W.E.B. DuBois traveled the world in his lifetime. He helped to shape ideals of independence in Africa and freedom and democracy in America. And I have begun to get to know him in the Berkshires, where he was born.
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Spring Street adapts to changing pandemic conditions
Spring Street has changed in a summer of Covid-19. Shops are reopening, and restaurants and even the Clark Art Institute are expanding outdoors, but as students prepare to return to campus, local businesses deal with constant shifts.
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Camp closures affect local businesses in the pandemic
In a normal summer, I would be a counselor at URJ Crane Lake Camp, and right about now, my friends and I would be walking into West Stockbridge on our hour-off for a muffin and iced-tea from No. Six Depot Roastery and Café or a grilled sandwich from the Public […]
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An anonymous artist creates a summer treasure hunt
It turns out the Berkshires has an stealth artist who creates gifts and leaves them quietly in public places — the Guerilla Bunny paints eggs by hand with dragons and phoenixes.
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Berkshire shops and locals rally in the pandemic
As the coronavirus pandemic has taken hold this spring, people across the Berkshires are finding ways to help — from a distiller making hand sanitizer to restaurants to farmers markets.
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Local shops and makers are moving online
At the holidays, my sister and I were talking about the challenges of finding local businesses online— but we didn’t expect this kind of trial by fire. The coronavirus pandemic has suspended local shops in the Berkshires, but they are adapting.
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10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival warms up downtown
The 10×10 Upstreet Arts Festival is in town, and Pittsfield is at play. Every year in late February, downtown Pittsfield holds a weeklong celebration with art and music, new plays, independent film and more.
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Nationally awardwinning architects and designers set to create cultural center
Nationally recognized architects and designers Mario Gooden, Mabel Wilson and Walter Hood are working to re-imagine the Clinton Church in Great Barrington as a cultural center celebrating African American history.
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Contra dance is alive and growing in the Berkshires
The tradition of contra dancing stretches from coast to coast and back more than 400 years. A caller teaches a series of simple moves, and dancers join in to live music with a beat and a quick melody.
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Spirits of the past — Tracing the Jenks family through 400 years (By the Way column)
Last week I stood on a hill where one of my ancestors stood 230 years ago. Christmas is supposed to be a time for ghosts. Between the old year and the new year, we have a few days out of time. Maybe that’s why so many Christmas stories commune with spirits. […]
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