Cultural Pittsfield: Third Thursday For May 17

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YES!! 3rd.Thursdays is back!

The largest party in Pittsfield is here, bringing music, food, and fun to the streets of Pittsfield this Thursday, May 17, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and beyond! And YES, it's going to be SUNNY!

Thursday, May 17 | 5-8 p.m. & beyond | Downtown Pittsfield | 499-9348 | FREE

Click here to download the map & schedule of events!


 

We're Celebrating Youth This Month!

This month enjoy dozens of incredible young performers on FOUR stages downtown. Pittsfield's own Youth Alive (pictured left), Pittsfield High School drama students, YMCA breakdancers, Focus is Our Children, the CYC cheerleaders & MANY more! Plus Berkshire Rocks hosts their own stage with terrific young musicians next to Hot Harry's, and the Rock On Band Camp celebrates 10 years with performances by teachers & students in front of Spice Dragon.

Find out who's playing where by printing out the map and schedule of performances for the May 17 3rd.Thursdays!

 


 

WTBR-FM broadcasting LIVE!

We're thrilled to have the terrific student (and adult volunteer) crew from WTBR-FM, housed at Taconic High School, broadcasting LIVE from 3rd.Thursdays, next to the Beacon Cinema. Stop by and say hello to the DJs and to Mike Pezzo, Pittsfield's unofficial rock'n'roll ambassador!

Check out Pittsfield's nonprofit radio station here!


 

Minds Matter Walk with NAMI

The Berkshire County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness(NAMI) invites you to show your support for healthy minds by joining their annual fundraising walk. This year, for the first time, it takes place at 3rd.Thursdays. You can sign up at the corner of North and East Streets. Come hear honorary chair State Representative Paul Marks kick it off at 5:45 p.m.  The walk begins at 6 p.m.

Click here to find out more about the NAMI Minds Matter Walk.


 

Great art all over town!

Don't miss the opening reception of the annual Art in Our Schools art show (pictured left) at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, featuring art by Pittsfield public middle and high school students. Local artist Michael Bushy leads a free linoleum printmaking workshop at Gallery 25, where a solo show of his work is on display.

And if you missed this month's First Fridays ArtsWalk, you have another chance to enjoy art all over upstreet, including Mad Macs, the BCC Intermodal Gallery, Paul Rich & Sons, and more, and visit the studios of local artists & the Art.On.No gallery on the second floor at 311 North Street. 


 

Carnival Time at Carr Hardware!

Carr Hardware host their third annual Night at the Carnival in their parking lot from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. during 3rd.Thursdays, featuring a bounce house, photo booth, laser tag, putt putt golf, party games and more. And everything is available for rental for your own party or event! Fun for the whole family. Tickets are free, but limited, so pick yours up beforehand at Carr Hardware!


 

More Family Fun!

The Berkshire Museum will be open late until 8 p.m. with free admission for Berkshire County residents during 3rd.Thursdays. Enjoy their beautiful exhibit on bids, Taking Flight, as well as the aquarium, Hall of Innovation, and some dreamy art installations. And stop by the Pittsfield Family YMCA for their Childcare Open House, tours & raffle, plus information on summer camps and the upcoming WING FLING!


 

Shop Local in Upstreet Pittsfield!

Upstreet's unique locally-owned businesses will be open late for your browsing pleasure, including marvelous local toy and games store, Persnickety Toys, Pateez Boutique, Bisque, Beads & Beyond, New Berry PlaceRJ Stohr's Diamonds and Fine JewelryMAD MACS Inc, Paul Rich & Sons, Pittsfield Bra & Girl and more!


 

Delicious Food From Everywhere!

Enjoy great food from around the world at 3rd.Thursdays: Vietnamese springrolls & sushi at Spice Dragon, Spanish wine and tapas at Mission Bar, Italian specialties at the Highland restaurant, plus more at Pancho's Mexican restaurant, Mad Jack's BBQ (at left, soon to open on North Street!)  Baba Louie's Woodfired Pizza, Bagels Too, Crowne Plaza, Flavours of Malaysia, Hot Harry's, the Lantern Bar & Grill, Marketplace Café, Mary's Carrot Cake Café, and Juice'n'Java on South Street.  Plus enjoy a wide range of street vendors!


 

The Fun Continues After 8 p.m.!

Downtown Pittsfield will continue to be alive with entertainment and fun throughout the evening. Gina Coleman and Misty Blues will be playing the Dragon Lounge from 8:30 p.m. onward. The Celtic folk band Rakish Paddy continues its tradition of playing every 3rd.Thursdays at Patrick's Pub on Park Square, the jam band Billy Keane & the Misdemeanor Outlaws at Mission Bar & Tapas, and Melissa Brinton will be playing solo acoustic guitar and singing at Flavours.  Or catch a movie at the Beacon Cinema!

Click here for your free printable map and guide to the May 17th 3rd.Thursdays!

3rd.Thursdays is organized by the City of Pittsfield's Office of Cultural Development, and is made possible by our major sponsors, including the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Berkshire Gas, Berkshire Life, and Greylock Federal Credit Union plus dozens of downtown partners! See you upstreet!


For more information about 3rd.Thursdays, please call 413.499.9348 or visit www.discoverpittsfield.com. 3rd.Thursdays is held rain or shine. Plenty of free parking is available. And mark your calendars for next month's 3rd.Thursdays on June 21, with a "Country in the City" theme. Yee haw!

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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