EASTHAMPTON

Nearly 50 artists, performers and craftspeople will showcase and demonstrate their art Oct. 2, on city sidewalks and in mill and home studios.

Easthampton Studio Tour Day is organized by Easthampton City Arts, the folks who brought you Bear Fest last summer.

The one-day event coincides with American Craft Week and is in many ways a hybrid of existing arts events in the city, such as twice-a-year open studios events at One Cottage Street and the Eastworks Building, and the monthly Art Walk Easthampton.

Easthampton City Arts also plans to use the event as a kickoff to the Town Hall-based arts group's "buy local art" campaign.

The organization will be distributing maps showing the location of each participating artist. Locations include sidewalks, the Eastworks Building, Cottage Street Studios, the Paragon Building, the old Town Hall and at least one home studio.

For more information and a full list of participating artists and locations, visit http://easthamptoncityarts.blogspot.com.

No change at Boathouse Beach

Mayor Michael A. Tautznik said last week that the city has no plans to revitalize the former Boathouse Beach off of Water Lane.

After being asked by Councilor Joy E. Winnie if there are plans for the longtime swimming hole now that the pond dredging is finished, Tautznik councilors that the area is too small for a formal public swimming area.

"There wouldn't be enough parking. The neighborhood would be overrun," Tautznik said. "In my mind, it stays a piece of public property that people can enjoy."

The boathouse that onced stored rental boats was removed during the dredging project because it was structurally unsound, he said.

Matt Pilon can be reached at mpilon@gazettenet.com.