image description

Cultural Pittsfield This Week: Nov. 17-23

Print Story | Email Story
 
 
November 17 - November 23, 2017
Be among the first to preview this year's enchanted indoor forest of spectacular trees, fueled by imagination and tales of fantasy and whimsy. You'll feel as if you've stepped into the pages of an I-SPY book, with displays boasting unlikely combinations of objects, strange juxtapositions, and marvelous scenes.

Celebrate the start of the holiday season and enjoy an alluring variety of appetizers and beverages at the Festival of Trees Preview Party. Guests are invited to dress to fit the theme or wear their holiday best. 5:30-7:30 p.m.
 
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
The New York Bee Gees tribute show is full of past and present musicians from world renown acts including the Alan Parsons Project, Meatloaf, Queen, Blue Oyster Cult and more. The most extravagant Bee Gees show a fan can experience, this band delivers all of their classic 1970's disco hits. 8 p.m. $24/$37/$44.
Plus... 
FRI Blue Light Trio at Rainbow | FRI Jokes at J. Allen's Fall Show at J. Allen's | FRI Magpie at South Congregational Church | FRI Generation X Rock at The A | FRI Justin & Rizo at Portsmitt's | FRI Randy Cormier at Hotel on North | FRI Oldies But Goodies Show  at Reid | SAT Forever Autumn & Moon Worship at The Lichtenstein | SAT Dining to Donate for Williams Elem. PTO at Panchos | SAT Latin Party at The Whit | SAT ZipStohr Comedy at Crowne Plaza | SAT Blue Light Jazz at Rainbow | WED Throwback Party with Whiskey City at Itam Lodge | WED Gruppo Mondo at Rainbow | WED Knit on North at Hotel on North | WED Shyne at The A 
 
FAMILY FRIENDLY

For every copy of local author Dan Sadlowski's Finding Brooklyn - And the Next Great Superhero sold, an additional copy will be donated to Strong Little Souls Holiday Toy Drive for children! 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Plus,
enjoy a fun reading at 12 p.m., a book signing, fun and free activities, and limited-edition FREE gifts!
Plus... 
FRI WeeMuse: Adventures at Berkshire Museum | SAT Pop-up Play Day at Berkshire Museum | SAT FREE David Grover Concert at The Colonial | SAT Chow Time at Berkshire Museum | TUE WeeMuse: Littlest Learners at Berkshire Museum | WED WeeMuse: Parent/Child STEM at Berkshire Museum
 
WELLNESS
 
Radiance Yoga presents its annual pre-feast celebration, fundraiser and special in-studio sale! ThanksLiving is for all levels and is pay-what-you-like, with all proceeds going to the Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market. 9-10:15 a.m.
Plus... 
SAT Kundalini Yoga Master Class at Berkshire Yoga Dance | SUN Wild Woman Project Circle at Rogue Yoga | THU Thankful 5K Run/Walk with Berkshire Running Center
 
GET CREATIVE

Berkshire Paint & Sip invites you to paint "Lean on Me" on a 16 x 20 canvas. The $35 fee includes all instruction and materials, a light snack and a donation to Strong Little Souls. BYOB. 4-6 p.m. 
Plus... 
FRI Choose Your Own Workshop at Funky Phoenix | SAT Creative Healing Workshop with Funky Phoenix at Berkshire Museum | TUE Open Studio at Berkshire Paint & Sip | TUE Pumpkin Centerpiece Class at Township Four | WED Knit on North at Hotel on North
 
COMMUNITY
The Pittsfield Human Rights Commission presents Trans in the Berkshires: A Conversation with Our Trans CommunityPanelists will discuss the challenges faced by the trans community in our county, the support groups they've created, and the rise in hate-crimes against the trans community nationwide. FREE. 7 p.m.
Plus...
ONGOING Food for Fines at Berkshire Athenaeum FRI Art Gallery Opening at Berkshire Humane Society MON Folk Music with Lee Rogers at Knesset Israel | THU Thanksgiving Day at Mazzeo's | THU Thanksgiving Dinner at the Christian Center
 
LEARN


Join your favorite Berkshire Athenaeum librarians at Hotel on North for the monthly Libations with Librarians series. November's selection is Claire Vaye Watkins' book of short stories, Battleborn. Copies are available at the library. 6-7:30 p.m.
Plus... 
FRI Divine Life Path Tarot Lesson at New Moon Gifts SAT Reiki Level 1 Class at Wellness Underground SAT Final Cut Pro Editing Basics at BCC SAT Crystal Bowl Meditation at New Moon Gifts | MON West African & Caribbean Drumming Class at The Lichtenstein | TUE Crystal Bowl Meditation at New Moon Gifts
 
FILM
FRI-MON The Commune at The Little Cinema 
The new film by lauded Danish director Thomas Vinterberg examines the fallout from the social upheavals of the 1970s through the microcosm of a Copenhagen commune created by Anna and her husband Erik when they inherit a huge house. While Anna is anxious to stay home, Erik finds a more traditional way of reinvigorating himself: an affair with one of his students.
 
 
ONGOING
See What's New at The Beacon
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 and more! 

28 Renne Ave. | Open Wednesday - Saturday from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.  
 
 
The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts presents artwork by Soldier On's Veterans Community Arts Initiative for the month of November.
 
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.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories