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 It’s Coming on ChristmasBy Bess Hochstein
Last week’s nonstop snowstorms brought back memories of Berkshire winters past, with snow so deep my corgis had to leap like deer to take their walks. People say the snow came early this year, pointing out that the official start of winter is still a few days away, but even in the relatively short time K & I have lived here we’ve experienced serious snowfall as early as Thanksgiving.
This bodes well for a white Christmas, which we have not had for a while. And though this weekend’s weather was truly frightful, for skiers it’s now delightful. I’m counting on it staying that way, because K’s sister Ellen is bringing her husband, Joe, and son, Kobe, up for Christmas, and she has already reserved skiing lessons for Kobe at Butternut.
This will be Kobe’s first time on the slopes; he’s five years old and I can’t think of a better way to introduce him to skiing. They’re staying at Stonover Farm, in the old schoolhouse that has been converted into a luxurious suite; it’s their favorite place to stay in South County, not least due to the hearty breakfasts served by innkeepers Tom and Suky. (Tom’s omelets are legend!) K’s parents are partial to the Devonfield; they last visited in fall, when the extended warm weather enabled them to make good use of the inviting outdoor pool.
Since Kobe loves swimming, his parents will probably take him to Cranwell, where the pool sparkles year-round in its airy atrium, and where Ellen will likely avail herself of an après-ski massage. I’m thinking that will be a great place to have our Christmas dinner, too; I checked out the holiday menu online and it looks pretty good!
We won’t wait for his family’s arrival to get out on our skis; once we get some work done this morning, we’re heading out to Kennedy Park to hit the cross-country trails. Our preferred trailhead is at the Arcadian Shop parking lot, which is convenient since I need to buy a few things to make sure I stay warm in the wooded trails. Tomorrow we’ll head to Jiminy Peak; believe it or not, I’ve never skied there, and the conditions are perfect right now.
While the idea of skiing in fresh, deep powder is thrilling, I’m also excited by the current cultural environment. Berkshire Theatre Festival’s second annual production of A Christmas Carol is getting great word of mouth; all those ghosts of Christmas may be a bit scary for Kobe, but it’s something to consider for older kids.
 And while Tanglewood and Shakespeare & Company have already announced their summer schedules, Barrington Stage Company continues its year-round emphasis. In February BSC presents Trumbo: Red, White & Blacklisted, based on the letters of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, a member of the “Hollywood Ten,” who defied McCarthy’s House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947 and was subsequently imprisoned, then vindicated. In May, I Am My Own Wife, a true story about an East German transvestite who eluded both the Nazis and the Communists through cleverness and deceit, makes its Berkshire premiere. Both works ran to great acclaim in Manhattan, so I’m looking forward to seeing them in Pittsfield. I’m also thrilled that the summer season opens with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which went on from its 2004 development in the Berkshires to a Broadway run of over 1,000 performances, winning two Tony Awards.
The Mahaiwe has also announced some programming for early 2008; it’s a diverse roster, starting with an intriguing set of classic films in January: The Baker’s Wife, The Blue Angel, The Philadelphia Story, and Three Penny Opera. Music and dance lovers will be pleased with the schedule, which includes performances by Paco Pena Flamenco, Trinity Irish Dance Company, Robert Cray Band, Judy Collins, and themed classical evenings put together by Close Encounters with Music, while comedy fans will flock to The Flying Karamzov Brothers and The Capitol Steps.
The Colonial’s schedule is also getting fleshed out. After the Albany Berkshire Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker on 12/21, we’re looking at a jam-packed January, including the Golden Dragon Acrobats; Beatlemania Again; Ladysmith Black Mambazo; and The Elvis Birthday Bash.
But for now, the big question is the same one we face every year: how to best celebrate the turn of the year. The Berkshire Bach Society is performing the Brandenburg Concerti at the Mahaiwe on New Year’s Eve, and at the Colonial on New Year’s Day; it’s great to have both options. Spice has a few options of its own, with Mary Verdi in the Lounge and dancing to the Berkshire Bateria’s Bossa Triba in the 2nd floor Ballroom. I’ve heard tickets are going fast, so I can’t let too much time go by before I decide.
I’m also considering New Year’s Eve at Jiminy Peak, beginning with dinner at John Harvard’s Restaurant, followed by a torch lit parade down the mountain, a fireworks display, and further festivities at Christiansen’s Tavern.
As K says, “We’ll see,” and with Christmas still ahead of us, I’ve got enough to concentrate on for this week.
About Bess Hochstein
Bess J.M. Hochstein came to the Berkshires as a second-homeowner before deciding to move here full time. Previously a communications executive, she's now a freelance writer living in Tyringham with her corgis Duffy and Hobbs and K. She writes for several publications, including Berkshire Living, the Boston Globe, New England Wine Gazette, and Healing Lifestyles & Spas magazine.
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