After several years of inconvenient mid-week New Year’s Eves, this year we get a long weekend.    And we all need it.

As usual, Hampton Terrace celebrates the New Year with added value.   At midnight on the 31st, we offer free champagne and favors in our private bar, and a countdown with the Times Square multitude.   On New Year’s Day, we offer a brunch instead of our usual breakfast fare.

And this year, to encourage as many people as possible to make it a LONG weekend, we offer our OFF-SEASON RATES for a three night stay.    Thursday, Friday and Saturday.    We have always used IN-SEASON rates for New Years…so this represents a savings of about $300 over the weekend.   All rooms in the Main House and Wynnstay Cottage are $189/night and our King Suites are $249.      Same as the weekend after.     Susan says I have lost my mind.

If you can only do New Years and one extra night….then we will split the difference with you.    One night at the in-season rate and one night at the off-season.    This works out to $225 for a main house or cottage room and $295 for a king suite.

We also would be willing to accept just New Year’s Eve….at the same rate as we use in July, August and October.    Not a bad deal either, considering the addition of the midnight celebration and brunch.

New Year’s is always nice at Hampton Terrace.   There is usually snow on the ground and all the fireplaces are going.   The great restaurants in Lenox offer fixed price specials and several seatings.    If you are so inclined, we can help you find a New Year’s Eve celebration somewhere….although most couples who come to the Berkshires for New Year’s are looking for something tranquil and private.    Nothing like one of our fireplace/Jacuzzi rooms with the snow falling outside.

Call us at 800-203-0656 to discuss your options.

One of the premier theater presenters in the Berkshires, Barrington Stage, has announced their 2009 summer season and tickets are now on sale.

Barrington Stage Company’s Artistic Director, Julie Boyd is well known for tackling ambitious musicals, and this season does not disappoint.   Their new, state-of-the-art theater on North Street in Pittsfield, is perfect for large productions and all seats are good.

This year’s line-up includes "Carousel," but also popular shows "Sleuth," and "Streetcar Named Desire."    During the summer, BSC will also feature cabaret and experimental musical theater, with a series dedicated to exposing young emerging musical theater talent.

For tickets and information, www.barringtonstageco.org.

When considering a visit to the Bekshires, chose Hampton Terrace Bed and Breakfast Inn, #1 rated by Trip Advisor in Lenox from 30+ local inns.   We feature fireplace and Jacuzzi rooms, full hot breakfast buffet, an outdoor heated pool, and a 30% mid-week discount during the summer theater season.  

The Colonial Theater in Pittsfield is an amazingly restored turn-of-the-century theater.    Worth the price of admission to just gawk.

That would make all the offerings there free, right?    I am sure Director David Flemming was thinking it would take more than the scenery to get people in, so he has put together an incredible array of musical acts over the next three months…and they seemed aimed right at me.   And for a theater of less than 1000 seats…all seemingly right on top of the stage, to attract a line-up this impressive is a magical act.

Let’s start with iconic acts:   Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers Band) on May 20.   Ani DeFranco on April 21.   Bela Fleck on March 26th.    You won’t see the following artists on the stage of the Colonial (or any other stage in the world) but you can see the best "tributes" to them available:   "Revolution: A Tribute to the Beatles" on March 14th and "The Machine Performs Pink Floyd" on April 18th.   This stuff populates my personal I-Pod.

I just pointed out these personal favorites to Susan and she had a different list of things she wants to see:  The National Acrobats of China on March 11, Footloose! on March 16-17 (our 30th anniversary), and Celtic Crossroads on March 20.

For their schedule and ticket information, CLICK HERE.

You can combine these great shows with an off-season stay at Hampton Terrace in Lenox.   The #1 rated b&b, Hampton Terrace features fireplace/Jacuzzi rooms $175 midweek and $189 weekends.   A weekend stay also includes a $30 gift certificate to the wine shop as part of the Romantic Weekend Special.

Click on our SPECIALS page for more information.