Thanksgiving in the Berkshires!

Photo courtesy of mensatic

Happy Thanksgiving Eve to you all! I hope everybody has fun plans with the family for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday and weekend. If you don’t have anything planned, there is SO many fun and festive things to do here in the Berkshires to ensure you thoroughly enjoy your Thanksgiving visit!

Take the family to North Adams, MA for the annual Tree Lighting Celebration, shop ‘til you drop at the Lee Outlets in Lee, MA or enjoy a tasty feast like our ancestors did at Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield. MA. Whatever it may be, we’ve got it going on here this week!

November 27th

North Adams Tree Lighting Celebration:

Tonight! Join hundreds of festive faces as North Adams, MA gears up for the holiday season with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Hometown Holidays kick-off event! A crowd will gather around the tree at Monument Square on Main Street (between the First Congregational and First Baptist Churches), and count down the seconds until the switch is thrown and thousands of twinkling lights adorn the downtown. Santa will stop in for a visit with free goodie bags for the little ones. Holiday music will be provided by the Drury High School Band.

November 29th (until December 1^st)

“Midnight Madness After Thanksgiving Sale”. Attention all you avid holiday shoppers! Don’t miss the biggest sale of the year! Enjoy exceptional holiday savings and extended shopping hours at Lee Premium Outlets in Lee, MA. Plan Ahead! 

“Thanksgiving Trunk Show” at Good Purpose Gallery & Spectrum Playhouse in Lee, MA, with custom handmade shoes and handbags. Molly Grant of Deerfield, New Hampshire carries on the Cordwainer tradition of custom handmade footwear that also includes her own line of handbags. Traveling the country to fine juried craft shows, creating shoes and teaching shoemaking workshops is Molly’s passion.

November 30th

“2^nd Annual Holiday Arts Festival” Tis the season of giving! Happy Holidays from 413 Glassworks! Shop local this holiday season for one-of-a-kind gifts ranging from jewelry, ceramic, fabric, wood, glass and more all at 413 Glassworks in Cheshire, MA! Totally 100% handmade holiday shopping in one place. Our artists will provide you with wonderful gifts for everyone on your shopping list including yourself! 

What Happened to Fall Ya’ll?

Photo courtesy of missyredboots

I am definitely NOT in Florida anymore, Toto! We woke up to snow AGAIN this morning! Okay, so it might not officially be winter, but it certainly feels like it here in Williamstown, MA. We won’t be seeing anything over 50 degrees all week! There was probably a little humor in last week’s blog about snow gear, but this weekend, I’m not kidding, there will be a chance of snow every day. So the joke might just be on you if you forget to pack warm clothes for your visit to Williamstown this week! J

Never the less, there’s always plenty of things going on in the area for you to stay both toasty and entertained during your visit. Many musical events will be taking place in the Berkshires this week that will be appropriate for all visitors including performances at the ’62 Center in Williamstown and various places in Pittsfield and Great Barrington, MA. There are also numerous art events happening and various family activities to enjoy in the surrounding areas as well. So plan and book with me at the 1896 House this week!

Arts and Activities

The Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA will be presenting, “Festival of Trees: Today, Yesterday and Tomorrow” on Saturday the 23^rd. Travel through time at the Berkshire Museum 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.

Create your very own fused glass at 413 Glassworks in Cheshire, MA! Choose from a variety of projects: ornament, pendant, sun catcher, coaster, and more. Sessions are 1 hour long. Ages 4+, all skill levels and groups are welcome.

The Norman Rockwell Museum will be hosting, “Family Day: Trains!” in Stockbridge, MA on Saturday, the 23^rd! Celebrate trains and the wonders of rail travel during this afternoon inspired by the Museum’s current exhibition, Wendell Minor’s America. Artist Wendell Minor will join to sign copies of such train-inspired books and the day will also include readings from Larry Lowenthal, author of “Titanic Railroad,” as well as stories about our national rail system from historians Jack Trowill, Curator of the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum, and Alden Dreyer of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society. Also coming along for the ride is author/musician Gordon Titcomb, who will sing songs about the railway.

Music

Three Dog Night will be performing in Pittsfield, MA at the Berkshire Theatre Group at 8pm on Thursday evening. This iconic band’s hits wind through the fabric of pop culture today, whether on the radio where they are heard day in and day out, in TV commercials or in major motion picture. songs like “Mama Told Me (Not To Come),” “Joy to the World,” “Black and White,” “Shambala,” and “One” serve to heighten our emotions and crystallize Three Dog Night’s continuing popularity.

Live Music at the Thornewood Inn will be starting on Thursday and continuing weekly, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday until January 1^st. Come enjoy great food in a beautiful atmosphere with Richard Dagenais on piano and David Thorne on vocals every Friday and Saturday evening in Great Barrington, MA at the Thornewood Inn & Restaurant.

And some fun for the kids, “Milkshake” will be performing at MASS MoCA on Saturday the 23^rd. Grammy-nominated Milkshake is on a mission to create great rock music for kids. Led by singer Lisa Mathews and guitarist Mikel Gehl, they’ve popped up everywhere from PBS KIDS to Nick Jr. to the Emmy Award-winning cartoon ToddWorld, winning fans with their catchy, kid-friendly songs and electrifying live show.

Williams College Music for November

Williams CollegeDepartment of Music will be beginning the conclusion to their “Music for November” event this week, with a week’s worth of fantastic performances of great music. All performances will be held on campus at Williams College in Williamstown, MA.  Which by the way, is just a 4 minute trip from The 1896 House!

November 22^nd- Berkshire Symphony at Chapin Hall, 8pm. 7:15pm Pre-Concert Talk with conductor Ronald Feldman at Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall
November 22^nd- Zambezi and Kusika in Dance Department All Company Concerts at ’62 Center, 8pm
November 23^rd- Williams Gospel Choir at Chapin Hall, 7pm
November 23^rd- Zambezi and Kusika in Dance Department All Company Concerts at ’62 Center, 8pm
November 24^th- Williams Jazz Sextet at Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall, 2pm

We look forward to seeing you all this week and perhaps enjoying a frosty week in the Berkshires with you!

Greetings from Florida

Photo courtesy of Annika

Williamstown has officially seen snow this week! Winter has arrived and it’s getting cold! So I’ve heard anyways, I’m currently sitting in the 80-degree weather of Florida J avoiding winter as long as I can.

For those of you who are planning your trips to the Berkshires this week, here’s what’s going on and what you can expect.

Weather wise, it is currently 30 degrees in Williamstown and will be fluctuating all week, but probably won’t be any warmer than 50 degrees, so be sure to pack accordingly, gloves, hats, winter coats, (snow suits and parkas, ha, ha!) are all acceptable this week. But probably a little too soon for skis and snowboards, maybe next week! ;)

Some events going on this week (there’s A LOT!) include:

First Fridays Artswalk in Pittsfield

Enjoy a display of art in indoor galleries, retail and hospitality businesses along North Street and South Street corridor. This is an ongoing event that will continue until December 27^th so there are lots of opportunities for you and your family to enjoy arts and activities in downtown Pittsfield, MA.

Live Music at the Thornewood Inn

Enjoy great food in a beautiful atmosphere of the Thornewood Inn and Restaurant in Great Barrington, MA. Enjoy Richard Dagenais on the piano and David Thorne on vocals every Friday and Saturday evening until January 1^st. Also until January 1^st, every first Thursday of the month you can see Wanda Houston and friends with some swingin’ jazz over a delightful dinner.

Williams College Music for November:

November 13^th- MIDWEEKMUSIC at Chapin Hall, stage. 12:15pm


November 13^th- Visiting Artists Momenta Quartet at Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall, 8pm


November 15^th- Williams Concert and Chamber Choirs at Thompson Memorial Chapel, 8pm


November 16^th- Williams Vocal Jazz Ensemble at Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall, 4pm


November 16^th- Williams Percussion Ensemble (WiPE) at Chapin Hall, 8pm

All at Williams College in Williamstown, MA and only about a 5 minute drive from The 1896 House!

National Theatre Live: Fifty Years on Stage

To celebrate its 50^th anniversary, the National Theatre presents an exciting evening of live theatre, directed by Nicolas Hytner on November 14^th. The celebration includes rare glimpses from the archive, featuring many of the original actors who have performed on the National’s stages over the past five decades! This all takes place at The Clark in Williamstown, MA.

It’s a busy week here in the Berkshires with all sorts of fun events for you and the family to enjoy while you’re here! Book your rooms with us here at The 1896 House for some early fun in the snow! Pack accordingly and maybe bring a sled or two J

It’s All Purple and Gold in Williamstown!

Williams’ Homecoming weekend is upon us! Are you planning your homecoming weekend with your Eph in Williamstown this week? Well here’s what Williams College and the surrounding areas have to offer while you’re here!

Looking for a fun Friday evening?

“Standards, Show Tunes and Surprises” is happening Friday night, November 8^th in the Tavern at the Williams Inn. Howie Levitz, TGL Tunes, plays the piano every Friday night! Come dance and enjoy great music!

Berkshire Theatre Group presents Gordon Lightfoot at The Colonial Theatre on November 8^th. Gordon Lightfoot has recorded 20 albums and received five GRAMMY nominations. His songs have been aired regularly and his radio hits in the USA have earned five #1s, five Top 10s and thirteen Top 40 hits. This is guaranteed to be a great concert!

At Williams: There will be the Homecoming Chili Fest on November 9^th. Join the Williams community for chili and Eph camaraderie under their hospitality tent at Weston Field.

While you’re here, be sure to visit the Homecoming Spirit tent next to Hospitality Tent for purple projects, face painting, pictures with the Purple Cow and Williams spirit treats and goodies!

Then of course, grab your chili and find a spot in the stands to cheer on the Williams Football team as they take on Amherst at 12pm! Go Ephs!

For the Clark Art fans out there, The Clark will be hosting Live in HD: Tosca on November, 9^th. Tosca, the famed opera that includes some of Giacomo Puccini’s most beloved melodies, will be airing live at the institute from the Metropolitan Opera.

Be sure to bring the whole family for all the fun and pack your best purple and gold outfits for game day and the weekend activities! Book your rooms while there are still rooms left and come stay with us at the 1896 House! We can’t wait to see you!