Traditions abound in our family beginning with the annual Thanksgiving dinner featuring 25-plus family and friends, mint chip pie, a rousing game of left-right-center and a roundtable discussion of what everyone is thankful for. Soon the holiday books for everyday of December will be wrapped (our own take on the Christmas advent calendar), trees will be chosen, chopped and decorated, and my children’s annual Christmas Eve gift — new pajamas — will be purchased.
Berkshire County is flush with holiday celebrations, many of which have made their way into our family’s list of annual Christmas traditions, and though there are too many to mention them all in this column, here are a few of our favorites.
A TRADITION EVERYWHERE
The Nutcracker, performed by the Albany Berkshire Ballet, will be on stage Dec. 10th & 11th in Pittsfield. (Image courtesy The Colonial Theatre)
“The Nutcracker” is a well-known Christmas tradition wherever you live, and for those living in the Berkshires this tradition is kept going each year as a result of the hard work and dedication of the Albany Berkshire Ballet.
The Albany Berkshire Ballet has been bringing its acclaimed production of “The Nutcracker” to audiences throughout the Northeast for over 35 years. Each year, over 600 children are chosen to perform alongside the professional dancers of the ABB in six venues — dancing for over 9,000 audience members. This year’s performances in the Berkshires will take place on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10 and 11, at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. — For showtimes and information log onto www.berkshireballet.org or www.thecolonialtheatre.org.
TRADITIONS IN LENOX
The Santaland Diaries runs Dec. 2nd-3oth in Lenox, MA. (Image courtesy Shakespeare & Company)
Another Berkshire County holiday tradition began last year by way of the legendary Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, and I was lucky enough to partake in it with my husband and friends.
Directed by S&Co. Artistic Director Tony Simotes and starring Peter Davenport, the company presented David Sedaris’ hilarious one-man production, “The Santaland Diaries,” an occasionally subversive, alarmingly clever, engagingly poignant and always side-splittingly funny true account of Sedaris’ time spent working as a Christmas elf at Macy’s Department Store. By the end of the evening my companions and I were rolling in our seats due to the absolute hilarity of seeing this good-looking man deliver a nearly two-hour monologue onstage in his elf costume. We all vowed to return to theater next year during the holidays in hopes of partaking, once again, in our newfound holiday tradition.
This year the show returns this weekend with Simotes once again in the director’s chair and veteran S&Co. funny man Ryan Winkles tackling the role of Crumpet the Elf. The show opens Friday, Dec. 2, and runs through Dec. 30. — For more information log onto S&Co.’s website at www.shakespeare.org.
CHRISTMAS AT THE COLONIAL
From the Midwest to the Berkshires, local singer-songwriter, Mary Verdi has been bringing people together through her music for years, and for the second year in a row she will bring families together to ring in the holidays at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield with a concert titled “Christmas at the Colonial with Mary Verdi.”
The concert is set for 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, and will feature Verdi and her band, the St. Raphael’s and St. Patrick’s bell ringers from Williamstown, a children’s chorus, the Rock On guitar orchestra, Dalton Ballet Studio dancers, Tony Lee Thomas and, of course, Santa Claus. Audience members will get the opportunity to hear Verdi’s new original song, “Christmas Time,” performed, as the evening will also serve as a celebration of the official release of her new Christmas album “Christmas in the Berkshires.” Later in the concert a children’s cast of elves will take the stage to lead audience members in a heart-warming sing-a-long.
I’m so excited to tell you about this concert as I had the privilege of hanging out with Mary on many occasions, and for the last year I have been getting updates as to the status of this album. I can personally guarantee that this holiday event is sure to fill even the biggest of Scrooges with holiday cheer, and perhaps it could be the beginning of a new holiday tradition for you and your family.
Tickets may be purchased in person at the Colonial ticket office at 111 South St., by calling 413-997-4444 or online at www.thecolonialtheatre.org.
MORE HOLIDAY CHEER AT THE COLONIAL
After nearly 70 years of sitting dormant in the center of Pittsfield, The Colonial Theatre underwent a major renovation and reopened its doors to the public as a theater in 2006. Since its reopening the local theater has been known for presenting stellar family and educational programming at all times of the year. Last year for my twin’s 12th birthday we all took a family “mental health” afternoon to catch Black Violin, two violinists who combine classical music and hip-hop to present a show that is truly out of this world, at the venue. (If they ever return to the area I highly recommend you catch them in action.)
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical returns to Western MA on Dec. 4th in Pittsfield. (Image courtesy The Colonial Theatre)
On the agenda for this weekend? The Colonial is presenting a tale of firsts — a stuffed animal’s first trip in the laundry, a little girl’s first words and a Daddy’s first time dealing with his child going “boneless” — in its upcoming musical “Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical” coming to the Pittsfield theater on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. This musical, based on Mo Willems’ Caldecott Honor-winning picture book, and combines the talents of six-time Emmy Award winner Willems and Grammy Award-winning composer Michael Silversher to lovingly celebrate the heart and heartache that comes from Daddy, Trixie and Trixie’s beloved Knuffle Bunny’s visit to their local laundromat. Tickets can be purchased online at www.thecolonialtheatre.org or by calling 413-997-4444.
Another holiday tradition in the Berkshires is the annual holiday performance of Berkshire Theatre Festival’s rendition of the Dicken’s classic “A Christmas Carol,” and since the merger of the company with The Colonial last year to form the Berkshire Theatre Group, the performance has been moved to the Pittsfield venue. This year, patrons who attend one of the 11 scheduled performances will get an extra special treat, as the performance not only feature local residents of all ages, but also local legend James Taylor. (“I see fire and I see rain …”)
Performances are set for Dec. 17-18, 20-23, and 26-30. For more information on performance times and tickets visit The Colonial’s website.
Don’t Leave Us Yet Fall: Snow gives locals a jump on the winter season in the Berkshires but there is still time to squeeze out some last drops of fall!
Snow came early to the Berkshires this year and while many spent their days and nights being lulled to sleep by the terminal humming (or screeching) of their generators, my children took the opportunity to break out the snowmobiles and start the winter season early. But now with the majority of snow melted and a bit of warm weather headed our way, I’ll save a rundown of the snowmobile and skiing opportunities in the region for another column.
THAT CURIOUS LITTLE MONKEY COMES TO THE BERKSHIRES
This column is on the short side this week because I just returned from a recent trip to northeastern Massachusetts to help care for my sisters two-year-old, Kylee. Needless to say, I’m a little tired, but oh what fun it is to be an aunt. We spent time at the park and library, watched hours of Curious George DVDs, had a couple of carpet picnics and we even mixed it up a little one day and had lunch for breakfast and breakfast for lunch.
Spending that time with Kylee was so much fun and it gave me time to observe a little bit of all of us in her. That strong stubborn streak? Compliments of myself and my daughter (and possible a cousin or two on Daddy’s side). Her adventurous side? Perhaps my boys (especially Max). Her cooking abilities (man, she can cook a great pancake and hotdog soup in her toy kitchen)? Her daddy. Her ability to spin a good joke (or a least act like anything she or anyone else does is the funniest thing in the world) definitely comes from sister (although her Uncle Mark is pretty good at that, too). And that’s not all she got from mommy … Kylee, apparently, inherited her mother’s obsession with Curious George. While my sister’s 30-plus-year-old tattered George still sits on Kylee’s bookcase, Kylee has myriad versions of the stuffed animal strewn around the house, as well as a full library of George DVDs to watch over and over and over again. Ah, to be two again.
Even if you aren’t as George obsessed as my sister and her two year old, you won’t want to miss the newest exhibit at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. On Nov. 12 the museum will unveil “Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Magret and H.A. Rey”, as well as “Pop-UP! The Magical World of Movable Books,” to the public with an opening celebration from 1 to 4 p.m.
Featuring nearly 80 original drawings and preparatory dummies for Margret and H. A. Rey children’s books and documentation related to their escape from Nazi-occupied Europe, the “Curious George exhibit” will examine the parallels between the obstacles the Reys faced and the drawings that may have saved their lives.
Later that evening adults can partake in an event beginning at 5:30 and running through 7:30 p.m. that aims to interpret the role that Curious George played in safeguarding his own creators in times of danger as symbolic, Claudia Nahson, curator at the Jewish Museum, delves into the remarkable lives and works of Margret and H. A. Rey, who in 1940, fled Paris with a Curious George manuscript in their suitcase. Art and documentation related to their escape from Nazi-occupied Europe, and the parallels between the obstacles the couple faced and the drawings that may have saved their lives will be explored. Claudia Nahson is the curator of “Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H.A. Rey.” A festive reception will follow.
The history and wonder of pop-up books will be brought to life in “The Magical World of Movable Books” exhibit featuring Barbara and Bernard Shapiro’s extensive collection of movable literature for the young and the young at heart. The exhibition will feature diverse genres, from whimsy and fantasy to the worlds of art, history and science. Published books by the Munich-based illustrator Lothar Meggandorfer (1847-1925), multimedia artist Red Grooms, and pop-up masters Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart will be on view with selected original illustrations that have made these amazing published pop-ups possible. Original book illustrations also will be on view. For more information on both exhibits visit http://www.nrm.org.
WIN A FAMILY PASS TO SEE GEORGE
The exhibit is on view through Feb. 5 and you can win a family pass to go see it!!! All you need to do is let us know at the bottom of this column what you and your children are most excited to see at the Norman Rockwell Museum, and why by next Thursday, Nov. 17, and you will be entered in a random drawing to win the passes. Be sure to check back on Friday, Nov. 18, to see if you have won, with directions on how to get your family pass.
TWO MORE EVENTS FOR THIS WEEKEND
The Milne Library in Williamstown is known for its stellar array of children’s programming and this Saturday, Nov. 12, the children’s department will do it again. At 1 p.m. the library will present a program titled “Moxie: The Dachshund of Fallingwater” featuring curator of education at Fallingwater and visiting professor, Cara Armstrong. Fallingwater is the name of a very special house that is built over a waterfall located in southwest Pennsylvania. Frank Lloyd Wright, America’s most famous architect, designed the house for his clients, the Kaufmann family. Fallingwater was built between 1936 and 1939. It instantly became famous, and today it is a National Historic Landmark.
Armstrong will be reading aloud and discussing her children’s book “Moxie: The Dachshund of Fallingwater.” In an earlier interview, Armstrong described her book this way: “”I wanted to make Fallingwater more accessible to kids and architecture more accessible to kids. Moxie embodies the four design themes of Fallingwater — the cantilever, the cascade, the circle (or semicircle), and the horizontal. I think kids of any age will enjoy this book, even grown-up kids.” - The library is located at 1095 Main St. in Williamstown.
Also on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Rudolf Steiner School in Great Barrington will host its 39th annual Holiday Handcraft Fair, featuring activities for children such as puppet shows, hayrides, candle-dipping, a country store, raffles and more. The school is located on West Plain Road in Great Barrington. For more information call 413-528-4015 or visit www.gbrss.org.
Last weekend I broke out my gloves, hat and favorite cozy fleece, grabbed the travel mug filled to the rim with a delectable hazelnut blend, and prepared myself for a full day of football at Bill Laston Memorial Park in Lanesboro. The air was crisp and clean, the brilliant foliage filled the landscape and eased my mind, and the energy on the gridiron was contagious. Ahh, I love fall in the Berkshires.
Knowing Where to Look: Berkshire County’s Hidden Treasures
Using cardboard, sculptor James Grashow created a rainbow of fish swimming through Kidspace at MASS MoCA with their mermaid friend (Under the Corrugated Sea).
As the school year slowly revs into full gear, the number of family-friendly events seems to decline in the Berkshires, but that is only true if you don’t know where to look. Hidden behind the doors of local museum, barns, year-round theaters and historical venues, families can find a treasure trove of activities guaranteed to please even the most finicky of family members. From geckos to sea creatures, Martians and stories of the Ku Klux Klan, this month the region has some truly eclectic offerings:
Family-friendly adventure parks are a great way to spend an Autumn day in the Berkshires. (Photo credit: Kelly Bevan McIlquham)
Everything happens for a reason: I am a firm believer in that. I don’t believe it is coincidence that I left a full-time editorial job to freelance because I wanted to be more available for my kids just months before my son, Max, suffered a major concussion that required my full-time attention. Since Labor Day I have spent time researching the affects of concussions in children, and shuttling Max to doctors offices for evaluations that have revealed his brain was jostled much more forcefully than we had originally thought. I have become well-acquainted with the school nurse, and have helped more with homework that I have had to in years. Most recently, my husband and I attended a meeting with Max’s teachers where a decision was made for him to attend school half-days, so know I will assume the role of nursemaid and part-time tutor. But it will all be worth it if it helps Max’s brain heal quicker, and if he finally stops walking around in circles trying to remember what it was he was doing.
NO LAUGHING MATTER
When Max first got sacked and zigzagged with wobbly legs to the sideline we joked a little. “He sure got his bell rung good!” But as he began to realize that his headache wasn’t going away and he was having difficulty with simple math problems, couldn’t follow simple directions and couldn’t remember old teachers’ names or when my birthday was (not easy to forget — Feb. 29, Leap Year — and he couldn’t even remember what Leap Year was), we became more concerned, thus beginning our research. In my studies I learned that more than 400,000 kids a year are sent to emergency rooms each year for serious brain injuries, usually as a result of car accidents, playground falls or sports-related injuries. I also learned that practitioners have been doing a lot of work in recent years to figure out suggested protocol for school personnel, coaches, parents, etc. to follow after a child suffers from a concussion, because unlike most other injuries, the brain heals more slowly in children than in adults, and the long-term effects of repeated head trauma in children are pretty scary. I also learned that kids with concussions resemble those with ADHD and that those with ADHD who suffer from concussions have even more difficulty.
If you are interested in learning more about the latest research on concussion prevention, management and consequences of head injuries, with a particular focus on youth and collegiate sports, Dr. Robert Cantu and Christopher Nowinski will present “The Impact of Concussions in Youth and College Sports” at 8 p.m. tonight, Sept. 22, at the ’62 Center on the Williams College campus in Williamstown. The event is free, but reservations are required; call 413-597-2425 for details.
I highly recommend this event for anyone who has children involved in sports, especially those sports physical enough to require a helmet like football, hockey and lacrosse.
MUPPETS TAKE WILLIAMSTOWN
Courtesy Photo
Jim Henson’s Muppets have been entertaining children around the world for over 50 years through television and movie programs such as SesameStreet, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, Labyrinth and more. In celebration of the late Muppet creator’s 75th birthday (Sept. 24) Images Cinema in Williamstown has brought a weeklong Henson/Muppet-inspired festival to the area titled Muppets, Music, & Magic: Jim Henson’s Legacy. The festival began Monday but will continue to run through Sunday, Sept. 25. I missed one of my all-time favorites, the Muppet’s remaking of The Frog Prince, check out the schedule below so you don’t miss a favorite of yours.
2011-12 Football Season starts off with a BANG! (Photo credit: Kelly Bevan McIlquham)
The 2011-12 football season started off with a BANG at our house this year — literally — after my son, Max, attended a Labor Day football jamboree and saw stars (or a least a bright flash of light as he describes it) after being tackled by a 7-foot, 200-pound mammoth of a player. OK, according to Max the kid was not much bigger than his 5-foot, 85-pound frame, but he looked big and as my son jumped to intercept a pass this kid laid him out. Max got up a little slow and unsteady on his feet after the hit and headed to the sideline where he stayed for the remainder of the jamboree. We spent Tuesday morning at the doctor’s office, and until we can get an appointment with a neurologist to further explore the extent of the concussion Max is grounded — again, literally. No jumping, running, skipping, sneezing, video-game playing, eye-rolling, head shaking, brother teasing … Nada! “How bad can that be?” you say. I’ll let you know. I’m thinking this very active, ADHD child who thrives on football and activity is not going to fair too well with these restrictions, but I’ve been wrong before. Let’s just hope we’ve kept the brain rattling to a minimum.
SPEAKING OF STARS
Hopkins Observatory (courtesy photo)
You don’t need to suffer a concussion to see stars up close and personal in the Berkshires this fall. I promised you I’d find out more about the Milham Planetarium’s fall schedule (located in the Old Hopkins Observatory on the Williams College campus in Williamstown), and I have. According to the college’s website astronomy students at the college will host free shows for the public on select Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. through Dec. 9. Dates are as follows: Sept. 16, 23 and 30; Oct. 14, 21 and 28; Nov. 4, 11 and 18; and Dec. 2 and 9.
During these evening shows audiences will be treated to shows from the high-precision Zeiss Skymaster ZKP3/B opto-mechanical planetarium projector, installed at the college in April 2005. The Zeiss Skymaster is capable of demonstrating phenomena including: retrograde motions of the planets, phases of the moon, the varying temperatures/colors of stars, locations of neighboring galaxies, the mythological figures and zodiacal signs ascribed to constellations, the Southern Hemisphere’s sky, comets, artificial satellites and much more. The Hopkins Observatory, built in 1836-1838 by the first professor of astronomy at Williams College, Albert Hopkins, is the oldest extant observatory in the United States. Shows will last about 50 minutes.
For reservations (recommended) contact Michele Rech at 413-597-2188 or send an e-mail to mcr4@williams.edu. Others will be admitted as space permits. Large groups should call for special appointments.
SCHOOL DAYZ
Hilltown Hoot (Photo credit: Kelly Bevan McIlquham)
The kids headed back to school last week without much pomp and circumstance and returned home with a mountain of homework — for me! Emergency cards, general information forms, questionnaires to fill out, school handbooks to read and sign ensuring that you actually read them … Ugh! While my kids chilled out watching television after a “taxing” first day (Yeah, right), I spent the majority of the evening with carpel tunnel and a giant migraine.
Among those forms were the first of the fundraisers peddling candles and wrapping paper, calendars and must-have seasonal decorations, all of which I do not need. But there is one fundraising flier that caught my eye and made me smile, and in my opinion, is the way a fundraiser should be done. For the past five years local Central Berkshire Regional School District parents Abe and Lisa Guthrie (Yes, they are related to THOSE Guthries famous Berkshire Guthries Woody and Arlo) have organized the annual Hilltown Hoot, a “fun-raiser” to benefit local schools. Originally the fundraiser was for the Becket/Washington Elementary School in the district, but last year the two decided the daylong music festival had been so successful in past years that they wanted to extend the benefits to all of the schools in the district, and this year is no different. On Sunday, Sept. 18, from noon to 7 p.m. local bands and performers, vendors, and more will converge on Washington Town Park (Route 8, Washington, MA) for an afternoon of fun, food, children’s activities, MUSIC and more. Some of the local (and world-renowned) talent includes students from the Becket Washington School Band, Terry a la Berry & Friends, Hilltown Zydeco String Band, Modest Me, Ryan Blessing, Annie Guthrie, Jordan Weller, Xavier (a band consisting of members Abe Guthrie, Tim Sears, Randy Cormier and Dan Teichert that started playing at our school dances went to school the district) and none other than Arlo Guthrie himself.
Tickets can be purchased in advanced for a discounted price or at the gate. For more information on where to purchase tickets and for a complete schedule of events visit www.hilltownhoot.com.
MORE MUSIC
The Washington Town Park isn’t the only place Berkshirites can find music this fall, Central Berkshire Music Together, the internationally recognized music and movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and the adults who love them, is offering free demonstration classes today, Sept. 8, and Saturday, Sept. 10, at 10 a.m. at South Congregational Church located on South Street in Pittsfield, and on Friday, Sept. 9, at First Congregational Church on Main Street in Williamstown, to prepare for the upcoming 10-week fall semester.
My twins began going to these classes in preschool and Shea, who was still in an infant car seat at the time, attended, too, and I swear that is where he got his rhythm. To this day, he loves to dance and sing, and has more of that “groove thang” than anyone else in the house. Thank you Sandy! For more information visit www.centralberkshiremusictogether.com or call 413-637-1265.
Music fills the air in the Berkshires this week ranging from free lawn concerts in North Adams and Lenox, to on stage in Pittsfield, North Adams and Great Barrington. (Photo source: Mass Moca; Roomful of Teeth)
The natives are getting restless. The war cries signaling that two brothers have had enough “together time” this summer resonates throughout the house. A drum beats slowly and methodically in my head as I reach for the bottle of ibuprofen to stave off yet another kid-induced migraine — peace drums here, not a chance — while I ready myself to intervene in the latest battle between these warrior brothers: “I will not bet you a dollar that I can be quiet all the way home because you didn’t pay me the dollar last time I won a bet” … “Well, I didn’t pay you because you cheated.” … “I didn’t cheat, a yawn doesn’t count as talking.” … “Well, two years ago when I yawned during the bet you counted that as talking.” … And on and on it goes. And then the smoke signals appear from my seething 12-year-old daughter’s ears (her summer has been spent either loving me or hating me, there seems to be no in between these days), and for the moment she does not like the fact that I have asked her to change out of the short-shorts that are slowly creeping up her backside because she has grown over two inches since they were purchased in May.
This can only mean one thing: TIME FOR THE KIDDOS TO HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL! You know what else signals the end of summer and the beginning of another school year? The fact that family-friendly activities that once filled our summer calendars are slowly coming to an end. But there’s still more year-round fun to be had in the Berkshires and I am on a mission to find it all. Here’s what I’ve found so far:
STILL TIME TO BBQ
Start your weekend off right with a family-friendly outdoor barbecue where kids can play and parents can socialize. Berkshire South Regional Community Center on Crissey Road in Great Barrington is hosting a barbecue this Friday, Aug. 26, from 5:30-7 p.m., in their outdoor courtyard complete with hotdogs, hamburgers and more. For a small fee family members can grab a bite to eat, spend some time on the play structure or bounce around in the bouncy castle. All one has to do is sign up at the front desk or call 413-528-2810. For more information visit www.berkshiresouth.org.
Can’t make the barbecue? The community center will also host a Community SupperMon, Aug. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the lounge and meeting room. This supper, with seatings at 5 and 6:15 p.m. is free (monetary donations or donations of nonperishable foods are excepted) and features a fabulous meal prepared by some of the Berkshires’ finest chefs, including Naji Nejaime (Naji’s), chefs from the Route 7 Grill, Annie Dinan (Dinan with Annie), Jim Gop (Guido’s), Michael Ballon (Castle Street Café), the Berkshire CoOp, Tommy Lee, and the Masiero Brothers (Guido’s and Baba Louie’s). To reserve a seat call 413-528-2810, ext. 10.
OUTDOOR MOVIES
If the increased wearing of sweatshirts and layers are any indication that the end of summer is near then so, too, are the last of the outdoor movies. Today, Thursday, Aug. 25, at 5:30 p.m. the Norman Rockwell Museum will screen “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,” in Stockbridge. For more information go online to www.nrm.org.
Then on Friday, Aug. 26, the town of Adams will celebrate Christmas in August with activities and a visit from Santa beginning at 6 p.m., followed by an 8 p.m. screening of “The Polar Express.” For more information visit www.celebrateadams.com.
The last of the movies on the summer schedule is set for Sunday, Aug. 28, on the Dalton CRA lawn, Main Street, Dalton, where a screening of “The Incredibles” will help celebrate Back to School Movie Night. The movie will begin at 8 p.m. Visit www.daltoncra.org for more details.
HISTORY IN THE AREA
If you have read any of my previous columns you will know that I’ve had a little infatuation lately with teaching my children about local history and, surprisingly, I have found that a cemetery is a treasure trove of historical information. Apparently the members of VOICES Theatre Company have found another use for the area’s cemeteries: performance space. Tonight Aug. 25, and also on Sept. 1 and 8 the company will perform “Shades of the Revolution: A Ghostly Re-Enactment of People, Places and Scenes from Pittsfield’s Past,” with actors dramatizing key scenes from Pittsfield’s colorful early history at the Wahconah Street Cemetery at 7 p.m. There is a small fee, but it sounds intriguing, for lack of a better word. For more information 413-442-1793 or pittsfield250.com for more information.
GOTTA LOVE ACTIVITIES FOR FREE
I love the fact that there is so much to do around the Berkshires that will entertain the entire family while leaving your bank accounts virtually untouched. I’ve discussed various free hiking opportunities throughout the Berkshires, and let me tell you the small price of a $2 parking pass was definitely worth the trip we took to Natural Bridge Stage Park in North Adams last week.
From local parks, to free community days at local museums and venues, to a plethora of art galleries and historic sites throughout the area, there is never a lack of something to do at anytime of the year. And if I wasn’t heading to Boston today for a much-needed parental vacation with my husband I would definitely be capitalizing on one of these free opportunities, Friday, Aug. 26, with my family. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield will offer free admission as part of the highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Fridays. With myriad opportunities to view a variety of geckos, create an invention of one’s own, partake in an archeological dig, journey under the sea (lake, stream or river) and more, this is definitely a free activity you won’t want to miss. For more information visit www.berkshiremuseum.org or call 413-443-7171.
Another free activity for families, besides a hike on any one of the trails leading up to Mount Greylock’s summit (I still haven’t gotten to the Cascades in the Greylock Reservation, but summers not over yet), is the Aug. 31 “Guide to Understanding the Stars” with Kevin Collins beginning at Bascom Lodge atop the mountain at 6 p.m. Sounds pretty interesting, if the forecast is for clear skies that night our family just might take a short vertical drive that evening. Call 413-743-1591 for more details.
Feeding the animals at Whitney’s Farm Market in Cheshire, MA (Photo credit: Kelly Bevan McIlquham)
I have been spoiled this summer. I took a five-day family trip to Alabama. I’ve been to Hampton Beach twice for day trips and took a brief road trip to Cape Cod to pick up a sea- and homesick 12-year-old boy. I’ve spent a few days enjoying my childhood vacation haunt, York Beach, Maine, with my mom, sister, our kids, plus one extra (he’s like one of the family) and I’m even sneaking away with my husband for a few days in Boston for some much-needed grown-up time. Did I leave out that we were given free preseason Patriots tickets for today? But even better than all that is the fact that I’ve gotten to enjoy an absolutely gorgeous season in the Berkshires with my husband and children, and though the summer is slowly winding down, I’m not ready to return to reality quite yet. So out with the back-to-school fliers and trips to chain stores for supplies, I’m taking a few more weeks to simply explore and enjoy the Berkshire surroundings with my family — and you can, too. A RARE DAY WITH ONE
We’ve been introduced to Glendale Falls in Middlefield this summer and thanks to a rare single-kid day last week, my youngest, Shea, was finally introduced to the beauty that is Wahconah Falls in Dalton. But the falls wasn’t the only highlight to our Wednesday last week. The day began with Shea and I heading to theAshuwillticook Rail Trail, a 11.2-mile trail that runs from Lanesborough to Adams, with our bikes, beginning at the entrance of the Berkshire Mall. Despite a few grumbles from Shea in the first mile or so, we made the approximate 3.5-mile jaunt up the trail to Farnum’s Road in Cheshire and enjoyed a snack and a beverage on a bench overlooking Cheshire Lake. After a breeze sent a nauseating whiff of goose poop our way, Shea decided it was a good time to hop on our bikes and head back to the car, but I had a surprise in store for him.
After a little over a mile or so (before any complaining arose), I veered off the trail towards Route 8 and made a stop a Whitney’s Farm Market for lunch and a few farm-fresh veggies. (Sorry folks, I can’t remember the name of the road that you take before you hit Route 8, but you can see Whitney’s from the trail.) Shea and I ventured inside and decided on some fresh tomatoes, apples, salsa and guacamole for our dinner that night and a delectable roast beef, lettuce, tomato, and avocado Panini on herbed bread to savor at the picnic tables. Yum!
After a relaxing lunch, Shea fed a few of the animals at the petting zoo and climbed around on the wooden playground ship for a while, while I sat back and watched parents chase their children up and down the slides and wooden tractor structure. At one point I spent a few scary seconds scanning furiously around the playground to help a grandmother locate a “misplaced” grandchild. Note to readers: If you take a trip to Whitney’s and find yourself in a similar predicament, the lower-level of the boat structure makes for a good hiding place.
Shea and I wrapped up our trip by biking back to our car, grabbing Dad at his office and stopping by Wahconah Falls off of Route 9 in Dalton to introduce our poor neglected son to one of the area’s natural wonders. It was a rare occasion to spend this day with only one child, but it is something Shea and I will surely make time for again.
At Glendale Falls in Middlefield, spent an hour climbing the different levels while frolicking in the little pools along the way. (Photo credit: Kelly McIlquham)
Sitting on our friends’ deck overlooking Lake Ashmere last week, my husband and I (and two of our three children) observed the most spectacular sunset. “Why would anyone want to leave the Berkshires in the summer?” Mark asked as we sat fascinated by the view before us. The silence that followed reinforced the fact that none of us had a plausible answer to his question. Beats me, the silence seemed to be saying. Mark repeated that sentiment again as we sat outside sipping cocktails with another family of friends at my parent’s lake house later that week while the kids splashed in the lake, while sitting on our porch enjoying a morning cup of joe this weekend, and then once again this past Sunday when we took a drive to nearby Middlefield to experience Glendale Falls for the first time. And it’s probably not the last time we will hear these words this summer (or this fall for that matter). The Berkshires is a treasure trove of possibilities for the whole family, which is why Mark and I decided to plan a “staycation” in the area for the upcoming weeks. The best part about it … because we live right here within the beautiful Berkshires we don’t have to plan our staycation for any particular week, we can spread it out over time, ensuring that we get our money and our time’s worth.
‘FALLING’ FOR THE AREA
I know Middlefield, and thus Glendale Falls, is not in the Berkshires but for those in the central Berkshire it is only a mere 15 to 20 minute excursion to the Trustees of Reservation property that will provide you with a free (minus the tank of gas) afternoon of views, swimming and family togetherness not to missed. This was the first stop on our relatively unplanned staycation. The falls were relatively easy to find and it was a mere 10-minute drive from our home in Hinsdale. For those coming from the Pittsfield area, take Route 8 towards Dalton and follow it into Hinsdale until you hit Route 143. Follow Route 143 through Hinsdale and Peru and into Worthington to River Road (approximately a mile after the Peru/Worthington town line on the right). Take a right onto River Road and follow the winding route along the Westfield River for approximately 5.6 miles taking a right onto Cartwright Rd. (after the “1990” bridge). Follow the road uphill for a little less than a mile until you see signs for the falls and the parking lot on the right. We found the falls without any problems and spent an hour climbing the different levels, frolicking in the little pools along the way and Max was even brave enough to stick his head under one of the mini-falls to mug for a photo. The views were absolutely incredible and the entire family agreed that return trips in the fall to take in the foliage and a picnic, and the spring to see the falls in all its glory after the snow melts were a must.
Glendale Falls is not the only waterfall worth seeing in the area. One of my favorites, especially in the winter when its all iced over, is Wahconah Fallsin Dalton, which my youngest son just informed me he doesn’t remember ever going to. We will have to remedy that this week, maybe with a picnic dinner and LOTS of bug spray — it is in a very remote woodsy area like most of these falls. To find it: Take Route 9 east from Pittsfield through Dalton. Take a right onto Wahconah Falls Road (if you enter Windsor you have gone too far). When the road forks, keep right to get to the parking area. Follow the wide, well-worn path to the falls.
A few other waterfalls on our list this summer — hopefully we will make it to most of them — are the Cascades near Mount Greylock, Bash Bish Falls in Mount Washington, and Umpachene Falls in Mill River.
How to get there …
The Cascades: From Pittsfield. Follow Route 8 to Route 2 West in North Adams. About one mile past Hillside Cemetery, turn left onto Marion Avenue. Park your car and follow the Cascades Trail, a short, beautiful river walk following the Notch Brook to the falls. The entire hike takes about an hour and a half and is a mild hike, easy enough for even the most inexperienced of hikers.
Bash Bish Falls: From Great Barrington take Route 23 west to Egremont, then take Route 41 south to Mt. Washington Road. Follow signs to the parking area for Bash Bish Falls. Visitors can enjoy the falls from above (follow trail to left of parking lot), but to enjoy the picturesque view from below take the steep trail to the right of the parking area, an approximate half-mile walk to the base of the falls.
Umpachene Falls: From Route 7 in the center of Sheffield, follow Maple Avenue east. After a short distance, Maple Avenue turns into County Road. Follow for approximately 5.4 miles, then take a right onto Mill River Great Barrington Road. Follow this road for 1.7 miles to the end and take a right onto Mill River Southfield Road. At the end of Mill River Southfield Road take a left onto Clayton Mill River Road for a little over a mile then take a left onto Umpachene Falls Road. Cross the small bridge over the Mill River and look to the right for the entrance to the park.
Note: Do you know of any hidden waterfalls in Berkshire County or along its boarders? Leave a Comment below and let us know. And don’t forget to bring your camera when visiting any of the above locations.
CRAWLY CREATURES
Leaftailed Gecko (Photo credit: Joe McDonald)
Most kids love anything of a creepy, crawly and often slithering nature and this summer the Berkshire Museum is luring young visitors to its galleries with its current exhibit “Geckos: Tails to Toepads,” a definite possibility for the staycation agenda. All I have to do is grab one of those free family passes from our local library and we have another low-cost family afternoon full of reptilian fun! The interactive exhibit runs through Sept. 18 and includes 14 species of geckos from the New Caledonian giant gecko to the smaller neon varieties found is Madagascar. While there we will probably head down to the basement-level aquarium where the kids still love to explore in the touch tank and meander threw the tanks of various creatures that find their homes in the waters of the world. My kids also love to spend a little time in the Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation where visitors are invited to invent their own way to make chores easier and build a model, solve puzzles and brain teasers, hunt for innovations of yesterday and today in “Williams Stanley’s study” and more.
To learn more about all that the Berkshire Museum has to offer visit www.berkshiremuseum.org.
DANCE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Jacob's Pillow Inside/Out Performances in Becket, MA. (Courtesy Photo)
OK, this might not sound like a lot of fun for the non-dance enthusiast, but there’s got to be something to the experience if even my husband and two sons don’t balk at returning to Jacob’s Pillow Festival’s Inside/Out outdoor theater space, the Marcia and Seymour Simon Performance Space, in Becket. Inside/Out offers free performances by emerging and established dance companies, sneak previews, and presentations by dancers of The School at Jacob’s Pillow every Wednesday through Saturday at 6:15 p.m. during the festival season. Families can enjoy anything from hip-hop and jazz, to ballet and contemporary dance performances at the space with each performance lasting only an hour — the perfect dose of dance for children of all ages. Better yet, children are welcome to move about freely throughout the area as long as those don’t disturb those who have chosen to come to the festival childfree. The spot is also ideal for picnicking, so be sure to bring a picnic basket filled with goodies for dinner. Note to parents: A bottle of wine shared with friends tops off the experience nicely.
An outdoor theater performance of the classic fairy tale “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” previews on July 18th & 19th, 2011 at The Mount in Lenox, MA.(Photo credit: David Dashiell)
A recent five-day trip to Alabama had me counting down the minutes until an airplane would take me back to my awaiting Hyundai at Bradley Airport where I could drive the brief hour and twenty minute journey home. Maybe it was the weather, maybe it was the fact that I was with the in-laws, but Alabama definitely wasn’t for me. My husband, the kids and I stayed in the Tuscaloosa area, home of the Crimson Tide, and though the landscape was prettier than I expected (other than a few days hanging out on Lake Tuscaloosa and a amazing backstage tour of the Bryant-Denny football stadium, locker room and all, at the University of Alabama, the major highlight of our trip) there wasn’t a whole lot to do… and if there was, it was too darn hot to muster up the energy to do any of it. We did get to spend time with family that we don’t get to see often (which was nice), and a trip to Alabama Adventure, a water/adventure park in Birmingham by brother-in-law describes as the “Three Flags” of Alabama (as opposed to Six Flags up here), but I would take the Berkshires over Alabama any day (unless I was able to score some prime seats for a football game in that majestic UofA stadium). Adventure in the Berkshires
We may not have Alabama Adventure or Six Flags, but the Berkshires does boast a number of adventure parks of its own. Bousquet in Pittsfield opened it’s new aerial adventure park earlier this summer with three challenge courses at varying difficulty levels consisting of over forty elements that range from low-to-the-ground beginner courses to expert courses hanging thirty feet in the air! The winter ski area also offers a small water park with three giant waterslides and an activity pool with three small pools of its own, mini-golf, go-karts, a climbing wall, bungy trampoline, a zip line and more to entertain all of its summer patrons. This is a destination guaranteed to provide hours of fun for family members of all ages. Trust me! We have spent many an hour there during summers past. For more information go to www.bousquets.com.
Another “winter ski area turned summer fun destination” is Jiminy Peak in Hancock. The area got a jump on Bousquet installing its aerial adventure park a year earlier with five different courses of varying levels and over 70 elements. I tried this course out with an employee and the owner of Absolutely Experiential the local company that designed and built the course last year and almost suffered from heat exhaustion when I attempted the most difficult course on my second try. I made it, but it wasn’t pretty when I almost tossed my breakfast on one of the final platforms. Lucky for me I didn’t eat any breakfast that day. Note to readers: Go easy on yourself, no matter what course you choose it is sure to unleash your inner-adventurer and provide you with hours of entertainment (and exercise). Like Bousquet, Jiminy also has a number of other activities at its mountain adventure park to tempt the risk-takers and those less adventurous types, including a mountain coaster, alpine slide, giant swing, climbing wall, spider web inflatable slide, kids climb . Need I go on? For more information on all that Jiminy has to offer including mountain biking and hiking opportunities visit www.jiminypeak.com.
The last of the adventure parks in the area can be found at Catamount in South Egremont and Hillsdale, N.Y. Catamount is the largest of the area’s adventure parks with eleven courses, 162 platforms and over 40 zip lines. The park even features two, 2000-foot zip lines. Want to find out more? Let your typing fingers take you www.catamounttrees.com.
DRUMMING UP FUN
My 9-year-old son is an avid drummer and periodically he will head up to his room to begin a chore and end up lost in the rhythm in his head as it pours LOUDLY out of his drumsticks and throughout the house. It is my experience that drums seem to fascinate young children in general, so here are a few upcoming opportunities for families to follow a beat of their own:
On Mondays at 6 p.m. at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts (28 Renne Ave. in Pittsfield) parents and mature teens are invited to participate in an Afro-Caribbean and West African Hand Drumming class with Aimee Gelinas of Gaia Roots. Participants with experience drumming through the use of traditional instruments such as the conga, djembe, djun djun, clave, cascara, bell and shekere. All skill levels are welcome. Classes are drop in. For more information call 413-499-9348.
Another drumming program, offered in conjunction with the Adams Free Library‘s youth summer reading program, is Otha Day’s “Drum to the Beat” program set for Thursday, July 14, at 6 p.m. I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Day when I was writing a story last year about the healing power of drum circles and I can tell you he is one amazing and inspiring man. Day is an accomplished pianist who experienced a stroke a number of years ago. Against all odds he turned to drumming to fulfill his musical needs because his fingers no longer glided gracefully across the ivory keys, something that had been a way of life for him for years. Within a few weeks weeks of drumming though Day was nearly back to 100 percent physically and mentally, and when he experienced a second stroke soon after, he turned to drumming once again and was up, moving around and back to normal within a couple of weeks. That drumming led to Day’s exploration into, and later leading of, drum circles that have been used to encourage communication, community and creativity, to foster connections, cooperation and collaboration and to promote stress reduction and a healthy lifestyle. Day now takes his drum circles around the county to introduce community members to his practice, as well as to entertain and bring communities together. For more information about Otha Day’s appearance in Adams call 413-743-8345. To learn more about Otha Day and his drum circles log onto www.drumtothebeat.com.
MORE LIBRARY EVENTS
While midnight showings of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2″ at the Triplex (Great Barrington) and the Beacon Cinema (Pittsfield) will celebrate the release of the last of the Harry Potter film legacy, tonight Thursday, July 14, visitors to the Lenox Library can experience all things Harry Potter at the library’s Harry Potter event from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The evening’s activities will feature a Quidditch demonstration, tour of Hogwarts, Honeydukes candy sale, original shadow puppet play produced by Hogwarts students, owl-drawing demonstration and more. The library is located at 18 Main St. in Lenox. Call 413-637-0197 for more details.
Plenty to Keep You Busy in the Berkshires this Summer
Berkshire Theatre Company will present “Hansel and Gretel’s Grimm Tale” at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, beginning July 6 and running through July 16, 2011.
Though there were a plethora of activities in Berkshire County this week I couldn’t resist the chance to sneak away to the northeastern coast of Massachusetts with my daughter McKenna to grab a little QT with my niece Kylee and my sister Tiffany. Better yet I got to spend some much needed “Mom and Kenna time” and dip my toes in the frigid ocean waters at nearby Hampton Beach while Kenna unsuccessfully attempted to body surf. But now we have returned and with the summer vacation months ahead we will be looking for anything and everything in the area to keep us busy.
LIBRARY FUN FOR ALL AGES
Summertime is all about the libraries once again, with local libraries serving up a variety of summer reading incentive programs and entertainment for all. Today, Thursday, June 30, libraries from South to North Berkshire County will have a little something for everyone. Beginning at 11 a.m. the Lenox Library will take visitors on an animal adventure with the Jungle Encounters traveling zoo, featuring six exotic animals from around the world. Find out more by calling 413-637-0197, ext. 105. Then at 1 p.m. families can head on over to the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield where the summer reading program will feature a performance by Len Gerwick, who will present “Aesop’s Fables,” a puppet show for children ages 4 and up which will be followed by a discussion of each fables’ moral message. Call 413-499-9480, ext. 5, for more information. Our last library stop of the day will end at the Adams Free Library at 6 p.m. where Don Jordan’s Nutshell Playhouse will present “Pirates,” a swashbuckling adventure featuring bold buccaneers, a mysterious map with a riddle, cursed treasure, a visit to an island that you can’t see, a pirate ghost and a magical journey to the bottom of the sea. The fun begins at 6 p.m. Call 413-743-8345.
A SUMMER OF ART
MOMENTS House in Pittsfield is a nonprofit organization working to open a facility to benefit all Berkshire County families living with cancer. This summer families can help the cause by attending one of the organizations “Art with Heart” programs at Chapters Bookstore in Pittsfield where children will create art projects that will be given to cancer patients after their treatments to brighten their days. The art programs take place every first Saturday of the month throughout the summer from 10 a.m. to noon at the North Street store. The next program is scheduled for this Saturday, July 2. Admission is a suggested donation to benefit MOMENTS House.
HISTORICAL GEMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY
I have mentioned before in this column my desire to explore the Berkshires and discover the regions rich history with my children this summer. On Saturday, July 2, Bidwell House Museum in Monterey will celebrate a little bit of that history during its “Bidwell House Museum Township No. 1 Day,” a community celebration of Tyringham and Monterey history featuring live music by local musicians, children’s activities, pie-baking contest, antiques appraisals featuring Charles Flint of Charles Flint Antiques, author talk by local historian Bernard Drew; “Historic Stone Walls” talk and walk by Land Planner Rob Hoogs and more. The event runs from 1 to 4:30 p.m. and is free. Bidwell House is located at 100 Art School Road. More information can be found at www.bidwellhousemuseum.org.
Another one of the area’s hidden historical gems is Naumkeag located on Prospect Hill Road in Stockbridge, and on July 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. families can explore the former home of the Choate family at the Trustees of Reservation property during its “Discovery Days: Secret Spaces, Special Places.” From the water features in the garden to the cows in the pasture, the Trustees welcome the whole family to enjoy a combination of guided and self-guided activities in the special places and secret spaces of the magical 48-acre estate. Children will enjoy finding out what the young Choates did for fun in the large house, whimsical gardens and the dairy barn. Families are encouraged to bring a blanket and a picnic lunch to enjoy at the noon break between morning and afternoon activities. The day’s events are recommended for children ages 6 and older. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Visit www.ttor.org for more information.
From 11 a.m.-1 p.m. July 9 the Trustees will host another discovery day, which will focus on Elizabeth “Mum Bett” Freeman’s World at Bartholomew’s Cobble and the Ashley House in Sheffield. This time Trustees invite families to discover the Berkshires oldest stories in a cornfield by the river once tended by Mohicans, and in the kitchen that Elizabeth Freeman walked away from on her inspired journey to freedom. Join organizers for a combination of guided and self-guided activities in the Ashley House and in surrounding fields, trails and woodlands of Bartholomew’s Cobble. Again bring a picnic lunch to enjoy during the break between morning and afternoon activities. Suggested age for the event is 6 and older, siblings welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. More information can be found atwww.ttor.org.
TICKET GIVEAWAY: Hilltown Families has two pair of tickets to giveaway to see the Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats at The Colonial in Pittsfield, MA on June 11 at either 2PM and 7PM and Hilltown Families! Email hilltownfamilies@gmail.com by Thursday, June 9th at 7pm with "Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats" in the subject line and be entered to win. Winner will be emailed Friday morning. One entry per household. (Photo Courtesy The Colonial Theatre)
Raising kids is a lesson in trial and error — sometimes we parents get it right and sometimes we fail miserably. That’s all part of the unofficial oath we took when we decided to have kids in the first place. Right? “I will try the best I can not to screw up my kids, but in some cases I might have no freakin’ idea what the heck I am doing.”
Lately I have been struggling with “doing the right thing” in terms of my children, and as many of you know that is certainly an uphill battle because in some cases the right thing can’t be found in the official Parenting Handbook. It is not defined in the dictionary and any number of parents would give you any number of possible answers to your question, “What’s the right thing to do” in any given situation. Shades of gray exist in a lot of areas of this thing we call parenting, but not in this case. My inner battle was SCREAMING for a black and white answer, and surprisingly Oprah did it (doesn’t she always?).
In her final goodbye show she said something along the lines of a higher power always speaking to you — sometimes in whispers and other times its almost banging you over the head with what it has to say — and when you hear it LISTEN. My whisper, actually it was more of a rising high-pitched squeal, was telling me time was slipping away. My priorities in the last year or so were somewhat backward, and I was losing precious time with my children. My nine-year-old had classmates whose names I didn’t know. My 12-year-old son was taking to going to friends’ houses after school and wandering the local neighborhoods until we came to get him for dinner because no one was home, and his twin sister was constantly asking me to hang out — paint nails, go shopping, read with her — and in many cases I bypassed this opportunity. After all I had work to do: stories to be written, articles to be edited and papers to be laid out and proofed. But as my husband often reminds me, our kids still want to hang out with us and that won’t be the case for too much longer, so embrace it!
So I did! I gave up the editing and the laying out, the proofing, the planning and now I’m just sticking to writing. Why? Well, for one, that voice has now stopped the irritating squealing inside my head; 2. My family is the most important thing in my life and I felt like in some ways I was losing track of them; and 3. There is so much family fun to be had in the Berkshires this summer that I wanted to explore it all with my kids!
CHINESE SPECTACULAR
I’ve heard from sources at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield that one of their most popular family-friendly shows each year is the Chinese Golden Acrobats, the world’s leading Chinese acrobatic troupe, performing more than any troupe. Do you want to find out for yourself? Then swing by the South Street theater on Saturday, June 11, at 2pm or 7 p.m. to see “world-renowned impresario Danny Chang and choreographer Angela Chang combine award-winning acrobatics, traditional dance, spectacular costumes, ancient and contemporary music and theatrical techniques to present a show of breathtaking skill and spellbinding beauty.” For ticket information call The Colonial box office at 413-997-4444 or go online to www.thecolonialtheatre.org.
DAN ZANES & ELIZABETH MITCHELL
Photo courtsey MASS MoCA
A few years ago I had the opportunity to interview musician Dan Zanes — parents you might have known him in the ‘80s as the lead singer of the Boston-based band The Del Feugos — before a children’s concert at The Mahaiwe in Great Barrington. Now he returns to area again, to MASS MoCA in North Adams to be exact, for a 2 p.m. Saturday, June 11, concert where he and Elizabeth Mitchell — the two are considered two of the most beloved artists working in children’s music today — team up for a stripped-down acoustic set that will appeal to music lovers of all ages. For ticket information visit www.massmoca.org. The museum is located at Marshall Street.
TELL ME A STORY
If you are a regular reader of this column then you’ve probably heard me mention StoryWalks before. StoryWalks take a children’s picture book and deconstruct it into individual giant-sized pages. These pages are usually posted somewhere public — a downtown shopping area, bike path, mall — for families to read at their leisure. Sometimes they are incorporated into a single event and other times they are left up for months. The Pittsfield Wee Reads committee has become a master of the StoryWalk and this week they are presenting a baseball-themed walk featuring the book “The Baseball Counting Book” by Barbara Barbieri McGrath. Not coincidentally, the StoryWalk, will be held at, of all places, Wahconah Park in Pittsfield a half-hour before the evening’s Colonials game. The festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. where the first 100 participants will receive a FREE copy of the book. Following the walk families are invited to stay and watch the game, but first any child at the game is invited onto the field after the National Anthem is sung to sing “Take me Out to the Ballgame.” Tickets can be purchased by contacting Sue at sdoucette@pittsfield.net or by visiting pittsfieldcolonials.com. The first pitch will be thrown at 7 p.m. Play Ball!
Join families at the Lenox Library on Saturday, May 28th to fold origami paper cranes to be sent to Japan. For kids ages 8 and older. Details below.
It is rare for me to hear the groaning (aka whining) of my three children signaling an episode of utter and complete boredom during the school year. Between sports practices and games, sleepovers and school events there is hardly time to breathe let alone gather everyone up to head out to one of the fun-filled events the county has to offer. But summer is on the way and the schedules will begin to clear so maybe, just maybe … Until then, here are some upcoming events for those of you who have already begun to here the whines.
3rd THURSDAYS ARE BACK
One of my kids’ favorite summer events is attending Pittsfield’s 3rd Thursdays — monthly events when the town shuts down North Street in Pittsfield and fills the neighborhood with music and food and various other forms of entertainment. What’s not to love? Today, May 19th, will kick off the first 3rd Thursday event of the season, from 5-8pm (and beyond for adults). The theme is “Celebrating Youth” so many of the performances will feature local kids — Youth Alive, Berkshire Music School and Taconic High School students, Berkshire Rocks, the Hillcrest drummers, the winners of the Pittsfield Youth Commission Talent Show and more! Believe me, this is one event you won’t want to miss, but if you do, you can catch another one with another theme every third Thursday of the month through October.
Williamstown Rural Lands Foundations’s annual Sheep to Shawl Festival happens on May 7th at the Rural Lands Foundation in Williamstown, MA.
Between work, soccer practices, Little League cleanups, lacrosse games and running the kids around to anywhere else they “need” to be, there is little time to enjoy the endless amount of family activities offered up in the Berkshires. But if you have a little more time on your hands, or are just crazy enough to try and schedule one more thing into your busy schedule, then here are a few for fun-filled family events for you!
DRUMS OR SHEEP? YOU CHOOSE
Here I go again … more choices. But they’re good ones to have to make. On Saturday, May 7, there are two events during the day would tempt all three of my children (it just won’t tempt all three to the same one). If I had to guess my daughter would be drawn the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundations’s annual Sheep to Shawl Festival while my youngest son would definitely choose the youth drum and percussion clinic at Jae’s Spice in Pittsfield. My other son wouldn’t probably choose either one depending on his mood and the day. Anyway … here’s the scoop. The Sheep to Shawl Festival is held at the Rural Lands Foundation on Route 7 in Williamstown, MA and features crafts, local artisans and farm animals and more with a focus on the region’s historic fleece and fiber industry. The days events begin at 11 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. More information can be found at wrlf.org. $
The percussion clinic will be led by drum instructors from the Pittsfield Drum and Percussion Expo, including Chris Hairston of the Blue Light Jazz Trio and Aimee Gelinas, founder of Gaia Roots. The clinic is free and runs from 10 a.m. to noon at Jae’s Spice located at North St., Pittsfield. For more information log onto gaiaroots.com.
WHAT DO BUBBLES, NATIVE AMERICANS AND BLACK VIOLINS HAVE IN COMMON
They’re all part of the family-friendly events taking place on Saturday, May 14, around the area. First off from 10 to 11 a.m. Child Care of the Berkshires will offer up a “Wind and Bubbles” science workshop for children ages 2 to 5 at the Haskins Center in North Adams. It’s free but registration is required. Call 413-664-4821.
If you’d prefer drumming, music, dancing, storytelling and teepee-raising over bubbles then head up (and I mean up) to the top of Mount Greylock to Bascom Lodge for its season-opening celebration from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find out more details at bascomlodge.net.
I’ve been excited about this next event since I saw it in The Colonial’s brochure when it came originally came out (when was that anyway?) —Black Violin. It sounds cool doesn’t it? But what is it? Black Violin is a revolutionary music group featuring two classically trained violinists and their DJ who will perform their unique blend of jazz, hip-hop, funk and classical music.
The performance begins at 2 p.m. at the South Street in Pittsfield at the Colonial theater and you can’t beat the ticket price, making Black Violin the perfect opportunity for your family to check out The Colonial. For tickets and information call or visit thecolonialtheatre.org.
NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY IN THE BERKSHIRES
There is always more to do in the Berkshires from hiking, to kayaking to visiting the myriad museums, but I can’t possibly get it all into this column or I’d be writing forever, but I have a keen interest in teaching my children about the rich history of the Berkshires so I have been on the lookout for kid-friendly historical events in the area and this one sounded pretty cool. On Saturday, May 7 at 11 a.m. the Stockbridge Library on Main Street in Stockbridge will be hosting a program for children and families titled “Sounding Mohican Pathways: Flute, Song and Story at the Library with Shawn Stevens & JoAnne Spies” from 11 a.m. to noon. Stevens and Spies will share Mohican stories and songs for children of all ages. The event is free, but donations are welcome. For more information call the library at 413-298-5501.
AUTHOR VISIT
When my son Max was in the fourth grade my sister, a fourth grade teacher, game him a book that all her students were reading and loving — The Lightning Thief. Max was quickly immersed in the five-book series pleading for me to take to the bookstore the moment a new book was released. Now the creator of “The Percy Jackson” series, Rick Riordan, is knee-deep in two new series “The Kane Chronicles” and “The Heroes of Olympus.” The second book of the Kane Chronicles, Throne of Fire, was released this week. Riordan has hit the road to promote it and he’s coming to a couple of towns not-too-far from the Berkshires.
His first stop in the area is on May 5 at 6 p.m. at the Manchester Elementary School sponsored by one of my favorite places, Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT, only about an hours drive from North Berkshire locations. Then on May 7 (after a brief trip to Brattleboro, VT) at 3 p.m. Riordan will head to the Pioneer Valley via Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley courtesy of the Odyssey Bookshop. The Manchester event costs a small fee, but that fee can be put towards the purchase of the new book. Riordan’s visit in South Hadley is free.
The Frog (played by Mark Hohlstein) offers the Princess (played by Honora Toole) the ball he has retrieved from the well in Castle Hill Theatre Company’s production of ‘The Frog Prince’ set to open Wednesday, April 20, at New Stage Performing Arts Center in Pittsfield.
School vacations at home always sound like a good idea until about the third day in a row of hearing those incessant whines from your children: “I’m bored.” “There’s nothing to do.” Well, this year you have one of two choices — you can lock them in separate rooms for the week and throw away the key or you can follow this simple guide to having some fun in the Berkshires.
STEP 1: KICK OFF THE WEEK IN STYLE
Start your week off on the right foot by celebrating the first weekend of vacation with a bang. Area museums, rec centers, theaters, churches, etc. are making it easy with a plethora of activities for the family; the difficult part is going to be choosing just one.
On Friday, April 15, Barrington Stage Company kicks off the weekend with the Pittsfield Youth Commission Talent Show from 7:30-9 p.m. at the company’s Union Street theater in Pittsfield. The event gives Berkshire County youth the opportunity to showcase their many talents in a fun and safe environment. You must purchase tickets but the prices are minimal. For more info call 413-499-9348 or email mmoyborgen@pittsfieldch.com.
Next up for the weekend … On Saturday, April 16, families can choose from:
1 p.m. family movie, “Twas the Night Before Easter” at the First Congregational Church in North Adams
Easter egg hunt at Sweet Brook Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Williamstown (call 413-398-8700 to learn more)
Healthy Kids Day for families featuring Zumba, gymnastics, a scavenger hunt and face-painting from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Pittsfield YMCA
Sheep shearing demonstrations at Hancock Shaker Village (Route 20, Hancock) from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
International Family Film Series at Images Cinema in Williamstown featuring animated shorts “Night & Day,” “Madagascar: Carnet de Voyage,” “The Gruffalo,” “Let’s Pollute” and “The Lost Thing” beginning at 10 a.m.
Shakespeare & Company’s whirlwind tour through the life, times and works of Williams Shakespeare in “Shakespeare and the Language that Shaped a World,” 1 p.m. Kemble Street, Lenox
“Life in a Vernal Pool,” at Bartholomew’s Cobble in Sheffield where participants will take a look at egg masses of frogs, salamanders, fairy shrimp and fingernail clams from 10 a.m.-noon (413-229-8600)
Norman Rockwell Museum’s “Page-Turners: Creating Handmade Art Books” where teens can design, assemble and bind their own books made from fine papers, fabrics and art supplies from 1-4 p.m in Stockbridge.
If I weren’t in Florida my children and I would probably head south to try out the Bartholomew’s Cobble event and then wander on over to one of my favorite Berkshire County Museums — the Rockwell Museum — but good luck choosing from that list. I say, run yourself silly on Saturday and then sit back and relax at home on Sunday. That’s just my recommendation.
STEP 2: RUN DON’T WALK TO YOUR LOCAL LIBRARIES
I know you’ve heard this from me before, but libraries today offer some incredible FREE programming for families and during school vacations many of them tend to ramp things up. Next week is no different and it all starts at the New Lebanon, N.Y., (just over the Hancock border) with chess instruction for kids of all ages and levels. Chess begins at 6:30 p.m. The library will also offer a bingo afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 18, for kids ages 5 to 12. For more information call the library, located on Route 20, at 518-794-8844.
It’s family game day from 2-4 p.m. at the Milne Public Library in Williamstown on Tuesday, April 19.
Then on Tuesday, April 19, the Milne Public Library in Williamstown will celebrate “National Hanging Out Day” (you’ve gotta love that!) with a family game afternoon. Families are invited to bring a favorite board game or borrow one of the library’s to play between 2 and 4 p.m. One of my favorites is Sorry, but if it happens to be a long rainy afternoon you might want to try one of my kids’ favorites — Monopoly. The library is located at 1095 Main Street. For more information call 413-458-5369.
Next we move on to Wednesday, April 20, where the Lenox Library, New Lebanon Library, the Milne, and the North Adams Library all have programs scheduled. Read the rest of this entry »
The snow is melting (finally) and if the predicted Nor’easter bypasses us this week then hopefully it will be smooth sailing through the rest of the spring. Besides the appearance of a little green (or brown as it is in my yard) another sign that spring is here is the abundance of family-friendly activities on the local calendars.
AN ADVENTURE WITH INDIANA JONES
Our family took a trip to Washington, D.C., last May and if you’ve never been, it is definitely worth putting on your bucket list. The five of us squeezed as much into our four-day trip as humanly possible — we have the holes in our shoes to prove it — and the best part of all was that all of the attractions were free. All except one of my kids favorite, of course: The Spy Museum. We don’t have a spy museum in the Berkshires but Sunday, April 3, the Clark Art Institute is featuring a lecture “In Pursuit of the Priceless: Tales from the FBI’s Real Indiana Jones.” I know a lecture may not sound like a family-friendly event, but the description has me intrigued and we may just be wandering to up North Berkshire County this weekend to check it out. The lecture will be given by former FBI special agent and best-selling author Robert K. Wittman, who will share the stories behind his recoveries of priceless art and antiquities, including the 2,000-year-old golden armor that was looted from the Royal Tomb of the Lord of Sipan in Peru, the rare Civil War battle flag carried into battle by one of the nation’s first African-American regiments and an original copy of the Bill of Rights that was stolen by a Union soldier in 1865. Seems like just the thing my kids might be interested in. The event begins at 3 p.m. and it is free. The Clark is located on South Street in Williamstown. For more information call 413-458-2303 or go online to clarkart.edu.
TELL ME A STORY
I don’t know if any of you have heard of StoryWalks, the family-friendly phenomenon that is sweeping the Northeast, but they are taking the Berkshires by storm and I can write from experience, they are so much fun. The StoryWalk Project, began in Montpelier, VT, and were created by Anne Ferguson (visit vtbikeped.org for more information). StoryWalks deconstruct well-known children’s storybooks (in very large sizes) and mount the individual pages along a familiar walking route. Some have hosted StoryWalks on the main streets of their town or village, while others host StoryWalks at a specific location with activities and treats to go along with the theme of the book. On Saturday, April 9, from 10 to 11 a.m. the Family Resource Center will host a Family Fun Time event featuring a StoryWalk with the book “Shoes” by Elizabeth Winthrop at the Haskins Center, Route 8, North Adams. The event is free. For more information call 413-664-4821.
WHERE FOR ART THOU?
The language of Shakespeare can be daunting, especially for me. Try as I might, it just confuses me, but there are two upcoming events at two opposite ends of the county that aim to make Shakespeare and his text a little less elusive to kids (and their grown-ups). First up, the annual Williamstown Elementary School Shakespeare Festival on April 8. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and run until 8. Highlights of the event include potion-making, fencing and other Shakespeare-themed crafts and games. And get this, the WES fourth-graders will perform “Hamlet.” You go kids! The school is located on Church Street. For more information call 413-458-5707.
Lots of Free and Cheap Family Offerings in the Upcoming Weeks
‘Love of a Lady,’ a 20-minute DVD short story written by Ruth Heuberger and illustrated by her husband Hans will screen at the Mason Library in Great Barrington on March 10. (Photo credit: Hans Heuberger)
It appears mud season has arrived in the Berkshires and so, too, have a plethora of upcoming activities for families. From great ideas for a Parents Night Out to Lego competitions, marionettes, movie shorts and more I’m sure there is bound to be something for everyone.
LET THEM BUILD
My 9-year-old is a Lego fanatic. Not a holiday or birthday passes him by without a box filled with endless creative possibilities being placed in front of him. On Saturday, March 19, the Lenox Library is holding its fourth annual Lego Build-a-thon for 5 to 14 year olds from 9:30 to 11 a.m. All participants must bring their own Legos to build an original design from scratch capable of operating on a fishing line. Building starts promptly at 9:30 a.m.; a zipline demonstration will be held from 10:14-10:45. Prizes will be awarded for all participants. For more information and to register call 413-637-0197.
MORE AT THE LIBRARIES
In my last column I lauded local libraries and the myriad activities they offer FREE for families like the Lego competition above, and in the upcoming weeks they are at it again. The New Lebanon Library in New Lebanon, N.Y. is just over the boarder and close to many Berkshire towns and it serves as a local community center, cultural venue and education satellite facility for the town. On Friday, March 18, families can attend one of the library’s many Family Movie Nights and watch a screening of the 2010 hit Megamind. It begins at 6:30 p.m. Then on March 24 the library will host a Family Craft Night featuring the making of clay pot wind chimes. Both of these events are free. The library is located on Route 20. For more information about its upcoming events call 518-794-8844 or go online to newlebanon.lib.ny.us.
Last week I had the opportunity to talk to a wonderful woman and author of the short children’s story Love of a Lady that tells the story of one family’s attempt to adopt a shelter dog in France: they don’t return with the dog they have chosen, but the original owner gets his long-lost pet back. That author was Ruth Heuberger, a Great Barrington resident, who along with her artist husband Hans turned the short story into a 20-minute DVD with Hans’ beautiful illustrations and Ruth narrating the sweet, heartfelt story. The DVD is aimed to serve as a book-raiser for local Head Start programs around the county and throughout the country when screened. The next “Love of a Lady” book-raiser and screening will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 19, at the Mason Library in Great Barrington. Those who attend are encouraged to bring a new or gently used book to donate to the Great Barrington Head Start students. Each child in the program will receive one of the donated books to take home as their own. The library is located on Main Street; call 413-528-2403 for more information. If you would like to find out how you can get a copy of the DVD to screen as a benefit for your local Head Start program e-mail Ruth Heuberger at haruhe@verizon.net.
One last library event, besides the ongoing story hours at most local libraries (check the Hilltown Families list of Weekly Suggested Events), is scheduled for Saturday, March 26, at the Stockbridge Library. “Haiku for Kids” will feature local poet Mike Miller who will teach kids about the haiku and encourage them to write and illustrate their own work. I will be speaking to Miller later this week for an article to appear in The Advocate (advocateweekly.com) and online at thefamilybeat.com next week so be sure to check them out to learn more. The event begins at 11 a.m. The library is located on Main Street in Stockbridge. For more information call 413-298-5501.
CELEBRATING STUDENT CREATIVITY
Did you know that March is not only Music in Our Schools Month but it is also National Youth Art Month? Community Health Programs and the Renaissance Art School in Great Barrington will be celebrating with the opening of a student art gallery on the walls of CHP’s newest health-care facility located at 444 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington. An opening reception will be held Friday, March 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. More information at 413-528-9311, ext. 1179, or 413-528-9600.
SING A SONG
There are always opportunities for kids to show off their creative side in the Berkshires — artistically, musically and on stage —with great rewards. On April 9 and 10 Berkshire Lyric will hold auditions for its 2011 Young Musicians Scholarship program at Kimball Farms on Walker Street in Lenox. Auditions are open to young musicians ages 13 to 21 who reside in Berkshire County. Applicants are asked to prepare two pieces and are requested to provide their own accompanist as by March 31. Applications are available from Berkshire County music teachers, at the Berkshire Athenaeum, the Berkshire Music School, or by calling Anna Stevenson at 413-442-5968. Winners will perform at the annual Young Musicians Concert at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lenox on May 1.
SPEAKING OF PERFORMING
There are plenty of theaters in Berkshire County but sometimes you don’t have to look any further than your local school system to find a fun, inexpensive production to take the kids to. This week you can catch the musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown courtesy of students at Mount Everett Regional High School in Sheffield. Performances begin today March 17 and run through Sunday, March 20. For show times click here. All performances will take place at Berkshire School in Sheffield. For more information call 413-229-8754, ext. 127. ($)
Also courtesy of a local school, families can catch a rendition of Billy St. John’s Peril on the High Seas on March 19 at 7 p.m. featuring St. Stanislaus Kostka School eighth-graders. The production will be performed at Kolbe Hall on Hoosac Street in Adams. For more information call 413-743-1091. ($)
SOMETHING ACTIVE
There is no lack of inactivity in our house as the kids bounce from one sports season to the next with maybe a week break in between, but if you are looking for other ways to keep your children active in the Berkshires, Berkshire South Regional Community Center is a good place to start. On Saturday, March 19, the center will be holding a free afternoon of archery instruction for girls in kindergarten through grade 12. Participants can explore the sport of archery, an active, no-impact exercise that promotes healthy competition. Times are 1:30 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 4:30 p.m. To register call the Crissey Road, Great Barrington center at 413-727-7129 or e-mail ccoursey@gscwm.org.
I PROMISED MARIONETTES
There are two opportunities in the upcoming weeks to see Robbins-Zust Family Marionettes in the Berkshires and both of them will take place at Marketplace Café on North Street in Pittsfield. On March 19 the company will present “Jack and the Beanstalk” and on March 26 they will present “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Both events begin at 11:30 a.m. and best of all … they are FREE! For more information call 413-358-4777.
Happy birthday, Dr. Seuss! Celebrate Read Across America Day with the 3rd Annual "Green Eggs and Ham" event in Pittsfield this Saturday, March 5th!
Cabin Fever got you going a little stir crazy? Me too. So much so that for my birthday I treated myself to four days of freedom — from work, from my husband and from my kids — and headed to Florida with a friend. (As you read this I am probably basking in the sun, enjoying a good read and perhaps a tasty cocktail). But if a trip to Florida is not in your future, here are a few upcoming events in Berkshire County to help mix it up, combat the winter boredom blues and get you (and the kids) out of the house.
KID-FOCUSED FUN FOR THE WEEKEND
Much of my time during the winter weekends has been spent at various basketball games and tournaments, but on the rare occasion we have a day off I’ve found there is always something geared towards families happening in the Berkshires — and this weekend is no different. On Saturday, March 5, there are a few events for families that span the county. First up there is a family screening of the movie Everyone’s Hero at 10 a.m. at Images Cinema in Williamstown. The event is sponsored by The Family Beat (yes, that is where I work), the North Adams SteepleCats, and the Little Red School House (Williamstown Cooperative Nursery School). The movie morning features a screening of the baseball movie Everyone’s Hero, raffle of a SteepleCats package, a baseball signed by Red Sox shortstop Jed Lowrie and baseball prizes for kids who wear a baseball uniform or shirt. Images Cinema is located on Spring Street in Williamstown. ($)
Also on March 5 Chapters Bookstore on North Street in Pittsfield will host the third annual “Green Eggs and Ham” event, in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America Day (which was celebrated nationwide on March 2). The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. and include a snack of green eggs and ham and a reading of my favorite Dr. Seuss book. “I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I Am. I do not like them here or there. I do not like them anywhere.” Yes, I can recite most of the book without looking at the pages! For more information about the event visit chapterspittsfield.com or call 413-443-2665.
If you want to head south, to South Berkshire County, that is, Berkshire Theatre Festival will be presenting Passport to Adventure! A Magic Tree House Live Reading Tour, also on March 5 at 2 p.m. in the festival’s Unicorn Theatre on its Stockbridge campus. Passport to Adventure is a national tour, sponsored by Random House Children’s Books, that brings Jack and Annie — characters from Mary Pope Osborne’s beloved Magic Tree House series — live and in-person to meet their fans. Fans will enjoy Jack and Annie’s magical traveling adventures through live, theatrical performances and songs based on the best-selling Magic Tree series. To make advance reservations for the event, call 413-448-8084 ext. 15. More information can be found at berkshiretheatre.org. ($)
TWO EVENTS CIRCUS-TYPE FUN
Last summer my family and I caught Circus Smirkus, an all-kids, all-acrobatics circus and it is something we will be sure to attend should they make their way back to the Berkshires this year, but you don’t have to wait until summer to see some high-flying, circus acts in the area. This Saturday, March 5 (that is definitely a busy day in the Berkshires), the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, located on Castle Street in Great Barrington, will host the Flying Karamazov Brothers at 7 p.m. The Flying Karamazov’s will perform their combination of humor, both physical and verbal, that employs a blend of music, comedy, dance, theater and juggling. Cool! For ticket information call the box office at 413-528-0100 or visit online at mahaiwe.org. ($$)
The second Berkshire County circus-like fun offering, minus the animals (which is better that way anyway in my opinion, but that is another type of column altogether) is the biannual circus presentation also in Great Barrington at the Rudolf Steiner School. Circus Coast to Coast, with seventh- and eighth-graders at the school demonstrating their amazing juggling, tumbling, twirling, clowning, balancing and jumping skills that they have learned under the direction of physical education director Krista Palmer and master clown Laura Geilan. The performance will begin at 2 p.m. in the Kirpatrick Athletic Center at Simon’s Rock College. For more information call 413-528-4015 or visit gbrss.org. ($)
FUN AT YOUR LIBRARIES
I recently wrote an article on local libraries for The Family Beat and found out that libraries are much more than just a place to house books. They also are a great place for fun, free, family entertainment. Here a few upcoming events at Berkshire area libraries in the upcoming weeks:
The Lenox Library will be hosting a reading and signing of the newly released, highly-praised picture book I Must Have Bobo! by Eileen and Marc Rosenthal 11-12:30 p.m. March 12, featuring monkey drawing lessons by Rosenthal treats and more. The Lenox Library is located on Main Street. More information can be found at lenoxlib.org or 413-637-0197, ext. 105.
The Berkshire Athenaeum will host “A Berkshire Beach Event” from 10:30- noon on March 12 that will feature a craft activity, stories, movie and snack. The library is located on Wendell Avenue in Pittsfield. Contact 413-499-9480, ext. 5, with questions.
And on March 13 the Ramsdell Public Library in Housatonic will host a magician and storyteller Debbie O’Carroll at 3 p.m. The library is located on Main Street. For more information call 413-274-3738.
TWO MORE FOR THE 12th
There are two more family-friendly best bets for March 12 and both of them are in Williamstown (and at the same time) so you are going to have to make a difficult choice. First off is the First Congregational Church’s annual children’s fair themed “It’s Not Easy Being Green” (one of my favorite Kermit songs by the way). The fun runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include games, a fortune-teller, face painting, and more. The church is located on Main Street. For more information call 413-458-4273 or visit firstchurchwilliamstown.org.
Also on March 12 and taking place at St. Patrick’s Parish Center on Southworth Street in Williamston is a puppet show based on Aesop’s Fables: The Fox and the Crow, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, The Donkey and the Lap Dog and The Fisherman and his Catch. The show begins at 11 a.m. Call 413-664-4821 for more information.
JUST FOR PARENTS
Everyone knows parents need a break, too, especially after a long winter (and recent February vacation) with the kiddos. One upcoming opportunity takes place in my hometown of Dalton, and dedicated to providing parents with a much-needed night out with proceeds benefiting a local school. The St. Agnes School’s Beer/Wine-tasting and Dance Party set for 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, March 12, at the Wahconah Country Club, Orchard Road, Dalton. The night of festivities will include silent and live auctions, raffles, music, dancing and more. All proceeds benefitting multicultural and arts enrichment programs at the school. For tickets call 413-684-1973 or e-mail judypollard@hotmail.com. (FUNDRAISER)
Kelly Bevan McIlquham writes our bi-monthly column, Berkshire Family Fun, sharing update, events and activities for families in the Berkshires. Kelly is a psychotherapist-turned-writer who resides in Hinsdale, MA with her husband, three children, a chocolate lab, a very fat cat, a turtle, and a few goldfish. She is the Features Editor for The Advocate and the Editor of The Family Beat in the Berkshires. Kelly also dabbles in writing for children and has had her non-fiction published by Wee Ones online family magazine. When not writing or editing, her favorite pastime is cheering on her children at various football, soccer, basketball and baseball games. kwm229@msn.com — Check out Berkshire Family Fun the first and third Thursday of each month.
Give Your Kids the Best February Vacation Ever — Without Ever Leaving the Berkshires
Winter festivals, family concerts, game days, arts & crafts, chocolate, family film series, museum adventures and more await families in the Berkshires during February school vacation!
Mother Nature can be pretty cruel sometimes here in the Berkshires —teasing us with 50 degree temperatures one day only to turn down the heat again the very next day (complete with a minus-10-degree wind chill thrown in there for good measure) so even the fire in the ski lodge and the heat packs in our gloves couldn’t remove the chill from our bones. At least those temperatures stayed up there long enough for the snow to melt so all of us could find out exactly how much those ice dams on our roofs could hold. How many of you are renovating rooms after that nice little thaw? Well, when you aren’t chopping holes in those ice dams or dealing with the aftermath of thaw inside your house, here are some things that will keep your mind off the frigid temperatures and keep your family busy, especially during the upcoming February vacation, until spring decides to arrive.
VACATION, VACATION, VACATION
OK, February vacation may bring more cheers from kids than parents, but with a whole slew of family-friendly activities going on throughout the county you just might make it through the week without losing your mind. To kick off the weeklong fun fest why not head on over to the 66th annual Pittsfield Winter Carnival at Onota Lake from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19. The event, sponsored by Vox Berkshire Radio Group and The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank is free for the whole family and also will include a pond hockey tournament — the inaugural Co-op Classic — family skating, karaoke and limbo contests, free games, horse-drawn carriage rides, ice golf and more. A rain date is set for Sunday, Feb. 20, at 11 a.m. For more information visit pittsfieldcoop.com. Wrapping up the vacation fun on Feb. 26 is another winter festival but this time Berkshire residents need to head north. On Feb. 26 the annual North Adams Winter Fest “Sure Cure for the Winter Blues” all-day event will take place in downtown North Adams with a wide range of fun for the whole family including horse-drawn carriage rides, games, crafts, chowder-tasting contest, activities and more. Events are still being added and can be found here.
FUN IN THE LIBRARIES
Libraries offer a whole lot more than just books and story times and during the February break two local libraries will be offering a musical celebration for the whole family. On Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. and at 3 p.m. Feb. 23 musical group the Cat’s Pajama’s will perform at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield and the Milne Public Library in Williamstown, respectively, bringing with them their high-octane kid-rock style of musical comedy with them. Other library events in the area include the Lenox Library’s “A Sampling of Chocolate Tales and Treats” afternoon on Feb. 23 from 11 a.m.-12:30 with “Chocolatina” and Junie B. series illustrator Denise Brunkus for ages 4 and up; “The Wonderful World of Bats” (Feb. 24 at 2 p.m.) and a teddy bear tea (Feb. 26 at 10 a.m.) at the Mason Library in Great Barrington; and a game day on Feb. 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. and modeling clay animals workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Milne Public Library.
MORE CHOCOLATE
It seems the Berkshires are full of chocolate-themed fun during this vacation. Feb. 25 brings another Chocolate Berkshires celebration to Bisque, Beads & Beyond on North Street in Pittsfield and this time it is geared towards the young and the young at heart. The store’s Willly Wonka Family Craft Night for children aged 7 and up and their families is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and run until 8 p.m. Registration is requested; for more information call 413-442-9300.
MORE VACATION FUN
In 1781 Great Barrington slave Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman sued her owner John Ashley for her freedom and won. In honor of Black History Month and February school vacation week Bartholomew’s Cobble in Sheffield will host “A Day in Elizabeth Freeman’s Winter World” on Feb. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring activities designed for school-aged children and their families to introduce them to Mumbet. Registration is requested in advanced. For more information call 413-229-8600 or go online to thetrustees.org.
MOVIES ANYONE?
In September Images Cinema in Williamstown kicked off its International Family Film Series which runs through May. On Saturday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m. and Thursday, Feb. 24, at 3:30 p.m. Images will screen the sixth film in the series titled “Eleanor’s Secret.” The film celebrates the joy of reading and tells the story of 7-year-old Nat who can’t read, making his inheritance of Aunt Eleanor’s collection of books immensely disappointing. Despite his love of having Eleanor read to him, his disinterest encourages his parents to sell the collection to a greedy collector. Once sold, Nat discovers that the library contained only first editions and even more, that the fictional characters come to life. After he is magically shrunken to the size of the storybook characters, Nat joins Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and other classic literary friends in a race against time to return the books to the library. Unfortunately, even if the books get back to the library, Nat is the only one who can read a secret incantation that will save his tiny friends. For more information about the series and upcoming films visit imagescinema.org.
MUSEUM AND MORE
There is plenty to do at the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield any time of the year, but school vacations usually bring a great array of family-friendly performances throughout the year and the week of Feb. 21 is no different. Feb. 21-26 BTF Plays! will present History’s Mysteries a comedic play filled with folklore, mythology, history and most of all … an excess of theatrical fun. Why do we tell stories and where do they come from? Why is the Great Sphinx sitting in the Egyptian desert? Why are there so many giant statues on Easter Island? Is there really such a creature as the Yeti roaming the high passes of the Himalayas? Go find out for yourselves. For more information visit berkshiremuseum.org.
SNEAK PEAK
Area kids may head back to school on Feb. 28 but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end there. On Saturday, March 5, the Williams College Museum of Art in Williamstown will host “Kids Rule!” from 1 to 4 p.m. where kids find out what it is like to be in charge of the museum for the day. Families can explore the museum’s newly reinstalled galleries and play a game of “Curator’s Challenge.” Children then can add their selection of artwork and labels to a mock-mini exhibition — available only on family day — and choose what artwork will appear in the museum’s galleries next. For more information visit wcma.org. Stay tuned for more Berkshire Family Fun.
Kelly Bevan McIlquham writes our bi-monthly column, Berkshire Family Fun, sharing update, events and activities for families in the Berkshires. Kelly is a psychotherapist-turned-writer who resides in Hinsdale, MA with her husband, three children, a chocolate lab, a very fat cat, a turtle, and a few goldfish. She is the Features Editor for The Advocate and the Editor of The Family Beat in the Berkshires. Kelly also dabbles in writing for children and has had her non-fiction published by Wee Ones online family magazine. When not writing or editing, her favorite pastime is cheering on her children at various football, soccer, basketball and baseball games. kwm229@msn.com — Check out Berkshire Family Fun the first and third Thursday of each month.
O.K. Enough already! When there is too much snow to even snowshoe in the Berkshires, I’d say we’ve had enough. But as I sit here writing this column, taking periodic glances at The Weather Channel app on my iPhone, it is clear that Mother Nature doesn’t agree with me. It seems she’ll be dumping enough snow on us this week to last through to the month of June. Let’s just hope the following family-friendly events in the area are still a go and if they are, let’s hope people can unbury themselves from the storm to attend.
EVERYTHING’S BETTER WITH CHOCOLATE
O.K. mom’s (sorry to discriminate here), but do I have an event that has your name written all over it — the Chocolate Berkshires Kickoff Party. Yes, I said chocolate and party in the same sentence, and you can bet there will be plenty of both at Chocolate Springs in Lenox on Tuesday, Feb. 8, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The event kicks off the February monthlong chocolate festival in the Berkshires. Yes, I said that, too. Let me repeat it: THE BERKSHIRES IS HAVING A MONTHLONG CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL. Chocolate Berkshires is organized by “Berkshires own Willy Wonka” Joshua Needleman of Chocolate Springs and the Berkshire Visitors Bureau and, according to its website, the monthlong event’s goal is to bring “friends, neighbors, local businesses, winter visitors and likely some chocolate-loving skiers” together as they dip the Berkshire Hills into a fragrant concoction of CHOCOLATE. The kickoff party will include complimentary hot chocolate and other treats while visitors mingle with other chocolate lovers and local businesses. For more information about upcoming chocolate events visit chocolateberkshires.com.
EVEN MORE CHOCOLATE
Shirley Edgerton and members of Youth Alive are shown here at the January 2009 Inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. Youth Alive has kicked off a chocolate fundraiser in conjunction with Berkshire County’s monthlong chocolate festival to benefit the organizations Rites of Passage Empowerment Program for Girls. (Courtesy Youth Alive)
If you live in or near the Berkshires chances are you have heard of Shirley Edgerton. If you haven’t, then listen up. Shirley is the executive director of Youth Alive, a community-based performance arts program with a mission to engage participants in performance arts and educational activities, to promote positive development, to provide an opportunity to experience success and develop leadership skills, and to learn teamwork. Last spring Shirley began offering another program through Youth Alive, Inc. — Rites of Passage and Empowerment Program for Girls, an initiative designed to celebrate and honor the entry of adolescent girls into womanhood and provide them with skills and knowledge that they need to be successful, independent and responsible young women. In conjunction with the month long chocolate festival in the area, Youth Alive has kicked off a chocolate fundraiser where people can indulge in some of “the best chocolate fudge ever,” while supporting this program. All you have to do is order your fudge from the Mill Fudge Factory and 20% of the money from the orders will benefit and support Youth Alive. Order by midnight Feb. 9 and receive your order by Valentine’s Day. And if you have never seen the Youth Alive step, dance and drumline troupe, then make sure to bookmark their website so you can stay up-to-date on their upcoming performances.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE BERKSHIRES
‘Escape from Slavery: Underground Railroad,’ by Jerry Pinkney is on view at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge as party of the museum’s “Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney” exhibit. Pinkney’s art celebrates and brings to life the contributions of important African-American freedom fighters. The museum will be offering a “Witnessing History” performance series in conjunction with the exhibit in celebration of Black History Month. (Pinkney: Courtesy Norman Rockwell Museum)
February is Black History month and there is plenty to do in the area to commemorate the monthlong celebration and the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge is leading the way with their “Witnessing History” performance series. The series, presented in conjunction with the museum’s current exhibition “Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney,” celebrates and brings to life the contributions of important African-American freedom fighters. The series began Jan. 29 with “I Can’t Die But Once: The Story of Harriet Tubman” and will continue at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, with “Ain’t I A Woman: The Story of Sojourner Truth” and “On God’s Green Earth a Free Woman: The Story of Elizabeth Freeman” on March 26. If children are too young to sit through one of these performances, take a trip and wander through the art of Jerry Pinkney, a master of the American picture book whose powerful, heart-warming stories reflect personal and cultural themes, and explore the African-American experience in words and pictures. ($$$)
HEADING NORTH
There are myriad playgroups and story times throughout Berkshire County, but no one does it quite the way the Family Resource Center of Northern Berkshire in North Adams does. From toddler and preschool story hours to parent discussion groups to Science Saturdays the center has a little something for every member of the family. Upcoming events include: Toddler Time story hour at the North Adams Public Library every Tuesday at 10 a.m. for children ages 1 to 3; preschool story time each Wednesday at 10 a.m. for children ages 3 to 6; Make and Take Valentine Workshop, Saturday, Feb. 5, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for children ages 5 and up at the North Adams Public Library; Parent Discussion Group, a group for parents that focuses on self-awareness, self-care and support, Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Haskins Center located at 210 State St. in North Adams (free child care, transportation and refreshments included); and from 10:30 to 11:20 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, the Science Fun for Families, a hands-on science workshop where children and their parents will explore the properties of common, everyday substances found in the kitchen! Families will have a chance to enter and win a free science book featuring science experiments they can do at home. Space is limited so call 413-662-4821 to register.
WINTER IN THE GARDEN
Who says you can’t play in the garden with nearly 5-feet of snow on the ground? Not the folks at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge. The Youth Education Office at the Garden is presenting a series of Saturday family-friendly workshops throughout the winter for parents and their children. Next up: “Make Your Own Paper,” on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 1 to 3 p.m., where participants age 5 and up will learn the craft of paper-making from beginning to end and take home their own homemade paper designs. The Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at Routes 102 and 183 in Stockbridge. To register for the workshop or to learn more about upcoming programs call 413-298-3926 or go online to www.berkshirebotanical.org.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
The Family Beat will celebrate its Feb. 10 launch with a party that same day from 3 to 5 p.m. at Bousquet Ski Area in Pittsfield with a variety of free activities and treats for the whole family. (Courtesy Photo: Family Beat)
For the last few months at my “day job” with The Advocate (www.advocateweekly.com) my editor and I have been working furiously to get ready for the launch of our new Family Beat magazine on newsstands Thursday, Feb. 10. That day, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Bousquet Ski Area in Pittsfield we will celebrate the launch with a free family-friendly celebration with free food, free raffles, free door-prizes, free crafts and more. Also while families are there they can hit the slopes for or try the tubing hill ($$). What could be a better way to spend an afternoon? To learn more about The Family Beat visit the magazine’s Facebook page or log onto our website at www.thefamilybeat.com.
Kelly Bevan McIlquham writes our bi-monthly column, Berkshire Family Fun, sharing update, events and activities for families in the Berkshires. Kelly is a psychotherapist-turned-writer who resides in Hinsdale, MA with her husband, three children, a chocolate lab, a very fat cat, a turtle, and a few goldfish. She is the Features Editor for The Advocate and the Editor of The Family Beat in the Berkshires. Kelly also dabbles in writing for children and has had her non-fiction published by Wee Ones online family magazine. When not writing or editing, her favorite pastime is cheering on her children at various football, soccer, basketball and baseball games. kwm229@msn.com — Check out Berkshire Family Fun the first and third Thursday of each month.
Home Sweet Home: Loving the Berkshires in Any Weather and At Any Age
Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge offers plenty of family-friendly programming during the warmer months, like its BTF Plays! performances shown here, but this winter the company is luring families out of there houses with its weekend programming "Stories for a Sunday Afternoon." (Photo courtesy of Berkshire Theatre Festival)
Winter in the Berkshires can get pretty long; especially a winter like this one. With snow piles nearing the five foot mark and temperatures so low the school buses have refused to start — Should that really be considered a snow day? — this can only mean one thing for local families … major CABIN FEVER!!! But it’s cold, you say? What is there to do? Plenty, if you know where to look. Of course there are the local ski areas: Bousquet in Pittsfield, Jiminy Peak in Hancock and Ski Butternut in Great Barrington. But if you are anything like my family, which only became “skiers” this year (and we’re loving it by the way), you may be looking for a little winter entertainment in a different form.
THE MUSICAL KIND: Music abounds in the Berkshires for families be it oldies, country or straight up rock ‘n roll. This Saturday, Jan. 29, from 2 to 6 p.m. the Italian American Club at 93 Waubeek Road in Pittsfield will be hosting the Second Annual Berkshire Bluegrass Show organized by Berkshire-based bluegrass group Acoustic Blue. Tickets are $15 at the door and Acoustic Blue member Shawn Batho informed me recently the event would be a fun event for the whole family. Also performing are two New York bands Cedar Ridge and Dyer Switch. Hey get on out there and try it … you just never now.
Beat those winter blues by heading to the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield to see "Bubblemania." (Photo courtesy of The Colonial Theatre)
THE THEATRICAL KIND: The Berkshires are well-known for their summer stock theater, but the lights don’t go out in all the theaters once the tourists have left for the season. Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge has been known to close its doors during the winter after its annual community production of “A Christmas Carol,” but this year families are getting a special Sunday treat throughout the duration of the winter months with “Stories for a Sunday Afternoon.” The series began Jan. 16 and will run every Sunday at 4 p.m. through to March 27. Each week local artist will read short stories suitable for the whole family. Hot beverages and cookies will be served and with only a $10 suggested donation who can beat the price? The schedule is as follows: Mysteries, Jan. 23; Sports Stories, Feb. 6; Love, Feb. 13, Spotlight on David Felton, Feb. 20; Celebrate Black History Month, Feb. 27; Irish Tales, March 13; March 6, 20 and 27 to be announced. For more information visit berkshiretheatre.org or call the box office to reserve at seat at 413-298-5576, ext. 33.
Speaking of theaters don’t forget to check out the winter offerings at The Colonial Theatre (thecolonialtheatre.org) in Pittsfield. Up next for families on Feb. 20 “Bubblemania,” and Mad Science presents “Star Trek Live” on March 1, just to name a couple. Also Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield is expanded its offerings for kids by starting with a Musical Theatre Camp for children ages 8 to 15 during the February School Vacation (Feb.21-25). The camp is billed as “an opportunity for children to experience the magic of musical theatre. Students act, sing, dance, learn about the history of musical theatre and perform. It’s open to anyone who has ever wanted to grab a microphone or spin across the floor.” The camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at BSC’s Stage 2 on Linden Street in Pittsfield and costs $200. For more information call BSC Education Director Hester Kamin at 413-499-5446, ext. 118.
Castle Hill Theatre Company: There is always something new at Castle Hill Theatre Company to stave Berkshire resident's cabin fever during the winter months.
The area always can count on The Castle Hill Theatre Company in Great Barrington to bring us some new and fresh entertainment for families throughout the winter months. Many of the CHTC performances I have been to with my children put a modern twist on a classic fairy tale, and despite one’s age the production always produces big laughs. Even better, if families stick around after the production they can get autographs and chat with the cast. Pretty cool. To find a schedule of upcoming performances add castlehilltheatre.org to your Favorites. There’s nothing listed as of yet but with the February vacation just around the corner there’s sure to be something good in store for the community.
THE ARTISTIC KIND: Creating “art” and childhood seem to go hand in and the Berkshires seems to have plenty to offer in that area. For those with toddlers and preschoolers there are a few not-to-be-missed programs for your little emerging Picasso. Beginning Jan. 28 and running through April 8 (no Feb. 25 class) IS183, located at13 Willard Hill Road in Stockbridge, will offer an art playgroup for pre-K-K children with their caregivers from 10-11:30 a.m. each Friday. The classes will offer open-ended art experiences featuring varied and stimulating materials. Children can learn at their own pace with guidance by the instructor and the help of a caregiver. Children must be accompanied by an adult. IS183 will also offer a February Vacation Art Camp for children ages 5 to 14 and a morning half-day camp for children in grades Pre-K to K. For more information on any of these programs visit is183.org.
THE MUSEUM KIND: The Berkshires also are flush with a variety of museums, and though the big names like The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass MoCA in North Adams and The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown can be somewhat intimidating for young families, they are not to be feared. Each offers a number of family-friendly events and programs including the Rockwell Museum’s opening reception for the Berkshire County High School Art Show on Feb. 5 and its February vacation week workshops; Mass MoCA’s Free Day on Jan. 29; and the Clark’s upcoming Family Day on March 6. Visit their websites at nrm.org, massmoca.org and clarkart.edu to learn more.
Stay tuned for more on these museums and other Berkshire County venues in the Berkshires in future columns as we explore all that the Berkshires has to offer for families.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Bevan McIlquham
Kelly is a psychotherapist-turned-writer who resides in Hinsdale, MA with her husband, three children, two black labs, a cat, a turtle, and a few goldfish. She is the Features Editor for The Advocate in the Berkshires where she especially enjoys writing family- and education-related articles and her monthly “Parent to Parent” column. Kelly also dabbles in writing for children and has had her work published by Wee Ones online family magazine. When not writing, her favorite pastime is cheering on her children at various football, soccer, basketball and baseball games. kwm229@msn.com
Welcome to Hilltown Families, a grassroots communication network for families living in Western Mass, established in 2005 by hilltown mother and long time activist Sienna Wildfield.
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The exhibit will be on display at the Forbes Library in Northampton for the month of February 2013, and at the City Hall Gallery in Easthampton from Sept 13-Dec 11, 2013. - We're currently booking shows for the Spring/Summer of 2013 and for 2014. Each exhibit is a unique showcase of images that correspond with the season and venue. Contact us to inquire about hosting this fundraising exhibit for Hilltown Families in your town/venue.
This column is on the short side this week because I just returned from a recent trip to northeastern Massachusetts to help care for my sisters two-year-old, Kylee. Needless to say, I’m a little tired, but oh what fun it is to be an aunt. We spent time at the park and library, watched hours of Curious George DVDs, had a couple of carpet picnics and we even mixed it up a little one day and had lunch for breakfast and breakfast for lunch.
The Milne Library in Williamstown is known for its stellar array of children’s programming and this Saturday, Nov. 12, the children’s department will do it again. At 1 p.m. the library will present a program titled “Moxie: The Dachshund of Fallingwater” featuring curator of education at Fallingwater and visiting professor, Cara Armstrong. Fallingwater is the name of a very special house that is built over a waterfall located in southwest Pennsylvania. Frank Lloyd Wright, America’s most famous architect, designed the house for his clients, the Kaufmann family. Fallingwater was built between 1936 and 1939. It instantly became famous, and today it is a National Historic Landmark.
Last weekend I broke out my gloves, hat and favorite cozy fleece, grabbed the travel mug filled to the rim with a delectable hazelnut blend, and prepared myself for a full day of football at Bill Laston Memorial Park in Lanesboro. The air was crisp and clean, the brilliant foliage filled the landscape and eased my mind, and the energy on the gridiron was contagious. Ahh, I love fall in the Berkshires.
On Mondays at 6 p.m. at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts (28 Renne Ave. in Pittsfield) parents and mature teens are invited to participate in an Afro-Caribbean and West African Hand Drumming class with Aimee Gelinas of Gaia Roots. Participants with experience drumming through the use of traditional instruments such as the conga, djembe, djun djun, clave, cascara, bell and shekere. All skill levels are welcome. Classes are drop in. For more information call 413-499-9348.
Another drumming program, offered in conjunction with the Adams Free Library‘s youth summer reading program, is Otha Day’s “Drum to the Beat” program set for Thursday, July 14, at 6 p.m. I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Day when I was writing a story last year about the healing power of drum circles and I can tell you he is one amazing and inspiring man. Day is an accomplished pianist who experienced a stroke a number of years ago. Against all odds he turned to drumming to fulfill his musical needs because his fingers no longer glided gracefully across the ivory keys, something that had been a way of life for him for years. Within a few weeks weeks of drumming though Day was nearly back to 100 percent physically and mentally, and when he experienced a second stroke soon after, he turned to drumming once again and was up, moving around and back to normal within a couple of weeks. That drumming led to Day’s exploration into, and later leading of, drum circles that have been used to encourage communication, community and creativity, to foster connections, cooperation and collaboration and to promote stress reduction and a healthy lifestyle. Day now takes his drum circles around the county to introduce community members to his practice, as well as to entertain and bring communities together. For more information about Otha Day’s appearance in Adams call 413-743-8345. To learn more about Otha Day and his drum circles log onto 
Much of my time during the winter weekends has been spent at various basketball games and tournaments, but on the rare occasion we have a day off I’ve found there is always something geared towards families happening in the Berkshires — and this weekend is no different. On Saturday, March 5, there are a few events for families that span the county. First up there is a family screening of the movie Everyone’s Hero at 10 a.m. at Images Cinema in Williamstown. The event is sponsored by The Family Beat (yes, that is where I work), the North Adams SteepleCats, and the Little Red School House (Williamstown Cooperative Nursery School). The movie morning features a screening of the baseball movie Everyone’s Hero, raffle of a SteepleCats package, a baseball signed by Red Sox shortstop Jed Lowrie and baseball prizes for kids who wear a baseball uniform or shirt. Images Cinema is located on Spring Street in Williamstown. ($)
If you want to head south, to South Berkshire County, that is, Berkshire Theatre Festival will be presenting Passport to Adventure! A Magic Tree House Live Reading Tour, also on March 5 at 2 p.m. in the festival’s Unicorn Theatre on its Stockbridge campus. Passport to Adventure is a national tour, sponsored by Random House Children’s Books, that brings Jack and Annie — characters from Mary Pope Osborne’s beloved Magic Tree House series — live and in-person to meet their fans. Fans will enjoy Jack and Annie’s magical traveling adventures through live, theatrical performances and songs based on the best-selling Magic Tree series. To make advance reservations for the event, call 413-448-8084 ext. 15. More information can be found at
Last summer my family and I caught Circus Smirkus, an all-kids, all-acrobatics circus and it is something we will be sure to attend should they make their way back to the Berkshires this year, but you don’t have to wait until summer to see some high-flying, circus acts in the area. This Saturday, March 5 (that is definitely a busy day in the Berkshires), the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, located on Castle Street in Great Barrington, will host the Flying Karamazov Brothers at 7 p.m. The Flying Karamazov’s will perform their combination of humor, both physical and verbal, that employs a blend of music, comedy, dance, theater and juggling. Cool! For ticket information call the box office at 413-528-0100 or visit online at 
I recently wrote an article on local libraries for The Family Beat and found out that libraries are much more than just a place to house books. They also are a great place for fun, free, family entertainment. Here a few upcoming events at Berkshire area libraries in the upcoming weeks:
Kelly Bevan McIlquham ♦ 
Libraries offer a whole lot more than just books and story times and during the February break two local libraries will be offering a musical celebration for the whole family. On Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. and at 3 p.m. Feb. 23 musical group the Cat’s Pajama’s will perform at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield and the Milne Public Library in Williamstown, respectively, bringing with them their high-octane kid-rock style of musical comedy with them. Other library events in the area include the Lenox Library’s “A Sampling of Chocolate Tales and Treats” afternoon on Feb. 23 from 11 a.m.-12:30 with “Chocolatina” and Junie B. series illustrator Denise Brunkus for ages 4 and up; “The Wonderful World of Bats” (Feb. 24 at 2 p.m.) and a teddy bear tea (Feb. 26 at 10 a.m.) at the Mason Library in Great Barrington; and a game day on Feb. 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. and modeling clay animals workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Milne Public Library.
In September Images Cinema in Williamstown kicked off its International Family Film Series which runs through May. On Saturday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m. and Thursday, Feb. 24, at 3:30 p.m. Images will screen the sixth film in the series titled “Eleanor’s Secret.” The film celebrates the joy of reading and tells the story of 7-year-old Nat who can’t read, making his inheritance of Aunt Eleanor’s collection of books immensely disappointing. Despite his love of having Eleanor read to him, his disinterest encourages his parents to sell the collection to a greedy collector. Once sold, Nat discovers that the library contained only first editions and even more, that the fictional characters come to life. After he is magically shrunken to the size of the storybook characters, Nat joins Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and other classic literary friends in a race against time to return the books to the library. Unfortunately, even if the books get back to the library, Nat is the only one who can read a secret incantation that will save his tiny friends. For more information about the series and upcoming films visit 
