Hilltown Families 
Berkshire Family Fun: August 2018
Berkshire County Highlights for Families:
August 2018
Find out about community events and learning opportunities happening throughout Berkshire County for the month of August. We’ll be adding to this list as the month progresses, so be sure to check back each week.
If you have a community event, educational program, or service-learning opportunity happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, self-post your event at any time on our Suggest An Event bulletin board. The events below are “suggested.” Please take the time to confirm that these events are happening, along with time, place, age appropriateness, and costs before attending.
To find out what’s happening throughout the four counties of Western MA, check our comprehensive list of Weekly Suggested Events, published every Thursday! There you will also find our list of ongoing weekday playgroups, story hours and events both in Berkshire County and throughout the region.
ADVERTISE HERE: Reach thousands of families in Western MA while supporting the community development work of Hilltown Families! Find out more about our advertising options and how you can partner with Hilltown Families in your online marketing by emailing us at sales@hilltownfamilies.org.
Berkshire Family Fun, a project of Hilltown Families, is sponsored in part by MASS MoCA:
Berkshire Family Fun is also supported in part by a grant from the Hinsdale-Peru, Pittsfield, Sandisfield, Windsor, Washington, and Mt. Washington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
North Berkshire
Adams | Cheshire | Florida | Hancock | Lanesborough | Monterey | North Adams | Williamstown | Windsor
Central Berkshire | South Berkshire
Support Hilltown Families!
Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum. 413-743-7121. 67 East Road. Adams, MA.
Abbot School — 56 North Country Road.
Hancock Shaker Village. 1843 W Housatonic St. 413-443-0188
Saturday, August 18, 12:30-1:30pm
HEALTH AND WELLNESS/AGRICULTURE
More and more yoga practitioners are finding that the benefits of this mindful, meditative form of exercise can be expanded even further by setting it in environments that are particularly conducive to mental and physical health. Along these lines, what could be better than bringing your yoga practice to an active farm. Connect with the soil, with local food, with yourself, and with your community! For more information, visit Yoga on the Farm. Red Shirt Farm. 60 Williamstown Road, Lanesborough, MA ($)
Bascom Lodge 413-743-1591. 30 Rockwell Road.
Lanesborough Library — 413-499-5981. 83 North Main Street.
Mt. Greylock — 413-499-4262. 30 Rockwell Road.
Bidwell House Museum – 413-528-6888. 100 Art School Road.
Ashintully — 413-298-3239. Sodom Road
North Adams Farmers’ Market 413-664-6180. St. Anthony Drive & Route 8.
Western Gateway Heritage State Park 413-663-6312. 115 State Street.
North Adams Public Library 413-662-3133. 74 Church Street.
MASS MoCA 413-662-2111. 1040 MASS MoCA Way.
Haskins Community Center 413-664-4821. 210 State Street.
Natural Bridge State Park — 413-663-6392. McCauley Road.
Saturday, August 18, 11am-12:30pm
ART STUDIES/HISTORY
Paris in the second half of the 19th century was undeniably the center of the art world. Artists from around the world traveled to Paris to experience the dynamic and creative energy in the academies, museums, and salons. Among other reasons, the Impressionists were notable for the large number of women artists who joined the movement. The three so-called ‘grande dames’ of Impressionism were Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, and Marie Bracquemond. After Morisot married Edouard Manet’s brother, she and the artist became very close friends. Manet was a great influence on Morisot’s work and she often posed for him, perhaps most famously in his striking 1872 piece “Berthe Morisot with a Bouquet of Violets.” Despite the enormous impact of Morisot and the other women of Impressionism, however, their work continues to be overlooked. This talk by Nicole Myers, Curator of European Art at the Dallas Museum of Art, will focus on the challenges that Morisot and other women artists faced at the time. The Clark Art Institute. 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA (FREE W/MUSEUM ADMISSION)
Milne Public Library 413-458-5369. 1095 Main Street.
Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation 413-458-2494. 671 Cold Spring Road.
Clark Art Institute 413-458-2303. 225 South Street.
Images Cinema. 413-458-5612. 50 Spring Street.
Sweet Brook Farm — 413-884-4246. 580 Oblong Road.
Williams College Museum of Art — 413-597-2376. 15 Lawrence Hall Drive.
Williamstown Youth Center — 413-458-5925. 270 Cole Avenue.
Notchview Reservation 413-684-0148. Route 9. Windsor, MA.
Central Berkshire
Becket | Dalton | Hinsdale | Lee | Lenox | Peru | Pittsfield | Richmond | Stockbridge | Tyringham | Washington | West Stockbridge
North Berkshire | South Berkshire
Support Hilltown Families!
Dalton Free Public Library 0 413-684-6112. 462 Main Street.
Spectrum Playhouse – 413-394-5023. 20 Franklin Street.
South Berkshire Kids – 413-464-5095. 100 Main Street.
Lee Library – 413-243-0385. 100 Main Street.
Lenox Library — 413-637-0197. 18 Main Street.
Lenox Historical Society — Main Street.
The Mount – 413-551-5111. 2 Plunkett Street.
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary – 472 West Mountain Road.
Shakespeare and Company – 413-637-3353. 70 Kemble Street.
Ventfort Hall – 413-637-3206. 104 Walker Street.
Friday, August 3, 6-8pm
POETRY/PERFORMING ARTS
The haiku, a Japanese poem featuring seventeen syllables and three verses, appears simple but actually contains a very complex and intentional structure. One of the most recognizable qualities of haiku is the presence of a kireji, a word without an English equivalent, which indicates a cyclical pattern, sense of emphatic wonderment, or closure. The kireji is always found at the end of one of the three verses of a haiku and creates the profound effect of gesturing toward two thoughts, which are ostensibly independent but nevertheless intuitively linked in the mind of the poet. The kireji, in this case, invites the reader to explore how these two thoughts may be interrelated, producing a richer and more nuanced sense of meaning. To use a classical example, we might think of the following haiku by Basho: “Grasses in summer. / The warriors’ dreams / All that’s left.” In this poem, the kireji appears at the end of the verse: “Grasses in summer.” As we can see, the presence of this little syllable indicates both a shift in the poem, a broader sense of context, a striking visual component, and a subtle philosophical observation. If you are passionate about poetry, check out this Head-to-Head Haiku competition, a good natured variation on the “poetry slam” format. Dottie’s Coffee Lounge. 444 North Street, Pittsfield, MA (FREE)
Saturday, August 18, 10am-12pm
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Kindergarten can be a big transition for children and parents! Berkshire Museum is offering a free community kindergarten day for families to try out a kindergarten environment and see if they are ready to begin this exciting next step. Children will have the opportunity to play with games and socialize, while parents and caregivers learn about important steps in their children’s growth and development. Berkshire Museum. 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA (FREE)
Sunday, August 19, 9-10am
HISTORY/RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Because of their ecstatic religious services, the Shakers were originally called the “Shaking Quakers.” The emphasis on being moved by the power of spiritual emotions was present in many Protestant traditions and is reflected in the presence of music and dance in Shaker services. The Hancock Shaker Village will be offering a unique opportunity to hear songs and sermons inspired by the early Shaker churches. Hancock Shaker Village. 1843 West Housatonic Street, Pittsfield, MA (FREE)
Tuesday, August 28, 10:30am
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
The WeeMuse Littlest Learnersprogram is designed to give children ages 6 to 18 months and their caregivers an opportunity to learn, play, and connect with others. Through a mix of storytelling, music, sign language, and play, young children will develop important physical and verbal skills. Caregivers will also be able to connect with others in their community and share experiences. Being at home with a young child can be an isolating experience, this program is a great way to get out of the house with you wee ones and engage in an activity that benefits you all! Berkshire Museum. 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA (FREE W/MUSEUM ADMISSION)
Tuesday, August 28, 1-3pm
THEATER/CHILDREN’S MUSIC
Yo ho-ho and a bottle of rum! These legendary words were written by novelist Robert Louis Stevenson for his pirate novel Treasure Island. Stevenson was inspired by the rich tradition of pirate songs and sea shanties. These songs were typically sung by sailors to accompany specific kinds of tasks while sailing. Come enjoy an afternoon of rousing pirate songs and tasty popsicles. Sing, dance, and get your photo taken with a pirate! Whitney Center for the Arts. 42 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA ($)
Wednesday, August 29, 3-4:30pm
LITERARY STUDIES/CURRENT EVENTS
One of the greatest qualities of literature is its ability to speak in any age. Shakespeare is a profound example of this. As distant as Elizabethan England may feel to us, Shakespeare’s plays have been adapted to countless historical settings. From Richard III set during the 1930s, portraying the hunchbacked king as an aspiring fascist, to Romeo and Juliet set in Miami in the 1990s, to Coriolanus set in war-torn Yugoslavia in the late 20th century, Shakespeare continues to resonate with audiences. At this lecture, actor, author, and director Tina Packer will discuss how Shakespeare reflects our own times. Berkshire Museum. 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA ($)
The Berkshire Athenaeum 413-499-4809. 1 Wendell Avenue.
Berkshire Humane Society 413-447-7878. 214 Barker Road.
Berkshire Lyric Theatre – 413-499-0258
Berkshire Museum – 413-443-7171 x10. 39 South Street.
Berkshire Music School — 413-442-1411. 30 Wendell Ave.
Colonial Theatre — 413-298-5576. 111 South Street.
Downtown Pittsfield Farmers’ Market. First Street.
First Friday Artswalk — Downtown.
Hancock Shaker Village – 413-443-0188. 1843 West Housatonic Street.
Herman Melville’s Arrowhead. 413-442-1793. 780 Holmes Road.
Hilltop Orchard — Route 295.
Berkshire Botanical Garden 413-298-3926. 5 West Stockbridge Road.
Chesterwood — 413-298-3579. 4 Williamsville Road
Norman Rockwell Museum – 413-298-4100. 9 Route 183.
The Stockbridge Library, Museum, and Archives – 413-298-5501. 18 Main Street.
Ashintully Gardens. 413-298-3239. Sodem Road.
West Stockbridge Public Library – 413-232-0300 x308. 21 State Line Road.
South Berkshire
Alford |Egremont | Great Barrington | Housatonic | Monterey | New Marlborough | Sheffield
North Berkshire | Central Berkshire
Support Hilltown Families!
Berkshire South Regional Community Center — 413-528-2810. 15 Crissey Road.
Great Barrington Historical Society — South Main Street.
The Guthrie Center — 413-644-9288. 2 Van Deusenville Road.
Great Barrington Riverwalk — Church and River Streets.
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center — 413-528-0100. 14 Castle Street.
Mason Library — 413-528-2403. 231 Main Street.
South Berkshire Kids – 413-464-5095. 444 Old Stockbridge Road.
EGREMONT
Project Native – 413-274-3433. 342 North Plain Road.
Ramsdell Library – 413-274-3738. 1087 Main Street.
Bidwell House Museum — 413-528-6888. 100 Art School Road.
Cookson State Forest — Hotchkiss Road.
New Marlborough Library — 413-664-0104. 1 Mill River-Great Barrington Road.
Otis Library and Museum – 413-269-0109. 48 North Main Road.
Bushnell-Sage Library – 413-229-7004. 48 Main Street.
Bartholomew’s Cobble – 413-229-8600. 105 Weatogue Road.
Sheffield Historical Society. 413-229-2694. 91 Main St.
