Angélique Kidjo performs at Tanglewood during Labor Day Weekend, 2011.

The Tanglewood Jazz Festival line-up is guaranteed to be as impressive as ever, featuring the rising stars of jazz as well as some of the greatest jazz musicians alive. You’ll be able to listen to some of your old favorites, then check out the newest sounds sweeping the genre. For jazz aficionados, this is an event not to be missed.

Highlights include jazz vocalists Dianne Reeves and Angélique Kidjo, Lizz Wright (who singing defies genres), NEA Jazz Masters Jimmy Cobb and Gunther Schuller, Judy Carmichael, Blythe Danner, the Mingus Orchestra, John Santos and the John Santos Sextet, and much, much more. These gifted musicians and vocalists will perform in the intimate Ozawa Hall.

Up-and-coming artists such as drummer Ulysses Owens Jr, pianist Cedric Hanriot, and vocalist Rebecca Martin will perform at the Jazz Café. All shows at the Jazz Café are free for folks who have tickets to the main stage event of the day or an all-day pass.

For the first time ever, the Tanglewood Wine and Food Classic will coincide with the Tanglewood Jazz Festival. Participants will taste premium wines from around the world (more than 75 wineries will be represented), and feast on dishes prepared by renowned chefs from New York, Boston, and the Berkshires. Seminars will reveal secrets about the sinfully good combinations of port and chocolate, and cheese and wine. The 2011 Tanglewood Wine and Food Classic promises to be a gustatory adventure.

Infuse your Labor Day Weekend with wine, good food, and great jazz. When not revelling in food, wine, and music, relax at our luxurious Lenox Bed and Breakfast. What a perfect way to bid farewell to summer.

For additional festival information, please visit Tanglewood.

See Earth, Wind, and Fire at Tanglewood, June 25, 2011.

Since its creation in 1969, Earth, Wind, and Fire has garnered accolades from the music industry, critics, and fans. Eight of their albums went double-platinum. Their work has been nominated for 20 Grammy Awards and has won six Grammys. In 2000, Earth, Wind, and Fire was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2003 they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

Their music has inspired more than one generation of artists and won fans of all ages. It will be sheer pleasure to experience them live at Tanglewood.

Tanglewood offers Meals-To-Go for the Earth, Wind, and Fire performance on June 25, 2011. Choose a Picnic Bag for one, a Boxed Dinner for one, and a Picnic Tote for Two. Or arrive at Tanglewood prior to the performance and dine at the Tanglewood Café and Grill. If you’d rather dine elsewhere, ask us for a recommendation – there are several excellent restaurants near our Berkshires B&B.

No so here at our Lenox MA Bed and Breakfast.

Glorious winter in the Berkshires.

Oh, it’s cold here too, to be sure. But cold in the country feels different than cold in the city. The wind doesn’t gather up its strength to blast between skyscrapers and knock you down here – it spreads out over snow covered fields and blows through forests, making leafless trees dance.

Yes, winter in the Berkshires is the stuff of poetry.

Come see for yourself. Be spontaneous, and enjoy savings with our Lee Bed and Breakfast Last Minute Special. Plan ahead, call a friend, and stay for a while. Embrace the cold while you’re here, and delve into it with skis or snowshoes; it makes sitting by the fire so much better.

Simon and Garfunkel at Tanglewood, July 27, 2010.

They reunite Tuesday, July 27, 2010, at 8pm at the Koussevitzky Music Shed. 20,000 people are expected to attend, so book a room at our Tanglewood lodging soon.

Simon and Garfunkel have played together only a handful of times since 1970, each time drawing enormous crowds. Though their success stems from a relatively short period together (1965-1970), their music is timeless and their fans are dedicated. Their upcoming performance at Tanglewood is part of a month long tour throughout North America.

We still have openings at our Lenox bed and breakfast on July 27, 2010. Plan to stay a few days and explore the Berkshires during the week. Play a round of golf across the street at Greenock Country Club. Go for a day hike in the Bershires. Wander through the charming New England towns of Lee and Lenox. Or simply lounge by the pool and stroll through our gardens.

B.S.O. and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus in "The Trojans" at Symphony Hall. (Hilary Scott)

The program with be Tchaikovsky that evening, beginning with Symphony No. 6, Pathétique, followed by his Piano Concerto No. 1, performed by Yefim Bronfman. The Koussevitzky Music Shed is less than 6 miles from our Lenox Bed and breakfast .

The piano soloist, Yefim Bronfman, popularly known as Fima, is one of today’s most outstanding virtuoso pianists. He is a Grammy – Award winner and was a Carnegie Hall “Perspectives” artist for the 2007-08 season. During that time he curated seven concerts, including works by composers ranging from Mozart, Brahms, Schoenberg and Berg to Webern, Prokofiev and Ravel, with world premieres by Marc-André Dalbavie and Jörg Widmann.

The Tanglewood Festival is an annual celebration of music held at the Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox. It is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and setting for a variety of musical performances and events. One of the best ways to spend a summer evening in the Berkshires is to grab a blanket, some fixin’s for a picnic & head to Tanglewood for a night of music as the sun sets and the stars come out.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra is currently running a Clark/Tanglewood ticket offer: Buy now and pay only $45 for two tickets to The Clark and two Tanglewood lawn tickets. I had to read that three times before I believed my eyes; four tickets to world-renowned art and mucis venues for only $45?!? It is an amazing deal and one you should take advantage of right away!

The Lawn at Tanglewood

The Clark is located in Williamstown, about a 45 minute drive from both the Tanglewood Music Center and our Massachusetts Bed and Breakfast. Of course, the drive through our pastoral landscape in the summer with a warm breeze in your hair is not much of a chore. Plus, The Clark is not to be missed.

The Clark features an outstanding collection of Impressionist, American, and Old Master paintings, set among 140 scenic acres with hiking and walking trails. On view this summer, Dove/O’Keeffe: Circles of Influence and Through the Seasons: Japanese Art in Nature.

Look for more information on Tanglewood from our Lenox Bed and Breakfast soon!

The National Acrobats of China, the most acclaimed large acrobatic troupe in the world, has thirty-five performers. The troupe has a world-wide reputation, and their antics and physical tests captivate audiences around the globe. The performance will also include stunning displays of Chinese martial arts, illusion and acrobatics. Their feats of physical daring and grace are enhanced by elaborate costumes and traditional music. From plate-spinning and cycling stunts to juggling with their feet, The National Acrobats of China are master contortionists, tumblers and jugglers. This is going to really be a treat!

When we opened our Stockbridge Bed and Breakfast, we knew we wanted to relocate here in the Berkshires, an area that attracts such interesting and diverse cultural events. We look forward to opening our historic and beautiful home to you and sharing our community with you. See you at our Bed and Breakfast Lenox soon!

Another unique aspect of Pleasant Valley is the beaver population. They were introduced to this area and one can see the many dams and nests they have built along the water’s edge. They are nocturnal animals, so a sighting is a rare treat, but there are benches and boardwalks built into the paths to allow for rests or patient viewing.

A Beaver & dam. Photo courtesy of Kleepet on flickr.com

Along with beaver homes in Yokun Brook, there is also a large salamander migration here every spring along West Mountain Road. Trails lead through forests, meadows and wetlands along the slopes of Lenox Mountain. The sanctuary includes over 1300 acres. We hope you might enjoy a little Berkshires nature while visiting our Bed and Breakfast Massachusetts!