We have a new blogger!

We would like to introduce you to Blair, our new front desk assistant and blogger.  She is local to Williamstown, so is familiar with the community, byways, backroads &  little known points of interest in the Berkshires.  We hope you enjoy her suggestions and commentaries.

~Denise & Sue

Photo courtesy of hotblack

It’s Fall ya’ll! And might you be wondering what there is to do while you’re visiting the Berkshires?

While lots of visitors are down about the Clark being closed due to some expansion projects this season, there  is still PLENTY to do during your visit in the Berkshires! While the Clark’s traditional gallery spaces are closed, there is a selection of works from their permanent collection on view in their Stone Hill Center galleries and their library remains open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.

Maybe you’re not so interested in the Clark while they’re under construction but you’re still looking for something to do with the family? What better way to get into the fall spirit and embrace all its spookiness by attending one of Jiminy Peak’s 13 Nights at Jiminy, The Plantation of Jericho, in Hancock, MA! As Fall settles in the valley, ghosts of the mountain’s haunted past rise again! This haunted mountain promises to reach new heights of terror and fall fun from Sept. 28th through Oct. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 25, 26, 29, 30, and 31^st.

Perhaps you have little ones who aren’t particularly interested in being scared out of their skin quite yet? Or maybe even some of your adult friends aren’t keen on the idea of dressed up goblins and creatures jumping out at them in the dark woods. Then a broad daylight visit to Whitney’s Farm Market in Cheshire, MA is the adventure for you! Join them for their annual Pumpkin Fest with u-pick pumpkins, corn maze, hay rides, face painting, petting zoo, scavenger hunts and more. This is a perfect fall weekend adventure from Sept. 13th through Oct. 31st.

These are just some of the exciting fall activities going on in the area this season. So plan your weekends and book your rooms with me at the 1896 House and come spend fall with us in the Berkshires!

Things to do this weekend, Annual Festival of Trees, the Arts and More!

Photo credit mensatic

Saturday and Sunday through December 30, 2012 (also during the week)

16th Annual Festival of Trees at Bennington Museum

75 Main Street

Bennington, VT 05201

A Community Created Exhibit of Uniquely Designed and Decorated Holiday Trees each in a beautiful, and sometimes whimsical, vignette.  Items from the museum’s collection are added to these vignettes to produce a perfect blend of a current design with historical elements. Over 20 vignettes are being created for the entire family to enjoy, along with the traditional trees installed in the galleries.  Then there is the over 40 tabletop trees, each decorated by elementary school classes from Bennington and surrounding communities.

Saturday, December 15, 7:30 PM

Seagull (Thinking of you)

87 Marshall Street

North Adams, MA 01247

Seagull (Thinking of you) is a new live performance that works with, against, and beneath Chekhov’s The Seagull. Director Tina Satter’s unique contemporary voice takes on the beauty and darkness of Chekhov’s play in a beautiful act of theatrical rethinking. Satter draws from Chekhov’s letters, varying Seagull translations, quasi-biographical facts from early productions of the play in Russia, and Chekhov’s perverse sense of comedy to consider anew what makes the human heart beat and why we ever try to say something out loud. With her Half Straddle collaborators, Satter deconstructs the texts to create an unexpected new work of theater that is ultimately about making something with people you could love: just like Chekhov wanted, with a Russian folk metal-influenced score.

From http://www.massmoca.org/event_details.php?id=772

The Met-Live in HD: Aida

Verdi’s iconic opera set in ancient Egypt stars powerhouse Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska, who makes her Met debut in the title role of an enslaved Ethiopian princess. Olga Borodina, one of the world’s best-known interpreters of the role, sings Aida’s royal rival, Amneris, and Roberto Alagna is the hero Radamès, who must choose between his love for Aida and his duty to his country. Fabio Luisi conducts his first Met performances of the opera, which also stars George Gagnidze as the Ethiopian king, Amonasro. Sonja Frisell’s spectacular staging uses the full theatrical capabilities of the Met stage to immerse the audience in the grandeur of ancient Egypt. 12:55pm. Tickets $25/$22 members/$18 students. Purchase online or at 413.458.0638.

http://www.clarkart.edu/

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Potter Brothers Demo Day

Potter Brothers is bringing in reps from top ski & snowboard manufacturers along with fleets of their skis, snowboards, & helmets to give you a taste of what’s on the market this year. Come test out their new gear, ask questions, & figure out what equipment is best for you! 8:30am – 2pm.

Jiminy Peak

37 Corey Road

Hancock, MA 01237

Phone: (413) 738-5500

http://www.jiminypeak.com/

What to do this weekend! Get out your Skis!

Looking for some things to do while staying at the 1896 House? Get out and ski or stay inside and get your cultural fill.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Jiminy Peak Opens this weekend!

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort‎ (less then 20 minutes from the 1896 House)

37 Corey Road, Hancock, MA 01237  413-738-5500

Jiminy Peak will open at 9 am this Saturday Nov 10th for skiing and riding!  6 trails (hopefully 8) and 2 chairlifts will be operating Sat- Monday 9 am-4 pm.

Check out http://www.jiminypeak.com/ for more information and details as they have them.

Sweetwood’s Annual Craft Fair

Williamstown, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Sweetwood of Williamstown will hold its annual craft fair at its site on 1611 Cold Spring Road (Route 7) Williamstown. Local vendors include The Village Chocolate Shoppe of Bennington, Nicki Steel Photography, K&M Designs of Bennington Jewelry, Paws Boutique Pet Clothing, Quilts & Crafts by Sue Goodell, Sweetwood's Goodies and personally signed books by Vermont author Ellen Perry Berkeley.

http://www.sweetwoodliving.com/

The Met-Live in HD: The Tempest

The Clark, Williamstown

12:55 PM

British composer Thomas Adès and Robert Lepage’s innovative production recreates the interior of the La Scala opera house as the magical island venue for the otherworldly arts of Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan. Tickets $25/$22 members/$18 students. Purchase online or at 413-458-0638.

http://www.clarkart.edu/visit/event-detail.cfm?ID=16683&CID=5

Concert Choir & Chamber Choir: La musica de España 

Williams College Department of Music, Williamstown

8:00 PM

Visiting director Katie Gardiner leads the Concert and Chamber Choirs presenting music about Spain or by Spanish composers: La musica de España. The program is the inspiration of visiting director Katie Gardiner who is using her residency to work with a large group of talented singers, “I am absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the Concert and Chamber Choirs at Williams College for the fall 2012 semester.”  Ms. Gardiner holds bachelors and masters degrees in music education from the Hartt School of Music and a master of music in choral conducting from the Eastman School of Music. The concert is free and open to the public.

More information at http://music.williams.edu/node/1670

Things to do on New Year's Eve at the 1896 House

If you are staying in-house check out our New Year's Menu http://the6housepub.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-years-eve-specials-and-some-drink.html for a great New Year's Eve dinner and then get in some night skiing and enjoy Jiminy Peak's New Year's Eve Celebration. (Jiminy Peak is approximately 20 minutes from the 1896 House)

Get in some skiing before the torchlight parade which starts at 10:00 PM, followed by fireworks.

Ski Area Hours, New Year's Eve (12/31) 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM

http://www.jiminypeak.com/

For the New Year check out the 1896 House's ski and stay packages at http://www.1896house.com/id59.htm