Cultural Pittsfield This Week: July 10-16

01:22PM / Monday, July 13, 2015Print Story | Email Story

Office of Cultural Development | City of Pittsfield

Friday-Saturday: Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum: Book Sale

Several times a year the Friends hold used book sale, generally scheduled for the Spring, Summer and Fall months. Thousands of used books are categorized for easy shopping. Audio and video items are available, as well as Children's books, paperbacks, and specialty items.

Friday: Build Create Draw Paint at Berkshire Children and Families

Build, create, draw, and paint all sorts of fun stuff, while exploring your creativity with new friends. RSVPs are appreciated, but drop-ins a welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Every Friday until August 21st.

Fridays through August 21 | 10am-12pm |

Berkshire Children and Families

Family Resource Center | 480 West Street | 413-442-5333x65 | FREE

Friday: Stop the Violence Rally

In the wake of a deadly Fourth of July shooting in the heart of the city, organizers are looking for citizens willing to stand and work with them over the long term - to help curb violence and help people struggling in area neighborhoods to make positive changes. All are welcome to participate in this Stop the Violence Rally, which will segue into a volunteer registration and youth mentoring celebration event with Pittsfield Community Connection.

Friday, July 10 | 5pm | Robbins Avenue & Linden Street By Christian Center

Friday: WeeMuse: Night Of Science at Berkshire Museum

Sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union, this

is a free evening of science, invention, and sensory fun! All you need is your imagination and the sky is the limit. Make giant bubbles, experience a mega baking-soda-and-vinegar volcano, experiment with glow-in-the-dark slime, and lots more STEM activities! Explore our new Imagination Playground, featuring a collection of custom-designed, oversized blue foam parts that provide a changing array of elements that allow children to engage in unstructured, child-directed play. The Imagination Playground was generously provided by Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS) and national non-profit KaBOOM!

Friday - Thursday: Pittsfield Suns at Wahconah Park

The Pittsfield Suns have five home games this week! Choose from Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to support Pittsfield's hometown team! Click here for the full team schedule.

Friday-Monday: Dior & I at The Little Cinema

Dior and I brings the viewer inside the storied world of the Christian Dior fashion house with a privileged, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Raf Simons' first haute couture collection as its new artistic director-a true labor of love created by a dedicated group of collaborators. Melding the everyday, pressure- filled components of fashion with mysterious echoes from the iconic brand's past, the film is also a colorful homage to the seamstresses who serve Simons' vision.

Friday+: Bells Are Ringing at Colonial Theatre

The Tony Award-nominated musical that made Judy Holliday a star, Bells Are Ringing is a classic comedy with a sweet heart. Telephone service operator, Ella Peterson, played by Tony Award-nominated Kate Baldwin (A Little Night Music, Finian's Rainbow) is not your typical phone operator. Using a variety of comical personae's, Ella meddles with her clients' lives as she takes and delivers their phone messages. Ella's busybody ways trigger trouble when she falls for one of her customers, Jeff Moss, played by Kate Baldwin's real life husband, Broadway and television actor, Graham Rowat (A Little Night Music).A hilarious mesh of mistaken identity and mishaps follow in this delightful musical directed by BTG Alum, Ethan Heard (A Little Night Music, Cat and The Canary). Bells Are Ringing is an irresistibly charming musical, bursting with breathtaking dance numbers.

Friday-Saturday: Shining City at Barrington Stage

This is the final weekend of what Curtain Up calls a "Not-to-be-missed drama." In Shining City, a Dubliner seeks help from a counselor after claiming to have seen the ghost of his recently deceased wife. As their sessions unfold, secrets are exposed in this thriller where a simple tale turns out to be anything but. The final performances are sold out. Please call the box office an to see if any tickets have become available.

Friday- Saturday: Man of La Mancha at Barrington Stage

This is the last weekend to catch this performance! The Albany Times Union raves about it, calling it "superlative...captivating...stirring..."

One of the world's most popular musicals, Man of La Mancha, the "Impossible Dream" musical, is based on Cervantes' masterpiece Don Quixote, and tells of the adventures of a delusional Spanish knight who sallies forth on a quest to restore chivalry to the world, and to claim his lady love.

Friday: Metro West Thump at Baba Louie's Backroom

Berkshire Jazz presents Metro West Thump, the contemporary jazz group from the greater Boston area. Features originals and favorites from the great American jazz book. After an impressive debut on Third Thursday last October, Metro West Thump takes over Baba Louie's Backroom as our jazz series continues

Saturday+: The Downtown Pittsfield Farmers

This Saturday at the market is a celebration of the table... the food that goes on it and the pottery that holds it. Local potters Michael Boroniec, Amrita Lash, Suzy Konecky and Jim Horsford will join us with their handmade wares and hold children's clay activities and wheel demonstrations. From 11am to 1pm live music by Jordan Franklin. Shoppers will find pasture-raised meats, eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, breads, baked goods, coffee, wine, cut flowers, and plants, as well as beautiful artisan wares. The Market will run rain or shine. SNAP (EBT/Food Stamps) accepted.

Saturday+: Yoga and Zumba on Onota Lake

Soak in the beauty of Onota Lake every second and last Saturday of the month for Yoga and Zumba on Onota Lake at Burbank Park. All levels and ages welcome. Bring a mat if you have one (extras available) and a blanket or towel for underneath if you like, maybe even your bathing suit for a swim after class!

Saturdays Through October August 22 | 9am-11:15am | Burbank Park at Onota Lake | 413-822-2034 | $10

Saturday: Learn To Row for Juniors on Lake Onota

Berkshire Rowing and Sculling Society (BRASS) Learn to Row event for Juniors. This is open for kids in grades 6 thru 11, it is from 10 am to noon at Cuyler Boathouse at Burbank Park on Lake Onota. The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling (413) 442-7769 and leaving a name and contact information. BRASS is a non-profit rowing club located on Lake Onota . For additional information about the club, visit http://berkshirerowing.com.

Saturday: OLLI Distinguished Lecture Series Presents When Good Companies Go Bad: Deviance and Crime in American CorporationsWith Professor Laura Hansen

Until 20th century journalism and 21st century social media, few but the Wall Street and Washington elite were aware of the extent to which malfeasance takes place within our financial institutions and corporations. And since much attention still remains with "conventional crime," the deviance and crime that takes place in respectable circles still goes largely unnoticed, save the sensational stories of Ivan Boesky or Bernie Madoff. Professor Laura Hansen will explore white collar crime and share her research on the subject during this lecture.

free to youth 17 & under

Saturday: Caravan Puppets presents Tales from the East at Berkshire Museum

Join Caravan Puppets for a performance of four classic stories from Asia! Enjoy a wide diversity of puppets and puppetry styles with beautiful staging and original music. Some stories are interactive and children will build a small puppet to perform with and take home at the end of the show.

Saturday: "Hudson Landscape" Opening Reception at The Whitney

Please join us for opening reception for this wonderful group by Leigh Palmer, Eileen Murphy, Paul Katz and Dan Rupe. Enjoy the Cocktail reception and mingle with the artists.

Saturday, July 11 | 3pm-6pm | Whitney Center For The Arts | 42 Wendell Ave| NO COVER

Saturday-Sunday: WordXWord Poetry Slam and Open Mic at The Whitney

WordXWord warms up for the annual festival with open mic opportunities and poetry slam events. Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib is a poet, writer, and dessert enthusiast from Columbus, Ohio. He is the editor of Again I Wait For This To Pull Apart, an anthology forthcoming from Freezeray Press. As a teaching artist he has conducted workshops and given readings across the US. His performance will be preceded by an open mic for poetry and spoken word. Hanif will guest host the third and final WordXWord Poetry Slam Prelim on July 12. The top finishers in the prelims move on to the semifinals in August.

Saturday-Sunday, July 11-12 | 7pm | Whitney Center For The Arts | 42 Wendell Ave | NO COVER

Saturday: 3rd Annual Midnight Run From The Cops

This race is at midnight and it has a few fun obstacles along the route. There will also be a walk of shorter distance. There will pre-registration pickup both Fri and Sat at the Berkshire Running Center during their business hours. You will also be able to register there as well. The night of the race, registration will open at 10pm and close at 11:30pm. The event is part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) program, a partnership between local police and Special Olympics that focuses on raising funds and awareness for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Saturday, July 11 | 11:45pm | Downtown Pittsfield | 413-344-94472 | $25

Sunday: Grand Opening of the Children's Garden at Arrowhead

Head to Arrowhead to check out its new children's garden. They are celebrating with an ice cream social, kids games, and music. Admission to the grounds is free.

Sunday-Monday: Potholder Rug Workshop at Shire City Sanctuary

From a pile of scraps of t-shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts and the like, pull, stretch, knot, and weave a potholder rug to take home. Learn the ins and outs of Potholder Rug Weaving. It is a simple and creative use of completely recycled materials.

Sunday: Frankie Say Nia at Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness

Do you love Nia? Have you wondered, what is Nia?

Come dance with visiting Nia Black Belt Jason Alan Griffin, to his newest routine Frankie Say Nia this Sunday. Nia is a mindful, aerobic movement practices incorporating dance, martial arts and healing arts, done barefoot to inspiring music. Come join Jason for a fun and fabulous experience as we rock out to some Alternative New Wave music of the 80's. $15, pre-registration is appreciated. contact: Diane 413-394-9942

Sunday: Sing Along at Sacred Heart Church

Free Sing Along at Sacred Heart Church with singer Mary Verdi and local area choirs. They'll be singing Contemporary Christian Music-all singers are welcome to come and join in on the fun! The event lasts one hour.

Sunday: The Contemporary Flute at Berkshire Museum

Join Massachusetts based flutist Erin Pulley in an exciting program exploring the connection between modern culture and the music that represents and embodies that culture. The program will include Eve Beglarian's I Will Not Be Sad in This World for alto flute and tape, Robert Dick's Fish Are Jumping for unaccompanied solo flute, Teruki Noda's Eclogue for flute and percussion joined by Kyle Dubois, Jazer Gile's Parutika for flute and live electronics, Steve Reich's Vermont Counterpoint for flutes and electronics, as well as various other contemporary pieces including flute, percussion and electronics.

Sunday: Children's Photo Shoot at Dottie's

Bring your kids to Dottie's for a mini photo shoot with children's photographer, Toni Nahas. She is here visiting from Germany for the summer and is excited to take some special pictures and make some memories for your family. Each shoot will be about 30 minutes. Space will be limited so reservations and a $25 deposit is required. You will receive 5, professionally touched up, magazine quality digital images for $75. Dottie's will provide props and creative spaces for your little model. A truly great deal! Please call Dottie's to pay over the phone or drop off a cash deposit.

Sunday, Wednesday & Thursday: Paint Party at Berkshire Paint and Sip

There are three paint parties this week at Berkshire Paint and Sip. On Sunday, paint "Butterfly Reflection", Wednesday is couples night "Bird House And Barn" and Thursday is "Dazzlingly Daisy." All painting materials and light snack included for this two-hour painting. BYOB. Open to the public.

Monday: Federation Program: "In The Unlikeliest of Places" at Congregation Knesset Israel

The Jewish Federation of the Berkshires presents Annette Libeskind Berkovits, who will recount her father's remarkable life story. Three years after her father's death, Berkovits found a box of audio tapes on which her father narrated the story of his life, which became the basis of her book In the Unlikeliest of Places: How Nachman Libeskind Survived the Nazis, Gulags, and Soviet Communism.

Monday: Craft Activity: Superhero Wrist Cuffs at the Berkshire Athenaeum

Craft Activities last for 30 - 40 minutes and are intended for children 5 - 12 years old. Registration is required (in person or by phone). Signups start one week prior to activity and is limited to the first 18 children. If you can't make it to the activity, you must call to cancel so the space can be offered to another child. Two "no-shows" mean your child cannot sign up for further craft activities.

Monday: Diabetes Prevention Class at Berkshire Medical Center

Free diabetes prevention classes offered in Pittsfield and North Adams in July. Targeted towards those whose have higher than normal blood sugar, are overweight, are sedentary, are 45 years old/or older and have family or gestational diabetes history. Preregistration is required, space is limited to 20 participants.

Monday & Tuesday: Dirty Brush Painting Party

Monday and Tuesday nights are canvas and cocktail party at Dirty Brush Studios. Includes three hours of individualized instruction, premium acrylic paints and supplies, snacks and BYOB. Call the studio to reserve your canvas.

Tuesday: Special Program - Davis Bates and Roger Tincknell at the Berkshire Athenaeum

Davis Bates' performances are a mixture of family, Native American, international and regional stories and songs. They speak of empowerment, history, spirit and the environment. Davis has been sharing stories and songs for over 32years in schools, libraries, festivals and community settings. Davis Bates also collaborates his storytelling and music performances with musician Roger Tincknell.

Tuesday: Quilombo at The Little Cinema

Palmares is a 17th-century quilombo, a settlement of escaped slaves in northeast Brazil. In 1650, plantation slaves revolt and head for the mountains where they find others led by the aged seer, Acotirene. She anoints one who becomes Ganga Zumba, a legendary king. For years, his warriors hold off Portuguese raiders; then he agrees to leave the mountains in exchange for reservation land and peace. It's a mistake. Zumbi, a warrior whose mother was killed by Portuguese and who spent 15 years with the Whites, stays in the mountains to lead Palmares. In 1694, the Portuguese import a ruthless captain from São Paulo to lead an assault on the free Blacks. Can Zumbi keep Palmares free? This film is part of the Lift Ev'ry Voice Film Series, which is co-sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Berkshire Community College and Berkshire Museum. The film is followed by a discussion led by film curator and Lift Ev'ry Voice co-chair Don Quinn Kelley, Ph.D. Click here for more information.

Wednesday: BHS Get Cuffed Blood Pressure Screening at South Congregational Church

Stop in to learn your numbers! The Berkshire Health Systems Community Outreach Van and professional staff on the van offer free Blood Pressure Screenings. No appointment necessary. July is Healthy Eating month, which is a great time to take advantage of fresh produce. Everyone who gets their BP screened in July will receive a free cloth grocery bag.

Wednesday, July 15 | 8am-10:30am | South Congregational Church |110 South Street | FREE

Wednesday: Live on the Lake with the Arthur Holmes Band

Live on the Lake is brought to you by Live 95.9 and Greylock Federal Credit Union. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy concerts at beautiful Burbank Park on Onota Lake. Bandit is up next. Click here for the full schedule.

Wednesday, July 15 | 6pm-8pm | Lake Onota | FREE

Wednesday: Permaculture Film Screening And Conversation.

Every third Wednesday in the Music Room at Dotties Coffee Lounge- permaculture film screening and conversation. This Wednesday a series of short Sepp Holtzer films. Learn about Holtzer's vision and strategy for restoring landscapes. "Envision living in a state of harmony with nature. Every day you are pleasantly greeted by the tremendous resources, possibilities, and vitality that surrounds us. The evidence of anthropomorphic ecosystem degradation is clear. Having a strategy to regenerate these landscapes into a state of abundance provides a bright path for the future." Tasty local food will also be available.

Wednesday: Raiders Of The Lost Ark at The Beacon Cinema

Join Indiana Jones for the second movie in the Greylock Federal Credit Union FREE movie series at The Beacon all summer long every Wednesday night at 7pm! Tickets are FREE and will be issued on a first come first served basis beginning at 6pm, one hour before show time. Princess Bride will be shown on July 22.

Click here for the full list of movies.

Wednesday: Dog Down at The Little Cinema

Together, dog and man discover what they could not find alone: healing from their past, purpose in the present, freedom for their future. The story begins at a point of renewal. Unadoptable shelter dogs, like Lindy, are given a second chance. Prison inmates, like Perry, have the opportunity to redeem their dignity. Through a simple but intensive basic obedience training program, these inmates prepare the dogs to be adopted into loving homes. In parallel, prisoners are transformed by the dogs' unconditional love, learning how to respect themselves and others.

Wednesday: Signs and Wonders: Spiritual Fiction at Temple Anshe Amunim

Rabbi Josh Breindel will lead a 3-part series exploring the human condition through fiction and film at Temple Anshe Amunim on Wednesdays from 7:30pm - 8:30pm beginning July 15. A wine and dessert reception will be served at each session, and the public is invited to attend.

Thursday: Federation Program: "The Process of Aging" at Congregation Knesset Israel

The Jewish Federation of the Berkshires' Connecting with Community series welcomes Maggie Bittman, therapist, as she leads and facilitates a group discussion about "The Process of Aging." These discussions are opened to anyone interested in sharing in this universal topic. This is a monthly program, and the discussions broadly range from "Should I Remain in My Home or Downsize" to "Aloneness" to "Staying Active in Your Community". Suggestions for topics are welcomed.

Thursday: Berkshire Festival of Women Writers Reading at the Whitney Center for the Arts

Hosted by the Berkshire Festival of Women Writers, this is a special 3rd Thursday reading of the new Festival anthology, WRITING FIRE. The hosts are editors Jennifer Browdy and Jana Laiz. The event features writers Suze Fowle, Lorrin Krouss, Susie Kaufman and Joan Embree.

July 3rd Thursday!

Upstreet Pittsfield's award-winning street festival, 3^rd Thursdays, returns on Thursday, July 16^th

with the theme #ArtsMatter, sponsored by Berkshire Gas. The event features a dance party with DJ BFG, the kick off to the second annual Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park performance, live music from New York City-based band Timbila, a sneak peek of Shrek from Barrington Stage Company, a community reading of an excerpt from Frederick Douglass's powerful speech, "What to the Slave is Your Fourth of July?" part of the Lift Ev'ry Voice Festival, an interactive hula hoop performance with Pittsfield City Hoopla and so much more!

And don't forget the 3rd Thursday After Party at the Whitney Center for the Arts. This month, Highland will be performing. One of the newest bands on the Berkshire scene, Highland brings old school grooves, revamped with a fresh, youthful feeling.

Click here for more information on next week's 3rd Thursday.

Thursday, July 16 | 5pm-8pm | Upstreet Cultural District | 413-499-9348 | FREE

Thursday: Intern's Night at J.Allen's

Calling all interns! 1Berkshire is hosting a FREE after hours get-together and we want you to be there! Come to connect with peers, meet new friends, and spend an evening downtown. Interns Night Out, the first county-wide intern meet up, will connect you with other summer interns - plus free food, a fun show, and the chance to win some door prizes!

Thursday+: Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park Performs Romeo and Juliet at the Common

Pittsfield Shakespeare in the Park is transforming the stage at the Common to present Romeo and Juliet. There will be 12 performances over the course of three weekends with pre show serenades by the Whitney Center for the Arts on Fridays and Saturdays. There will be food available for purchase from the Rainbow Restaurant and Zion Lutheran Church to picnic under the stars. Did we mention that it is FREE!! Click here for more information.

Thursdays-Sundays through August 2 | 8pm | The Common | 413-551-9585 | FREE

Thursday+: Lost In Yonkers at Barrington Stage

Lost in Yonkers is a heartfelt and hilarious coming-of-age story by America's great comic playwright, Neil Simon. Like many of Simon's plays, Lost in Yonkers is drawn from his experiences growing up in New York City. Set during World War II, two young brothers, Arty and Jay, are sent to live with their formidable German Jewish immigrant grandmother, the sweet but mentally challenged Aunt Bella, and Uncle Louie, a small-time hoodlum running away from gangsters.

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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:33PM / Friday, April 19, 2024

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.

Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.

The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.

Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.

"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly. A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.

It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.

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