michaela Coel, begins screening at the Plimoth Cinema in Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, and written by Ed Solomon, the film is about an artist’s estranged children who hire a forger to finish their father’s paintings so they can sell them. Film times are 4:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.50, $11 with a club card, $10 for seniors or members, and $8.50 for seniors with a club card.
Saturday, April 18
“Revolution, Independence, and the South Shore,” a history symposium presented by The Back Roads of the South Shore, will take place from 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m., and features notable local speakers. The Back Roads of the South Shore is a consortium of 20 nonprofits in over 25 historic sites along the South Shore of Massachusetts. The speakers are: Dr. Patrick Browne, executive director of the Plymouth Antiquarian Society; Tony Kelso, Duxbury town historian; Paula Bagger, Hingham Historical Society; Stephen O’Neill, executive director, Hanover Historical Society and director of the Dyer Memorial Library; and Dr. Anne C. Mason, curator of Pilgrim Hall Museum. Donna Curtin, chair of Back Roads and executive director of Pilgrim Hall Museum, will give opening remarks. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. Tickets are $20 and include breakfast refreshments and the five mini-talks. Register here to reserve a seat, contact info@plymouthantiquarian.org, or call the Plymouth Antiquarian Society at 508-746-0012 for tickets.
Inebri-Art invites the public to its free Arts & Crafts on the Green event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the historic Plymouth Town Hall Green, 26 Court St. The event will feature local artisans and creators displaying their handmade goods, original art, and unique crafts. Along with shopping and browsing, attendees get to listen to live music. The fair takes place every first and third Saturday of the month – except for July 4 – from April through October.
“An Introduction to The American Revolution” will be screening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Plimoth Cinema in Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. The film gives an overview of the documentary series on the American Revolution by Ken Burns, with collaborators Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt. After the screening, stay for a discussion with Richard Pickering, the museums’ deputy executive director and chief historian. Tickets for this event are $13.59, and available to purchase here.
Sunday, April 19
Melissa White and Miki Samada will perform at the Spire from 3 to 5 p.m. celebrating the close of the Sunday Serenades Matinee season. Grammy-winning violinist White and pianist Samada, who’s taken classical music to community spaces where it usually isn’t available, will offer an afternoon of elegant music. Tickets are $35.50 and $39, and are available here.
Wednesday, April 22
Families can celebrate April vacation by watching the film “The Lorax” and doing some Earth-friendly planting from 2 to 4 p.m. at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. The Lorax’s message is about taking care of the Earth. After the movie, young gardeners will get some hands-on experience by planting their own bean plant to take home. Tickets are $9.39 for those age 17 and younger, and $11.49 for adults 18 and older, and can be purchased here.
Attend a Basic Mending Workshop from 6 to 9 p.m. with OHpleese at Sprezzatura Boutique, 1 Main St. Learn how to sew new life into clothes, making basic repairs. Bring a piece of clothing that could use some mending, a pair of scissors, and a scrap of cloth that might serve as a patch. No prior sewing experience is necessary. While there, shop with a 10 percent discount for vintage clothing. Tickets are $40, and they are available here.
Saturday, April 25
The Herring Run Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Brewster Gardens and along Jenney Pond Park, offering a day of family-friendly and educational activities, including herring counts, alewife art, games, live music, and more. Chat with local scientists, help contribute to ongoing herring research, and take a photo with “Happy Fish,” a symbol created by World Fish Migration Day. There are multiple options for food, drink, and information from community organizations that are working to help the environment. The event is free to the public, and supported in part by the Town of Plymouth Promotions Fund. See the list of contributing organizations, food options, and find out more about the festival here.
Sunday, April 26
The fourth and final in a series of intimate candlelight concerts in historic sites, “Revolution & the Enlightenment” featuring The Chordage Ensemble, takes place at 5 p.m. at Pilgrim Hall Museum, 75 Court St. The ensemble will play Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Flute Quartet for Flute and Strings,” and Johann Nepomuk Hummel’s “Quartet for Clarinet, Violin, Viola and Cello.” The performers are Ashley Addington, flute; Marguerite Levin, clarinet; Lisa Brooke, violin; Cassie Sulbarán, viola; and Rebecca Thornblade, cello. Both composers lived during the time of America’s rise to independence, and Mozart was a defender of the average citizen. Hummel, Mozart’s student, also embraced the ideals of clarity, structure, elegant melodies and individual expression. Tickets are $55, and available here.