The Most Memorable Parties Of 2023

We love when we’re invited to attend the festive galas of the many nonprofits in the Rural Intelligence area. It’s our pleasure to spotlight the people and organizations that are so generous with their time, talent and funding to improve the quality of life for all of us in the Berkshires, Columbia and Dutchess counties, and Northwest Connecticut. Were you among those whose visages graced our digital pages? Below is a sampling of the galas and other fundraising events that allowed us to champion good people, good deeds, and good works in our four-county neck of the woods.

Hudson Hall invited its guest to shine up their sequins for its annual gala on May 20, and they obliged. Performances popped up throughout the evening, including an arielist, dancers and a slightly raunchy cabaret singer. A lavish spread from Home/Made+Atelier Roquette kept replenishing itself among the swirl of activities in the pink and purple-lit hall.

Norman Rockwell Museum’s summer gala, A Night of Wonder on June 10 opened with a greeting by a 30-foot, inflatable sea monster named Morton. It was part of the museum’s exhibition, “Tony Sarg: Genius at Play,” and his whimsical puppetry and department store window displays set the scene (and theme) for a fanciful evening in Stockbridge.

VIM (Volunteers in Medicine) held a fiesta at Balderdash Cellars on June 22, where guests learned about Care Works and VIM’s $20 million campaign to fund the opening of a new care center in Pittsfield. Then the party really got going when Luana Dias David, a samba dancer in fantastical Brazilian garb, inspired the attendees do some moving and shaking of their own.

Rural Intelligence hosted its own party to celebrate the second summer preview print magazine on June 29 at Roe Jan Brewing Co. in Hillsdale. Friends and advertisers got a first glimpse of the new printed issue and we basked in the attention and enthusiasm of the readers who came to hang out with us.

Time and Space Limited (TSL) in Hudson celebrated its 50th anniversary on July 2 with hundreds of friends and supporters. Linda Mussman and Claudia Bruce have nurtured the haven for performance, film, art and activism for half a century. Kudos to this dynamic couple!

The Ancram Opera House (recently renamed Ancram Center for the Arts) held a benefit performance of The Plein Air Plays (The Plein Air Plays Plus!) on August 19. Guests traveled to three outdoor locations to watch an original half-hour play in secluded spots. The performances were followed by dinner at one of several patrons’ homes.

The Millay Arts residency program held a 50th anniversary gala on September 9 at is exquisite property, Steepletop, the Austerlitz home of Edna St. Vincent Millay. Alumni returned to the scene of their inspiration, some even performing works formed during their time there. The guest of honor was James Lapine, playwright, screenwriter and librettist who won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times; he was a Millay Arts Fellow in 1978.

The Millbrook Garden Club showed off the results of a photography competition at a show at the Millbrook Public Library on October 14. The organization, which is committed to educating the community about the important environmental benefits of native trees and plants, was also instrumental in the design of a pollinator garden at the library, and guests at the event were shown the plans for the upcoming garden. A silent auction raised funds for further civic projects.