Rachel Louchen reports from Pittsfield. Zombies descended upon Dottie's Coffee Lounge on Saturday, March 7 to celebrate the release of Gabriel Squailia's debut novel, Dead Boys, which tells the story of corpses and the underworld. Guests were painted and dressed in varying stages of decay as they enjoyed food, drinks and music from DJ Casey Meade. An animated staged reading was performed by the author and his friends, and signed copies of the book -- hot off the presses -- were available for purchase. Turnout for the event, thrown by Darling Event Design, was strong, as friends came out to support Pittsfield's Squailia, also known as DJ BFG, a passionate supporter of arts and culture in the region. Above, the author with his wife, Najwa Squailia.
Jared Vello and Dottie's owner Jessica Lamb with her daughter.
Sharae Gadson, teller at Greylock Federal Credit Union and Eliza Ryan; Colin Gold particpated in the staged reading, here with the author's father, Richard Squailia.
Cynthia Mole and Marilyn Ryan of Boys & Girls Club of Pittsfield; Raymond Jacoub and Monica Bliss of Town Players of Pittsfield.
Sara Katzoff of Berkshire Fringe, Sara Mugridge, Nichole Calero and Leah Parker.
Friends of the author: Candy Jeweski, Katerina Penna and Paul Dodds; Veronica Martin and Casablanca Lenox's Tony Chojnowski.
Lanesborough residents Karen and Hank Gold came out to support Gabriel; Autumn Doyle bewitches Colleen Surprise Jones.
Theo Pulfer-terino, Rebecca Weinman and Dottie's Sam Burnham, who painted guests into zombies.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
