Editor

Parties

A Special Evening With John Luther Adams For Audubon Sharon

Rachel Louchen reports from Sharon. “Birdsong is beyond the reach of our ears; I translate," said composer John Luther Adams as he addressed the crowd at a very special benefit for Audubon Sharon on Saturday, September 6. A longtime supporter of the Audubon, Adams, the winner of the 2014

By Editor

Wellness

Fitness From The Field: The Tower (And Power) Of Pilates

The Rural Intelligence region offers a plethora of fitness and healing modalities, but it can be hard to know which is the one that fits your needs, your body type and your schedule. Enter Paula Boyajian, a yoga instructor certified in Interdisciplinary Yoga and Yoga for the Special Child, who

By Editor

Arts

Chef Michael Ballon: 25 Years Of A Chef's Life In The Berkshires

By Lisa Green When  Chef Michael Ballon, a regional pioneer of the farm-to-table movement, first opened the Castle Street Café in Great Barrington 25 years ago, he had to import goat cheese from California. But he soon learned that excellent versions of it were being produced in our area, and

By Editor

Real Estate

Green Your Way

Built in 2002, this Sharon house was completely renovated in 2012. Newly updated were the kitchen, floor finishes, two bathrooms, electrical wiring, lighting fixtures and upgraded ductwork. There are three bedrooms, beautiful hardwood floors and well-insulated large windows. The passive solar nature of the house lends itself to excellent green

By Editor

Real Estate

Solar Style

The style of this home looks classic country but has a modern heart with energy-efficient appliances and mechanical systems, solar power and high-velocity air conditioning. Sited on 11 acres in Kinderhook, the house offers a professional kitchen, open living room/dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows, mudroom, sleeping loft, three bedrooms

By Editor

Real Estate

Total Green Upgrade

A newly renovated, energy-efficient property in Cornwall has a central dehumidification system, generator, upgraded electrical and buried power lines. The easy-to-maintain house has living room, dining area with French doors that lead to the new stone terrace, kitchen with pantry, finished media room/library on lower-level, family room with sleeping

By Editor

Real Estate

Shaker Sustainable

Energefficient  green materials, passive solar sighting, and reclaimed wood are housed in a classic Shaker-inspired Saltbox located in Spencertown. This unique green property is actually two Saltboxes joined in perfect symmetry, sited atop a picture-perfect 15 acres. The timeless interior has built-in cabinets and drawers, maple-cut countertops in the kitchen,

By Editor

Style

Garden: Fall Is Not Just A Tree Thing

The following is a regular column that addresses basic issues facing the ever-inquisitive back- and front-yard toiler, proffered by someone who knows best; one of the fertile master gardeners from the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, Brian Cruey. Fothergilla You don’t need me to tell you that summer is

By Editor

Community

The Rural We: Andrea Pyros

Writer Andrea Pyros grew up a NYC girl, but fell in love with Rhinebeck during her college days at Vassar and finally moved here in 2004. Since then, she’s worked as a freelance writer for a variety of publications (including Rural Intelligence). Now, with inspiration from professors, friends and

By Editor

Community

Groundswell at Olana: A Site-Specific Artistic Revelation

By Jamie Larson For just a single afternoon, Saturday, September 13, the unparalleled viewshed at the Olana State Historic Site will serve as both muse and canvas for the site-specific sound and transmission focused artwork that is Groundswell. It's the second installment of the unusual yet wonderfully balanced

By Editor

Community

My Turn As a Tourist: A Day With Behold! New Lebanon

By Lisa Green Behold! New Lebanon is a living museum of contemporary rural American life. There are no ladies in bonnets spinning wool a la Sturbridge Village. These people are the real deal, willing to open their lives to share their skills and experience of rural living as a step

By Editor

Community

Behold! New Lebanon Is A Living Museum Of Rural Life

By Lisa Green We’re quite fond of our towns, villages and hamlets in the Rural Intelligence region. But let’s face it, some towns beg you to jump out of the car and explore their Main Street, while others seem more like drive-through towns. The rural New Lebanon, despite

By Editor