West Side Legends Sets Open House for First Development

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The West Side Legends is embarking on a multiphase initiative to "Buy Back our Neighborhood" by redeveloping the neighborhood.

On Saturday, the nonprofit group will celebrate its first development, 28-30 Daniels Ave., with an open house from 1 to 4 p.m.

The event will explain how the development was renovated from a rundown duplex into two modern condominiums.

Each condominium contains two bedrooms, one bathroom, and storage space. There is also room for future expansion on the property.

The initial investors, builders, and prospective owners all have West Side interests.

Partnering organizations include Greylock Federal Credit Union, The Crane Foundation, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, Guardian Life, Gray to Green (Berkshire Regional Planning Commission), Berkshire Taconic, Aaron’s, RSI Signs, Berkshire Environment Action Team (BEAT), and Milltown Capital.

For more information, contact Tony Jackson at horacetee@aol.com or Marvin Purry at purrdawg32@aol.com.

Hot plate Brewing Co. on Becoming Top 3 Best New Brewery

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:49PM / Sunday, April 20, 2025

Hot Plate is located at 1 School St. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hot Plate Brewing Co. was recently recognized as No. 3 in USA Today's list of  "Best New Brewery."

 

A panel of beer experts selected their top picks and then readers cast their votes to determine the "10 Best" breweries founded since 2022, according to the publication. No. 1 was Frazier Creek Brewing & Distilling Co. in Stuart, Fla.

 

Hot Plate, which opened in 2023, is owned by couple Sarah Real and Mike Dell'Aquila.

 

"I started home brewing first, Sarah was just much better at it than me," Dell'Aquila laughed. He got a home brewing kit in 2013 and a couple of years later Real decided to try and brew as well.

 

"Hot Plate was sort of born when we were living in Brooklyn and the city came and turned off the gas in our condo building because there had been a code violation so that meant no heat, no hot water, no functioning stove," he said. "But Sarah had already decided that she really wanted to pursue this."

 

Real bought a hot plate to start brewing, a hot plate that is hanging up at their brewery today. 

 

Dell'Aquila said he wanted to change the industry through diversity, equity, and inclusion.