And as per usual it is mostly about food though the mountain views are exceptional. Just to drive through hills and winding roads is so relaxing.
Yesterday we found one of our favorite thing while out wandering, a small, quirky sculpture garden – The Circle Museum – where we wandered through what seemed to be one mans creation from junk and stuff.
I particularly liked the bowls of …. well, I am not exactly sure what this was.
Snuck in here is a sculpted tree
And it kept going. Through an opening in the trees, into the woods, and around and about.
Couldn’t help myself, had to include it, isn’t that the cutest car?
And day 2 begins…
This morning I took myself off to the smaller Berkshire Mountain Bakery. I had read they had a kouign amann which is one of my absolute favorites from Dominique Ansel’s but to my great disappointment I only found a soft and chocolatey chocolate chip cookie and a chocolate bouchon, oh yes, and a few ciabatta. So I will have to drive up to Pittsfield to the larger location and try my luck there.
It was then clean the car, have a salad, look out the windows, google food and investigate all things we should do while here.
We already have our tickets for 5 nights at Tanglewood and 3 at Jacobs pillow. The highlights for me will be the miami City Ballet and Michael Tilson Thomas, but thats just the Miami in me.
and here is the start of the list.
Ellens List
Chocolate Springs in Lenox
Rockwell museum
Saturday GB farmers Market
Old Mill Egremont
John Andrews Egremont
Thai on Main Street GB
Koi Chinese
Cafe Adam
Bixen Sushi GB
Zinc Lenox
Brava Lenox
Atta
Embark on your own dessert trail.
Grab a sweet treat (or three) at one of several spots in and around the Berkshires. In Pittsfield, indulge in some creamy soft serve at Dairy Cone or homemade cake at Mary’s Carrot Cake. Make your way to Lenox to check out the new Sweet Dreams cafe, which sells crowd-pleasing pastries like cinnamon buns and chocolate chip cookies, or the beloved Chocolate Springs Cafe for specially crafted confections like truffles, chocolate-covered pretzels, and marshmallows. Candy lovers of all ages will also appreciate the nostalgia-inducing Robin’s Candy, a shop stocked with a curated collection of sweets to suit every palate. Other nearby favorites include Mielke Confections and the Parisian-inspired Pixie Boulangerie.
What are the best museums in the Berkshires?
The three best museums in the Berkshires are the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, the Clark Institute in Williamstown, and MASS MoCA in North Adams.
Naumkeag
The most difficult thing about Naumkeag may be pronouncing it (hint: it’s nom-keg, and it helps to picture an animal nomming on a keg of beer). This historic shingle-style home has 44 rooms and was home to generations of the Choate family. While the inside is interesting to explore, the gardens are the big draw here.
You can enjoy sumptuous flower gardens, quintessential Berkshires views over the countryside, and even a Chinese-style garden. I recommend pausing to get a beverage while sitting in Adirondack chairs looking over the landscape.
Admission to Naumkeag is $10 for adults, $15 for seniors and students with ID, $5 for children 3-12, and free for children under 3.
Berkshire Mountain Bakery in the tiny town of Housantonic. small bakery specializes in sourdough and high-end bakeries,
I grabbed a Kouign-Amann.
There is a second location in Pittsfield
2022 3-Show FLEXpass
2022 FLEXpasses are on sale now!
3-show and 5-show FLEXpass packages are now available for any show of the 2022 season!
Shakespeare & Company FLEXpass holders enjoy several benefits, including:
North Adams, the funky revitalized art town.
MASS MoCA — This immense, unconventional modern art museum is the center of the town, and you could easily spend a full day here. Not just taking in the exhibits, but checking out the attached restaurants, pop-ups, coffee shops, and breweries!
Natural Bridge State Park — This state park is home to the only natural white marble arch in North America! It’s a beautiful place to spend an afternoon with cool hiking trails.
Cascade Waterfall — Park at the North Adams YMCA and you’ll find a quick and easy hiking trail to a beautiful, tall waterfall.
MARKETS
Geissler Supermarket – Agawam MA
Asian food market. Westfield MA
Fiorentina Partry shop East Longmeadow
Roughly 70 sculptures, both indoors and outdoors, punctuate the 40-acre Butler Sculpture Park in Sheffield during this, its 30th anniversary …
COrsello Butcheria – Custom cut meat to order, house-made sausages, freshly ground beef to order, chicken cut off the bone. These are just a few of the offerings at the Butcheria.
Italian Bread Shop – Springfield
Grannys Baking Table I’ve tasted from bakeries far and wide from NYC to Italy and nothing beats Granny’s Baking Table. Put it on your bucket list. Seriously. I’ve never tasted anything close to the perfection and bliss of this place. A lovely, quaint, hidden gem. Support local business. Get here and spread the word!
Caranado Gourmet – Springfield.
Calabrese – Springfield. Great assortment of prepared Italian foods. There is an olive oil station 🙂 There is a nice selection of Italian olive oils and other grocery items.
Zonins gourmet market. EAst Longmeadow
Mom enricos specialty market
Frigo Foods
Lanesborough Local. Not sure what it is..