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On Thursday, June 4 as part of Massachusetts Phase 1 initiative, Hancock Shaker Village will open only its outdoor spaces—including its beloved baby animals in outdoor fenced-in areas—to the public Thursdays through Sundays, 10 am–3 pm. This schedule will be in place at least through June, as the Village plans for a full reopening in Phase 3.

Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, a grande dame of Berkshire music, financed the building of a concert hall for the Library of Congress. A concert planned at Coolidge Hall this spring was presented live streamed instead. The Library of Congress joined with co-presenter, Portland Ovation, and the International Contemporary Ensemble to present a program that worked amazingly well in Zoom.

Can new opera on inmportant contemporary subjects draw in new audiences? Opera Philadelphia's We Shall Not be Moved and Sky on Swings argue yes emphatically. Sky on Swings tackles Alzheimer's. Each member of the creative team reported long conversations following the announcement that they were involved with an Alzheimer's opera.

Wine, food and travel writer Philip S. Kampe has been forraging for ramps. The onion family wild relative is unique and inspiring. The abundant harvest this season has been a mother of invention.

Long Distance Affair zooms you to London, Madrid, Miami, New York, Paris, and Singapore. Take a safe overseas trip without worrying about passports, baggage, or COVID-19. A collaboration between Miami-based Juggerknot Theatre Company and New York's PopUP Theatrics could lead to a dream summer vacation.

In 1983 the Museum of FIne Art organized a traveling exhibition A New World: Masterpieces of American Painting: 1760-1910. It toured the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Grand Palais in Paris, as well as being shown at the MFA. Artists and members of Boston's African American community protested that the exhibition did not include artists of color. In this 1984 interview former MFA director, Jan Fontein, discussed negotiatons to include the 19th century artist Henry Osawa Tanner. We also covered gaps in 20th century European and American art.

Theater for the New City has currently scheduled over 150 performing arts organizations, independent artists, poets, puppeteers and film makers for its 25th annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts, which will be mounted virtually for the first time May 22 to 24, 2020. All events and performances will be seen on the theater's website, www.theaterforthenewcity.net. Events will stream for three days, from 6:00 PM Friday, May 22 to 11:59 PM Sunday, May 24. Attendees will be able to select disciplines and artists from the website's online timetable and index.

Frittata is a standard tapas item in Spanish bars. It's super easy and versatile to do at home. The basic ingredients are eggs, onion and potato. Beyond that anything goes. We cooked with peas, kalamata olive and capers. There are lots of other options. In an iron skillet there was enough for two meals.

Live streaming from Sweden, where Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, artists sit six feet apart in an empty hall. Sweden, unlike many neighboring European countries, has not imposed quarantine on its population. Instead the government has called on citizens to "take responsibility" and follow the recommendations of the health authorities. "We are not doing business as usual in Sweden," said health minister Lena Hallengren. People over the age of 70 and those deemed "at risk" are encouraged to stay at home, and high schools and universities, which have been closed since mid-March, are being encouraged to offer distance learning courses. The concert halls have opened, to artists, not audiences.

Because of the Raphael Incident, Perry T. Rathbone. was forced out as director of the Museum of Fine Arts in 1970. The board president, George Seybolt, who ousted Rathbone, then passed over acting director, Classical curator, Cornelius Vermeule, to unilaterally appoint a dark horse candidate, Merrill Rueppel. That ended with a curatorial coup from which Asiatic curator, Jan Fontein, emerged as acting director in 1975. He calmed troubled waters and acccomplished much through 1987. From April 1983, this is the first of two transcribed interviews.

Robert S. Cox, head of Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) at the UMass Amherst Libraries for the past 16 years, died May 11 after an extended illness. He was 61 years old.

We have enjoyed amazing dinner parties with Liz and Brian Cunningham. Our loft neighbors and friends are hunkered down in Seattle until lord knows when. Knowing Liz they are dining well.

We had just watched Anthony Bourdain’s series, A Cook's Tour, while he visited Morocco: Casablanca, Fez, and finally the last town before reaching the desert, the Sahara. His meals there reminded us of the soup or stew that you are about to prepare – it’s most delicious!

Hostas, bleeding hearts, astilbe, ligularia, snakeroot, spirea, lying dormant (yin) for the winter and now bursting forth (yang) as the seasonal change urges them on. They have not spent the winter “thinking” about this; they have simply done it. The Japanese red lace leaf maple gave it not a thought when buds peaked out and began to open. It just happened.

The second part of Giacomo Puccini's Suor Angelica, is given a deep and satisfying production. Kirill Petrenko, seeking a way to share insights and experiences with young artists, gives us an unexpected and beautifully produced opera. The singing is first-rate throughout. The production, which includes danced gesture and videos, suits the story.

Simien Mountains, known as "Roof of Africa", is an ecological hot spot for endemic species such as the gelada monkeys. Gondar highlights the architectural glory of the once capital of Ethiopia for 200 years. Bahir Dar is located in the southern shore of Lake Tana, which harbors many islands home to ancient monastic churches with completely painted interiors related to Ethiopian Orthodox liturgy.

Tanglewood is cancelled for live performances but will continue on line.

Rene Fleming and Rufus Wainwright entertained us on Thursday. Next week Yannick Nezet-Seguin on Tuesday and a tribute to Lynn Harrell on Thursday. From the Super Bowl to Broadway, Fleming has spread her lovely voice across unusual venues and in unusual projects like the impact of music on health.

Alan Smason is a New Orleans based home cook. He is a colleague from American Theatre Critics Association. This recipe may be prepared Kosher.

It's rhubarb time. This is an old New England recipe that I have made a few changes to.

The artist and arts administrator, Arthur DeBow, is a renowned home cook with many Facebook fans. This is a meal he prepares one or two times each month.

Here is a foolproof recipe from may old running buddy. We served it to friends and it's now a go to dinner for my BFF. The key is to lay in s stash of tarragon my any means necessary.

The Berlin Philharmoniker, perhaps the world’s greatest orchestra, has opened their digital concert world for free. This allows us to safely enjoy their music, although of course we are denied the pleasure of live. Their annual European Concert was to have been performed in Tel Aviv. Instead they are at their home in Berlin, celebrating their founding on May 1 in 1882.

There were incidents of racism when a school group visited the Museum of Fine Arts on May 16, 2019. Attorney General Maura Healey has negotiated an agreement between the Museum of Fine Arts and Boston’s Helen Y. David Leadership Academy. The settlment comes with an apology as well as a commitment of $500,000 to address issues of racism

The Mount the home of Edit Wharton in the Berkshires announces a schedule of free programs. It is requires registration at EdithWharton.org.