PRIME welcomes warm-weather fun

We celebrate the summer solstice in June, and with it the unique events this season offers. While our cover story previews the allure of the Berkshires, let's not forget the myriad attractions that take place closer to home. With so many local offerings, it's hard to choose a select few, but one that comes to mind is the Paradise City Arts Festival, which takes place May 29-31. This news will unfortunately come too late for many of our readers who pick up their copies of PRIME in June, but those early birds who pick up the current PRIME when it first hits the stands during the final week of May can still make the wonderful weekend event. Paradise City is no small soiree; since its founding 16 years ago by two Northampton artists, it has captured the imaginations of artists and patrons from across the country. It was recently ranked third overall in a nationwide survey, besting hundreds of fine art and craft shows. Grammy-winning saxophonist Charles Neville is a main performer for this Memorial Day Weekend event at the three-county fairgrounds. The greater Springfield area also offers a host of events this summer. The Taste of the Valley runs from June 3-6. The eleventh-annual event features more than 40 delicious choices from 17 area restaurants. New this year is the Taste's first-annual "Jazzy 5K" Fun Run and Walk to be held in conjunction with the "Jazz Sunday" theme on June 6. And of course, there's always the Stearns Square summer concert series, featuring performers this year including Roomful of Blues on July 8 and Molly Hatchet on July 15. These are fun, free concerts backed by the Springfield Business Improvement District. In addition to our summer preview this month, PRIME delivers a bevy of great articles, including an interview with James Drury, star of the classic TV series "The Virginian." Managing Editor G. Michael Dobbs interviewed Drury, who is a lifelong actor with many great stories to tell about the craft. We also have a beautiful photo collage this month, which documents a traditional summertime event: cruise nights. Photographer George Skovera's images of restored and tricked-out cars from the past are a glimpse of summer fun. The page was gracefully designed by our own aesthetic guru, PRIME Art Director Leo Pilares. Be sure to also check out our exotic travel section. If a day in the Berkshires should seem too tame, take a walk on the wild side with an African safari. Cottar Safari Services will take you back to a 1920's-themed safari adventure in Kenya that would make anyone feel like Ernest Hemingway. Last but not least, see page 23 for a late-breaking update from the folks at the Massachusetts Summer Senior Games. The group announced that this year's keynote speaker at their kickoff banquet June 18 will be former Boston Patriots fullback Larry Garron. A full schedule of events for the summer games can be found on page 22. Until next time, we hope you enjoy the summer sunshine and of course, reading PRIME magazine. Sincerely, Mike Briotta, PRIME Editor mikeb@thereminder.com