This was pretty basic, which was a bit of a letdown, but it's still cool to see Frost's house…read more It's not grand, but there's some cool things to see. The one employee did not know anything about Frost, so it was all up to the signage. There is a small gift shop, but mostly all just books and nothing as far as souvenirs with the place name on them. The exhibit signs shine some information on Frost, his family, and his works. There is a live bee collection for unclear reasons. There is an old record player of his records that you can listen to and switch records, so that was cool. At least some of the furniture was original. I wouldn't say this takes longer than 20 minutes to walk through, so only do it if you're nearby or a diehard Frost fan. As a historic site, I'm glad it exists, but it is a bit minimal. An employee who had at least read the signs instead of just a college intern there for credit would do wonders to bringing Frost more to life.

I'm glad we stopped on our way through, I wouldn't go out of the way to visit, but as a pass…read morethrough, it's a nice stop to stretch and look around. There is a lot of information to take in here, about Robert Frost and the Frost family. It's got a good flow to it as you walk through. The young lady working here was helpful in answering out questions. I don't have much else to say about it, though I'm glad I went.

Abraham Ten Broeck - a descendant of Noble Dutch lineage - was involved in building this palatial…read more1797 Mansion North of the City Center of Albany, NY. Ten Broeck Mansion is in a very bad neighborhood: Arbor Hill, which is often in the papers for all the worst reasons. Come here at noon and stay until the early afternoon, before dusk. It faces East on a gentle sloping grass hill surrounded not by trees, but yards, flowers and some gazebos that visitors can walk through on their way to visit this brick Colonial home. Signs and plaques are all over the landscape, visitors are able to read up on all the vital points of the Dutch Ten Broeck Mansion and Estate. There are very few seats or benches. Abraham Ten Broeck (the last name proverbially means, 'Ten Trousers') was a businessman and early Colonial Politician that was involved in trade in Greater Albany, NY. Ten Broeck mansion is very impressive and has stood well, the ravages of time. Its exterior and interior are very well maintained; visitors do not visit some broken, grey, half-busted, collapsed dwelling - like in New England. Truth be told, this Mansion is a really good picture spot for couples, families, weddings, picnics and the like. Some vandals in Spring 2023 wrecked all the kids' learn-as-you-go signs, pictures and reading posts. The gazebos and signs are slowly being rebuilt to their former enjoyability. The mansion's interior is wonderful! Review: 5

The tour guides were more like hostesses than historians. Lovely time at this former home.read more

My son took me here for Mother's Day this year. It was informative and interesting…read more My son took me here for Mother's Day this year. It was informative and interesting

The Underground Railroad symbolizes the best in all of us. Even in the darkest of times there are…read moreenlightened souls, and they can be us.

Check in was on the street entrance of Revolution Hall. Luckily, we were able to find parking…read morebehind the building. Once inside, they had drinks available at 2 different bars, one as you walk in and the other out back on the patio. There was limited seating downstairs inside, but the patio was open and it was a beautiful night. Plenty of silent auction items to bid on as well. Multiple food dishes from which to partake, all using ingredients found at the food pantry. My favorite dishes were the African peanut stew with rice and the roasted root vegetables. I think the Whole Foods girls knew I enjoyed the peanut stew when took a pic of the recipe and made a return trip for 2nd's. In addition, to the food dishes prepped by local chefs/restaurants, Brown's Brewing Company wait staff brought hors 'deurves like Swedish meatballs and a yummy bourbon chicken. There was also an impressive cheese tray with purple and green marbled cheeses, nan bread, crackers, and various Italian cold cuts. My husband seemed to really enjoy all of these. As far as free beers, I tried a pumpkin ale which was right on for me; just the right heavy and dark. Decent pumpkiny notes. My husband enjoyed his Coast to Coast IPA and we both liked the Cherry Razz that Brown's is sorta known for. Overall, we're glad we went and we're grateful for the opportunity for another night outside our own kitchen and kegerator!

This is a yearly must come event. I been coming here for the past 8 years. It never fails how much…read morevariety of tulips they have. Nice peaceful event, it's helps to come the week before and get to see the early bloomers. Then come again later on for the late bloomers. Plenty of parking in the area and it's a nice stroll through the park.

I came on the day after the last day. It was still beautiful. Bring your cameras. I'm not sure if…read moreparking during the festival was a mess but there were plenty of roped off areas and signs saying no parking close to the flowers. There was also a delightful ticket guy roaming the area. I got great pictures. The vibe was nice. Young and old were enjoying the beautiful weather and sights.

This is for the Old songs Festival located at the Altamont fair grounds in lovely Altamont…read more I'd never been the the OSF, and it's pretty interesting. Obviously if you are attending this sort of thing you are looking for folk and acoustic type music. There are countless workshops and activities throughout the day and most people travel some distance to get there. Lots of families with children into their 20's. I was there for the Saturday evening performance and dance only and enjoyed about 5 straight hours of music and entertainment. Topped off by spirited contra. Yes, I did get a little bored and if i go back next year i'll bring a book and a chair and a cooler with food and that sort of thing. There was plenty of food, but these events usually have much higher prices than even the mall. The ticket price for Saturday evening was $30. A little steep considering I missed much of the activities, but overall well worth it. There are people who get together to sing hymns, play the mountain dulcimer and just do some pick'n on a banjo. This is not spac, and there is a whole different vibe. most of the people who put this thing together are volunteers, and they volunteer because they love it. This is a community of real people connected by something they love. They are willing to travel, and camp and spend money and time to be part of their community. In a world of digital connections that means something.

We have attended the Philadelphia Folk Festival (PFF) every year for about 30 years. It has become…read moretoo big and impersonal. A friend turned us on to the Old Songs Festival (OSF) and we tried it about seven years ago and have been going ever since. The PFF is about 19 miles from our house - OSF is over 190 miles. What draws us to the OSF is the quality of the music and the musicians, the size and comfort of the venue, and the friendliness of the attendees. Putting it together - we like it there and intend to go back every year for as long as we can. Our recommending friend is now 84 years and has the same intention.

Great place to rent for a meeting or event. Smaller meeting rooms or a larger conference room, full…read morekitchen for Caterers. Epic historic building as well.

A few months after 9/11, a Muslim friend of mine from Dubai joined the Masons, feeling tactically…read moreobligated to join as many 'American' social clubs as possible. During this same time, the Masons realized most of their membership was dying off, so they decided to have a group recruitment, kind of like a Moonie mass wedding. Each person recruited would automatically be bounced up three degrees in status by merely observing the rituals rather than participating (and, no, I'm not spilling beans, but only because I've forgotten nearly all of the secret stuff). So my friend asked me and a couple of others to join, thinking his status within the organization would be enhanced by his zealous recruitment. I really just wanted to see the interior of the enormous and grim building, which is tucked directly behind City Hall, and found myself standing in the lobby of the temple with a guy from Brazil and a long-haired kid, all of us in suits, milling with a few hundred other guys, the vast majority of them older, chummy businessmen glad-handing each other like George Babbitt. All of the 'public' rooms were large, high ceilinged, dusty and kind of dowdy, and barer than I'd expected. A billiard room, a very large and sort of institutional dining room, and lots of side rooms hung with portraits and photos of old members and fantastic old representations of masonic cosmology. The space was beautiful in a quietly noble-despairing kind of way and I finally got to see it, but of course, now I am a Mason.

Went to see Camino Real, which I have seen before, but many years ago. I have been to Williamstown…read moreTheatre a number of times before and always considered it a top quality theater. This is the worst experience I've ever had at a theater. We couldn't understand a word said by most of the actors. There were two or three who were able to project and enunciate, but all of the others were completely inaudible. A professional company could have miked them properly. It completely ruined the experience for my two friends of mine (one left during the intermission. The other two of us had seen it before so at least had some notion of what was going on.) During the intermission I complained and they offered us nothing, no help, no audio enhancement, change of seats, partial or full refund, nothing. It turned out there *were* audio enhancement headsets that my friend was able to find, but these weren't mentioned to me. I was able to rush to get one, but it simply made the poor sound quality louder, tho no more intelligible. When I wrote to the "Audience Engagement Manager" (who I had to rustle up myself, because, again, the staff who I complained to were unhelpful and in fact told me that there was NOBODY I could speak to at the theater, either while I was there or even afterwards), she offered nothing. When pressed, repeatedly, she offered to give me a description of the "options" for sound improvement for next season. Why would I go back next season??

Inventive productions that take risks without losing quality.read more