From: The Lenox Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 646, Lenox, MA. 01240

Contact: Ralph Petillo. 413.637.3646 or email: info@lenox.org

                       

HOLIDAY VOICES HEARD THROUGHOUT LENOX

The “Voices of the Holiday Season” can be heard in Lenox from Thanksgiving through New Years.  Celebrate a traditional New England Thanksgiving at one of our fine Inns and Resorts.  The “voice” of Thanksgiving” is being heard at The Cranwell Resort, The Gateways Inn, The Kemble Inn, The Village Inn and Wheatleigh.  All are serving a Thanksgiving Feast and celebrating “a day of thanks” that will please any and all “Pilgrims”.                   
The Lenox Chamber of Commerce and Seven Hills Inn will be presenting “Voices of Hope” on December 1, 2012.  This Holiday Gala and Auction will benefit The Berkshire United Way and will be the most festive evening of the Holiday Season featuring gourmet dinner, entertainment, dancing and a silent and live auction.                      
Holiday Voices will be heard all weekend from December 7-9, 2012 as the Second Annual Lenox Caroling Festival fills the Town.  Santa arrives Friday Evening, December 7^th and will start the Festival with the Town’s Annual Tree Lighting.

As the Holiday voices sing through Lenox visit our chef owned restaurants and unique shops. Their offerings of Holiday fare and one a kind gifts will add to the Holiday Joy Lenox brings to all who visit.  Inn tour tickets are $15 and may be purchased in advance, call 413.637.3646

Massachusetts might just be the artiest US state you’ve never heard of. From Boston to The Berkshires, it’s a Mecca for culture and cracking seafood….

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Boston

For red-brick buildings, cobbled streets and more world-class museums than you can shake a “Cheers”-branded mug at, Boston just oozes East Coast cool.

The Gardner museum

The must-sees: For old-school splendour, don’t miss The Gardner Museum (gardnermuseum.org). Isabella Stewart Gardner was a 19th century socialite who amassed an amazing collection of paintings in her lifetime, all housed in a beautiful Italian-style courtyard and gardens. But if you prefer your art on the cutting edge side, get down to the ICA (icaboston.org). Video installations, graffiti murals and panoramic views of the harbour make this the cool kids’ hangout.

The hip hotel: The Langham is where the celebs stay when they’re in town because loads of films, from Good Will Hunting to The Proposal have been made in Boston. And in a former life the hotel was the Federal Reserve Bank so it’s a pretty ‘safe’ bet! We loved the pink and gold decor and luxe touches like fresh popcorn in your room. And did we mention the Chocolate Bar buffet held every Saturday? (boston.langhamhotels.com, rooms from £176).

A room with a view

The arty eatery: Area Four in Kendall Square is right by MIT (so it’s full of trendy nerds) and does a mean clam and bacon pizza – a new take on the East Coast classic clam chowder (areafour.com). Or if you’re more of a Harvard-fan, ask a local to point out the dorms of Matt Damon and Mark Zuckerberg and then eat at Upstairs on the Square (upstairsonthesquare.com) The interior is out of this world (all zebra-print carpets and chandeliers) but the food (almond gazpacho and lobster) is even better.

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The Berkshires

Whether you’re into art, theatre, dance, music (or even just shopping) upscale area The Berkshires has a bit of everything – and some stunning scenery to boot.

The must-sees: Catch a dance performance at nearby Jacob’s Pillow, one of the most prestigious academies in the world (jacobspillow.org), or spend the day at Tanglewood – home to the famous summer jazz festival. Then head to former mill town North Adams, a city that’s been revitalised by the arts thanks to the huge Mass MOCA (massmoca.org), pop-up galleries and artist lofts. A short skip away is Williamstown, home to the Clark Art Institute, which currently has some of its impressive Impressionists collection at The Royal Academy, London until September 23rd (clarkart.edu).

The hip hotel: For a homely New England classic, The Apple Tree Inn has rocking chairs, wood-burning fires and cocktails on the porch (appletree-inn.com, rooms from £85). It’s also within spitting distance of Tanglewood – so bring earplugs if you come within festival time. But if you like a dose of kitsch with your arty party, you can’t beat The Porches Inn in North Adams. Once a row of mill-workers’ cottages, this boutique hotel is now just the right side of chintz-tastic (porches.com, rooms from £80).

The arty eatery: Public in North Adam is the spot to refuel with a classic American burger, locally-brewed ale and a blueberry lemonade. Not as innocent as it sounds! Looking at art is thirsty work after all (Publiceatanddrink.com).

• Flights to Boston with Delta.com cost from £419. For more info go to the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourist (massvacation.com)

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“Wow, this is totally amazing,” we said, gazing in wonder at the kaleidoscope of color in the valley below us, as Route 2 zigzagged toward North Adams. “I wouldn’t know,” our friend in the driver’s seat replied, “I’m kind of busy right now, keeping the car on the road.”

Yep, best not to be distracted as you navigate those crazy hairpin turns into the Berkshires. If you’re lucky enough to be in the passenger’s seat, you will totally understand why busloads of tourists come from all over the world to admire this russet-drenched landscape. Now, we were among them, happily playing tourist. Fall foliage and fudge — yes, even in the tony enclaves of the Berkshires.

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