The Hancock Shaker Village hosts their third annual Cidermakers’ Dinner
Pittsfield— On Saturday, July 15th at 6 p.m., the Hancock Shaker Village hosts their third annual Cidermakers’ Dinner.
Start your evening with cocktails and snacks under the apple trees followed by a chef-prepared dinner under the Timberframe in view of the iconic round stone barn. You will hear from Berkshire Cider Project’s head cidermaker as you enjoy hard cider pairings with your meal.
Since 2019, Berkshire Cider Project has produced a small-batch, estate cider from the trees at Hancock Shaker Village. Sales from this cider help to support the Village’s vibrant agricultural programming and the 75+ year old orchard.
This year’s dinner is extra special as it will be the only opportunity to try the 2022 vintage of this cider – due to a convergence of environmental factors, the harvest was especially poor and Berkshire Cider Project was only able to produce a very small amount of this site-specific cider. This Spring, growers across the Berkshires and beyond were again hit with challenging growing conditions, in some cases leading to near total loss. This dinner will be a celebration of the tenacity of farmers in the face of adversity and an opportunity to support Massachusetts’ oldest working farm, Hancock Shaker Village. This is an evening not to be missed!
The dinner is on Saturday, July 15th at 6 p.m. at the Hancock Shaker Village on West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield. Tickets are $90 and $85 for members. Tickets and more information can found by visiting Hancock Shaker Village online.
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Fisher Center at Bard presents ‘Henri VIII’ by Camille Saint-Saëns
Annandale-On-Hudson— From July 21st through July 30th, the Fisher Center at Bard presents “Henri VIII” by Camille Saint-Saëns, directed by Jean-Romain Vesperini.
The rarely-heard exquisite vocal passages of Camille Saint-Saëns’s “Henri VIII” will be performed at Bard SummerScape by a company of standout singers including Alfred Walker, bass-baritone, as Henri VIII and Lindsay Ammann, mezzo-soprano, as Anne Boleyn, with the American Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leon Botstein.
“Henri VIII” is French grand opera at its most magnificent. In this love triangle for the ages, an infamous Tudor king is determined to divorce Catherine of Aragon in favor of the ambitious, beautiful Anne Boleyn. Saint-Saëns’s exquisite vocal passages and rich orchestration bring this rarely performed masterpiece to vivid life in this captivating new production.
Performances run from July 21st through July 30th in the Sosnoff Theater at the Fisher Center at Bard on Manor Avenue in Annandale-On-Hudson. Tickets start at $25 with $5 tickets for Bard students. There is also two livestreams of the performance on July 26th at 2 p.m. and July 29th at 5 p.m. Tickets to the livestream are $20 and free for members. Reservations are required. The performance is approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes; including one 30-minute intermission. It is sung in French with English supertitles.
There is a Premiere Party on Friday, July 21 at 5 p.m. and an Opening Night Intermission Toast on Friday, July 21st. There is a Pre-Performance Opera Talk with Leon Botstein on Sunday, July 23rd at noon. There is a Pre-Performance Toast for Members on Sunday, July 30th at 1 p.m. Tickets and more information can be found by visiting the Fisher Center at Bard online.
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The Lenox Library and Stockbridge Library will collaborate to host #1 New York Times bestselling author Chris Grabenstein
Lenox— On Saturday, July 15th at 10:30 a.m., the Lenox Library and Stockbridge Library will collaborate to host #1 New York Times bestselling author Chris Grabenstein.
Chris Grabenstein will give a fun and funny talk about how he became a writer and where he gets his ideas. He will share a sneak peak of his new “Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” graphic novel coming out in November. In addition, Chris will be joined by his wife J.J. Grabenstein, with whom he co-authored the acclaimed book “Shine!”
Grabenstein is the New York Times bestselling author of the “Lemoncello” series, the “Smartest Kid” series, the “Dog Squad” series, the “Wonderland” series, and the award-winning “Haunted Mystery” series. Chris is also the co-author (with James Patterson) of the #1 Bestsellers “I Funny”, “House of Robots”, “Treasure Hunters”, “Jacky Ha-Ha”, “Word of Mouse”, “Katt Vs. Dogg”, “Best Nerds Forever”, and many others.
This event is Saturday, July 15th at 10:30 a.m. at the Lenox Town Hall auditorium on Walker Street in Lenox. No registration is required. There will be time for questions and answers, photographs, and for signing books. A variety of Grabenstein books will be available for purchase and attendees may enter a raffle to win a free book. Free ice cream will be provided after the event. For more information, call the Lenox Library at 413-637-0197.
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Lee Library hosts a visit from Starlab planetarium’s “Night Sky”
Lee— On July 26th at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., the Lee Library hosts a visit from Starlab planetarium’s “Night Sky”!
Once you enter the dome of the Starlab portable planetarium, you will have the feeling of sitting out under the starts as an expert astronomy educator gives you a live and personal tour of the starts, constellations, and planets you are likely to find when you get out under the real sky.
There are two sessions in the Starlab dome on July 26th at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the Lee Library on Main Street in Lee. Registration is required by emailing lee@cwmars.org or calling 413-243-0385. More information can be found by visiting the Lee library online.
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Berkshire Botanical Garden hosts free sunset yoga in the garden
Stockbridge— On Thursdays from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., July 6th through September 14th, Berkshire Botanical Garden hosts free sunset yoga in the garden.
Yoga in the garden returns to the Great Lawn at sunset. It is appropriate for all skill levels and a perfect way to end the day. Classes are led by Kathi Cafiero, a Kripalu-certified yoga instructor who has been teaching the physical and mental benefits of yoga for over 20 years.
The classes are on Thursdays from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., July 6th through September 14th, at the Berkshire Botanical Garden on West Stockbridge Road in Stockbridge. The classes are free to all and no registration required. It is recommended to bring a mat and two blocks, but it is not required. No bathroom facilities are available. Classes will be canceled for inclement weather. More information can be found by visiting Berkshire Botanical Garden online.
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Launch Party for Outdoor Fitness Court in Lee
Lee— On Wednesday, July 12th from 10 a.m. to noon, the Town of Lee hosts a launch party for the town’s new outdoor fitness course.
The Town of Lee now offers the first Outdoor Fitness Court in Western Massachusetts to residents of Lee and surrounding towns. At the official “Launch Party” for the court, Live 95.9 will be doing a live broadcast. There will be guest speakers, a ribbon cutting event, a live demonstration by local fitness ambassador Soules Fitness, and a “BATTLE OF THE BADGES” between Lee’s Police & Fire Departments.
The party is on Wednesday, July 12th from 10 a.m. to noon at the outdoor fitness court which is located behind Lee Middle and High School on 300 Greylock Street in Lee. All are welcome to attend. There will be time for the public to try out the court and get any advice they need from Soules Fitness. Refreshments will be served and the BrewBerry food truck will be on site.