A true harbinger of spring in Lenox, MA,  is the re-opening of The Mount, author Edith Wharton’s restored 100+ year-old mansion, on Friday, May 1.

The first female Pulitzer Prize-winning author designed and built The Mount in 1902, based on her theories of proportion, harmony, simplicity, and suitability. Restored in the late 1990s-early 2000s, The Mount sits elegantly on 50 acres of lush gardens and greenery.

Tour the mansion and stroll the gardens. And The Mount’s newest exhibition, “Shaking the Foundation: Edith Wharton and the First World War,” opens on May 22.

Just as Tanglewood is the “must see” in Lenox, The Mount is the “must do.”

[From late June on, you can enjoy the view of Edith's gardens while having a light lunch on the marble patio. [The patio is ideal for me, offering a great opportunity to cool off on the marble and possibly munch on a tidbit, inadvertently dropped. Quinn]

Remember to ask your innkeeper for your $1.00 off  the $16.00  admission fee.

Experience dance from around the world performed at Jacob’s Pillow, a national historic landmark, celebrating its 77th season!

The 2009 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival season opens on June 20 with the the annual gala, “the best party in the Berkshires,” “A Jazz Happening.” Then it’s on to Spain and the Mujeres and the passion, driving rhythms, and soul of flamenco. From Spain, it’s on to Slovenia with Romeo and Juliet set to the music of Radiohead. Onwards to Taiwan and the humor and poignant humanity of Lafa & Artists.

The season moves from the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet to France and the evocative production by Groupe Emile Dubois; to David Rousseve/Reality, inspired by dances from India, Indonesia and West Africa.

In the midst of the around the world dance tour, Merce Cunningham Dance Company celebrates its 90th birthday at Jacob’s Pillow.

Back to the tour and Les Grand Ballets Canadiens de Montreal, one of the most significant forces in international ballet today; Ballet Hispanico and its fusion of Latin, classical ballet, and modern dance. And so much more! The whirlwind season runs until August 30.

[This venue may be called The Pillow but you won't be caught napping! Quinn]

Everyone loves Piper!

I maybe Top Dog at Birchwood Inn, but, alas, I’m not the only dog. Piper, an 11-year-old “Blab,” a beagle and black lab mix, used to visit for short periods of time with Ellen’s son Peter. But four years ago, Piper arrived for what appears to be for good. Reminds me of “The Man Who Came to Dinner.”

Piper does know her place. She knows not to touch my tennis balls, which is okay with her because she prefers trees! Most dogs like to chew on sticks, but Piper chews on trees. Really! The bigger the branch the better. When she finds one in the garden, she tries to bring it to the inn, but she invariably hits a sign post along the way. Picture a beagle-size dog with a 10-foot branch in her mouth. Hilarious!

Piper also loves to chew on my old toys. At breakfast time, she often has the whole menagerie out in the dining room. Watch out for the stuffed elephant!

Piper, moreover, has wanderlust and has been found all over Lenox. We do try to keep her at the inn, but age hasn’t slowed her down. Open the door, and there she goes. We’ve had calls from Kennedy Park, where she loves to hike; from Belvoir Terrace, a girls’ arts camp nearby; Lenox Coffee; and Lenox Library. Everyone knows Piper! She makes sure of that. Last summer she made her acting debut, streaking across the stage of an outdoor production at Shakespeare and Company. No stage fright for her! (Only despair for Ellen!)

Piper has several favorite haunts. She loves the expansive lawn at St. Ann’s Church. It’s great for rolling on her back, to the amusement of passers-by. And in nice weather, she loves to frequent Haven, a local breakfast/lunch restaurant. She sits at one of the outdoor tables and waits for someone to sit down to talk with her. She claims she doesn’t eat anything, but what are those telltale bits of sugar on her whiskers?

And everyone except Ed, who lives across the street, loves Piper. Go figure!

[Photo to come when we figure out how to download it]

I’m sorry to interrupt you, Quinn, but I would like to tell your fans about a wonderfully engaging book I just finished — Pulitzer Prize winning author Geraldine Brook’s People of the Book.

It happens to be a wonderful coincidence that I read this book just before Passover. The famed Sarajevo Haggadah (a Haggadah is the book read during the Passover Seder) is most likely more than 500 years old, and amazingly it has survived the Inquisition, exiles and wars.

The Haggadah was most likely created in Spain, and its journey to Sarajevo is shrouded in mystery. Brooks takes you on that journey, the one she that she imagines based on known facts.

Just returned from the international innkeeping conference in Atlanta. Wow! Do those innkeepers ever work hard to keep improving your bed and breakfast experience!

We did take some time out for fun and went to the aquarium. This is probably the third or fourth aquarium I’ve been to, and since the viewing area is quite low for children, I can see the various fish, including sharks! I am always mesmerized. [I also recommend the Maritimes aquarium in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.]

Then on to Coke. They do put on a great exhibit, and you get to sample Coke-owned beverages from around the world. Ellen really seemed to like the carbonated apple drink from China since she kept going back for more! So, if you’re ever in China…

The exhibit was the prelude to the Coke Store. Anything you can think of is available with the Coke logo! They and Disney are the best at branding!

It was weird in Atlanta as we rarely saw people on the street in the heart of downtown. There were some very nice homeless people who greeted me each morning on the closest patch of grass.