Third Thursdays debut tonight

Berkshires Week
Berkshire Eagle
Article Last Updated:06/20/2007 02:52:47 PM EDT
Thursday, June 21

PITTSFIELD — Two outdoor stages will fill the air with music, while dozens of shops and restaurants open their doors tonight, for the debut of the new monthly afterhours event, 3rd.Thursdays. From 5 to 8 p.m., from the Colonial Theatre on South Street to Maplewood Avenue at North Street, residents and visitors can stroll or take a free trolley throughout downtown Pittsfield and enjoy theater sneak previews, open studios, live music and dance outdoors, sidewalk dining, free tours, shopping, art receptions, family activities and even outdoor karaoke.

3rd.Thursdays is a collaboration between the City of Pittsfield's Tourism Commission and Office of Cultural Development, Downtown Inc., the Berkshire Museum, Ferrin Gallery, Spice Restaurant, Storefront Artist Project and dozens of local businesses. The monthly afterhours events will continue to be held on the third Thursday of each month through October.

A few of tonight's 3rd.Thursdays highlights, listed from South Street northward, include:

The Colonial Theatre will offer a free behind-the-scenes tour at 6 p.m.

The Berkshire Museum hosts an outdoor performance by the Berkshire Bateria playing Brazilian music; La Fogata will serve food in the Museum's front garden. The Berkshire Museum will be open until 7 p.m.; admission is free to Berkshire County residents. The Museum shop will host a trunk show of jewelry by Marion Raser.

An outdoor art reception for the sculptors featured in this year's Artscape public art exhibition will be held at Park Square from 5 to 7 p.m. A mural by Brooklyn artist Dan Levenson will be on view on the YMCA building at 292 North St.

First Church Congregational on Park Square will open their doors for tours of the Tiffany windows and historic interior.

The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts will offer a free family arts activity in association with their current exhibit, "Aviary."

The Art.On.No artist collective at 311 North St. will feature open studios, microtheatre and more.

Spice Restaurant at 297 North St. will host a sneak preview of Barrington Stage Company's upcoming second stage musical, "Calvin Berger," followed by Latin drumming, dancing and music from Berkshire Pulse.

The Crispina Design Workshop, at 40 Melville St., will be open to visitors and feature special studio sales.

An outdoor stage on the lawn in front of St. Joseph's Convent in the 400 block of North Street will feature community dance performances by Youth Alive, Focus is Our Children, and others, as well as free karaoke.

The Ferrin Gallery at 433 North St. will host a preview reception of their opening show, "We Are Here."

Berkshire Fine Handcrafts hosts a drumming circle.

The 433 North Condominiums and the Maplewood Condominiums will host open houses and tours.

A free flyer listing all of the events, with a map, will be available from downtown merchants and participating locations. A free trolley will be running from South Street to North Street and Maplewood Avenue throughout the evening from 5 to 8 p.m. Events will be posted at www.culturalpittsfield.com.

Participating restaurants include Spice Restaurant and Lounge, Brix Wine Bar, Hot Harry's Fresh Burritos, Trattoria Rustica, Pancho's Mexican Restaurant, Bagels Too, the Brazilian Restaurant & Pub, Pittsfield Brew Works, House of India, Bellissimo Dolce café and others.

Other art shows open on 3rd.Thursday include the Jimbo Blachley show at the Storefront Artist Project Mainspace at 124 Fenn St.; the Rice Silk Mill show at Bagels Too at 166 North St.; photographs by Ernie Kirk at the offices of the Kinderhook Group, located at 137 North St.; and a work by video artist Vincent Goudreau by Gallery Boreas in a location to be announced.