Way. Better than what's nearby at the mall. Plenty of room and friendly folks at the concessions…read more Just wish Spielberg movie was less disappointing.

Great place, comfortable theatre, very fun day for all the kiddos...grownups too. Another plus:…read moregreat popcorn!

As an undergrad at UMass we used to come to this auditorium to see shows ranging from a capella…read moregroups to live music from famous artists such as the Portuguese singer Mariza. Most recently we are attending the Celtic Nutcracker. The auditorium in Stockbridge Hall is a bit warn down and outdated, but the seats are fairly comfortable and you have a decent view of the stage from any of the seats. The staff here had always been polite and in our many visits we have enjoyed the performances here. Parking at times can be a bit tricky on UMass' campus, but their is a fairly large parking lot behind the hall which is fairly empty at night or during the weekends. The best time to see a show here is during the campus' vacation because parking and traffic is a breeze. The only real critique I have is that the bathrooms are a bit outdated, but if you have the chance to see a show here I would take the opportunity.

I loved the historical and classic vibe of the Theatre. The upper section gave me a bit of vertigo…read morebut it's a pretty common set up. It was big but still felt intimate. Great location - so many awesome bars and restaurants in the area (shout out to Packards and The Tunnel Bar). Parking was easy to find (and free since it was Sunday!). Minus one star because the traffic flow wasn't super well organized - you have to wait in line for drinks where people are shuffling around to find their seat section. It also did not feel accessible for those with mobility issues. Not sure if they have an elevator (didn't see signage) but the basement was a bit of a haul down the stairs (especially coming from the upper level).

The Academy of Music is a lovely, historic and intimate venue. There is so much history here, there…read moreare so many stories--I think my favorite is Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton attending a James Bond film here. The truth is, I attended a show here by accident. It was the weekend of The Back Porch music festival and I intended to see the show of Maine musician Griffin William Sherry. It was super difficult to get anyone on the phone, but I finally did, and was told that Griffin would be among the musicians playing at the Friday night show at the Academy of Music, which was also going to be a tribute to Willie Nelson! How exciting! So I hung up the phone, bought tickets, booked a room at Hotel Northampton, and then drove down from Maine on a Friday after work. It was a beautiful venue, and a marvelous show, performed by a who's who of western Mass musicians. The only downside was that Griffin William Sherry did *not* play in the Willie Nelson tribute. His show was at The Parlor Room, at the same time as the Willie Nelson Tribute, so we missed it. Very disappointing *and* although I wish the person I spoke to on the phone gave accurate information, we saw a pretty amazing show at a lovely venue, so four stars.

Very interesting artwork and the owner is great. Good mix of all types of art and mediums at this…read moregallery.

This is a great gallery with staying power over the years. Some amazing still life painters…read moreespecially. Located as it is in the beautiful Pioneer Valley, I'm giving it 4 rather than 5 stars since the gallery would do well to carry more high quality/unique landscapes of the area and those evocative of New England in general. I'm in the retail art business and that's what the majority of people still select to hang in their homes, even alongside other genres, no matter whether they live in NYC or rural Massachusetts.

Grounds are lovely. Home is as well maintained as funding allows…read more Please donate to the preservation of this home.

As someone who has loved and cherished Emily Dickinson's poetry my entire life, I hate to leave…read moresuch a bad review, but it was my honest experience. So, they strongly recommend you order your tickets online to make sure there is enough availability, so I did. However, when we got to the museum, they said something along the lines of our tickets being invalid for some reason. We were a party of elderly and disabled people so if something went wrong on their online system or the ticket order wasn't processed correctly we should not be punished. They refused to let us in, but at least we could walk around the grounds for free, and they were truly very lovely; unfortunately, the people who run the museum are not.

Being a devoted fan of children's picture books, visiting the Eric Carle Museum was truly amazing…read more Unlike New York, there isn't a similar museum there. The space was spacious with high ceiling. I stumbled upon interesting books with unfamiliar authors. The staff were friendly, and they offer engaging activities for kids. I can see the value in this place. No cafe is available but there is a snack vending machine and indoor and outdoor seating. There is a water bottle refill machine. I would advise to grab some food first at Atkins Farms as it is a just a few minutes' drive away. It offers a convenient option. Overall, I had a positive experience and I recommend others to come visit this unique place.

I found the Eric Carle Museum a bit underwhelming for the price. I also wasn't really sure who the…read moretarget audience was. The museum has two galleries, a paint room, a library, and an auditorium. Personally, I could spend a decent amount of time reading through the gallery exhibits, but younger kids can't really see or reach a lot of them, so I think they'd get bored pretty quickly. There are a few interactive activities like creating your own recipe or using the peg boards but they felt a little gimmicky rather than being a core part of the experience. The paint room was probably the highlight for kids since there were lots of supplies and things to create, but I didn't see anything my son couldn't already do at home. With that said, kids could probably spend an hour or more here so it should definitely keep them busy. That's kind of where the museum confuses me. I thought this was aimed at younger kids but many of the exhibits are better appreciated by adults. At the same time, older kids will probably find the children's activities too basic. It ends up feeling like it's trying to appeal to everyone without fully committing to one audience. Admission should be much cheaper or donation based. If you're visiting the area, check with your local library first because many libraries offer free passes, and that's definitely the way I'd recommend going. Ironically, I think I'd enjoy coming back by myself more than with my kids. I'd take my time going through the galleries and learning about Eric Carle's work. With young kids though, I found myself feeling rushed because they weren't really engaged. I could also see it being a worthwhile visit for aspiring writers, illustrators, or anyone interested in children's literature.

We always love supporting the local independent cinema. Clean, great selection of films, nice…read morestaff.

This movie theatre is one of the best places on the planet. They show niche movies, they show…read morecurrent movies, and their cult classic nights always ensure a full house. I know they partner with Amherst College's film club as well. They host special screenings with talks beforehand. The theaters range from small to super small and intimate, offering a unique viewing experience that no other place in the area can provide. This cinema is ensuring the film doesn't die and that no one is left behind. They were particularly influential in my film journey because of all the international films that they show. I've seen Norwegian, Brazilian, French, and Japanese movies to name a few. Thank you for such a great experience and I hope to return sometime soon. Please visit and become a member if you can!

Dancing is an amazing workout for your entire body. It's also an incredible discipline for your…read moremind. This place offers a welcoming and supporting atmosphere for you to better your technique and truly enjoy the art of dance! I started dancing when I was 4 years old with Lesly Makings, one of the main ballet teachers at Northeast American School of Dance. I eventually moved away from the area and am now back. I've taken dance lessons from numerous teachers in different parts of the world but Lesley is simply the best. There is no drama about the art of ballet but rather she teaches a straightforward class with a focus on bettering your technique and advancing your overall personal abilities. Her classes are a mix of ages... the Tuesday night, Friday night and Saturday morning classes range from highschool students to women in their mid fifties. There are even a number of men that occasionally join the class. Everyone has different levels of experience but the choreography adjusts simply to your own abilities. It's a very positive atmosphere for you to feel comfortable in. Overall the school seems to have very interesting class offers so in the case that ballet isn't your thing, there are definitely options to explore. I highly recommend trying out ballet though even if you're just a little bit curious - this is the perfect platform to do so. It's a great alternative to going to the gym and trying to tone with machines and an excellent way to better your posture and confidence. I believe there is a beginner intro if you're not sure how your coordination would apply to ballet. Give it a try!