Sign-up and post on Iberkshires today.It's Free!
Already a member? Log In
43°  H- 81%
The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.           
Sunday November 22, 2009
 Make us your homepage!
 

What's Playing

Vampire Weekend

The Drury Drama Team presents "Dracula" on Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 19-21.

If you don't know who these guys are, just stay home. Holy batmania! "New Moon" surpasses "Dark Knight's" opening numbers.


'Pirate Radio': Good Movie Ahoy, Mateys
Movie schedules and times

Bazaars

Nov. 21

St. Stanislaus School benefit, 9 to 4 in Kolbe Hall, Adams. Bake sale, snack bar, games, Chinese auctions, money raffle, crafts, and pierogi.

Blackinton Union Church, 1373 Massachusetts Ave., North Adams; 10 to 2. Crafts table, bake sale, Chinese auction, the Christmas table, and kid's grab bag. Lunch $4, $2 kids.

First Congregational Church, North Adams, 9-2.

Nov. 28

Becket Federated Church
, Route 8, holiday bazaar from 9-3. Lunch, crafts, baked goods, holiday and other items. Information: Mary Peltier, Parish House, 413-623-5217.


Dec. 5

Holiday Fair at First Congregational Church, 25 Park Place, Lee, from 10 to 3; handcrafted items, raffles, children's shop, bake sale, cut Christmas trees and lunch from 11 to 1. Includes angel-themed goods from SERRV. Information, 413-243-1033 or www.ucc-lee.org.


Dec. 12-13

North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Information: Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.

Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here.

Sales Fliers

 
 

Daily Digest

Hooray for Vermont's Sanders and his battle against credit card companies.
How Much is Heating Oil this Week?
It's breaking $2.50 but still cheaper than gas.
Clarksburg Crime Watch Signs



We're trying out blogs to offer shorter, easy-to-find news. Let us know what you think.
Send press releases and announcements to info@iberkshires.com. Need to contact someone at iBerkshires? Here's how.
Mammography Dispute
The government's issued controversial new guidelines stating that women shouldn't get annual mammograms until age 50, rather than age 40.

iBerkshires will be meeting with local medical experts Monday. Have a question you'd like answered on this issue? Send it info@iberkshires.com with "mammogram" in the subject line.

Obituaries

Paul Sandler, 64
Robert J. Heideman, 73
Carol V. Vallieres, 75
More obituaries

Sports

11-21-09 Williams women's soccer: The College of New Jersey wins over Williams 1-0

More Photos to come.

Williams College Men's Basketball Season Outlook
MCLA Picked Last in Men's Preseason Coaches Poll
2009 MIAA Girls Soccer - State Division 2

11-21-09 Cardinal Spellman win over Wahconah 2-1 2OT

Media Partners

Berkshire News Network (WNAW;WUPE)
WJJW Charlie in the Morning

Election


Trying to remember who won what and why? All the information is right here.

 

 Search: 
 for    
Enter a long URL
to make tiny:


Related Stories

 
Printer Friendly Version
   Recommend this story to a friend

Places I Like to Write: East Side Cafe

By Sharon Mack
iBerkshires Columnist
02:05PM / Sunday, April 05, 2009

PITTSFIELD, Mass.
I like to write at home in my living room with my laptop on my knees. My pug dog asleep on my left, my Maltese snuggled on my right.

There's a quiet that comes from their little warm bodies that allows my often frantic brainwaves to quiet and go into another zone. My creative zone. The place where no one else can go. Where I alone set the scene, create the characters and write life into them. 

But sometimes, that's not good enough. I need more; I need motion. I need noise to get the old brain cells working. To rejuvenate them. That's when I move to a busier setting. 

One of those settings is the East Side Cafe, especially early on a Wednesday night before the crowd begins to show up. I walk over at 4:30 or so since it's located next door to me, and take my usual seat in the first booth.

Wednesday is the best night because it's on Wednesdays that they serve the best of my favorite comfort foods: a plateful of manicotti, raviolis, gnocchi or linguini with extra sauce and extra meatballs, served with green salad and crusty Italian bread. A glass of Merlot doesn't hurt either. 

I love that I can go there and they already know what I will order for my beverage. It's comfortable.  It's easy. 
"Merlot?" Ann asks. And she's off to fill my glass before taking my pasta order for the evening. 


Courtesy Capitano family
The booths fill up quick on Wednesday nights at East Side Cafe in Pittsfield.
After the salad, a few bits of bread and sips of wine, I get myself ready to write.   

I pull out my pad and pencil — it is time for the old-fashioned way — and as I slowly chew and drink my way through my dinner, I again find I can bring on those scenes and characters. 

Often, I am inspired by the folks around me. The mother and her two kids, the family that comes in with grandparents and all, the men at the bar laughing and enjoying a beer together after a day's work — a habit they've developed a long time ago, the warmth of the owners who cook, wait the tables and tend the bar. It's the atmosphere, I think, that inspires me. A "family and friend's" atmosphere, a local atmosphere. 

And then when I am finished, I pick up my evening's work and head back home. I am ready to type it into my computer and I am surprised to learn that there is very little I need to edit. 

Hmm, it must have been the atmosphere ... .

East Side Cafe is located on the corner of Lombard and Newell streets and serves homemade pastas on Wednesday night during the winter months and pizza (voted the Best in the Berkshires) on Thursday through Sunday from 4:30 to closing.

Sharon Mack is a member of the Berkshires Writers Room and is working on a mystery novel.
Your Comments
Post Comment
Backtracking here...don't want to miss out leaving a comment, even if a bit late.

Hope they keep you writing and posting and entertaining the readers for a long time.

Dinah
from: Dinahon: 05-27-2009

I love reading about places which inspire Sharon to write. Of course these are dreamy places for me as I live far, far away from the Berkshires of my youth.
from: Peggyon: 05-24-2009

I completely understand the need for quietness some times and the need for a vibrant experience other times. Sharon, you are an excellent wordsmith. Keep up the fine writing...
from: Joelon: 05-11-2009

mmmmmm...love the pizza at East Side Cafe. It's always one of the highlights when I visit the Berkshires. The atmosphere reeks of good ole days when life was simple....(when was that??)
from: Jen MDon: 04-15-2009

this is you cuz, sounds like great food, but the wine is what i would go for, I love Merlot. Give the dogs a hug for me.

Sue
from: Susanon: 04-15-2009

Sounds like a delicious place to write a delicious novel. Makes your pencil flow & are you using yellow lined pads of paper? They set the mood & give the pencil ease in writing.
-Peggy
from: Peggy in MNon: 04-12-2009

This is your couz must run in the family dogs...snuggled in my lap right now is the Gabby ( wheaton scotty) and to my right the main character Gilly ( my black scotty we all look alike here. Although barking isn't my game snorting is though. Love ya cuz proud of you!
from: Zoeon: 04-09-2009

sounds like you have it all worked out, good for you
from: Lyndaon: 04-06-2009



Top Stories...
Recount Countdown in North Adams
NORTH ADAMS - Poll workers were steadily making their way through more than 5,000 ballots today to...
@theMarket: Taking Profits Is a Personal Choice
REGIONAL - I have often mentioned that fear and greed are two emotions that the astute investor must...
North Adams Mayor-Elect Seeking New Ideas
NORTH ADAMS - A new Web site went up this past week for residents to discuss possibilities ranging from...
Beacon Cinema Opens in Pittsfield
PITTSFIELD - "It is the crown jewel of the revitalization of downtown." — Mayor James M. Ruberto
New Moon Mania Hits Berkshire Mall
LANESBOROUGH - "The first 'Twilight' movie did very well so we were expecting good crowds not only...


iBerkshires.com Text Ads
www.iberkshires.com
mtwilliamsgreenhouses.com
www.tsubomassage.com
www.mountainone.com
Advertise on iBerkshires.com



Essentials
Berkshire Nightlife
Berkshire Photos
Berkshire Wallpaper
Class Reunion Page
Columnists
Dannyoart.com
Get Lunch Specials
Home & Garden
Movie Times
Obituaries
Randy Trabold
Weddings

Enter your email address below to receive our FREE iBerkshires.com Newsletter

| Home | A & E | Automotive | Business | Community News | Dining | Lodging & Travel |
| Real Estate | Schools | Sports & Outdoors | Berkshires Weather | Berkshires Map |
Advertise | Recommend This Page | Help
Contact Us | Privacy Policy| User Agreement
Execution Time: 572 ms