Visit Hildene for an old-fashioned Christmas experience
Manchester, Vt.— Throughout the month of December, step back in time with a visit to Hildene, the Lincoln family home, which will be cheerfully decorated as though it were Christmas Eve 1912.
Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home, built in 1905, was Mary and Robert Lincoln’s summer home. Robert was Abraham Lincoln’s sole heir to survive to adulthood. Preserved by Friends of Hildene, Inc., the estate boasts the historic Georgian Revival home, formal and production gardens, working farm and cheesemaking facility, restored 1903 Pullman railcar, floating wetland boardwalk, and 12 miles of hiking trails.
As guests make their way up the snowy path to the house from the historic carriage barn, they may hear the magnificent swell of Christmas carols emanating from the more than 900 pipes of the family’s grand Aeolian organ. Opening the front door, they will be greeted by a 10’ tall Christmas tree laden with strings of beads and popcorn, vintage ornaments, and candles. The scent of balsam fills the air, as fresh greens adorn every room and fires crackle in the fireplaces. On weekends, talented musicians play both the organ and Steinway piano while guests stroll through the house at their leisure. Guests may also shop for unique holiday gifts in The Museum Store. Filled with Vermont products, many items are made on Hildene’s own farm.
The experience is offered throughout the month of December at Hildene, located at 1005 Hildene Road in Manchester Center, Vt. More information and a schedule can be found online.
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Bard Conservatory Orchestra presents concert with Maestro Leon Botstein
Annandale-On-Hudson, N.Y.— On the Bard College Conservatory Orchestra presents a concert performance with Music Director Leon Botstein conducting, featuring soloists from the Bard Graduate Vocal Arts Program.
This concert is dedicated to the late Richard B. Fisher on the 20th anniversary of his death. Fisher was a man of deep intellectual curiosity, an enlightened patron of the arts, chairman emeritus of Morgan Stanley, and former chair of Bard College’s Board of Trustees. The magnificent Fisher Center building and the extraordinary arts experiences that take place within it are a tribute to his vision.
The program includes Franz Schubert’s “Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, Unfinished,” composed just over 200 years ago, heralding a new romantic sound in its orchestration, providing a supreme example of Schubert’s lyrical gifts, displaying his bold harmonic daring, and projecting an extraordinary range of emotions. The program also includes Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy’s “Psalm 42, Op. 42, Wie der Hirsch schreit (As the hart cries out),” written on his honeymoon in the summer of 1837, and regarded as one of his most popular religious compositions. The program will conclude with Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op. 93,” Shostakovich’s greatest symphonic achievement in which he “wanted to convey human feelings and passions.”
The concert is on Saturday, December 14th at 7 p.m. in the Fisher Center’s Sosnoff Theater at Bard, located on Manor Avenue in Annandale-On-Hudson, N.Y. It will also be live-streamed. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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Witch Slapped presents an ‘Artivism’ workshop
Pittsfield— On Saturday, December 14th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Witch Slapped presents an ‘Artivism’ workshop, a collaborative exploration of the arts in activism.
There will be discussions of how various art forms, such as poetry, photography, and visual arts, can be used to express our opinions about the world around us followed by creating a work of art representing something we care deeply about. Come as you are. Supplies will be provided and no former experience in the arts or activism is required.
The workshop is on Saturday, December 14th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Witch Slapped, located at 78 North Street in Pittsfield. More information can be found online.
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Becket Arts Center Hanukkah celebration
Becket— On Sunday, December 15th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Becket Arts Center will hold its first ever Hanukkah celebration.
The evening will feature light, laughter, traditional refreshments, stories, and songs.
The celebration on Sunday, December 15th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Becket Arts Center, located on Brooker Hill Road in Becket. Tickets and more information can be found online.
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‘Holiday Shindy’ returns to Pittsfield
Pittsfield— On Saturday, December 14th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the “Holiday Shindy,” a Berkshire benchmark of spectacular sustainable craft tradition will again take place in Pittsfield.
For 17 years, the “Holiday Shindy” has been a magical shopping destination, showcasing artisans from across the region, offering the chance to shop directly from local farms and makers, from soaps and tinctures to cookies and calendars. Long-time vendors and emerging talents are set aglow in a warm, inclusive, and accessible setting.
The event is on Saturday, December 14th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Masonic Temple, located at 116 South Street in Pittsfield. More information can be found online. There is a ticketed preview from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tickets for the preview can be found online.
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Dottie’s 15th annual gingerbread house decorating party
Pittsfield— On Sunday, December 15th from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Dottie’s Coffee Lounge hosts its 15th annual Gingerbread House Decorating Party.
A completely edible and homemade gingerbread house that is assembled and ready to be decorated is provided along with all the decorations you can imagine, creating a unique and fabulous creation. Hot chocolate and coffee will be served to all guests.
The popular and festive event is on Sunday, December 15th from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge, located at 444 North Street in Pittsfield. The cost is $50 for one house (two people per house.) Reservations required. To reserve your house you must pay in full through Venmo (@dottielatte) or in person at Dottie’s. More information can be found online.
