Winter Hiking in the Beautiful Berkshires

The Berkshires is truly a four season destination. It is special to live here every season and enjoy the magic that nature brings to us every day 365 days a year. Today I enjoyed a beautiful day with a picture perfect blue sky and perfect temperatures to enjoy this winter wonderland. Yak Tracks, winter underwear, gloves and hat were a necessity but I felt warm. A bowl of soup after the hike was very enjoyable. My hiking group chose to visit Wacannah falls today. Every week our fearless leader Freya chooses a different destination. It is often difficult to choose whether to go with the group or participate in Yoga at Kripalu. Life is wonderful owning the beautiful Inn at Stockbridge and enjoying a place as close to paradise as one can get. You too can enjoy this wonderful destination as our guest. We will help you with all the details, including where to get the best soup.
Wahconah Falls State Park

Off Rte. 9/8A, Dalton
(413) 442-8992 (Pittsfield State Forest)

Located in the heart of the Berkshire Hills, Wahconah Falls offers visitors spectacular scenic views anytime of year. Wahconah Falls Brook flows over several smaller tiered falls then cascades about 40 feet into a deep pool. The falls "roar," especially during spring run-off. Relax, picnic or fish in the shade of the northern hardwood-conifer forest, or take a hike on the 0.5 mile loop trail (moderate difficulty) through open woods and along upper portions of the falls.

Holiday Happenings In the Berkshires

The Berkshires is a perfect place to spend the holidays this season. Fresh snow makes the Inn at Stockbridge a winter wonderland. The Inn is decorated in all it glory as the mansion is now 103 years old. Come view pen and ink drawings that are sent to us each season by our friend Barry Ottenstein. Celebrate Chanukah and the holiday season and visit the Berkshire Museum and view the festival of trees. This is 25th year of this annual event which is on view from November 14–January 3 2010. Each year, the Berkshire Museum spruces up the galleries with scores of festive trees decorated by community organizations, businesses, and school children. This year, to mark the Festival’s Silver Anniversary, the trees have been inspired by the theme Silver Bells.
While visiting the Berkshires this holiday season you can ski at Butternut, visit Ventfort Hall and the Rockwell Museum as well as go to the Berkshire Theatre Festival to see the Christmas Carol.
The Berkshires, Stockbridge and the Inn at Stockbridge is the place to be this holiday season.

Thirty Years & Counting at The Inn at Stockbridge

Dr. Marvin & Naomi Lipman have the distinct honor of being the most long term guests at the Inn at Stockbridge B&B in the Berkshires. They even preceded us at the Inn. They have stayed in every room at the inn but love the Terrace room, they call it Marvin's room. Marvin & Naomi are photoed on the Terrace room private deck on which the love to listen to quiet music and read the New york Times.
The Lipmans have lived in Scarsdale for 43 years. Dr Marvin has been a member of the Scarsdale Medical Group for over 40 years. The group was started by Dr Herman Tarnower, the author of the Scarsdale Diet. Marvin is professor of Medicine at New York Medical College in Valhalla and is Chief Medical Advisor to Consumer Reports. I fondly remember when Dr. Lipman would edit his columns and constantly send and receive faxes. Computers now make this task simpler. Naomi was travel editor for the health and travel newsletter for many years.

While in the Berkshires they always visit Tanglewood and enjoyed Yo Yo Ma and Carmen Bernana. They enjoyed the Prisoner on Second Ave at the Berkshire Theatre Festival and Jacobs Pillow. The Lipmans now love to spend time in NYC and enjoy the culture of the Metropolitan Opera and Theatre and to spend time with their three grandchildren. Marvin & Naomi love the Berkshires and the Inn at Stockbridge and plan to return next year.

Mothers & Daughters Reunion at the Inn at Stockbridge

The Blog at the Inn at Stockbridge Bed & Breakfast in the Berkshires continues as the guests keep on coming to enjoy all the Inn and Stockbridge has to offer. I hope it will never end and so this blog will continue.
Three girls met became friends in Kenwood School in the 6th grade in Chicago over 60 years ago. The mothers married had children and careers but their friendship continues until today. They now get together with their daughters annually to keep the relationship strong. We are thrilled that the chose the Inn for their get together this summer. Paula Simon, Deedie Holtzman & Jill Randell are the mothers. Deedie's daughters are Arlene Holtzman, Susan Holtzman Frankel & Karen Holtzman. Jill Randell daughters are Liz Feirstein, Debbie Fisher and Paulas daughters are Shelly Myers and Jackie Simon. I was presented with a book that was put together by Paula Simon which contained their itinerary, beautiful photo collages, stories and wonderful poems and wonderful stories of their times together.
There were suggestions of a trip trip to the Norman Rockwell Museum, The Mount, Ventfort Hall, Chesterwood or Naumkeag. A spa day at Cranwell, afternoon shopping at art galleries. dinners were at Chez Nous, Cafe Lucia & Rouge. Evening entertainment included Jacob's Pillow and The Berkshire Theatre Festival. Mornings consisted of the wonderful breakfasts and catch up by the 10 ladies.

This was a fun filled weekend for all and a memorable time for us as well as the entire group.

You too can plan a fun filled weekend at the Inn at Stockbridge. Alice & Len Schiller will guide you to make all your dreams come true.

A Couple of Many Talents Enjoys the Inn at Stockbridge

Robert & Joan Gerhart, has chosen to spend time at the Inn at Stockbridge, in the heart of the Berkshires, again this summer. As you have already realized after reading my blog I enjoy chatting with the guests and to discover life events that make people who they are. Robert and Joan spent their early years as friends in Redding PA and ended up marring many years later. Robert started his life's journey at Albright college and knew he wanted to be a reporter. A professor recommended him to a local paper and he lasted 10 years. He then started a public relations firm and worked on the campaign of George Rhodes for Congress. Robert figured if he could run other peoples campaign he could run his own. He then moved on to run and become the State Representative of Pa and then run and become State Senator. During this time he continued to write the weekly newspaper the New Era which he ran from 1948-1979. Robert also edited the monthly AAA Magazine for PA which he did for 56 years. As a result of AAA he became interested in the hotel business and developed and ran Diamond Beach Resort in Wildwood New Jersey. He ran the Play Den from 1967-1986. He then went to Naples Florida and started a club called the Oasis.
Joan also has a very interesting background. She lived in Saudi Arabia for 12 years. Joan and Robert enjoy their life together traveling all over the world. They have been to Africa, Asia Eastern and Western Europe. They love visiting the Berkshires and always choose to stay at the Inn at Stockbridge. We treat our guests well. After having a difficult time after a Tanglewood concert finding their car in the rain we lent them our pass for the next evening. They were thrilled.
I asked Robert what the key to his success was. He said that all his decisions were gut decisions and that he had a wonderful wife and partner. We look forward to welcoming Robert & Joan back to the Inn for many years to come.

Tanglewood & The Inn at Stockbridge for many Years

Alice & Len Schiller, owners of the Inn at Stockbridge in the Berkshires, feels very fortunate to have wonderful guests return to the the Inn year after year. Among our special guests we signal out Lyon & Dundee Sachs and Reuben and Fran Croll. The Sachs's and the Crolls are both from Montreal Canada and have visited Tanglewood for over 50 years. They visit us with their friends Sol & Jean Berg, not photoed from Boston. They claim to have never missed a summer at Tanglewood all these years. We have had the pleasure of their company for the last 13 summers for about 10 days each year. Over the years the group has developed their own traditions. Every summer they host a champagne and pizza party and a theme to go along with the festivities. One never knows what it will be, but rest assured there is plenty of conversation and laughter. To help them get in the Berkshire mood Lyon, Sol and Reuben wear their Berkshire necklace. The group spends almost the entire day on the grounds of Tanglewood taking in whatever rehearsals and music they can find. They enjoy and support Phyllis Curtain and her master classes. They always go to Jacobs Pillow, the Berkshire Theatre Festival and Barrington Stage Festival.
They rely on us to dinner suggestions and frequent the various restaurants. This year their favorite was Cafe Adam.

Last year when we visited Montreal we called the Sach's & Crolls. We had a wonderful tour of Montreal and saw where Reuben grew up and was treated to a wonderful dinner. When in Florida we visit the Sachs and have lunch with them.

Len and I are thrilled to have such wonderful guests who we now call friends and hope to see them again next summer at The Inn at Stockbridge

Alice & Len Schiller Enjoy the Berkshire Theatre Festival

Last night Len & Alice Schiller owners of the Inn at Stockbridge had the pleasure of seeing the Einstein Project at the The Berkshire Theatre Festival. This was truly a unique wonderful production, different from anything we ever saw. The Einstein Project by Paul D'Andrea & Jon Kleinand directed by Eric Hill is a fascinating look at one of the Titans of the 20th century: Albert Einstein. This truly unique theatrical experience seeks to humanize and contextualize a man that we all think we know. Through conversations with his son Edmond and his colleagues, we are truly able to visualize the man who, however reluctantly, ushered in the Atomic Age.
The Inn at Stockbridge is less then a mile from the BTF and as owner innkeepers and Berkshire residents we thrilled with this years program. We already saw the Faith Healer and Broadway by the Year and look forward to the entire season when we will see the Prisoner of Second Ave & Ghosts on the main stage and Candide and Sick in the Unicorn Theatre.
We are thrilled that the Berkshire's has so much to offer the guests at our Inn and they can truly enjoy Culture in the country.

Our 14th summer is over

Len & I want to thank all our loyal guests who allowed us to complete fourteen summers in the beautiful Berkshires. It has been an amazing summer. Tanglewood, the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Shakespeare & Co and have all been wonderful. We feel privileged to share the Inn at Stockbridge with you and to enjoy all this beautiful culture in the country.

It is not over, the fall is coming, the leaves will be turning and new guests will be coming to experience fall in New England. It is quite a sight. Come and experience it for yourself. I just finished decorating the Inn for you to enjoy. The corn stalks, mums, pumpkins, cabbages and of course the witches make fall my favorite season. Experience it for yourself.

We just returned from a little holiday in Montreal, Quebec and Vermont. We had a wonderful week and are now prepared for our fall visitors.

Good Morning America started the whistle stop train trip in the Berkshires. James Taylor, Yo Yo Ma more on that tomorrow. What a day it was.

Shakespeare & Company

Alice & Len Schiller, owners of the Inn at Stockbridge are proud to by supporters and advertisers of Shakespeare & Company. We were treated to a wine and cheese party the other night and saw their new play. This was not an ordinary wine and cheese party. There were over 400 guests from all over the county. The event was catered by our friends Lynn & Christian from Ketchup to Caviar. Everything was perfect, weather setting and surroundings.

Alice & Len were then treated to see the Ladies Man, the mother in law of French farce by Charles Morey. It was directed by Kevin Coleman & starred Annette Miller as the mother in law and Elizabeth Aspenlieder, both great actresses. Annette Miller starred as Golda Meir in "Golda".
This was a convoluted story with whip-smart dialogue. It is set in Paris at the turn of the century about a suave doctor whose young wife and fire breathing mother in law suspect infidelity. The doctor gets deeper into his own soup the more he tries to prove his innocence. This is a must see if you want a good laugh.

Fall in the Berkshires

Wonderful Summer In the Berkshires

It is great to be in the Berkshires and owner of the Inn at Stockbridge Bed & Breakfast. Our guests have been wonderful. It is great to see our long term guests who are now friends. The weather has been wonderful, Tanglewood has been the best ever. Last night was Tanglewood on Parade. Imagine James Levine, Keith Lockhart, John Williams, the 1812 overture and fireworks all in one night on the great lawn. That was last night another great evening.
On Tuesday I had the pleasure of going with my hiking group to the Becket Quarry for a wonderful hike. The quarry was once in operation and it is now a park. It was a wonderful time for all. My Berkshire friends are great.
I continue to play Mah Jong with my regular group as well. Yesterday I lost.
Its great to be able to operate the Inn and enjoy the Berkshires at the same time.
Life is wonderful.