Friday:  Welcome Reception at City Hall

Pittsfield welcomes three visitors from Pittsfield's sister city, Ballina in County Mayo, Ireland at a public reception hosted by Mayor Dan Bianchi, the City Council, the Pittsfield-Ballina Irish Sister City Committee and the Sister City Commission in the Council Chambers.  All are invited to greet our guests who include BAllina Councilors and Past Mayors Mary Kelly and Peter Clarke and Town Engineer Orla Bourke.

Friday, March 15 | 12:30pm | City Hall | 70 Allen Street | 413-442-8924 | FREE

Friday & Saturday:  Last Weekend of An Evening with Evaline Kimball at Arrowhead

The Berkshire Historical Society at Arrowhead, as part of its exhibit The Kimball-Salisbury Women: Chicago to Tor Court, 1890-1930 will be hosting a series of candlelight performances Evaline Speaks: An Evening with Evaline Kimball, performed by WindRose Morris. Guests will be guided by "Evaline Kimball” herself, giving a unique perspective on the history of the gowns and the women who wore them with a reception to follow.

Friday & Saturday, March 15 & 16 | 7pm | Arrowhead | 780 Holmes Road | 413-442-1793 | $20

Friday & Saturday: SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody at The Colonial

Don't miss the last two shows of SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody, the hilarious unauthorized musical satire that brings the naughty fun of the saucy best-selling book to life in one laugh-filled high-energy show at The Colonial Theatre.  Enjoy a Spanktini at intermission and after the show, stay for a photo with the handsome devil himself. SPANK! promises a fun night out for adventurous adults with an appreciation for farce at its best. Mature audiences only!

Friday & Saturday, March 15 & 16 | 8pm | The Colonial Theatre | 111 South Street | 413-997-4444 | $24.50-$47.50

Friday: 1st Annual Berkshire Awards Gala

The Berkshire Museum presents the first ever Berkshire Awards to three honorees who have made significant contributions to creating, keeping, and promoting artistic, historical, and natural heritage in the Berkshires. The inaugural honorees are the Crane Family, Berkshire County philanthropists and founders of the Berkshire Museum; former Berkshire Museum natural science curator Thom Smith; and Sandra Newman, founder of Community Access to the Arts (CATA). The gala event includes a reception, awards ceremony, dinner, and music.

Friday, March 15 | 5:30pm | Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 x 37 | $75

Friday & Saturday: Live Music at Flavours

 The Big Rooster and Zeller Brown, a guitar and drums duo from Northampton rock out on Friday night. And the rockin' blues trio T-Bone Daddy (pictured left) take the stage on Saturday night.  21+.

Friday & Saturday, March 15 & 16 | 9:30pm | Flavours of Malaysia | 75 North Street | 413-443-3188 | $5

Saturday:  Flowerpot Making Workshop

Alchemy Initiative presents a do-it-yourself, hands-on collaged and painted flowerpot-making workshop with artist Diane Firtell. Attendees will learn the process of transferring images to these pots, for both decorative and functional use. Participants will leave with their own 6-inch collaged and painted flowerpot! No experience required, but attendees must pre-register due to limited space. Email Alchemy.Initiative@gmail.com to register.

Saturday, March 16 | 10am-1pm | NUarts Studios & Gallery | 311 North Street | $60

Saturday:  Beach Party at the Berkshire Athenaeum

Tired of being bundled up in all those bulky winter clothes? Bring your beach towel and sunglasses to the Berkshire Athenaeum for a summer inspired event including a summer video, story, craft activity, and snack! Toddler and Preschool. No registration required. Sponsored by WEE Read and the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum.

Saturday, March 16 | 10:30am | Berkshire Athenaeum | 1 Wendell Avenue | 413-499-9480 x 5 | FREE

Saturday: St. Patrick's Festivities at Bousquet

Come to Bousquet for the St. Paddy's Day slush run and fireworks spectacular. It starts with an 11am Cardboard Box Race and ends with 8pm fireworks, with face painting and kids activities all day long.  Click here for a full list of activities.  

Saturday, March 16 | 11am | Bousquet |  101 Dan Fox Drive | 413-442-8316 | NO COVER

Saturday: The Met Live in HD at the Beacon Cinema

Francesca da Rimini is Zandonai's compelling opera, inspired by an episode from Dante's Inferno.  It returns in the Met's ravishingly beautiful production, last seen in 1986. Dramatic soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek and tenor Marcello Giordani are the doomed lovers. Marco Armiliato conducts.

Saturday, March 16 | 12pm | Beacon Cinema | 57 North Street | 413-358-4780 | $25

Saturday:  St. Patrick's Day Party at the Polish Falcons' Nest

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the Arthur Holmes Blues Band.  Come early for dinner or later for the live music.  Proceeds to benefit the Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter.

Saturday, March 16 | 4:30pm Dinner 7pm Entertainment | Polish Falcons Club | 32 Bel Air Avenue| 413-446-3390 | $15 dinner/$5 music only

Saturday:  Movie Memories at BCC

Berkshire Olde Tyme Review presents Movie Memories The Best Years of Our Lives.  Revisit songs from your favorite movies from Shrek to Singing in the Rain with Gene Kelly.  All proceeds benefit the Down Syndrome Family Group of Berkshire County ARC.  Tickets available through Wood Brothers Music, Alliance Appliance, DSFG, and Berkshire Olde Tyme Review Members.

Saturday, March 16 | 6pm | Berkshire Community College | 1350 West Street | 413-443-1890 | $15 adult $10 children FREE 3 and under

Saturday:  Granny's Funeral at Little Cinema                                

The Rendezvous with French Cinema showcase presents Granny's Funeral. Although he made no effort to see his grandmother in her waning years, pharmacist Armand must now deal with her funeral arrangements. This is awkward enough, but nothing like his emotional swings between a wife he can't quite part from and a lover he can't quite commit to.  Click here for a full list of films being shown during Rendezvous with French Cinema.

Saturday, March 16 | 7pm | Little Cinema | Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 | $5

Saturday:  CD Release Party at Chameleons

Gunther Weezul is celebrating the re-release of their new album, "Join Us."  Freya, Bloodwar, Still I Burn and Medicine Man will also be a part of the show.

Saturday, March 16 | 7:30pm | Chameleons | 1350 East Street | 413-499-2582 | $8 in advance $10 at the door

Saturday:  Whiskey City at the Crowne

Berkshire County's favorite country rock band Whiskey City is taking over the ballroom at the Crowne Plaza with plenty of room for dancing.  They'll be playing new tunes, covers and originals. 

Saturday, March 16 | 9:30pm | Crowne Plaza | 1 West Street | 413-499-2000 | $5

Sunday:  St. Patrick's Day at Patrick's Pub

Erin Go Bragh! Patrick's Pub will open at noon for all day St. Patrick's Day specials including corned beef & cabbage, Irish stew, chicken & dumplings and bangers & mash.  Also, starting at 6 pm, The JP Murphy Band will be playing some fun Irish music.  St. Patrick's Day specials all day and night and giveaways too! 

Sunday, March 17 | 12pm | Patrick's Pub |  26 Bank Row | 413-499-1994 | NO COVER

Sunday:  Free Jazz Jam at the Lichtenstein

Every month on the third Sunday, you're invited to join the monthly free jazz jam at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts in Pittsfield's Upstreet Cultural District. Sit back and enjoy an afternoon full of great music or bring your instrument and join in!

Sunday, March 17th | 3pm-5pm | Lichtenstein Center for the Arts | 28 Renne Avenue | 413-499-9348 | FREE

Sunday & Monday: Augustine at the Little Cinema

The Rendezvous with French Cinema showcase presents Augustine. Based on a true story, a maid who suffers from seizures is sent to a mental hospital, where she appears to be condemned for life until Professor Charcot finds in her the possibilities of testing his advanced notions of the sources of so-called "hysteria.” Click here for a full list of films being shown during Rendezvous with French Cinema.

Sunday & Monday, March 17 & 18 | 7pm | Little Cinema | Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 | $5

Sunday:  St. Patty's Day Live Music at Mission

Spend St. Patty's Day at Mission with Benny Fingers & The Berkshire Mountain Rambler a/k/a Lilipads & Rainbows! It's sure to be a hoot.  There will be plenty of Irish beer on tap for the occasion. Slainte!

Sunday, March 17 | 7pm | Mission Bar + Tapas | 438 North Street | No phone | NO COVER

Monday: Therese Desqueroux at Little Cinema

The Rendezvous with French Cinema showcase presents Therese Desqueroux.  The late Miller's final film elegantly adapts François Mauriac's modern classic of a woman's growing resistance to her suffocating marriage, and showcases a remarkable Audrey Tautou as the disturbed titular heroine.  Click here for a full list of films being shown during Rendez-vous with French Cinema.

Monday, March 18 | 1:30pm | Little Cinema | Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 | $5

Tuesday: The Overlooked Suspect at Berkshire Athenaeum

William C. Dear, internationally renowned private investigator released this documentary with the intention to build public awareness and ultimately justice through the creation of a Grand Jury in the State of California and the indictment of the "overlooked suspect” for the killings of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. Within days of the killings Dear spearheaded an investigation into the murders, assembling and collaborating with a team of experts known throughout the world.  This film is part of Cinema of Law, Season 7 at the Athenaeum. 

Tuesday, March 19 | 6pm | Berkshire Athenaeum | 1 Wendell Avenue | 413-499-9480 | FREE

Tuesday:  Wahconah Regional High School Jazz Band at Marketplace

Jazz up your Tuesday at the Marketplace Café with free, fantastic, live music. Five Spot, Wahconah Regional High School's jazz band will be performing during the dinner hour.  And don't forget it is also $5 Tuesdays: purchase a $5 movie ticket from the Beacon Cinema and enjoy a $5 dinner special!

Tuesday, March 19 | 6pm | The Marketplace Cafe | 53 North Street | 413-358-4777 | NO COVER

Thursday:  Luminate at the Lichtenstein

Luminate: Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum through Art is an IS183 Art School program giving students from Taconic and Pittsfield High Schools the opportunity to work closely with three professional artists in a variety of media. Students investigated the concepts of lightness and darkness using photography, sculpture, animation, and 2D techniques. This exhibition is the culminating installation project for the class, allowing students the chance to share their work with the public.

Thursday, March 21 | Lichtenstein Center for the Arts | 28 Renne Ave | 413-298-5252 | FREE

Thursday:  Thursday Live at Marketplace Café!

Deena Chappell knew from an early age that music was a big part of who she was. She started performing with her mom in the local watering holes when she was fourteen. Since then, she's performed with some of the best musicians in the Northeast playing bluegrass, rock and roll, swing, folk and blues. Deena has recorded two solo albums and has received great reviews for both.

Thursday, March 21 | 6:30pm-8:30pm | The Marketplace Cafe | 53 North Street | 413-358-4777 | NO COVER

Thursday:  American Patronage of Charles Frederick Worth at Berkshire Athenaeum

Using the collection of the Berkshire Historical Society, David "Ned” Lazaro, Collections Manager and Associate Curator of Textiles at Historic Deerfield will explore the exclusive world of the first couturier, Charles Frederick Worth and his American clients. The lecture is given in conjunction with the exhibit now open at Arrowhead: The Kimball-Salisbury Women: Chicago to Tor Court, 1870-1930.

Thursday, March 21 | 7pm | Berkshire Athenaeum | 1 Wendell Avenue | 413-442-1793 x 10 | FREE

Thursday: The Hit Men at the Colonial

A group of amazing performers, superb musicians, superior vocalists, great arrangers and creative composers, The Hit Men are the hitmakers of the '60s, '70s and '80s—including original performing members of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and Tommy James and the Shondells, The Critters and bandmates who played and performed with Jim Croce, Cat Stevens, Carly Simon and other mega-star acts.

Thursday, March 21 | 7:30pm | The Colonial Theatre | 111 South Street | 413-997-4444 | VIP $44.50, $24.50-$39.50

Thursday+:  City of Angels at Taconic High!

The Taconic High School Theatre Department presents City of Angels, a musical comedy. It is based on two unmistakably American creations: jazz and film noir. The play is essentially two shows in one with interwoven plots and intermingled worlds that depict the writing of a screenplay in the legendary Hollywood studio system of the '40s and the re-enactment of that screenplay in a classic film noir style. Mature audiences only.

Thursday-Saturday, March 21-23 | 7:30pm | Taconic High School | 96 Valentine Road | 413-448-9634 | $10

Thursday:  Rakish Paddy at Patrick's

Continue the St. Patrick's Day celebration with Rakish Paddy.  From classic-Irish ballads and Celtic-laced bluegrass, to raging and politically charged rebel tunes, Rakish Paddy takes you on a wild ride of the soul.  An engaging duo consisting of solid rhythmic guitar, sweet and powerful fiddle, smooth lively vocals, haunting penny whistle and bodhran. 

Thursday, March 21 | 8pm |  Patrick's Pub | 26 Bank Row | 413-499-1994 | NO COVER