EASTHAMPTON — Public input from a March community meeting has been developed into concept designs in an effort to improve one of the city’s main thoroughfares, Main Street.

As an introduction to those preliminary concepts for the now estimated $14.7 million infrastructure project, city officials are hosting an open house on Tuesday, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Easthampton Congregational Church.

The event includes a brief presentation and interactive stations where the public can view the designs up close and at their own pace, according to City Engineer Daniel Murphy.

The public can submit feedback on the preliminary designs at tinyurl.com/MainStreetEasthampton.

For those who can’t make it in person, the presentation will be available live at meet.google.com/gos-yzsv-jdx.

CitySpace’s pop-up market

At this Thursday’s Art Walk, 20 artists will offer handcrafted gifts and creations in the Blue Room at Old Town Hall from 5 to 8 p.m.

Items include clothing, cards, prints, paintings, pottery, photography and books from vendors Annaleah Moon Studios, Beth Maciorowski, Deborah Yaffe Mixed Media Art, Everett McKee, Heather Geoffrey/Ouroboros Studios, Jennifer Ablard Photography, Kahli Hernandez, L00ky.here, Leopard Frog, Martha Ture, Mt. Tamalpais Photography, Rachel Federico, Artraskl.,Ricci Arcana by Kyle Ricci, Robin G. Photo Art, Blue Monday Studio, Sarah King, Siggie Zampa, The Art of Christina Gusek, Thumbsucker_Designs, and Tiny Clay Home.

The pop-ups are made possible by funding from the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts and the Mass Cultural Council.

For more information, visit cityspaceeasthampton.org/popup

Cultural Chaos returns

The city’s annual street festival, Cultural Chaos, is celebrating its 10th anniversary on Saturday.

From aerial artists, local makers and poets to soulful musicians and dancers, Cultural Chaos has become an annual jamboree that attracts thousands of people to Easthampton.

This year’s event, which will be held from noon to 5 p.m., will feature several performances simultaneously downtown.

At the river valley stage on Cottage Street, Easthampton dance school Art in Motion is hosting a community dance stage featuring artists from all over the Valley. Performances include, but are not limited to, ballet, belly dance and hip-hop. Other shows at this stage include New Orleans style brass band Krewe Le Gras and Salsa Train Orchestra.

At the prindle stage, located at Williston Avenue, performers include Christa Joy & The Honeybees, Soul Magnets, Ron Smith with African drumming, and Pamela Means Jazz Project.

The Route 141 stage at Nini’s Italian Ristorante includes Stephen Peter Rodgers, Tony Silva, Anders Warringer and Khalif Neville.

Other downtown activities include SHOW Circus Studio, poetry on demand, salsa dance lessons, Caravan Puppets Puppet Parade, The Orbitron and Easthampton Clay’s Community Clay Crush.

Admission to Cultural Chaos is free.

Prior to Cultural Chaos, Easthampton Fire Department is hosting an open house at the public safety complex at 32 Payson Ave. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Coffee hour

State Rep. Dan Carey, D-Easthampton, will be hosting a coffee hour at the Easthampton Council on Aging, located at 19 Union St., on Friday, June 9 at 1 p.m.

For more information, call 413-527-6151, ext. 0.

Library co-hosts virtual Pride event

Westhampton Public Library is co-hosting “Dishing Out Drag” virtual event with more than 30 other libraries on Saturday, 10 a.m. at 4 p.m.

The Pride event is hosted by drag queen Giganta Smalls, who will describe what life is like as a drag performer and offer a few tips regarding her make-up and costumes. The library recommends the event for attendees aged 13 and older.

Earlier this year, Giganta Smalls presented a children’s story hour at Jones Library in Amherst.

The program has been made possible by a discretionary fund of the trustees of the Rowley Public Library, Haverhill Public Library and Wilmington Memorial Library.

To register for the program, visit https://bit.ly/3WRPLzV.

Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.]]>