Happening this Week
FIRST FRIDAY PASSPORT KITCHEN: GLOBAL CUISINES
March 7th - June 6th, Fridays, 5PM - 7:30PM
This four-session series is designed to bring excitement and invite curiosity about the culinary world. Through hands-on, experiential learning, you’ll cover the basic techniques and flavor affinities from across the globe. In each of the four sessions, you will work with local and seasonal produce to explore internationally-influenced cuisine. Each session will focus on two to three curated dishes and will conclude with a family-style meal for all participants. $100 - $120 for an individual class, $335 - $385 for the whole series.
Berkshire Botanical Garden. 5 West Stockbridge Road. Stockbridge MA. 413.298.3926
Click here to register for this event
WRITING WORKSHOP: LETTERS OF GRATITUDE TO THE WOMEN WHO INSPIRE US
March 8th, Saturday, 2PM - 3:30PM
Artist Anita Kunz described her series “Original Sisters: Portraits of Tenacity and Courage” as “a love story.” It’s a thank you to women on whose shoulders I stand.” Following the artist’s lead, Jennifer Browdy, professor of women’s studies, literature and writing, will lead a writing workshop in honor of International Women’s Day, inviting participants to write letters of love and gratitude to women who have inspired them. She will also be leading tours at 11AM, 12PM and 1PM discussing the lives of some of the extraordinary women portrayed in the exhibition. Free with admission.
Norman Rockwell Museum. 9 Glendale Road. Stockbridge MA. 413.298.4100.
Click here to register for this event
BERKSHIRE BACH PORTALS: EVENING IN THE PALACE OF REASON
March 9th, Sunday, 3PM
Journalist and author James R. Gaines provides a lightly fictionalized account of the true-life event in 1747 that produced Bach’s late masterpiece, Das Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079. The evening includes a book reading and presentation by the author, a live performance of the famous trio sonata from the work and a discussion hosted by Berkshire Bach Artistic Director Eugene Drucker. $40 - $45.
Lenox Town Hall. 6 Walker Street. Lenox MA. 413.528.9555.
Click here to purchase tickets for this event
JAZZ DIPLOMACY: AMERICA’S CONVERSATION WITH THE WORLD
March 11th, Tuesday, 1PM
James Ketterer, Senior Fellow at the Center for Civic Engagement at Bard College, will lead a talk exploring the use of one of America’s great cultural creations—jazz—as a diplomatic tool. Starting in the 1950s, jazz was used as a way to counter Soviet propaganda, highlighting the contribution of great musicians like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie. But how did those musicians reconcile their status as global ambassadors of American culture with the challenges of the Civil Rights movement at home? The answer is manifested in the music they played, the compositions they created in response to encountering new cultures and the musicians they inspired around the world. $10 - $15.
Berkshire Community College. 1350 West Street. Pittsfield MA. 413.499.4660.
Click here to register for this event
SOURDOUGH BREAD BAKING CONTEST: DOUGHY DELIGHTS
March 14th, Friday, 5:30PM
The 4th Annual Sourdough Competition gives local home bakers a chance to showcase their skills and offers attendees a fun culinary experience. Bakers will enter their freshly-baked loaves of sourdough. The culinary judges include internationally renowned Richard Bourdon of Berkshire Mountain Bakery as well as other celebrated bread artisans—and another to be auctioned off in a raffle. Attendees are invited to sample the contestants' loaves along with complementary cheese boards from Rubiner’s Cheesemongers and wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages. Submission deadline for bakers is March 10th. $15 for bakers to register and attend, $30 spectators.
Dewey Hall. 91 Main Street. Sheffield MA. 413.429.1322.
Click here for more information