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Weekend Outlook: Exhibit Openings, Comedy Nights, and More

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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Berkshire County has a variety of events this weekend including exhibit openings, comedy nights, and more. 
 
Eloise & More: The Life and Art of Hilary Knight Opening 
The Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge
 
The Norman Rockwell Museum launches "Eloise and More: The Life and Art of Hilary Knight" exhibition this Saturday that will be on view through March 12, 2023. 
 
The exhibition explores the lives of both Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight and the success of their character Eloise after publication. It features rarely seen work including a once-stolen Eloise portrait from the Plaza Hotel, previously unpublished drawings from Eloise in Paris, and 1954 drafts of Eloise by Hilary Knight. 
 
It will also include manuscripts, photographs, music, videos, sketches, and original illustrations from many other picture books by the artist. 
 
Opening weekend also includes a variety of events including curator talks, family activities, storytimes, and more. 
 
Some activities require registration. More information here
 
Winter Festival Opening Celebration
Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield
 
The Berkshire Museum is celebrating the opening of its Winter Festival exhibit this Saturday, Nov. 12 from 5:30 to 9. 
 
The event features a performance by award-winning musician Paul Winter. The concert begins at 5:30 in the Little Cinema. Tickets are first-come, first-served.
 
Following the concert, there will be a reception in the second-floor galleries amongst the Winter Festival exhibits
 
Doors open at 5 p.m. More information here
 
Adams Theater Community Open House & Benefit Concert
35 Park St., Adams
 
The Adams Theater will be having an open house and benefit concert with the Two Piano Journey Benefit Concert this Friday from 5 to 9. 
 
This outdoor event features drinks from Bright Ideas Brewing, food with Full Belly Food Truck, free music by DJ Jordan Degs, and a look into the new auditorium. 
 
More information here
 
Animal Support Project Thanksgiving/Veterans Day Photos
Benson's Pet Center, Pittsfield
 
Benson's Pet Center on Dalton Avenue is hosting a photography session on Sunday, Nov. 12, so pet parents can purchase a 4-by-6-inch framed keepsake photo to raise funds for pets in need. 
 
Have your pet photographed from noon until 3 p.m. More information here
 
Ghost Tours at Ventfort Hall 
Ventfort Hall, Lenox
 
Although the spooky season has come to an end, Ventfort Hall is still offering ghost tours around the historic estate this Friday.
 
Author of "Ghosts of the Berkshires" Robert Oakes will lead guests through the rooms and halls of the estate sharing tales of its hauntings.
 
"Stand in the places where the encounters occurred, listen to the first-hand accounts of those who experienced them, and maybe even experience something unusual yourself. This is not an active investigation," according to the press release.
 
Admission is $27 and the minimum age to attend is age 12. Reservations are required. To purchase tickets call at 413-637-3206. 
 
Please note that all tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Payment is required to make a reservation for an event. Masks are required.
 
More information here
 
Comedy @ Bright Ideas Brewing
Bright Ideas Brewing, North Adams
 
Laugh over a drink at Bright Ideas located on the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts campus. The comedy evening is hosted every second Saturday of the month starting at 8 p.m. 
 
This event is produced by Iconix Productions in collaboration with Bright Ideas Brewing. Tickets are $10 to $15 and can be purchased here.
 
Albany Berkshire Ballet Nutcracker Tea
Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsfield
 
The Albany Berkshire Ballet will be at the Zion Lutheran Church this Sunday, Nov. 13, at 3 p.m. 
 
The event will feature the opportunity to interact with "Nutcracker" characters while enjoying tea, hot chocolate and sweets. There will also be a silent auction, Nutcracker excerpts, children's crafts and more.
 
More information here
 
2022 LETR Lee Holiday Sweater Run
 
The Lee Police Department hosts a holiday sweater run this Sunday, Nov. 13, from 9 a.m. until noon.
 
Runner/walker registration is $25 online and $30 the day of the event. Participants meet at Moe's Tavern, located at 10 Railroad St.
 
More information here

Farmer's Markets 

Great Barrington Farmers Market 
18 Church St., Great Barrington
 
This market will conclude its season this Saturday, Nov. 12, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. 
 
It offers a dollar for dollar match on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program through the Market Match program and Healthy Incentives Program benefits can be redeemed at five Market vendors.
 
More information here
 
Indoor Pittsfield Farmers Market
Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsfield
 
Roots Rising, the first teen-run market in the region, will be having an indoor farmers market this Saturday, Nov. 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
 
The market features live music, chef demos, workshops, and children's activities in the church and will be open every second Saturday of the month through April.
 
More information here.
 
North Adams Farmers Market
85 Main St., North Adams
 
The North Adams Farmers Market will be open this Saturday, Nov. 12, from 9 to 1. Indoor winter markets run the first Saturday through May. 

Tags: weekend outlook,   

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Friday Front Porch Feature: This Luxury Home Has Plenty of Amenities

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LENOX, Mass. — Are you looking for a big house to enjoy your days with a big movie theater, a sauna, and more? Then this is the house for you.

Built in 2004, this seven-bedroom, and nine-bathroom home is 7,073 square feet on more than an acre. The home comes with an elevator to the lower level to access a theater, sauna, gym, wine cellar, massage room, and its very own soda fountain. 

The home also has a guest house with a saltwater pool. A multi-car garage greets you with heated floors.

The this home is listed for $4,950,000 and is located in the 125-acre, gated Pinecroft compound.

We spoke to Leslie Chesloff, the listing agent with William Pitt Sotheby's.

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

Chesloff: This gated Berkshire stone estate truly redefines luxury living in the Berkshires. What sets it apart is the rare combination of resort-style amenities and complete privacy. The property offers Canyon Ranch-level wellness living with a full spa experience at home — including a sauna, massage room, and gym — plus an eight-seat hi-def theater with wine cellar for entertaining. The heated, gunite saltwater pool and spa are complemented by a fully equipped pool house with a guest suite and complete kitchen, perfect for extended family or guests.

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

The moment you step inside, you're struck by the quality and craftsmanship — those 300-year-old reclaimed timber floors set an immediate tone of authenticity and warmth. The scale is impressive but never overwhelming; this is a home designed for gracious living, not just show. The natural light, cathedral ceilings, and thoughtful flow between spaces create an inviting atmosphere that balances grandeur with genuine comfort.

How would you describe the feel or atmosphere of this home?

This home feels like a private wellness retreat meets sophisticated family estate. There's a serene, spa-like quality throughout — enhanced by features like the sauna, steam shower, and massage room — but it never feels clinical or cold. The Berkshire stone exterior and reclaimed timber floors ground the home in a sense of place and permanence. It's designed for people who appreciate the finer things but want to actually live well — whether that's screening a film in the eight-seat theater with wine from your own cellar, hosting poolside gatherings, or simply unwinding in your own spa sanctuary.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

This is perfect for the discerning buyer who values wellness, privacy, and culture in equal measure. I envision someone who spends their days hiking or exploring the Berkshires, then comes home to unwind in the sauna or pool. They might entertain guests in the theater wine room, host multi-generational gatherings with family staying in the pool house guest suite (which has a full kitchen), and appreciate being minutes from Tanglewood, world-class dining, and Berkshire arts.

This could be an executive looking for a primary residence with work-from-home flexibility (there's an office/bedroom suite), a wellness-focused family, or empty nesters who want to host adult children and grandchildren in style and comfort.

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

Picture Saturday morning: you're sipping coffee on the terrace overlooking your heated saltwater pool, planning a day at Tanglewood. Your guests are making breakfast in the pool house kitchen — they have their own private retreat but are steps away when you're ready to gather. Evening arrives, and you screen a favorite film in your eight-seat theater, selecting a perfect bottle from your wine cellar. This isn't just a home; it's a lifestyle that brings resort-level wellness, entertainment, and hospitality to your doorstep — all within a secure, maintenance-free compound where nature meets luxury.

Are there any standout design features or recent renovations?

Absolutely. The home includes an elevator for multilevel accessibility, which is both practical and forward-thinking. The lower level is exceptionally well-conceived — a true entertainment and wellness wing featuring the eight-seat hi-def theater, wine cellar, sauna, gym, massage room, and even a charming soda fountain. The gourmet kitchen has been recently updated, customized wet bar, while outdoor living is elevated with the heated gunite saltwater pool/spa, firepit, and that incredible pool house with guest suite and full kitchen. Also, new HVAC system and heated driveway.

Thoughtful details like cedar closets, steam showers, central vacuum, and backup generator show this home was built to the highest standards.

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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