Great Barrington is ‘Busking’ at the Seams
Community Spotlight
“Small-town living with an extra dose of culture and sophistication.” That’s how Brook Redpath chose to describe the Southern Berkshires community of Great Barrington, and she’s well-qualified for that assignment.
Indeed, she grew up in town and moved back after living in the D.C. area for some time to raise her family there (and be near her own family) because of that rare blend of small-town feel with culture — and much more. And, for the past 17 years, she’s owned Matruska Toys and Gifts, a downtown staple in the process of relocating from Main Street to Railroad Street. “This community has something that appeals to just about everyone,” said Redpath, listing stores and restaurants, theater and art, craft beer, hiking, skiing, biking, and more, adding that this blend makes it a great place to live, but also visit. And many do, from across this state and New England, but especially New York, which is just a few miles away.
Indeed, while the community is home to just over 7,000, it is a destination for exponentially more, who come here for everything from leaf peeping to a brief respite while hiking the Appalachian Trail — there’s an access point to the trail off Monterey Road — to something relatively new and completely different. It’s called Berkshire Busk!