You a re invited to join us for an exclusive one-day excursion to visit two extr aordinary historic houses overlooking the majestic Hudson River near Rhine beck\, New York.
\n
WILDERSTEIN is the country home near Rhinebeck that we will visit in the morning. Built in 1 888 in the Queen Anne style for Robert Bowne Suckley and his wife Elizabet h Philips\, the house greatly enlarged an 1852 Italianate house constructe d for Suckley’s father Thomas. One could refer to the somewhat similar hi story of Ventfort\, the Italianate Lenox “cottage” built in the 1850s for Ogden Haggerty and his family\, and replaced by Ventfort Hall in 1893.
\nThe renovated Wilderstein was the design of Poughkeepsie architect Ar nout Cannon\, soaring to include a third floor\, multi-gabled attic and a dramatic five-story circular tower with commanding views of the surroundin g landscape. The fanciful asymmetrical roof line of the house was complim ented by the addition of an imposing porte cochere and a generous verandah (again\, Ventfort Hall could be brought to mind). Five of the principal rooms on the first floor were designed by Joseph Burr Tiffany\, a younger cousin of Louis Comfort Tiffany.
\nThe books\, letters\, photographs \, furniture\, paintings\, art objects and china amassed by three generati ons of Suckleys are of great interest to both scholars and visitors. The last resident of Wilderstein was Margaret (Daisy) Suckley. A distant cousi n and confidante of Franklin Delano Roosevelt\, Miss Suckley traveled exte nsively with FDR during his presidency\, gave him his famous Scottish terr ier Fala and helped to establish his library in Hyde Park. The letters th ey exchanged\, which were discovered in a battered suitcase at Wilderstein \, provide one of the best resources for understanding Roosevelt’s private life.
\n
EDGE WATER at nearby Barrytown dates from 1825 and combines classical architecture with a dramatic setting\, built on a small peninsula facing t he Hudson and the Catskill Mountains beyond. With its Doric columns\, high ceilings and tall windows\, the mansion seems more suited to a Southern c limate than the Hudson Valley. The design of the house may possibly have been provided by Robert Mills\, Charleston’s leading architect at the time .
\nEarly owners included a Livingston\, a name that resonates with
many country houses lining the river. After sitting empty for several dec
ades\, Edgewater was purchased in 1950 by the writer Gore Vidal\, who foun
d inspiration there by writing such best sellers as The Judgment of Pa
ris (the proceeds of which paid for improvements to the house) and
By 1969\, Vidal was living in Rome when the late Richard Jenrette\, co-founder of the Wall Street secur ities firm of Donaldson\, Lufkin & Jenrette\, took a serious liking to Edg ewater and a quick sale ensued. Aided by a group of friends who took on t he title of the “Empire Mafia\,” Jenrette painstakingly researched\, locat ed and reintroduced many of the Livingston furnishings. Today the house i s under the care of the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust establ ished by Jenrette in 1993\, a collection of seven architecturally signific ant houses that he had acquired.
\nVentfort Hall has made arrangemen ts for the excursion with a private motor coach leaving from the mansion\, 104 Walker St. in Lenox\, at 9:00 am and returning by 5:30 pm. All-day p arking at Ventfort Hall is arranged. The cost of the tour is $165 and inc ludes comfortable transportation\, private tour admissions and a $50 fully tax-deducible donation to Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. Pa rticipants will select from the menu and pay for lunch separately. Lunch w ill be in The Tavern at the Beekman Arms \, since 1766 providing “culinary expertise” in a charming historic settin g.
\nCall us at (413) 637-3206 to reserve your spot. Trip is limited to the first 25 people to reserve.
\n\n X-COST:$165.00 reservations required END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27073@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Early spring is the perfect time to plant seeds that will grow and can be transplanted to the garden or outdoors when the weather gets wa rmer. Children who attend this workshop will learn how to plant nasturtium as well as how to take care of their flower as it grows throughout the sp ring.\nThere will be an informal lesson on planting seeds and caring for t heir flowers. After the lesson the workshop continues until 3pm. Children will decorate their flower pots and plant their seeds. They can also craft their own hats and ties to wear along with other crafts.\nCost to attend is $8 per child and children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults are f ree with a paying child. Reservations required as seating is limited. Call us at 413-637-3206 to make a reservation. Walk-ins accommodated only if s pace allows. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190407T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190407T150000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Childrens’ Flower Planting and Crafts Workshop URL:https://gildedage.org/event/childrens-flower-planting-and-craftsworksho p/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n
Early spring is the perfect time to plant seeds that will grow and can be transplanted to the garden or outdoors when the weather gets warmer. Children who atten d this workshop will learn how to plant nasturtium as well as how to take care of their flower as it grows throughout the spring.
\nThere will be an informal lesson on planting seeds and caring for their flowers. Aft er the lesson the workshop continues until 3pm. Children will decorate the ir flower pots and plant their seeds. They can also craft their own hats a nd ties to wear along with other crafts.
\nCost to attend is $8 per child and children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults are free with a paying child. Reservations required as seating is limited. Call us at 413 -637-3206 to make a reservation. Walk-ins accommodated only if space allow s.
\n X-COST:$8 per child END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27034@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Two workshops: 10 am to noon and 1 pm to 3 pm\nCelebrate the Ea ster season with a unique opportunity to learn a time-honored Eastern Euro pean craft. We are offering our annual Slavic Easter egg decorating demon strations and instructional workshops on Saturday\, April 13 from 10:00 am to 12 noon and again from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. This year the workshop wil l take place at the mansion’s former gatehouse at 55 Kemble St.\, Lenox.\n This Eastern European tradition of creating intricate and beautifully deco rated eggs has been passed down for generations. Lenox resident Tjasa Spr ague\, who will again lead the workshop\, learned the technique many years ago from her Czechoslovakian mother\, Maria Krofta.\nThe technique begins with unwashed eggs (provided by a local poultry farm) which have a residu e-free shell surface. The Slavic Easter egg is a wax resistant technique which employs aniline dye later in the process. The decorating begins with drawing on the egg with wax\, followed by immersion in the dye\, with rep eated wax drawing and dying as desired. The eggs are uncooked and are “bl own” out after the decorating has been completed. The eggs may be display ed\, when stored carefully\, for an indefinite number of years.\nThe fee f or each workshop\, which includes all materials\, is $35. Reservations are required and seats are limited. Children should be at least 12 years of a ge. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190413T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190413T120000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Egg Decorating Workshop – Morning SOLD OUT URL:https://gildedage.org/event/egg-decorating-workshop/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nTwo w orkshops: 10 am to noon and 1 pm to 3 pm
\nCelebrate the Ea ster season with a unique opportunity to learn a time-honored Eastern Euro pean craft. We are offering our annual Slavic Easter egg decorating demon strations and instructional workshops on Saturday\, April 13 from 10:00 am to 12 noon and again from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. This year the workshop wil l take place at the mansion’s former gatehouse at 55 Kemble St.\, Lenox.\n
This Eastern European tradition of creating intricate and beautiful ly decorated eggs has been passed down for generations. Lenox resident Tj asa Sprague\, who will again lead the workshop\, learned the technique man y years ago from her Czechoslovakian mother\, Maria Krofta.
\nThe te chnique begins with unwashed eggs (provided by a local poultry farm) which have a residue-free shell surface. The Slavic Easter egg is a wax resist ant technique which employs aniline dye later in the process. The decorati ng begins with drawing on the egg with wax\, followed by immersion in the dye\, with repeated wax drawing and dying as desired. The eggs are uncook ed and are “blown” out after the decorating has been completed. The eggs may be displayed\, when stored carefully\, for an indefinite number of yea rs.
\nThe fee for each workshop\, which includes all materials\, is $35. Reservations are required and seats are limited. Children should be a t least 12 years of age. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206.
\n< /BODY> X-COST:$35 includes materials. Reservations required. END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27042@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:SOLD OUT\nThe Comical Mystery Tour ensemble returns to the mans ion with an encore performance and invites the public to join the fun on S aturday\, April 13th. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first cour se served at 5:30 pm.\nIt is a special night for Don Yukon Cornelius. His major renovations for his club are just about finished and you have been i nvited to join him for the unveiling of his newest gaming rooms. As leader of the Eco-Unfriendly Gang\, he takes great pride in wasting resources\, but someone decides to waste him. Come along and make your wager on whethe r it was his ex-girlfriend Fay Daway or his right hand man\, Little Billy Bosco. Might it have been his step God-daughter\, Sheila Blige? Or maybe i t was the fill in comedian Sal Manilla. Odds are in your favor to have a g reat time no matter who dun nit\, but can you figure it out and win big?\n In production since 1995\, The Comical Mystery Tour has had over 50\,000 a udience members viewing and/or participating in their programs. The ensemb le appears regularly at Ventfort Hall.\nCost to attend is $40 per person i ncluding a full course dinner. A cash bar is available for beer and wine. Reservations are required by Wednesday\, April 10th. Seating is limited. C all us for reservations at (413) 637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190413T170000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:SOLD OUT – Murder Mystery Dinner Theater – “Good Fella\, Dead Fella \,” Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first course served at 5:30 pm URL:https://gildedage.org/event/murder-mystery-dinner-theater-good-fella-de ad-fella-doors-open-at-500-pm-program-starts-and-first-course-served-at-53 0-pm/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nSOLD OUT
\nThe Comical Mystery Tour ensemble returns to the mans ion with an encore performance and invites the public to join the fun on S aturday\, April 13th. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first cour se served at 5:30 pm.
\nIt is a special night for Don Yukon Corneliu s. His major renovations for his club are just about finished and you have been invited to join him for the unveiling of his newest gaming rooms. As leader of the Eco-Unfriendly Gang\, he takes great pride in wasting resou rces\, but someone decides to waste him. Come along and make your wager on whether it was his ex-girlfriend Fay Daway or his right hand man\, Little Billy Bosco. Might it have been his step God-daughter\, Sheila Blige? Or maybe it was the fill in comedian Sal Manilla. Odds are in your favor to h ave a great time no matter who dun nit\, but can you figure it out and win big?
\nIn production since 1995\, The Comical Mystery Tour has had over 50\,000 audience members viewing and/or participating in their progra ms. The ensemble appears regularly at Ventfort Hall.
\nCost to atten d is $40 per person including a full course dinner. A cash bar is availabl e for beer and wine. Reservations are required by Wednesday\, April 10th. Seating is limited. Call us for reservations at (413) 637-3206.
\n X-COST:$40\, reservations required by Wednesday\, Apr.10th X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27099@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:School Vacation Week workshop Added due to popular demand.\nEar ly spring is the perfect time to plant seeds that will grow and can be tra nsplanted to the garden or outdoors when the weather gets warmer. Children who attend this workshop will learn how to plant nasturtium as well as ho w to take care of their flower as it grows throughout the spring.\nThere w ill be an informal lesson on planting seeds and caring for their flowers. After the lesson the workshop continues until 3pm. Children will decorate their flower pots and plant their seeds. They can also craft their own hat s and ties to wear along with other crafts.\nCost to attend is $8 per chil d and children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults are free with a pay ing child. Reservations required as seating is limited. Call us at 413-637 -3206 to make a reservation. Walk-ins accommodated only if space allows. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190416T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190416T150000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Children’s Flower Planting and Crafts Workshop URL:https://gildedage.org/event/childrens-flower-planting-and-crafts-worksh op/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nSchool Vacati on Week workshop Added due to popular demand.
\nEarly spring is the perfect time to plant seeds that will grow and can be transplanted to the garden or outdoors when the weather gets warmer. Children who attend this workshop will learn how to plant nasturtium as well as how to take care of their flower as it grows throughout the spring.
\nThere will be an informal lesson on planting seeds and caring for their flowers. After the lesson the workshop continues until 3pm. Children will decorate their flow er pots and plant their seeds. They can also craft their own hats and ties to wear along with other crafts.
\nCost to attend is $8 per child a nd children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults are free with a paying child. Reservations required as seating is limited. Call us at 413-637-32 06 to make a reservation. Walk-ins accommodated only if space allows.
\n X-COST:$8 per child END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27069@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Join David Raby for a paranormal investigation of the historic and haunted Ventfort Hall. A non-fiction author and paranormal investigat or\, Raby has always been intrigued by history. He undauntedly enters haun ted locations that would terrify others with hopes of contacting lingering spirits to discover why they remain.\nRaby is the author of four publishe d books and countless online articles. With his passion for the paranormal field\, he has accumulated over a decade of experience\, founded a parano rmal group and has helped many people (and spirits) that ranged between th e curious and those seeking urgent advice.\nHis interest in the paranormal was shaped by the fact that spirits seem to be attracted to his compassio n and openness. He has a knack for storytelling that fuels his intensive h istorical research and fact finding.\nHe believes that by bringing people’ s stories out of the shadows and into the light of our awareness\, they ma y find eternal rest and peace.\nBefore the investigation\, he will give a brief history of the lives that once graced the hallways – and possibly st ill reside within. He will also share some of his favorite evidence from p revious investigations and will be happy to answer any questions about par anormal investigations. This event is perfect for everyone\; from someone who has never been on a paranormal investigation to the seasoned investiga tor.\nThe event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and concludes at midnight. Tickets for this exciting event are $35 per person. All of the proceeds from tick et sales will go towards the preservation and restoration of Ventfort Hall . Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190427T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190427T234500 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Ghost Hunt – A Spirited Evening URL:https://gildedage.org/event/ghost-hunt-3/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nJoin David Raby for a paranormal investigation of the historic and hau nted Ventfort Hall. A non-fiction author and paranormal investigator\, Ra by has always been intrigued by history. He undauntedly enters haunted loc ations that would terrify others with hopes of contacting lingering spirit s to discover why they remain.
\nRaby is the author of four publishe d books and countless online articles. With his passion for the paranormal field\, he has accumulated over a decade of experience\, founded a parano rmal group and has helped many people (and spirits) that ranged between th e curious and those seeking urgent advice.
\nHis interest in the par anormal was shaped by the fact that spirits seem to be attracted to his co mpassion and openness. He has a knack for storytelling that fuels his inte nsive historical research and fact finding.
\nHe believes that by br inging people’s stories out of the shadows and into the light of our aware ness\, they may find eternal rest and peace.
\nBefore the investigat ion\, he will give a brief history of the lives that once graced the hallw ays – and possibly still reside within. He will also share some of his fav orite evidence from previous investigations and will be happy to answer an y questions about paranormal investigations. This event is perfect for eve ryone\; from someone who has never been on a paranormal investigation to t he seasoned investigator.
\nThe event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and co ncludes at midnight. Tickets for this exciting event are $35 per person. A ll of the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the preservation and restoration of Ventfort Hall. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations.< /p>\n X-COST:$35\, reservations required END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27129@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Closing at noon today for a private event. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190511T120000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Closing at noon today for a private event. URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closing-at-noon-today-for-a-private-event/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n
\\nClosing at no on today for a private event.
\n X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27130@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Saturday\, May 25th from 10 am to 3 pm\nCome to our giant one-d ay Tag Sale\, organized and donated solely by members of the program commi ttee\, volunteers and board of directors of Ventfort Hall. What could be m ore appropriate than a one-day tag sale of cast-offs that could become val ued treasures for you\, you and you! “Rich the treasure\, Sweet the pleasu re” John Dryden (1631 – 1700). Only at historic Ventfort Hall — the Berks hires other sweet pleasure! DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190525T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190525T150000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Ye Olde Ventfort Tag Sale URL:https://gildedage.org/event/ye-old-ventfort-tag-sale/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nSatur
day\, May 25th from 10 am to 3 pm
\nCome to our giant one-da
y Tag Sale\, organized and donated solely by members of t
he program committee\, volunteers and board of directors of Ventfort Hall.
What could be more appropriate than a one-day tag sale of cast-offs that
could become valued treasures for you\, you and you! “Rich the treasure\,
Sweet the pleasure” John Dryden (1631 – 1700). Only at historic Ventfort
Hall — the Berkshires other sweet pleasure!
A Spring Jour ney in Loire Valley\, Burgundy and Rhone
\nFrench wine specialist\, Christian Dalbavie of Kobrand\, will take you on a journey around three ma jor French wine regions to tease you with nine different wines to discover or rediscover.
\nFirst Flight: the Roses:
\nBouvet rose
\, Loire Valley
\nJadot rose 2018\, Burgundy
\nLa Nerthe rose 20
17\, Rhone Valley
Second Flight: the Whites:
\nRedde P
ouilly Fume 2016\, Loire Valley
\nJadot Bourgogne Blanc 2017\, Burgun
dy
\nLa Nerthe Chateuneuf du Pape White 2016\, Rhone Valley
<
u>Third Flight: the Reds:
\nJadot Pinot Noir 2015\, Burgundy
\nLa Nerthe Cote du Rhone Village 2015\, Rhone Valley
\nLa Nerthe C
hateuneuf du Pape red 2015\, Rhone Valley
Gourmet charcuterie\, ch eese and bread will be included in the tasting. Cost to attend is $35 per person. Optional tour of Ventfort Hall for $15 before wine event\; 4:30pm start. Call Nejaime’s for reservations at 413-637-2221.
\n X-COST:$35 per person for reservations call Nejaime’s 413-637-2221 X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27174@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Join Susan Shook\, a yoga practitioner\, at an all level yoga c lass here at the mansion on Saturday mornings. The class will be held on o ur south veranda and\, weather permitting\, south lawn. Greet the day with the birdsong\, warming sun\, and yoga!\nSusan has been a yoga practitione r for over 16 years\, culminating in 2018 with certification as a yoga ins tructor\, graduating from the Yoga Institute Of The Berkshires. She is als o member of the Yoga Alliance.\nSusan’s practice and classes are focused o n linking purposeful movement with intention and breath. Her classes incor porate the restorative sounds and scents of nature and center on playful\, safe and grounded guidance with instruction for all levels of yogis. Susa n encourages friends and students to appreciate themselves by sharing time on the mat\, motion\, and breath. At the close of her classes\, experien ce the calm and rest of Shavasana.\nWhen not on the mat: teaching or pract icing yoga\, you will find Susan beautifying a client’s landscape\, runnin g or hiking in the woods with her loving Labradors Buddha & Elvis. She is a native of the Berkshires\, a business owner/partner\, avid yogi practit ioner and teacher\, sharing her practice and teaching at Lenox Yoga and Ve ntfort Hall.\nCost to attend is $15.00 a session\, cash or check payable t hat day. Part of the cost is a donation to Ventfort Hall. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190608T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190608T090000 RRULE:FREQ=WEEKLY;UNTIL=20190903T235959Z;BYDAY=SA;WKST=SU SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Drop in Yoga at the Mansion Saturday Mornings at 8am URL:https://gildedage.org/event/yoga-at-the-mansion-saturday-mornings-at-8a m/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nJoin Susan Shook\, a yoga practitioner\, at an all level yoga class he re at the mansion on Saturday mornings. The class will be held on our sout h veranda and\, weather permitting\, south lawn. Greet the day with the bi rdsong\, warming sun\, and yoga!
\nSusan has been a yoga practitione r for over 16 years\, culminating in 2018 with certification as a yoga ins tructor\, graduating from the Yoga Institute Of The Berkshires. She is als o member of the Yoga Alliance.
\nSusan’s practice and classes are fo cused on linking purposeful movement with intention and breath. Her classe s incorporate the restorative sounds and scents of nature and center on pl ayful\, safe and grounded guidance with instruction for all levels of yogi s. Susan encourages friends and students to appreciate themselves by shari ng time on the mat\, motion\, and breath. At the close of her classes\, e xperience the calm and rest of Shavasana.
\nWhen not on the mat: tea ching or practicing yoga\, you will find Susan beautifying a client’s land scape\, running or hiking in the woods with her loving Labradors Buddha & Elvis. She is a native of the Berkshires\, a business owner/partner\, avi d yogi practitioner and teacher\, sharing her practice and teaching at Len ox Yoga and Ventfort Hall.
\nCost to attend is $15.00 a session\, ca sh or check payable that day. Part of the cost is a donation to Ventfort H all.
\n X-COST:$15.00 per session END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27165@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Former Boston Globe reporter and Pittsfield native Margo Miller will kick off our Summer 2019 series of Tea & Talks on Tuesdays with the subject of her new book Chateau Higginson: Social Life in Boston’s Back Ba y\, 1870 – 1920. She will make her visual presentation on Tuesday\, June 11 at 4:00 pm followed by a Victorian tea.\nMiller will center on Henry Le e Higginson (1834- 1919)\, founder of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 188 1 and creator of the Hotel Agassiz in 1874\, “America’s first real apartme nt building\,” among other major accomplishments. Family members\, friend s\, the tastes\, culture\, economics\, architecture\, society\, public hea lth and early transportation issues\, recreations\, sports and entertainme nts of the day create a full picture of the times. Insights into the plann ing of the Back Bay area and even its geological aspects are given the aut hor’s attention.\nHotel Agassiz\, inspired by upper-class apartment living in Europe\, sometimes called “French flats\,” was also known as “Chateau Higginson.” His partner in its development and his brother-in-law was Alex ander Agassiz\, the prominent scientist and engineer.\nMiller has tied Hig ginson to each chapter in a city that held to its old-guard\, close-knit r elationships\, including chapters on “Entertainment\,” “Horses” and “Outdo ors.” Higginson was an equestrian who hated the appearance of bicycles\, w hile Frank W. Weston\, the architect who designed the Hotel Agassiz\, is k nown as “the father of American bicycling.”\nA footnote: The author reside s at Hotel Agassiz on Commonwealth Avenue\, a multi-floor building possess ing condominiums.\nThe Summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are spon sored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.\nCost to attend the Miller talk are $28 for advance reservations and $32 day of the event. Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited. F or reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190611T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “Chateau Higginson: Social Life in Boston’s Back Bay\ , 1870 – 1920” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-chateau-higginson-social-life-in-b ostons-back-bay-1870-1920/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nFormer Bo ston Globe reporter and Pittsfield native Margo Miller will kick off our Summer 2019 series of Tea & Talks on Tuesdays with th e subject of her new book Chateau Higginson: Social Life in Boston’s B ack Bay\, 1870 – 1920. She will make her visual presentation on Tues day\, June 11 at 4:00 pm followed by a Victorian tea.
\nMiller will center on Henry Lee Higginson (1834- 1919)\, founder of the Boston Symphon y Orchestra in 1881 and creator of the Hotel Agassiz in 1874\, “America’s first real apartment building\,” among other major accomplishments. Famil y members\, friends\, the tastes\, culture\, economics\, architecture\, so ciety\, public health and early transportation issues\, recreations\, spor ts and entertainments of the day create a full picture of the times. Insig hts into the planning of the Back Bay area and even its geological aspects are given the author’s attention.
\nHotel Agassiz\, inspired by upp er-class apartment living in Europe\, sometimes called “French flats\,” wa s also known as “Chateau Higginson.” His partner in its development and hi s brother-in-law was Alexander Agassiz\, the prominent scientist and engin eer.
\nMiller has tied Higginson to each chapter in a city that held to its old-guard\, close-knit relationships\, including chapters on “Ente rtainment\,” “Horses” and “Outdoors.” Higginson was an equestrian who hate d the appearance of bicycles\, while Frank W. Weston\, the architect who d esigned the Hotel Agassiz\, is known as “the father of American bicycling. ”
\nA footnote: The author resides at Hotel Agassiz on Commonwealth Avenue\, a multi-floor building possessing condominiums.
\nThe Summe r 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.
\nCost to attend the Miller talk are $28 for advance reservations and $32 day of the event. Reservat ions are highly recommended as seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27167@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Our summer series of Tea & Talks continue with Dr. Bob Brier (“ Mr. Mummy”)\, recognized as a foremost Egyptologist\, who will examine the fascination with the ancient world along the Nile River. He will cover t he events that fanned the flames of “Egytomania” during the last two centu ries in his visual presentation on Tuesday\, June 18 at 4:00 pm. A Victor ian tea will follow his talk.\nWhat were these events? There were Napoleon ’s Egyptian campaign that led to a new decorative arts trend\, the Suez Ca nal Big Dig and the carting of gigantic obelisks to Paris\, London and New York. Brier states perhaps the greatest boost to Egyptomania was Howard C arter’s discovery and opening of Tutankhamen’s intact tomb. Later\, in the 1970s\, traveling exhibitions of the boy-king’s treasures kept the moment um going.\nBrier will also discuss why Victorians were especially interest ed in ancient Egypt and will present many images of the collectibles that the fasciation inspired\, from a beautiful Wedgwood Egyptian tea service t o mechanical lead pencils in the shapes of mummies and coffins.\nAs Senior Research Fellow at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University\, Brier conducts pioneering research in mummification practices and has investiga ted some of the world’s most famous mummies\, including King Tut\, Vladimi r Lenin\, Ramses the Great\, Eva Peron and the Medici family of Renaissanc e Italy.\nIn 1994\, Brier became the first person in 2\,000 years to mummi fy a human cadaver using the exact techniques of the ancient Egyptians. T his research was the subject of a National Geographic TV special titled “M r. Mummy.”\nThe speaker was the host of several award-winning television s pecials\, including “Pyramids\, Mummies & Tombs” and “Mummy Detective.” Na tional Geographic TV presented his research in a documentary called “Secre t of the Great Pyramid\,” discussing a new theory of how the Great Pyramid of Giza was built. His research has been featured on such media venues a s CNN\, 60 Minutes and in the The New York Times. His most recent book is Cleopatra’s Needles: The Lost Obelisks of Egypt. (Bloomsbury\, 2016).\nTh e Summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hal l board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.\nCost to attend the Brier’ s talk are $28 for advance reservations and $32 day of the event. Reserva tions are highly recommended as seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190618T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “Egyptomania” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-egyptomania/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nOur summer se ries of Tea & Talks continue with Dr. Bob Brier (“Mr. Mum my”)\, recognized as a foremost Egyptologist\, who will examine the fascin ation with the ancient world along the Nile River. He will cover the even ts that fanned the flames of “Egytomania” during the last two centuries in his visual presentation on Tuesday\, June 18 at 4:00 pm. A Victorian tea will follow his talk.
\nWhat were these events? There were Napoleon ’s Egyptian campaign that led to a new decorative arts trend\, the Suez Ca nal Big Dig and the carting of gigantic obelisks to Paris\, London and New York. Brier states perhaps the greatest boost to Egyptomania was Howard C arter’s discovery and opening of Tutankhamen’s intact tomb. Later\, in the 1970s\, traveling exhibitions of the boy-king’s treasures kept the moment um going.
\nBrier will also discuss why Victorians were especially i nterested in ancient Egypt and will present many images of the collectible s that the fasciation inspired\, from a beautiful Wedgwood Egyptian tea se rvice to mechanical lead pencils in the shapes of mummies and coffins.
\nAs Senior Research Fellow at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island Univ ersity\, Brier conducts pioneering research in mummification practices and has investigated some of the world’s most famous mummies\, including King Tut\, Vladimir Lenin\, Ramses the Great\, Eva Peron and the Medici family of Renaissance Italy.
\nIn 1994\, Brier became the first person in 2\,000 years to mummify a human cadaver using the exact techniques of the ancient Egyptians. This research was the subject of a National Geographic TV special titled “Mr. Mummy.”
\nThe speaker was the host of severa l award-winning television specials\, including “Pyramids\, Mummies & Tomb s” and “Mummy Detective.” National Geographic TV presented his research in a documentary called “Secret of the Great Pyramid\,” discussing a new the ory of how the Great Pyramid of Giza was built. His research has been fea tured on such media venues as CNN\, 60 Minutes and in the The New York Times. His most recent book is Cleopatra’s Needles: Th e Lost Obelisks of Egypt. (Bloomsbury\, 2016).
\nThe Summer 201 9 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board memb er Lucille Landa and William Landa.
\nCost to attend the Brier’s tal k are $28 for advance reservations and $32 day of the event. Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited. For reservations call us a t 413-637-3206.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27168@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Author Richard René Silvin returns to the mansion to present a Tea & Talk on the subject of his latest book\, Normandie\, the Tragic Stor y of the Most Majestic Ocean Liner. He will make his visual presentation o n Tuesday\, June 25 at 4:00 pm. Following will be a Victorian tea during which the speaker will autograph copies of his book.\nHis father was Frenc h and his mother was American. With lasting memories of crossing the Atlan tic as a child accompanying his parents on such splendid ocean liners as I le de France\, the Queen Elizabeth and even the last completed crossing of the Andrea Doria\, Silvin focuses on the French Line’s most glorious and glamorous flagship that first set sail from Le Havre on May 29\, 1935. No rmandie died an inglorious death by fire at a New York dock on the Hudson River on February 10\, 1942\, two months after Pearl Harbor and with war r avaging in Europe.\nSilvin introduces us to his book by stating\, “The sto ry of Normandie’s demise affected me deeply as a young child. I read as mu ch as I could about her life and death. I studied her deck plans and crave d hearing anyone’s stories about their crossing aboard her…I used to boast that\, even though I had never set foot on Normandie\, I could give tours of all her astonishing public rooms and many of her private suites.”\nSil vin\, who resides in Palm Beach\, Florida\, maintains a particularly activ e interest in historic preservation as vice-chairman of the Palm Beach Lan dmarks Preservation Commission. He is the author of Noblesse Oblige\, the Duchess of Windsor as I Knew Her\, the subject of his lecture at Ventfort Hall last year. He is also the author of I Survived Swiss Boarding Schoo ls: An Arc to Triumph and Villa Mizner: The House That Changed Palm Beach. \nThe summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfor t Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.\nCost to attend the S ilvin talk are $28 for advance reservations and $32 day of the event. Res ervations are highly recommended as seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190625T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “The Tragic Story of the Majestic Normandie Ocean Line r” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nAuthor
Hi s father was French and his mother was American. With lasting memories of crossing the Atlantic as a child accompanying his parents on such splendid ocean liners as Ile de France\, the Queen Elizabeth and even the last completed crossing of the Andrea Doria\, Silvin fo cuses on the French Line’s most glorious and glamorous flagship that first set sail from Le Havre on May 29\, 1935. Normandie died an ingl orious death by fire at a New York dock on the Hudson River on February 10 \, 1942\, two months after Pearl Harbor and with war ravaging in Europe.\n
Silvin introduces us to his book by stating\, “The story of Nor mandie’s demise affected me deeply as a young child. I read as much a s I could about her life and death. I studied her deck plans and craved he aring anyone’s stories about their crossing aboard her…I used to boast tha t\, even though I had never set foot on Normandie\, I could give tours of all her astonishing public rooms and many of her private suites.”
\nSilvin\, who resides in Palm Beach\, Florida\, maintains a partic ularly active interest in historic preservation as vice-chairman of the Pa lm Beach Landmarks Preservation Commission. He is the author of Noble sse Oblige\, the Duchess of Windsor as I Knew Her\, the subject of hi s lecture at Ventfort Hall last year. He is also the author of I Surv ived Swiss Boarding Schools: An Arc to Triumph and Villa Mizner: The House That Changed Palm Beach.
\nThe summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.
\nCost to attend the Silvin talk are $28 fo r advance reservations and $32 day of the event. Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-32 06.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27186@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:SOLD OUT\nThe Comical Mystery Tour ensemble returns to the mans ion with a new program\, “Murder Maiden China\,” and invites the public to join the fun on Saturday\, June 29th. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program star ts and first course served at 5:30 pm.\nGertrude Ingrid Josephine Mattel\, a.k.a. GI Jo\, is running the Maiden China toy company since her father’s passing. He was well loved\, but she is more of a dictator and has made s ome enemies. Actually\, she doesn’t have many\, if any friends\, including her hen pecked husband\, Lou Zerr. Her assistant\, C. Alice Knightly\, is more like a slave. Goldie Digger\, Lou’s “secretary\,” has no good feelin gs towards her\, she thinks\, well maybe she doesn’t\, what were we talkin g about? Charlie Brown III is the delivery guy for “This Side UP” package service. She calls him names every time he makes a delivery. Someone gets sick of it and GI Joe ends up in permanent retirement. Come along for the ride and help figure who offed Joe.\nIn production since 1995\, The Comica l Mystery Tour has had over 50\,000 audience members viewing and/or partic ipating in their programs. The ensemble appears regularly at Ventfort Hall .\nCost to attend is $40 per person including a full course dinner. A cash bar is available for beer and wine. Reservations are required by Wednesda y\, June 26th. Seating is limited. For information or reservations call u s at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190629T170000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:SOLD OUT – Murder Mystery Dinner Theater – “Murder Maiden China\,” Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first course served at 5:30 pm URL:https://gildedage.org/event/murder-mystery-dinner-theater-murder-maiden -china-doors-open-at-500-pm-program-starts-and-first-course-served-at-530- pm/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nSOLD OUT
\nThe Comical Mystery Tour ensemble returns to the mans ion with a new program\, “Murder Maiden China\,” and invites the public to join the fun on Saturday\, June 29th. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program star ts and first course served at 5:30 pm.
\nGertrude Ingrid Josephine M attel\, a.k.a. GI Jo\, is running the Maiden China toy company since her f ather’s passing. He was well loved\, but she is more of a dictator and has made some enemies. Actually\, she doesn’t have many\, if any friends\, in cluding her hen pecked husband\, Lou Zerr. Her assistant\, C. Alice Knight ly\, is more like a slave. Goldie Digger\, Lou’s “secretary\,” has no good feelings towards her\, she thinks\, well maybe she doesn’t\, what were we talking about? Charlie Brown III is the delivery guy for “This Side UP” p ackage service. She calls him names every time he makes a delivery. Someon e gets sick of it and GI Joe ends up in permanent retirement. Come along f or the ride and help figure who offed Joe.
\nIn production since 199 5\, The Comical Mystery Tour has had over 50\,000 audience members viewing and/or participating in their programs. The ensemble appears regularly at Ventfort Hall.
\nCost to attend is $40 per person including a full course dinner. A cash bar is available for beer and wine. Reservations are required by Wednesday\, June 26th. Seating is limited. For information o r reservations call us at 413-637-3206.
\n X-COST:$40\, reservations required by Wednesday\, June. 26th X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27195@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Revolutionary then\, but a common everyday event today\, Prof. Catherine J. Golden will put the stamp on “Posting It\, or Networking\, Vi ctorian Style\,” based on her book Posting It: The Victorian Revolution in Letter Writing. She will autograph copies of her book during a Victorian tea following her presentation.\nBefore e-mails\, Instagram\, Facebook and blogs\, letter writing was the only way to communicate with a broad audie nce. The recipient\, not the sender\, paid to receive a letter at the tim e of delivery. So high were postage rates in early Victorian Britain—dete rmined by the number of pages in the letter and the route a letter travele d—that many people dreaded the postman’s knock.\nBut all that changed with the Penny Post established in 1840. In London by 1860\, there were 12 po stal deliveries a day\, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Letter writing—no longer a privilege for the wealthy—became an affordable way to connect with famil y\, friends and beyond.\n“Posting It\, or Networking\, Victorian Style” pr esents the story of this revolutionary change. Through a PowerPoint prese ntation and material objects on display\, we will journey with Golden to V ictorian England to see the first adhesive postage stamp\, called the Penn y Black\, which allowed letters up to ½ ounce to travel anywhere in the UK for only a penny. Stamps and prepayment quickly became the model for othe r nations including the United States\, which issued its first stamps in 1 847.\nGeorge Elgar Hicks’s narrative painting The General Post Office: On e Minute to Six (1860)—on the cover of Posting It—shows the relevance of t he Penny Post for networking in Victorian times and our time. The painting serves as a point of origin for computer-mediated communication (CMC)\, c omplete with the excitement\, challenges\, and dangers that users experien ce today.\nGolden will consider\, too\, how the Penny Post brought blessin gs and problems relevant in the twenty-first century. It facilitated famil y ties\, promoted business\, and spread information to an ever-widening po stal “network”— but it also became a tool for blackmail\, slander\, unsoli cited mass mailings and junk mail. The Penny Post anticipates and was as r evolutionary to the Victorians in sending letters\, newspapers\, books and other information as e-mail\, text messages\, and blogs are to us today. \nGolden is professor of English and the Tisch Chair in Arts and Letters a t Skidmore College. She is author of Serials to Graphic Novels: The Evol ution of the Victorian Illustrated Book (2017) and Images of the Woman Rea der in Victorian British and American Fiction (2003). She is editor or co editor of five additional books on topics ranging from Charlotte Perkins G ilman to Victorian illustration\, literature and culture and a regular con tributor to Illustration Magazine\, a British arts journal.\nPosting It re ceived the 2010 DeLong Book History Prize for the best book on any aspect of the creation\, dissemination\, or uses of script or print awarded by SH ARP\, the Society for the History of Authorship\, Reading and Publishing. Autographed paperback copies of Posting It and Serials to Graphic Novels will be available for purchase at the tea.\nThe summer 2019 series of four teen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.\nTickets for the Golden talk are $28 for advance reser vations and $32 day of the event. Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190702T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “Posting It\, or Networking\, Victorian Style” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-posting-it-or-networking-victorian -style/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nRevolutionary then\, but a common everyday event today\, Prof. Catherine J. Gol den will put the stamp on “Posting It\, or Networking\, Victorian Style\,” based on her book Posting It: The Victorian Revolution in Le tter Writing. She will autograph copies of her book during a Victoria n tea following her presentation.
\nBefore e-mails\, Instagram\, Fac ebook and blogs\, letter writing was the only way to communicate with a br oad audience. The recipient\, not the sender\, paid to receive a letter a t the time of delivery. So high were postage rates in early Victorian Bri tain—determined by the number of pages in the letter and the route a lette r traveled—that many people dreaded the postman’s knock.
\nBut all t hat changed with the Penny Post established in 1840. In London by 1860\, there were 12 postal deliveries a day\, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Letter wr iting—no longer a privilege for the wealthy—became an affordable way to co nnect with family\, friends and beyond.
\n“Posting It\, or Networkin g\, Victorian Style” presents the story of this revolutionary change. Thr ough a PowerPoint presentation and material objects on display\, we will j ourney with Golden to Victorian England to see the first adhesive postage stamp\, called the Penny Black\, which allowed letters up to ½ ounce to tr avel anywhere in the UK for only a penny. Stamps and prepayment quickly be came the model for other nations including the United States\, which issue d its first stamps in 1847.
\nGeorge Elgar Hicks’s narrative paintin g The General Post Office: One Minute to Six (1860)—on the cover of Posting It—shows the relevance of the Penny Post for networki ng in Victorian times and our time. The painting serves as a point of orig in for computer-mediated communication (CMC)\, complete with the excitemen t\, challenges\, and dangers that users experience today.
\nGolden w ill consider\, too\, how the Penny Post brought blessings and problems rel evant in the twenty-first century. It facilitated family ties\, promoted b usiness\, and spread information to an ever-widening postal “network”— but it also became a tool for blackmail\, slander\, unsolicited mass mailings and junk mail. The Penny Post anticipates and was as revolutionary to the Victorians in sending letters\, newspapers\, books and other information as e-mail\, text messages\, and blogs are to us today.
\nGolden is p rofessor of English and the Tisch Chair in Arts and Letters at Skidmore Co llege. She is author of Serials to Graphic Novels: The Evolution of the Victorian Illustrated Book (2017) and Images of the Woman Rea der in Victorian British and American Fiction (2003). She is editor or coeditor of five additional books on topics ranging from Charlotte Perk ins Gilman to Victorian illustration\, literature and culture and a regula r contributor to Illustration Magazine\, a British arts journal.< /p>\n
Posting It received the 2010 DeLong Book History Prize fo r the best book on any aspect of the creation\, dissemination\, or uses of script or print awarded by SHARP\, the Society for the History of Authors hip\, Reading and Publishing. Autographed paperback copies of Posting It and Serials to Graphic Novels will be available for purc hase at the tea.
\nThe summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks ar e sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.
\nTickets for the Golden talk are $28 for advance reservations and $32 day of the event. Reservations are highly recommended as seating is l imited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27196@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:SOLD OUT\nDownton Abbey has been a television phenomenon watche d by fans throughout the UK and the USA followed by the wildly successful traveling exhibition. Like other British costume dramas\, the clothing is presented with attention given to meticulous detail.\nHistoric textile and costume expert Susan J. Jerome will present facts to weave into her story of “Downton Abbey Style: The Influences on Fashion\, 1912 – 1925” here on Tuesday\, July 9 at 4:00 pm. A Victorian tea will follow.\nJerome will ex plore the social\, technological\, and political developments of the early 20th century as reflected in the notable evolution of women’s and men’s c lothing. Her visual presentation will look back at what was fashionable\, or not\, as a way of understanding why people wore what they did.\nShe wil l have her audience look at some of the influential designers and other pe rsons involved in the years spanning the Downton Abbey series. Time will b e given for questions and discussion\, which are encouraged.\nJerome is th e Collections Manager at the University of Rhode Island Historic Textile a nd Costume Collection. She earned her MS degree from the University of Rho de Island\, Department of Textiles\, Fashion Merchandising and Design. Pri or to continuing her education\, she worked for a number of years at Mysti c Seaport Museum.\nJerome also works as a textile and quilt conservator at CT Quilt Works in Mystic\, and a consultant to museums and historical soc ieties. An avid textilian\, she is happiest when writing\, talking and doi ng all things concerning textiles.\nThe summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks presented every Tuesday until September 10 are sponsored by Ventf ort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.\nCost to attend is $28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of. Reservations are recommended as seating is limited. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190709T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:SOLD OUT – Tea & Talk – “Downton Abbey Style: The Influences on Fas hion\, 1912 – 1925” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-downton-abbey-style-the-influences -on-fashion-1912-1925/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nSOLD OUT
\nDownton Abbey has been a television phenomenon watche d by fans throughout the UK and the USA followed by the wildly successful traveling exhibition. Like other British costume dramas\, the clothing is presented with attention given to meticulous detail.
\nHistoric text ile and costume expert Susan J. Jerome will present facts to weave into her story of “Downton Abbey Style: The Influences on Fashio n\, 1912 – 1925” here on Tuesday\, July 9 at 4:00 pm. A Victorian tea will follow.
\nJerome will explore the social\, technological\, and poli tical developments of the early 20th century as reflected in th e notable evolution of women’s and men’s clothing. Her visual presentation will look back at what was fashionable\, or not\, as a way of understandi ng why people wore what they did.
\nShe will have her audience look at some of the influential designers and other persons involved in the yea rs spanning the Downton Abbey series. Time will be given for questions and discussion\, which are encouraged.
\nJerome is the Collections Mana
ger at the University of Rhode Island Historic Textile and Costume Collect
ion. She earned her MS degree from the University of Rhode Island\, Depart
ment of Textiles\, Fashion Merchandising and Design. Prior to continuing h
er education\, she worked for a number of years at Mystic Seaport Museum
Jerome also works as a textile and quilt conservator at C T Quilt Works in Mystic\, and a consultant to museums and historical socie ties. An avid textilian\, she is happiest when writing\, talking and doing all things concerning textiles.
\nThe summer 2019 series of fourtee n Tea & Talks presented every Tuesday until September 10 are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.
\nCost t o attend is $28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of. Reservations are re commended as seating is limited. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservation s.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27197@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Join David Raby for a paranormal investigation of the historic and haunted Ventfort Hall. A non-fiction author and paranormal investigat or\, Raby has always been intrigued by history. He undauntedly enters haun ted locations that would terrify others with hopes of contacting lingering spirits to discover why they remain.\nRaby is the author of four publishe d books and countless online articles. With his passion for the paranormal field\, he has accumulated over a decade of experience\, founded a parano rmal group and has helped many people (and spirits) that ranged between th e curious and those seeking urgent advice.\nHis interest in the paranormal was shaped by the fact that spirits seem to be attracted to his compassio n and openness. He has a knack for storytelling that fuels his intensive h istorical research and fact finding.\nHe believes that by bringing people’ s stories out of the shadows and into the light of our awareness\, they ma y find eternal rest and peace.\nBefore the investigation\, he will give a brief history of the lives that once graced the hallways – and possibly st ill reside within. He will also share some of his favorite evidence from p revious investigations and will be happy to answer any questions about par anormal investigations. This event is perfect for everyone\; from someone who has never been on a paranormal investigation to the seasoned investiga tor.\nThe event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and concludes at midnight. Tickets for this exciting event are $35 per person. All of the proceeds from tick et sales will go towards the preservation and restoration of Ventfort Hall . Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190712T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190712T234500 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Ghost Hunt – “A Spirited Evening” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/ghost-hunt-with-david-raby-a-spirited-eveni ng/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nJoin David Raby for a paranormal investigation of the historic and hau nted Ventfort Hall. A non-fiction author and paranormal investigator\, Ra by has always been intrigued by history. He undauntedly enters haunted loc ations that would terrify others with hopes of contacting lingering spirit s to discover why they remain.
\nRaby is the author of four publishe d books and countless online articles. With his passion for the paranormal field\, he has accumulated over a decade of experience\, founded a parano rmal group and has helped many people (and spirits) that ranged between th e curious and those seeking urgent advice.
\nHis interest in the par anormal was shaped by the fact that spirits seem to be attracted to his co mpassion and openness. He has a knack for storytelling that fuels his inte nsive historical research and fact finding.
\nHe believes that by br inging people’s stories out of the shadows and into the light of our aware ness\, they may find eternal rest and peace.
\nBefore the investigat ion\, he will give a brief history of the lives that once graced the hallw ays – and possibly still reside within. He will also share some of his fav orite evidence from previous investigations and will be happy to answer an y questions about paranormal investigations. This event is perfect for eve ryone\; from someone who has never been on a paranormal investigation to t he seasoned investigator.
\nThe event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and co ncludes at midnight. Tickets for this exciting event are $35 per person. A ll of the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the preservation and restoration of Ventfort Hall. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations.< /p>\n X-COST:$35 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27260@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Come and shop J.McLaughlin’s summer collection at 68 Main St.\, Lenox. 15% of proceeds will benefit Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190713T113000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190713T163000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Sip & Shop at J.McLaughlin URL:https://gildedage.org/event/sip-shop-at-j-mclaughlin/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n
\\nCome and shop J.McLaughlin’s summer collection at 68 Main St.\, Lenox. 15% of proceeds will benefit Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum.
\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27198@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Many Berkshire cottage owners of the Gilded Age also had summer houses in scenic Maine coastal resorts – Isleboro\, Mount Desert and even Campobello across the border in Canada.\nHistorians Cornelia Brooke Gilde r and Dr. Ronald H. Epp\, author of Creating Acadia National Park: The Bio graphy of George B. Dorr\, will join to uncover the little-known story of the “Lenox Rusticators on the Maine Coast” here at the mansion on Tuesday\ , July 16. A Victorian tea will follow.\nGilder and Epp will tell how well -known Lenox figures – Dorrs\, Kanes\, Kinnicutts\, Parsons and Jesups – p articipated in the land conservation and civic life of the emerging Maine resorts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.\nThe story of the impac t of the Berkshires on the development in particular of the park located o n Mount Desert Island led by Dorr\, the legendary conservationist and land scape designer\, will also be told. His vision of Acadia offered “one gre at element of wildness” – “contact with the ocean and the sight from mount ainous heights of its great plain of waters.” He was also an advisor to ga rdening friends Beatrix Farrand at Bar Harbor\, Maine and Edith Wharton at her Lenox estate.\nThe summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks present ed every Tuesday until September 10 are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board m ember Lucille Landa and William Landa.\nCost to attend is $28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of. Reservations are recommended as seating is limi ted. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190716T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “Lenox Rusticators on the Maine Coast” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-lenox-rusticators-on-the-maine-coa st/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nMany Berkshir e cottage owners of the Gilded Age also had summer houses in scenic Maine coastal resorts – Isleboro\, Mount Desert and even Campobello across the b order in Canada.
\nHistorians Cornelia Brooke Gilder and Dr. Ronald H. Epp\, author of Creating Acadia N ational Park: The Biography of George B. Dorr\, will join to uncover the little-known story of the “Lenox Rusticators on the Maine Coast” here at the mansion on Tuesday\, July 16. A Victorian tea will follow.
\nGilder and Epp will tell how well-known Lenox figures – Dorrs\, Kanes\, Ki nnicutts\, Parsons and Jesups – participated in the land conservation and civic life of the emerging Maine resorts of the late 19th and early 20th c enturies.
\nThe story of the impact of the Berkshires on the develop ment in particular of the park located on Mount Desert Island led by Dorr\ , the legendary conservationist and landscape designer\, will also be told . His vision of Acadia offered “one great element of wildness” – “contact with the ocean and the sight from mountainous heights of its great plain of waters.” He was also an advisor to gardening friends Beatrix Farrand at Bar Harbor\, Maine and Edith Wharton at her Lenox estate.
\nThe sum mer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks presented every Tuesday until Sept ember 10 are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and Wil liam Landa.
\nCost to attend is $28 with advance reservation\; $32 d ay of. Reservations are recommended as seating is limited. Call us at (413 ) 637-3206 for reservations.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27239@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:CANCELLED\nThe Comical Mystery Tour ensemble returns to the man sion with an encore performance of “Murder Maiden China\,” and invites the public to join the fun on Saturday\, June 29th. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Pr ogram starts and first course served at 5:30 pm.\nGertrude Ingrid Josephin e Mattel\, a.k.a. GI Jo\, is running the Maiden China toy company since he r father’s passing. He was well loved\, but she is more of a dictator and has made some enemies. Actually\, she doesn’t have many\, if any friends\, including her hen pecked husband\, Lou Zerr. Her assistant\, C. Alice Kni ghtly\, is more like a slave. Goldie Digger\, Lou’s “secretary\,” has no g ood feelings towards her\, she thinks\, well maybe she doesn’t\, what were we talking about? Charlie Brown III is the delivery guy for “This Side UP ” package service. She calls him names every time he makes a delivery. Som eone gets sick of it and GI Joe ends up in permanent retirement. Come alon g for the ride and help figure who offed Joe.\nIn production since 1995\, The Comical Mystery Tour has had over 50\,000 audience members viewing and /or participating in their programs. The ensemble appears regularly at Ven tfort Hall.\nCost to attend is $40 per person including a full course dinn er. A cash bar is available for beer and wine. Reservations are required b y Wednesday\, July 17th. Seating is limited. For information or reservati ons call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190720T170000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CANCELLED – Murder Mystery Dinner Theater – “Murder Maiden China\,” Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first course served at 5:30 pm URL:https://gildedage.org/event/murder-mystery-dinner-theater-murder-maiden -china-doors-open-at-500-pm-program-starts-and-first-course-served-at-530- pm-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nCANCELLED
\nThe Comical Mystery Tour ensemble returns to the mansion with an enco re performance of “Murder Maiden China\,” and invites the public to join t he fun on Saturday\, June 29th. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first course served at 5:30 pm.
\nGertrude Ingrid Josephine Mattel\, a.k.a. GI Jo\, is running the Maiden China toy company since her father’s passing. He was well loved\, but she is more of a dictator and has made s ome enemies. Actually\, she doesn’t have many\, if any friends\, including her hen pecked husband\, Lou Zerr. Her assistant\, C. Alice Knightly\, is more like a slave. Goldie Digger\, Lou’s “secretary\,” has no good feelin gs towards her\, she thinks\, well maybe she doesn’t\, what were we talkin g about? Charlie Brown III is the delivery guy for “This Side UP” package service. She calls him names every time he makes a delivery. Someone gets sick of it and GI Joe ends up in permanent retirement. Come along for the ride and help figure who offed Joe.
\nIn production since 1995\, The Comical Mystery Tour has had over 50\,000 audience members viewing and/or participating in their programs. The ensemble appears regularly at Ventfo rt Hall.
\nCost to attend is $40 per person including a full course dinner. A cash bar is available for beer and wine. Reservations are requir ed by Wednesday\, July 17th. Seating is limited. For information or reser vations call us at 413-637-3206.
\n X-COST:$40\, reservations required by Wednesday\, July 17 X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27199@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:This is a story of discovery that will be presented by author\, journalist and Tufts University professor Julie Dobrow. She is the author of After Emily: Two Remarkable Women and the Legacy of America’s Greatest Poet\, copies of which she will autograph at the following Victorian tea. \nWhen Emily Dickinson died in 1886\, she was unknown outside the small ci rcle of her family and friends. Her sister\, Lavinia\, promised she would burn all of Emily’s papers once she was gone. But Lavinia could not bring herself to destroy the remarkable cache of nearly 1\,800 poems she discove red after Emily’s death.\nInstead she sought an editor\, a person who knew and loved Emily\, who could decipher the confusing manuscripts and put th em into publishable form. Mabel Loomis Todd was that person. Though Emily and Mabel never met face-to-face\, the friendship they had built through c orrespondence afforded Mabel the insight she would need as she and her dau ghter\, Millicent Todd Bingham\, built Emily’s literary legacy.\nFor decad es the story of Mabel and Millicent’s lives and their integral role in edi ting and publicizing Emily Dickinson’s poems and shaping the myth of the s o-called “Belle of Amherst” had been waiting in the archives. Thanks to Do brow the full story behind Mabel and Millicent’s work is finally revealed. Dobrow first became interested in Emily Dickinson when she was in colleg e and routinely walked past the Dickinson homes in Amherst\, MA. She devou red biographies of Emily and grew curious about Mabel\, known only for her role as one of Emily’s first editors or as the lover of Austin Dickinson\ , Emily’s older brother. Dobrow began to work in the enormous archives of Mabel and Millicent’s papers at Yale University—neither woman ever threw o ut a scrap of paper—and the project began to grow.\nThe new biography weav es together the stories of Emily\, Mabel and Millicent using hundreds of p rimary source materials\, many of which have never before been quoted in p ublished works. Dobrow’s work allows readers to hear the thoughts\, hopes and sorrows of these women in their own words—from the unforgettable feuds between Mabel and members of the Dickinson family\, to Millicent’s strugg les growing up steeped in her mother’s obsession with editing Dickinson’s works\, to their own close but complicated connection.\nWith the final suc cess of the poems\, tensions between the Dickinson and Todd families grew over the ownership of Emily’s work and the right to shape her legacy. This culminated in a sensational lawsuit\, which ultimately prompted Mabel to lock the remaining poems in a chest for decades\, only opening it near the end of her life with her daughter. Determined to ensure Emily’s legacy\, Millicent abruptly changed her professional course and edited and publishe d the remaining poems. But carrying on her mother’s work haunted Millicent for the rest of her life.\nDobrow is a professor with appointments in the department of Child Study and Human Development and the Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University and serves as director of the Center for In terdisciplinary Studies. Her writing has appeared in Boston Globe Magazine and the Huffington Post\, among other publications.\nThe summer 2019 seri es of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Luc ille Landa and William Landa.\nCost to attend is $28 with advance reservat ion\; $32 day of. Reservations are recommended as seating is limited. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190723T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “After Emily: The Women Who Introduced Emily Dickinson ” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-after-emily-the-women-who-introduc ed-emily-dickinson/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nThis is a sto ry of discovery that will be presented by author\, journalist and Tufts Un iversity professor Julie Dobrow. She is the author of After Emily: Two Remarkable Women and the Legacy of America’s Greatest Po et\, copies of which she will autograph at the following Victorian te a.
\nWhen Emily Dickinson died in 1886\, she was unknown outside the small circle of her family and friends. Her sister\, Lavinia\, promised s he would burn all of Emily’s papers once she was gone. But Lavinia could n ot bring herself to destroy the remarkable cache of nearly 1\,800 poems sh e discovered after Emily’s death.
\nInstead she sought an editor\, a person who knew and loved Emily\, who could decipher the confusing manusc ripts and put them into publishable form. Mabel Loomis Todd was that perso n. Though Emily and Mabel never met face-to-face\, the friendship they had built through correspondence afforded Mabel the insight she would need as she and her daughter\, Millicent Todd Bingham\, built Emily’s literary le gacy.
\nFor decades the story of Mabel and Millicent’s lives and the ir integral role in editing and publicizing Emily Dickinson’s poems and sh aping the myth of the so-called “Belle of Amherst” had been waiting in the archives. Thanks to Dobrow the full story behind Mabel and Millicent’s wo rk is finally revealed. Dobrow first became interested in Emily Dickinson when she was in college and routinely walked past the Dickinson homes in Amherst\, MA. She devoured biographies of Emily and grew curious about Mab el\, known only for her role as one of Emily’s first editors or as the lov er of Austin Dickinson\, Emily’s older brother. Dobrow began to work in th e enormous archives of Mabel and Millicent’s papers at Yale University—nei ther woman ever threw out a scrap of paper—and the project began to grow.< /p>\n
The new biography weaves together the stories of Emily\, Mabel and Millicent using hundreds of primary source materials\, many of which have never before been quoted in published works. Dobrow’s work allows readers to hear the thoughts\, hopes and sorrows of these women in their own word s—from the unforgettable feuds between Mabel and members of the Dickinson family\, to Millicent’s struggles growing up steeped in her mother’s obses sion with editing Dickinson’s works\, to their own close but complicated c onnection.
\nWith the final success of the poems\, tensions between the Dickinson and Todd families grew over the ownership of Emily’s work an d the right to shape her legacy. This culminated in a sensational lawsuit\ , which ultimately prompted Mabel to lock the remaining poems in a chest f or decades\, only opening it near the end of her life with her daughter. D etermined to ensure Emily’s legacy\, Millicent abruptly changed her profes sional course and edited and published the remaining poems. But carrying o n her mother’s work haunted Millicent for the rest of her life.
\nDo brow is a professor with appointments in the department of Child Study and Human Development and the Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University and serves as director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies. Her w riting has appeared in Boston Globe Magazine and the Huffingt on Post\, among other publications.
\nThe summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.
\nCost to attend is $28 with advance reserv ation\; $32 day of. Reservations are recommended as seating is limited. Ca ll us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27248@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:We’re excited to announce that we are among the 100 institution s across Massachusetts participating in this year’s Free Fun Friday initia tive\, thanks to our partnership with the Highland Street Foundation! Admi ssion will be free on July 26th.\nThe first floor and grounds will be open . Our second floor will be closed. We look forward to seeing you!\nFor mor e info about Free Fun Friday visit: http://www.highlandstreet.org/programs /free-fun-fridays-2019 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190726T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190726T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Free Fun Friday URL:https://gildedage.org/event/free-fun-friday/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nWe’re excited to announce that we are among the 100 institutions across Massachusetts p articipating in this year’s Free Fun Friday initiative\, thanks to our par tnership with the Highland Street Foundation! Admission will be free on Ju ly 26th.
\nThe first floor and grounds will be open. Our second floo r will be closed. We look forward to seeing you!
\nFor more info abo ut Free Fun Friday visit: http://www.highlandstreet.org/programs/free-fun-fri days-2019
\n X-COST:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27200@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Mary Anne Goley\, art historian and founding Director of the Fi ne Arts Program of the Federal Reserve Board\, Washington\, D.C.\, will gi ve a visual presentation on John White Alexander\, the subject of her book of the same title published last year. Goley\, acknowledged as the exper t on Alexander\, will autograph copies of her book at the Victorian tea f ollowing her presentation.\nConsidered on a par with his contemporaries Jo hn Singer Sargent and William Merritt Chase\, the once acclaimed portrait painter John White Alexander is especially recognized for his figure paint ings of women striking evocative poses and elaborately arranged in flowing gowns. These works of art have gained Alexander greater acclaim than his international career of painting portraits of men\, women and children.\nT he artist had an exceptional talent for expressing sentiment through movem ent and gesture\, capturing the essence of the female form in the process. Goley pinpoints the fact that Alexander found his own unique style when he encountered Juliette Very\, the Parisian model who became his muse.\nGo ley’s focus on Alexander began in 1973 when she had early access to histor ical materials she found in the untouched Alexander estate. Three years l ater\, she organized the first exhibit of Alexander’s work at the National Collection of Fine Arts\, now the Smithsonian American Art Museum.\nAs th e sole art historian at the Federal Reserve Board\, 1975 – 2006\, Goley he ld responsibilities similar to those involved in running a small museum\, collecting\, fundraising and organizing exhibitions\, including everything from New York Graffiti artists to the first American exhibition of the Sc ottish architect\, designer and artist\, Charles Rennie Mackintosh\, and b uilt the Federal Reserve’s recognized permanent collection. In 1982\, her landmark exhibition\, The Hague School and Its American Legacy caught the attention of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands\, who knighted Goley.\nThe summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.\nTickets for the Goley Tea & Talk are $28 for advance reservations and $32 day of the event. Reservat ions are highly recommended as seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walker Stree t in Lenox. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190730T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “John White Alexander: An American Gilded Age Artist” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-john-white-alexander-an-american-g ilded-age-artist/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nMary Anne Goley\, art historian and founding Director of the Fine Arts Program of the Federal Reserve Board\, Washington\, D.C.\, will give a vi sual presentation on John White Alexander\, the subject of her book of the same title published last year. Goley\, acknowledged as the expert on Al exander\, will autograph copies of her book at the Victorian tea followin g her presentation.
\nConsidered on a par with his contemporaries Jo hn Singer Sargent and William Merritt Chase\, the once acclaimed portrait painter John White Alexander is especially recognized for his figure paint ings of women striking evocative poses and elaborately arranged in flowing gowns. These works of art have gained Alexander greater acclaim than his international career of painting portraits of men\, women and children.
\nThe artist had an exceptional talent for expressing sentiment throug h movement and gesture\, capturing the essence of the female form in the p rocess. Goley pinpoints the fact that Alexander found his own unique styl e when he encountered Juliette Very\, the Parisian model who became his mu se.
\nGoley’s focus on Alexander began in 1973 when she had early ac cess to historical materials she found in the untouched Alexander estate. Three years later\, she organized the first exhibit of Alexander’s work a t the National Collection of Fine Arts\, now the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
\nAs the sole art historian at the Federal Reserve Board\, 1 975 – 2006\, Goley held responsibilities similar to those involved in runn ing a small museum\, collecting\, fundraising and organizing exhibitions\, including everything from New York Graffiti artists to the first American exhibition of the Scottish architect\, designer and artist\, Charles Renn ie Mackintosh\, and built the Federal Reserve’s recognized permanent colle ction. In 1982\, her landmark exhibition\, The Hague School and Its A merican Legacy caught the attention of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlan ds\, who knighted Goley.
\nThe summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and Willia m Landa.
\nTickets for the Goley Tea & Talk are $28 for advance rese rvations and $32 day of the event. Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. The histo rical mansion is located at 104 Walker Street in Lenox.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27201@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Author and museum curator Robin Jaffee Frank will give a presen tation on “Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland\, 1861 – 2008\,” the subject of a traveling art exhibition for which she was the curator a nd lead author of the accompanying catalogue and succeeding hardcover book . Frank will take her audience for a visual ride here at the mansion. Dur ing a Victorian tea following her presentation\, the speaker will autograp h copies of the book.\nCalled “America’s Playground\,” Coney Island is a w orld-famous resort and national cultural symbol that has inspired music\, literature and films. The groundbreaking book is the first to look at the site’s enduring status as inspiration for artists\, from its inception as an elite seaside resort in the mid-19th century to its evolution into an entertainment mecca for the masses and to its decline and eventual closing .\nHow artists chose to portray Coney Island between 1861 and 2008 – in ta bleaux of wonder and menace\, hope and despair\, dreams and nightmares – m irrored the aspirations and disappointments of the era.\nFrank\, considere d an innovative art museum curator\, has organized exhibitions\, lectured and published widely on American visual culture from the colonial to conte mporary periods. As chief curator of the Wadsworth Athenaeum\, she oversa w the museum’s reinstallation of its newly renovated galleries\, opened in 2015. Before then\, she was a curator at the Yale University Art Gallery .\nThe summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfor t Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.\nTickets for the tea & Talk are $28 for advance reservations and $32 day of the event. Reserva tions are highly recommended as seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190806T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland\, 1861 – 2008” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-coney-island-visions-of-an-america n-dreamland-1861-2008/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nAuthor and mu seum curator Robin Jaffee Frank will give a presentation on “Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland\, 1861 – 2008\,” the su bject of a traveling art exhibition for which she was the curator and lead author of the accompanying catalogue and succeeding hardcover book. Fran k will take her audience for a visual ride here at the mansion. During a V ictorian tea following her presentation\, the speaker will autograph copie s of the book.
\nCalled “America’s Playground\,” Coney Island is a w orld-famous resort and national cultural symbol that has inspired music\, literature and films. The groundbreaking book is the first to look at the site’s enduring status as inspiration for artists\, from its inception as an elite seaside resort in the mid-19th century to its evoluti on into an entertainment mecca for the masses and to its decline and event ual closing.
\nHow artists chose to portray Coney Island between 186 1 and 2008 – in tableaux of wonder and menace\, hope and despair\, dreams and nightmares – mirrored the aspirations and disappointments of the era.< /p>\n
Frank\, considered an innovative art museum curator\, has organize d exhibitions\, lectured and published widely on American visual culture f rom the colonial to contemporary periods. As chief curator of the Wadswor th Athenaeum\, she oversaw the museum’s reinstallation of its newly renova ted galleries\, opened in 2015. Before then\, she was a curator at the Ya le University Art Gallery.
\nThe summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and Will iam Landa.
\nTickets for the tea & Talk are $28 for advance reservat ions and $32 day of the event. Reservations are highly recommended as sea ting is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27202@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Considered one of the ten richest men in America during the Gil ded Age\, Archer Milton Huntington “was so intensely private that to this day very little is known about him\,” according to historian Francis Morro ne. Based on material that he has uncovered\, Morrone will present his fi ndings here at the mansion followed by a Victorian tea.\nThe speaker disco vered a wealth of information about the elusive Huntington in the process of writing a detailed report on the family’s mansion at 1083 Fifth Avenue in New York City. Huntington\, among other extraordinary endeavors\, was the founder of the Hispanic Society of America Museum located in the Audub on Terrace complex in Upper Manhattan.\nMorrone’s report dovetails with th e reopening this fall of the museum\, considered a major event under the d ynamic leadership of Philippe de Montebello. He is the former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.\nThe Hispanic Society of America Museum c ontains more than 18\,000 works in almost every medium\, including paintin gs\, drawings\, sculptures\, decorative arts and useful arts dating from t he Paleolithic to the 20th century from Spain\, Portugal and Latin America . Spanish paintings alone include works by Valesquez\, El Greco and Goya with his famous “Duchess of Alba.” Fourteen large-scale paintings depicti ng “Vision of Spain” are by Joaquin Soralla y Bastida.\nHuntington was the stepson of railroad magnate and industrialist Collis P. Huntington\, whos e nephew\, Henry E. Huntington\, founded the Huntington Library at San Mar ino\, CA. Archer’s wife\, Anna Hyatt Huntington\, was considered one of th e leading sculptors of their day\, whose works still grace the Hispanic So ciety of America Museum.\nMorrone will be returning for his seventh summer at Ventfort Hall. He is also the author of eleven books\, including archi tectural guide books. His writings have appeared in the Wall Street Journ al\, the New Criterion\, City Journal and the New York Sun\, where he was an art and architecture critic. He teaches architectural and urban histor y at New York University\, and is the recipient of the university’s Excell ence in Teaching Award. Travel + Leisure magazine named him as one of the 13 best tour guides in the world. He has also received an Arthur Ross Aw ard from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.\nThe summer 2019 s eries of fourteen Tea & Talks presented every Tuesday until September 10 a re sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa .\nTickets for the Jerome talk are $28 for advance reservations and $32 da y of the event. Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited . For reservations call usl at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190813T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “Archer Milton Huntington & the Hispanic Society of Am erica Museum” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-archer-milton-huntington-the-hispa nic-society-of-america-museum/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nConsidered on e of the ten richest men in America during the Gilded Age\, Archer Milton Huntington “was so intensely private that to this day very little is known about him\,” according to historian Francis Morrone. Ba sed on material that he has uncovered\, Morrone will present his findings here at the mansion followed by a Victorian tea.
\nThe speaker disco vered a wealth of information about the elusive Huntington in the process of writing a detailed report on the family’s mansion at 1083 Fifth Avenue in New York City. Huntington\, among other extraordinary endeavors\, was the founder of the Hispanic Society of America Museum located in the Audub on Terrace complex in Upper Manhattan.
\nMorrone’s report dovetails with the reopening this fall of the museum\, considered a major event unde r the dynamic leadership of Philippe de Montebello. He is the former dire ctor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
\nThe Hispanic Society of Am erica Museum contains more than 18\,000 works in almost every medium\, inc luding paintings\, drawings\, sculptures\, decorative arts and useful arts dating from the Paleolithic to the 20th century from Spain\, P ortugal and Latin America. Spanish paintings alone include works by Vales quez\, El Greco and Goya with his famous “Duchess of Alba.” Fourteen larg e-scale paintings depicting “Vision of Spain” are by Joaquin Soralla y Bas tida.
\nHuntington was the stepson of railroad magnate and industria list Collis P. Huntington\, whose nephew\, Henry E. Huntington\, founded t he Huntington Library at San Marino\, CA. Archer’s wife\, Anna Hyatt Hunti ngton\, was considered one of the leading sculptors of their day\, whose w orks still grace the Hispanic Society of America Museum.
\nMorrone w ill be returning for his seventh summer at Ventfort Hall. He is also the a uthor of eleven books\, including architectural guide books. His writings have appeared in the Wall Street Journal\, the New Criterion \, City Journal and the New York Sun\, where he was an art and architecture critic. He teaches architectural and urban histo ry at New York University\, and is the recipient of the university’s Excel lence in Teaching Award. Travel + Leisure magazine named him as one of th e 13 best tour guides in the world. He has also received an Arthur Ross A ward from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.
\nThe summe r 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks presented every Tuesday until Septem ber 10 are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and Willi am Landa.
\nTickets for the Jerome talk are $28 for advance reservat ions and $32 day of the event. Reservations are highly recommended as sea ting is limited. For reservations call usl at 413-637-3206.
\n< /HTML> X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27203@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:There is a cast of fascinating characters in “The Grandest Madi son Square Garden: Art\, Scandal and Architecture in Gilded Age New York.” Art historian Prof. Suzanne Hinman will tell all when she presents her r emarkable story here at the mansion. She will autograph copies of her new book of the same title at a following Victoria tea.\nHinman will center on the most beautiful of New York City’s Gardens or Palaces of Pleasure (189 0 – 1925) and the controversial 18-foot nude sculpture of Diana\, Virgin G oddess of the Hunt that crowned it. The prominent players were pals\, arch itect Stanford White and sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens\, both of whom ga ve American vitality to European architectural styles amid the elegant but scandal-ridden Gilded Age. The speaker will also present her new theory r egarding a sexual motive behind the famous murder of Stanford White.\nArch itect\, co-author of Stanford White\, Architect and great-grandson Samuel G. White says about Hinman’s book\, “Using the building as an armature Suz anne Hinman narrates a detailed and wide-ranging account of the Gilded Age from its picaresque characters\, social choreography\, and cultural prefe rences to its volatile economy\, favorite restaurants\, and even construct ion technology…That armature can support a great deal of information and H inman uses it to full and entertaining advantage.”\nHinman holds a Ph.D in American art history ands has been a curator\, gallerist\, museum directo r\, professor and an art model. She owned an art gallery in Santa Fe and then served as director of galleries at the Savannah College of Art and De sign. Her interest in the artists and architects of the Gilded Age and the famed Cornish Art Colony in New Hampshire\, where Augustus Saint- Gaudens had a studio and summer home\, developed while associate director of the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College.\nThe Summer 2019 series of fourte en Tea & Talks presented every Tuesday until September 10 are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.\nCost to atte nd is $28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of. Reservations are recommen ded as seating is limited. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190820T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “The Grandest Madison Square Garden: Art\, Scandal and Architecture in Gilded Age New York” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-the-grandest-madison-square-garden -art-scandal-and-architecture-in-gilded-age-new-york/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nThere is a ca st of fascinating characters in “The Grandest Madison Square Garden: Art\, Scandal and Architecture in Gilded Age New York.” Art historian Prof. Suzanne Hinman will tell all when she presents her remarkable story here at the mansion. She will autograph copies of her new book of the sam e title at a following Victoria tea.
\nHinman will center on the mos t beautiful of New York City’s Gardens or Palaces of Pleasure (1890 – 1925 ) and the controversial 18-foot nude sculpture of Diana\, Virgin Goddess o f the Hunt that crowned it. The prominent players were pals\, architect St anford White and sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens\, both of whom gave Ameri can vitality to European architectural styles amid the elegant but scandal -ridden Gilded Age. The speaker will also present her new theory regarding a sexual motive behind the famous murder of Stanford White.
\nArchi tect\, co-author of Stanford White\, Architect and great-grandson Samuel G. White says about Hinman’s book\, “Using the building as an arma ture Suzanne Hinman narrates a detailed and wide-ranging account of the Gi lded Age from its picaresque characters\, social choreography\, and cultur al preferences to its volatile economy\, favorite restaurants\, and even c onstruction technology…That armature can support a great deal of informati on and Hinman uses it to full and entertaining advantage.”
\nHinman holds a Ph.D in American art history ands has been a curator\, gallerist\, museum director\, professor and an art model. She owned an art gallery i n Santa Fe and then served as director of galleries at the Savannah Colleg e of Art and Design. Her interest in the artists and architects of the Gil ded Age and the famed Cornish Art Colony in New Hampshire\, where Augustus Saint- Gaudens had a studio and summer home\, developed while associate d irector of the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College.
\nThe Summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks presented every Tuesday until Septemb er 10 are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and Willia m Landa.
\nCost to attend is $28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of. Reservations are recommended as seating is limited. Call us at (413) 6 37-3206 for reservations.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27333@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:CLOSING SATURDAY\, AUGUST 24\, AT 4 PM DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190824T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190824T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSING SATURDAY\, AUGUST 24\, AT 4 PM URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closing-saturday-august-24-at-4-pm/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nProf. Daniel Czitrom latest book New York Exposed: The Gilded Age Police Scandal Th at Launched the Progressive Movement reveals several key themes that resonate today. He will uncover them during his talk here at the mansion and autograph copies of his book during an accompanying Victorian tea.
\nCzitrom will open with the explosive charges leveled against the New York Police Department and Tammany Hall by the Rev. Dr. Charles H. Parkhur st in 1892. Two years later\, Parkhurst’s crusade forced the first sensat ional political investigation of the modern era and kick-started the Progr essive movement.
\nEstablished by the New York State Senate\, the Le xow Committee heard testimony from nearly 700 witnesses\, representing all walks of New York life. It revealed in shocking and unprecedented detail how the police force managed New York’s lucrative vice economy\, extorted payoffs from respectable businesses and enjoyed immunity from charges of p olice brutality.
\nThe narrative unfolds amidst the larger contexts of machine politics\, national elections\, the depression of 1893\, vote f raud and vote suppression\, and police violence. The effort to root out co rrupt cops and crooked politicians morphed into something much more profou nd: a public reckoning\, messy and contentious\, over what New York—and th e American city—had become since the Civil War. The speaker will dig into the research challenges that he faced in conceiving and writing his book.< /p>\n
Czitrom is Professor of History on the Ford Foundation at Mount Ho lyoke College\, with special interest in the history of New York City and 20th century America. He is also the author of Rediscoverin g Jacob Riis: Exposure Journalism and Photography in Turn of the Century N ew York (2008)\; Media and the American Mind: From Morse to McLuh an (1982)\; and co-author of Out of Many: A History of the Americ an People (9th ed.\, 2019)\, a best-selling college survey textbook.< /p>\n
He served as Historical Advisor for the BBC America historical dra ma Copper (2011-13) set in Civil War era New York. And he has app eared as a featured on-camera commentator in numerous documentary film pro jects\, including Joseph Pulitzer: Voice of the People (PBS/Ameri can Masters\, 2019)\; The Rise and Fall of Penn Station (PBS\, 20 14)\; New York: A Documentary Film (PBS\, 1999)\; American Ph otography: A Century of Images (PBS\, 1999). Since 2009 he has been a Distinguished Lecturer for the Organization of American Historians.
\nThe Summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks presented every Tuesda y until September 10 are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille L anda and William Landa.
\nTickets for the Czitrom talk are $28 for a dvance reservations and $32 day of the event. Reservations are highly rec ommended as seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27205@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Writer/reporter Steve Crowe will focus on remembering a onetime dynamic Berkshire figure who created the celebrated Eastover Resort in Le nox when he presents “George Bisacca: His Life\, His Way” at a Tea & Talk. As the writer of the authorized memoir\, Crowe autograph copies of his b ook of the same title during an accompanying Victorian tea.\nBisacca (1904 —1984) was known throughout the county for his extravagant Fourth of July parade floats\, his herds of bison and longhorn steer\, his cannon “finale s” for The 1812 Overture at Tanglewood\, and his generous support of the c ommunity.\nHe was 14 years old when he left high school to work at the Rem ington Arms factory during World War 1. When the foreman discovered his a ge\, he fired him and told him to go back to school. The youngster create d an alias – Alfred Montesi – and got a new job in another department of t he same factory.\nGeorge had enough spunk and the spirit of adventure to t ravel with Ringling Bros. Circus\, harvest wheat in North Dakota and ride trains with hobos. Eventually he put his life savings into a rundown Lenox estate and turned it into the original Eastover Resort.\nIn 1979\, George recounted his adventures in an interview for a pamphlet\, “The Eastover S tory.” Notes from that interview\, stored in a shoebox for nearly 40 years \, have preserved in his own words the telling of his story.\nCrowe is a n ative of Lenox. He holds degrees from UMass/Amherst and Boston University. He was a reporter and editor for several North of Boston newspapers\, inc luding the Salem News and the (Lawrence) Eagle-Tribune. He has taught coll ege writing courses in the U.S. and China. He and his wife\, Betsy\, live in Beverly\, MA\, and also have a home in Monterey\, MA.\nThe Summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks presented every Tuesday until September 10 are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Land a.\nTickets for the Crowe talk are $28 for advance reservations and $32 da y of the event. Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited . For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190903T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “George Bisacca: His Life\, His Way” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-george-bisacca-his-life-his-way/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nWriter/report er Steve Crowe will focus on remembering a onetime dynamic Berkshire figur e who created the celebrated Eastover Resort in Lenox when he presents “Ge orge Bisacca: His Life\, His Way” at a Tea & Talk. As the writer of the a uthorized memoir\, Crowe autograph copies of his book of the same title du ring an accompanying Victorian tea.
\nBisacca (1904—1984) was known throughout the county for his extravagant Fourth of July parade floats\, h is herds of bison and longhorn steer\, his cannon “finales” for The 18 12 Overture at Tanglewood\, and his generous support of the community .
\nHe was 14 years old when he left high school to work at the Remi ngton Arms factory during World War 1. When the foreman discovered his ag e\, he fired him and told him to go back to school. The youngster created an alias – Alfred Montesi – and got a new job in another department of th e same factory.
\nGeorge had enough spunk and the spirit of adventur e to travel with Ringling Bros. Circus\, harvest wheat in North Dakota and ride trains with hobos. Eventually he put his life savings into a rundown Lenox estate and turned it into the original Eastover Resort.
\nIn 1979\, George recounted his adventures in an interview for a pamphlet\, “T he Eastover Story.” Notes from that interview\, stored in a shoebox for ne arly 40 years\, have preserved in his own words the telling of his story.< /p>\n
Crowe is a native of Lenox. He holds degrees from UMass/Amherst an d Boston University. He was a reporter and editor for several North of Bos ton newspapers\, including the Salem News and the (Lawrence) Eagle-Tribune. He has taught college writing courses in the U.S. and China. He and his wife\, Betsy\, live in Beverly\, MA\, and also have a ho me in Monterey\, MA.
\nThe Summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talk s presented every Tuesday until September 10 are sponsored by Ventfort Hal l board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.
\nTickets for the Cr owe talk are $28 for advance reservations and $32 day of the event. Reser vations are highly recommended as seating is limited. For reservations c all us at 413-637-3206.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27325@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Ventfort Hall board member and veteran Lenox Tub Parade partici pant Tjasa Sprague will present a Tea & Talk on the story of this traditio nal event that dates back to the Gilded Age in the Berkshires. Her presen tation will be followed by a Victorian Tea.\nHer talk coincides with the a nnual Lenox Main Street parade scheduled for the same day at 1:30 pm\, co- sponsored by the Colonial Carriage & Driving Society and the Lenox Chamber .\nThe New York Times\, 9/8/1895\, printed: “Now that the hydrangeas\, ast ers\, and all the various flowers of this region are approaching perfectio n\, the young women are reminded of the floral tub parade…” (The Tub defi ned: an Irish term for a horse drawn cart.)\nOver the years Sprague has co llected clippings and historic photos of the Lenox Tub Parade. From 1983 i t became an annual event again and\, says Sprague\, “there are countless p hotos and memories since then. Photos from Anna Alexandre’s photo album an d others from the Stokes family show a glimpse into family life revealing how naturally the flower parades would celebrate the joys of the summer an d fall seasons.”\nCost to attend is $28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of. Reservations are recommended as seating is limited. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190907T153000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “The Story of the Lenox Tub Parade with Tjasa Sprague” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-the-story-of-the-lenox-tub-parade- with-tjasa-sprague/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nVentfort Hall board member and veteran Lenox Tub Parade participant Tjasa Sprague will present a Tea & Talk on the story of this traditional event that dates bac k to the Gilded Age in the Berkshires. Her presentation will be followed by a Victorian Tea.
\nHer talk coincides with the annual Lenox Main Street parade scheduled for the same day at 1:30 pm\, co-sponsored by the Colonial Carriage & Driving Society and the Lenox Chamber.
\nThe New York Times\, 9/8/1895\, printed: “Now that the hydrangeas\, aste rs\, and all the various flowers of this region are approaching perfection \, the young women are reminded of the floral tub parade…” (The Tub defin ed: an Irish term for a horse drawn cart.)
\nOver the years Sprague has collected clippings and historic photos of the Lenox Tub Parade. From 1983 it became an annual event again and\, says Sprague\, “there are count less photos and memories since then. Photos from Anna Alexandre’s photo al bum and others from the Stokes family show a glimpse into family life reve aling how naturally the flower parades would celebrate the joys of the sum mer and fall seasons.”
\nCost to attend is $28 with advance reservat ion\; $32 day of. Reservations are recommended as seating is limited. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27206@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Award-winning architecture and interiors photographer Pieter Es tersohn will take us on a pictorial journey with “Life Along the Hudson: T he Historic Country Estates of the Livingston Family.” The tour will relat e to many of the thirty-five sublime country homes along the Hudson River that he photographed for his large-scale book of the same title. Autograph ed copies of his book will be available for purchase during the Victorian tea following his presentation.\nConstructed on scenic land along the Huds on originally settled in the late 17th century by the influential Livingst on family\, these later country houses were lived in by descendants\, incl uding such 18th century landed gentry and 19th century industrialists as t he Astors\, Chanlers\, Chapmans\, Delanos and Roosevelts.\nThere were Dutc h Colonial cottages and grander Gothic Revival\, Federal\, Georgian and Be aux-Arts residences. Architects that come to mind include Stanford White\, A. J. Davis\, Calvert Vaux\, Warren and Wetmore and others. These houses were paired with expansive lawns and gardens with riverfront views.\nEster sohn became fascinated with the subject of his book after purchasing and r enovating one such property. He also took an earlier interest in both the imagery and history of country houses here and in Europe while doing fashi on shoots for British and Italian Vogue. As he recalls: “I was living in P aris and I shot models in these incredible 18th-century houses.” Later he moved into shooting interiors for Elle Décor and Architectural Digest and then for Conde Nast Traveler and Departures. “I’ve worked on 70-something books\, but this is the first book that I’ve written.”\nThe Summer 2019 se ries of fourteen Tea & Talks presented every Tuesday\, of which the Esters ohn is the concluding lecture\, have been sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.\nCost to attend is $28 with advan ce reservation\; $32 day of. Reservations are recommended as seating is li mited. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190910T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “Life Along the Hudson: The Historic Livingston Countr y Estates” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-life-along-the-hudson-the-historic -livingston-country-estates/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nAward-winning architecture and interiors photographer Pieter Estersohn will take us on a pictorial journey with “Life Along the Hudson: The Hist oric Country Estates of the Livingston Family.” The tour will relate to ma ny of the thirty-five sublime country homes along the Hudson River that he photographed for his large-scale book of the same title. Autographed copi es of his book will be available for purchase during the Victorian tea fol lowing his presentation.
\nConstructed on scenic land along the Huds on originally settled in the late 17th century by the influenti al Livingston family\, these later country houses were lived in by descend ants\, including such 18th century landed gentry and 19th< /sup> century industrialists as the Astors\, Chanlers\, Chapmans\, Delanos and Roosevelts.
\nThere were Dutch Colonial cottages and grander Go thic Revival\, Federal\, Georgian and Beaux-Arts residences. Architects th at come to mind include Stanford White\, A. J. Davis\, Calvert Vaux\, Warr en and Wetmore and others. These houses were paired with expansive lawns a nd gardens with riverfront views.
\nEstersohn became fascinated with the subject of his book after purchasing and renovating one such property . He also took an earlier interest in both the imagery and history of coun try houses here and in Europe while doing fashion shoots for British and I talian Vogue. As he recalls: “I was living in Paris and I shot mo dels in these incredible 18th-century houses.” Later he moved i nto shooting interiors for Elle Décor and Architectural Diges t and then for Conde Nast Traveler and Departures. “I’ve worked on 70-something books\, but this is the first book that I’ve written.”
\nThe Summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks presented every Tuesday\, of which the Estersohn is the concluding lecture\, have b een sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Land a.
\nCost to attend is $28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of. Re servations are recommended as seating is limited. Call us at (413) 637-320 6 for reservations.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27327@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Berkshire historian Bernard Drew will put the petal to the subj ect of early automobiling here at the mansion. His presentation will be fo llowed by a Victorian Tea. He will have copies of his new book on the subj ect available for autographing.\nThree fascinating individuals weave in an d out of the story: Alden Sampson II\, a young go-getter who became a prom ising manufacturer in Pittsfield\, first of automobiles\, then of rugged c ommercial trucks\; Marguerite Westinghouse of Lee\, always a passenger\, n ever a driver\, ever a champion of Good Roads\; and the over-the-top bon v ivant Cortlandt Field Bishop of Lenox\, who showed his neighbors — recepti ve or not — how much pleasure motorcars could bring. A spin behind the whe el coincided with discovering the Berkshire’s best new roads and reporting back to friends and family.\nWith their affluence (and influence)\, the t hree savored French automobiles. Sampson initially assembled Moyea touring cars — licensed from the French manufacturer Rochet-Schneider — before ma king his own-brand of vehicles. Mrs. W toured\, naturally\, in a Westingho use limousine made by one of her husband George’s Gallic subsidiaries. Bis hop and his younger brother\, David Wolfe Bishop Jr.\, couldn’t wait to br ing home the latest road machines made by De Dion-Bouton\, Panhard et Leva ssor or Société Mors. Cortlandt’s all-terrain\, track-driven Citroën-Kégre sse Autoneige was the first to be imported to the United States.\nCost to attend is $28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of. Reservations are reco mmended as seating is limited. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190914T153000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “Well-Wheeled: How Gilded Age Cottagers Fueled Early A utomobiling” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-well-wheeled-how-gilded-age-cottag ers-fueled-early-automobiling/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nBerkshire his torian Bernard Drew will put the petal to the subject of early automobilin g here at the mansion. His presentation will be followed by a Victorian Te a. He will have copies of his new book on the subject available for autogr aphing.
\nThree fascinating individuals weave in and out of the stor y: Alden Sampson II\, a young go-getter who became a promising manufacture r in Pittsfield\, first of automobiles\, then of rugged commercial trucks\ ; Marguerite Westinghouse of Lee\, always a passenger\, never a driver\, e ver a champion of Good Roads\; and the over-the-top bon vivant Co rtlandt Field Bishop of Lenox\, who showed his neighbors — receptive or no t — how much pleasure motorcars could bring. A spin behind the wheel coinc ided with discovering the Berkshire’s best new roads and reporting back to friends and family.
\nWith their affluence (and influence)\, the th ree savored French automobiles. Sampson initially assembled Moyea touring cars — licensed from the French manufacturer Rochet-Schneider — before mak ing his own-brand of vehicles. Mrs. W toured\, naturally\, in a Westinghou se limousine made by one of her husband George’s Gallic subsidiaries. Bish op and his younger brother\, David Wolfe Bishop Jr.\, couldn’t wait to bri ng home the latest road machines made by De Dion-Bouton\, Panhard et Levas sor or Société Mors. Cortlandt’s all-terrain\, track-driven Citroën-Kégres se Autoneige was the first to be imported to the United States.
\nCo st to attend is $28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of. Reservations ar e recommended as seating is limited. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reserva tions.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27316@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:The Comical Mystery Tour ensemble returns to the mansion after their summer vacation with “Murder Is in the Stars” and invites the public to join the fun on Sunday\, September 15th. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Progra m starts and first course served at 5:30 pm.\nLady Lydia the psychic\, has called together a group of millionaires offering the gift of eternal life for the small sum of 5 million dollars. Some believe it is totally legit\ , but someone decides her life shouldn’t be eternal and drops the final cu rtain on her. Was it Big Bosco\, the “Family” man\, or Governor Bill Fold? It couldn’t be a politician\, could it? I mean they are all so honest. Ho w about Candy Cotton\, the adult film star trying to make it big in legit movies or might it have been Gaylord Gabby\, the fashion designer from the left coast. If Lydia were still alive she could tell you for sure. Wait a minute\; if she is a real psychic\, she would have known it was coming wo uldn’t she? Come along and join us for another fun filled night of mystery and help figure out who offs Lady Lydia.\nIn production since 1995\, The Comical Mystery Tour has had over 50\,000 audience members viewing and/or participating in their programs. The ensemble appears regularly at Ventfor t Hall.\nCost to attend is $40 per person including a full course dinner. A cash bar is available for beer and wine. Reservations are required by We dnesday\, Sept. 11th. Seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413 -637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190915T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190915T203000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Murder Mystery Dinner Theater – “Murder Is in the Stars\,” Doors op en at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first course served at 5:30 pm URL:https://gildedage.org/event/murder-mystery-dinner-theater/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nThe Comical M ystery Tour ensemble returns to the mansion after their summer vacation wi th “Murder Is in the Stars” and invites the public to join the fun on Sund ay\, September 15th. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first cours e served at 5:30 pm.
\nLady Lydia the psychic\, has called together a group of millionaires offering the gift of eternal life for the small su m of 5 million dollars. Some believe it is totally legit\, but someone dec ides her life shouldn’t be eternal and drops the final curtain on her. Was it Big Bosco\, the “Family” man\, or Governor Bill Fold? It couldn’t be a politician\, could it? I mean they are all so honest. How about Candy Cot ton\, the adult film star trying to make it big in legit movies or might i t have been Gaylord Gabby\, the fashion designer from the left coast. If L ydia were still alive she could tell you for sure. Wait a minute\; if she is a real psychic\, she would have known it was coming wouldn’t she? Come along and join us for another fun filled night of mystery and help figure out who offs Lady Lydia.
\nIn production since 1995\, The Comical My stery Tour has had over 50\,000 audience members viewing and/or participat ing in their programs. The ensemble appears regularly at Ventfort Hall.
\nCost to attend is $40 per person including a full course dinner. A c ash bar is available for beer and wine. Reservations are required by Wedne sday\, Sept. 11th. Seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-63 7-3206.
\n X-COST:$40\, reservations required by Wednesday\, Sept. 11th END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27366@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Be the first to experience the romance\, the intrigue and the g randeur as Phoenix Theatres Beacon Cinema present advance screenings of Do wnton Abbey Thursday\, September 19. #DowntonAbbeyFilm. And stop by our po p-up shop featuring Downton Abbey merchandise in the theater lobby Thursda y\, Sept. 19\, from 6 to 9 pm and Friday\, Sept. 20 from 4 to 9:30 pm. All proceeds benefit Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum.\nSave your movie ticket stub for a $5.00 discount off of a tour of Ventfort Hall\, 10 4\, Walker St.\, Lenox\, MA. Offer good through the month of October 2019. \nTicketing Link – https://phx.movie/DowntonAbbey\nThe television series D ownton Abbey followed the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who worked for them at the turn of the 20th century in an Edwardian English c ountry house. Over its 6 seasons\, the series garnered 3 Golden Globe Awar ds\, 15 Primetime Emmy Awards\, 69 Emmy nominations in total\, making Down ton Abbey the most nominated non-US television show in the history of the Emmys – even earning a Special BAFTA award and a Guinness World Record for the highest critically rated TV show along the way.\nAn Official Project of Save America’s Treasures program sponsored by The White House\, Ventfor t Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum was built in 1893 for George and Sara h Morgan\, who was the sister of financier J. P. Morgan. The museum offers tours of the historic mansion\, as well as Tea & Talks\, such exhibitions as the Bellefontaine Collection\, theater\, and other programs. This eleg ant Jacobean-Revival Berkshire “cottage\,” listed on the National Register of Historic Places\, is open to the public year round and is available fo r private rental. Ventfort Hall has undergone substantial restoration\, w hich continues. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190919T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190919T210000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Pop-up Shop at “Downton Abbey” Movie at Phoenix Theatres Beacon Cin ema\, Pittsfield\, MA URL:https://gildedage.org/event/pop-up-shop-at-downton-abbey-movie-at-phoen ix-theatres-beacon-cinema-pittsfield-ma/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nBe the first to experience the romance\, the intrigue and the grandeur as Phoenix Theat res Beacon Cinema present advance screenings of Downton Abbey Thu rsday\, September 19. #DowntonAbbeyFilm. And stop by our pop-up shop featu ring Downton Abbey merchandise in the theater lobby Thursday\, Sept. 19\, from 6 to 9 pm and Friday\, Sept. 20 from 4 to 9:30 pm. All proceeds benef it Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum.
\nSave your movie ti cket stub for a $5.00 discount off of a tour of Ventfort Hall\, 104\, Walk er St.\, Lenox\, MA. Offer good through the month of October 2019.
\nTicketing Link – https://phx.mov ie/DowntonAbbey
\nThe television series Downton Abbey followed t he lives of the Crawley family and the servants who worked for them at the turn of the 20th century in an Edwardian English country house. Over its 6 seasons\, the series garnered 3 Golden Globe Awards\, 15 Primetime Emmy Awards\, 69 Emmy nominations in total\, making Downton Abbey the most nomi nated non-US television show in the history of the Emmys – even earning a Special BAFTA award and a Guinness World Record for the highest critically rated TV show along the way.
\nAn Official Project of Save America’ s Treasures program sponsored by The White House\, Ventfort Hall Mansion a nd Gilded Age Museum was built in 1893 for George and Sarah Morgan\, who w as the sister of financier J. P. Morgan. The museum offers tours of the hi storic mansion\, as well as Tea & Talks\, such exhibitions as the Bellefon taine Collection\, theater\, and other programs. This elegant Jacobean-Rev ival Berkshire “cottage\,” listed on the National Register of Historic Pla ces\, is open to the public year round and is available for private rental . Ventfort Hall has undergone substantial restoration\, which continues.< /p>\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27367@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Be the first to experience the romance\, the intrigue and the g randeur as Phoenix Theatres Beacon Cinema present advance screenings of Do wnton Abbey Thursday\, September 19. #DowntonAbbeyFilm. And stop by our po p-up shop featuring Downton Abbey merchandise in the theater lobby Thursda y\, Sept. 19\, from 6 to 9 pm and Friday\, Sept. 20 from 4 to 9:30 pm. All proceeds benefit Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum.\nSave your movie ticket stub for a $5.00 discount off of a tour of Ventfort Hall\, 10 4\, Walker St.\, Lenox\, MA. Offer good through the month of October 2019. \nTicketing Link – https://phx.movie/DowntonAbbey\nThe television series D ownton Abbey followed the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who worked for them at the turn of the 20th century in an Edwardian English c ountry house. Over its 6 seasons\, the series garnered 3 Golden Globe Awar ds\, 15 Primetime Emmy Awards\, 69 Emmy nominations in total\, making Down ton Abbey the most nominated non-US television show in the history of the Emmys – even earning a Special BAFTA award and a Guinness World Record for the highest critically rated TV show along the way.\nAn Official Project of Save America’s Treasures program sponsored by The White House\, Ventfor t Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum was built in 1893 for George and Sara h Morgan\, who was the sister of financier J. P. Morgan. The museum offers tours of the historic mansion\, as well as Tea & Talks\, such exhibitions as the Bellefontaine Collection\, theater\, and other programs. This eleg ant Jacobean-Revival Berkshire “cottage\,” listed on the National Register of Historic Places\, is open to the public year round and is available fo r private rental. Ventfort Hall has undergone substantial restoration\, w hich continues. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190920T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190920T213000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Pop-up Shop at “Downton Abbey” Movie at Phoenix Theatres Beacon Cin ema\, Pittsfield\, MA URL:https://gildedage.org/event/pop-up-shop-at-downton-abbey-movie-at-phoen ix-theatres-beacon-cinema-pittsfield-ma-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n
\\nBe the first to experience the romance\, the intrigue and the grandeur as Phoenix Theat res Beacon Cinema present advance screenings of Downton Abbey Thu rsday\, September 19. #DowntonAbbeyFilm. And stop by our pop-up shop featu ring Downton Abbey merchandise in the theater lobby Thursday\, Sept. 19\, from 6 to 9 pm and Friday\, Sept. 20 from 4 to 9:30 pm. All proceeds benef it Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum.
\nSave your movie ti cket stub for a $5.00 discount off of a tour of Ventfort Hall\, 104\, Walk er St.\, Lenox\, MA. Offer good through the month of October 2019.
\nTicketing Link – https://phx.mov ie/DowntonAbbey
\nThe television series Downton Abbey followed t he lives of the Crawley family and the servants who worked for them at the turn of the 20th century in an Edwardian English country house. Over its 6 seasons\, the series garnered 3 Golden Globe Awards\, 15 Primetime Emmy Awards\, 69 Emmy nominations in total\, making Downton Abbey the most nomi nated non-US television show in the history of the Emmys – even earning a Special BAFTA award and a Guinness World Record for the highest critically rated TV show along the way.
\nAn Official Project of Save America’ s Treasures program sponsored by The White House\, Ventfort Hall Mansion a nd Gilded Age Museum was built in 1893 for George and Sarah Morgan\, who w as the sister of financier J. P. Morgan. The museum offers tours of the hi storic mansion\, as well as Tea & Talks\, such exhibitions as the Bellefon taine Collection\, theater\, and other programs. This elegant Jacobean-Rev ival Berkshire “cottage\,” listed on the National Register of Historic Pla ces\, is open to the public year round and is available for private rental . Ventfort Hall has undergone substantial restoration\, which continues.< /p>\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27389@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Discover the wines of Moldova\, one of the oldest wine-growing regions in the world!\nPresenting nine wines with Andrei Birsan of Wines o f Moldova USA\, an exclusive Moldovan wine importing company.\n$35.00 per person. For an additional $15.00 enjoy a private guided tour of Ventfort Hall starting at 4:30 pm.\nFor reservations please call Nejaime’s at (413) 637-2221. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191011T173000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Moldovan Wine Seminar Presented by Nejaime’s URL:https://gildedage.org/event/moldovan-wine-seminar-presented-by-nejaimes / X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n
\\nDiscover the wines of Moldova\, one of the oldest wine-growing regions in the world!
\nPresenting nine wines with Andrei Birsan of Wines of Moldova USA\, a n exclusive Moldovan wine importing company.
\n$35.00 per person. Fo r an additional $15.00 enjoy a private guided tour of Ventfort Hall start ing at 4:30 pm.
\nFor reservations please call Nejaime’s at (413) 63 7-2221.
\n X-COST:$35 per person for reservations call Nejaime’s 413-637-2221 X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27351@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:As the fourth appearance he will have made here at the mansion\ , Prof. Gary H. Darden will return to give a visual presentation on “Makin g Gotham Global: New York City from 1825 to 1929.” His lecture will be fol lowed by a Victorian tea.\nFrom the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 to t he Stock Market Crash in 1929\, New York City evolved from a regional port of little more than 100\,000 people into the world’s largest urban area w ith nearly 8\,000\,000 people.\nCentral to its civic identity and economic power was the development of cultural and architectural assets befitting a global city of rank\, one that emerged both through civic initiatives an d the determination of its elites. This process radically reimagined the s cale and scope of Gotham\, from Central Park and its museum collections to its multitude of mansions and corporate skyscrapers.\nIn 2016\, Darden le ctured at Ventfort Hall on the decline of the British aristocracy leading up to World War I and a year later presented a talk on the architectural r ivalries within the Vanderbilt family. Last year he covered the White Hous e from presidential palace to the people’s palace.\nDarden chairs the Depa rtment of Social Sciences & History at Fairleigh Dickinson\, Becton Colleg e of Arts & Sciences\, Madison\, NJ. He was awarded Teacher of the Year a t the college.\nHis scholarly work includes articles for journals\, encycl opedias and the historical text for the book\, The American Soldier: From the Civil War to the War in Iraq\, A Photographic Tribute\, which accompan ied a major exhibit touring the US. Darden was also a moderator with docu mentary filmmaker Ken Burns.\nTickets for the Darden talk are $28 for adva nce reservations and $32 day of the event. Reservations are highly recomm ended as seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191012T153000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “Making Gotham Global: New York City from 1825 to 1929 ” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-making-gotham-global-new-york-city -from-1825-to-1929/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nAs the fourth appearance he will have made here at the mansion\, Prof. Gary H. Darden w ill return to give a visual presentation on “Making Gotham Global: New Yor k City from 1825 to 1929.” His lecture will be followed by a Victorian tea .
\nFrom the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 to the Stock Market C rash in 1929\, New York City evolved from a regional port of little more t han 100\,000 people into the world’s largest urban area with nearly 8\,000 \,000 people.
\nCentral to its civic identity and economic power was the development of cultural and architectural assets befitting a global c ity of rank\, one that emerged both through civic initiatives and the dete rmination of its elites. This process radically reimagined the scale and s cope of Gotham\, from Central Park and its museum collections to its multi tude of mansions and corporate skyscrapers.
\nIn 2016\, Darden lectu red at Ventfort Hall on the decline of the British aristocracy leading up to World War I and a year later presented a talk on the architectural riva lries within the Vanderbilt family. Last year he covered the White House f rom presidential palace to the people’s palace.
\nDarden chairs the Department of Social Sciences & History at Fairleigh Dickinson\, Becton Co llege of Arts & Sciences\, Madison\, NJ. He was awarded Teacher of the Ye ar at the college.
\nHis scholarly work includes articles for journa ls\, encyclopedias and the historical text for the book\, The American Soldier: From the Civil War to the War in Iraq\, A Photographic Tribute\, which accompanied a major exhibit touring the US. Darden was also a moderator with documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.
\nTickets for the D arden talk are $28 for advance reservations and $32 day of the event. Res ervations are highly recommended as seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206.
\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27385@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:October was always “peak season” at Lenox’s Osceola House for o thers\, but original owners Edward and Sarah Livingston would be at their French country house “Villa Clermont” in the Pyrenees\, conditioning their horses for the fox-hunting season.\nThis is just some of the fascinating knowledge that historian Cornelia Brooke Gilder and local craftsman Steve Baum will impart at a benefit lecture hosted by present owners Ernie and J o Faraci in the mansion’s elegant reception rooms on Saturday\, October 19 at 3:30 pm. The event titled “October at Osceola House” will include the visual presentation as well as seasonal refreshments\, benefiting the res toration and educational programs of Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum.\nBoston architects Rotch and Tilden designed Osceola House for the Livingstons in 1889\, shortly before beginning their biggest Lenox projec t\, Ventfort Hall. Both were among the five Lenox “cottages” designed by t he firm\, all of which are extant.\nOver the thirty-year period that the L ivingstons owned Osceola House\, it was frequently rented\, and these long -term tenants\, often their friends\, were active in Lenox’s social life. Gilder will recount untold stories of Gilded Age romances\, festive partie s\, sudden deaths and financial ruin which occurred in the mansion.\nBaum\ , long experienced in Rotch and Tilden’s architecture through his extensiv e work at Ventfort Hall\, will focus on the recent restoration work at Osc eola House which he directed\, bringing it back to the splendor of the Liv ingstons’ day.\nTickets for the Osceola House benefit event are $75. Rese rvations are highly recommended as seating is limited. For information or reservations call us at 413-637-3206. Osceola House is located at 25 Cli ffwood Street in Lenox. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191019T153000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:October at Osceola House URL:https://gildedage.org/event/october-at-osceola-house/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nOctober was a lways “peak season” at Lenox’s Osceola House for others\, but original own ers Edward and Sarah Livingston would be at their French country house “Vi lla Clermont” in the Pyrenees\, conditioning their horses for the fox-hunt ing season.
\nThis is just some of the fascinating knowledge that hi storian Cornelia Brooke Gilder and local craftsman Steve Baum will impart at a benefit lecture hosted by present owners Ernie and Jo Faraci in the m ansion’s elegant reception rooms on Saturday\, October 19 at 3:30 pm. The event titled “October at Osceola House” will include the visual presentat ion as well as seasonal refreshments\, benefiting the restoration and educ ational programs of Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum.
\nB oston architects Rotch and Tilden designed Osceola House for the Livingsto ns in 1889\, shortly before beginning their biggest Lenox project\, Ventfo rt Hall. Both were among the five Lenox “cottages” designed by the firm\, all of which are extant.
\nOver the thirty-year period that the Livi ngstons owned Osceola House\, it was frequently rented\, and these long-te rm tenants\, often their friends\, were active in Lenox’s social life. Gil der will recount untold stories of Gilded Age romances\, festive parties\, sudden deaths and financial ruin which occurred in the mansion.
\nB aum\, long experienced in Rotch and Tilden’s architecture through his exte nsive work at Ventfort Hall\, will focus on the recent restoration work at Osceola House which he directed\, bringing it back to the splendor of the Livingstons’ day.
\nTickets for the Osceola House benefit event are $75. Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited. For inf ormation or reservations call us at 413-637-3206. Osceola House is locate d at 25 Cliffwood Street in Lenox.
\n X-COST:$75.00 reservations required X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27372@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:SOLD OUT\nThe Comical Mystery Tour ensemble returns to the mans ion with and encore performance of “Murder Is in the Stars” and invites th e public to join the fun on Saturday\, October 19th. Doors open at 5:00 pm . Program starts and first course served at 5:30 pm.\nLady Lydia the psych ic\, has called together a group of millionaires offering the gift of eter nal life for the small sum of 5 million dollars. Some believe it is totall y legit\, but someone decides her life shouldn’t be eternal and drops the final curtain on her. Was it Big Bosco\, the “Family” man\, or Governor Bi ll Fold? It couldn’t be a politician\, could it? I mean they are all so ho nest. How about Candy Cotton\, the adult film star trying to make it big i n legit movies or might it have been Gaylord Gabby\, the fashion designer from the left coast. If Lydia were still alive she could tell you for sure . Wait a minute\; if she is a real psychic\, she would have known it was c oming wouldn’t she? Come along and join us for another fun filled night of mystery and help figure out who offs Lady Lydia.\nIn production since 199 5\, The Comical Mystery Tour has had over 50\,000 audience members viewing and/or participating in their programs. The ensemble appears regularly at Ventfort Hall.\nCost to attend is $40 per person including a full course dinner. A cash bar is available for beer and wine. Reservations are requir ed by Wednesday\, Oct. 16th. Seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191019T170000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:SOLD OUT – Murder Mystery Dinner Theater – “Murder Is in the Stars\ ,” Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first course served at 5:30 p m URL:https://gildedage.org/event/murder-mystery-dinner-theater-murder-is-in- the-stars/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nSOLD OUT
\nThe Comical Mystery Tour ensemble returns to the mans ion with and encore performance of “Murder Is in the Stars” and invites th e public to join the fun on Saturday\, October 19th. Doors open at 5:00 pm . Program starts and first course served at 5:30 pm.
\nLady Lydia th e psychic\, has called together a group of millionaires offering the gift of eternal life for the small sum of 5 million dollars. Some believe it is totally legit\, but someone decides her life shouldn’t be eternal and dro ps the final curtain on her. Was it Big Bosco\, the “Family” man\, or Gove rnor Bill Fold? It couldn’t be a politician\, could it? I mean they are al l so honest. How about Candy Cotton\, the adult film star trying to make i t big in legit movies or might it have been Gaylord Gabby\, the fashion de signer from the left coast. If Lydia were still alive she could tell you f or sure. Wait a minute\; if she is a real psychic\, she would have known i t was coming wouldn’t she? Come along and join us for another fun filled n ight of mystery and help figure out who offs Lady Lydia.
\nIn produc tion since 1995\, The Comical Mystery Tour has had over 50\,000 audience m embers viewing and/or participating in their programs. The ensemble appear s regularly at Ventfort Hall.
\nCost to attend is $40 per person inc luding a full course dinner. A cash bar is available for beer and wine. Re servations are required by Wednesday\, Oct. 16th. Seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206.
\n X-COST:$40\, reservations required by Wednesday\, Oct. 16th X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27407@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:October brings many different activities — jumping in leaves\, apple picking\, trick-or-treating\, and not to mention…pumpkin painting! J oin us as we prepare for Halloween by painting pumpkins here at the mansio n. While pumpkins dry\, there will be opportunities to have some spooky s nacks and craft other autumnal decorations.\nDrop in at any point and wear your painting clothes! Cost to attend is $7 per child with advance reserv ation\; $10 per child day-of (adults free with their child). Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited. Call us at (413) 637-3206 to reserve your child’s spot.\n DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191020T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20191020T150000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Children’s Pumpkin Painting Workshop URL:https://gildedage.org/event/childrens-pumpkin-painting-workshop/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nOct ober brings many different activities — jumping in leaves\, apple picking\ , trick-or-treating\, and not to mention…pumpkin painting! Join us as we p repare for Halloween by painting pumpkins here at the mansion. While pump kins dry\, there will be opportunities to have some spooky snacks and craf t other autumnal decorations.
\nDrop in at any point and w ear your painting clothes! Cost to attend is $7 per child with advance res ervation\; $10 per child day-of (adults free with their child). Reservatio ns are highly recommended as seating is limited. Call us at (413) 637-3206 to reserve your child’s spot.
\n\n X-COST:$7 per child advance/$10 per child day-of (adults free with their ch ild) END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27400@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Archduke Dr. Geza von Habsburg will return to the mansion to gi ve a visual presentation on “Sisi\, the Tragic Empress: A Great-Great Gran dson’s Perspective.” This is the story of the beautiful Empress Elisabeth \, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.\n“I am s o fond of the Emperor! If only he were not an emperor!” Elisabeth is said to have expressed these feelings when she learned of Franz Joseph’s desir e to marry her. Clearly she sensed that life as empress at the Viennese i mperial court would not suit her personality.\nA member of the Wittelsbach family of Bavaria\, Elisabeth came from a rather informal household\, ent ering at the age of sixteen into the restrictive formal life at court and the overly rigid supervision of Sophie\, her mother-in-law. Franz Joseph on the other hand had been groomed from childhood for his future role of e mperor (he came to the throne in 1848)\, and often showed no understanding for the needs and fears of his somewhat shy wife.\nAfter giving birth to three children\, Elisabeth within the first years of their marriage took r efuge in travel. Considered one of the great beauties of the 19th century \, she was extremely vain of her slender figure\, observing strict diets\, exercising constantly\, unusual for her time\, and exhausting her ladies- in-waiting with long hours spent riding or walking.\nTragedy struck in her later years when the couple’s only son\, Crown Prince Rudolf\, took his o wn life at Mayerling\, some say due the lack of understanding\, even from his father\, of his desire to modernize the multiethnic empire’s complex p olitical system. In 1898\, Elisabeth was assassinated during a holiday in Switzerland\, dying at the hands of an Italian anarchist.\nFranz Joseph c ontinued to reign until he died in 1916 in the midst of World War I.\nDr. von Habsburg began his career as Chairman\, Switzerland of Christie\, Mans on & Woods Auctioneers\, overseeing offices throughout Europe. In 1980 he became Chairman of European Operations for the company. Later\, he served as Chairman\, New York and Geneva\, of Habsburg Fine Arts International A uctioneers. In both companies\, he specialized in silver and gold\, objec ts of vertu and Russian art. In 1994\, he joined Fabergé Co. as a consult ant\, spokesman and lecturer worldwide.\nDr. von Habsburg is considered on e of the foremost experts on Faberge\, the former court jeweler to the Rus sian Tsars and the subject he covered in 2016 at Ventfort Hall. He has or ganized and curated exhibitions worldwide\, including Fabergé in America\, which toured five cities and attracted 400\,000 visitors to the Metropoli tan Museum of Art.\nFluent in seven languages\, the speaker has authored s everal books and was also an associate professor at The New York School of Interior Design\, The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts and New York University. He has lectured for over ten years at the Me t.\nAs part of a theme\, the planning committee has organized a menu of de sserts as offered in Viennese cafés. Committee members are Mary Frances B enko\, Patrick Brennan\, Karen Carhart\, Thomas Hayes\, Helga S. Orthofer Kaiser\, Lucille Landa\, Alice Nathan\, Wendy Philbrick and Beverly Rainey .\nTickets for the event are $55 per person. RSVP by Monday\, October 21st . Reservations are required as seating is limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191026T153000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “Sisi\, the Tragic Empress: A Great\, Great Grandson’s Perspective” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-sisi-the-tragic-empress-a-great-gr eat-grandsons-perspective/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n
Archduke Dr. Geza von Habsburg will return to the mansion to give a visual presentation on “Sisi\, the Tragic Empress: A Great-Great Grandson’s Perspective.” Th is is the story of the beautiful Empress Elisabeth\, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
\n“I am so fond of the Emp eror! If only he were not an emperor!” Elisabeth is said to have expresse d these feelings when she learned of Franz Joseph’s desire to marry her. Clearly she sensed that life as empress at the Viennese imperial court wou ld not suit her personality.
\nA member of the Wittelsbach family of Bavaria\, Elisabeth came from a rather informal household\, entering at t he age of sixteen into the restrictive formal life at court and the overly rigid supervision of Sophie\, her mother-in-law. Franz Joseph on the oth er hand had been groomed from childhood for his future role of emperor (he came to the throne in 1848)\, and often showed no understanding for the n eeds and fears of his somewhat shy wife.
\nAfter giving birth to thr ee children\, Elisabeth within the first years of their marriage took refu ge in travel. Considered one of the great beauties of the 19th century\, she was extremely vain of her slender figure\, observing strict diets\, exercising constantly\, unusual for her time\, and exhausting her ladies-in-waiting with long hours spent riding or walking.
\nTraged y struck in her later years when the couple’s only son\, Crown Prince Rudo lf\, took his own life at Mayerling\, some say due the lack of understandi ng\, even from his father\, of his desire to modernize the multiethnic emp ire’s complex political system. In 1898\, Elisabeth was assassinated duri ng a holiday in Switzerland\, dying at the hands of an Italian anarchist.< /p>\n
Franz Joseph continued to reign until he died in 1916 in the midst of World War I.
\nDr. von Habsburg began his career as Chairman\, S witzerland of Christie\, Manson & Woods Auctioneers\, overseeing offices t hroughout Europe. In 1980 he became Chairman of European Operations for th e company. Later\, he served as Chairman\, New York and Geneva\, of Habsb urg Fine Arts International Auctioneers. In both companies\, he specializ ed in silver and gold\, objects of vertu and Russian art. In 199 4\, he joined Fabergé Co. as a consultant\, spokesman and lecturer worldwi de.
\nDr. von Habsburg is considered one of the foremost experts on Faberge\, the former court jeweler to the Russian Tsars and the subject he covered in 2016 at Ventfort Hall. He has organized and curated exhibitio ns worldwide\, including Fabergé in America\, which toured five c ities and attracted 400\,000 visitors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.\n
Fluent in seven languages\, the speaker has authored several books and was also an associate professor at The New York School of Interior Des ign\, The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts and New York University. He has lectured for over ten years at the Met.
\nAs part of a theme\, the planning committee has organized a menu of desserts as offered in Viennese cafés. Committee members are Mary France s Benko\, Patrick Brennan\, Karen Carhart\, Thomas Hayes\, Helga S. Orthof er Kaiser\, Lucille Landa\, Alice Nathan\, Wendy Philbrick and Beverly Rai ney.
\nTickets for the event are $55 per person. RSVP by Monday\, Oc tober 21st. Reservations are required as seating is limited. For reserva tions call us at 413-637-3206.
\n X-COST:$55\, reservations requied by Monday\, October 21 X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27413@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20191020T070149Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Join David Raby for a paranormal investigation of the historic and haunted Ventfort Hall. A non-fiction author and paranormal investigat or\, Raby has always been intrigued by history. He undauntedly enters haun ted locations that would terrify others with hopes of contacting lingering spirits to discover why they remain.\nRaby is the author of four publishe d books and countless online articles. With his passion for the paranormal field\, he has accumulated over a decade of experience\, founded a parano rmal group and has helped many people (and spirits) that ranged between th e curious and those seeking urgent advice.\nHis interest in the paranormal was shaped by the fact that spirits seem to be attracted to his compassio n and openness. He has a knack for storytelling that fuels his intensive h istorical research and fact finding.\nHe believes that by bringing people’ s stories out of the shadows and into the light of our awareness\, they ma y find eternal rest and peace.\nBefore the investigation\, he will give a brief history of the lives that once graced the hallways – and possibly st ill reside within. He will also share some of his favorite evidence from p revious investigations and will be happy to answer any questions about par anormal investigations. This event is perfect for everyone\; from someone who has never been on a paranormal investigation to the seasoned investiga tor.\nThe event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and conclude at midnight. Tickets for this exciting event are $35 per person\; reduced rate of $20 for ages 12 – 18 and 19-23 with student ID. All of the proceeds from ticket sales w ill go towards the preservation and restoration of Ventfort Hall. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191102T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20191102T234500 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Ghost Hunt with David Raby – “A Spirited Evening” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/ghost-hunt-with-david-raby-a-spirited-eveni ng-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\nJoin David Ra by for a paranormal investigation of the historic and haunted Ventfort Hal l. A non-fiction author and paranormal investigator\, Raby has always bee n intrigued by history. He undauntedly enters haunted locations that would terrify others with hopes of contacting lingering spirits to discover why they remain.
\nRaby is the author of four published books and count less online articles. With his passion for the paranormal field\, he has a ccumulated over a decade of experience\, founded a paranormal group and ha s helped many people (and spirits) that ranged between the curious and tho se seeking urgent advice.
\nHis interest in the paranormal was shape d by the fact that spirits seem to be attracted to his compassion and open ness. He has a knack for storytelling that fuels his intensive historical research and fact finding.
\nHe believes that by bringing people’s s tories out of the shadows and into the light of our awareness\, they may f ind eternal rest and peace.
\nBefore the investigation\, he will giv e a brief history of the lives that once graced the hallways – and possibl y still reside within. He will also share some of his favorite evidence fr om previous investigations and will be happy to answer any questions about paranormal investigations. This event is perfect for everyone\; from some one who has never been on a paranormal investigation to the seasoned inves tigator.
\nThe event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and conclude at midnigh t. Tickets for this exciting event are $35 per person\; reduced rate of $2 0 for ages 12 – 18 and 19-23 with student ID. All of the proceeds from tic ket sales will go towards the preservation and restoration of Ventfort Hal l. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations.
\n X-COST:$35 per person\; reduced rate of $20 for ages 12 – 18 and 19-23 with student ID END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR