The Mount Announces 2025 Summer Season Programming

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LENOX, Mass. — The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home, has announced its 2025 summer season, with the theme "Where Stories Come Alive."

The season will include author talks, writing workshops, readings, performances, a sculpture exhibition, community events, and youth and family programming.

Author Series:

  • Summer Author Series: This series, running from July 7 to Aug. 26, will feature authors discussing their works related to the theme "Trailblazers." Authors scheduled include Michelle Young, Andrew Lipman, Susan Morrison, Tess Chakkalakal, Dava Sobel, Laurence Bergeen, Amy Reading, and Elyse Graham.

  • In Conversation with André Bernard: This series will feature conversations with individuals from the fields of politics, journalism, social science, and the arts. Scheduled guests include Adam Gopnik, Danzy Senna, Jayne Anne Philips, Judy Collins, Justice Stephen G. Breyer, and Susan Glasser and Peter Baker (date TBD). The series will run from June 26 to August 21.

  • Building Old New York: This new series will focus on the history of New York City institutions and landmarks. Speakers include Anthony C. Wood (July 9), Jonathan Conlin (July 16), Henry Wiencek (July 30), and Sara Cedar Miller (August 20).

Additional Talks:

  • Isaiah Stavchansky will present "What This Place Makes Me: Contemporary Plays on Immigration" on June 2, in partnership with Literacy Network and Restless Books.

  • "Nature Writing Now" with Vanessa Chakour and Jennifer Kabat will be co-sponsored with Mass Audubon and Orion Magazine on Aug.13.

Celebrating Edith Wharton:

  • "Wharton on Wednesdays" will feature readings of Edith Wharton’s short stories from June to October.

  • A staged reading of "Cultivated Friends" by John Dennis Anderson and Karen Vuranch will be presented.

  • Emily Orlando and Tripp Evans will discuss the re-release of "The Decoration of Houses" on July 23.

Writing Workshops:

  • Adult writing workshops will include a class by Isaiah Stavchansky on immigration and family ancestry stories, and "Writing for the Wild" with Vanessa Chakour.

  • Youth workshops (ages 10-14) will be offered by Carolyn Mackler, Ruth Chan, and Margaret Young.

Live Music:

  • The "Sounds of Summer Concerts," curated by Michael Junkins, will include performances by Standard Edition (June 24), Gato 6 with Suzi Stern (July 24), Natalia Bernal Community Day Concert (August 10), and George Schuller Quintet (August 28). These are free concerts.

  • The "Under the Tent for Kids" series will feature Little Roots (June 15), Wintergreen Trio (July 13), and Mister G. (August 10). These are free kids' concerts.

Other Programs:

  • Free family programming will be offered on Sundays from June to August.

  • "Sculpture at the Mount" will run from May 24 to October 19, featuring contemporary outdoor sculpture with the theme "Movement."

Passes and tickets will go on sale in April 2025.


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Show-Cause Hearing for Pittsfield Bar Continued Again

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Bei Tempi will have a show-cause hearing for its liquor license in May after police brought forward pictures that appear to show underage patrons drinking.  

On Monday, the Licensing Board continued a hearing for Zuke's Soups and Variety LLC, doing business as Bei Tempi, to May 18. This is the second month it was continued. In the last year, the bar has been accused of underage service by two different parents.  

Earlier this year, Police Capt. Matthew Hill received a call from an upset parent about her 19-year-old daughter patronizing Iztac Mexican Restaurant at night and being served. 

Those photos resulted in a two-week liquor license suspension for Iztac, and the same mother submitted an almost identical complaint about Bei Tempi with photos, one of them with the owner "clearly visible" in the background, Hill said. 

The owners, Richard and Elizabeth Zucco, did not show up in March, and the hearing was continued again this month. 

"This show-cause hearing was scheduled for March 23 of 2026 and the licensee did not appear at that hearing, although I understand that notice went out by way of email," Chair Thomas Campoli reported after the bar's second no-show, adding that the Zuccos' lawyer communicated they had a "planned prepaid trip" that conflicted with the meeting. 

Last year, a different mother approached the Licensing Board asking for accountability after her underage child was allegedly served at Bei Tempi. After drinking at a graduation party, she said her 18-year-old son became further intoxicated at the establishment before returning home late and becoming combative, resulting in an arrest by police. 

In March, the pictures of alleged underage drinking at Iztac were printed and presented to the Licensing Board with faces blurred; the reporting party wished to remain anonymous along with her daughter and friend, and she was unable to attend the hearing. 

Hill ran the patrons' names through police records to confirm they were not 21. This is the same underage daughter who is said to have drunk at Bei Tempi, and her mother has provided photos. 

The Health Department ordered Iztac to close on March 13 after finding "pests" in the establishment.  On Monday, a notice stating that it was closed to the public to protect public health and safety was no longer on the door but the Health Department confirmed that the closure was still in effect. 

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