One, two, three, Zip! - Ziplining!

Under an hour from the inn, zipline tours at Berkshire East offers three different tours, one of New England’s largest zipline destinations and one of the top ten in the US and check out some other videos of the zipline tours at http://www.youtube.com/user/berkshirezip

Choose from one of three zip line canopy tours

Base Tour , Mountain Top Tour or Valley Jump

Check out more information about these tours at http://www.berkshirezip.com/

Phone reservations can be made with a BECT customer service representative at 413-339-6618 during normal business hours. Online reservations may be made at any time.   Walk up guests are welcome, but cannot always guarantee you a spot on the same day, so its best to make reservations. 413-339-6618 or book online at http://reservations.berkshireeast.com/express/reservation/results.jsf?typeID=1

Check out some facts on what to wear and more at http://berkshireeast.com/zip_faq

And find them on Facebook and Twitter too!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Berkshire-East-Canopy-Tours/94318020786 and

https://twitter.com/#!/BerkshireEast

Berkshire East Ski Area/Berkshire East

66 Thunder Mtn. Road Charlemont, MA

413-339-6618

Get Out and Raft!!!

photo courtesy of imma

The hottest days of summer are coming and what better way to cool off on a hot summers weekend, then go rafting!! Crab Apple White Water Rafting is about 45 minutes from the inn, perfect for an all day adventure or a morning or afternoon break. They also offer kayaking

Crab Apple Whitewater offers dam controlled whitewater rafting and kayaking in the Berkshires on the Deerfield River. Family owned and operated since 1983, Crab Apple features great river guides, riverside base camps and state-of-the-art equipment. Trips range from Mild to Wild, Full Day or Half Day

Crab Apple Whitewater

http://www.crabapplewhitewater.com/massachusetts/index.shtml

2056 Mohawk Trail, Charlemont, MA 01339

Massachusetts Base Phone Number 413-625-2288

Crab Apple offers several different options for rafting and ‘yaking:

Deerfield River - Fife Brook Section

Full Day Trip - 10 miles

Class I-III whitewater, Minimum age 8, delicious picnic lunch

Deerfield River - Monroe Bridge Section

Full Day Trip

Class III-IV whitewater, Minimum age 15, awesome cookout lunch

Deerfield River Funyaks

Half-Day Trip - 8 miles

Class I-II whitewater, Minimum ages 5 for double, 10 for single, riverside snack

Deerfield River Half-Day Family Raft Trip

Half-Day Trip - 8 miles

Easy Class I-II whitewater, Minimum age 5, riverside snack, optional cookout

Check out their helpful tips on what wear after the trip and what to bring with you!

http://www.crabapplewhitewater.com/faqs.shtml#3 and http://www.crabapplewhitewater.com/faqs.shtml#26  and for any questions you have about the trip before and after at http://www.crabapplewhitewater.com/faqs.shtml

Williamstown Theatre Festival starts this week!

The 2012 summer season starts on June 26^th with The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People. Directed by David Hyde Pierce

The play runs from June 26 through July 14, 2012

For tickets: http://www.wtfestival.org/buytickets

The Williamstown Theatre Festival has an interesting history spanning over 58 years. The theatre was started in 1955 by Ralph Renzi, the then News Director of Williams College, and David C. Bryant, chairman of the College’s active drama program. Read more at http://wtfestival.org/history

2012 On the Main Stage:

The Importance of Being Earnest By Oscar Wilde

June 26 – July 14

Directed by David Hyde Pierce

Far From Heaven

July 19 – 29

Book by Richard Greenberg

Directed by Michael Greif

A Month in the Country By Ivan Turgenev

August 1 – 19

Directed by Richard Nelson

2012 On the Nikos Stage:

The Blue Deep By Lucy Boyle

June 27 – July 8

Directed by Bob Balaban

Last of the Red Hot Lovers By Neil Simon

July 11 – 22

Directed by Jessica Stone

The Elephant Man By Bernard Pomerance

July 25 – August 5

Directed by Scott Ellis

WHADDABLOODCLOT!!! By Katori Hall

August 8 – 19

Directed by May Adrales

Here Lies Love

June 21, 22 & 23 @ 8pm, June 23 & 24 @ 3pm

The Hunter Center at MASS MoCA

Written by David Byrne

Directed by Alex Timbers

Other 2012 Events:

For a full updated list of “More” events, please visit http://www.wtfestival.org/2012/morefest

The architectural award-winning ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance is the summer home of the Williamstown Theatre Festival.  Located on the campus of Williams College, the building offers a modern theater experience.  Its Main Stage “courtyard” proscenium has 512 seats, is air conditioned and provides disabled access. 1000 Main Street, Williamstown, MA, only 5 minutes away from the 1896 House Inn.

Jacob’s Pillow, A Berkshire’s Gem

In the Berkshires we are getting ready for the seasonal opening of Jacob’s Pillow. On

June 16, the 80th Anniversary Season Opening Gala (http://www.jacobspillow.org/festival/2012/06/gala-2012/) was held marking the opening of the season. Celebrating eight decades of dance, it featured international renowned performers followed by a dinner and live auction.

Jacob’s Pillow offers free outdoor performances for the young and old. Check out their

Inside/Out series, performances by emerging and established dance companies and presentations by dancers of every Wednesday through Saturday at 6:15pm.

For the full schedule please visit http://www.jacobspillow.org/festival/insideout-schedule/index.php Performances start Wednesday, June 20.

Inside/Out moves to an indoor studio in the event of rain and seating is very limited indoors. Please call the Box Office at 413-243-0745 the day of the performance after 5:30 PM to learn if the performance has been moved to an indoor venue.

Ticketed performances begin June 20^th as well on a variety of stages.

2012 Schedule:

Mimulus, June 20-June 24, 2012

Circa, June 20-June 24, 2012

Morphoses, June 27-July 1, 2012

Kidd Pivot Frankfurt RM, June 27-July 1, 2012

Vertigo Dance Company, July 4-July 8, 2012

LeeSaar The Company, July 4-July 8, 2012

Borrowed Light by Tero Saarinen, July 11-July 15, 2012

The Men Dancers: From the Horse's Mouth, July 11-July 15, 2012,

Hong Kong Ballet, July 18-July 22, 2012

Luna Negra Dance Theater, July 18-July 22, 2012

Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, July 25-July 29, 2012

Jessica Lang Dance, July 25-July 29, 2012

Royal Winnipeg Ballet, August 1-August 5, 2012

Jonah Bokaer & David Hallberg, August 1-August 5, 2012

Trey McIntyre Project, August 8-August 12, 2012

Dance Heginbotham, August 8-August 12, 2012

Compagnie Käfig, August 15-August 19, 2012

Liz Gerring Dance Company, August 15-August 19, 2012

A Jazz Happening,August 19, 2012

The Joffrey Ballet, August 22-August 26, 2012

Doug Elkins and Friends' Fräulein Maria, August 22-August 26, 2012

For more information please visit:

http://www.jacobspillow.org/festival/events/ticketed-performances/

Jacob's Pillow Dance

358 George Carter Road

Becket, MA 01223

Box Office, March 3-August 28

Phone: 413-243-0745

http://www.jacobspillow.org/

Also check out: "Never Stand Still: Dancing at Jacob's Pillow"

Never Stand Still, a documentary about Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, Mass., and its founder Ted Shawn. http://www.filmjournal.com/filmjournal/content_display/reviews/specialty-releases/e3ieebd34100228bb43bff0ad4af13ffa6f

Get revved up this coming weekend for the British Invasion!

Once again the town of Lenox is going hold a three day festival, the Berkshire British Motorcar Festival, a lovely combination of antique cars with a dash of John Steed and Mrs. Peel. 

The festival is held this Father’s Day weekend, starting on Friday, June 15^th and going through the weekend until Sunday, June 17^th.

The event starts on Friday with a motorcar parade from the Shakespeare & Company to Main Street, and then kicks of the Main Street Party, sponsored by the Lenox Chamber of Commerce. 007 will be on hand to oversee the Sean Connery look alike competition.

All of the cars will be on display at the Shakespeare & Company grounds and a Judged Competition will take place based on appearance. There will be a complimentary shuttle service between the Shakespeare & Company grounds and Main Street, provided by the local chamber. Area shops and restaurants will offer special British themed options.

For more information please visit: http://berkshiremotorcarfestival.com/events/index.html

Check Out Herbfest!

Photo image courtesy Gracey 

It’s supposed to be a beautiful weekend in the Berkshires. If you are staying at the 1896 House Inn and looking for something to do, check out the Mt. Lebanon Herbfest in nearby New Lebanon, NY. (less then 30 minutes away from the inn).

The Herbfest is a two day festival held on the beautiful Darrow School campus on the grounds of Mount Lebanon Shaker Village. On Saturday June 9, there are local activities and retail offerings throughout town. On Sunday multiple workshops are held.

They recommend pre-registration for workshops as they do fill up. http://www.mountlebanonherbfest.com/june-10/registration-and-locavore-lunch/

More than 30 walks, talks, demonstrations and workshops on herbs in food, pharmacy, gardening and local history

Admission: $10 per person, $20 per family.

The HerbFest is held rain or shine.

Saturday June 9 events and activities

Morning Walk at Hand Hollow Conservation Area

Herbal Walk and Workshop

9:00-11:30 am

Hand Hollow Conservation Area

4079 Route 9, New Lebanon

All Ages – Free

Talk at the New Lebanon Library

1:00 pm at the New Lebanon Library on The Literary Herb

Cattail Walk

at Wyomanock Center for Sustainable Living, 68 Wyomanock Rd, Stephentown, NY

2:30pm

.

Please visit http://www.mountlebanonherbfest.com/june-9/activities/ for more information

Sunday June 10 events and activities

(Sunday has multiple events running at the same time)

10:00 am

Shaker Cooking with Herbs, (1 hour)

Making Herbal Creams and Salves, (1 hour)

Mohican History and the Gift of the Healing Waters of the Lebanon Springs, (1/2 hour)

10:30 am

Herb Gardens: Have one at your fingertips. Delightful to the eye, delicious to the taste. (1/2 hour)

11:00 am

Family Forage: Fun with edible herbs. (1 hour)

Herbal Tinctures for Health. (1/2 hour)

Recent Research into the Ecology of the Shaker Swamp. (1/2 hour)

11:30 a.m.

Green Clean: Cleaning Your Home with Herbs and Essential Oils. (1/2 hour)

Tracking Down Herbs of All Kinds in the Shaker Swamp. (1 and 1/2 hours).

12 noon

Herbs in Modern Cooking 1 hour.

Lebanon Springs: The Source of New Lebanon’s Healing Gift. (1/2 hour).

12:30 p.m.

Making Herbal Soap. (1 hour)

1:00 p.m.

Searching Attics, Papers and Memories: Understanding the Rise and Decline of the Tilden Pharmaceutical Company of New Lebanon. (1/2 hour)

1:30 p.m.

Creating a Living Herbal Wreath. (1 hour)

How to Use Chinese Herbs. (1/2 hour)

2 p.m

Every man his own Physician: Samuel Thomson, the Shakers and the Thomsonian System. (1/2 hour)

2:30 p.m.

Nettles: One of Nature’s Wonder Plants. (1/2 hour)

Native American Storytelling in the Tipi. (1/2 hour)

3:00 p.m.

Making Drinks with Bitters. (1 hour)

Wonderful Garlic. (1/2 hour)

Tea Served in the Beautiful Herb Garden at the Abode. (1 hour)

3:30 p.m.

Cello Concert by Paul de Jong. (1/2 hour)

The Living Machine: An Ecological Wastewater Treatment Solution (1/2 hour)

For more information about each workshop, visit http://www.mountlebanonherbfest.com/june-10/program-schedule/

1896 House Inn June Specials

June is a great time to enjoy the outdoors!

Stay 2 nights in any room, book either a "Bike & Picnic", "Kayak & Picnic", or "Pontoon & Picnic" Package, and get a $35 Gift Card for dinner at the popular '6House Pub!

Bike & Picnic

Bike the beautiful Ashuwillticook Rail Trail along scenic Cheshire Lake.

Find a serene spot to enjoy your freshly packed picnic. 

• Includes a 3-hour bike rental, helmet, and picnic.
• Picnic includes a tuna salad, turkey club, or
• Roast beef wrap with horseradish.
• Pickles & potato chips
• Chocolate Brownie
• Granny Smith Apple
• Bottle of Spring Water
• $39 per person

Kayak & Picnic

Glide over picturesque Pontoosuc Lake in your own kayak as you witness the foliage reflections in the water. Scramble over to an island for lunch, or connect your kayaks and dine in the middle of the lake!

• Includes a 1 hour kayak rental, life vest, and freshly packed picnic.
• Picnic includes a tuna salad, turkey club, or
• Roast beef wrap with horseradish.
• Pickles & potato chips
• Chocolate Brownie
• Granny Smith Apple
• Bottle of Spring Water
• $39 per person

Pontoon Picnic Package

Only 20 minutes drive away is the most beautiful Berkshires lake with gorgeous sunsets, and fabulous mountain views! Why not relax and enjoy a picnic while floating on your rental pontoon for a while?

Package includes boat rental and picnic for 2. Picnic includes 2 sandwiches, (roast beef, ham & cheese, tuna salad or chicken curry), 2 pieces of fruit, 2 chocolate brownies, potato chips, pickle, and choice of any house wine or 2 cans of beer.

I Hour Rental plus picnic for 2  $139 including tax

2 Hour rental Plus Picnic for 2   $ 219 including tax

*Many other packages available, including longer times, and more people.  Get a group together and share the cost!  We’ll make the arrangements!

Make your reservations NOW! at http://www.webervations.com/magic-scripts/resbook.asp?memberid=1896