Celebrating 62 Years of Wedded Bliss

The Inn is a wonderful place for couple and families to celebrate wonderful life cycle events. We feel very fortunate that our guests choose to celebrate with us at The Inn at Stockbridge B&B in the Berkshires. Last week we met Rose Mary & David Cole who celebrated 62 years of marriage. Rose Mary & David are a wonderful couple and an inspiration to all for a life well lived. They were married in Bad Axe Michigan on December 29, 1947. Rose Mary was a teacher for 33 years in Michigan, NY, PA & CT. Her first assignment was in a one room country school where she taught grades K-8. David managed a grocery warehouse. They now live in Chesire Ct near their daughter and family. They came to the inn with their daughter and son in law to celebrate their anniversary. They had a wonderful dinner at Once upon a Table. I often ask guests who are celebrating anniversaries what they think is the secret to a happy marriage. David and Rose Mary said the "secret is to enjoy one another and stick together on important and unimportant things." They truly seem to enjoy one another and it was a pleasure to meet them.
Len & I will be celebrating our 39 anniversary in April and think of Rose Mary & David as an inspiration. You too can celebrate all your special occasions at the Inn.

We Love Our Repeat Guests at The Inn at Stockbridge

Alice & Len Schiller, owner/innkeepers of the Inn at Stockbridge B&B in The Berkshires of Western MA really enjoy our frequent repeat guests. This confirms that we must be doing a great job that our guests want to keep coming back. Last weekend we enjoyed the company of John & Rayna Keenan from Worcester MA. John & Rayna first visited us in July 2004 and were intrigued be the Out of Africa Suite. Rayna is originally from Northern Rhodesia which is now Zambia. Rayna has fond memories of her former home. Rayna was educated in Capetown South Africa and lived in Aberdeen Scotland before moving to Boston in 1971. John and Rayna have been married for 26 years and now live in Worcester. Jack is an attorney and spends most of his practice in litigation in the Worcester court house. Jack was born and raised in NYC and educated at Holy Cross in Worcester. He went off to the Marine Corp and the back to Boston College for law school.
John and Rayna have been regular guests of the Inn since 2004. They love the culture, restaurants and the other guests that frequent the Inn. They came this weekend mainly to see Red Remembers at the BTF and were thrilled that David Garrison joined us for breakfast and that they had the opportunity to meet him.
Rayna commented that they consider the Inn at Stockbridge their home away from home and always enjoy visiting with Alice, Len & Mia. We hope to have the pleasure of Rayna and John's company again real soon.

Sisters Enjoy Time Together at The Inn at Stockbridge

Alice & Len Schiller, owner/innkeepers of the Inn at Stockbridge feel that it is an honor to have loyal repeat guests choose to spend their precious time together at the Inn. Patty Fogelstrom and Debbie Perno started coming to the Inn in October 2001. Patty lives in Ct and Debbie lives in Corrales New Mexico. Patty & Debbie first came to the Inn as a gift from Patty's husband Bruce. Patty was recently diagnosed at that time with a rare blood cancer. Each year that Patty and Debbie return to the Inn is a continued celebration of life. They come to the inn each year looking to have a wonderful time together and to celebrate a new year of survival. While at the Inn Patti & Debbie enjoyed massages and wonderful restaurants. They conclude their stay with a dinner at The Red lion Inn where they enjoy the popovers. Debbie played golf at Greenock Country Club in the brisk autumn air. One would never know the amount of pain Patty is in. She thanks her children Bryan & Christie for their constant support as well as her devoted husband Bruce. Debbie visits Patty in the spring and fall each year and the sisters look forward to their special time together.
Debbie & her husband Tony own Case Work Technologies in New Mexico. Patty's husband Bruce owns Last Mile Communications, a consulting company for cable companies. Bruce is fortunate enough to work from home to be there for Patty.
Its our sincere pleasure to spend time with Patty & Debbie and to share in their journey. We plan to see them the same time next year

Previous Owner of the Inn at Stockbridge Say Hello

I am always amazed at who steps through the doors of the Inn at Stockbridge Bed & Breakfast in the Berkshires. The other day the bell rings and I am ready to check in a new arrival. I seem to recognize the lady and take a second look. She seems familiar. I look again and she says nothing. Then I recognize her. She is Lee Weitz, the previous owner of the Inn. Lee & Don Weitz owned the Inn for about fourteen years prior to us. Over the years they stopped by to say hello and catch up. We always enjoyed seeing them as they are nice caring people who built up a wonderful business which we are pleased to now own.
It was wonderful to catch up. Lee & Don have two children and eleven grandchildren. They now live in Leisure World in Lansdowne VA. We talked about life after Innkeeping, grandchildren etc. I mentioned that Len & I are looking forward to being grandparents as well. Our daughter Felicia and her husband Moty are expecting their first child. We are excited to be joining a new club, the grandparents club. We spoke about the longest return guest , Dr Marvin & Naomi Lipman. We are a very pleasant visit and Lee mentioned how she misses the Inn as it was an important part of her life. She misses all the wonderful people that visit us and enrich our lives as well. Thank you Lee for suprising us with you appearance. We hope to see you again soon.

Guests & High School Days Come Together at The Inn at Stockbridge

This blog continues as guests keep on returning and events keep on happening at the Inn at Stockbridge in the Berkshires. I am constantly amazed at what a small world it is and how we are all connected by one degree of separation. Diane & Evelyn Rosenthal are sisters who love dance and the Inn. In this visit Diane came with her daughter Ariel & her friend Val. They returned this year for a girls weekend. They came mostly for the dance at Jacobs Pillow and to see Renee Harris in Pure Movement. They also saw Liberation in the Doris Duke Theatre as well as an inside out performance. Diane loves dance and was a dance major in college and met her husband Mark writing dance reviews for a show business newspaper in NYC. Ariel follows in her mother's footsteps and is studying dance at GW University. Evelyn works in the garment industry for Outerstuff Childrens Clothing and runs the quality control division. Diane runs the literacy network in Stanford Ct.
As I said earlier high school days and the Inn merged. When Diane first called the Inn for a reservation several years ago we got into a conversation and discovered Diane was from the Bronx and went to the same high school as Len.
Its always a pleasure touching base with Diane, her sister Evelyn her daughter and husband Mark. We look forward to welcoming them back to the Inn for many more years.

Guests as Well as Julie & Julia Motivate Blog at The Inn at Stockbridge

Yesterday I had the opportunity to see Julie & Julia. I was in my glory after the movie. This guest blog consumes me as Julia Childs consumed Julia. Cooking is another passion of Len & I at the Inn as well. I was a home economics teacher and taught food service with the NYC restaurant school and the NYC Board of Education. Preparing wonderful breakfasts for our guests at the Inn is another thing that we love to do. Len prepares great omelets and is called the omelet king by many of our repeat guests.

Hank and Jill Narrow from Allentown PA have been visiting the Berkshires for over 30 years and the Inn at Stockbridge B&B in the Berkshires for 10 years. They already reserved their weeks stay for next summer. The speak of the Berkshires as "an infusion of culture, peacefulness and tranquility in a pastoral setting." This year as in all the previous 30 years they went to Tanglewood. They especially enjoyed Mark Morris with Yo Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax and Chris Botti on the trumpet. The Narrow's enjoyed Prisoner of Second Ave at the Berkshie Theatre Festival.
They also visited Shakespeare & Co.
Hank & Jill dined at Cafe Lucia & Bistro Zinc.
Hank works for Iron Mountain as director of Partner Alliances. Jill is employed by Welcome Wagon. Jill also has a supplemental business as JSN fine arts where she represents emerging artists.
Jill and Hank plan to return to the Inn next year. They especially like us, Alice & Len Schiller who ensure guest satisfaction and create a wonderful atmosphere which is conducive to conversation and interaction with the other guests. We love meeting the guests at the Inn, cooking wonderful breakfast for them and helping them enjoy to Berkshires which we love.

The inn at Stockbridge, A Long Way From Home

Alvin & Sue Weinstock travel to the Inn at Stockbridge Bed & Breakfast in Stockbridge from Edmonton Canada. Al & Sue spent eleven days with us and we already miss them. Al says he comes for the music and stays at the Inn for the people. The Berkshires and the inn are their favorite places in the world and they would not choose to ever give up this vacation. "Carmina burana" by Carl Orff was featured at Tanglewood on August 8 and the Weinstock's commented that it was as if they heard it for the first time. They commented that it was a thrill to see another guest Sol Berg on the screen as he sang in the Tanglewood Festival chorus. It is a small world that Sol studied medicine in Edmonton. Al & Sue also enjoyed the James Galway concert as well as Mark Morris. While at the Inn at Stockbridge they went to Capital Steps. A trip to the Clark and viewing the Georgia O'Keefe exhibit was also a highlight. Al & Sue also met up with family from near & far in the Berkshires. The whole crew enjoyed a barbecue on October Mountain. Eleven days was not enough time to capture everything that happens in the Berkshires.

Al commutes to Calgary and consults as an oil sands advisor to the executive VP on removing oil from sand. Sue enjoys her retirement as is involved in Mah Jong, two book groups and is happy to enjoy family and friends. Sue & Al look forward to returning next summer. They commented that the Inn brings together people from all walks of life and closes the circle of life.

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.

Keeping it All in the Family at The Inn at Stockbridge

Alice & Len Schiller, owners of the Inn at Stockbridge of the Berkshires, feel as if we are hosting family and friends at the Inn. After 15 years as owners innkeepers we feel that our guests are long term friends. The Goldstein's and the Lippman's are guests who feel like friends. Bobbie & Sandy Goldstein, and Marty L and Bobbie Goldstein and Gloria Lippman are friends and family. They have been loyal repeat guests at the Inn for over 12 years. You can always count on a visit from the Goldsteins for the Pops at Tanglewood every year. This year they came up for film night. Marty & Marty L are first cousins and Gloria is Marty's younger sister. Marty & Sandy live in New Rochelle and Marty L. & Bobbie live in Wesley Hills NY. We can always count on Marty to bring us bagels from Bubbas Bagels in Wesley Hills NY which is owned by his son in law. Marty & Marty L are partners in Paradise Pawn Brokers in the Bronx and Marty L is an accountant. Bobbie is national campaign chair of Israeli Bonds. Bobbie is always chairing a task force and a mission to Israel. Gloria Lippman is devoted to her 7 grandchildren and spends winters in Florida and summers in Merrick NY. Both Goldstein's are devoted parents and grandparents.
We always look forward to a visit from our loyal repeat guests and hope to follow family news and happenings for many years. After all this is what we love about owning the Inn at Stockbridge.

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

The Inn at Stockbridge, Shakespeare & Co and Special Guests

The Inn at Stockbridge Bed & Breakfast in Stockbridge Ma has been very fortunate to have had some wonderful repeat guests over the years. Alice & Len Schiller, owners of the Inn for fifteen years consider many of their guests special friends who they have grown fond of. One of these special ladies is Frances Martinson. Frances & her late dear husband Paul have and continue to be a part of our inn family since we arrived. The Martinsons have been an integral part of Shakespeare & Co since its founding. Frances's late husband Paul was a big supporter of Shakespeare in the Park since the 60's. Martinson Hall in the Public Theatre is named after him. They have been Trustee's of the Public Theatre and have been trustee's of Shakespeare & Co for over 30 years. Frances continues to be a great supporter of Tina Packer and all her efforts to make Shakespeare & Co what it is today.
Frances is also philanthropic in New york City as well. She is a trustee of the Pearl Theatre as well as a trustee of the American Folk Art Museum.
I had the pleasure of seeing two of Shakespeare & Co shows this season . Yesterday I went with Frances to see "Pinter's Mirror", three one act plays by Harold Pinter as well as " the Actor's rehearse the Story of Charlotte Salomon. This tells the mother daughter story, artistic journey and ultimate tragedy of Charlotte Salamon. I would highly recommend both productions.
A visit to the Berkshire's, a stay at The Inn at Stockbridge and a visit to Shakespeare & Co should be on your to do list this summer. After all if Frances supports both the Inn at Stockbridge and Shakespeare & Co it must be the best.

Engaged at The Inn at Stockbridge

Patrick Harney & Alethea Pieters are thrilled to announce their engagement on April
3,2009. Patrick was so anxious to propose to Alethea and wanted it to be perfect. Alice & Len Schiller and Sandra MacDonald arranged for champagne and a cheese platter to welcome them into the Rockwell Suite at The Inn at Stockbridge.
Patrick & Alethea met in June 2007 through some mutual friends at The Tavern on the Water in Charlestown. Upon being introduced to Alethea, he immediately asked her out on a date.
Alethea works for Governor Duval Patrick as director of appointments and Patrick works as a trust officer at the PNC Bank.
In order to surprise Alethea Patrick told her they were visiting his brother in NY. It was from his brother that he heard about the Inn. He told Alethea that the should stop in Stockbridge to see the Cultural Berkshires. Little did she know that he was planning on proposing at the Inn. They were on the phone after the proposal to announce their engagement to friends and family. A June 2010 wedding is planned.

Alethea and Patrick plan on visiting the Inn at Stockbridge often. Alethea is a violinist and Patricks sister sang with the Tanglewood Chorus. A love of music runs through their blood.

We wish Patrick and Alethea a wonderful life together and are thrilled that the Inn at Stockbridge will be a memorable place for them.

A BabyMoon at The Inn at Stockbridge that Started in Camp Lenox

Jeremy & Victoria Traster met at camp Lenox in the Berkshires in 1998. Both Jeremy and Victoria had a great fondness for the Berkshires that started in 1993 when Jeremy first attended camp there. Jeremy continued going to the camp that he loved so much and became a counselor there in 1996. It was by divine intervention that Victoria became a counselor there in 1998.

Victoria came from Lincolnshire England to be a counselor at Camp Lenox at the recommendation of a friend who was a counselor the previous year. Jeremy and Victoria met at camp the first year. They stayed in touch throughout the year when Victoria went back to England for her studies. Both Jeremy and Victoria returned to camp the next two summers and continued their studies during the year, Victoria at Liverpool

University and Jeremy at the University of Pennsylvania.

After college Victoria moved to Washington DC where she was a nanny and then moved to Philedelphia to be with Jeremy. The couple went back to London so Victoria could attend graduate school. Jeremy and Victoria then returned to the states and Jeremy attended Law School at Seton Hall University and Victoria attended NYU for education.

Jeremy and Victoria finally tied the knot on January 8, 2005. Jeremy is now a lawyer with Cahill & Gorden and Victoria is a teaching artist with the New Victoria Theater.

Jeremy and Victoria came to the Inn at Stockbridge for a babymoon and to celebrate their fourth anniversary. They are expecting thir first child in March. Jeremy and Victoria live in Brooklyn with their dog Charlie, a Cavachon.

Jeremy has a bit of trivia to share about Joe's diner. While a camper at Camp Lenox he frequently went to Joes diner and always ordered the same sandwich, which Joe named a JT special. The JT special is chicken cutlet, cheddar cheese, hot peppers, lettuce and russian dressing on a hard roll.

Alice & Len Schiller are thrilled that Jeremy and Victoria chose the Inn at Stockbridge to celebrate their babymoon and anniversary. We know they will be wonderful parents and hope that their children continue to go to camp Lenox and they visit us again soon.

Governor Deval Patrick visits the Inn at Stockbridge

Len & Alice Schiller, owners of the Inn at Stockbridge Bed & Breakfast of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts are thrilled that governor Deval Patrick held a coffee klatch at the Inn on January 7, 2009.
The event was organized by Michael Forbes Wilcox who is very active in politics in the Berkshires, and Sandra MacDonald, resident manager of the Inn. The event was attended by 60 invited guests who are supporters and active participants in the Democratic party.

It was a wonderful experience to meet Governor Patrick and to hear him speak in an upbeat manner about politics in general and his initiatives in Massachusetts. He made it a point to listen to the concerns of the attendees.

Brendan Ryan, special assistant to the Governor, and Clare Kelly were involved in the organization. John Walsh, chairmen of the State Democratic Committee spoke about the grass roots type of government and involvement that is working so well.

At the baby grand piano for this event was Jessica Roemisher. Jessica provided wonderful background music for the attendees that arrived early. This set the tone for a wonderful tone for the evening.

It was a great experience for Alice & Len Schiller to open up the Inn for this event and we are thrilled to have met Governor Deval Patrick at our Inn. We hope to be able to do more of this in the future.

Love and Food come together at The Inn at Stockbridge

Kevin McCracken & Chiyona Murano came to the Inn to see an old friend Sandra MacDonald our new resident manager. Kevin & Sandra are friends from enlighten next a spiritual community in Lenox.

Kevin lives in the building in NYC where Chiyono owns a Japanese restaurant called Chiyono's. The restaurant is at 328 East 6th St. Kevin knew there was something special about the food at Chiyono's, Japanese style home cooking. After several dining experience at the restaurant Chiyono asked Kevin to go out for a drink and he was thrilled. The relationship just bloomed.

Kevin is a contractor whose philosophy is "we improve peoples lives by improving their homes." Kevin's company is called interior transformations.

While visiting the Inn, Kevin & Chiyono had a great day sking at Jiminy Peak. When in New York Len & I can't wait to visit Chiyono and dine on some of her specialties such as vegetables and Gorgonzola cheese, squid sashimi or filled pork dumplings.

Its a privilege being the Innkeeper at the Inn at Stockbridge and having wonderful guests like Kevin & Chiyono visit us.

The Inn at Stockbridge says thank you Susie

Alice & Len Schiller, from the Inn at Stockbridge, as well as Susie's sister Cristina and her husband Manel want to thank Susie.
Cristina Slattery and Manel Barallat met thanks to Susie. Susie invited Crisina to a Colombia Business School happy hour. Manel had been tutoring Susie in corporate finance back in 2005 and wanted Cristina to meet her friends at the happy hour. Manel is from Barcelona Spain.

Now three years later Cristina and Manel live and work in Barcelona. Manel works as the CFO for Palau Pharma a start up bio tech company in Barcelona and Cristina teaches English at the Princess Margaret a private school in Barcelona.

When Cristina and Manel came to the states for the holidays Cristina asked Susie where they should go for a few days. She highly recommended the Inn at Stockbridge where she visited back in 2002 with her boyfriend now husband.

We enjoyed listening to Cristina & Manel about their life in Barcelona and we wish them and Susie Van den Berg a happy & healthy New Year and hope that both sisters visit us together soon.

Guests at the Inn

The Inn at Stockbridge blog is going to put a new spin on things. Alice Schiller feels that she is fortunate enough to have owned and run the inn for over fourteen years. Over the years we have had a great variety of guests visit us and each one has a wonderful story to share. We are now going to share their stories. Guests who visit the Inn come from all walks of life, are a varied age group and have met in a myriad of ways and have wonderful tidbits to share with you the readers of this blog. We are fortunate enough to have them share their experiences at the Inn as well as their stories with you.
Alice feels that the guests who come to share their precious free time at the Inn is what makes the Inn special.
In the next few days we will feature Janet & Dimitris Antonopaulos who got married at the Inn on December 28. Craig & Alexandria Gilbert who recently completed their 6th visit and Diana Johnson and Paul Marcil will share their stories as well.
Please visit us and you too can be featured on our Blog. Stay tuned for these postings.

On the previous post Len & Alice shared their history in a complete slideshow. View Lenny as a baby, his parents, children, sisters, friends and adventures over his 60 years.