A Touch of History

Photo courtesy of mzacha

For those visitors to the 1896 House Inn looking for a little history of the area while they are visiting, visit

The Williamstown Historical Museum

413-458-2160

http://www.williamstownhistory.com

1095 Main Street, Williamstown, MA 01267

Monday-Friday, 10 AM – 3 PM and the second Saturday of each month from 10am – 12pm. Appointments can be scheduled at other hours. Please call.

They also offer historical exhibits and public programs.

The Williamstown Historical Museum is less then 5 minutes from the inn.

And

The North Adams Museum of History and Science

413-664-4700

http://www.northadamshistory.org/

Western Gateway Heritage State Park

North Adams, MA, 01247

November through April: Saturday 10-4, Sunday 1-4

May through October: Thursday through Saturday 10-4, Sunday 1-4   

The North Adams Museum of History and Science is located in a restored historic freight yard with over 25 exhibit areas on its three floors. It also includes hands-on-discovery rooms

The North Adams Museum of History and Science is less then 15 minutes from the inn.

A Focus on Brookside

  

Shyly hidden from the road on park-like grounds, The 1896 House "Brookside" is a wonderful respite for any traveler!  The delightful "mountain cabin" character of your room, lattice footbridges, perennial gardens and rocking chairs along the porch will remind you of days gone by......

You'll appreciate the quality appointments of Cushman rock maple furniture, Waverly-Schumacher designs, and all the upscale amenities that distinguish your accommodations. The wooden walls that emanate that pine aroma is what our guests repeatedly tell us brings them back!  There is a comforting "retro" feeling here, in a place that resists change…a definitive option among the cookie cutter chain properties of today!

Each room is equipped with a coffee maker, coffee, tea, and supplies, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, color cable television, computer compatible telephone with free long distance and local calls, alarm clock and radio alarm, WIFI, and whisper quiet central air conditioning with individual controls. Of course, you have complete control over how "toasty" you'd like to be when the snow flies!

n warmer months, relax with a cocktail by the brook or in our stately gazebo while you plan your itinerary. Have a brookside picnic, or walk to The '6 House Pub for a cool drink on the outdoor terrace.  All of our guests are welcome to enjoy Pondside's spring-fed duck pond, heated outdoor swimming pool, and Brookside's gazebo and patio tables along Hemlock Brook.

Complimentary high speed wireless internet is available indoors and out. Come tarry awhile - you'll never want to leave!

Check Availability ~ Online Reservations

  

All Rates Include a Full Hot Breakfast Buffet with:

Scrambled Eggs and Bacon

Make Your Own Waffles

A Selection of Juices

Fresh Fruit and Yogurt

A Selection of Hot and Cold Cereals

A Selection of Breads, English Muffins and Bagels for Toasting with Jellies, Jams, Honey, Peanut Butter and Cream Cheese

"To Die For" Raspberry Crumb Cake

Freshly Baked and Glazed Cinnamon Rolls

Milk and Hot Chocolate

Freshly brewed coffee and decaf

A selection of herbal and regular teas

Happy New Year

If you are staying in-house check out our 2012/2013 New Year's Menu http://the6housepub.blogspot.com/2012/12/new-years-eve-specials.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)

New Year’s Eve Celebration
Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort
Location: Hancock, MA
Website: www.jiminypeak.com

This is a Jiminy Peak tradition! The spectacular Torchlight parade will wind down the mountain shortly after the close of the lifts at 10 pm (as soon as the mountain lights are off) & will be immediately followed by the fireworks display.

Looking for a Last Minute Gift?

What better gift for a family member that's hard to buy for, or a promise of a romantic getaway to your significant other then a Gift Certificate to the 1896 House Luxury Suites for a getaway from it all. Or perhaps a certificate for a scrumptious meal at the 6' House Pub! Get a Gift Certificate or Gift Card!                                                     *All Lodging Certificates may be personalized

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/

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