Rural Intelligence 2022

Talo Architect’s wish

“What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity, devoid of troubling or depressing subject-matter, an art which could be for every mental worker, for the businessman as well as the man of letters, for example, a soothing, calming influence on the mind, something like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue.”

—Henri Matisse

When I was trained early in my career by the masters in Architecture, Edward Larrabee Barnes and Philip Johnson, Matisse’s words were the finest example I had come across to describe the end goal for any architecture project. In any period or style imaginable, hopefully interacting with a garden or vista, in a passive architecture’s calm and comforting environment.

FOOD & DRINK

8 Summer’s got its own flavor of eats and drinks, like an ice cream stand to steal your heart and a craft distillery’s Cultural Cocktails. A slower tempo allows for visits to vineyards and new restaurants.

DAY TRIPS

14 Williamstown and North Adams, MA. A day trip to the northern Berkshires is a study in contrasts: Williamstown, aka “The Village Beautiful,” vs. North Adams, with its small-city, post-industrial vibes. The commonality? They both abound in arts and culture.

36 Washington Depot and Kent, CT. Two of our favorite Litchfield County towns with spaces to roam: Washington Depot, a quiet New England village with town greens and stately architecture; and Kent, its bustling Main Street filled with shops, galleries, and restaurants.

OUTDOORS

16 No visit is complete without experiencing the exquisite natural resources surrounding us. Experts share their favorite hiking trails with us, but there are other ways to explore the region: biking, climbing, or kayaking the Hudson River.

ACCOMMODATIONS

20 Concierge services or camping out? Whatever type of lodging you prefer, it’s here, from a stay in a castle or a treehouse to camping glamorously (“glamping”) or barebones style. Plus five inns to consider for a Hudson getaway.

HOME & GARDEN

24 Perfect daytime activities include shopping at the stores and outlets of A-list textile designers, hunting for bargains at thrift shops, or strolling through exquisite public gardens and historic estates.

CANNABIS

30 New York and Connecticut will soon be selling legal cannabis. But for now, Massachusetts is the only state in the region with retail marijuana outlets. The Berkshires is home to over a dozen dispensaries, catering to every type of customer on the cannabis spectrum.

WELLNESS

32 If rejuvenation is what you need, you’re in the right place. A bounty of worldclass holistic wellness destinations provide cutting-edge approaches to nurturing, healing, and pampering.

ON THE COVER

A light repast and a sunset at Naumkeag, the public garden and historic home in Stockbridge, Massachusetts serve as your introduction to summer in our region. Drink it in. Photo by Debra Meyers, courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism.

Summer Arts

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2022.

Photo by Jerry Metellus

FROM THE EDITOR

In 2008, Marilyn Bethany and Dan Shaw, two veteran print journalists, moved to the country and embraced the digital world by launching a web magazine, Rural Intelligence. Their mission: to unite the residents of Berkshire, Columbia, Dutchess, and Litchfield counties—a tri-state community rich in culture, natural beauty, and smart, interesting people. It was the right time and place for such a publication, delivered via a medium that was still new to many of its readers. It was an immediate success.

Fourteen years later, Rural Intelligence is a member of the Chronogram Media family of publications, and continues to be a place of discovery for our readers. By selectively highlighting shops, galleries, concerts, garden tours, real estate listings, parties, fairs, and special events, we help our readers— residents, second homeowners and visitors alike—explore all this area has to offer.

With this magazine, we introduce another path to discovery: a print

version Rural Intelligence. There’s no better season than summer to introduce new readers to the wealth of culture, outdoor activities, day trips, restaurants, shops, inns, and spas in our midst. Most of the articles on these pages sport QR codes that lead you to additional information on the website. I invite you to look around: Our 14-year archive provides a comprehensive picture of the people, places and things that have made our region such an extraordinary place to live and visit.

One thing you’ll note: We cover this community like no other publication. We’re self-described, unabashed cheerleaders for our local businesses and organizations. That’s why you’ll find us at nonprofit fundraisers and public events, taking notes and photographing attendees, then posting the photos on the website. We delight in championing the good works these organizations and their supporters do. If you see me at an event, camera in hand, be sure come up and say hi. I love meeting our readers.

I encourage you to sign up for our newsletters. You’ll be among the first to know about the events we recommend each week and notified the minute we update our weekly issue every Thursday.

Finally, to our readers whose contributions helped fund this new venture, I must say—we couldn’t have done it without you. Your loyalty and enthusiasm are what make Rural Intelligence sing. I hope you enjoy the magazine.

EDITORIAL EDITOR

Lisa Green lisa.green@chronogram.com

ART DIRECTOR

Kerry Tinger kerry@chronogram.com

DIGITAL EDITOR

Marie Doyon

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Become Yourself.

JUNE 19 3 PM

Balourdet Quartet with Benjamin Hochman, Piano

HAYDN String Quartet in B Flat Major, Op. 76 #4, “Sunrise”

WOLF Italian Serenade

BERMEL Intonations

DVORAK Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81

JUNE 26 3 PM

Cuarteto Latinoamericano with Thomas Gallant,

MOZART Oboe Quartet in F Major, K. 370

PIAZZOLLA Oblivion for oboe and string quartet

VILLA-LOBOS String Quartet #1 and more

Arianna String Quartet with Judith Gordon, Piano

HAYDN String Quartet in G Major, Op. 54 #1

ESMAIL String Quartet (Ragamala)

BRAHMS: Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op. 34

musicmountain.org

June 5 - September 18

Music Mountain, Falls Village CT

JUNE 25 7 PM

BILL CHARLAP TRIO

Grammy Award winning pianist, BILL CHARLAP is the artistic director of New York City’s Jazz in July Festival at the 92nd Street Y, and he has produced concerts for Jazz at Lincoln Center, the JVC Jazz Festival and the Hollywood Bowl.

JULY 2 7 PM

FIVE PLAY

The sister group of the world-renowned DIVA Jazz Orchestra. FIVE PLAY is rooted in the jazz tradition and is fueled and inspired by the members’ collective, creative vision to swing through the twenty-first century. FIVE PLAY has performed at many of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, music festivals and jazz clubs.

JULY 9 7 PM

NEW BLACK EAGLE JAZZ BAND

The very best in New Orleans style Jazz, Gospel & Blues. A world touring band since 1971.

ROMANCING THE CONE

By Dan Shaw

velvety chocolate soft serve that was not-too-sweet, not-too-heavy—in other words, exactly right.

A few days later, when we returned for lunch at the food truck, Kelly’s stole our hearts, beginning with exceptional fast-food style French fries ($3.50). The tangle of fries was hot, crisp, and plenty for two robust appetites.

If you enjoy a juicy burger that’s gently seasoned, this handmade patty ($7.50) on a brioche-style bun is exactly what you crave from a drive-in. If you’re looking for a bold vegetarian sandwich, the grilled portobello with roasted red pepper, mozzarella and luscious pesto ($7.50) is a decadent option.

Of course, you need to leave room for dessert, and the artfully painted menu boards in the creamery offer myriad options—from the Strawberry Shortcake or Cookie Monster sundaes ($7) to the custom ice cream sandwiches ($4.75 to $7) and Italian ices.

Everyone needs a summer romance, and mine’s with Kelly’s Creamery and Kelly’s Husband’s Truck on Route 22 in Dover Plains, New York. Located six miles south of the Wassaic train station, the two Kellys are the quintessence of timeless summer pleasures: a whimsical ice cream parlor and, across the parking lot, a roadside burger shack that operates out of a permanently parked food truck.

My infatuation began at the creamery and flavors like pistachio, sea-salt caramel, Key lime pie, Nutella, and banana Oreo, which are custom-ordered from a small purveyor that owners Kelly and Steven Cervino discovered in New Jersey. My mother went for the mocha espresso shake ($7)— chocolate soft serve, coffee ice cream, and a shot of espresso topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. I had a basic wafer cone of

What makes Kelly’s Creamery and Kelly’s Husband’s Truck so endearing is its gestalt: the jaunty turquoise picnic tables and Adirondack chairs surrounding gas fire pits for chilly nights. There’s a sprawling 18-hole miniature golf course ($8 for adults, $6 for kids) set back from the road and a brand-new bocce ball court complete with glow-in-the-dark bocce balls.

The region has more ice cream stands than sprinkles on a sugar cone. Scan here for other dreamy creameries in the area.

Kelly’s Creamery, Dover Plains, NY

SMOKIN’ WITH APPLES

At Harvest Smokehouse at Golden Harvest Farm, Chef Andrew Chase is using the farm’s surplus wood from old apple trees to smoke all manner of meat, and dressing it in sauces made with apple juice, cider, and vinegar that adds bite and character to the offerings. Sandwiches include smoked turkey ($12), jerk chicken ($10), and the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink Hogzilla ($14). The showoffs, of course, are the St. Louis ribs ($19 for a half rack, $34 for a full) dressed in that distinctive applejack barbecue sauce.

NEW CHAPTER FOR HISTORIC TAVERN

Stissing House, an 18th-century landmark, was run as a French restaurant for 15 years by Michel and Patricia Jean until 2020. In midMarch, Chef Clare de Boer reopened it, keeping the historic name. The menu is seasonal, elevated tavern food that’s mostly wood-fired. Recent dishes include fin de la Baie oysters from New Brunswyck ($3.50), woodroasted chicken with lemon and wedge potatoes ($29), seafood chowder with a giant saltine ($31), and sticky toffee sundae ($13).

SPRINKLES OF PIXIE DUST

Pixie Boulangerie, the new Europeanstyle bakery, is open “until sold out.” And sell out it does. That’s because the owner, Patrizia Barbagallo, offers croissants, scones, focaccia, breads, and baguettes that are making her customers swoon. Every day the “Pixies” behind the counter put out small batches, but with a lot of variety that changes often. There’s always a mix of savory (quiches and handpies) and sweet (tarts, pies, apricot swirl croissants), and all the breads are made from sour dough.

Harvest Smokehouse, Valatie, NY

Pixie Boulangerie, Great Barrington, MA

Stissing House, Pine Plains, NY

A VISIT TO 4 WINERIES

1 Millbrook Vineyards & Winery in Millbrook, New York, invites you to weekend outdoor wine tastings. Inquire about the Friday night food trucks and jazz nights and enjoy the gorgeous view.

2 Hopkins Vineyard in New Preston, Connecticut, has consistently produced award-winning whites, reds, and sparkling. Just steps away from scenic Lake Waramaug, Hopkins offers wine flights in the Hayloft Wine Bar.

3

Sunset Meadow Vineyard has two locations: Goshen, Connecticut, and Sheffield, Massachusetts. Try a chocolate and wine pairing—or maybe a slushie—in the Sheffield location’s rustic (but new) tasting room.

Balderdash Cellars in Richmond, Massachusetts, is a popular gathering spot high above Richmond Pond. The wines’ fun names (one to try:“Truth Serum”) add to the levity as visitors congregate on the hillside, enjoying live music and food trucks.

4

BIODYNAMIC + ORGANIC SEASONAL PRODUCE FROM LOCAL AND REGIONAL GROWERS

ORGANIC BREADS AND PASTRY MADE DAILY ON SITE IN OUR BAKERY

HOT AND COLD PREPARED FOODS

SUN HATS, NATURAL SUNSCREEN + INSECT REPELLENT

OPEN

ARTISAN GOODS FROM OVER 200 LOCAL AND REGIONAL ENTREPRENEURS

CRAFT BEER AND HARD CIDER

OUR FULL FERMENTS LINE INCLUDING OUR FAMOUS SAUERKRAUT

TAP KOMBUCHA + GRIND-YOUR-OWN NUT BUTTERS

...AND SO MUCH MORE!

DAILY | SHOP ONLINE FOR CURBSIDE PICKUP

Hopkins Vineyard, New Preston, CT

Sunset Meadow Vineyard, Goshen, CT

STORE.HAWTHORNEVALLEY.ORG

7:30-7

FOOD LOVE IN 4 WORDS

FISH FRY, SOUTHERN BBQ

Zinnia’s Dinette, Craryville, NY

Folks are flocking to Amy Lawton’s retro-hip New England fish fry called Zinnia’s. Starters include sweet and spicy hush puppies ($9), crab-stuffed mushrooms ($12), fried calamari ($12), or the popular fermented seaweed salad ($7). Take your choice of sandwiches: fried or boiled cod, BBQ shrimp, scallops, and oyster rolls (all $13). Of course, there are baskets of steamed little necks ($18), shrimp ($18), bay scallops with bacon and chive ($18), and a fish-and-chips basket ($17). Don’t forget to save room for the soft serve, which you can enjoy in Zinnia’s backyard.

We’ve got a lot more to say about Zinnia’s Dinette. Check it out by scanning here with your phone’s camera.

Momma Lo’s BBQ, Great Barrington, MA

“Discovered” cooking under a tent in Craryville, Lotetta “Momma Lo” McClennon was invited to move Momma Lo’s BBQ to a space in Great Barrington, where she’s now serving up her authentic Southern-style barbecue (takeout only). The secret to her success, she says, is love, and for her that means cooking with charcoal. Her brisket ($25.75) is balanced with a homemade sauce that carries an assertive tang and spice. The jerk chicken ($18.75) has floral and citrus notes that counterbalance the char. Standout pork ribs ($25.50) have not just a great flavor but a satisfying toothsome texture that would be lost with a longer cook time in a smoker. Every dish comes with two classic Southern sides.

What do we mean by “discovered?” Scan here for the rest of the Loretta "Momma Lo" McLennon's inspiring success story.

Photo by Sean Hutcheon

Zinnia’s Dinette, Craryville, NY

Momma Lo’s BBQ, Great Barrington, MA

HIGH-CULTURE COCKTAILS

When Berkshire Mountain Distillers opened in 2007, it became the first craft distillery in the Berkshires since Prohibition. Now it’s a leading, regionally focused maker of small-batch, award-winning craft spirits, with 25 to 30 blends of gin, plus bourbon, corn whiskey, vodka, and rum. BMD welcomes visitors at the distillery, where tastings, live music at the newly installed pavilion and a farm stand put the genial in the gin. This summer, the company celebrates its 15th anniversary with BMD Cultural Cocktails, a cocktail program created in homage to the arts in the Berkshires. Fifteen cultural organizations have classic craft cocktail recipes created in their names, and they’re being served in restaurants and bars. The Berkshires and surrounding regions are a hotbed of craft beverage production. Scan here to take a local brewery tour.

EAT LIKE A FARMER

It’s one thing to savor a juicy heirloom tomato salad at your favorite restaurant or to tote a few beauties back from the market to relish at home, but to truly understand the farmto-table cycle, you have to experience it at the source.

Seed & Spoon at Husky Meadows Farm, a new immersive culinary farm stay in Norfolk, Connecticut offers food lovers the chance to truly connect with the pleasures of growing and cooking for the seasonal table.

Led by Culinary Director Tracy Hayhurst, a farmer, chef, and food educator, the two- to fourday farm stays offer a hands-on taste of everything on the bucolic 300-acre organic farm, and then some. Guests stay on-site in one of five beautiful suites and participate in everything from watering seedlings to making fresh pasta for a convivial meal to special culinary events with acclaimed farm-to-table chefs and leading wine experts.

Berkshire Mountain Distillers, Sheffield, MA

Photo by Lisa Vollmer

Seed & Spoon’s immersive culinary farm stay

Williamstown & North Adams

By Gail Burns

Williamstown, aka “The Village Beautiful,” and North Adams, the smallest city in Massachusetts, are just five miles apart as the crow flies, but they have very different vibes—which makes a day spent exploring them well worthwhile.

Downtown Williamstown is eminently walkable, with the ‘62 Center for Theatre and Dance— home of the Williamstown Theatre

Festival—and the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) right on Main Street. Along Spring Street, you’ll find a variety of moderately priced ethnic restaurants, local coffee shops and Lickety Split, whose Purple Cow flavor (black raspberry with white and black chocolate chips) reflects Williams College’s school color. You can find top-quality, second-hand books at Chapter Two Books. The town’s independent movie house, Images Cinema, shows first run and art house films. Where’d You Get That? is colorfully crammed full of toys and games for all ages.

MASS MoCA may be the biggest draw for tourists in North Adams, but it doesn’t have a lock on the art scene there. This post-industrial city is home to an ever-increasing

number of galleries including the Ferrin Contemporary Gallery, Eckert Fine Art, and the MCLA Gallery 51, a project of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Take a walk through town and you’ll encounter murals and interactive public installations. And then look up: Although its address is technically in Adams, Mount Greylock, the state’s highest peak at almost 3,500 feet, lords over all. You can either drive to the summit or take moderate-to-long hikes. At the top, Bascom Lodge provides rustic accommodations, free concerts, and gourmet dinners.

Two Towns, Three World-Class Museums

A sprawling 19th-century mill complex in North Adams was transformed into MASS MoCA, a renowned center for contemporary art and performing arts. MASS MoCA’s huge galleries host permanent and rotating exhibits

The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA

Lickety Split, Williamstown, MA

Scan here for important information about visiting Mount Greylock.

of cutting-edge sculpture and installation art. Be sure to visit “Sol LeWitt: A Wall Drawing

Retrospective,” 105 of LeWitt’s largescale wall drawings. Thousands flock to MoCA in the summer for the three big music festivals—Solid Sound, Bang on a Can, and Fresh Grass.

The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown is home to masterpieces of European and American painting, sculpture, works on paper, and decorative arts. This summer’s big exhibit, as noted in our Summer Arts Preview is “Rodin in the United States: Confronting the Modern.”

Williams College Museum of Art houses more than 13,000 works that span the history of art. Currently, “Embodied Words: Reading in Medieval Christian Visual Culture” explores the medieval belief that reading changes you, physically and spiritually.

Eat Like The Locals

If you’re getting an early start in Williamstown, do like the locals and go to the Chef’s Hat. North Adams folks love Renee’s Diner and Brewhaha. Tunnel City Coffee is where Williams College gets caffeinated.

North Adams’s hipsterish vibe is reflected in the Break Room at Greylock Works (a repurposed factory building), the Trailhouse Kitchen & Bar, and the Airport Rooms at Tourists (an updated motel). Williamstown boasts several excellent, ethnic restaurants—Thai, Indian, Korean, Chinese, and Mexican.

And, finally, we’ll let you in on a local institution: Pedrin’s Dairy Bar. “Home of the Fish Fry,” it’s an old-fashioned drive-in holding court on Route 8 as you make your way into North Adams. The large menu includes clam strips, fish sandwiches, burgers, and soft serve. The crispy onion rings are legend.

Photo by Bill Wright

Installation view of Amy Hauft: 700,000:1 | Terra + Luna + Sol. MASS MoCA, 2022

Photo by Tony Luong

The Break Room, North Adams, MA

Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, MA

HAND-PICKED HIKES

Continue by the river to the Powerhouse (picnic shelter). Head towards Mills Mansion for big views across the river.

BERKSHIRES

Parsons Marsh, Lenox, MA

Jenny Hansell is president of the Berkshire Natural Resources Council. Not everyone wants, or is able, to clamber over rocks and roots to the top of a mountain. One of BNRC’s most beloved trails is its shortest, easiest hike: the accessible boardwalk at Parsons Marsh. It’s a spectacular site for birding—ospreys nest there and in the spring, the warblers are everywhere. From the parking lot, visitors walk a hard-packed path through a meadow carpeted with native wildflowers. From there, the boardwalk winds into the forested wetland, with benches at the halfway point and the end.

COLUMBIA COUNTY

Ooms Conservation Area, Chatham, NY

LITCHFIELD COUNTY

Lion’s Head - Salisbury, CT (Appalachian Trail)

Dan Bolognani is Executive Director, Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area.

Lion’s Head, a 4.1-mile out-and-back trail, offers stunning views with just a modest amount of hiking, and is located on the 52.3-mile Connecticut section of the Appalachian Trail near the Massachusetts border. This trail is great for birding and hiking. You can access Lion’s Head from the Bunker Hill Road entrance, which offers a moderately steep climb to the popular lookout point.

DUTCHESS COUNTY

Mills Norrie State Park to Mills Mansion, Staatsburg, NY

Lalita Malik volunteers with many hiking organizations, leading hikes, maintaining trails, and serving as a trailhead ambassador.

This easy trail hugs the Hudson River. The 4.7-mile loop starts at the Norrie Point Environmental Center. Walk along the marina to the whiteblazed River Trail on your left. The trail turns right and follows the river north. Soon views of the Catskills appear. When you see the Esopus Lighthouse, turn right and follow the cove towards Mills Mansion.

Rebecca Walker is director of communications for the Columbia Land Conservancy.

Experience the essence of Columbia County’s landscape: rolling hills, grasslands, and Catskill Mountain views. Take the Pond Loop Trail, an open, grassy path, one mile to the gazebo at the top of the hill.

Before you hit the trail, it helps to have the right gear. Scan here to find out where to get the clothing, shoes, and other hiking equipment you'll need for your next adventure.

Photo by Gabrielle Murphy

Parsons Marsh, Lenox, MA

PEDAL, PADDLE, FLY

BOOSTED BIKE EXPERIENCE

Biking the gorgeous countryside of Northwest Connecticut is always a pleasurable experience, but on an electric bike, you can traverse byways and climb hills you might not normally explore. Covered Bridge Electric Bike in West Cornwall, Connecticut, sells and rents Yamaha power-assist electric bikes. “Even with the assist, if you’re going up a steep hill, it will almost feel like it’s all powered by you," says owner Bob Ensign. “It’s a nice workout, but you won’t feel like you have to walk uphill.”

Get a handle on how an e-bike will help you climb the Litchfield Hills.

Covered Bridge Electric Bike, West Cornwall, CT

CRUISING THE HUDSON BY KAYAK

The Hudson River, mighty in volume, looms just as large in our regional lore. Hudson Paddles, located at the Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, rents kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes. Group kayaking tours and lessons are also available. Atlantic Kayak Tours in Staatsburgh offers guided tours for people with varying levels of kayaking experience and even rank beginners. The short tour covers 3 to 6 miles and takes up to three hours, depending on water and wind conditions.

AN ELEVATED ADVENTURE

At Ramblewild, you’ll immerse yourself in the forests of Brodie Mountain in Lanesborough, Massachusetts. Over 100 elevated elements include an aerial climbing course, zip lines, and bridges between tree branches. Basecamp is a beginner’s trail for people of all ages to learn the basics of climbing and have fun doing it. Not up for swinging through the trees? The “adventure forest” offers 30 miles of walking and hiking trails in a natural hardwood environment.

WALKING AT THE SPEED OF CURIOSITY

Mindy Miraglia was inspired to start her Pittsfield-based walking tour company, Berkshire Camino, after twice traversing the 500-mile Camino de Santiago, a town-to-town pilgrimage with medieval origins that attracts thousands of visitors to Spain each year.

A Berkshires native, Miraglia has used her intimate knowledge of the region to curate over a dozen original routes, infusing the mindful and narrative traditions of the Spanish Camino with quintessential Berkshires sights. In addition to shorter day hikes ranging from twoand-a-half to five hours that hit everything from main street sidewalks to the lush grounds of institutions like Edith Wharton’s The Mount to more challenging natural wonders like the Appalachian Trail and Yokun Ridge, this year Miraglia debuted multi-day hikes with lodging and most meals included to create an authentic and accessible pilgrimage experience right in our own backyard.

Û BERKSHIRECAMINO.COM

What’s it like to walk with Berkshire Camino? Scan here with your phone’s camera to find out.

Hudson Paddles, Hudson, NY

Ramblewild, Lanesborough, MA

THE HOTELS OF YOUR DREAMS

By Emma Cariello

Wing’s Castle, Millbrook, NY

Tell friends you’re going to stay in a dungeon and they might look at you funny, but at Wing’s Castle, the Dungeon is one of the prized rooms. The man-made medieval structure is a quirky mix of turrets and towers. The bed-and-breakfast has three guest rooms (a secret tunnel connects two of them) and a separate cottage. Gothic windows with stained glass, suits of armor, and an eccentric collection of antiques add to the out-of-time ambience. Don’t get too trapped inside the fairytale—the property is sited above the Millbrook Winery and the view over the Hudson Valley is just as magical.

Hotel Caravana, Amenia, NY

Load up on nostalgia at Hotel Caravana, right on the grounds of the Four Brothers Drive-in, where you’ll stay in a vintage 1960s Airstream. Your overnight includes tickets for the drive-in, so feel free to stay for that double feature. Other on-site perks include the Grand Shack, a casual restaurant offering shakes, burgers, and hot dogs, an arcade, and mini golf. You can also bring your own tent and camp out at the drive-in.

Hotel on North, Pittsfield, MA

Hotel on North gives a nod to Pittsfield’s literary heritage (home to Herman Melville and Edith Wharton, and many other authors). The 644-square-foot Library Suite offers sweet dreams to traveling bibliophiles who can think of nothing better than being surrounded by books—shelves and shelves of them, with a rolling library ladder for serious browsing. A chandelier and clawfoot tub reflect the building’s original era, but for true book lovers, reveling in the glow of the bookshelves at night might be the best moment to savor.

Winvian Farm, Morris, CT

Each of Winvian’s 18 cottages were designed by different architects, so at least one is going to meet your idea of fantasy travel. The helicopter cottage gives you the chance to hang out inside a restored 1968 Sikorsky HH-3F Pelican. Or consider the treehouse cottage, suspended 35 feet off the ground (with its own second-floor lounge), where you can take in the sights of the forest from a bird’s eye view.

Our region has some outrageously dreamy Airbnb properties, too. Scan here to read about five of them we swoon over.

Hotel on North, Pittsfield, MA

Hotel Caravana, Amenia, NY

Winvian Farm, Litchfield Hills, CT

5 PLACES TO STAY DURING A

HUDSON GETAWAY

The Amelia Hotel

The 6,000-square-foot B&B opened last year with eight elegant suites, an in-ground pool, and lush ornamental gardens on the one-acre plot in downtown Hudson. Two Grand Suites, located on the third floor, can host up to four people apiece, with separate bedrooms and large living areas. Other rooms overlook the garden and pool.

The Hudson Whaler

The nautically themed hotel pays homage to Hudson’s importance in the whaling trade. The lobby, modeled after a ship captain’s quarters, features a wraparound, handpainted mural of the Hudson River. The hallways are deep nautical blue, and the 16 suites are a soothing combination of cool colors—light blues, grays, and whites.

The Maker

Occupying an entire corner of Warren Street, the Maker has conjured a world of opulence and indulgence. Design details span from the Belle Epoque and Art Deco to mid-century modern. The complex—cafe, restaurant, lounge, gym, and hotel rooms—is spread out across three historic buildings. In the c.1897 Georgian mansion side, four studio guest rooms are themed and designed around a “maker” character: The Architect, The Artist, The Writer, and The Gardener. In the Greek Revival wing, the aesthetics of the seven rooms range from Hollywood glam to boudoir sultry to clean lines.

Rivertown Lodge

The 1920s movie theater became a 27-room motel in the 1930s. In 2015, it took on new life as Rivertown Lodge with a restoration that exudes a retro vibe. The 27 suites are flooded with light and feature shelves stacked with books, records, vintage radios, and textiles that make you feel right at home. There’s an in-house tavern and 24hour pantries on each hall.

The Wick Hotel

Part of Marriott Bonvoy’s Tribute Portfolio, The Wick offers something between boutique lodging and corporate accommodations in a refurbished c.1860s candle factory. It has a whopping 48 guest rooms and seven suites, plus a boardroom, terrace for events, a bar, and a fitness center.

Scan here for our restaurant recommendations in the culinary oasis of Hudson.

The Amelia Hotel, Hudson, NY

GLAMPING 101

By Emma Cariello

If you want to escape into nature but don’t want to rough it, glamping (glamorous camping) is an option worth considering. Here’s how to find a place that suits your comfort level.

Tentrr nationally lists sites on both public and private land, but a review of sites in our area reveals mostly solo locations by private “campkeepers.” Tentrr sets up all its Signature sites, using identical camping equipment—a large canvas tent, a queen-sized bed, outdoor shower cooking equipment, and, yes, a camping toilet. Some elements of traditional camping remain: you’ll forego electricity and strong cell service. One to try if you’re looking to spend some time in the Berkshires: the “Berkshire Mountain Hideaway” in Richmond. It’s just a short drive to local restaurants, museums, and theaters.

Hipcamp’s glampsites run the gamut from heated geo-domes, mini cabins, and vintage trailers, along with tent options. While some offer just a cleared site or platform for the tent you bring, you might prefer the Writer’s Tower near Falls Village, Connecticut. It’s a two-story cabin with electricity, Wi-Fi, heat, AC, and glorious views. It’s more rustic than a hotel, yet cushier than a tent, and still an adventure.

Woodstock-based GlampStar will bring luxury tent accommodations to your event (a frequent call is for wedding parties). But GlampStar will do a setup and breakdown even if you want to camp in your backyard. The Cozy includes a mattress, decorative pillows, and solar twinkle lights. The Rockstar comes with tables, chairs, beanbags, and even a journal and pencils in case you feel inspired by nature. You can also choose add-ons like colorful rugs, a coffee pot with packs of grinds, and a s’mores kit. Because, glamping or not, no trip into the wilderness would be complete without s’mores.

The Writer’s Tower, Falls Village, CT

GlampStar, Woodstock, NY

SHOPPING THE DESIGNERS

Falls Village Two-Fer

Falls Village, the second-smallest hamlet in Connecticut, has attracted some big names in the design trade. Bunny Williams, the esteemed decorator and gardener, opened 100 Main in 2019, selling art, furniture, housewares, garden and dog accessories, baby clothes, jewelry, and the works of over 40 local artisans. Around the corner is textile designer John Robshaw’s showroom. Robshaw has claimed fame with his stunning fabrics which are block-printed in India. Step into his universe of modern and traditional block prints in bedding, tabletop decor, furniture…and even pajamas.

Finds That Say Grace

House SFW, owned by designers from SFW Studio, is filled with finds you’d ooh and aah over at someone else’s home, so why not yours?

Picture cheeky vintage sculptures, leather-wrapped party accessories, glassware from various eras, porcelain French knife rests—new and antique. There’s imaginative taxidermy, lamps, and furniture made to order. You might not know what’s au courant and what’s vintage, but that’s fine, because all the pieces reflect the timelessness of gracious entertaining.

Pittsfield’s Posh Outlet

Textile designer Annie Selke, a Berkshires native, created Pine Cone Hill over 30 years ago. Now it’s but one of several divisions in the rebranded Annie Selke Companies in Pittsfield. Pine Cone Hill puts out all manner of the highest-quality fabrics and home goods in playful patterns, solids, and captivating colors. Located adjacent to the headquarters, the Pine Cone Hill outlet store offers bargains on quilts, sheet sets, and other bedding, placemats, rugs, woven shawls, silk throw pillows, pajamas, bathrobes, and furniture.

Scan here to discover some of our favorite shopping destinations.

John Robshaw, Falls Village, CT

House SFW, Rhinebeck, NY

5,000 sq. ft. of Cisco Brothers Upholstered Furniture, plus everything for your home. Libeco Linen and Coyuchi luxury bedding. Apparel for men, women—and baby, too. Since 1987.

GARDENS AND GILDED AGE “COTTAGES”

By Jane Anderson

Commune with nature at these public gardens—now at their full summer glory— and tour the estates for a perspective on the privileged lives of their Gilded Age owners.

Wethersfield Estate and Garden, Amenia, NY

Twentieth-century industrialist Chauncey Devereux

Stillman started building the home and gardens atop the highest point in Dutchess County. The formal gardens and trails at this 1,000-acre estate lead to panoramic views of the countryside. Explore the many discrete gardens, visit the Carriage House Museum, or walk the hiking trails.

Innisfree Garden, Millbrook, NY

Recognized as one of the world’s 10 best gardens, Innisfree merges the essence of Modernist ideas with traditional Chinese and Japanese garden design principles, with carefully designed vignettes over 165 acres. Landscape architect Lester Collins, who worked on it for over 50 years, described the garden as “something of the dream world” where one “walks into a series of episodes, like Alice through the looking glass.”

Wethersfield Estate and Garden, Amenia, NY

Hollister House Garden, Washington, CT

On a sloping, terraced site, this American interpretation of a classic English garden is a rambling wonderland. Walls and hedges create “rooms” and a winding brook and large pond add variety. A robust schedule of summer events includes flower arranging, garden photography, and plein air painting.

Berkshire Botanical Garden, Stockbridge, MA

One of the oldest botanical gardens in New England, the BBG puts a special focus on the home gardener. Its plantings illustrate design concepts and plant selections to educate and inspire. Lucy’s Garden, a whimsical topiary collection featuring 22 exotic creatures, was added in 2019. The garden’s Leonhardt Galleries exhibits artists whose works are inspired by the natural world.

The Mount, Lenox, MA

The former estate of Edith Wharton has become a home for Wharton scholars and a cultural center with an almost endless roster of tours, programs, and events. The author designed her own series of gardens—the sunken Italian garden, the Lime Walk promenade of linden trees, and the more formal French Flower Garden, among others. Plan to spend a leisurely day exploring the house and gardens.

Naumkeag, Stockbridge, MA

The Gilded Age estate is renowned for its elegant gardens and Berkshire “cottage” (read: mansion). The former summer retreat of the Choate family sits on 48 acres with five gardens. You’ve probably seen a picture of the famous Blue Steps, a series of deep blue fountain pools. Now see them in person, and then look beyond them to marvel at what may be the most breathtaking view in the Berkshires.

Scan here for a schedule of events at these gardens and mansions.

Berkshire Botanical Garden, Stockbridge, MA

Hollister House Garden, Washington, CT

The Mount, Lenox, MA

Photo by Krista Adams

100% ORGANIC COTTON BEDDING

DESIGNED IN THE BERKSHIRES

HAND-BLOCK PRINTED BY ARTISTS IN INDIA WWW.SISTERMOONS.COM

Life to be styled, Life to be lovable.

OH, THE THRILLS

AT THESE THREE THRIFT SHOPS

Flea At 99, Canaan, CT

The indoor, multivendor market houses 8,000 square feet of antique, vintage, collectible, new, and used must-haves and what-are-these things. What makes it even more fun is that each of the 60-or-so vendors’ shops are strewn throughout the building with no rhyme or reason. It’s a good place to pick up a pair of boots, a fur or faux fur coat, some good, sturdy furniture, vintage games and puzzles, tools, and books (lots of books). Bring cash—no debit or credit card payments accepted.

Go online to find out more about the vendors at this wanderer's delight.

The Hunt, New Milford, CT

Owner Gina Lacey is a passionate thrifter and has carefully merchandised antiques, collectibles, clothing, and furniture in attractive zone spread across over 5,000 square feet. Lacey makes everything look impossibly appealing: cubbies of milk glass, baskets of rolling pins, Fiestaware in cupboard shelves, old LPs in wooden crates. The way she mixes old and new is part of the fun. The lower level houses a men’s shop, a vintage women’s couture shop, an art gallery, and a used book emporium. It’s like a compact department store for collectors.

Hoffman’s Barn, Red Hook, NY

Scan here to read how Gina Lacey of The Hunt became a professional thrifter.

Open Fridays and weekends only, Roger Hoffman’s pole barn is the destination for serious antiquers, pickers, and shoppers of all kinds. Crowded with everything from highend cabinetry and furniture to old tools and vinyl records, Hoffman’s is a trip through bygone times.

There's plenty of merch outside the barn, too. Read the full story online.

The Hunt, New Milford, CT

Flea At 99, Canaan, CT

BERKSHIRES DISPENSARIES TOUR

By Amadeus Finlay

While New York and Connecticut’s adult-use cannabis industries are still ramping up (and Rhode Island just became the 19th state to legalize), the Massachusetts recreational market continues to grow at a remarkable pace. Sales in the Bay State exceeded $1 billion in 2021. This year is set to be the most profitable yet—estimated to draw $1.4 billion in gross revenue. All this comes from almost 400 licensed cannabis retailers, supplied by several hundred licensed cultivators. Cannabis is big business, but with a laid-back vibe in the Berkshires. Thus far, 14 dispensaries have opened in the region, selling everything from flower to tinctures, edibles, seltzer, and more. The first adult-use enterprise, Theory Wellness in Great Barrington, opened its doors in January 2019, sparking a chain reaction of adult-use enterprises throughout the region—Canna Provisions in Lee, The Pass in Sheffield, Berkshire Roots in Pittsfield, the list goes on. There’s a dispensary catering to every customer on the cannabis spectrum, from curious newcomer to cannabis connoisseur. Your budtender is standing by.

GREAT BARRINGTON

Calyx Berkshire Dispensary

One of just a few female-owned dispensaries in Massachusetts, Calyx is named after the calyx part of the cannabis plant (the bit that gives birth to all the goodies).

Farnsworth Fine Cannabis

Located in downtown Great Barrington, Farnsworth Fine Cannabis Company specializes in full-flower filtered cannabis cigarettes in its elegantly appointed storefront.

Great Barrington Dispensary

Customers refer to Great Barrington Dispensary, located in Indiola House, a 19th-century manor building, as the “Cannabis Castle.”

Rebelle

A female and minority-led business, Rebelle is a hip dispensary on the outskirts of Great Barrington located in a historic farmhouse.

Canna Provisions, Lee, MA

Theory Wellness, Great Barrington, MA

Theory Wellness

The first dispensary to open in the Berkshires, Theory sells a wide range of products, including its own brand of cannabis-infused seltzer, Hi5.

LANESBOROUGH Liberty Market

Liberty’s tinctures menu is particularly impressive, stocking a mixture of hybrid, indica, and sativa blends from Tree Works and Garden Remedies, among others.

LEE Canna Provisions

Decorated in the style of a classic New England general store, Canna Provisions is known for its flower, with some of its product grown by Director of Cultivation Greg “Chemdog” Krzanowski.

NORTH ADAMS Clear Sky

Located in a former Friendly’s restaurant, Clear Sky’s overwhelming

attraction is their comprehensive flower menu.

PITTSFIELD

Berkshire Roots

Seed-to-sale flower from Berkshire Root's licensed grow facility means fresh, distinctive bud. The group also creates in-house badder, chews, tinctures, and distillates.

Bloom Brothers

Bloom Brothers is all about the flower, with over 40 strains for sale at any one time.

Jack’s Cannabis Co.

Cannabis shopping is a distinctive experience at Jack’s, where products are ranked by a financial tier— opening the door for buyers on a shoestring.

Temescal Wellness

Serving both recreational and medical customers, homegrown flower is the main attraction at Temescal Wellness.

SHEFFIELD

The Pass

The Pass campus includes several outdoor greenhouses, a multi-level indoor facility, a lab, and kitchen for making products from flower grown in-house.

WILLIAMSTOWN Silver Therapeutics

Flower is purchased wholesale from over 30 licensed cultivators, meaning that the range of strains at Silver Therapeutics is vast and varies with the season.

The Pass, Sheffield, MA

THE R&R REGION

By Kimberly Jordan Allen

BERKSHIRES

Kripalu Stockbridge, MA

For mindful holistic arts, you can’t beat the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. Celebrating 50 years in 2022,

Kripalu offers online and in-person world-renowned programming in yoga, mindfulness, wellness, and also provides healing arts services. The grounds alone are stunning, setting the scene for quiet walks or deep inner work. The food at Kripalu is fresh, organic, Ayurvedicallyinspired—a highlight of your stay.

Canyon Ranch Lenox, MA

“Transformative” is the operating word at the wellness destination known worldwide for its tailored and individualized treatments. More than 1,500 services revolve around nutritional and holistic wellness programs, and private classes in everything from Pilates and racquet

sports to dexa body composition analysis and personalized physician visits. Spa Day passes are also available.

Miraval Lenox, MA

“Experience wellness with a purpose” is Miraval’s invitation, and that will be your focus because Miraval’s brand-new facility is a device-free environment. Revitalization is on the menu with intriguing and body, mind, and spirit options you won’t find elsewhere, like Chakra sound levitation and “Ask the Oracle” sessions. Others include beekeeping workshops, adventure hatchet throwing, and aerial yoga, just to name a few. The property features

Canyon Ranch, Lenox, MA

Kripalu, Stockbridge, MA

24th Annual Sharon Summer Book Signing for the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon Friday, August 5, 2022 5:30 7:30 p.m. Info and tickets: hotchkisslibraryofsharon.org/book -signing-2022/ Hotchkiss Library of Sharon (860) 364 5041 Guided Meditation Mindfulness in Nature Embodiment & Somatics Processing Trauma Transforming

380 acres of woodland, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, the famous landscape architect who designed New York’s Central Park.

LITCHFIELD COUNTY

Mayflower Inn & Spa

Washington, CT

An Auberge luxury, five-star resort, the Mayflower promises to deliver what it calls “The New England Good Life.” Timeless New England style meets modern, evidence-based therapies. The Well, overseen by functional medicine practitioner Frank Lipman, MD, employs East-meets-West healing modalities. Your experience begins with an intake process guided by a health coach. Another option: a half-day “reset” that allows you to experience some of the services—a nourishing, midweek pick-me-up.

DUTCHESS COUNTY

Omega Institute for Holistic Studies

Rhinebeck, NY

Omega is an educational retreat center that offers workshops, retreats, and conferences along with a wellness vacation. Its six pathways—body, mind, spirit; health and healing; and creative expression— enable profound learning moments. These are aided by Omega’s workshops that frequently feature world-renowned presenters, including:

Pema Chödrön, Maria Shriver, Jane Goodall, Anne Lamott, and Harville Hendrix and Helen Hunt.

Mirbeau Inn & Spa

Rhinebeck, NY

With its chic, Parisian-hotel ambience, Mirbeau offers modern, high-end therapies in the heart of Rhinebeck. Signature treatments include massage, facials, and daily spa packages that allow you to immerse in the meditation pool, resting area, and Himalayan salt sauna, or opt for yoga and exercise classes. Overnight packages let you take in the full Mirbeau experience.

We’ll let you know about any new spas and treatments moving into our area. Scan to sign up for weekly updates from Rural Intelligence.

Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Rhinebeck, NY

Miraval, Lenox, MA

Photo by James Baigrie

Photo by Katie Talarico

The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens, Washington Depot, CT

Kent Falls State Park, Kent, CT

A DAY (OR TWO) IN Washington Depot & Kent

Washington Depot

The Depot was once a major hub of the Shepaug Valley Railroad, when the area was bustling in Industrial Age commerce, and yes, the General did sleep here. But the town has evolved into a community of sophisticated permanent and weekend residents whose mark is well observed in the town’s eateries, shops, and cultural institutions. Front and center is the Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens. Community members turned this once-abandoned gas station into a hub for cultural programming and a farmers market. Restaurants include the Pantry, specializing in gourmet comfort foods; the GW Tavern, for upscale pub fare; and Marty’s Café, a neighborhood breakfast, lunch, and coffee spot. Locals are proud of the Gunn Historic Museum overlooking the historic Washington Green; its exhibits showcase how the Shepaug Valley Railroad ushered the farming community into the age of ironworks and quarries. Drive around picturesque Lake Waramaug and admire the stately homes designed by renowned architect

Ehrick Rossiter at the turn of the last century. Hikers will love exploring Hidden Valley Preserve, 700 acres of mixed forest and meadows with a view of the river valley below.

Kent

Kent has a bustling Main Street with shops, galleries, and restaurants. Retail urges are sated by Terston, for tabletop and other gorgeous textiles; Chic Boutique, jam-packed with women’s clothing and sparkly accessories; and, yes, Kent Station Pharmacy, because it has distinctive gift items and fun things you didn’t know you wanted. For food, you can opt for the Fife’n Drum, a landmark eatery for five decades; or Swyft, a Joel Viehland venture, a modern tavern serving farm-driven pizzas and a local beers. You’ll be ready for a walk at Kent Falls State Park, where you can wander across the covered bridge and hike the series of waterfalls. For a bit of Kent history, check out the 30-foot Kent Iron Furnace, which tells the story of the iron industry that took root in the region in the early 18th century.

SECOND SATURDAYS AT KENT BARNS

On second Saturdays May through October, Kent Barns is the place to be. From 10am to 5pm, the park-like shopping village of restored antique barns in Kent, Connecticut hosts a bounty of seasonal activities and delights. You’ll find exhibitions from New York City-style art galleries, fresh farm produce, boutique pop-ups, and live music.

Little ones will love storytime with House of Books under the big maple tree. Head to the steps of RT Facts antiques for an armful of locally grown blooms at the Kent Flower Market. And be sure to cap it all off with brunch at Swyft, a restored taverna with award-winning, wood-fired sourdough pizzas, small plates, and elevated entrees made with local ingredients.

A family-friendly outing for art, boutique shops, and gourmet fare

Summer Arts Preview

Nathan Bugh and LaTasha Barnes will perform in the work “Sw!ng Out” at Jacob's Pillow in Becket, MA

A SEASON OF FRISSON

By Lisa Green

“What are you most excited about [seeing, hearing, watching] this summer?” someone recently asked me. I have a pretty good handle on what most of the arts presenters in the region are offering, but the question rattled me. “There’s so much!” I managed to sputter. Take a look at our curated roundups and see if you can answer the question posed to me.

Changes…

We are a vibrant cultural arts community that cares deeply about the organizations we support and flock to each season. It matters to us who’s at the helm, who’s making programming decisions, and how they treat their staffs and engage the community. This past year has seen a number of changes in directorships. We look forward to seeing what the fresh eyes and energy will bring.

Barrington Stage Company’s founder and artistic director, Julianne Boyd, is retiring this fall after 28 years as a driving force in theater and in Pittsfield’s creative economy. At the time of this writing, no replacement has been named. At the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Jenny Gersten has replaced artistic director Mandy Greenfield

as interim artistic director. Gersten served as artistic director at the WTF from 2010 to 2014. Tannery

Pond Concerts’ Christian Steiner has stepped down as artistic director after founding the chamber music series 31 years ago. He’s passing the torch to Derek Delaney, who is director of the Capital Region Classical in New York’s Capital Region. Kristy Edmunds, former executive and artistic director of the Center for the Art of Performance at the University of California, Los Angeles, has replaced Joe Thompson as director of MASS MoCA. Thompson helped found the museum and led it for more than three decades.

And milestones…

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Some of our beloved organizations are celebrating milestones, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge them. Jacob’s Pillow dances into its 90th season. Spencertown Academy of the Arts has two anniversaries to celebrate: 175 years of its handsome building’s existence, and 50 as an arts center. Chesterwood, the historic home, studio, and gardens of America’s foremost 20thcentury sculptor, Daniel Chester French, marks the centennial anniversary of the Lincoln Memorial, French’s masterpiece.

Photo by Grace Kathryn Landefeld

Last year’s summer theater lineup was notable for the many productions held under the sun, moon, or tent. Most have moved back inside and we can’t wait to enjoy the world-class theater just like we did before—well, you know what. Here are 10 must-see productions awaiting their entrances.

CHESTER THEATRE COMPANY

1 “Pride@Prejudice.” Last year, Chester Theatre moved from its Chester Town Hall home to a tent at Hancock Shaker Village. It’s returning home this year and opening its season with "Pride@ Prejudice," written and directed by Daniel Elihu Kramer, the company’s artistic director. This is a reimagining of the Jane Austen classic, filled with bloggers, chat rooms, Austen enthusiasts, and even Jane herself.

CURTAINS UP

By Lisa Green

Five versatile actors will play 30 characters. What a fun way to welcome audiences back home. June 23-July 3.

WILLIAMSTOWN THEATRE FESTIVAL

BERKSHIRE THEATRE GROUP

4

“Most Happy in Concert” is the season opener. Conceived and directed by the colossally creative Daniel Fish, it has 12 musicians, and seven female-identifying and nonbinary performers discover anew Frank Loesser’s score for “The Most Happy Fella.” July 13-August 7.

2

“Once.” You saw the movie— and maybe the production on Broadway—but now you get to enjoy “Once” on the grand stage of the Colonial Theatre. Based upon the film, it tells the story of a guy who gave up on love and music, and the girl who inspired him to dream again. Gotta love a love story. July 1-16.

5

“Man of God” is billed as a “killer new comedy thriller” by Anna Ouyang Moench. The plot involves four teenage girls on a trip to Bangkok who discover a camera hidden by their pastor in their hotel bathroom. Will they fight back? July 5-16.

3

“Dracula.” On the other hand, if horror is more your thing, you’ll want to get tickets to “Dracula,” based on Bram Stoker’s novel. After twoplus years of screen entertainment, an evening of thrilling terror on stage sounds creepily appealing. August 11-27.

Scan here to see what’s playing on stages this week and next.

“Mary’s Wedding,” Chester Theatre Company, Chester, MA

Photo by Elizabeth Solaka

SHAKESPEARE & CO.

6 “Much Ado About Nothing.”

We’ll take classic Shakespeare with a dose of comedy. “Much Ado About Nothing” will be mounted at the New Spruce Theatre. July 2-August 14.

7

In “A Walk in the Woods,” by Lee Blessing, two superpower arms negotiators—a Russian and an American —meet over many seasons and conversations, and develop a friendship. Considering current affairs, we may have to suspend our disbelief a bit, but we’re up for it. At the Roman Garden Theatre. July 15-September 4.

BARRINGTON STAGE COMPANY

Sondheim’s winner of six Tony Awards. A tangle of love affairs leads to a weekend in the country and features the inimitable “Send in the Clowns.” There’ll be tears for several reasons. August 6-28.

10

“Ain’t Misbehavin': The Fats Waller Musical Show” promises an evening of Fats Waller’s songs from a vibrant time in American history and music. June 16-July 9.

8

9 “A Little Night Music.”

For her final season as artistic director, BSC founder Julianne Boyd will direct Stephen

“Public

Speaking

101” at Great Barrington

Public Theater. This company stages original works and we want to see its whole season. But we’ll always beeline to anything by Berkshire playwright Mark St. Germain. His latest is “Public Speaking 101,” in which a neurotic amateur actress leads her community theater class of terrified adults to compete in their county’s first annual public speaking competition. As they say, hilarity ensues. July 14-24.

Photo by Daniel Rader

"Who Could Ask For Anything More," Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, MA

Nehassaiu deGannes performing in "Measure for Measure," Shakespeare & Company, Lenox, MA

This exhibition is made possible by Denise Littlefield Sobel and Diane and Andreas Halvorsen.

We wish you good luck in getting tickets to James Taylor’s two concerts at Tanglewood—it’s been sold out before ticket sales even started because the seats (and lawn) were promised to buyers from the two seasons he was absent. But look at your other choices! Tanglewood’s Popular Artist Series includes Bonnie Raitt with special guest Lucinda Williams (June 18), Brandi Carlile (August 30) Judy Collins and Richard Thompson (September 3), Van Morrison (September 4), and others. While some of these concerts will have sold out seating in the Shed, you can almost always snag lawn tickets. Over on the classical side. Itzhak Perlman returns to Tanglewood for the first time since 2011; audience favorites Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax, Josh Bell, and, of course, Maestro Andris Nelsons make appearances.

MUSIC

FINE TUNING

By Lisa Green

1 Silkroad Ensemble at Tanglewood Yo-Yo Ma has turned over the artistic directorship of Grammy Awardwinning Silkroad Ensemble to Rhiannon Giddens, and we’re excited to see what she’s doing with the touring ensemble of worldclass musicians from all over the globe. “Phoenix Rising” features four major new commissions by Silkroad artists, plus works from their storied history. July 28.

2Five Beethoven Piano Concertos at Tanglewood

British pianist Paul Lewis will be performing all five Beethoven piano concertos over three programs, conducted by Andris Nelsons. Immerse yourself in the brilliance of the composer and admire the mastery of one musician. July 29, 30, 31.

3 Brahms’s Complete Works for Piano at Tanglewood Another great feat follows when American pianist Garrick Ohlsson performs Brahms’ complete works for piano over four programs. Ohlsson takes listeners from the works of young Brahms—still a teenager when he wrote Opus 2—to his later works permeated with foreboding of death. August 16, 18, 23, and 25.

Rhiannon Giddens

Photo by by Ebru Yildiz

Garrick Ohlsson

Photo by Dario Acosta

6 Graham Nash at The Mahaiwe

We have to put the spotlight on the legendary Graham Nash, a founding member of both the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash. The litany of songs he has written represent, for many of us, the soundtrack of our lives. July 23.

4

The Happy Birthday, John Williams Concert at Tanglewood

Let’s all wish John Williams a happy 90th at the party/concert Tanglewood’s throwing for the beloved figure. The Boston Symphony Orchestra and an all-star guest lineup will salute the musical icon with a selection of his concert music and, of course, his hallowed film themes. August 20.

7

“Field of Vision” at PS21

Performance Space for the 21st Century, better known as PS21, offers Pathways 2022, a multidisciplinary initiative that makes use of its stages and verdant outdoor space. In Michael Gordon’s Field of Vision, dozens of percussionists will take over PS21’s land and trails, with Bang on a Can ensembles playing instruments composed of industrial metals, wood, and gongs. As an audience member, you’ll follow the sound. Free. July 25.

9 Bard Music Festival: Rachmaninoff In its 32nd season, the festival explores the life and work of Sergei Rachmaninoff, perhaps the last great exponent of Russian Romanticism. Through a series of themed concert programs, lectures, and panel discussions, “Rachmaninoff and His World” may take on new significance in light of current events., August 5-14.

5

Cécile McLorin Salvant at Tanglewood The jazz singer has it all: stunning vocalist, composer, multiple Grammy winner. McLorin Salvant’s concert is part of the Tanglewood Learning Institute’s events lineup. She’ll be performing from her new album Ghost Song, exploring the way people can be haunted—by memories, roads not taken, ghosts real and imagined. August 21.

8

The Bengsons at Ancram Opera House Located in a former grange hall, Amcram Opera House presents a mix of programming. You may know the husband-and-wife electro-folk duo Abigail and Shaun Bengson through their songprayer “The Keep Going Song,” which made the rounds online near the beginning of the pandemic. The Circa 1799 Barn in Ancramdale is the location for “An Evening with the Bengsons.” July 30.

10

“Don Giovanni” at Berkshire Opera Festival

Right from the get-go in 2016, the Berkshire Opera Festival was met with enthusiastic audiences and critical praise. Except for the summer of 2020, the BOF has produced fully staged operas. This year’s offering is Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” at the Mahaiwe. August 20-26.

John Williams

Photo by Hilary Scott

Cécile McLorin Salvant

Graham Nash

Sergei Rachmaninoff

“Don Giovanni”

Photo by Ken Howard

Photo by Ralf Louis

DESTINATION:ART

FIVE POINTS CREATES AN ARTS HUB IN TORRINGTON

“Artists make us understand our world in ways words alone cannot,” says Judith McElhone, founder and executive director of Five Points Center for the Visual Arts in Torrington, Connecticut. As an artist and educator who has spent her career creating opportunities in the visual arts, their power is something that McElhone understands better than most.

In 2013, she helped launch Torrington’s Five Points Gallery (sonamed for its location at the fivepoint intersection at the heart of downtown) in an effort to revitalize the city and cultivate the region’s nascent art scene. The space, which began as a temporary artist showcase, is now a well-known gallery that has exhibited almost 800 artists from across the world.

Since the opening of the gallery, the Five Points nonprofit organization has continued to invest in Torrington as an arts destination, expanding its mission and services to include Five Points Annex, a second gallery space; the Launchpad, a shared studio and young artist mentorship space; and most recently, the Five Points Art Center, which officially opened in the city’s former University of Connecticut regional campus last fall.

“Artists, from the beginning of time, have needed encouragement and help to make their work and to grow as individuals,” says McElhone of the impetus to expand the nonprofit’s footprint to the 90acre campus and its 30,000-square-

foot building. Three-quarters of the multi-level building has been completely renovated into stateof-the-art lab space, with the grounds in development as a public sculpture park.

The goal is to create a facility where people of all ages can access equipment to explore and experiment in the visual arts.

“Today, artists are going crossdiscipline all the time,” says McElhone. As such, the center has created lab spaces for drawing, painting, printmaking, alternative photo processing, and children’s art, with ceramics, fine art textiles, and technology on the way.

In addition to renting access to the labs by the hour, half-day, or day, the center also offers workshops for artists of all ages and abilities, which run the gamut from figure drawing to tapestry to visible mending and salt print photograms. This summer, the center is also slated to offer workshops for teens ages 13 to 17 and native Spanish speakers.

The organization’s endeavors have officially put Torrington on the map as a hub of education, collaboration, and creativity in the arts, and the Five Points Arts Center is destined to become a vibrant educational facility designed for cutting-edge artistic exploration and community-driven arts activity. “Making art is a lifelong endeavor,” says McElhone. “Work will be made here we can’t yet even imagine.”

Five Points Gallery

Robert Dente Printmaking Lab

Alternative Photo Processing, Jill Enfield Workshop

Photo by Peter Brown

MOVING PERFORMANCES

By Janine Parker

PILLOW 1

JACOB’S

“America(na) to Me” — Assorted Artists The Ted Shawn Theatre’s grand reopening (after the fire that destroyed the original structure) will feature a variety of dance artists and activists performing an array of genres including West African, Classical Indian, Flamenco, tap, and ballet, illustrating the ways in which today’s Pillow strives to present the rich diversity that exists within the art of dance. June 22-26.

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Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE

Recipient of the prestigious 2020 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award, Brown will present his company in, along with other repertory pieces, the [delayed] world premiere of “The Equality of Night and Day.” Brown’s choreography blends

traditional African dance forms with contemporary/modern dance genres. June 29-July 3. 3

“SW!NG OUT” Assorted Artists

Conceived by a team of tap/ swing/social/jazz dance darlings including Caleb Teicher and LaTasha Barnes, Teicher and their dance ensemble will be joined by the Eyal Vilner Big Band in a rollicking presentation. At the end of the show, audience members will be invited on stage to join in and jam with the performers. July 6-10.

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A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham

The award-winning dancer and choreographer Kyle Abraham and his eponymous company have graced the Pillow stages multiple times, each performance delivering a buffet of his

gorgeously weighted-yet-silken movement style. In his new “An Untitled Love,” there is some emotional weight, but there’s also a lot of playfulness. July 13-17.

5 Alonzo King/LINES Ballet

Dancers are constantly seeking the fullest realization of the specific “lines” of various shapes. A choreographer, thus, is in some ways a sculptor—of bodies. Alonzo King’s dances also can conjure architecture, but of the most organic kind. Even when he moves his dancers about the stage in seemingly random patterns, the effect is natural rather than chaotic. The company’s visit will feature King’s 2019 “AZOTH,” whose mysteries are deepened with artist Jim Campbell’s striking light installation and a jazz score. August 3-7.

A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, Jacobs Pillow, Jacob's Pillow, Becket, MA

Photo by Carrie Schneider

The Bengsons

At Hilltop Barn Roe-Jan Park 9140 NY State Route 22, Hillsdale

July 23 - 8pm

Featuring Hugh Sheehy’s soon-to-be published Amontillado: There is no purer feeling than a wish for revenge.

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July 30 - 8pm

Indie-Folk-Rock

August 5 - 21st

Thurs/Fri/Sat at 8pm, Sun at 3pm

By Jonas Hassen Khemiri/Translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles.This subversive satire confronts identity, race and language through a whirlwind of interconnected vignettes.

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chris isaak

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michael feinstein

dear erich – a jazz opera pat metheny side-eye & more!

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Thursday August 4th 8pm doors 7pm

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The Circa 1799 Barn

sensations, The Bengsons, take to the fields of Ancram. ASL-interpreted.

–Jerry Jeff Walker on David Bromberg

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Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble This electric, Denverbased modern dance company presents dances inspired by and choreographed by artists of the African diaspora. In addition to Parker Robinson’s own “Mary Don’t You Weep,” the Pillow program will also include “Ragtime,” by the great, influential dancer and choreographer Katherine Dunham, and “Crossing the Rubicon,” a work exploring the lives of refugees, by the beloved Donald McKayle. August 17-21.

7 Miami City Ballet This powerhouse company, founded by the New York City Ballet’s legendary Edward Villella, is now directed by Lourdes Lopez, another former NYCB star. Accordingly, the program includes two iconic works by NYCB legends: George Balanchine’s shimmering, moonlit 1934 “Serenade,” and Jerome

Robbins’s otherworldly “Antique Epigraphs.” These ballets have never been performed at the Pillow, and adding to the excitement is the fact that they’ll be performed to live music. Another legend, this one from the modern dance world, will be represented in the company’s performance of Martha Graham’s 1948 “Diversion of Angels.”

August 24-28.

OTHER DANCE VENUES

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Pam Tanowitz and David Lang, Fisher Center at Bard

How often folks at the Fisher Center must thank their lucky stars they landed Pam Tanowitz as its choreographer-in-residence. She sculpts her dances into sharp, often witty blends of contemporary, modern, and ballet. Tanowitz’s works often feature live accompaniment, and for this world premiere, she’s collaborating with the renowned

composer David Lang. Together they present their artistic take on the famously poetic biblical canticles known as the “Song of Solomon.” July 1-3.

9 Vertigo Dance Company at PS21 In Noa Wertheim’s work “One. One & One,” the dancers toss dirt about the stage and then sweep and swirl their bodies in the mess they’ve just made. A metaphor for life, perhaps? July 28 and 29.

10 Mark Morris Dance Group at PS21

Though this “Gala in the Orchards” is a fundraising event, it’s too wonderful not to mention. Morris dancers will perform two of the modern dance choreographer’s works: masterwork “V,” choreographed to Robert Schumann’s Quintet in E Flat, and the playful “Water” set to excerpts of Handel’s “Water Music.” August 5.

Vertigo Dance Company at PS 21, Chatham, NY

ART

LO…AND BEHOLD

By Susan Yung

The settings for these art exhibitions—from small galleries to museum blockbusters to outdoor installations at historic home and garden properties—are as inspirational as the artworks themselves.

1“Black Melancholia,”

CCS Bard Galleries

Search images for “melancholy” and “art history” and up pops a page full

of white women, nearly all holding their heads in despair. Fast forward to “Black Melancholia,” curated by Nana Adusei-Poku, a show which gives voice to 28 artists of African descent. It ranges from 19th-century to contemporary work, and comprises a wide variety of media. The show aims to transcend the typical imagery of melancholy in art history and refract traditionally racialized content which has often depicted radical emotional

states—despair, loss, longing— through a primarily white, female lens. June 25-October 16.

2“Rodin in the United States: Confronting the Modern,”

Clark Institute Auguste Rodin’s bronze sculptures are widely revered around the world now, but this French artist didn’t always enjoy a burnished reputation here. This potential blockbuster show includes roughly 50 sculptures and 25 drawings, and charts the

Scan with your phone’s camera to access our calendar of art exhibits and gallery openings.

Auguste Rodin (French, 1840–1917), Cupid and Psyche , detail, before 1886. Clark Institute, Williamstown, MA

influences on the course of an artist’s reputation by various forces, including collectors, museums, and art historians. June 18-September 18.

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Susan English, “Weather,”

Kenise Barnes Fine Art, Kent, CT

Cold Spring, New York painter Susan English takes weather as inspiration. She delves into the subtly shifting perceptions of light on the environs: refracted light on the wave-ruffled Hudson, shadows playing over a building façade.

July 9-September 4.

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“A Spirit of Gift, a Place of Sharing,”

Hancock Shaker Village

“A Spirit of Gift” seeks to find common ground between

disparate cultures. It juxtaposes the American Shaker movement with new site-specific or site-responsive works by three contemporary Asian artists, Yusuke Asai, Pinaree Sanpitak, and Kimsooja. Through November 14.

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“George Rickey: ViewEscapes,” Naumkeag

Twelve of George Rickey’s kinetic sculptures are installed on the grounds of Naumkeag, a Gilded Age estate, along with a selection of tabletop/hanging works and archival pieces inside the cottage. The designed landscape is ideal—as a breeze-catching setting for the installation of Rickey’s hypnotically kinetic metal pieces, as well as for viewers, offering strategic observation areas. Through November 1.

SIENNA PATTI CONTEMPORARY

Tucked on Main Street in Lenox is Sienna Patti Contemporary, a hidden gem of the modern art world and a destination for the fashion-forward set with a penchant for sporting one-of-akind jewelry.

Patti, a leading educator and purveyor of contemporary studio jewelry who has curated over 150 exhibitions, honed her eye for ornament at the Metropolitan Museum of Art before moving back home to Massachusetts to found her gallery in 1998. Patti is known for highlighting the work of groundbreaking artists whose pieces can be found in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian Institution, and Musée de Louvre, among many other institutions. Stop by the intimate gallery to view new solo exhibitions, attend a lecture, peek into the extensive jewelry archive, or find an unforgettable adornment of your own.

“George Rickey: ViewEscapes,” Naumkeag, Stockbridge, MA

Photo by David Edgemaster

A world-renowned jewelry gallery with small-town charm

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“Lincoln Memorial Illustrated,” Norman Rockwell Museum

Has any other monument symbolized America’s moral standing more than the Lincoln Memorial?

A far-ranging exhibition at the Norman Rockwell Museum shows the extensive cultural significance of this memorial by Daniel Chester French, now celebrating its centennial. Paintings, works on paper, sculptures, ephemera, and a

film montage are on display, as well as a selection of work by Norman Rockwell. Through September 5.

and structure and using it to explore and subvert action and its possibilities. Fernandes challenges the dominance of the art through its traditional technique and experimental movement. pastrana santiago examines labor practices and training structures through the prism of exhaustion and laziness. Through December 31.

8 Alan Coon / T. Klacsmann, Hudson Hall

Alan Coon has taken journaling to a whole new level by creating one drawing/painting a day, every day, over the course of two decades. These mural/matrices are fascinating documents of observation and the passage of time. Also on view are works by T. Klacsmann, who, on marbled paper, has passionately rendered intricate images of wildlife, but in context with human detritus. June 25-August 28.

9 “Mountain High, Valley Low,” LABspace

Casting a net far, wide, high, and low, this survey features more than 50 artists of the greater Hudson Valley working in an array of media including installation, video, fiber, ceramic, sculpture, and painting among them.

June 18-July 31.

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“Choreopolitics: Brendan Fernandes and nibia pastrana santiago,” MASS MoCA

These two multi-disciplinary artists are both trained in ballet. While they don’t collaborate, their work shares the form’s common ground, taking its discipline

10 Jack Solomon, “Further Notice,” Carrie Chen Gallery

Each of Jack Solomon’s paintings offers a hermetic visual microcosm to decipher. Inspired by music, he deploys color, geometry, line, and pattern to build compositions, which in turn resonate. July 2-31.

Istvan Banyai, Set in Stone , 2008, Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, MA

Nature's Gallery

A former quarry is transformed into a sculpture park and cultural center. Sitting at the foot of the Berkshires Mountains, its outdoor spaces reflect the symbiosis of art and nature that so naturally exists in the Rural Intelligence region. Are we watching nature, or looking at art? In our world, so often, we are doing both.

Gene Montez Flores's Mojave Fault at TurnPark, West Stockbridge, MA

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