Reunion Details
CONTACT INFORMATION:
> Merrywood Reunion
P.O. Box 6
Farmington, CT 06034
Organizers@merrywoodreunion.info
Click here to access the Google Map of key locations for the Reunion weekend.
Click here to access the folder of resources for the Reunion weekend.
REUNION LOCATION:
The Home base for the reunion will be Simon's Rock College (officially Bard College at Simon's Rock), located at 84 Alford Road, Great Barrington. The entrance is at the intersection of Alford Road and Hurlburt Road. Its main and gatehouse entrances are clearly marked with red signs. Use this Google Map dropped pin to get the gatehouse entrance.
CAUTION!!! If you type in the street address (84 Alford Road, Great Barrington) or the college name, Google Maps and other navigators are very likely to take you in a back entrance that may not be open! You could use "Alford Road and Hurlburt Road" as your destination instead. The college main entrance can be seen from that intersection.
DIRECTIONS:
By Car:
From Boston and points east: Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) West to exit 10 (the old exit 2) for US-20 east. Turn left onto US-20 east, then take the 1st right onto MA-102 (W/Pleasant St). Continue to follow MA-102 west for about 4.5 miles. Turn left onto US-7 south (South St), and stay on US-7 south for 6.6 miles. Turn left onto Main Street (still route 7!). Stay on Main Street for 0.7 miles. Just beyond St. James Episcopal Church, turn right onto St. James Place/Taconic Ave. The main college entrance is 1.8 miles ahead on the right.
From Albany and points west: Take the New York State Thruway (I-90) to Exit B3 (Canaan, NY). Follow Route 22 south for 0.7 miles and turn left onto Route 102 east. Stay on Route 102 for 2.5 miles to West Stockbridge. Turn right onto Route 41 south for 10.5 miles to Great Barrington, where it becomes Main Street. At the fourth set of traffic lights, just beyond St. James Episcopal Church, turn right onto St. James Place/Taconic Ave. The main college entrance is 1.8 miles ahead on the right.
From Connecticut: Take I-84 or US-44 to US-7. Follow US-7 north to Great Barrington, where it becomes Main Street. Pass through the roundabout at route 23, and at the next traffic light turn left onto St. James Place/Taconic Ave. The main college entrance is 1.8 miles ahead on the right.
From New York, New Jersey, and points south: Take the Taconic Parkway north to the Hillsdale/Claverack exit (Route 23). Follow NY/MA Route 23 east for 17.5 miles, until it meets US-7 north in Great Barrington at a roundabout, where you should take the second exit onto northbound Route 7/Main Street. At the next traffic light, turn left onto St. James Place/Taconic Ave. The main college entrance is 1.8 miles ahead on the right.
UPON ARRIVING at either entrance, enter and continue straight until you reach a broad flat oval with a stone mansion at one end and a large beige modern building at the other end. There is also a white chapel at the oval. The modern building is the Student Union. You can park up above and past the building and find us inside.
REGISTRATION MISC:
At registration, you will be given all the information you need, get your keys if you're staying on campus, and sign a waiver for insurance purposes (yes... sigh... unavoidable).
If you are staying on campus, Hill House dorm, which we’ll be using, is just above the Student Union. You can't park there except to unload (handicap space excepted) but there is ample parking across the street.
For those arriving on Saturday, June 24, 2023:
Registration hours - Please see Schedule below. We will be off-campus from approximately 11-3:30.
> If you arrive in the late morning, join us for the Picnic Lunch at Tanglewood from 11:30 am - 12:45 pm. Enter Tanglewood at the main entrance, 1.4 miles west of Lenox Center on Route 183 (West Street). Just inside the main entrance to the grounds, turn right and walk past the gift shop until you see picnic tables next to the “Taste of the Berkshires” cafe.
> If you arrive in the early afternoon, join us at the Merrywood Music School site for a Dessert Party from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. The address is 320 Old Stockbridge Road, Lenox, MA 01240. The current owners, Caren and Dick Lobo,have graciously invited us to eat, talk, explore and play music.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Aston Magna Concert at 6 pm on Saturday. Location is Saint James Place, 352 Main Street, Great Barrington, five minutes away. Our very own Anne Black will be playing viola.
● Program 1: The Devil’s in the Tales. A revival of the partnering of two morality tales: Alessandro Scarlatti’s “Humanitá e Lucifero,” and Igor Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire du soldat.”
● Cost of tickets is $20 at the door if you mention that you are with the Merrywood reunion.
Monument Mountain Hike on Sunday, 10 am - 12 pm. We will meet at 9:30 am at the main entrance of the Student Union and carpool. Patty Gambarini will lead the hike. Hike Address: 546 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230.
For a description of the mountain and three hikes, go here: Monument Mountain.docx - Google Docs.
Come prepared to pay a $6 parking fee per car. Use the facilities ahead of time because there are no restroom facilities at the reservation. Also, make sure you have enough water, snacks, appropriate footwear and clothing.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Friday:
3:00 pm – Registration begins (Student Union - SU)
4:00-6:00 pm– Mingling and Memorabilia (SU)
6:00-8:00 pm – Dinner (SU)
8:00 pm-12:00 am – Reconnecting and Recollections (SU)
Saturday:
8:00-10:00 am – Continental Breakfast (Student Union - SU)
9:00-10:30 am and 4:00-6:00 pm – Registration (SU)
We’ll all be at Tanglewood and Merrywood 11:30-3:00
11:30 am-12:45 pm – Picnic Lunch at Tanglewood (SU - carpool)
1:00-3:00 pm – Dessert Party at Merrywood (carpool from Tanglewood)
4:00-5:00 – Zoom with those unable to attend
4:00-6:00 pm – Registration (SU)
4:00-6:30 pm – Merriment, Mingling, and Music (SU)
5:00-7:00 – Dinner
6:00-8:00 pm– Aston Magna Concert (optional - discount $20 tickets at the door)
Anne Black will be playing viola! in Great Barrington, 5 minutes away
8:30 pm-12:00 am – Sing-a-Long, Games, and More (SU)
Sunday:
8:00-10:00 am – Continental Breakfast (SU)
10:00 am-12:00pm – Monument Mountain Hike (SU - carpool)
10:00 am-12:00 pm – Relax, Music,* Exercise,* Photos
12:00-1:00 pm – Lunch (SU)
* Kellogg Music Center is open for our use (great acoustics, piano)
College gym/pool is open Fri. til 7pm, Sat/Sun 7am-noon ($5/day).
ITEMS TO CONSIDER BRINGING:
Simon's Rock has WiFi and limited cell coverage. The Student Union is air-conditioned.
Staying overnight in the dorm? You’ll be given sheets, a light blanket, pillow, and towel. Bring anything else you might need. The Hill House dorm does not have air conditioning, so prepare accordingly. We’ll update you with the weather forecast - a fan may be desirable.
If you are planning to prepare your own food, bring what you will need (e.g., pots/pans/dish towels/utensils/plates/cups/mugs). The kitchens in the Hill House dorm have only the bare basics: stove, oven, microwave, fridge, and sink.
● Instruments, scores/lyrics, music stands
● Merrywood memorabilia (pictures, programs, etc., sheet music, lyrics to songs)
● Portable speaker if you would like to share music with others
● Water bottle
● Weather-dependent:
● small fan for dorm room
● extra blanket (thin blanket provided)
● umbrella and jacket for rain
● Toiletries, blow dryer, etc.
● Swimsuit and towel, workout clothing, if you would like to exercise/swim at the athletic center.
● Long pants (to avoid ticks in the woods and mosquitoes in the evenings)
● Light hiking shoes and/or hiking poles if joining Sunday morning’s hike at Monument Mountain
● Sunscreen, bug spray, hat, etc.
● BYOB
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION:
If you have questions or need help from planning committee members over the reunion weekend, please contact any of us. Liz is the overall organizer for the weekend. Matt and Tanya live in the area and are familiar with directions and local resources. Program their numbers into your phone before you arrive for easy contact!
Liz Tillman, 508-737-8864 | Matt Strassler, 206-714-9363 | Tanya Kalischer, 413-329-2086
FRAGRANCES:
Some of our fellow Merryweeds have serious scent sensitivities. Please make every effort to avoid wearing perfumes, colognes, scented deodorants, etc. If at all possible, please use scent-free detergent for clothes brought to reunion.
STRICT GUIDELINES:
> COVID test required 2-3 days prior to the reunion
If positive, please stay home - You will be refunded fully
> Smoking, illicit drugs, and marijuana are not allowed anywhere on campus
> No pets