December Events in The Berkshires
December 4, 2007 | Comments Off
December 2007
Winter Shows at Berkshire Area Art Museums
October 12, 2007 - January 13, 2008
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
Williamstown, MA
Special Installation: Facing the Lens: Nineteenth-Century Portrait Photographs at the Clark
Facing the Lens, consisting of fifteen works from the collections of the Clark and the Troob Family Foundation, includes photographs by Édouard Baldus, Nadar, David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson, Roger Fenton, and Julia Margaret Cameron.
The photographs’ subjects range from wealthy families at home and celebrated writers posing in commercial studios, to medical patients trapped in an age that offered limited treatments. Facing the Lens also includes two self-portraits, as few photographers could resist the urge to face the lens themselves, staring back into the mechanical eye that provided a source of income and an exciting new means of artistic expression.
October 15, 2007 - January 15, 2008
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
Williamstown, MA
Library Installation: Lapp Princess Press: A Small Press and Artists’ Books from the Late 1970s
Writer and art critic Amy Baker founded Lapp Princess Press in 1977. As with other small presses of the period, Lapp Princess’s goal was to create artists’ books that could be purchased by the widest possible audience. Each of the volumes created under Baker’s directorship were issued in editions of 2,000—a very large number for this type of material. They each sold for $3, making them even more accessible.
While the artist was given total freedom concerning the ultimate product, Baker set the format for the Lapp Princess books. Each closed book was to be a uniform six inches square. While some artists maintained a traditional book format of single, uniformly trimmed leaves, others opted to expand the book beyond the six inches, as in Chuck Close’s 64-inch leparello or the even more elaborately folded 18-by-24 inch sheet by David Shapiro and Lucio Pozzi. Monday through Friday, 10AM to 5PM
October 28, 2007 - January 21, 2008
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
Williamstown, MA
Printed Love
Eighteenth-century France had a flourishing market in artists’ prints and illustrated books. Printed Love draws from Clark collections to provide a broad picture of the variety of ways in which the theme of love was addressed in print in the eighteenth century during this period. Among the works on display are several masterpieces of French Rococo book illustration, many still in contemporary bindings, by master designers and engravers such as Jean Michel Moreau Le Jeune and Nicolas Delaunay. From the flirtatious to the libertine, from the light-hearted to the moralizing, these works give a sense of the context in which Fragonard’s allegories of love were viewed and appreciated.
November 10, 2007 - May 28, 2008
Norman Rockwell Museum
Stockbridge, MA
LitGraphic: The World of the Graphic Novel
A burgeoning art form with roots planted firmly in history, graphic novels, or long-form comic books, have inspired the interest of the literary establishment and a growing number of readers. For today’s aficionados, graphic novels, with their antiheroes and visual appeal, are positioned to usurp the role that the novel once played. Focused on subjects as diverse as the nature of relationships, the perils of war, and the meaning of life, graphic novels now comprise the fastest-growing sections of many bookstores?an accessible, vernacular art form with mass appeal. This comprehensive exhibition explores the history and diverse artistry of the graphic novel, featuring personal commentary and artworks by celebrated historic and contemporary practitioners. Original book pages and studies, sketchbooks, and video interviews provide insights into an evolving and exciting art form. Artworks by Jessica Abel, Sue Coe, R. Crumb, Howard Cruse, Steve Ditko, Will Eisner, Brian Fies, Gerhard, Milt Gross, Marc Hempel, Niko Henrichon, Mark Kalesniko, Peter Kuper, Harvey Kurtzman, Matt Madden, Frans Masereel, Frank Miller, Terry Moore, Dave Sim, Art Spiegelman, Lynd Ward, Lauren Weinstein, Mark Wheatley, Barron Storey and others will be on view.
November 17 - December 31, 2007
Berkshire Museum
Pittsfield, MA
23rd Annual Festival of Trees “On the Move”
Join us for the 23rd Annual Festival of Trees. We deck the halls with some 200 theme decorated trees and celebrate all things on the move, from trains, planes and automobiles to skis, skates, and sleds. Get a move on as you wander through this enchanted forest, enjoy a model train display, vintage wind-up toys, and antique skis and sleds from the Berkshire Museum’s collection. And the Berkshire Museum is truly “on the move” as renovation has begun. Admission.
December 1 - 31
Red Lion Inn
Stockbridge, MA
Entertainment at the Lion’s Den
Folk, Irish, Rock, Jazz and more at the Lion’s Den every evening. No cover charge. 9PM (9:30 Weekends)
December 1
Berkshire Museum
Pittsfield, MA
Festival of Trees Family Night
Wiggle in for a night of spinning fun for the whole family. Spot the Silver Swimmers—a unique ensemble of movement artists—moving through the galleries to festive holiday music. At 7 p.m., the husband-and-wife duo Yo-Yo People perform their spectacular tricks with yo-yos and hula-hoops; they have been featured on America’s Got Talent, The Late Show with David Letterman, and more. Included with Festival of Trees admission. 5PM - 8PM.
Shakespeare & Co.
Lenox, MA
An Impossible Life
An Impossible Life is a warm, humorous, life-affirming story of a writer searching for the roots of his mother’s insanity. The search takes him on an enchanting journey through his Jewish ancestry, family myths and traditions, resembling an Isaac B. Singer tall tale. It been called a “bobeh myseh”, meaning Yiddish for “grandmother’s tale”, and “the best writing about Jewish gangsters since Isaac Babel.”
Shakespeare & Company invites you to spend a special evening with David Black, Joe Cacaci, Tina Packer, Peter Riegert and other stage and screen celebrities, performing a staged reading of An Impossible Life by David Black, writer-producer of Law & Order, Hill Street Blues and 100 Centre Street (Adapted from his novel). Admission. 7:30PM
The Colonial Theatre
Pittsfield, MA
Revenge of the Reindeer: Chicago City Limits
The holiday season brings wishes of joy and peace on earth, but not necessarily if you’re a reindeer—especially one that has to spend the holiday season flying from rooftop to rooftop lugging a big fat guy in a red suit who keeps trying to squeeze down chimneys! Well, we all have our issues, and Chicago City Limit’s special holiday show, Revenge of the Reindeer, gives us a chance to air them out. Through a combination of comedy sketches and improvisations created on the spot from audience suggestions and song parodies, the Chicago City Limits cast will put its spin on the trials and tribulations of the past year. This special December event is unlike any other holiday show. Yule love it! Admission. 8PM
Norman Rockwell Museum
Stockbridge, MA
A Special Holiday Evening for Families: Music of the Season
Embrace the long nights of winter! Join us for a magical evening of seasonal stories and enjoy art-making, heart-warming treats, songs and tales of holiday celebrations, and the wonder of Norman Rockwell?s artwork. At 5pm, performance artist Roger Tincknell invites you to sing along as he plays favorite songs from Chanukah and Christmas, connecting world cultures through holiday traditions. Free with Museum admission. Children 18 and under free.4PM - 7PM
Stockbridge Main Street
Stockbridge, MA
Holiday House Tour
Visit some of the area’s Historic Homes, B&B’s, and Inns. This self-guided tour is one of our most popular events. Admission. 11AM - 4PM
Stockbridge Main Street
Stockbridge, MA
Caroling Luminaria Walk
Meet in front of The Red Lion Inn, Main Street with your candle or flashlight and join the festive caroling followed by a Luminaria walk to the First Congregational Church. 6PM - 7PM
Stockbridge Main Street
Stockbridge, MA
Holiday Concert
Celebrate the magic of the season with a joyful holiday musical program held at the First Congregational Church. Featuring the Berkshire Lyric Theatre Chorus, the Blafield Children’s Chorus and Gisella Montanez. Admission. 7:30PM
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
Great Barrington, MA
CEWM: Slavic Wonders - Feasts & Saints in Early Moscow, Krakow & Prague
The superb Rose Ensemble returns by popular demand with a performance featuring choral virtuosity of 17th Century Russia, Poland, and Bohemia. Dazzling Eastern European polyphony highlighting the antiphonal glory of Renaissance and Baroque music. , “The audience was mesmerized.” Cleveland Plain Dealer “A supernatural blend of voices, beauty of tone, and rhythmic acuity.” Early Music America Magazine “…they struck gold…a remarkable evening.” Clarence Fanto, WAMC Northeast Radio. Admission. 6PM
Berkshire Botanical Gardens December 1 - 9
Stockbridge, MA
Holiday Marketplace
Exhibition and sale of handcrafted wreaths and holiday decorations, seasonal blooms and greens, herb products, crafts and gift items. Part of Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas celebration. Admission free. 10AM-5PM
Hancock Shaker Village
Hancock, MA
Member Shopping Days
Shop for ornaments, candles, music, holiday home goods and food. Members will receive special unannounced discounts and extra savings on selected items. Buy a gift membership for a friend presented in an Oval Box!
Stockbridge, MA
Teen Art Workshop Creating Your Own Graphic Novel
Join dynamic, award-winning graphic novelist Lauren Weinstein for this exciting workshop designed to take young artists through the process of creating a graphic novel of their own. Conceptual development, image sequences, dialogue, point of view, and aspects of self-publishing will be explored in this hands-on session that will result in a personal artist?s book to take home.
A successful cartoonist and a teacher at the School of Visual Arts and the 92nd Street Y in New York, Lauren Weinstein is also a singer in a rock band called Flaming Fire. Her graphic novels include Inside Vineyland, Girl Stories, and soon to be released The Goddess of War. Please bring a lunch; well provide beverages and dessert. Admission. 11AM - 4PM
Stockbridge Main Street
Stockbridge, MA
Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas Re-Creation
See Main Street as Norman Rockwell did when he painted the famous Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas. Main Street becomes a magical New England village with over 50 antique cars parked along the street (weather permitting) and a full range of festive activities to delight the child in everyone. Enjoy Holiday Music, Roger the Jester and lunch at the Christmas Food Booth. Children may create ornaments at Santa’s workshop. Complete the day with a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus. Admission. 12PM - 2PM
December 3
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
Great Barrington, MA
A Christmas Story (1983)
Admission.
December 7
Berkshire Museum
Pittsfield, MA
Downtown Pittsfield Tree Lighting Celebration
Gather on the front lawn of the Berkshire Museum for holiday fun before the city’s 7 p.m. tree lighting in Park Square. Enjoy hot-spiced cider and donuts and make an ornament for the lobby tree. Visit the holiday shop and receive a coupon for $2 off a future Festival of Trees visit. Cider and donuts generously donated by Bartlett Farms. Free. 5PM - 7PM.
Norman Rockwell Museum
Stockbridge, MA
Model Citizens
Find out what it was like to pose for America?s favorite illustrator from one of Norman Rockwell?s former models. Free with Museum admission. 2:30PM
December 8 - 9
Berkshire Museum
Pittsfield, MA
Members’ Shopping Weekend
The race is on when Berkshire Museum members circle the racks in the Museum Shop, scout out gift items all weekend and enjoy 20% off their entire purchase. Present your current membership card at time of purchase to take advantage of this special 20% discount.
December 13
The Colonial Theatre
Pittsfield, MA
Celtic Yuletide
Michael Londra, the Irish Tenor best known as the vocalist of Riverdance, presents an evening of “Christmas from Ireland,” told in song, dance and the classic stories of his youth. Enjoy traditional, heartwarming Irish carols and Gaelic versions of Christmas songs you know and love. The Irish musical group “An Dochas” joins Londra onstage to perform a blend of age-old Celtic rhythms with pipes and low whistles and frenetic traditional jigs and reels. Rounding out the evening are the breathtaking Haran Irish dancers performing traditional and modern dances that reflect the two worlds in which Ireland lives. This is an evening guaranteed to send you out into the winter’s night warmed by the spirit of a Celtic Christmas. Admission. 8PM
December 15
Lenox Contra Dance
Lenox, MA
Holiday dance and potluck. Early session 5-7pm, Bottom of the Bucket, with Fiona DeRis calling. Potluck from 7 to 8 Evening dance from 8-11:30, Spare Parts with Jim Fownes calling. Admission.
December 16
Berkshire Museum
Pittsfield, MA
All Aboard the Polar Express
At noon, join us for a festive session of engineering a 6 x 21 x 8 inch gingerbread train. Cookies, icing, and candy will be provided for your take-home confection. Reserve your gingerbread train kit and supplies by Monday, December 7 ($25 per complete kit; admission additional). At 2 p.m., see the beloved holiday film The Polar Express. Bring along your favorite teddy bear or doll. After the movie decorate a t-shirt for your toy friend and enjoy Polar Chocolate Nougat Caramel Squares and Hot Chocolate-Bar Cocoa. Movie and activities free with Festival admission. 12PM - 4PM.
December 21 - 22
The Colonial Theatre
Pittsfield, MA
Albany Berkshire Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker
12/21 at 4:30PM & 7:30PM
12/22 at 1:00PM & 4:30PM
December 26
Berkshire Museum
Pittsfield, MA
Vacation Week Art-Making: Rockets in Flight
Build a rocket and learn about the science of space flight. Timed tickets will be available at the front desk beginning at 10 a.m. each day. Space is limited. First come, first served. Free with Festival of Trees admission. 1PM - 3PM.
December 27
Berkshire Museum
Pittsfield, MA
Vacation Week Art-Making: Great Skate Create
Decorate your own skateboard! Your ticket gets you into the skateboard D.I.Y room where you will get a fully made skateboard and a set of paints to design a movin’ board. $40 ($30 members); includes timed-ticket for craft and Festival admission for crafter and one adult chaperone. Reservations required. 11:30AM, 1PM, & 2:30PM.
December 27 - 28
Norman Rockwell Museum
Stockbridge, MA
Linwood Living History Meet Mr. Butler
Spend some time getting to know Charles Butler, New York City attorney and owner of Linwood, our gracious Berkshire Cottage overlooking the Housatonic River. Mr. Butler will greet you in the library to share stories of his life and times and introduce you to the household staff. Find out if he makes the 3:10 train to New York! Participants are invited to join him for refreshments in the parlor after the program, which brings the owner of this 1859 home to life. Space is limited; please call for reservations. $5, members free. Does not include Museum admission. 2:30PM
December 28
Berkshire Museum
Pittsfield, MA
Vacation Week Art-Making: Rockets in Flight!
Build a rocket and learn about the science of space flight. Timed tickets will be available at the front desk beginning at 10 a.m. each day. Space is limited. First come, first served. Free with Festival of Trees admission. 1PM - 3PM.
December 31
Berkshire Museum
Pittsfield, MA
Family New Year’s Celebration
Rocket to 2008 Astronauts, race car drivers, cyclists, and skaters: dress as your favorite mover and shaker to celebrate New Year at the Berkshire Museum. Festivities begin at 11 a.m. Sing, shake, wiggle and giggle with Ben Rudnick and Friends. At noon, we countdown to rocket in to the New Year Then blast off to refreshments. $10 adults, $7 children ages 3-18 ($5/$3 members); includes Festival of trees admission. 11AM - 2PM.
Jiminy Peak
December 4, 2007 | Comments Off
Jiminy Peak is about 3 hours from New York and Boston and about an hour from Albany and Springfield. Access is fairly easy, as Jiminy is located near the Mass Pike extension and the Taconic State Parkway.
Topping out at 2,380 feet and offering 1,140 feet of vertical descent for riders, Jiminy Peak offers slightly more vertical descent than other mountains in the immediate vicinity. However, when the difference is only 100 or 200 vertical feet, I’m not sure I could even notice that difference.
The 40 trails and 156 acres of skiable terrain on the mountain are geared more towards intermediate skiers. However, there is a significant amount of beginning trails and there are only a few double diamond trails on the mountain. The double diamonds, while steep, pale in comparison to double diamonds elsewhere. Night skiing is provided on 18 trails that are well lit.
8 lifts serve the trails and include a 6-person chair, 2 quad chairs, three triple chairs and 1 double chair lift and one tow lift. Only two lifts go from the base area to the summit of Jiminy, otherwise the lifts serve various sections of the mountains.
Snowmaking covers 93% of Jiminy Peak and provides for quality snow throughout the winter season, even when Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate. Grooming and maintenance are excellent at Jiminy and trails are often groomed throughout the day. Should you get there as the place opens, expect to ski down slopes of immaculately groomed snow.
Jiminy also offers a halfpipe and alpine park area for snowboarders looking for more than just the slopes.
Ticket prices are reasonable for all the skiing you can get in and an adult 8-hour weekend ticket will cost you $52, while a weekday ticket for an adult will cost you $39. 4-hour tickets are not half price, a weekend ticket will set you back $48 and a weekday half-ticket will cost you $35. Night tickets on the weekend are $33 and $29 during the week.
For $10 you can purchase a “value card” that provides discounts throughout the year on lift ticket purchases. You can use the card once per day and it will save you $7 on the cost of a lift ticket.
Coupons and special savings deals are also available on Jiminy’s website at www.jiminypeak.com. I also believe that the local Entertainment Book generally has buy one-get one free tickets for Jiminy Peak – I know when I used to ski here often, that’s how we did it – we’d go and collect all the Entertainment Coupons from the non-skiers and use them up.
Jiminy offers lessons for both beginners and more advanced skiers in group and private settings, along with Skiwee programs and multi-week programs. There are various packages that include lift tickets, rentals and lessons and can be anywhere from $30 to over $200.
The base lodge area includes all the amenities you would expect at a mountain lodge including rental shops, ticket sales, a ski shop, restaurant, cafeteria, seating areas, lockers, and restrooms. Lodging on slope is provided in the base area in either rental condominium units or in the Country Inn, which offers various types of rooms and suites. Lodging and dining is also available off-slope in town. Reservations for the on-slope accommodations can be made through Jiminy’s website.
Jiminy Peak is the ying to Catamount’s yang and is worlds apart from the other smaller ski areas scattered throughout the Berkshires. This is a place to be seen and to take part in the “ski scene.” The skiing at Jiminy is top notch. In addition, there are enough coupons and offers out there to make Jiminy affordable to the masses for a trip or two throughout the winter months. It’s just as well, half of the people there are probably in the lodge drinking expensive coffees while you’re out on the slopes enjoying the great skiing that Jiminy Peak has to offer.
Link to Mountain Site
Upcoming Jiminy Peak Events
Potter Brothers Demo Day, Sunday, December 16th
Potter Brothers invites you to come to Jiminy Peak to try new skis, snowboards, and helmets from top manufacturers. Reps from the companies will be on hand to answer your questions, too. When you try before you buy, you get the best gear for your style. Demos are available to all skiers and snowboarders with ID or credit card for deposit.
New Year’s Eve Celebration Monday, December 31
Ring in the New Year at Jiminy Peak! New Year’s Eve will feature the annual torchlight parade down the mountain followed by a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the sky and the snow!
Rail Jam Friday January 4
Get in the spotlight with our Friday night Rail Jams. With great prizes up for grabs there’s no doubt we’ll be seeing some of the sickest tricks on the rails!
Slopestyle Competition Friday, January 25
Take on the rails and hits of Coyote Ridge against some fierce competition!!
Groundhog Day Celebration Saturday, February 2
Join us for Jiminy’s version of Groundhog Day. Will our groundhog see his shadow? You’ll have to be here to find out!
Mardi Gras Celebration Saturday, February 4
Beads, Beads, Beads! Join us for a day of fun and celebration!
St. Jude Ski Express Sunday, February 10
On this special day, a donation to St. Jude’s buys line-cutting privileges for skiers and snowboarders. The guest will receive a wristband that allows them to “cut” the line at the Berkshire Express via a special ‘St Jude Ski Express’ line in the corral, which means no time waiting in line! There will be a raffle with a chance to win great prizes, too. Proceeds from the event will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Leap Year Celebration Friday, February 29
We only get one every 4 years so why not celebrate it?!
Rail Jam Friday, March 7
Get in the spotlight with our Friday night Rail Jams. With great prizes up for grabs there’s no doubt we’ll be seeing some of the sickest tricks on the rails!
Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge Sunday, March 9
The Dew Crew returns to bring skiers and rider the BEST fun race, party, and all-around wild time with Mountain Dew, prizes, samples, music, and more! Not to mention free tee shirts for race participants and a shot at the finals in New Hampshire.
STRIDE Race Saturday, March 15
STRIDE’s Great Adaptive Ski Race. Visit www.stride.org for more information.
Retro Day Sunday, March 16
Have a bunch of clothes from the 70s and 80s that you would never admit to wearing? Sure, we know you do! Now is the day to dig them out and show them off. Come to Jiminy dressed in your best retro garb and receive a retro price to go along with it! “Best” dressed guests win a prize. Please no retro equipment.
Jeep Terrain Park Challenge Sunday March 16
The Jeep Terrain Park Challenge has evolved! They’ll bring their crew of freestyle skiers and riders to Jiminy this winter and stress safe and smart Park riding. The Rossignol Demo team will come with them to demonstrate tricks, and teach responsibility in the park. Come out and participate!
Spring Fling Saturday, March 22
The Spring Fling is Jiminy’s spring welcome party. It’s a great chance to work on the goggle tan while sliding on corn snow. The Annual Card Board Box Derby, Bikini Slalom, Beach Blanket Bingo, and an Outdoor Barbecue - it all adds up to sunshine fun. Plus, there will be a pie eating contest, special events and contests just for kids, and great prizes. In the case of snow, we’ll move it all indoors!
Winter is Here !
December 3, 2007 | Comments Off
Winter has arrived, officially. I am sitting here, keeping warm inside, while the snow from the first official storm is falling outside.
Winter is one of the most beautiful times in the Berkshires during the year. Painted countless time by artists, from Norman Rockwell to Calder, immortalized in James Taylor’s song ‘Sweet Baby James’.
Jericho Valley is the place to be, 5 minutes down the road from Jiminy Peak, 30 minutes from Butternut and Catamount and only a couple hours from Okemo and Killington in Southern Vermont.
