Cultural Pittsfield: Feb. 6-13

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Joanie Ciofli  

Friday: First Fridays Artwalk!

Explore Pittsfield's Upstreet Cultural District's shops, restaurants and galleries to enjoy art by dozens of talented local artists, including Joanie Ciofli (pictured left), one of ten artists featured in the TEN SPOT show at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts & a studio artist at NUARTS Studios & Gallery. Click here for a map and the full list of exhibitors.

Friday, February 7 | 5pm-8pm | Upstreet Cultural District | 413-499-9348 | FREE


Oscar Nominated Shorts  

Friday-Monday: Oscar Nominated Short Documentary Films at Little Cinema

Be the first to see five of the year's best short documentaries this weekend only: CaveDigger by Jeffrey Karoff; Facing Fear by Jason Cohen;  Karama Has No Walls by Sara Ishaq; The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life by Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed; Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall by Edgar Barens.  Click here for more information about each short.  

Friday-Monday, February 7-10 | 7pm Mon 1:30pm | Berkshire Museum Little Cinema | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 | $5 Museum Members/$7.50 Museum Non Members


Funk Box Dance Studio  

Friday: Open House at Funk Box Dance Studio 

Come to the grand opening of the brand new, only break dance and street arts studio of the Berkshires!  There will be an art gallery expo by various artists, along with live performances by The Little Rascals Crew (The Funk Box Dance Studio students), Fresh Trix Crew and some surprise performances!

Friday, February 7 | 5pm-8pm | Crawford Square | 137 North Street | 413-242-2179 | $8


JD Samson  

Friday: Indie Night at Chameleons

Don't miss the first-ever appearance of JD Samson & Men in far western Mass! JD Samson is best known as leader of the band Men and for being one-third of the electronic-feminist-punk band and performance project, Le Tigre. For more than a decade JD's career as a singer, producer and DJ has landed her at the intersection of music, art, activism, and fashion. Polysonic Joy and Leap the Dips will also be making an appearance. 

Friday, February 7 | 8pm | Chameleons | 1350 East Street | 413-499-2582 | $6 21+ $8 18-20


Longview Gunslingers  

Friday: Live Music at Flavours

Longview Gunslingers will be rocking the house at Flavours.  Josh Sprague will be back on the keyboard after a long hiatus.  The band has something for everyone: funk, reggae, blues, jazz, hip-hop, and jam rock. 21+

Friday, February 7 | 9:30pm | Flavours of Malaysia | 75 North Street | 413-443-3188 | $5


Met Live in HD  

Saturday: The Met Live in HD: Dvořák's Rusalka

Fresh off her Superbowl performance, the great Renée Fleming returns to one of her signature roles, singing the enchanting Song to the Moon in Dvorák's soulful fairy-tale opera, Rusalka. Tenor Piotr Beczala co-stars as the Prince, Dolora Zajick is Ježibaba, and dynamic young maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin is on the podium.

Saturday, February 8 | 12:55pm | The Beacon Cinema | 57 North Street | 413-358-4780 | $25


Berkshire Idol  

Saturday: Berkshire Idol Auditions at the Lichtenstein

You could be the next Berkshire Idol winner!  Any non-professional vocalist who wishes to participate should prepare 16 bars of a song, to be sung a capella in a closed audition.  Click here for more information and other audition locations around Berkshire County

Saturday, February 8 | 1pm -3pm | Lichtenstein Center for the Arts | 28 Renne Avenue | 413-884-2008 | NO COVER


Ice Skating at Boys and Girls Club  

Saturday: Free Skating at Boys and Girls Club

The City of Pittsfield Recreation Program and the Boys & Girls Club invite the first 100 people through the door during the Public Skate at the Pittsfield Boys & Girls Club to free admission for skating as well as free skate rental if needed (limited size availability).  There is one more free skating day on Saturday, February 22

Saturdays, February 8 & 22 | 2pm | Boys and Girls Club | 16 Melville Street | 413-448-8258 | FREE


Winter Wine Tasting at Balderdash  

Saturday: Moments House Fundraiser at Balderdash Cellars

Sample local wines all made at our hometown winery. Food pairings will also be available for your enjoyment and entertainment. 100% of the proceeds from this event will benefit Moments House's programs & services which are always offered free of charge to anyone impacted by cancer in Berkshire County.  Brian Benlien will be filling the room with tunes for us.  Tickets are  limited so get yours soon at Moments House – 34 Depot Street Suite 301 (note our new location!)

Saturday, February 8 | 6pm | Balderdash Cellars | 502 East Street | 413-443-6800 | $30


Spank! Harder  

Saturday: SPANK! Harder at Colonial

The original SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody was last year's #1 show across the country. Now, the all new SPANK! Harder picks up where the original left off. SPANK! Harder brings the laughs to a whole new level, parodying not only Fifty Shades but many of women's favorites they will recognize from movies to television and beyond.

Saturday, February 8 | 8pm | Colonial Theatre | 111 South Street | 413-997-4444 |$27.50-$47.50


Serious About Sports  

Sunday+: Serious About Sports at YMCA

The Pittsfield Family YMCA announces open registrations for a new youth program: Serious About Sports for those ages 8 to 13 years.  It is designed to help young athletes understand the commitment it takes to pursue sports on a high school level and beyond. The goal is to instill the educational, health and social aspects that these children can benefit from in every athletic situation. 

Sundays, February 9-March 30 | 1pm-4pm | Pittsfield Family YMCA | 44 West Street | 413-344-4335 | Members FREE Non Members $2 per class 


Nina Ryan  

Sunday: Lean in with women writers at Berkshire Museum

The Lean In women writers group hosts a special session on book development with editor and former literary agent Nina Ryan. If you're working on a book, or thinking about starting one, this free, drop-in gathering of Berkshire women writers is for you!

Sunday, February 9 | 3pm-5pm | Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 | FREE


 
Teen Book Give Away  

Monday+: Teen Book Giveaway at Berkshire Athenaeum

Grab some free reading material for winter vacation.  All Teens are invited to stop by the Young Adults' Department and select a free book or magazine while supplies last. Limit of one free item per teen.

Monday-Saturday, February 10-15 | 9am-5pm | Berkshire Athenaeum | One Wendell Avenue | 413-499-9480 | FREE


 

Tuesday: Science and Innovation Fair at Berkshire Museum

Berkshire Museum hosts the fourth annual Science and Innovation Fair, featuring the Taconic High School Science and Engineering Academy and the Pittsfield High School Quark Science Club. Approximately 100 Pittsfield public high school students will exhibit more than 60 projects that demonstrate skills and concepts across a range of engineering and science disciplines.  

Tuesday, February 11 | 10am-5pm | Berkshire Museum | 39 South Street | 413-443-7171 | FREE


We the People  

Tuesday: Lecture at Berkshire Athenaeum

Local attorney and Berkshire Community College professor James Arpante presents a lecture on The US Constitution. This is the third in a new program series, The Very Interesting Lecture Series.  It is free and open to the public. 

Tuesday, February 11 | 7pm| Berkshire Athenaeum | One Wendell Avenue | 413-499-9480 | FREE


10x10 Festival  

Thursday: 10x10 Upstreet Art Festival Begins!

Here comes the 3rd annual 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival, held throughout Pittsfield's Upstreet Cultural District February 13-23, 2014. Big thanks to our led sponsor, Berkshire Gas, and to our other sponsors, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Berkshire Eagle, and Lamar Advertising. Enjoy theatre, music, art, dance, film, comedy, and more (even burlesque!) Click here for a full listing of events.  

Thursday-Sunday, February 13-23 | Upstreet Cultural District | 413-499-9348


Teen Ten at City Hall  

Thursday: Teen Ten Art Show at City Hall

You're invited to join Mayor Dan Bianchi at the opening of the second annual Teen Ten art show at Pittsfield City Hall is organized by Miss Hall's School students. Over 100 artworks by Berkshire teens were posted online at for the public to view and vote for their favorites.  

Thursday, February 13 | 4pm-6pm | City Hall | 70 Allen Street | 413-443-6401 | FREE


 

Thursday: Opening Reception for TEN SPOT at Lichtenstein

Join us for an artist reception catered by Mission Bar & Tapas (and showcasing their new menu), and help us kick off the 10X10 Upstreet Arts Festival! The third annual TEN SPOT invitational art show features ten of the best contemporary artists from throughout the Berkshires: Michael Rousseau, Joan Ciolfi, Peter Gordon, Karl Mullen, Peggy Rivers, Douglas Paisley, Scott Taylor, Jeanet Ingalls (pictured left), Laurie McLeod and Crispina ffrench.  TEN SPOT will be on display through Friday, February 28 from 12pm-5pm Wed-Sat. 

Thursday, February 13 | 5pm-7pm | Lichtenstein Center for the Arts | 28 Renne Avenue  | 413-499-9348 | FREE


Ten at Beacon  

Thursday: 10×10: Ten Showing at Beacon

In association with the Berkshire International Film Festival, the Beacon Cinema will be screening four "ten” themed movies during the 10x10 Festival.  Tonight, it's the 1979 classic TEN, starring Bo Derek and Dudley Moore.  A Hollywood songwriter goes through a mid-life crisis and becomes infatuated with a sexy blond newlywed.  Admission is free, generously underwritten by NBT Bank.

Thursday, February 13 | Time TBA | Beacon Cinema | 57 North Street | 413-358-4780 | FREE


10x10 at BSC  

Thursday+: 10×10 New Play Festival at Barrington Stage

Every 10 minutes, a new play begins! At Barrington Stage's St. Germain Stage, enjoy an evening of ten NEW 10-minute plays by 10 playwrights (chosen from over 150 submitted.) Click here for details of this year's plays.  

February 13-March 2 | Barrington Stage Company | St. Germain Stage | 36 Linden Street | 413-236-8888 | $15-$30


10 popular operas at Whitney  

Thursday+: Ten Popular Arias at the Whitney

Enjoy 10 popular arias by top opera professionals in an elegant setting during the 10x10 Festival. Opera Notte @the Whit will be a regular event at the Whitney Center for the Arts, always performed by top level classically trained musicians.

Thursday & Friday, February 13 & February 21 | 7:30pm | Whitney Center for the Arts | 42 Wendell Avenue | 917-674-4963 | $20


Deena Chappell  

Thursday: Live Music at Marketplace

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, February 13 | 6:30pm-8:30pm | The Marketplace Cafe | 53 North Street | 413-358-4777 | NO COVER

 


Sherri James Buxton  

Thursday: A Valentine Cabaret featuring Sherri Buxton

Sherri James Buxton is an elegant interpreter of a wide range of genres from standards and show tunes to jazz, delighting audiences with her warmth, depth, versatility and flawless technique. She combines a lifelong love of melody and lyric with a highly skilled voice and beautiful stage presence. 

Tuesday, February 13 | 7pm | Berkshire Athenaeum | 1 Wendell Avenue | 413-499-9480 | FREE


Rev Tor Dead of Winter Jam  

Thursday:  The Rev Tor Band Winter Jam at the Colonial

Since its conception in the mid-90s, The Rev Tor Band, led by singer and lead guitarist Tor Krautter, has become one of the most compelling and exciting acts on the blues and jam-band circuit. This show will be a mid-winter celebration of the music of The Grateful Dead featuring a multitude of guest artists including Pete Adams, Gina Coleman, Tyler Fairbank, Billy Keanne, Garrett Lechowski, Chris Merenda, Beth Rose, Katherine Winston, Mike Wood and Ward Woolverton.   

Thursday, February 13 | 8pm | The Colonial Theatre | The Garage | 111 South Street | 413-344-4335 | $10 in advance; $12 at the door


 

Forty Shades of Green Call for Artists!

Everyone is invited to submit Irish-themed artwork for the 4th Forty Shades of Green Irish Art Show at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts! It's the only open call show at the Lichtenstein, which means all art submitted that fits the themed gets included in the show!

Click here for more details on how to submit!

 

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

BCC Wins Grant for New Automatic External Defibrillator

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) is the recipient of a $2,326 grant, funded by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, for the purchase of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) device. 
 
The grant specifically covers a device for use inside one of BCC's security vehicles for easy access when traversing the campus.  
 
In total, the Commonwealth awarded more than $165,000 in grant funding to 58 municipalities,
13 public colleges and universities, and nine nonprofits to purchase AEDs for emergency response vehicles. The program is designed to increase access to lifesaving equipment during medical emergencies, when every second matters.  
 
An AED is a medical device used to support people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, which is the abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have been diagnosed with heart disease. An AED analyzes the patient's heart rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.  
 
"Immediate access to AEDs is vital to someone facing a medical crisis. By expanding availability statewide, we're equipping first responders with the necessary tools to provide lifesaving emergency care for patients," said Governor Maura Healey. "This essential equipment will enhance the medical response for cardiac patients across Massachusetts and improve outcomes during an emergency event."  
 
The funds were awarded through a competitive application process conducted by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), a state agency that is part of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS).  
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