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Weekend Outlook: Art Openings, Celebrations, and More

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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Berkshire County is hosting a variety of events this chilly weekend including art openings, winter jam celebrations, musical performances, and more. 

Erin Rae performs at Tourists on Sunday. 

Friday, Feb. 3

Rev Tor's 11th Annual Dead of Winter Jam
Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield
 
Berkshire Theatre Group is hosting a mid-winter celebration to honor 58 years of Grateful Dead music beginning at 7:30 at the Colonial Theatre. 
 
Performances include Rev Tor's Dead Man's Waltz (formerly Steal Your Peach), Mark Mericer (Max Creek), Jen Durkin (Deep Banana Blackout), Mark Paradis (The Marks Brothers/Lobsters From Mars), and more. 
 
Tickets for the jam are $25. More information here
 
First Friday in North Adams
Downtown North Adams
 
This month's First Friday is themed "I Love North Adams." It features postcards written by residents to the city displayed around the downtown. A number of businesses will be open late and Hearts Pace Tea & Healing Lounge will have live music and mocktails from 6-9 p.m. Free shuttle service from Hoosac Hall downtown for students. 
 
More information at nachamber.org/firstfridays.
 
Brandi Dahari Art Opening
Hotel on North, Pittsfield
 
Get a taste of spring with an art opening at Hotel on North from 5 until 8 p.m. 
 
The event features spring-themed work by local teacher and artist Brandi Dahari. The reception features a meet and greet with the artist along with light refreshments. More information here
 
Basil Hayden Tasting & Dinner
Berkshire Palate, Pittsfield
 
Berkshire Palate hosts a tasting of five Basil Hayden whiskeys paired with the restaurant's creative bites beginning at 6 p.m. 
 
More information here
 
Jazz Performance
Methuselah Bar and Lounge, Pittsfield 
 
Upstate New York band Chad McLoughlin Trio plays at the lounge from 7 until 10 p.m. 
 
More information here
 
Music at The Legion
American Legion Drive North Adams
 
Country folk singer Ray Gifford performs from 7 until 10 p.m. His repertoire features acoustic sets of originals and cover songs.
 
More information here

Saturday, Feb. 4

Music at Mass MoCA
Mass MoCA, North Adams 
 
The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art hosts husband and wife duo Jaime Lozano and Florencia Cuenca at 8 p.m. 
 
The couple's "Broadway en Spanglish" interprets iconic Broadway musical songs with new arrangements by Lozano. The performance features a live accompaniment from mariachi ensemble Mariachi Real De Mexico de Ramon Ponce.
 
Tickets range from $22 to $46. More information here
 
 
North Adams Farmers Market
The Green, North Adams
 
Monthly winter farmers market at the Green in the Concourse at 85 Main St. Runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Local produce, eggs, meat and  Valentine's Day gifrts and treats. 
 
More information here
 
Music at the Methuselah
Methuselah Bar and Lounge, Pittsfield 
 
Pioneer Valley musician Nate Martel performs from 7 to 10 p.m. His set includes music from various genres and decades including classic rock/soul, '90s pop/rock covers, and some of his original music.
 
More information here.
 
Communitywide Hootenanny Havdalah
Knesset Israel Synagogue, Pittsfield
 
The Knesset Israel Synagogue hosts a Hootenanny Havdalah from 7 until 8 p.m. 
 
The ceremony features an evening of singing, jamming and schmoozing with the the Berkshire rabbis, local musicians and Hevreh of Southern Berkshire's artist-in-residence Peri Smilow. 
 
Community members can also livestream the ceremony at Knessetisrael.org/livestream.
 
More information here

Sunday, Feb. 5

Interclub GS Race
Bousquet Mountain, Pittsfield 
 
Bousquet Mountain holds Interclub giant slalom races from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. All are welcome to ski, snowboard, and watch the race but some terrain will be closed for racers. 
 
More information here
 
Concert at the Clark
Clark Art Institute, Williamstown
 
The Clark Art will be having a performance by experimental sound artists Bill Nace and Matt Krefting from 3 to 4 p.m.
 
Tickets range from $5 to $10. More information here
 
Mini Maker Market @ Greylock WORKS
Greylock Works, North Adams 
 
Greylock Works, located at 508 State Road, hosts a mini market from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The market features food from the Break Room alongside products from local artisan vendors.
 
More information here
 
Erin Rae Live At Tourists
Tourists Welcome, North Adams 
 
Tourist resort, 915 State Road, hosts Nashville folk pop band Erin Rae at 8 p.m. 
 
Admission is free but space is limited. Cash tip for the band is encouraged. More information here.
 
Animal Support Project Fantasy Photos 
Benson's Pet Center, Pittsfield
 
Benson's Pet Center's photo op for pets runs from noon until 3. For a $10 donation, pet parents can bring home a 4-by-6 inch framed keepsake. There are two themes to choose from: Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras.  
 
More information here
 

Sunday, Feb. 5

 
Full Moon Owl Prowl
Sheep Hill, Williamstown
 
Williamstown Rural Lands hosts an evening of owls at Sheep Hill with  with wildlife biologist and owl expert Katherine Gura. 
 
Activities include a short talk and less  than one-mile walk, story time, snacks, bonfire and crafts. 
 
No registration necessary. For inquiries, email programs@rurallands.org.

Multiple Day: 

Collaborative Performance at Mass MoCA
Mass MoCA, North Adams 
 
Mass MoCA hosts collaborative performances by M. Elijah Sueuga and Armando Guadalupe Cortés this Friday and Saturday.
 
The performance converges on the artists' interest in sound as well as a shared geography. The title  "La Seca" refers to the dry season in a vast region that stretches through Mexico and into the U.S. southwest. 
 
Sueuga responds to Cortés' work with "Castillos," a performance within an installation. The video projection and a sonic composition that frames la(s) Seca(s) as a prelude of change to come.
 
This performance is free with museum admission. More information here

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Clarksburg Joining Drug Prevention Coalition

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Select Board has agreed to join a collaborative effort for drug prevention and harm reduction.
 
The new coalition will hire a North County community coordinator who will be headquartered on the North Adams Regional Hospital campus and who oversee allocations for harm reduction, education and prevention efforts. Berkshire Health Systems has also committed about $120,000 over the next five years. 
 
Clarksburg, one of the first communities to sign on to the opioid lawsuit filed by a consortium of states several years ago, has so far received payouts of $23,594.78. It's expected to receive nearly $64,000 by the end of the 16-year payout. 
 
In October, the board had discussed whether to pool that money with other communities, expressing concerns that the small town would not receive enough benefits.
 
"Anytime there's a pooling of money I think countywide, I think we know where the bulk goes to," said member Colton Andrew said Monday. "I'm more open to the idea of keeping the money here but open to hearing your intentions and how the mony will be allocated."
 
Chair Robert Norcross said he felt there seemed to be a focus on harm reduction, such as the use of Narcan, and not enough for prevention or problem-solving.
 
But after hearing from members of the nascent coalition, members voted Monday night to partner with other Northern Berkshire communities.
 
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