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Hey Berkshire County, hope your week’s off to a good start! Midori in conversation, WinterFest, a Matewan screening, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
A creative life’s winding path: In Great Barrington, Molly and Aurélien de St. Andre share the story behind Bon Dimanche/Petit Pilou, from Kabul arts work to jewelry and home décor that spotlights Berkshire artists — read the full story.
Countywide real estate shifts: 2025 brought an 8 percent jump in Berkshire single-family sales. North County rebounded, and Central Berkshire led as condo sales rose and multifamily saw fewer units but dollar volume increased — read the full market breakdown.
Secluded sanctuary for gatherings: A Friday Front Porch feature highlighted a grand Pittsfield home in Woodmont Estates near Pittsfield State Forest, a four-bedroom, three-bath listing priced at $849,000 and praised for flexible, move-in-ready living — learn more about this home.
From classroom to community impact: Last month, Berkshire Community College held its first Workforce and Community Education graduation at the Boland Theater, celebrating 55 graduates for roles like EMTs, phlebotomists, paraeducators and community health workers — get all the details.
Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. Curious about precious metal investing? GoldCo has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Beloved space reimagined: Patty Barnaby has leased the former Skyline Country Club in Lanesborough as The Venue at Skyline. She signed the lease Oct. 31 and has added seating, bathrooms, and a jukebox. The pro shop will become a thrift store. Hours will be posted soon and she is seeking a food vendor. Read the full story.
Your neighbors are Googling you: It’s uncomfortable but true — employers, new friends, even other parents at school pickup search names all the time. If something negative, outdated, or misleading shows up first, it can shape opinions before you ever meet. BetterReputation helps push down unwanted search results so your first impression actually reflects who you are today. And if it’s someone you care about, you can help them too.
Community winter kickoff event: Pittsfield’s third annual Winter Festival will be held at Clapp Park on February 16 during school break. Families can enjoy free activities, including the Cardboard Sled Design Contest with awards for creativity, materials, and size. A free sled-building workshop was scheduled for February 7. Get all the details.
Gold is having a moment: Between inflation headlines, market swings, and growing global uncertainty, precious metals are (again) in the spotlight. American Hartford is currently offering up to $25,000 in free silver when you open a qualified account. They’ll also help you set up a penalty-free gold IRA with a lowest price guarantee, no buyback fees, and 7-day price protection.
Make your living room sing: Whether you want a crisper touch or a warmer tone, Flynn Pianos restores, tunes, sells, and rents beautiful uprights and grands, making practice and impromptu house concerts feel more inspired. Let those keys get the care they deserve.
A second opinion never hurts: Not every financial advisor is the right fit, and it’s okay to explore your options. Unbiased matches you with an advisor based on your personal situation, giving you a chance to ask questions in a free, no-pressure conversation to see if the fit makes sense. No obligation — just helpful advice.
Soup weather savior: Some nights demand a giant bowl of comfort. In Lenox, Amazing Pho serves soothing, aromatic pho with rich broths, slurpable noodles, and a tight lineup of Vietnamese staples. Warm up, wind down, and make weeknights easy… the kind of bowl that keeps winter at bay.
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📆 Around town this week
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
This week
🎻 A Life in Music: A Conversation with Midori @ ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance | Tuesday (2/10) at 8:00 PM – Trade the checklist for a sit-down with Midori, the visionary violinist, activist, and educator, four decades past her New York Philharmonic debut. Come for the artistry, stay for the humanity, and leave feeling smarter than your algorithm, jacket optional, curiosity required.
🎥 Matewan Screening & Discussion @ North Adams Public Library | Wednesday (2/11) at 5:30 PM – Head up to the library’s third-floor community room for a free screening of John Sayles’s 1987 coal-country classic, Matewan, with a post-film discussion. Hosted by the labor folks and NAPL, it’s quality time for grownups who like history, solidarity, and actual conversation.
❤ Williams College Valentine’s Market @ Paresky Center | Thursday (2/12) at 11:00 AM – Swing by Paresky for a cozy Valentine’s market packed with artisan and vintage finds, open to all, right on campus. Browse mouthwatering truffles, gemstone jewelry, hand-poured soy candles, artisanal ceramics, and more, plus snacks and warm beverages to keep morale high.
This weekend
⛄ North Adams WinterFest @ Downtown North Adams | Saturday (2/14) at 9:00 AM – WinterFest takes over downtown North Adams with chilly charm, blocked-off streets, and that classic small-town ritual of bumping into everyone you know between coffee stops. Main, Holden, and Eagle are closed to cars, so bundle up, park smart, and enjoy a slow, neighborly wander.
🌲 10×10 Festival: Winter Tree Identification Walk @ Springside Park | Saturday (2/14) at 10:00 AM – If you’ve been meaning to finally admit you can’t ID a tree in February, 10×10’s got you. Stroll Springside Park with BEAT’s Chelsey Simmons, learn buds, bark, and branching tricks, slow and local. Free, only 10 spots, RSVP required, bragging rights included.
💕 Paint Your Bestie Galentine | Sunday (2/15) at 4:00 PM – If your idea of Galentine’s is laughing, splattering paint, and calling it art, bring your bestie to a guided session with local artist Diane Firtell. It’s $70 per couple, materials and chocolate-covered strawberries included, full cash bar on standby. Reservations required, email [email protected].
🎹 “Endings” – Piano Trios @ Saint James Place | Sunday (2/15) at 4:00 PM – Skip the algorithm and hear how endings land at Great Barrington’s Saint James Place, as Shostakovich’s haunting Trio No. 2 and Schubert’s E-flat ponder bang, whimper, and everything between. Gila Goldstein, Xiao-Dong Wang, and Yehuda Hanani, gorgeous acoustics, and a resolution your inbox never gives.
Live music & entertainment:
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Berkshire County report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 30°F – Low: 22°F – Precip: 77%
A chance of snow between 1pm and 2pm, then snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Later: Snow showers likely before 10pm, then a chance of snow showers and a slight chance of freezing drizzle between 10pm and 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Southwest wind 2 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. Little or no ice accumulation expected.
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Tomorrow – High: 31°F – Low: 17°F – Precip: 14%
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. West wind 5 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17.
This house is wild
This 18,700+ square foot lakefront estate on Pontoosuc Lake delivers sweeping views of Mount Greylock and the Berkshires. An open plan draws to the water with a deck, pool, and dock. Three additional living quarters have kitchens and entrances. A chef’s kitchen with Wolf and SubZero, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, gated grounds, five laundries, and parking for 18+ complete it.
Take a peek inside →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we genuinely think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
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