Friday, July 11, 2025

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

BITS & BYTES: Marmen Quartet at Music Mountain; ‘HOMOS! A Solo Disaster Musical, bitch’ at The Foundry; Ariel Klein and Emilee Yawn at Eclipse Mill Gallery; ‘A Case for Love’ at Cathedral of the Beloved; Drag of the Berkshires Story Hour at Berkshire Botanical Garden; Comics workshop with March Grabber at Ramsdell Library; Berkshire Music School at Wander; High Lawn Farm at Chesterwood; Housatonic River cleanup with BEAT and HVA

Recent first prize winners at the prestigious Bordeaux and Banff International String Quartet competitions, the Marmen Quartet will perform quartets by Haydn and Grosshandler, as well as the Brahms Piano Quintet with pianist Victoria Schwartzman.

Music Mountain Summer Festival presents the Marmen Quartet

Falls Village, Conn.— On Sunday, June 22nd at 3 p.m., Music Mountain Summer Festival presents the Marmen Quartet. 

Flying from London (where they are based,) the Marmen Quartet will make their Music Mountain debut. Recent first prize winners at the prestigious Bordeaux and Banff International String Quartet Competitions, they will perform quartets by Haydn and Grosshandler, as well as the Brahms Piano Quintet with pianist Victoria Schwartzman.

The concert is on Sunday, June 22nd at 3 p.m. at Music Mountain Summer Festival, located at 225 Music Mountain Road in Falls Village, Conn. Tickets and more information can be found online. 

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The Foundry presents ‘HOMOS! A Solo Disaster Musical, bitch,’ the award-winning queer musical comedy

West Stockbridge— On Saturday, June 21st at 7:30 p.m., the award-winning queer musical comedy “HOMOS! A Solo Disaster Musical, bitch” by and starring Dan Kitrosser, that plays monthly at The Stonewall Inn, will play for one night only at The Foundry. 

“HOMOS! A Solo Disaster Musical, bitch” is exactly what it sounds like. Queer. Musical. Solo. And a disaster. The solo homo in question is Dan Kitrosser who wants nothing more than to put on his gay-as-heck apocalyptic musical, but with the world on the brink of collapse, he has to  do it all himself. Don’t miss this side-splitting tour de-farce! 

Courtesy The Foundry.

The show is on Saturday, June 21st at 7:30 p.m. at The Foundry, located at 2 Harris Street West in Stockbridge. The doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets and more information can be found online.

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Eclipse Mill Gallery presents ‘SOS,’ works by Ariel Klein and Emilee Yawn

North Adams— Through June 28th, Eclipse Mill Gallery presents “SOS,” works by Ariel Klein and Emilee Yawn. 

“SOS” is a universal call for help. It is also the title of the new exhibit by North Adams by local artists Ariel Klein and Emilee Yawn. “SOS” intertwines figurative abstract oil paintings, multimedia landscapes comprised of 100s of pinned images, and towers of whimsically painted paper tubes topped with live plants. The works on exhibit use materials fabricated specifically for artistic use and those scraps gleaned from the natural landscape of North Adams, various recycling bins, and their homes and studios.

Emilee Yawn, Untitled, 2025, Collage on panel, 36” x 72”. Courtesy Eclipse Mill Gallery.

The artists say the works bring to light a symbiosis that exists in every aspect of our current world. “We ravage natural resources to meet our never-ending demands yet turn to the natural world for relief. We commiserate with oppressed and war-devastated people, yet benefit financially from their suffering.” They ask, “If all relationships are actually circular, what good can be reaped from our disposable culture? If waste can yield art, can art then reciprocate and influence the choices human beings make so that less waste is created?”

The exhibit runs through June 28th at Eclipse Mill Gallery, located at 243 Union Street in North Adams. More information can be found online. 

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Cathedral of the Beloved presents at screening of  ‘A Case for Love’

Pittsfield— On Saturday, June 21st at 6:30 p.m., Cathedral of the Beloved, a Pittsfield interdenominational community, will host a movie night, featuring “A Case for Love” at Zion Lutheran Church.

“The documentary addresses the many divisions in our society and the “us vs. them” point of view that is so prevalent in our country today. Inspired by the teachings and writings of Bishop Michael Curry, best known for his passionate sermon about “The Power of Love” at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, this full-length feature examines the question of whether or not love, specifically—unselfish—love, is the solution to the extreme societal and political divide facing the world,” said the film’s producers. 

Courtesy Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.

The screening is on Saturday, June 21st at 6:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, located at 74 First Street in Pittsfield. There will be coffee, dessert, and conversation following the film. More information can be found online. 

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Berkshire Botanical Garden’s summer ‘Family Fridays’ series opens with Drag of the Berkshires Story Hour

Stockbridge— On Friday, June 20th at 11 a.m., Berkshire Botanical Garden’s summer “Family Fridays” series opens with Drag of the Berkshires Story Hour. 

Drag of the Berkshires Story Hour captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where everyone can be their authentic selves!

Courtesy Berkshire Botanical Garden.

The series runs on Fridays at 11 a.m. from June 20th to August 15th at Berkshire Botanical Garden, located at 5 West Stockbridge Road in Stockbridge. Next in the series on June 27th, the Grumbling Gryphons will perform “Anansi the Trickster Spider: A West African Folktale.” More information can be found online. 

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Great Barrington Libraries presents a comics workshop with special guest artist March Grabber at Ramsdell Library

Great Barrington— On Saturday, June 21st from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Great Barrington Libraries presents an all-day comics workshop for teens ages 12 to 18 with special guest artist March Grabber at the Ramsdell Library.

Visiting artist March Grabber will teach the basics of comic creation through presentations, group activities, and a final comic assignment. Come learn about comics!

March Grabber, ‘Self-portrait.’ Courtesy Great Barrington Libraries.

The free workshop is on Saturday, June 21st from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ramsdell Library, located at 1087 Main Street in Housatonic. Lunch will be provided. Registration and more information can be found online.

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Berkshire Music School presents a Disney-themed community sing-along at Wander

Pittsfield— On Sunday, June 22nd from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Berkshire Music School presents a Disney-themed community sing-along at Wander. 

You’re invited to a joyful, all-ages community sing-along where voices rise together in harmony and celebration. This special event features iconic Disney songs projected on a large screen — no stage fright, no pressure, just pure fun. Whether you’re a lifelong musical fan or just love to sing with others, come connect, express yourself, and be part of something uplifting.

Courtesy Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.

The event is on Sunday, June 22nd from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Wander, located at 34 Depot Street in Pittsfield. More information can be found online.

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Chesterwood and High Lawn Farm offer summer ice cream socials for children

Stockbridge— On Sundays, June 22nd, July 26th, and August 24th at 3 p.m., Chesterwood will revive a French family tradition with three Sunday afternoon Ice Cream Socials for children, in partnership with High Lawn Farm.

Around 1900, Daniel and wife Mary French began holding annual ice cream socials for all the children in the neighborhood and their daughter Margaret, who would’ve been about ten years old. This summer, Chesterwood is bringing back this fun family tradition. Aiming to recreate these social gatherings, there will be games and a scavenger hunt.

Ice Cream Social at Chesterwood, circa 1900. Courtesy Chesterwood.

Ice cream will be provided by the beloved local establishment High Lawn Farm. The flavor black raspberry chocolate chip, inspired by the French family’s tradition of enjoying berry and chocolate-filled desserts, will be served alongside vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.

The free socials are on Sundays, June 22nd, July 26th, and August 24th at 3 p.m. at Chesterwood, located at 4 Williamsville Road in Stockbridge. All families with children are welcome to attend. More information can be found online. RSVP to rsvp@chesterwood.com.

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Housatonic River cleanup with Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and Housatonic Valley Association

Pittsfield— On Saturday, June 21st from 9 a.m. to noon, volunteers are needed to help clean up the west branch of the Housatonic River with Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) and Housatonic Valley Association (HVA.) 

Cleanups make a considerable difference in the health of the Housatonic River. Over the years, BEAT and HVA have collected a startling array of debris — including mattresses, shopping carts, inflatable pools, bicycles, televisions, tires, construction materials, metal barrels, and all kinds of everyday trash. Once, they even found an empty ATM. Since beginning annual cleanups, their efforts have made a noticeable difference, with the piles of trash getting smaller. This wouldn’t be possible without the help of volunteers.

Courtesy BEAT and HVA.

The cleanup is on Saturday, June 21st from 9 a.m. to noon at Wahconah Park, located at 105 Wahconah Street in Pittsfield. After the cleanup. Volunteers should be prepared to get wet and dirty. Old clothes, a hat, sunscreen, old sneakers or waterproof boots/waders, a full water bottle, and sunglasses are recommended. Registered volunteers will receive a free lunch catered by a local restaurant. Registration and more information can be found online.

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