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Cultural Pittsfield This Week: June 23-29

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  June 23 - June 29, 2017
The 1st annual public LGBTQ PRIDE event for Berkshire County will be held on the Pittsfield Common from 2-5 p.m. The theme is "Creating Community" and this family-friendly event will include speakers, a community resource fair, food, entertainment including a visit from Dorothy from Oz and more! 

Later on that evening, Berkshire Museum will hold its 2017 Wine Gala & Auction, a benefit for its education programs. Live and silent auctions will include collectible, hard-to-find wine, travel and lifestyle offerings. There will be a pre-auction wine service paired with hors d'oeuvres and a post-auction gourmet wine dinner catered by Old Inn on the Green. Performances include a set by Tory Hanna and Chris Merenda of Whiskey Treaty Roadshow, as well as other live music.
Take The Bus! Ride the free shuttle from Pittsfield to Jacob's Pillow! 
 
Beginning this Saturday, June 24, take the
FREE round-trip bus, which leaves from three Pittsfield locations: Morningside School, Boys & Girls Club, and Conte School. Enjoy a matinee performance with discounted tickets available to Pittsfield residents riding the bus or take in a FREE Inside/Out performance, no ticket required. Outside food and beverages are welcome and picnicking is encouraged.
 
Also, join Jacob's Pillow Dance in a celebration of social dance in Pittsfield next week!  Dance artists Camille A. Brown, Francine E. Ott and Maria Monge will host a series of dance and movement workshops and events celebrating African-American social dance at different locations in Pittsfield next week.  This is FREE and open to all.  Click here for more information.  
  MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
The Movers + Shakers Party, a celebration for Berkshire United Way's 2017 Day of Caring, will take place under the stars at Hancock Shaker Village. Enjoy complimentary heavy hors d'oeuvres, a signature cocktail and cash bar, homemade desserts from the Scoop, pop-up performances and music by DJ BFG. $50 per person; $55 at the door.
Plus...  
FRI Satellite Shine at Hotel on North | FRI Blue Light Trio at Rainbow | FRI Latin Night at The A | FRI DJ Jerrid Coty at Methuselah | SAT Melissa Brinton at Mission | SAT Whiskey City at The A | SAT Rev Tor at PortSmitt's | SAT Donny Sawyer at Crossroads | MON Trivia with Double Entendre (dressed as Goths!) at Mission | MON Jazz Night at Mission | TUE Craft on North at Hotel on North | TUE FREE Eagles Band Concert at The Common Park WED Gruppo Mondo at Rainbow
  FAMILY FRIENDLY
TUE Fairy Creation & Tea Party at Arrowhead
Herman Melville's Arrowhead invites families to Create a Fairy from 2-4 p.m. Michael Melle, who created all the fairies frolicking around Arrowhead, will help you make one for your own house. Workshop fee: $25 per fairy, limit 2 fairies per family. Then, at 4:30 p.m., enjoy a Cornish Tea and scones, clotted cream and strawberries with Fairy Queen WindRose Morris, who will speak about the legendary fairies of Cornwall. Kids: $5, Members: $10, Non-yet Members: $20.  
Plus...  
FRI WeeMuse: Adventures at Berkshire Museum | SAT Kitchen Ka-Boom! at Berkshire Museum | SAT Chow Time at Berkshire Museum | MON Tiny Tots Story Time at Berkshire Athenaeum | MON+ Kids' & Teens' Summer Reading Program begins at Berkshire Athenaeum TUE WeeMuse: Littlest Learners at Berkshire Museum | TUE Sensory Story Time at Berkshire Athenaeum | TUE 3D Printing for Kids & Teens at Berkshire Athenaeum | TUE-THU Nature Craft Academy at The Colonial WED Screening of Pete's Dragon at Berkshire Athenaeum THU Preschool Play & Learn at Berkshire Athenaeum
  WELLNESS
TUE-THU Camille A. Brown & Dancers Residency
Dance artists Camille A. Brown, Francine E. Ott and Maria Monge will host a series of dance and movement workshops and events celebratingAfrican American social dance. Events will take place at Morningside School and First United Methodist Church. See website for details.
Plus... 
MON "Beyond Calories" Wellness Talk at Berkshire Athenaeum | TUE Summer Shape-up at Berkshire Yoga, Dance & Fitness | WED Run & Walk to North at Hotel on North | THU FREE Yoga with Katie at Berkshire Athenaeum
  PERFORMANCE
ONGOING The Birds at Barrington Stage Company
Barrington Stage Company presents a suspense-filled adaptation by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, inspired by Daphne du Maurier's chilling short story and Alfred Hitchcock's legendary film. Mysterious masses of birds have begun to attack, driving strangers Nat and Diane to take refuge in an abandoned cabin. But the arrival of a young woman threatens to destroy their so-called sanctuary. St. Germain Stage.
Plus... 
ONGOING Ragtime at Barrington Stage | FRI-SUN Love, Loss and What I Wore with The Town Players at The Whit
  GET CREATIVE
SAT Paint "Gerbera Daisy" at Berkshire Paint & Sip


Berkshire Paint & Sip, located at 305 North Street, invites you to paint a daisy in whatever color you choose. The $30 fee includes two hours of instruction, all materials you will need, and light snacks. BYOB. 7-9 p.m.
Plus... 
FRI Create a Shelf with Hooks at Funky Phoenix FRI  Paint "Hanging Flip Flops" at Berkshire Paint & Sip SAT Beaded Kumihimo Class at Yummy Treasures FRI Paint "Butterfly Reflection" Ages 12+ at Berkshire Paint & Sip MON Open Studio at Berkshire Paint & Sip | TUE Craft on North at Hotel on North WED Paint "Howling Wolf" at Berkshire Paint & Sip
  COMMUNITY
SUN 1st Annual Bark 'n' Brew Benefit at Onota Lake
Be a part of the 1st annual fundraising event for Sonsini Animal Shelter at the Controy Pavilion from 12-5 p.m. Enjoy food cooked by James Burden (of Mission) and Paul Dodds, ice cream from The Scoop, and beer and wine from Wandering Star, Balderdash Cellars, Shire Breu-Hous and Spirited. Vendors will include trainers, daycares and other products for dogs, plus face painting for the kids. Enjoy music by the Ukeville Stringband, take a pic in the photo booth, enter the raffle and more. Dress your dog in his/her favorite beach outfit and enter the swimwear competition! Best costume wins a gift basket filled with $200 worth of dog goodies! Suggested donation: $10. Kids and dogs are free!
Plus... 
SAT Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market at the Common | SAT Author Event with Paula Cappa at Arrowhead | SAT Two-Year Anniversary Celebration at Dory & Ginger | SAT Antique Appraisal Day & More at South Congregational Church | SUN Dinner with the NAACP Youth Committee at The Lichtenstein | TUE Moby Dick Exhibit Opening & Film Screening at Arrowhead
  LEARN
SAT-SUN Farm Days at Hancock Shaker Village
 
Hancock Shaker Village presents two days of workshops in blacksmithing, basket-weaving, photography, herb-gardening and wild edibles, plus demonstrations in cheese-making, sheep care, flax processing and more.
Plus... 
MON Drum Class at The Lichtenstein | MON+ Adult Summer Reading Program begins at Berkshire Athenaeum | MON Becoming Involved with State Government with Rep. Tricia Farley Bouvier at Knesset Israel | THU Understanding the Safe Communities Act at Herberg School | THU A Panorama of Jewish Liturgical Music at Knesset Israel
  FILM

SHOT! The Psycho-Spiritual Mantra of Rock
at The Little Cinema

This is a deep look into the mind of one of rock's greatest living photographers, Mick Rock, whose work with some of the most accomplished personalities of the past forty years - including David Bowie, Queen, Blondie and many others - created many of the images that would come to define them. Presented in his own words, Rock takes us through his journey from the glam rock shimmer of London, through the snarl of NYC punk, and into the new millennium.

 
 
Plus...  
ONGOING
 See What's New at The Beacon Cinema

The Pittsfield Cultural Council is seeking new members! 

Want to have a say in how the local arts community is funded? Interested in learning about cultural programming in the city? Come join us! We're a volunteer group that allocates grants to Pittsfield-based arts and cultural organizations on an annual basis. For more information, contact us at: pittsfieldculture@yahoo.com
What's Showing at The Licht
Pittsfield's city-owned community arts center, the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, features nine working artist studios, a ceramics studio, a community room and an art gallery with changing exhibitions, classes, performances + more! 

28 Renne Ave. | Hours Wed-Sat 11am-4pm  

The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts will be open during 3rd Thursday 5-8pm.
The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts presents Face Them, a collaborative exhibit focusing on five current topics: animal cruelty, global warming, gun control, human trafficking and population explosion. Now - June 24. [Shown: One of 5 works by National Geographic photographer John Stanmeyer]
  INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARKING METER PLAN
Five things to remember about the new downtown parking system:
 
1. Always enter your license plate number - even for the FREE first 30 minutes.
 
2. On-street parking is $1 per hour; lot parking is 50 cents per hour. There are also nearly 400 free parking spaces on the city's side streets.
 
3. You can pay by coin, credit card, or by downloading the Passport parking app.
 
4. You do not need to display the parking receipt on your dashboard.
 
5. Parking is FREE on evenings and weekends!

 

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

MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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