2009-2010 Winter Guide

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2 Hersam Acorn Newspapers Winter Guide 09-10

Riley Rink at Hunter Park– Beth Traver Adolphus

When you were a kid, did you ever imagine yourself as a champion-ship figure skater or the MVP of a professional hockey team? Well, Riley Rink in Manchester, Vermont lets you enjoy those dreams of greatness all over again. Lace up those skates and hit the Olympic-sized ice rink for public skate times, hockey leagues, figure skating club, specialized clinics and more.

Riley Rink at Hunter Park is a 35,000-square-foot multi-purpose facility. While in summer and fall the rink is used for concerts, trade shows, indoors sports and other events, from mid-October to early March it’s all about the ice. Riley Rink is Vermont’s largest indoor facil-ity and comes complete with a retail shop and skate rentals. At the Pro Shop, you can rent figure or hockey skates or have your own skates professionally sharpened. For those who just like to watch the action, there is a warm room overlooking the rink, and refreshments (including drinks, hot and cold food, candy and desserts) are plentiful.

Public skating is available seven days a week: Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.; Friday evening from 7:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 1:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Mid-week rates are significantly lower than weekend and holiday rates ($4.50 for seniors/children/students and $7 for adults as opposed to $7 and $10, respectively), and there’s a chance you’ll get the rink all to yourself. Children under three always skate free. Rentals are $6.

Hockey opportunities exist for men, women and children. Practice shooting, passing and stick handling during Stick & Puck times or join in a non-checking pick up hockey game (offered weekly for men and women). Riley Rink has added Ladies Night Hockey sessions to the schedule; women are welcome to get in some extra skate time with non-checking pick up games and music to get the heart pumping. Novice and intermediate hockey leagues are offered for more regular players. Cross Ice, a free program for Northshire Hockey Association (NHA) skaters, consists of short sided games giving players greater opportuni-ties to touch the puck than full ice games. Beginner hockey classes for children and adults teach the game and improve skating skills through fun drills and small scrimmages..

Programs for kids include day camps on snow days, School Skate, Parent and Me lessons and Camp Freeze during the February school break. The camp includes a T-shirt and a picture of each child on the rink’s Zamboni. Rentals are included. Riley Rink makes kids’ birthday parties fun and easy, too. A complete party package for ten children includes admission, skate rentals, two adult chaperones, food (hot dogs or pizza and soda), helium balloons, a private party room and a free pass for a future visit for the birthday child.

The rink also hosts Connections at Riley Rink at Hunter Park, a program which provides adaptive physical fitness and leisure activities to individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities. All Connections activities are free; for more information, call 802-362-0150.

In addition to the Northshire Hockey Association, Riley Rink is home ice for the Northshire Figure Skating Club, Burr and Burton Academy’s high school hockey, the Men’s Adult Hockey League and the Rusty Blades women’s league.

For more information about Riley Rink at Hunter Park, call 802-362-0150 (toll free 866-866-2086), email [email protected] or visit www.rileyrink.com.

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A Hersam Acorn Newspapers Publication

Jen Hathaway cover designMelissa Miller, page design

TriState Pennysaver News109 South Street, Bennington, VT 05201

802-447-3381

Vermont News Guide99 Bonnet Street, Manchester, VT 05254

802-362-3535

Berkshire Penny Saver

Yankee Shopper

Renee Tassone, General Manager

Winter Guide 09-10 Hersam Acorn Newspapers 3

The Beacon Cinema Shines New Light on Pittsfield

– Beth Traver Adolphus

Sure, you could go to some giant shopping mall to see the latest movies in a multiplex cinema, but aren’t those theaters just the “big box stores” of the entertainment industry? Why not opt for a richer movie-going experience? Pittsfield, Massachusetts now offers such a choice.

The brand new Beacon Cinema opened this past fall in the historic Kinnell-Kresge Building at 57 North Street. It’s a case of old meets new; the building itself may be almost 100 years old, but the cinema is the most up-to-date in Berkshire County. The Beacon is a critical piece of the downtown revitalization strategy developed by the nonprofit organization Downtown, Inc. and the City of Pittsfield in the late 1990s. The cinema serves as an important anchor along with the Colonial Theatre, the Berkshire Museum and the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield’s plan to be the center of culture and entertainment in Berkshire County.

An anticipated 220,000 people will visit The Beacon for its mix of independent, local, foreign and Hollywood films. It offers digital projec-tion and sound, 3-D capability and stadium seating in six theaters inside a Venetian Gothic Revival style building dating to 1918. Each theater seats from 125 to 145 people. The Kinnell-Kresge building’s distinc-tive features include its decorative white glazed terra cotta facade with white glazed brick, original wood pivot windows and steel double hung windows, interior wood and glass office partitions, skylights and lay lights and main staircase. The project involved the careful restoration of all the character defining features of the building while also sensitively

a c c o m m o d a t i n g the new elements required to convert the building into a six-theater cinema, offices and retail/restaurant spaces.

The Kresge five and dime depart-ment store was the

original retail tenant for many years, with professional offices on the upper floors. Used more recently by art and dance nonprofits, the building was partially vacant for about 25 years prior to the recent restoration. A groundbreaking ceremony in September 2008 kicked off the construction, and the project caught the attention of Governor Deval Patrick, who paid a visit to the site (he has also already attended at least one film). The Beacon Cinema opened its doors at midnight on November 20, 2009, with the showing of New Moon on all six screens.

“Business has been great,” said General Manager John Valente. “The project was designed to bring people to downtown Pittsfield, and the support of the community has been nothing short of astonishing. We knew there was a pent-up need, but we had no idea how excited people would be.”

To enhance your entertainment experience, The Beacon offers two concession stands, one upstairs and one down. Offerings include the usual movie fare – hot dogs, pretzel nuggets, popcorn, candy – but patrons might be surprised to find wine and beer service on the second floor. A private room for social events, business meetings, presentations and screenings is available to the community.

In addition to its high tech theaters, The Beacon has a web site – www.thebeaconcinema.com – through which you can purchase tickets, check theater listings and times and sign up for email schedules. Movie descriptions and video trailers are available. Current movie listings and times can also be obtained by calling 413-358-4780.

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FARMS/AGRICULTURAL ATTRACTIONS

Cabot Creamery2878 Main Street in Cabot, Vermont1-800-837-4261 • www.cabotcheese.com

Visit Cabot’s Visitors’ Center in Cabot Village, home of Cabot’s famous cheddar cheese, and take a factory tour. The guided tour tells the history of Cabot Creamery and a little something about the agricultural history of Vermont. After the video, take a walk down the hall to view Cabot’s award-winning cheese being made. Following the tour ($2 per person over twelve years of age), nibble Cabot’s many varieties of cheeses, including the World’s Best Cheddar and Best Flavored Cheddar. The visit will include a Cabot Critters Coloring Book and weekly specials on selected cheese prod-ucts. Call to confirm cheese-making days (1-800-837-4261). Large groups welcome with reservations. Open Monday-Saturday, 9am-4 pm (10am-4pm in January).

Hilltop Orchards and Furnace Brook Winery 508 Canaan Road in Richmond, Massachusetts800-833-6274 •www.hilltoporchards.com

Furnace Brook Winery, Berkshire’s first farm winery, is located at Hilltop Orchards, a 200-acre family fruit farm. Taste their award-winning wines and ciders. The Normandy Gazebo offers wines by-the-glass and a menu in an open air environment overlooking the orchards and the Berkshire Hills. Hilltop Orchards, established in

the early 1900s, today produces over 27 varieties of apples, plums, pears and grapes and is the largest producer of fresh apple cider in the Berkshires. The Hilltop Orchards Farm Store stocks fresh baked goods, local produce and cheeses, as well as apples, cider and cider doughnuts. The orchards and winery are open Friday-Sunday, 11am-5pm.

The Cross Country Ski & Snowshoe Center will open after the first big snow. Trails are groomed within the orchard for both classic and skating-style skiing and snowshoeing – great for beginners and intermediates. The back country trails will challenge more experi-enced skiers. A brand new trail designed by seven-time Olympian John Morton will be celebrated on January 16-17, 2010; free hot cider will be served both days to take off the chill. The scenic 20-mile views into the Southern Berkshires are breathtaking and the pristine back country trails are a delight for more adventurous skiers. Winter hours for skiing are Friday-Sunday, 9am-5pm (check web site for daily updates of snow conditions). Snowshoe rentals available. Guided Back Country Skiing and Lessons with Hilltop Adventures will also be offered. Hilltop Orchards welcomes skiers and non-ski-ers alike; the new Barrel Room has comfy leather couches, a huge natural stone fireplace and 52” LCD/ TV. Warm up with some hot chocolate or warm cider after skiing or just relax by the fire with a glass of wine.

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GALLERIES/VISUAL ARTS

Bennington Arts Guild Gallery103 South Street at the Four Corners, Bennington, Vermont802-442-7838 • www.benningtonartsguild.com

The Bennington Arts Guild is a cooperative run by artists from Bennington and the surrounding communities with the common goal of providing a viable market for, and bringing public attention to, fine art and fine craft produced in the area. Membership is open to artists throughout the greater Bennington area. A few classes will be offered this winter. The gallery is a perfect place to find holiday presents or other unique and personal gifts. Bennington Arts Guild Gallery is open Sunday from 12pm-4pm, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am-5pm.

Bennington Center for ArtsRoute 9 just west of Bennington, Vermont802-442-7158 • www.benningtoncenterforthearts.org

The Bennington Center for the Arts is known primarily for its fine arts galler-ies of nature-inspired and Native American art. It has, over the years, acquired a wonderful collection of sculpture, weavings, pottery and carvings. These works represent the beauty of wildlife, landscapes and the culture and history of Native Americans. It houses the award-winning Oldcastle Theatre and the Laumeister Galleries, which feature rotating art exhibits and art sales. It is also home to the Vermont Covered Bridge Museum. Bennington Center for the Arts includes a museum shop, a main theater and a covered bridge theater, as well as a visitors’ information center. Open 10am-5pm Wednesday through Monday.

Lichtenstein Center for the Arts28 Renne Avenue in Pittsfield, Massachusetts413-499-9348 • www.culturalpittsfield.com

The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts is a community arts center housed in a historic building in downtown Pittsfield. Inside is a gallery and performance area, workshops and artists’ studios. The center features current work of local and regional artists and craft-speople, both well known and emerging. This community arts center also features performances and readings by a variety of musicians, dancers, actors and poets. Nine individual artist rental studios are housed in the Lichtenstein Center, joining over 40 other working artist studios in downtown Pittsfield to create a thriving creative community. Local teaching artists lead a variety of classes, including ceramics, tap dancing, life drawing, tai chi and more. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, noon-5pm.

MASS MoCA 1040 MASS MOCA Way in North Adams, Massachusetts413-662-2111 • www.massmoca.org

MASS MoCA is an extraordinary project converting a 27-building historic mill complex in the Berkshire Mountains into a multi-disciplinary center for visual, performing and media arts. More than a static display hall, MASS MoCA provides space, tools and time for artists, cultural institutions and businesses working in sculpture, theater, dance, film, digital media and music. With annual attendance of 120,000, it ranks among the most visited institutions in the United States dedicated to new art. Hours are 11am-5pm (closed Tuesdays). MASS MoCA offers public tours at 2pm weekdays and at noon and 3pm on weekends. The Kidspace is open 11am-4pm for viewing; art-making activities are available on Saturdays and Sundays.

Southern Vermont Arts CenterWest Road in Manchester, Vermont802-362-1405 • www.svac.orgThe Southern Vermont Arts Center

The Southern Vermont Arts Center is a 407-acre visual and per-forming arts campus-the oldest cultural organization in Vermont-at the foot of Mount Equinox, in Manchester, Vermont. Occupying the former Webster estate, the Arts Center comprises the 28-room Georgian Revival mansion, Yester House Gallery; the Hugh Newell Jacobsen-designed Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum; a 400-seat performance space, the Arkell Pavilion, and the Madeira Education Center. The Arts Center’s Permanent Collection holds roughly 800 pieces including the world’s largest holding of Luigi Lucioni (1900-1988) paintings and etchings, as well as works by Robert Bruce Crane, John Steuart Curry, Reginald Marsh, Grandma Moses and other prominent 19th and 20th century artists. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. -5 p.m., Sunday, 12-5p.m.

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18th Annual Winter Members’ ExhibitionYester House GalleryJanuary 9-February 2, 2010Free Opening Reception, 2-4 p.m., 1/9/10

Anyone who has passed any amount of wintry time hereabouts knows that, ‘round about early January, the prospect of passing a few warm hours amongst unrivaled beauty is, as Shakespeare put it about something else entirely, a consummation devoutly to be wished. Hence the Annual Winter Members’ Exhibtion, 10 galler-ies filled with paintings, photographs, sculpture and mixed media pieces of the very highest quality. It is open to Arts Center Artist Members throughout the Northeast and is eagerly anticipated by collectors and browsers alike.

February ExhibitionsYester House GalleryFebruary 6-March 9, 2010Free Opening Artists Reception, 2-4 p.m., 2/8/10

Gerald Auten, Anne Harhay, Helen Young, Frances B. Ashforth, Susan Wadsworth, John MacDonald, Berta Burr and Tom Kerr display their works throughout the galleries of Yester House, the Arts Center’s 28 room Georgian Revival mansion.

Art From the SchoolsYester House GalleryMarch 13-April 8, 2010Free Opening Reception, 2-4 p.m., 3/13/10Young Picassos Pizza PartyWednesday, March 24, 2010 from 3 – 6 p.m.

The core of the Arts Center’s Mission Statement is “...to make both the visual and performing arts an integral part of the life of our community and region.” Of the many ways that this can be achieved, none is more direct, nor more enjoyable to all concerned, than the annual Art from the Schools exhibition. A natural outgrowth of SVAC’s fourteen year-old Outreach Program, Art from the Schools showcases work by Northshire area students from the elementary grades through high school. The diverse nature of the artistic talent presented is a testimony to the level of outstanding guidance that the local art teachers provide to nurture creativity in their students.

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Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts413-458-2303 •www.clarkart.edu

The Clark is a dynamic institution welcoming visitors year-round to experience outstanding European and American art in a beauti-ful, rural setting. Surrounded by 140 acres of woodlands, meadows and hiking trails, the Clark’s intimately scaled galleries are home to an exceptional collection. Opened in 1955 by Singer sewing machine heir Robert Sterling Clark and his wife, Francine, the Clark is renowned for its French Impressionist paintings by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro and especially Pierre-Auguste Renoir, with more than 30 paintings by the artist. The collection is also rich in American paintings by Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Frederic Remington and Mary Cassatt; Italian and Northern Renaissance masterpieces; portraits and landscapes by European masters; and an extraordinary collection of silver, porcelain, and furniture. The Clark offers a lively variety of events and programs for all ages including concerts, films, family activities, gallery talks and after-hours events. Most public events, including family days and summer band concerts, are free of charge. Food is available year-round. Trails of varying lengths and dif-ficulty cross the property and offer spectacular views of Williamstown and the Green Mountains of Vermont. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am-5pm. Admission is free from November 1 through May 31.

Williams College Museum of Art15 Lawrence Hall Drive off of Main Street, Route 2 in Williamstown, Massachusetts • 413-597-2429 • www.wcma.org

One of the finest college art museums in the country, the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) houses 13,000 works that span the his-tory of art. Within the broad range of time periods and cultures represent-ed, the collection emphasizes modern and contemporary art, American art from the late 18th century to the present and the art of world cultures. In addition to displaying works from the permanent collection, the museum organizes loan exhibitions of outstanding works from other col-lections. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am-5pm and Sunday from 1-5pm. Admission is free, as are a number of educational programs available to the public, and the museum is wheelchair accessible.

GARDENS, NATURE PRESERVES & PARKS

Dyken Pond Environmental Education CenterDyken Pond Road off of Route 80 in Grafton, New York518-658-2055 • www.dykenpond.org

Dyken Pond is the principal headwaters of the Poestenkill and the largest lake on the Rensselaer Plateau. Its historic dam was built in 1902 by Manning Paper Company and regulated the stream flow powering machinery along the Poestenkill to Troy. Manning Paper Company donated its land holdings to Rensselaer County in 1973. Since that time, Rensselaer County has owned and operated this living watershed as an ecological teaching unit as well as a low-use recreation area. Thirty-three ecological communities offer an exciting blend of places to explore and enjoy. The park is open to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Guided snowshoe hikes and wildlife tracking are offered in winter. No motorized vehicles, mountain biking or horseback riding. Dogs are wel-comed on leashes. Open daily during daylight hours.

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Visit our retail locations in Weston and Rockingham, Vermont.


Green Mountain National ForestForest Supervisor, 231 North Main Street in Rutland, Vermont802-747-6700 http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/greenmountain/htm

The Green Mountain National Forest follows the backbone of Vermont north from the Massachusetts border, all the way to the Appalachian Gap. It was established in 1932 after uncontrolled logging, fire and flooding ravaged the State of Vermont. Today, the Green Mountain National Forest has grown—tract by tract—to almost 400,000 acres that stretch across nearly two-thirds the length of Vermont. The mission of the Forest is to sustain, protect and enhance forest ecosystems. The Appalachian and Long Trails, which extend along the ridgeline of the Green Mountains, are part of its 312 miles of trails. Within the forest’s boundaries are cold streams and beaver ponds famous for brook and rainbow trout fishing. Other activities include birding, berry picking, canoeing, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and scenic drives.

Lake Whitingham/Harriman ReservoirWilmington/Whitingham, Vermont www.thisisvermont.com/storywaters.html

Lake Whitingham, also known as Harriman Reservoir, is Vermont’s largest recreational lake wholly within its borders, fully eight miles long from north to south, with over 28 miles of undeveloped shore-line. The lake was formed by the construction of the Harriman Dam, named for Henry I. Harriman, the engineer under whom it was

constructed in 1923 by the New England Power Company. This large earthen dam stands 200 feet tall, 1,200 feet across and a quarter of a mile wide at its base. By the dam is the “glory hole,” an enormous 60-foot spillway shaped like a gigantic morning glory. It is maintained by the New England Power Company at no cost to the public.

The Long TrailGreen Mountains, Vermont • www.greenmountainclub.org

Built by the Green Mountain Club between 1910 and 1930, the Long Trail is the oldest long-distance trail in the United States. It follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont line to the Canadian border as it crosses Vermont’s highest peaks. It was the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail, which coincides with it for one hun-dred miles in the southern third of the state. Although the Long Trail is known as Vermont’s “footpath in the wilderness,” its character may more accurately be described as backcountry. The trail climbs rugged peaks and passes pristine ponds, alpine bogs, hardwood forests and swift streams. It is steep in some places, muddy in others and rugged in most. Novice and expert alike will enjoy the varied terrain. With its 273-mile footpath, 175 miles of side trails and nearly 70 primitive shelters, the Long Trail offers endless hiking opportunities for the day hiker, weekend overnighter and extended backpacker. The Long Trail is marked by two-by-six-inch white blazes. Intersections are usually marked with signs. Double blazes may mark important turns. Side trails are blazed in blue and signed. The Long Trail is maintained by the Green Mountain Club in Vermont.

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Merck Forest & Farmland CenterRoute 315 Rupert Mountain Road in Rupert, Vermont 802-394-7836 • www.merckforest.com

Merck Forest and Farmland Center’s mission is to teach and dem-onstrate the benefits of innovative, sustainable management of for-est and farmland. The purpose of the farm is to demonstrate mod-ern, sustainable approaches to agriculture while producing maple syrup, organic vegetables, flowers and herbs and raising livestock for meat, eggs, wool and dairy products. These are sold at Merck’s farm stand, through its Community-Supported Agriculture program and at three local farmers’ markets. Timber products include hardwood logs for furniture, veneer, flooring and other products. Merck Forest and Farmland Center has several relatively rare types of forest com-munities, which provide valuable wildlife habitats and allow for scientific research. Merck has a number of trails, camp sites and educational programs. Open year-round, dawn to dusk.

Pember Nature Preserve/Pember Museum of Natural History Preserve located on Route 22, eight miles south of Granville, New York Museum located at 33 West Main Street in Granville, New York, 518-642-1515 www.pembermuseum.com

The Pember Nature Preserve, donated to the Pember Library and Museum in 1979, encompasses 125 acres of forest, wetland and fields on both sides of Black Creek, a tributary of the Battenkill. The mission of the Pember Nature Preserve is to provide a refuge for the region’s native wildlife and plant species. Visitors to the marsh walk on elevated walkways and over a footbridge span-ning Black Creek. An observation platform at the edge of Black Creek allows for the observation of wetland wildlife. In 1987, the Granville School District deeded the Porter Schoolhouse to the Pember Library and Museum for use as a nature education center. The Porter Schoolhouse is one point of entry to the preserve; the other is on South Grimes Hill Road. Seven nature trails are available year-round from dawn to dusk. Trail maps at both entrances. The Pember Library and Museum were established in 1909 by Franklin Tanner Pember and his wife, Ellen Wood Pember. Both institutions continue to operate in the building designed and built for that pur-pose. Franklin Pember was an entrepreneur, with interests in the fur trade, oil fields and orange groves. From boyhood he was interested in the natural world and collected mounted birds and mammals, bird nests and eggs, shells, insects, plants, rocks and minerals. This collection became the basis of the museum. Open year-round Tuesday-Friday from 1- 5pm and Saturday from 10am-3pm. Closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays.

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Somerset Reservoir Somerset Road off of Route 9 on Searsburg Mountain, Vermont • www.thisisvermont.com/storywaters.html

Just shy of 1,600 acres in size, this is the first of a series of large reservoirs utilizing the Deerfield River for electrical power. The south end of the reservoir, just after the dam, has a parking lot with public toilets. Excellent area for ice fishing.

Bennington Battle Monument15 Monument Circle in Bennington, Vermont • 802-447-0550 www.bennington.com/chamber/walking/monumentdescription.html

This 306’ dolomite obelisk is Vermont’s tallest structure and was dedicated in 1891 to commemorate the 1777 Battle of Bennington. In 1953, it was restored by the Vermont Historic Site Commission, which now administers it for the state. The monument was con-structed on the site of the Continental arms storehouse, the object of this Revolutionary War battle in which General John Stark led his troops to one of the first major American victories against the British. There are interpretive exhibits, an elevator to the top of the monument and a gift shop. Scenic vistas of Vermont, Massachusetts and New York can be seen from the observation level high within the structure. Open mid-April to October 31st, 9am-5pm daily.

Bennington Battlefield State Historic SiteRoute 67 between Walloomsac, New York and Vermont state line518-686-8266 • http://www.nysparks.com/historic-sites/12/details.aspx

Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site is the location of a Revolutionary War battle fought in August 1777 between the British forces of General John Burgoyne and Colonel Friedrich Baum against the American forces under Brigadier General John Stark and Colonel Seth Warner. British forces underestimated the strength of their enemy, and most of their men were killed or taken prisoner while the Americans sustained smaller losses. The British surrendered on October 17, 1777. Open weekends only from Labor Day to Veterans Day, 10am-7pm.

Barnett Homestead, adjacent to the Bennington Battlefield State Historic site is open for tours and offers special events. Call the Hoosick, N.Y. Town Office at 518-686-4571

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Newly RenovatedStop by to see all of the work that we ��of shopping with quality goods from ��through our maze of inventory. You'll ��

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Six miles north on RT 30 from Manchester Ctr. in Dorset VT802-867-5353 M-F 7:30-6, Saturday 7:30-5, Sunday 9-4

Deli Closed Sunday after Columbus Day

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MUSEUMS/HISTORIC SITES

Bennington MuseumWest Main Street (Vermont Route 9) in Bennington, Vermont802-447-1571 • www.benningtonmuseum.org

The Bennington Museum was founded as the Bennington Historical Association in 1875 to celebrate Bennington’s Colonial past and, more specifically, to commemorate the historic Revolutionary War Battle of Bennington in 1777. Over time the museum acquired paintings and sculpture by Vermont artists, children’s toys, maps, books and military artifacts. Its Grandma Moses Gallery holds the largest public collection of Grandma Moses art and memora-bilia available to the public. It also features: an extensive array of American glass from the 19th to the early 20th century; one of the country’s oldest flags; a 1924 Wasp Touring Car; vintage portraits of early settlers by Ammi Phillips; a unique Ralph Earl townscape; examples of abolitionist newspapers by William Lloyd Garrison; a Windsor writing-arm chair owned by Ira Allen, a founder of Vermont and author of the State’s Constitution; and the world’s largest collection of Bennington pottery. The museum is open daily (except Wednesdays) from 10am-5pm, but is closed in January.

Cambridge Historical Society & Museum12 Broad Street in Cambridge, New York518-677-5232www.cambridgenychamber.com/theregion.html

This museum was established in 1929 by the Cambridge Historical Society to preserve the history of Cambridge and the surrounding area for the education and enjoyment of the public. The house is a fine example of Victorian architecture featuring a mansard roof, wraparound porch and ornate exterior moldings. Displays include Revolutionary and Civil War memorabilia, fire-fighting exhibits, Cambridge-made (19th century) Baron furniture, china, glassware, antique kitchen utensils, antique hat boxes, spinning wheels, toys, period clothing and more.

Friends (Old Quaker) Meeting House & Maple Street CemeteryCorner of Friend and Maple Streets in Adams, Massachusetts413-743-1799 • www.berkshireweb.com/quakers/index.html

The Quakers, or “Friends” as they called themselves, were a religious denomination who came from the Smithfield, Rhode Island area. They were the first group of settlers to form a community in East Hoosuck, the original name of the Adams township. They lived in Adams for 15 years before start-ing to build the meeting house in 1782. They finished it four years later. The meeting house, like many Quakers homes, was built with very little ornamen-tation and left unpainted. The Quaker community in Adams reached its peak in 1819 when a total of 40 families were members of the Friends Meeting. There was a steady decline after that date and in 1842 the Society of Friends held its last official meeting in the old meeting house.

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Herman Melville’s Arrowhead780 Holmes Road in Pittsfield, Massachusetts413-442-1793 • www.mobydick.org

Arrowhead was the home of Herman Melville from 1850-1863 and where he wrote his most famous work, Moby Dick, along with three other novels, Pierre, The Confidence-Man and Israel Potter, a collection of short stories entitled The Piazza Tales, all of his magazine stories and some of his poetry. Arrowhead is now a house museum interpreting the life of the Melville family in the Berkshires. It is owned and operated by the Berkshire County Historical Society. Tours of Arrowhead are available in the off-season by appointment only with a 24 to 48 hour notice. The offices of The Berkshire Historical Society are open year-round Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed state and federal holidays.

Museum of Black WWII History179 Oak Hill School Road in Pownal, Vermont802-823-5519 • www.blackww2museum.org

This museum was created not to glorify war but to document it—in particular to honor the long-ignored role of African-Americans in the largest worldwide conflict of human history. The museum’s goal is to enlighten visitors about the relatively unknown and unappreciated con-tribution of the 1.1 million African Americans who served in the U.S. military in World War II. More than a collection and display of objects, the museum is a center for ongoing teaching and research on this broad subject. Reopening February 6, 2010 on weekends only until May 1st.

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North Adams Museum of History and ScienceWestern Gateway Heritage State Park in North Adams, Massachusetts413-664-4700 • www.geocities.com/northadamshistory

Housed in a beautifully restored historic freight yard, the North Adams Museum of History and Science portrays a microcosm of America as told through the history of North Adams and the environment of the Northern Berkshires. It provides over 25 exhibit areas on its three floors and includes hands-on discovery rooms, the Solar System Black Light Gallery, the Natural History Center, early social, industrial and railroading history, the Fort Massachusetts Barracks Room and other military exhibits and more. Open January through April, Saturdays 10am-4pm and Sunday 1pm-4pm. Free admission.

Old Hopkins Observatory & Mehlin Museum of AstronomyMain Street (Rt. 2) in Williamstown, Massachusetts413-597-2105 http://hopkinsobservatory.williams.edu/milham-planetarium/

The Hopkins Observatory is the oldest existing observatory in the United States. In 1834, Prof. Albert Hopkins went to England, with the permission of the trustees of the college, to search for astronomical apparatus. On his return, he enlisted some of his students to build a permanent observatory, which they constructed by hand from 1836 to 1838. That building is now the planetarium. It was originally located in the center of the quad but was moved to the far end in 1908 and to its present location in 1961. Some of the original equipment from the 1834 trip to England still survives in this building.

Park-McCullough HouseCorner of Park & West Streets in North Bennington, Vermont802-442-5441 • www.parkmccullough.org

The Park-McCullough House, a 35-room Victorian Mansion, was completed in 1865 for Trenor and Laura Park. Trenor Park, a Bennington lawyer, had made a fortune in California successfully managing John C. Fremont’s Mariposa gold mines. Returning East, he commissioned architects Diaper and Dudley to design this “sum-mer home,” a classic example of French Second Empire Style. The furnishings and decor are nearly unchanged. As you walk in the front door, you will find rooms with fourteen-foot ceilings opening onto a gracious central hall with a sweeping staircase. The grounds feature a playhouse, rose gardens and a Carriage Barn, which houses a fine collection of horse-drawn carriages, buggies, sleighs and fire-fighting equipment. From November through April, the House accepts group tours by appointment and offers special events as announced.

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Robert Todd Lincoln’s HildeneHistoric Route 7A in Manchester, Vermont802-362-1788 • www.hildene.org

In 1902, Robert Todd Lincoln, the eldest son of President Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, hired a Boston architectural firm to build a stately home on a promontory overlooking the Battenkill Valley in Manchester. The site he chose commanded sweeping views of the valley bordered by the Taconic Mountains to the west and the Green Mountains to the east. His magnificent Georgian Revival style home was completed three years later. Robert Todd Lincoln named his new home Hildene, meaning “hill” and “valley.” Hildene would be Mr. Lincoln’s summer home for the next 21 years and would be the only house in America where all of Abraham Lincoln’s descendants would eventually reside. Mary “Peggy” Lincoln Beckwith, a great-granddaughter of Abraham Lincoln, was the last of the president’s descendants to live at Hildene. She occupied the home until 1975. Shortly thereafter, Friends of Hildene, a nonprofit organization, was formed to oversee “the preservation of Hildene’s open land and the restoration of those buildings that best serve the public as an educational and cultural resource and as a memorial to the Lincoln family.” Today, Hildene welcomes thousands of visitors from around the world who arrive to enjoy this meticulously restored home with its elegant formal gardens, cutting and kitchen gardens and farm and to participate in the many special events held annually on the beautiful grounds of the estate. To enjoy the home, exhibits and grounds you should allow approximately 90 minutes. Grounds passes are available to visit the gardens and grounds but are not valid for admission into the Lincoln home; cross-country ski-ing and snowshoeing (with rentals) is available, weather permitting, from 9:30am to 4pm. Open 9:30am to 4:30pm daily.

Slate Valley Museum17 Water Street in Granville, New York518-642-1417 • www.slatevalleymuseum.org

The Slate Valley Museum is housed inside a restored 19th Century New World Dutch Barn. Through artifacts, photographs, videotapes, art, displays, immigrant histories and a quarry shanty, the museum presents the history, science and art of slate quarrying and its influence on Slate Valley culture and community life. Learn why the Slate Valley is unique in all the world and why slate from the Slate Valley has been used in national landmarks such as the White House. Open year-round, Monday through Friday, 1pm-5pm, and Saturday from 10am-4pm.

Williamstown House of Local HistoryDavid and Joyce Milne Public Library, 1095 Main Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts413-458-2160 • www.milnelibrary.org/hlh.html

Williamstown House of Local History was founded in 1941 to promote knowledge of the town’s history by collecting and preserving materials, mounting exhibitions, presenting educational programs and facilitating research. The collection includes photographs, documents and artifacts from the 1700s to the present day, as well as published material on the town and genealogical material on local families. Open Monday through Friday 10am-noon and other hours by appointment.

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MUSIC

Vermont Symphony OrchestraPerforming at various locations throughout Vermont800-VSO-9293, www.vso.org.

Seventy-one years ago, a small group of musical enthusiasts meet-ing in Woodstock, Vermont convinced each other that by working together, they could assemble the necessary musical and financial resources from across rural Vermont to create a statewide symphony orchestra. Whereas most other orchestras originate in a single town or city, performing there in one concert hall and touring occasion-ally, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra dedicated itself to traveling to any gymnasium, armory, racetrack or hillside where an audience could be found. The musicians, whose numbers included barbers, lawyers, mail carriers, doctors and farmers, came from all across the state to rehearse and perform. Before the advent of modern highways, this represented an extraordinary commitment. For 71 years, the orchestra has shuttled from town to town, overcoming geography with such energy and persistence that it has earned a national reputation.

THEATER AND CINEMA

The Albany Berkshire Ballet116 Fenn Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts413-445-5382 • www.berkshireballet.org

The Albany Berkshire Ballet was founded in 1960 by Artistic Director Madeline Cantarella Culpo. Nationally recognized for its versatility in performing both classical and contemporary dance works with excellence, the company’s classical repertory rivals that of any large company performing today. With works created by some of ballet’s greatest choreographers, including Igor Youskevitch, Michel Fokine and Antony Tudor, the Albany Berkshire Ballet per-forms such full-length ballets as Giselle, Cinderella, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, delighting audiences of all ages.

Barrington Stage CompanyBerkshire Music Hall at 30 Union Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts 413-528-8888 • www.barringtonstageco.org

Barrington Stage Company is a professional award-winning Equity theater now located in the crossroads of the Berkshires in Pittsfield. Co-founded in 1995 by Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, BSC is committed to presenting new productions of neglected musicals and plays, in addition to developing new works for the American Theater. BSC garnered national attention with William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin’s Tony Award-winning musical hit The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which began as a work-shop at BSC. While the company does not put on winter produc-tions, there is a Barrington Stage Carnivale on February 6 with exotic food and cocktails, dancing and live music by multicultural Latin band Los Sugar Kings.

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The Beacon Cinema • 57 North Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts413-358-4780 • www.thebeaconcinema.com

Newly opened in the historic Kresge Building in downtown Pittsfield this past November, The Beacon Cinema offers stadium seating in six theaters with digital projection. Two concession stands and beer and wine service ensure adequate refreshment while viewing the latest Hollywood has to offer, plus 3-D movies, the works of local filmmakers, live sporting events and other alternative programming on the big screen. There is also a private room avail-able for social events, business meetings, presentations and screenings.

Colonial Theatre • 111 South Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts 413-997-4444 • www.thecolonialtheatre.org

Pittsfield’s refurbished Colonial Theatre is a living time machine, transporting visitors to a resplendent Gilded Age theater in its prime. Designed by noted theater architect J.B. McElfatrick, the Colonial was of a class above most playhouses of the day. Noted London theater consul-tant Louis Flemming called the Colonial “one of the greatest acoustical houses in the entire world.” McElfatrick designed about 350 theaters around the country—66 in New York City alone—but the Colonial is one of only a dozen still standing. An extensive and meticulous restora-tion has brought the majestic 1903 theatrical masterpiece back to life for its opening this summer. The 810-seat historic theater will once again host leading performers from around the country. The new season will include an eclectic mix of theater, comedy and concerts.

Dorset PlayhouseCheney Road off Route 30 in Dorset, Vermont802-867-5777 • www.dorsettheatrefestival.org; www.dorsetplayers.org

The historic Dorset Playhouse has been in continuous use since its construction in 1929. The 2010 season begins with Jack and the Beanstalk on January 23 and Almost, Maine in March.

Hubbard Hall Projects, Inc.25 East Main Street in Cambridge, New York518-677-2495 • www.hubbardhall.org

This community arts center, dedicated to bringing the best of theater, music, dance and the visual arts to the region, is housed in a restored 1878 rural opera house. Hubbard Hall offers plays, concerts, classes and local art. Theater offer-ings in 2010 include The Sweet Storm in January, Hadrian VII in February and All My Sons in April.

Images Cinema • 50 Spring Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts413-458-5612 • www.imagescinema.org

One of the few remaining single-screen, independent theaters still in operation, Images Cinema is a historic part of the Northern Berkshires, offering an exceptional variety of independent, foreign and classic films year-round. Images has shown independent cin-ema for independent minds for over 80 years.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance358 George Carter Road in Becket, Massachusetts 413-243-9919 • www.jacobspillow.org

Jacob’s Pillow celebrates its 78th anniversary in 2010 and is home to a renowned international dance festival, presenting and commissioning works of artists and companies from throughout the world. The School at Jacob’s Pillow encompasses a professional training program in the diverse disciplines of Ballet, Cultural Traditions, Contemporary Traditions, Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance, and a Choreographers Lab, as well as an Intern Program in arts administration and production. The Pillow’s extensive archives, open year-round to the public free of charge, chronicle more than 75 years of the often ephemeral art form of dance in print, video, and more. Jacob’s Pillow’s year-round community programs enrich the lives of children and adults including Jacob’s Pillow Curriculum-in-Motion® a nationally-recognized program for educational settings, and the Creative Development Residency program supports artists as they create work. In 2003, Jacob’s Pillow was declared a National Historic Landmark and is the first and only dance entity in the U.S. to achieve this honor.

Paramount Theatre30 Center Street in Rutland, Vermont802-775-0570www.paramountvt.org

Opened in 1914, The Playhouse Theatre of Rutland was con-sidered by many to be one of the finest theaters in New England through the early part of the 20th century. The Paramount, as it has been known since the early 1930s, has been completely restored as the “Jewel of Downtown Rutland.” The Paramount Theatre is more than just a beautiful building that embraces the remarkable history of the area; it is a living performing arts venue that echoes with the voices of Sarah Bernhardt, Ethel Barrymore, Harry Houdini, Groucho Marx and others. January starts the 2010 season offers a number of concerts and musical theater, including Singing in the

Rain and Cabaret.

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DRIVES

Mohawk TrailRoute 2, Western Massachusetts 413-743-8127 or 866-743-8127 • www.mohawktrail.com

The Mohawk Trail is the first scenic road in New England. National Geographic Traveler selected the Mohawk Trail as one of 50 of the most scenic routes in the United States. The American Automobile Association also chose “The Trail” for scenic recogni-tion, as has the federal government in one of its national programs. The Mohawk Trail has gained a world-wide reputation for its scenic beauty, both natural and man-made. It carries on its ancient trade

route heritage via over 100 unique shops, attractions, public and private camping areas, inns and villages that line its path. With 63 miles of unsurpassed splendor and 50,000 acres of state parks and forests, it’s an excellent vacation choice for fun and adventure for all ages during any season. It extends from Williamstown to Shirley.

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2009-2010 Winter Guide

Documents

Transcript of 2009-2010 Winter Guide