Cultural Pittsfield This Week: Jan. 25-31

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Searching for Sugarman  

Friday-Monday:  Searching for Sugarman at the Little Cinema

"Do NOT miss it. Astonishing.” says Roger Ebert about Searching for Sugar Man! In the late 1960s, two celebrated producers discovered a musician known as Rodriguez in a Detroit bar and recorded an album with him. The album bombed, but a bootleg recording found its way into apartheid South Africa and, over the next two decades, it became a phenomenon. Two South African fans then set out to find out what really happened to their hero.  Searching for Sugar Man is a film about hope, inspiration, and the resonating power of music.

Friday-Monday, January 25-28 | Fri-Mon 7pm Mon 1:30pm | Little Cinema at the Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 | $5


Clover Nautilus  

Friday:  Clover and Nautilus at Chameleon's Nightclub

This night features a wide range of metal and hardcore live music.  Clover and Nautilus headline the show as part of their 2013 Winter Tour with special guests Stairwell Sea, Amerikan Citizens, and Declarations.

Friday, January 25 | 7pm | Chameleon's Nightclub | 1350 East Street | 413-499-2582 | $7


Gospel according to Scrooge  

Friday-Sunday:  The Gospel According to Scrooge at New Life Church

Take a journey with Ebenezer Scrooge as he discovers the true meaning of Christmas in the New Life Community Fellowship Church and Berkshire Christian School's production of The Gospel According to Scrooge.
The public is invited to this all-ages show with traditional music and unexpected humor.

Friday-Sunday, January 25-27 | Fri & Sat 7pm Sun 2pm | New Life Community Fellowship Church | 172 Hubbard Avenue | 413-637-2474 | FRE


Winter Snow Fest  

Saturday:  Winter Snow Fest at Berkshire Athenaeum

Join WEE Read and the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum for a A Winter Snow Fest.  Hear winter themed stories, a winter inspired craft, and a video showing of Jan Brett's The Mitten. Snacks included also.  No registration needed. Especially for preschooler and toddlers. 

Saturday, January 26 | 10:30am | Berkshire Athenaeum | One Wendell Avenue | 413-499-9480 | FREE


Kitchen KaBoom  

Saturday:  Kitchen Ka-Boom at Berkshire Museum

Join Berkshire Museum's mad scientists and perform thrilling – and fun – science experiments! All experiments are kid-safe and can be recreated using items found in almost any kitchen. Adult must accompany child.

Saturday, January 26 | 11am | Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 | FREE with Museum admission


Amphibians and Reptiles  

Saturday:  Secret Lives of Frogs and Salamanders at the Berkshire Athenaeum

Tom Tyning, BCC professor, reveals the Secret Lives of Frogs and Salamanders at the Berkshire Athenaeum. This free afternoon of family fun is sponsored by the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum.

Saturday, January 26 | 2pm | Berkshire Athenaeum | One Wendell Avenue | 413-499-9480 | FREE


Rotary Auction  

Saturday:  Rotary Auction at the Crowne Plaza

It's one of the largest auctions of the year! This year's theme is Super Bowl so wear your favorite sports gear.  Here are some of the auction items:  a cottage in Dennisport for a week, a stay at the Marriott International anyplace in the US including Hawaii for a week, a vacation in Washington DC, Sno Cone Machine rental, a gift certificate to Charland Jewelers, one year of hair cuts at Elm Street Barber, tickets to the Beacon Cinema, and much more.  All proceeds benefit the Rotary Club of Pittsfield.  Ticket price includes light fare and cash bar.  All funds raised go directly to local programs supported by the Rotary Club.

Saturday, January 26 | 5pm | Crowne Plaza Hotel | 1 West Street | 413-358-4777 | $10


Pizza Party  

Saturday:  Pittsfield Pizza Playoff!

Local Boy Scout Troop 8 has planned its first Pittsfield Pizza Playoff fundraiser.  The general public will vote on the best pizza during this all-you-can-eat event. Participating restaurants include Baba Louie's, Liberty, Manny's, Papa Gino's, Papa Joe's, East Side, Hot Tomatoes, Tyler Street Pizza House, Vivaldi's, Teddy's, and Zucco's.  Plus music by local disc jockey Larry Kratka!

Saturday, January 26 | 5pm-8pm | St. Charles Church | 89 Briggs Avenue | 413-242-8681 | $6 adults $4 children FREE children under 3


 

Saturday: Domino Theory at Underground Pub & Misty Blues at Spice Dragon

Get off your couch and enjoy some live local music this weekend! At the Underground Pub, Domino Theory   fuses influences from rock, funk, blues and reggae for  a genre-bending original sound, while Misty Blues  gives you full throttle blues led by singer Gina Coleman!

Domino Theory: Saturday, January 26 | 9pm | Underground Pub | 1 West Street | 413-553-2257 | $5

Misty Blues: Saturday, January 26 | 9pm | Spice Dragon | 297 North Street | 413-443-1234 | No cover


James Montgomery  

Saturday:  The Blues Show at The Colonial

The Blues Show features The James Montgomery Blues Band, Popa Chubby and The Arthur Holmes Blues Band.  Montgomery has toured and recorded with the biggest names in music, including Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith (pictured left), B.B. King, Mick Jagger and more. New York City bluesman Popa Chubby is at the forefront of modern blues.  The Berkshire based Arthur Holmes Blues Band will open the show.

Saturday, January 26 | 7:30pm | The Colonial Theatre | 111 South Street | 413-997-4444 | $34.50-$44.50


Casey's Unplugged  

Saturday:  Casey's Unplugged at Casey's

Divinitress and Girl on Girl are coming together for a great night of music. They will rock you, and seduce you with the sweet and powerful music they play. You get free pool all night long with the cover.  For adults 21 and over. 

Saturday, January 26 | 9:30pm | Casey's Billards | 501 Dalton Avenue | 413-997-2255 | $5


Easy Bridge  

Sunday:  Easy Bridge at Pembury Bridge Club

Looking for a new hobby to keep your mind limbger and have fun at the same time? Learn to play bridge, without the lecture. If you are unsure, just show up for some free food and refreshments. Newbies welcome!

Sunday, January 27 | 3pm | Pembury Bridge Club | 110 South Street | 413-446-0265| FREE


 
WXW WinterInvitational  

Tuesday:  WordXWord Winter Invitational Slam at y Bar

WordXWord's  winter invitational poetry slam – slam with a twist – the spoken word equivalent of an obstacle course. With prizes at stake, competing wordsmiths from the Berkshires and New York City will face a different challenge revealed just prior to each round.  The WXW Winter Invitational Slam will be hosted by Berkshire-based poet, mentor and teacher Melissa Quirk.

Tuesday, January 29 | 8pm | Y Bar | 391 North Street | No Phone | No cover


Duffy & Erin  

Thursday:  Thursday Live featuring Duffy & Erin at Marketplace Cafe

Duffy and Erin are an acoustic duo with their own unique rhythm. Michael Duffy plays guitar, and the two harmonize to hits ranging from Journey and the Eagles to Adele and Jason Mraz.

Thursday, January 31 | 6:30pm–8:30pm | The Marketplace Cafe | 53 North St. | 413-358-4777 | No cover


Kevin O'Hara  

Thursday:  Reading and Book Signing With Kevin O'Hara At Barrington Stage

You're invited to a free eading and book signing with noted local author and storyteller Kevin O'Hara, hosted by the Pittsfield Cultural Council.  The event will include readings from Last of the Donkey Pilgrims, A Lucky Irish Lad and a special preview of Memoirs of a Bearded Nurse, scheduled for publication next year.

Thursday, January 31 | 7pm | Barrington Stage Company | Mr. Finn's Cabaret | 36 Linden Street | 413-464-9761 | FREE


 

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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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