Happening this Week
TEA & TALK: A STRONG JULY LINE-UP
July 5th, Thursday, 4PM
Ventfort Hall has a very strong lineup this July for their perennial series—Tea & Talk. This Thursday historian Julie Agar is presenting a talk on Louisa May Alcott as a follow-up to the recent PBS presentation of Little Women. Despite growing up poor, Ms. Alcott received tutelage from some literary luminaries in her father’s circle of intellectuals—which happened to include Henry Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller. Next up on July 10th, historian Warren Kimball will explain the invention and evolution of tennis and the US Tennis Association, followed by discussions by Yale food historian Paul Freedman’s book, Ten Restaurants That Changed America on July 17th and fine arts historian Kathleen Curran’s book The Invention of the American Art Museum on July 24th. And all of these talks are, of course, followed by a proper Victorian tea. Tickets for all Tea & Talk events cost $26 in advance and $32 the day of.
Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. 104 Walker Street. Lenox MA. 413.637.3206
While in Lenox discover our favorite things!
JAZZ THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: THE HOT JAZZ AGE
July 5th - August 2nd, Thursdays, 8PM
The Catskill Jazz Factory and the New York Hot Jazz Festival have teamed up to produce this series of jazz performances at Fischer Center’s seasonal Spiegeltent. This five concert journey takes you through the hot age of jazz from its roots in New Orleans and its migration to Chicago, Harlem and beyond. Performances include tributes to Sidney Bichet, Louis Armstrong and the forgotten bands of the speakeasies during Prohibition. Choose between the center floor tables and the booths surrounding them in the animated circular arena. Tickets start at $25.
Fischer Center. 60 Manor Avenue. Annandale-On-Hudson NY. 845.758.7900
PAUL TAYLOR DANCE COMPANY:
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BLUE
July 6th, Friday, 8PM and July 7th, Saturday, 2PM & 7:30PM
Paul Taylor is one of the most significant and influential choreographers of our (and really of all) time, and he continues to shape the landscape of modern dance today. The Paul Taylor Dance Company comes to Great Barrington with the New England Premiere of their most recent piece, Concertiana (set to a violin concerto and expressing a full range of human emotion); the delightful Gossamer Gallants (humorously inspired by the mating rituals blue-bottle flies); and a most beloved classic Company B (seminal Americana set to the songs of the Andrews Sisters). Mr. Taylor will soon be handing over the torch to his successor, so don’t miss this incredible celebration of physicality, musicality and humanity with Paul Taylor at the helm. Tickets start at $10, Special $5 price for kids and teens for the Saturday afternoon performance.
The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. 14 Castle Street. Great Barrington MA. 413.528.0100
While in Great Barrington discover our favorite things!
BIDWELL COUNTRY FAIR: HISTORY NOW
July 7th, Saturday, 1-4PM
Enjoy the beautiful grounds and more at this festive, fun and free community celebration hosted by the historic Bidwell House Museum. Sure to be entertaining for all ages—activities truly run the gamut. This is definitely the only event where you can…enjoy live tunes from The Adams Brothers and Moonshine Holler; learn about the lives, dress and cooking of American Revolution era historic characters from Butler’s Rangers re-enactors; enter into a Pie Baking Contest; hang out with two horses and some playful young goats; go on a hayride and tour stunning colonial gardens. And how could I forget the SoCo Creamery ice cream and delicious treats from Gould Farm??
Bidwell House Museum. 100 Art School Road. Monterey MA. 413.528.6888.
While in Monterey discover our favorite things!
CAST OF BEATLEMANIA: SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE BEATLES
July 7th, Saturday, 8-9:30PM
Enjoy an uncanny impression of John, Paul, George and Ringo as the cast of Broadway’s hit musical Beatlemania takes the stage. Their renditions of our favorite Beatles songs are in tune with the band’s music, costumes and even their stage personas. A fan favorite at Infinity Hall tickets are sure to sell fast, so move quickly to get as close as you can to the Beatles reincarnate. $24-39.
Infinity Hall. 20 Greenwoods Road. Norfolk CT. 866.666.6306
While in Norfolk discover our favorite things!