Posted on Fri, Aug 10, 2012 @ 07:00 AM
Kaylah Slattery
Jonathan’s is a lovely restaurant to check out with staying at the Yankee Inn. Only three mile drive from the hotel it’s awfully hard to find an excuse to not venture in. Whether you prefer an intimate dinging experience inside or rather dine outside and enjoy the beautifully kept gardens that surround the deck with fresh aromas creating a serene atmosphere as you sip your wine while waiting for the delicious entrée you’ve finally settled on.
Let me emphasize that the menu is full of intriguing flavor combinations with such great variety that it is difficult to finally decide on one or two entrées. I’m not here to judge and honestly the more food the more merrily you’ll feel.
Jonathan’s has something to offer for someone. Coming in for a quick lunch? Start with the fried calamari served with a sweet chili sauce and a spicy remoulade and follow with the Roasted beet salad with sweet onions, arugula and balsamic vinaigrette. Perhaps a little too daring, well then how about a regular or gluten free grilled pizza? Build your own for $7.00 and create a masterpiece! You will not be able to eat it all but gosh is it tasty! Looking for something a little more filling? Any of the sandwich specialties, all roughly $10.00 each, will knock the socks off your feet. Not only are the ingredients extremely fresh and prepared with the finest dedication the portion size will give you a reason for a midnight snack later on.
Now as for dinner…oh man where does one begin, er, rather where can one begin? Seafood? Meats? Pasta? How does the Glazed Salmon Filet sound? Not only is it fresh Atlantic salmon, but its fresh Atlantic salmon paired with a pecan-honey glaze served with Basmati rice and the daily vegetable. Simply scrumptious. Now if that may not work for some of the fussy eaters out there, have no fear for Pork chops are not too far down the menu, along with good ol’ home cooking like fried chicken with all the fixings’. We’re talking mashed potatoes with pan gravy, fried okra and a warm homemade biscuit all for $18.00!
I could go on forever and ever about how simply divine any of these dishes are but I digress. You’ll just have to grab one of the menus in our lobby at our information center, or better yet talk with one of us at the front desk, and watch as our eyes smile with memory of flavor. Just do me a favor and try one or, hey, all of their desserts. Just make sure to come back and give me all the details!
Posted on Thu, Aug 09, 2012 @ 09:00 AM
Kayla Hebler
“In foodie-friendly Great Barrington, Allium stands out for its steadfast commitment to local ingredients.” — Boston Globe
My best friend and I wanted to go to a nice dinner and we both heard great things about Allium in Great Barrington. Just a short drive from where we live in Pittsfield we drove in to town and went on a quest to find a parking spot. Great Barrington is packed with people, things to do, great food, stores, entertainment, and a fun experience for both locals and tourists.
The menu is full of organic and gourmet selections. The chefs cook with products that are from local farms and artesian producers to ensure the best quality in their dishes. Great Barrington has a laid back hippy feel to it and we were a little skeptical about the staff until we heard how much knowledge they had about the menu and ingredients.
We started with a raw kale salad, which I have never had and really wanted my traditional Caesar. The kale scared me because it was something new for me, but it was so good and it’s now my favorite thing ever, along with apples, sourdough croutons and Pecorino lemon vinaigrette. Then I had my entrée, the Trofiette Pasta with lemon basil pesto, mascarpone and crispy potatoes. It was beyond delicious...best thing I have ever ordered out to eat. They also give you great service and continuously put amazing fresh sourdough bread on your plate.
We finished with Bailey's and coffee and the coffee comes as a full strong roasted press, makes for a nice way to end your meal. I highly recommend Allium for dinner in the Berkshires. Call ahead to get a reservation and take a short trip to Great Barrington while you visit!
Posted on Wed, Aug 08, 2012 @ 09:00 AM
David Krok
Personally, I love watching movies. I have been going to see movies in theaters for longer than I can remember. And ever since the first time I went to the Beacon theater, I’ve never went to any other in the Berkshires. They always have the newest movies playing and have beautiful, clean theaters. Some movies even come in 3D.
The other weekend I went to the Beacon Cinema Theater located on North St in Pittsfield, and got the pleasure of seeing Batman: The Dark Knight Rises (which was an incredible movie) for only five dollars. That is because on Tuesday’s in the summertime, the Beacon has a special deal that all regular movies cost five dollars, no coupon or registration required. If you are looking to save money on watching a movie in theaters, the Beacon Theater is a great place to check out.
Five dollars is a ridiculously low price if you think about how much other movie theaters charge. Some charge eleven dollars for a regular movie. The pricing at the beacon is as follows…
Regular Pricing
$9.00 Adult 13-61, Evening
$7.00 Adult Matinee, (before 5:00 PM)
$6.50 Child 12 and under, anytime
$6.50 Senior 62 and over, anytime
3-D Pricing
$12.00 Adult 13-61, Evening
$10.00 Adult Matinee, (before 5:00 PM)
$9.50 Child 12 and under, anytime
$9.50 Senior 62 and over, anytime
Tuesday Pricing
$5.00 for regular movies
$6.50 for 3D movies
Also, one of the best perks to going to this theater (even though it isn’t one that I could personally enjoy) is that they serve beer and wine at the concession stand. So the next time you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day, or a late night, or just wanting to see that movie you’re dying to see, the beacon is highly recommended.
Posted on Tue, Aug 07, 2012 @ 09:00 AM
Kayla Hebler
Family owned and operated Berkshire Canoe Tours take your family and friends for a fun guided canoe tour down the HousatonicRiver. Enjoy a fun and relaxing day floating in a river and looking at the beautiful Berkshires and all the nature around it. Make sure to bring a camera on this trip to capture the wildlife and plants that surround you as you canoe. Some things you might see on the guided trip are red-tail hawks, owls, Canadian geese; tall cottonwoods, sycamore, beavers, turtles and much more!
The trip lasts about 1 ½-2 hours. The guides are well trained and professional, so if you have never been on a canoe or paddled they can teach you everything you would need to know for the day. The cost is 50 dollars for an adult and 30 dollars for a child; it is suitable for both young children and adults. The price includes the safety gear; all they ask is that you dress appropriately for weather along with sunglasses, sunscreen and hats.
The trips are operated off of Deckers Landing which is located on New Lenox Rd. in historic Lenox, Ma, just a quick drive from us here at the Yankee Inn. They do recommend making reservations to schedule in advanced, the tours run several times a day. If you are interested in getting more information or booking a reservation with Berkshire Canoe Tours, call 413-442-2789.
Posted on Mon, Aug 06, 2012 @ 09:00 AM
David Krok
This restaurant has a large variety of food along with very reasonable prices to match. It has a wonderful wooden ambiance with a bunch of wall ornaments and decorative statues throughout the restaurant. And along with the many choices of steak and seafood, they have a delicious salad bar that is definitely worth getting.
It has many different kinds of steak ranging from Top Sirloin to New York Strip and even Filet Mignon and Prime Rib. If you prefer seafood over steak, they offer choice of shrimp, lobster, crab, scallops, and more. I would recommend getting a combination of the two like steak and crab-stuffed shrimp or scallops and sirloin. You even have the option of combining two of your favorites if you would like to try something they don’t have on the menu. They also serve chicken, prepared in many different styles (buffalo, chicken parm, teriyaki) and have many appetizers like calamari, potato skins, and stuffed mushrooms.
Their kid’s menu is also a great deal. It includes a choice of entrée, salad bar, choice of baked potato, fries, or rice, a beverage, and an Oreo Cookie sundae. And all entrée on the kid’s menu are between 5 and 10 dollars.
In addition to the wonderful food, it is located very close to the Yankee Inn, and I would even recommend walking if it is a nice day. In my opinion, it is always enjoyable to talk a nice, brisk walk after a big meal.
Also, if you stay with us and show them your room key, you will get a discount of 10% off your meal. And when you stay at the Yankee Inn for two or more week days, don’t forget us to ask about our Dakota Dine and Stay Package (some restrictions apply).
Posted on Thu, Aug 02, 2012 @ 12:54 PM
Kaylah Slattery
Now I consider myself a big fan of the fin and when I heard that a new Japanese Hibachi Steak and Sushi house was opening up right in my town, Pittsfield Ma, I could only jump at the chance to try it out with my girlfriends.
I must admit I was a touch skeptical of it being a chain restaurant but since I had eaten at the Koto Japanese Steak House in Latham NY, and was very much pleased with my meal, decided to give it a shot. I’m happy to say it was no mistake on my part either! The atmosphere was thick with laughing voices and scrumptious sizzling food that could be heard from the entrance. My party of four was immediately seated before one of six hibachi grills with two very animated chefs back to back. After gathering everyone’s order he set up his station with such precision I was already entranced. I had ordered a combo meal of Filet Mingon and Scallops with fresh vegetables, shrimp and fried rice all for $25.00. Not to mention a delicious roll of sushi the restaurant had so thoughtfully named the “Dalton Roll” paying homage to the nearby town. Filled with mouthwatering ingredients such as spicy yellowtail, eel, avocado, and cream cheese all encrusted in tempura, I was only too happy to devour it within seconds.
Overall I had a fabulous time at Koto in the Allendale shopping center and would recommend checking out the exciting Hibachi style grill. Prices are comparatively less expensive then rates at Shiro in Great Barrington. There are more options and more seating available at Koto and it’s only a fifteen minute drive from The Yankee Inn. Come for the weekend in the beautiful Berkshires and go out to dinner. No matter what you’ll be getting more bang for your buck!
Posted on Tue, Jul 24, 2012 @ 08:00 AM
Shawn Leary
The Berkshires are a beautiful place. Living here, I tend to take the spectacular views for granted. I recently began to go on long scenic drives, and thought I should share some of my more recent favorites.
Route 7 North: To get on route 7 simply drive out of the parking lot. Personally I like traveling north on 7, and some of the best views are between Lanesborough, MA and the Vermont border you can easily drive this road for 2 hours north and have nice scenery.
Route 20 West: Like route 7, route 20 is just out our driveway. As you head left out of the parking lot, and take a left on to west Housatonic st. (continuing on 20) the view is mostly city. Follow the road past Hancock, and becomes a very scenic drive in to New York. If you Follow 20 out for an hour or so, you end up running into Albany, New York.
Route 41 South: Getting to route 41 can be a bit difficult, so ask for directions at the desk. However, the road is very rewarding. Route 41 will take you down through Great Barrington, Egremont, and Sheffield.
The Skyline Trail East: This is by far my favorite scenic road, but is also difficult to get to. It runs between Hinsdale and Huntington, MA. Feel free to ask at the front desk the easiest way to get to the skyline trail, and enjoy the nice newly paved road to nowhere.
Posted on Mon, Jul 23, 2012 @ 08:00 AM
Mick Huska
Western Massachusetts is becoming a haven for high quality live music. In a previous blog I wrote about how The Berkshires are becoming a location for many can’t miss however it seems to be encompassing a lot ofWestern Massachusetts. This is great for a live music junkie like myself.
However, sometimes you want to go see live music, but there’s nothing around worth seeing. What do you do? How do you handle the crisis and get your live music fix??? One of my favorite cities to visit for live music and in general is Northampton, MA (NoHo as we call it) which is a quick, scenic 45 minute ride from the Berkshires… especially if you take route 9 (hint, hint).
Northampton is a unique little city in the Pioneer Valley and is great for a day trip to walk around to visit their shops and restaurants. It also has a good night life scene with more live music than a person can handle. The best live music venues in Northampton are The Calvin Theater, The Iron Horse and Pearl Street, which, coincidentally, are three of my favorite live music venues.
Check out the venues’ main music website www.iheg.com for a complete listing of upcoming entertainment and policies.
So during your stay at the Yankee Inn, I think it would be in your best interests to make a trip to NoHo. It’s a young, hip college town with a pretty booming scene. It plays the perfect foil to The Berkshires high class atmosphere. This way, during your vacation, you get the best of everything Western Mass has to offer!
Posted on Fri, Jul 20, 2012 @ 08:00 AM
Kayla Hebler
Already returned to The Berkshires at Cranwell for the summer, enjoy a hilarious night out and go see Capitol Steps performance. The Capitol Steps performers began as a group of Senate staffers who set out to mock the very own people that employed them. Although not all of the current performers are former Capitol Hill Staffers, together they have worked in a total of eighteen Congressional offices and represent 62 years of collective House and Senate staff experience.
They began their original group in 1981, and the Capitol Steps have recorded over 32 albums along with new song titles from their latest album, “Take the Money and Run for President”. They can be heard four times a year on National Public Radio stations nation wide during their “Politics Takes a Holiday” radio specials, and have been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS.
There is pre show dinner held at Cranwell before the show in their elegant Wyndhurst Restaurant in the Mansion or at Sloane’s Tavern at Cranwell with the option of outdoor seating overlooking the golf course. There is also a late-dining menu for after the show which includes coffee and delicious desserts.
The performances are from July 2nd- September 2nd, 2012: Monday, Wednesday & Saturday shows at 8 p.m. & a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. The show is about 90 minutes long.
“Some people in Washington are confused…the Capitol Steps are not.”
- Vice President Al Gore
Posted on Tue, Jul 10, 2012 @ 01:54 PM
The Mount
Kayla Hebler
If you are visiting the Berkshires and looking to tour a historic place with lots of culture, Edith Wharton’s estate is just what you're looking for. Designed and built by Edith Wharton herself, the property includes three acres of formal gardens. The Mount reflects Wharton’s interests in literary arts, interior design, garden and landscaping, and the art of living.
The Mount was founded in 1980 with a goal to preserve and display a tribute to its designer and creator, and also established to a cultural and literary center. Celebrating Edith Wharton’s legacy at The Mount there are many things to learn here on one of their guided tours.
Take a trip to Lenox to visit The Mount and one of their skilled tour guides will walk you around for about an hour long exploration. The hour long tour is guided throughout the mansions three floors. You then tour the surroundings where you will see the “formal gardens” with three acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, grass terraces, an English Lime walk, and rock gardens.
If your feeling a bit daring, try the ghost tours, The Mount now offers private after-dark group tours. From what I hear this place is extremely haunted. The estate is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and special arrangements can be made for the ghost tours.