 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
On Location: The Berkshires
|
|
A quick escape to the countryside for art and artisanal food
|
|
BY NECEE REGIS
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
The Massachusetts Veterans War Memorial Tower atop Mount Greylock; the Williamstown branch of Hudsons.
|
|
|
|
As much as our writer loves the city life, she often finds herself on the road to western Massachusetts for a rejuvenating dose of rolling hills and artsy diversions.
Though Massachusetts’ Berkshire Hills are a three-hour drive from my home, the region’s landscape and the artsy environment pull at my imagination like a magnet to metal. So whenever I have a string of free days, I often wind up cruising west on Route 2. I always stop at the scenic overlook just outside Florida, MA, to take in the sweeping views of the Northern Berkshires and the town of North Adams. Good things lie ahead.
BOUTIQUE CHIC
Many Berkshire shops sell quirky handcrafted items that can’t be found at any mall. I like to amble along Spring Street in Williamstown, browsing the art galleries and boutiques selling jewelry, antiques, toys and other items. Artists Jeff and Jane Hudson, former punk rockers whose band The Rentals once played on the same bill as The Clash, recently opened Hudsons at 37 Spring Street (hudsonsart.com). Like their original store at the Massachusetts Museum of Cotemporary Art (MASS MoCA) in North Adams, the shop sells fine art, antiques and a potpourri of collectibles. I love to chat with Jeff while sorting through their latest finds.
GREAT EATS
It’s easy to “eat local” in the Berkshires, especially in summer when so much fresh—and often organic—produce is available. Add locally made cheeses and farm-raised chicken and meats, and I’m in foodie heaven. After a day at a museum, or before an evening performance, I schedule dinner at Chez Nous (150 Main St., Lee; 413-243-6397), where the husband-and-wife team of Franck Tessier and Rachel Portnoy turns out amazing dishes. Franck (yes, he’s French) makes eating chicken seem sexy—try the breast stuffed with porcini mushrooms and currants. And finish up with Rachel’s profiteroles, delicious choux pastry with vanilla ice cream inside and warm chocolate ganache on top.
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
Rocky Mountain residents might scoff, but the people of Massachusetts are proud of our highest peak. When skies are clear, the 3,491-foot summit of Mount Greylock offers views of five states. The Appalachian Trail crosses the mountain, adding hard-core backpackers to the mix of retirees on vacation, picnicking families, motorcyclists, bikers and other curious travelers. The Veterans Memorial Tower, a 93-foot-high granite shaft topped with a bulbous beacon, resembles an Art Deco spaceship ready for takeoff.
NOTE: Information may have changed since publication. Please confirm key details before planning your trip.
|
|
|
|
Published: April 1, 2010
|
|
PHOTOS: Kathy Collins; Jane Hudson
|
|
|