The Heart of the Berkshires The Inn at Stockbridge

Antique Automobile Show

2012-05-22T10:01:00.000-04:00

I can not believe that Memorial Day Weekend is here already. This is the official start of another summer season at the Inn at Stockbridge . We still have a few rooms available at serenity season rates. Serenity season rates will be offered until June 21.

Tanglewood will be opening with The Silk Road Ensemble and Yo Yo Ma on June 22 and Diana Krall on June 23.

Chesterwood, a National Trust Historic Site, announces its 2012 Chesterwood Antique & Classic Automobile Show, on Sunday, May 27, 2012, 10am-4pm, rain or shine.

Plan to visit the inn this summer. It looks like it will be a wonderful season. We look forward to welcoming you.

The Mount- Home of Edith Wharton

2012-05-16T15:00:00.002-04:00

We are so fortunate in the Berkshires and The Inn at Stockbridge next to Lenox. to have many beautiful estates that are open to the public. The Mount, the home of Edith Wharton is just one of these palatial estates. Besides being an estate the mount offers a variety of programs. I am indeed fortunate to have an Edith Wharton scholar in my book group, Irene Goodman Price. Irene will be leading a lecture on the friendship of Edith Wharton and Anna Bahlmann: Companions for Forty-Two Years . I will make sure to attend this event. this and the entire lecture series promises to be very enlightening.

Plan a visit to the Inn, visit the Mount and attend one of the many programs that the Mount offers.

2012-05-04T22:19:00.001-04:00

We are proud that the Berkshires has its own International Film Festival, to rival any world class festival. Why go to Cannes when you can drive to the Berkshires?

The Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFFMA or “The BIFF”) is a world-class festival that is an integral part of the cultural fabric of the Berkshires. BIFF showcases not only the latest in independent feature, documentary, short, and family films but also lively panel discussions and special events focusing on filmmakers and talented artists from both sides of the camera..

Plan a trip to The Inn at Stockbridge and see the best in Film. The Festival runs from May 31-June 3, 2012. The Inn will be offering serenity season rates.

Berkshires-Best Small Town in America

2012-04-17T17:38:00.000-04:00

Great Barrington, the neighboring town of Stockbridge , the home of our Berkshire Bed & Breakfast is rated # 1 of the best small towns in America. There are lists of the best places to get a job, retire, ski, golf and fall in love, best places lists for almost everything. We think any best place worth traveling to should have one quality above others: culture.

To help create the list, they asked asked the geographic information systems company Esri to search its data bases for high concentrations of museums, historic sites, botanic gardens, resident orchestras, art galleries and other cultural assets common to big cities. But we focused on towns with populations less than 25,000, so travelers could experience what might be called enlightened good times in an unhurried, charming setting. We also tried to select towns ranging across the lower 48.

We love the Berkshires and truly agree that Great Barrington along with Stockbridge are the best towns in America. That is why we live here, operate the Inn at Stockbridge and enjoy everything the area has to offer. Visit the inn and you will agree.

2012-04-15T13:06:00.002-04:00

Today Sunday, April 15 is Mercy Sunday at the Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge MA just minutes from our Stockbridge MA Bed & Breakfast

STOCKBRIDGE -- Eight million pieces of mail handled onsite each year. Two main websites that received 111,767 visits from March 10 to April 9. A smartphone app that's been downloaded 58,252 times since it debuted in January of last year.
In addition, a pray line that gets 22,000 phone calls a month, 17 other websites, two Facebook pages and a Twitter account.
All in the name of religion.
While the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy on Eden Hill shines the brightest today -- Mercy Sunday -- behind the scenes the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception (MIC) and 100 lay staff members are part of a year-round global mission devoted to Divine Mercy.

For more info on this event

Genealogy Research in Stockbridge

2012-04-08T20:04:00.001-04:00

Stockbridge has a deep history. Key chapters from the saga of Berkshire County's and Stockbridge's early history will be on display tonight for a national television audience through the eyes of husband-and-wife actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick.

A visit to the Stockbridge Cemetery on main Street in Stockbridge will take you to the Sedgwick pie where the descendents of this family are buried.

Stockbridge has a fascinating history. Visit the Inn and see for yourself
To read more

Hiking Trails From our Massachusetts Bed & Breakfast

2012-03-20T17:38:00.001-04:00

Today, the first day of spring was a beautiful day for a hike. I decided to go for a hike with my hiking group led by our leader Freya Segal Freya has been leading this group for many years always coming up with a new wonderful destination. Today we went to Fountain Pond which is part of Beartown State Forest. The weather was beautiful, bright blue sunny skis and close to 80. I am very fortunate to live and work in Stockbridge, it is truly a wonderful four season destination.

Benedict Pond, Beartown State Forest

Beartown State Forest has two distinctly different worlds between the summer and winter. During the warm months the pristine 35-acre Benedict Pond attracts swimmers, boaters and fishermen. An extensive network of trails on over 12,000 acres offers visitors a chance to glimpse deer, bear, bobcat, fisher and other wildlife, including the park's namesake, the Black Bear. Brooks, beaver ponds, rich deciduous forest, flowering shrubs and wildflowers and fall foliage are plentiful. The Appalachian Trail passes near Benedict Pond and offers spectacular wooded views.

The other half of the year the forest becomes a winter wonderland, where visitors on cross-country skis, snowshoes or snowmobiles can explore a snow-covered wilderness. The 1.5 mile Benedict Pond Loop Trail is a must in any season. Year-round camping is also available.

Nearby, on US Rte. 7 in Great Barrington, Fountain Pond State Park and Monument Mountain (The Trustees of Reservations) offer a variety of hiking trails and breathtaking views any time of year.

Plan to visit our Stockbridge Bed & Breakfast and enjoy hikes in the beautiful Berkshire Hills.

Performing Arts Theatre in the Berkshires

2012-03-19T12:28:00.000-04:00

There is theatre in the Berkshires in. March & April.

Berkshire Theatre Group is the premier performing arts organization in Western Massachusetts. BTG encompasses 5 theaters in 3 towns throughout Berkshire County including the 780 seat Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, the 408 seat Fitzpatrick Main Stage in Stockbridge and the 122 seat Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge.

Check out the 2012 summer season as well. for more information

When planning your trip to the Berkshires plan to stay at our Berkshire bed & breakfast

Snuggle Up Warm & Cozy

2012-02-04T15:06:00.004-05:00

The Inn at Stockbridge is offering a snuggle up warm and cozy package. Midweek, during the winter. Imagine a romantic suite with a gas fireplace and large double whirlpool. All cottage house and barn suites have an in suite refrigerator and Keurig coffee maker. Bring your favorite wine or champagne. We will stock the fridge with all the fixings for breakfast in you room. All this at a reduced winter midweek rate of 225 for the barn suites and 199 for cottage house suites. Two cozy bathrobes will be waiting for you in your suite.

A fitness and massage room is on premises. Reserve your massage to make it a perfect Valentines Day or midweek getaway.

Norman Rockwells Painting on Google

2012-02-04T14:50:00.000-05:00

Norman Rockwell had a birthday yesterday.. Norman Rockwell painting has taken over Google's logo today in celebration of the artist's birthday.
Norman Rockwell's birthday was February 3, 1894.
Read more

The Inn at Stockbridge continues to be a corporate member of the Norman Rockwell Museum. Norman Rockwell lived in Stockbridge and we are proud to have The Norman Rockwell Museum in our town.

Yo Yo Ma Loves the Berkshires

2012-01-30T11:49:00.000-05:00

When Yo yo Ma wants to get away he goes to the Berkshires. Why. More Trees Less people Read why
in Vanity Fair Head to the Berkshires for your next getaway. Stay at The Inn at Stockbridge for the ultimate getaway.

Tanglewood Tickets go on Sale

2012-01-26T14:25:00.000-05:00

Tanglewood is celebrating its 75th anniversary this summer. The season is going to be wonderful with James Taylor appearing on July 2, 3 & 4. This is always a sold out event. Tickets for the season go on sale on Sunday January 29 at 10am. This venue is perhaps the most popular in the Berkshires, Lenox and Stockbridge.

The Inn at Stockbridge is proud to be a corporate sponser of Tanglewood. After all we love our parking pass.

You can find us on the lawn on most Sunday afternoons as well as other times. We can not wait for the summer 2012 season to begin

Edith Wharton -150th birthday

2012-01-24T12:12:00.002-05:00

Today Tuesday January 24, Edith Wharton would turn 150. Edith was born on January 24, 1862 as Edith Newbold Jones. Edith was very class conscious ans that is how keeping up with the Jone's came about.
We are fortunate in the Berkshires to have The Mount, which was the home of Edith Wharton.

Attention, Wharton fans! Our lovely Edith is about to turn—gasp!—150.

We’re inviting celebrations around the globe to honor this amazing woman who continues today to inspire and delight legions of readers, writers, entertainers, and designers. (If you don’t believe us, ask Jonathan Franzen or Martin Scorsese or Mindy Kaling or Tory Burch.)

As part of the birthday festivities, we invite you to submit your birthday wishes to Edith. And to make it more fun, we’d love for you to tell us—or better yet, show us—how Edith might be celebrating her birthday in 2012.

For more about the mount and Edith Wharton celebration .

Plan to stay at the Inn at Stockbridge and visit the Mount. We even have a room at the Inn named for Edith Wharton.

In the Winter Berkshire- Culture Moves Indoors

2012-01-16T17:21:00.000-05:00

I feel very fortunate to own and operate the Inn at Stockbridge, in the beautiful Berkshires. Len and I always marvel at the wonderful guests who have passed through our doors over the past 18 years. Many have become friends. We are overwhelmed at the response we received over the passing of Mia. Thank you all for your kind words.

The Berkshires is a wonderful place to live as well as visit. The New York Times just wrote an article in the travel section of this Sunday's paper." FOR many, the Berkshire Mountains are inimitably tied to one season: summer, when the area’s tandem blooms of high culture and cherished New England countryside draw a devoted global audience to this sparsely populated corner of Massachusetts.Traditionally, early September brings a frosty curtain down on this fair-weather communion of art and land. The region’s snowy scenes may have inspired some notable James Taylor lyrics and the color of American literature’s most famous whalel
more.

Visit us every season. Winter, summer, spring and fall. After all the Berkshires has it all

Norman Rockwell Museum Presents Curious George

2011-12-24T10:01:00.001-05:00

Curious George Saves The Day: The Art of Margret and H. A. Rey

November 12-February 5, 2012

Curious George, the beloved, irrepressible monkey of children’s book lore, is famous for his ability to “save the day.” Interpreting the role he played in safeguarding his own creators in times of danger as symbolic, this exhibition delves into the remarkable lives and works of Margret and H. A. Rey.

Featuring nearly 80 original drawings and preparatory dummies for the Rey’s children’s books and documentation related to their escape from Nazi-occupied Europe, the exhibition will examine the parallels between the obstacles the couple faced and the drawings that may have saved their lives.

The Inn at Stockbridge is proud to be a corporate sponser of the Norman Rockwell Museum

Holiday Activities in the Berkshires

2011-11-11T14:26:00.000-05:00

The Festival of trees continues to be a wonderful activity to enjoy while staying at our Stockbridge B&B.. Enjoy the holiday atmosphere in the Berkshires. it will be sure to delight children of all ages.

Under the Big Top: Festival of Trees 2011
November 18, 2011 - January 2, 2012

Ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages, step right up! Under the Big Top: Festival of Trees 2011 is a dazzling, fun-filled holiday extravaganza with more than a hundred decorated holiday trees scattered throughout Berkshire Museum's galleries. Special exhibitions of vintage circus memorabilia, posters, and photography add to the exciting Big Top atmosphere.

For more info

A Christmas Carol featuring James Taylor

2011-11-11T11:27:00.001-05:00

It is with great pleasure that we are able to inform you that James Taylor Berkshire local hero will be performong this holiday season, Singer-songwriter James Taylor, a Berkshires resident who has played himself on several TV series episodes in recent years, will portray Bob Cratchit, the self-effacing, warm-hearted clerk who is abused by his boss, Ebenezer Scrooge, but displays empathy for the old miser and helps inspire his redemption during nocturnal, frightening visitations by four spirits

Plan to stay at the Inn at Stockbridge this holiday season and spend some time in Stockbridge, "the best of New England , the best of america " as quoted by Norman Rockwell.

A Christmas Carol will be performed at the Colonial Theatre from December 17-30

Holloween event in the Berkshires

2011-10-26T17:02:00.002-04:00

Holloween is a wonderful time to be in the Berkshires The Mount Edith Wharton's Estate and Gardens creates a wonderful holloween event .If it sends a cold shiver down one's spine, it has done its job and done it well."

Find out if Edith Wharton and her beloved house can still make spines shiver. Get a head start on Halloween this year at The Mount!
6 pm: Combination Tour and Reading

Join us for an evening ghost tour followed by a special reading and light refreshments. The tour will include the historic stable and the pet cemetery as well as select areas of the house. The dramatic reading, which will take place at 8 pm in the drawing room after the tour, will feature one of Wharton's most chilling ghost stories, "The Triumph of Night," performed by Ariel Bock and Jonathan Epstein. Cider and doughnuts will follow. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets for this event can be purchased online or by calling 413-551-5100. The price for the tour and reading will be $40 adults and $30 ages 13-18. Reservations are required. (Call 413-551-5100 for a special rate for Mount members.)

Its Folliage Season

2011-10-19T14:50:00.000-04:00

Its wonderful being the Inn keeper at the Inn at Stockbridge for every season. Fall is perhaps my favorite. we get wonderful guests from all over the world as well as from various parts of the States. The folliage is beautiful and worth a trip from near and far. Time to cozy up by the fireplace and enjoy the double whirlpool.

After the fall folliage season we will resume our serenity season rates. Take advantage of the quiet season at lower rates from a high of 290 for the deluxe barn suites to a low of 170 for the Petite room.

Baseball in the Berkshires

2011-08-25T14:18:00.000-04:00

Len and I attended a baseball game yesterday in Wahconah Park . We saw the Pittsfied Colonials play Worcester. The stadium is beautiful, the food good and it was a fun night. Would you believe tickets are only $7.00. The weather was wonderful and we had the privilege of sitting with Buddy Lewis the owner of the Pittsfield Colonials.
If you want a change from the typical cultural venues that I usually promote in the Berkshires try baseball. It is often said the the baseball hall of fame should be in Pittsfield. This is where baseball really started.Visit the Inn at Stockbridge and attend a baseball game before the season is over. You will be glad you did. Ask us about free tickets.
Read more about the Pittsfield Colonials

Small town Festivals -Adams and West Stockbridge. Fun for all

2011-08-08T22:13:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Len & I attended a unique fair. On Sunday afternoon you can usually find us at Tanglewood enjoying the afternoon concerts. As part of our mission to offer our guests unique experiences we attended the Adams Agricultural fair.
Agricultural & horticultural exhibits, cattle, sheep, poultry, rabbits, emus, exotic animals. llama & sheep dog demonstrations, horse, pony, ox draw, magicians, Farmin Fever show, classic vehicles, St. Rods & motorcycles demonstrations, 4X4. 4X2 truck pulls. antique tractor pull, peddle tractor, battery powered trucks, cars, garden tractor pulls, carnival 'Jubilee Festivals', music, Indian Pow Wow.
Visit the Adams Agricultural Fair online at: aafadams.tripod.com/adamsfair .
The Berkshires offers many unique opportunities to enjoy small town living. this was just one of them.
The zucchini Festival is next weekend. this too is a fun event for the entire family.

8th Annual West Stockbridge Zucchini Festival

On Saturday, August 13th (rain or shine) the West Stockbridge Cultural Council will host the 8th Annual Zucchini Festival in the town center, Rts. 41 AND 102, ¼ mile west of Exit 1 of the Mass Pike. The Festival is for families in the community and visitors alike to gather together to have fun! There are activities for kids & adults: a pet parade, rides & races, zucchini recipe contest, zucchini decorating/weigh-off contests, live music and entertainment (Berkshire Bataria & Samba, Bela’s Bartok, Eagle’s Big Band, etc, etc.), games, food booths, arts/crafts and more. The fun begins at 10 AM and continues until about 9:30 PM when fireworks and dancing in the streets round out the day. Attendance is free, with small fees for tickets at game booths. For a complete listing and schedule of events, visit http://www.weststockbridgetown.com or call 413-232-0222.
Contact: http://www.weststockbridgetown.com or call 413-232-0222

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Summer in the Berkshires- The Mount

2011-07-12T15:07:00.001-04:00

The Berkshires is the place to be in the summer. There are so many wonderful venues to visit, its difficult to mention the all. One of my favorites is The Mount, the residence of Edith Wharton. The mount has an action packed summer planned for its visitors. Check out their newsletter to view all the offerings.

Make sure to visit the Inn at Stockbridge and stay in the Wharton suite, a tribute to the famous author.

Berkshires 2011 Cultural Season

2011-06-16T20:32:00.001-04:00

Wrap around porch at The Inn at Stockbridge welcomes you

The cultural season is about to begin in the beautiful Berkshires. All of the venues have planned a wonderful season for our guests at The Inn at Stockbridge. Len and I are excited to begin our 17th summer as keepers of the Inn at Stockbridge.
Where should I begin- Tanglewood, with James Taylor, Earth Wind and Fire, The Boston Pops, Mark Morris and many more
Jacobs Pillow Dance featuring dance from around the world including Carte Blanche from Norway, Tangueros Del Sur from Argentina, Danzabierta from Cuba, and much more
Berkshire Theatre Festival featuring Sylvia, In The mood and Period of adjustment.
Barrington Stage Company with Guys and Dolls, the Best of Enemies and the Game.

The list goes on. I always said that you could stay in the Berkshires for and entire summer and do something different every night. Enjoy culture in the country by night and the Inn by day. Swim in our pool and relax on our wrap around pool. Indulge

Hiking in the Berkshires

2011-06-07T17:05:00.000-04:00

Hiking in the Berkshires is wonderful. There is nature all around the Inn at Stockbridge. Today I was fortunate to go on a wonderful hike with my hiking group. The Trustees of the Reservation maintains many trails near our Berkshire Bed & Breakfast. Take time out from the daily grind and enjoy nature at its finest.

About Bear Swamp 285 acres

Hike three miles of trails, some steep in places, to a nearby beaver pond and terrific views of hillside orchards spreading below and the distant Green Mountains.

What makes Bear Swamp a special place?

To early settlers, Bear Swamp was truly rough terrain: steep, wooded hillsides and exposed bedrock descending to boggy wetlands and swamp. Nonetheless, all of the land was cleared for forest products, pasture, and even hayfields. But contemporary explorers will find a landscape of hard beauty, with field reclaimed by forest and the dark lowlands illuminated by colorful wildflowers in bloom.

Return to the Wild

Other than remnants of water mills and maple sugaring works, man’s imprint here has been largely swallowed by the return of the forest. And along with the oak and cherry, maple and birch and evergreens, have come clusters of lowland vernal pools, shaded from the sun.

The trees provide habitat and nesting places for myriad bird species. Come spring, several species of warblers announce their arrival, as mallards and wood ducks murmur in the ponds and freshwater marshes. And from the seasonal pools emerge the insistent songs of spring peepers and wood frogs. Great-horned owls and barred owls hoot in winter, while pileated woodpeckers loudly hammer home their presence on dead pines all year long.

Trails
3 miles of trails. Moderate hiking, strenuous in places.

The aptly named Fern Glade Trail passes through carpets of ferns and wildflowers. Take the Beaver Brook Trail, also accurately named, to where an aging stone dam supports a beaver dam. If you love a grand vista, follow the trail to Apple Valley Overlook. From this promontory, a panorama takes in both apple orchards in the near distance and, on the northern horizon, the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Ask Alice or Len and we will guide you to a perfect hike. Tip. Remember to bring the bug spray or ask us for some

Berkshire international Film Festival

2011-06-02T08:01:00.000-04:00

Coming to the Berkshires June 2-5

Alice & Len Schiller, owners of the Inn at Stockbridge love film and are thrilled that the Berkshire International film festival is here next door to their Berkshire Bed & Breakfast. The Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFFMA or “The BIFF”) is a world-class festival that is an integral part of the cultural fabric of the Berkshires. BIFF showcases not only the latest in independent feature, documentary, short, and family films but also lively panel discussions and special events focusing on filmmakers and talented artists from both sides of the camera..

The Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF) is for filmmakers and film lovers alike to be entertained, educated and inspired. BIFF seeks to celebrate independent film and to recognize and pay tribute to accomplished artists on both sides of the camera in the international, national and regional film community. BIFF aims to provide filmmakers, producers, directors, writers and actors an environment to collaborate, present their work, and interact with each other and with film audiences. Specific priorities of the Festival are to showcase the most challenging and topically relevant documentaries each year, and provide a platform for Berkshire filmmakers.

There is still some availability at the Inn at Stockbridge, which is centrally located to Great Barrington & Pittsfield, venues for the festival.