Knitting up a Storm

Photo courtesy of Seemann

What better time to get away from it all for a weekend or a midweek trip with some of your knitting  and quilting buddies, there are some great local shops and a few a few minutes further away that provide a wonderful selection of yarns, quilting supplies, gifts and large variety of classes. Bring your materials back to the inn and pub and enjoy a glass of wine in front of fire and knit up a storm.

Sweet Brook Farm (4 minutes from the 1896 House Inn)

580 Oblong Road, Williamstown, MA

413-884-4246

10am - 6pm, seven days a week

http://www.sweetbrookfarm.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SweetBrookFarm

https://twitter.com/sweetbrookfarm

For fiber enthusiasts, they have an extensive collection of yarn, both from their alpacas and other U.S. alpaca breeders and from designers such as Debbie Bliss and Louisa Harding. Roving from their alpacas is available for spinners as well.

A Stitch In Time (20 minutes from the 1896 House Inn)

Rte 8 45 Commercial St, Adams, MA 01220

413-743-7174

Monday - Saturday: 8:00am to 5:00pm

http://www.astitchintimema.com

A Stitch In Time has been offering its quilting and knitting lessons and materials to the Adams, MA community since 1995. They specialize in helping you make the best quilted items and gifts for your friends and loved ones. A Stitch In Time Offers: Materials,

Learning Resources and Gifts.

Colorful Stitches (35 minutes from the 1896 House Inn)

48 Main St # 2, Lenox, MA 01240

413-637-8206

http://www.colorful-stitches.com/

https://www.facebook.com/colorfulstitchesyarns

https://twitter.com/maryknits

They offer the finest natural fiber and novelty yarns for the hand knitter and crocheter from Rowan, Rowan Classic, Jaeger, Colinette, Debbie Bliss, Noro, Jo Sharp, Berroco, Koigu, Classic Elite, Manos, Gedifra, Filatura di Crosa, S Charles, Tahki, Prism, Mountain Colors, Muench, Artyarns, Alchemy, Karabella, Lana Grossa, Misti International Alpaca, Blue Sky Alpacas, The Fibre Company, Malabrigo, Jacques Cartier/Windy Valley Muskox, Buffalo Gold Premium Fibers, Debby Ware and Hanne Falkenberg

Handknits (45 minutes from the 1896 House Inn)

617 Vermont 100, Wilmington, VT 05363

802-464-7887

http://www.handknits.net/store/pc/home.asp

https://twitter.com/HandKnits

Fine knitting and crochet supplies.

Metaphor Yarns (50 minutes from the 1896 House Inn)

623 Mohawk Trail, Shelburne, MA 01370

413-625-9191

http://metaphoryarns.com/

A six-room shop, filled with yarns, patterns, books, needles, a comfy classroom and Knitting Circle lounge

Bird the Berkshires

Photo credit mensatic

The Berkshires is one of the best locations for bird watching. A low cost, easy and interesting pastime, bird watching gives you the opportunity to commune with the wildlife and see some of the most beautiful parts of the Berkshires at the same time. Most years and seasons over 200 different species of birds are visible including several types of warblers, flycatchers and thrushes.

All you need for bird watching is a good bird field guide and good set of binoculars.

Massbird.org is a great place to get information about suggested books to read, clubs in the area, blogs and more.

From December 14 to January 5, the North Berkshire Audubon invites area bird watchers

to participate in the 113th national Christmas Bird Count. The Audubon

The NBA Count will be held on Saturday December 15. The 24-hour count period begins at midnight Friday and extends to midnight Saturday.

There are four groups going out in the area; Adams, East Williamstown and North Adams, Central and western WIlliamstown and South WIlliamstown.

Teams of at least 2 armed with birdbooks, binoculars and checklists, will visit as many habitats as possible during the day, and also go out owling, to identify as many species and count as many individual birds as possible.

Audubon and other organizations use the data collected in this long running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations and to help guide conservation action. 

North Berkshire Audubon is an informal group that sponsors bird walks and trips throughout the year. For more information about the Christmas Count or NBA, contact Leslie Reed-Evans at 413-458-5150 or at lre@wrlf.org.  http://www.wrlf.org/

A couple of interesting related birding in the Berkshires links

Birds of Mt. Greylock http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/mtGreylock/downloads/birdsOfGreylockGuideList.pdf

Massachusetts bird watching

http://www.birding.com/wheretobird/massachusetts.asp

Williamstown Holiday Walk

This weekend, The Williamstown Chamber of Commerce and the Holiday Walk Committee put on the annual Holiday Walk on Saturday, December 1!

Starting with a Raindeer (raindog) Parade at 4 PM on Spring Street

Musical groups, hot cocoa, Penny socials, Santa!, bake offs, gingerbread house decorating and more! The evening ends with a reading of A Christmas Carol and a candlelight caroling procession to the lightening of the Williamstown Holiday tree on Spring Street.

Check out the full holiday walk schedule at

http://www.williamstownchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Holiday_Walk_Schedule-updated-Nov-18.pdf

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

Haunted Happenings around the 1896 House

Photo courtesy of  Karpati Gabor

Thursday, October 25

4:30pm – GHOULS IN THE GALLERIES: Williams College Museum of Art hosts “Ghouls in the Galleries: Exploring the Monsters of WCMA’s Collection.” Monsters in the museum will be rooted out by Deena Bak (’13) and she will aid participants in understanding what these monsters reveal about the nature of fear from a variety of cultural perspectives. Best for older students interested in art and cultural studies. 413-597-2376. 15 Lawrence Hall Drive. Williamstown, MA

http://wcma.williams.edu/

6-8pm – BOO BASH: Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts will host their 18th annual “Boo Bash” for children and families. Come in costume to the Berkshire Towers dormitory building for a costume party & trick or treating. Best for children ages 6-11yo. 413-662-5249. 375 Church Street. North Adams, MA (FREE)

http://www.mcla.edu/ (less then 15 minutes from the 1896 House Inn)

Friday October 26

PITTSFIELD HALLOWEEN PARADE

Downtown Pittsfield - Pittsfield, MA

7PM (less then 40 minutes from the 1896 House Inn)

HAUNTED HOUSE

Lanesborough, 6 - 8 p.m.

Haunted House at the Berkshire Mall. Returning for the third year Village Ambulance Explorer Horrors haunted house. Fri., Join us for some scary fun ;walk through the Haunted house for a screaming good time! All proceeds to benefit the Post 911 Explorer Group.  (less then 30 minutes from the 1896 House Inn)

Saturday October 27

SPOOKTACULAR COSTUME PET PARADE

Williamstown, 1 - 3 p.m.

Sweetwood of Williamstown, located on 1611 Cold Spring Road, Route 7, is hosting a Spooktacular Costume Pet Parade. There will be door prizes and prizes for costumes. Best Pet Costume - first place $200, second $125, third place $75. Owner/Pet Look-Alike prize $100. Registration runs from 1-2 p.m. Leashes are required.

Saturday October 27 and Sunday October 28

PUMPKIN FEST

Lanesborough (less then 30 minutes from the 1896 House Inn)

Bradley Farms and Healing Winds are coming together for three consecutive weekends in October to offer entertaining, educational and cultural activities fun and free for the whole family. This family oriented community event will be held at the Bradley Farm on Route 7 in Lanesboro, 545 N Main Street. There will be Native American storytellers, Native American and regional folk arts & crafts, the large Healing Winds tipi and a children’s tipi. Activities to enjoy include guided nature and riverside hikes, natural horsemanship demonstrations and rides, traditional eye & hand coordination games, pumpkin painting, cultural & historical presentations, local entertainment as well as Native American flute and social friendship dances. The Robbins-Zust Family Marionettes will perform. Please call Healing Winds at 413-443-2481 for more information.

HAUNTED HOUSE

Lanesborough, 2 - 8 p.m. (less then 30 minutes from the 1896 House Inn)

Haunted House at the Berkshire Mall. Returning for the third year Village Ambulance Explorer Horrors haunted house. Sat., Join us for some scary fun; walk through the Haunted house for a screaming good time! All proceeds to benefit the Post 911 Explorer Group.

http://www.theberkshiremall.com/

Monday October 29

HALLOWEEN SCREAMINGS

7 pm

Starring: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson

In Swedish with English subtitles

The film screening will be followed by a discussion with Williams College faculty members Denise Buell, Lawrence Raab, Jim Shepard and Christian Thorne.

Lonely, 12-year-old Oskar is regularly bullied by his stronger classmates. A new friendship develops when Eli, a pale, serious young girl who only comes out at night moves in next door. Coinciding with her arrival is a series of inexplicable disappearances and murders. As Oskar becomes more aware of Eli’s tragic plight, he cannot forsake her. However, Eli knows that to continue living, she must keep relocating. But when Oskar faces his darkest hour, Eli returns to defend him the only way she can.

http://www.imagescinema.org/

50 Spring Street, Williamstown, MA

For more events and trick or treating schedules around the area please visit

http://hilltownfamilies.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/hf-576/

Fall is the perfect time to go trail riding in the Berkshires

Image courtesy of duboix

DeMayos’ Bonnie Lea Farm is located in scenic Williamstown, just 5 minutes away from the 1896 House Inn.

During the late spring, summer and fall, trail riding is available at Bonnie Lea Farm. Trail rides are led either by Lisa DeMayo or by another qualified guide, and can vary in length according to the riders’ abilities. 

Riders must be a minimum of 13 years old and have the proper attire (long pants, shirts) and footwear, preferably something with a heel.

Their extensive trail systems stretch across beautiful fields, over gentle streams, through shady groves of famous Berkshire foliage, and even off-property for more experienced riders. It is a relaxing way to enjoy horses and the natural beauty of the Berkshires. All of our mounts are carefully matched with their rider to ensure the safety and happiness of both.

Trail Rides:

45 minutes – $50 per rider

1 1/2 hour – $75 per rider

Please note, they do not accept credit cards but do accept personal checks. Groups of 4 or more must send a deposit. Please call or email to schedule your trail ride!

Bonnie Lea Farm

511 North Street

Williamstown, MA 01267

413-441-6349

Check out their website at: http://bonnielea.com/wordpress/?page_id=2

On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bonnie-Lea-Farm/230292556484

From the South: Take Route 7N into the center of Williamstown, MA (intersection of Routes 2 and 7 at the Village Green), continue on 7N toward Pownal/Bennington VT for one mile measuring from the split of Route 2East. Bonnie Lea Farm is located at the foot of the bridge, on the left side, the second driveway past the Hemlock Brook Condominiums. Continue through the gates toward the barn parking lot.

From the North: Take Route 7S into Williamstown, MA, one and a half miles from the Vermont Line. Proceed over large bridge slowly as the driveway is at the base of the bridge on the right. Continue through the gates toward the barn parking lot.

Or find them on Google Maps and get directions: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Bonnie+Lea+Farm+511+North+Street+Williamstown,+MA&hl=en&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.64355,2.886658&hq=Bonnie+Lea+Farm+511+North+Street+Williamstown,+MA&radius=15000&t=m&z=13&iwloc=A

Don't forget

Last Minute September Special

Stay 2 nights on September  7th & 8th or 14th  & 15th only and get a $50 Gift Card

to the popular 6 House Pub!

Valid on reservations made after 9/4/2012 only.

Make a reservation today at http://www.webervations.com/magic-scripts/resbook.asp?memberid=1896