Dottie’s Coffee Lounge presents ‘Domingo Brunch’ featuring the music of Christine Bilé
Pittsfield— On Sunday, June 15th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dottie’s Coffee Lounge presents “Domingo Brunch,” a mix of delicious food, live music and extraordinary drinks with live music by Christine Bilé from 10 a.m. to noon.
Berkshire-based Christine Bilé is a singer-songwriter playing acoustic pop-folk music on guitar and ukulele — her music will empower you, make you smile, laugh, groove, and maybe even cry.
In 2010, Christine won the Pittsfield Youth Commission Talent Show, In 2012, Christine won Berkshire Idol, and in 2015, Christine won the Pittsfield High School Talent Show. She performed in Shakespeare and Company’s pre-Show concert series and has participated in Williamstown Theater Festival’s Community Works Program as the leading actress in Lucy Thurber “Orpheus in the Berkshires,” and as a composer for “Taiga in The Berkshires” and “Summer Soldier.” A Third Thursday and Berkshire Busk regular, she most recently, she Wilmington Ladybug Festival in Wilmington Delaware.
The brunch is on Sunday, June 15th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with live music from 10 a.m. to noon at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge, located at 438 North Street in Pittsfield. More information can be found online.
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Williams College Class of 1975 presents all-star tribute to gifted jazz pianist and composer Clyde Criner at the ’62 Center for Theater and Dance
Williamstown— On Saturday, June 14th from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., the Williams College Class of 1975 presents an all-star tribute to gifted jazz pianist and composer Clyde Criner at the ’62 Center for Theater and Dance.
The event features live performances by Clyde’s former bandmates, all world-class artists, playing pieces by Clyde, Avery Sharpe, Joe Gold, and Dr. Billy Taylor, for a 90-minute musical celebration of one of the most gifted jazz pianists and composers of his generation, Clyde Criner lll. Leading the All-Stars Quartet on bass will be Avery Sharpe, who was the bassist in McCoy Tyner’s group, appearing on more than 20 albums. Joining him on drums is Royal Hartigan, whose life’s focus has been on the sounds and meaning of the music of the world’s peoples. Performer, recording artist, composer, author, and Berklee College of Music Professor Joe Mulholland ’74, will command the piano. Rounding out the group on saxophone is Kris Allen, the Williams College Lyell B. Clay Artist in Residence.
There will be additional performances by Clyde’s Williams ’75 classmates including renowned poet Akua Lezli Hope, who will read her poetry to live music by Joe Gold; and a performance by guitarist and songwriter Reggie Garrett. There will be live and video remembrances by jazz superstars whom Clyde mentored and nurtured in their early years, and by childhood friends and musical colleagues from the Albany area where Clyde was born and raised.
Peter Hillman ’75, said “Clyde was a creative genius who had a unique and distinctive musical style that forged jazz, classical, blues, fusion, funk, gospel and other genres into what he liked to call ‘Contemporary Classic’ and African-American music. Sadly, he passed quite young, and his achievements and vision became overlooked until now, when we and those who knew, performed with, and loved him are proud and to proclaim his lasting contributions. Clyde positively affected so many lives and careers. This is really the first opportunity for some of those accomplished artists and classmates to celebrate his originality, and share their appreciation.”
The event is on Saturday, June 14th from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the ’62 Center at Williams College, located at 1000 Main Street in Williamstown. It is free and open to the public. More information can be found online.
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NAACP Berkshire County Branch to host annual Juneteenth celebration
Pittsfield— On Sunday, June 15th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the NAACP Berkshire County Branch invites the public to their annual Juneteenth celebration, honoring the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and celebrating Black freedom, culture, and community.
Juneteenth, also known as Black Independence Day, is a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. First celebrated in 1865 in Galveston, Texas, it honors African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continued reflection and advocacy.
The day begins at Pittsfield City Hall, located at 70 Allen Street, with the raising of the JuneteenthFlag and proclamations read by Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti and a special guest from the Massachusetts 54th Regiment Reenactment Unit. Following the ceremony, a Freedom Walk procession will lead participants to Durant Park, located at 30 John Street in Pittsfield’s historic Black West Side. There, a community worship service will open the day-long festival.
At Durant Park, there will be an unveiling of the design for a new Massachusetts 54th Regiment mural by sponsors Dr. Dennis Powell, President of NAACP, Berkshire County Branch; Dr. Shirley Edgerton, President and Founder of Rites of Passage and Empowerment Program (ROPE); and Tony Jackson, President of West Side Legends. The mural will be installed at Durant Park later in the year. The names of local men who served in the 54th Regiment will be honored in a special reading after the unveiling.
The day’s other festivities will include guest speaker Pittsfield High School junior and youth Juneteenth organizer Joshua Tandoh and a high school student stipend ceremony; live entertainment by Sekou McMiller & Friends, Uprising Dance Theatre, Sample the Cat, and DJ YoungChamp; a 5-on-5 basketball tournament fundraiser with Jerome Edgerton; as well as vendor booths, food trucks, community partner tabling story time, a children’s book and coloring book giveaway, face painting, games, crafts, and a bounce house.
The event is on Sunday, June 15th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Pittsfield City Hall, located at 70 Allen Street and Durant Park, located at 30 John Street in Pittsfield. There will be free ice cream for the first 200 attendees and free meal tickets for all fathers in attendance. The event is free and open to all. More information can be found online.
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Town of Lee and Multicultural BRIDGE present ‘Voices & Votes: Democracy in America,’ a Juneteenth workshop and celebration
Lee— On Wednesday, June 18th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Town of Lee and Multicultural BRIDGE, as part of the Smithsonian’s “Museum on Main Street” exhibit, present “Voices & Votes: Democracy in America,” a Juneteenth workshop and celebration.
Join Gwendolyn VanSant, Dr. Alexandria Russell, TJ West, and BRIDGE Youth Corps for a multigenerational conversation and celebration, honoring Juneteenth’s significance and its impact on American democracy, highlighting the historical and ongoing fight for freedom and justice for African Americans. Attendees will engage in discussions and cultural activities reflecting themes of democracy, freedom, and civic participation, encouraging reflection on the past, present, and future of democratic ideals in America.
The event is on Wednesday, June 18th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lee Premium Outlets, Suite B120 (left of Nautica.) There will be food by Momma Lo’s BBQ and Gwoup Zanmi Ayisyen of Solidarity Kitchen. More information can be found online.
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Clark Art Institute celebrates Juneteenth with special tours, a pop-up exhibition, and art-making
Williamstown— Thursday, June 19th, the Clark Art Institute celebrates Juneteenth with special tours, a pop-up exhibition, and art-making.
At 10:15 a.m. (adult) and 1 p.m. (all-ages), there will be tours of the Clark’s permanent collection galleries, showcasing how museums change the stories they tell, and how works of art can inspire a more dynamic and inclusive understanding of the past. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a specially curated pop-up exhibition at the Manton Study Center for Works on Paper displays a remarkable collection of early photography by and of African Americans, ranging from extravagant Harlem wedding photographs to stoic portraits of Civil War veterans in uniform. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., stop by the Museum Pavilion to create a self-portrait and experiment with all the different ways you would like to be portrayed.
The activities are on Thursday, June 19th at the Clark Art Institute, located at 225 South Street in Williamstown. More information can be found online.
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Olana Partnership presents Juneteenth Third Thursday at Olana State Historic Site
Hudson, N.Y.— On Thursday, June 19th, the Olana Partnership presents Third Thursday, a free monthly community day of tours and programs, at the Olana State Historic Site.
This month, Third Thursday falls on Juneteenth. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., you’re invited to a special Juneteenth Reading Room at the Wagon House Education Center to learn about this federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. There will be a selection of children’s books, kid-friendly historical resources, and reflective activities that encourage curiosity, and educators will be on hand to read along, guide discussions and support hands-on learning and meaningful conversation for visitors of all ages. From 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., visitors are invited to enjoy free (guided or self) landscape and house tours.
The event is on Thursday, June 19th at the Olana State Historic Site, located at 5720 NY-9G in Hudson, N.Y. All Third Thursday programs are free and open to the public. More information can be found online.
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Saint James Place presents The United States Army Field Band Soldiers’ Chorus
Great Barrington— On Sunday, June 15th from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., On Sunday, June 15th, Saint James Place presents The United States Army Field Band Soldiers’ Chorus.
Formed in 1957, the Soldiers’ Chorus is the vocal complement of The United States Army Field Band of Washington, DC. The 29-member mixed choral ensemble of trained singers travels throughout the nation and abroad, performing as a separate component and in joint concerts with the Concert Band as the “Musical Ambassadors of the Army” with an international reputation for presenting musical excellence and inspiring patriotism.
Commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States Army, the chorus will perform selections from their vast choral repertoire, including Broadway, opera, barbershop quartet, and Americana.
The free concert is on Sunday, June 15th from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Saint James Place. Tickets (maximum two per order) can only be acquired by emailing info@saintjamesplace.net. More information can be found online.
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Music Mountain Summer Festival presents Lysander Piano Trio for a Sunday afternoon chamber music concert
Falls Village, Conn.— On Sunday, June 15th at 3 p.m., Music Mountain Summer Festival presents Lysander Piano Trio for a Sunday afternoon chamber music concert.
Every Sunday afternoon in June, Music Mountain offers a riveting concert experience at its beautiful Gordon Hall, the acoustic gem built by Sears, Roebuck & Company’s prefabricated housing division in 1930, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Lysander Piano Trio returns — by audience demand — to perform an eclectic program built around Schumann’s “6 Pieces in Canonic Form” and Mendelssohn’s “Piano Trio in D Minor.”
The concert is on Sunday, June 15th at 3 p.m. at Music Mountain Summer Festival, located at 225 Music Mountain Road in Falls Village. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Ventfort Hall presents ‘Real Clothes, Real Lives, 200 years of What Women Wore,’ a tea and talk with author and Smith professor Kiki Smith
Lenox— On Tuesday, June 17th at 4 p.m., Ventfort Hall presents “Real Clothes, Real Lives, 200 years of What Women Wore,” a tea and talk about the historic clothing collection at Smith College with author and Smith professor Kiki Smith
What can we learn from an old worn house dress or a group of aprons? How about a 1940’s Girl Scout uniform? Using illustrations from her book, “Real Clothes, Real Lives: 200 Years of What Women Wore,” Kiki will speak about the historic clothing collection at Smith College, what it includes and why the pieces are great resources for research in many areas. The collection was founded 45 years ago by a student and is housed in the basement of the Theatre Building near the Costume Shop. The collection now numbers over 4000 pieces.
Obie Award-winning costume designer Kiki Smith has been a professor of Costume Design at the Smith College Theatre Department for over 50 year and is the Director of the Smith College Historic Clothing Collection. Her book “Real Clothes, Real Lives: 200 Years of What Women Wore” documents garments and accessories that are what she calls “real” clothes worn by “real” women for all aspects of their lives, including the “uniforms” of women’s many roles and jobs.
The talk is on Tuesday, June 17th at 4 p.m. at Ventfort Hall, located at 104 Walker Street in Lenox. A tea will be served after the presentation. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Clark Art Institute celebrates Father’s Day with an art pop-up and free activities
Williamstown— On Sunday, June 15th, the Clark Art Institute celebrates Father’s Day with an art pop-up and free activities.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., visit the Manton Study Center for Works on Paper to view “Dads in Art,” a curated pop-up exhibition of prints, drawings, and photographs that showcase both the strength and tenderness of the world’s fathers. At 2 p.m., join an interactive, all-ages tour in the permanent collection highlighting representations of nurturing, support, protection, and more. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., stop by the Museum Pavilion to design a bookmark with a message of appreciation for a special father figure in your life.
The activities are on Thursday, June 15th at the Clark Art Institute, located at 225 South Street in Williamstown. More information can be found online.
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Triplex Cinema presents a special sing and dance-along interactive screening of ‘Mamma Mia!’
Great Barrington— On Saturday, June 14th at 8:30 p.m., Triplex Cinema presents a special sing and dance-along interactive screening of “Mamma Mia!” complete with confetti, glow sticks, lyric sheets, and more!
The beloved Abba musical is a jukebox musical romantic comedy based on the award-winning theatrical production starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, Julie Waters, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Dominic Cooper, and Stellan Skarsgard.
The film features the songs of the pop group ABBA and tells the story of a young bride-to-be who invites three men to her upcoming wedding in Greece with the possibility that any of them could be her real father. The film was a gigantic worldwide hit inspiring a sequel and other theatrical productions.The best-selling soundtrack album features sixteen ABBA songs and reached number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and the DVD release broke records around the world and is one of the best-selling DVD’s of all time.
The screening is on Saturday, June 14th at 8:30 p.m. at The Triplex Cinema, located a 70 Railroad Street in Great Barrington. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market returns for third season
Berkshire— From June 17th through October 17th, the Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market will launch its third season bringing fresh, locally-sourced food directly to six communities across Berkshire County.
The innovative mobile market addresses food access challenges by delivering seasonal produce, eggs, meat, dairy products, and pantry staples such as bread, maple syrup, and honey to areas with limited access to fresh, healthy food options.
The 2025 season will serve six locations across Berkshire County:
- Cheshire Town Offices, 191 Church Street, Tuesdays 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Becket Becket Town Hall, 557 Main Street, Tuesdays 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m
- Pittsfield Wahconah Park, 105 Wahconah Street, Wednesdays 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Pittsfield Sheriff’s Office, 264 Second Street, Wednesdays 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Adams Town Offices, 19 Depot Street, Thursdays 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (closed June 19)
- Monterey Community Center, 468 Main Road, Fridays 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed July 4.)
The market prioritizes creating a welcoming, stigma-free environment where all community members can access fresh, local food with dignity. Operating on a tiered pricing system, the market ensures affordability for all community members. Customers can choose to pay full retail price, receive a 50% discount, or access products at no cost through the market’s food pantry option. The market also accepts SNAP/HIP benefits and Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons (WIC and Senior coupons.)
More information about the Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market can be found online.
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Lenox Library presents ‘Immigration 101,’ a two-part series on United States immigration law
Lenox— On Tuesdays, June 17th and June 24th at 5:30 p.m., the Lenox Library presents “Immigration 101,” a two-part series on United States immigration law.
The June 17th session, “An Introduction to Understanding Immigration Law,” will focus on how and why people immigrate to the United States, how things got to where they are today, and how individuals can make a difference in their communities.
The June 24th session, “Immigration Policy Today,” will explore some of the emerging legal issues that face the country, how Congress and the courts are responding to these issues, and how the American people are reacting to the response.
The programs will be presented by Frank Johnson, an attorney who retired from the practice of Immigration Law in 201. Johnson had been employed by the former Immigration and Naturalization Service as an immigration officer in a variety of capacities (e.g., inspector, adjudicator, criminal investigator, head of the Naturalization Program for Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and trial attorney). Several years later, he left government service to join a growing business immigration firm in Boston, from which he retired. He taught Immigration Law at Suffolk University Law School in Boston for ten years and participated in the national pro-bono Project to End Family Detention for eight years. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar and the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. He is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and actively supports its pro bono arm, the American Immigration Council. Retired from client work, Johnson continues to do pro bono consultation work.
The free programs are on Tuesdays, June 17th and June 24th at 5:30 p.m. at the Lenox Library, located at 18 Main Street in Lenox. More information can be found online.
