The Cultural Explorer

Ahhh – we know your type!

You are all about living in the moment, savoring the sensory inputs, and engaging in lively conversation. The Berkshires are here for you! You need your cultural cup filled with satisfying flavors and feelings, and there are so many opportunities to do just that! 

No matter if you plan your dinner before or after a museum visit or local performance, you can be sure there is food to feed the soul in the Berkshires. The John Andrews Farmhouse in South Egremont features a food culture sourced from local farmers and food makers. Relax and dine fireside or al fresco, depending on the season, enjoying casual or more formal fares, accompanied by original cocktails and an expansive wine list. In Williamstown, The Barn Kitchen & Bar will thrill your palate with locally sourced and seasonally inspired dishes. Satisfying starters to share, sumptuous main dishes and sides—and don’t forget dessert—are on the menu, along with craft beers and ciders, wines, and cocktails. If waterside dining speaks to you, look no further than The Proprietor’s Lodge in Pittsfield. Located on Pontoosac Lake, with views of Mt. Greylock, the lunch and dinner menus will appeal to all your senses, as beautiful to see as they are delicious to taste. Try a specialty martini—maybe Key Lime or the Vesper? 

What is an evening of cultural awakening without the excitement and elegance of art, music, and  performance? Consider American abstract art at the Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio in Lenox. Absorb Cubist collections and music-infused collages in a dynamic living-quarters-turned-museum. Head to Becket and Jacob’s Pillow to be engaged in grace and power at once through meaningful and diverse forms of  dance—ballet, contemporary, Afro-Latin Immersion, and musical theater. It’s also home to America’s longest-running international dance festival. In Lenox, visit Ventfort Hall, a Revival-style mansion built in 1893, and step back into the Gilded Age of the Berkshires. Hear a lecture, view the exhibits or a theatrical performance, and consider life in 19th century America. Afterward, stop at Spirited for the perfect bottle of wine, some garlic and herb cheese spread, sesame rice crackers, and even raspberry truffles to enjoy as you converse about the sensations of your day. 

If you wish to find additional venues to attend exciting events and performances, be inspired by visual arts, or connect with beauty and history through museums, historic sites, and gardens,  look no further than the cultural climate of the Berkshires!

Photos: The Barn Kitchen & Bar, John Andrews Farmhouse Restaurant 

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