It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Photo courtesy of imagefactory

With the weather getting colder every day here in Williamstown, the holiday décor begins to make an appearance all through town. Lights are being hung, chimneys are puffing out smoke, cookies are being baked and Christmas lists are being made J This might be my favorite time of year, holiday music plays on the radio on my way to work and holiday movies are playing when I wind down and snuggle up each evening. Hot cocoa is a staple that I keep in my home all winter long and we begin clearing space for a Christmas tree! But I’m not the only one getting excited for the holidays; the Berkshires are in full Holiday swing too! There will be lots of ways to celebrate the holidays here whether it be a family event you’re trying to plan, Christmas Tree lightings or holiday concerts that Williams College will be putting on, come celebrate with us!

Celebrate the Holidays at The Mount!

The Mount in Lenox, MA is open on three consecutive Saturdays this holiday season until December 14th. They will be debuting their new Backstairs tour – learn about the daily routines and the men and women who ran The Mount! The gift shop will be open for holiday shopping from 11am – 3pm with Backstairs Tours at 12pm & 2pm.

 “Backstairs” tours will be given at 12:00pm and 2pm.

Williams College Music for December

Beginning on the 1^st and continuing daily until December 31^st, Williams College will be putting on numerous concerts for the holiday season!

Williams College Department of Music calendar for December:

December 4^th MIDWEEKMUSIC at Chapin Hall, stage, 12:15PM
December 4^th Violin Studio Recital at Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall, 4pm
December 4^th Small Jazz Ensembles at Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall, 7pm
December 5^th Senior Viola Recital with Lysander Jaffe ’14 at Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall, 7pm
December 6^th  Piano Studio Recital at Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall , 4pm
December 6^th  Williams College Wind Ensemble at Chapin Hall, 8pm
December 7^th Voice Studio Recital at Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall, 1pm
December 7^th  A Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols at Thompson Memorial Chapel, 4pm
December 7^th  Williams Student Symphony at Chapin Hall, 8pm
December 8^th  A Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols at Thompson Memorial Chapel, 4pml
December 9^th  Senior Piano Recital with Kirk Swanson ’14 at Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall, 4pm
December 9^th  Cello Studio Recital and Voice Studio Recital at Chapin Hall. 6pm
December 9^th  MIDWEEKMUSIC Tuesday at Chapin Hall, stage, 12:15pm
December 10^th Clarinet Choir with students of Susan Martula at Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall, 4pm
December 10^th Jazz Guitar Studio Recital  at Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall, 7pm
December 10^th  Chamber Music Studio Recital at Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall, 8pm

North Adams Tree Lighting Celebration

Join hundreds of festive faces on December 4^th 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 Band. 5pm – 7pm.

Lenox Christmas Tree Lighting

The Traditional Lenox Town Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on December 6th at 6pm at Lilac Park. Visits with Santa and Holiday Goodies will be at the Lenox Community Center directly following the Ceremony at Lilac park.

Holiday Concert with Solas

On December 6^th, the eve of Williamstown’s popular Holiday Walk weekend, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute of Williamstown, MA welcomes Irish-American band Solas for a holiday concert. The event takes place in the Clark’s auditorium at 8 pm. Tickets are $35 ($30 members). Call 413.458.0524. Order early as holiday concerts almost always sell out.

Festival of Trees Family Day and Children’s Holiday Shopping Boutique

Admission is only $3 for everyone (even Santa). Bring the entire family to Bennington, VT to the Bennington Museum on December 7th for a special day of celebration. Children (under 18) who bring a personal care item for adults or children that will be donated to a local food pantry come in free. For the children ages 4 to 12, the Children’s Shopping Boutique offers unusual gifts for all people on their gift list. Prices range from $1 to $7 and include gift-wrapping. While at the museum, do not forget to visit with Santa! Be sure to view the “Children’s Forest,” a display featuring tabletop trees decorated by area elementary school classes.

Williamstown Holiday Walk

Join in the festivities on December 7th at the 30th Annual Williamstown Holiday walk livening Spring Street with the festive Reindog Parade, musical performances, Penny Social, Christmas Tree Showcase, Santa Claus, holiday cookie bake – off, tree lighting and much much more. 3pm – 6pm.

Pack your Christmas sweaters and we’ll be sure to make the cocoa and come visit us at The 1896 House for the Holidays! Rooms are filling up quickly this season so be sure to act fast and book your rooms with me while there are still some left! 

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/