The Berkshires A LifeStyle Guide
Realtor 413.822.0929 gmontgomery@williampitt.com gladysmontgomery.williampitt.com
SPRING 2020 Dear Reader, I’m pleased to introduce you to one of my favorite places in the world: the Berkshires. I moved to this area of western Massachusetts in 2004, having lived in the Boston area, in Manhattan, in D.C., and as an expatriate, for eight years, in Manila and Tokyo. To me, my current home feels like an expatriate community, attracting, as it does, educated, sophisticated people from all corners of the globe. And, though replete with beautiful rural scenery, organic farms and farm-to-fork cuisine, and a wealth of recreational amenities, it also feels like a cultural outpost of New York, infused with the talent and energy of an amazing performing and visual arts scene. With this LifeStyle Guide, I want to share some of that with you. As a top selling realtor, my chief focus is on luxury properties and architecturally distinctive homes, both historic and contemporary. To serve the Berkshire region, I’m licensed in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. As a buyer’s agent, I delight in helping my clients find their perfect place in the Berkshires. I believe I excel at helping them identify and evaluate properties and at providing advice and assistance to enable a smooth transition once the deal is done. Having worked in government, the non-profit sector, and the corporate world, and having loved the vast diversity of New York and my experience living abroad, I feel a great affinity for the variety of people who choose the Berkshires as their primary or vacation home. In representing sellers, I bring both journalistic and public relations experience to the table. Immediately prior to becoming a realtor in 2007, I honed my expertise in residential architecture during a 25-year career as an award-winning writer and editor in the shelter and lifestyle field. I’ve penned hundreds of home-focused magazine feature articles; was the founding editor of the award-winning Berkshire Living Home + Garden; and authored three books about architectural styles. I’ve also restored two antique homes. Thanks to this background, I’m skilled at highlighting my listings’ assets via styling, the written word, photography, video, and personal showings. As a former PR professional, I’m also adept at implementing strategic, attention-getting marketing initiatives. Most importantly, I pride myself on doing the right thing and behaving with integrity. I derive enormous satisfaction from excelling at what I do, so I routinely go the extra mile for my clients. This translates into outstanding client service, a proactive work ethic, a high standard of professionalism, and an upbeat attitude. And, yet, as one of them said, “she’s tough when she needs to be” in negotiation. While I’ve done and will do many real estate transactions, I keep in mind that my clients may do only one or two in their lifetimes, and that the sale or purchase I’m working on with them is probably one of the largest they ever make. Every deal is that important: every buyer and seller wants and needs a realtor they can trust. I hope, that if you’re buying or selling in the Berkshire, you’ll call on me. I’ll be delighted to help you or your referral client achieve your real estate goals. But, enough about me. Let me tell you a bit about the Berkshires. All my best,
The Berkshire Vibe The Berkshires, a 2.5-hour drive from Boston and New York, and an hour from Albany and Hartford airports, is a sophisticated, rural region offering a year-round array of cultural, culinary, and outdoor amenities and an unsurpassed quality of life. With its gorgeous bucolic scenery, quintessential New England towns, and educated local population, this area has been a vacation and second-home destination for two centuries, and it is increasingly becoming the primary home of choice for people of all ages. Whether you want to see a play that will go on to win a Tony Award or hear a blues guitarist at a pub, go for a bike ride or hike, swim or do a yoga class, dine out or cook in, get involved in the community or just relax and admire the scenery, the Berkshires is the place to be. This is a place where creativity thrives in the visual and performing arts and in a spectrum of entrepreneurial activity. One example of the area’s creativity is its vibrant culinary scene: numerous organic farms and markets; harvest shares in CSA farms; artisanal bread and cheese makers; local brewers and distillers; chef-owned, farm-to-fork restaurants; ethnic eateries; gluten-free cafés and bakeries; patisseries; and breakfast and lunch spots. The Berkshires offer unparalleled access to a rich menu of world-class cultural offerings in the visual and performing arts. The county boasts four professional theatres known for nurturing new talent and originating productions that go on to wider audiences in New York City: the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Barrington Stage, Shakespeare & Company, and the Berkshire Theatre Group. Two beautiful restored historic theaters present varied programs that range from live streaming of the Metropolitan Opera to stand-up comedy, touring music and dance companies, and solo artists. Local cinemas and two annual film festivals––the Berkshire International Film Festival and the Williamstown Film Festival––present the best of current American and foreign films. Tanglewood, the renowned summer home of the Boston Symphony is now a year-round venue offering performances by artists such as Ringo Star, James Taylor, Lady Gaga, Diana Ross, and Bob Dylan, but a vibrant music scene happens elsewhere in large and small settings alike. In summer, the Berkshire cultural experience also includes internationally acclaimed ballet and modern dance at Jacob’s Pillow, the nation’s foremost dance festival. Art, artifacts, permanent collections and national touring exhibitions are on view at four museums—the Clark Art Institute with its stunning addition by Tadao Ando; MASS MoCA, now the nation’s largest modern art museum, with pioneering contemporary and performance art; the Williams College Museum of Art; and the Berkshire Museum, part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museums on Main Street program. In 1694 a traveler from Albany to Boston described this region as “a hideous, howling wilderness.” Clearly, it is that no more: nonetheless, about one-third of the land in Berkshire county is protected as conservation or park land. There are myriad lakes for motor and non-motor boating, fishing, swimming, and skating; several state parks for hiking, snowshoeing and other activities; access to the Appalachian Trail; country roads that are favorites with cyclists and runners; and downhill skiing at three resorts: Butternut, Catamount and Jiminy Peak. Other recreational destinations include Mount Greylock Reservation (Massachusetts’s highest peak and its only Alpine eco-system), the Otis Reservoir (the state’s largest recreational lake), and Beartown Forest (its largest woodland preserve). Sweeping views and breathtaking landscapes are protected by Massachusetts’s Scenic Mountain Act and by the state’s 61 statute, which provides tax reductions to property owners who place agricultural or wooded land in conservation. Since its first settlement in 1724, this has been an independent-minded place with a strong commitment to democratic institutions and values. The Sheffield Declaration, drafted in 1773, was a precursor to the Declaration of Independence, and Great Barrington was the site of one of the first rebellions against British colonial rule. The region’s African-American heritage includes a slave who won her freedom from a Massachusetts court in 1781, many homes that were part of the Underground Railroad, W.E.B. Dubois’s birthplace in Great Barrington, and the notable jazz musicians and artists who have made their homes here. That tradition continues with civic involvement and the population’s dedication to the health and well-being of their community, its landscape, and its people. The Berkshire region remains a place where old-fashioned civility prevails, where education and the environment are valued, and where people from all over the nation and all over the world can find a welcome and make a home.
The Cultural Scene PERFORMING ARTS Aston Magna Music Festival Performances of & education about early music. 323 Main St. Great Barrington
The Lion’s Den Lower-level venue in the Red Lion Inn, presenting folk performers in an intimate setting. 30 Main St. Stockbridge
Barrington Stage Professional 3-season theatre company with two stages, originates productions that go to NYC. 30 Union St. Pittsfield
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Beautiful & beloved historic theatre presenting music, dance & theater performances, classic films, live streams from the Metropolitan Opera. 14 Castle St. Great Barrington
The Berkshire Bach Society Performances from solo instrumental recitals to large-scale choral works with full orchestra, focusing on J.S. Bach & his peers. Great Barrington Berkshire Festival of Women Writers March events featuring readings, panel discussions & workshops, monthly Lean-In Writers Group runs year ‘round. Berkshire International Film Festival May events in Great Barrington & Pittsfield focus on indie features, documentaries, shorts, filmmaker talent academy, awards, other events & lectures throughout the year. Berkshire Playwright’s Lab Staged readings of works in progress to supportive audiences at the Mahaiwe. Great Barrington Berkshire Theatre Group Performances in theatre, dance, music, entertainment on Main and Unicorn Stages in Stockbridge & at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. 6 East St. Stockbridge The Colonial Theatre Performances from stand-up comedy to live theater & music in a glorious c. 1903 venue by the architect who revolutionized American theater design. 111 South St. Pittsfield Egremont Barn - Local musicians, rock, folk, karaoke, open mic, and food. Route 23, Egremont Gateways Inn - Jazz piano & vocals in the Lounge on weekends. 51 Walker St. Lenox Jacob’s Pillow Dance The nation’s foremost summer dance festival with three stages presenting internationally acclaimed classical, modern & emerging artists; year-round educational facility. 358 George Carter Rd. Becket Great Barrington Public Theater Presents at McConnell Theater. Simon’s Rock, 84 Alford Rd. Great Barrington
MASS MoCA Museum of Contemporary Art In a complex of old, restored mill buildings, now the nation’s largest contemporary art museum & one of its most adventuresome centers for contemporary visual & performing arts. 87 Marshall St. North Adams Mission Bar & Tapas Live music on Mondays & Thursdays, open mic on Tuesdays, Songwriter’s Room some Sundays. 438 North St. Pittsfield Music & More Mid-August through mid-October series in the Meeting House features locally & internationally known soloists, chamber groups, authors, dance groups. New Marlborough St. James Place Music & arts venue in a former church. 352 Main St. Great Barrington. Shakespeare & Company Foremost professional theatre company performing works of the Bard and more including new plays by emerging talents, on two stages. 70 Kemble St. Lenox Tanglewood Year-round arts facility, summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra & venue for popular performers; indoor stages and lawn for picnicking & lower ticket prices; fireworks at selected concerts. Main Gate, 297 West St. (Rte 183) Lenox Williamstown Film Festival November screenings of classic films, indie features, documentaries & shorts, Q&As with film industry professionals, exploration of new technologies. Williamstown Williamstown Theatre Festival Renowned professional summer theatre & magnet for internationally renowned talent, originating productions that go on to win Tony Awards. 1000 Main St. Williamstown WordXWord Festival 10 days of performances & workshops for artists of the spoken word, poets, storytellers, held annually in August. Pittsfield
MUSEUMS, GALLERIES AND VISUAL ARTS An American Craftsman Galleries Showcase for artisan-made contemporary art and folk art. 22 Walker St. Lenox Berkshire Art Gallery 80 Railroad St. Great Barrington Berkshire Botanical Garden 15-acre oasis that is home to more than 3,000 species that thrive in the Berkshires, including many native ones, lecture series, garden shop, plant & artisan craft sales, annual harvest festival, other events. 5 E Stockbridge-Lee Rd, (Rte. 102 at Rte. 183) Stockbridge Berkshire Museum Part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museums on Main Street & its SPARK! Creativity Lab, this museum for all ages is a vibrant community resource & repository of art, artifacts & inventions, creative exhibitions, indie cinema, too. 39 South St. Pittsfield Bernay Fine Art Gallery 325 Stockbridge Rd. Great Barrington Bidwell House Museum 1750 Georgian saltbox, restored in 1960 by New York fashion designers Jack Hargis & David Brush, open seasonally, tours, gardens, events. 100 Art School Rd. Monterey Cassandra Sohn Photography Gallery Photographic gallery offers a schedule of exhibitions by local and internationally prominent artists, giclée printing, framing, & excellent photography workshops. 69 Church St. Lenox Chesterwood Stockbridge estate, once the summer residence of sculptor Daniel Chester French, is the only artist home/studio owned by The National Trust for Historic Preservation, annual outdoor sculpture show, beautiful gardens & views, tours. 4 Williamsville Rd. Stockbridge Evergreen American Crafts Varied selection of ceramics, folk art, visual art, jewelry, and furnishings by artists and artisans. 291 Main St. Great Barrington Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio Former home & studio of artists/collectors George L.K. Morris & Suzy Frelinghuysen, built in 1941, the first Modernist building in the Berkshires, art & furnishings evoking a sophisticated mid-century lifestyle, tours. 92 Hawthorne St. Lenox Foundry Gallery & Performance Space Contemporary art and performances. 2 Harris St. West Stockbridge
Front Street Gallery 1 Front St. Housatonic Hancock Shaker Village Established in 1791 by the Shaker sect internationally renowned for its craftsmanship & exquisitely spare & elegant designs, Iconic round barn, exhibitions, demonstrations, farm animals, country fair. 1843 W. Housatonic St. (Rte. 20 at Rte. 41) Pittsfield Harrison Gallery Leading venue for works by local, nationally and internationally known painters, sculptors & photographers, schedule well-curated exhibitions. 39 Spring St. Williamstown Historic New England Merwin House The only house museum owned & operated in the Berkshires by Historic New England, a Federal home with family furnishings of several generations, tours. 14 Main St. Stockbridge Iris Gallery of Fine Art Fine art & photography by established & emerging talents, breathtaking images exhibited in a loft-like space, giclée printing, also locations in Boston & Aspen. 25 Railroad St. Great Barrington IS183 Art School of the Berkshires Hands-on arts workshops & classes in a variety of media for children & adults, continually adding to its schedule, summer art camp. 13 Willard Hill Rd. Stockbridge Lauren Clark Fine Art Storefront space exhibiting a revolving roster of 40 regionally recognized regional & international artists working in a variety of media, also framing. 684 S. Main St. Great Barrington Lisa Vollmer Photography Gallery 325 Stockbridge Rd. Great Barrington Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art MASS MoCA, one of the nation’s largest centers for cutting-edge contemporary visual & performing arts, in a terrific complex of converted factory buildings. 1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams The Mission House A Trustees of Reservations property, built in 1739 for John Sergeant, first & very progressive missionary to the Stockbridge Mohican tribe; house was renovated in 1750 & redone during the 20th-century Colonial Revival, tours. 19 Main St. Stockbridge
The Mount Neoclassical mansion & gardens, once the summer home of author Edith Wharton, who designed the house, grounds & décor (now being restored) & considered it her “first real home,” tours, musicales, events, open seasonally. 2 Plunkett St. Lenox Naumkeag A Trustees of Reservations Property, 44-room mansion by Stanford White for Joseph Choate, with Asian gardens by Fletcher Steele for his daughter Mabel Choate, lovely period interiors west views, open seasonally for tours. 5 Prospect Hill Rd. Stockbridge Norman Rockwell Museum The nation’s foremost museum of illustration, and the world’s largest collection of work by Norman Rockwell, presenting exhibitions of his iconic images & related works, tours, lectures. 9 Glendale Rd. Stockbridge Schantz Galleries Contemporary Glass Curated showcase for leading artists working in glass. 3 Elm St. Stockbridge Scott Barrow Photography Gallery Exhibiting the work of a prolific talent whose images focus on diverse themes: lifestyle, industry, transportation, people in the Berkshires & beyond. 17 Housatonic St. Lenox
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute The Clark, with its dramatic wing by Tadao Ando, displays its own collection & is a magnet venue for impressive & varied traveling exhibitions; also streaming of London Theatre HD, lectures, events. 225 South St. Williamstown Turn Park Outdoor sculpture park and performance venue. Moscow Rd. West Stockbridge Vault Gallery Exhibiting the signature drawings & paintings of artist Marilyn Kalish, along with works by other artists. 322 Main St. Great Barrington Williams College Museum of Art Collection of 13,000 works spanning varied time periods & diverse cultures, Prendergast archive, wonderful touring exhibitions, performances––all devoted to furthering an understanding of the arts & their international history. 15 Lawrence Hall Dr. Williamstown Wit Gallery Witty, thoughtful works by artists working in varied visual media. 27 Church St. Lenox
Recreation SUMMER
Forest Park Country Club 18 holes, open to the public, daily fee. Forest Park Ave. Adams
Ashmere Lake State Park Boat ramp, fishing, water-skiing on a shallow 217-acre lake. Route 143. Hinsdale
Goose Pond Reservation & Goose Pond Swimming, boat launch (non-motor), fishing, challenging hiking trails, seasonal hunting. Cooper Creek Rd. East Lee
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Paved recreation track for biking, roller skating, walking, paralleling Route 8. Adams, Cheshire, Lanesborough
Green Water Pond Boat ramps, swimming, fishing, 58’ depth. Rte 20, East Lee / Becket
Bartholomew’s Cobble Hiking trails, visitor center. Route 7, Sheffield
Greenock Country Club 9-hole par 35 course, open to the public. 220 West Park St. Lee
Bas Ridge Country Club 18 holes, open to the public, daily fee. 151 Plunkett Ave. Hinsdale
Kennedy Park 15 miles of trails & old carriage roads for strolling, hiking, cross-country skiing, riding, mountain biking, picnicking, leashed pets allowed. Main St. (Rte 7A) or West Dugway Rd. Lenox
Bash Bish Falls State Park Scenery, views, 60’ waterfall. Picnicking, hiking, pets allowed. Falls Rd. Mount Washington Beartown State Forest & Benedict Pond Boating (non-motor), fishing, swimming, sandy beach, hiking trail, campsites in a 12,000-acre reserve. 69 Blue Hill Road, Monterey Chesterfied Gorge State Forest Rock canyon, fishing, trails for hiking & mountain biking, picnic areas, seasonal restrooms. Chesterfield Clarksburg State Park & Forest & Mauserts Pond Hiking trails, bird watching, 45 campsites, restrooms. Route 2, Clarksburg Country Club of Pittsfield 18 holes, 71 par, pro shop, also tennis courts, private, by invitation only. 639 South St. (Rte 7) Pittsfield Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club/ Miraval Berkshires 18 holes, par 70, championship course, driving range, pro shop, lessons, open to the public, daily fee. 65 Lee Rd. (Rte. 20) Lenox Deerfield River Three companies in Charlemont offer white water rafting on the river along Route 2 east of North Adams. Donnybrook Country Club 18 holes, par 72, open to the public, daily fee. 775 Williamstown Rd. Lanesborough Egremont Country Club 18 holes, par 71, open to the public, daily fee. 685 South Egremont Rd. (Rte 23) Great Barrington
Lake Garfield Boat ramp, swimming, water skiing, sandy beach, fishing, picnicking. Tyringham Rd. Monterey Lake Buel Boat ramp, beach, motor boats, swimming, fishing. Route 57, Great Barrington/New Marlborough Lake Mahkeenac (“Stockbridge Bowl”) Boat ramp, sandy beach, swimming, fishing, skating, yacht club. Interlaken Rd. (Rte 183) Stockbridge Lake Mansfield Swimming (lifeguard), sandy beach, playground, picnic area, non-motor boats. Lake Mansfield Rd. Great Barrington Laurel Lake Boat ramp, swimming (lifeguard), sandy beach, fishing, skating, changing rooms, restrooms, pets allowed. Rtes 7 & 20, Lee / Lenox McLennan Reservation & Ashintully Gardens 600-acre preserve, 1.5-mile trail, bird-watching, Hale Pond, ruins of c. 1903 “marble palace,” formal neoclassical gardens. Main Rd. Tyringham Monument Mountain Reservation Strenuous hike up a 720’-climb t Squaw Peak (1,642’). Nathaniel Hawthorne & Herman Melville hiked here. Stockbridge Rd. (Rte 7) Great Barrington Mount Everett State Reservation & Race Brook Falls Hiking trails, five waterfalls including 300’ cascade, pets allowed, no swimming. Sheffield
Mount Greylock State Reservation Access the Appalachian trail on the state’s tallest peak (3,491’), 70 miles of trails for birding, hiking, snowmobiling, back-country skiing, picnicking, seasonal hunting, views, Bascom Lodge offering summer programs, accommodations, restrooms, dining. Rte. 7, Lanesborough; 1136 Hopper, North Adams; Rte. 8 Adams Mount Washington State Forest 30 miles of rough-terrain hiking trails, campsites. Mount Washington Natural Bridge State Park C. 1810 marble quarry, dam, waterfalls, picnic area with grills, pets allowed. 107 Natural Bridge Rd. North Adams MA North Adams Country Club / northadamscountryclub.com 18 holes, par 72, open to the public, daily fee. 641 River Rd. Clarksburg
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary Massachusetts Audubon Society preserve, hiking trails, bird watching, summer camp. 472 West Mountain Rd. Lenox Pontoosuc Lake Boat ramp, swimming, fishing, hiking & biking trails, picnic area, restrooms, pets allowed, ice skating, snowmobiling, too. Rte 7, Pittsfield / Lanesborough Pontoosuc Lake Country Club / plcc.biz 18 holes, open to the public, daily fee. 151 Plunkett Ave. Hinsdale Prospect Lake Park Boating, fishing, playground, RV campsite with swimming, Egremont Sandisfield State Forest & York Lake Swimming, fishing, sandy beach, picnicking, seasonal hunting, trails for hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, boating (non-motor).
October Mountain State Forest Boat ramp (non-motor), swimming, fishing, access to the Appalachian Trail, trails for hiking, snowmobiling, cross- country skiing, ATV use with permit, seasonal hunting, 47 campsites, restrooms, showers. 317 Woodland Rd. Lee
Savoy Mountain State Forest Swimming, fishing, picnicking, 50 miles of hiking trails, 45 campsites, 4 rental cabins, pets allowed. Central Shaft Rd. Savoy
Onota Lake Boat ramp, swimming, hiking, fishing, playground, pets allowed, summer concert series. Burbank Park, Pittsfield
Skyline Country Club / skyline-cc.com 18 holes, par 71, open to the public, daily fee. 405 South Main St. (Rte 7) Lanesborough
Pittsfield State Forest Swimming, fishing, 30 miles of hiking trails, ATVs/snowmobiles permitted, restrooms, campsites, pets allowed. Cascade St. Pittsfield
Stockbridge Golf Club 18 holes, also tennis courts, private, by invitation only. Main St. (Rte 102) Stockbridge
Taconic Golf Club 18 holes, driving range open in June, private. Meacham St. Williamstown Tolland State Forest & Otis Reservoir Boat ramp, marina, fishing, swimming, water skiing in the state’s largest recreational lake (1,085-acres), camping, multi-purpose trails, seasonal. 410 Tolland Rd. East Otis Tyringham Cobble 206-acre open space preserve, 2-mile loop trail, access to the Appalachian Trail, Hop Brook, leashed pets allowed, hiking, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing. Wahconah Country Club 18 holes, par 71, semi-private course, daily fee. 20 Orchard Rd. Dalton Wahconah Falls State Park 40’ cascading falls, fishing, hiking, picnic area, pets allowed, no swimming. Routes 9/8A, Dalton Waubeeka Golf Links 18 holes, par 72, open to the public, daily fees, pro shop, driving range, practice greens. 137 New Ashford Rd. Wiliamstown Windsor Lake Boat launch, swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, camping, playground, pets allowed, summer concert series. North Adams Windsor State Forest Swimming, fishing, picnicking, camping, seasonal hunting, trails for hiking, biking, horse-back riding, cross-country skiing, restrooms, pets allowed Wyantenuck Country Club 18-hole golf course, swimming pool, tennis courts, private. 46 West Sheffield Rd. Great Barrington
WINTER Bousquet Ski Area The first resort in the country to offer night skiing (1936), 23 trails, 5 lifts, snowboarding, tubing, rentals, lessons; summer zipline & waterslides. 101 Dan Fox Dr. Pittsfield Catamount Ski Area 1000’ vertical descent, 130+ skiable acres, 24 trails, the area’s longest run (2.5 miles) and its steepest, a terrain park for snowboarders, 6 lifts, snow-making, rentals, lessons. Rte. 23, Hillsdale Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort Downhill & cross-country skiing, snowboarding, 35 trails, 6 lifts, snowmaking, equipment rentals, lessons, mountain adventure park, summer rides, lodge, inn & vacation accommodations. 37 Corey Rd. (Rte 43) Hancock Kennedy Park 15 miles of trails & old carriage roads for strolling, hiking, cross-country skiing, riding, mountain biking, picnicking, leashed pets allowed. Main St. (Rte 7A) or West Dugway Rd. Lenox Mount Greylock State Reservation Access the Appalachian trail on the state’s tallest peak (3,491’), 70 miles of trails for birding, hiking, snowmobiling, back-country skiing, picnicking, seasonal hunting, views; Bascom Lodge offering summer programs, accommodations, restrooms, dining. Route 7, Lanesborough; 1136 Hopper North Adams; Route 8 Adams October Mountain State Forest Boat ramp (non-motor), swimming, fishing, access to the Appalachian Trail, trails for hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ATV use with permit, seasonal hunting, 47 campsites, restrooms, showers. 317 Woodland Rd. Lee October Mountain State Forest & Buckley Dunton Reservoir Boat launch (non-motor), fishing, campsites, access to the Appalacian Trail, hiking trails, largest state forest in Massachusetts (16,500 acres). Otis Ridge Old-fashioned resort, downhill skiing, snowboarding, terrain park, rentals, lessons, ski camp, inn & restaurant. 159 Monterey Rd. (Rte 23) Otis Ski Butternut Family-friendly mountain with 110 skiable acres, 22 downhill trails, snowboarding, cross-country trails, tubing, 11 lifts, full snow-making, rentals, lessons. State Rd. (Rte 23) Great Barrington
Farms, Farmstands and Farmers Markets Adams Farmers & Artisans Market Adams Visitor Center, mid-July thru mid-September, Sundays 11AM-2PM Balsam Hill Farm | Maple Shade Farm Morven Allen grass-fed beef. 841 Hewins St. Sheffield Colfax Farm (Alford) CSA shares, raspberries, blueberries, organic vegetables; sells at West Stockbridge Farmer’s Market Bartlett’s Orchard Year ‘round farm stand, produce, baked goods, pick-your-own apples, plants. 575 Swamp Road (Rte 41) Richmond Berkshire Area Farmers Market May to November, Wednesdays & Saturdays, 8AM-2PM. Berkshire Mall, Rte. 8 & Old State Rd. Lanesborough. Berkshire Wildflower Honey Certified organic, honey, eggs, vegetables, beeswax candles. 282 Brewer Hill Rd. New Marlborough Bittersweet Farm Seasonal farm stand, vegetables, corn, vegetables, pumpkins, cut flowers. 973 Barker Rd. Pittsfield Blueberry Hill Farm Organic pick-your-own blueberries. 358 East St. Mount Washington Blueberry Hill Farm Pick-your-own blueberries. 47 Washington Mountain Rd. Washington Bradley Farm CSA shares, seasonal farm stand, blueberries, vegetables, apples, honey. 545 North Main St. Lanesborough Brattle Farm CSA shares, farm stand, eggs, pasture-raised meats, sheep, wool, heirloom vegetables. 600 Williams St. Pittsfield Bug Hill Farm Pick-your-own fruits, fruit cordials, corn. 502 Hill Rd. Ashfield Caretaker Farm CSA shares, vegetables, fruits, eggs, honey, bread, meat & poultry. 1210 Hancock Rd. (Rte 43) Williamstown Cloverhill Farm / Richmond Seasonal farm stand, vegetables, corn, hay, Indian corn, pumpkins. 81 State Rd. (Rte 41) Richmond
Cricket Creek Farm CSA shares, farm store, award-winning cheeses, organic & raw milk, baked goods, grass-fed meats, eggs, jams, honey, maple syrup. 1255 Oblong Rd. Williamstown Dandelion Hill Farm Eggs, goat milk, honey, pasture-raised meats. 204 Huelett Hill Rd. Sheffield David’s Melons Summer squash, zucchini, melons, cherry tomatoes. Pittsfield prefers phone: 413.442.0484 Deer Run Maples Sugar House Farm store, maple syrup, maple cream, maple candy. 135 Ed Jones Rd. Otis Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market Mid-May through October, Saturday 9AM-1PM. 100 First Street Parking Lot Pittsfield East Mountain Farm Grass-fed beef & pork, hay, firewood. 582 Henderson Rd, Williamstown Elmartin Farm Seasonal farm stand, eggs, poultry, grass-fed beef, vegetables, corn, hay. 594 Windsor Rd. Cheshire Equinox Farm Herbs, arugula, mesclun, micro greens, heirloom tomatoes, baby spinach, for local restaurants. 237 Bow Wow Rd. Sheffield Farm Girl Farm CSA shares, vegetables. 324 North Plain Rd. Sheffield Gaetanos Organic Farm CSA shares, seasonal farm stand, eggs, organic vegetables, pickyour-own raspberries. 453 Main St. Becket Good Dogs Farm Farm stand, vegetables, asparagus. 334 West Stahl Rd. Sheffield Gould Farm CSA shares, farm store, cheeses, baked goods, vegetables, eggs, ice cream, yogurt, maple syrup, plants. 100 Gould Rd. Monterey Great Barrington Farmers Market Mid-May through October, vegetables, berries, fruits, grass-fed meats, eggs, flowers, plants, artisanal cheeses, maple syrup, honey, jams, more. Saturday, 9-1, May-October: Church St. Great Barrington; Third Saturdays, November-April. Monument Valley Middle School, Monument Valley Rd. Great Barrington
High Lawn Farm No shop or farm stand: sold in local markets; organic dairy products from Jersey cows. 535 Summer St. Lee Hilltop Orchards & Furnace Brook Winery Shop, wine tastings, hard cider, berries, pears, plums, pick-yourown apples maple syrup, baked goods, homemade preserves. 508 Canaan Rd. (Rte. 295) Richmond Holiday Brook Farm Farm store, grass-fed meats, corn, pumpkins, maple syrup, organic compost, hayrides, petting animals. 100 Holiday Cottage Rd. Dalton Hosta Hill Heritage breed turkeys, sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh. 273 Great Barrington Rd. Housatonic Howden Farm Seasonal farm stand, asparagus, corn, pick-your-own fall raspberries & pumpkins, hayrides. 303 Rannapo Rd. Sheffield Idle Hour Farm Eggs, hay, compost, firewood. 727 South Sandisfield Rd. New Marlborough Indian Line Farm CSA shares, herbs, vegetables, plants; the nation’s first CSA. 57 Jug End Rd. South Egremont
Ioka Valley Farm Farm store, grass-fed beef, vegetables, corn, fruits, strawberries, blueberries, maple syrup, preserves & condiments, pick-your own pumpkins, hayrides, petting barn. 3475 Rte. 43. Hancock Jaeschke’s Orchard Seasonal farm stand, vegetables, corn, plums, pick-your-own apples, cider, plants. 23 Gould Rd. Adams Joshua’s Farm / Sandisfield / joshuasfarm.com Free-range eggs, fresh milk through Herdshare. 45 Dodd Rd. Sandisfield Lakeview Orchard Farm shop, vegetables, asparagus, garlic, peaches nectarines, apricots, pears, plums, pick-your-own raspberries & apples, baked goods, cider, honey. 94 Old Cheshire Rd. Lanesborough Leahey Farm Farm stand, organic dairy, milk, yogurt, eggs, grass-fed meats. 37 Reservoir Rd. Lee Lee Farmers Market June through September, Thursdays 2-6PM on the Town Green, Main St. Lee Lenox Farmers Market (took a break in 2019; plans for 2020 uncertain as of publication date) Low Land Farm Maple syrup, hay. 129 New Marlborough Rd. Monterey
Maiden Flower Farm Grass-fed beef, pork & poultry, eggs, dairy. 304 North Plain Rd. Housatonic
Peace Valley Farm Cherry tomatoes. 85 Treadwell Hollow Rd. Williamstown
Many Forks Farm CSA shares, sustainably grown vegetables. River Rd. Clarksburg
Pemble Farm / Pittsfield Farm stand, vegetables, corn, pumpkins, Indian corn, cut flowers. 787 Pecks Road
Mayflower Farm (South Egremont) Roving lamb, breeding stock, sheepskins, yarn. Meats sold at Bizalion’s and at the Great Barrington Farmers Market.
Questing Maze Farm stand, corn, squash, pumpkins. 112 Hillingdon Rd. Mill River New Marlborough
Meadow Farm Market Farm store, fresh produce, local artisanal foods, candles, plants. 905 Pleasant St. Lee
Rawson Brook Farm Goat cheeses, including the delicious Monterey Chevre. 185 New Marlborough Rd. Monterey
Mill River Farm Fresh, organic vegetables, eggs, poultry, and pork; all-natural raw honey, cinnamon honey, creamed honey, pure beeswax candles, moisturizers, lip balm. 282 Brewer Hill Rd. New Marlborough
Riiska Brook Orchard Farm stand, pick-your-own blueberries, pick-your-own apples & pumpkins. 101 New Hartford Rd. Sandisfield
Moon in the Pond Farm CSA shares, certified naturally grown vegetables, currents, raspberries, mushrooms, grass-fed beef, pastured pork, poultry, eggs, honey, specialty meats, sausages, hot dogs, cut flowers, internships for future organic farmers. 816 Barnum St. Sheffield
Second Hand Farm Farm stand, sustainably grown vegetables, fruits, herbs, eggs, cut flowers. 301 Monument Valley Rd. Great Barrington Sheffield Farmers Market June to mid-October, Fridays 3-6PM, parking lot of Old Parish Church, 125 South Main St. Sheffield
Mountain Girl Farm Goat milk soap, eggs, gourmet dog biscuits. 1360 South Church St. North Adams
Sky Dance Farm Lamb, pork, eggs, day lilies. 155 Kessler Rd. Lanesborough
Mountain Pasture Farm Pesticide-free berries, pick-your-own raspberries & blueberries. 818 Surriner Rd. Becket
Sky View Farm CSA shares, farm stand, heritage turkeys, poultry, pastured pork, forage-fed goat, grass-fed beef. 203 Galvin Farm Trail, Sheffield
Mystical Rose Herbals Specialty goods, Berkshire Meadows Health Tea, face & body creams, medicinal salves. 15 New Marlborough-Sandisfield Rd. New Marlborough
Square Roots Farm CSA shares, sustainably grown vegetables, grass-fed turkey, chicken & pork. 95 Old Cheshire Rd. Lanesborough
North Adams Farmers Market / North Adams Mid-June through October, Saturdays 9AM-1PM, Municipal Parking Lot on St. Anthony Drive between Marshall and Holden streets, North Adams North Plain Farm & Blue Hill Farm Free-range eggs, grass-fed chicken, turkey & pork, organic dairy, raw milk, heirloom vegetables. 205 North Plain Rd. Great Barrington Oakwood Farm Dried lavender bouquets, herb blends, soaps, lotions, lip balms. 279 West Hawley Rd. Charlemont Otis Farmers Market Mid-May to mid-October, Saturdays 9AM-1PM, in the parking lot of Papa’s Healthy Food. 2000 East Otis Rd, East Otis Overmeade Gardens Farm stand, vegetables, corn, garlic, herbs, pumpkins. 940 East St. Lenox
Sweet Brook Farm Farm shop and stand, alpaca fiber & products, eggs, maple syrup, maple candy. 580 Oblong Rd. Williamstown Taft Farms Farm shop, vegetables, berries, corn, pumpkins, corn maze, baked goods, plants, cut flowers, bait & tackle. 119 Park St. North, Housatonic Tesoro Farm Blueberries, eggs, homemade marinara sauce. 780 Windsor Bush Rd. Cummington Three Maples Market Garden Farm stand, vegetables, garlic, herbs, melons, tomatoes. 98 State Line Rd. West Stockbridge Tortured Orchard Seasoning sauces for marinades, glazes, dipping & more. 223 Egremont Plain Rd. North Egremont
Turner Farms Maple Syrup Farm stand, maple syrup, jams & jellies. 11 Phillips Rd. South Egremont Wendling Farm Hay, straw, timber, log-length firewood. 753 Oblong Rd. Williamstown West Stockbridge Farmers Market / Late May to early October, Thursdays 3-7PM, Harris St. West Stockbridge When Pigs Fly Farm / Sandisfield CSA shares, farm stand, farm shop, vegetables, berries, poultry, soups, eggs, baked goods, honey, maple syrup. 222 Sandisfield Rd. Williamstown Farmers Market Late May to mid-October, Saturdays 9AM-1PM, 125 Spring St. Williamstown Windy Hill Farm Shop, blueberries, apples, pick-your own, plants, shrubs, trees. 686 Stockbridge Rd. Great Barrington Wolfe Spring Farm CSA shares, certified organic vegetables, asparagus, fruits. 946 Hewins St. Sheffield Woven Roots Farm CSA shares, farm stand, vegetables, garlic, herbs. 12 McCarty Rd. Tyringham
Fave Eats NORTH COUNTY Bascom Lodge $$-$$$ In a 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps landmark, summer only, farm-to-table fare, dinner. Mount Greylock State Reservation Rte. 7, Lanesborough; 1136 Hopper Rd. Williamstown; Summit Road, Adams Gramercy Bistro at MASSMOCA $$-$$$ Creative Asian, French, American fusion in a chic setting. 87 Marshall St. North Adams Mezze Bistro + Bar $$$ Outstanding farm-to-table cuisine, small plates, craft cocktails. 777 Cold Spring Rd. (Rte. 7) Purple Pub $$ Popular spot for craft beer, good food, outdoor dining on the patio. 65 Spring St. Williamstown Tunnel City Coffee $ Caffienation of all kinds, delicious pastries. 100 Spring St. Williamstown
CENTRAL COUNTY Alta Restaurant & Wine Bar $$-$$$ A range of well.prepared French.influenced New American dishes emphasizing fresh local ingredients. 34 Church St. Lenox Berkshire Mountain Bakery Café $ At one of Bon Appetit Magazine’s “Best Bakeries,” artisanal sourdough breads, croissants, pizza, sandwiches, gluten-free options. 180 Elm St. Pittsfield
Chez Nous Bistro $$-$$$ Consistently excellent, owned & operated by a French chef & his American wife (a dessert chef), casual, farm-to-table; entrées as half-portions, summer dining on the deck. 150 Main St. Lee District Kitchen & Bar $$ Contemporary American plus New York cheesecake, open ‘til midnight. 40 West St. Pittsfield Dottie’s Coffee Lounge $-$$ Homey , good soups, sandwiches, a popular meeting place for breakfast, lunch, afternoon coffee. 444 North St. Pittsfield Eat / Drink on North $$-$$$ Fresh farm-to-table fare, in the Hotel on North, breakfast, lunch, dinner, by the executive chef of the Red Lion Inn. 297 North St. Pittsfield Elm Street Market $ Join local cops, tradesmen & artists at the counter for breakfast or lunch for a true taste of the Berkshires. 4 Elm St. Stockbridge Firefly $$-$$$ New American bistro cuisine. 71 Church St. Lenox Flavors $$-$$$ Delectable Malaysian & Pan-Asian cuisine, dim sum, curries, vegetarian & gluten-free dishes, Chinese New Year celebration, lunch, dinner. 75 North St. (entrance on McKay St.) Pittsfield Gateways Inn $$-$$$ Kosher, Mediterranean cuisine, wines, list of single malts, jazz in the lounge on weekends. 51 Walker St. Lenox
Bistro Zinc $$$ Popular spot for French.American fare. 56 Church St. Lenox
Haven $$ A hot spot for breakfast, brunch & lunch, local ingredients, well prepared. 8 Franklin St. Lenox
Blantyre $$$$ Continental cuisine, excellent wine list in an elegant, exclusive setting in a venerable Berkshire country mansion. 16 Blantyre Rd. Lenox
Joe’s Diner $ Legendary, counter scene immortalized by Norman Rockwell, food as good and service as brusk as in the big city. 85 Center St. Lee
Brava $$-$$$ One of Wine Spectator’s 100 Best Wine Lists in the Country, along with craft beers, excellent food, serving ‘til midnight. 27 Housatonic St. Lenox
Lantern Bar & Grill $ The chef from Nudel re-opened this landmark dedicated to good burgers and a retro feel. 455 North St. Pittsfield
Café Lucia $$$-$$$$ Superb regional Italian cuisine emphasizing local produce, outdoor dining. 80 Church St. Lenox
Lost Lamb Patisserie Toothsome French-style delights. 31 Main St. Stockbridge Main Street Café $-$$ Wholesome breakfasts & lunches include vegetarian & gluten. free options. 40 Main St. Stockbridge
Marketplace Café $-$$ Excellent coffees, fresh gourmet lunches, evening hours too. 53 North St. Pittsfield
Panda House $$ Good, reliable place for Chinese fare, prompt & courteous service, local chain. 506 Pittsfield Rd. Pittsfield
Mazzeo’s $$-$$$ Welcoming bar, spacious dining room, Italian cuisine. 1015 South St. Pittsfield
Patisserie Lenox $$ French owned bakery & café offering croissants, brioche, Napoleons & other delectable pastries. 30 Church St. Lenox
Methuselah Bar & Lounge $$-$$$ Small, chic modern spot, light tapas-style fare, dinner. 391 North St. Pittsfield
Red Lion Inn $$-$$$ Three choices: farm-to-table in the dining room or cozy Widow Bingham’s Tavern; casual Lion’s Den for light fare & live music. 30 Main St. Stockbridge
Mission Bar & Tapas $$ Wines and noshes with a Spanish accent, farm-to-table Sunday brunch, jazz on Monday nights. 438 North St. Pittsfield Mint $$-$$$ Flavorful Indian cuisine in a lakeside setting, arguably the best Indian food this side of Gujarat. 435 Laurel St. (Rte 20) Lee Nudel $$-$$$ Inspired, delectable farm-to-table cuisine in a tiny chef-owned oasis. 37 Church St. Lenox
Stockbridge Coffee & Tea $ What the name says, pastries too, and a used-bookstore. 6 Elm St. Stockbridge Wheatleigh $$$-$$$$ Brunch or fine dining in an exquisite setting: Travel & Leisure calls it “some of the best cooking in the United States.” 11 Hawthorne Rd. Stockbridge
SOUTH COUNTY
Once Upon a Table $$ In the mews next to the Red Lion Inn, a wonderful bistro so small & good it feels like a find no matter how often you’ve been. 36 Main St. Stockbridge
20 Railroad Pub $-$$ American food in a pub.like setting with windows on the street. 20 Railroad St. Great Barrington
Ozzie’s Steak & Eggs $ Simple American fare in an unpretentious setting, pizza, a great Reuben. 26 Maple St. Hinsdale
Aroma $$ Reliably good traditional Indian regional cuisine in a simple family-run place. 485 Main St. Great Barrington
Baba Louie’s $$ Wood-fired, all-natural pizzas, terrific fresh salads, daily specials & now a bigger space for more seating and an expanded menu. 44 Railroad St. Great Barrington
Marketplace Café & Catering $-$$ Excellent coffees, fresh gourmet lunches, flatbread pizzas, Thursday night family dinners, Wednesday movie nights. 18 Elm St. Sheffield and 240 Stockbridge Rd, Great Barrington
Bistro Box $ Summer roadside stand, picnic tables, assorted fare including organic burgers & hot dogs, not to be missed. 937 Main St. (Rte 7) Great Barrington
Monterey General Store $-$$ Chic general store and gastropub. 448 Main Rd. (Rte 23) Monterey (re-opening mid 2020)
Bizalion’s Fine Food $$ French.owned café & gourmet deli offering excellent patés, imported cheeses & olive oils, sandwiches, soups, salads. 684 Main St. (Rte 7) Great Barrington Bizen $$-$$$ Fresh sushi & sashimi, warming Japanese dishes, robata & other grilled specialties, kaiseki cuisine, private tatami rooms. 17 Railroad St. Great Barrington Brick House Pub $ Bar & grill with good American pub fare, chopped salads, burgers, live music on weekends. 425 Park St. Housatonic Café Adam $$$-$$$$ Chef-owned restaurant presenting excellent farm-to-table cuisine in a chic setting, outdoor seating, too. 420 Stockbridge Rd. Great Barrington Cantina 226 $-$$ Hip, rustic destination for inventive cuisine, dinner, from Bim Bim Bop to tacos. 229 Hartsville-New Marlborough Rd. New Marlborough Fiesta Bar & Grill $-$$ Delicious, authentic Mexican cuisine in a cozy setting, burritos, tacos, chicken with mole sauce, terrific sangria and margaritas, lunch, dinner. 284 Main St. Great Barrington Fuel $ Industrial style in an Internet café popular for coffee, tea, smoothies, muffins, lunch. 286 Main St. Great Barrington Great Barrington Bagel Company $ Maybe the best NY bagel experience north of the GW Bridge, breakfasts, deli lunches, even take-out knishes. 777 Reed St. (Rte 7) Great Barrington GB Eats $ Basic American fare in a welcoming, diner-like setting. 282 Main St. Great Barrington John Andrews $$$ Chef-owned eatery, serving New American food, with an emphasis on fresh, local farm-to-table ingredients. 224 Hillsdale Rd. (Rte 23) Egremont Koii Chinese Restaurant $$ Good place for Chinese fare, well-prepared with fresh ingredients, prompt & courteous service, take-out. 300 State Rd. Great Barrington
No. 10 Castle Street $$-$$$$ Classic steakhouse, great food in a jazz-club atmosphere, music on weekends. 10 Castle St. Great Barrington Naji’s Mediterranean Cuisine $ Popular outdoor family-run café for homemade Lebanese dishes, hummus, tabouli, baba ganoush, baklava. 401 Stockbridge Rd. Great Barrington Old Inn on the Green $$$-$$$$ Historic, chef-owned restaurant, superb French-American cuisine. 134 Hartsville.New Marlborough Rd. (Rte 183) New Marlborough Old Mill $$$ Popular chef-owned spot in a 1700s grist mill, serving contemporary New England cuisine. 53 Main St. Egremont Patisserie Lenox $$ French.owned bakery & café offering croissants, brioche & delectable pastry desserts, sidewalk café seating, too. 313 Main St. Great Barrington Prairie Whale $$ A hip, relaxed, Brooklyn-meets-the-Berkshires vibe prevails at this shabby-chic hotspot for simple locavore fare. 178 Main St. Great Barrington Roadside Store & Café Operated by the folks at Gould Farm, fresh local ingredients transformed into delicious breakfasts & lunches. 275 Main Rd. Monterey Rouge Restaurant & Bistro $$-$$$ Arrive early to snag a table in the bar at this spirited place for farm-to-table cuisine. 3 Center St. West Stockbridge Rubi’s Coffee & Sandwiches $$ Coffee, baked goods, natural sodas, lunches, great grilled cheeses (owned by Rubiner’s), open late Thursday– Saturday. 264 Main St. Great Barrington Shaker Dam Coffeehouse & (John) Stanmeyer Gallery $$ Classic coffee house. 2 Main St. West Stockbridge Siam Square $$ Below-the-radar family-run spot serving delectable Thai food, all dishes made spicy or not as you like, specify when ordering. 290 Main St. Great Barrington
Six Depot Roastery & Café $$-$$$ The place for gourmet blends & brews by a coffee-obsessed savant, serving tasty breakfasts, lunches & teas, outdoor seating. 6 Depot St. West Stockbridge SoCo Creamery $ Café serving the best locally made, organic ice creams, sorbets, shakes, in wonderful, sometimes unexpected flavors. 5 Railroad St. Great Barrington Southfield Store $$-$$$ Stylish, chef-owned New American café, breakfast, lunch, dinner, nights. 163 Norfolk Rd. New Marlborough Stagecoach Tavern $$$-$$$$ Atmospheric setting, farm-to-table American & pub fare emphasizing fresh, organic, local ingredients. Racebrook Lodge. 864 S Undermountain Rd. Sheffield
Steam $ Terrific Asian noodle café for counter seating and take-out. 284 Main Street Store #9, Great Barrington Swiss Hutte At the foot of Catamount’s ski slopes, a Tyrolean/Continental menu in a cozy setting, patio dining too. 3290 Hillsdale Rd. (Rte 23) Egremont Truc Orient Express $$ Lovely cuisine offered by a Vietnamese family who first came to West Stockbridge in 1979, open in summer. 3 Harris St. West Stockbridge The Well Restaurant + Bar $$ Basic burger-and-beer joint, sports bar & hang-out, craft beers & simple all-American meals. 312 Main St. Great Barrington
Gourmet and Wine Shops Asian International Market Fresh vegetables, herbs, dry goods, sauces, produce, frozen foods, deli take-out, pan-Asian focus. 375 North St. Pittsfield Bartlett’s Orchard Farm Market Sublime cider donuts, pies, cinnamon buns, locally blended coffees, gourmet provisions, pick-your-own apples. 575 Swamp Rd. Richmond Berkshire Co-Op Market Produce, meats, cheeses, seafood, organic foods, environmentally sensitive household & grooming products, take-out, café & lunch buffet. 34 Bridge St. Great Barrington Berkshire International Market Ingredients for African, Caribbean, Latin cooking. 340 North St. Pittsfield Berkshire Mountain Bakery Bon Appetit cited it as one of the nation’s ten best gourmet bakeries, sourdoughs, baguettes, ciabatta, chocolate bread, pizza. 367 Park St., Great Barrington (Housatonic) Bizalion’s Fine Food French-owned gourmet shop & café, imported foods, cheeses, olive oils, breads, charcuterie, patés, salads, sandwiches, brunch & lunch. 684 Main St. Great Barrington Brits R. U.S. An Anglophile’s paradise, from Mrs. Padmore’s Pudding Tea to Cadbury Chocolates, chutneys, meat pies, Marmite & McVitie’s digestive biscuits. 80 North St. Pittsfield Cakewalk Bakery & Café Delicious pastries, scones, croissants, cakes, cookies, breads, coffee, sandwiches, salads, soups, quiches, all made on site. 56 Main St. Lee Mielke’s Chocolate Shop Old-fashioned & homey confectionary shop offering a tempting assortment of delicious candies made on the premises. 260 Stockbridge Rd. Great Barrington Chocolate Springs Café Superlative hand-crafted gourmet chocolates, plus a small café offering gelatos, pastries, teas & decadently rich hot cocoa. 55 Pittsfield Rd. Lenox Cricket Creek Farm Farm-store offering local organic meats, eggs, butter, baked goods & extraordinary prize-winning artisanal cheeses. 1255 Oblong Rd. Williamstown
Domaney’s Liquors and Fine Wines Great selection of wines, craft beers, whiskies, etc., accommodating service, including ordering the hard-to-find, plus cheeses, charcuterie, baguettes to complement your beverage of choice. 66 Main St. Great Barrington El Punto De Encuentro Latin Market A hand-picked selection of essentials for Latin, Mexican & Spanish cooking. 284 Main St. Great Barrington Gorham & Norton Market The closest thing to a general store in GB, liquor, wines, craft beers, produce, gourmet items, deli counter, take-out. 278 Main St. Great Barrington Gould Farm Bakery Breads, scones, cakes, pies & other delights. 100 Gould Rd., Monterey Guido’s Fresh Marketplace Upscale supermarket, high quality produce, cheeses, meats, seafood, wines, gourmet items, take-out, where New Yorkers go when they arrive on Friday nights for country weekends. 760 S Main St. Great Barrington; 1020 South St. Pittsfield Hilltop Orchards Pick-your own apples, cider donuts, pies & other baked goods, picnic tables, Furnace Brook Winery, views. 508 Canaan Rd. (Route 295) Richmond H.R. Zeppelin Small batch, handmade gourmet chocolates. 47 Railroad St. Great Barrington Les Trois Emme Vineyard & Winery Whites, reds & rosés, tours, tastings, outdoor seating, BYO picnic lunch. 8 Knight Rd. New Marlborough Maria’s European Delights Deli offering imported meats, cheeses, frozen goods, including pierogi. 146 North St. Pittsfield The Marketplace Kitchen Specialty take-out at Guido’s, 760 South Main St. Great Barrington; Gourmet shop at 18 at Elm St. Sheffield Nejaime’s Wine Cellars Great selection of wine, craft beer, liquor, cheese, charcuterie, noshes, breads, gourmet products, weekend tastings. 3 Elm St. Stockbridge; 60 Main St. Lenox Patisserie Lenox French-owned bakery & café serving croissants, brioche, pastries, sandwiches, coffees, plus baked goods to order, sidewalk café. 30 Church St. Lenox; 313 Main St. Great Barrington
Pittsfield Rye Bakery Craft-baked breads, tasty old-school rye & pumpernickel, challah, farmer’s loaf baguettes, ciabatta, olive, chocolate, bread etc. 1010 South St. Pittsfield Rubiner’s Cheesemongers Masterful selection of imported cheeses, charcuterie, gourmet items. 264 Main St. Great Barrington Shiro Asian Restaurant & Market Great range of products for Asian home cooking and take-out. 105 Stockbridge Rd. Great Barrington Six Depot Roastery & Café Local food products, baked items, gourmet goods, teas & their own brilliant coffee blends, devised by the owner, a coffee savant. 6 Depot St. West Stockbridge SoMa Inspired pizza, Italian take-out, gourmet items, baked goods & specials. 4 Albany Rd. West Stockbridge Spirited Excellent selection of wine, craft beer, liquor, cheese, charcuterie, breads, weekend tastings. 444 Pittsfield Rd. Lenox Studious Baker Uncommonly good artisan baked goods including vegan and gluten-free breads and pastries. 123 North St. Pittsfield
Taft Farms Family-owned farm market featuring produce, cheeses, pies & other baked items, gourmet goods, plant nursery, Christmas trees, bait & tackle. 119 N Park St. Great Barrington
Health and Wellness MEDICAL / BERKSHIREHEALTHCARE Austin Riggs Center Internationally-known private facility, founded in 1913, for psychiatric treatment. Stockbridge Berkshire Medical Center Non-profit community teaching hospital. Pittsfield Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association berkshirehealthsystems.org Pittsfield
Fairview Hospital fairview Small non-profit community hospital. Great Barrington Gould Farm Private, nonprofit mental health facility for psycho-social rehabilitation of adults through work therapy and other modalities. Monterey Long Term Care Facilities in various locations.
RESORTS, SPA, GYM, YOGA Berkshire South Community Center Great facility with gym, indoor pool, basketball, track, yoga & other classes, meeting space, lecture narrowcast from New York City’s 92nd Street Y, memberships. Great Barrington Berkshire West Athletic Club Fitness facility offering tennis, golf, gym, racquet ball, zumba & other classes, indoor/outdoor heated pool, clinics, lessons, spa, child care, etc. Pittsfield Canyon Ranch Consistently voted one of the nation’s best spa resorts, an exclusive setting for fitness, health & wellness programs & counseling, pampering. Day passes available. Lenox Cranwell Resort and Spa / Miraval Berkshires Resort with well-known golf school & course, indoor & outdoor pools, tennis courts, gym, yoga & other classes, spa, local memberships available. Lenox Kilpatrick Athletic Center Comprehensive facility at Bard College/Simon’s Rock, offering indoor pool, tennis, track, rock wall, gym, local memberships available. Great Barrington Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health Internationally recognized facility offering yoga & other holistic programs, training for yoga teachers & Ayurveda practitioners, local memberships. Stockbridge Lenox Fitness Center Popular gym offering personal training, yoga & other classes. Lenox Williams College Athletic Facilities Comprehensive facility offering gym, indoor pool, tennis, track, other amenities, local memberships available. Williamstown
Yoga Studios: Find your bliss, tone your body, relax your mind at Radiance Yoga, Yoga Great Barrington, and other studios throughout the Berkshires
Communities SOUTH COUNTY Alford
With its rural landscape, working farms, iconic antique homes, and picturesque meetinghouse, Alford retains the feeling of a time-honored New England village. Settled in the mid-18th century, Alford was named for Colonel John Alford, known for his involvement in the Harvard Divinity School. Located in Alford, Simon’s Rock, part of Bard College, is the nation’s only college of the liberal arts and sciences designed for high-school age students, and its Kilpatrick Athletic Center offers local memberships. The Green River, Alford Brook, and the Henry Knox Trail thread through Alford, and diverse wildlife, from deer to blue herons, populate its scenic hills. Known for its low taxes, Alford provides the desirable atmosphere of a secluded country retreat, yet is close to the New York border with easy access to Great Barrington and the Taconic Parkway.
Becket
First settled in 1740, Becket is a town of woodlands and vacation homes. It has a general store, pizza café, arts center, and small elementary school. Several unspoiled lakes and access to the October Mountain State Forest and the Appalachian Trail offer superb recreational options. The Becket Arts Center, in the old meetinghouse, is an active venue for local talent, while the stages at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival present internationally renowned dance companies all summer and has a year-round teaching facility. (Joseph Pilates, founder of the exercise method, taught at Jacob’s Pillow.) Nearby, Dreamaway Lodge is a popular eatery. Comprising about 48 square miles on the eastern edge of Berkshire County, Becket is located on Route 8, a country thoroughfare linking Connecticut with points north in Berkshire County, and East-West Route 20; it is convenient to the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90).
Egremont
At the cusp of the Connecticut and New York borders, Egremont is a quaint village southwest of, and about 15 minutes drive to, Great Barrington. It was first settled in 1722 by Dutch colonists from New York. For year-round recreation, there’s Jug End Reservation, Prospect Lake, the Green River, a lovely town park, the Appalachian and Knox trails, country roads for running and cycling, and nearby Catamount Ski resort. Egremont retains much of its bucolic landscape: among its farms is the nation’s first CSA (community service agriculture), Indian Line farm, established in 1985 and still in operation. A small café, shops, and two wonderful farm-to-table gourmet restaurants––the Old Mill and John Andrews––are part of its streetscape. Routes 23, 71 and 41 link the town to northwestern Connecticut and the Hudson Valley, and provide easy access to the Taconic Parkway and Route 22.
Great Barrington
Often ranked among the best small towns in America, Great Barrington is a hub for the smaller towns around it. Its downtown features varied farm-to-table, chef-owned, and ethnic restaurants, year-round farmers markets, gourmet shops, boutiques, art galleries, a four-screen cinema, and the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center for live performances, classic films, and HD streaming of the Metropolitan Opera. (Mahaiwe is a Mohican word: pronounce it mah-hay-wee to show you’re in the know.) Recreational spots include the Housatonic River Walk, Lake Mansfield, Ski Butternut, and Monument Mountain, where Herman Melville and Nathaniel Hawthorne once hiked. First settled in 1726, Great Barrington was incorporated in 1766. In 1774, in one of the first actions of the American Revolution, residents shut down the judicial court in response to British oppression. The town recalls its history as the birthplace of W.E.B. DuBois with the Upper Housatonic Valley African-American Heritage Trail at the DuBois River Garden Park. At the crossroads of Routes 7 and 23, it is about 2.5 hours by car from New York and Boston. There is bus service to those cities, and train service to New York from Wassaic and Hudson stations, each about 40 minutes away. The small airport accommodates propeller craft, and its Fairview Hospital consistently ranks among the best rural hospitals nationwide.
Monterey
First settled in 1739, Monterey is a quaint New England town popular with full-time and second-home residents. Focal points are the Monterey General Store and the Roadside Café, offering deli items, baked goods, breakfast, and lunch. Gould Farm’s bakery store is a favorite stop, too, as is the studio/shop of local ceramicist Ellen Grenadier. Like the town itself, with its freshly renovated public library, these spots retain a unique rural character, appealing to simple yet sophisticated tastes. One item to look for is Monterey Chevre cheese from Rawson Brook Farm. Year-round recreational features include Lake Garfield, one of the most beautiful in the Berkshires, and access to the Appalachian Trail, Henry Knox Trail, and Bear Mountain State Forest.
Mount Washington
With a full-time population of about 170 people, Mount Washington is by population the smallest town in Berkshire County and the third smallest in Massachusetts. It borders Egremont and Sheffield, and Connecticut and New York states. The summit of Mount Frissell, Connecticut’s highest elevation, is in Mount Washington, as is Mount Everett, “the Dome,” which is, at 2,602 feet, the highest point in the southern Taconic Range. Mount Washington State Forest, Mount Everett State Reservation, Bash Bish Falls State Park,
and the Appalachian Trail, which enters Massachusetts here, provide miles of hiking trails and other recreational opportunities and preserve a natural landscape that feels wild and remote, yet is close to Routes 23, 44 and 22, and the Taconic Parkway.
New Marlborough
New Marlborough, which traces its history to 1738, encompasses New Marlborough village and the hamlets of Clayton, Hartsville, Mill River, and Southfield. Bordering North Canaan, Connecticut, it is 15-20-minute drive from Great Barrington. A sophisticated rural, residential community, New Marlborough retains its historic character in its charming village green, around which cluster the original New England Meeting House, now a venue for concerts, lectures, and art shows, Gedney Farm, and The Old Inn on the Green, a charming 18th-century stagecoach inn still in operation: the Inn’s restaurant is considered one of the best in the region. Other eateries are The Southfield Store, Gedney Farm, and Cantina 229. A portion of Lake Buel borders New Marlborough. Other recreational amenities include Cookson State Forest, access to the Sandisfield State Forest, Umpachene Falls, and the Konkapot River.
Otis
Otis is a small rural community along the southeastern border of Berkshire County, bordering Becket, Tyringham, Monterey, and Sandisfield. Encompassing several second-home, lake-access communities, it is crossed by Routes 8 (north-south) and 23 (eastwest). The town enjoys a diverse landscape with soaring elevations, a beautiful reservoir, open fields, and marsh. Outdoor recreation is year-round, with fishing, water sports, skiing, and hiking in a variety of settings, including the Otis Reservoir, the largest recreational body of water in Massachusetts, Tolland State Forest, Otis Ridge Ski Resort, and fishing in various lakes, ponds, and the Farmington River. First settled because of the location along the Old Knox Trail, it was incorporated in 1810 as the town of Otis, honoring politician Harrison Gray Otis, whose Boston home now headquarters Historic New England, the preservation organization.
Sandisfield
This bucolic New England town, nestled between the Farmington River Valley and Sandy Brook, is the largest by area in Berkshire County. Home to only about 800 full-time residents, its population swells to 2,500 in summer, thanks to its country ambiance, beautiful landscapes, serenity, and outdoor recreational amenities. These include Sandisfield State Forest and York Lake, the Farmington and Clam rivers, Upper Spectacle Pond, West Lake, and Yanner Park. First settled in 1750 and incorporated in 1762, Sandisfield retains a thriving logging industry, numerous farms, nurseries, an apple orchard, and the New Boston Inn, an 18th-century stagecoach stop that is still in operation. Bordering Connecticut, Sandisfield is about 25 minutes southeast of Great Barrington.
Sheffield
Incorporated in 1733, Sheffield is Berkshire County’s earliest town, now comprising Sheffield village and Ashley Falls. Located on the Massachusetts-Connecticut border, in the Housatonic River Valley, it is surrounded by the Taconic Mountains and Berkshire Hills. Sloping terrain, state forestland, rivers and waterfalls, a portion of the Appalachian Trail, the Schenob Brook wetland, Bartholomew’s Cobble, and many acres of farmland assure both scenic appeal and easy access to recreational opportunties. The 1773 Sheffield Declaration—a precursor to the Declaration of Independence—was drafted in the Sheffield home of Colonel Ashley: one of Ashley’s house slaves, “Mum Bett”, asked Stockbridge attorney Theodore Sedgwick if “free and equal” pertained to her: in 1781, a Massachusetts court ruled that it did; choosing a new name, Elizabeth Freeman was employed in the Sedgwick home until her death, and she is buried in their family plot in Stockbridge cemetery. Today, Sheffield is a quiet village with small shops and high-quality antiques stores. It is a short drive from Canaan, Connecticut, and Great Barrington.
West Stockbridge
Originally founded in the 1700s as a mill town, West Stockbridge’s colorful streetscape, anchored by a quaint clock tower and a Carpenter Gothic church, is a delightful patchwork of small shops, design and antiques stores, used-book store, the Public Market, and a package store. Eateries include Six Depot (gourmet coffee roasters), Rouge Bistro, Shaker Mill Tavern, and Truc Orient Express, a Vietnamese restaurant. Old farms, tidy neighborhoods, and estate tracts offer a range of residential options. Tanglewood, Kripalu, and Stockbridge are a short drive away, the main streets of Great Barrington, Lenox, and Pittsfield are about 15 minutes drive. As Exit One on the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90) , the town borders New York State. It’s about a two-hour drive to the GW Bridge and Copley Square, and, for train service to New York, about 55 minutes to Wassaic and 30 minutes to Hudson.
CENTRAL COUNTY Dalton
Situated east of Pittsfield at the juncture of Routes 8 and 9, Dalton is 50 miles northwest of Springfield and 130 miles northwest of Boston. First settled in 1755 and incorporated in 1784, the town has an array of cultural and natural attractions (see Community section). The town’s largest employer, Crane & Company, the paper maker, established in 1801, and still in operation, remains the sole supplier of paper used in the production of the Federal Reserve Note, U.S. currency. Comprising about 22 square miles, Dalton is a family oriented residential community with shops, restaurants and services along its main street.
Hinsdale
A charming rural community located at the crossroads of Routes 8 and 143, about 20 minutes by car east of Pittsfield, Hinsdale is one of the hidden treasures of the Berkshires. Its beautiful Ashmere Lake is surrounded by several summer camps and many vacation homes. Established in the 19th century, the small town center features a good spot for American fare, a nice general store with great pizza, a wonderful public library in the Victorian Gothic Revival style, and the home/studio of R. Harold Zook, an early-20th-century architect, a project of the town’s historical society.
Lee
Established in 1760 by farmers from Cape Cod, Lee was incorporated in 1777. In the 19th century, its marble quarries supplied the stone for the U.S. Capitol and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. By 1857, the town’s rivers and streams were powering 25 paper mills: it was in Lee that the process of making paper solely from wood pulp was discovered. Traditionally a working-class community, Lee’s downtown is today a thriving, “real” place, its classic brick storefronts housing shops, services, galleries, cafés and pubs, as well as Joe’s Diner, the setting for Norman Rockwell’s “The Runaway.” The town’s excellent restaurants include Chez Nous, a chef-owned French bistro, and Mint, serving authentic Indian cuisine. The Lee Outlets, on Route 20 in south Lee, are a popular destination for discount shopping. Located at Exit Two of the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90), Lee is a short drive from Lenox and Stockbridge.
Lenox
First settled in 1750 as part of Richmond, Lenox was incorporated in 1767: the original meeting house survives as the Church on the Hill. One of the county’s main hub towns along Route 7, Lenox began its industrial chapter with an ironworks in the 1780s, but the true character of the town emerged in the 1800s, when it became an escape for Boston and New York residents fleeing the heat of urban summers and the social proprieties of Newport and other aristocratic watering holes. During America’s Gilded Age (1875-1915), the privileged class commissioned architects, including Charles McKim and Stanford White, to create the grand estate homes they disingenuously dubbed “Berkshire Cottages.” Many of those still stand as private homes, resorts (Canyon Ranch, Wheatleigh, Cranwell/ Miraval, Blantyre); as museums such as Ventfort Hall and The Mount, the home of Edith Wharton, who wrote Ethan Frome and The House of Mirth in Lenox. They’ve also found new vitality as Shakespeare & Company and Tanglewood. Lenox’s downtown offers boutique shopping, galleries, toy and antiques shops, and fine restaurants and eateries, notably Nudel, Alta, Zinc, Brava, Haven, and Café Lucia. Recreational venues include the 180- acre Kennedy Park with nature trails and cross-country skiing, access to the Housatonic Valley Wildlife Management Area, and the charming in-town Lilac Park. Bus service connects Lenox to New York City and Boston.
Pittsfield
Centrally located as a hub on Route 7, Pittsfield is the Berkshire County seat and home to the Berkshire Medical Center, consistently ranked among the nation’s top community hospitals. With its big-box stores, it is a popular shopping destination. It is also a nexus for industry: creative entrepreneurs, plastics, electronics, and defense systems. Founded in the 18th- century, Pittsfield was a prominent stopping point on the Albany-Boston road; today Amtrak connects it to Boston and its airport accommodates small private jets. The first known reference to baseball in North America appears in the city’s 1791 “Broken Window Bylaw,” which prohibited anyone from playing within 80 yards of the city’s new meetinghouse. In the 1800s, Herman Melville wrote portions of Moby Dick at Arrowhead, his home, now a museum. Pittsfield has experienced shifting fortunes with the rise and fall of industry: as in other cities, artists led the way to its urban revitalization: galleries, music clubs, the landmark Colonial Theatre, the Berkshire Theatre Group, and Barrington Stage contribute to its cultural scene. Museums include The Berkshire Museum, a venue for arts, artifacts, innovation, and cinema, while the Beacon and Regal cinemas offer numerous entertainment options. Recreational venues include the Pittsfield State Forest, Onota Lake, and Pontoosuc Lake, surrounded by both primary and vacation homes. The food scene comprises summer farmers markets and restaurants, including Mission, Methuselah, Flavours, Sen Sushi, the Hotel on North, and a panoply of pizzerias. Mostly a community of primary residences, Pittsfield’s well-priced homes provide a low cost of entry for all Berkshire amenities.
Richmond
Country lanes, rolling pastureland, organic farms and farm-stands, apple orchards, a vineyard, a post office, large private estates, equestrian properties, and single-family homes––these are the hallmarks of the peaceful town of Richmond. Bordering New York State, it offers easy access to the Taconic Parkway and Route 90, but retains its rural integrity. Initially settled in 1750, the Richmond land tract originally included the current town of Lenox, but, in 1767, Lenox Mountain, currently a large conservation area between the two towns, became enough of a barrier that the two towns separated into two entities. Richmond residents, privileged in their bucolic peace and privacy, are just a few minutes drive from fine dining, shopping, yoga at Kripalu, music at Tanglewood, and live professional theatre in Lenox and Pittsfield. Residents access Richmond Pond for swimming and boating, and are close to hiking trails, as well as cross-country and downhill skiing. A charming post office serves as the town center, while Hilltop Orchards and Bartlett Orchards, renowned for their cider donuts and pies, provide the quaintest commercial activity imaginable.
Stockbridge
The nostalgic Main Street of Stockbridge, immortalized by illustrator Norman Rockwell, may be the nation’s most iconic, anchored as it is by the quaint Red Lion Inn and lined with small shops and eateries. Stockbridge was first settled in 1737, when Boston missionary John Sergeant gathered groups of Mohican Indians and four families of English colonists into a community. Exceptionally progressive, Sergeant translated the Bible into Mohican and set up a town government and co-ed school where colonists and Native Americans were equally engaged and represented. In the 19th century, Stockbridge became a resort destination and area of impres-
sive estates, such as Naumkeag, now a museum; Tanglewood; and Chesterwood, a National Trust property. Other attractions include the Norman Rockwell Museum, Berkshire Botanical Garden, the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Mission House, and lovely Lake Mahkeenac (aka Stockbridge Bowl), where the town beach and boat ramp offer residents swimming, boating, and fishing. For the hungry, there is the Red Lion, Teresa’s (in the location once made famous by Berkshire resident Arlo Guthrie, as Alice’s Restaurant in his song of the same name), the wonderful Once Upon a Table, Lost Lamb, a French-style bakery, and Elm Street Market, and the Stockbridge Coffee Bookstore.
Tyringham
The rural town of Tyringham, with its original meetinghouse and iconic New England church, is situated in the Hop Brook Valley, one of the Berkshires’s loveliest scenic vistas. Vast tracts of farmland and meadow, emerald hillsides, Baldy Mountain, Mount Wilcot, and Hunger Mountain assure spectacular views from many vantage points. A portion of the Appalachian Trail winds through the area; Tyringham Cobble is an old ridge-top formation of exposed bedrock that provides stunning vistas of the valley; and Ashintully is a lovely hike to a glorious ruin of a grand estate. Settled in 1735 and incorporated in 1767, Tyringham was home to a large community of Shakers in the 19th century. Today, some of their beautifully simple buildings survive as private homes, alongside classic New England houses and magnificent estates dating from America’s Gilded Age. Tyringham affords a wonderful rural ambiance, yet is just a few minutes drive from Monterey and Lee, convenient to the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90).
Washington
North of Becket and Lee and east of Pittsfield, on the county’s east boundary, Washington is a decidedly rural town affording privacy and seclusion. First settled in 1760 and incorporated in 1777, the town’s 39 acres include a large tract of the October Mountain State Forest, along with several reservoirs and lakes. Other outdoor attractions include part of the Appalachian Trail and the Bucksteep Manor Cross Country Ski Area. Route 8 passes through the town.
NORTH COUNTY Adams/North Adams
Just 15 miles from the Vermont border, between the Hoosac Range and Mount Greylock, the state’s highest peak, Adams was incorporated in 1778 and named for Samuel Adams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. In the 1760s, settlers included Quakers from Rhode Island: Susan B. Anthony, the Quaker suffragette and abolitionist was born in Adams. By the 19th century, woolen, cotton, and lumber mills were in place, drawing water power from the Hoosic River, and in 1878, North Adams became a separate town. Today, historic mill buildings house small manufacturers, entrepreneurs, publishers, and artists. In North Adams, one brick mill complex is the home of MASS MoCA (the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art), an innovative, world-class center and exhibition space for the visual and performing arts. The Porches Inn is directly across from the museum. The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), and a Berkshire Medical Center facility are also in North Adams. The area is also ideal for outdoor recreation, with access to Mount Greylock State Reservation, the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail and Greylock Glen.
Hancock
Incorporated in 1776 and named for the signer of the Declaration of Independence, Hancock borders New York State and Route 22, spanning an area from Richmond in the south to Williamstown in the north. The Green River and the Kinderhook creek flow through Hancock, and the town is bounded by mountains, among which are Brodie, Rounds, Tower, Smith, Honwee, Sheeps Heaven, Doll, Shaker, and Misery, which rises to a height of 2,671 feet. Another summit, Jimimy Peak, is the site of the ski resort of the same name, dominated at the skyline by wind towers that generate all of the resort’s power. Also in Hancock, on Berry Hill, is Berry Pond, at over 2,070 feet the highest body of water in Massachusetts. The town’s agricultural heritage, spanning four centuries, can be enjoyed at Ioka Valley Farm on Route 43 and at Hancock Shaker Village, known for its iconic round barn, on Routes 20 and 41.
The Hill Towns
Cheshire, Clarksburg, Cummington, Florida, New Ashford, Peru, Savoy, and Windsor––these “hill towns,” still retain much of their original rural character. That is recaptured each August at the Annual Cummington Fair, first held in 1883, with a old-fashioned ferris wheel and rides, agricultural exhibits, awards for best livestock, oxen and draft horse pulls, and spirited volunteer involvement. In Cummington, The Old Creamery, a café on Route 9, is a popular spot for baked goods, breakfast, and lunch. Recreational opportunities include white water rafting and fishing on the Deerfield River, hiking, cross country skiing, cycling, and horseback riding. Recreational access from the hill towns includes Mount Greylock State Reservation, the Hoosic River, the Appalachian Trail, and the Chalet and Stafford Hill Wildlife Management areas. In 1920, the first vote cast by a woman in a U.S. national election was in New Ashford.
Lanesborough
Lanesborough is situated just north of Pittsfield on Routes 7 and 8. Originally a farming community and one of the first settlements in Berkshire county, it was incorporated in 1765. In the 19 century, marble quarries opened and iron was discovered, marking an industrial chapter in the town’s history. Lanesborough is now a small residential community with a few farms, small businesses, several restaurants and pubs, and a Target store. Recreational areas are Pontoosuc Lake, which is surrounded by primary residences and vacation homes, the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, Balance Rock State Park, Brodie Mountain and its Ramblewild outdoor recreation center, and Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts. The town’s most famous native son was humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw, aka Josh Billings, celebrated in Berkshire County’s Josh Billings RunAground, which takes place annually in September and is one of the nation’s longest-lived triathlons.
Williamstown
In the northwest corner of the Commonwealth, at the Vermont border, Williamstown is a vibrant, college town, possessing lovely streetscapes, rural scenery, and myriad cultural, culinary, and outdoor attractions. Among these are the Williams College Museum of Art, the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute with its stunning wing by Tadao Ando, and the Tony Award-winning Williamstown Theatre Festival, a summer magnet for nationally and internationally known talent. For recreation, there’s the Appalachian Trail, Pine Cobble, and Mount Greylock State Reservation. The town, first settled in 1749 and incorporated in 1765, was named for Colonel Ephraim Williams, scion of one of the original Stockbridge families; he endowed a free school, which became Williams College in 1793. In the 19th century, the Green and Hoosic rivers and streams powered a thriving mill industry: today, Williams College is the town’s largest employer. Early agricultural traditions are preserved in Williams College’s experimental Mount Hope Farm, Cricket Creek Farm, Caretaker Farm’s CSA shares, and in its bucolic landscapes. The Williams College Athletic Center offers community memberships. It’s a short hop over the border to southern Vermont and the Bennington airport, which accommodates small planes.
2020 Property Tax Rates
- Berkshire County Massachusetts 2020 Rates Per $1,000 assessed value.
Zip 01220 01230 01223 01225 01247 01226 01252 01247 01230 01237 01235 01237 01238 01240 01245 01258 01237 01230 01247 01253 01235 01201 01254 01255 01256 01257 01262 01264 01223 01266 01267 01270
City / Town Adams Alford Becket Cheshire Clarksburg Dalton Egremont Florida Great Barrington Hancock Hinsdale Lanesborough Lee Lenox Monterey Mt. Washington New Ashford New Marlborough North Adams Otis Peru Pittsfield Richmond Sandisfield Savoy Sheffield Stockbridge Tyringham Washington West Stockbridge Williamstown Windsor
Assessor's Phone (413) 743-8300 (413) 528-4336 (413) 623-5724 (413) 743-3929 (413) 663-7940 (413) 684-6111 (413) 528-0182 (413) 662-2448 (413) 528-1619 (413) 738-5225 (413) 655-2245 (413) 442-8622 (413) 243-5512 (413) 637-5500 (413) 528-6481 (413) 528-2839 (413) 458-5461 (413) 229-8926 (413) 662-3012 (413) 269-0100 (413) 655-8312 (413) 499-9466 (413) 698-2525 (413) 258-4711 (413) 743-4290 (413) 229-2335 (413) 298-4714 (413) 243-1749 (413) 623-8878 (413) 232-0303 (413) 458-3500 (413) 684-3811
Residential $21.88 $5.50 $11.08 $13.44 $17.89 $20.29 $9.49 $9.72 (’19) $15.75 $2.78 $13.21 $20.68 $14.68 $12.10 $7.43 $6.27 $12.48 $10.31 $18.62 $8.34 $18.76 $19.71 $12.38 $13.30 $14.96 $14.00 $9.87 $6.99 $15.29 $13.12 $17.60 $14.08
Commercial $25.99 $5.50 $11.08 $13.44 $17.89 $20.29 $9.49 $17.79 (’19) $15.75 $2.78 $13.21 $20.68 $14.68 $14.78 $7.43 $6.27 $12.48 $10.31 $40.66 $8.34 $18.76 $40.36 $12.38 $13.30 $14.96 $14.00 $9.87 $6.99 $15.29 $13.12 $17.60 $14.08
CPA
Fire District
1.5%
$0.98
3%
$1.09
1% 3%
1%
3%
3%
$0.56
*CPA is Community Preservation Act assessment Compiled 1/30/2020 from data obtained from Mass.gov https://www.mass.gov/service-details/property-tax-related-data
Phone: (413) 442-8049 | 99 West St, Suite 200, Pittsfield, MA 01201 | BerkshireRealtors.com | BerkshireRealtors.org |Pg 1
Resources Shop for Real Estate in Berkshire County: GladysMontgomery.WilliamPitt.com Local Media: BerkshireEagle.com (Daily Newspaper ) BerkshireEdge.com BerkshireHomestyle.com BerkshireMagazine.com BerkshireRecord.com (Weekly Newspaper) BerkshireStyle.com NorthAdamsTranscript.com (Daily Newspaper) OurBerkshireTimes.com (Bi-Monthly Lifestyle Magazine) RuralIntelligence.com Business: BerkshireChamber.com (Mid-North County) BTAConline.com (Monthly Local Business Publication) SouthernBerkshireChamber.com (South County)
For Kids: BerkshireCountryDay.org BerkshireMontessori.com BerkshireWaldorf.com K12Academics.com SchoolDigger.com PrivateSchoolReview.com PublicSchoolReview.com For Summer Camps: BerkshireFamilyFocus.com (Activities for Those with Children) berkshires.MacaroniKid.com BerkshireSummerCamps.com CampWizard.org/overnight-camps/region/Berkshires (American Camp Association)
Farms BerkshireGrown.org (Organic Farms, CSAs, Farmers Markets)
Arts: TheArtfulMindArtZine on ISSU BCAADA.com (Berkshire Antiques Dealers Association) BerkshireOnstage.com Chronogram.com (The Berkshires | Hudson Valley)
Recreation and Conservation Land: BNRC.org (Berkshire Natural Resources Council) MassAudubon.org TheTrustees.org
Calendars: DestinationWilliamstown.com (Activities Mid-North County) iBerkshires.com TheBerkshires24.7.com
General: Berkshires.org (Berkshire Visitors Bureau)
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