Friday: First Fridays Artswalk!

You're invited to come out and explore Pittsfield's Upstreet Cultural District's shops, restaurants and galleries to check out artwork by dozens of talented local artists, including Jesse Tobin, pictured left! Click here for a map and the full list of exhibitors.

Friday, November 2 | 5pm-8pm | Upstreet Cultural District | 413-499-9348 | FREE

Friday: WeeRead Pajama Party at Berkshire Museum

Wear your favorite set of PJs and get cozy at the Berkshire Museum for a night of storytelling and reading. Each gallery will feature a different storyteller. Special guest readers include Senator Ben Downing, State Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and Berkshire Museum Executive Director Van Shields. Families will receive free copies of each book read, while supplies last. All ages are welcome, with their parents accompanying them.

Friday, November 2 | 6pm-9pm | Berkshire Museum | 39 South St. | 413-443-7171 | FREE

Friday: Free Eagles Band Concert @ The Colonial!

The Eagles Band Wind Symphony celebrates 76 years of performance in Berkshire County with a free concert. The concert will feature the Eagles' 50-piece Wind Symphony and 16-piece Big Band.  Members of the band range in age from 12 to 85, with skill levels of intermediate to expert. Tickets to this event are free, but must be reserved in advance; it's a sellout every year!

Friday, November 2 | 7pm | The Colonial Theatre | 111 South St. | 413-997-4444 | FREE 

Friday: Jungle Work at Flavours

Jungle Work will be rocking the house at Flavours of Malaysia. The blues & funk power five-some features an eclectic assortment of musical backgrounds covering the dirtiest blues and funk and writing powerful original blues work. For adults 21 and over.

Friday, November 2 | 10pm | Flavours of Malaysia | 75 North Street | 413-443-3188 | $5

Saturdays:  Insect Workshop for Kids!

This three-Saturday Dr. Augie's Science Workshop allows students to explore the world of bugs by observing, dissecting, drawing and discussing live insects with the tutelage of Lisa Provencher, a professional entomologist. With the help of microscopes, participants will learn how to use dichotomous keys to identify insects and their kin.  For ages 8 to 14 years old.  All supplies included.

Saturdays, November 3, 10 & 17 | 9am-1:30pm | Lichtenstein Center for the Arts | 28 Renne Avenue | 413-499-0692 | $100 

Saturday: A Night of Dancing at the Masonic Temple

Berkshire Ballroom Dancers/USA Dance host this night of dancing, featuring ballroom dancing and light refreshments. Music by DJs Esther & Irving Mindlin will kick off the dance party at 7:45pm. The Mindlins will also provide free, basic swing lessons prior to that at 7pm.

Saturday, November 3 | 7pm-11pm | Masonic Temple | 116 South Street | 413-684-1510 | general admission $5-$13, USA Dance members $9, students $5

Saturday: Irish Tenor Ronan Tynan at The Colonial

Irish audiences recognize him as a member of The Irish Tenors, while American audiences consider him most famous for his renditions of God Bless America at Yankee Stadium during important New York Yankees games. Ronan Tynan was a member of The Irish Tenors until he left to pursue his solo career in May 2004. In this same year, he sang New York, New York at Belmont Stakes and less than a week later he was at the Washington National Cathedral for former United States President Ronald Reagan's state funeral, where he sang Amazing Grace and Franz Schubert's Ave Maria.

Saturday, November 3 | 8pm | Colonial Theatre | 111 South Street | 413-997-4444 | $30-$55

Saturday: ZipStohr Comedy Show!

ZipStohr's popular Comedy at the Plaza series is back after a five month hiatus.  Starring stand up comedian, actor and writer Brian Scolaro (pictured left), Last Comic Standing semifinalist Nick Cobb, and actor/comedian Tim Homayoon.  Advanced tickets are available at RJ Stohr Diamonds & Fine Jewelry.  For adults 18 and older with proper ID.  No admittance after 8pm. 

Saturday, November 3 | 8pm | Crowne Plaza |  1 West Street | 413-822-2247 | $25

Saturday & Monday: Wuthering Heights at the Little Cinema

A fresh and radically distinct take on Emily Brontё's classic novel from British director Andrea Arnold, one of contemporary cinema's most unique voices. In this adaptation, Arnold forgoes period frills and a sweeping score and strips Brontё's story to the root of youthful passion, restoring its stark power for a contemporary audience. The LA Times says, "Andrea Arnold brings earthy realism, and a racial element, to Heathcliff and Cathy's tale with Solomon Glave and Shannon Beer making impressive debuts as the young pair.”

Saturday & Monday, November 3 & 5 | Sat 4:30pm & 7pm; Mon 1:30pm & 7pm | Little Cinema | Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 | $5

Sunday & Monday: Crispina Potholder Rug Weaving Workshop

Learn how to weave Crispina Ffrench's thick and deliciously soft potholder rugs from recycled wool sweaters or tshirts. Crispina's unique clothing and home goods fashioned out of beautifully recycled materials are collected and sold internationally and have been featured in the New York Times, Cottage Living, the Los Angeles Times, New York magazine, Country Home and elsewhere. The use of all tools, materials, and lunch is included. No experience necessary! Pre-registration required as class size is limited.

Sunday &/or Monday, November 4 &/or 5 | 10am-5pm | Shire City Sanctuary | 40 Melville Street | 413-236-9600 | $160 per day

Sunday:  Shadows in Paradise: Hitler's Exiles in Hollywood

The documentary Shadows in Paradise presents the story of the exiled German and Austrian composers and writers who fled Hitler and ended up in Hollywood, California. Director Peter Rosen will lead a post-screening Q&A. Presented in partnership with Close Encounters with Music.

Sunday, November 4 | 2pm | Little Cinema | Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 x 10 | $15

Sunday & Tuesday: Swan Lake at Little Cinema

The battle between white and black swan unfolds in Swan Lake, surely the greatest of all Romantic ballets. Tchaikovsky's haunting music heightens the steps of prima ballerina Zenaida Yanowsky in this definitive production from the Royal Ballet on the big screen, with choreography by Marius Petipa and production by Anthony Dowell.

Sunday & Tuesday, November 4 & 6 | 7pm | Little Cinema | Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 x 10 | $14/members $12.50 

Tuesday:  It's Election Day!

"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do that is by not voting.”  —Franklin D. Roosevelt.  Tuesday is Election Day!  Your vote counts so get out and do it.  Click here for Pittsfield polling locations. It's part of our American culture.

Tuesday, November 6 | 7am-8pm | Pittsfield Polling Locations | 413-499-9460

Tuesday & Wednesday+: NaNoWriMo!

November is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo all over the country. Last year over 250,000 people particpated! In Berkshire County kick off the month at a NaNoWriMo Edition of the Writers Room at YBar,  followed by a series of write-ins at the Berkshire Athenaeum.  More than 90 novels begun during NaNoWriMo have since been published, including Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, and Cinder by Marissa Meyer, all #1 New York Times best sellers.

Tuesday & Wednesday, November 6 & 7 | Tues 8pm Wed 1pm-7pm | Y Bar & Berkshire Athenaeum | 391 North Street & One Wendell Avenue | www.nanowrimo.org | NO COVER

Thursday+:  Henry IV at Taconic High School

Taconic Theatre presents Henry IV, Part 1 as part of the Fall Festival of Shakespeare.  Henry IV, Part I depicts a span of history that begins with Harry "Hotspur" Percy's battle at Homildon against the Scots late in 1402 and ends with the defeat of the rebels at Shrewsbury in the middle of 1403.

Thursday & Friday, November 8 & 9 | 7pm | Taconic Theatre | 96 Valentine Road | 413-448-9634 | $7