image description

Weekend Outlook: Fireworks and Mindful Walks

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
There are several events this weekend to help you recharge from your week, including festivals, fireworks, winter activities, and more. 
 
Editor's Pick 
 
Fireworks
The Common, Pittsfield
Time: Saturday 6 p.m.
 
Fireworks will mark the end of the annual 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival.
 
The viewing area is in the parking lot on First Street between Eagle and Fenn Street. No spectators will be permitted inside the Common during the show.
 
More information here
 
Multiple Days
 
The 14th Annual 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival
Throughout Pittsfield
Feb. 13 through 23
 
The 10x10 Festival will conclude this weekend. The festival features music, visual arts, dance, outdoor activities, and more. 
 
Highlights include the 10x10 New Play Festival at Barrington Stage Company, A Taste of Downtown by Downtown Pittsfield Inc., a mural exhibition, a winter festival, and more. More information here.
 
Music for Weekend
Knox Trail Inn, East Otis
 
The historic inn serves music Friday through Sunday in the pub. Nate Martel plays Friday from 6 to 9; Even It Up plays classic hits on Saturday starting at 8; and the Hilltown Blues Jam performs Sunday at 2 p.m. No cover. 
 
More information here.
 
The Bulb Show 
Berkshire Botanical Garden, Stockbridge
Feb. 21 to approximately March 23
 
The garden's celebration of beauty, renewal, and the magic of nature's rhythm is back. The Fitzpatrick Conservatory will be open daily between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.. 
 
The show features hundreds of flowering bulbs, including classic favorites like tulips, daffodils, and grape hyacinths, as well as lesser-known varieties. 
 
More information here
 
'Dreamscapes' Journey Into Nature
Berkshire Botanical Garden, Stockbridge
Feb. 7 through 23 - Tuesdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
Berkshire Botanical Garden is showcasing work by artists with the Guild of Berkshire Artists.
 
While making their pieces, artists explored the concept of what nature means to them. This galley is the result. 
 
The gallery will be on view in the Leonhardt Galleries until Feb. 23. More information here
 
Friday 
 
WinterFest
Clapp Park, Pittsfield 
Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
 
Last week, the city's Winter Festival was postponed because of last weekend's storm, but will take place this Friday. 
 
The event will feature cardboard sled races, a snow sculpture building contest, snowshoeing, a winter senses safari, and more. 
 
Before, after, or between these activities, warm up by the campfire with hot chocolate and s'mores which will also be provided. 
 
More information here
 
Karaoke
VFW Post 996, North Adams
Time: 9 p.m. 
 
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 996 is opening its doors to provide visitors the opportunity to sing. More information here
 
Standup Comedy 
Bounti-Fare, Adams 
Time: 8 p.m. 
 
There will be a stand-up performance hosted by Charlie Nadler, featuring headliner Doug Smith and an act by Michael Agunbiade. 
 
Tickets are $15. More information here
 
 
Saturday
 
Curator Tour
Mass MoCA, North Adams 
Time: 10 a.m. 
 
Williams College graduate student and curatorial fellow Riley Yuen will be giving a members-only tour of their exhibition "Dirty & Disorderly: Contemporary Artists on Disgust," which features works by Anna Ting Möller, Nguyen Duy Manh, and New Red Order.
 
According to the museum's website, the artworks made from ceramics, kombucha scoby, and photogrammetry pick at the sutures of society and uncover how responses of disgust can be (re)programmed.
 
More information here
 
Top of the Mountain BBQ Fundraiser
Bousquet, Pittsfield 
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
 
Join Bousquet for a BBQ fundraiser at the resort's summit. Enjoy BBQ while meeting the ski patrol and taking in the view. More information here
 
 
No Sew Blankets
All Saints Berkshires Episcopal Church, North Adams 
Time: 1 to 3 p.m. 
 
The church's Outreach Committee is inviting community members to help them sew blankets in their community room for those in need. More information here
 
Winter-Tree Paint Along 
Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield 
Time: 2 p.m. 
 
Artists ages 6 to 12 are invited to the library for a guided art session. Library Staff will guide participants through the steps of creating a 3D winter tree scene. The library requests that participants arrive within the first thirty minutes of the event.
 
More information here
 
Freedom Moves: Embodying the Legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois
First Congregational Church, Great Barrington
Time: 2 to 5 p.m. 
 
Jacob's Pillow is hosting a free workshop that celebrates the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois through movement and storytelling. 
 
It will be led by dance artists Gesel Mason and Roxanne Young, along with "scholartist" Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin. 
 
Participants will explore themes such as freedom, civil rights, progressive education, economic justice, and racial equality. More information here
 
Mountain Mindfulness: Winter Wonderland Walk
Mount Greylock Visitor Center, Lanesborough
Time: 1 p.m. 
 
Suzy Conroy will lead a mindful walk at Mount Greylock that blends forest bathing, meditation, and mindful breathing with the aim of connecting visitors to nature. 
 
More information here
 
Glow Forest: Closing Reception and Dance Party 
Future Labs Gallery, North Adams
Time: 7 to 10 p.m. 
 
There will be a closing reception and dance party to mark the end of Future Labs Gallery's exhibit "Glow Forest," which features glowing trees, surreal landscapes, and bioluminescent creatures. Dress in neon or white to blend into the installation.
 
The Glow Party starts at 8:30 p.m. with live music, including Abigail Dustin's electronic debut and a DJ DFX drum and bass set. 
 
The event is free, with a suggested donation of $10 to $20 for the dance party. Drinks and snacks will be provided. More information here
 
Family Friendly Outdoor Adventures
Mount Greylock State Reservation
Time: 12:30 to 3 p.m. 
 
There will be a variety of winter activities including snow tubing, snowman making, mindful walks, winter wildlife tracking, hot chocolate, and a warm fire in the fireplace. 
 
Space is limited on mindful walks, geocaching 101 and winter wildlife tracking programs so call the visitor center to register in advance at 413)-499-4262.
 
More information here
 
Sunday 
 
Galentines Celebration
Lanesborough Local Country Store
Time: 1 to 3 p.m. 
 
Bring your gal pals and enjoy a mimosa bar, snacks, tunes, and vendor popups by some local women-run businesses. More information here
 
Public Skate
Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires, Pittsfield
Time: 3 p.m. 
 
Skate at the club's ice skating rink. Tickets are cash only and cost $5 for members and $10 for non-members and adults
 
Skate rentals are free. Space is limited. More information here
 
Breaking Out of the Midwinter Blues: Artstravaganza
Living In Recovery, Pittsfield 
Time: 6 p.m.
 
Raise your energy by looking at art from a variety of mediums including visual art, performance art, and culinary arts. This event is free and open to the public. More information here.

Tags: weekend outlook,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories