The 3rd Annual Hudson-Berkshire Wine & Food Festival is almost here – May 23 – 24, 2015 – promising a gathering of some of the best, regional food and drink producers, as well as special guests, seminars, and demonstrations that any self-respecting foodie would not want to miss!

An outgrowth of the Hudson-Berkshire Beverage Trail, the Hudson-Berkshire Wine & Food Festival has proven to be a very successful showcase not only for the beverage trail members but also the other vendors and producers who will be on hand – not to mention the attendees!

Guests at the Hudson-Berkshire Wine & Food Festival will be treated to samples (with the option to buy) from New York State and the Berkshire region wineries, distilleries, cideries, and craft breweries, plus gourmet cheeses, baked goods, meats, and much more.

The weekend’s festivities will also feature special guest appearances and book signings, arts and crafts, and seminars on wine and food pairings, home brewing, and cheese making.

Hudson-Berkshire Wine & Food Festival Vendors:

Wineries
Adirondack Winery – (Lake George, NY)
Brookview Station Winery – (Castleton, NY)
Cereghino Smith Winery – (Bloomington, NY)
Clinton Vineyards – (Clinton Corners, NY)
Furnace Brook Winery – (Richmond, MA)
Halmoon Cellars Winery – (Saratoga Springs, NY)
Helderberg Meadworks – (Duanesburg, NY)
Hudson-Chatham Winery – (Chatham, NY)
Hummingbird Hills Winery – (Fultonville, NY)
Les Trois Emme – (New Marlborough, MA)
Tousey Winery – (Germantown, NY)
Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery – (Warwick, NY)
Whitecliff Winery – (Gardiner, NY)

Distilleries
Dutch’s Spirits – (Pines Plains, NY)
Harvest Spirits – (Valatie, NY)
Hillrock Estate Distillery – (Ancram, NY)
Hudson Valley Distillers – (Clermont, NY)
Still the One Distillery – (Port Chester, NY)

Breweries
Barrington Brewery – (Great Barrington, MA)

Farm & Food Products
Applegrove Farm – (preserves, mixes)
Dutch Desserts – (fruit tarts)
Goats and Gourmets – (Goat Cheese)
Grandpa Pete’s Gourmet Sauces – (Pasta & Sauces)
Gusto Della Vita – (olive oils and vinegars)
Hawthorne Valley Farm – (cheeses, breads)
Hessian Hill Farm
Ice Delites – (Italian Ices)
Insane FudgeIoka Valley Farm – (maple products)
JD Gourmet – (olive oils and vinegars)
Jiff-E-Chips – (homemade kettle chips)
Joe’s Jerky – (jerky snacks)
Just Good Eats – (homemade ice cream & treats)
Nottingham Hollow Specialty Foods – (fudge, praline syrup)
Oliva Provisions
Saratoga Crackers – (crackers)
Savor Fine Foods – (bakery)
Short & Stout Tea Company – (specialty teas)
Susi’s Hot Sauce – (Hot Sauces & Seasonings)
Sweet Rama’s – (homemade goat soap)
The Olive Table – (specialty olive oil, greek honey)
Worldlings Pleasures – (Flavored Cheese Spreads)

Food Concessions
Bootleggers on Broadway – (food truck)
Guido’s Frozen Desserts – (Italian Ice)

Artisans & Crafters
A Greater Grater
Audrey’s Art
Graceful Things Home Decor
JK Custom Furniture & Design – (furniture)
Leaning Tree Designs – (jewelry)
Northend Woodworking – (Wood Designs)
This Old Bottle
Tile Table World Corp. – (custom tile tables)
Tom Kenny – (wood bowls)
Winding Drive – (jams & jellies)

Exhibitors
Culligan of Hudson – (water treatment/systems)
CUTCO Cutlery – (knives)
Huff N Puff – (windows, doors, gutters)

The Hudson-Berkshire Beverage Trail features handcrafted, award-winning and celebrated wines, beers, and spirits and extends from just southeast of Albany, on down to Hudson. The members of the association put on the the Hudson-Berkshire Wine & Food Festival each spring.

Hudson-Berkshire Wine & Food Festival 2015

May 23 – 24
Columbia County Fairgrounds, Route 66 and Route 203, Chatham, New York

Be sure to visit the site for updated information and full schedule: www.hudsonberkshirewinefestival.com. Tickets will be available at the gate – Your $25 Tasting Ticket gets you admission, all the wine, beer, and spirits you care to taste, and a souvenir tasting glass you can take home as a keepsake. Regular tickets (for admission only) are $10.

Hudson-Berkshire Wine & Food Festival Lodging
The Hudson-Berkshire Wine & Food Festival is just a half-hour’s drive from Applegate Inn Bed and Breakfast in Lee, MA. Applegate Inn offers 11 beautifully appointed suites with private baths, fireplaces, and spa tubs. We’ll spoil you with candlelight breakfasts, afternoon wine and cheese, evening cognac and chocolates, and attentive service – stay with us and enjoy real Berkshires comfort!

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One of the first signs of summer, the annual Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, is almost upon us and the Berkshires are already a-buzz with what promises to be another standout season!

The annual Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival is America’s longest-running dance festival, having been started in the 1930’s by modern dance pioneer Ted Shawn. Jacob’s Pillow Farm has been designated a National Historic Landmark and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival is a recipient of the National Medal of Arts.

Some might even go so far as to say that Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival is the cultural foundation upon which the beautiful Berkshires of Western Massachusetts rest – but far be it from us to promote so divisive a notion. It is without doubt, however, that the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival is hugely instrumental in the training and educating of dancers, choreographers, administrators, and instructors through the annual workshops, seminars, and international dance performances it brings to the Berkshires.

This year’s Pillow Dance Festival should prove no different:

June 13, 14: Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host w/ Ira Glass of “This American Life”
Ted Shawn Theatre

June 24-28: Ballet BC
Ted Shawn Theatre

June 24-28: New York Theatre Ballet in Cinderella
Doris Duke Theatre

July 1-5: Dorrance Dance with Toshi Reagon and BIGLovely
Ted Shawn Theatre

July 1-5: BODYTRAFFIC
Doris Duke Theatre

July 8-12: Nederlands Dans Theater 2
Ted Shawn Theatre

July 8-12: Big Dance Theater in Alan Smithee Directed This Play: Triple Feature
Doris Duke Theatre

July 15-19: Alonzo King LINES Ballet
Ted Shawn Theatre

July 15-19: Company Wang Ramirez in Monchichi
Doris Duke Theatre

July 22-26: Daniil Simkin’s INTENSIO
Ted Shawn Theatre

July 22-26: Gauthier Dance//Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart
Doris Duke Theatre

July 29 – August 2: Daniel Ulbricht & Stars of American Ballet
Ted Shawn Theatre

July 29 – August 9: Jessica Lang Dance in The Wanderer
Doris Duke Theatre

August 5-9: Malpaso Dance Company with Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble
Ted Shawn Theatre

August 12-16: The Sarasota Ballet
Ted Shawn Theatre

August 12-16: La Otra Orilla
Doris Duke Theatre

August 19-22: L.A. Dance Project
Ted Shawn Theatre

August 19-23: Liz Gerring Dance Company
Doris Duke Theatre

August 23: A Jazz Happening – Benefit Performance for The School at Jacob’s Pillow
Ted Shawn Theatre

August 26-30: Martha Graham Dance Company – 90th Anniversary Celebration
Ted Shawn Theatre

August 26-30: MADBOOTS DANCE
Doris Duke Theatre

August 29: 2015 Festival Finale
Martha Graham Dance Company at Ted Shawn Theatre
MADBOOTS DANCE at Doris Duke Theatre

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2015

June 13 – August 29
For more information and tickets: www.jacobspillow.org

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival Lodging
Whenever you’re in the Berkshires, please consider Applegate Inn your home away from home. With our convenient location, you’re set to explore the Berkshires by car, on foot, bike, or what have you. Just minutes from Jacob’s Pillow Dance Center, Tanglewood, the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Berkshire Theater Festival, the Barrington Stage Company; in the center of the action, yet secluded enough to be the perfect quiet retreat.

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The historic Mahaiwe Theater in Great Barrington, MA is heating up the Berkshires once again with its jam-packed 2015 summer schedule of performing arts!

The Mahaiwe Theater – one of the oldest surviving theaters in the US – has been bringing entertainment to the Berkshires since its opening in 1905. In continuous operation for over 100 years, the Mahaiwe Theater started life as a venue primarily for vaudeville acts. It made the move to films in 1930 and continued through to 2002 when the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center was formed. The theater was both updated and restored with much attention paid to historic detail and retaining the venue’s excellent acoustics.

The Mahaiwe Theater’s 2015 Performing Arts Summer Schedule continues the grand tradition of bringing stellar performances by national and international talent to the Berkshires stage – take a look:

Close Encounters With Music presents Invitation to the Dance – June 13th, 6pm
Boston Early Music Festival presents Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 – June 20th, 8pm
Boston Early Music Festival presents Monteverdi’s Orfeo – June 21st, 3pm
Tom Gold Dance with Live Music – June 27th, 8pm
Noche Flamenca’s Antigona – July 2nd, 7:30pm
Paul Taylor Dance Company – July 9th through the 12th, various times
Pink Martini – July 13th, 8pm
London’s National Theatre in HD: Everyman – July 16th, 7pm
Don McLean – August 8th, 8pm
Free Fun Friday Bindlestiff Family Cirkus – August 14th, 10am
An Evening with Graham Nash – August 15th, 8pm
An Evening with Kenny Aronoff – August 23rd, 7pm

Throughout both the 2015 Performing Arts summer schedule – and the rest of the year – the Mahaiwe Theater presents weekly classic films as well as other live events involving music, theater, dance, talks, and other programs.

Highlights for this summer include a documentary film about Paul Newman’s racing career, an oral history by Arlene and Alan Alda about Just Kids from the Bronx, and an evening with StoryCorps founder Dave Isay.

Mahaiwe Theater and Performing Arts Center

14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA
www.mahaiwe.org

Mahaiwe Theater Lodging
Applegate Inn bed and breakfast is a convenient drive from Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, not to mention man of the other cultureal attractions in the Berkshires: Tanglewood, Jacob’s Pillow Dance, the Norman Rockwell Museum, Barrington Stage Company, and so much more. Applegate Inn offers 11 beautifully appointed suites with private baths, fireplaces, and spa tubs to provide you with true relaxation – stay with us and enjoy real Berkshires comfort!

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It’s time once again for Tanglewood’s annual Festival of Contemporary Music, scheduled for July 20-27, 2015!

Tanglewood has been the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937 as well as host to three academies of music: Tanglewood Music Center, Days in the Arts, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. The Festival of Contemporary Music is Tanglewood’s annual presentation of modern American chamber and orchestral compositions.

2015’s Festival of Contemporary Music centers primarily on composers from both the current Tanglewood Music Center faculty and alumni, with 15 world premieres of pieces commissioned for Tanglewood Music Center’s 75th anniversary, as well as works by celebrated composers such as Bernstein, Copland, Foss, and Ives.

2015 Festival of Contemporary Music Schedule

July 20 – 8pm
Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra – Stefan Asbury, Conductor – TMC Conducting Fellows – Emanuel Ax, piano
Glanert – American Prelude No. 1
Rautavaara – Lost Landscapes: Tanglewood, for solo violin and strings
Pinto-Correia – Timaeus
Druckman – Aureole
Zuidam – Tanglewood Concerto

July 23 – 8pm
Oliver Knussen, Conductor – Peter Serkin, piano – Nicholas Phan, tenor
Schuller – Magical Trumpets
Maderna – Serenata No. 2 for 11 Instruments
Carter – A Sunbeam’s Architecture
Perle – Critical Moments 1
Schuller – Concerto da Camera
Wuorinen – Megalith

July 24 – 2:30pm
John Harbison, Conductor – Ursula Oppens, piano
Primosch – Dark the Star
Dallapiccola – Concerto per la Notte di Natale dell’anno 1956
Harbison – Seven Poems of Lorine Niedecker
Grime – Embrace
Ran – Birkat Haderekh (Blessing for the Road)
Levinson – Here of amazing most now

July 25 – 2:30pm
Dawn Upshaw, soprano
Thomas – Selene-Moon Chariot Rituals
Mackey – Madrigal
Sheng – Deep Red
Vores – Fabrication 15: Amplification
Epstein -Quartet for English horn and strings
Gandolfi – New work

July 25 – 6pm
TMC Prelude Concert – Lucy Shelton, soprano
Wyner – Sonnet: In the Arms of Sleep
Brahms – String Quintet No. 2 in G, Op. 111

July 26 – 10am
Stefan Asbury, Conductor
Knussen – Two Organa
Perle – Critical Moments 2
Anderson – String Quartet No. 2
Bettison – New Work
Henze – Adagio Adagio
Turnage – Dark Crossing

July 27 – 8pm
Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra – Michael Tilson Thomas, Conductor – Tanglewood Music Center Conducting Fellows
Buti – Chorus, Ann Howard Jones, Conductor
Copland – Orchestral Variations
Foss – Quintets for Orchestra
Bernstein – Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs, for clarinet and orchestra
Ives – New England Holidays

Tanglewood Music Center’s Festival of Contemporary Music

July 20th through the 27th, 2015
All shows are at Ozawa Hall on the Tanglewood Music Center Campus in Lenox, Massachusetts.
Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online at www.bso.org

2015 Festival of Contemporary Music Lodging
Applegate Inn bed and breakfast is less than 6 miles from Ozawa Hall on the Tanglewood campus as well as most of the rest of what brings people out on a Berkshires getaway! Applegate Inn will spoil you with luxury, tranquility, service, and convenience – not to mention candlelight breakfasts, afternoon wine and cheese, and evening cognac and chocolates!

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Chesterwood’s Chesterfest 2015 – a series of live concerts billed as a New Americana Music Festival – is coming! This year’s concerts are scheduled for Sundays in July and August.

Chesterwood, a National Trust Historic Site, was the country home and studio of Daniel Chester French (1850-1931). French, who sculpted, among other things, the Minute Man monument in Concord and the Abraham Lincoln that resides so majestically in the Lincoln Memorial, is considered America’s foremost sculptor of public monuments.

Chesterwood, located in Glendale near Stockbridge, Massachusetts, was donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which now operates the lush, 122 acre estate as a museum and sculpture garden with numerous events and programs throughout the year. One could be forgiven for not thinking a historic and regal art setting like Chesterwood is the obvious location to hold loud concerts of contemporary music – but last year’s Chesterfest was a major success, and this year is shaping up to be even better!

Chesterfest 2015 is a series of contemporary music concerts to be held at Chesterwood on Sunday evenings from July 19th through August 30th. The selection of music will be broad, encompassing such modern and popular styles as hip-hop, punk, psych-folk and rock, as well as older forms like folk, bluegrass and country.

On concert nights, the grounds of Chesterwood open at 5pm with solo artists set to hit the stage at 5:30pm, followed by the bands at 6:30pm. Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets and to a pack a picnic for an evening of memorable music on the Chesterwood lawn. Last year, a free glass of beer was included with every adult ticket, while other snacks and beverages were made available during the concerts and a similar plan appear to be in the works for this year.

While the lineup for Chesterwood’s Chesterfest 2015 has yet to be announced, it soon will be. Tickets for Chesterfest 2015 are limited, so be sure not to hesitate once the 2015 schedule is released if you plan to attend!

Chesterfest 2015

4 Williamsville Road
Stockbridge, MA 01262
For an updated schedule and on-line ticket sales, please visit: chesterwood.org

Chesterfest 2015 Lodging
Applegate Inn is located less than a quarter hour’s drive from Glendale and the grounds of Chesterwood. Because of our location in Lee, MA we’re the perfect home base for any of your Berkshires events or attractions, whether you’re going by car, foot, bicycle, or even snowshoes! Pamper yourself during your visit to the Berkshires with a stay at Applegate Inn!

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If you own an electric car (EV), you’ll get a charge out of this new – a REAL CHARGE! – you can now charge your EV with the Applegate Inn Tesla Charger or the ClipperCreek charger!

That’s right, thanks to a new program from Select Registry, Applegate Inn now has two EV chargers on property for our guests to use – free!

The Applegate Inn Tesla EV charger is compatible with all Tesla models. For guests whose EV is not compatible with the Tesla Supercharger, we offer the ClipperCreek HCS-40 electric car charger – we’ve got you covered.

This all came about when Tesla Motors and Select Registry teamed up through the Tesla Motors Destination Charging program. Select Registry is the first independent hospitality organization to engage with such a forward thinking program to this degree, installing said chargers on all 170+ Select Registry properties!

For those of you not familiar with Select Registry, it was begun in the late 1960s as a directory of the the very finest b&b’s, inns, and hotels across the country. To qualify and continue on as a Select Registry Property, each member has to pass an unannounced, rigorous, 200-point quality assurance inspection. No other hospitality organization goes to such lengths to assure travelers guaranteed quality and exceptional service.

Applegate Inn is a Select Registry Property and proud to be a recipient of both this honor and the perks that go with maintaining such a high standard – perks that we can pass along to our guests, like the Applegate Inn Tesla and CrippleCreek EV charging stations!

Applegate Inn is a Berkshires bed and breakfast inn offering a premium combination of luxury, tranquility, service, and convenience for your Berkshires vacation. Our convenient location puts you within minutes of all major Berkshires attractions, plus we’ll spoil you with candlelight breakfasts, afternoon wine and cheese, evening cognac and chocolates, and more. Stay at Applegate Inn for true value and comfort!

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Summer – what a wonderful time to be out of doors! One of the best ways we can think of, of really getting out into the great outdoors while you’re in the Berkshires would be on a guided Housatonic River canoe trip.

Most of the time, we find ourselves looking wistfully out at the calm, flowing waters of the Housatonic river as it wends its way past us through the lush and beautiful Berkshires’ landscape. To really enjoy it, there’s nothing quite like getting out onto its smooth surface with nothing but quiet assurance of manpower to guide your gentle journey along its course.

Guided Housatonic River canoe trips will treat you to scenic vistas able to be seen only from the river as it meanders through the agricultural fields and floodplain forests of Massachusettes’ Berkshires. Marvel at the sight of eagles flying over Bartholomew’s Cobble, beavers slapping their tails on the water at your approach, Great Blue Herons hunting along the shallows, and the colorful shells of wild painted turtles.

The trained and knowledgeable guides for your Housatonic River canoe trip will point out both native and intrusive plant and animal species on the river. They will also entertain and educate you with the history of the river and the work that is now going on to restore as much of original habitat and species as possible.

Your tour guide will also impart basic boating safety and operating instructions for the canoe, life preservers, and paddles provided, allowing you to simply relax and enjoy your journey. Guided Housatonic River canoe trips are suitable for everyone – no matter your canoeing experience! Both the canoeing expert and novice will find the river generally tranquil and easy to maneuver upon.

Guided Housatonic River Canoe Trip

Berkshire Canoe Tours – 413-442-2789
Deckers Landing, near 320 New Lenox Road, Lenox, MA

Guided Housatonic River Canoe Trip Lodging
Applegate Inn is located in the heart of the Berkshires, just ten minutes away from the start of your guided Housatonic River canoe trip. Ask about our concierge service for this or any other Berkshires attractions you’re considering during your stay. Our beautifully appointed Berkshires inn is a Select Registry property offering modern conveniences – like charging stations for your EV and a heated swimming pool – in the warmth of a traditional setting with beautiful gardens and candlelit breakfasts. Reserve your room at Applegate Inn today!

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Celebrate Labor Day this year with Harry Connick, Jr. Kristin Chenoweth, and the Boston Pops: make it a Tanglewood Labor Day weekend!

Tanglewood always schedules something special for audiences for the Tanglewood Labor Day weekend concerts and this year is no different with two popular artist concerts scheduled: Harry Connick, Jr. and Kristin Chenoweth with the Boston Pops!

An Evening With Harry Connick, Jr. – September 4, 2015

Kristin Chenoweth with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra – Sept 5, 2015

Tickets for these concerts are available through the Tanglewood website, or by calling 888-266-1200.

Located in the Berkshires between Stockbridge and Lenox, Tanglewood is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and three music schools: the Tanglewood Music Center, Days in the Arts and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute.

Tanglewood Labor Day Weekend Concerts

Harry Connick, Jr. – September 4, 7pm
Kristin Chenoweth – September 5, 8:30pm
Tanglewood – 297 West Street, Lenox, MA
tanglewood.org

Tanglewood Labor Day Weekend Lodging
Applegate Inn, your Berkshires getaway headquarters, is less than 6 miles from the Tanglewood campus. and the combination of our modern conveniences in a traditional setting make a stay with us the perfect compliment to your Berkshires’ getaway at Tanglewood. We’ll spoil you with our convenient location, candlelight breakfasts, afternoon wine and cheese, evening cognac and chocolates, and attentive service. Stay at Applegate Inn for the ideal Berkshires bed and breakfast experience. Pamper yourself during your visit to the Berkshires with a stay at Applegate Inn!

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The recent sighting of an albino humpback whale off Australia’s Gold Coast put Moby Dick in many people’s minds – but did you know the house where Melville wrote his famous book – Arrowhead the Herman Melville House – is right here in the Berkshires?

Herman Melville published 11 novels, 17 short stories, and even more poems – but chances are, one title of this classic, American author is the first that comes rushing to mind: Moby Dick.

Often referred to as “the most ambitious book ever conceived by an American writer,” Moby Dick was published in 1851 – and a large portion of it was written at a Massachusetts farmhouse purchased by Melville in 1850: Arrowhead, the Herman Melville House Museum in Pittsfield, MA.

Herman Melville lived with his family at Arrowhead for 13 years, farming, writing, and living life in the Berkshires. His years at Arrowhead were his most productive period for his best work. It is clear Arrowhead influenced his writing, inspiring him and appearing in a number of his stories. Most notably, it has been said that the view of Mount Greylock from his window was partial inspiration for the whale Moby Dick!

Arrowhead also appeared in Melville’s short story, “The Piazza,” and was inspiration for his collection of stories entitled “The Piazza Tales.” The piazza in question refers to a porch Melville added to Arrowhead – a porch you can still stand on to this day during your visit to the Herman Melville House, enjoying much the same view Melville did.

Another piece, “I and My Chimney,” sees Arrowhead as a model for the house in the story, making it one of the most accurate descriptions of Arrowhead during Melville’s time here. Allan Melville, Herman’s younger brother, was so proud of the story that he added a short inscription to Arrowhead’s chimney from the text during his occupancy of the property, an inscription you can still see to this day.

Despite the quality and quantity of Melville’s productivity during his 13 Arrowhead years, he was not making a living from his writing. He eventually sold Arrowhead to his brother, Allan, and moved his family to New York to try his luck at the lecture circuit.

Arrowhead stayed in the Melville family until 1927, then went through a number of different owners until 1975, when the Berkshire County Historical Society purchased the house and began its restoration.

Arrowhead, the Herman Melville House, is now much as it was during the 13 years Melville and his family lived and farmed here, from 1850 to 1863. A National Historic Landmark and museum, visitors can now take guided tours of this historic farm, learn more about the fascinating and troubled author who added a porch, outbuildings, and a wing to the old house while also writing some of his most famous and successful novels here.

Arrowhead the Herman Melville House Museum

780 Holmes Road, Pittsfield, MA
For hours, current exhibits, and more, be sure to visit: www.mobydick.org

Herman Melville House Lodging
Applegate Inn’s convenient location has you less than 15 minutes from the Herman Melville House Museum and makes exploring the Berkshires a snap!
Consider us your home base during your Berkshires getaway and reap the reward of our eleven, beautifully appointed, luxury suites, complete with private baths, fireplaces, and spa tubs. Applegate Inn is your ticket to comfort – book your stay now!

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It’s the town of Lee’s annual birthday celebration – Lee Founders Weekend, scheduled for Friday, September 18th through Sunday, September 20th, 2015. Don’t miss this popular, annual Berkshires event!

Lee Founders Weekend is 3 days of fun in the Berkshires with food, live music, arts and crafts, contests, a parade, sidewalk sales and street vendors, duck derby, community block dance, and much more. Best of all, out-of-towners are not just allowed to attend but are encouraged to join in the fun – the more the merrier!

A birthday party, of sorts, Lee Founders Weekend goes well beyond celebrating the deeds of the past by honoring of all those who have helped to make Lee, MA the beautiful, friendly place that it continues to be, past present and future.

Take a look at some of the Lee Founders Weekend schedule highlights:

Thursday, Sept 17
Cemetery Tour – 6pm
Kick things off on Thursday evening, the 17th, with a tour of Fairmount Cemetery sponsored by the Lee Historical Society.

Friday, Sept 18
Taste of Lee – 5pm to 8pm
An opportunity to dine al fresco on Lee’s Main St with tastings from Lee’s finest restaurants and local food vendors, all to live music, provided by WBRK, the Berkshires oldest radio station, along with Robin O’Herin, Housatonic Philharmonic Orchestra, and Moonshine Holler.

Lee Idol – 7pm
The Spectrum Playhouse presents the 5th annual “Lee Idol”, a fun and entertaining contest for singers and musicians based on the hit television show. Sign-ups begin at 6pm on Friday with judged performances at 7pm – don’t miss the finale Saturday night at 7pm!

Saturday, Sept 19
Hometown Parade – 10am
Everyone loves a parade, they say, and that is especially true of a good, old-fashioned, main street parade like the one honoring Lee Founders Weekend. Watch from the sidewalks as the town of Lee comes out to celebrate community with floats, marching bands, clowns, fancy cars, horse-drawn wagons, and all the spectacle that goes into a good, homegrown parade. (you might even recognize one of the clowns in the parade as looking suspiciously like your Applegate Inn keeper …)

Duck Derby – 2pm
Come watch hundreds of yellow rubber duckies racing down the Housatonic River through Downtown Lee. Compete by picking up your own duck for $5 – or 6 ducks for $25 – the first duck across the finish line pays $500, with many more prizes available for runners up. Tickets are available at Ben’s Shop, NBT Bank, Lee Premium Outlets customer service, and Lee Chamber Information Booth.

Lee Idol Finals – 7pm
The 3 finalists from Friday night will perform for the audience voting for the grand prize winner – the biggest cash prize in Lee Idol history!

Sunday, Sept 20
Lee Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast – 8am to 11am
Finish up your Lee Founders Weekend the best way possible with the Kiwanis Annual Pancake Breakfast at Saint Mary’s School – yum!

Lee Founders Weekend

September 18 – September 20, 2015
For more information, be sure to visit www.leefoundersweekend.com

Lee Founders Weekend Lodging
Lee Founders Weekend 2015 is a fun, friendly, and free celebration offering something for everyone who attends – no matter age, interests, or ability! Applegate Inn, a Berkshires bed and breakfast located in Lee, is proud to be part of such a wonderful community. We would love to be your host for the Lee Founders Weekend – or any time you’re enjoying a Berkshires vacation!

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Fall is upon us, if one can trust the signs: cooler temps, brightly colored leaves on the ground, and the arrival of celebrations like the upcoming 36th annual Lenox Apple Squeeze Harvest Festival, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, September 26th and 27th, in Lenox, MA!

It is community celebrations like the annual Lenox Apple Squeeze Harvest Festival that make the passing of summer into fall not a bittersweet change but a happy and fun one. Something people from around the region – and even the country – look forward to all summer long. Who isn’t relieved to have another reason to leave the stifling confines of the city to relish the natural beauty of the Berkshires?

One of the best fall festivals the Berkshires have to offer, the Lenox Apple Squeeze Festival is an opportunity to experience the sensorial panoply of a Berkshires autumn in all its splendor, the quaint and warming fun of small-town Americana that Lenox offers year-round, plus all sorts of delicious apple treats, from ciders to pies, to caramel covered apples and – yep: even apple pizza!

But the Lenox Apple Squeeze Harvest Festival is not just about apples – oh, no.

The apple harvest may be the weekend’s impetus but Lenox Apple Squeeze Harvest Festival is a weekend of activities and attractions, like the street vendors selling handmade crafts, sculptures, and original art work, handcrafted jewelry, textiles, wood carvings, leather goods, and hand woven fabrics.

Along with traditional – and deliciously non-traditional – apple dishes, drinks, and treats, you’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy foods, wines, beers, and other local and regional foods from local farmers’ harvests along with the results of their timeworn, home recipes. The Great Apple Chili Contest, in particular, is a real treat, especially if you’ve never tasted this delightful, spicy delicacy. Yum!

And entertainment! Your toes will never stop their tapping as live bands playing everything from pop, rock, jazz, country, and bluegrass will be there to entertain and enliven your weekend fun. Don’t miss out!

Lenox Apple Squeeze Harvest Festival

September 26th and 27th – 10am to 5pm
Lenox, MA
For more info: lenox.org/apple-squeeze-2015

Lenox Apple Squeeze Lodging
As of this writing, Applegate Inn in Lee, MA – just 10 minutes drive away from the Lenox Apple Squeeze Festival – still has rooms available … but we wont for long! Book now to assure your room at our Select Registry property. Applegate Inn is a Berkshires bed & breakfast offering eleven beautifully appointed suites with modern conveniences in the warmth of a traditional setting. Reserve your room at Applegate Inn, now!

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Between the beautiful, turning foliage, the upcoming holidays, the ebb of summer crowds, and the area’s ever-present culture, autumn may be the best time to visit the Berkshires – and it is with this in mind that Applegate Inn offers our Berkshires lodging specials!

Autumn brings more than just bright fall colors to the Berkshires, it also brings lots of fun! Lots of festivals and to-do’s abound as folks get ready for the holidays and the end of the year. Halloween alone provides lots to do and see. After a busy summer, it’s nice to be able to get away from everything for a day or two – or even more – and the Berkshires provide that picture-perfect respite from your hectic, fast-paced, work-a-day world.

Applegate Inn, here in the heart of the Berkshires, is happy to help you take that autumn break from the office with a host of Berkshires lodging specials for fall and beyond – take a look!

Two Night Mid Week Fall Foliage Luxury Special
Stay in one of Applegate Inn’s King or Queen rooms for two nights, Monday through Thursday – enjoy the beautiful Berkshires fall foliage and receive a 15% discount on your stay! Our 2 night, mid-week Berkshires lodging special is available from September 28th through October 18th, for reservations made on September 26th or later, and cannot be combined with any other special – our apologies but Room 6 is not eligible for this discount.

Three Night $50 Special Package
Enjoy 3 restful nights at Applegate Inn in Stockbridge, MA and receive that third night for only $50! If you can’t take the time for the third night, use the room for the day and leave late – hey, we’re flexible. Our three-night Berkshires lodging special is available for both mid-week and weekend stays.

Two Night $75 Special Package
Stay 2 nights mid-week at our Berkshires bed and breakfast, and receive a discount on that second night: $75 off any King bedroom and $50 off for a Queen bedroom. Applegate Inn’s 2 night special is only available Sunday through Thursday and does not apply to Room 6.

These are just a few of the Berkshires lodging specials we have to offer. Be sure to check our specials and packages page for other great add-ons and offers!

All Applegate Inn, Berkshires lodging specials must be mentioned when you book your stay, require full payment at the time of booking, and are non-refundable. Applegate Inn packages and specials are not valid on Holiday weekends or special events unless otherwise noted.

See you soon!

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Ventfort Hall Mansion in Lenox, MA is an imposing, Jacobean Revival-style mansion built by the J.P. Morgan family in the late 1800’s and is now restored as a Gilded Age Museum you can tour!

If you’ve seen the film “Cider House Rules,” this Berkshires mansion may look a little familiar to you – the exterior of Ventfort Hall was used as St. Cloud’s Orphanage in the movie. Beyond that, the iconic building has been a dormitory for Tanglewood music students, a summer hotel, the Michel Fokine Ballet Summer Camp, and community housing for a religious organization – but before that, it was just another Berkshire Cottage.

Don’t let that term “Berkshire Cottage” fool you, however.

During the Gilded Age – the era from which Ventfort Hall sprang – the rich and mighty like J.P Morgan and the Rockefellers enjoyed referring to massive homes like Ventfort Hall – palatial estates with opulent gardens, salons, libraries, servant’s quarters, and more – as “cottages” because they were “out in the country” and smaller than their other, even more massive homes.

Ventfort Hall initially served as a summer home to J.P. Morgan’s sister’s family with a total of 28,000 square feet of living space and over 50 rooms, including 9 main bedrooms, 10 servant’s bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 17 fireplaces, and a surrounding demesne of 26 landscaped acres.

After the Morgans sold the property in 1925, Ventfort Hall began its long fall from grace. By the late 1990’s, this once stately Berkshire Cottage was near ruins and set for demolition but for a group of concerned citizens who stepped in, formed the Ventfort Hall Association, and began the process of saving the iconic property for future generations to enjoy and learn from.

Today, Ventfort Hall is “Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum,” providing a unique glimpse into one of the most fascinating periods of American history thus far: the Gilded Age, when great changes – social, economic, and industrial – were occurring throughout American society at a rate yet to be paralleled.

Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum offers tours of the property, hosts special exhibitions, theatrical performances, concerts, lectures, Victorian teas, children’s programs, and more throughout the year – plus a museum shop to browse. The restored, lavishly decorated rooms of this remarkable residence give visitors a glimpse of just what life was like during this period of American history – for both the extremely wealthy and their less fortunate house staff.

Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum

104 Walker Street, Lenox, MA
Memorial Day Weekend through Oct 31, Mon–Sat: 10am – 5pm
Nov 1 to Memorial Day Weekend, Mon–Sat: 10am – 4pm
Sundays 10am – 3pm, year ’round
Closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day
For more information on special events, current and upcoming exhibits, tour schedules and more, be sure to visit: gildedage.org

Ventfort Hall Lodging
It’s hard to beat Ventfort Hall for sheer opulence – but you can’t spend your entire Berkshires getaway there. For comfort you can retire to, a stay at Applegate Inn bed & breakfast is the next best thing. Centrally located in Lee, MA, our eleven, beautifully appointed suites, complete with private baths, fireplaces, and spa tubs are your ticket to real relaxation andservice in the Berkshires – see you soon!

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Planning a Berkshires skiing vacation this winter? Great idea – the Berkshires are loaded with numerous excellent ski areas and Applegate Inn is right in the center of all the best Berkshires skiing action!

It’s true: there are lots of wonderful Berkshires skiing opportunities and Applegate Inn is conveniently close to a majority of them. Take a look!

Cranwell Resort – 55 Lee Road, Lenox, MA – www.cranwell.com
Just 10 minutes away from Applegate Inn!

Bousquet Mountain Ski Resort – 101 Dan Fox Drive, Pittsfield, MA – www.bousquets.com
Only 15 minutes away from Applegate Inn!

Canterbury Farm Cross Country Skiing – 1986 Fred Snow Road, Becket, MA – www.canterbury-farms.com
A mere 20 minutes away from Applegate Inn!

Hilltop Orchards – 508 Canaan Road, Route 295, Richmond, MA – www.hilltoporchards.com
Only 20 minutes away from Applegate Inn!

Catamount Ski Area – Route 23, South Egremont, MA – www.catamountski.com
Just 20 Minutes from Appelgate Inn!

Maple Corner Farm – 794 Beech Hill Road, Granville, MA – www.maplecornerfarm.com
But 40 Minutes from Appelgate Inn!

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort – 37 Corey Road, Hancock, MA – jiminypeak.com
Only 40 Minutes from Appelgate Inn!

Notchview – Old Route 9, Windsor, MA – www.thetrustees.org
Less than 45 minutes drive from Applegate Inn!

Having such an amazing array of Berkshires skiing opportunities so close to our Berkshires inn compels us to help share them with you! Thus, many of Applegate Inn’s lodging specials and packages were designed with something like a Berkshires skiing getaway in mind.

Many of our Berkshires Getaway Packages run from November to May, with offers for mid-week lodging, 2 and 3 night stays, and even a Berkshires Skiing Special (natch!), providing either two, mid-week ski lift tickets for Butternut Ski Resort (Monday-Friday) or a Nordic (cross country) ski package, complete with a tasting of up to six different wines and a 10% savings on all wines purchased, at Hilltop Orchards!

If you’re interested in taking advantage of one of our Berkshires lodging specials or packages, be sure to let us know when you first book your stay: (800) 691-9012.

So go ahead, book your Berkshires skiing getaway at Applegate Inn now, before they’re all snapped up!

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Celebrate a Berkshires New Year’s Eve in style without putting a crimp in your pocketbook – prices start at $195 for a one night stay – by taking advantage of the New Year’s Eve Special at Applegate Inn!

Our luxurious Berkshires bed and breakfast inn always has a number of Berkshires lodging specials and packages available to choose from. One of the most popular is our Berkshires New Year’s Eve Special, which we update each year to provide the best possible combination of savings and extras for you!

Berkshires New Year’s Eve Special

Applegate Inn’s Berkshires New Year’s Eve Special places you and your companions in the beautiful surroundings of the New England countryside, here in Lee, MA, and includes:

Three, Two, or One Night Stay
Champagne and Hors D’oeuvres at the Inn on 6pm on New Year’s Eve.
Candlelight Gourmet Brunch served New Year’s Day morning.
Wine and Cheese served at 5pm on the other evenings.
Candlelight Breakfast on crystal and china, on the other mornings.
Decanter of Brandy and Chocolates in your room.

Pricing for Applegate Inn’s 2015 Berkshires New Year’s Eve Special:
$330 for King Size Luxury Suites (Rooms 1, 7, 8, 9, 10)
$230 for Queen Size Bed (Rooms 2, 3, 4, 5)
$195 for Smaller Queen Size Bed (Room 6)
$330 for Carriage House Cottage (2 Queen Bedrooms) for 1 couple
$410 for Carriage House Cottage (2 Queen Bedrooms) for 2 couples

Hoping to stay beyond (or before) New Year’s Eve? Great – you’ll still save because other nights for the holiday period are offered to you at our regular, off-season rates!

To take advantage of our 2015 Berkshires New Year’s Eve Special, just give us a call at (413) 243-4451 (or send us an email at info@applegateinn.com) and let us know that you’re interested – but act soon before we’re all booked up!

Be sure to check our Berkshires lodging specials and packages page for more deals to help you save or enhance your stay at Applegate Inn!

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The end of the year is always an exciting time, but especially here in the Berkshires with the Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” on stage and the recent release of the Tanglewood 2016 season schedule.

Tanglewood 2016 Season Schedule

The 2016 Tanglewood season schedule was announced late last month, with tickets going on sale January 24th, 2016 at 10am.

If you have a confirmed reservation at Applegate with deposit, your innkeepers can help you secure a good seat. Requests must be made by Dec. 15th, so act soon!

Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol”

The cast of A Christmas Carol, 2014, photo by Christina Riley.

“A Christmas Carol” Performance Dates:
Dec 12 at 7pm
Dec 13 at 2pm
Dec 17 at 7pm
Dec 18 at 7pm
Dec 19 at 2pm and 7pm
Dec 20 at 2pm and 7pm
Dec 21 at 7pm
Dec 22 at 7pm

Tickets may be purchased at the door, by calling (413) 997-4444, or on the the Berkshire Theatre Group website,a along with schedules, directions, and more at: www.berkshiretheatregroup.org/.

Applegate Inn’s Berkshires New Year’s Eve Special

We still have some rooms available for our Berkshires New Year’s Eve Special: champagne and hors d’oeuvres, a candlelight gourmet brunch, wine, cheese, a decanter of brandy, chocolates, and more – with prices starting at $195 for a one night stay – but we wont have openings for long!

Give us a call at (413) 243-4451 (or send us an email at info@applegateinn.com) to take advantage of this special deal but act soon before we’re all booked up!

Berkshires Lodging
Applegate Inn‘s convenient yet quiet location places you just minutes from the Berkshire Theatre Group’s stages, Tanglewood, Jacob’s Pillow, the Norman Rockwell Museum – really, all the best the Berkshires have to offer. With eleven, beautifully appointed suites, offering private baths, fireplaces, and spa tubs, Applegate Inn is your ticket to the perfect Berkshires getaway.

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The holidays can be a magical time but, let’s face it, they can also be a lot of work and stressful. Why not start your new year off right by giving yourself the rejuvenating gift of a Berkshires Spa Getaway?

Applegate Inn’s convenient location in the Berkshire countryside allows us to offer the promise of a quiet, relaxing atmosphere while also keeping within easy reach of such local institutions as Tanglewood, Jacob’s Ladder, and the Norman Rockwell Museum. We’re also close to some great shopping opportunities, wonderful galleries, fine restaurants, and numerous spas, gyms, and wellness centers.

Shake off the doldrums of your New Year-itis with a trip to the Berkshires and get pampered with an Applegate Inn Berkshires Spa Getaway!

Applegate Inn’s Spa Indulgence Packages are provided in conjunction with Soul Spa in Lee, MA, whose skilled therapists will soon have you relaxed and recharged.

Our Berkshires Spa Getaway – just one of a number of Berkshires lodging specials and packages we offer – includes a 50 minute Swedish massage, each, for two, along with one of the following, each: reflexology, aromatherapy, or facial rejuvenation – all at 10% off the normal price. A deep tissue massage may be chosen in place of the Swedish.

Prefer to relax with a shopping trip? The Applegate Inn Shopping Getaway will help you to do just that with a VIP Coupon Book for the shops at the Premium Outlet Village.

Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge are bursting with great shops and galleries offering unique gifts, antiques, and more. Our own Berkshire Bed and Breakfast gift shop offers jewelry, estate pieces, educational toys, local Berkshire products, and our own Applegate Inn gift certificates.

A Girl Friends Getaway to the Berkshires can also be just what the doctor ordered! Applegate Inn’s luxurious suites and roomy accommodations provide many public areas for you to sit and laugh, cry, and reminisce.

We’ll provide discount coupons for you to many local shops and even arrange a special spa day for you, if you wish! Let us know what sounds best when you contact us to arrange your Berkshires getaway package.

Whatever you decide – Shopping Getaway, Girl Friends Getaway, Spa Getaway, or just a Mid-Week Stay – the shops, spas, restaurants, galleries, and other attractions of the Berkshires will be at your fingertips when you choose to stay at Applegate Inn.

See you soon – and Happy New Year!

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Where better to stay during your Valentine’s Day getaway than the B&B voted “best place to kiss in the Berkshires?” Let Applegate Inn set the scene for your romantic holiday with one of our Valentines lodging specials!

Home to cultural icons like Tanglewood and Jacob’s Pillow Dance, outdoor recreation areas like Jiminy Peak and Butternut Ski resort, as well as myriad fine shops, galleries, and restaurants, the Berkshires are the perfect setting for any romantic getaway.

Historic Applegate Inn is the perfect compliment to the area, with carefully cultivated amenities expressing a combination all of the finer aspects of both modern and classic hospitality. Better yet, our Valentines lodging specials and packages go even farther in making your romantic Berkshires getaway the best it can possibly be.

Applegate Inn Valentines Lodging Specials

Romance Package (Available Nov – May)
The Applegate Inn Romance Package starts at $545 and includes:

• Two nights lodging in one of our wonderful fireplace rooms
• A sumptuous 3 course dinner for two
• Chocolate and a split of champagne
• Queen Room Romance package – $545
• King Suite Romance Package in Main house with steam shower
  or soaking tub – $715
• King Suite Romance Package in Carriage house or Main house with two person whirlpool tub – $715

 
Mid Week Lodging Specials (Available Nov – May)
Applegate Inn’s Mid Week Lodging Special aren’t necessarily romantic but can be made into one with the right choice of complimentary add-on.

The base special includes 2 nights midweek (Sunday-Thursday – Two night stay can include a Thurs/Fri, other restrictions apply) and can then be modified in a number of ways, including

• A $50 Dining Gift Certificate towards a dinner for 2 at one of our fine, local restaurants OR
• A complimentary bottle of Furnace Brook Winery’s award-winning Blanc de Blancs bubbly with a decadent chocolate treat

 
This last add-on is only available during the month of February, for our Valentines Lodging Special.

Spa Indulgence Package
What better gift for the one you love than a relaxing visit to a spa for a massage?

Applegate Inn’s Spa package is provided in conjunction with the professional therapists at Soul Spa and includes 10% off:

• Swedish massage: 50 minute massage each, for two people
• Reflexology, Aromatherapy, or Facial Rejuvenation for two people, each chooses one of these services
• Deep Tissue Massage, 50 minutes massage each, for two people

 
Other Romantic Add-Ons available for our Valentines Lodging Special – or any time – include our Rekindle the Romance Gift Bag – A unique gift bag waiting for you upon arrival, filled with such goodies as a romantic CD, a book of love poems, decadent chocolates, and fun and luxurious bath treats – all for only $40 extra.

You also have the option to add a special touch you your romantic Berkshires getaway with wine, champagne, a cheese and fruit tray, or fresh flowers.

In order to take advantage of Applegate Inn’s Valentines Lodging Specials, all you need do is let us know what you have in mind and we’ll do what we can to help make sure your experience is perfect. Prices vary depending on requests and all specials and packages must be mentioned when you first book your room. For details and restrictions be sure to visit the Applegate Inn Specials and Packages page!

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Seth McFarlane, Chick Corea, and Garrison Keillor are just a few of the stars in the 2016 Tanglewood season lineup

Tickets for the 2016 Tanglewood season go on sale January 24th, 2016 at 10am and this year’s stellar lineup of stars and performances is bound to make them sell out quickly!

Tanglewood always attracts the best performers and audiences, gilding stages and packing houses every summer for the past 76 years. The wide-ranging schedule of performances and events for the 2016 Tanglewood season includes some of the classical music world’s biggest names, including Andris Nelsons, Emanuel Ax, Joshua Bell, Yefim Bronfman, Charles Dutoit, Paul Lewis, Yo-Yo Ma, Dawn Upshaw, and Yuja Wang.

The 2016 Tanglewood season is no stranger to popular entertainment, either, with appearances this year by Seth MacFarlane, Chick Corea, and the return of such favorites as Garrison Keillor and NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!

2016 Tanglewood Season Highlights

June 25th will see the return of Garrison Keillor and A Prairie Home Companion – rumors are that this may be Garrison’s Keillor’s last Prairie Home Companion show, so grab these tickets while you still can!

Joshua Bell will perform with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jacques Lacombe conducting Ravel’s Alborada del gracioso, Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No. 3, and Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 on July 8th.

On July 10th the Boston Pops Orchestra will perform a swinging set of classic songs from the ’40s and ’50s with very special guest Seth MacFarlane joining Keith Lockhart for a swingin’ symphonic serenade through the Great American Songbook.

July 17, Gustavo Gimeno is set to conduct the BSO through Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1, Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and the 1919 version of Stravinsky’s Suite from The Firebird – all featuring guest performer, superstar pianist Yuja Wang.

American jazz and fusion pianist and composer, Chick Corea comes to Tanglewood’s Seiji Ozawa Hall on July 31st for a 75th Birthday Celebration with the Chick Corea Trio, featuring Christian McBride and Brian Blade.

Celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma returns to the Tanglewood stage August 7th with The Silk Road Ensemble – an eclectic group of distinguished musicians, composers, and performing artists from more than 20 countries around the world.

The ever popular John Williams’ Film Night returns on August 13th, followed closely by a screening of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” with Orchestra – John Williams’ epic score performed live by the Boston Pops on August 26th.

September 1st will see NPR’s fast-paced, irreverent, yet informative, Peabody Award-winning, news-quiz program, Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! returns to the Tanglewood stage, featuring host Peter Sagal and judge/score-keeper Bill Kurtis.

While James Taylor is expected to perform twice this year, a full schedule of Popular Artist concerts, have yet to be announced.

The full schedule for the 2016 Tanglewood Season can be seen on the Boston Symphony Orchestra website with online tickets sales beginning January 24th, 2016 at 10am – don’t miss out!

Tanglewood Lodging
Applegate Inn is less than 6 miles from the Tanglewood campus and the combination of our modern conveniences in a traditional setting make a stay with us the perfect compliment to your Berkshires’ getaway at Tanglewood.

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It’s not an easy thing to compile a list of the best Berkshires restaurants. The Berkshires are an uncommonly rich culinary crossroads, attracting chefs and restaurateurs alike with a wide selection of venues and cuisines. From fine restaurants to sandwich shops, brewpubs to pizzerias, and styles from around the world: Asian, Italian, Greek, Indian, French, American, and more.

Of course, a “best of” list of any kind is bound to be subjective and controversial – our best may not be yours! Thus we offer up this list of superb, top-rated restaurants, within easy driving distance of our Berkshires inn, not as any final word but more a guide and example of the caliber of dining one can find here.

The Best Berkshires Restaurants

In Lee – and so are we! All venues under 5 minutes drive from Applegate Inn, 15 on foot.

Chez Nous
Casual chef-owned bistro in historic downtown Lee. Seasonal, local ingredients and warm, efficient service. Full bar. Dinner only. Year round.
150 Main Street, Lee – cheznousbistro.com

Bombay Bar & Grill
Classic Indian cuisine. South & North Indian dishes. Lunch-dinner-Sunday Brunch. Lakeview-full bar. Excellent by Zagat 2005-06. Closed Mondays.
435 Laurel Street, Lee MA 01238 – www.bombaylee.com

Salmon Run Fish House
Featuring Fresh Maine Lobster, Alaskan King crab legs, Char-grilled steaks and chicken, pasta, salads & the area`s largest kid`s menu.
78 Main Street, Lee MA 01238 – salmonrunfishhouse.com

In Lenox – all venues less than a 10 minute drive from Applegate Inn

Alta Restaurant & Wine Bar
Unique casual wine bar/restaurant. 20+ wines by the glass. Fresh local ingredients. Outdoor dining. Full bar/lunch/dinner 7 days. Owner operated.
34 Church Street, Lenox – altawinebar.com

Nudel Restaurant
Cozy, no-reservations place serving a seasonally inspired New American menu highlighting pasta. Nudel is centrally located in downtown Lenox surrounded by bars, shops and scenic attractions.
37 Church Street, Lenox MA 01240 – nudelrestaurant.com

Table Six Restaurant
Expertly prepared seasonal cuisine, first-class service and casually elegant setting. Helmed by Ron reda, former White House Chef.
2 Kemble Street, Lenox MA 01240 – www.tablesixlenox.com

In Pittsfield – again: under 10 minute’s drive from Applegate Inn

Mazzeo’s Ristorante
Fine Italian dining voted Best of the Berkshires. Specializing in veal, seafood and homemade pasta. Gluten free available. Reservations recommended.
1015 South Street, Pittsfield MA 01201 – mazzeosristorante.com

In Stockbridge –

Once Upon a Table less than a 10 minute drive from Applegate Inn
A quaint, intimate bistro-style restaurant tucked back in the mews (a pedestrian alley) just off Stockbridge’s Main Street, featuring locally sourced American dishes.
36 Main Street, Stockbridge, MA – www.onceuponatablebistro.com

Flavours Restaurant 20 minutes drive from Applegate Inn
Authentic Asian home-cooked food. Freshly cooked to order with fresh ingredients. No MSG. Gluten Free available. Lots of vegetarian entrees to pick from.
75 North Street, Pittsfield – www.flavoursintheberkshires.com

In North Adams –

PUBLIC eat+drink less than an hour’s drive from Applegate Inn
PUBLIC serves casual, jazzed up American food with an emphasis on freshness, flavor and quality service.
34 Holden Street, North Adams MA 01247 – www.publiceatanddrink.com

So there you have it – a short list of the best Berkshires restaurants, as taken from a recent online poll. No matter what your taste, from fine cuisine to casual comfort foods, the Berkshires have it.

The Best Berkshires Lodging
Of course, you’ll want to follow up your fine Berkshires dining experience with equally fantastic Berkshires accommodations – and that is Applegate Inn, a luxury Berkshires bed and breakfast in Lee, Massachusetts. We’re conveniently located for your explorations of the Berkshires by car, foot, bike, or even snowshoes or skiis if the season and urge takes you – book your stay at Applegate Inn now!

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