Cultural Berkshires for 2010

The Summer season 2010 in the Berkshires is on the web. Many of the cultural venues have announced their summer season. Tanglewood, Jacob's Pillow, Barrington Stage Company among others are selling tickets to the public. The Inn at Stockbridge Bed & Breakfast is taking summer reservations. If you are planning on visiting the Berkshires this summer please visit our web site and go to the links page. You can then view the schedules of all the venues as they are posted.
Why wait until the summer to visit the Inn. You can enjoy skiing and Valentines Day at the Inn at Stockbridge as well

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.

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 Wonderful Summer at The Inn at Stockbridge

Len & Alice Schiller, owners of the Inn at Stockbridge Bed & Breakfast in the Berkshires are having a wonderful summer. Culture at Tanglewood, The Berkshire Theatre Festival, Barrington Stage Company by night and outdoors by day with hiking, golf and kayaking.
All this combined with the most interesting of guests staying at the Inn. Last week we had the opportunity to chat with Christele & Yannick Perreve. Both Christele & Yannick are French born from Provence and Leon. They were both educated in France in business and now live in London. Yannick works for Citibank and Christelle is a photographer specilizing in equine.
Christelle came to the United States to photograph the wild mustangs in Whyoming Christelle site horse-tale.com shows her photographs. Christelle travels all around the world, over 63 countries in search of various horses and perfect light. Christelle & Yannick found the Inn at Stockbridge on the internet. They were seeking the perfect Small Elegant Inn which they found here. Christele and Yanick consider themselves foodies and wineys as does every french person. While at the Inn the dined at Chez Nous and Old Inn On the Green. While in the Berkshires they visited the Shaker Village, Norman Rockwell Museum and Chesterwood. Christele and Yannick are a delightful couple who are among the interesting and varied guests that visit us at the Inn. What I enjoy most about being an innkeeper is chatting with our guests and helping them experience the Berkshires that I love.

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.

Repeat Guests at The Inn at Stockbridge

Alice & Len Schiller, owners of the Inn at Stockbridge B&B in the Berkshires, always look forward to their repeat guests every summer. It is always wonderful to see friendly faces and catch up on all that has happened in our lives over the years. Phip & Adelle Glassman & Gordy and Eleanor Zach are loyal repeat guests from Toronto.
Phip and Adelle are married 58 years and are still a great team. Gordy and Eleanor are not married but have been together for 15 years. Both the Zach's and Glassman winter in Palm Beach. It is always a treat to write this blog and to interview our guests. The Glassmans were in the sponge business together. They imported the raw material and fabricated the sponges. they have 3 children, 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren and they are thrilled to have them all live in Toronto. Gordy had a furniture and appliance store in Hamilton retired and moved to Toronto. Gordy has 5 grandchildren and Eleanor has 2 children and 5 grandchildren. The Glassmans's and the Zach's have been coming to the Inn at Stockbridge for over 10 years and look forward to returning next year. They enjoy visiting Jacobs Pillow, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Shakespeare & Company & Tanglewood. They enjoy the fine restaurants that we recommend each year. This year the tried and enjoyed Cafe Adam on the recommendation of the Sach's and Croll's.
I particularly enjoyed chatting with Adelle & Phil and Eleanor & Gordy about health insurance in Canada. They think it is a marvelous system and that the US should implement a similar system.
We look forward to welcoming them back again next year and to catch up.

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

Cultural Partnerships in the Berkshires this Summer

Art, nature and music come together in perfect harmony in the Berkshires and the Inn at Stockbridge this summer. No trip to the Inn is complete without visiting the Clark and Tanglewood. they are so easy to get to from the Inn at Stockbridge-just a 45 minute drive through the bucolic Berkshire Hills for Stockbridge to williamstown and with their special offer of only $45 for two Clark admissions and two Tanglewood lawn tickets its very affordable.

The Clark features an outstanding collection of Impressionast, American and Old Master paintings set among 140 scenic acres with hiking and walking trails. On view this summer, Dove/O'Keeffe: Circles of influence and through the Seasons: Japanese Art In Nature.

Maestro James Levine returns to Tanglewood this summer with dynamic programs including an all Tchaikovsky opening, as well as Mahler's Sixth Symphony and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring.

The Berkshires is rich with museums and other cultural events, abundant outdoor recreation and world renowned festivals alive with music, theatre, and dance. a trip to the Inn at Stockbridge should be on you must do list this summer.

* Clark admission tickets are valid June 7-September 7, Tanglewood lawn tickets valid for all BSO and Boston Pops concerts (excludes Popular Artist Series)

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.

Summer in the Berkshires

Alice & Len Schiller, owners of the Inn at Stockbridge are thrilled to be in the Berkshires for their 14th season as owners of the Inn. This season is off to a great start. Alice & Len have been busy checking out the offerings at the various venues to assist their guests in planning their stays. There is something happening every day we even need a day of rest.
Last week James Taylor appeared at Tanglewood. He always puts on a wonderful show. We went to the Art Festival at Butternut, heard the reading of the Decoration of independence at Shakespeare & Co. We went to Tanglewood again and heard La Trojans by Berlioz. Monday was a film at the Jewish Film Festival, Tuesday was the Pops at Tanglewood. We heard and saw a wonderful production of A Little Night Music by Sondheim. Tuesday afternoon I went on a hike with my Women's hiking group and saw the arches at Chester. This was railroad arches that were built in the 1930's. It was a bit strenuous but wonderful. Thursday was the Book Club Play at the Berkshire Theatre Festival. This was a wonderful new play that I strongly recommend.

This weekend also appears to be promising. There is so much to do in the Berkshires. It is truly a cultural paradise.
We are thrilled to see so many of our regular guests. Its a wonderful feeling to be owners of the Inn, seeing all our wonderful guests and enjoying all the Berkshires has to offer.

Berkshire International Film Festival

The Mahaiwie Theatre in Great Barrington is hosting the Berkshire International film Festival this year from May 15- May 19.

Visit the Berkshires during the spring, stay at the Inn at Stockbridge and enjoy the best in foreign film. Among the showings are Boxing Day, Man on Wire and Begging Naked.
This is only the beginning of what appears to be a wonderful cultural season.

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.

Tanglewood Business Friends

Yesterday Tanglewood business friends welcomed Len & I to Serenack, to thank us for being business friends. We were treated to a wonderful concert by the Tanglewood Music Center. Hayden was played under the tent with the beautiful views of Stockbridge Bowl. It was exquisite, best views of anywhere in the world. We were treated to cocktails and a light dinner in this magnificent setting.
It is absolutely delightful for the Inn at Stockbridge to be part of the business community and enjoy all the Berkshires have to offer.
On Thursday we will be privileged to attend a performance of Shakespeare & Company who will perform Anthony & Cleopatra. I can't wait to see Tina Packer as Cleopatra.

Tanglewood Concerts

I went to the Tanglewood concerts on both Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Sell out crowds both days. Yo Yo Ma was incredible. I sat on the lawn under the stars on Saturday night sipping my glass of wine and saw the entire concert on the screens. It was a night to remember. You should have been there. Perhaps next year we will meet on the lawn.
The concert on Sunday afternoon was equally good featuring a new composer and a debut from a young violinist