The Berkshires: America’s Premier Cultural
Region
by Ted and Judy
van der Veen
 Where
can you find several venues for the performing arts, world class
museums, galleries, historic sites, gardens and mountain scenery
to boot? Less than a day’s drive from Toronto or Montreal in
the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, that’s where. The area,
which covers the north-south length of Massachusetts bordering
on New York State, and less than 50 miles wide, has great natural
beauty and an amazing variety of cultural attractions. While
many of the dance, theatre and music offerings are presented
only in the summer, other attractions are open year round. We
spent the week beginning on Labour Day weekend, 2004, here,
seeing what we deemed the top attractions.
Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra,
is located in Lenox, about the mid-point of the region. While
classical music is the main theme for July and August, Labour
Day weekend is the Jazz Festival. Last year’s performers included
Dave Brubeck and Harry Conniff Jr. Here one can opt for reserved
seating undercover or lawn seating outdoors. The grounds open
two hours before the performance; people bring blankets, lawn
chairs, picnics and wine, creating a summer fair atmosphere.
On a bright sunny day or warm summer evening, nothing could
be finer. However, food service within the grounds is quite
limited. This lawn arrangement allows for reasonably-priced
tickets and they are normally available at the last minute,
too, for those who cannot plan ahead or want to judge the weather
first.
Just south of Lenox is Stockbridge, home of the Norman Rockwell
Museum. This is where Rockwell spent his last years and many
of his famous illustrations were done here. Take the free guided
tour; then linger to look at the details and refresh your memory
of important societal changes that occurred in mid-20th century
America and the world. Just a few minutes’ walk away is the
cabin that was Rockwell’s studio. To the north, almost at the
Vermont border, in Williamstown, is the Clark Art Institute,
once the private collection of Sterling and Francine Clark.
Their favourite period was the Impressionists, although they
did collect a few Old Masters (Dutch and Italian) and some early
American artists. Their poster says it all: “Sargent, Revere,
Renoir, Homer, Van Gogh, Remington, Cassatt, Monet, Gauguin
– what’s in a name?” We were thrilled by the number of Renoir
paintings, and some lovely bronze figures by Degas as well as
a few of his paintings.
Just outside Pittsfield is the Hancock Shaker Village where
one can learn about the religious movement that flourished here
throughout the 19th century. Here you soon become aware that
this was not just a “quaint” religious sect who dressed in old-fashioned
clothes and believed in celibacy. Leaving the religious aspects
aside, the Shakers were in the forefront of agricultural reform
and were quick to embrace technological change. They were the
first to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers expressly for seed,
and introduced packet seeds to the market. Many of the workshops
are “manned” every day in the summer and on weekends, making
it possible to see how their crafts and machinery were produced.
Try to take in several of the “events” highlighted on the daily
schedule and be sure to attend the Shaker Music presentation.
If you have your ticket validated before you leave, you may
return for free admission once more within 8 days. If, like
us, you want to see everything and also watch the various videos
shown in several buildings, you will need the second day. The
on-site cafeteria serves excellent soup and sandwich lunches.
This is only a sampling of the many cultural events here. Others
include MASS MoCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), Jacob’s Pillow
Dance Festival, Herman Melville’s home Arrowhead where Moby
Dick was written, Shakespeare & Company, Berkshire Choral
Festival, Edith Wharton’s The Mount Estate and Gardens, Grey
Fox Bluegrass Festival and Barrington Stage Company. The list
goes on: a scenic railway museum, a papermaking museum and several
film festivals. And for those who enjoy the outdoors there are
hiking trails, cycling, golf, fishing – and, of course, lots
of shopping.
Accommodations run the gamut: B&B’s on farms or in small
inns, cottages, cabins and campgrounds, motels, hotels, resorts
and timeshares. We had a timeshare exchange at Vacation Village
in the Berkshires, on a mountaintop overlooking Jiminy Peak
Ski Resort near the hamlet of Hancock. While the units were
nicely appointed, the only on-site activities were a fitness
room, indoor swimming pool and outdoor hot tub. However, our
days were so full that suited us fine: the hot tub won hands
down! A leisurely soak, some interesting conversation with fellow
guests, then a glass of wine on the balcony of our unit as we
watched the sunset was just heavenly.
To contact the Berkshire Visitors Bureau for their comprehensive
Visitors’ Guide: tel: 1 800 237 5747, e-mail: bvb@berskhires.org,
www.berkshires.org. It contains information on cultural and
recreational activities and attractions, lodgings and restaurants,
and more, with internet links. If Tanglewood is your special
interest call 1 888 266 1200 or www.bso.org for details of the
coming summer season.
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