Holiday Happenings in Columbia County And Beyond

Thanksgiving should be one of the least stressful holidays for you and your family to enjoy. There are no gifts to be purchased or elaborate parties to attend. It’s all about spending time with loved-ones, eating too much food, relaxing and, for us, officially kicking off the start of the holiday season.

Everyone has their own Thanksgiving traditions but if you find yourself with some free time over the holiday weekend, you might want to check out one of the following happenings in and around the Columbia County area. Please feel free to use the comments section to suggest one of your own.

Friday, November 23, 2007

* Weekends in the Country

Celebrate art, nature, and history in beautiful Columbia County

November 23-25, Walking the Dog Theatre presents Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. Walking the dog Theater, 39 Oak Hill Rd.,Ghent, NY 12075
For more information please call (518) 392-0131.

* LitGraphic: The World of the Graphic Novel
November 10, 2007 through May 26, 2008

“A burgeoning art form with roots planted firmly in history, graphic novels, or long-form comic books, have inspired the interest of the literary establishment and a growing number of readers.”

At The Norman Rockwell Museum: 9 Glendale Road,Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 01262. For more information please call (413) 298-4100.


Saturday, November 24, 2007

* Shaker Supper

“We make you kindly welcome with a guided tour of the Brick Dwelling, Round Stone Barn and Laundry/Machine Shop, followed by a delicious dinner of Shaker-inspired dishes.”

Beginning at 12:30pm at Hancock Shaker Village. Route 20, Pittsfield, MA 01202. Reservations required. Price $50 – $60. For information please call (413) 443-0188.

* 1st Annual Turkey Bowl with Prostocks, Purestocks, 4-Cyl. & Enduro
At the Lebanon Valley Speedway, 1746 Route 20, W Lebanon; 794-9606

Sunday, November 25, 2007

* Artisans of the Berkshires Holiday Fine Art and Craft Show

“A Distinctive Shop and Gallery Showcasing Fine Art, Photography, Jewelry, Paintings, Music and more… from the Heart of New England.”

From 11am until 6pm on Sunday, November 25, at the Crowne Plaza Grand Ballroom in Pittsfield, MA.

* Canine Capers

Bring your dog on a dog-friendly hike and learn about the Eastern Coyote; registration required.

10-11:30am at Taconic State Park, Route 344, Copake Falls – 329-3993
2-3:30pm at Lake Taghkanic State Park, 1528 Route 82, Gallatin – 851-3631

Ongoing
* 23rd Annual Festival of Trees
This year’s theme is “On the Move”.

“We deck the halls with some 200 theme decorated trees and celebrate all things on the move, from trains, planes and automobiles to skis, skates, and sleds.”

Through December 31, 2007 at the Berkshire Museum. Admission for children ages 3-18 is just $7 and $9 for adults. Kids under 3 get in for free. The Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA, 01201. For more information please call 413-443-7171.

Design Inspirations

I’m all for taking inspiration from classic works of literature but this Fall Of The Damned lamp from designer Luc Merx, is a little too creepy for me.


The chandelier is inspired by Dante’s Inferno, the epic poem about the decent into hell. With a price tag of $45,000, this illuminating work of art doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of ever appearing in my home.

A Piece of Columbia County at Lincoln Center

Did you know that this year’s Lincoln Center Christmas Tree was born and raised in Columbia County? It’s true. While not as famous as the tree at Rockefeller Center, the lighting of the Lincoln Center tree has been one of the city’s annual holiday traditions for the past 18 years.

The tree is a Colorado Blue Spruce, around 50 to 55 feet tall, which was planted in our county in 1971 and delivered to Lincoln Center today. This year’s tree lighting ceremony will take place on November 26, 2007 from 5:30 to 6:00pm on the Lincoln Center plaza.

The celebration will include performances from some of Lincoln Center’s resident companies and special guests. The Metropolitan Opera will perform an excerpt from the new production of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, dancers from the New York City Ballet’s production of Balanchine’s The Nutcracker will perform The Dance of the Candy Canes, and the Hot 8 Brass Band will perform songs of the season with special guest, Dar Williams

The event is open to the public and free. For more information, call the Lincoln Center Information hotline at 212-875-5456, or visit LincolnCenter.org

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A City Rises in the Country

The Boston Globe ran a great article yesterday about Pittsfield, MA. This once troubled little city has been experiencing a cultural and economic Renaissance over the past few years and it’s nice to see a paper, such as The Globe, recognize that.

The better half and I were first introduced to Pittsfield when our friend, Darrell Pucciarello opened his school for dance, Studio One, in the town several years ago.

If you haven’t already done so, you can read the Boston Globe article, written by Globe Correspondent, Joan Axelrod-Contrada, here.

Startling Heating Costs for the Northeast this Winter

Given the long warm fall we are finally seeing come to an end, it’s difficult to imagine that the Northeast is facing a chilling reality as we head into winter. However, according to an article in today’s Wall Street Journal Online, the cost of heating-oil is surging to record numbers and the result will be people who can’t afford to heat their homes and smaller oil dealers who have sold heating oil under fixed-price contracts could face bankruptcy.

Lawmakers across New England are scurrying to enact legislature that would help the neediest of people but what can we do ourselves?

For starters, make sure you have enough insulation in your attic and walls if possible.

Caulking drafty windows can also affect how much oil you need to heat your home.

Make sure your furnace is working properly and if you have one, give your wood-burning stove a good cleaning.

Don’t turn your thermostat up above the desired temperature. Or better yet, invest in a programmable thermostat.

Keep the curtains and blinds of any south facing windows open during the day to capture the sun’s warmth and closed at night to keep it.

Check out this page on About.com for more ideas on how you can save money on your home heating costs this winter.