'Virtual Date Night'--Sometimes It's Not Just Nature....!

(Rainy Drive by StillMemory)

      Just like Ashley and Aron of the blog Hither & Thither, hubby and I decided this was a great weekend in Massachusetts to head to the Berkshires! It's gonna be a rainy drive tonight, but thankfully it's not a worry, because it's not gonna be a long trip this time!
       Where is the Berkshires, you ask?!...It's practically in our backyard! It's the area located in the western parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut! It's both a specific highland geologic region, and a cultural region...The cultural part is what hubby and I are most planning on visiting tonight!...Cultural art attractions and music! YAY! :-) But I'll tell you more about that in a minute!
        First...about the Berkshires...Tourism is a principal industry in the Berkshires. It's a popular vacation getaway for nature lovers. It's home to dozens of summer camps too. People love coming to visit this area because of it's mountains;...the Hebert Arboretum in Pittsfield Massachusetts (a park)...

        
        ...it's valleys;...the Berkshire Botanical Herb Garden in Stockbridge Massachusetts...

           
            ...it's numerous trails;...Bash Bish Falls, the tallest waterfall in Massachusetts, in Bash Bish Falls State Park in Mount Washington...

         ...it's rivers;....covered bridges...fly fishing...canoeing....and spectacular 'leaf-peeping' of Fall foliage! :-)

(Maple Leaves)

(Japanese Maple Leaves)

        

         Even if hubby and I never stopped the car....but of course we have to! :-)) ...just driving around and looking at the leaves turning colors in peak season would be good enough!...

 (Autumn Tree Spotlight Photograph by mistleandtoe)

          

         I mean...is there anywhere as beautiful as New England during the Fall?! :-] 

 (Country Road in Autumn by sintwister)

             

          ....Okay, so you probably have your own beautiful areas. I know! And hopefully hubby and I will get around to visiting them too, one of these weekends! :-) But, today and tonight, it's culture, culture, culture for us! :-)
       We'll be visiting the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown Massachusetts...

       The grandson of one of the principals of the Singer Sewing Machine company, Robert Sterling Clark (along with his wife Francine), was it's creator! Today, the Clark is best known for works of French Impressionism, especially the paintings of Renoir, and a fine collection of British and American silver.

      Then we're gonna pop over to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in North Adams Massachusetts...

         It's in a converted factory building, and it's one of the largest centers for contemporary visual and performing arts in the country.

       Then it's back to Williamstown, to the Williams College Museum of Art, which is a teaching Museum...

                ...and it's free! :-)

            Have you heard of the painter and illustrator Norman Rockwell?...Well, we're most looking forward to visiting the Norman Rockwell Museum, home of the world's largest collection of Rockwell art...

        It's located in Stockbridge Massachusetts, where Norman Rockwell lived the last 25 years of his life. If you've never seen his work before, you can come along with us for a tour of the museum...

(Norman Rockwell Museum promotional video)

        Food is not a big focus on this trip, but no 'Date Night' would be complete without music! And the Berkshires also have some of the best music around....cultural music! 

       Our last stop will be the Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox Massachusetts. It's an estate and music venue, and the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival....It's also been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937.

 (Tanglewood Music Shed and Lawn)

            Have you ever heard of the Boston Pops?! It's an American orchestra, based in Boston Massachusetts, that specializes in playing light classical and popular music. They were founded as a second, popular identity of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, consisting of most of the musicians of the BSO, although generally not the first-chair players.

 (Boston Pops at Tanglewood)

      And so....we're off! :-] I'll leave you with a little culture from John Williams conducting the Boston Pops Orchestra. You might even recognize this bit of classical music! :-)

Culture

Sometimes it's hot dogs, lots of mustard,
just so good you can't believe!
With no set table, wine or napkins,
Just wipe your mouth with your sleeve.

But sometimes it's lots of culture,
Orchestras, Museums, Art!
With a little wine and cheese,
not bageled cheez whiz a la carte!

Yikes! I almost forgot to remind you that TOMORROW is the Giveaway drawing for the lacy afghan (click on the photo in the right hand sidebar for details)! Get your entry in! :-)