Madame K. Bids Farewell To Lenox

LENOX, Mass. – For the last few weeks, I’ve been cringing every time someone asked me what my plans for New Year’s were. First, I’d giggle and say, “I’m just looking to get through Christmas.” But then, usually, the question would resurface. The few who knew my plans were appalled, intrigued or just laughed uncontrollably at the stone cold look on my face.

You see, nothing is ever run-of-the-mill in my world, at least in my writing world. And fortunately for me, I welcomed 2011 with others whose lives, like mine, have taken strange turns to lead them to this point. So, while all of you were out enjoying an $85 five course meal on the town, or a wheel of brie and a bottle of Merlot at home, I was reading erotic poetry to a crowd of brightly-dressed strangers while ringing in the New Year with chocolate, music and pasties.

Yes, pasties. Karen Lee, or “Madame K” as she is known at such occasions, hosted a private Burlesque for Books party at her space on 30 Church Street. The Pilates studio was transformed into an underground stage where women (and men) performed high-energy, sexy burlesque numbers while wordy types (some call us starving artists, a.k.a. poets) bore their souls and their shoulders while reading original poetry and slam.

And, of course, there was a naked woman reading an etiquette book. How fitting.

The party was emceed by Marc Zegans, a collector of Hawaiian shirts and the poet laureate for Narragansett beer, and Madame K. herself, who felt compelled to read from a striptease instructional book for the novices among us party-goers.

The evening ended with a strip down to midnight and more dancing and luscious desserts. While no arrests were made, there was a bit of sadness in the evening as Lee announced that she was moving and that this raucous party was her last hoopla in Lenox. No more Karendipity on Church Street. However, in typical Madame K. fashion, she did leave us all wondering at where she would land next (rumors of a reality T.V. show with Oprah’s network and more burlesque entertainment are bubbling to the surface); simply saying that it was “time to move on.”

Be on the lookout for glitter and sequins in a shop space near you. That will be the first sign that Lee has hitched her star. That and an ever-present crowd of devil-may-care artists, writers and performers looking for a home to call their own.

To Be Continued…

School Vacation on a Time Budget

SHEFFIELD, Mass. — If you are a parent of schoolage children right now, you are not only weathering the colossal blizzard of 2010, but you are also weathering the Christmas school vacation.

Don't worry, no need to hold back; we all have mixed feelings about this week of frozen entrapment, postholiday financial ruin and a few moments of actual relaxation. While this is far from the first school vacation that I've weathered, I am still scrambling to put together a fun week for my kids, while also keeping in mind that I do have to work (because who can really take a week off in this economy?) and my sanity is as crucial as the kids learning to relax into life a little bit.

"What about all of their new toys?" you ask. Yeah, what about them? They play with these in fits and spurts which often end in some kind of argument or competition. That said, it is a good idea to gently suggest which toys they could play with because it is entirely possible that they are overwhelmed.

For instance, today, while my son was wandering around aimlessly, I pointed toward his new microscope and slides and told him to draw what he saw. He got to look at blood and guts and then illustrate said guts with his new pencils. I got to stop looking at a bored little face.

And let's not forget sledding. We are a big fan of sledding down the hill at Monument Mountain Regional High School. It is a well-known spot and while some would argue that there are too many people, I like the idea of companionship, both child and adult. Especially if my 50-pound first-grader eats it at the bottom of the hill — one of those parents has to be a doctor, or a nurse, or a chiropractor at the very least.

You may hate sledding, but the key is to go prepared. Bring a big thermos of hot chocolate (homemade if you want, the recipe is usually on the side of the baking cocoa tin), some easy snacks such as chewy granola bars (the harder ones tend to turn into bricks in the cold), bananas, juice boxes for hydration's sake and some Christmas cookies, and wear a lot of layers. If you're cold before you even get there, of course you're not going to have fun.

Oh, and, wear boots with serious traction so that you can get back up the hill once you've slid down. Or so that you can run halfway down the hill to assist your child, who has been slipping and sliding on the ascent. Try also to go with friends and/or family. Sledding is the perfect cousin adventure.

If it isn't too cold or windy out, this might be a good week to take the kids on an easy hike or snowshoeing adventure. Nothing gung-ho, just a nice short trek through the woods where they can track animals and maybe even identify the tracks. A pre-tracking trip to the library for some informative books is a good idea. While you're there, browse through a magazine or two you’ve wanted to read while the kids play a game. Our library has a chess set, Connect Four and multiple jigsaw puzzles; basically enough to make a morning of it. Libraries also offer workshops and story times for different ages.

And on your way out, don't forget to peruse the DVDs because you know you will eventually have a movie night or two. This would be a perfect opportunity to make REAL popcorn in the pan. Just a thought.

There is actually a lot to do during the vacation. For me, as for most parents, it's a matter of time and money. Fortunately, many activities are free or very low cost; these are my kind of activities. Also, and I think this may be the most important of all, try to do one new thing this week. Could be anything; just something new.

I'm taking my kids to the oyster bar at Rubi's. It's $1.50 an oyster and I'm fairly certain it'll be something they remember for a while to come. Even if they hate the oysters!

African-American Festival Coming to the Berkshires

I don't know if you've noticed, but Berkshire County is living up to its designation as a cultural Mecca, although I sometimes cringe when I hear the term. Perhaps due to overuse. And while most of our minds are hibernating in a frozen coma, there are still those tireless cultural gurus and volunteers who continue to amaze us with their ingenuity and generosity.

The latest news, which will be made official at a press conference on Monday morning, addresses heritage. In June, cultural organizations all over the county will join forces in to celebrate and highlight African-American culture in the area. The monthlong event is being co-chaired by none other than Shirley Edgerton, the tireless director of Youth Alive! (and a Berkshire County Hero).

Both Berkshire County mayors are expected to attend the announcement on Monday at 1 p.m. at Pittsfield's Second Congregational Church. Don Quinn Kelley is co-chairing the event with Edgerton. The region is part of the recently designated Upper Housatonic African-American Heritage Trail. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts professor Frances Jones-Sneed is following up her first book on the upper Housatonic with the African-American Heritage Project in the Northern Berkshires.

The African-American Festival (not sure if this is the official title) is being modeled after the Berkshire Festival of Women in the Arts, which was held in March 2009. The festival, which was spear-headed by Eugenie Sills (founder and publisher of The Women's Times), included film screenings, exhibitions, performances and talks all geared toward examining the role of women in the arts as well as highlighting the work of Berkshire women artists, teachers and performers.

Stay tuned for details on the African-American festival coming to a neighborhood, theater, gallery or Main Street near you….
 

Final Farewell to Berkshire Art Kitchen

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.

As a journalist I meet some pretty interesting people. Sometimes interesting is a euphemism for scary, sometimes it’s not a euphemism at all. I've discovered that this place is absolutely crawling with diversity and dynamic people, especially business owners. Just under two years ago, I sat down with Gabriele Senza in what was, at the time, the newly opened Berkshire Art Kitchen. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before in the Berkshires; part French salon, part funky retail, part gallery.

I was hooked. And so, too, were a lot of other artists and writers and musicians and collagists…you get the idea. The Berkshire Art Kitchen was something new and different and unique. And it was clear that Gabrielle, herself an artist (think amazing art books and gorgeous golden landscapes on canvas), knew how to bring people of all niches together for a cultivated good time.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, sort of. Gabrielle is closing up shop at the BAK in order to get back to her art roots, so to speak, and because the "kitchen" couldn't cook up enough bread to be financially sustainable. But all is not lost, not yet. Even while she is working out the details of her new studio/living space, Gabrielle is hosting one last bash at the BAK this weekend.

For starters on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., she is having a moving sale. And this isn’t just any moving sale. It is a criminally low-priced sale of art (original) and other items (i.e. furniture, office and art supplies, clothes, etc.). And if you want to get your grubby hands on something before the throng, there is a preview party on Friday night from 5 to 7 complete with complimentary chocolate and prosecco (tix are $25).

Oh, and the concert …did I mention the concert?  Because it's not enough that Gabrielle is an artist and an activists and social networking genius, she’s a cellist. At 8 on Saturday night (after the big sale and the preview party and all the hauling), she will be performing the last concert at BAK with her band 8 Foot River.

If you’ve never been to the BAK or met Gabrielle, this is your last chance, so go. I know that two years doesn’t seem like a long time, especially in a town where folks have been doing business for 80 years, but in those two years I think that BAK has had quite an impact.
I wish Gabrielle (and her son Matteo) well on her new journey. I still look forward to seeing her in town and at arty, nerdy, you-name-it events. The yellow house won’t be the same without her.

For more information on BAK’s final weekend visit www.berkshireartkitchen.com.
 

Flight of the Flamingos

As an observant traveler, I see A LOT. I notice trees that have fallen, water levels that have risen and cows that are no longer in fields. That’s what happens when you spend a lot of time in one place, especially the place of your birth. So, when the scenery changes dramatically, I am the first to make deductions. For instance, the morning after Thanksgiving, while still battling a slight pie coma, I headed north to go for a hike and get some fresh air.

That’s when I saw them; an entire flock of pink, plastic flamingos jutting out against the gray November landscape, impossible to miss. Of course, I laughed, out loud, assuming that their presence was some kind of revolt by the owner of the Route 7 Grill in response to having a cow on his front lawn. It wouldn’t be the first time that someone has responded to a neighbor’s complaint with even more absurd yard toys.

So, I went about my day, giggling and admiring the pink debacle lining our main road.

A few days later the flamingos were gone. I was saddened to think that the local police had removed the impressive flock. But just a few yards up the road, there they were!  All bunched up in front the tire place. I was relieved. So they hadn’t been removed, just moved.

My curiosity was piqued.

And as fate would have it, I received an email that night which unveiled the mystery of the pink flamingos.

The flock, which is roughly 125 birds strong, began its migration in 2005 as a fundraiser for the Community Health Program. That “flocking” as it is known, raised $8,000 for CHP so they thought they’d try it again this year, according to program and community events coordinator Kate Feuer.

“The CHP Health Center just moved into its brand new, state of the art space, and so we thought it would be a great way to gain a little publicity,” she said. “We are also trying to raise money for our programs…the money we raise is going to support general operating funds here at CHP.”

The “flocking” is pretty simple. Feuer and other volunteers “flock” in the middle of the night; usually it’s a business that gets flocked. The “flockee” has to make a donation in order to send the flamingos on their way. Once that happens, they can also choose who will be the next lucky “flockee.” Apparently the flocking will continue until the ground is too hard to secure the birds. Then, the hope is that the snow will continue to support their ingenious philanthropy.

And, as always in the Berkshires, it’s all for a good cause. I was one of the “original kids” of CHP (back then it was known as the Children’s Health Program), and I’m convinced that my health and the health of my siblings (not to mention my mother’s peace of mind) hinged on their availability and kindness to our young family. Now in its 35th year, the program reaches at least 5,000 people every year, in an area long recognized by the federal government as a “Medically Underserved Population Area.”

So, if you see a bright flock of flamingos in your travels don’t shake your head and tsk. They have a purpose.

And who wouldn’t smile broadly at such a sight in the dead of a New England winter.

For more information on CHP programs and services visit www.communityhealthprograms.org.