Berkshires-AARP Central

Old Aug 22nd, 2015, 08:17 PM
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Berkshires-AARP Central

Just returned from visiting the Berkshires for a few days. Spent many of my childhood into teenage summers there. It is now a free range over 55 community. Details to follow.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2015, 04:42 AM
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> It is now a free range over 55 community.

As are the Fodor forums.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2015, 05:33 AM
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Hahaha good one, Don
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Old Aug 23rd, 2015, 07:49 AM
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The Berkshires are a beautiful corner of the world. There are many cultural attractions that are that difficult blend of thoughtful and entertaining. And maybe that is why it had turned into a free range over 55 community. And like other over 55 communities, there were some younger couples with children, and again like other over 55 communities, acceptable as long as they were their grandchildren.

I did not notice this until we went to into a local upscale grocery chain called Guido’s. (Recommended by some on a travel board.) Besides the usual cast of bored with the world teenaged cashiers and manic stock boys, one would think it was AARP coupon day. That is fine, I am not prejudiced against my own kind. The price and selection made this place beyond the reach of most families. For example Guido’s does not offer well-known soda brands as it may be offensive to the overpriced one they stock. You also know that Guido is not from the NY area otherwise feminine products would be in the Guidette Section.

The people who work with the public we met, besides the few described above, were genuinely and absolutely cordial and helpful. We stayed at a place called the Yankee Inn in Lenox, which has a number of assets including two well maintained swimming pools, immaculately clean grounds and rooms, and a most pleasant staff. The fancy motel could have used a severe renovation a few years ago. There is a free continental breakfast, though I not sure to which continent they are referring. And on Saturday and Sunday mornings an omelet service is offered.

We went on the Pleasant Valley Nature Walk which was well-marked and a very easy traipse for those who have difficulty getting about. We did not see one wild thing but I think that can be attributed to our lack of observation. Still a most agreeable way to spend a morning or afternoon.

The following day we went to Edith Wharton’s estate called The Mount which is perfectly manicured and maintained. The guides, the indoor and outdoor versions, loved what they were doing and were informative without reciting the facts in a rote manner. One fellow on our tour wore a Hooter’s t-shirt, which was totally ironical and amusing considering the sensibility of Wharton’s era, dress, and writing.

One night we went to Jacob’s Pillow which is a well-established and well-regarded dance venue. One of our traveling companions was a dancer who has a life-long and abiding love and knowledge of the discipline. We saw a troupe called the LA Dance Defense which presents contemporary choreography. Our friend thought they were wonderful in all aspects. They were classically trained but superbly athletic. The dances to this dance ignoramus, ranged from interesting to captivating. Here the audience again was at least 75% over 55 years old with the obvious exceptions of enthralled and dangerously thin dancers.

The following night we went to Tanglewood, a wildly popular music site. You can either sit in the shed which is a roofed area with open sides or on the lawn. The lawn is a large expensive of green watered by the left over wine of the picnickers. The Boston Pops played a variety of short pieces while trained circus and acrobats performed remarkable feats in and about the stage. The performers were so adroit and performed such difficult or death defying stunts, one often forgot there was music being played. It was an evening of delightful and engaging entertainment. Here again the crowd the crowd was basically gray.

We ate a number of places none that were bad, none that stood out. Among them was Frankie’s an Italian restaurant in Lenox, a bit overpriced for what you got, but I assume they must make their money during the summer to survive.

In Great Barrington, we stopped two business types in the street and asked where they had just eaten and sent us to The Neighborhood Diner. They food was agreeable although there fried eggplant sticks were a wonderful substitute for fries. The young male server wore a tie. A quaint throwback although Barrington is known for being a magnet for overaged hippies.

We also ate Once Upon A Table in Stockbridge. There were many rules and when I asked about a table the owner directed me to write my name on a list. Annoyed that I was supposed to understand someone else’s logic, I wrote Donner. The same owner read it and laughed and from there a meal of repartee. They food was well prepared.

We had ice cream twice at stores called SoCo which also was fine but not exceptional. They area is also flooded with stores that sell nothing you need in particular and you would only buy while on vacation.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2015, 08:17 AM
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Great report of the new old demographic! Very funny.

I LOVE the Pops/Circus program. Have seen it in Boston. I am torn to seeing the quick change costumes and tricks, but like not knowing. It is a great program with great music. I laugh that the strings must be using their back up instruments for fear of a flying yolanda come crashing down. It must have been fun outdoors.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2015, 08:46 AM
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Thanks Inaka.

The Tanglewood stage is not really conducive to circus acts, but the performers were such professionals they made it work.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2015, 03:50 PM
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I think it is worth noting that Edith Wharton, despite all those layers of clothes, managed to have an affair with a journalist.

There are Price Choppers around for those who can't afford Guido's but the goat cheese may not come from hand-milked goats from Nagorno-Karabakh.

And as for the grey-haired ( or hairless) in the audiences, who else can afford it?
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Old Aug 23rd, 2015, 05:04 PM
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While Wharton probably did have an affair, I doubt very much she would have been hustling for tips at Hooters.
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Old Aug 24th, 2015, 06:35 AM
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Interestingly enough, yk just posted a Berkshires with a toddler trip report.
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Old Aug 24th, 2015, 08:21 AM
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Yes and if you read YK's report the trip was for her. There were limited dining spots and her husband babysit their child as she went her or there.

The vast majority of the attractions and restaurants are not for kids under 12 let alone a toddler.
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Old Aug 24th, 2015, 10:59 AM
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Umm, are we reading the same report?

The YK I just read went to a casual restaurant, a creperie, a fireman's supper, and bought food from the supermarket and one of two farmers markets for eating in and picnics. Her son and husband were present in all these activities.

She (and I) would agree that child-friendly eateries in that part of the Berkshires at reasonable prices are thin on the ground, though there are a fair number in Great Barrington.
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Old Aug 24th, 2015, 11:04 AM
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If you go to Tanglewood for open rehearsal on Saturday, or Sunday afternoon, you will find the lawn quite full of children. It is, in fact, one of the best places to introduce younger kids to classical music because they don't have to sit still, and can wander a bit when bored.

I feel like you've done the Berkshires a bit of a disservice. Its true that it is not as "family oriented" as a place like Disney, but families of all ages would find things to do there, and some do. YK did the things she wanted to, and went to Tanglewood by herself at night. She has a very small child. A slightly older child might enjoy the lake beaches and swimming holes, going canoeing or kayaking, hiking, the alpine slide or zip lines at Jiminey peak, and probably some other things I'm not thinking of.

And there are dozens of family friendly restaurants, I don't get that comment at all. I can't think of a single one where a child is not welcome or where I haven't seen one.

Now, the area is a bit depressed in terms of employment, which means there aren't a whole lot of families living there, and the housing market has come to a complete stop. And yeah, people buying summer homes who have larger families, maybe its not their first choice compared to Cape Cod or the Connecticut shoreline. so the second home market is a lot of retirees/snowbirds from New York. that part is ture.
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Old Aug 24th, 2015, 12:03 PM
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China cat

I spent most my summers in the Berskshires somewhere from the age of 9 through 16. Although that was many years ago, I went to Tanglewood many times and was a regular at Friendly's before it was ruined by Hershey's. And I loved the area but I spent my days playing ball and swimming, not engaged in adult activities. And I hate the Disneyfication of anything, which of course I did not mention.

BTW, at no time did I say that the restaurants were unfriendly to children or that children were not welcome. But I have been on Fodor's long enough to know that people read waht they want and distort the words of others to fit their narrative.

And of course, only Inaka saw that it written with a sense of humor. A quality that is sorely lacking on these boards.
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Old Aug 24th, 2015, 12:10 PM
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<The vast majority of the attractions and restaurants are not for kids under 12 let alone a toddler.>

<BTW, at no time did I say that the restaurants were unfriendly to children or that children were not welcome. >

???
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Old Aug 24th, 2015, 12:11 PM
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Ackislander writes referring to YK TR:
Umm, are we reading the same report?
So let me quote verbatim from her report.
One evening we found ourselves in Lenox, and dining options that are wallet-friendly and child-friendly are a bit limited.

Since this is a birthday trip for me, I went 3 out of 4 nights to Tanglewood for concerts on my own, while DH stayed behind with our son.

_________
And of course most toddler's are familiar with the nuances of Joshua Bell fingering and the characteristics of American Renaissance scuplture.
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Old Aug 24th, 2015, 12:26 PM
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Newbe

If you agreed agreed with me I would concerned, because the only circumstance I can think of, is that I have contracted a terminal disease.

Please find a child and ask him/her the difference between an activity that is appropriate for a child and one that is unfriendly. They will explain it to you. Barring that:

At no time during my TR did I saw that places were unfriendly for children. But if you think Edith Wharton's estate and explanation of her relationship with Henry James or a contemporary dance company is appropriate for a child, then the children you know are much more advanced than the ones I know.
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Old Aug 24th, 2015, 12:41 PM
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Two direct quotes from you:
<The vast majority of the attractions and restaurants are not for kids under 12 let alone a toddler.>

<BTW, at no time did I say that the restaurants were unfriendly to children or that children were not welcome. >

I am neither agreeing nor disagreeing, just pointing out that you contradict yourself.
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Old Aug 24th, 2015, 12:52 PM
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Newbe, more with passive/aggressive nonsense. You will never take ownership for what you write or say.

Apparently you could not find a child to explain the difference

Tanglewood is not unfriendly to children, far from it. The music of Josh Bell is not appropriate for a toddler or a child who thinks that music is just Justin Beiber or Miley Cyrus.

The Edith Wharton estate, is not unfriendly to children, far from it. But do you think children under 12 are interested in the sensibilities of fin de siècle America.
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Old Aug 24th, 2015, 12:53 PM
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"I am neither agreeing nor disagreeing,"

You must have been swell on the high school debate team.
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Old Aug 24th, 2015, 01:37 PM
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BTW, I did not post on YK's topic intentionally. I do not know her and have no inclination to start a dispute with her. It is others who brought her into the conversation, for their own reasons.

And the Berkshires are such a pleasant place.

And the owner of one restaurant said I was the first person who had a sense of humor all summer and this is late August. I guess the others post here.
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