image description

Weekend Outlook: Farmers' Markets, Polish Dinners

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
Berkshire County will be offering a variety of indoor and outdoor events this warm cloudy weekends including a dance party, comedy night, festivals, play reading, and museum activities. 
 
Williamstown Farmers Market
Spring Street, Williamstown
 
A sure sign of warmer days ahead is the opening of local farmers' markets. Williamstown's opens Saturday from 9 to 1 in the parking lot on the lower end of Spring Street. 
 
This year the market will feature new and returning vendors, including a fish monger, knife sharpener, baker, chef, and much more. 
 
Along with vendors, many new and returning musicians will perform and there will be plenty of tables and fresh food options — a perfect environment for socializing. 
 
Drawing Closer: Bestiary 
Clark Art Institute, Williamstown
 
The Clark will be having a drawing day on Friday when artists from all experience levels can participate in copying earlier artworks, practice fundamentals, or explore ideas. 
 
This month's theme, "Bestiary," features prints, drawings, and photographs that portray the animal kingdom. 
 
Admission to this activity is free with registration required. The activity runs from 11 to noon. All material will be provided. It should also be noted that artists who choose to bring their own supplies that only graphite pencils are allowed in the Study Center and museum galleries. 
 
Reading of Play – 'Mr. Fullerton, Between the Sheets'
Ventfort Hall, Lenox
 
Ventfort Hall is hosting a reading of Anne Undeland's newest play, "Mr. Fullerton, Between the Sheets" this Sunday at 7 p.m. 
 
The Berkshire cast and director Judy Braha will do a reading of the play about class differences and the complexity of human relationship through the retelling of Edith Wharton's actual mid-life romance. 
 
The play was produced in 2021 by Great Barrington Public Theater and was nominated for four Berkshire Theater Critics Association Awards. Since then it has been picked up by Gloucester Stage for a run this summer.
 
Ventfort Hall describes the play as "A literary and historical banquet of language, sex, mores and manners ... Mr. Fullerton sparkles with wit while it examines class differences and the complexity of human relationship. More than anything, the play makes us fall in love — with Edith Wharton, the people in her life, and best of all, her glorious writing."
 
Reservation is required and tickets are $25. Proof of vaccination and ID is required. More information and tickets here.
 
Springfest
Williamstown Youth Center, Williamstown
 
After a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the Williamstown Springfest is returning this Sunday at the Williamstown Youth Center, where families can enjoy food from the grill and outdoor activities for children.
 
This indoor and outdoor event will have games, bounce house, arts and crafts, and more from noon to 4.
 
Admission to the festival is free with donations accepted. All donations will help the center provide affordable programming for children throughout the year.
 
 
BSKE @ Holiday Inn
101 Restaurant & Bar, Pittsfield
 
BSKE Dance Community hosts a Latin Dance workshop by Luana and mixes by DJ Chico at the restaurant located at 1 West St.  
 
The event will start at 8 p.m. but participants are encouraged to come early and purchase dinner from the restaurant that is located on the second floor of the Holiday Inn. The entry fee for the dance party is $10 at the door and will accept cash or Venmo payments. 
 
For more information, visit the Facebook event page. 
 
Comedy @ Bright Ideas Brewing
Bright Ideas Brewing, North Adams
 
Bright Ideas Brewing on the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art campus holds its monthly comedy night at this Saturday start at 8.
 
The 90-minute event is produced by Iconix Productions in collaboration with Bright Ideas Brewing. Tickets are $10 to $15 and can be purchased here.
 
Polish Dinner/Dance
St. Charles Borromeo Church, Pittsfield 
 
St. Charles' Church at 89 Briggs Ave. celebrates Polish heritage with a Polish dinner and dance following the 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday. Dinner includes homemade white borscht and a traditional Polish plate with pierogi, kielbasa, bigos and golabki.  
 
Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for teens; children age 11 and younger free.
 
Cruisin' for a Cure
Ioka Valley Farm, Hancock
 
Car show on Saturday 10 to 4 to raise funds for Hancock Volunteer Fire Department and the Relay For Life. Includes cars, truck, tractors, motorcycles and anything with a motor. There will be food, music, 50/50, raffles, door prices, trophy's and vendors!
The first 50 entries receive a dash plaque and goody bag. Vehicle and vendor registration $10; visitors $2 person. More information here. 

 


Tags: weekend outlook,   

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

Pittsfield Considers Repairing East Part Cemetery

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Historical Commission will consider grant opportunities for repairs to East Part Cemetery.

A resident reached out to the city with concerns about degradation in the half-acre burial ground at the top of Williams Street. East Part Cemetery was established in the early 1800s and has about 300 interments. 

“It's a nice old cemetery, and basically, (the resident) had had concerns that the stone wall had taken some damage, the gravestones have taken some damage, and was wondering if there's anything that could be done to repair the gravestones and the wall," City Planner Kevin Rayner told the commission on Monday.

In cooperation with cemetery leadership and residents, the Historical Commission will consider applying for Community Preservation Act funds to support repairs. West Part Cemetery, on the other side of Pittsfield, has previously used CPA funds for revitalization work. 

The 1080 Williams St. property is owned by the city and managed by the Pittsfield Cemetery Commission. Rayner presented photos of broken and overgrown gravestones, parts of the stone wall collapsing, and knocked-over obelisks. 

Some aspects could use general maintenance and restoration, he observed. 

According to the Pittsfield Cemetery and Crematory's website, East Part Cemetery was established around 1808 on land owned by Nathan Webb, who permitted and authorized its use as a public burying ground.  

In 1842, Nathan Webb's son, also named Nathan Webb, deeded the property to the Methodist Episcopal Society of Pittsfield as a public burying ground, and in 1893 the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Society transferred their control of the cemetery to the Proprietors of the Pittsfield Cemetery. Their action was confirmed by the Berkshire Probate Court.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories