Close Encounters With Music to present the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
Great Barrington — On Saturday, May 6, at 6 p.m., Close Encounters With Music will present the Grammy Award-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.
Playing consistently to sold-out houses worldwide, the quartet’s inventive, critically acclaimed transcriptions of concert masterworks provide a fresh look at the music of the past, while their interpretations of works from the contemporary and world music realms continually break new ground. Haunting works from the time of Cervantes, breathtaking transcription from the opera “Carmen,” Copland’s Mexican songs, jazz, and an arrangement of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 as well as Far East and Irish classics will transport listeners around the world and through five centuries in a single concert experience. Also included in the program will be music by Claude Debussy and Heitor Villa-Lobos.
Tickets are $25–$45. For tickets and more information, see the Berkshire Edge calendar or call the Mahaiwe box office at (413) 528-0100.
–E.E.
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Construct to hold Mayfest fundraiser
Great Barrington — Construct Inc. will hold its annual Mayfest fundraiser on Monday, May 8, at 5:30 p.m. at Crissey Farm.
This year’s Mayfest will celebrate the theme of community building and will honor the Jane and Jack Fitzpatrick Trust. Founded in 2005, the Jane and Jack Fitzpatrick Trust supports projects that have a big impact in their community including Forest Springs, Construct’s newest community development that broke ground earlier this month.
The festive gala event will feature music by the Lucky Five as well as food and drink tastings from Aegean Breeze, Alta Restaurant and Wine Bar, Aroma Bar and Grill, Ayelada Frozen Yogurt, Baba Louie’s Pizza, Berkshire Mountain Bakery, Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Barrington Brewery & Restaurant, Cafe Adam, Castle Street Café, Chez Nous Bistro, Firefly Gastropub and Catering Co., Fuel Great Barrington, GB Eats, Gedney Farm, the Great Barrington Bagel Company & Deli, John Andrews Farmhouse Restaurant, The Marketplace Cafe, Nejaime’s Wine Cellars, Rawson Brook Farm, Olde Heritage Tavern, the Old Mill, the Prairie Whale, Prana Bar, the Red Lion Inn, Rubiner’s Cheesemongers & Grocers, the Stagecoach Tavern, Tangier Café, and the White Hart Inn.
Tickets are $75. For tickets and more information, call (413) 528-1985.
–E.E.
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Women’s Running Race to be free for participants
Pittsfield — The 40th annual Women’s Running Race will be held Sunday, May 14, at 9 a.m. at Berkshire Community College.
The all-female running event is believed to be the second oldest all-women’s race in the country and raises funds for women’s services throughout Berkshire County. Berkshire Running Center has taken over direction of the race in an effort to bring it to the next level in participation and fundraising. For this year’s race, BRC is focusing on the mission statement of the race founders: empowering girls and women to find their strength in fitness and in health through running and walking.
“We feel that by offering this event for free, it gives an invitation to women to join their peers, sisters, daughters and mothers, whether walking or running, as a demonstration of their strength and unity,” said race director Shiobbean Lemme. “We encourage everyone to make this a Mother’s Day tradition with your loved ones and friends.”
For more information or to register, contact Shiobbean Lemme at (413) 344-4472 or info@berkshirerunningcenter.com.
–E.E.
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CAS to screen ‘Jews and Baseball’
Great Barrington — As part of its Mini Film Series, Congregation Ahavath Sholom will screen the 2010 documentary film “Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story” on Sunday, May 7, at 5 p.m. Written by Pulitzer Prize winner Ira Berkow and narrated by actor Dustin Hoffman, the film discusses key Jewish ballplayers in each decade since baseball’s beginnings in the 1860s and includes archival footage and interviews including a session with the notoriously reclusive pitcjer Sandy Koufax. All are welcome and admission is free. A general discussion will follow the film. For more information, contact CAS at CASoffice15@gmail.com.
–E.E.
