Tanglewood 2013 – 76th Season

By: Rebecca Simmons

After a spectacular 75^th anniversary season in 2012, Tanglewood promises not to disappoint in 2013. This year Tanglewood will offer music lovers a variety of performances including Boston Symphony Orchestra, Melissa Etheridge, Yo-Yo Ma, the Mark Morris Dance Group and much more that you just don’t want to miss!

 

Although the Tanglewood season doesn’t officially kick off until July 5^th, popular performances begin in mid June, which is right around the corner! Don’t wait another moment to plan your summer getaway to the Berkshires; with the line-up Tanglewood has to offer this year you won’t want to miss it!

Whether you come to the Berkshires every summer to enjoy Tanglewood or this is your first trip to the area, Tanglewood has many great programs that you can take advantage of. If you plan to visit Tanglewood several times you can take advantage of the Tanglewood Lawn Pass Book. There are tickets for Saturday Morning Rehearsals so you can spend an entire day at Tanglewood starting with the rehearsal,  then perhaps a tour of the grounds, maybe lunch in one of the cafés on property followed by the afternoon or evening performance.                                                                   

Are you a young adult and this is going to be your first Tanglewood experience? If so, you are a perfect match for a new program: Under 40, Tickets for $20! This offer is new at Tanglewood, but thousands of guests take advantage of this program every year at Symphony Hall.

Maybe you love the arts as much as you love music, if so then Tanglewood has the package for you! The Clark Ticket Package, this unique offer gives you one lawn ticket and a ticket to the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown.

Tanglewood also has several family friendly events throughout the summer that will entertain your children as well. On August 24^th, Tanglewood presents their Family Concert which will provide an engaging and educational music experience for you and your children!

As you can see, Tanglewood certainly has something to offer for everyone this year. For a complete listing of all of the events for 2013 you can visit their website for more details! And remember, it is never too early (or too late) to make your summer reservations, popular Tanglewood Events fill up fast, and you don’t want to miss your favorite concert! 

Mother's Day at Ventfort Hall and Gilded Age Museum - Lenox, MA

By Kaylah Slattery

 

Ventfort Hall Mansion is a historical centerpiece for the quite village of Lenox Massachusetts. Built in the 19^th century, the Jacobean mansion celebrates a time unlike any other. The Gilded Age was a revival for America. Catching the attention of a million Europeans who hoped that one they day could have the American Dream. For the first time America was leading the race to Industrialization and had begun to reap our accomplishments. And why not? The Railroad Industry had catapulted us into a new way of life, with Factories, Mining, and Labor Unions all contributing to the enormous growth of our Country during the time period.

The Mansion itself is 1 out of 75 other Berkshire summer “Cottages” throughout Lenox and Stockbridge. Ventfort Hall was designed by well known Boston architects Rotch & Tilden who were responsible for at least four other summer cottages in the area. The 28,000 sq. ft Mansion is made up of 28 rooms, 15 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, 17 fireplaces, along with a salon, billiard room and a bowling alley. It now sits on a plush and beautifully maintained 11.7 acres of land. For 1893, the house had the latest modern amenities such as combined electric and gas light fixtures, ventilated bathrooms, elevators, and even burglar alarms and central heating. Lenox became a popular Gilded Age resort that offered a quiet, serene cornucopia of Cultural Arts for those looking to escape from the busy hot cities during summer. The area would attract many wealthy philanthropists, quirky writers such as Herman Melville, and great big business tycoons. Roscoe Bonsal was no exception; in 1925 he and his wife Mary rented the mansion for seven years. Bonsal was known for having the first cross-state Railroad in Flordia.  Ventfort Hall was later on used for many purposes starting in 1945 as a dormitory for Tanglewood students, and later on Fokine Ballet Summer Camp. By the mid 1980 the property was threatened with demolition with plans of a Nursing Home for the future. Luckily a couple of locals were able to assemble the Ventfort Hall Association in 1994 to try and preserve this historic icon and by 1997 they succeeded with the help of many donors and a 5 year loan from the National Trust of Historic Preservation. The property, all 28,000 sq. ft was sold to the tune of $500,000.

 

 

Today Ventfort Hall has the complete first floor and many second floor rooms available for public tours. Renovations are still carrying on, but the mansion has come a long way and now is a home for lectures, exhibits, enthusiast, cultural performances and weddings.

A quick fun fact? Wondering why the mansion looks familiar? It was used for multiple scenes in Cider House Rules as the St. Clouds Orphanage.

 

 

 

 

 

This year for Mother’s day:

          Ventfort Hall and Gilded Museum has cordially invited all Grandmothers, Mothers, Daughters, and Grandchildren to attend an evening Victorian Tea Party and Ballet Celebration!

Saturday May 11^th will be a day of grace, beauty, and music for the girls that one shall not forget soon! The performance starts at 3:30pm and goes on until 5:30pm. The ballet shall be performed by the American Dance Institute Ensemble of Pittsfield directed by Sharon MacDonald and by the Albany Berkshire Junior Ballet Company and the Cantarella School of Dance directed by Deidre Duffin Swindlehurst. The company will be performing excerpts of classical Ballet.

Along with the Pink Tea Party and Ballet the popular collection Les Petite Dames de Mode (The Little Ladies of Fashion) exhibit will be on view offering 61 exquisite  29 inch mannequins draped in period costume from 1855-1914. Afterwards make sure to stop by the Museum Shop for anything Victorian!

 

The Ventfort Hall is located in beautiful Lenox and is approximately 6 minutes from the Yankee Inn. Tickets are $20.00 for non- members and $7.00 for children 5-17 years of age. Children under the age of 4 are free!

 

Please call 413-637-3206 for reservations and any further information. 

Cultural Arts in Berkshire County - MASS MoCA

MASS MoCA is unlike any art museum I have ever visited. If you are a fan of modern art and are searching for the next big thing then you need to head up to North Adams, MA on your next trip to the Berkshires.

Spring Activities in the Berkshires- Meet the Baby Animals

By Nicole Brooks

 

It’s that time of year again! Make some family memories with a special Behind-the-Scenes guided tour with the Baby Animals at Hancock Shaker Village! Available daily April 13^th through May 5^th at 2pm as well as 10am during the weekends. Families can get up close and personal by helping at feeding time and having special access to the newborns! Your private guided tour includes a fun-filled gift bag with goodies from the Hancock Shaker Village Store, and also includes a framed photo of your group to commemorate your visit. 

Baby Animals at the Shaker Farm is a fun and educational learning experience for children of all grade levels as well as adults. Following an introduction by one of the staff members at the Hancock Shaker Village, your family can watch artisans and gardeners at work, marvel at the sights and sounds of the 1858 water turbine, and delight in the heritage breeds in the Round Stone Barn. Hands-on activities in the Discovery Room include trying on Shaker-style clothing, weaving on a loom, and milking a life-sized replica of a Holstein cow. While making some family memories you can enjoy a nice picnic with your family in Hancock’s picnic area, as well as shared indoor seating. 

While you are enjoying your stay with us at the Yankee Inn, Make sure you stop on over to Hancock Shaker Village and make some memories with your family, and check out those Baby Animals! Space on each tour is very limited and it is encouraged that you ensure your spot by registering in advance. 

For the Devout Dunkers! Berkshire Biscotti

By: Nicole Shove 

            David’s biscotti, located at 11 Lombard Street in Pittsfield MA and are known for their biscotti that are baked in the Italian tradition and are known and loved by devout dunkers everywhere!           

David’s Biscotti is a specialty bakery, with a focus on producing fine Italian style 
biscotti cookies. They use traditional Italian biscotti recipes and methods, and are able to provide quality product that is becoming harder to find in the highly automated industries of today. David’s crispy biscotti are produced naturally, by bakers who are passionate about their trade, and who all agree, there's nothing else that they would rather be doing.

            A brief summary and history of the biscotti all began over a hundred years ago when Italian seafaring men discovered that twice baking allowed their baked goods to last longer at sea. Since they are very dry and crunchy, it made people want to dunk them. In Italy, for the most part are typically served as an after-dinner dessert with a Tuscan fortified wine called Vin Santo. Outside of Italy, they more frequently accompany by coffee, including cappuccinos and lattes, or black tea. In Spain, biscotti’s are usually served with a small glass of a sweet dessert wine, such asmuscat or moscatell.

            David’s Biscotti offers a variety of biscotti that come either individually packaged or in bulk. Some of their flavorings include; Classic Almond, Mocha Hazelnut, Chocolate Cherry Amaretto, Lemon Cranberry Pistachio, Double Chocolate Espresso, Chocolate Raspberry Almond, Coconut Macadamia, and Blueberry Vanilla Almond. For those vegan desirers, David’s also provides dairy and egg free biscotti’s that come in Cranberry Almond flavoring along with Anise Almond! David’s Biscotti makes it possible for you to look at their nutrition as well.           

            So stop at David’s Biscotti while you are enjoying what the Berkshires has to offer and try their famous Italian style biscotti! And if you are only staying for a short amount of time, and can’t make it to their store…NO WORRIES! You can place an order on their website (info@davidsbiscotti.net) and have their biscotti’s delivered to you at your home in your convenience. You never know, you may just become the next devout dunker!

Skiing during your visit to the Berkshires?

By Kaylah Slattery

 

It’s that time of year to get bundled up and hit the slopes with family and friends. Luckily, here at the Yankee Inn we offer discounted tickets to the largest Ski Resort this side of New England and it’s only a 20 minute drive through scenic Berkshire County. Jiminy Peak has an elevation of 2380 ft with a vertical rise of 1150ft. The resort has stunning acreage of 167.4 that gives its patrons 45 different trails to choose from. Whether it’s the first time or the hundredth time, this mountain will have a trail most suitable for you. (You can sign up for lessons as well)

 Jiminy opens their trails on the weekends at 8:30am and features night skiing until 10pm, during the midweek you can ski from 9:00am to 10pm. But be sure to stop at the front desk to check the Ski Report that gets sent to the Yankee Inn early every morning to make sure you are getting the best conditions.

Standard Adult lift tickets range from $62-$74.00 depending on holidays and weekends. But if you request tickets when you make your reservation we can save you $10.00 off per 8 hour adult lift tickets, and even if you wait until the last minute you can save $5.00 off when you purchase them a la carte at the front desk. The hotel does also offer a Ski and Stay package which include one 8 hour adult lift ticket and a $25.00 gift certificate to a nearby restaurant great for families! Please contact the front desk for more information. You can either email us at reservations@yankeeinn.com or call the front desk directly toll free at (800) 835-2364 for further information and questions!