Red Lion Inn

Berkshires Jazz, Inc. brings the legendary Django Festival Allstars to the area on Sunday evening. Nov. 12, for an 8pm concert at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center (Barrington Stage’s facility at 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield). It’s the only New England appearance of this remarkable group, who will be en route to their 5-day residency at the annual Django Reinhardt New York Festival at Birdland.

If you’re a follower of the regional jazz scene (and, the fact that you are on our mailing list suggests that you are), you may have already noticed that it is shaping up to be a busy autumn in the Berkshires. Starting with saxophone titan Grace Kelly this Friday at the Stationery Factory, something is going on every week…and often weekdays. Here’s a look at the first half of the season.  

Berkshire Art Center’s 2023 Artists-In-Residence, Noah Beauregard and Kelly Potter, are celebrating the end of their residencies this summer with virtual artist talks and in-person exhibition openings at The Red Lion Inn and Chesterwood.  

Although still on its maiden voyage, already Firehouse stands out as a Best in the Berkshires destination. We wish them success for the sake of all of us who enjoy fine dining.

“Spring at Hancock Shaker Village is a joyous time,” said Director Jennifer Trainer Thompson. “Our farm literally ‘springs’ to life and there may be nothing cuter than a baby animal. When you add to that 20 historic buildings, and a lot of creative programming --- from farm talks to concerts to the spiritual richness of brooms --- you find a union with content that creates an unparalleled experience. Welcome back, and welcome to our 2022 season!”

The IS183 Art School’s Berkshire Artist Residency program is now accepting applications. Since 2012, IS183 Art School has coordinated Artist Residencies that pair local visual artists with cultural institutions and historic landmarks across the Berkshires. This is the second year artists can apply for a residency at two local institutions - The Red Lion Inn and Chesterwood. 

The artists Norman Rockwell and Andy Warhol became rich and famous for giving the public what it wanted. It is this shared populism which is explored in an evocative exhibition at the Norman Rockwell Museum. Not surprisingly the exhibition has been mobbed with visitors.

Ex-Governor, Deval Patrick, will host the first, 'Food For Thought', speaker series at Hancock Shaker Village on Friday, May 12th. He will talk over dinner about his autobiography, A Reason To Believe.

BTG is expanding its 2017 summer festival offerings, including The Music Man and the Million Dollar Quartet, Arsenic and Old Lace, as well as two productions by playwrights, Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo (Zoo story) and David Auburn's Lost Lake.

Railroad Street Youth Projects annual culinary arts celebration dinner highlights youth with a work based apprenticeship program in Berkshire county.

Located in the hamlet of Housatonic, is Pleasant & Main, a restaurant with charm, character and wonderful food at reasonable prices.

The Berkshire Theatre Group announces a full schedule of musicals, plays and performances at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield as well as its two stages in Stockbridge. The program includes events from June through October. As usual a musical, Little Shop of Horrors, opens at the Colonial just after the July 4th holiday weekend which launches high season in the Berkshires.

Paddy's Bistro (645 Main Street) in Dalton, Massachusetts, adjacent to Pittsfield, doesn't even have a website. To get news and weekend specials, the only way to find them is to visit their Facebook page or call them at 413-684-1111.The lack of marketing is a real ploy for the consumer that looks for fine dining.

Hey Charles- I like that! With my white beard and ample belly, I could join the club with you and Santa. Below is one of a long line of my holiday poems, first written in 2005 and updated this year. Merry Christmas!

Blantyre means elgance, old world charm and to most of us, perceived, high prices. Think again. Lunch with wine and sunset views with a glass or bottle of Port and a cheese plate won't set you back as much as you would expect.

Berkshire Theatre Group announces 2015 Summer Season Musical, the 10th Annual Community Theatre Production, The Fitzpatrick Main Stage productions and a medley of lively acts scheduled to perform at The Colonial Theatre and The Unicorn Theatre. BTG will be announcing a second round of programming, including The Unicorn Theatre's Summer Season, in the next several weeks.

The annual Made in the Berkshires festival will be held over the October 12 weekend. It features music, theatre and dance in a variety of venues. Here is the full schedule of events.

Tanglewood isn't just Music. The annual "Wine and Food Classic" takes place from August 7th-10th, 2014. Hundreds of wines from around the world and locally sourced food, cooked by local chefs will be available to sample on the beautiful Tanglewood grounds.

Opening the festival on Friday night Wilco performed a set of requests. Last night they returned to Joe Thompson Field, under a moonlit sky, to deliver a set of 28 songs. Fans came from far and wide for the third and most successful of the Solid Sound Festivals which concludes this afternoon.

The wind howled and it rained cats and dogs during a cold, blustery Memorial Day Weekend. The annual launch of the summer season was a total wipeout. We woke up to a record setting view of snow capping Mt. Greylock which closed the road to the summit. We hunkered down, turned on the heat, and sipped herbal tea. Resorts and high end hotels opening up for the season took a beating. It gave a new spin to the term staycation.

From May 30 to June 2 the Berkshire International Film Festival will be simultaneously be screened with many additional special events at the Mahaiwe in Great Barrington and The Beacon Cinema in Pittsfield, The festival combines feature fikms and documentaries. There will be some 15 documentaries in the categories of Celebrity and Politics.

The 8th Annual season of The Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) today announces the line-up to the action packed program showcasing over 75 of the latest in independent feature, documentary, short and family films from some 20 countries. The festival, which takes place from May 30 – June 2, 2013 in Great Barrington and May 31 – June 2nd in Pittsfield, MA, will bring films, filmmakers, industry professionals and film fans together for a four-day festival celebrating independent film featuring 27 documentaries, 25 narrative features and 24 short films.

During the July Fourth weekend which launches the Berkshire season the Colonial Theatre will stage the perennial tribute to Ameriana the classic musical Oklahoma. The Stockbridge Main Stage will get a jump start on June 25 with Treat Williams starring in The Lion in Winter. Local legend Karen Allen, who made her directorial debut at the Unicorn Theatre with Moonchildren will return to that stage directing Extremities.

On Friday, March 1, seven chefs from the Berkshires organized by Brian Alberg, Executive Chef and Food & Beverage Director at The Red Lion Inn, will present “The Berkshire Cure-All” to New York's James Beard Foundation. The dinner will showcase the culinary talents and farm-to-table efforts of the region with foods prepared using time-honored preserving and curing methods.

The 7th Annual season of The Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) will celebrate this year with the latest in independent feature, documentary, short and family films. The festival runs from May 31 – June 3, 2012 in Great Barrington and June 1 – June 3rd in Pittsfield, MA and will be showcasing over 70 films in independent filmmaking.