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Porches
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Address
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231 River St, North Adams, Adams |
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Phone
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(413) 664-0400 |
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Listing review
The Porches is located in the town of North Adams, MA and is situated across an old canal from the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, also known as Mass MoCA. This was an old mill town; manufacturing was once the mainstay of this area, and company housing for mill workers abounds. With the advent of the closing of the old mill, the town began to depress economically and run down physically and in spirit. Mass MoCa?s home is now in the old mill; what better spot than the enormous space offered to the world?s contemporary artists. The galleries are always fresh and morphing with cutting edge exhibits, and performances. North Adams is a great place to visit, but where to stay? If you are the kind of traveler who expects the mundane, cookie-cutter idea of a room, you would be better off going to one of the more traditional hotels in the area. But if you appreciate a little adventure and change of mind-set, nothing as fun, interesting, or unique as the transformed Victorian company row houses that are now The Porches. My family and I have been vacationing there since the opening in 2001. This area of the Berskshires is a cultural hub, and staying at The Porches adds to the experience. There are now about 52 rooms which are comfortable and simple but elegant and classy. Though furnished like company housing with muslin curtains (on high tech cable), new large English plumbing, Jacuzzis, painted floors, decorated with funky 50?s plates and ebay painted-by-numbers paintings, and lamps, it is fresh and fun. The buildings are linked creating atria effects, knick knacks are throughout?many for sale, and the breezeway and rockers are great for reading the morning paper. A continental breakfast is served in a small dining room, and usually includes: cold cereals, yogurts, fruit, a great cheddar, hard boiled eggs, a whole grain bread , croissants, and pain au chocolat from a local baker. When the hotel is booked, seating is limited; some people venture out to the big porches and eat there. However, there is often a paucity of kitchen help, local young ladies are usually in service, but it seems the load is too much for them to keep up with and there are times when they may run out of bread or eggs, or there is a wait for the coffee to be replenished. There is a great pool, hot tub, sauna, a superb gym facility, and available conference rooms. A computer available in the lobby, and there is internet access in the rooms, along with a tv and vcr. Packages are available; one can opt for vouchers for a dinner in town at a great restaurant and/or a massage. Masseuses can be booked and come to the room. Other fun activities and packages can be had and the accommodating staff is always helpful. We?ll be back for our annual sojourn this summer and make the rounds: Mass MoCa, The Williamstown Theatre and The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, to name a few.
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