Saturday, December 14, 2024

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

HomeLife In the Berkshires

Life In the Berkshires

BITS & BYTES: Gary Lucas at Spencertown Academy; Jonathan Alter at Stockbridge Library; Carl Sprague at Ventfort Hall; Drag Story Hour at Berkshire Museum;...

“We are looking forward to welcoming Gary Lucas back to the Academy. He is one of the most innovative guitarists I’ve ever seen play live,” says Dusty Wright, a member of the Academy Music Committee.

BerkShares businesses: One Mercantile

We focus on small-batch production and locally made goods. We are trying to create a unique shopping experience in Great Barrington. -- One Mercantile co-owner, Abby Webster

Notes, footnotes & queries

Why is it that Wheeler and Taylor has chained off its big parking lot that for so many years was available on weekends?

Rotary Club Bike-N-Fly to raise scholarship money

There will be, of course, many seriously good-looking airplanes showing off.

The banana at Tanglewood

“A banana? What kind of a banana?” “I can’t explain it. It’s a banana. It’s the only banana at Tanglewood."

The future of food: Beyond farm to table

"It is not enough to just support the farmer; we need to support the land that supports the farmer." -- Chef and author Daniel Barber, owner of Blue Hill Farm in Monterey

I think my Blue Neighbor is screaming

A poem by Matt Whalan, with an illustration by Alison Lee, about a particular terror in Housatonic.

Part I: The heroin epidemic in my town

We cannot dismiss the problem of heroin and the underlying, mysterious madness of the youth here. What do people need to escape from when they need to escape this much, this far?

Connections: Waiting for a train

The first time around, from concept to completion, it took 44 years to establish passenger train service in Berkshire and there is no reason to believe it will take less time to restore it.

Mother of Dragons meets her match

Mud, done! Onward and upward! I’m gonna show these chicks what walking through fire looks like.

President of Reconstructionist Rabbinical College to visit Congregation Ahavath Sholom

“This is also a wonderful chance for our members and the broader community to expand our knowledge of the different ways one can live a relevant Jewish life in the 21st century.” -- Ahavath Sholom Spiritual Leader Barbara Cohen

Connections: Circus circus

The elephant arrived in Lenox exhausted and suffering – apparently – from internal injuries. Residents came from all over Berkshire, stood in the barn door, and watched Columbus die.

Gideon’s Garden: So others may eat

“Gideon’s Garden is the best thing. It’s such a pleasure partnering with them. They have a big heart; they care about everybody.” --George Laye, director of the Guthrie Center

Circus is coming! Smirkus is coming!

The Circus Smirkus performances are a benefit for the Great Barrington Fairgrounds Redevelopment Project. The Smirkus theme is: “Anchors Away for Atlantis, a maritime merriment under the briny big top.”

An American welcome to the Tanglewood season: Opening night starring Renee Fleming

This was an auspicious start of the Tanglewood season, signaling, one may hope, the advent of a special musical welcoming and inclusiveness by Maestro Nelsons and his company.

An Upper Second Hand: The Best Finds of My Generation

The Edge introduces its Berkshires version of an antiques road show, hosted by the estimable and erudite Andrew Flint who's gifted at discovering diamonds in the rough.

Connections: Summer storm at Tanglewood led to Shed

Eighty years ago, Tanglewood concerts were outdoors -- in a tent. At one performance, an all-Wagner concert, with Koussevitsky conducting, a storm rendered the music inaudible.