MCLA: Panel of Drag Performers to Celebrate Queer Identities and Performance Art

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) invites the community to an evening of discussion and insight featuring a panel of local drag performers as part of the annual Lavender Lecture.  
 
Panelists Vuronika Baked, Gemini DaBarbay, and Jackie Leggs will take the stage on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. in Venable Theater to share their personal experiences with drag and their journeys in exploring their queer identities. 
 
This panel, presented in a moderated Q&A format, offers an opportunity to hear from the performers about the role of drag in their lives, the challenges and triumphs they've faced, and how the art form has shaped their self-expression and activism. 
 
The event is sponsored by the MCLA Foundation Lavender Fund Donors, whose contributions continue to enrich campus life for LGBTQIA+ students. The Lavender Fund, launched in 2019, plays a critical role in bringing LGBTQIA+ speakers to campus, sending students to LGBTQIA+ conferences, and sponsoring trips to historic sites tied to the LGBTQIA+ civil rights movement. This initiative aims to foster a campus culture where LGBTQIA+ students feel supported and empowered. 
 
This event is free and open to the public. 
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Steeple City Social Slowly Opening in North Adams

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Andrew Fitch and Meghan Daly wanted a place where residents can gather for a coffee or a drink. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A new cafe, bakery, and bar is open on Eagle Street.
 
The long-awaited Steeple City Social is in "soft open" mode at the moment. Last weekend, friends and bakery partners Meghan Daly and Andrew Fitch opened the doors for people to see the new spot and try some of their items.
 
"It's right in the name with 'social' that we want it to be a space where people could hang out, spend time together, get a nice, you know, something nice to eat, and just really be in communication with each other," Daly said.
 
Fitch, a city councilor, and Daly started producing baked goods and beverages in 2023 at the North Adams Farmers Market as A&M Bakery and utilizing First Fridays as well.This was to help test a concept before making it a storefront.
 
"We were doing breakfast sandwiches and pastries and coffee and lemonade," Daly said. "And it was really just to kind of test the concept, and sort of it's a great way to get out there at the farmers market. So we did that every week for that summer. During that time, we also did some pop-up kind of bar concepts with First Fridays out on Eagle Street."
 
Fitch bought the former Pizza House building a couple years ago and knew he wanted to bring something to downtown for people to enjoy.
 
"So three years ago for me, I had this vision of, like, I'd love for these buildings to provide an excellent experience for everyone around town, and to really, like, help bring up all of downtown North Adams and to create a bunch of foot traffic. And I immediately, too, hoped that there would be kind of a daytime activity and an evening activity," Fitch said.
 
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