The Berkshires’ Jewish Festival of Books, held at Hevreh of Southern Berkshire and The Berkshire Jewish Film Festival of Knesset Israel are pleased to be collaborating on an Egg Cream Eggstravaganza on Saturday, February 16th at 7:00 p.m. at Hevreh of Southern Berkshire, 270 State Road in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
The evening will begin with a screening of the short film “Egg Cream” by Nora Claire Miller, Peter Miller and Amy Linton. “Egg Cream” is a bittersweet look at memory, history, and the enduring meaning of a beloved chocolate soda drink born on the Jewish Lower East Side. The egg cream contained neither eggs nor cream – it was a product of necessity and hardship, but a source of joy and sweetness. Through a tour of egg cream establishments led by a filmmaker and his young daughter, exhaustively researched archival imagery, and even a song by Lou Reed, the film examines the Jewish experience in America and the mythology of a simpler time.
Following the film, author Barry Joseph will give the audience a taste via video of his book Seltzertopia: The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary Drink, which he will be presenting on the opening night of the book festival on Thursday, July 18th at 7:00 p.m. at Hevreh. The book will be available for advance purchase at the February event, and audience members are encouraged to return and have Joseph sign them at the festival in July.
After his video appearance at the Eggstravaganza, audience members will be invited to share their own egg cream reminiscences, and enjoy real siphon bottle seltzer, milk and Fox’s U-Bet egg creams.
The event will kick off a week long egg cream special at the Great Barrington Bagel Company in Great Barrington, which will be doing a trial run for its Memorial Day through July 21st egg cream special to benefit the book festival.
There is a $5 suggested donation for the Eggstravaganza, and RSVP’s are strongly recommended to ensure there are enough egg creams for all.
To RSVP and for more information, call Hevreh at 413-528-6378, or visit hevreh.org