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Weekend Outlook: Big E, Biodiversity, and More

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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There are a variety of events this weekend, including a fair, a biodiversity celebration, live music, and more. 
 
See a list of Farmer's Markets here.
 
Editor's Pick
 
The Big E
Eastern States Exposition, Springfield
Time: Sept. 13 to 29
 
New England's biggest fair runs through the end of the month. The fair features goods from all six New England states, specialty days, crafts, demonstrations, activities, agriculture, horse shows, and more. 
 
Tickets range from $12 to $20 for day passes. Special performances are priced separately. 
 
More information here
 
Friday
 
Friday the 13th Headbanger's Ball
Methuselah Bar and Lounge, Pittsfield 
Time: 9 to midnight
 
On Friday the 13th, Methuselah is hosting a Headbanger's Ball with DJ Pup Daddy, who will play classic rock from the 1970s, '80s and '90s.
 
More information here
 
Live Music with Les Chrostowsk
Bousquet Mountain Ski Area
Time: 7 p.m. 
 
Local musician Les Chrostowsk will perform in the resort's Drifters Bar and Restaurant. Information here
 
15th Berkshire Biodiversity Day
Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield
Time: noon Friday to noon Saturday
 
Twenty-four hours of "bioblitz" kicks off with an introduction to the college campus and will include talks and demonstrations about insects, amphibians, plants, birds and small animals. Held in conjunction with Berkshire Environmental Action Team and Nature Academy of the Berkshires.
 
Free and open to the public. More information on the event and bio activities here: www.berkshirebioblitz.org.
 
Fall Fright Night Hike 
Mount Greylock State Reservation, Lanesborough
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 
 
In celebration of the Harvest Moon, park interpreters Mike and Kristen will be leading a 1.5 mile spooky hike on the easy-moderate Bradley Farm Trail.
 
Hear the legends that surround the mountain including the ghost of Old Coot and Specter of the Brocken. 
 
Wear sturdy shoes for trail conditions and bring a flashlight or headlamp, water, bug spray and dress appropriately for a fall evening hike.
 
More information here
 
Amy Speace
Studio 9, North Adams
Time: 7:30 p.m.
 
Contemporary folk and Americana musician Amy Speace performs at Studio 9 at the Porches Inn, part of the Railway Concerts series. Her work has been critically acclaimed and her albums and singles have topped the folk music charts.
 
Tickets are $22 in advance, and $27 the day of the show, and can be purchased at studio9porches.com
 
Saturday 
 
Butterflies and Blooms
Greylock Glen, Adams
Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m. 
 
A Mass Audubon naturalist will lead a walk around the Glen Meadow trail loop to explore the temporary colors of wildflowers, butterflies, and other natural wonders. 
 
The program involves walking up to 1.7 miles on the level, gravel-paved Glen Meadow Trail loop at a slow pace. Tickets range from $10 to $15. 
 
More information here
  
Author Jen Daily
Lenox Library
Time: 11 to noon
 
Author, social worker, and brain-expert Jen Daily will be visiting a library for crafts and a book discussion on her new "The Magical Science of Feelings."
 
More information here
 
Smash the Stigma 
Great Barrington Town Hall
Time: noon to 3 p.m. 
 
South County Recovery Center will have a community based, family-friendly event, walk, and resource fair for substance use and recovery awareness.
 
This rally and event are designed to demonstrate the impact of addiction on the community, highlight available services, and provide hope by showing that recovery is achievable. 
 
More information here
 
 
The In-Betweens
Dotties Coffee Lounge, Pittsfield 
Time: 7 to 10 p.m. 
 
Electric guitar trio the InBetweens will be performing. The band is know for their improvised tangents and blurring the lines between genres. 
 
Doors open at 6. The event includes complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a full cash bar. More information here
 
Harvest Party 
100 Holiday Cottage Road, Dalton
Time: 6:30 p.m. 
 
There will be live music with Jack Waldheim and the Criminal Hearts, hay rides, and all-you-can eat tacos. Tickets range from $5 to $35. More information here
 
Sunday 
 
Christine Bilé Performance 
Location: Downtown Lenox 
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 
 
Soulful musician Christine Bilé will be performing at the Lenox Art Walk. More information here
 
PJ Library Celebrates Rosh Hashanah
Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield 
Time: 2 to 3:30 p.m. 
 
There will be a bee and honey program in time for Rosh Hashanah at the museum. The event includes entrance to the Village, a bee program, honey and apple tastings, and more. Tickets are $10 per family.
More information here
 
Housatonic Heritage Hike
Gulf Road Trailhead, Dalton
Time: 10 to 11:30 a.m. 
 
Local historian Joe Durwin will lead a hike of the Boulders and talk about its cultural significance. More information here
 
Community Cider Day and Chili Cookoff
508 State Rd, North Adams
Time: noon to 3 p.m. 
 
Berkshire Cider Project is hosting a community Cider Day and Chili Cookoff to raise funds for the Berkshire Food Project. 
 
Attendees can sample and vote on their favorite chef-prepared chili created by Berkshire chefs and the Cider Project will be serving non-alcoholic drinks and hard cider. 
 
More information here

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Letter: The Best Summer ... Until

Letter to the Editor

To the editor:

Oh what a summer it's been. I cannot remember a nicer summer than 2024. We used our pool more this year than the past 25 years we've lived here.

Hot, weeks at a time, pretty much no rain other than a few heavy storms that rolled in, and the real purpose of this letter, motorcycling. What an amazing summer, almost every day, sunshine and more sunshine, so much so that at times you would forget that biking is a defense ride more so than a true blast through the hills of the Berkshires especially the fall.

Every day out the door, the same "I love you, and be careful" see you in a bit.

Now my purpose, the roads. Everywhere I go there's people talking about that unbelievable poor conditions and the amount of construction going on, well, if you're in a car it's terrible but bearable (no pun intended) unless your on an air cooling motorcycle, that relies on air to cool the engine, which brings me to ... "The most atrocious set of speed bumps put in the middle of the road." Where you're asking? Exactly, Partridge Road, Pittsfield.

I wish someone had told me because I wasn't speeding when I hit the first one which I completely did not see, because it blends in so well with this newly paved road which I'm sure has brought on more traffic, speeding, texting while driving ect. ... until the residents said, "ENOUGH." But as I said, I wasn't speeding the day I traveled through going to the doctor's on my motorcycle, I hit the first speed bump going the speed limit and almost got killed.

It broke something on the front of my motorcycle and the bike couldn't stop from veering to the left as I tried to ride away, still wondering what happened, so thanks for the sign, you know the one, motorcycles take caution, milled area ahead, warning construction ahead, nope, none, a broken motorcycle, a real long day getting towed, almost got killed, and I was not speeding or offending anyone.

William Tatro
North Adams, Mass.

 

 

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