Rural Intelligence
Arts

The 12th Annual BIFF Reveals Karen Allen's Filmmaking Chops

By CB Wismar The 12th Annual Berkshire International Film Festival – affectionately known as “BIFF” opens with its much-anticipated gala on Thursday, June 1 in Great Barrington. The schedule of films, as always, is eclectic. Fresh features that capture the essence of independent film making on a global scale ("In
By Editor
Food

Vegan Or Not, You’ll Love Shire Kitchen’s Community Dinners

Mariana Bergtold in the tempeh shed, where the kitchen manufactures 100 pounds of chickpea tempeh at a time. By Lisa Green Fans of the Dancing Vegan, a plant-based, takeout shop in Pittsfield, Mass., were severely disappointed when Chef Mariana Bergtold closed its doors in 2009. Even now, local vegans (and
By Editor
Parties

Raising Glasses And Funds For The Berkshire Music School

Lisa Green reports from Great Barrington. There were toasts…and toasts…and toasts to the Berkshire Music School at its wine pairing dinner on Tuesday, May 9 at the Castle Street Café. And although there was a special wine selected for each course, the cheer could be attributed to the
By Editor
Arts

Dani Shapiro's 'Hourglass' Explores A Marriage Over Time

In her new memoir, Hourglass (Knopf), Dani Shapiro of Litchfield County excavates and celebrates her marriage of nearly 20 years to screenwriter/director Michael Maren. In her previous critically acclaimed memoirs—Slow Motion and Devotion —Shapiro has put her personal history under the microscope to come to terms with her
By Editor
Community

The Rural We: Caroline Crehan Becker

Photo: Lisa Vollmer Photography Inc. Owner of Mulberry Hair Company in Great Barrington, Mass., Caroline Crehan Becker has created a warm and welcoming studio in her new location on Rosseter Street. Originally from Birmingham, England, she met her husband, an Old Chatham, New York, native, in Boston. They moved to
By Editor
Community

Art In The Elements: Turn Park Art Space Opens

By Amy Krzanik It goes without saying that you visit a sculpture park in order to view its sculptures. But, if that were the only reason, why would collectors go through the trouble of purchasing land and building a park, when they could house these artworks in a building – a
By Editor
Food

The Ambassador Salad: Détente In The Kitchen And At The Table

Contributor Lisa Fielding is a private chef and boutique caterer based in Manhattan who weekends in Litchfield County whenever possible. Many of her Manhattan clients are also Litchfield County weekenders, so work brings her to Northwest Connecticut as well. A Los Angeles transplant, Fielding was a former Hollywood film executive
By Editor
Style

The High-Performance House, Part 7: Here Comes The Light

Rona Easton and Lonn Combs of EASTON+COMBS, the award-winning architectural office based in New Marlborough, Mass. have allowed Rural Intelligence to look over their shoulders (and those of their client) throughout the construction process of a high-performance home going up right now. This is the seventh installment of eight
By Editor
Real Estate

In The Berkshires

Look here if you’re wanting to summer in the Berkshires close to cultural and natural attractions. In West Stockbridge, this single-level rental has two bedrooms, one-and-one-half bathrooms, hardwood floors, sunroom, and a woodburning stove. Front and back shaded porches look out to the three acres with a brook, garden
By Editor
Real Estate

Privately Rural

This custom-built post-and-beam sits on over 16 acres of total privacy with panoramic views of the Catskill Mountains. In Clinton, the summer rental has a gourmet kitchen with large picture window that enjoys views of a private pond. There is a large dining room, living room with beamed ceiling, and
By Editor
Real Estate

Deep Water

This impeccably maintained home in Lakeville is located on two private lakefront acres directly on Lake Wonoscopomuc, Connecticut's deepest lake. Fully furnished, the classic Cape has an updated kitchen, sunroom, living/dining area, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached garage. A large covered back porch overlooks the
By Editor
Real Estate

Summer Marvel

Spend the summer in this one-of-a-kind modern masterpiece on 90 acres in Falls Village. One of the first modernist homes in America, the circa 1931 house was completely restored in 2000 and the kitchen was extensively renovated in 2006. Along with the state-of-the-art kitchen, there is a dining room, living
By Editor

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