By Ann Volkwein

Great Barrington local Michelle Kaplan is the friend you call when you want an obscurely sourced playlist or “wholesome suggestions for a good time” in the form of a quirky and stimulating itinerary for a day trip. While we are all gifted with the wonder of exploration in childhood, some among us are naturally inclined to allow our sense of adventure to take the wheel into adulthood. For Kaplan, this is less of a choice than a necessity for living, a true expression of her zest for life.

For the past decade she has generously shared her curiosity-in-action through her freewheeling weekly Mishmash radio show and, for the past year, her subscription-based travel guides.

The radio show, on Berkshire Community Radio, features deep dives into eclectic musical genres and interviews with special guests. Recent shows hosted Broadway performer (and former cover star of The B) Robert Hartwell, musician Ella Feingold, members of our local Haitian community playing live on air, and a hospitality series with the owners of No Comply, Hy’s Fried, Hilltown Hot Pies, and Jujus.

The online travel guides are a collection of off-the-beaten-path destinations in the area and beyond, featuring food, art, outdoor spaces, and interviews with passionate people. They enthusiastically bring to life the essence of discovery and a commitment to immersive, hyper-local experiences. As Kaplan describes them: “Mishmash guides will point out things you’ve passed by hundreds of times unknowingly. Special things you had no idea were here all along, right in the open.” Most of her coverage is in the wider Berkshires area, but she spent the winter in Orlando this year and documented her findings.

Kaplan moved to Great Barrington in 2012 when her partner, Ted Okun, landed an opportunity to learn sourdough with Richard Bourdon at Berkshire Mountain Bakery. Originally from south of Boston, they had been “WWOOFing” around the country for a few years through the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms program. She also co-founded the Berkshire Fermentation Festival, which ran for six years, and served as program coordinator at TurnPark Art Space in West Stockbridge. Kaplan is an ardent supporter of Railroad Street Youth Project and an active member of the Friends of the GB Libraries.

The concept of “third places” is important to Kaplan. “The Mason Public Library in Great Barrington is a classic example of a third place, a public space to gather, share knowledge, and simply be, with no expectations. You can just exist,” she explained. “As far as I’m concerned, The Mason Library is by far the best spot in Great Barrington. There’s a wide variety of magazines and newspapers to read on comfortable chairs, people watching galore, and thoughtful themed book displays by the librarians. You can charge your phone thanks to the Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home charging station and eat some mulberries from the epic gnarly tree right outside on the side of the building. There are free monthly poetry readings (formerly hosted by Familiar Trees) and tons of all-inclusive community events.”

Find Michelle:

• Patreon: patreon.com/Mishmashradio
  
• Mishmash Radio Show: LIVE every Thursday night from 7–9 p.m. on WBCR-LP, 97.7 FM Berkshire Community Radio, streaming at berkshireradio.org
  
  
  

A Mishmash Dream Day Dozen

South County Stops

• Visit the bird banding station at Jug End State Reservation with the Berkshire Bird Observatory. Follow Executive Director Ben Nickley on Instagram (@Berkshire_Bird_Observatory) and reach out about scheduling a time to go visit the banding station. It will change your life.
  
• Brunch at No Comply (@nocomplyfoods): wedge salad, pancakes, Japanese sweet potato…“When I find a REALLY good restaurant, I won’t shut up about it.”
  
• Head to TurnPark Art Space (turnpark.com) for outdoor sculptures. Their summer fest (June 14) is a completely unique experience in the Berkshires!
  
• Get some funky architecture appreciation going and schedule a tour of Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio in Lenox (frelinghuysen.org).
  
• Picnic at Ashintully Gardens in Tyringham (thetrustees.org/place/ashintully-gardens).
  

Pittsfield-Area Picks

• Treat yourself to Ayelada (ayelada.com)—the frozen yogurt in Pittsfield is a must. Local yogurt, no additives. It’s the real deal.
  
• Visit The Mastheads (themastheads.org), a public arts and humanities project with innovative installations.
  
• Explore Pittsfield State Forest (mass.gov/locations/pittsfield-state-forest). This sprawling, 11,000-acre forest includes Berry Pond and 30 miles of trails.
  

North Adams and Williamstown Highlights

• Don’t miss Wish Tree (wishtreenorthadams.com), a vegetable-forward restaurant with 100% vegan food, great music, and bird art everywhere.
  
• Check out Belltower Records (belltowerrex.com)—the best record shop, collaborating with The Clark (clarkart.edu) for live performances.
  
• Catch an exhibit at Williams College Museum of Art (artmuseum.williams.edu) and see their public art sculptures featuring Louise Bourgeois, Ursula von Rydingsvard, Jenny Holzer, and more.
  
• Hike the trails at Field Farm Reservation (fieldfarm.org) in Williamstown, and if you’re staying at the on-site B&B, tour “The Folly,” a midcentury modern gem.