Berkshire Slipcover Outlet to open in Great Barrington

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Gt. Barrington – On Saturday, May 1st, the Berkshire Slipcover Outlet moves from Prime Outlets at Lee to Barrington Plaza in the space formerly occupied by the linen store, Open House. Coincidentally, the Berkshire Slipcover Outlet will also carry a variety of linens and home furnishings including slipcovers, decorative pillows, sheets, futon covers, chair pads and rugs. Owner, Liana Toscanini, says the new store is 2000 square feet and will feature more displays, more product lines, and increased staff. After making a profit in her first year of business, Toscanini is taking a calculated risk that moving to tourist mecca, Great Barrington, and doubling the size of the store will reap similar rewards within the next 12 months. “I love the concept of the ‘community mall,’ says Toscanini, referring to Barrington Plaza, home of Kmart, Price Chopper and The Bookloft. “My local and regional customers are thrilled we’re moving to such a convenient place.” A showcase for Sure Fit brand slipcovers, the store carries a full line of discounted, readymade covers for chairs, loveseats, sofas, dining chairs, folding chairs and ottomans as well as hard-to-find catalog items including slipcovers for wingback furniture, recliners, and chair ½’s. New this season are covers for sectional furniture. Toscanini also plans to introduce some custom work. “There is a need for smaller chair covers,” says Toscanini, who is responding by partnering with designer and seamstress, Jane Hason, to make “semi-custom” slipcovers for petite chairs. Customers will provide a few basic measurements and bring their seat cushion in to be custom-covered. This two-piece cover would look more like custom-made slipcovers but wouldn’t be quite as fitted says Toscanini. The Berkshire Slipcover Outlet is unique in the U.S. and may serve as a prototype for a future franchise operation. Toscanini , a resident of Sandisfield, was a Vice President at Sure Fit, the country’s largest slipcover manufacturer, for ten years prior to starting her retail venture. The store is open 7 days a week. For more information, call (413) 528-9737 or visit www.berkshireslipcoveroutlet.com .
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Bicycle Film Festival Comes to The Berkshires

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) has traveled to London, Tokyo, and Melbourne – in total 100 cities around the globe. 
 
Now, for the first time, this acclaimed festival celebrating the bicycle in all its forms lands in the Berkshires at The Stationery Factory in Dalton on June 16. 
 
Experience a day-long festival featuring two curated screenings of short films accompanied by family-friendly rides and bicycle-related vendors. The festival is hosted by the Pittsfield Community Design Center and the Berkshire Chapter of New England Mountain Biking Association (NEMBA). 
 
The festival's inaugural sponsor is Housatonic Heritage with more to come.
 
According to a press release:
 
BFF: Berkshires is designed to appeal to cyclists of all ages and interests from mountain bikers to long-distance racers and everyone in between. BFF: Berkshires offers an international window into the passionate cycling movement by presenting films of a caliber that speak to film connoisseurs and avid cyclists alike. These films celebrate what makes bicycling special and showcase why bicycling is attracting a growing following worldwide, including in the Berkshires.
 
"I wanted to bring the excitement I experienced watching the virtual Bicycle Film Festival over the past few years in person to my community in Western Massachusetts," BFF: Berkshires' co-producer and Pittsfield Community Design Center organizer Nick Russo said. "This festival promises to kick off a true bike renaissance that builds on work being done countywide from the expansion of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail to encouraging more students to bike to school."
 
With an Adventure Shorts screening at 2 pm and Select Shorts at 6 pm featuring 16+ films in total, BFF: Berkshires will bring local audiences a full range of documentaries, narratives, and animations by award-winning directors and emerging talents – all sharing equal billing. 
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