One of the kindnesses I referenced here was a trip out of town with my friend Julie.

It was my first time visiting the Berkshires and the trip could not have been better: great company, wonderful food, terrific music, perfect weather, a good amount of wine – and even a celebrity sighting!

We drove up to Lenox on a Friday afternoon and went straight to Wheatleigh for drinks on their beautiful lawn.

Wheatleigh is a must-see. So beautiful.

Afterward, we had dinner at Table Six on the patio–where I learned that Western Massachusetts mosquitos *love* me. Oh well.

On Saturday morning, after a coffee stop at Patisserie Lenox, we went for massages at the spa at Cranwell. Just what the doctor ordered.

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Post-spa, we got brunch at the Starving Artist Cafe – next to actor Jesse Eisenberg and his family, incidentally. I am really excited to see American Ultra, but refrained from telling him so.

We did a little shopping and took naps (naturally, for me; not something Julie gets to do often) before going to an early dinner at Nudel. It was one of the best meals I have had in a very long time. Somehow I neglected to take a pic of my delicious orecchiette with pork sausage, Swiss chard, green olives, pepperoncini and Grana Padano. Boo.

(Click on the photos for menu descriptions)

We sat with a view of the open kitchen

Green beans and sugar snaps from Lee, fried onion, horseradish, bacon and Animal Farm buttermilk

Roasted Berry Patch beefsteak tomato, rock shrimp and corn ‘pico de gallo,’ hot sauce, crema, crushed nachos

Proof of rose

Maine lamb ‘ceviche’ with spicy Vietnamese flavors & herbs – a fancy lettuce wrap

NEFF flank steak, broccoli “marrow” steak sauce, lentils, sweet onion and parsley

Warm crumbled cornbread, blueberries, lime cream, mascarpone

Chefs at work

After dinner, we grabbed some wine and lawn chairs and went to Tanglewood where we heard the Boston Symphony Orchestra perform. It was awesome (other than the mosquitoes and poor Julie having to listen to me cry about Dad). My friends are so lovely.

Thank you, Julie. xoxo