Posted on Wed, Nov 14, 2012 @ 09:00 AM
By Kayla Hebler
Every year the Berkshire Museum has its famous exhibit, the Festival of Trees; which showcases Christmas trees decorated in certain themes and all sorts of different decorations.
This years “Myths and Magic” theme will allow participants to create trees with the use of wizards, fairy tale characters, dragons, unicorns and much more.
“Imagine an excursion into Alice’s Wonderland of fantasy and fun or a “Disneyesque” land in which fairies and elves both help and hinder their human friends and foes. Travel to “Middle Earth” and embark upon an epic quest of danger and intrigue. Explore the classical traditions of Greek and Roman mythology, the legends of Norse Gods and Goddesses and the rich history of Native American lore. All of these might feed your imagination and inspire a holiday tree design that reveals the mysterious worlds of myth and magic.”
If you are in the area visiting or vacationing for the holidays you should stop by the museum to see all the unique trees, or if you would even like to participate you can by doing the following: Sponsor a tree to benefit or promote your local businesses, purchase an advertisement, create at tree, attend the opening night or see the trees from November 16th through January 2nd.
Over 18,000 visitors attend the festival of trees so it is a great event for Berkshire County!
Posted on Tue, Nov 13, 2012 @ 09:00 AM
By Nataliia Riva
Ventfort Hall – A home for holidays in the Berkshires! 
If you are coming to the Berkshires, you can’t miss the town of Lenox with all of it's historic mansions.Ventfort Hall was one of some seventy-five mansions built in Lenox and Stockbridge during the Gilded Age, the period between the Civil War and the First World War. But in comparison with other mansions, Ventfort Hall has its amazing history of “surviving”. Originally, the mansion was owned by Sarah and George Morgan. After their death, the house was used for rent or sold to a series of owners. In 1945, Ventfort Hall was used as a dormitory for Tanglewood students, a summer hotel, the Fokine Ballet Summer Camp and housing for a religious community. “In the mid-1980s the property was sold to a nursing home developer who wanted to demolish the building. In response to this threat, a local preservation group, The Ventfort Hall Association (VHA), was formed in 1994. In 1997, with the help of many private donations and loans, and with a five-year loan from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, VHA purchased the property.”
This mansion has been gloriously and lovingly restored (although it will always be a work in progress) with hard working, informative docents relating its fascinating history.
But the true treasure here is the doll collection titled "Les Petites Dames de Mode". Totally designed and created by John Burbidge, the bridal designer for the famed salon, "Priscilla of Boston. " This gathering of some 40 dolls, all 29 Inches high, exquisitely detailed and dressed in period Gilded and Victorian age costumes - down to the last earring - is not to be missed!
Ventfort Hall is open all year round for the public. Besides the tours and exhibits, The Ventfort Hall also offers concerts and performances, lectures,“Dancin at the Mansion”, and, of course, it’s Holiday Events. The Ventfort Hall will be a Home For Holidays starting on November 23 through New Year’s Eve. Here, you will enjoy the “Mary Nutcracker Ballet and Victorian Tea”, “Lenox Caroling Festival Opening Reception”, or “Children’s Holiday Tea and Caroling”.
If you love art and architecture, you will appreciate what VHA is doing to bring the Ventfort Hall back to its original state.
Posted on Mon, Nov 12, 2012 @ 09:01 AM
By Kaylah Slattery
With an elevation of 3,489 ft, Mount Greylock is the highest peak in Massachusetts. The land gives it's explorers a plethora of trails to choose from. Whether you are an experienced hiker or just giving a nature a try for the first time, there is no doubt in my mind that you’ll find a sense of peace while traversing the canopy covered paths. The forest is categorized as a Taiga-boreal ecosystem, which is a one of a kind in the state. The area has been designated as an IBA (important bird area) and is home to at least 132 different species of birds such as the black poll warbler (a) and the Bicknell’s thrush (b).
A)
B)
Now on to the fun fact of the day.
If hiking or bird watching doesn’t pique your interest perhaps ghost hunting will? That’s right, old Greylock has a haunting tale of a broken hearted Union soldier. When The soldier returned to his farm after serving a year in the Civil War, he finds his wife in the arms of another man and his children calling the strange man “Daddy”. Distraught he turns to the mountain to lose himself in the wilderness. William Saunders lives out the rest of his life as a hermit only leaving his man made shack for work occasionally. He is referred to as the “Old Coot” by the townspeople. His wife and family never knew of his whereabouts as the war had left him a bedraggled, shell of a man, making him unrecognizable to his loved ones and the rest of the town. His body was discovered in January of the late 1860’s in his shack by a couple of hunters. The cause of death was never disclosed but seemed to be of natural causes. When the hunters entered the shack they claimed that they witnessed Saunders spirit leave his body and dart up the mountain.
The ghost of the “old coot” has been photographed twice by hikers on Bellow’s Trail
where his shack had once stood. He has been witnessed by hundreds of people since the time of his death and up until today. He appears during the winter months with most reports during January. His shade has been described as a bearded, mournful man dressed in rags of another era. No need to be frightened, the spirit has never harmed or scared the hikers of Bellow’s trail and once spotted, darts up the mountain side.
Greylock Mountain is approximately 25 minutes away from the Yankee Inn and as you can see is worth visiting. Go and have your own adventure!
Posted on Fri, Nov 09, 2012 @ 09:52 AM
Dawn Wyrick
What do you think of when it comes to Thanksgiving? Food? Family? Football? All true. It’s a time for us to come together and give thanks for the blessings we’ve received throughout the year. It’s also a reminder of a simpler time in American History, when family used to sit around the table every day for meals sharing stories and the events of their days. A simpler America, if you will.
That’s the daily life that Norman Rockwell used to paint about. Norman Rockwell was one of the most famous American Painters from the early 20th century. He painted what he saw around him in the small town of Arlington, Vermont. Maybe you’re familiar with his Christmas scenes over the years but he painted many, many more images depicting every day life; Men playing checkers, at the doctor’s office, a first love, family reunion, and the list goes on. He even painted images of himself painting. Norman Rockwell’s paintings show the importance of loving one another and having a sense of humor in the little moments of daily life. And for the animal lovers, Norman Rockwell almost always has a little cat or dog in his paintings. Family isn’t complete without our furry friends.
In 1953 the Rockwell family moved to Stockbridge, Ma, where the Norman Rockwell Museum has preserved all his artistic works as well as his studio. So this Thanksgiving, why not take the family to the Norman Rockwell Museum, where his images come to life inspiring us to create traditions that bring our family and friends together.
Posted on Tue, Nov 06, 2012 @ 01:36 PM
By Kaylah Slattery
While visiting the Berkshires in western Massachusetts, make sure to head into the city of
Pittsfield. Just ten minutes north of the Yankee Inn, Pittsfield is the third largest city of western Mass and has recently undergone an inspiring renovation that will awaken your senses with exotic flavors, artistic flair for music and creative shopping experiences.
In 1902, Pittsfield was pretty inspiring, General Electric was up and running and the city was growing by the thousands. On September 3, 1902 a very special guest, the 26th President of the United States had even made a visit to the picturesque township. Theodore Roosevelt was traveling through New England territory on a two week tour to campaign for the Republican vote. The streets were lined with the energetic citizens of Pittsfield all cheering and waving. The streets themselves were filled with the president’s procession and zipping trolleys.
The procession was from Park Square and down route 7 to the Pittsfield Country Club. A
wonderful day turned to tragedy when the Presidents barouche, a fashionable open air horse and carriage, collided with a speeding trolley. The town was thrown into chaos; screaming and gasping as they could not do anything but watch the trolley slam into the carriage. Luckily the president was thrown far enough out of the way of the panicked horses and only obtained minor scrapes and facial bruising. He did however end up with some damage to his left shin putting him in a wheel chair for quite some time afterwards. Unfortunately there was one death; Secret Service Agent William Craig was killed immediately when thrown into the street. He was in fact the first ever Secret Service Agent to be killed during presidential protection duty. The other members of the carriage, Massachusetts Governor Winthrop Crane and the secretary to the President, George Bruce Cortelyou were left unscathed. The trolley driver, Euclid Madden was charged with Manslaughter, which he pled guilty too, and received the appropriate punishment, six months in jail and a large fine.
So there you have it! Now when people talk about the famous presidential trolley accident you have the
facts to pipe in!
Visit next week for more Berkshire County trivia to stump friends and family!
Posted on Fri, Sep 21, 2012 @ 09:00 AM
Kayla Hebler
Many people come to visit the Berkshires in the summer but the fall season is the absolute best to visit here. When the leaves turn from green to orange, red, brown and yellow colors is called Fall Foliage here. It has been reported as one of the warmest summers ever for Berkshire County, it has also been one of the driest which stresses out the trees and land, which may advance the time that the colors change, but have no doubt about it that we will have an extended leaf season starting around Columbus Day.
Although it may be taking a little bit longer nature will do its part and have these beautiful leaves change in no time. Here is the chemistry behind Fall Foliage in BerkshireCounty: As summer daylight hours shorten and darkness lengthens, a hormone composed of a sugar-like substance travels down the stems of deciduous leaves to the point where they attach to the branches. There the hormone causes cells to stiffen; creating a ring that tightens around the stem, preventing the passage of water to the leaves. (That ring is visible at the end of a downed leaf stem.) Without water the chlorophyll cannot survive, so leaves stop manufacturing food and the green color that masks the yellow pigment of the leaves. In addition, in some species the hormone generates red but, contrary to the general perception, fall is primarily the time of unmasking rather than of adding color to leaves.
The entire process is so interesting; it only takes place in deciduous trees, those that drop their leaves all at once. In essence, the leaves are choked to death, yet with the golden promise that the trees themselves don’t die and will sprout new leaves profusely in the spring. While cold nights assist the deciduous miracle, the timing depends primarily on day length. So cool!
So come visit the Berkshires during the fall season, it is worth it and so romantic and magical to just go for a walk and observe all that nature has to offer!
Posted on Thu, Sep 20, 2012 @ 09:00 AM
Kayla Hebler
My favorite time of the year is finally here and one of the most special festivals to me is this next weekend. Apple Squeeze Festival has celebrated all good things that autumn has to offer in the Berkshires. This will be the 33rd annual celebration in downtown Lenox, same as every year full of food, fun, shopping and quality family time.
My Dad has taken me every year since I was little being that we are local, and I love spending the day eating great food, laughing and enjoying the fresh air. The little town is packed with food vendors, music, shopping, and much more, especially for kids! There is face painting, hair wrapping and all sorts of fun activities like the hay rides around the town!
My first thing I go for is the corn chowder stand because I am obsessed with it, the stand is there every year and it is the best chowder I have ever had! It warms you up and fills you up too. The second course is always a corn dog because that’s a classic and they taste so good. There are so many more vendors, I remember last year they sold tacos in a bag, you pick your favorite chips and they mix it up with fresh Mexican ingredients, very tasty.
The real reason you should go to Apple Squeeze is obviously for the food, but of course apples! There are all sorts of fresh apple deserts for sale at this festival andcarmeland candy apples are a huge seller. Don’t forget apple cider and apple cider doughnuts they go hand in hand!
So if you’re visiting this weekend go to down town Lenox and check it out! It’s a fun couple of days to enjoy with friends or family.
Posted on Wed, Sep 19, 2012 @ 09:00 AM
Nataliia Riva
Summer time is over with all its fun on the lakes, rivers, and beaches… Now, it’s time for the romantic and colorful Fall! But don’t think that you can’t have fun, because in the Berkshires there is always something to do!!!
Ioka Valley Farm is a great place for the whole family. From an Indian word ioka means "beautiful", and it really is beautiful if you love nature. “Ioka Valley Farm is the home to pure maple syrup and specialty maple products, natural hormone-free beef, outstanding sweet strawberries in summer, perfect pumpkins and squash during the fall, fragrant real Christmas trees in winter, and contented farm animal.” Mid-September through Halloween is the time of the pumpkin patch.
If you are looking for travelling with your children, you will definitely have to visit the farm's agricultural amusements. Weekends from mid-September through October you can take a free hayride on the “Giant Pumpkin” wagon, or in the “Haunted House” to the Pumpkin Patch, where you can found a fine selection of orange orbs. In fact, there are so many attractive selections, that it’s difficult to agree on the perfect pumpkin! Ioka Valley Farm also offers the chance to pick your own Indian Corn! If you don’t want to look for your own pumpkin or corn, you may visit their farm stand for a cornucopia of pre-picked pumpkins and other Fall specialties, such as decorations, gift, souvenirs, as well as homemade pies, cookies, Pumpkin Woopie Pie, cider, apples, and other snacks.
Ioka Valley has an outdoor farm-theme playground that does not look like a contemporary playground for kids. But I am sure they will have fun there just because it’s not what they’ve seen before. This will be a simple and a low-tech fun without all the Disney-like machinery. This is a place for you if you are not afraid of kids getting dirty or need seat belts for everything your children do. This is old-fashioned fun. A tractor pulling linked radio flyers around the field, a maze made of hay bales, tractor trikes in a barn, petting area, a slide made out of corrugated plastic pipe, and adult pedal-powered go-carts.
Come and check it out! You won’t be disappointed!
Ioka Valley Farm is located at 3475 Massachusetts 43, Hancock, MA 01237
(413) 738-5915
Posted on Wed, Sep 12, 2012 @ 09:00 AM
Kaylah Slattery
Looking for a way to stay fit and enjoy the scenic Berkshires without having to climb a mountain? Then I know you’ll enjoy the Ashuwillticook Rail trail. Approximately a fifteen minute drive north from our quaint Inn, you’ll find a newly renovated, smoothly paved biking trail that runs from Lanesboro to North Adams creating a perfect 22 mile stretch of warm Lake Fronts to cooling canopies overhead, of motivation. Now just because it’s a bike trail doesn’t mean that one must be accompanied by a ten speed. Actually there are all varieties of physical equipment to be spotted on the trail. I personally try and rollerblade at least five miles every other day. As long as there is no motor and you are moving at your own sweat and strength it’s allowed.
Great news for dog lovers! The rail trail is canine friendly! Pack up the pooch and set off. Sit back and relax on one of the many conveniently placed picnic tables/ benches while ol’ yeller chases geese or any other of the returning critters that have made the lakeside their home.
Ashuwill—What? I know, what a mouthful! Fun fact, the Rail Trail has been so accurately named since the word Ashuwillticook comes from an old Native American word for the south Branch of the Hoosic Valley River, meaning in today’s terms, “the pleasant river in between two hills”. Which as you see in the picture below there are some glorious views of the nearby Greylock Mountain and The Hoosac Range.
Whether it’s just you, or the whole family, I’m sure everyone will be able to find something to keep them occupied. Push the stroller, walk the dog, run your heart out, race your brother/sister to the end or lay out and soak up some sun while Dad goes fishing. Rent Kayaks marvel at the sights while you tone you arms. You’ll be surprised when you look down at your watch and see that it’s time for dinner already! No matter what you decide to do at the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail have fun! Come back to the Yankee Inn for a great suggestion for dinner and then hit the hay! So what are you waiting for?
Posted on Sun, Sep 09, 2012 @ 09:00 AM
Kayla Hebler
Tired of going to a local ice cream parlor for desert when on vacation? Lucky for both tourists and locals Barrington Bites has the perfect treats to savor after a nice dinner, or even if you just have a sweet tooth. Barrington Bites specializes in making gourmet mini cupcakes and is located in the Chef Shop at 31 Railroad Street in Great Barrington, Mass.
Bakers and friends Sherri Gorelick and Wendy Weinberg spent months on perfecting their recipes and getting feedback from potential customers, which resulted in 40 unique flavors that were keepers. They have flavors such as “Chocolate Stout” made with decadent dark chocolate, infused with Guiness buttercream, or how about trying and “Elvis” made with a chocolate banana cupcake with smooth peanut butter buttercream and topped with…BACON! Don’t knock it till you try it.
They also have many ever changing season flavors like Pumpkin, Eggnog, Maple, Gingerbread and many more. For the month of August try some summer flavors that are light and tangy like ”Pink Lemonade” or “Fresh Strawberry”. Stuffed flavors such as an “Almond Joy” is a dark chocolate cupcake stuffed with almond/coconut buttercream and topped with fresh shredded coconut, or a “Creamsicle” which is an orange flavor cake stuffed with Madagascar bourbon and vanilla whipped buttercream.
The flavors all sound so exciting and the proof is there, all you have to do it try one! And don’t be too sad if you’re not coming to the Berkshires, because you can go online and order them to be shipped to you wherever “home” may be.
Barringtonbites.com