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Parties

Construct's Tasty Mayfest Fundraiser at Crissey Farms

Fiona Breslin reports from Great Barrington.Despite the heavy rain, an eager crowd packed Crissey Farm on Monday, May 14 as more than 20 local restaurants and top chefs donated time, food, and spirits for Mayfest, Construct Inc.'s annual event to raise funds for housing, support, and educational

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Parties

A Tour & More: Spencertown Academy's Hidden Gardens

Spring is in the air region-wide but at the Spencertown Academy, which is celebrating its 40th this year, it is also busting out all over the gallery walls. The Academy's current exhibition, Artworks Inspired by the Garden, features Cristobal Morales' blossom-like assemblages (also currently on

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Parties

At CATA Gala, Vibrant Vital Signs

Fiona Breslin reports from Lenox.Community Access to the Arts, known as CATA, showed clear signs of vitality at this year’s annual fundraising performance and gala, held on May 12 at Shakespeare & Co. Called Vital Signs, the gala drew a record number of attendees for its hour-long

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Food

AgriCulture: The Rod, the Staff, and the Magic Wand

AgriCulture bloggers Peter Davies and Mark Scherzer are the owners of Turkana Farms in Germantown, NY. This week, Mark writes: For a number of unfortunate reasons, I’ve heard the 23rd Psalm a great deal lately, most recently last Friday morning at a cousin’s funeral. I have nothing against

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Food

Rhubarb Cinnamon Polenta Cake, with Thanks to Nigel Slater

Berkshire native Alana Chernila, local politician, mother of two, and author of the new cookbook, The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying & Start Making (Clarkson Potter), dispenses change and peak-of-the-season cooking ideas at the Great Barrington Farmers' Market. Lately she has been devouring

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Style

The Art of Shopping: Working Warren with a Pair of Pros

We all shop, but shopping with someone who actually makes a living buying stuff is an entirely different game. For one thing, the pros notice subtleties we pikers would be likely to overlook, such as the fine print on the $900 price tag dangling from a '50s floor lamp

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Food

Cross Roads Food Shop is Hillsdale's New Hot Spot

Chef David Wurth has been living and cooking long enough in the Berkshires and Hudson Valley to know that a successful business must have crossover appeal. With the Cross Roads Food Shop, he has created the quintessential rural restaurant--a neighborhood hangout by day, destination dining by night--that attracts

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Style

Garden View: Are Green Thumbs Inherited?

Liza Gyllenhaal is the author of the novels "Local Knowledge," "So Near," and the forthcoming "A Place for Us," all set in the Rural Intelligence region. She and her husband divide their time between Manhattan and West Stockbridge, MA where she writes — and putters

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Parties

Food Festival Ramps Up in Hudson

Dale Stewart reports from Hudson.There was a palpable buzz in advance of the second annual Ramp Fest Hudson, and by all accounts (and palates) the event — held on Saturday, May 5 at the Basilica Hudson —  surpassed expectations. Produced by Jeff Gimmel of Swoon Kitchenbar (pictured left, with gallerist Karen

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Parties

Frank Langella Screening and Signing

Tara Kelly reports from Millerton.The literati turned out to ogle the glitterati when the stylish antiques store Hunter Bee hosted a book signing for Frank Langella (pictured at left) on Saturday, May 5. Langella has been a busy man. He's criss-crossing the country to promote two

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Food

AgriCulture: The Secret Language of Farms

AgriCulture bloggers Peter Davies and Mark Scherzer are the owners of Turkana Farms in Germantown, NY. This week, Peter writes: We have discovered that the farm world has a language all its own. Before starting the farm more than 11 years ago we were not much further along in farm

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Parties

Gimme Shelter at Berkshire Botanical Garden

Fiona Breslin reports from Stockbridge. The chilly spring evening had everyone bundled up April 28 when the Berkshire Botanical Garden held its 2012 season-opening party, but as all wise gardeners know, the full heat of summer will soon be upon us. In anticipation of that inevitable change in the

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