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What's PlayingBazaarsNov. 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. |
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North Adams Eatery Offering Up Home-Style MealsBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
06:26PM / Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Renee and Mark Lapier of North Adams have opened a new breakfast and lunch restaurant on Massachusetts Avenue. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Lapiers' new project took nine months from conception to launch — and all the hard work appears to be paying off.
That would be the birth of Big Shirl's Kitchen, a family-run diner created in the former J.T. Bus Lines office on Massachusetts Avenue. The restaurant had a soft opening last week, but not too soft considering the number of diners who descended on Big Shirl's for a taste of the Lapiers' home-cooked meals.
"We've served more than a 100 covers each day," said a tired Renee Lapier last Thursday. The diner opened bright and early Tuesday morning with little advance notice to give the new crew time to meld as a team. But word of mouth sent customers streaming in. "We were all over Facebook."
Named for Mark Lapier's mother ("For her big personality," said Renee), the couple have invested around $75,000 in transforming the single-story bus company offices into a homey, sparkling clean restaurant. The kitchen and handicapped-accessible bathroom had to be installed; the concrete floor has received a faux-linoleum epoxy finish and the wainscotted walls have been painted green. The space, which seats around 44, features country accents — a wallpaper border, old cast iron pans, an antiqued star.
The interior decoration and the name (essentially mom's kitchen) evokes the Lapiers' desire to offer tasty, affordable, home-cooked meals for lunch and breakfast. There's no processed lunch meat to be found at Big Shirl's, said Mark. "That's real turkey in the turkey sandwich."
"It's all home cooked. We roll out our own dough to bake our pies, use fresh eggs and fresh milk," said Renee. "All our meats are cooked off here.
"People don't do that anymore. That's why we know this will be a hit."
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Big Shirl's
780 Mass. Ave. |
Breakfast & LunchOpen Tuesday through Saturday from 6 to 2;
Sundays, 6 to 1.
Takeouts available 413-664-2070; sign up with 7Lunches for daily specials
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The project began last fall but most of the construction and renovation of the 1,000 square-foot space has been done over the last six months. The property was purchased last September by Mark Prechowski, owner of Berkshire Transmissions, who renovated the former bus barn for car repair at the far end of the lot. The Planning Board required a number of conditions be met for the property before either business could open. The Lapiers are leasing the restaurant building from Prechowski.
The couple already has a successful business, S&S Landscaping, which they've operated for 17 years. The exterior work around the diner was done by S&S. But the company is "pretty much self-operating" at this point, said Renee.
"We were looking to do something different with our lives," she said last week. The couple had looked at the former Tupelo Honey in Williamstown and another spot, but when the bus line building became available, it was the perfect match. The Lapiers can literally walk across the street to work.
Mark is a graduate of the culinary arts program at McCann Technical School and spent his earlier years working in a number of food service establishments in the area, including the former Jaeger Haus in Pownal, Vt., Murphy's Chowder House, the former 1896 House, Oak'n Spruce Resort and at Cariddi Catering.
The restaurant currently employs seven, mostly part time. David Rancourt has joined Mark Lapier in the kitchen and Renee Lapier operates the front of house with several part-time waitresses.
Breakfast items range from eggs any style to skillet omelets to breakfast sandwiches to various pancakes. For the brave of heart, there's an artery-busting "Garbage Plate" with six eggs, several meats, potatoes and vegetables all topped with cheese. There's banana pancakes as available for the less adventurous.
Lunch includes homemade soups, chili, salads, hot and cold sandwiches, hamburger specials and hot dogs. There's also a small kids' menu and fresh-baked desserts as available. The most expensive item on the menu is the Garbage Plate at $9.25.
"We want everyone to feel welcome and homey," said Renee. "Mark and I want to see our customers satisfied."
So far so good, if a conversation she overhead is any indication. "One customer was walking out while another was coming in and she turned to her and, 'fabulous food.'" |
Geat food. NA has some great places to eat. I recommend Shirls for BF, and Christo's Famous Pizza for Dinnr.
That is, by far, the best pizza in town. | | from: excellent | on: 07-20-2009 |
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| I took my son to breakfast the other day. The food was wonderful, waitresses were friendly, and the prices very reasonable. I highly recommend the TIGER TOAST. YUMMY!!! So much food I had to take some home. Best of luck!!! | | from: Best wishes from Clarksburg | on: 07-05-2009 |
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| A wonderful surprise. Food is tasty and delicious. Best hamburger in North County. Staff is wonderful. | | from: Lenore Freeman | on: 07-04-2009 |
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| I love the food and I love the atmosphere! Very friendly staff. I will be a regular, that's for sure! | | from: Cathy Piechowski | on: 07-03-2009 |
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| I just wanted to take a moment to thank the community, our friends, our family and now our "already loyal" customers! You have made us a success! | | from: Renee Lapier | on: 07-02-2009 |
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| Congrats!! Ethan, Robin and I will be in for breakfast soon! | | from: Greg | on: 07-02-2009 |
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| We went for breakfast on Sunday, great little place, excellent food, nice service!!!We'll certainly be back again soon! If you haven't stopped in for a meal you won't be sorry. Best of luck to the two of you!!! | | from: Just a local | on: 07-02-2009 |
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| Renee also has a great personality and will be great greeting people out front. Good luck and keep the great food coming! | | from: Good luck | on: 07-02-2009 |
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| Good luck to these 2. They deserve the very best! | | from: CJM | on: 07-01-2009 |
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