Community: A Whale of a Festival Celebrates Herman Melville
Moby-Dick, the classic seafaring tale that many believe to be the great American novel, was written by Herman Melville in Pittsfield MA; scholars surmise that Melville's great white whale was insipred by the view of Mount Greylock from the library of his farmstead, Arrowhead. This summer, Pittsfield's director of cultural development, Megan Whilden, has decided to give Melville his due, with a multi-faceted festival based on Moby-Dick. Call Me Melville includes music, dance, theater, film, gallery exhibitons (in both Pittsfield and Hudson), public art installations, hikes, and other activities, from the predictable to the whimsical. If you've managed to make it through high school and college without reading this dauntingly massive tome, Tresca Weintstein explains why now is a great time to dive in.
Seems Like Old Times: Chesterwood Antique Auto Show
For nearly four decades, Chesterwood, the National Trust Historic Site that was the one-time country seat of Daniel Chester French (1850-1931), sculptor of the seated figure of Abraham Lincoln in Washington, D.C.'s Lincoln Memorial, has hosted a quiet country antique auto show. Until last year, that is, when attendance suddenly doubled and the number of vehicles on display swelled by 35%. That momentum, reports RI's Marilyn Bethany promises to continue at this year's show, which takes place on Saturday, May 27. New additions to the agenda include delicious food—Lakota BBQ, Berkshire Mountain Bakery pizzas, Barrington Bites cupcakes, and SoCo ice cream dispensed from the company's own vintage truck—and some kid-friendly activities, such as a scavengar hunt. As always, tours of the lovely French house and studio are included in the price of admission.
Restaurants: The Matchbox Café Strikes a Chord in Rhinebeck
A year ago, Sam and Joann Cohen realized their dream of expanding on their Manhattan bakery business to open a roadside burger joint in Dutchess County serving high-qualty comfort food at gentle prices. Since then, the tiny Matchbox Cafe has earned big accolades, including the "Best Dessert" award at Taste of Rhinebeck 2012 for their Red Velvet Cake, which was also named one of Oprah's "Favorites" in 2011. Though detour-worthy desserts literally take center stage at The Matchbox, according to Colleen Challenger Schropfer, you'd be remiss to head straight to the scrumptious sweets and bypass the Cohens' savory dishes, including that dreamy burger — made from local, organic, grass-fed beef, naturally. And what's more appealing than breakfast served all day, especially when interpreted by the Cohens' comfort food mentality. Breakfast nachos, anyone?
Recipe: Like Butter, Only BetterRadishes are popping up in home gardens and fields across the region and among the early crops in our local farmers’ markets. Picking up on the French tradition of spreading butter on radishes with a sprinkling of salt, cookbook author Alana Chernila brings us her recipe for radish butter, with a pinch of poetry. |
Parties: VIM, Veggies, and Trade SecretsLast week’s celebrations included a dinner party in New Marlborough for Volunteers in Medicine prepared by an all-star team of chefs; the opening of a photography show in Pawling starring raw vegetables; and the annual Trade Secrets rare-plants and antiques sale, a true gardenpalloozza in Sharon. |
Garden: Chive Talkin'Novelist and blogger Liza Gyllenhaal says chives are like telemarketers: “invasive and indefatigable.” But when it comes to this smallest member of the onion family, the pros far outweigh the cons. She shares some ideas on how chives can help keep pests out of your garden and in flavor in your kitchen. |
AgriCulture: Onward, ForewordOur Turkana Farm bloggers are writing a book, based, in part, on the popularity of their AgriCulture column in RI. This week, they present their Foreword, which serves as good background information for those of you who have wanted to know a bit more about Peter Davies and Mark Scherzer, and their farming life. |
Kids: Country BBQ, Rockefeller StyleThe Columbia Land Conservancy marks its 25th anniversary with a hoedown on Sunday, May 27, at David Rockefeller’s Clum and Patchen Farm in Livingston, NY. Enjoy performances by the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and the Cathy Grier Blues Band, puppetry by the Ivy Vine Players, Border Collie herding demonstrations, plus birds of prey, a petting zoo, and plentiful local food and libations. |
Music & Art: Canadian RhapsodyHave our neighbors to the North invaded? No, but they have taken over MASS MoCA for Oh, Canada, the largest survey of Canadian art ever produced outside of that country. This weekend more than 60 Canadian artists descend upon North Adams to celebrate the exhibition’s opening, including Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene, who will DJ a dance party on Saturday night. |
Instant Intelligence
Through May 24 - Rhinebeck Upstate Films presents UpDocs, a week of under-the-radar documentaries from around the world.
May 26 and 27, Rhinebeck The Rhinebeck Antiques Fair’s 2012 Spring Show, Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Held entirely indoors, rain or shine at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. Admission: $10 for adults, children under 12 are free.
Through May 31 - Lenox Cranwell Day Spa offers a 10% discount spa treatments when you donate clothing to Zonta Club of the Berkshires or the Soldier On Berkshire Veterans Residence.
May 24 - 27 - New Marlborough Estate sale at Tamaridge features books, hunting gear, military paraphernalia, cameras, binoculars, leather boots, tobacco pipes, etc. 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
May 24 - 28 - Pittsfield Pine Cone Hill’s Annual Memorial Day Tent Sale features seconds, overstocks, and first-quality home goods at 50 - 90% off retail prices. 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
May 25 - 27 - Great Barrington Memorial Day Weekend Sale, celebrating the opening of the new Michael Wainwright Outlet Store. Noon - 5 p.m.
May 28 - 28, Berkshire County Berkshire Grown presents Farmed & Foraged: A Weekend of Spring Flavors. More than 25 restaurants offer special menus featuring peak-of-the-season ingredients.
May 26 - 28 - Pine Plains Alexandra Kasmin Antiques and Decorative Arts Memorial Weekend tag sale at the Shekomeko General Store, Saturday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m; Sunday & Monday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
May 26 - Hudson Basilica Hudson presents This Is Congo, a photo exhibit and preview of the documentary film Shortcut to Heaven.
May 27 - Livingston Columbia Land Conservancy’s 2012 Country Barbecue, a fundraiser at David Rockefeller’s Clum And Patchen Farm.
May 29 - Pittsfield The Summer Celebration of Jewish Music kicks off at Congregation Knesset Israel with a Jewish/African-American Fusion performance featuring Charles Neville.
May 31 - June 4 - Great Barrington & Pittsfield The Berkshire International Film Festival 2012 at the Beacon Cinema, Mahaiwe, and Triplex Cinema.
June 1 - 17 - Lenox Lenox Library hosts Brushes for Books, featuring a range of framed artwork, sculpture, and antiques.
June 2 - Lenox Close Encounters with Music closes its season with The Roaring Twenties: Berlin, Paris, New York, music from the age of decadence, at Tanglewood’s Ozawa Hall. 6 p.m.
June 2 – Bangall Celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee at the NL-GB shop with a trunk show of Katherine Hooker London summer dresses and an exhibit of Leora Armstrong paintings; 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Next door, Red Devon Restaurant will be serving Jubilee menu specials.
June 2 - Hudson Bossa Triba Berkshire Bateria: Hudson Cruises’ Brazilian style Samba cruise.
June 2 - 3 - Lenox The First Annual Spring Antiques Fair at Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum in collaboration with the Rhinebeck Antiques Fair. Preview party: June 1.
June 10 - Red Hook Colors of Africa Brunch & Silent Auction to support US-Africa Partnership for Building Stronger Communities. Gospel music, drumming & cooking demo. Enigma Dance Hall, 11 a.m.
June 15 - 17, Hudson Hudson Pride 2012. A weekend of celebrations: two boat cruises; Warren Street parade; cabaret & dance party at Club Helsinki; Family Pride Day at the Hudson waterfront.
June 15-17, Stockbridge Orleton Farm 14th Annual Pleasure Driving Show. Family rides, driving classes, carriage collection tours, food, and refreshments. 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. $5; children under 5 free.
June 15-17, Lenox Berkshire British Motorcar Festival. On the grounds of Shakespeare & Co, 500+ British motorcars participate in a celebration of all things British.
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