image description

Cultural Pittsfield This Week: Aug. 7-13

Print Story | Email Story
For the month of August, the First Friday Artswalk has been re-imagined to encompass outdoor locations perfect for a socially distanced walk around downtown, plus three indoor locations. Enjoy four new art shows, PHS student art, and Artscape's Pittsfield Paintboxes featuring work by more than a dozen accomplished regional artists on Friday, Aug. 7 from 5-8 p.m. and all month long! Be sure to maintain a physical distance of six feet from other individuals and wear your mask. See you soon!

  FUN & LEARNING
 
A shy Midwestern man leads an outrageous double life as a cocky Londoner in Barrington Stage Company's sexually charged and wickedly funny one-man thriller Harry Clarke, starring Mark H. Dold. Moving to NYC, Harry presents himself as a Brit and charms his way into a wealthy family's life, but his increasingly risky behavior threatens to undo more than his persona. Now - Sunday, Aug. 16. 

This week at the Virtual Pillow: As part of its virtual summer festival offerings, Jacob's Pillow invites you to dance with your family, hear from choreographer Liz Lerman, take a modern master class with Darrell Grand Moultrie, catch a performance by Bereishit Dance Company, and more.
Plus...

  FAMILY FRIENDLY
Mass Audubon's properties are now open and the organization is currently holding in-person and online classes for all ages. Children can explore the ins and outs of Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary or participate in virtual camp adventures. Adults can enjoy hikes and birding at The Mount or virtual ecology talks.
Sign up now to join Otha Day and Berkshire Music School for Drum2TalkTEENS from August 17-21. FREE. Space is limited; pre-registration required at 413-442-1411. This is a hands-on experience for teens to experience drumming while connecting with each other. This is an opportunity to process emotions and experiences they've encountered during a very stressful 2020, including their own relationships to race, diversity, and belonging in America. 
Plus...

  SHOP LOCAL / EAT LOCAL
Hotel on North's outdoor culinary and cocktail experience, "The Backlot," welcomes back M & J's Taste of Home, plus lawn games and a full bar! Friday & Saturday from 4-9 p.m. Reservations are recommended. 
Roots Rising's Virtual Farmers Market is open for viewing all week long! Online shopping is available from Monday at noon until Tuesday at 7:30 a.m., or until the maximum order limit is reached. Shopping for Benefits Day is on designated Tuesdays at noon. If you would like to volunteer to help Roots Rising with Saturday packing and delivery, click here.
Berkshire General Store | Berkshire Mountain Bakery | Berkshire Organics | Braise Worthy | District Kitchen & Bar | Dottie's Coffee Lounge | Flavours of Malaysia | Flo's Diner | Forthill Farm | Guido's Fresh Marketplace | Hangar Pub & Grill | Highland Restaurant | Hot Harry's Fresh Burritos | Hot Tomatoes Pizza | House of India | Jae's at Hilton Garden Inn | La Fogata | The Lantern Bar & Grill | The Marketplace Cafe | Mazzeo's Ristorante | Methuselah Bar & Lounge | Mission Restaurant | New Amazing Pavilion | O'Laughlin's Pub | Otto's Kitchen & Comfort | Pancho's Mexican Restaurant | Papa Joe's Ristorante & Pizzeria | Patrick's Pub | Pittsfield Health Food Centre | Pittsfield Rye Bakery | The Proprietor's Lodge | Seeds Market Cafe | That's a Wrap | Thrive Vegan Diner | Tito's Mexican Grille | Trattoria Rustica | Zucco's Family Restaurant | Roots Rising Virtual Farmers Market

  RESOURCES
Do you have a photograph, story, song, video, artwork, letter, or object that captures some aspect of your or your community's experience with the COVID-19 pandemic? Share them with Berkshire Museum, the Berkshire Athenaeum, and the Berkshire County Historical Society! In the future, your contributions will help tell the story of how our lives were changed during this remarkable time in history.
1Berkshire has compiled a list of online sites where you can find information on a number of topics, including an explanation of our state's reopening plan. You can also visit the City of Pittsfield's COVID-19 webpage for updates and helpful resources.

 

Plus...

 

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

Pittsfield Looks to Update Zoning for ADUs

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Accessory dwelling units will be by-right in early 2025 and the city wants to be prepared.

On Tuesday, the Community Development Board voted to become the petitioner for amendments to the City Code that reflect the new ADU legislation. City Planner Kevin Rayner has crafted a draft ordinance that the board will dig into before it goes to the City Council.

As a part of the $4.1 billion Affordable Homes Act signed into law over the summer, ADUs up to 900 square feet can be built by right in single-family zoning districts.

"This legislation will go into effect February 2, 2025, so we're trying to get our ordinance to accommodate ADUs by that point," Rayner said.

"Our ordinance wasn't prohibitive against accessory dwelling units, but we do need to up our dimensional requirements to kind of accommodate for them as they are, sort of like an accessory structure, in a way but they have some different requirements because they are being used as a dwelling."

The city plans to allow ADUs in a one- to two-family residential use, allowing for duplexes that meet other requirements to have one.

Most of the amendments will take place in Article 23 Section 9.101, which outlines restrictions for accessory buildings.  

"They're mostly dimensional. We're going to make it so that maybe you can't take up more than 20 percent of the lot coverage," Rayner said.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories

Community News
image description

New 63-Year-Old Lost Postcard United With Intended Recipient

Community News
Health News
image description

Dalton Water Chief Says Lead in Lines Unlikely

Health News
Community News
image description

Mass Federal Funding Office Starts Outreach in Berkshires

Community News
Business
image description

Pittsfield's Site 9 Near-Complete, Funding Secured for Sites 7 &...

Business
Community News
image description

Tile Mural 'Shapes of Togetherness' Unveiled in Downtown...

Community News
Community News
image description

Dalton Committee Works to Combat the Pines Trailhead Vandals

Community News
Latest Stories
Previous Next

What's Trending?