Chess master, author will play 25 games at once at MASS MoCA & speak, too

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Jim Eade, national chess master and author of Chess For Dummies, will come to MASS MoCA in North Adams and play 25 simultaneous games of chess and show why one of the oldest games gains thousands of new fans and players every day. Eade, a resident of Menlo Park, Calif., who grew up in North Adams, will be visiting MASS MoCA for the first time. He will appear on Thursday, July 26, at 7 p.m. “I’m going to do a couple of things. I’ll be playing a number of games simultaneously, which can be pretty difficult,” Eade said in a recent interview by email. “I will also be talking about chess as the Art of Logic. Chess is composed of rules, and there are certain fundamental elements of the game, but any game may be completely different from the last. “During the course of the game the basic elements can mix or combust like volatile gases,” he added. “When you can see through the complex whirlwind of competing elements and discover a hidden idea which once again makes everything clear, you’ve approached mastery, and experienced chess as Art.” Eade’s family moved to North Adams just before he entered the sixth grade, and he attended Greylock School. His family lived on Massachusetts Avenue in the Blackinton section of the city. He graduated from Drury High School in 1975. He holds a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and an M.A. from the University of San Francisco. His parents now live in Adams, and among his siblings is a brother who lives in Pittsfield. Chess is not Eade’s full-time profession — though he once owned a chess publishing business, he now is working on a computer assisted learning project. Inspired by Bobby Fischer, Eade began taking chess seriously in 1972. He competed on teams in high school and college and became a United States Chess Federation (USCF) master in 1981. International organizations awarded him the master title in 1990 (for correspondence) and in 1993 (for regular tournament play). More recently his chess playing has given way to chess writing, organizing, and teaching; Eade is the author of three books and numerous articles on chess. “Chess is one of the greatest gifts you can give to a child. It will last them their entire life. Chess programs during school hours have proven to have a tremendous positive impact on students,” Eade said. “They develop skills, which are transferable back into the classroom. These programs require support from both faculty and administration, and where there is such support chess programs thrive. “I owe a great deal to a couple of teachers at Drury High School, John Richards and Vinny King, for their volunteer efforts carting us back and forth to various competitions,” he said. “Our team went from last my freshman year to first by my junior year, in large part because of their support. Their efforts, my dad’s teaching, and my inability to get a date for two solid years made me the player I am today!” What does he like about chess? “The problem solving. It is sheer delight when the light goes on and you’ve hit upon an answer to a difficult problem.” Eade said it is a common misconception that one has to be a “brainiac” in order to play chess. “I can teach a five-year-old how to play, but his or her parents might not believe that they can learn, too.” Another misconception is that chess is for nerds. “As the popularity of chess increases we’re finding that more and more of the stereotypes are breaking down,” he said. “It is becoming cooler and cooler in more and more schools to excel at something associated with intelligence. “It used to be something people made fun of, but kids are learning that being smart or engaging in intellectual activities is not something that they need to be ashamed of.” Are some people intimidated by chess? “Yes. Chess players often cultivate the myth of superior intelligence in order to meet their own ego needs,” Eade said. “There’s sort of a mental-macho thing that goes on in chess clubs and tournaments, and it can be intimidating.” Eade’s book, Chess For Dummies, is described as an easy-to-read, comprehensive manual for the novice player. Eade covers everything from the basics of how to set up a chessboard and how each piece moves to advanced strategies and tournament etiquette. Grandmaster Larry Evans, five-time United States champion and syndicated chess columnist, calls the book “everything you need to know about getting started and getting better.” Why did Eade write Chess For Dummies? “I wanted to demystify this intimidation factor. I think it is great that our culture associates chess with intelligence, because when a child discovers that they can play chess they draw the natural conclusion that they must be smart,” he said. “It still fills me with wonder that I can see children’s self-esteem grow before my very eyes when I teach them a game! “However, I also think that the myth of superior intelligence has proven to be a barrier,” he said. “There are untold millions of people who have convinced themselves that they cannot learn to play, because they don’t think they’re intelligent enough. It’s not true!. That’s why we need Chess For Dummies.” In addition to Eade’s talk and demonstration, MASS MoCA will host a chess tournament from 2 to 6 p.m. There will be a non-rated amateur Round Robin Quad limited to 48 players with 12 finalists advancing to the playoffs. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the tournament to the 12 players in the finals, and the six winners of the Final Play Off will participate in the 25-person simul game against Jim Eade that evening. For those not able to participate in the Round Robin Quad Tournament, MASS MoCA will have boards available for an Open Blitz Tournament from 1 - 5 p.m. Tournament entry is $3 in advance or $5 at the door until the 1:30 p.m. cutoff time. The Open Blitz Tournament is free with museum admission. Tickets for Checkmate: Chess with Jim Eade on July 26 are $5 and are available through the MASS MoCA Box Office off Marshall Street in North Adams from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily. Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling 662-2111 during Box Office hours or purchased on line at www.massmoca.org.
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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

 

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.)  The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.  

 

 

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

 

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few.  All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

 

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house.  New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house.  New paver patio in the back yard.

 

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

 

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

 

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

 

 

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

 

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

 

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

 

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

 

What do the current owners love about this home?

 

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

 

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

 

 

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

 

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.  

 

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

 

 

 

 

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