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“I’ve always been fascinated by medicinal plants,” says Nikki Johnson, owner of The Botanical Drinkable. A bartender – among her many other skills – Johnson was drawn to learn about medicinal plants and incorporate them into drinks, whether cocktails or mocktails. “I had no idea the door I was opening,” she says.
Johnson planning two pop-up events: a “Spring Mixers Market” at The Tasty, 42 Court St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 6, and “Bites & Botanicals” from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Edge Pizza, 65 Main St., on Monday, April 7. Along with Johnson’s herbaceous drinks to sample and buy, there will be light snacks at The Tasty – where Johnson also works – and pizza and tapas at The Edge created by Chef Mike Wisdom of “Cook with Wisdom” and several local restaurant kitchens.
For Johnson, the idea of creating boldly colored elixirs and blends of uncommon teas, flowers, handcrafted syrups, and fresh juices, was a response to a move away from the sugary mixers and artificial ingredients long used in many drinks.
But there’s more to it than that. When she’s catering an event, Johnson says, she considers the properties and symbolism of her ingredients and how they mesh with the festivities.
A tarot card reader – remember, we said she has many skills – Johnson may use a deck of herbal-themed tarot cards to find inspiration. But sometimes the choices are intuitive.
“It sounds very witchy,” she says. Indeed, she has created blends for a coven of witches in Salem. They were going to the Hawthorn House, so Johnson infused hawthorn berry and mugwort into the drink, dubbing it “Midnight Divination.”
For a real estate group, Johnson created a blend called “Local 2 Legend” with pineapple (a symbol of welcoming), sage (used to purify homes) and vanilla and butterfly peaflower (which turned it deep royal blue). Her Valentine’s Day blend, “Devotion Potion,” consists of cinnamon, rose, cherry juice, and hibiscus, and mixes well with spirits.
“Once I create a signature blend, I add it to my catalog,” she says. It’s a process of balancing and layering acids with sugars, and with an “endless amount of different herbs.” (She also presents workshops on making mocktails.)
Johnson said she must “experiment – more of this, less of that,” to keep coming up with creative concoctions. Having knowledge of herbs helps. For instance, she knows that cinchona bark is used to make tonic and can relax muscles, and that an evergreen herb called rue can help with tinnitus.
Her blends can be enjoyed with or without spirits, which makes The Botanical Drinkable especially appealing to the growing number of people seeking to moderate their alcohol their intake or cut it out altogether (Her business timing was perfect).
On top of catering and mocktail workshops, Johnson is aiming to start manufacturing her signature drinkables in cans or bottles. A tarot reading would surely show that her future is bright.
Monday, March 31
The feel-good movie “Eephus” is showing at Plimoth Cinema at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave., through Thursday, April 4. It’s kind of about baseball, but more about life transitions and is the rare film that got a 100 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Also playing through Thursday is “Penguin Lessons,” starring Steve Coogan. It’s based on a true story about a disillusioned Englishman teaching in Argentina who rescues a penguin from an oil slick. 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.
Sustainable Plymouth welcomes the public to its general meeting to get an environmental legislative update. The session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at 158 Center Hill Road. (There is also a Zoom option.) Linda Lancaster, of Citizens Climate Lobby, state Senator Dylan Fernandez, and Representative Michelle Badger will be there. Plymouth’s Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs will provide information about the status of federal funding for town projects. For more information, email sustainableplymouth@gmail.com.
Wednesday, April 2
The Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., will present “Plymouth’s 1749 Courthouse: Revolution in the Court,” the first of a five-part series on “Plymouth in the Revolution.” The presentation will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Fehlow Meeting Room, with speaker Stephen O’Neill, director of the Hanover Historical Society and the Dyer Memorial Library. Learn how Plymoutheans participated in the beginnings of the Revolutionary War 250 years ago.
Thursday, April 3
Joe Cirotti Trio, a multi-instrumentalist string band, will perform at the Spire at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. The band, from “the shadows of Northwest Jersey’s Appalachian ridge” shares a passion for the roots of American folk, jazz, country, and bluegrass. The line-up consists of Joe Cirotti, guitar, Pete Lister, upright bass, and Timmy Coyle, mandolin and guitar. Tickets are $15 and you can buy them here.
Friday, April 4
“The Friend” starring Naomi Watts and Bill Murray, will begin showing at Plimoth Cinema at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, 137 Warren Ave. Watts plays a writer and teacher whose close friend and mentor (Murray) dies, leaving her with his Great Dane to care for, and upsetting her comfortable life in New York. The film screens at 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.
Comedian Karen Morgan will perform her standup at the Spire at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Morgan hails from Georgia but relocated to Maine, where she claims to be cold most of the year. She has two Dry Bar comedy specials: “Rub Some Dirt On It” (2023) and “Go Dawgs!” (2020). Kathy Gilmour, known for a dry, “awkward” take on everyday situations, will also perform. Tickets are $22.50 and $25, and are available here.
Saturday, April 5
Enjoy a day of creativity and community, as Inebri-Art, in partnership with Plymouth Pride, hosts its Fifth Annual Arts & Crafts on the Green at Plymouth Town Hall Green, 26 Court St., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. According to Andy Driscoll of Inebri-Art, there will be multiple artists and artisans, with everything from original paintings to upcycled creations. There will also be music at this year’s free event. Interested artists and musicians can email Driscoll for details at inebriart@yahoo.com.
Stephen O’Neill, executive director of the Hanover Historical Society, will lead a free Burial Hill tour from 1 to 2 p.m. titled “A Revolutionary Generation.” The Plymouth Antiquarian Society and the Pilgrim Hall Museum sponsor the monthly tours. This year, the focus is on “Revolutionary Connections” and Plymouth’s role in America’s fight for independence. Participants meet at the top of the hill at 1 p.m. Be prepared: The walk may include steep and grassy slopes.
Lyn Dillies, a “master illusionist,” will bring the world of magic to the Spire at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Dillies earned the title of “America’s Premier Female Illusionist” from the Society of American Magicians. From her performances at New York City’s Lincoln Center to Hollywood’s Magic Castle, she has received rave reviews. Tickets are $31.50 and $35, and you can buy them here.
Sunday, April 6
The Pilgrim Festival Chorus, a regional community choral ensemble, will present its 25th anniversary spring concert, “Old and New,” at 4 p.m. at St. Bonaventure Parish, 803 State Road. Artistic directors William B. Richter and Elizabeth Chapman Reilly lead the chorus, and the concert features soloists Allyson Lynch, David Lynch, Susannah Thornton, and David Tyler, along with a 19-piece orchestra. Tickets for the concert are $25 for adults, $20 for senior citizens, and $15 for students over 14. Card to Culture attendees and children ages 14 and younger are free. Tickets are available here, from chorus members, and at the door.
Nikki Johnson, owner of The Botanical Drinkable, will host a “Spring Mixers Market” at The Tasty, 42 Court St., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. See the lead item in this column for more information.
Monday, April 7
The Botanical Drinkable owner Nikki Johnson will host “Bites & Botanicals” from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Edge Pizza, 65 Main St. The lead item in this column has more details.
Wednesday, April 9
The Plymouth Garden Club will present an introduction to mushrooms – “From Fungi to Foraging” – by speaker Jana Harris at 1 p.m. at the Chiltonville Congregational Church, 6 River St. Harris is a member of the Boston Mycological Club, the Rhode Island Mycological Society, and Fungal Diversity Survey, which support and promote awareness and knowledge of mycology in Massachusetts. Harris is also certified in Wild Mushroom Food Safety, and will cover the history of fungi on earth, edible and non-edible mushrooms, and other fungal topics. There will be a traditional afternoon tea, and guests are welcome to attend for a fee of $5. Membership inquiries are always welcome.
The Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., will offer Glass Etching for Teens and Tweens, from 6 to 7 p.m., in the Craft Room. Participants ages 12 to 18 make their own designs with stencils on glass jars for a permanent effect. Space is limited, so register here.
Thursday, April 10
Register today for spring art classes at Plymouth Center for the Arts, 11 North St. New classes start on Monday, April 14. Check out the different classes available on the website. Center members will have a new discount code emailed to them to use when registering. You can choose a class and register here.
Local author Stephen White will give a talk on “What You Need to Know About Writing Your First Novel” from 6 to 7:30 p.m.at Book Love, 7 Village Green South in the Pinehills. The event will be seminar-style, and White will touch on topics like building characters, writing what you know (more or less), and traditional or self-publishing. Registration is $6, and you can register here.
Renowned country singer LeAnn Rimes will perform at Memorial Hall at 8 p.m. Her 2022 album, “god’s work,” was listed as number 9 on Variety’s “Best Albums of 2022.” Rimes, who started her career at a young age, has won multiple awards, including two Grammys. Her ballad, “How Do I Live,” is number 6 on Billboard’s “Greatest of All Time: Hot 100 Songs” list. Tickets are $45, $55, $75, $95, and $115, and you can get them here.
Friday, April 11
The Johnny A. Trio will perform at the Spire 8 p.m., and doors open at 7 p.m. Johnny A.’s guitar virtuosity is “legendary,” and he toured extensively including at major festivals such as Fuji Rock and Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival. Johnny’s roots are in the sounds of the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and iconic Yardbirds guitarists. A Grammy-nominated artist and Boston Music Hall of Fame inductee, he will perform with Dean Cassell on bass and Marty Richards on drums. Tickets are $31.50 and $35, and you can get them here.