Taking It To The Streets

Berkshire Busk! expands to more Great Barrington venues this summer.

he streets of Great Barrington are amid a bustling summer filled with performances, art and live music every Friday and Saturday at 6:30pm. In its third season, Berkshire Busk!, an immersive arts festival programming about 100 “busker” performers at various outdoor street locations, is running from Independence Day to Labor Day (June 30–September 4). The festival’s founder and director, Eugene Carr, says the event is making the arts accessible to the community.

“This year our youngest performer is 12 and our oldest is in their 70s,” he says. And the festival’s general manager, Carli Scolforo, says about three quarters of their buskers have returned to the festival annually since launching in 2021.

“It makes us feel good to have the people who are a part of it come back,” she says. This year Berkshire Busk! has expanded their programming to feature performances at the Great Barrington Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, entertainment at Robin’s Candy on Saturday afternoons and a continuation of Berkshire Busk! Roadside, with performances at Berkshire Mountain Distillery from 2-4 pm.

Couture

Coffee

THudson Roastery’s organic brew makes this a definite must-stop. The moment you walk in to Hudson Roastery you can feel the difference: Pale colors envelop you; 12-foot ceilings make it airy; and elegant lamps catch the eye. This isn’t Starbucks, kids. Founded by married former NYC executives— Carolyn Palmieri and Tony Calderone—the organic coffee house opened in Hudson a little more than a year ago and the reviews have been universally positive. And the food… wow. See you there.

No Escaping Our Super Hot Streak

There’s no stopping the positive momentum our region is continuing to enjoy. The Catskills were just named the “The Mountain Winner” in the country by Outside in the popular magazine’s recent “36 Best Places in the US For Adventure” list. The criteria were based on the thousands of miles of hiking trails, mountain biking outlets and the countless ponds and lakes.

Likes For Hikes

Berkshire Camino brings the joy back to exploring trails. | By Isabel Hochman

The Berkshires offers so many scenic hikes, but once you get past the analysis paralysis and choose a trail, you may find yourself halfway to a cartography degree trying to figure out how to access it. Berkshire Camino to the rescue. Oh, blessed day!

Camino’s routes in one season hopes to motivate residents to get out more. “This can improve their physical and mental well-being as well as help them to learn more about the landscape, history, culture and spirit of the Berkshires,” she says. Backpacks at the ready!

Founded in 2020, Berkshire Camino is an outdoor adventure tour operator. From May to October, eight multi-day hiking journeys and more than 200 day-hike tours utilizing 13 curated routes across the Berkshires are open to the public. Berkshire Camino recently launched a 2023 season pass hiking challenge. Those who complete their 12-hike challenge get a hiking goodie bag and certificate of completion. Founder Mindy Miraglia says the challenge to hike all of Berkshire the last picture show A little piece of the Hudson Valley has sadly gone away. After an astonishing 73 years, the beloved Hyde Park Drive-In has dimmed its marquee for good. Sigh. Say goodbye to Hollywood, indeed.

Berkshires Gives Us Life (House)

Condé Nast Traveler has just named Life House, Berkshires among the very best new affordable hotels in the world. The Lenox, MA-based spot even made the magazine’s coveted 2023 “Hot List,” a roster that only includes the must-go just opened travel spots throughout the world. What makes this designation even more astonishing, Life House, Berkshires was once a Days Inn on US Route 7. Nice turnaround, right?

Destination bible

(Life House, Berkshires) SOPHIE FABBRI