Jan. 02, 2015 Article by Dave Read

Piretti Sports has been building and maintaining tennis courts and other types of athletic surfaces in the Berkshires for more than thirty years. We build and re-surface running tracks, in-line skating rinks, basketball courts, golf tees, putting greens, bocce courts, and volleyball courts. As U.S.P.T.A. tennis professionals, we know how a court should play. Our promise is to treat your court as if it were our own. Contact us whenever you have a question about your tennis court.

Order tennis court supplies online

Piretti Sports is the only contractor in the Berkshires to employ laser-grading, which ensures perfectly constructed athletic surfaces. We are a leader in constructing and re-surfacing all types of tennis court surfaces, including fast-dry, clay, synthetic, and acrylic surfaces. At our online store, you can order tennis court supplies:

• Grooming Equipment
• Line Tapes and Nails
• Nets and posts
• Screens and fencing
• Surfacing
• Tennis court accessories

Article by Dave Read.

Pittsfield, MA is home to a growing number of restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, pizzerias, taverns and bars as it continues to re-position itself from being seen as a manufacturing hub to being seen as a cultural destination and center of the Berkshires tourism industry. It is the largest city in Berkshire county, with a population of nearly 45K souls. It was named after William Pitt, as was Pittsburh, PA. The great American novel, Moby Dick, was written in Pittsfield, on Holmes Rd. by Herman Melville, whose family had a farm near the location of the County Club of Pittsfield.
[tabby title=”Restaurants”]

Featured listings

Luau Hale Asian Polynesian – Lenox

Prime Italian Steakhouse & Bar – Lenox
[tabby title=”Hotels”]
Windflower Inn – Gt. Barrington
[tabby title=”List your business”]

Berkshires business listings

If you want to make your website available to people searching for how to get to the Berkshires and what’s on the schedule at Tanglewood or Jacob’s Pillow, then please see this page:
Berkshires business listings.
[tabbyending]

Pittsfield, MA restaurant reviews

These sites provide reviews from people like you (links open in new windows): TripAdviser; Fodor’s.

• Adrien’s Diner
• 145 Wahconah St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-236-5928

• Amazing Pavilion Chinese
• 26 Dunham Mall, Pittsfield, MA
• 413-448-2647

• Angelina’s Submarine Shop
• 97 W Housatonic St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-443-7928

• Angelina’s Submarine Shop
• 306 Wahconah St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-5541

• Angelina’s Submarine Shop
• 100 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-443-9875

• Angelina’s Submarine Shop
• 133 Elm St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-8892

• Anna’s Pizza
• Rte 20 & Albany Rd., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-447-7119

• Applebee’s
• 555 Hubbard Ave, Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-5157

• Baba Louie’s
• 34 Depot St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-2400

• Bagels Too
• 166 North St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-0119

• Back 9 Nine Bar & Grille – G.E.A.A.
• 303 Crane Ave., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-442-3585

• Bella Roma
• Hubbard St. @ Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-496-9340

• Ben & Jerry’s
• 179 South St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-448-2250

• Black Thorne Grill
• 262 North St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-7044

• Brix Wine Bar
• 40 West St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-236-9463

• Brulees
• 41 North St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-443-0500

• Cafe Reva
• 238 Tyler St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-442-6161

• Cafe Roots
• 44 West St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-442-4226

• Casey’s Billiards
• 501 Dalton Ave Pittsfield, MA
• 413-997-2255

• Chameleons Nightclub
• 1350 East St, Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-2582

• China Wok
• 457 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-448-8810

• Cim’s Tavern
• 429 Fenn St, Pittsfield, MA
• 413-442-9430

• Crossroads Cafe
• 195 Onota St. Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-2108

• Daddyo’s Diner
• 505 East St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-1180

• Daly Special
• 137 North St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-442-5130

• Debbie Wong
• 315 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-3537

• Del Gallo Restaurant
• 390 Newell St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-447-9233

• Depot
• 450 Housatonic St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-684-1730

• Dewey’s
• 1 West St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-2000

• Digital Blend
• 76 North St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-445-9991

• Domino’s Pizza
• 1229 North St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-7979

• Domino’s Pizza
• 321 Elm St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-3994

• Dotties Coffee Lounge
• 444 North St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-443-1792

• Dragon
• 297 North St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-443-1234

• East Side Cafe
• 378 Newell St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-447-9405

• Elbow Room
• 881 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-447-9283

• Elizabeth’s
• 1264 East St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-448-8244

• Elm Street Luncheonette
• 123 Elm St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-447-9375

• Empire Pizza
• 413 North St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-443-0043

• Farr’s Deli
• 66 West St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-4007

• Flavours of Malaysia
• 75 North St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-443-3188

• Four Brothers Pizza
• 451 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-443-8112

• Fresco
• 483 W. Housatonic St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-6100

• Friendly’s
• 835 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-443-0282

• Friends Bar & Grille
• 117 Seymour St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-443-4477

• Gloria’s Place
• 26 Maple St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-655-8887

• Golden Phoenix
• 445 North St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-236-8688

• Grand Buffet Star Chinese
• 61 Cheshire Rd., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-442-7000

• Hermann Alexander’s Restaurant & Bar
• 24 Lyman St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-443-5705

• Highland Restaurant
• 100 Fenn St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-442-2457

• Hold The Anchovies
• 457 Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-443-2400

• Home Plate
• 751 East St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-447-9521

• Hot Dog Ranch
• 20 Linden St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-0055

• Hot Harry’s
• 724 Tyler St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-448-2220

• Hot Harry’s
• 37 North St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-448-6155

• House of India
• 443-3262., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-443-3262

• ITAM Lodge – Sons of Italy #564
• 93 Waubeek Rd, Pittsfield, MA 01201
• 413-443-7134

• J B’s Lounge
• 191 E Housatonic St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-684-9741

• Jillys Ice Cream
• 119 Elm St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-2961

• Jimmys Restaurant
• 114 W. Housatonic St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-1288

• Johnnies Variety Store
• 370 Pecks Rd., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-499-1960

• Johnny’s Beach Club
• 87 Wahconah St, Pittsfield, MA 01201
• 413-443-8468

• Juice N’ Java
• 216 Elm St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-236-5741

• Juice N’ Java
• 2 South St., Pittsfield, MA
• 413-236-8200

Continue for more Pittsfield, MA bars and nightclubs…

February 10, 2002 performance reviewed by Dave Read

The Blind Boys of Alabama and The Holmes Brothers inaugurated the W.E.B. DuBois concert series with thrilling shows in the Mahaiwe Theatre on February 10, 2002. Whether or not the town of Great Barrington ever decides to embrace the memory of its native son DuBois, it owes kudos to Club Helsinki for producing a concert that moved the town to the epicenter of the Gospel and Rhythm and Blues world, if only for one evening.

When you enter the Mahaiwe, the slick of modernity slips away and you’re in a place with no straight lines, no shiny surfaces, almost no separation between the performing space and the audience. It’s small enough for whispers, but big enough to hold a whole lotta music; and it has electricity too, which was put to good use by The Holmes Brothers, three masterful blues rockers whose express purpose is to “make a joyful noise to the rock of their salvation.”

Led by Wendell Holmes’s raspy ecstatic vocals and fanciful electric piano, kicked along by the sharp drumming of Popsy Dixon and throbbing bass of Sherman Holmes, who also harmonize to such effect that you’re thinking there must be a choir offstage, the Holmes Brothers opened with King Jesus Will Roll All Burdens Away, setting the tone for an evening of music that would reach unimaginable heights.

That song was one of several they played from “Speaking in Tongues,” widely regarded as one of the best albums of 2001. After three numbers at the keyboard, Wendell played electric guitar the rest of the way, delivering a little country twang, some straight ahead rock, and some searing, eccentric riffs of his own creation.

On the third tune, “one from our youth, called Precious Lord,” Popsy Dixon stepped away from his drumkit, donned his sports jacket, and took the vocal lead with a haunting voice and a penetrating gaze.

Wendell’s big brother Sherman also contributed nicely to the verbal mix in addition to maintaining a tastefully varied electric pulse throughout, especially on “Thank You Jesus,” where he and Wendell swapped lines back and forth.

The oddest thing of the night was that during intermission, while the Holmes Brothers were mingling and signing autographs in the crowded lobby, I was rueing the fate of the group that had to follow such an exciting and satisfying set. I soon learned though, that relative to a performance by the Blind Boys of Alabama, there is no opening act, everything theretofore is prologue.

Their performance centered on their latest release, the Grammy-nominated “Spirit of the Century.” “Run On For a Long Time” was the energetic opener, with leader Clarence Fountain belting out the verses and the others harmonizing on the chorus over a driving rhythm section. About sixty minutes later, Fountain introduced the a capella finale: “One mo’- one mo’- the Rolling Stones cut it, but it wasn’t a Rolling Stones song, it’s my song. Listen as I tell you… ‘This May Be The Last Time’…”

Fountain was an entertaining leader throughout, displaying an impish side when he would rise from his usual seated position, shrug his jacket off one shoulder, put his hand on his hip and mimic an Elvis move or two. He delighted in mentioning Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and reminded the audience to watch the group on the upcoming Grammy telecast. Introducing one number, he said, “I didn’t come all the way from Alabama looking for Jesus, I brought Him along.”

twenty minutes of ecstatic singing

The most stunning part of this astounding concert was Jimmy Carter’s twenty minutes of ecstatic singing, testifying, and witnessing among the audience, having been guided down from the stage by one of the sighted band members. It was a breathtaking, spellbinding performance by Carter, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Lateshow bandleader Paul Shaffer. His facial expressions showed the range of human emotions and his singing included holding a single note for what seemed to be as long as some entire pop tunes.

Meanwhile, the other Blind Boys were fully engaged with him in their own vocal ecstasy and the band was rocking ever more fervently, and loud enough to get the attention of sinners many miles away. Another highlight was the group’s Amazing Grace, set to the tune of House of the Rising Sun. (The popular arrangement of House of the Rising Sun has been credited to Dave Van Ronk, who passed away the day of this concert. Here is our 1999 interview with Dave Van Ronk.)

founder of sociology…

The evening began with a presentation in celebration of the life and work of Great Barrington native W.E.B. DuBois by children from the Jubilee School of Philadelphia, an alternative community school that grew out of a neighborhood reading program. In addition to reading their own tributes and poems, as well as some Langston Hughes poetry, the students talked about their own social studies research project; DuBois is recognized as a founder of sociology for his study of urban blacks in Philadelphia in 1896 and 1897. The children ended their presentation with a stirring rendition of Amazing Grace.