BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//151.101.194.159//NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.26.9// CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-FROM-URL:https://gildedage.org X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/New_York BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York X-LIC-LOCATION:America/New_York BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20201101T020000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 RDATE:20211107T020000 TZNAME:EST END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20210314T020000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 RDATE:20220313T020000 TZNAME:EDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27029@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20190306 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20190307 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Closed for the Day URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-for-the-day/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27045@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20190310 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20190311 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Closed Today Due to Bad Weather URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-today-due-to-bad-weather/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27080@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20190322 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20190323 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Closed This Afternoon URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-this-afternoon/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27055@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20190421 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20190422 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Closed Easter Sunday URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-easter-sunday-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27159@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20190602 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20190603 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Closed All Day Today for a Private Event URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-for-a-private-event/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27312@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:You are invited to join us for an exclusive one-day excursion t o visit two extraordinary historic houses overlooking the majestic Hudson River near Rhinebeck\, New York.\n\nWILDERSTEIN is the country home near R hinebeck that we will visit in the morning.  Built in 1888 in the Queen An ne style for Robert Bowne Suckley and his wife Elizabeth Philips\, the hou se greatly enlarged an 1852 Italianate house constructed for Suckley’s fat her Thomas.  One could refer to the somewhat similar history 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 Wilders tein was the design of Poughkeepsie architect Arnout Cannon\, soaring to i nclude a third floor\, multi-gabled attic and a dramatic five-story circul ar tower with commanding views of the surrounding landscape.  The fanciful asymmetrical roof line of the house was complimented by the addition of a n imposing porte cochere and a generous verandah (again\, Ventfort Hall co uld be brought to mind).  Five of the principal rooms on the first floor w ere designed by Joseph Burr Tiffany\, a younger cousin of Louis Comfort Ti ffany.\nThe books\, letters\, photographs\, furniture\, paintings\, art ob jects and china amassed by three generations of Suckleys are of great inte rest to both scholars and visitors.  The last resident of Wilderstein was Margaret (Daisy) Suckley. A distant cousin and confidante of Franklin Dela no Roosevelt\, Miss Suckley traveled extensively with FDR during his presi dency\, gave him his famous Scottish terrier Fala and helped to establish his library in Hyde Park.  The letters they exchanged\, which were discove red in a battered suitcase at Wilderstein\, provide one of the best resour ces for understanding Roosevelt’s private life.\n\nEDGEWATER at nearby Bar rytown dates from 1825 and combines classical architecture with a dramatic setting\, built on a small peninsula facing the Hudson and the Catskill M ountains beyond. With its Doric columns\, high ceilings and tall windows\, the mansion seems more suited to a Southern climate than the Hudson Valle y.  The design of the house may possibly have been provided by Robert Mill s\, Charleston’s leading architect at the time.\nEarly owners included a L ivingston\, a name that resonates with many country houses lining the rive r.  After sitting empty for several decades\, Edgewater was purchased in 1 950 by the writer Gore Vidal\, who found inspiration there by writing such best sellers as The Judgment of Paris (the proceeds of which paid for imp rovements to the house) and Myra Breckenridge. \n By 1969\, Vidal was livi ng in Rome when the late Richard Jenrette\, co-founder of the Wall Street securities firm of Donaldson\, Lufkin & Jenrette\, took a serious liking t o Edgewater and a quick sale ensued.  Aided by a group of friends who took on the title of the “Empire Mafia\,” Jenrette painstakingly researched\, located and reintroduced many of the Livingston furnishings.  Today the ho use is under the care of the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust e stablished by Jenrette in 1993\, a collection of seven architecturally sig nificant houses that he had acquired.\nVentfort Hall has made arrangements for the excursion with a private motor coach leaving from the mansion\, 1 04 Walker St. in Lenox\, at 9:00 am and returning by 5:30 pm.  All-day par king at Ventfort Hall is arranged.  The cost of the tour is $165 and inclu des comfortable transportation\, private tour admissions and a $50 fully t ax-deducible donation to Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. Part icipants will select from the menu and pay for lunch separately. Lunch wil l be in The Tavern at the Beekman Arms\, since 1766 providing “culinary ex pertise” in a charming historic setting.\nCall us at (413) 637-3206 to res erve your spot. Trip is limited to the first 25 people to reserve.\n  DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20190927 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20190928 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Day Trip to Visit Two Extraordinary Historic Houses URL:https://gildedage.org/event/day-trip-to-visit-two-extraordinary-histori c-houses/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-WP-IMAGES-URL:thumbnail\;https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08 /Wilderstein-300x300.jpg\;300\;300\,medium\;https://gildedage.org/wp-conte nt/uploads/2019/08/Wilderstein-300x300.jpg\;300\;300\,large\;https://gilde dage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Wilderstein-300x300.jpg\;300\;300\,ful l\;https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Wilderstein-300x300.jp g\;300\;300 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

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.

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WILDERSTEIN is the country home near Rhinebeck that we will vis it in the morning.  Built in 1888 in the Queen Anne style for Robert Bowne Suckley and his wife Elizabeth Philips\, the house greatly enlarged an 18 52 Italianate house constructed for Suckley’s father Thomas.  One could re fer to the somewhat similar history of Ventfort\, the Italianate Lenox “co ttage” built in the 1850s for Ogden Haggerty and his family\, and replaced by Ventfort Hall in 1893.

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The renovated Wilderstein was the desig n of Poughkeepsie architect Arnout Cannon\, soaring to include a third flo or\, multi-gabled attic and a dramatic five-story circular tower with comm anding views of the surrounding landscape.  The fanciful asymmetrical roof line of the house was complimented by the addition of an imposing porte c ochere and a generous verandah (again\, Ventfort Hall could be brought to mind).  Five of the principal rooms on the first floor were designed by Jo seph Burr Tiffany\, a younger cousin of Louis Comfort Tiffany.

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The books\, letters\, photographs\, furniture\, paintings\, art objects and c hina amassed by three generations of Suckleys are of great interest to bot h scholars and visitors.  The last resident of Wilderstein was Margaret (D aisy) Suckley. A distant cousin and confidante of Franklin Delano Roosevel t\, Miss Suckley traveled extensively with FDR during his presidency\, gav e him his famous Scottish terrier Fala and helped to establish his library in Hyde Park.  The letters they exchanged\, which were discovered in a ba ttered suitcase at Wilderstein\, provide one of the best resources for und erstanding Roosevelt’s private life.

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EDGEWATER at nearby Barrytown dates from 1825 and combines classical architecture w ith a dramatic setting\, built on a small peninsula facing the Hudson and the Catskill Mountains beyond. With its Doric columns\, high ceilings and tall windows\, the mansion seems more suited to a Southern climate than th e Hudson Valley.  The design of the house may possibly have been provided by Robert Mills\, Charleston’s leading architect at the time.

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Earl y owners included a Livingston\, a name that resonates with many country h ouses lining the river.  After sitting empty for several decades\, Edgewat er was purchased in 1950 by the writer Gore Vidal\, who found inspiration there by writing such best sellers as The Judgment of Paris (the proceeds of which paid for improvements to the house) and Myra Brecken ridge.

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 By 1969\, Vidal was living in Rome when the late Richard Jenrette\, co-founder of the Wall Street securities firm of Donaldson\, Lufkin & Jenrette\, took a serious liking to Edgewater and a q uick sale ensued.  Aided by a group of friends who took on the title of th e “Empire Mafia\,” Jenrette painstakingly researched\, located and reintro duced many of the Livingston furnishings.  Today the house is under the ca re of the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust established by Jenre tte in 1993\, a collection of seven architecturally significant houses tha t he had acquired.

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Ventfort Hall has made arrangements for the exc ursion 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 parking at Vent fort Hall is arranged.  The cost of the tour is $165 and includes comforta ble transportation\, private tour admissions and a $50 fully tax-deducible donation to Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. Participants wil l select from the menu and pay for lunch separately. Lunch will be in The Tavern at the Beekman Arms\, since 1766 providing “culinary expertise” in a charming historic setting.

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Cal l us at (413) 637-3206 to reserve your spot. Trip is limited to the first 25 people to reserve.

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\n X-COST:$165.00 reservations required END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27511@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Ventfort Hall will be closed on Thanksgiving Day so our staff a nd volunteers can enjoy the holiday with their family and friends. DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20191128 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20191129 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Closed on Thanksgiving URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-on-thanksgiving/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Ventfort Hall will be closed on Thanksgiving Day so our staff and volunteers can enjoy the holiday with their family and friends.

\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27522@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20191202 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20191203 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED TODAY DUE TO SNOW URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-today-due-to-snow/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27529@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20191203 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20191204 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED TODAY DUE TO SNOW URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-today-due-to-snow-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27560@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20191218 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20191219 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED TODAY DUE TO SNOW AND ICY WEATHER URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-today-due-to-snow-and-icy-weather/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27578@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20191224 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20191225 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED CHRISTMAS EVE DAY URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-christmas-eve-day/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27579@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20191225 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20191226 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-christmas-day/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27600@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20191230 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20191231 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED TODAY DUE TO WEATHER URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-due-to-weather/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27608@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:CLOSED TOD DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20191231 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200102 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED TODAY DUE TO WEATHER URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-today-due-to-weather/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

CLOSED TOD

\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27580@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200101 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200102 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED NEW YEAR’S DAY URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-new-years-day/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27545@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:John Singer Sargent. (l. to r.) Sybil Sassoon\, Henry James\, J ennie Jerome\, Ethel Barrymore\n“IT’S LIKE GOING TO A PARTY AND WORKING TH E ROOM.”\n                             Overheard at the Morgan Library & M useum\n This is a rare opportunity to view with our own specialist fifty-t hree charcoal portraits by John Singer Sargent (1856-1925)\, America’s gre atest portrait painter of his time.  These drawn works of art represent a substantial\, yet often overlooked\, part of his practice – they number ov er 750 in total – and demonstrate the same sense of immediacy\, psychologi cal insight and mastery of light and shade that animate Sargent’s sitters on canvas. This is the first major exhibition to explore these expressive portraits in charcoal.\nThe exhibition includes important international lo ans from both public and private collections\, showcasing Sargent’s sitter s\, many of them famous for their roles in politics\, society and the arts .  They represent telling records of artistic and cultural friendships\, a s well as the network of patronage that underpinned Sargent’s practice as a portrait artist.\nVentfort Hall has made arrangements for the trip via p rivate motor coach leaving from the mansion\, 104 Walker St. in Lenox\, at 9:00 am and arriving back at 7:00 pm.  All-day parking at Ventfort Hall i s arranged. The cost of the trip is $165 and includes motor coach transpor tation and a $50 fully tax-deductible donation to Ventfort Hall Mansion an d Gilded Age Museum.  Lunch will be selected individually from the Library ’s restaurant menu as will payment. Call us at (413) 637-3206 to reserve y our spot today as seating is limited. DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200108 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200109 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Day Trip to NYC for an Exclusive Viewing of “John Singer Sargent: Portraits in Charcoal” at the Morgan Library & Museum URL:https://gildedage.org/event/day-trip-to-nyc-for-an-exclusive-viewing-of -john-singer-sargent-portraits-in-charcoal-at-the-morgan-library-museum/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-WP-IMAGES-URL:thumbnail\;https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12 /Sargent_Sybil_Sassoon_Marchioness-150x150.jpg\;150\;150\,medium\;https:// gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Sargent_Sybil_Sassoon_Marchioness -150x150.jpg\;150\;150\,large\;https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/20 19/12/Sargent_Sybil_Sassoon_Marchioness-150x150.jpg\;150\;150\,full\;https ://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Sargent_Sybil_Sassoon_Marchion ess-150x150.jpg\;150\;150 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

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John Singer Sar gent. (l. to r.) Sybil Sassoon\, Henry James\, Jennie Jerome\, Ethel B arrymore

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“IT’S LIKE GOING TO A PARTY AND WORKING THE ROOM .”

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                             Overheard at the Morgan L ibrary & Museum

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 This is a rare opportunity to view with our own specialist fifty-three charcoal portraits by John Singer Sarg ent (1856-1925)\, America’s greatest portrait painter of his time.  These drawn works of art represent a substantial\, yet often overlooked\, part o f his practice – they number over 750 in total – and demonstrate the same sense of immediacy\, psychological insight and mastery of light and shade that animate Sargent’s sitters on canvas. This is the first major exhibiti on to explore these expressive portraits in charcoal.

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The exhibiti on includes important international loans from both public and private col lections\, showcasing Sargent’s sitters\, many of them famous for their ro les in politics\, society and the arts.  They represent telling records of artistic and cultural friendships\, as well as the network of patronage t hat underpinned Sargent’s practice as a portrait artist.

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Ventfort Hall has made arrangements for the trip via private motor coach leaving fr om the mansion\, 104 Walker St. in Lenox\, at 9:00 am and arriving back at 7:00 pm.  All-day parking at Ventfort Hall is arranged. The cost of the t rip is $165 and includes motor coach transportation and a $50 fully tax-de ductible donation to Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum.  Lunch w ill be selected individually from the Library’s restaurant menu as will pa yment. Call us at (413) 637-3206 to reserve your spot today as seating is limited.

\n X-COST:$165.00 reservations required END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27697@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200219 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200220 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED TODAY URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-today/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27854@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:The mansion remains closed as we continue to take all recommend ed precautions to ensure a healthy environment for visitors and staff.\nIn response to practicing social distancing regarding the Coronavirus we hav e postponed all of our events through the beginning of July. We will annou nce new event dates and changes to our hours of operation when appropriate .\nPlease call us if you have any questions at (413) 637-3206 or email inf o@gildedage.org. We wish you all good health! DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200710 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200711 RRULE:FREQ=DAILY;COUNT=4 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED TO TOURS AND VISITORS URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-to-tours-and-visitors-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

The mansion r emains closed as we continue to take all recommended precautions to ensure a healthy environment for visitors and staff.

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In response to prac ticing social distancing regarding the Coronavirus we have postponed all o f our events through the beginning of July. We will announce new event dat es and changes to our hours of operation when appropriate.

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Please call us if you have any questions at (413) 637-3206 or email info@gildedag e.org. We wish you all good health!

\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27856@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20200715 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20200716 RRULE:FREQ=WEEKLY;BYDAY=WE;WKST=SU SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED WEDNESDAYS URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-wednesdays/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28124@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Gerald Dickens\, the great-great grandson of Charles Dickens\, has been mesmerizing audiences for over 20 years with his live performance of the classic tale\, A Christmas Carol. This unforgettable one-man show has recently been captured on film for all of his fans to enjoy this holid ay season – streaming exclusively on Vimeo.com. Gerald will take you on th e magical journey of Ebenezer Scrooge’s heartfelt transformation by acting out all 26 characters in this favorite holiday tale. For just $20\, you c an rent this inspirational performance in the comfort of your home – sure to become a treasured Christmas tradition!\nView trailer click here\nTo or der through December 31 click here\nPresented by Ventfort Hall in collabor ation with Byers’ Choice LTD.\n(Available on any internet-connected device that is compatible with Vimeo. Need help? Vimeo support) DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20201126 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20201127 RRULE:FREQ=DAILY;UNTIL=20201231T235959Z SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:A Christmas Carol starring Gerald Charles Dickens – Streaming URL:https://gildedage.org/event/a-christmas-carol-starring-gerald-charles-d ickens-streaming/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Geral d Dickens\, the great-great grandson of Charles Dickens\, has bee n mesmerizing audiences for over 20 years with his live performance of the classic tale\, A Christmas Carol. This unforgettable one-man sho w has recently been captured on film for all of his fans to enjoy this hol iday season – streaming exclusively on Vimeo.com. Gerald will take you on the magical journey of Ebenezer Scrooge’s heartfelt transformation by acti ng out all 26 characters in this favorite holiday tale. For just $20\, you can rent this inspirational performance in the comfort of your home – sur e to become a treasured Christmas tradition!

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View trailer click here

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To or der through December 31 click here

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Presented by Ventfort Hall in collaboration with Byers’ Choice LTD.

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(Available on a ny internet-connected device that is compatible with Vimeo. Need help? Vimeo support)

\n X-COST:$20 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28121@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Will reopen Friday\, Nov. 27 at 11 am DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20201126 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20201127 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Closed Thanksgiving Day\, Nov. 26 URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-thanksgiving-day-nov-26/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Will reopen F riday\, Nov. 27 at 11 am

\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28168@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20201217 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20201218 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED TODAY DUE TO SNOW URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-today-due-to-snow-3/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28186@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Will reopen Saturday\, Dec. 26 at 11 am DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20201225 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20201226 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-christmas-day-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Will reopen S aturday\, Dec. 26 at 11 am

\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28187@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Will reopen Saturday\, Jan. 2 at 11 am DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20210101 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20210102 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED NEW YEAR’S DAY URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-new-years-day-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Will reopen S aturday\, Jan. 2 at 11 am

\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28249@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20210201 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20210202 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-due-to-weather-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28257@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20210209 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20210210 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED TODAY DUE TO WEATHER URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-today-due-to-weather-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28288@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20210227 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20210228 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSING AT 1 PM THIS SAT.\, FEB. 27 – LAST TOUR AT 12:30 PM URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closing-at-1-pm-this-sat-feb-27-last-tour-a t-1230-pm/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28327@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20210404 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20210405 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED EASTER SUNDAY URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-easter-sunday/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27073@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z 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\\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.

\n

There 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.

\n

Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Two w orkshops: 10 am to noon and 1 pm to 3 pm

\n

Celebrate 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.

\n

The 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.

\n

The 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

SOLD OUT

\n

The 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.

\n

It 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?

\n

In 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.

\n

Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

School Vacati on Week workshop Added due to popular demand.

\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 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.

\n

There 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.

\n

Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Join 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.

\n

Raby 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.

\n

His 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.

\n

He 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.

\n

Before 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.

\n

The 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Closing at no on today for a private event.

\n X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27130@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Satur 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!

\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27091@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:A Spring Journey in Loire Valley\, Burgundy and Rhone\nFrench w ine specialist\, Christian Dalbavie of Kobrand\, will take you on a journe y around three major 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 2017\, Rhone Vall ey\nSecond Flight: the Whites:\nRedde Pouilly Fume 2016\, Loire Valley\nJa dot Bourgogne Blanc 2017\, Burgundy\nLa Nerthe Chateuneuf du Pape White 20 16\, Rhone Valley\nThird Flight: the Reds:\nJadot Pinot Noir 2015\, Burgun dy\nLa Nerthe Cote du Rhone Village 2015\, Rhone Valley\nLa Nerthe  Chateu neuf du Pape red 2015\, Rhone Valley\nGourmet charcuterie\, cheese and bre ad will be included in the tasting. Cost to attend is $35 per person. Opti onal tour of Ventfort Hall for $15 before wine event\; 4:30pm start. Call Nejaime’s for reservations at 413-637-2221. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190601T173000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Nejaime’s Wine Tasting URL:https://gildedage.org/event/nejaimes-wine-tasting-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

A Spring Jour ney in Loire Valley\, Burgundy and Rhone

\n

French 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.

\n

First Flight: the Roses:
\nBouvet rose \, Loire Valley
\nJadot rose 2018\, Burgundy
\nLa Nerthe rose 20 17\, Rhone Valley

\n

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

\n

< 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

\n

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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Join 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!

\n

Susan 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.

\n

Susan’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.

\n

When 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.

\n

Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Former 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.

\n

Miller 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.

\n

Hotel 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.

\n

Miller 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. ”

\n

A footnote: The author resides at Hotel Agassiz on Commonwealth Avenue\, a multi-floor building possessing condominiums.

\n

The Summe r 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.

\n

Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Our 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.

\n

What 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.

\n

Brier 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.

\n

As 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.

\n

In 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.”

\n

The 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).

\n

The Summer 201 9 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board memb er Lucille Landa and William Landa.

\n

Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Author Richard René Silvin returns to the mansion to present a Tea & T alk on the subject of his latest book\, Normandie\, the Tragic Story o f the Most Majestic Ocean Liner. He will make his visual presentation on Tuesday\, June 25 at 4:00 pm.  Following will be a Victorian tea durin g which the speaker will autograph copies of his book.

\n

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.”

\n

Silvin\, 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.

\n

The summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.

\n

Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

SOLD OUT

\n

The 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.

\n

Gertrude 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.

\n

In 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.

\n

Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Revolutionary 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.

\n

Before 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.

\n

But 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.

\n

George 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.

\n

Golden 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.

\n

Golden 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.

\n

The summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks ar e sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.

\n

Tickets 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

SOLD OUT

\n

Downton 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.

\n

Historic 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.

\n

Jerome 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.

\n

She 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.

\n

Jerome 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.

\n

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.

\n

The 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.

\n

Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Join 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.

\n

Raby 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.

\n

His 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.

\n

He 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.

\n

Before 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.

\n

The 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

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.

\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27198@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Many 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.

\n

Historians 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.

\n

Gilder 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.

\n

The 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.

\n

The 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.

\n

Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

CANCELLED

\n

The 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.

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Gertrude 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.

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In 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.

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Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

This 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.

\n

When 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.

\n

Instead 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.

\n

For 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.

\n

With 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.

\n

Do 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.

\n

The summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.

\n

Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

We’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.

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The first floor and grounds will be open. Our second floo r will be closed. We look forward to seeing you!

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For 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Mary 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.

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Considered 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.

\n

The 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.

\n

Goley’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.

\n

As 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.

\n

The summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and Willia m Landa.

\n

Tickets 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Author 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.

\n

Called “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.

\n

How 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.

\n

The summer 2019 series of fourteen Tea & Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and Will iam Landa.

\n

Tickets 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Considered 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.

\n

The 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.

\n

Morrone’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.

\n

The 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.

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Huntington 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.

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Morrone 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.

\n

The 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.

\n

Tickets 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

There 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.

\n

Hinman 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.

\n

Archi 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.”

\n

Hinman 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.

\n

The 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.

\n

Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

CLOS ING SATURDAY\, AUGUST 24\, AT 4 PM

\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27204@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Prof. Daniel Czitrom latest book New York Exposed: The Gilded A ge Police Scandal That Launched the Progressive Movement reveals several k ey themes that resonate today.  He will uncover them during his talk here at the mansion and autograph copies of his book during an accompanying Vic torian tea.\nCzitrom will open with the explosive charges leveled against the New York Police Department and Tammany Hall by the Rev. Dr. Charles H. Parkhurst in 1892.  Two years later\, Parkhurst’s crusade forced the firs t sensational political investigation of the modern era and kick-started t he Progressive movement.\nEstablished by the New York State Senate\, the L exow Committee heard testimony from nearly 700 witnesses\, representing al l 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 police brutality.\nThe narrative unfolds amidst the larger contexts of mac hine politics\, national elections\, the depression of 1893\, vote fraud a nd vote suppression\, and police violence. The effort to root out corrupt cops and crooked politicians morphed into something much more profound: a public reckoning\, messy and contentious\, over what New York—and the Amer ican city—had become since the Civil War. The speaker will dig into the re search challenges that he faced in conceiving and writing his book.\nCzitr om is Professor of History on the Ford Foundation at Mount Holyoke College \, with special interest in the history of New York City and 20th century America. He is also the author of Rediscovering Jacob Riis: Exposure Journ alism and Photography in Turn of the Century New York (2008)\; Media and t he American Mind: From Morse to McLuhan (1982)\; and co-author of Out of M any: A History of the American People (9th ed.\, 2019)\, a best-selling co llege survey textbook.\nHe served as Historical Advisor for the BBC Americ a historical drama Copper (2011-13) set in Civil War era New York. And he has appeared as a featured on-camera commentator in numerous documentary f ilm projects\, including Joseph Pulitzer: Voice of the People (PBS/America n Masters\, 2019)\; The Rise and Fall of Penn Station (PBS\, 2014)\; New Y ork: A Documentary Film (PBS\, 1999)\; American Photography: 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 fourt een Tea & Talks presented every Tuesday until September 10 are sponsored b y Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.\nTickets for the Czitrom talk are $28 for advance reservations and $32 day of the even t.  Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited.  For reserv ations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190827T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “New York Exposed: The Gilded Age Police Scandal” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-new-york-exposed-the-gilded-age-po lice-scandal/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Prof. 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.

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Czitrom 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.

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Established 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.

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The 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.

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The 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.

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Tickets 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Writer/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.

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Bisacca (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 .

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He 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.

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George 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.

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In 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.

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The 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.

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Tickets 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Ventfort 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.

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Her 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.

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The 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.)

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Over 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.”

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Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Award-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.

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Constructed 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.

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There 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.

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Estersohn 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.”

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The 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.

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Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Berkshire 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.

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Three 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.

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With 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.

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Co 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

The 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.

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Lady 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.

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In 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.

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Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Be 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.

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Save 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.

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Ticketing Link – https://phx.mov ie/DowntonAbbey

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The 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.

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An 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Be 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.

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Save 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.

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Ticketing Link – https://phx.mov ie/DowntonAbbey

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The 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.

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An 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Discover the wines of Moldova\, one of the oldest wine-growing regions in the world!

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Presenting nine wines with Andrei Birsan of Wines of Moldova USA\, a n exclusive Moldovan wine importing company.

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$35.00 per person. Fo r an additional $15.00  enjoy a private guided tour of Ventfort Hall start ing at 4:30 pm.

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For 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

As 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 .

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From 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.

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Central 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.

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In 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.

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Darden 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.

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His 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.

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Tickets 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

October 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.

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This 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.

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B 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.

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Over 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.

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B 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.

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Tickets 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

SOLD OUT

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The 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.

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Lady 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.

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In 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.

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Cost 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Oct 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.

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Drop 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.

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\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:20210420T171525Z 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\\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.

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“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.

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A 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.

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After 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.

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Traged 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.

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Dr. 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.

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Dr. 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.

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As 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.

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Tickets 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:20210420T171525Z 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\\n\\n\\n

Join 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.

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Raby 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.

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His 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.

\n

He 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.

\n

Before 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.

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The 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 BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27474@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191122T173000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:French Wine Seminar Featuring Domaine de Bila-Haut Presented by Nej aime’s URL:https://gildedage.org/event/french-wine-seminar-featuring-domaine-de-bi la-haut-presented-by-nejaimes/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-WP-IMAGES-URL:thumbnail\;https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11 /Dom-Bila-Haut-Wine-Seminar-at-Ventfort-11_22_2019-F1.jpg\;1773\;1137\,med ium\;https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Dom-Bila-Haut-Wine-S eminar-at-Ventfort-11_22_2019-F1.jpg\;1773\;1137\,large\;https://gildedage .org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Dom-Bila-Haut-Wine-Seminar-at-Ventfort-11_ 22_2019-F1.jpg\;1773\;1137\,full\;https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads /2019/11/Dom-Bila-Haut-Wine-Seminar-at-Ventfort-11_22_2019-F1.jpg\;1773\;1 137 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

< img loading='lazy' class='alignleft wp-image-27477 size-full' src='https:/ /gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Dom-Bila-Haut-Wine-Seminar-at-Ve ntfort-11_22_2019-F1.jpg' alt='' width='1773' height='1137' srcset='https: //gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Dom-Bila-Haut-Wine-Seminar-at-V entfort-11_22_2019-F1.jpg 1773w\, https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads /2019/11/Dom-Bila-Haut-Wine-Seminar-at-Ventfort-11_22_2019-F1-300x192.jpg 300w\, https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Dom-Bila-Haut-Wine -Seminar-at-Ventfort-11_22_2019-F1-768x493.jpg 768w\, https://gildedage.or g/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Dom-Bila-Haut-Wine-Seminar-at-Ventfort-11_22_ 2019-F1-1024x657.jpg 1024w' sizes='(max-width: 1773px) 100vw\, 1773px' />< /a>

\n X-COST:$35 X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27453@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:The Comical Mystery Tour ensemble presents their new holiday pr ogram “Grandma Got Runned Over by a…Oh Dear!!!!” and invites the public to join the fun on Saturday\, November 23rd. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first course served at 5:30 pm.\nSandy Klawes has invited the f amily to a get together with his wife Marguerite Freagan Klawes at their c ompound in  Northpole Springs Tennessee. Of course\, their Granddaughter\, Sue Ellen will be there and Cousin Terry the Stable Guy. A surprise guest \, cousin Elvira Jean will be there too. She hasn’t been to one of these i n years. It is your typical Family get together with Road Kill Casserole a nd Grandpa’s “special” beverage in his mason jars hidden in the cellar. Be lieve it or not\, someone doesn’t get along with everyone and someone ends the season celebrating permanently. Come along and help figure out who du nnit.\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 Ventfort Hall.\nCost to attend is $42 per p erson including a full course dinner. A cash bar is available for beer and wine. Reservations are required by Wednesday\, Nov. 20th. Seating is limi ted.  For information or reservations call us at 413-637-3s206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191123T170000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Murder Mystery Dinner Theater – “Grandma Got Runned Over by a…Oh De ar!!!!” 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-grandma-got-r unned-over-by-a-oh-dear/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

The Comical M ystery Tour ensemble presents their new holiday program “Grandma Got Runne d Over by a…Oh Dear!!!!” and invites the public to join the fun on Saturda y\, November 23rd. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first course served at 5:30 pm.

\n

Sandy Klawes has invited the family to a get to gether with his wife Marguerite Freagan Klawes at their compound in  North pole Springs Tennessee. Of course\, their Granddaughter\, Sue Ellen will b e there and Cousin Terry the Stable Guy. A surprise guest\, cousin Elvira Jean will be there too. She hasn’t been to one of these in years. It is yo ur typical Family get together with Road Kill Casserole and Grandpa’s “spe cial” beverage in his mason jars hidden in the cellar. Believe it or not\, someone doesn’t get along with everyone and someone ends the season celeb rating permanently. Come along and help figure out who dunnit.

\n

In production since 1995\, The Comical Mystery Tour has had over 50\,000 audi ence members viewing and/or participating in their programs. The ensemble appears regularly at Ventfort Hall.

\n

Cost to attend is $42 per pers on including a full course dinner. A cash bar is available for beer and wi ne. Reservations are required by Wednesday\, Nov. 20th. Seating is limited .  For information or reservations call us at 413-637-3s206.

\n< /HTML> X-COST:$42\, reservations required by Wednesday\, Nov. 20th X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27460@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Known to Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum audiences for her many one-woman shows (remember the provocative Paris 1890?)\, actr ess Anne Undeland returns to celebrate the release of an audiobook adaptat ion of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women from which she will read excerpts on Saturday\, November 30 at 3:30 pm.\nFollowing the reading\, Anne and Al ison Larkin\, founder of Alison Larkin Presents\, the Berkshire-based audi obook company that is issuing Little Woman\, will discuss Alcott’s early f eminist roots\, her links to Massachusetts and Little Women then and now.  A Victorian tea will then be offered.\nThe new audio production gives the listener the March sisters\, rough-and-tumble Jo\, graceful Meg\, gifted Beth and willful Amy\, in one evanescent year\, from Christmas to Christma s\, as they move from childhood to adulthood in Civil War New England. Ann e will give a colorful rendition of the four sisters.\nAnne has been featu red in numerous radio productions for BBC Radio\, the Australian Broadcast ing Corporation and NPR affiliates in the US.  Alison is also a writer and comedienne. Alison Larkin Presents has won seven AudioFile Earphones awar ds for excellence.\nTickets for the Little Women reading and succeeding te a are $28 per person for advance reservations\, $32 for day of the reading .  Reservations are recommended as seating is limited.  For reservations c all usl at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191130T153000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Reading of Audiobook Adaptation of Little Women Followed by a Tea URL:https://gildedage.org/event/reading-of-audiobook-adaptation-of-little-w omen-followed-by-a-tea/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Known to Vent fort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum audiences for her many one-woman s hows (remember the provocative Paris 1890?)\, actress Anne Undela nd returns to celebrate the release of an audiobook adaptation of Louisa M ay Alcott’s Little Women from which she will read excerpts on Sat urday\, November 30 at 3:30 pm.

\n

Following the reading\, Anne and A lison Larkin\, founder of Alison Larkin Presents\, the Berkshire-based aud iobook company that is issuing Little Woman\, will discuss Alcott ’s early feminist roots\, her links to Massachusetts and Little Women then and now.  A Victorian tea will then be offered.

\n

The new audio production gives the listener the March sisters\, rough-and-tumble J o\, graceful Meg\, gifted Beth and willful Amy\, in one evanescent year\, from Christmas to Christmas\, as they move from childhood to adulthood in Civil War New England. Anne will give a colorful rendition of the four sis ters.

\n

Anne has been featured in numerous radio productions for BBC Radio\, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and NPR affiliates in the US.  Alison is also a writer and comedienne. Alison Larkin Presents has w on seven AudioFile Earphones awards for excellence.

\n

Tickets for th e Little Women reading and succeeding tea are $28 per person for advance reservations\, $32 for day of the reading.  Reservations are recom mended as seating is limited.  For reservations call usl at 413-637-3206.< /p>\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27451@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:The great-great-grandson of the literary legend Charles Dickens \, British actor Gerald Charles Dickens\, will present a one-man theatrica l performance of his ancestor’s classic work A Christmas Carol at Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum on Saturday\, December 7\, and Sunday\ , December 8\, 2019. An elegant Victorian tea will follow.\nUsing his own adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas tale\, Gerald plays 26 ch aracters using his vocal and physical talents to bring each scene vividly to life.  In 1993\, he created as his first one-man show\, A Christmas Car ol\, inspired by Charles’ own energetic readings of the 1860s in the Unite d States and elsewhere.\nGerald’s performance of A Christmas Carol has rec eived standing ovations the world over: “The audience was rapt\, as it was in Charles’ day!”  “Not a reading or a dramatization but the best of both .”  “Dickens the actor gets full value from Dickens the writer.”  “A Dicke ns of a performance.”\nGerald has worked both on and off stage\, as an act or\, director and producer for many years. A fascination with the life and works of his ancestor led him to write and direct other one-man shows inc luding Mr. Dickens Is Coming!\, Nicholas Nickleby and Sketches by Boz. Ger ald performs regularly in major theaters and arts centers\, as well as at several arts and literary festivals in the UK and has entertained cruise p assengers worldwide since 2007.\nTickets for A Christmas Carol and the ele gant Victorian tea are $50. Ventfort Hall will be in full Christmas Regali a!! Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited.  For reserv ations call us at (413) 637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191207T153000 RDATE;TZID=America/New_York:20191208T153000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:BOTH PERFORMANCES SOLD OUT – “A Christmas Carol” One-Man Theatrical Performance Followed by Victorian Tea URL:https://gildedage.org/event/one-man-theatrical-performance-of-a-christm as-carol-followed-by-victorian-tea/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

The great-gre at-grandson of the literary legend Charles Dickens\, British actor Gerald Charles Dickens\, will present a one-man theatrical performance of his anc estor’s classic work A Christmas Carol at Ventfort Hall Mansion a nd Gilded Age Museum on Saturday\, December 7\, and Sunday\, December 8\, 2019. An elegant Victorian tea will follow.

\n

Using his own adaptati on of Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas tale\, Gerald plays 26 characters using his vocal and physical talents to bring each scene vividly to life.   In 1993\, he created as his first one-man show\, A Christmas Carol\, inspired by Charles’ own energetic readings of the 1860s in the Unit ed States and elsewhere.

\n

Gerald’s performance of A Christmas C arol has received standing ovations the world over: “The audience was rapt\, as it was in Charles’ day!”  “Not a reading or a dramatization but the best of both.”  “Dickens the actor gets full value from Dickens the w riter.”  “A Dickens of a performance.”

\n

Gerald has worked both on a nd off stage\, as an actor\, director and producer for many years. A fasci nation with the life and works of his ancestor led him to write and direct other one-man shows including Mr. Dickens Is Coming!\, Nicholas Nickl eby and Sketches by Boz. Gerald performs regularly in major theaters and arts centers\, as well as at several arts and literary festiv als in the UK and has entertained cruise passengers worldwide since 2007.< /p>\n

Tickets for A Christmas Carol and the elegant Victorian t ea are $50. Ventfort Hall will be in full Christmas Regalia!! Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited.  For reservations call us a t (413) 637-3206.

\n X-COST:$50 per person X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27507@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:The Comical Mystery Tour ensemble returns to the mansion for an encore performance of their holiday program “Grandma Got Runned Over by a …Oh Dear!!!!” and invites the public to join the fun on Saturday\, Decembe r 14th. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first course served at 5 :30 pm.\nSandy Klawes has invited the family to a get together with his wi fe Marguerite Freagan Klawes at their compound in  Northpole Springs Tenne ssee. Of course\, their Granddaughter\, Sue Ellen will be there and Cousin Terry the Stable Guy. A surprise guest\, cousin Elvira Jean will be there too. She hasn’t been to one of these in years. It is your typical Family get together with Road Kill Casserole and Grandpa’s “special” beverage in his mason jars hidden in the cellar. Believe it or not\, someone doesn’t g et along with everyone and someone ends the season celebrating permanently . Come along and help figure out who dunnit.\nIn production since 1995\, T he Comical Mystery Tour has had over 50\,000 audience members viewing and/ or participating in their programs. The ensemble appears regularly at Vent fort Hall.\nCost to attend is $42 per person including a full course dinne r. A cash bar is available for beer\, wine and soda. BYOB is not allowed d ue to liability issues. Reservations are required by Wednesday\, Dec. 11th . Seating is limited.  For information or reservations call us at 413-637- 3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191214T170000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Murder Mystery Dinner Theater – “Grandma Got Runned Over by a…Oh De ar!!!!” 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-grandma-got-r unned-over-by-a-oh-dear-doors-open-at-500-pm-program-starts-and-first-cour se-served-at-530-pm/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

The Comical M ystery Tour ensemble returns to the mansion for an encore performance of t heir holiday program “Grandma Got Runned Over by a…Oh Dear!!!!” and invite s the public to join the fun on Saturday\, December 14th. Doors open at 5: 00 pm. Program starts and first course served at 5:30 pm.

\n

Sandy Kl awes has invited the family to a get together with his wife Marguerite Fre agan Klawes at their compound in  Northpole Springs Tennessee. Of course\, their Granddaughter\, Sue Ellen will be there and Cousin Terry the Stable Guy. A surprise guest\, cousin Elvira Jean will be there too. She hasn’t been to one of these in years. It is your typical Family get together with Road Kill Casserole and Grandpa’s “special” beverage in his mason jars hi dden in the cellar. Believe it or not\, someone doesn’t get along with eve ryone and someone ends the season celebrating permanently. Come along and help figure out who dunnit.

\n

In production since 1995\, The Comical Mystery Tour has had over 50\,000 audience members viewing and/or partici pating in their programs. The ensemble appears regularly at Ventfort Hall.

\n

Cost to attend is $42 per person including a full course dinner. A cash bar is available for beer\, wine and soda. BYOB is not allowed due to liability issues. Reservations are required by Wednesday\, Dec. 11th. S eating is limited.  For information or reservations call us at 413-637-320 6.

\n X-COST:$42\, reservations required by Wednesday\, Nov. 20th X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27476@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Children of all ages and their families are welcomed to Ventfor t Hall on Sunday\, December 15 from noon – 3 p.m. to decorate one of the m any trees that adorn the mansion this holiday season and make holiday card s for friends and family. Children will be able to craft their own ornamen ts and decorate a tree with them as well as take home some handmade orname nts. The finished decorated tree will remain on display in the mansion unt il early January. Punch and cookies will be served.\nAdmission is $5 per c hild (to cover material fees). Parents/guardians are admitted at no extra charge. Reservations not required but encouraged. Please give us a call at (413) 637-3206 or email haley@gildedage.org if you are interested in atte nding so we can prepare enough materials. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191215T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20191215T150000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Children’s Tree Decorating and Ornament Crafting Workshop URL:https://gildedage.org/event/childrens-tree-decorating-and-ornament-craf ting-workshop/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Children of a ll ages and their families are welcomed to Ventfort Hall on Sunday\, Decem ber 15 from noon – 3 p.m. to decorate one of the many trees that adorn the mansion this holiday season and make holiday cards for friends and family . Children will be able to craft their own ornaments and decorate a tree w ith them as well as take home some handmade ornaments. The finished decora ted tree will remain on display in the mansion until early January. Punch and cookies will be served.

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Admission is $5 per child (to cover ma terial fees). Parents/guardians are admitted at no extra charge. Reservati ons not required but encouraged. Please give us a call at (413) 637-3206 o r email haley@gildedage.org if yo u are interested in attending so we can prepare enough materials.

\n X-COST:$5 per child with an advance reservation and $7 day of END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27485@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Dec. 30 rescheduled to Sat.\, Jan. 4 at 3:30 pm.\nThe popular p uppeteer Carl Sprague will return to Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum in Lenox to charm all ages with the classic fairytale “The Frog Pri nce” for two Christmas-week marionette performances.  The dates and times are Saturday\, December 28th and Monday\, December 30th both at 3:30 pm. T he audiences will have the opportunity to meet this wizard\, who knows how to pull strings. Children’s refreshments will be served.\nOne of the them es of “The Frog Prince” is about keeping your promises. The princess tries to back out of her promise to the frog\, but her father insists that she maintain her integrity. As a result\, the princess ends up with her prince . Another theme is about persistence.\nSprague\, who has appeared annually at Ventfort Hall with his “behind the scenery” mastery\, has been a puppe teer since childhood.  He inherited a collection of 60 antique Czech mario nettes\, each about eight inches tall that were assembled by his great-gra ndfather\, Julius Hybler\, with purchased heads and hand-made costumes.  H ybler’s legacy also includes two marionette theaters.\nAlso\, Sprague has been a set designer for such motion pictures as “The Royal Tenenbaums” and Scorcese’s “The Age of Innocence\,” as well as for theater productions in cluding those of Shakespeare & Company.\nAdmission to the show is $15 per person\; $7 for children 4-17 and free for 3 and under. Children must be a ccompanied by adults.  Reservations are strongly recommended as seating is limited. Please call us at 413-637-3206 for reservations. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191228T153000 RDATE;TZID=America/New_York:20191228T153000 RDATE;TZID=America/New_York:20200104T153000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Marionette Show – “The Frog Prince” with Carl Sprague URL:https://gildedage.org/event/marrionette-show-the-frog-prince-with-carl- sprague/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Dec. 30 rescheduled to Sat.\, Jan. 4 at 3:30 pm.

\n

The popular p uppeteer Carl Sprague will return to Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum in Lenox to charm all ages with the classic fairytale “The Frog Pri nce” for two Christmas-week marionette performances.  The dates and times are Saturday\, December 28th and Monday\, December 30th both at 3:30 pm. The audiences will have the opportunity to meet this wizard\, who knows how to pull strings. Children’s refreshments will be se rved.

\n

One of the themes of “The Frog Prince” is a bout keeping your promises. The princess tries to back out of her promise to the frog\, but her father insists that she maintain her integrity. As a result\, the princess ends up with her prince. Another theme is about per sistence.

\n

Sprague\, who has appeared annually at Ventfort Hall wit h his “behind the scenery” mastery\, has been a puppeteer since childhood.   He inherited a collection of 60 antique Czech marionettes\, each about e ight inches tall that were assembled by his great-grandfather\, Julius Hyb ler\, with purchased heads and hand-made costumes.  Hybler’s legacy also i ncludes two marionette theaters.

\n

Also\, Sprague has been a set des igner for such motion pictures as “The Royal Tenenbaums” and Scorcese’s “T he Age of Innocence\,” as well as for theater productions including those of Shakespeare & Company.

\n

Admission to the show is $15 per person\ ; $7 for children 4-17 and free for 3 and under. Children must be accompan ied by adults.  Reservations are strongly recommended as seating is limite d. Please call us at 413-637-3206 for reservations.

\n X-COST:$15 adults\, $7 children ages 4-17\, free age 3 and under X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27622@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Berkshire screenwriter and historian Nannina Gilder\, as well a s former film curator for the Little Cinema at The Berkshire Museum\, will host a four-part Women in Film Seminar titled “Invisible: Female Filmmake rs Before 1960” here at the mansion. The classes are scheduled for Thursda ys\, January 23 and 30\, February 6 and 13\, all at 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Ventfo rt Hall board member Birgit Vetromile is the sponsor for the film series. \nGilder asks these questions\, “Imagine telling the history of film witho ut the first director to use the camera to tell a story\, or the first fea ture length animated movie?”  “Who was the first surrealist filmmaker\, or the director of the first movie of the French New Wave?”\n“For decades th ese milestones have actually been relegated to a dusty corner of film hist ory\,” according to Gilder\, “pushed aside in favor of a straightforward n arrative of brilliant men behind the camera and beautiful women in front o f it. Films directed by women in the early decades of cinematography have been considered obscure curiosities\, but the truth is much richer and mor e complex.”\nGilder will delve into how actress Ida Lupino became a writer /director/producer who changed the face of American independent film\, how Dorothy Arzner’s technical innovations in the early sound era untethered actors\, giving them the freedom to move and express themselves\, how Lott e Reiniger’s magic scissors and multi-plane camera opened up worlds of ani mation or how Alice Guy came to make of the first non-documentary film.\nF emale directors included in the seminar were nominated for Oscars and won awards at Cannes and Venice. Their films influenced such directors as Alfr ed Hitchcock\, Martin Scoresse and Francis Ford Coppola.\nThe seminar will offer a glimpse into movies that changed the face of cinema\, but today a re hard to find.  Each of the four classes will examine short and feature- length films in the context of these themes: January 23\, The Birth of Cin ema – Alice Guy (short) and Ida Lupino (feature)\; January 30\, Dancer & D irector – Shirley Clarke (short) and Dorothy Arzner (feature)\; February 6 \, Worlds of Animation – TBA (short) and Lotte Reiniger (feature)\, and Fe bruary 13\, Obsession – Wendy Toye (short) and Jacqueline Audry (feature). \nGilder comments\, “The seminar will reveal that not only were women maki ng films in the classical period of cinema\, but they were crafting beauti ful\, vibrant pieces of entertainment. The history of film is inseparable from the history of women in film.”\nGilder has appeared on the film podca st Citizen Dame. Her play “The Curious Abduction of Mona Lisa” was perform ed at Ventfort Hall in 2013.\nTickets for the Women in Film seminar are $1 5 for each of the four classes or $50 for the four-part series.  Reservati ons are highly recommended as seating is limited.  For reservations call u s at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200123T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200123T210000 RDATE;TZID=America/New_York:20200130T190000 RDATE;TZID=America/New_York:20200206T190000 RDATE;TZID=America/New_York:20200213T190000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Women in Film Seminar – “Invisible: Female Fim Makers Before 1960” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/women-in-film-seminar-invisible-female-fim- makers-before-1960/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Berkshire scr eenwriter and historian Nannina Gilder\, as well as former film curator fo r the Little Cinema at The Berkshire Museum\, will host a four-part Women in Film Seminar titled “Invisible: Female Filmmakers Before 1960” here at the mansion. The classes are scheduled for Thursdays\, January 23 and 30\, February 6 and 13\, all at 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Ventfort Hall board member Bir git Vetromile is the sponsor for the film series.

\n

Gilder asks thes e questions\, “Imagine telling the history of film without the first direc tor to use the camera to tell a story\, or the first feature length animat ed movie?”  “Who was the first surrealist filmmaker\, or the director of t he first movie of the French New Wave?”

\n

“For decades these milesto nes have actually been relegated to a dusty corner of film history\,” acco rding to Gilder\, “pushed aside in favor of a straightforward narrative of brilliant men behind the camera and beautiful women in front of it. Films directed by women in the early decades of cinematography have been consid ered obscure curiosities\, but the truth is much richer and more complex.”

\n

Gilder will delve into how actress Ida Lupino became a writer/dir ector/producer who changed the face of American independent film\, how Dor othy Arzner’s technical innovations in the early sound era untethered acto rs\, giving them the freedom to move and express themselves\, how Lotte Re iniger’s magic scissors and multi-plane camera opened up worlds of animati on or how Alice Guy came to make of the first non-documentary film.

\n< p>Female directors included in the seminar were nominated for Oscars and w on awards at Cannes and Venice. Their films influenced such directors as A lfred Hitchcock\, Martin Scoresse and Francis Ford Coppola.

\n

The se minar will offer a glimpse into movies that changed the face of cinema\, b ut today are hard to find.  Each of the four classes will examine short an d feature-length films in the context of these themes: January 23\, The Bi rth of Cinema – Alice Guy (short) and Ida Lupino (feature)\; January 30\, Dancer & Director – Shirley Clarke (short) and Dorothy Arzner (feature)\; February 6\, Worlds of Animation – TBA (short) and Lotte Reiniger (feature )\, and February 13\, Obsession – Wendy Toye (short) and Jacqueline Audry (feature).

\n

Gilder comments\, “The seminar will reveal that not onl y were women making films in the classical period of cinema\, but they wer e crafting beautiful\, vibrant pieces of entertainment. The history of fil m is inseparable from the history of women in film.”

\n

Gilder has ap peared on the film podcast Citizen Dame. Her play “The Curious Abduction o f Mona Lisa” was performed at Ventfort Hall in 2013.

\n

Tickets for t he Women in Film seminar are $15 for each of the four classes or $50 for t he four-part series.  Reservations are highly recommended as seating is li mited.  For reservations call us at 413-637-3206.

\n X-COST:$15 for each of the four classes or $50 for the four-part series END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27584@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT – NEXT MURDER MYSTERY IS SATURDAY\, MARC H 14\, SUBJECT MATTER TO BE ANNOUNCED\nThe Comical Mystery Tour ensemble w ill present a new mystery for you to solve\, “The Last Night at the Museum \,” and invites the public to join the fun on Saturday\, February 15th. Do ors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first course served at 5:30 pm.\nI t takes place at the Hysteriaworst house. Kathryn Spinner is donating the house to the city so it can become a museum and be enjoyed by anyone that wants to take a tour. Shirley Eugest is the representative from the city t hat is helping with the transition but things aren’t going as smoothly as she would hope. Ferris Faire is the long lost cousin that isn’t happy abou t the family money going away from him. Ivanna Partay is the Mayor’s daugh ter that has other plans for the house and Charles is the butler that love s the family and house that he has been working with for years. Someone sh ows their displeasure by eliminating options. Starting with one of the peo ple involved.\nIn production since 1995\, The Comical Mystery Tour has had over 50\,000 audience members viewing and/or participating in their progr ams. The ensemble appears regularly at Ventfort Hall.\nCost to attend is $ 42 per person including a full course dinner. A cash bar is available for beer and wine. BYOB is not allowed for liability reasons. Reservations are required by Wednesday\, Feb. 12th. Seating is limited.  For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200215T170000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:SOLD OUT – Murder Mystery Dinner Theater – “The Last Night at the M useum” 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-the-last-nigh t-at-the-museum-doors-open-at-500-pm-program-starts-and-first-course-serve d-at-530-pm/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT – NEXT MURDER MYSTERY IS SATURDAY\, MARCH 14\, SUBJECT MATTER TO BE ANNOUNCED

\n

The Comical Mystery Tour ensemble w ill present a new mystery for you to solve\, “The Last Night at the Museum \,” and invites the public to join the fun on Saturday\, February 15th. Do ors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first course served at 5:30 pm.

\n

It takes place at the Hysteriaworst house. Kathryn Spinner is donati ng the house to the city so it can become a museum and be enjoyed by anyon e that wants to take a tour. Shirley Eugest is the representative from the city that is helping with the transition but things aren’t going as smoot hly as she would hope. Ferris Faire is the long lost cousin that isn’t hap py about the family money going away from him. Ivanna Partay is the Mayor’ s daughter that has other plans for the house and Charles is the butler th at loves the family and house that he has been working with for years. Som eone shows their displeasure by eliminating options. Starting with one of the people involved.

\n

In production since 1995\, The Comical Myster y Tour has had over 50\,000 audience members viewing and/or participating in their programs. The ensemble appears regularly at Ventfort Hall.

\n< p>Cost to attend is $42 per person including a full course dinner. A cash bar is available for beer and wine. BYOB is not allowed for liability reas ons. Reservations are required by Wednesday\, Feb. 12th. Seating is limite d.  For reservations call us at 413-637-3206.

\n X-COST:$42\, reservations required by Wednesday\, Feb. 12th X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27652@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200221T173000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Rhône Rangers Wine Seminar Presented by Nejaime’s URL:https://gildedage.org/event/rhone-rangers-wine-seminar-presented-by-nej aimes/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-WP-IMAGES-URL:thumbnail\;https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01 /Rhone-Rangers-Wine-Seminar-at-Ventfort-2_21_2020-F-jpg-1024x657.jpg\;1024 \;657\,medium\;https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Rhone-Rang ers-Wine-Seminar-at-Ventfort-2_21_2020-F-jpg-1024x657.jpg\;1024\;657\,larg e\;https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Rhone-Rangers-Wine-Sem inar-at-Ventfort-2_21_2020-F-jpg-1024x657.jpg\;1024\;657\,full\;https://gi ldedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Rhone-Rangers-Wine-Seminar-at-Ventf ort-2_21_2020-F-jpg-1024x657.jpg\;1024\;657 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

\n X-COST:$35 per person for reservations call Nejaime’s 413-637-2221 X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27659@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:A museum professional in the field of living history\, historia n and author Dennis Picard will give a talk here at the mansion on “The Ic e Famine of 1919.”  His visual presentation and demonstration will be foll owed by a Victorian tea.\nThe commercial harvesting and export of ice from New England’s frozen lakes and ponds began in the first decade of the 19t h century.  By the end of the century\, ice harvesting was the ninth large st industry in the US\, employing tens of thousands of workers in New Engl and alone and producing hundreds of thousands of tons of block ice annuall y.\nAccording to Picard\, “People don’t think of ice as a crop\, but it wa s so very important for food preservation and transportation.”  In 1919\, there was a shortage which led to some hard choices being made by American s.  “Man-made ice was man’s response to Mother Nature’s fickle ways\,” say s Picard.  His presentation will include images of the progression of ice harvesting\, the innovation of man-made ice and refrigeration\, as well as an exhibit of ice harvesting tools.\nPicard has been a museum professiona l in the living history field for over forty years.  He began his career i n 1978 at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge\, Massachusetts\, where he filled various positions including lead interpreter\, researching and desi gning many public programs which are still offered by that institution tod ay.\nHe has held the positions of Assistant Director and Director\, includ ing at the Sheffield Historical Society and Storrowton Village Museum.  He also served on the staff of Hancock Shaker Village as a historic trade cr aftsman and site interpreter.  He has authored many articles on the lifest yles and folkways of New England.  He is also on the Board of Directors of the Pioneer Valley History Network.\nTickets for the Picard Tea and Talk are $28 for advance reservations and $32 day of the event.  Reservations a re highly recommended as attendance is limited.  For reservations call Ven tfort Hall at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200222T153000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tea & Talk – “The Ice Famine of 1919” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tea-talk-the-ice-famine-of-1919/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

A museum prof essional in the field of living history\, historian and author Dennis Pica rd will give a talk here at the mansion on “The Ice Famine of 1919.”  His visual presentation and demonstration will be followed by a Victorian tea.

\n

The commercial harvesting and export of ice from New England’s fr ozen lakes and ponds began in the first decade of the 19th cent ury.  By the end of the century\, ice harvesting was the ninth largest ind ustry in the US\, employing tens of thousands of workers in New England al one and producing hundreds of thousands of tons of block ice annually.

\n

According to Picard\, “People don’t think of ice as a crop\, but it w as so very important for food preservation and transportation.”  In 1919\, there was a shortage which led to some hard choices being made by America ns.  “Man-made ice was man’s response to Mother Nature’s fickle ways\,” sa ys Picard.  His presentation will include images of the progression of ice harvesting\, the innovation of man-made ice and refrigeration\, as well a s an exhibit of ice harvesting tools.

\n

Picard has been a museum pro fessional in the living history field for over forty years.  He began his career in 1978 at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge\, Massachusetts\, w here he filled various positions including lead interpreter\, researching and designing many public programs which are still offered by that institu tion today.

\n

He has held the positions of Assistant Director and Di rector\, including at the Sheffield Historical Society and Storrowton Vill age Museum.  He also served on the staff of Hancock Shaker Village as a hi storic trade craftsman and site interpreter.  He has authored many article s on the lifestyles and folkways of New England.  He is also on the Board of Directors of the Pioneer Valley History Network.

\n

Tickets for th e Picard Tea and Talk are $28 for advance reservations and $32 day of the event.  Reservations are highly recommended as attendance is limited.  For reservations call Ventfort Hall at 413-637-3206.

\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27723@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:POSTPONED TO BE RESCHEDULED\nActresses Alison Larkin and Anne U ndeland will narrate two beloved novels\, celebrating their launch as the latest additions to the audiobook library produced by Alison Larkin Presen ts\, the Berkshire-based audiobook company.  The event\, followed by a Vic torian tea\, will be held at Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum o n Saturday\, March 21 at 3:30 pm.\nLarkin\, whose youthful experiences wer e very similar to that of Mary Lenox\, the heroine in the classic The Secr et Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett\, will narrate scenes from the book. \nWhen her parents die from cholera in India\, orphan Mary is sent to live with her uncle in a cold\, dark mansion in England.  There she discovers a secret garden that has been locked up since her aunt’s death ten years e arlier….   Larkin was adopted as a child and sent to live in a big\, draft y English house\, though without a secret garden.\nAccording to AudioFile Magazine: “A novel rich in imagination\, detail and surprises requires a n arrator who can embrace every element of the story – Alison Larkin is that narrator.”\nLarkin has appeared on and off Broadway with the Royal Nation al Theatre.  She is also a comedienne\, narrator of over 200 audiobooks an d winner of eight AudioFile Earphones awards.  She is the bestselling auth or of The English American\, an autobiographical novel about an adopted En glish woman who finds her birth parents in America.\nUndeland\, who last f all presented a reading that launched the audiobook company’s Little Women at Ventfort Hall\, returns to read passages from the sequel\, Good Wives\ , Little Women\, Book Two. \n Three years after the conclusion of the stor y in the first book\, we return to the March family\, opening with Meg’s w edding. No longer little girls dreaming of “castles in the air\,” Meg\, Jo \, Beth and Amy are now young women\, each with her own share of joy and h eartache\, and each with her own path to forge.\nAudiofile Magazine says: “Anne Undeland captivates listeners with her exquisite narration. Listener s are effortlessly transported…”\nUndeland has been featured in numerous r adio productions for BBC Radio\, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation a nd NPR affiliates in the US.  A long-time theater artist\, she performs on e-woman shows (a Ventfort Hall favorite) and is the author of plays includ ing Lady Randy\, the story of Jennie Jerome Lady Randolph Churchill\, the mother of Sir Winston Churchill.\nTickets to attend are $28per person with an advance reservations $28 and $32 per person the day of. Reservations a re strongly recommended as seating is limited. For reservations call us at (413) 637-3206.\nTo order The Secret Garden\, visit: https://alisonlarkin presents.com/product/the-secret-garden-audiobook/\nTo order Good Wives\, L ittle Women\, Book Two\, visit:\nhttps://www.audible.com/pd/B084YYFM61/?so urce_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-183894&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_183894_rh_u s DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200321T153000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:POSTPONED TO BE RESCHEDULED – Reading of Audiobook Adaptation: The Secret Garden & Good Wives (Little Women\, Part 2) followed by a Tea URL:https://gildedage.org/event/reading-of-the-secret-garden-good-wives-lit tle-women-part-2-followed-by-tea/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

POSTP ONED TO BE RESCHEDULED

\n

Actresses Alison Larkin and Anne Undeland will narrate two beloved novels\ , celebrating their launch as the latest additions to the audiobook librar y produced by Alison Larkin Presents\, the Berkshire-based audiobook compa ny.  The event\, followed by a Victorian tea\, will be held at Ventfort Ha ll Mansion and Gilded Age Museum on Saturday\, March 21 at 3:30 pm.

\n< p>Larkin\, whose youthful experiences were very similar to that of Mary Le nox\, the heroine in the classic The Secret Garden by Fr ances Hodgson Burnett\, will narrate scenes from the book.

\n

When he r parents die from cholera in India\, orphan Mary is sent to live with her uncle in a cold\, dark mansion in England.  There she discovers a secret garden that has been locked up since her aunt’s death ten years earlier….    Larkin was adopted as a child and sent to live in a big\, drafty English house\, though without a secret garden.

\n

According to AudioFile Ma gazine: “A novel rich in imagination\, detail and surprises requires a nar rator who can embrace every element of the story – Alison Larkin is that n arrator.”

\n

Larkin has appeared on and off Broadway with the Royal N ational Theatre.  She is also a comedienne\, narrator of over 200 audioboo ks and winner of eight AudioFile Earphones awards.  She is the bestselling author of The English American\, an autobiographical novel about an adopted English woman who finds her birth parents in America.

\n

Undeland\, who last fall presented a reading that launched the audiobook c ompany’s Little Women at Ventfort Hall\, returns to read passages from the sequel\, Good Wives\, Little Women\, Book Two.

\n

 Three years after the conclusion of the story in the first book \, we return to the March family\, opening with Meg’s wedding. No longer l ittle girls dreaming of “castles in the air\,” Meg\, Jo\, Beth and Amy are now young women\, each with her own share of joy and heartache\, and each with her own path to forge.

\n

Audiofile Magazine says: “Anne Undela nd captivates listeners with her exquisite narration. Listeners are effort lessly transported…”

\n

Undeland has been featured in numerous radio productions for BBC Radio\, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and NP R affiliates in the US.  A long-time theater artist\, she performs one-wom an shows (a Ventfort Hall favorite) and is the author of plays including < em>Lady Randy\, the story of Jennie Jerome Lady Randolph Churchill\, the mother of Sir Winston Churchill.

\n

Tickets to attend are $28per person with an advance reservations $28 and $32 per person the day of. Res ervations are strongly recommended as seating is limited. For reservations call us at (413) 637-3206.

\n

To order The Secret Garden\, visit: https://alisonlarkinpresents.com/product/the-secret-garden-au diobook/

\n

To order Good Wives\, Little Women\, Book Two\, visit:
\nhttps://www.audibl e.com/pd/B084YYFM61/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-183894&ref= acx_bty_BK_ACX0_183894_rh_us

\n X-COST:$28 with advance reservation\; $32 day of X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27710@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200327T173000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CANCELLED – Sangiovese Wine Seminar Presented by Nejaime’s URL:https://gildedage.org/event/sangiovese-wine-seminar-presented-by-nejaim es/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-WP-IMAGES-URL:thumbnail\;https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02 /Sangiovese-Wine-Seminar-at-Ventfort-Hall-3_27_2020-v2-for-website.jpg\;81 6\;528\,medium\;https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sangioves e-Wine-Seminar-at-Ventfort-Hall-3_27_2020-v2-for-website.jpg\;816\;528\,la rge\;https://gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sangiovese-Wine-Semi nar-at-Ventfort-Hall-3_27_2020-v2-for-website.jpg\;816\;528\,full\;https:/ /gildedage.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sangiovese-Wine-Seminar-at-Ventf ort-Hall-3_27_2020-v2-for-website.jpg\;816\;528 X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

\n X-COST:$35 per person for reservations call Nejaime’s 413-637-2221 X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27719@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:POSTPONED TO BE RESCHEDULED\nPerformed by professional actress Michèle LaRue and directed by Warren Kliewer\, “Someone Must Wash the Dish es” has toured coast-to-coast\, garnering reviews ranging from\, “Better t han the best stand-ups!” to\, “I would have learned a lot more in school i f she had been our teacher!” Her performance will be followed by a Victori an tea. This performance is made possible thanks to the Susan B. Anthony B irthplace Museum’s “100 Events for 100 Years” initiative commemorating the 2020 Women’s Suffrage Centennial.\nAmerican women won the right to vote i n 1920—and it only took 72 long years! As we near the centennial of Woman Suffrage and face the challenges that still remain\, it’s enlightening—and fun—to look back at women’s arguments AGAINST voting.\n“Someone Must Wash the Dishes: An Anti-Suffrage Satire” does just that: “Woman suffrage is t he reform against nature\,” declares its unlikely\, but irresistibly likea ble\, heroine. “Ladies\, get what you want. Pound pillows. Make a scene. M ake home a hell on earth—but do it in a womanly way! That is so much more dignified and refined than walking up to a ballot box and dropping in a pi ece of paper!”\n“Someone Must Wash the Dishes” was written in 1912\, by Ma rie Jenney Howe\, a prominent pro-Suffragist and Unitarian minister. Howe satirizes arguments seen as accurate in their day\, though absurd in ours.   This fictional “Anti” sincerely believes being a “womanly woman” will ke ep the Home intact and save the Nation from anarchy. “She is charming\, ob sessed\, oblivious—stylish in her wardrobe\, but muddled in debate. What h er husband tells her goes in one ear and out her mouth\,” laughs her portr ayer: professional actress Michèle LaRue.\nLabeled “wicked” when it debute d in Manhattan and “side-splitting” in Cape May\, NJ\, “Someone Must Wash the Dishes” was directed by the late Warren Kliewer. A Minnesota native\, Kliewer was founding producing artistic director of The East Lynne Company \, which revives American plays and literature written before 1920. “Dishe s” has convulsed audiences from Connecticut to Texas to Washington State. \nMichèle tours nationally with her repertoire of 30 Tales Well Told—vibra nt stories from America’s Gilded Age. Her 400 sponsors range from librarie s and historical societies\, to Leagues of Women Voters and international conferences. A member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA\, Michèl e is also a writer and editor. For more about her productions\, and how to bring them to your group\, visit http://www.michelelarue.com.\nAuthor Mar ie Jenney Howe (1870 – 1934) left her native Syracuse\, NY\, to become a p rominent Midwestern Unitarian minister. In 1910\, she moved to New York Ci ty\, where she was a catalyst in many Progressive social reforms—notably S uffrage—and an influential writer.\nTickets for the event are $28 for adva nce reservations and $32 day of the event.  Reservations are highly recomm ended as attendance is limited.  For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200328T153000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:POSTPONED TO BE RESCHEDULED – Someone Must Wash the Dishes: An Anti -Suffrage Satire URL:https://gildedage.org/event/someone-must-wash-the-dishes-an-anti-suffra ge-satire-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

POSTP ONED TO BE RESCHEDULED

\n

Performed by professional actress Michèle LaRue and directed by Warren Kliewer\, “Someone Must Wash the Dish es” has toured coast-to-coast\, garnering reviews ranging from\, “Better t han the best stand-ups!” to\, “I would have learned a lot more in school i f she had been our teacher!” Her performance will be followed by a Victori an tea. This performance is made possible thanks to the Susan B. Anthony B irthplace Museum’s “100 Events for 100 Years” initiative commemorating the 2020 Women’s Suffrage Centennial.

\n

American women won the right to vote in 1920—and it only took 72 long years! As we near the centennial of Woman Suffrage and face the challenges that still remain\, it’s enlighten ing—and fun—to look back at women’s arguments AGAINST voting.

\n

“Som eone Must Wash the Dishes: An Anti-Suffrage Satire” does just that: “Woman suffrage is the reform against nature\,” declares its unlikely\, but irre sistibly likeable\, heroine. “Ladies\, get what you want. Pound pillows. M ake a scene. Make home a hell on earth—but do it in a womanly way ! That is so much more dignified and refined than walking up to a ballot b ox and dropping in a piece of paper!”

\n

“Someone Must Wash the Dishe s” was written in 1912\, by Marie Jenney Howe\, a prominent pro-Suffragist and Unitarian minister. Howe satirizes arguments seen as accurate in thei r day\, though absurd in ours.  This fictional “Anti” sincerely believes b eing a “womanly woman” will keep the Home intact and save the Nation from anarchy. “She is charming\, obsessed\, oblivious—stylish in her wardrobe\, but muddled in debate. What her husband tells her goes in one ear and out her mouth\,” laughs her portrayer: professional actress Michèle LaRue.

\n

Labeled “wicked” when it debuted in Manhattan and “side-splitting” i n Cape May\, NJ\, “Someone Must Wash the Dishes” was directed by the late Warren Kliewer. A Minnesota native\, Kliewer was founding producing artist ic director of The East Lynne Company\, which revives American plays and l iterature written before 1920. “Dishes” has convulsed audiences from Conne cticut to Texas to Washington State.

\n

Michèle tours nationally with her repertoire of 30 Tales Well Told—vibrant stories from Americ a’s Gilded Age. Her 400 sponsors range from libraries and historical socie ties\, to Leagues of Women Voters and international conferences. A member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA\, Michèle is also a writer and editor. For more about her productions\, and how to bring them to your gr oup\, visit http://www.michelelarue. com.

\n

Author Marie Jenney Howe (1870 – 1934) left her native Sy racuse\, NY\, to become a prominent Midwestern Unitarian minister. In 1910 \, she moved to New York City\, where she was a catalyst in many Progressi ve social reforms—notably Suffrage—and an influential writer.

\n

Tick ets for the event are $28 for advance reservations and $32 day of the even t.  Reservations are highly recommended as attendance is limited.  For res ervations 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-27741@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:WORKSHOPS ARE CANCELLED\nIn practicing social distancing worksh ops will be limited to 6 people at each session.\nTwo workshops: 10 am to noon and 1 pm to 3 pm\nCelebrate the Easter season with a unique opportuni ty to learn a time-honored Eastern European craft.  We are offering our an nual Slavic Easter egg decorating demonstrations and instructional worksho ps on Saturday\, April 4 from 10:00 am to 12 noon and again from 1:00 pm t o 3:00 pm.  This year the workshop will take place at the mansion’s former gatehouse at 55 Kemble St.\, Lenox.\nThis Eastern European tradition of c reating intricate and beautifully decorated eggs has been passed down for generations.  Lenox resident Tjasa Sprague\, who will again lead the works hop\, learned the technique many years ago from her Czechoslovakian mother \, Maria Krofta.\nThe technique begins with unwashed eggs (provided by a l ocal poultry farm) which have a residue-free shell surface.  The Slavic Ea ster egg is a wax resistant technique which employs aniline dye later in t he process. The decorating begins with drawing on the egg with wax\, follo wed by immersion in the dye\, with repeated wax drawing and dying as desir ed.  The eggs are uncooked and are “blown” out after the decorating has be en completed.  The eggs may be displayed\, when stored carefully\, for an indefinite number of years.\nThe fee for each workshop\, which includes al l materials\, is $35. Reservations are required and seats are limited. Chi ldren should be at least 12 years of age.  For reservations call us at 413 -637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200404T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200404T120000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CANCELLED – Egg Decorating Workshops 10am – 12 noon and 1-3 pm URL:https://gildedage.org/event/egg-decorating-workshops-10am-12-noon-and-1 -3-pm/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

WORKS HOPS ARE CANCELLED

\n

In practicing social distancin g workshops will be limited to 6 people at each session.

\n

Two workshops: 10 am to noon and 1 pm to 3 pm

\n

Cel ebrate the Easter season with a unique opportunity to learn a time-honored Eastern European craft.  We are offering our annual Slavic Easter egg dec orating demonstrations and instructional workshops on Saturday\, April 4 f rom 10:00 am to 12 noon and again from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  This year the workshop will take place at the mansion’s former gatehouse at 55 Kemble St .\, Lenox.

\n

This Eastern European tradition of creating intricate a nd beautifully decorated eggs has been passed down for generations.  Lenox resident Tjasa Sprague\, who will again lead the workshop\, learned the t echnique many years ago from her Czechoslovakian mother\, Maria Krofta.

\n

The technique begins with unwashed eggs (provided by a local poultry farm) which have a residue-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 immer sion in the dye\, with repeated wax drawing and dying as desired.  The egg s are uncooked and are “blown” out after the decorating has been completed .  The eggs may be displayed\, when stored carefully\, for an indefinite n umber of years.

\n

The fee for each workshop\, which includes all mat erials\, is $35. Reservations are required and seats are limited. Children should be at least 12 years of age.  For reservations call us at 413-637- 3206.

\n X-COST:$35 per person END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27752@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:The Comical Mystery Tour ensemble returns with an encore presen tation\, “Murder She Float\, A Mardi Gras Mystery\,” and invites the publi c to join the fun on Saturday\, April 18th. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first course served at 5:30 pm.\nThe Wild Chalupas Krewe is ho sting a party to choose the Queen to ride on their float in the Mardi Gras parade. Things seem to be going smoothly until one of the contestants is found expired. Who could have done it? Was it Maude E Graw\, the organizer and representative of the sponsor or Matty Door\, the costume designer. H ow about Dick C Lee\, the overworked manager of the float build or was it the float Judge\, Jim Teacher. Come along for some fun and mystery and don ’t forget\, you will be in New Orleans and won’t even have to pay for a ti cket to get there.\nIn production since 1995\, The Comical Mystery Tour ha s had over 50\,000 audience members viewing and/or participating in their programs. The ensemble appears regularly at Ventfort Hall.\nCost to attend is $42 per person including a full course dinner. A cash bar is available for beer and wine. We are unable to cater to special dietary needs. BYOB is not allowed for liability reasons. Reservations are required by Wednesd ay\, Apr. 15th. Seating is limited.  For reservations call us at 413-637-3 206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200418T170000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CANCELLED – Murder Mystery Dinner Theater – “Murder She Float\, A M ardi Gras Mystery” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/murder-mystery-dinner-theater-murder-she-fl oat-a-mardi-gras-mystery/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

The Comical M ystery Tour ensemble returns with an encore presentation\, “Murder She Flo at\, A Mardi Gras Mystery\,” and invites the public to join the fun on Sat urday\, April 18th. Doors open at 5:00 pm. Program starts and first course served at 5:30 pm.

\n

The Wild Chalupas Krewe is hosting a party to choose the Queen to ride on their float in the Mardi Gras parade. Things s eem to be going smoothly until one of the contestants is found expired. Wh o could have done it? Was it Maude E Graw\, the organizer and representati ve of the sponsor or Matty Door\, the costume designer. How about Dick C L ee\, the overworked manager of the float build or was it the float Judge\, Jim Teacher. Come along for some fun and mystery and don’t forget\, you w ill be in New Orleans and won’t even have to pay for a ticket to get there .

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In 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 Ventfort Hall.

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Cost to attend is $42 per person including a full course dinner. A cash bar is available fo r beer and wine. We are unable to cater to special dietary needs. BYOB is not allowed for liability reasons. Reservations are required by Wednesday\ , Apr. 15th. Seating is limited.  For reservations call us at 413-637-3206 .

\n X-COST:$42\, reservations required by Wednesday\, Apr.15th X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27739@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:POSTPONED TO BE RESCHEDULED\nJoin David Raby for a paranormal i nvestigation of the historic and haunted mansion.  A non-fiction author an d paranormal investigator\, Raby has always been 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 countless online articles. With his pas sion for the paranormal field\, he has accumulated over a decade of experi ence\, founded a paranormal group and has helped many people (and spirits) that ranged between the curious and those seeking urgent advice.\nHis int erest in the paranormal was shaped by the fact that spirits seem to be att racted to his compassion and openness. He has a knack for storytelling tha t fuels his intensive historical research and fact finding.\nHe believes t hat by bringing people’s stories out of the shadows and into the light of our awareness\, they may find eternal rest and peace.\nBefore the investig ation\, he will give a brief history of the lives that once graced the hal lways – and possibly still reside within. He will also share some of his f avorite evidence from previous investigations and will be happy to answer any questions about paranormal investigations. This event is perfect for e veryone\; from someone who has never been on a paranormal investigation to the seasoned investigator.\nThe event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and conclud e at midnight. Tickets for this exciting event are $38 per person with a r educed rate of $20 for ages 12 – 18 and 19-23 with student ID. All of the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the preservation and restoratio n of Ventfort Hall. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200502T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200502T234500 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:POSTPONED TO BE RESCHEDULED – Ghost Hunt with David Raby – “A Spiri ted Evening” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/ghost-hunt-with-david-raby-a-spirited-eveni ng-3/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

POSTP ONED TO BE RESCHEDULED

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Join David Raby f or a paranormal investigation of the historic and haunted mansion.  A non- fiction author and paranormal investigator\, Raby has always been intrigue d by history. He undauntedly enters haunted locations that would terrify o thers with hopes of contacting lingering spirits to discover why they rema in.

\n

Raby is the author of four published books and countless onlin e articles. With his passion for the paranormal field\, he has accumulated over a decade of experience\, founded a paranormal group and has helped m any people (and spirits) that ranged between the curious and those seeking urgent advice.

\n

His interest in the paranormal was shaped by the f act that spirits seem to be attracted to his compassion and openness. He h as a knack for storytelling that fuels his intensive historical research a nd fact finding.

\n

He believes that by bringing people’s stories out of the shadows and into the light of our awareness\, they may find eterna l rest and peace.

\n

Before the investigation\, he will give a brief history of the lives that once graced the hallways – and possibly still re side within. He will also share some of his favorite evidence from previou s investigations and will be happy to answer any questions about paranorma l investigations. This event is perfect for everyone\; from someone who ha s never been on a paranormal investigation to the seasoned investigator.\n

The event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and conclude at midnight. Tickets for this exciting event are $38 per person with a reduced rate of $20 for ages 12 – 18 and 19-23 with student ID. All of the proceeds from ticket s ales will go towards the preservation and restoration of Ventfort Hall. Ca ll us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations.

\n X-COST:$38 per person\; reduced rate of $20 for ages 12 – 18 and 19-23 with student ID END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27851@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:SOLD OUT\nJoin David Raby and special guest\, Rebecca Anne LoCi cero for a paranormal investigation of the historic and haunted Ventfort H all.  A non-fiction author and paranormal investigator\, Raby has always b een intrigued by history. Undaunted\, he  enters haunted locations that wo uld terrify others with hopes of contacting lingering spirits to discover why they remain.\nRaby is the author of four published books and countless online articles. With his passion for the paranormal field\, he has accum ulated over a decade of experience\, founded a paranormal group and has he lped many people (and spirits) that ranged between the curious and those s eeking urgent advice.\nHis interest in the paranormal was shaped by the fa ct that spirits seem to be attracted to his compassion and openness. He ha s a knack for storytelling that fuels his intensive historical research an d fact finding.\nHe believes that by bringing people’s stories out of the shadows and into the light of our awareness\, they may find eternal rest a nd peace.\nRebecca Anne LoCicero’s has been working as a psychic medium wo rldwide for over twenty-four years and is a three-time published author.  LoCicero is the Proprietor of The Beyond Center in Vernon\, Connecticut an d is certified through the Forever Family Foundation. She has appeared at national comedy clubs\, holistic centers\, lecture halls and expositions a s well as on local television and radio broadcasts.\nBefore the investigat ion\, Raby will give a brief history of the lives that once graced the hal lways – and possibly still reside within. He will also share some of his f avorite evidence from previous investigations and will be happy to answer any questions about paranormal investigations. This event is perfect for e veryone\; from someone who has never been on a paranormal investigation to the seasoned investigator.\nThe event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and conclud e at midnight. Masks that cover both the mouth and nose are required durin g this event.  Social distancing will be practiced.  Non-refundable ticket s for this exciting event are $38 per person with a reduced rate of $20 fo r ages 12 – 18 and 19-23 with student ID and are limited. Reservations are required. No walk-ins. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. All of the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the preservation and resto ration of Ventfort Hall. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200710T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200710T234500 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:SOLD OUT – Ghost Hunt with David Raby URL:https://gildedage.org/event/ghost-hunt-with-david-raby/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

SOLD OUT

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Join David Raby and special guest\,< strong> Rebecca Anne LoCicero for a paranormal investigation of t he historic and haunted Ventfort Hall.  A non-fiction author and paranorma l investigator\, Raby has always been intrigued by history. Undaunted\, he   enters haunted locations that would terrify others with hopes of contact ing lingering spirits to discover why they remain.

\n

Raby is the aut hor of four published books and countless online articles. With his passio n for the paranormal field\, he has accumulated over a decade of experienc e\, founded a paranormal group and has helped many people (and spirits) th at ranged between the curious and those seeking urgent advice.

\n

His interest in the paranormal was shaped by the fact that spirits seem to be attracted to his compassion and openness. He has a knack for storytelling that fuels his intensive historical research and fact finding.

\n

He believes that by bringing people’s stories out of the shadows and into th e light of our awareness\, they may find eternal rest and peace.

\n

R ebecca Anne LoCicero’s has been working as a psychic medium worldwide for over twenty-four years and is a three-time published author.  LoCicero is the Proprietor of The Beyond Center in Vernon\, Connecticut and is certifi ed through the Forever Family Foundation. She has appeared at national com edy clubs\, holistic centers\, lecture halls and expositions as well as on local television and radio broadcasts.

\n

Before the investigation\, Raby will give a brief history of the lives that once graced the hallways – and possibly still reside within. He will also share some of his favori te evidence from previous investigations and will be happy to answer any q uestions about paranormal investigations. This event is perfect for everyo ne\; from someone who has never been on a paranormal investigation to the seasoned investigator.

\n

The event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and concl ude at midnight. Masks that cover both the mouth and nose are required dur ing this event.  Social distancing will be practiced.  Non-refundable tick ets for this exciting event are $38 per person with a reduced rate of $20 for ages 12 – 18 and 19-23 with student ID and are limited. Reservations a re required. No walk-ins. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. All of the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the preservation and res toration of Ventfort Hall.

\n X-COST:$38 adult\, $20 for ages 12–18 and 19-23 with student ID END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27853@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:NO YOGA TODAY\, TUESDAY\, DEC. 15\nJoin Susan Shook\, a yoga pr actitioner\, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion on Saturday mo rnings  from 8 to 9 am and Tuesdays from 5 to 6 pm. The classes are indoor s in our great hall.\nMasks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.\nSusan has been a yoga practitioner for over 16 years\, culmin ating in 2018 with certification as a yoga instructor\, graduating from th e Yoga Institute of The Berkshires. She is also member of the Yoga Allianc e.\nSusan’s practice and classes are focused on linking purposeful movemen t with intention and breath. Her classes incorporate the restorative sound s and scents of nature and center on playful\, safe and grounded guidance with instruction for all levels of yogis. Susan encourages students\, frie nds and students to appreciate themselves by sharing time on the mat\, mot ion\, and breath.  At the close of her classes\, experience the calm and r est of Shavasana.\nWhen not on the mat\, teaching or practicing yoga\, you will find Susan beautifying a client’s landscape\, running or hiking in t he woods with her loving Labradors Buddha and Elvis. She is a native of th e Berkshires\, a business owner/partner\, avid yogi practitioner and teach er\, sharing her practice and teaching at Lenox Yoga and Ventfort Hall.\nC ost to attend is $15.00 a session\, cash or check payable that day. Part o f the cost is a donation to Ventfort Hall. Space is limited. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200711T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200711T090000 RRULE:FREQ=WEEKLY;UNTIL=20201219T235959Z;BYDAY=SA;WKST=SU SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Drop in Yoga saturday 8am to 9am URL:https://gildedage.org/event/drop-in-yoga-every-saturday-8am-to-9am/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

NO YO GA TODAY\, TUESDAY\, DEC. 15

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Join Susan Shook\, a yoga pr actitioner\, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion on Saturday mo rnings  from 8 to 9 am and Tuesdays from 5 to 6 pm. The classes are indoor s in our great hall.

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Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.

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Susan has been a yoga practitioner for over 16 years\, culminating in 2018 with certification as a yoga instructor\, grad uating from the Yoga Institute of The Berkshires. She is also member of th e Yoga Alliance.

\n

Susan’s practice and classes are focused on linki ng purposeful movement with intention and breath. Her classes incorporate the restorative sounds and scents of nature and center on playful\, safe a nd grounded guidance with instruction for all levels of yogis. Susan encou rages students\, friends and students to appreciate themselves by sharing time on the mat\, motion\, and breath.  At the close of her classes\, expe rience the calm and rest of Shavasana.

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When not on the mat\, teach ing or practicing yoga\, you will find Susan beautifying a client’s landsc ape\, running or hiking in the woods with her loving Labradors Buddha and Elvis. She is a native of the Berkshires\, a business owner/partner\, avid yogi practitioner and teacher\, sharing her practice and teaching at Leno x Yoga and Ventfort Hall.

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Cost to attend is $15.00 a session\, cas h or check payable that day. Part of the cost is a donation to Ventfort Ha ll. Space is limited.

\n X-COST:$15 payable by cash or check END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27864@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Historian and author Andrew Erdman will present at Ventfort Hal l Mansion and Gilded Age Museum a Tuesday Talk on “Eva Tanguay\, the I Don ’t Care Girl or Lady Gaga of the Gilded Age”.  He will make his visual pre sentation on Tuesday\, July 28 at 4:00 pm.\n“She came on like a meteor\, b ut there is a lasting quality.” So wrote Ashton Stevens\, Chicago Examiner \, in 1911.  Who was this Lady Gaga of the Gilded Age?  Erdman will tell u s based on his latest book Queen of Vaudeville:  The Story of Eva Tanguay\ , the first-ever biography of the legendary performer. Showbiz circles of her day nicknamed her the “I Don’t Care Girl” after her trademark song “I Don’t Care”\, which she first introduced as part of a vaudeville act in 19 05. Erdman will play her later recording of this song for us.\nTanguay bil led herself as “the girl who made vaudeville famous”.  She was to be an au dience favorite with a long-lasting career. Ziegfeld had to have her for h is Follies. She is remembered for brassy\, self-confident songs that portr ayed the emancipated woman\, such as “It’s All Been Done Before but Not th e Way I Do It”\, “I Want Someone to Go Wild with Me” and “That’s Why They Call Me Tabasco”.\nGaining free publicity with outrageous behavior (she al so paid large sums for advertising) was to her liking.  In 1910\, a year a fter the Lincoln penny was issued\, she appeared on stage in a dress entir ely covered in the new coins\, some of which she pluck off and playfully t hrew at men in the audience. With her natural talent for self-promotion\, she made headlines for allegedly being kidnapped and having her jewels sto len.  She even declared herself a Christian Scientist and became one of th e first celebrities to receive plastic surgery. She was described by the f ather of public relations\, Edward Bernays\, as “our first symbol of emerg ence from the Victorian age.”\nShe out-earned the likes of such contempora ries as Enrico Caruso and Harry Houdini\, a fortune that she lost with the stock market crash of 1929. During the following decade she retired from show business and died in 1947 at her home in Hollywood\, CA\, at age 68.  A native of Canada\, her family had moved to Holyoke\, MA\, where she dev eloped an initial interest in the performing arts.\nErdman served as a sta ff reporter at Fortune magazine where he wrote a weekly human-interest col umn and profiles of the world’s billionaires. He also has written for Nati onal Lampoon\, Diversions\, Women.com and LifetimeTV.com. He has worked in television\, serving as head writer for the talk/comedy/variety show Sex\ , Lies and Video Clips on VH1.  His earlier book is Blue Vaudeville: Sex\, Morals and the Mass Marketing of Amusement\, 1895-1915.  Erdman is a trai ned psychotherapist and author of topics related to therapy and psychoanal ysis. He teaches at the New York University School of Social Work.\nTicket s for the Erdman lecture are $20 per person. Reservations are required and seating is strictly limited. Tea cannot be served until further notice du e to the Coronavirus.  Masks are required and social distancing will be pr acticed. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for a reservation. The historical mansi on is located at 104 Walker Street in Lenox.\nThe Summer 2020 series of Tu esday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200728T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200728T170000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tuesday Talk – “Eva Tanguay\, the I Don’t Care Girl or Lady Gaga of the Gilded Age” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tuesday-talk-eva-tanguay-the-i-dont-care-gi rl-or-lady-gaga-of-the-gilded-age/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Historian and author Andrew Erdman will present at Ventfort Hall Mansi on and Gilded Age Museum a Tuesday Talk on “Eva Tanguay\, the I Don’t Care Girl or Lady Gaga of the Gilded Age”.  He will make his visual presentati on on Tuesday\, July 28 at 4:00 pm.

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“She came on like a meteor\, b ut there is a lasting quality.” So wrote Ashton Stevens\, Chicago Exam iner\, in 1911.  Who was this Lady Gaga of the Gilded Age?  < /strong>Erdman will tell us based on his latest book Queen of Vaudevil le:  The Story of Eva Tanguay\, the first-ever biography of the legendary performer. Showbiz circles of her day nicknamed her the “I D on’t Care Girl” after her trademark song “I Don’t Care”\, which she first introduced as part of a vaudeville act in 1905. Erdman will play her later recording of this song for us.

\n

Tanguay billed herself as “the gir l who made vaudeville famous”.  She was to be an audience favorite with a long-lasting career. Ziegfeld had to have her for his Follies. She is reme mbered for brassy\, self-confident songs that portrayed the emancipated wo man\, such as “It’s All Been Done Before but Not the Way I Do It”\, “I Wan t Someone to Go Wild with Me” and “That’s Why They Call Me Tabasco”.

\n

Gaining free publicity with outrageous behavior (she also paid large su ms for advertising) was to her liking.  In 1910\, a year after the Lincoln penny was issued\, she appeared on stage in a dress entirely covered in t he new coins\, some of which she pluck off and playfully threw at men in t he audience. With her natural talent for self-promotion\, she made headlin es for allegedly being kidnapped and having her jewels stolen.  She even d eclared herself a Christian Scientist and became one of the first celebrit ies to receive plastic surgery. She was described by the father of public relations\, Edward Bernays\, as “our first symbol of emergence from the Vi ctorian age.”

\n

She out-earned the likes of such contemporaries as E nrico Caruso and Harry Houdini\, a fortune that she lost with the stock ma rket crash of 1929. During the following decade she retired from show busi ness and died in 1947 at her home in Hollywood\, CA\, at age 68.  A native of Canada\, her family had moved to Holyoke\, MA\, where she developed an initial interest in the performing arts.

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Erdman served as a staff reporter at Fortune magazine where he wrote a weekly human-inter est column and profiles of the world’s billionaires. He also has written f or National Lampoon\, Diversions\, Women.com and LifetimeTV.com. He has worked in television\, serving as head writer for the talk/comedy/v ariety show Sex\, Lies and Video Clips on VH1.  His earlier book is Blue Vaudeville: Sex\, Morals and the Mass Marketing of Amusement\, 1895-1915.  Erdman is a trained psychotherapist and author of topics related to therapy and psychoanalysis. He teaches at the New York Univers ity School of Social Work.

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Tickets for the Erdman lecture are $20 per person. Reservations are required and seating is strictly limited. Tea cannot be served until further notice due to the Coronavirus.  Masks are required and social distancing will be practiced. Call us at (413) 637-320 6 for a reservation. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walker Stree t in Lenox.

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The Summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.

\n X-COST:$20 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27882@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Popular professor/historian Francis Morrone returns to the mans ion for the eighth summer\, giving a Tuesday Talk on “J. P. Morgan: The Fi nancier as Collector of the Arts”.  Morrone will make his visual presentat ion via Zoom from his home in Brooklyn\, NY\, on Tuesday\, August 4 at 4:0 0 pm.\nJ. Pierpont Morgan was the brother of Sarah Spencer Morgan\, who\, with her husband\, George Hale Morgan\, built Ventfort Hall in 1893. Not o nly was J.P. a colossus in the financial and corporate worlds\, but he was also the greatest art collector of his age.\nHis considerable success as a leading financier provided him with a means to amass over a 22-year peri od a collection of over 20\,000 works of art\, valued in 1912\, a year bef ore his death\, at about $60 million and today at $1.6 billion.  Whereas S arah used a portion of her inheritance\, received after their father\, Jun ius\, died in 1890\, to pay for Ventfort Hall\, J.P. was able to begin to acquire art on a vast scale.\nThe wide range of objects he collected inclu ded antiquities\, medieval silver gilt and ivories\, Renaissance bronzes a nd Majolica\, Renaissance and Baroque silver gilt\, ivories and glass\, wa tches and clocks\, jewelry\, rock crystal and amber\, sculpture\, miniatur es\, porcelains\, tapestries\, Old Master paintings and drawings\, books a nd illuminated manuscripts – and three Gutenberg bibles.\nAmong the schola rly advisors Morgan consulted was his nephew\, Junius Spencer Morgan\, the son of George and Sarah.  Junius’s special interest was rare books\, manu scripts and works on paper.  By 1902\, this particular collection for J.P. had reached 10\,000 items and he made the decision to build what was to b ecome the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City to house these acquis itions.  It opened in 1906.\nYoung Junius introduced his uncle to the Prin ceton librarian Belle Da Costa Greene\, the African-American woman who wou ld become the director of the then named Pierpont Morgan Library and whose life and career will be a subject of the lecture.\nDuring the same time\, Morgan\, who had been a member of The Metropolitan Museum of Art board\, was elected president when it was undergoing a major expansion.  Through t he years\, he was instrumental in donating\, loaning and acquiring signifi cant collections for the institution.  The museum received 7\,000 addition al objects after his death. Morgan transformed the Met into the world-clas s institution it is today.\nMorgan was born in 1837 in Hartford and is bur ied in the family tomb at Cedar Hill Cemetery in the same city.  The third major museum to receive his interests in art was the Wadsworth Athenaeum.   The Morgan Memorial Wing\, named in memory of his father was opened in 1 910.  The items exhibited there are considered a major portion of the Athe naeum’s holdings.\nMorrone is the author of thirteen books\, including arc hitectural guidebooks to Philadelphia and Brooklyn and with Henry Hope Ree d\, The New York Public Library: The Architecture and Decoration of the St ephen A. Schwarzman Building.  Morrone’s writings have appeared in the Wal l Street Journal\, the New Criterion\, City Journal and the New York Sun\, where he was an art and architecture critic.\nHe teaches architectural an d urban history at New York University\, and is the recipient of the unive rsity’s Excellence in Teaching Award.  Travel + Leisure magazine named him as one of the thirteen best tour guides in the world.  He has also receiv ed an Arthur Ross Award from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art .\nTickets for the Morrone lecture are $20 per person. To view him on Zoom register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tuesday-talk-j-p-morgan-the-fina ncier-as-collector-of-the-arts-tickets-114819494198\nReservations for view ing him at Ventfort Hall on Zoom are strongly recommended as seating will be strictly limited. For reservations to attend at the mansion call us at 413-637-3206.  Tea cannot be served until further notice due to the Corona virus.\nThe Summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200804T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tuesday Talk – “J. P. Morgan: The Financier as Collector of the Art s” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tuesday-talk-j-p-morgan-the-financier-as-co llector-of-the-arts/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Popular profe ssor/historian Francis Morrone returns to the mansion for the eighth summe r\, giving a Tuesday Talk on “J. P. Morgan: The Financier as Collector of the Arts”.  Morrone will make his visual presentation via Zoom from his ho me in Brooklyn\, NY\, on Tuesday\, August 4 at 4:00 pm.

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J. Pierpon t Morgan was the brother of Sarah Spencer Morgan\, who\, with her husband\ , George Hale Morgan\, built Ventfort Hall in 1893. Not only was J.P. a co lossus in the financial and corporate worlds\, but he was also the greates t art collector of his age.

\n

His considerable success as a leading financier provided him with a means to amass over a 22-year period a colle ction of over 20\,000 works of art\, valued in 1912\, a year before his de ath\, at about $60 million and today at $1.6 billion.  Whereas Sarah used a portion of her inheritance\, received after their father\, Junius\, died in 1890\, to pay for Ventfort Hall\, J.P. was able to begin to acquire ar t on a vast scale.

\n

The wide range of objects he collected included antiquities\, medieval silver gilt and ivories\, Renaissance bronzes and Majolica\, Renaissance and Baroque silver gilt\, ivories and glass\, watch es and clocks\, jewelry\, rock crystal and amber\, sculpture\, miniatures\ , porcelains\, tapestries\, Old Master paintings and drawings\, books and illuminated manuscripts – and three Gutenberg bibles.

\n

Among the sc holarly advisors Morgan consulted was his nephew\, Junius Spencer Morgan\, the son of George and Sarah.  Junius’s special interest was rare books\, manuscripts and works on paper.  By 1902\, this particular collection for J.P. had reached 10\,000 items and he made the decision to build what was to become the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City to house these ac quisitions.  It opened in 1906.

\n

Young Junius introduced his uncle to the Princeton librarian Belle Da Costa Greene\, the African-American wo man who would become the director of the then named Pierpont Morgan Librar y and whose life and career will be a subject of the lecture.

\n

Duri ng the same time\, Morgan\, who had been a member of The Metropolitan Muse um of Art board\, was elected president when it was undergoing a major exp ansion.  Through the years\, he was instrumental in donating\, loaning and acquiring significant collections for the institution.  The museum receiv ed 7\,000 additional objects after his death. Morgan transformed the Met i nto the world-class institution it is today.

\n

Morgan was born in 18 37 in Hartford and is buried in the family tomb at Cedar Hill Cemetery in the same city.  The third major museum to receive his interests in art was the Wadsworth Athenaeum.  The Morgan Memorial Wing\, named in memory of h is father was opened in 1910.  The items exhibited there are considered a major portion of the Athenaeum’s holdings.

\n

Morrone is the author o f thirteen books\, including architectural guidebooks to Philadelphia and Brooklyn and with Henry Hope Reed\, The New York Public Library: The A rchitecture and Decoration of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.  Mo rrone’s writings have appeared in the Wall Street Journal\, the < em>New Criterion\, City Journal and the New York Sun\, where he was an art and architecture critic.

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He teaches archit ectural and urban history at New York University\, and is the recipient of the university’s Excellence in Teaching Award.  Travel + Leisure magazine named him as one of the thirteen best tour guides in the world.  He has a lso received an Arthur Ross Award from the Institute of Classical Architec ture & Art.

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Tickets for the Morrone lecture are $20 per person. To view him on Zoom register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tuesday-talk-j-p-morgan-the-financier-as -collector-of-the-arts-tickets-114819494198

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Reservations for v iewing him at Ventfort Hall on Zoom are strongly recommended as seating wi ll be strictly limited. For reservations to attend at the mansion call us at 413-637-3206.  Tea cannot be served until further notice due to the Cor ona virus.

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The Summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks are sponsored b y Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27886@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:CANCELLED\nBestselling audiobook narrators Alison Larkin & Anne Undeland will present here at the mansion “Literary Conversations: Austen \, Bronte & Alcott” on Tuesday\, August 11 at 4:00 pm.  Their presentation is part of Ventfort Hall’s summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks.\nWhat if Jane Austen (1775-1817)\, Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) and Louisa May Alco tt (1832-1888) were to meet? Where would the conversation between three of the 19th century’s most acclaimed female authors lead? Why did none of th em marry?  Larkin and Undeland will take on what might have been a transat lantic discussion on these and other subjects\, including marriage\, love and womanhood and what it was like to record the works of these three towe ring authors.  The duo’s conversations came about while researching backgr ound for their audiobook narrations of novels by these authors. Join Larki n and Undeland for a unique hour of witty repartee and readings from the n ovels.\nLarkin is not only an award-winning audiobook narrator\, but also a comedienne\, writer\, novelist and founder of Alison Larkin Presents\, b ased in the Berkshires. As such\, she is dedicated to bringing out the fun in the classics. Within four years\, her audiobook productions have won t en AudioFile Earphone awards for excellence.  Recent releases read by her include The Complete Novels of Jane Austen\, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.\nAudiobooks from Alison Larkin Presents including Jane Eyre\, Little Women and The Secret Garden will be on sale after the presentation or by downloading https://alisonlar kinpresents.com/\nLarkin’s own novel The English American grew out of her autobiographical one-woman show about an adopted English woman who finds h er birth parents in the US.  She appeared on Broadway with the National Th eater and Royal Shakespeare Company.  Her many accents and voices can be h eard in television cartoons and movies and over 200 audiobooks.\nAs an act ress Undeland remains a Ventfort Hall favorite\, having appeared there in such one-woman shows as Paris 1890 – Unlaced\, in which she originated and portrayed five different women\, Xingu\, again originating five different characters\, as well as The Belle of Amherst and Fanny Kemble’s Lenox Add ress. These were plays produced in collaboration with Shakespeare & Compan y\, where Undeland trained as an actress.\nShe has also appeared on stages in and around the Northeast for over 25 years\, including WAM Theatre\, G reat Barrington Public Theatre\, Barrington Stage\, Off-Broadway at the Un ited Solo Theatre Festival and Mixed Company. She played roles in producti ons for BBC radio and WBUR/Boston. She has appeared in her own play Lady R andy\, the story of Jenny Jerome\, mother of Sir Winston Churchill. Her au diobook narration of Little Women Parts 1 and 2 received high critical acc laim and has become an international bestseller.\nCANCELLED – Tickets for the Larkin/Undeland presentation are $20 per person.\nTo attend their pres entation in person at Ventfort Hall reservations are strongly recommended as seating is strictly limited. For reservations to attend at the mansion call us at 413-637-3206.  The museum’s traditional Victorian teas cannot b e served until further notice due to the Corona virus.\nThe summer 2020 se ries of Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200811T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CANCELLED – Tuesday Talk – “Literary Conversations: Austen\, Bronte & Alcott” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tuesday-talk-literary-conversations-austen- bronte-alcott/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

CANCELLED

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Bestselling audiobook narrators Alison Larkin & Anne Undeland will pr esent here at the mansion “Literary Conversations: Austen\, Bronte & Alcot t” on Tuesday\, August 11 at 4:00 pm.  Their presentation is part of Ventf ort Hall’s summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks.

\n

What if Jane Auste n (1775-1817)\, Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) and Louisa May Alcott (1832-1 888) were to meet? Where would the conversation between three of the 19th century’s most acclaimed female authors lead? Why did none of t hem marry?  Larkin and Undeland will take on what might have been a transa tlantic discussion on these and other subjects\, including marriage\, love and womanhood and what it was like to record the works of these three tow ering authors.  The duo’s conversations came about while researching backg round for their audiobook narrations of novels by these authors. Join Lark in and Undeland for a unique hour of witty repartee and readings from the novels.

\n

Larkin is not only an award-winning audiobook narrator\, b ut also a comedienne\, writer\, novelist and founder of Alison Larkin Pres ents\, based in the Berkshires. As such\, she is dedicated to bringing out the fun in the classics. Within four years\, her audiobook productions ha ve won ten AudioFile Earphone awards for excellence.  Recent releases read by her include The Complete Novels of Jane Austen\, Jane Eyr e by Charlotte Bronte and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgs on Burnett.

\n

Audiobooks from Alison Larkin Presents including J ane Eyre\, Little Women and The Secret Garden will be on sale after the presentation or by downloading https://alisonlarkinpresents.com/

\n

Larkin ’s own novel The English American grew out of her autobiographica l one-woman show about an adopted English woman who finds her birth parent s in the US.  She appeared on Broadway with the National Theater and Royal Shakespeare Company.  Her many accents and voices can be heard in televis ion cartoons and movies and over 200 audiobooks.

\n

As an actress Und eland remains a Ventfort Hall favorite\, having appeared there in such one -woman shows as Paris 1890 – Unlaced\, in which she originated an d portrayed five different women\, Xingu\, again originating five different characters\, as well as The Belle of Amherst and F anny Kemble’s Lenox Address. These were plays produced in collaborati on with Shakespeare & Company\, where Undeland trained as an actress.

\n

She has also appeared on stages in and around the Northeast for over 25 years\, including WAM Theatre\, Great Barrington Public Theatre\, Barri ngton Stage\, Off-Broadway at the United Solo Theatre Festival and Mixed C ompany. She played roles in productions for BBC radio and WBUR/Boston. She has appeared in her own play Lady Randy\, the story of Jenny Jer ome\, mother of Sir Winston Churchill. Her audiobook narration of Litt le Women Parts 1 and 2 received high critical acclaim and has become an international bestseller.

\n

CANCELLED – Tickets for the Larkin/Un deland presentation are $20 per person.

\n

To attend their presentati on in person at Ventfort Hall reservations are strongly recommended as sea ting is strictly limited. For reservations to attend at the mansion call u s at 413-637-3206.  The museum’s traditional Victorian teas cannot be serv ed until further notice due to the Corona virus.

\n

The summer 2020 s eries of Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27893@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Fashion historian and owner of an antique clothing store in Ada ms\, MA Lynda Meyer will present at the mansion as part of its summer seri es of Tuesday Talks. The subject of her visual presentation is “Costumes C an Deceive: Gone with the Wind\, The Movie\,” which she will make on Tuesd ay\, August 18 at 4:00 pm.\n A long-time expert on the history of fashion\ , Meyer will unveil the fact that most of the celebrated costumes created for GWTW are not stylistically authentic. The speaker will demonstrate on mannequins the true styling of late 19th century fashions and from the sta ndpoint of Hollywood’s viewpoint the fascinating deceptions of GWTW costum es.\nIn an article Meyer wrote last winter for Our Berkshire Times\, she s tates “Let’s begin with the first glimpse of Scarlett\, played by actress Vivien Leigh\, in front of Tara…  The time frame is 1860…Scarlett is weari ng a hooped\, white organdy garden dress with layers of ruffles. Quite a f rock\, but the truth is that this dress never existed.  The shoulders are square\, with the frilly\, high-necked\, stand-up collar. Such collars did not appear until the late 1880s\, and from the 1840s through the 1870s\, the shoulder line was below the shoulder and had a very demure feminine lo ok.”\nLater in the article Meyer acknowledges that “the gowns worn by Mela nie (Scarlett’s rival for Ashley’s love)\, Scarlett’s sisters\, and Aunt P itty Pat\, were more representative of period fashions.  These characters were meant to be old-fashioned\, unattractive and not sexy [like Scarlett] …”\nThe vintage clothing expert is the owner of Lynda’s Antique Clothing L oft.  Early on\, at the time that she was a dancer in New York\, she becam e “enraptured” with theatrical costuming and fashion.  Later\, she took a job in an antique clothing store in the city. Moving to the Berkshires\, s he opened her own store in Adams after years of immersing herself in antiq ue clothing. “I learned how to buy things\, what to look for and how to re store clothing.”  She is also a frequent lecturer on the subject.\nDue to the global Corona virus\, Ventfort Hall\, which had been closed down since March 15 and only reopened on July 16\, is offering its summer series of Tuesday Talks on a later schedule. The Victorian teas will not be served u ntil further notice.  Masks and strict spacing for seating will be observe d.\nTickets for this presentation are $20 per person. To view on Zoom regi ster at https://ventfort08182020.eventbrite.com\nReservations for attendin g the presentation at Ventfort Hall are strongly recommended as seating wi ll be strictly limited. For reservations to attend at the mansion call Ven tfort Hall at 413-637-3206. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walke r Street in Lenox.\nThe summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200818T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tuesday Talk – “Costumes Can Deceive: Gone with the Wind\, The Movi e” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tuesday-talk-costumes-can-deceive-gone-with -the-wind-the-movie/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Fashion histo rian and owner of an antique clothing store in Adams\, MA Lynda Meyer will present at the mansion as part of its summer series of Tuesday Talks. The subject of her visual presentation is “Costumes Can Deceive: Gone with th e Wind\, The Movie\,” which she will make on Tuesday\, August 18 at 4:00 p m.

\n

 A long-time expert on the history of fashion\, Meyer will unveil the fact that most of the celebrated costumes created for GWTW are not stylistically authentic. The speaker will demonstrate on mannequi ns the true styling of late 19th century fashions and from the standpoint of Hollywood’s viewpoint the fascinating deceptions of GWTW cos tumes.

\n

In an article Meyer wrote last winter for Our Berkshire Tim es\, she states “Let’s begin with the first glimpse of Scarlett\, played b y actress Vivien Leigh\, in front of Tara…  The time frame is 1860…Scarlet t is wearing a hooped\, white organdy garden dress with layers of ruffles. Quite a frock\, but the truth is that this dress never existed.  The shou lders are square\, with the frilly\, high-necked\, stand-up collar. Such c ollars did not appear until the late 1880s\, and from the 1840s through th e 1870s\, the shoulder line was below the shoulder and had a very demure f eminine look.”

\n

Later in the article Meyer acknowledges that “the g owns worn by Melanie (Scarlett’s rival for Ashley’s love)\, Scarlett’s sis ters\, and Aunt Pitty Pat\, were more representative of period fashions.  These characters were meant to be old-fashioned\, unattractive and not sex y [like Scarlett]…”

\n

The vintage clothing expert is the owner of Ly nda’s Antique Clothing Loft.  Early on\, at the time that she was a dancer in New York\, she became “enraptured” with theatrical costuming and fashi on.  Later\, she took a job in an antique clothing store in the city. Movi ng to the Berkshires\, she opened her own store in Adams after years of im mersing herself in antique clothing. “I learned how to buy things\, what t o look for and how to restore clothing.”  She is also a frequent lecturer on the subject.

\n

Due to the global Corona virus\, Ventfort Hall\, w hich had been closed down since March 15 and only reopened on July 16\, is offering its summer series of Tuesday Talks on a later schedule. The Vict orian teas will not be served until further notice.  Masks and strict spac ing for seating will be observed.

\n

Tickets for this presentation ar e $20 per person. To view on Zoom register at https://ventfort08182020.eventbrite.com

\n

Reservations for attending the presentation at Ventfort Hall are strongly recommended as seating will be strictly limited. For reservations to atten d at the mansion call Ventfort Hall at 413-637-3206. The historical mansio n is located at 104 Walker Street in Lenox.

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The summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Land a and William Landa.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27910@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:CANCELLED\nFounding Artistic Director Tina Packer has teamed up with local audiobook publisher Alison Larkin to produce a new audiobook\, Tales from Shakespeare. The audiobook includes ten short stories in moder n language\, written and recorded by Ms. Packer\, based on the plays of Wi lliam Shakespeare. It is published by Alison Larkin Presents. Tina Packer will read from her book here at the mansion and will be interviewed by Art ist Director Allyn Burrows.\n“We are passionate about bringing the classic s to today’s listeners in fun\, relevant\, and easy-to-listen-to audiobook s\,” says publisher Alison Larkin. “As soon as I learned that Tina had tur ned ten of Shakespeare’s plays into short stories\, I knew they would make for an entertaining and important audiobook. I asked Tina if she would na rrate it herself. Fortunately\, she said YES!”\nDirector\, actor\, and Sha kespearean expert\, Tina Packer has adapted ten of Shakespeare’s most popu lar plays into short stories\, retold in modern language. Her introduction \, included on the audiobook\, provides the listener with information abou t Elizabethan England and Shakespeare’s life and work.\n“These are such go od stories\; they have value for us at any age. I’ve written them so that 5-year-olds\, or 13-year-olds\, or 103-year-olds will enjoy them\,” said a uthor Tina Packer. “Now it might be that parents will sit with their child ren and listen to Twelfth Night\, but will save Macbeth for the following year\, or sneakily listen to King Lear by themselves! And everyone loves l istening to the foolery of Puck\, the passion of Romeo and Juliet\, and th e bravery of Rosalind as she dresses up as a boy and teaches her lover how to woo her/him. The stories are for us\, for all time. I hope people will enjoy them as much as I do.”\nIn reviewing the stories the School Library Journal stated: “Packer captures the essence of the playwright’s words an d ideas\, placing them in concise and clearly told stories…A treasure trov e of well-told tales.”\nStories included in Tales from Shakespeare: A Mids ummer Night’s Dream\, Hamlet\, Much Ado About Nothing\, King Lear\, As You Like It\, Macbeth\, The Tempest\, Othello\, Twelfth Night\, and Romeo and Juliet.\nTales from Shakespeare will be available everywhere audiobooks a re sold on August 14\, 2020.\nTickets for the presentation are $20 per per son. To view on Zoom register at https://ventfort08222020.eventbrite.com\n To attend the event in person at Ventfort Hall reservations are strongly r ecommended as seating will be strictly limited. For reservations to attend at the mansion call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200822T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CANCELLED – Reading by Tina Packer – “Tales from Shakespeare” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/reading-by-tina-packer-takes-from-shakespea re/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

CANCELLED

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Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer has teamed up with local audio book publisher Alison Larkin to produce a new audiobook\, Tales from S hakespeare. The audiobook includes ten short stories in modern langua ge\, written and recorded by Ms. Packer\, based on the plays of William Sh akespeare. It is published by Alison Larkin Presents. Tina Packer will rea d from her book here at the mansion and will be interviewed by Artist Dire ctor Allyn Burrows.

\n

“We are passionate about bringing the classics to today’s listeners in fun\, relevant\, and easy-to-listen-to audiobooks \,” says publisher Alison Larkin. “As soon as I learned that Tina had turn ed ten of Shakespeare’s plays into short stories\, I knew they would make for an entertaining and important audiobook. I asked Tina if she would nar rate it herself. Fortunately\, she said YES!”

\n

Director\, actor\, a nd Shakespearean expert\, Tina Packer has adapted ten of Shakespeare’s mos t popular plays into short stories\, retold in modern language. Her introd uction\, included on the audiobook\, provides the listener with informatio n about Elizabethan England and Shakespeare’s life and work.

\n

“Thes e are such good stories\; they have value for us at any age. I’ve written them so that 5-year-olds\, or 13-year-olds\, or 103-year-olds will enjoy t hem\,” said author Tina Packer. “Now it might be that parents will sit wit h their children and listen to Twelfth Night\, but will save Macbeth for the following year\, or sneakily listen to King Lear< /em> by themselves! And everyone loves listening to the foolery of Puck\, the passion of Romeo and Juliet\, and the bravery of Rosalind as she dresses up as a boy and teaches her lover how to woo her/him. The stor ies are for us\, for all time. I hope people will enjoy them as much as I do.”

\n

In reviewing the stories the School Library Journal stated: “ Packer captures the essence of the playwright’s words and ideas\, placing them in concise and clearly told stories…A treasure trove of well-told tal es.”

\n

Stories included in Tales from Shakespeare: A Mi dsummer Night’s Dream\, Hamlet\, Much Ado About Nothing\, King Lear\, As Y ou Like It\, Macbeth\, The Tempest\, Othello\, Twelfth Night\, and Romeo and Juliet.

\n

Tales from Shakespeare will be a vailable everywhere audiobooks are sold on August 14\, 2020.

\n

Ticke ts for the presentation are $20 per person. To view on Zoom register at https://ventfort08222020.e ventbrite.com

\n

To attend the event in person at Ventfort Hall r eservations are strongly recommended as seating will be strictly limited. For reservations to attend at the mansion call us at 413-637-3206.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27905@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Social historian Morris Vogel will give a visual presentation o n the Lower East Side Tenement Museum in New York City of which he is pres ident.    He will lecture on Tuesday\, August 25 at 4:00 pm here at the ma nsion as part of the Summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks.\nA National Trus t Historic Site\, the Lower East Side Tenement Museum tells the story of h ow immigrants became new Americans and how America became a nation of immi grants.  Visitors experience the human side of a special history through g uided tours of recreated homes\, the personal stories of the residents and the businesses they opened inside the museum’s two restored tenement buil dings.  These were homes to over 15\,000 immigrants from more than 20 nati ons between 1863 and 2000.\n“These are stories of people who brought their dreams to this country\, raised their children here and built their famil ies… What we are telling is America’s story.  If we don’t tell this story now\, the story disappears\,” states Vogel.\nThe rooms and exhibits at 97 Orchard Street focus on the stories of families of different immigrant bac kgrounds who lived there between 1863 and 1935.  In 2014\, the museum expa nded with the addition of 103 Orchard Street where those who came to the L ower East Side after World War II lived\, including Holocaust survivors an d Puerto Rican and Chinese families. The museum welcomes more than 225\,00 0 visitors a year with many more turned away due to space limitations.\nVo gel trained as an American social and urban historian at Brandeis Universi ty and the University of Chicago before joining the faculty at Temple Univ ersity\, where he was promoted to professor in 1985. Later on\, he served as dean of the college. He subsequently directed the Rockefeller Foundatio n’s Creativity and Culture Program. Vogel is the author or editor of six b ooks on American social and cultural history. He co-founded and directed t he National Endowment for the Humanities-funded Mid-Atlantic Regional Cent er for the Humanities.\nA first-generation American\, Vogel was born in Ka zakhstan where his Polish-Jewish parents were stateless refugees\, having fled Nazi-held Poland.   After living in a displaced persons camp in Polan d after World War II\, the family moved to the US in 1949.  “I became an A merican historian because I was curious about who I was in the refugee con text\, always harkening back to what was a ‘real’ American and watching Am ericans evolve toward a generous and inclusive understanding of their nati onal identity\,” Vogel points out.\nTickets for the Vogel lecture either a t Ventfort Hall or via Zoom are $20 per person. To view him on Zoom regist er at https://ventfort08252020.eventbrite.com\nReservations for attending the presentation at Ventfort Hall are strongly recommended as seating will be strictly limited. For reservations to attend at the mansion call us at 413-637-3206.  The museum’s traditional Victorian Teas cannot be served u ntil further notice due to the Corona virus.\nThe Summer 2020 series of Tu esday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200825T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tuesday Talk – “New Lives in a New Country: The Lower East Side Ten ement Museum” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tuesday-talk-new-lives-in-a-new-country-the -lower-east-side-tenement-museum/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Social histor ian Morris Vogel will give a visual presentation on the Lower East Side Te nement Museum in New York City of which he is president.    He will lectur e on Tuesday\, August 25 at 4:00 pm here at the mansion as part of the Sum mer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks.

\n

A National Trust Historic Site\, the Lower East Side Tenement Museum tells the story of how immigrants bec ame new Americans and how America became a nation of immigrants.  Visitors experience the human side of a special history through guided tours of re created homes\, the personal stories of the residents and the businesses t hey opened inside the museum’s two restored tenement buildings.  These wer e homes to over 15\,000 immigrants from more than 20 nations between 1863 and 2000.

\n

“These are stories of people who brought their dreams to this country\, raised their children here and built their families… What we are telling is America’s story.  If we don’t tell this story now\, the story disappears\,” states Vogel.

\n

The rooms and exhibits at 97 Orc hard Street focus on the stories of families of different immigrant backgr ounds who lived there between 1863 and 1935.  In 2014\, the museum expande d with the addition of 103 Orchard Street where those who came to the Lowe r East Side after World War II lived\, including Holocaust survivors and P uerto Rican and Chinese families. The museum welcomes more than 225\,000 v isitors a year with many more turned away due to space limitations.

\n< p>Vogel trained as an American social and urban historian at Brandeis Univ ersity and the University of Chicago before joining the faculty at Temple University\, where he was promoted to professor in 1985. Later on\, he ser ved as dean of the college. He subsequently directed the Rockefeller Found ation’s Creativity and Culture Program. Vogel is the author or editor of s ix books on American social and cultural history. He co-founded and direct ed the National Endowment for the Humanities-funded Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities.

\n

A first-generation American\, Vogel was born in Kazakhstan where his Polish-Jewish parents were stateless refugee s\, having fled Nazi-held Poland.   After living in a displaced persons ca mp in Poland after World War II\, the family moved to the US in 1949.  “I became an American historian because I was curious about who I was in the refugee context\, always harkening back to what was a ‘real’ American and watching Americans evolve toward a generous and inclusive understanding of their national identity\,” Vogel points out.

\n

Tickets for the Voge l lecture either at Ventfort Hall or via Zoom are $20 per person. To view him on Zoom register at https://ventfort08252020.eventbrite.com

\n

Reservations for atten ding the presentation at Ventfort Hall are strongly recommended as seating will be strictly limited. For reservations to attend at the mansion call us at 413-637-3206.  The museum’s traditional Victorian Teas cannot be ser ved until further notice due to the Corona virus.

\n

The Summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucill e Landa and William Landa.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27918@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Elizabeth A. Williams\, the David and Peggy Rockefeller Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum \, Providence\, will speak on “Gorham Silver: Designing Brilliance 1850- 1 970.”  Her talk will be based on the major exhibition of the same title wh ich she curated for the museum last year.  Her lecture is part of the Summ er 2020 series of  our Tuesday Talks.\nWhen Gorham Manufacturing opened it s doors in 1831\, the company was located in Providence.   The most compre hensive exhibition ever assembled\, it showcased 600 Gorham pieces created during the company’s heyday\, along with tools and design drawings.  “We wanted to also focus on the people who made Gorham what it was within the context of social history\, design history\, industrial history\, manufact uring and advertising\,” says Williams.\nGorham was perhaps best known for innovating the use of the steam-powered press in its operations\, but mec hanization was always accompanied by meticulous handwork.  The company’s i nfluence in the US and worldwide hit full stride in 1860 when Mary Todd Li ncoln chose a Gorham pattern for the White House.\nOne of the most extrava gant services ever made was an 816-piece collection of gilded silver creat ed between 1866 and 1880 for Henry Jewett Furber and his wife\, Elvira\, a nd reacquired for the company’s corporate collection in 1949.  Another sho wstopper was a 1903 Art Nouveau Martele (hammered silver) writing desk and chair that incorporates 47 pounds of silver and took 10\,000 hours to com plete.  The 1927 Cubic Coffee Service is an example of the modernist appro ach that reflects the artist Picasso’s influence on design.  Many pieces i n the exhibition belong to the RISD Museum.\nBefore joining the museum\, W illiams was assistant curator of decorative arts and design at the Los Ang eles County Museum of Art\, where she reinstalled 450 pieces of decorative arts in its European galleries.  She also curated at LACMA “Daily Pleasur es: French Ceramics.”  She created new educational and interpretive materi als for European decorative arts objects among many other responsibilities .\nTickets for the Williams lecture are $20 per person. To view her on onl ine using Zoom register at https://ventforthall09012020.eventbrite.com\nAl though she will be seen only from the RISD Museum via Zoom\, reservations for viewing her at Ventfort Hall are required as seating will be strictly limited. Teas cannot be served until further notice due to the Coronavirus .  For information or reservations call us at 413-637-3206.\nThe Summer 20 20 series of Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Luc ille Landa and William Landa. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200901T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tuesday Talk – “Gorham Silver: Designing Brilliance 1850- 1970” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tuesday-talk-gorham-silver-designing-brilli ance-1850-1970/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Eliza beth A. Williams\, the David and Peggy Rockefeller Curator of Dec orative Arts and Design at the Rhode Island School of Design Museum\, Prov idence\, will speak on “Gorham Silver: Designing Brilliance 1850- 1970.”  Her talk will be based on the major exhibition of the same title which she curated for the museum last year.  Her lecture is part of the Summer 2020 series of  our Tuesday Talks.

\n

When Gorham Manufacturing opened it s doors in 1831\, the company was located in Providence.   The most compre hensive exhibition ever assembled\, it showcased 600 Gorham pieces created during the company’s heyday\, along with tools and design drawings.  “We wanted to also focus on the people who made Gorham what it was within the context of social history\, design history\, industrial history\, manufact uring and advertising\,” says Williams.

\n

Gorham was perhaps best kn own for innovating the use of the steam-powered press in its operations\, but mechanization was always accompanied by meticulous handwork.  The comp any’s influence in the US and worldwide hit full stride in 1860 when Mary Todd Lincoln chose a Gorham pattern for the White House.

\n

One of th e most extravagant services ever made was an 816-piece collection of gilde d silver created between 1866 and 1880 for Henry Jewett Furber and his wif e\, Elvira\, and reacquired for the company’s corporate collection in 1949 .  Another showstopper was a 1903 Art Nouveau Martele (hammered silver) wr iting desk and chair that incorporates 47 pounds of silver and took 10\,00 0 hours to complete.  The 1927 Cubic Coffee Service is an example of the m odernist approach that reflects the artist Picasso’s influence on design.  Many pieces in the exhibition belong to the RISD Museum.

\n

Before j oining the museum\, Williams was assistant curator of decorative arts and design at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art\, where she reinstalled 450 pieces of decorative arts in its European galleries.  She also curated at LACMA “Daily Pleasures: French Ceramics.”  She created new educational an d interpretive materials for European decorative arts objects among many o ther responsibilities.

\n

Tickets for the Williams lecture are $20 pe r person. To view her on online using Zoom register at https://ventforthall09012020.eventbrite .com

\n

Although she will be seen only from the RISD Museum via Z oom\, reservations for viewing her at Ventfort Hall are required as seatin g will be strictly limited. Teas cannot be served until further notice due to the Coronavirus.  For information or reservations call us at 413-637-3 206.

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The Summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Vent fort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27948@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Click below for a preview.\n\n \nMaggie North\, who is the Acti ng Curator of Art at the Springfield Art Museums\, Springfield\, MA\, will give a visual presentation at the mansion as part of its Summer 2020 seri es of Tuesday Talks.\nAs America’s longest running printmaking establishme nt\, the Currier & Ives lithography firm produced popular prints that ador ned homes and businesses across the country during the 19th century.\nThe firm was founded in 1835 when Nathaniel Currier\, then just twenty-two yea rs old\, became the sole proprietor of a New York City business that produ ced music manuscripts and images of newsworthy events such as a fire that swept New York’s business district. Thousands of prints were sold in four days.  In 1840\, he produced “Awful Conflagration of the Steam Boat Lexing ton\,” which was so successful that he was given a weekly insert in the Ne w York Sun. This was before the advent of newspaper photography.\n In 1852 \, Currier hired James Merritt Ives who would later become his business pa rtner. It was Ives who suggested that the firm add scenes of daily life an d American pastimes to their repertoire. These sentimental images\, depict ing country homesteads and leisure activities such as fishing\, horseracin g\, and ice skating\, are still among the most collectable Currier & Ives prints.\nDuring their over 70 years in business\, Currier & Ives employed a large staff who assisted in the creation and printing of approximately 8 \,000 distinct designs. Before closing their doors in 1907\, the firm had made a lasting impression on American visual culture.\nToday\, Currier & I ves images still appear on calendars\, cookie tins\, and holiday cards\, s triking a nostalgic chord. Smith’s talk will explore the firm’s history\, legacy\, enduring lithographic prints. Marketed as “Publishers of Cheap an d Popular Prints\,” Currier & Ives lithographs were never intended to be p erceived as fine artworks. However\, numerous examples are now preserved i n major museums because they provide an important record of American print making\, history\, and popular taste.\nMaggie North has worked extensively with the museums’ holdings of works on paper\, which includes one of the largest public collections of Currier & Ives prints in the world.\nTickets for the North lecture either at Ventfort Hall or via Zoom are $20 per per son. To view her on Zoom register at https://ventfort09082020.eventbrite.c om\nReservations for attending the presentation at Ventfort Hall are stron gly recommended as seating will be strictly limited. For reservations to a ttend at the mansion call us at 413-637-3206.  The museum’s traditional Vi ctorian Teas cannot be served until further notice due to the coronavirus. \nThe Summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall b oard member Lucille Landa and William Landa. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200908T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tuesday Talk – “Picturing America: The Prints and Legacy of Currier & Ives” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tuesday-talk-picturing-america-the-prints-a nd-legacy-of-currier-ives/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Click below f or a preview.

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Maggie North\, who is the Acting Curator of Art at the Springf ield Art Museums\, Springfield\, MA\, will give a visual presentation at t he mansion as part of its Summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks.

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As America’s longest running printmaking establishment\, the Currier & Ives l ithography firm produced popular prints that adorned homes and businesses across the country during the 19th century.

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The firm was founded i n 1835 when Nathaniel Currier\, then just twenty-two years old\, became th e sole proprietor of a New York City business that produced music manuscri pts and images of newsworthy events such as a fire that swept New York’s b usiness district. Thousands of prints were sold in four days.  In 1840\, h e produced “Awful Conflagration of the Steam Boat Lexington\,” wh ich was so successful that he was given a weekly insert in the New Yor k Sun. This was before the advent of newspaper photography.

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< em> In 1852\, Currier hired James Merritt Ives who would later become his business partner. It was Ives who suggested that the firm add scenes of daily life and American pastimes to their repertoire. These sentimental images\, depicting country homesteads and leisure activities such as fish ing\, horseracing\, and ice skating\, are still among the most collectable Currier & Ives prints.

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During their over 70 years in business\, C urrier & Ives employed a large staff who assisted in the creation and prin ting of approximately 8\,000 distinct designs. Before closing their doors in 1907\, the firm had made a lasting impression on American visual cultur e.

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Today\, Currier & Ives images still appear on calendars\, cooki e tins\, and holiday cards\, striking a nostalgic chord. Smith’s talk will explore the firm’s history\, legacy\, enduring lithographic prints. Marke ted as “Publishers of Cheap and Popular Prints\,” Currier & Ives lithograp hs were never intended to be perceived as fine artworks. However\, numerou s examples are now preserved in major museums because they provide an impo rtant record of American printmaking\, history\, and popular taste.

\n< p>Maggie North has worked extensively with the museums’ holdings of works on paper\, which includes one of the largest public collections of Currier & Ives prints in the world.

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Tickets for the North lecture either at Ventfort Hall or via Zoom are $20 per person. To view her on Zoom regis ter at https://ventfort0 9082020.eventbrite.com

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Reservations for attending the presenta tion at Ventfort Hall are strongly recommended as seating will be strictly limited. For reservations to attend at the mansion call us at 413-637-320 6.  The museum’s traditional Victorian Teas cannot be served until further notice due to the coronavirus.

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The Summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and Willia m Landa.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27952@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Ventfort Hall resident historian and author Cornelia Brooke Gil der will give us a peek at the subject of her next book when she presents “Overcoming Tragedies: Real Life in Lenox’s Gilded Era Country Houses.”  S he will make her visual presentation at the museum’s Morning Diversion on Friday\, September 11 at 11:00 am. This is the first of what we hope will be a new series of upcoming talks planned for anyone who wishes to take a different kind of morning break either in person or via Zoom.\nGilder poin ts out: “It is easy to imagine that the lives of grand families in Lenox’s Gilded Age were spent coddled in complacency and security.” Drawing on th e research that she has been compiling for her book\, Gilder explodes this myth with lively accounts of tragic love stories\, defiant elopements\, t errifying burglaries\, financial ruin\, and the constant specter of contag ious diseases. Please join us to hear how these families responded to cris es of their own era.\nThe historian has co-authored with Richard S. Jackso n\, Jr.\, Houses of the Berkshires\, 1870 – 1930\; authored Edith Wharton’ s Lenox\; co-authored with Julia Conklin Peters Hawthorne’s Lenox: The Tan glewood Circle\, and with Joan Olshansky A History of Ventfort Hall.\nTick ets for the Gilder talk are $20.  The event will be offered via Zoom (over morning coffee at home?) and at Ventfort Hall.  To view her on Zoom regis ter at https://ventfort09112020.eventbrite.com\nTo attend the presentation at Ventfort Hall reservations are strongly recommended as seating will be strictly limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206.  The museum’s traditional Victorian teas cannot be served until further notice due to t he coronavirus. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200911T110000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Friday Morning Diversion – “Overcoming Tragedies: Real Life in Leno x’s Gilded Era Country Houses” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/friday-morning-diversion-overcoming-tragedi es-real-life-in-lenoxs-gilded-era-country-houses/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Ventfort Hall resident historian and author Cornelia Brooke Gilder wil l give us a peek at the subject of her next book when she presents “Overco ming Tragedies: Real Life in Lenox’s Gilded Era Country Houses.”  She will make her visual presentation at the museum’s Morning Diversion on Friday\ , September 11 at 11:00 am. This is the first of what we hope will be a ne w series of upcoming talks planned for anyone who wishes to take a differe nt kind of morning break either in person or via Zoom.

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Gilder poin ts out: “It is easy to imagine that the lives of grand families in Lenox’s Gilded Age were spent coddled in complacency and security.” Drawing on th e research that she has been compiling for her book\, Gilder explodes this myth with lively accounts of tragic love stories\, defiant elopements\, t errifying burglaries\, financial ruin\, and the constant specter of contag ious diseases. Please join us to hear how these families responded to cris es of their own era.

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The historian has co-authored with Richard S. Jackson\, Jr.\, Houses of the Berkshires\, 1870 – 1930\; authored Edith W harton’s Lenox\; co-authored with Julia Conklin Peters Hawthorne’s Lenox: The Tanglewood Circle\, and with Joan Olshansky A History of Ventfort Hall .

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Tickets for the Gilder talk are $20.  The event will be offered via Zoom (over morning coffee at home?) and at Ventfort Hall.  To view her on Zoom register at htt ps://ventfort09112020.eventbrite.com

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To attend the presentatio n at Ventfort Hall reservations are strongly recommended as seating will b e strictly limited. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206.  The museum’ s traditional Victorian teas cannot be served until further notice due to the coronavirus.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27955@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Author and historian René Silvin returns to give a Tuesday Talk on “All That Glitters Is Not Gold:  The Perils of Being Too Rich.”  His f ocus will be two wealthy women\, both of whom he knew\; Ann Woodward\, who m he dubs “She was a great shot” with good reason\, and Christina Onassis\ , whom he titles “A Greek Tragedy.”  Silvin will make his visual presentat ion via Zoom from his home in Palm Beach\, FL. The lecture is part of Vent fort Hall’s Summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks.\nSilvin’s family was inte rtwined with the Woodwards.  Heir to a banking fortune\, Williams (Billy) Woodward Jr. married the infamous Ann Crowell (1915 – 1975)\, a Manhattan showgirl.  In what Life Magazine called “The shooting of the century\,” An n fatally shot Billy in 1955.  She\, as well as both their sons\, eventual ly committed suicide.  The widowed Ann had an on-again\, off-again relatio nship with Silvin’s father.  The story is the subject of Dominick Dunne’s book\, The Two Mrs. Grenvilles.\nChristina Onassis (1950 – 1988) was the d aughter of the shipping magnate Aristotle and Tina Livanos Onassis.  Chris tina was heir to two huge shipping fortunes.  Her mother Tina died under m ysterious circumstances in 1974.  “The Golden Greek\,” as Onassis was know n\, was then married to Jackie Kennedy. Ari died in 1975\, a broken man af ter the tragic death of his only son\, Alexander\, a classmate of Silvin’s .  He was closely involved with the family during Onassis’s last illness a nd death at a hospital Silvin was heading in Paris.\nSilvin\, who resides in Palm Beach\, Florida\, maintains a particularly active interest in hist oric preservation as vice-chairman of the Palm Beach Landmarks Preservatio n Commission.  He is the author of Noblesse Oblige\, the Duchess of Windso r as I Knew Her\, the subject of his lecture at Ventfort Hall two years ag o. Last year he presented “Normandie\, the Tragic Story of the Most Majest ic Ocean Liner” based on his book of the same title.  He is also the autho r of I Survived Swiss Boarding Schools: An Arc to Triumph and Villa Mizner : The House That Changed Palm Beach.\nTickets for the Silvin lecture are $ 20 per person. To view him on Zoom register at https://ventfort09152020.ev entbrite.com\nReservations for viewing him at Ventfort Hall on Zoom are st rongly recommended as seating will be strictly limited. For reservations t o attend at the mansion call us at 413-637-3206.  Tea cannot be served unt il further notice due to the coronavirus.\nThe Summer 2020 series of Tuesd ay Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and Wil liam Landa. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200915T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tuesday Talk – “All That Glitters Is Not Gold:  The Perils of Being Too Rich” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tuesday-talk-all-that-glitters-is-not-gold- the-perils-of-being-too-rich/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Author and hi storian René Silvin returns to give a Tuesday Talk on “Al l That Glitters Is Not Gold:  The Perils of Being Too Rich.”  His focus wi ll be two wealthy women\, both of whom he knew\; Ann Woodward\, whom he du bs “She was a great shot” with good reason\, and Christina Onassis\, whom he titles “A Greek Tragedy.”  Silvin will make his visual presentation via Zoom from his home in Palm Beach\, FL. The lecture is part of Ventfort Ha ll’s Summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks.

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Silvin’s family was inte rtwined with the Woodwards.  Heir to a banking fortune\, Williams (Billy) Woodward Jr. married the infamous Ann Crowell (1915 – 1975)\, a Manhattan showgirl.  In what Life Magazine called “The shooting of the cent ury\,” Ann fatally shot Billy in 1955.  She\, as well as both their sons\, eventually committed suicide.  The widowed Ann had an on-again\, off-agai n relationship with Silvin’s father.  The story is the subject of Dominick Dunne’s book\, The Two Mrs. Grenvilles.

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Christina Onassi s (1950 – 1988) was the daughter of the shipping magnate Aristotle and Tin a Livanos Onassis.  Christina was heir to two huge shipping fortunes.  Her mother Tina died under mysterious circumstances in 1974.  “The Golden Gre ek\,” as Onassis was known\, was then married to Jackie Kennedy. Ari died in 1975\, a broken man after the tragic death of his only son\, Alexander\ , a classmate of Silvin’s.  He was closely involved with the family during Onassis’s last illness and death at a hospital Silvin was heading in Pari s.

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Silvin\, who resides in Palm Beach\, Florida\, maintains a part icularly active interest in historic preservation as vice-chairman of the Palm Beach Landmarks Preservation Commission.  He is the author of Nob lesse Oblige\, the Duchess of Windsor as I Knew Her\, the subject of his lecture at Ventfort Hall two years ago. Last year he presented “No rmandie\, the Tragic Story of the Most Majestic Ocean Liner” based on his book of the same title.  He is also the author of I Survived Swis s Boarding Schools: An Arc to Triumph and Villa Mizner: The House That Changed Palm Beach.

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Tickets for the Silvin lecture are $20 per person. To view him on Zoom register at https://ventfort09152020.eventbrite.com

\n< p>Reservations for viewing him at Ventfort Hall on Zoom are strongly recom mended as seating will be strictly limited. For reservations to attend at the mansion call us at 413-637-3206.  Tea cannot be served until further n otice due to the coronavirus.

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The Summer 2020 series of Tuesday Ta lks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27956@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Click below for a preview.\n\n \nScreenwriter and film historia n Nannina Gilder will introduce “Silhouette Animation: The Genius of Lotte Reiniger” on Tuesday\, September 22 at 4:00 pm.  Her presentation is part of Ventfort Hall’s summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks.\nReiniger (1899 – 1981) was a German film director who is considered the foremost pioneer o f silhouette animation\, a life-long specialty of hers. As a child\, she w as fascinated with the Chinese arts of paper cutting of silhouette puppetr y.  Later\, she enrolled in the Theatre of Max Reinhardt where she worked making costumes and props – and creating silhouette portraits of actors wi thin the troupe.  Soon she was making elaborate title cards for silent fil ms\, many of which included her silhouettes.\nIn 1918\, Reiniger created a nimated intertitles for The Pied Piper of Hamelin\, a film directed by Pau l Wegener.  With that success she was admitted into the Institute for Cult ural Research\, an experimental animation and short film studio.  Over the next few years\, she made several short\,   animated films.\nShe was aske d in 1923 to create a feature-length animated film\, an unusual request at the time.  The result was The Adventures of Prince Achmed\, a project tha t took three years to produce. During that time Reiniger who with her staf f\, crafted thousands of cut-outs of intricate silhouettes. For each frame \, the cut-outs\, made from cardboard and thin sheets of lead\, were manip ulated by hand and then shot by camera operated by her husband\, Carl Koch . Twenty-four frames were needed for each second.  The final result was ni cknamed a Shadow Show\, a recognized art form\, of which Reiniger is consi dered the inventor.\nEarlier this year Gilder hosted at Ventfort Hall a fo ur-part Women in Film Seminar titled “Invisible: Female Filmmakers Before 1960.” She introduced The Adventures of Prince Achmed at the seminar.\nA f ormer film curator for the Little Cinema at The Berkshire Museum\, Gilder will introduce us to other unique films from Reiniger’s more than 40 works \, including Cinderella (1922)\; The Stolen Heart (1934)\; Papageno (1935) \, with background music from Mozart’s The Magic Flute\; The Golden Goose (1944)\, her one film produced in Nazi Germany\; Mary’s Birthday (1951)\, made while living in England\, and one or two others she made toward the e nd of her life.\n Gilder has appeared on the film podcast CitizenDame.  He r play “The Curious Abduction of Mona Lisa” was performed at Ventfort Hall in 2013.\nTickets for Gilder’s presentation whether in attendance at Vent fort Hall or by viewing through Zoom are $20 per person.  Advance reservat ions are required in either case. To view on Zoom register at https://vent fort09222020.eventbrite.com\nFor reservations to attend at Ventfort Hall c all us at 413-637-3206. The museum’s traditional Victorian Teas cannot be served until further notice due to the coronavirus.\nThe Summer 2020 serie s of Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Lan da and William Landa. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200922T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tuesday Talk – “Silhouette Animation: The Genius of Lotte Reiniger” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tuesday-talk/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Click below f or a preview.

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Screenwriter and film historian Nannina Gilder will introduce “Silhoue tte Animation: The Genius of Lotte Reiniger” on Tuesday\, September 22 at 4:00 pm.  Her presentation is part of Ventfort Hall’s summer 2020 series o f Tuesday Talks.

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Reiniger (1899 – 1981) was a German film director who is considered the foremost pioneer of silhouette animation\, a life-l ong specialty of hers. As a child\, she was fascinated with the Chinese ar ts of paper cutting of silhouette puppetry.  Later\, she enrolled in the T heatre of Max Reinhardt where she worked making costumes and props – and c reating silhouette portraits of actors within the troupe.  Soon she was ma king elaborate title cards for silent films\, many of which included her s ilhouettes.

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In 1918\, Reiniger created animated intertitles for The Pied Piper of Hamelin\, a film directed by Paul Wegener.  With that success she was admitted into the Institute for Cultural Research\, a n experimental animation and short film studio.  Over the next few years\, she made several short\,   animated films.

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She was asked in 1923 to create a feature-length animated film\, an unusual request at the time.   The result was The Adventures of Prince Achmed\, a project that took three years to produce. During that time Reiniger who with her staff \, crafted thousands of cut-outs of intricate silhouettes. For each frame\ , the cut-outs\, made from cardboard and thin sheets of lead\, were manipu lated by hand and then shot by camera operated by her husband\, Carl Koch. Twenty-four frames were needed for each second.  The final result was nic knamed a Shadow Show\, a recognized art form\, of which Reiniger is consid ered the inventor.

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Earlier this year Gilder hosted at Ventfort Hal l a four-part Women in Film Seminar titled “Invisible: Female Filmmakers B efore 1960.” She introduced The Adventures of Prince Achmed at th e seminar.

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A former film curator for the Little Cinema at The Berk shire Museum\, Gilder will introduce us to other unique films from Reinige r’s more than 40 works\, including Cinderella (1922)\; The St olen Heart (1934)\; Papageno (1935)\, with background music from Mozart’s The Magic Flute\; The Golden Goose (1944)\, her one film produced in Nazi Germany\; Mary’s Birthday (1951)\, made wh ile living in England\, and one or two others she made toward the end of h er life.

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 Gilder has appeared on the film podcast Citizen Dame.  Her play “The Curious Abduction of Mona Lisa” was performed at Vent fort Hall in 2013.

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Tickets for Gilder’s presentation whether in at tendance at Ventfort Hall or by viewing through Zoom are $20 per person.   Advance reservations are required in either case. To view on Zoom register at https://ventfort0922 2020.eventbrite.com

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For reservations to attend at Ventfort Hal l call us at 413-637-3206. The museum’s traditional Victorian Teas cannot be served until further notice due to the coronavirus.

\n

The Summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member L ucille Landa and William Landa.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27958@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Click below for a preview.\n\n \nKathleen Maher\, executive dir ector of the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport\, CT\, will give a visual present ation here at the mansion P. T. Barnum.  Her lecture will take place on Tu esday\, September 29 at 4:00 pm and is part of our summer 2020 series of T uesday Talks.\nAccording to Maher\, “The Barnum name alone conjures up ide as and imagination\, preconceived notions of a man and philosophy.  Known to most of the world as the ‘Great American Showman’ for more than 170 yea rs\, the weight of the Barnum name has forced associations of humbug and m erriment\, provoked thought and invited controversy\, welcomed the cynical and engaged and challenged the skeptic.”\nAlthough the Barnum name remind s us of the American circus legacy\, that didn’t come about until he was 6 1 years old\, when the circus collaboration was presented to him.  What wa s really the passion of his life was Barnum’s American Museum in New York City that revealed his ingenuity and innovation.\nThe museum was a place f or family entertainment\, enlightenment and instructive amusement.  It bec ame a shrine for advancing public knowledge of fine arts\, music\, literat ure and the marvels of nature\, showcasing natural curiosities alongside a rtistic and historic exhibitions.\nBarnum\, who lived for almost the full breath of the 19th century\, from 1810 to 1891\, was an entrepreneur\, pol itician\, urban developer\, philanthropist\, temperance leader\, emancipat ionist\, lecturer and author.  Maher will reveal the fact that “Barnum’s p ioneering spirit of promotion and his acumen for business transformed popu lar conceptions of the era\, in turn molding and defining many ideals of t oday.”\nMaher has been executive director of the Barnum Museum in Bridgepo rt for over 20 years.  She has implemented numerous award-winning exhibiti ons and programs that explore a variety of 19th century social themes and historical events. Under her leadership\, the museum\, founded in 1893 and housing over 60\,000 artifacts\, is focusing on new methods of experience development\, integrating history\, arts\, storytelling\, science and tec hnology as a plan for the museum’s future.\nTickets for the Maher presenta tion either at Ventfort Hall or via Zoom are $20 per person.  Reservations are required in either case.  To view on Zoom register at https://ventfor t09292020.eventbrite.com\nSeating with six-foot spacing at Ventfort Hall w ill be limited. For reservations to attend at Ventfort Hall call us at 413 -637-3206. The museum’s traditional Victorian Teas cannot be served until further notice also due to the coronavirus.\nThe Summer 2020 series of Tue sday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and W illiam Landa. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200929T160000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Tuesday Talk – “P. T. Barnum: The Man\, the Myth\, the American Ico n” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/tuesday-talk-p-t-barnum-the-man-the-myth-th e-american-icon/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Click below f or a preview.

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Kat hleen Maher\, executive director of the Barnum Museum in Bridgepo rt\, CT\, will give a visual presentation here at the mansion P. T. Barnum .  Her lecture will take place on Tuesday\, September 29 at 4:00 pm and is part of our summer 2020 series of Tuesday Talks.

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According to Mah er\, “The Barnum name alone conjures up ideas and imagination\, preconceiv ed notions of a man and philosophy.  Known to most of the world as the ‘Gr eat American Showman’ for more than 170 years\, the weight of the Barnum n ame has forced associations of humbug and merriment\, provoked thought and invited controversy\, welcomed the cynical and engaged and challenged the skeptic.”

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Although the Barnum name reminds us of the American cir cus legacy\, that didn’t come about until he was 61 years old\, when the c ircus collaboration was presented to him.  What was really the passion of his life was Barnum’s American Museum in New York City that revealed his i ngenuity and innovation.

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The museum was a place for family enterta inment\, enlightenment and instructive amusement.  It became a shrine for advancing public knowledge of fine arts\, music\, literature and the marve ls of nature\, showcasing natural curiosities alongside artistic and histo ric exhibitions.

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Barnum\, who lived for almost the full breath of the 19th century\, from 1810 to 1891\, was an entrepreneur\, po litician\, urban developer\, philanthropist\, temperance leader\, emancipa tionist\, lecturer and author.  Maher will reveal the fact that “Barnum’s pioneering spirit of promotion and his acumen for business transformed pop ular conceptions of the era\, in turn molding and defining many ideals of today.”

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Maher has been executive director of the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport for over 20 years.  She has implemented numerous award-winning exhibitions and programs that explore a variety of 19th century social themes and historical events. Under her leadership\, the museum\, founded in 1893 and housing over 60\,000 artifacts\, is focusing on new me thods of experience development\, integrating history\, arts\, storytellin g\, science and technology as a plan for the museum’s future.

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Tick ets for the Maher presentation either at Ventfort Hall or via Zoom are $20 per person.  Reservations are required in either case.  To view on Zoom r egister at https://ventf ort09292020.eventbrite.com

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Seating with six-foot spacing at Ve ntfort Hall will be limited. For reservations to attend at Ventfort Hall c all us at 413-637-3206. The museum’s traditional Victorian Teas cannot be served until further notice also due to the coronavirus.

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The Summe r 2020 series of Tuesday Talks are sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Landa.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-27997@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED\nHistorian and author Andrew Erdm an will make a visual presentation via Zoom on “Eva Tanguay\, the I Don’t Care Girl or Lady Gaga of the Gilded Age.” He will give his talk from his home in New York City on Saturday\, October 3 at 3:30 pm.  He originally g ave this talk before an audience at the museum on July 28 without Zoom.\n“ She came on like a meteor\, but there is a lasting quality.” So wrote Asht on Stevens\, Chicago Examiner\, in 1911.  Who was this Lady Gaga of the Gi lded Age?  Erdman will tell us based on his latest book Queen of Vaudevill e:  The Story of Eva Tanguay\, the first-ever biography of the legendary p erformer. Showbiz circles of her day nicknamed her the “I Don’t Care Girl” after her trademark song “I Don’t Care”\, which she first introduced as p art of a vaudeville act in 1905. Erdman will play her later recording of t his song for us.\nTanguay billed herself as “the girl who made vaudeville famous”.  She was to be an audience favorite with a long-lasting career. Z iegfeld had to have her for his Follies. She is remembered for brassy\, se lf-confident songs that portrayed the emancipated woman\, such as “It’s Al l Been Done Before but Not the Way I Do It”\, “I Want Someone to Go Wild w ith Me” and “That’s Why They Call Me Tabasco”.\nGaining free publicity wit h outrageous behavior (she also paid large sums for advertising) was to he r liking.  In 1910\, a year after the Lincoln penny was issued\, she appea red on stage in a dress entirely covered in the new coins\, some of which she pluck off and playfully threw at men in the audience. With her natural talent for self-promotion\, she made headlines for allegedly being kidnap ped and having her jewels stolen.  She even declared herself a Christian S cientist and became one of the first celebrities to receive plastic surger y. She was described by the father of public relations\, Edward Bernays\, as “our first symbol of emergence from the Victorian age.”\nShe out-earned the likes of such contemporaries as Enrico Caruso and Harry Houdini\, a f ortune that she lost with the stock market crash of 1929. During the follo wing decade she retired from show business and died in 1947 at her home in Hollywood\, CA\, at age 68.  A native of Canada\, her family had moved to Holyoke\, MA\, where she developed an initial interest in the performing arts.\nErdman served as a staff reporter at Fortune magazine where he wrot e a weekly human-interest column and profiles of the world’s billionaires. He also has written for National Lampoon\, Diversions\, Women.com and Lif etimeTV.com. He has worked in television\, serving as head writer for the talk/comedy/variety show Sex\, Lives and Video Clips on VH1.  His earlier book is Blue Vaudeville: Sex\, Morals and the Mass Marketing of Amusement\ , 1895-1915.  Erdman is a trained psychotherapist and author of topics rel ated to therapy and psychoanalysis. He teaches at the New York University School of Social Work.\nThe Erdman lecture has been part of summer 2020 se ries of Tuesday Talks sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Land a and William Landa. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201003T153000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CANCELLED – Saturday Talk – “Eva Tanguay\, the I Don’t Care Girl or Lady Gaga of the Gilded Age” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/saturday-talk-eva-tanguay-the-i-dont-care-g irl-or-lady-gaga-of-the-gilded-age/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

T HIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

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Historian and author An drew Erdman will make a visual presentation via Zoom on “Eva Tanguay\, the I Don’t Care Girl or Lady Gaga of the Gilded Age.” He will give his talk from his home in New York City on Saturday\, October 3 at 3:30 pm.  He ori ginally gave this talk before an audience at the museum on July 28 without Zoom.

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“She came on like a meteor\, but there is a lasting quality .” So wrote Ashton Stevens\, Chicago Examiner\, in 1911.  Who was this Lady Gaga of the Gilded Age?  Erdman will tell us b ased on his latest book Queen of Vaudeville:  The Story of Eva Tanguay\, the first-ever biography of the legendary performer. Show biz circles of her day nicknamed her the “I Don’t Care Girl” after her tra demark song “I Don’t Care”\, which she first introduced as part of a vaude ville act in 1905. Erdman will play her later recording of this song for u s.

\n

Tanguay billed herself as “the girl who made vaudeville famous” .  She was to be an audience favorite with a long-lasting career. Ziegfeld had to have her for his Follies. She is remembered for brassy\, self-conf ident songs that portrayed the emancipated woman\, such as “It’s All Been Done Before but Not the Way I Do It”\, “I Want Someone to Go Wild with Me” and “That’s Why They Call Me Tabasco”.

\n

Gaining free publicity wit h outrageous behavior (she also paid large sums for advertising) was to he r liking.  In 1910\, a year after the Lincoln penny was issued\, she appea red on stage in a dress entirely covered in the new coins\, some of which she pluck off and playfully threw at men in the audience. With her natural talent for self-promotion\, she made headlines for allegedly being kidnap ped and having her jewels stolen.  She even declared herself a Christian S cientist and became one of the first celebrities to receive plastic surger y. She was described by the father of public relations\, Edward Bernays\, as “our first symbol of emergence from the Victorian age.”

\n

She out -earned the likes of such contemporaries as Enrico Caruso and Harry Houdin i\, a fortune that she lost with the stock market crash of 1929. During th e following decade she retired from show business and died in 1947 at her home in Hollywood\, CA\, at age 68.  A native of Canada\, her family had m oved to Holyoke\, MA\, where she developed an initial interest in the perf orming arts.

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Erdman served as a staff reporter at Fortune magazine where he wrote a weekly human-interest column and profiles of th e world’s billionaires. He also has written for National Lampoon\, Div ersions\, Women.com and LifetimeTV.com. He has worked in television\, serving as head writer for the talk/comedy/variety show Sex\, Lives a nd Video Clips on VH1.  His earlier book is Blue Vaudeville: Sex\ , Morals and the Mass Marketing of Amusement\, 1895-1915.  Erdman is a trained psychotherapist and author of topics related to therapy and psyc hoanalysis. He teaches at the New York University School of Social Work.\n

The Erdman lecture has been part of summer 2020 series of Tuesday T alks sponsored by Ventfort Hall board member Lucille Landa and William Lan da.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28014@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Described by the Boston Globe as the “Balzac of Boston History\ ,” Anthony Sammarco will present a lecture on “Molasses: From the Slave Tr ade to Boston’s Great Molasses Flood”  here at the mansion.\nMolasses has a rich history in the Caribbean\, according to Sammarco\, where sugar cane has been cultivated for centuries.  Molasses is a byproduct made when sug ars are extracted from sugar cane. It was a popular liquid sweetener throu ghout the United States in the early 20th century.\nMassachusetts had an i ntegral connection as part of the Triangle Trade\, the term used for a maj or part of the 18th century world economy.  Rum from New England was trade d in Africa for slaves\, which were brought to the West Indies where they cultivated sugar cane.  Molasses was then shipped to New England and often used in the distillation of rum.\nSammarco will also explore the involvem ent of the Isaac Royall family of Medford\, MA\, in the 18th century molas ses trade\, the Lawrence Rum Distillery\, tea-totalism and the abolitionis t causes of the 19th century\, concluding with the Great Molasses Flood of 1919\, an extraordinary event that has become an integral part of the Bos ton’s North End history.\nSammarco is the author of over sixty books on th e history and development of Boston\, as well as a lecturer on these subje cts.  Among his best sellers are Lost Boston\, The History of Howard Johns on’s: How a Massachusetts Soda Fountain Became a Roadside Icon and The Bak er Chocolate Company: A Sweet History.  He has taught at The Urban College of Boston since 1997\, where he was named Educator of the Year.  He also teaches Boston history at the Boston University Metropolitan College.\nThi s presentation can be seen either in person at Ventfort Hall or via Zoom. Tickets for the Sammarco talk are $20. To view on Zoom register at https:/ /ventfort10102020.eventbrite.com\nTo attend at Ventfort Hall reservations are strongly suggested as sitting is limited. For reservations to attend a t Ventfort Hall call us at 413-637-3206. The museum’s traditional Victoria n Teas cannot be served until further notice also due to the coronavirus. Masks and strict spacing for seating will be honored. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201010T153000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Saturday Talk – “Molasses: From the Slave Trade to Boston’s Great M olasses Flood” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/saturday-talk-molasses-from-the-slave-trade -to-bostons-great-molasses-flood/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Described by the Boston Globe as the “Balzac of Boston History\,” Anthony Samm arco will present a lecture on “Molasses: From the Slave Trade to Boston’s Great Molasses Flood”  here at the mansion.

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Molasses has a rich h istory in the Caribbean\, according to Sammarco\, where sugar cane has bee n cultivated for centuries.  Molasses is a byproduct made when sugars are extracted from sugar cane. It was a popular liquid sweetener throughout th e United States in the early 20th century.

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Massachusett s had an integral connection as part of the Triangle Trade\, the term used for a major part of the 18th century world economy.  Rum from New England was traded in Africa for slaves\, which were brought to the We st Indies where they cultivated sugar cane.  Molasses was then shipped to New England and often used in the distillation of rum.

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Sammarco wi ll also explore the involvement of the Isaac Royall family of Medford\, MA \, in the 18th century molasses trade\, the Lawrence Rum Distil lery\, tea-totalism and the abolitionist causes of the 19th cen tury\, concluding with the Great Molasses Flood of 1919\, an extraordinary event that has become an integral part of the Boston’s North End history.

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Sammarco is the author of over sixty books on the history and dev elopment of Boston\, as well as a lecturer on these subjects.  Among his b est sellers are Lost Boston\, The History of Howard Johnson’s: How a M assachusetts Soda Fountain Became a Roadside Icon and The Baker C hocolate Company: A Sweet History.  He has taught at The Urban Colleg e of Boston since 1997\, where he was named Educator of the Year.  He also teaches Boston history at the Boston University Metropolitan College.

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This presentation can be seen either in person at Ventfort Hall or vi a Zoom. Tickets for the Sammarco talk are $20. To view on Zoom register at https://ventfort1010202 0.eventbrite.com

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To attend at Ventfort Hall reservations are s trongly suggested as sitting is limited. For reservations to attend at Ven tfort Hall call us at 413-637-3206. The museum’s traditional Victorian Tea s cannot be served until further notice also due to the coronavirus. Masks and strict spacing for seating will be honored.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28042@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:NO YOGA TODAY\, DECEMBER 15\nJoin Susan Shook\, a yoga practiti oner\, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion on Tuesday afternoon s at 5 pm. The class is indoors in our great hall.\nMasks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.\nSusan has been a yoga practitio ner for over 16 years\, culminating in 2018 with certification as a yoga i nstructor\, graduating from the Yoga Institute of The Berkshires. She is a lso member of the Yoga Alliance.\nSusan’s practice and classes are focused on linking purposeful movement with intention and breath. Her classes inc orporate the restorative sounds and scents of nature and center on playful \, safe and grounded guidance with instruction for all levels of yogis. Su san encourages students\, friends and students to appreciate themselves by sharing time on the mat\, motion\, and breath.  At the close of her class es\, experience 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 an d Elvis. She is a native of the Berkshires\, a business owner/partner\, av id yogi practitioner and teacher\, sharing her practice and teaching at Le nox Yoga and Ventfort Hall.\nCost to attend is $15.00 a session\, cash or check payable that day. Part of the cost is a donation to Ventfort Hall. S pace is limited. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201013T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201013T180000 RRULE:FREQ=WEEKLY;UNTIL=20201219T235959Z;BYDAY=TU;WKST=SU SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Drop In Community Yoga from 5 to 6 pm URL:https://gildedage.org/event/drop-in-community-yoga-from-5-to-6-pm/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

NO YO GA TODAY\, DECEMBER 15

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Join Susan Shook\, a yoga practiti oner\, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion on Tuesday afternoon s at 5 pm. The class is indoors in our great hall.

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Masks will be r equired and social distancing will be practiced.

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Susan has been a yoga practitioner for over 16 years\, culminating in 2018 with certificati on as a yoga instructor\, graduating from the Yoga Institute of The Berksh ires. She is also member of the Yoga Alliance.

\n

Susan’s practice an d classes are focused on linking purposeful movement with intention and br eath. Her classes incorporate the restorative sounds and scents of nature and center on playful\, safe and grounded guidance with instruction for al l levels of yogis. Susan encourages students\, friends and students to app reciate themselves by sharing time on the mat\, motion\, and breath.  At t he close of her classes\, experience the calm and rest of Shavasana.

\n

When not on the mat\, teaching or practicing yoga\, you will find Susan beautifying a client’s landscape\, running or hiking in the woods with he r loving Labradors Buddha and Elvis. She is a native of the Berkshires\, a business owner/partner\, avid yogi practitioner and teacher\, sharing her practice and teaching at Lenox Yoga and Ventfort Hall.

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Cost to at tend is $15.00 a session\, cash or check payable that day. Part of the cos t is a donation to Ventfort Hall. Space is limited.

\n X-COST:$15 payable by cash or check END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28028@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Literary historian Rob Velella returns to Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum via Zoom for a special Halloween virtual event port raying Edgar Allan Poe. Attendees are invited to see him on Zoom at the ma nsion or at home via Zoom.\nPoe\, impersonated by Velella in costume\, ret urns from the grave to read several of his works\, both well-known and for gotten. Among them are “Annabel Lee” and one of the author’s earlier horro r stories\, “Ligeia\,” which will feature some original music by composer Mary Bichner. An interactive question and answer period will follow the pr ogram.  The program is recommended for ages 13 and up.\nVelella is an inde pendent literary historian specializing in American literature of the 19th century. The versatility and broad appeal of Poe’s works fascinate him.  “The high-minded Ph.D. scholars are really into Poe\, the general reader l oves Poe\, and everybody in between…”\nThere have been times when Velella has been treated as the famous poet. “Once when I was performing in Nashvi lle\, four different women kissed me.  It wasn’t that they wanted to kiss me\, they wanted to kiss Poe\,” he says. “I didn’t expect that – I were ju st asking an innocent question and then Poe basically gets sexually assaul ted!”\nThrough public lectures\, dramatic readings\, scholarly publication s\, museum exhibitions and tours\, Velella has dramatically brought back t o life several literary figures\, including Nathaniel Hawthorne\, a figure he has presented at Ventfort Hall.  His performances have been featured t hrough National Public Radio\, the Travel Channel and chronicled in The Ha rvard Crimson Magazine and the LA Review of Books.\nTickets for the Velell a performance are $20.  The performance will be seen via Zoom and can also be watched via Zoom at Ventfort Hall. To view on Zoom register at https:/ /ventfort10242020.eventbrite.com. Reservations to attend at Ventfort Hall are strongly recommended as seating will be strictly limited. Masks are re quired and social distancing will be observed. For reservations to view at the mansion call us (413) 637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201024T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201024T170000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Performance – “Edgar Allan Poe: Master of the Macabre” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/performance-edgar-allan-poe-master-of-the-m acabre/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Literary hist orian Rob Velella returns to Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum v ia Zoom for a special Halloween virtual event portraying Edgar Allan Poe. Attendees are invited to see him on Zoom at the mansion or at home via Zoo m.

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Poe\, impersonated by Velella in costume\, returns from the gra ve to read several of his works\, both well-known and forgotten. Among the m are “Annabel Lee” and one of the author’s earlier horror stories\, “Lige ia\,” which will feature some original music by composer Mary Bichner. An interactive question and answer period will follow the program.  The progr am is recommended for ages 13 and up.

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Velella is an independent li terary historian specializing in American literature of the 19th century. The versatility and broad appeal of Poe’s works fascinate him.  “The high-minded Ph.D. scholars are really into Poe\, the general reader loves Poe\, and everybody in between…”

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There have been times when Velella has been treated as the famous poet. “Once when I was performing i n Nashville\, four different women kissed me.  It wasn’t that they wanted to kiss me\, they wanted to kiss Poe\,” he says. “I didn’t expect that – I were just asking an innocent question and then Poe basically gets sexuall y assaulted!”

\n

Through public lectures\, dramatic readings\, schola rly publications\, museum exhibitions and tours\, Velella has dramatically brought back to life several literary figures\, including Nathaniel Hawth orne\, a figure he has presented at Ventfort Hall.  His performances have been featured through National Public Radio\, the Travel Channel and chron icled in The Harvard Crimson Magazine and the LA Review of Bo oks.

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Tickets for the Velella performance are $20.  The perfor mance will be seen via Zoom and can also be watched via Zoom at Ventfort H all. To view on Zoom register at https://ventfort10242020.eventbrite.com. Reservations to atte nd at Ventfort Hall are strongly recommended as seating will be strictly l imited. Masks are required and social distancing will be observed. For res ervations to view at the mansion call us (413) 637-3206.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28045@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Join paranormal investigator and author David Raby when he pres ents “Walking Amongst the Shadows” as part of our new Friday Morning Diver sion series on Friday October 30\, 2020 at 11:00 am.\nVentfort Hall has be en host to Raby’s group paranormal investigation events since 2017. One hu ndred percent of ticket sales for those events go towards  restoration and preservation efforts.  In this special talk\, Raby will tell some of his favorite experiences from investigating Ventfort Hall and other historic l ocations. The talk will also feature just some of the many audio clips he has captured throughout the years. The talk will encompass locations such as haunted mansions\, Revolutionary War and Civil War battlefields\, priso ns\, asylums\, hotels and he will include the most powerful stories of peo ple and families he has helped over the past two decades.\nRaby is the aut hor of four books: The Shadows Within: Houghton Mansion\, Walking Amongst the Shadows: Houghton Mansion\; The Inhumanity of Man: The Hattie McCloud Murder\; and Bludgeoned: The Reed Double-Homicide.\nTickets are $20. The e vent will be offered via Zoom and at Ventfort Hall. To view on Zoom please visit https://ventfort10302020.eventbrite.com \nTo attend the presentatio n at Ventfort Hall reservations are strongly recommended as seating will b e strictly limited. Masks are required and seating will observe social dis tancing. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201030T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201030T120000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Friday Morning Diversion – “Walking Amongst the Shadows” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/friday-morning-diversion-walking-amongst-th e-shadows/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Join paranorm al investigator and author David Raby when he presents “Walking Amongst th e Shadows” as part of our new Friday Morning Diversion series on Friday Oc tober 30\, 2020 at 11:00 am.

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Ventfort Hall has been host to Raby’s group paranormal investigation events since 2017. One hundred percent of ticket sales for those events go towards  restoration and preservation eff orts.  In this special talk\, Raby will tell some of his favorite experien ces from investigating Ventfort Hall and other historic locations. The tal k will also feature just some of the many audio clips he has captured thro ughout the years. The talk will encompass locations such as haunted mansio ns\, Revolutionary War and Civil War battlefields\, prisons\, asylums\, ho tels and he will include the most powerful stories of people and families he has helped over the past two decades.

\n

Raby is the author of fou r books: The Shadows Within: Houghton Mansion\, Walking Amongst the Sh adows: Houghton Mansion\; The Inhumanity of Man: The Hattie McCloud Murder \; and Bludgeoned: The Reed Double-Homicide.

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Tickets are $20. The event will be offered via Zoom and at Ventfort Hall. To view on Zoom please visit ht tps://ventfort10302020.eventbrite.com

\n

To attend the presentat ion at Ventfort Hall reservations are strongly recommended as seating will be strictly limited. Masks are required and seating will observe social d istancing. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28049@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z 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. Undaunted\, he 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\, Raby will give a brief history of the lives that once graced the hallways – and possibly still reside within. He will also share some of his favorite evidence from previous investigations and will be happy to answer any questions about p aranormal investigations. This event is perfect for everyone\; from someon e who has never been on a paranormal investigation to the seasoned investi gator.\nThe event will begin at 5:00 p.m. and conclude at 9:30 pm. This is a time change due to Gov. Baker’s recent COVID-19 changes for businesses. Masks that cover both the mouth and nose are required during this event.  Social distancing will be practiced.  Non-refundable tickets for this exc iting event are $38 per person with a reduced rate of $20 for ages 12 – 18 and 19-23 with student ID and are limited. Reservations are required. No walk-ins. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. All of the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the preservation and restoration of Vent fort Hall. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201107T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201107T213000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Ghost Hunt with David Raby – Please note time change URL:https://gildedage.org/event/ghost-hunt-with-david-raby-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Join  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. Undaunted\, he enters haunted loc ations that would terrify others with hopes of contacting lingering spirit s to discover why they remain.

\n

Raby 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.

\n

His 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.

\n

He 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.

\n

Before the investigat ion\, Raby will give a brief history of the lives that once graced the hal lways – and possibly still reside within. He will also share some of his f avorite evidence from previous investigations and will be happy to answer any questions about paranormal investigations. This event is perfect for e veryone\; from someone who has never been on a paranormal investigation to the seasoned investigator.

\n

The event will begin at 5:00 p .m. and conclude at 9:30 pm. This is a time change due to Gov. Baker’s rec ent COVID-19 changes for businesses. Masks that cover both the mo uth and nose are required during this event.  Social distancing will be pr acticed.  Non-refundable tickets for this exciting event are $38 per perso n with a reduced rate of $20 for ages 12 – 18 and 19-23 with student ID an d are limited. Reservations are required. No walk-ins. Call us at (413) 63 7-3206 for reservations. All of the proceeds from ticket sales will go tow ards the preservation and restoration of Ventfort Hall.

\n X-COST:$38 adult\, $20 for ages 12–18 and 19-23 with student ID END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28064@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Anthony Amore\, Director of Security and Chief Investigator at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston\, will make a visual present ation on the subject of his new book titled “The Woman Who Stole Vermeer\, the True Story of Rose Dugdale and the Russborough House Art Heist.”  Giv en as part of the Morning Diversions series of lectures at Ventfort Hall M ansion and Gilded Age\, Amore will present his talk on Friday\, November 2 0 at 11:00 am.  Attendees are invited to join his audience at the mansion or via Zoom.\nIn the world of crime\, according to Amore\, there exists an unusual commonality between those who steal art and those who repeatedly kill: they are almost exclusively male.  There is one exception and that i s Rose Dugdale\, whose life was singularly notorious.  Born into extreme w ealth (she was presented to Queen Elizabeth as a debutante)\, she abandone d her life as an Oxford-trained PhD and heiress to join the cause of the I rish Republicanism.\nShe spearheaded the first aerial terrorist attack in British history and pulled off the biggest art theft of her time.  In 1974 \, she led a gang into the opulent Russborough House in Ireland and made o ff with millions in prized paintings\, including works by Goya\, Gainsboro ugh and Rubens\, as well as Lady Writing a Letter with Her Maid by Johanne s Vermeer. To this day\, Dugdale is the only woman to pull off a major art heist.  It is likely that this was not her only such crime.\nIn his posit ion at the Gardner Museum\, Amore has been in charge of the ongoing effort s to recover thirteen works of art stolen from the museum in 1990.  He is also the co-author of Stealing Rembrandts and author of The Art of the Con \, both of which have been bestsellers.  He also provides analysis on issu es related to security and terrorism for the BBC\, NBC News\, NPR\, CNN\, FOX and others.\nTickets for the Amore presentation either at Ventfort Hal l or via Zoom are $20 per person.  Reservations are required in either cas e.  To view on Zoom register at https://ventfort11202020.eventbrite.com\nT o see him at Ventfort Hall reservations are required as seating is limited . To reserve call us at 413-637-3206. Masks are required and strict spacin g for seating will be in place. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201120T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201120T120000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Friday Morning Diversion – “The Woman Who Stole Vermeer” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/saturday-talk-the-woman-who-stole-vermeer/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Antho ny Amore\, Director of Security and Chief Investigator at the Isa bella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston\, will make a visual presentation o n the subject of his new book titled “The Woman Who Stole Vermeer\, the Tr ue Story of Rose Dugdale and the Russborough House Art Heist.”  Given as p art of the Morning Diversions series of lectures at Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age\, Amore will present his talk on Friday\, November 20 at 11 :00 am.  Attendees are invited to join his audience at the mansion or via Zoom.

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In the world of crime\, according to Amore\, there exists an unusual commonality between those who steal art and those who repeatedly kill: they are almost exclusively male.  There is one exception and that i s Rose Dugdale\, whose life was singularly notorious.  Born into extreme w ealth (she was presented to Queen Elizabeth as a debutante)\, she abandone d her life as an Oxford-trained PhD and heiress to join the cause of the I rish Republicanism.

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She spearheaded the first aerial terrorist att ack in British history and pulled off the biggest art theft of her time.  In 1974\, she led a gang into the opulent Russborough House in Ireland and made off with millions in prized paintings\, including works by Goya\, Ga insborough and Rubens\, as well as Lady Writing a Letter with Her Maid by Johannes Vermeer. To this day\, Dugdale is the only woman to pull off a major art heist.  It is likely that this was not her only such crim e.

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In his position at the Gardner Museum\, Amore has been in charg e of the ongoing efforts to recover thirteen works of art stolen from the museum in 1990.  He is also the co-author of Stealing Rembrandts and author of The Art of the Con\, both of which have been bestse llers.  He also provides analysis on issues related to security and terror ism for the BBC\, NBC News\, NPR\, CNN\, FOX and others.

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Tickets f or the Amore presentation either at Ventfort Hall or via Zoom are $20 per person.  Reservations are required in either case.  To view on Zoom regist er at https://ventfort11 202020.eventbrite.com

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To see him at Ventfort Hall reservations are required as seating is limited. To reserve call us at 413-637-3206. M asks are required and strict spacing for seating will be in place.

\n X-COST:$20 at Ventfort\, $20 plus ticket fee for Zoom END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28176@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Join Susan Shook\, a yoga practitioner\, at an all level yoga c lass here at the mansion on Tuesday from 5 pm to 6 pm. The class is indoor s in our great hall.\nMasks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.\nSusan has been a yoga practitioner for over 16 years\, culmin ating in 2018 with certification as a yoga instructor\, graduating from th e Yoga Institute of The Berkshires. She is also member of the Yoga Allianc e.\nSusan’s practice and classes are focused on linking purposeful movemen t with intention and breath. Her classes incorporate the restorative sound s and scents of nature and center on playful\, safe and grounded guidance with instruction for all levels of yogis. Susan encourages students\, frie nds and students to appreciate themselves by sharing time on the mat\, mot ion\, and breath.  At the close of her classes\, experience the calm and r est of Shavasana.\nWhen not on the mat\, teaching or practicing yoga\, you will find Susan beautifying a client’s landscape\, running or hiking in t he woods with her loving Labradors Buddha and Elvis. She is a native of th e Berkshires\, a business owner/partner\, avid yogi practitioner and teach er\, sharing her practice and teaching at Lenox Yoga and Ventfort Hall.\nC ost to attend is $15.00 a session\, cash or check payable that day. Part o f the cost is a donation to Ventfort Hall. Space is limited. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201222T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201222T180000 RRULE:FREQ=WEEKLY;UNTIL=20201219T235959Z;BYDAY=TU;WKST=SU SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Drop In Community Yoga from 5 to 6 pm URL:https://gildedage.org/event/drop-in-community-yoga-from-5-to-6-pm-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Join Susan Sh ook\, a yoga practitioner\, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion on Tuesday from 5 pm to 6 pm. The class is indoors in our great hall.

\n

Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.

\n

Susan has been a yoga practitioner for over 16 years\, culminating in 2 018 with certification as a yoga instructor\, graduating from the Yoga Ins titute of The Berkshires. She is also member of the Yoga Alliance.

\n

Susan’s practice and classes are focused on linking purposeful movement w ith intention and breath. Her classes incorporate the restorative sounds a nd scents of nature and center on playful\, safe and grounded guidance wit h instruction for all levels of yogis. Susan encourages students\, friends and students to appreciate themselves by sharing time on the mat\, motion \, and breath.  At the close of her classes\, experience the calm and rest of Shavasana.

\n

When not on the mat\, teaching or practicing yoga\, you will find Susan beautifying a client’s landscape\, running or hiking in the woods with her loving Labradors Buddha and Elvis. She is a native o f the Berkshires\, a business owner/partner\, avid yogi practitioner and t eacher\, sharing her practice and teaching at Lenox Yoga and Ventfort Hall .

\n

Cost to attend is $15.00 a session\, cash or check payable that day. Part of the cost is a donation to Ventfort Hall. Space is limited.

\n X-COST:$15 payable by cash or check END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28181@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Join Susan Shook\, a yoga practitioner\, at an all level yoga c lass here at the mansion on Saturday from 9 am to 10 am. The class is indo ors in our great hall.\nMasks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.\nSusan has been a yoga practitioner for over 16 years\, culm inating in 2018 with certification as a yoga instructor\, graduating from the Yoga Institute of The Berkshires. She is also member of the Yoga Allia nce.\nSusan’s practice and classes are focused on linking purposeful movem ent with intention and breath. Her classes incorporate the restorative sou nds and scents of nature and center on playful\, safe and grounded guidanc e with instruction for all levels of yogis. Susan encourages students\, fr iends and students to appreciate themselves by sharing time on the mat\, m otion\, and breath.  At the close of her classes\, experience the calm and rest of Shavasana.\nWhen not on the mat\, teaching or practicing yoga\, y ou will find Susan beautifying a client’s landscape\, running or hiking in the woods with her loving Labradors Buddha and Elvis. She is a native of the Berkshires\, a business owner/partner\, avid yogi practitioner and tea cher\, sharing her practice and teaching at Lenox Yoga and Ventfort Hall. \nCost to attend is $15.00 a session\, cash or check payable that day. Par t of the cost is a donation to Ventfort Hall. Space is limited. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201226T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201226T100000 RRULE:FREQ=WEEKLY;UNTIL=20201219T235959Z;BYDAY=TU;WKST=SU SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Drop In Community Yoga from 9 to 10 am URL:https://gildedage.org/event/drop-in-community-yoga-from-5-to-6-pm-2-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Join Susan Sh ook\, a yoga practitioner\, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion on Saturday from 9 am to 10 am. The class is indoors in our great hall.\n

Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.

\n

Susan has been a yoga practitioner for over 16 years\, culminating in 2018 with certification as a yoga instructor\, graduating from the Yoga I nstitute of The Berkshires. She is also member of the Yoga Alliance.

\n

Susan’s practice and classes are focused on linking purposeful movement with intention and breath. Her classes incorporate the restorative sounds and scents of nature and center on playful\, safe and grounded guidance w ith instruction for all levels of yogis. Susan encourages students\, frien ds and students to appreciate themselves by sharing time on the mat\, moti on\, and breath.  At the close of her classes\, experience the calm and re st of Shavasana.

\n

When not on the mat\, teaching or practicing yoga \, you will find Susan beautifying a client’s landscape\, running or hikin g in the woods with her loving Labradors Buddha and Elvis. She is a native of the Berkshires\, a business owner/partner\, avid yogi practitioner and teacher\, sharing her practice and teaching at Lenox Yoga and Ventfort Ha ll.

\n

Cost to attend is $15.00 a session\, cash or check payable tha t day. Part of the cost is a donation to Ventfort Hall. Space is limited.< /p>\n X-COST:$15 payable by cash or check END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28198@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Local Berkshire author and historian Robert Oakes will put the spotlight on “Ghosts of the Berkshires\,” the subject of his new book\, wi th special emphasis on the ghost lore of Ventfort Hall. He will make his p resentation via Zoom on Saturday\, January 9\, at 3:30 pm.\nIn leading thi s spirited journey through history\, Oakes will relay that before it becam e a haven for the arts and culture\, the Berkshires was a rugged\, sparsel y populated frontier.  From the early days of revolutionary fervor and ind ustrial enterprise to today’s tourism\, many chilling stories remain. A lo st girl haunts a cemetery in the town of Washington\, and mysterious spiri ts still perform at Tanglewood.\nFrom the ghostly halls of the Houghton Ma nsion in North Adams to the eerie events at the nearby Hoosac Tunnel\, res idents and visitors alike have felt fear and awe in the area’s hills\, tel ling tales of shadowy figures\, disembodied voices and spectral trains. Oa kes leads this spirited journey through history with a special emphasis on the ghost lore of Ventfort Hall.\nOakes is a writer\, teacher and singer/ songwriter.  He has written for AAA\, Canyon Ranch and a number of other p ublications and organizations. He has given ghost tours at The Mount for m ore than a decade and has represented the museum and its ghosts on Syfy’s Ghost Hunters\, Jeff Belanger’s New England Legends series on PBS\, The Ap ple Seed hosted by Sam Payne and on BYUradio.\nTickets for Robert Oakes’ t alk are $20 and can be purchased at https://ventfort0109202020.eventbrite. com DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210109T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210109T163000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Saturday Talk – “Ghosts of the Berkshires” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/saturday-talk-ghosts-of-the-berkshires/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Local Berkshi re author and historian Robert Oakes will put the spotlight on “Ghosts of the Berkshires\,” the subject of his new book\, with special emphasis on t he ghost lore of Ventfort Hall. He will make his presentation via Zoom on Saturday\, January 9\, at 3:30 pm.

\n

In leading this spirited journe y through history\, Oakes will relay that before it became a haven for the arts and culture\, the Berkshires was a rugged\, sparsely populated front ier.  From the early days of revolutionary fervor and industrial enterpris e to today’s tourism\, many chilling stories remain. A lost girl haunts a cemetery in the town of Washington\, and mysterious spirits still perform at Tanglewood.

\n

From the ghostly halls of the Houghton Mansion in N orth Adams to the eerie events at the nearby Hoosac Tunnel\, residents and visitors alike have felt fear and awe in the area’s hills\, telling tales of shadowy figures\, disembodied voices and spectral trains. Oakes leads this spirited journey through history with a special emphasis on the ghost lore of Ventfort Hall.

\n

Oakes is a writer\, teacher and singer/son gwriter.  He has written for AAA\, Canyon Ranch and a number of other publ ications and organizations. He has given ghost tours at The Mount for more than a decade and has represented the museum and its ghosts on Syfy’s Gho st Hunters\, Jeff Belanger’s New England Legends series on PBS\, The Apple Seed hosted by Sam Payne and on BYUradio.

\n

Tickets for Robert Oake s’ talk are $20 and can be purchased at https://ventfort0109202020.eventbrite.com

\n X-COST:$20 plus ticket fee for Zoom END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28216@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Join Susan Shook\, a yoga practitioner\, at an all level yoga c lass here at the mansion on Tuesdays from 5 pm to 6 pm. The class is indoo rs in our great hall.\nMasks will be required and social distancing will b e practiced.\nSusan has been a yoga practitioner for over 16 years\, culmi nating in 2018 with certification as a yoga instructor\, graduating from t he Yoga Institute of The Berkshires. She is also member of the Yoga Allian ce.\nSusan’s practice and classes are focused on linking purposeful moveme nt with intention and breath. Her classes incorporate the restorative soun ds and scents of nature and center on playful\, safe and grounded guidance with instruction for all levels of yogis. Susan encourages students\, fri ends and students to appreciate themselves by sharing time on the mat\, mo tion\, and breath.  At the close of her classes\, experience the calm and rest of Shavasana.\nWhen not on the mat\, teaching or practicing yoga\, yo u will find Susan beautifying a client’s landscape\, running or hiking in the woods with her loving Labradors Buddha and Elvis. She is a native of t he Berkshires\, a business owner/partner\, avid yogi practitioner and teac her\, sharing her practice and teaching at Lenox Yoga and Ventfort Hall.\n Cost to attend is $15.00 a session\, cash or check payable that day. Part of the cost is a donation to Ventfort Hall. Space is limited. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210112T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210112T180000 RRULE:FREQ=WEEKLY;COUNT=6;BYDAY=TU;WKST=SU SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Drop in Community Yoga Tuesdays from 5 pm to 6 pm URL:https://gildedage.org/event/drop-in-community-yoga-tuesdays-from-5-pm-t o-6-pm/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Join Susan Sh ook\, a yoga practitioner\, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion on Tuesdays from 5 pm to 6 pm. The class is indoors in our great hall.

\n

Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.

\n

Susan has been a yoga practitioner for over 16 years\, culminating in 2018 with certification as a yoga instructor\, graduating from the Yoga I nstitute of The Berkshires. She is also member of the Yoga Alliance.

\n

Susan’s practice and classes are focused on linking purposeful movement with intention and breath. Her classes incorporate the restorative sounds and scents of nature and center on playful\, safe and grounded guidance w ith instruction for all levels of yogis. Susan encourages students\, frien ds and students to appreciate themselves by sharing time on the mat\, moti on\, and breath.  At the close of her classes\, experience the calm and re st of Shavasana.

\n

When not on the mat\, teaching or practicing yoga \, you will find Susan beautifying a client’s landscape\, running or hikin g in the woods with her loving Labradors Buddha and Elvis. She is a native of the Berkshires\, a business owner/partner\, avid yogi practitioner and teacher\, sharing her practice and teaching at Lenox Yoga and Ventfort Ha ll.

\n

Cost to attend is $15.00 a session\, cash or check payable tha t day. Part of the cost is a donation to Ventfort Hall. Space is limited.< /p>\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28215@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Join Susan Shook\, a yoga practitioner\, at an all level yoga c lass here at the mansion on Saturdays from 9 am to 10 am. The class is ind oors in our great hall.\nMasks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.\nSusan has been a yoga practitioner for over 16 years\, cul minating in 2018 with certification as a yoga instructor\, graduating from the Yoga Institute of The Berkshires. She is also member of the Yoga Alli ance.\nSusan’s practice and classes are focused on linking purposeful move ment with intention and breath. Her classes incorporate the restorative so unds and scents of nature and center on playful\, safe and grounded guidan ce with instruction for all levels of yogis. Susan encourages students\, f riends and students to appreciate themselves by sharing time on the mat\, motion\, and breath.  At the close of her classes\, experience the calm an d rest of Shavasana.\nWhen not on the mat\, teaching or practicing yoga\, you will find Susan beautifying a client’s landscape\, running or hiking i n the woods with her loving Labradors Buddha and Elvis. She is a native of the Berkshires\, a business owner/partner\, avid yogi practitioner and te acher\, sharing her practice and teaching at Lenox Yoga and Ventfort Hall. \nCost to attend is $15.00 a session\, cash or check payable that day. Par t of the cost is a donation to Ventfort Hall. Space is limited. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210116T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210116T100000 RRULE:FREQ=WEEKLY;COUNT=20;BYDAY=SA;WKST=SU SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Drop in Community Yoga Saturdays from 9 am to 10 am URL:https://gildedage.org/event/drop-in-community-yoga-saturdays-from-9-am- to-10-am/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Join Susan Sh ook\, a yoga practitioner\, at an all level yoga class here at the mansion on Saturdays from 9 am to 10 am. The class is indoors in our great hall.< /p>\n

Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.

\n

Susan has been a yoga practitioner for over 16 years\, culminating i n 2018 with certification as a yoga instructor\, graduating from the Yoga Institute of The Berkshires. She is also member of the Yoga Alliance.

\n

Susan’s practice and classes are focused on linking purposeful moveme nt with intention and breath. Her classes incorporate the restorative soun ds and scents of nature and center on playful\, safe and grounded guidance with instruction for all levels of yogis. Susan encourages students\, fri ends and students to appreciate themselves by sharing time on the mat\, mo tion\, and breath.  At the close of her classes\, experience the calm and rest of Shavasana.

\n

When not on the mat\, teaching or practicing yo ga\, you will find Susan beautifying a client’s landscape\, running or hik ing in the woods with her loving Labradors Buddha and Elvis. She is a nati ve of the Berkshires\, a business owner/partner\, avid yogi practitioner a nd teacher\, sharing her practice and teaching at Lenox Yoga and Ventfort Hall.

\n

Cost to attend is $15.00 a session\, cash or check payable t hat day. Part of the cost is a donation to Ventfort Hall. Space is limited .

\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28221@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Join Sue and Kathleen for a new monthly Saturday morning progra m combining yoga and metaphysical practices to brighten the body and illum inate the mind. Our first program will combine yoga and numerology.\nAt 9 am Sue will teach morning yoga to awaken the body.\nAt 10 am Kathleen will lead a workshop about the numerology of 2021 and discuss each participant ’s personal cycle for the year.\nKathleen is a numerologist\, astrologer a nd intuitive with over 25 years of professional experience. She has a priv ate practice and has also worked for Canyon Ranch for eight years. The met aphysical tools she uses help assist clients in navigating their life path s. For more information about Kathleen’s work go to redspiritwoman.com\nCo st to attend is $35.00. Space is limited to 6 participants. To reserve you r place contact Sue at s.shook1645@gmail.com. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210130T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210130T110000 RRULE:FREQ=WEEKLY;UNTIL=20210219T235959Z;BYDAY=SA;WKST=SU SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Yoga and Metaphysics URL:https://gildedage.org/event/yoga-and-metaphysics/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Join Sue and Kathleen for a new monthly Saturday morning program combining yoga and met aphysical practices to brighten the body and illuminate the mind. Our firs t program will combine yoga and numerology.

\n

At 9 am Sue will teach morning yoga to awaken the body.

\n

At 10 am Kathleen will lead a wo rkshop about the numerology of 2021 and discuss each participant’s persona l cycle for the year.

\n

Kathleen is a numerologist\, astrologer and intuitive with over 25 years of professional experience. She has a private practice and has also worked for Canyon Ranch for eight years. The metaph ysical tools she uses help assist clients in navigating their life paths. For more information about Kathleen’s work go to redspiritwoman.com

\n

Cost to attend is $35.00. Space is limited to 6 participants. To reserve your place contact Sue at s.shook1645@gmail.com.

\n END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28231@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:As a special treat for Valentine’s Day\, award-winning audioboo k narrator/producer Alison Larkin and Ventfort Hall favorite\, actress Ann e Undeland\, will read from audiobook classics produced by Alison Larkin P resents. The program will be only offered via Zoom.\nReadings from such cl assic novels as Jane Eyre\, Pride and Prejudice\, and Little Women will be followed by a transatlantic discussion on marriage\, love and womanhood a nd the experience of recording the works of these towering authors.\nAccor ding to Larkin and Undeland\, “we have discovered that during the pandemic \, people are suddenly finding solace and wisdom in the classics – some of the listeners for the very first time. Needless to say\, we are passionat e about bringing the classics to them in easy-to-listen-to audiobooks.” Th e hour-long event will include not only the readings from the novels but a lso witty repartee.\nLarkin and Undeland are making this offer: For every audiobook downloaded directly from www.alisonlarkin presents.com\, a secon d audiobook will be donated to people in need between now and June 1. Clic k HERE to learn more.\nWithin four years productions under the imprint Ali son Larkin Presents have won eleven AudioFile Earphones awards for excelle nce. Recent audiobook releases read by Larkin include The Complete Novels of Jane Austen\, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and The Secret Garden by Fr ances Hodgson Burnett.\nLarkin’s own bestselling novel The English America n grew out of her autobiographical one- woman show about an adopted Englis h woman who finds her birth parents in the United States. Larkin is also a comedienne. She has appeared on Broadway with the National Theater and Ro yal Shakespeare Company. Her many accents and voices can be heard in telev ision\, cartoons and movies from “The Wonderpets” to “Fargo\,” “ Pocahonta s” and over 200 audiobooks\, many of them New York Times bestsellers.\nUnd eland is known to Ventfort Hall audiences for her many one-woman shows – r emember the provocative Paris 1890? Her audiobook narrations of Little Wom en Parts 1 and 2 received critical acclaim and have become international b estsellers. Undeland has also appeared throughout the Northeast with WAM T heatre\, Great Barrington Public Theatre\, Berkshire Playwrights Lab\, Bar rington Stage\, Stageworks\, Capital Repertory Theatre\, Mixed Company\, S hakespeare & Company\, Metropolitan Playhouse\, Studio Theatre at Theatre Row and the New Repertory Theatre.\nAnne Undeland has played roles in nume rous productions for BBC Radio\, the Australian Broadcasting Corp.\, NPR a ffiliates in the US and WBUR/Boston. As a playwright\, her short play\, Th e Kiss\, won best play at the West Side Y’s short play festival and her fu ll-length play\, Lady Randy\, was produced by WAM Theatre and performed at Shakespeare & Company and Ventfort Hall.\nThe Larkin/Undeland presentatio n will be offered via Zoom only. Donations are appreciated. Click here to order. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210213T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210213T173000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Saturday Talk – Literary Conversations on Love: Austen\, Bronte\, A lcott URL:https://gildedage.org/event/saturday-talk-literary-conversations-on-lov e-austen-bronte-alcott/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

As a special treat for Valentine’s Day\, award-winning audiobook narrator/producer Alis on Larkin and Ventfort Hall favorite\, actress Anne Undeland\, will read f rom audiobook classics produced by Alison Larkin Presents. The program wil l be only offered via Zoom.

\n

Readings from such classic novels as < em>Jane Eyre\, Pride and Prejudice\, and Little Women will b e followed by a transatlantic discussion on marriage\, love and womanhood and the experience of recording the works of these towering authors.

\n

According to Larkin and Undeland\, “we have discovered that during the pandemic\, people are suddenly finding solace and wisdom in the classics – some of the listeners for the very first time. Needless to say\, we are p assionate about bringing the classics to them in easy-to-listen-to audiobo oks.” The hour-long event will include not only the readings from the nove ls but also witty repartee.

\n

Larkin and Undeland are making this of fer: For every audiobook downloaded directly from www.alisonlarkin presents.com\, a second au diobook will be donated to people in need between now and June 1. Click HERE to learn more.

\n

Within four years productions under the imprint Alison Larkin Presents have w on eleven AudioFile Earphones awards for excellence. Recent audiobook rele ases read by Larkin include The Complete Novels of J ane Austen\, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and The Secre t Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

\n

Larkin’s own bestselling novel The English American grew out of her autobiographical one- woman show about an adopted English woman who finds her birth parents in the United States. Larkin is also a comedienne. She has appeared on Broadw ay with the National Theater and Royal Shakespeare Company. Her many accen ts and voices can be heard in television\, cartoons and movies from “The W onderpets” to “Fargo\,” “ Pocahontas” and over 200 audiobooks\, many of th em New York Times bestsellers.

\n

Undeland is known to Ventf ort Hall audiences for her many one-woman shows – remember the provocative Paris 1890? Her audiobook narrations of Little Women Parts 1 and 2 received critical acclaim and have become international bestse llers. Undeland has also appeared throughout the Northeast with WAM Theatr e\, Great Barrington Public Theatre\, Berkshire Playwrights Lab\, Barringt on Stage\, Stageworks\, Capital Repertory Theatre\, Mixed Company\, Shakes peare & Company\, Metropolitan Playhouse\, Studio Theatre at Theatre Row a nd the New Repertory Theatre.

\n

Anne Undeland has played roles in nu merous productions for BBC Radio\, the Australian Broadcasting Corp.\, NPR affiliates in the US and WBUR/Boston. As a playwright\, her short play\, The Kiss\, won best play at the West Side Y’s short play festival and her full-length play\, Lady Randy\, was produced by WAM Thea tre and performed at Shakespeare & Company and Ventfort Hall.

\n

The Larkin/Undeland presentation will be offered via Zoom only. Donations are appreciated. Click here< /a> to order.

\n X-COST:Donation appreciated END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28266@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION: DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210216T164200 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210216T174200 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:CLOSED TODAY DUE TO WEATHER URL:https://gildedage.org/event/closed-today-due-to-weather-3/ X-COST-TYPE:free END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28227@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Berkshire County native Holly McLennan Ketron\, raised at Ashin tully in Tyringham\, will give a visual presentation on the magnificent Pa lladian mansion’s history and its architecture.  The speaker will focus on its role as home to its builders\, Robb de Peyster Tytus and his wife\, G race\, as well as the year-round residence of Grace’s son\, composer John McLennan and his family.\nAshintully joined the host of Gilded Age country retreats\, of which Ventfort Hall is one\, in 1911\, as a year-round resi dence. It appeared rather late in the baronial building boom of the period .  One of the largest in the county\, the Tyringham mansion’s Georgian Pal ladian style differed from many of the area’s shingled cottages. But like every Gilded Age cottage\, with owners in residence for the Berkshire “sea son\,” or year-round\, Ashintully was the setting for both private family life and social functions.\nKetron and her younger sister\, Angelica\, are Grace’s granddaughters and the children of John and his wife\, Honora. Th e speaker will bring to life the course of the family fortunes and use of the house down to the present time.\nFor instance\, in the 1970s and 1980s \, John expanded and enhanced one of the Berkshires most beautiful gardens that the Trustees of Reservations now maintains for the public. The estat e had great meaning for her father\, the family and for the village even a fter Ashintully became a splendid ruin.\nWhile Ventfort Hall talks have br ought us stories of lives led in Gilded Age cottages from a secondary stan dpoint\, Ketron will relay her story from firsthand experiences and knowle dge.  The direct tie from Robb and Grace to Ketron is a profound and livin g connection. Families have stories\, and to hear the stories of the famil y at Ashintully over a century will reveal a picture of a wonderful place and a fascinating time.\nClick here to order tickets for the Ketron talk o n Zoom. A suggested donation of $20 is appreciated. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210227T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210227T163000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Saturday Talk – Ashintully Remembered: Postwar Living in a Gilded A ge House URL:https://gildedage.org/event/saturday-talk-ashintully-remembered-postwar -living-in-a-gilded-age-house/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Berkshire Cou nty native Holly McLennan Ketron\, raised at Ashintully in Tyringham\, wil l give a visual presentation on the magnificent Palladian mansion’s histor y and its architecture.  The speaker will focus on its role as home to its builders\, Robb de Peyster Tytus and his wife\, Grace\, as well as the ye ar-round residence of Grace’s son\, composer John McLennan and his family.

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Ashintully joined the host of Gilded Age country retreats\, of wh ich Ventfort Hall is one\, in 1911\, as a year-round residence. It appeare d rather late in the baronial building boom of the period.  One of the lar gest in the county\, the Tyringham mansion’s Georgian Palladian style diff ered from many of the area’s shingled cottages. But like every Gilded Age cottage\, with owners in residence for the Berkshire “season\,” or year-ro und\, Ashintully was the setting for both private family life and social f unctions.

\n

Ketron and her younger sister\, Angelica\, are Grace’s g randdaughters and the children of John and his wife\, Honora. The speaker will bring to life the course of the family fortunes and use of the house down to the present time.

\n

For instance\, in the 1970s and 1980s\, John expanded and enhanced one of the Berkshires most beautiful gardens th at the Trustees of Reservations now maintains for the public. The estate h ad great meaning for her father\, the family and for the village even afte r Ashintully became a splendid ruin.

\n

While Ventfort Hall talks hav e brought us stories of lives led in Gilded Age cottages from a secondary standpoint\, Ketron will relay her story from firsthand experiences and kn owledge.  The direct tie from Robb and Grace to Ketron is a profound and l iving connection. Families have stories\, and to hear the stories of the f amily at Ashintully over a century will reveal a picture of a wonderful pl ace and a fascinating time.

\n

Click here to order tickets for the Ketron talk on Zoom. A suggested donation of $20 is appreciated.

\n X-COST:Suggested $20 donation END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28301@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum is offering the pub lic for the first time selected visual presentations that were pre-recorde d at the mansion in 2020.  The initial five of the Ventfort Encore Series\ , most of which were part of last year’s Tuesday Talks\, are presented by speakers who are experts or specialists in the fields they cover.  Beginni ng March 5\, the lectures will be aired on consecutive Fridays at 6:00 pm and will be available to view for one week following each initial showing. \nIf you are unable to view the lecture at the scheduled time\, the link t o view will be available for a full week after the event date for viewing at your convenience. However\, ticket reservations can only be made up to Friday evening. Order the program anytime from now until just before 6 pm of the Friday it is scheduled to start.\n How to Access Video: \nIf you ha ve ordered the program you should receive an email from Eventbrite at 6 pm on the Friday of the lecture with the link. If you are having trouble acc essing the link\, please refresh the event page after 6 pm on Friday. As t his is not a live event\, you will not miss the beginning if you are unabl e to begin right at 6 pm.\nMarch 5\, Picturing America: The Prints and Leg acy of Currier & Ives\, Maggie Smith\, acting curator\, Springfield (MA) A rt Museums\nMarch 12\, Overcoming Tragedies: Real Life in Lenox’s Gilded E ra Country Houses\, Cornelia Brooke Gilder\, historian\, co-author of Hous es of the Berkshires\, 1870-1930 and author of Edith Wharton’s Lenox\nMarc h 19\, Silhouette Animation: The Genius of Lotte Reiniger\, Nannina Gilder \, film historian\, screenwriter\, former film curator\, The Little Cinema \, The Berkshire Museum\, Pittsfield\, MA\nMarch 26\, P.T. Barnum: The Man \, the Myth\, the American Icon\, Kathleen Maher\, executive director\, Ba rnum Museum\, Bridgeport\, CT\nApril 2\, The Woman Who Stole Vermeer\, Ant hony Amore\, director of security and chief investigator\, Isabella Stewar t Gardner Museum\, Boston\,\nThe series is free with suggested donation of $20 appreciated on our Eventbrite page. To order any of these programs vi sit our Eventbrite page at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/ventfort-hall-mans ion-and-gilded-age-museum-2092595343. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210305T170000 RDATE;TZID=America/New_York:20210305T170000 RDATE;TZID=America/New_York:20210312T170000 RDATE;TZID=America/New_York:20210319T170000 RDATE;TZID=America/New_York:20210326T170000 RDATE;TZID=America/New_York:20210402T170000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Pre-Recorded – “VENTFORT ENCORE SERIES” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/pre-recorded-ventfort-encore-series/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum is offering the public for the first time s elected visual presentations that were pre-recorded at the mansion in 2020 .  The initial five of the Ventfort Encore Series\, most of which were par t of last year’s Tuesday Talks\, are presented by speakers who are experts or specialists in the fields they cover.  Beginning March 5\, the lecture s will be aired on consecutive Fridays at 6:00 pm and will be available to view for one week following each initial showing.

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If you are unab le to view the lecture at the scheduled time\, the link to view will be av ailable for a full week after the event date for viewing at your convenien ce. However\, ticket reservations can only be made up to Friday ev ening. Order the program anytime from now until just befo re 6 pm of the Friday it is scheduled to start.

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  How to Access Video:

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If you have ordere d the program you should receive an email from Eventbrite at 6 pm on the F riday of the lecture with the link. If you are having trouble accessing th e link\, please refresh the event page after 6 pm on Friday. As this is no t a live event\, you will not miss the beginning if you are unable to begi n right at 6 pm.

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March 5\, Picturing America: The Prints a nd Legacy of Currier & Ives\, Maggie Smith\, acting curator\, Spr ingfield (MA) Art Museums

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March 12\, Overcoming Tragedies: Real Life in Lenox’s Gilded Era Country Houses\, Cornelia Brooke Gilder\, historian\, co-author of Houses of the Berkshires\, 1870-193 0 and author of Edith Wharton’s Lenox

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March 19\, Silhouette Animation: The Genius of Lotte Reiniger\, Nannina Gilder\, film historian\, screenwriter\, former film curator\, The Little Cinema\, The Berkshire Museum\, Pittsfield\, MA

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March 26\, P.T. Barnum: The Man\, the Myth\, the American Icon\, Kathleen Maher\, executive director\, Barnum Museum\, Bridgeport\, CT

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April 2\, The Woman Who Stole Vermeer\, Anthony Amore\, direct or of security and chief investigator\, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum\, Boston\,

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The series is free with suggested donation of $20 appreci ated on our Eventbrite page. To order any of these programs visit our Even tbrite page at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/ventfort-h all-mansion-and-gilded-age-museum-2092595343.

\n X-COST:Suggested donation of $20 appreciated X-INSTANT-EVENT:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28277@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Join Sue and Kathleen for a Saturday morning program combining yoga and metaphysical practices to brighten the body and illuminate the mi nd. At 9 am Sue will teach morning yoga to awaken the body. At 10 am Kathl een will lead a workshop about tarot\, including mini readings for each pa rticipant. Kathleen is a numerologist\, astrologer and intuitive with over 25 years of professional experience. She has a private practice and has a lso worked for Canyon Ranch for eight years. The metaphysical tools she us es help assist clients in navigating their life paths. For more informatio n about Kathleen’s work go to redspiritwoman.com Masks will be required an d social distancing will be practiced. Cost to attend the Yoga and Metaphy sics session  is $35 and limited to 6 participants. For more info and to r eserve your place contact Sue at s.shook1645@gmail.com. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210306T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210306T113000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Yoga and Metaphysics URL:https://gildedage.org/event/yoga-and-metaphysics-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Join Sue and Kathleen for a Saturday morning program combining yoga and metaphysical pr actices to brighten the body and illuminate the mind. At 9 am Sue will tea ch morning yoga to awaken the body. At 10 am Kathleen will lead a workshop about tarot\, including mini readings for each participant. Kathleen is a numerologist\, astrologer and intuitive with over 25 years of professiona l experience. She has a private practice and has also worked for Canyon Ra nch for eight years. The metaphysical tools she uses help assist clients i n navigating their life paths. For more information about Kathleen’s work go to redspiritwoman.com Masks wil l be required and social distancing will be practiced. Cost to attend the Yoga and Metaphysics session  is $35 and limited to 6 participants. For mo re info and to reserve your place contact Sue at s.shook1645@gmail.com.

\n X-COST:$35 check or cash END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28283@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:A curator who specializes in historic decoration\, Lisa Singlet on Boudiette will turn our attention to the preeminent English design firm with her talk on “Colfax & Fowler\, Legendary Designers of the English Co untry House Style.”  She will give her visual presentation via Zoom offere d by Ventfort Hall Mansion & Gilded Age Museum on Friday\, March 12 at 11: 00 as part of its Morning Diversions series.\nThree key personalities were the initial players that formed the Colfax & Fowler story and direction t hat the firm took. John Fowler was a self-taught decorator fascinated with the architecture and styles of the eighteenth century who started his car eer in the early 1930s. He joined Sibyl Colfax in 1938\, whose prestigious shop was in Mayfair\, London. Nancy Lancaster was an aristocratic Virgini an with taste\, flair and important international social connections\, who became Fowler’s partner when she bought the firm from Lady Colfax in 1944 .\nWhat is the English Country House Style\, which really came to fruition after WW II\, in a world still reeling from two world wars and the subseq uent austerity measures?   Chintz in beautiful faded colors\, fringed and tasseled curtains\, painted Regency furniture\, sofas designed for years o f fireside comfort\, and expertly applied finishes\, subtly lit to show of f beautiful antiques and paintings – these are the hallmarks – something t hat Fowler described as “humble elegance.”\nColfax & Fowler has long influ enced some of the leading design firms like Michael Smith\, David Mlinaric \, Bunny Williams and the late Mario Buatta. Boudiette’s talk will include as well the homes of Nancy Lancaster and John Fowler.  From Buckingham Pa lace to the London flat of Ambassador David and Evangeline Bruce\, Colfax & Fowler still resonates today.\nLisa Singleton Boudiette is a cultural he ritage specialist with expertise in historic interiors and the decorative arts. She is a former member of staff to the late United States Senator Fr ank R. Lautenberg\, focusing on arts and preservation policy.  She also wo rked for The Wiseman Group\, a high-end residential design firm in San Fra ncisco\, CA.\nAn alumni of the Attingham country house studies program\, a nd a charter member of the American Friends of the Soane Museum\, Boudiett e is a founder of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art’s San Fr ancisco\, California chapter. Currently\, she is completing a Master’s deg ree at the University of Buckingham (England)\, which included working as a conservation assistant at Syon House for the Duke of Northumberland.  Th e great country house outside London designed by Robert Adam was a major d ecorating project for John Fowler.\nThe event is offered via Zoom only. Ti ckets are by donation on our Eventbrite page with a suggested donation of $20 and may be purchased at https://ventfort03122021.eventbrite.com. For i nformation call Ventfort Hall at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210312T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210312T120000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Friday Morning Diversion – “Colfax & Fowler\, Legendary Designers o f the English Country House Style” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/friday-morning-diversion-colfax-fowler-lege ndary-designers-of-the-english-country-house-style/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

A curator who specializes in historic decoration\, Lisa Singleton Boudiette will turn o ur attention to the preeminent English design firm with her talk on “Colfa x & Fowler\, Legendary Designers of the English Country House Style.”  She will give her visual presentation via Zoom offered by Ventfort Hall Mansi on & Gilded Age Museum on Friday\, March 12 at 11:00 as part of its Mornin g Diversions series.

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Three key personalities were the initial play ers that formed the Colfax & Fowler story and direction that the firm took . John Fowler was a self-taught decorator fascinated with the architecture and styles of the eighteenth century who started his career in the early 1930s. He joined Sibyl Colfax in 1938\, whose prestigious shop was in Mayf air\, London. Nancy Lancaster was an aristocratic Virginian with taste\, f lair and important international social connections\, who became Fowler’s partner when she bought the firm from Lady Colfax in 1944.

\n

What is the English Country House Style\, which really came to fruition after WW II\, in a world still reeling from two world wars and the subsequent auste rity measures?   Chintz in beautiful faded colors\, fringed and tasseled c urtains\, painted Regency furniture\, sofas designed for years of fireside comfort\, and expertly applied finishes\, subtly lit to show off beautifu l antiques and paintings – these are the hallmarks – something that Fowler described as “humble elegance.”

\n

Colfax & Fowler has long influenc ed some of the leading design firms like Michael Smith\, David Mlinaric\, Bunny Williams and the late Mario Buatta. Boudiette’s talk will include as well the homes of Nancy Lancaster and John Fowler.  From Buckingham Palac e to the London flat of Ambassador David and Evangeline Bruce\, Colfax & F owler still resonates today.

\n

Lisa Singleton Boudiette is a cultura l heritage specialist with expertise in historic interiors and the decorat ive arts. She is a former member of staff to the late United States Senato r Frank R. Lautenberg\, focusing on arts and preservation policy.  She als o worked for The Wiseman Group\, a high-end residential design firm in San Francisco\, CA.

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An alumni of the Attingham country house studies program\, and a charter member of the American Friends of the Soane Museum \, Boudiette is a founder of the Institute of Classical Architecture and A rt’s San Francisco\, California chapter. Currently\, she is completing a M aster’s degree at the University of Buckingham (England)\, which included working as a conservation assistant at Syon House for the Duke of Northumb erland.  The great country house outside London designed by Robert Adam wa s a major decorating project for John Fowler.

\n

The event is offered via Zoom only. Tickets are by donation on our Eventbrite page with a sugg ested donation of $20 and may be purchased at https://ventfort03122021.eventbrite.com. For inf ormation call Ventfort Hall at 413-637-3206.

\n X-COST:Suggested donation of $20 on our Eventbrite page appreciated END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28319@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Celebrate the Easter season with a unique opportunity to learn a time-honored Eastern European craft.  Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded A ge Museum will offer its annual Slavic Easter egg decorating demonstration s and instructional workshops on Saturday\, March 27 from 10:00 am to 12 n oon and again from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  The workshops take place here at t he mansion at 104 Walker St.\, Lenox\, and in practicing social distancing \, will be limited to the number of people at each session. Masks will be required.\nThis Eastern European tradition of creating intricate and beaut ifully decorated eggs has been passed down for generations.  Lenox residen t Tjasa Sprague\, who will again lead the workshop\, learned the technique many years ago from her Czechoslovakian mother\, Maria Krofta.\nThe techn ique begins with unwashed eggs (provided by a local poultry farm) which ha ve a residue-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 repeated wax drawing and dying as desired.  The eggs are uncooked and are “blown” out after the decorating has been completed.  The eggs may be displayed\, when stored carefully\, for an indefinite number of years. \nThe fee for each workshop\, which includes all materials\, is $35. Reser vations are required and seats are limited. Children should be at least 12 years of age.  For reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210327T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210327T120000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Egg Decorating Workshops 10 am to 12 noon and 1 to 3 pm URL:https://gildedage.org/event/egg-decorating-workshops-10-am-to-12-noon-a nd-1-to-3-pm/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Celebrate the Easter season with a unique opportunity to learn a time-honored Eastern E uropean craft.  Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum will offer its annual Slavic Easter egg decorating demonstrations and instructional work shops on Saturday\, March 27 from 10:00 am to 12 noon and again from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  The workshops take place here at the mansion at 104 Walker St.\, Lenox\, and in practicing social distancing\, will be limit ed to the number of people at each session. Masks will be required.

\n

This Eastern European tradition of creating intricate and beaut ifully decorated eggs has been passed down for generations.  Lenox residen t Tjasa Sprague\, who will again lead the workshop\, learned the technique many years ago from her Czechoslovakian mother\, Maria Krofta.

\n

Th e technique begins with unwashed eggs (provided by a local poultry farm) w hich have a residue-free shell surface.  The Slavic Easter egg is a wax re sistant technique which employs aniline dye later in the process. The deco rating 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 un cooked and are “blown” out after the decorating has been completed.  The e ggs may be displayed\, when stored carefully\, for an indefinite number of years.

\n

The fee for each workshop\, which includes all materials\, is $35. Reservations are required and seats are limited. Children should be at least 12 years of age.  For reservations call us at 413-637-3206.

\n X-COST:$35 includes materials END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28320@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:1 TO 3 PM WORKSHOP IS SOLD OUT\nCelebrate the Easter season wit h a unique opportunity to learn a time-honored Eastern European craft.  Ve ntfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum will offer its annual Slavic Eas ter egg decorating demonstrations and instructional workshops on Saturday\ , March 27 from 10:00 am to 12 noon and again from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  Th e workshops take place here at the mansion at 104 Walker St.\, Lenox\, and in practicing social distancing\, will be limited to the number of people at each session. Masks will be required.\nThis Eastern European tradition of creating intricate and beautifully decorated eggs has been passed down for generations.  Lenox resident Tjasa Sprague\, who will again lead the workshop\, learned the technique many years ago from her Czechoslovakian m other\, Maria Krofta.\nThe technique begins with unwashed eggs (provided b y a local poultry farm) which have a residue-free shell surface.  The Slav ic 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 repeated wax drawing and dying as desired.  The eggs are uncooked and are “blown” out after the decorating h as been completed.  The eggs may be displayed\, when stored carefully\, fo r an indefinite number of years.\nThe fee for each workshop\, which includ es all materials\, is $35. Reservations are required and seats are limited . Children should be at least 12 years of age.  For reservations call us a t 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210327T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210327T150000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Egg Decorating Workshops 10 am to 12 noon and SOLD OUT 1 to 3 pm URL:https://gildedage.org/event/egg-decorating-workshops-10-am-to-12-noon-a nd-1-to-3-pm-2/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

1 TO 3 PM WOR KSHOP IS SOLD OUT

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Celebrate the Easter season with a unique opport unity to learn a time-honored Eastern European craft.  Ventfort Hall Mansi on and Gilded Age Museum will offer its annual Slavic Easter egg decoratin g demonstrations and instructional workshops on Saturday\, March 27 from 1 0:00 am to 12 noon and again from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  The workshops take place here at the mansion at 104 Walker St.\, Lenox\, and in pract icing social distancing\, will be limited to the number of people at each session. Masks will be required.

\n

This Eastern European tr adition of creating intricate and beautifully decorated eggs has been pass ed down for generations.  Lenox resident Tjasa Sprague\, who will again le ad the workshop\, learned the technique many years ago from her Czechoslov akian mother\, Maria Krofta.

\n

The technique begins with unwashed eg gs (provided by a local poultry farm) which have a residue-free shell surf ace.  The Slavic Easter egg is a wax resistant technique which employs ani line dye later in the process. The decorating begins with drawing on the e gg with wax\, followed by immersion in the dye\, with repeated wax drawing and dying as desired.  The eggs are uncooked and are “blown” out after th e decorating has been completed.  The eggs may be displayed\, when stored carefully\, for an indefinite number of years.

\n

The fee for each wo rkshop\, which includes all materials\, is $35. Reservations are required and seats are limited. Children should be at least 12 years of age.  For r eservations call us at 413-637-3206.

\n X-COST:$35 includes materials END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28330@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Join paranormal investigator and author David Raby when he pres ents “Walking Amongst the Shadows” on Zoom and at Ventfort Hall on Saturda y\, April 10 at 3:30 pm.\nVentfort Hall and Gilded Age Museum has been hos t to Raby’s group paranormal investigation events since 2017 and  the mans ionhas proven to be quite haunted during those events. In this special onl ine presentation\, Raby will tell some of his favorite experiences and sho wcase some of the exciting evidence gathered at Ventfort Hall. This fast-p aced presentation will include both audio and video clips that will introd uce you to the spirits that still call the beautiful and historic mansion home.\nRaby is the author of four books: The Shadows Within: Houghton Mans ion\, Walking Amongst the Shadows: Houghton Mansion\; The Inhumanity of Ma n: The Hattie McCloud Murder\; and Bludgeoned: The Reed Double-Homicide.\n One hundred percent of the proceeds from this presentation will go towards the preservation/restoration efforts of Ventfort Hall.\nTicket by donatio n\, suggested $20. The event will be offered via Zoom and at Ventfort Hall . To order on Zoom please click here.\nTo attend the presentation at Ventf ort Hall reservations are strongly recommended as seating will be strictly limited. Masks are required and seating will observe social distancing. F or reservations call us at 413-637-3206. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210410T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210410T163000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Saturday Talk with Paranormal Investigator David Raby URL:https://gildedage.org/event/saturday-talk-with-paranormal-investigator- david-raby/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Join paranorm al investigator and author David Raby when he presents “Walking Amongst th e Shadows” on Zoom and at Ventfort Hall on Saturday\, April 10 at 3:30 pm.

\n

Ventfort Hall and Gilded Age Museum has been host to Raby’s group paranormal investigation events since 2017 and  the mansionhas proven to be quite haunted during those events. In this special online presentation\ , Raby will tell some of his favorite experiences and showcase some of the exciting evidence gathered at Ventfort Hall. This fast-paced presentation will include both audio and video clips that will introduce you to the sp irits that still call the beautiful and historic mansion home.

\n

Rab y is the author of four books: The Shadows Within: Houghton Mansion\, Walking Amongst the Shadows: Houghton Mansion\; The Inhumanity of Man: The Hattie McCloud Murder\; and Bludgeoned: The Reed Double-Homicide .

\n

One hundred percent of the proceeds from this presentation will go towards the preservation/restoration efforts of Ventfort Hall.

\n

Ticket by donation\, suggested $20. The event will be offered via Zoo m and at Ventfort Hall. To order on Zoom please click here.

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To attend the presentation at Ventfort Hall reservations are strongly recommended as seating will be strictly limited. Masks are required and seating will observe social dist ancing. For reservations call us at 413-637-3206.

\n X-COST:Ticket by donation\, suggested $20 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28332@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Michelle Pappas\, founder and director of Potomac Protocol & Et iquette\, LLC\, will give a presentation via Zoom only on “Virtual Zoom Et iquette and the Importance of Self-Presentation Today\,” offered by Ventfo rt Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum as a Morning Diversion on Thursday\, April 15 at 11:00 am.\nPappas will focus on giving her audience a thoroug h understanding of the importance of etiquette in the virtual world of Zoo m and how self-presentation plays an important part. She states “today\, s ocial media and texting have enhanced our ability to ‘connect’ with others on a scale never before imagined both on professional and personal levels .  These opportunities provide unprecedented benefits for growth – but als o risks – for adults\, young adults and our children.”\nThe speaker\, thro ugh her program\, will emphasize the importance of proper human connection and personal engagement. She believes “that one’s presence\, no matter th e age\, instills confidence and reflects character.  With presence\, one h as the courage to stand\, communicate ideas and connect with others.”\n“Wi th this age of electronic ‘connection\,’” Pappas asks “are we developing o r losing our ability to personally connect with our business colleagues\, friends and peers?” The speaker will have the answers.\nPappas is a gradua te of the American School of Protocol\, Atlanta\, GA\, where she earned du al certifications for professional instruction in domestic Corporate Busin ess Protocol and Children’s Etiquette.  She also holds a BA in Interdiscip linary Studies from The American University\, Washington\, D.C.\nTickets b y donation (suggested donation of $20 is appreciated.)  The event will be offered via Zoom only.  To order https://ventfort04152021.eventbrite.com DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210415T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210415T120000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Morning Diversion – “Virtual Zoom Etiquette and the Importance of S elf-Presentation Today” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/morning-diversion-virtual-zoom-etiquette-an d-the-importance-of-self-presentation-today/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Michelle Papp as\, founder and director of Potomac Protocol & Etiquette\, LLC\, will giv e a presentation via Zoom only on “Virtual Zoom Etiquette and the Importan ce of Self-Presentation Today\,” offered by Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gild ed Age Museum as a Morning Diversion on Thursday\, April 15 at 11:00 am.\n

Pappas will focus on giving her audience a thorough understanding o f the importance of etiquette in the virtual world of Zoom and how self-pr esentation plays an important part. She states “today\, social media and t exting have enhanced our ability to ‘connect’ with others on a scale never before imagined both on professional and personal levels.  These opportun ities provide unprecedented benefits for growth – but also risks – for adu lts\, young adults and our children.”

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The speaker\, through her pr ogram\, will emphasize the importance of proper human connection and perso nal engagement. She believes “that one’s presence\, no matter the age\, in stills confidence and reflects character.  With presence\, one has the cou rage to stand\, communicate ideas and connect with others.”

\n

“With this age of electronic ‘connection\,’” Pappas asks “are we developing or l osing our ability to personally connect with our business colleagues\, fri ends and peers?” The speaker will have the answers.

\n

Pappas is a gr aduate of the American School of Protocol\, Atlanta\, GA\, where she earne d dual certifications for professional instruction in domestic Corporate B usiness Protocol and Children’s Etiquette.  She also holds a BA in Interdi sciplinary Studies from The American University\, Washington\, D.C.

\n< p>Tickets by donation (suggested donation of $20 is appreciated.)  The eve nt will be offered via Zoom only.  To order https://ventfort04152021.eventbrite.com

\n X-COST:Suggested $20 donation END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28357@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Award-winning historian\, speaker and writer Kimberly A. Hamlin \, PhD will reveal the fascinating story of the “fallen woman” who reinven ted herself and became the “most potent factor” in the Congressional passa ge of the 19th Amendment.  Hamlin will give her talk via Zoom from her hom e in Cincinnati\, Ohio. This program is sponsored by @MassHumanities Bridg e Street Fund.\nHamlin’s presentation is based on her book Free Thinker: S ex\, Suffrage\, and the Extraordinary Life of Helen Hamilton Gardener.  Ex posed in Ohio newspapers for an affair with a married man\, Alice Chenowet h refused to cower in shame. Instead\, she changed her name to Helen Hamil ton Gardener\, moved to New York\, pretended to be married to her lover an d became a wildly popular lecturer and author.\nCalled the “Harriet Beeche r Stowe of Fallen Women\,” Gardener campaigned to raise the age of sexual consent for girls\, decried double standards of sexual morality\, and debu nked scientists’ claims that women’s brains were inferior.  Moving to Wash ington\, D. C.\, she became the suffragists’ lead negotiator in the capita l.  She persuaded Woodrow Wilson and other male politicians to support the Nineteenth Amendment.  In 1920\, President Wilson appointed Gardener to t he U.S. Civil Service Commission\, making her the highest-ranking woman in the federal government.\nHamlin’ book Free Thinker received support from a National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholar Award and the Carri e Chapman Catt Prize for Research on Women and Politics.  A regular contri butor to the Washington Post\, Hamlin’s research has also been featured on NPR and CBC radio and other outlets\, and she contributed to several PBS documentaries.  She also assisted in organizing commemorations of the 2020 suffrage centennial\nThe Hamlin talk is free as this program is supported by a grant from the Bridge Street Fund\, a special initiative of Mass Hum anities. The event will be offered via Zoom. To order please visit https:/ /ventfort04172021.eventbrite.com\nMass Humanities @masshumanities and Mass Cultural Council @masscultural DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210417T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210417T163000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Saturday Talk – “Helen Hamilton Gardener\, Fallen Woman\, Free Thin ker” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/saturday-talk-helen-hamilton-gardener-falle n-woman-free-thinker/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Award-winning historian\, speaker and writer Kimberly A. Hamlin\, PhD will reveal the f ascinating story of the “fallen woman” who reinvented herself and became t he “most potent factor” in the Congressional passage of the 19th Amendment.  Hamlin will give her talk via Zoom from her home in Cincinna ti\, Ohio. This program is sponsored by @MassHumanities Bridge Street Fund .

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Hamlin’s presentation is based on her book Free Thinker: Sex \, Suffrage\, and the Extraordinary Life of Helen Hamilton Gardener.  Exposed in Ohio newspapers for an affair with a married man\, Alice Cheno weth refused to cower in shame. Instead\, she changed her name to Helen Ha milton Gardener\, moved to New York\, pretended to be married to her lover and became a wildly popular lecturer and author.

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Called the “Harr iet Beecher Stowe of Fallen Women\,” Gardener campaigned to raise the age of sexual consent for girls\, decried double standards of sexual morality\ , and debunked scientists’ claims that women’s brains were inferior.  Movi ng to Washington\, D. C.\, she became the suffragists’ lead negotiator in the capital.  She persuaded Woodrow Wilson and other male politicians to s upport the Nineteenth Amendment.  In 1920\, President Wilson appointed Gar dener to the U.S. Civil Service Commission\, making her the highest-rankin g woman in the federal government.

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Hamlin’ book Free Thinker < /em>received support from a National Endowment for the Humanities Public S cholar Award and the Carrie Chapman Catt Prize for Research on Women and P olitics.  A regular contributor to the Washington Post\, Hamlin’s research has also been featured on NPR and CBC radio and other outlets\, and she contributed to several PBS documentaries.  She also assisted in or ganizing commemorations of the 2020 suffrage centennial

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The Hamlin talk is free as this program is supported by a grant from the Bridge Stre et Fund\, a special initiative of Mass Humanities. The event will be offer ed via Zoom. To order please visit https://ventfort04172021.eventbrite.com

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Mass Humani ties @masshumanities and Mass Cultural Council @masscultural

\n< /HTML> X-COST:FREE END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28363@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Join historian Dr. Daniel W. Gifford when he explores one of th e stranger sagas of the famous White City of the World’s Columbian Exposit ion of 1893 in Chicago. He is the author of the new book The Last Voyage o f the Whaling Bark Progress: New Bedford\, Chicago and the Twilight of an Industry\, the subject of his talk.  Gifford will make his visual presenta tion via Zoom from his home in Louisville\, KY. This program is sponsored by @MassHumanities Bridge Street Fund.\nGifford will introduce us to the w haling bark Progress\, a New Bedford ship transformed into a whaling museu m for the Chicago fair. Traversing waterways across North America\, the wh ale ship enthralled crowds from Montreal to Racine\, WI. Her ultimate fate \, however\, was to be a failed sideshow of marine curiosities and a metap hor for a dying industry out of step with Gilded Age America. The author w ill explore questions of commemoration\, historical memory\, and what it m eans to transform a way of life into “a museum piece.”\nGifford is a publi c historian who focuses on American popular and visual culture\, as well a s museums in American culture. He received his PhD from George Mason Unive rsity. His career spans both academia and public history\, including sever al years with the Smithsonian Institution. An affiliated professor in the Department of History at the University of Louisville\, he currently teach es at multiple universities in the Louisville area.\nHis book may be order ed at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08945YF7F/\nThe Gifford talk is f ree as this program is supported by a grant from the Bridge Street Fund\, a special initiative of Mass Humanities. The event will be offered via Zoo m. To order on Zoom please visit https://ventfort04242021.eventbrite.com\n Mass Humanities @masshumanities and Mass Cultural Council @masscultural DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210424T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210424T163000 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Saturday Talk – “The Last Voyage of the Whaling Bark Progress” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/saturday-talk-the-last-voyage-of-the-whalin g-bark-progress/ X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Join historia n Dr. Daniel W. Gifford when he explores one of the stranger sagas of the famous White City of the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago. He is the author of the new book The Last Voyage of the Whaling Bark < /em>Progress: New Bedford\, Chicago and the Twilight of an Industry\, the subject of his talk.  Gifford will make his visual prese ntation via Zoom from his home in Louisville\, KY. This program is sponsor ed by @MassHumanities Bridge Street Fund.

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Gifford will introduce u s to the whaling bark Progress\, a New Bedford ship transformed i nto a whaling museum for the Chicago fair. Traversing waterways across Nor th America\, the whale ship enthralled crowds from Montreal to Racine\, WI . Her ultimate fate\, however\, was to be a failed sideshow of marine curi osities and a metaphor for a dying industry out of step with Gilded Age Am erica. The author will explore questions of commemoration\, historical mem ory\, and what it means to transform a way of life into “a museum piece.”< /p>\n

Gifford is a public historian who focuses on American popular and visual culture\, as well as museums in American culture. He received his P hD from George Mason University. His career spans both academia and public history\, including several years with the Smithsonian Institution. An af filiated professor in the Department of History at the University of Louis ville\, he currently teaches at multiple universities in the Louisville ar ea.

\n

His book may be ordered at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08945YF7F/

\n

The Gifford talk is free as this program is supported by a grant from the Bridge Street Fund\, a special initiative of Mass Humanities. The eve nt will be offered via Zoom. To order on Zoom please visit https://ventfort04242021.eventbrite.com

\n

Mass Humanities @masshumanities and Mass Cultural Council @ma sscultural

\n X-COST:FREE END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:ai1ec-28376@gildedage.org DTSTAMP:20210420T171525Z CATEGORIES: CONTACT: DESCRIPTION:Join David Raby for a paranormal investigation of the our histo ric and haunted mansion.  A non-fiction author and paranormal investigator \, Raby has always been intrigued by history. Undaunted\, he enters haunte d locations that would terrify others with hopes of contacting lingering s pirits to discover why they remain.\nRaby is the author of four published books and countless online articles. With his passion for the paranormal f ield\, he has accumulated over a decade of experience\, founded a paranorm al group and has helped many people (and spirits) that ranged between the curious and those seeking urgent advice. His interest in the paranormal wa s shaped by the fact that spirits seem to be attracted to his compassion a nd openness. He has a knack for storytelling that fuels his intensive hist orical research and fact finding. He believes that by bringing people’s st ories out of the shadows and into the light of our awareness\, they may fi nd eternal rest and peace.\nBefore the investigation\, Raby will give a br ief history of the lives that once graced the hallways – and possibly stil l reside within. He will also share some of his favorite evidence from pre vious investigations and will be happy to answer any questions about paran ormal investigations. This event is perfect for everyone\; from someone wh o has never been on a paranormal investigation to the seasoned investigato r.\nThe event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and conclude at midnight. Masks that cover both the mouth and nose are required during this event.  Social dis tancing will be practiced.  Non-refundable tickets for this exciting event are $38 per person with a reduced rate of $20 for ages 12 – 18 and 19-23 with student ID and are limited. Reservations and a signed waiver are requ ired. No walk-ins. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservations. All of the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the preservation and restoratio n of Ventfort Hall. DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210501T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210501T234500 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Paranormal Investigation – “Walking Amongst the Shadows at Ventfort Hall” URL:https://gildedage.org/event/paranormal-investigation-a-spirited-evening / X-COST-TYPE:free X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n

Join  David Raby for a paranormal investigation of the our historic and haunted mansion.  A non-fiction author and paranormal investigator\, Raby has always been intrigued by history. Undaunted\, he enters haunted locat ions that would terrify others with hopes of contacting lingering spirits to discover why they remain.

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Raby is the author of four published books and countless online articles. With his passion for the paranormal f ield\, he has accumulated over a decade of experience\, founded a paranorm al group and has helped many people (and spirits) that ranged between the curious and those seeking urgent advice. His interest in the paranormal wa s shaped by the fact that spirits seem to be attracted to his compassion a nd openness. He has a knack for storytelling that fuels his intensive hist orical research and fact finding. He believes that by bringing people’s st ories out of the shadows and into the light of our awareness\, they may fi nd eternal rest and peace.

\n

Before the investigation\, Raby will gi ve a brief history of the lives that once graced the hallways – and possib ly still reside within. He will also share some of his favorite evidence f rom previous investigations and will be happy to answer any questions abou t paranormal investigations. This event is perfect for everyone\; from som eone who has never been on a paranormal investigation to the seasoned inve stigator.

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The event will begin at 7:00 p.m. and conclude at midnig ht. Masks that cover both the mouth and nose are required during this even t.  Social distancing will be practiced.  Non-refundable tickets for this exciting event are $38 per person with a reduced rate of $20 for ages 12 – 18 and 19-23 with student ID and are limited. Reservations and a signed w aiver are required. No walk-ins. Call us at (413) 637-3206 for reservation s. All of the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the preservation and restoration of Ventfort Hall.

\n X-COST:$38\, $20 for ages 12–18 and 19-23 with student ID END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR