Arts experiences in Greater Springfield, Mass., and the Berkshires are positively popping off the page, from a museum showcasing the delightful works of Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, to music venues that will have attendees singing the praises of the meeting long after it’s over.
Greater Springfield
It’s an exciting time in Springfield for group business, as MGM Springfield opened in August. This resort and entertainment destination brings a 125,000-square-foot casino floor and about 34,000 square feet of event space to the city.
MGM Springfield also manages the MassMutual Center, which features 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and an 8,000-seat arena that offers group tickets for celebrated performances by marquee artists. Acts this year include Stevie Wonder and comedian Bill Burr.
Beyond checking out the lineup of events at the MassMutual Center, planners can include a group visit to the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum in the meeting itinerary.
Springfield’s newest museum is a must-visit arts attraction that’s devoted to Springfield native Theodor Geisel. The first floor features interactive exhibits that challenge the storyteller in all of us, and the second floor re-creates the artist’s studio and living room. It also exhibits never before publicly displayed artworks and Geisel’s boyhood stuffed dog, Theophrastus.
Springfield Museums offers admission to the Dr. Seuss Museum and four other museums, including the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, according to Michele Goldberg, director of marketing for the Greater Springfield CVB.
“It’s a great value for groups,” she said. “They also offer a group discount for 10 people or more traveling together. Groups can explore on their own or the museums will provide a docent.”
Located in Amherst, Mass., is the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, which curates and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world.
“The Carle Museum is an interactive experience and offers groups the chance to add workshops to their visit as well as guided tours,” Goldberg said. “We recommend spending time in the museum’s art studio where visitors can try out various illustration techniques.”
Works by Maurice Sendak and many other artists are on display at the Carle, which also accommodates groups seeking light-filled rental spaces for an off-site meeting or reception. Spaces include a Great Hall with murals, a granite-tiled courtyard, a 40-seat theater and three galleries showcasing some amazing picture book art.
If the timing is right, planners could also arrange for attendees to visit local arts-focused festivities during the meeting.
The Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival, a free experience held annually in August in downtown Springfield, is one example.
Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, Springfield, Mass.
Another is the Paradise City contemporary craft and fine arts fair, held twice a year in Northampton, Mass. Here, attendees can browse original pieces of furniture, jewelry, glass art and more, all made by local artists in their studios.
“These festivals and events really make Western Mass even more special,” Goldberg said.
The Berkshires
The booming tourism industry in the Berkshires is greatly attributed to the region’s recreational pursuits and its outpouring of arts experiences.
Tanglewood, the idyllic summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is an icon of the New England arts scene.
Located in Lenox, Mass., it’s the ideal place to enjoy a picnic on the lawn while listening to classical music or jazz.
“There is no other music venue like Tanglewood,” said Lindsey Schmid, director of marketing for 1Berkshire. “Not only are the concerts and the outdoor experience one of a kind, but groups can enjoy talks with the musicians and backstage tours.”
The Berkshires is also home to the Stockbridge, Mass.-based Norman Rockwell Museum, which houses the works of an American treasure.
“Nowhere else can you view this many of Norman Rockwell’s original paintings,” Schmid said. “This museum, open year-round, offers a true slice of American life, which resonates more and more with not only groups from the U.S. but for those coming from overseas.”
Groups can also schedule a tour, visit Rockwell’s on-site studio, which is open seasonally, and hold an off-site party or meeting complete with a private viewing of the museum.
Of the museum’s versatile spaces is a tented terrace that’s used for standout summertime events for up to 185 people seated.
Another must-visit arts attraction in the Berkshires is the newly expanded and renovated The Clark, which is located in Williamstown, Mass., and is home to exceptional art and architecture in an unparalleled setting, according to Schmid.
“This museum rivals any that you can find in a large urban center but has the luck of being located in the hills of the Berkshires, allowing a delightful juxtaposition of the indoor and outdoors, which cannot be found anywhere else,” she said.
Groups can plan a customized tour to include their specific interests, from American decorative arts to an impressive British collection and more.
Private lunches can also be arranged, and attendees will also appreciate time to explore the on-site nature trails and visit the gift shop during their visit.
SPRINGFIELD/BERKSHIRES CVB INFORMATION
1Berkshire
413.499.1600
Greater Springfield CVB
413.787.1548
Bay State Bites
The arts in Springfield and the Berkshires extend to the kitchens inside the area’s group-friendly restaurants. From German fare to creative American cuisine, groups are encouraged to tap into the region’s culinary artistry.
Student Prince Cafe and Fort Restaurant has been a popular Springfield institution since 1935. Specialties here include appetizers such as German pretzels and potato pancakes, entrees including meatloaf, beef goulash, sauerbraten--a German pot roast--and apple strudel for dessert.
The restaurant was recently renovated and includes the Edelweiss and Heidelberg rooms for business meetings and private group dining. Each room accommodates up to 100 people and is equipped with audiovisual technology to support presentations.
Two more dining opportunities located in Greater Springfield are the Palmer, Mass.-based Steaming Tender and Holyoke, Mass.-based Bistro at Gateway City Arts.
Situated on the grounds of historic Frederick Law Olmsted Park in the former Union Station, Steaming Tender features 30-foot ceilings, a collection of train and railroad memorabilia, private dining space and a menu featuring fresh seafood and New England comfort food, including whole belly clams, baked lobster macaroni and cheese, and whiskey bread pudding for dessert.
At Bistro at Gateway City Arts there is an outdoor beer garden that’s open from May through October and a menu of fresh, locally sourced dishes, including fish and chips, shrimp po boys, burgers and salads.
In the Berkshires, groups can grab a bite at Trail House Kitchen & Bar, which serves farm-to-table fare in North Adams, Mass. Menu favorites include chicken cordon bleu and potato crusted sea scallops, and whoopee pie and caramel apple cider donuts for dessert.
Also located in North Adams is Public eat + drink, which takes reservations for large groups and serves casual fresh dishes, from salads and flatbread pizzas to burgers and pastas.
Latest & Greatest
Springfield
The 252-room MGM Springfield, a $960 million integrated luxury resort and entertainment destination, opened in August. Resort features include a 125,000-square-foot gaming floor with over 2,550 slot machines, a 650-seat cinema and on-site dining. The property, which occupies three city blocks in downtown Springfield, boasts about 34,000 square feet of event space in a dedicated meeting and event center that features ballrooms and a 6,200-square-foot outdoor terrace. MGM Springfield manages the MassMutual Center.
Holiday Inn Express Springfield Downtown, located adjacent to the MassMutual Center, opened in April with 98 guest rooms and one meeting room.
Tru by Hilton Chicopee Springfield opened in May 2018 with 108 guest rooms and amenities that include a fitness room and semi-private workspaces.
Berkshires
Miraval has purchased Cranwell Spa & Golf Resort and plans to renovate and expand the property with an expected grand reopening as Miraval Lenox in May 2019. The resort, which offers 16,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space, will be fully operational during the renovations.
Lenox, Mass.-based Blantyre, which has meeting space for up to 80 people, has undergone an extensive renovation, including updates to guest rooms and the spa, and the addition of The Bistro, an on-site eatery and a champagne cave.
