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On the Hunt for Nostalgia
Being the gorgeous weekend that it is, I had big plans. B-I-G plans, most of which involved driving north. Now, north for me is Great Barrington. It dawned on me, about three seconds from the Sheffield/GB line that “town” as we Southerners call it, was going to be a jam-packed traffic cluster that would most likely cause my heart to palpitate and as a result, my kids to learn new vocabulary from their vantage point in the backseat.
We stopped at Bob’s Flea Market on the flats, that’s as far as we went. I rediscovered the oddities of my childhood; a giant glass Budweiser chandelier in which there were miniature Clydesdales drawing a red wagon, flat-sided oval casserole dishes in plain white, an unadorned Leatherman complete with toothpick and bottle opener.
It was heaven. We ended up combing the whole of Sheffield for tag sales (there were plenty) and while our purchases were minimal (typewriter, tackle box, old lures, a magnifying glass, three stoneware dishes, and some old Hot Wheels), our experiences were unforgettable.
In fact, we actually saw a live raccoon in a cat carrier. The story goes that his mother was hit by a car and a kind woman (albeit a little strange) found the baby raccoon in the road next to the body. He isn’t a baby anymore.
And he isn’t for sale.
In these final weeks of summer, do some exploring. While you may not need a Budweiser chandelier (it was really cool, though) or antique glass lures, there will be something out there for you.
As we speak my 9-year-old daughter is typing her first novel with the $5 typewriter…
| Tags: Tag Sales, South County |
Home Sweet Home
The décor doesn’t really grab you at first. The curtains are blue and white place, the floor is linoleum, the tables are veneer, there is a counter lined with blue plastic stools. It is a diner, plain and simple, no frills.
But décor is not what I’m after here. In fact, my momentary interest in the color scheme was cut short by the glass case by the register. That’s where the magic happens at the Home Sweet Home Doughnut Shoppe which recently opened next to Catherine’s Chocolates in Great Barrington.
I know what you’re thinking, and I thought the same thing. I can count on less than one hand how many doughnuts I’ve had this year. But in that glass case is much more than doughnuts. Light glistens off of the maple glaze covering some of the doughnuts, the fat fritters are laden with cinnamon and apples, and the muffins sit picture perfect and ready to eat.
But I’m not after any of that. It is 10 a.m. on a Wednesday morning and I want only one thing.
“What can I get you?” the polite young grandson of the Shoppe’s co-owners, John and Debbie Scalia asks me.
“A small coffee,” I say as he punches the buttons on the register. “And a cannoli.”
Did I mention that it is only 10 a.m.?
The young man, slightly shocked, gently lifts the empty pastry cylinder out of the case and with a deft squeeze of a plastic bag, fills it with homemade creamy goodness. Then he dips each end in chocolate chips.
I think he asked me if I wanted anything else but I was too distracted to lift my eyes from the gorgeous pastry in front of me. As I devoured it with my coffee and listened to the busy voices of other patrons enjoying their sweet treats, I knew that Home Sweet Home had become just that for me.
Stop in to the Shoppe this Saturday for their grand opening. Rumor has it that the cannolis are buy one get one free. Oh, and the coffee is delicious!
| Tags: Home, Sweet, Home |
Pittsfield Art Show a Feast for the Eyes
Whenever I tell anyone that I’m a writer, they laugh and ask me what I do for money. The same can be said of the artist, any artist. Artists, by nature, are very isolated when they are creating their work. But once the inspiration is complete, they share it with the world, to the awe of coworkers, friends and the very lucky community that nourishes artistic talent. That talent will be on display this weekend in the 6th Annual Pittsfield Art Show, July 17 & 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Downtown Pittsfield under the tents. Artists from all over the Berkshires (and beyond) will be out and about sharing their wares.
Jewelry, oils, photos, watercolors, mixed-media, and more will provide a feast for the eyes. And better yet, this juried outdoor show is free and open to the public.
If you’re confused or overwhelmed as to where to go and what to see, here’s a tip. Be sure to check out Jeffrey Gardner’s photos of old cars. I have one these beauties (the photo, not the car) hanging in my living room. The unique lighting and framing of these shots capture an essence of nostalgia that only a vintage junker can inspire.
Also, if oil paintings and rich, haunting layers are more your style (even if they aren’t) Leo Mazzeo’s work is an impressive display of vivid textured colors contrasted by a brilliant use of black outline and shadowing that literally makes these pieces come to life.
So, get to the Pitts this weekend, and see who and what has been hibernating and creating all winter long. For more information on the Pittsfield Art Show visit www.pittsfieldartshow.org.
| Tags: Pittsfield, Art Show |
