I AM NB: Storytelling Series
February 13, 2025

Free Parking
Don’t worry about finding a place to park. During AHA! Night there is free parking at the Elm Street and Zeiterion Garages.
Start Your AHA! Adventure At The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor Center
Pick up a paper copy of the AHA! program here. (You can also download a copy – just note that it’s oversized if you try to print at home!) Park staff and volunteers are ready to answer any questions you may have. The Visitor Center (33 William St) is open 10am-8pm on AHA! days.

Follow the Flags
Many of our participating locations will have a yellow AHA! flag prominently displayed to help you find AHA! Night activities.

AHA! Happens Rain Or Shine
Be sure to check the AHA! event page, Facebook page and Instagram Stories as well as website and social for participating event partners for info about location changes, program rescheduling and cancellations.
I AM NB | February 13, 2025
Hear the lesser-known stories of New Bedford during AHA! Night, I AM NB on February 13, 2025. This is the first of two AHA! Nights highlighting the important, unknown, or under-told stories of the city’s past and present shared through spoken word, music, art, film, and more. February’s AHA! Night has a special emphasis on Black history in honor of Black History Month. The second part of the series, on March 13th, will have a special focus on Women’s History.
For part one of the series, Gallery X’s Social Justice art exhibit will be the backdrop for a Moth-style storytelling night organized by AHA! and the New Bedford Historical Society, hosted by spoken word poet Jamilyn Soares.
Learn about that program and more in the details below!
12:00 PM
SHARE YOUR PRIDE: Public Art in the Making
Be part of DATMA’s first traveling public art exhibition!
Join DATMA in creating a powerful, community-made public art piece celebrating Pride in SouthCoast Massachusetts. Inspired by the bold history of LGBTQIA+ Pride posters and activism, this project invites you to:
SHARE YOUR PRIDE — through art, design, and self-expression!
Drop by, grab a pre-cut canvas, and start creating! Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just exploring, all are welcome. Your work will become part of DATMA’s upcoming Open Call for Art and contribute to a larger public installation.
✂️ Materials Provided – Paint, fabric, collage supplies & more (while they last!)
🖌 Bring Your Own – Any art supplies you’d like to use, share, or upcycle
Come make art, celebrate community, and be part of this new community exhibition.
Learn more about the Open Call for Art here!
3:00 PM
Heart-Shaped Pizzas!
Don’t forget it’s Valentine’s-Eve! Kick off the festivities by purchasing your loved one a heart-shaped pizza from our friends at Brick. These special Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas will be on sale for AHA! Night. Open until 9:00PM.
Love Of Art
Exhibiting new work by Judith Klein and featuring ceramic artist Wendy Jacobson’s unique new pottery, new jewelry, and also woodwork by Andrew Peppard.
Youth Services: Paint a Jazz Instrument on AHA Night
Visit Youth Services on AHA Night to paint a jazz instrument!
Celebrate I am NB with Black History Month’s stories of musicians, paint your favorite jazz instrument with washable paints, and explore jazz music.
There is no registration for this free event and will be available while supplies last. Hope to see you there!
The Beyond House Wheel-of-Fortune
Come visit us during this AHA night and risk your luck on our Wheel-of-Fortune. Spin the wheel, answer trivia, and win prizes. You can also meet the staff and learn more about the services we provide to young adults in the community.
UMASS CVPA POP-UP
A diverse group of first-, second-, and third-year students from various programs will come together to participate in AHA! Night, showcasing their Ceramic, Fiber, Painting, and Illustration artwork to the New Bedford community.
be jeweled Valentine Shop
be jeweled is a women-owned and operated boutique nestled in a historic brick building along the charming cobblestone streets of downtown New Bedford. Stop by on AHA! night (Valentine’s Eve!) to shop for that special someone. Enjoy several collections of unique and artistic pieces with a broad range of styles.
Whale you Be Mine? A Free Valentine’s Celebration!
Celebrate love, friendship, and everything in between with a fun and free Valentine’s program! Whether you’re sharing the day with a partner, your besties, or flying solo, they’ve got something for everyone to enjoy. Check out the DIY Valentine Station, Photo Booth Under the Whales, Music, Chocolate Tasting, Couples & Friends Sketching Session, and inspiring poetry with Poet, Writer, Author, and Creative, G.G. Cosmos (Gail A. Gonsalves). What’s not to LOVE?!
Image: Seamen’s Bethel at the Present Time, by Artist Helen Coolidge Adams. See full image in the Wattles Gallery.
4:30 PM
5:00 PM
Cummings Building Open Studios
Explore the Cummings Building Artists’ Studios during AHA! New Bedford, where you’ll find a variety of artworks across different mediums.
Enjoy light refreshments while immersing yourself in the creativity of local artists.
Open House
Feeling creative? Stop by the new 3rdEyE building to work it out on the mic, practice your dance moves, play games, or paint and draw on the 25 ft. Free Wall! You can also just hang out and listen to music, check out the library, bring your sketchbook, or just chill with your friends. Free and open to the public.
Butler Flats Chantey and Chowdah Society
Butler Flats Chantey and Chowdah Society, a vocal quintet featuring harmony both acapella and with acoustic guitars, returns to the New Bedford Art Museum for AHA! Night! The program fits the AHA! Night theme, “NB Stories”, by connecting the Museum’s Arctic Visions exhibition to the whaling industry that made the Arctic a permanent part of the City’s cultural heritage. Butler Flats will perform songs relating to the eastern and western Arctic that inspired William Bradford’s photographic expeditions and paintings and the work of indigenous artists now on display. The group will also highlight the importance of the stars mariners used for navigation as a link to the Museum’s exhibit of images from NASA’s Webb and Hubble telescopes and art inspired by them. A must hear!
The Power of Youth in Art – Student Exhibition
Come celebrate the public art show opening of Our Sisters’ School student body.
- Student speakers at 5:15p.
- Art Activities for all.
- Light refreshments will be served.
Artwork will remain on display Feb 3 – Mar 28, Mon – Fri @9:00a – 2:00p
The Fun House by Brittany Grimes
The Fun House by Brittany Grimes, with uilnr, Christopher Rosonina and Brian Molina will be displayed in the Frederick Douglass Gallery, located in the Lower Level of Gallery X. This collective is comprised of New Bedford based artists. The Fun House is a visually stimulating experience including an array of pieces, varying from mixed media, sculptures, acrylic paintings, and printed photographs. There will be AHA! Night Exclusive party favors for those who attend on AHA! Night. Hope to see you there for a fun time!
Jewelry and Crust Punks Pop-Up!
Who doesn’t want a large stuffed cookie and some jewelry for Valentine’s Day?! TL6 is the perfect place for your Valentine’s Day shopping. Peruse work by “Tenacious Lilly Jeweler’s”, their in-house jewelry company that are the featured artists of the month. They will also have Crust Punks bakery selling their artisanal baked goods!
Your NB Story with Margo Connolly-Masson and Gary “G Pa Rhymes” Wakstein
Join us at The Drawing Room to tell YOUR NB story, with the help of two of our favorite local authors, Margo Connolly-Masson and Gary “G Pa Rhymes” Wakstein.
Margo and GPa Rhymes will be here from 5-7pm to share their books, including “And Then…Glen!” and “A New Day for Cray.”
They’ll help you tell your own story, using creative rhyming, writing, and drawing. This will be a fun evening for all ages.
The Drawing Room is open 10am – 8pm on AHA! nights.
“I am NB”: Storytelling Series Part 1
Join AHA! for a special night of local storytellers sharing lesser-known New Bedford stories! “I am NB” is a two-part storytelling series that aims to highlight important, unknown, or under-told stories from the city’s history. These stories will be shared through poetry, music, and good old-fashioned anecdotes and tales. From 5:00 – 5:30PM hear stories from the city’s youth, 5:30 – 6:30PM enjoy curated stories by Jeanne Costa, Maia Livramento, Jan Da Silva, and more! Playing jazz throughout the night is the outstanding Akoma Ensemble, directed by royal hartigan including a special performance with local Cape Verdean songwriter, Candida Rose. From 6:40 – 7:40PM step up to the mic and share your New Bedford story during open mic hour. Hosted by Jamilyn Soares. Also in the gallery, enjoy the art exhibit Social Justice, a show commemorating the ongoing fight for equality, human rights, and social justice for all beings.
Paint Your Own Wooden Heart Magnet and Picture Frame
Join Pilgrim United Church of Christ & Mercy Meals & More to paint wooden heart magnets and picture frames.
While you’re here, learn more about Booker T. Washington, who gave a speech in our building in 1895 and visit the mural installed on the side of the building in 2023.
5:30 PM
Artist-in-Residence, Danny Lulu

6:00 PM
ArtTALK: The Ever-Shifting Landscape
In conjunction with the Arctic Voices and Nebulae: The Universe Unveiled exhibitions, the Art Museum is pleased to host an insightful public lecture titled: 1839 to Now, Photography, Technology and the Fine Arts: The Ever-Shifting Landscape.
Using the photographs from William Bradford’s seminal 1869 monograph “The Arctic Regions” as a starting point, and bringing the discussion up to the present day with captures from the Hubble telescope, Philadelphia artist RA Friedman will discuss photography’s changing relationship between science and the humanities; its ability to document versus its aesthetic possibilities. The talk will examine how the evolution of technology has influenced both the products of visual art as well its creation. It will look at how shifts in culture and society have impacted how photography is perceived, guiding a dialogue on the future of the art form.
Scaling, Skinning, Cutting, and Packing: Stories from Women in Fish Processing
Join New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center on Thursday, February 13, at 6:00pm for a facilitated conversation featuring stories from retired fish house workers on the New Bedford waterfront. Did you or someone you know work in a fish house? We’d love to hear your story too!
While you’re here, check out our newest exhibit, Casting A Wider Net, showcasing stories of Cape Verdean, Vietnamese, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Guatemalan, and Salvadoran members of New Bedford’s working waterfront in their own words.
Closet Crush: A Galentine’s Clothing Swap
We invite you to celebrate sustainable style, community, and love this season. Bring your bestie, grab your favorite bevs (BYOB), and join us for a fun and meaningful Galentine’s event!
This gathering aims to create a unique, curated shopping experience while doing our part to reduce textile waste. Whether you’re a fashion-forward individual or a thrifting enthusiast, this clothing swap is an opportunity to find new looks and connect. Don’t miss out on this chance refresh your wardrobe with our community. We can’t wait to see you! Cummings Building, Studio 5 (Second Floor).
Price: Free for those who drop & swap | $5 AHA! drop ins who want to just shop
This isn’t your average clothing swap. We’ve curated a unique experience complete with:
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Self-guided tarot readings
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Snacks and music to set the vibe
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Large mirrors and a changing area
How To Drop to Swap:
Sign up: Reserve your spot by adding to your cart and completing the checkout process. Be sure to read our guidelines and more info on how this swap works. The deadline to drop off items is: Monday, February 10th! Once we receive your confirmation, Korie will reach out to you regarding where to drop your items.
Any questions, please feel free to reach out @o.p.p.clothingswap | o.p.p.clothingswap@gmail.com
The Extraordinary Power of Love
Presented by Serlingpa Kadampa Meditation Center
Level up your Valentine’s celebration this year by experiencing the power of true love. Love, according to the New Kadampa Tradition of Buddhism is defined as the sincere wish to give happiness to others. Donna Cordeiro, Resident Teacher at Serlingpa Meditation Center will give a brief talk about the nature of true love followed by a guided meditation. Recommended for Ages 15+. Admission is free as a part of AHA! Night.
6:30 PM
We Love Fiber, We Love Fabric
Join SoCo Surface Design to celebrate the woven and painting works by Polly Spenner, and her methods of translation between illustration, painting, and jacquard weaving. Enjoy an opportunity to learn more about fibers and fabrics and share how they define us and shape our lives. All ages encouraged. Registration not required. For more information: Special Events | South Coast Surface Design
Meet The Cast & Sneak Peek!
Meet the cast of “Wonder of the World”, the next anticipated show from Your Theatre. Then at 7:00PM, stay for the open rehearsal and get a sneak peek of the production! This comedic and surreal journey of self-discovery runs from February 28 – March 9.
7:00 PM
Anomaly Poetry Open Mic Night
Enjoy Anomaly Poetry at a beautiful new spot for the evening! The night will take place in the Parish House at the First Unitarian Church. They will be joined by poet Kathleen Latham celebrating her book, The Ones, followed by an open mic. Come check out a beautiful new spot, and let’s hear some good words! @lathamwithapen
NB Film Festival Official Selections Announcement
Storytelling in filmmaking is the art of conveying a narrative, emotions, and messages through the visual medium of film. What better way to celebrate storytelling during AHA! night than having The New Bedford Film Festival (NBFF) unveil the official selections for the 2025 festival. This exciting announcement will occur at the New Bedford Art Museum at 7:00PM. During this highly anticipated event, attendees will experience the exclusive screening of the official video announcing all selected films across various categories including Narrative Short, Narrative Feature, Documentary Short, TV Series, Animated Short, Music Video, Student Short, PSA, and South Coast Filmmakers. The New Bedford Film Festival will take place April 10 – 13th.
Jazz Jam!
The Z invites musicians and music lovers to grab your instruments for a jam session led by sax player and music educator Emmanuel “Manny” Escobar! Shed all your cares, enjoy live music, improv and jam out. Musicians, vocalists, visual artists, and audience welcome. No prior jam experience or tickets necessary.
7:30 PM
8:00 PM
DRAG-A-OKEE
Be sure to catch this fabulous drag show storytelling performance! The show is followed by karaoke featuring local queens Katy Soqueera and Ivy Pofin and hosted by DJ Fuzzy Slippaz and Analee. Check out the fun food and drink menu and maybe sing a song while you are there!
Neal McCarthy Trio
Enjoy electric blues and rock from the Neal McCarthy Trio from 8:00 – 11:30pm at the Pour Farm. Be sure to grab a pint and a bite while you are there!