Weekend Outlook: Lights, Babies, Assassins
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This could be a one-time event so don't miss it! On Saturday night, a switch will be flipped somewhere in North Adams and the Hoosic River will be bathed in light.
From just east of the Holden Street bridge west toward Porches inn and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, art installations based on lights will brighten up the three-block area. The brainchild of local gallery owner Ralph Brill, the Hoosic River Light Festival is bringing artists, architects, graduate students and volunteers together create what many hope will be an inaugural event establishing another community tradition.
The play of lights is designed to re-introduce the community to the river, which winds its way through the city encased in concrete to prevent the devastating floods of the past. The main event is called "River Revival," made up of wire mesh, cables and lights that span the river's 45 feet.
Holden Street, between River Street and St. Anthony Drive, will be closed to vehicle traffic on Saturday from approximately 6:30 to 11 p.m. Parking will be available in the St. Anthony's municipal parking lot as well as at other areas around the city.
The three-block show along River Street is meant to encourage pedestrians to walk along the river and enjoy the sights and the water. (A rain date is scheduled for Sunday, April 27, just in case.)
There will also be groups with display tables, food vendors and possibly music in the Holden Street parking lot nearby. Visitors with questions about the art will be able to find the artists and event managers by the glowing lapel pins they'll be wearing. Anyone with free time Sunday is invited to come back help take the installations down.
Buy the Book (or Two)
<L2>There's still time to browse the aisles at the annual Milne Public Library book sale. The popular sale began Friday but, based on experience, we're sure that they'll be plenty of tomes waiting booklovers on Saturday from 10 to 4 in the Williamstown Elementary School gym.
Thousands of volumes from poetry to science to history to best sellers are available for the buyers looking for a bargain. The sale also offers wide range of historical, art and vintage books in the silent bidding area.
Keeping It Green
Earth Day's over but the spirit lives on - the Berkshires at least.
On Saturday, Wild Oats Market in Williamstown will mark the day with an outdoor celebration featuring local farmers, organizations and businesses sharing their knowledge and products, and offering practical ways to respond to environmental problems at the local level.
The Center for Ecological Technology in Pittsfield is holding its 13th annual Earth Day Textile Drive on Saturday, and Sunday. The drive collects old clothing and household textiles for reuse and recycling and is held in partnership with Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires.
Materials will be accepted at the CET facility at 112 Elm St. on Saturday from 10 to 4 and Sunday from 10 to 1; or drop clothing in the metal bin at the back of the parking lot at the Berkshire South Regional Community Center at 15 Crissey Road in Great Barrington through Sunday.
Baby, Baby
The village museum is open 10 to 4 daily; adult admission is $15; ages 13-17, $5, and children 12 and under are free.
Still Playing Around
Mill City Productions opens in its new home in Building 4 at Western Gateway Heritage State Park in North Adams with a production of Stephen Sondheim's "Assassins" tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m., with matinees at 2 on Saturday and Sunday. Park in the lot near Northern Berkshire Television Corp. or in the Son's of Italy. Admission is $9 for adults and $7 for students and seniors.
Don't bring the kids; this musical brings a host of presidential assassins together for a morbid carnival game.<L4>
But you can bring the kids to the Berkshire Children's Theater performance of "Sleeping Beauty" at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield.
Performances are Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 2. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children ages 3-18 and include admission to the museum. Tickets are available by calling 413-443-7171, Ext. 10.
Make Me Art
<R5>The Williams College Museum of Art, in conjunction with its current exhibit of abstract paintings by artist Julie Mehretu, is holding a family day on Saturday from 2 to 4.
Children of all ages will be able to express themselves through art, music and dance. Plus, they'll be invited to find the hidden maps, secret codes, and rhythmic patterns in Mehretu's large-scale paintings.
Something to Learn About
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts invites the community to visit its North Adams campus on Saturday from 11 to 3 p.m. The free event will offer information about the college and its courses; health information from Reach Community Foundation and Berkshire Health Systems, a public safety program and voter registration.
For the kids, there'll be an obstacle course, bouncy-bounce, Sno-Cones and other activities.
Garden by Design
Garden designer Gordon Hayward will find inspiration in the works of artists at the Clark Art Institute with an illustrated lecture at the Clark on South Street in Williamstown on Sunday at 2 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public.
