Saturday November 1 / 8PM
$40 Golden Circle/ $35/$25 Mahaiwe Members

Sure, how can you avoid the jaw-dropping vistas.   But what do you do when the roll of film is finished, or the sun goes down?    Let me count the ways:

THEATER:   Shakespeare & Company, walking distance from Hampton Terrace, is featuring "The Canterville Ghost" in its new Elayne Bernstein Theater.    Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield is presenting "To Kill A Mockingbird."   The Berkshire Theater Festival has Eleanor, Her Secret Journey in October.   Can't make it back so soon?   Come in December and enjoy their annual A Christmas Carol. 

 MUSIC:   Surprising number of things going on:   At the Mahaiwe in Great Barrington, there is a long list of September-October musical events, including The Indigo Girls, Dar WIlliams, the Metropolitan Opera LIVE Series, and a concert honoring Daniel Pearl, who spent much of his career at the Berkshire Eagle.  For a listing, Mahaiwe Schedule.  Also, the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield is matching the quantity, starting with a tribute to the "Rat Pack," music from Ireland and Africa and numerous classical options in a gloriously restored turn-of-the-century theater:  Colonial Schedule.    Most of the summer classical music presenters also have come up with something, so to see those choices, take a LOOK at the Berkshire Visitors Bureau music page.   For a more comprehensive look at music in the clubs, or at the mixed media venues like MASS MOCA, look at the entertainment links in the Berkshire Eagle and click on "Entertainment."

HISTORIC HOUSE TOURS:   They called us the "Inland Newport," but I am not sure even Newport had 80+ Gilded Age homes so large that they could cleverly be called "cottages."   All will still be open during October, including The Mount, Ventfort Hall, Naumkeag, Chesterwood, and Herman Melville's Arrowhead.

 MUSEUMS:   All open:   The Clark Art Institute, Hancock Shaker Village, The Berkshire Museum, Mass Moca, and  the Norman Rockwell Museum.

 RESTAURANTS:  Just last week, we completely rewrote our restaurant recommendation list.   Yes, we have an ever-expanding database of guest experiences to consider, but mainly there are SO MANY new restaurant openings we are once again struck by the fact that the Berkshires is a rural version of New York City.   I mean, take the music, dance, theater, museums, art galleries, restaurants and interesting lodging….substitute mountains for skyscrapers…and you have us.   Back to food:   there are the old reliables where you will always get a great meal, like "The Old Mill" in Egremont, but now you have to add The Mission Bar and Grill and Jae's Spice in Pittsfield, Allium, Napa (moved from Lenox) and Xicohtencatl Mexican (not that new, but new to our radar) in Great Barrington, Alta, Barrood's, Jonathans, Chocolate Springs and Haven in Lenox, and Viva in Housatonic.   It is worth a stay at Hampton Terrace just to see our restaurant recommendation list!   Last, but not least, dine with the Shakers!   Six times from October 11/12  through December there are special Shaker dinners at the Hancock Shaker Village.

 For purposes of this column, I am lumping Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in the "theatre" category, although it differs greatly from Barrington Stage Company, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Shakespeare & Company and Williamstown Theatre Festival.   The latter groups all stage their own productions wheras Jacob's Pillow serves as a "host" to dozens of the most influential dance companies in the world.   On any given week between June 14th and August 24th, at least two companies will perform daily on several stages, sprinkling in lectures, demonstrations, master classes and community interaction.   For Jacob's Pillow is as concerned with dance education as it is with performance, and it stands alone as the oldest and most prestigious dance festival in the world.

Daresay any major dance organization who is not approached by Jacob's Pillow had better question its world standing.    Begun in 1933 by Ted Shawn as a retreat to train male dancers, his intent was to show that dancing could be an honorable male occupation as he strove to end stereotypes by emphasizing strong masculine roles for his dancers.   Over the years, the original buildings from this 1800s farm were converted into performance and rehearsal spaces…and that is the feel that is carried up to this day.   A visit to Jacob's Pillow is a vicseral experience that begins with the fact that it is 20 minutes from any visible civilization.   It is really you, the dancers and nature.  Even the largest venue, the Ted Shawn Theater has the option of opening doors behind the stage to reveal distant mountain views.    For a complete list of performances see www.jacobspillow.org.

One of the great things about Jacob's Pillow is that their performances occur all week, meaning you can combine a mid-week discount, a romantic getaway and Jacob's Pillow by staying at Hampton Terrace, one of the top rated Berkshire inns.   A Lenox inn since 1937, Hampton Terrace is located about 20 minutes from Jacob's Pillow, but as stated before, there are not many Berkshire bed and breakfasts within a 20 minute drive anyway.   But since you will probably combine your dance evening with several other evenings of theater and dining, you will be hard pressed to find a Berkshires lodging option more centrally located, within walking distance of Lenox's heralded restaurants and shops.

80 Years!   If that is not sustainability, what is?   The Berkshire Theatre Festival is the lone presenting organization that matches Tanglewood's tenure, and its stage has featured some of the most important actors of the century.   The 2008 schedule includes "Candida," opening next week and showcasing Jayne Atkinson, most recently famous for playing CTU Director Karen Hayes on 24. 

Other important offerings on the Main Stage include "The Book Club Play," "A Man for All Seasons," "Noel Coward in Two Keys," "Oliver!,"  and six plays in the Unicorn Theater.   BTF will feature "A Christmas Carol" in December….what a great opportunity for a Romantic Getaway at a Berkshire inn, such as Hampton Terrace, which is located just a ten minute drive from Stockbridge and the Berkshire Theatre Festival.   TripAdvisor.com ranks Hampton Terrace among the top two Lenox inns based on unsolicited guest reviews.

Unquestionably Tanglewood is the most internationally known attraction in the Berkshires, but our theater offerings are an embarrassment of riches:   Shakespeare & Company, Barrington Stage Company, Williamstown Theater Festival, Jacob's Pillow and many others.   This column will feature a different theatre company each day, and while attending shows and considering Berkshires lodging, check out Hampton Terrace, located just steps from Lenox's heralded restaurants and shops.  

Tanglewood fills the Berkshires every weekend during the summer.   If you want to avoid the large crowds and enjoy a wide range of theater offerings while staying in a romantic b&b, consider a mid-week visit and save 30% compared to our normal room rates.

In our last entry, I waxed endlessly about the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield.   Not to be overlooked or minimized is an equal accomplishment in South County.   The Mahaiwe Theater in Great Barrington, although not totally abandoned like the Colonial, had for many decades hosted re-run movies and local productions.  Earlier in the decade the Berkshire Opera bought it and enbarked on a campaign to turn it into its full-time permanent home, but in the difficult era of fundraising that followed 9/11, the opera turned its attention to its own needs and turned the Mahaiwe over to a citizens group dedicted purely to its restoration.   And it is now completely done and has become the centerpiece of Great Barrington's cultural offerings, with programming ranging from HD simulcasts of the Metropolitan Opera to Paul Taylor's Dance Company, Judy Collins and documentary films.   To see their listings, click on www.mahaiwe.org and stay at Hampton Terrace, www.hamptonterrace.com

At Hampton Terrace Bed and Breakfast in Lenox, we know that some people like to come to our place and just hang around.   No problem.  We have fireplaces, porches, multiple public areas and a heated pool.   But more are looking to experience the Berkshires…and I am proud to say that our area is an embarassment of riches.   There are many theater options..but one of the don't miss ones is the chance to see the newly renovated Colonial Theater in Pittsfield.   Amazing.  At the turn of the century, Pittsfield was one of those affluent towns that could have grown to 500,000 people, or could have stayed at 35,000.   It stayed at 35,000….but that is not bad, because the architecture that it displays for a town its size is head-turning.   The Colonial Theater, once of those opulent opera-house type stages that hosted every notable actor and actress in its day, fell upon hard times and spent 40+ years showing B movies or being just empty.   Several not-for-profit attempts to restore it had failed starts…but ultimately, when the time was right, a sincere public/private partnership put it back into service.   And it is magnificent.   They are trying to do programming that complements the current offerings of the Berkshires, appealing to the "in-season" visitors, the year-round second homeowners and most importantly the "locals."    Pick a show at the Colonial…and stay at Hampton Terrace!   For a complete listing of their 2008 Season go to www.thecolonialtheatre.org.

It's still a bit brisk outside, but at the risk of having an inn full of guests, an 80 degree day and no pool, we decided to pull the trigger.   I have the pool heater on…and the water started at 52 degrees.   It is heading above 60 now and ultimately we'll see how it feels in the mid 80s.   Compared to the air, probably like a bath.    Do many Lenox bed and breakfasts or inns have pools?   No, probably 4 out of 30.   Why do we?   Because at the end of a long day, we like nothing more than floating in our pool with a cup (notice not a glass) of wine.   It's a great time to mingle with our guests who are doing the same.   For more information on Hampton Terrace and our pool, CLICK HERE.