September 6 First Fridays at Five

The September 6 First Fridays at Five will feature live music, art, dance, family fun, shopping, food, and entertainment throughout downtown Pittsfield.

 

The theme of the September 6th First Fridays at Five will be a Taste of Pittsfield and the event will also celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (which officially kicks off on September 15).

 

Get a Taste of Pittsfield with a section of the event dedicated to local food trucks, and there will also be many downtown restaurants serving food outside during the event. BB’s Hot Spot, D’s Island Food Truck, La Chalupa & La Enchilada, and Two Sisters’ Spirits will be among the featured food trucks.

 

Yo Soy Arte and Latinas413 will headline the September 6th event on the mobile City Stage with a curated line-up of artists with ties to Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil.

 

Singer and musician, Clara Guatta will kick off the event on the City Stage at 5:30 pm. Clara was born in Pittsfield, but her entire family is originally from Argentina, and she grew up in the city of Buenos Aires.

 

At 6:30 pm, Luana Dias David will perform. Luana is a performing artist and choreographer based in the Berkshires. Hailing from Sao Paulo, Brazil, she brings a rich cultural background steeped in Samba, Capoeira, Break Dancing, Latin Dance, Jazz, and Classic Ballet, which profoundly influence her dance philosophy and style. With over 20 years of experience as a performing artist and instructor, Luana has traveled globally, sharing her art and passion for dance. Her work authentically represents cultural dance pieces, evident in collaborations with esteemed organizations such as Jacob’s Pillow, Berkshire Pulse, and the Mill Town Foundation.

 

Cancioneros will close out the evening on the City Stage starting at 7:15 pm. Cancioneros features Mariano Cabrera (vocals/rhythm guitar), Erick Delmoral (Mexican guitarrón/guitar), and Juan Delmoral (lead guitar).

 

Mariano and Erick are originally from Atlixco, a city in the Mexican state of Puebla. The group was formed after Mariano was invited to work in restaurants, playing from table to table. He invited Erick to join, and years later, Juan, Erick’s son, joined the group, contributing a great natural talent for the guitar.

 

In the case of inclement weather, the performances will be at the First United Methodist Church, 55 Fenn Street.

 

Persip Park, 175 North Street, will feature a live performance by the Housie Shakers as part of the September 6 First Fridays at Five and the free Downtown Pittsfield Summer Music Series.

 

While the Housie Shakers are a new band on the Berkshire music scene, its members have deep local roots and have been playing music in the area for decades. All four members grew up in the Berkshires, and after various adventures living around the country and the world, returned here to raise their families. Having played together informally for various short-term projects in recent years, they decided the time was ripe to solidify the lineup and start playing out more.

 

The Housie Shakers bring a variety of styles to the mix, with wide-ranging covers and original music spanning rock, blues, pop, bluegrass, reggae, Americana, and improvisational groove. They don’t take themselves too seriously and have no ambitions to go on the road (as if the 12 kids they have collectively would make that possible anyway)… they’re just out to play local gigs and give people a chance to hang out, let loose, dance, and have a good time! The band’s name is a nod to their home community and the people and places that have shaped their musical journeys.

 

The Housie Shakers are Simeon Bittman (drums & vocals), Noah Cook-Dubin (guitar, cavaquinho & vocals), Jonathan Denmark (guitar & vocals), and Colin Ovitsky (bass).

 

In the case of inclement weather, the Housie Shakers will be at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue.

 

Sottile Park, at the corner of North and Eagle Street, will feature the Pittsfield Disability Commission which is the Community Partner for the September First Fridays at Five. They will be joined by AdLib, Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA), Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), and UCP of Western Massachusetts. UCP will be demonstrating assistive tech, DCR/Universal Access will be bringing equipment, and the Commission will have a table supporting the Get Out and Vote effort for people with disabilities with voter registration cards. There will be giveaways of disability flags, bracelets, popcorn, and water. Across the street, there will be an art show at AdLib, Inc: Center for Independent Living (215 North Street).

 

The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue, will present “OUT OF THE STUDIOS: Artists of the Lichtenstein”. “Out of the Studios” showcases artists who have studios at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts. These artists – Mario Caluori, Rick Casucci, Maru Dominguez, Peg Dotchin, Jim Horsford, Sean McCusker, Nicole Rizzo, Jesse Tobin McCauley, and Michael Vincent Bushy – will each contribute original artwork to the show. The artwork will span multiple genres – from painting to pottery to photography to bookmaking. There will be an opening reception with the artists on Friday, September 6, from 5 to 8 pm, and you can catch a few of the artists really getting “Out of the Studios” as they do live demos right in Palace Park (directly in front of The Lichtenstein) from 5 to 8 pm on Friday, September 6.

 

Among these artists is Jim Horsford who will be hosting a free live pottery demonstration at Palace Park from 5 to 8 pm where he will be inviting individuals to help him make pots on the potter’s wheel. Jim spent 30 years as an art teacher at Herberg Middle School from 1978 to 2008. Currently, he teaches pottery on the wheel at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts where he has been since 2000. His creations will be available for purchase.

 

In the case of inclement weather, the demo with Jim Horsford will be at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Avenue.

 

Hot Plate Brewing Co. will host a Beer Garden on School Street from 5 to 8 pm. School Street will be closed to traffic so you can take your beers outside, grab some delicious bites from Otto’s Kitchen & Comfort, and play some family-friendly games.

 

The Makers’ Market at First Fridays at Five will be on North Street between School Street and Fenn Street and will feature over two dozen local artisanal vendors who make their own, handmade products such as crafts, clothing and accessories, candles, art, custom gift items, self-care items, and packaged foods and sweets.

 

The Family Fun Zone at First Fridays at Five will be on Dunham Mall (100 North Street) and extending onto North Street, and will feature free, interactive activities from local non-profit organizations including face-painting, arts & crafts, games, and more. The Berkshire Museum will be bringing their Mobile Museum Unit. Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. will host a Free Kids’ Paint & Sip on Dunham Mall. The Balloonitik will be offering free balloon creations at Hot Harry’s, 37 North Street.

 

Participating organizations include Barrington Stage Company, BART, Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention, Berkshire Athenaeum, Berkshire County Head Start/Pittsfield CFCE, Berkshire County Kids Place, Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, Berkshire Theatre Group, Child Care of the Berkshires ParentChild+ program, CleanSlate Centers, Elizabeth Freeman Center, Foster MA/Adopt MA, NAMI Berkshire County, One Water Project, Pittsfield Public Schools, and the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum.

 

Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and Framework, 437 North Street, will feature the “Let It Shine! Emerging Artist Showcase” for the September 6 First Fridays Artswalk.

 

The Pittsfield Let It Shine! Public Art Partnership recently sought a student artist to co-create a new mural for the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority Intermodal Center. Shelsy Rodriguez was chosen, and she will work alongside a mentor artist (Jesse Tobin McCauley) to develop and execute a 20’w x 6’h transit-themed mural that will debut on Friday, September 6 during the First Fridays Artswalk/First Fridays at Five. Stop by the train platform at the Intermodal Center to see the unveiling at 5 pm!

 

Shelsy Rodriguez will also be the featured artist of the “Let It Shine! Emerging Artist Showcase” held at Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. and Framework for the month of September. The Showcase will feature other 2D student artists, currently enrolled or recent graduates of high school or college, living in or going to school in Pittsfield, MA. Artists will include Felipe Romero, Eternity Williams, Holly Dawson, Leora Cook-Dubin, and Arianna Roots.

 

There will be an opening reception with the artists on Friday, September 6, from 5 to 8 pm, and the show will be on view Monday-Friday through the end of September by visiting the Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. offices during normal business hours.

 

First Fridays Artswalk will showcase dozens of artists at venues throughout downtown Pittsfield from 5 to 8 pm including Berkshire Art Center, Berkshire Black Economic Council, Clock Tower Artists, Dottie’s Coffee Lounge, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., Hotel on North, Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Living in Recovery, Marie’s North Street Eatery and Gallery, Marketplace Cafe, Methuselah Bar and Lounge, NUarts gallery + studios, Roots and Dreams and Mustard Seeds, Soda Chef, THECOLLAB, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield. Follow a virtual walking tour on the free Downtown Pittsfield App and enjoy opening receptions with the artists.

 

Visit the free Open Studios event at the Clock Tower from 5 to 8 pm. A free art shuttle to and from the Clock Tower Artist Studios will run from 5 to 8 pm – every 15 minutes from City Hall on Allen Street. The Art Shuttle is provided and operated by RSVP Volunteers.

 

Clock Tower Artists (CTA) is the largest and most diverse contemporary, working artists’ group in Berkshire County. Now numbering more than a dozen working creatives, the Clock Tower Artists Open Studios will feature original paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures. Enjoy an insider’s look into the world of working artists. Newly installed gallery areas surrounding the studios also feature new work in the latest CTA group exhibition.

 

Berkshire Art Center, 141 North Street, will feature Free Drop-in Art Making from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. All ages are welcome to stop in to participate in a free art activity with the guidance and support of a faculty artist.

 

There will be a First Fridays After Party featuring DJ BFG at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge/Dorothy’s Estaminet, 438/444 North Street, from 7 to 10 pm. DJ BFG, aka Gabby Squailia, has been spinning for dance floors in the Berkshires for twenty years. She is known for seamless mixes, musical versatility, and crowd-reading acumen. There will be a full cash bar and coffee available for purchase. Doors open at 6 pm.

 

First Fridays at Five is a brand-new event led by the City of Pittsfield and Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. taking place in downtown Pittsfield from May-September. A portion of North Street and School Street will be closed during the event.

 

Season partners and sponsors include the Feigenbaum Foundation, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, Mill Town Foundation, MountainOne, and the Pittsfield Cultural Council.

 

For more information and a full event listing, visit https://lovepittsfield.com/first-fridays.

 

North Street will be closed from Park Square to Columbus Avenue on Friday, September 6 from 3 to 8:30 pm. Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes during this timeframe and follow appropriate detours. In addition, a parking restriction will be in place on North Street between Park Square and Columbus Avenue starting at 2 pm on Friday.