Then on to The Porches, where we stay each year when we go to North Adams and catch the latest doings at Mass MoCA, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.
Continue reading →Friday 7/17/09 Ashfield, MA Countrypie Pizza By 2:00 pm we were starved and needed something to keep us going. We stumbled upon a pizzeria, embedded in a house and sharing its turf with a hardware store. Good stuff, Seth and Eli! These two young pizza cronies make their sauce from scratch and did a beautiful job on a salad and pizza lunch. [click to enlarge]
Continue reading →Friday, 7/17/09 Over the Berkshires and through the woods… We are traveling northwest to the town of North Adams. (lower right arrow to upper left arrow) This is what happened along the way; a pit stop at THE Yankee Candle Store in South Deerfield. A bathroom stop ended up being an over an hour adventure. (Last year’s trip led us to The Vermont Country Store; once you go in you can’t get out! Former post) Room after room, theme after theme, shop after shop. Almost as good as Disney Land. Ha! I just linked this with an About article and … Continue reading →
I have done several blogs on The National Yiddish Book Center; we are annual visitors and the place always amazes us. This is the place to go to learn about Yiddish culture. We attended 4 events; there is always something going on. The building has expanded and is visited by people from all over the world. The founder, Aaron Lansky who can be heard at this link, single-handedly set out to save as many Yiddish books as he could obtain when just a student. His book, “Outwitting History” is the story of how this incredible undertaking began and evolved. The … Continue reading →
We enjoy this part of Massachusetts and have been coming here for years. We begin in the Connecticut River Valley, usually in Northampton. (This is the state of Massachusetts; Northampton is the red arrow in the lower center. The area is a hub of college towns: Smith, Amherst, U Mass, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke are the most well-known. This is the northwest corner of the state and it is close to the borders of New York, to the west and Vermont to the north. We will be heading northwest and end up in North Adams, the upper red arrow.)[photos©author/2009:click to enlarge] … Continue reading →
Souvenirs were big in Victorian times; some for love, other for events, travel. This souvenir bracelet of Paris displaysornate links with a center plaque of: L’Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Paris Coat of Arms, Sacre Coeur, Opera, and the Eiffel Tower dangles from a chain. It is Art Deco or earlier. [click to enlarge] Souvenir “books” Lyons dimensions closed: 1 ¾”x ¾” Miniature post cards include: Le Pont Morand, La Prefecture, Place Bellcour, L’Hotel d’Ville, Palais de Justice, Eglise de Fourvière, Ancien … Continue reading →
After collecting charms for just a bit my consciousness was awakened to travel charms. I made most of my purchases through ebay where one can find sellers from all over the world. I joined a group of charm collectors on ebay who collect vintage charms. The group is run by the most knowledgable and brilliant woman, Joan Munkasci. (Joan is the daughter of the late Martin Munkasci, the world famous fashion photographer.) We would post our creations and “ooh and ahhh” over each other’s collections; Joan’s collections awakened me to travel charms. I have purchased a number of charms from … Continue reading →
Click on images to begin your journey: 8 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded reply instrumentalpavilion wrote on Jul 27, ’09 Thanks for sharing! 🙂 reply gapeach7355 wrote on Jul 27, ’09 Should have gotten a primer from you on NYC eateries (from the Battery to 53rd.) Had a great visit to Gotham last week…hope all that walking counteracted the NY Cheesecake! reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jul 27, ’09 HA!!! Nothing counteracts that!!!! I’m glad you had a good time, there’s really no way not to! eater’s paradise! Gimme some details/blogs. reply madisonpooface wrote on Jul 27, ’09 Food is definitely art. Great … Continue reading →
We enjoy this part of Massachusetts and have been coming here for years. We begin in the Connecticut River Valley, usually in Northampton. (This is the state of Massachusetts; Northampton is the red arrow in the lower center. The area is a hub of college towns: Smith, Amherst, U Mass, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke are the most well-known. This is the northwest corner of the state and it is close to the borders of New York, to the west and Vermont to the north. We will be heading northwest and end up in North Adams, the upper red arrow.)[photos©author/2009:click to enlarge] … Continue reading →
I have done several blogs on The National Yiddish Book Center; we are annual visitors and the place always amazes us. This is the place to go to learn about Yiddish culture. We attended 4 events; there is always something going on. The building has expanded and is visited by people from all over the world. The founder, Aaron Lansky who can be heard at this link, single-handedly set out to save as many Yiddish books as he could obtain when just a student. His book, “Outwitting History” is the story of how this incredible undertaking began and evolved. The … Continue reading →
Friday, 7/17/09 Over the Berkshires and through the woods… We are traveling northwest to the town of North Adams. (lower right arrow to upper left arrow) This is what happened along the way; a pit stop at THE Yankee Candle Store in South Deerfield. A bathroom stop ended up being an over an hour adventure. (Last year’s trip led us to The Vermont Country Store; once you go in you can’t get out! Former post) Room after room, theme after theme, shop after shop. Almost as good as Disney Land. Ha! I just linked this with an About article and … Continue reading →
Friday 7/17/09 Ashfield, MA Countrypie Pizza By 2:00 pm we were starved and needed something to keep us going. We stumbled upon a pizzeria, embedded in a house and sharing its turf with a hardware store. Good stuff, Seth and Eli! These two young pizza cronies make their sauce from scratch and did a beautiful job on a salad and pizza lunch. [click to enlarge] 8 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded reply sousonne wrote on Jul 25, ’09 Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……that looks SOOOOO good! What kind of soda is that? reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jul 25, ’09, edited on Jul 25, ’09 Correction: That’s … Continue reading →
Then on to The Porches, where we stay each year when we go to North Adams and catch the latest doings at Mass MoCA, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. North Adams was a factory town in the 1800’s, built on a canal. I am including history from the website because it will give you not only a background of the museum, but some insight into out country and manufacturing in our earlier years: The history of MASS MoCA’s site spans more than two hundred years of economic, industrial, and architectural development that traces the trajectory of industrialism in New … Continue reading →
The main exhibit is that of Sol Lewitt’s art; “A Wall Drawing Retro-Spective.” These are huge installations which were reproduced by artists and interns by what looks like architectural plans. They are colorful graphics, and the reproductions in such large spaces were an enormous undertaking. A quote that moved me: “The idea is the most important aspect of the work.” I attribute that to the fact that the work was not done by his hand, but by his design. Photos in and around the building The former factory as art space. I find it fascinating to dig … Continue reading →
Saturday, 7/18/09 We began the day at Mass MoCA; drove to Williamstown to catch a play: “True West” by Sam Shepard; Grabbed dinner at Café Latino in Mass MoCA; Caught the evening alternative cabaret: Babe The Blue Ox, an indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York. The Village Voice Review 6 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded reply sousonne wrote on Jul 25, ’09 LOL..the photos bring back some fond memories on the road… reply catfishred wrote on Jul 25, ’09 Sam Shepherd playwright and in his Western genre. Huh! Well, I liked him in ‘Lone Star’, and he looks like my … Continue reading →
A current exhibit at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute (“The Clark”) is Circles of Influence. It displays the intertwined influences between two great painters, Georgia O’Keeffe and Arthur Dove. Please read this fascinating blurb about two 20th century master painters and how they created a new wave of art. Clark Art Institute Circles of Influence: June 7 – September 7, 2009 Alfred Stieglitz, “Georgia O’Keeffe,” 1918. Palladiotype. The Art Institute of Chicago. Alfred Stieglitz Collection [© 2009 Georgia O’Keeffe Museum / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York] Alfred Stieglitz, “Arthur G. Dove,” 1923. Gelatin silver print. Philadelphia … Continue reading →
Photography isn’t permitted at the major exhibits, but each year I gravitate back to my favorites. You can revisit them with me. (Below, right) I love the way the eyes lead your eye in a circular composition. The Four Seasons by Alfred Stevens 6 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded reply lonewolfwithin wrote on Jul 26, ’09, edited on Jul 26, ’09 i love the musical group and the 4 panels… thanks for letting me visit with you! reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jul 26, ’09 Oh, those panelsl! They are something. They have them mounted in a small round room … Continue reading →
Dinner at Mezze. The Berry Patch, Stephentown, NY, a wonderful roadside farm stand. This is local color. Pies are from a later stop at McEnroe Farms where organic meats and veggies rule. 6 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded reply instrumentalpavilion wrote on Jul 27, ’09 This looks great…..thanks! : ) reply madisonpooface wrote on Jul 27, ’09 Oh, your killing me here. reply sousonne wrote on Jul 27, ’09 LOL….ok…I’m properly hungry now.. reply caffeinatedjo wrote on Jul 27, ’09 Yum,,,,um, since y’all are eating your way home, will you have to install a bigger door to get in your house??? 😉 … Continue reading →
Day 2 at the National Yiddish Book Center: Funny Jewish Women >>So go here already! But don’t forget, there are more trip things before this! >>Go here! Part 1 >>Now go here! Part 2 So DO it already!!! Now for some delightful memories. 1. Episodes of the 1950’s series, “The Goldbergs,” featuring Gertrude Berg. I was able to find a comparable video for you to enjoy. From my childhood, I can still hear Gertrude Berg yell out the window (vinder) to her neighbor, “Yoo hoo, Mrs. Bloom! Get S.O.S.! I’m tellink you, with more soap it’s loaded!” 2. Here … Continue reading →
click here for Part 1 of trip. Photo from 2007 trip along with first slide show and poetry. Before I proceed, I would like to offer a little information on the Yiddish language. The most basic description would be a mix of Hebrew and medieval German with a smattering of other languages. It was spoken by the Jews of central and eastern Europe. The photos show the outside of The National Yiddish Book center, which houses over a million Yiddish books that were rescued from extinction. It also is a cultural center where Jews from all over the world come … Continue reading →
