Bring the Kids!

By Ann Claffie
May means Summer’s almost here!

In Broadway’s musical Camelot, Julie Andrews sang “Tra la! It’s May! The lusty month of May! That lovely month when everyone goes blissfully astray!...”  And so, it’s time for us to go astray too! For my family, May means being outdoors as much as possible for as long as possible. It’s that time of the year for us to grab our rakes and heavy-duty gloves, collect broken limbs scattered about (not to mention 1000s of fallen pine cones) and apply the first layer of fertilizer.

To really liven things up, we’ll enhance our “outside activities” by going—out—to dinner! We’ll each take turns choosing different places to eat. I can hear my son’s voice now.

“Yahoo! Thanks Mom!”

I’ll begin in the northern Berkshires at Spice Root on Spring Street in Williamstown. It’s cozy and colorful—including the food! Ever try a mango lassa?  It’s very refreshing!

My son, Robert, would like to visit Lickety Split inside MASS MoCA, North Adams.

“Mom, they have the best ice cream! I remember trying Ooey-Gooey in a cone or was it Smoosh-Ins? (It’s a great concoction of nuts, candy, fruits and frozen yogurt) Whatever!” 

I guess we’ll plan our dessert there. 

As for my husband, his pick is Ye Olde Forge on Route 7 in Lanesboro, not because of their terrific beer selection and outside deck, but because it’s a favorite “date” spot—not to mention a great place for food.

As we plan our supper jaunts throughout the Berkshires—yard work may take several weekends you know—Robert’s second choice will be ..dessert again, this time at Chocolate Springs in Lenox. (Excellent choice!) My husband wants to try Jacks Grill in Housatonic. They have an eclectic array of nostalgia, including an operating model train.. Harry will love that!  As for me, it’ll either be Japanese cuisine at Bizen or Shiro’s or something from the Mediterranean featured at Aegean Breeze  or Verdura, all located in the center of Great Barrington.

One of the best things I like about May is that it signals the re-awakening of several Berkshires attractions after a long winter’s nap.  Our family outings will include stepping back in time at The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Estate and Gardens in Lenox. Plus, Robert will have a chance to learn all about colonial life at the Bidwell House, Monterey and the Mission House, Stockbridge. We’ll also visit one of the other properties owned by Trustees of Reservations, Colonel John Ashley’s House in Ashley Falls. As I recall, close by is Bartholomew’s Cobble. We could enjoy an afternoon’s hike and picnic! 

On Memorial Day Weekend, we’ll drive to Stockbridge for a visit to Chesterwood to see a sculptor’s legacy.  Since Robert is learning all about famous artists and writers in school, another venture will focus on the studio used by Norman Rockwell. A trip to Arrowhead will include seeing where Herman Melville sat in his barn’s loft, dreaming of his whaling days while writing Moby-Dick. Oh yes, I mustn’t forget, the Berkshire Museum’s hands-on art program for kids, ages 6 to 10. On Saturdays, ImaginASIA will focus on different Asian art like origami and printmaking. The museum’s Upcoming Family Performances sound pretty cool too—May 5 & 6, The Watershed Waltz, is an engaging musical with puppets exploring the importance of our environment. On May 12, Sirius Coyote, a group of musicians, storytellers and instrument makers, performs music of the early Americas with over 30 ancient and modern instruments.

“Hey Mom, maybe I can bring the drum I made from kinecks and play some music with them!  Oh and Mom….. Happy Mother’s Day!  I love you!  

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there!

About Ann Claffie
A Berkshires native, Ann grew up in Dalton as the oldest of five children who were encouraged to use their imaginations for fun and play. Today, married and living in Pittsfield, Ann and her husband enjoy family fun and adventure with their nine year old son. She has been on staff at the Berkshire Visitors Bureau for more than ten years.