Fairies dance at Arrowhead
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — “And this recalls my inland voyage to fairy-land. A true voyage; but, take it all in all, interesting as if invented ” author Herman Melville wrote in his 1856 short story “The Piazza,” describing lights on Mount Greylock he had mistaken for fairies. Some 161 years later, Melville’s former property, Arrowhead, now a museum, has based its entire season on the theme of fairies.
Fairy statues decorate the front lawn of Arrowhead, and the museum has been working on a fairy house art exhibit, using the fairy reference in “The Piazza” as a basis. According to Peter Bergman, Arrowhead director of communications and community relations, the exhibit, which was the result of an art contest, would have been a welcome sight to Melville.
“I think he would have loved it,” Bergman said. “He felt so ignored in his time.” READ MORE
Meet the best bartender in town
PITTSFIELD — Stop by Methuselah Bar and Lounge and you’re sure to be welcomed by bartender John Burns, who will greet you with a smile and recommend you an exclusive drink you won’t find anywhere else, in the warm, intimate space at 391 North St. READ MORE
Test yourself at the Purple Pub
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Are you serious about trivia? Then the Purple Pub is the place for you. READ MORE
Showing some heart, the 413 way
DALTON, Mass. — All phone numbers in the western third of Massachusetts begin with the area code 413 — a part of the state that, despite its shrinking population, has a lot of heart. Greg Geyer and fellow committee members of Grow Dalton, have been hard at work expanding the 413Heart Festival from a one-day event to four full days of readings, juried art, wine and beer tastings, family activities, music, Dalton Public Market, Appalachian Trail Celebration and the annual Crane Paper sale. READ MOR
Housatonic River Floatilla: A parade on the water
SHEFFIELD, Mass. — Celebrate the Housatonic River the best way possible, by being on the river. Even better? Make it a parade on the river.
On Sunday, Sept. 10, at Bartholomew’s Cobble at 105 Weatogue Road in Sheffield, Mass., the Trustees of Reservations is holding the first ever Housatonic River Floatilla; a festival centered around the Housatonic river, with a boat parade at its center, made of entered decorated and hand-crafted boats. READ MORE
Meet Suzy Helme: Community Organizer
From the Fall Foliage Parade to Winterfest to the Eagle Street Beach Party, there has been one woman at the helm of these North Adams events for the last three years — Suzy Helme, the city’s director of community events. READ MORE
Hot times at the Purple Dragon: New hangout for board game enthusiasts on a roll
WILLIAMSTOWN — Tabletop game stores are hard to find in Berkshire County, but thanks to Niko White that task is not impossible. White is the owner and founder of Purple Dragon Games at 40 Spring St. His business is primarily centered around the sales of tabletop games, mostly board games played on a tabletop, trading cards, action figures and other merchandise. READ MORE
From St. Joe’s to BCC to MCLA – And back
Not many people get to teach at a school they attended, but physics professor Bridget Gormalley has done it three times, first at St. Joseph Central High School, then at Berkshire Community College and now at MCLA. READ MORE
Bennington Station: Munch on some high-end food in a historic Vermont train station
BENNINGTON, Vt. — Where is the best place to enjoy prime rib and fresh seafood, to the backdrop of live piano music in Bennington? For many, it’s a former train station.
The Bennington Station boasts an over 100-year history, starting between 1897 and 1898, when it was built as the town’s train station, to today, when it serves as one of the town’s premier nightspots and restaurants. Somewhere in between, it served as a bar — and even was the dining hall for Southern Vermont College for a time. READ MORE
Mitchell Chapman 