264 Main Street
Great Barrington, MA
(behind Rubiner's Cheesemongers)
Rubi's is hard to resist. It has a warm atmosphere with its wooden floors - when I picture it in my mind, it seems to be a small-scale renovated barn. There is very limited seating with a counter that seats three next to the counter where you order, and a few small tables and one large communal farm table in an adjoining room. I have yet to be in there when it is not bustling. The menu is written on chalkboards behind the counter and the baked goods are arrayed in front of you under large bell jars. They serve a real macchiato - espresso with a bit of foam on top, not the latte-ish thing Starbucks makes. Today I enjoyed the Halloumi Toast sandwich - basically, an open-faced grilled cheese on a baguette, made with halloumi cheese (a greek cheese that's a cross between mozzarella and feta) and bits of preserved lemon. Delicious. I also took home a slice of hazelnut ricotta cake that was both chewy and delightfully moist.
Rubi's turns into more of a bar/cafe in the evening, featuring oysters and cheese plates and wine - I haven't been there yet in the evening but I look forward to it.
There is one downside of Rubi's. On the three occasions I have been there, the place is generally populated by two sorts of people. One sort - pretentious hipsters in flannel with dyed hair (girls) and long hair or really short hair - hair that has been very much paid attention to - (boys) and conspicuous eye wear. The other sort - loud New Yorkers who complain frequently, inform the entire line of their debate about what to order, and don't seem to mind stepping on your toes to get an extra napkin. Such is the price of irresistibility - even the obnoxious are drawn in.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Ben's Shop
68 Main Street
Lee MA
Ben's facade looks like something out of 1961 - the sign written in script, the window displays are simple and crowded with merchandise. It says "Clothes for Work and Play"- and the sign doesn't lie. One side of the shop has both men's and women's shoes - practical, comfortable shoes like Clark's and Dansco, and boots and slippers. The other side is all men's wear. In between is a selection of nicely chosen, adorable children's clothes. There is something comfortably jumbled about the inventory at Ben's. I found some great gifts for kids of friends of mine and if I weren't such an internet bargain shopper for dansco, I would give them my business for my once-every-four-year dansco replacement. And just like very place I've shopped in Lee, the proprietor and staff could not be more delightful. No pretense, no fancy or trendy presentation, just quality goods.
Lee MA
Ben's facade looks like something out of 1961 - the sign written in script, the window displays are simple and crowded with merchandise. It says "Clothes for Work and Play"- and the sign doesn't lie. One side of the shop has both men's and women's shoes - practical, comfortable shoes like Clark's and Dansco, and boots and slippers. The other side is all men's wear. In between is a selection of nicely chosen, adorable children's clothes. There is something comfortably jumbled about the inventory at Ben's. I found some great gifts for kids of friends of mine and if I weren't such an internet bargain shopper for dansco, I would give them my business for my once-every-four-year dansco replacement. And just like very place I've shopped in Lee, the proprietor and staff could not be more delightful. No pretense, no fancy or trendy presentation, just quality goods.
Morningside Bakery
283 Tyler Street
Pittsfield MA
http://www.morningside-bakery.com
I drove by this place three times before I found it. It's tucked into a small set of five store fronts, at the end next to a fence. I made the trek to Pittfield because I was trying to find a genuine German stollen for my dad for Christmas, and lo and behold, here was a place nearby! This place is a real old fashioned bakery with donuts and pies and cookies. I did notice some bread but didn't examine it closely - it looked to be rolls of the soft-crusted variety. Besides the stollen (which the helpful counter lady told me could keep up to a month after it's opened, and up to a year if frozen - !!), I bought a chocolate cake donut which looked and smelled delicious but was rather dry and uninspiring - a disappointment. I will report back on the stollen after Christmas!
Pittsfield MA
http://www.morningside-bakery.com
I drove by this place three times before I found it. It's tucked into a small set of five store fronts, at the end next to a fence. I made the trek to Pittfield because I was trying to find a genuine German stollen for my dad for Christmas, and lo and behold, here was a place nearby! This place is a real old fashioned bakery with donuts and pies and cookies. I did notice some bread but didn't examine it closely - it looked to be rolls of the soft-crusted variety. Besides the stollen (which the helpful counter lady told me could keep up to a month after it's opened, and up to a year if frozen - !!), I bought a chocolate cake donut which looked and smelled delicious but was rather dry and uninspiring - a disappointment. I will report back on the stollen after Christmas!
Hats and Jewels of the Berkshires
Hats and Jewels
83 West Center Street
Lee, MA
Next to Joe's Diner
I love this little store and the owner is completely down to earth, helpful, and friendly. The store is a treasure trove of vintage, consignment, and costume jewelry, purses, hats and other accessories. There is an especially impressive collection of necklaces - I bought three for my mom for Christmas today. The prices range from "steals" to "reasonable." There is a nice array of classic evening bags, vintage/on consignment, and I plan to buy one for an annual gala event I attend for work once I pick out the dress. There is something very appealing about carrying vintage Bergdorf. I bought a little fabric flower pin today - I had my eye on one I had seen in a web add from a place in Sheffield - $42. The H&J version was $8.
83 West Center Street
Lee, MA
Next to Joe's Diner
I love this little store and the owner is completely down to earth, helpful, and friendly. The store is a treasure trove of vintage, consignment, and costume jewelry, purses, hats and other accessories. There is an especially impressive collection of necklaces - I bought three for my mom for Christmas today. The prices range from "steals" to "reasonable." There is a nice array of classic evening bags, vintage/on consignment, and I plan to buy one for an annual gala event I attend for work once I pick out the dress. There is something very appealing about carrying vintage Bergdorf. I bought a little fabric flower pin today - I had my eye on one I had seen in a web add from a place in Sheffield - $42. The H&J version was $8.
Christmas Shopping 2009
Today I shopped in Lee, Pittsfield, Lenox, Stockbridge, and Great Barrington. And the winner is? Much to my surprise - the small but mighty Lee! I have to say that I underestimated the number and variety of Lee's shopping opportunities, even after being in town for eight months. Paperdilly came through with Christmas cards - and this is after I looked all over GB and Stockbridge. My favorite GB store, Seeds, did have some lovely cards, but they were of the sort that were handmade, in packs of five, and very pricey.
To be fair to Pittsfield, I only went there to look for a specific bakery to buy a stollen for my dad - so perhaps Pittsfield is a wealth of shopping opportunities?
To be fair to Pittsfield, I only went there to look for a specific bakery to buy a stollen for my dad - so perhaps Pittsfield is a wealth of shopping opportunities?
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Moe's Tavern
Many thanks to Kevin and Martha E. for submitting this review of Moe's. I have been longing for Moe's since I moved there, but there hasn't been the right time to go with visitors yet (usually we trying one of the fancier places as I am trying to impress them so they return) and while there are some places I am fine going by myself, taverns at night are not among them. Maybe I should rethink this strategy and become a barfly at Moe's on the weekends? Oh if only they allowed in wheaten terriers...
Moe’s Tavern
10 Railroad St
Lee, MA 01238
Shortly before our second trip to Chez Julie West, I came across a review of Moe’s on the blog of Lenox’s Arcadian Shop. How could we pass up the opportunity to visit a place called Moe’s Tavern, especially on Halloween weekend?
So early on Friday evening Martha and I headed out and found Moe’s hidden off of the main drag in Lee. Moe’s is relatively small, but clean and modern. Most of the crowd the night we were there appeared to be friendly locals. For sports fans there are 4 big screen TVs. More importantly, for Bostonians Moe’s had plenty of Red Sox memorabilia in an area with a few too many Yankee fans.
The menu at Moe’s is fairly limited, and features fairly standard bar food. I had the TV Diner, which consisted of chicken strips and fries. Martha had the Krusty Burger and Sweet Potato Fries. The sweet potato fries were excellent, and the burger was a straight-forward double-patty affair—nothing spectacular, but a tasty fry-cook style staple.
The real draw at Moe’s though is not the food but the beer. They have 11 taps with various micro-brews, and 40-50 or so bottled selections. I had an Ommegang Abbey Ale for the first round, followed by one of my favorites, and Alligash White Ale. Martha ordered a Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA and stuck with it for the night.
One thing is for sure… there is plenty to visually appreciate about Moe’s. There are tchotchkes galore and entertaining posters covering the walls. And if you like TV’s Simpson’s, you’ll have fun finding the many do-dads and references that are tucked about the place.
Overall, it’s a friendly place with a great beer selection, good bar food, and a great place to watch a game or just hang out.
FYI, Moe’s doesn’t appear to have an official site, but you can get both beer and food menus here:
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/205/1412631/restaurant/Massachusetts/Pittsfield/Moes-Tavern-Lee
Also, here are a couple of good reviews.
http://jbojangles.blogspot.com/2008/05/two-minute-guide-to-moes-tavern.html
http://arcadianshop.typepad.com/arcommunity/2009/10/review.html
Moe’s Tavern
10 Railroad St
Lee, MA 01238
Shortly before our second trip to Chez Julie West, I came across a review of Moe’s on the blog of Lenox’s Arcadian Shop. How could we pass up the opportunity to visit a place called Moe’s Tavern, especially on Halloween weekend?
So early on Friday evening Martha and I headed out and found Moe’s hidden off of the main drag in Lee. Moe’s is relatively small, but clean and modern. Most of the crowd the night we were there appeared to be friendly locals. For sports fans there are 4 big screen TVs. More importantly, for Bostonians Moe’s had plenty of Red Sox memorabilia in an area with a few too many Yankee fans.
The menu at Moe’s is fairly limited, and features fairly standard bar food. I had the TV Diner, which consisted of chicken strips and fries. Martha had the Krusty Burger and Sweet Potato Fries. The sweet potato fries were excellent, and the burger was a straight-forward double-patty affair—nothing spectacular, but a tasty fry-cook style staple.
The real draw at Moe’s though is not the food but the beer. They have 11 taps with various micro-brews, and 40-50 or so bottled selections. I had an Ommegang Abbey Ale for the first round, followed by one of my favorites, and Alligash White Ale. Martha ordered a Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA and stuck with it for the night.
One thing is for sure… there is plenty to visually appreciate about Moe’s. There are tchotchkes galore and entertaining posters covering the walls. And if you like TV’s Simpson’s, you’ll have fun finding the many do-dads and references that are tucked about the place.
Overall, it’s a friendly place with a great beer selection, good bar food, and a great place to watch a game or just hang out.
FYI, Moe’s doesn’t appear to have an official site, but you can get both beer and food menus here:
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/205/1412631/restaurant/Massachusetts/Pittsfield/Moes-Tavern-Lee
Also, here are a couple of good reviews.
http://jbojangles.blogspot.com/2008/05/two-minute-guide-to-moes-tavern.html
http://arcadianshop.typepad.com/arcommunity/2009/10/review.html
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