This Week in the Berkshires!

Photo courtesy of mparkes

It’s been a while friends! I got a little caught up in the Spring weather we were having here in Williamstown, which unfortunately has left and Winter has returned! This is great news for all of you skiers out there! We’re currently awaiting another winter storm and should be receiving around 3 inches or so of new snow. We still have our discounted lift tickets here at the front desk, so if you’re visiting to ski, don’t forget to ask me about our lift tickets at check-in! If you’re not visiting for skiing, there is still plenty for you to do while you visit. It’s actually a very busy, yet very entertaining week in the Berkshires. Dance parties, show cases, kitchen science experiments and more! There’s an event for all of our guests, young and old, rich and poor, and active and lazy! J Whoever you may be, make the most out of your visit here!

January 23^rd

Four Freedoms Forum-Agent for Change or Flash in the Pan?

Join the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA for their latest “Four Freedoms Forum,” which examines the idea of finding common ground in today’s political climate. The forum will address A Nation Divided: Getting Past the Impasse in our society. Speakers to be announced. Community conversation at the Four Freedoms Forums is free and open to the public. 5:30pm.

January 24^th

Darlingside

Berkshire Theatre Group of Pittsfield, MA presents Darlingside! Darlingside is a Massachusetts-based indie folk quartet. With four distinct voices clustered around a single microphone, their tightly-arranged tunes draw from the unexpected, featuring strains of bluegrass, classical and barbershop. Accompanied by an arsenal of classical strings, guitars, mandolin and percussion, these four close friends swap instruments from song to song, keeping audiences across the country on the edge of their seats. At the Garage, 8pm.

January 25^th

Berkshire Collects Opening Reception

Come to The Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA for Berkshire Collects! Berkshire Collects showcases Berkshire County residents’ passionate pursuit of every imaginable kind of object from motorcycles to beetle specimens, antique toasters, guitars, Victorian purses, wind-up toys, Pez dispensers, cartoons, and a host of other artifacts and memorabilia. Come celebrate the opening and see collections of the exhibit at the opening reception. 5pm – 7pm.

Kitchen Kaboom

Perform exciting- and fun- science experiments at The Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA! All experiments are kid-safe and can be recreated using items found in almost any kitchen. Each session will feature different experiments. Adult must accompany child. Call for reservations. 11am – 12pm.

Retro Dance Party

Bousquet Ski Resort and Summer Family Fun Center in Pittsfield, MA will be hosting a retro dance party! Drink Specials, Great Food, Dance Floor, Rockin’ Music, Costume Contest, Fun Times! DJ BFG. Must be 21+. $10 cover. 8pm.

January 26^th

Leo Lionni’s Swimmy, Frederick & Inch by Inch

Come to the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, MA for a fun event for the kiddos! The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia Presents: Leo Lionni’s Swimmy, Frederick, & Inch by Inch. Founded in 1972, The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia is a touring children’s theatre whose productions incorporate whimsical puppets. The show features an assortment of innovative puppetry styles and imaginative lighting techniques, as well as an original musical score. Recommended for ages 3 and up. Adults $20; Children $10. 2pm.

North County EATS! Restaurant Week

North Adams Chamber of Commerce of North Adams, MA presents, North County EATS! Restaurant Week!  Area restaurants will be offering a variety of prix fixe menus to please any palate and wallet. Participating restaurants have selected special menu choices ranging from price points of $5-$30 for breakfast, brunch, lunch and/or dinner. Click here for restaurants and menus.

Start planning for all of the events you wish to attend and be sure to book your rooms with me at The 1896 House! We’ll provide a cozy bed and the fun things to do, all you have to do is show up! And for those of you arriving today, be sure to plan accordingly to the weather, give yourself the extra time to travel and make SAFE decisions. We always prefer to see our guests in ONE piece please and thank you J As always, we’re looking forward to seeing you all this week! 

Welcome to the Berkshires! Emphasis on BRRRR!

Photo courtesy of JBTHEMILKER

We’ve been experiencing some CRAZY weather this week. The Berkshires might be one of the only places on the planet where you could get frostbite and sunburn in the same week! We’ve had some record lows this week coming in at -10 some nights only to be followed by a 40-degree day with rain that ultimately ended with a 5-degree evening with snow flurries! If you’re coming to visit any time this week, pack accordingly! This means bring clothes for all of the seasons because you just never know what you’re going to wake up to here! J

Rain, snow, ice or sun there are still many things to do in the Berkshires while you are visiting. Williams College music is up and running again this month, The Norman Rockwell Museum offers various events throughout the month as well as various hikes, workshops and family activities all over the area!

Williams College Music

January 8^th

Pre-Concert Talk with Brain Simalchik ’10 and Stephen Simalchik ’13 at 4:00pm

January 9^th

Festival of New Music: I/O Ensemble at 7:00pm

Festival of New Music: After Hours at 9:30pm

January 10^th

Festival of New Music: Counter induction at 8:00pm

January 11^th

Festival of New Music: Out of the Box at 12:00pm

Festival of New Music: Iota Ensemble at 8:00pm

January 10

Norman Rockwell: Humorous Tales and Little Known Facts

Come to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA and celebrate Norman Rockwell’s unique brand of humor during this engaging, enlightening series exploring the artist’s adventures in illustration, with Curator of Education Tom Daly. Free with Museum admission, members free. 2:30pm.

January 11

Family Day: Dance!

Venture to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA and discover the world of dance during this afternoon inspired by “Dancing Princesses: The Art of Ruth Sanderson.” Learn basic ballroom steps from Berkshire Ballroom, enjoy an illustrated look at dance courtesy of professional dancer/archivist Eugenia Kim, along with readings and art making opportunities. Free with Museum admission, members free. 1pm – 4pm.

Ring in the New Year Free Day

It’s your day at MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA! Enjoy free admission and brick-wall-to-brick-wall programming throughout the museum. Art-making, dance performances, roaming musicians, and gallery tours are available throughout the day. Elevator music (played live) and Lickety Split’s signature carrot cake are not to be missed!

Winter Trails Day at Notchview

Winter feels good, so come out and enjoy! Notchview in Windsor, MA is offering free lessons for people of all abilities- a great opportunity to learn or improve in a relaxed atmosphere. We’ll offer classical lessons, a wax clinic, and a winter snowshoe hike. Warm up with soup and sandwiches at our new café, and head back out for more fun. Trustee members & non-members: Half price trail fees, FREE hike & lessons. Snowshoes and Nordic Ski rentals with trail passes will be available free for two-hour periods for people to try; quantities of skis and snowshoes are limited. 10am – 3pm.

January 12

Hoosac Range/Savoy State Forest Winter Ecology Snowshoe and Hike

Join Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center in Windsor, MA and explore Savoy State Forest and the Hoosac Range, one of the highest elevation in MA, in winter on snowshoes (or hike if no snow) with naturalist Aimee Gelinas M.Ed. Learn about winter ecology, evergreen trees and animal tracks. Participants should wear warm, layered clothing, sturdy, waterproof boots, nylon pants and bring snowshoes if needed. Discounted snowshoe rentals available from hike leader. In the event of “no snow” this will be a hike. Directions sent upon registration. Please bring water and lunch. Email aimee@gaiaroots.com. Hike is FREE thanks to support from the cultural council of Northern Berkshires. 10am – 1pm.

Be sure to pack very warm clothes if you’re visiting us this week and especially if you plan to be outdoors during your visit because it’s SUPER cold outside! As always, enjoy yourselves while you’re here and look forward to your toasty room to come back to at The 1896 House and a warming meal at the ‘6 House Pub!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everybody! I hope you all had wonderful holidays full of love, health and happiness! I’ll be looking forward to fitting into all the pairs of pants I put away while feasting throughout the holidays, preferably sometime in 2014. J This is a good time to plan your getaways and vacations with us! Business is busy since we’ve had a couple of GREAT ski days here in the Berkshires. We always have discounted Jiminy tickets available here at the office.  Be sure to ask about them at check-in because they sold out VERY quickly last weekend. According to the forecast, it should be snowing everyday this week which should make for a quality ski and snowboard week. You can also check Jiminy’s snow report at http://www.jiminypeak.com/snow-report to be sure! And last but not least, events going on this week in the Berkshires and surrounding areas are as follows:

Starts January 1
Daily until January 2, 2014

29^th Annual Festival of Trees: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Travel through time at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA during Festival of Trees 2013: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow and celebrate the Museum’s 110th anniversary! Dazzling decorated trees will take visitors to the nostalgia of years past, the excitement of today’s fast-paced lifestyle, and the endless possibilities for the future. Monday – Friday 10am – 5pm; Sunday 12pm – 5pm.

January 3

Model Citizens

Find out what it was like to pose for America’s favorite illustrator from Ed Locke, the model for Norman Rockwell’s painting “The Runaway.“ Free with museum admission at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. 2:30pm.

Starts January 4
Weekly on Saturday until March 15, 2014

Hot Chocolate Saturdays

Each Saturday at the Bartholomew’s Cobble they invite you to join the crowd by grabbing some snowshoes, getting some fresh air and exercise and then chatting with them over a cup of hot chocolate in their Visitor Center. Free with admission. 9am – 4:30pm.


Stay warm folks! Make the best of the New Year and I’ll be looking forward to seeing you all when you visit The 1896 House in 2014!