I Love Newton

Author: Mia

  • Sing with the Newton Family Singers

    Sing with the Newton Family Singers

    Sing with the Newton Family Singers at Waban Lights on December 8th!

    The Newton Family Singers invite you to join us in singing cheerful holiday songs at Waban Lights, organized by the Waban Improvement Society, on December 8th at 4:30pm in Waban Square, Newton.  In addition to singing seasonal songs, the community gathers to celebrate the lighting of the evergreen tree in Waban Square and to enjoy hot cocoa donated by Starbucks.

    To be extra prepared and to enjoy more time singing as a community, please join us this Wednesday night at 7pm at the Waban Library Center to sing through the eight holiday songs we’ll be singing on Sunday.

    All are invited — you don’t need any singing experience. Adults and children are welcome!

    RSVPs are not necessary but are encouraged so that we can be prepared with lyrics for all! Email us at newfamilysingers@gmail.com.

    Happy Holidays from the Newton Family Singers!

    Sing with the Newton Family Singers

     

  • Winter Class Schedule at NewTV

    Winter Class Schedule at NewTV

    NewTV offers over 20 classes each quarter, and features several additional workshops throughout the year.

    Members and interns can take any class in four of our production tracks: Studio Production, Field Production, Post Production, media related workshops, and other exciting new courses including, 2D Animation, The Art of the Interview, Social Media and You, Film Composition, and Film Theory.

    To learn more about NewTV’s upcoming winter lineup, including what’s new, please click here.

    Winter Class Schedule at NewTV
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  • Polar Express Readings at The Prudential Center

    GET IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH A TRIP ON THE POLAR EXPRESS AT THE SHOPS AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER

    Barnes & Noble Sponsors Polar Express Readings on Dec.7 and Dec. 14  

    Santa at Prudential Mall Boston

    In celebration of the holiday season, The Shops at Prudential Center will host a children’s event to bring an infamous holiday story to life.  Kids are encouraged to dress in their pajamas and visit The Shops at Prudential Center Food Court for a Polar Express Story Hour on Dec. 7 and Dec. 14.

    Following the readings, kids are invited to stay for a special musical performance put on by local Boston children’s performers. While at The Shops at Prudential Center, stop by for a visit and photograph with Santa Clause. Santa’s workshop will be set up in the Belvedere Arcade near Isis Parenting, details here.

    WHO:             The Shops at Prudential Center and Barnes & Noble are partnering to share a holiday classic with readings of The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. The day will continue with a concert series featuring Boston-based singer-songwriter and children’s performer Vanessa Trien and Little Grove, host of educational music classes in the Boston area.

    WHAT:           The Polar Express Story Hour, featuring readings by “The Conductor”, hot chocolate, cookies and gifts for the children in attendance. Holiday craft activities sponsored by Barnes & Noble, California Pizza Kitchen, and 5 Napkin Burger.

    WHEN:           Readings of The Polar Express will take place on Dec. 7 and Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. ET.  Musical performances will follow. The Dec. 7 performance will feature Vanessa Trien with the Dec. 14 entertainment provided by Little Groove. Both concerts will take place from12:45 -1:45 p.m. ET.

    WHERE:         All activities will take place in the Food Court at The Shops at Prudential Center at 800 Boylston Street in Boston.

  • New Elite Soccer Skills Academy with Diego Fagundez

    New Elite Soccer Skills Academy with Diego Fagundez

    Diego Fagundez and Dan Colwell are teaming up starting the Elite Skills Academy!

    Diego Fagundez

    I was Diego’s youth coach from when he was 8 years old until he signed his professional contract with the Revolution.  We now want to start passing along some of the skills and ways to think more creatively.  It will start as a winter skills clinic over the month of December on Sundays.  The focus of the clinic will be ball mastery, developing a creative mindset on the ball, and many technical components of the game we all watch Diego do on the field now with the Revolution.

    The clinic will take place the the Fieldhouse in Sudbury and space is limited.  Look forward to see you there!!

    Dan Colwell
    Elite Skills Academy – Director

    Sign up here.

    Come join New England Revolution phenom Diego Fagundez as he teams up with Boston University assistant coach Dan Colwell for what will be a memorable four-session winter skills clinic.

    The Elite Skills Academy (ESA) is structured to provide youth soccer players with a positive and energetic environment focusing on technical skill, creativity, and speed of play.  They will learn ball mastery gaining comfort on the ball, exposed to a creative thought process, first touch development, and technique allowing them to play and make quicker decisions on the ball.

    COST: $125

     

    12/8 – 11:30am – 1:00pm

    12/15 – 10:00am – 11:30am

    12/22 – 11:30am – 1:00pm

    1/5 – 2:00pm – 3:30pm

     

    Dan Colwell – Director

    dcolwell10@gmail.com

    image from fan phobia

  • Book Signings at Wellesley Books

    Book Signings at Wellesley Books

    Get in the holiday spirit during Wellesley Square’s annual Holiday Stroll on Sunday, December 8th from noon until 6:00pm.

    This great community event brings families to Wellesley Square to visit Santa, enjoy merchants’ hospitality and do some holiday shopping in a festive atmosphere! Wellesley Books will be hosting Chef Joanne Chang, artist Ralph Masiello, and children’s author/illustrator Aaron Becker for book signings throughout the day. Let us help you pick out the perfect, personalized gift for your loved ones! Best of all, there is FREE PARKING in the Square from December 7th – 27th.

    Journey by Aaron Becker is thought to be a front runner for a Caldecott!


    Aaron Becker Journey

    Ralph Masiello is charming, funny and extremely talented. Kids love to draw using Ralph’s drawing books. Here are just a few of them:

    Ralph Masiello’s Dragon Drawing Book by Ralph Masiello

    Ralph Masiello’s Fairy Drawing Book (Ralph Masiello’s Drawing Books) by Ralph Masiello

    Joanne Chang has a sequel to her wildly popular cook book Flour based on her wildly popular bakery.

    Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston’s Flour Bakery + Cafe by Joanne Chang

    Flour, Too: Indispensable Recipes for the Cafe’s Most Loved Sweets & Savories by Joanne Chang


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  • Cook Restaurant Opens for Lunch Starting Tomorrow

    Cook Restaurant Opens for Lunch Starting Tomorrow

    Chef Paul Turano, owner of Tryst restaurant located in Arlington, MA, recently opened Cook, an American Bistro style restaurant, just a few short months ago. “Cook,” which is currently open for brunch and dinner only, will soon be opening its doors for lunch!

    Cook, located at 825 Washington Street in Newton, MA, highlights a variety of different dishes in its soon-to-be-launched lunch menu. Hungry customers can choose from Cook’s starters and salads including: udon noodles with peanuts and ponzu ($10), kale salad with brussels sprouts, parmesan, hazelnuts, verjus ($10), shrimp tacos with avocado, red onion, aji crema ($5 each) and cobb salad with blue cheese, bacon, avocado, tomatoes, balsamic vinaigrette ($10). Guests can also munch on a selection of Chef Turano’s sides such as bacon caramel popcorn ($5), sweet and spicy peanuts ($5), fries with “cool dips” and a housemade pretzel with mustards and salt ($3).

    Cook’s main dishes are separated into three different categories on the lunch menu including sandwiches, flatbreads and entrees. Guests have an option of sandwiches including grilled cheese with tomato, herbs and greens ($12), lobster sliders ($13), a vegetarian pita with walnut lentil kofte, mushrooms, yogurt and sumac ($10) as well as a classic burger with cheddar, lettuce, tomato and onions pickles. All sandwiches are served with house made ranch chips and greens. From the flatbread section, Chef Turano will be serving wild mushroom flatbread with fontina, ricotta, caramelized onions and truffle ($14), chorizo flatbread with goat cheese, poblano pepper and fingerling chips ($12) as well as a selection of heartier entrees including bolognese with veal, pork, beef, mascarpone, herbs ($13), winter vegetable lasagna, zucchini, kabocha squash, caramelized onions, mushrooms ($12).

    Join Cook for its first lunch opening on Monday, December 2nd, 2013.  Cook will be open from lunch Monday-Friday from 11:30AM to 2:30PM.


    Cook Restaurant opens for lunch Newton MA

  • Cook Chef Hosts Holiday Fundraiser for Boston Children’s Hospital

    Cook Chef Hosts Holiday Fundraiser for Boston Children’s Hospital

    When your child is sick, it’s hard to keep up a normal daily routine, and even harder doing so during the holiday season. This is something that Paul Turano, executive chef/owner of Tryst located in Arlington, MA and the newly opened Cook in Newton, MA, knows all too well, having spent time with his son at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant Units over the past few years.

    Both Turano’s children have Severe Combined Immune Deficiency Syndrome (SCIDS), and when his son was just two months old he had a bone marrow transplant at Boston Children’s Hospital that saved his life. This holiday season, Turano is giving back to the hospital that was there for his family by holding a holiday fundraiser for the Patient and Family Resource Room, a program that helps provide services to over 45 families whose children are being treated at the Boston Children’s Hospital Oncology and Hematology Center.

    In cooperation with Boston Children’s Hospital, Turano has set up a branded donation page online and will be encouraging holiday donations for the family resource program from December 1st, 2013 through December 31st, 2013.

    To donate, guests can visit the donation page online, or can donate at either Cook or Tryst where a QR code will be set up which, when scanned, will take guests directly to the page where they can make a donation on their mobile devices. In exchange for donating, Turano will give donors a gift certificate to Tryst (for up to $20) with proof of donation.

    “I can’t emphasize how much the Patient and Family Resource Room helped my family and I when we were going through this difficult time. It’s because of their team and services that we were able to maintain a sense of normalcy and routine, and I want to be able to give that back to other families that are going through it,” said Chef Turano, Executive Chef/Owner of Tryst and Cook.

    Funded through donations from area businesses and families, the 6th floor Patient and Family Resource Room is staffed by a patient and family educator who can help patients and families learn about their medical treatment.

    The Patient and Family Resource Room also offers a space for patients and families to relax and connect with others going through a similar experience. 

    Whether the donated money be used for a morning coffee at the local Dunkin Donuts, or towards purchasing a generic American Express donation that can be used towards gas, or parking (daily routines that are often overlooked), each donation will help parents regain a sense of normalcy in their lives. 

    With the extra help of these funds, Chef Turano will be putting the holidays back in the hands of these families.

    WHERE:

    Tryst | 689 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476|  781-641-2227 | trystrestaurant.com

    Cook| 825 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02460 | 617-964-2665 |cooknewton.com

    WHEN:                          December 1st, 2013 through December 31st, 2013.

    HOW:                            Donate here  or visit one of the restaurants and scan the QR code (displayed throughout the restaurant). After donation, present your receipt at Tryst to receive your gift certificate (of equal value, up to a $20 value).

    ADDITIONAL:    Limited to one Tryst gift certificate per person per visit. Gift certificates cannot be combined with any other offer. To receive gift certificate diners must visit Tryst. Cannot be done online.

    Cook Chef Hosts Holiday Fundraiser for Boston Children's Hospital

     

  • Arsenal Center Offers December Vacation Art Workshops for Children

    Arsenal Center Offers December Vacation Art Workshops for Children

    The Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown offers December Vacation Art Workshops for Kids!

    Friday, December 27: Try It!

    A special one-day workshop in a variety of media with morning and/or afternoon sessions (each with a different focus) and optional supervised lunch.

    Register: 617-923-0100, ext. 8309

     

    Monday, December 30, and Tuesday, December 31: The Great Artists

    Children will look at reproductions of work by famous artists, using them as inspiration to create their own masterpieces in a variety of media. Morning and/or afternoon sessions (each with a different focus) with optional supervised lunch in this two-day workshop.

    Register: 617-923-0100, ext. 8309


    Arsenal Center Offers December Vacation Art Workshops for Children

    Classes are held at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street in Watertown, with free parking and access to public transportation. Scholarships and Member discounts are available. For class descriptions, visit www.arsenalarts.org/education. To register, call 617-923-0100, ext. 8309.

     

  • Want to Give Back? Volunteer for OurNewton.org

    Want to Give Back? Volunteer for OurNewton.org

    OurNewton.org is looking volunteers!

    You can work from home or participate in community engagement. Free training included for all volunteers.

    Calling all editors, photographers, technical volunteers and marketing magnets. Please contact announcement@ournewton.org or call 617-797-9497.

    Run by volunteers, OurNewton.org is “one-stop shopping” for Newton community news.OurNewton.org lists not-for-profit events around Newton: concerts, plays, festivals, sports clinics, lectures, workshops, classes, volunteer opportunities, walks, bike rides, and more. 

    OurNewton.org

     

  • WellCoin Promotes Healthy Choices in Newton

    WellCoin Promotes Healthy Choices in Newton

    WellCoin is a website that promotes healthy living. It is coming to Newton! Business partners sign up and healthy habits earn coins that can be traded in at local businesses for rewards.

    Here is what Peirce Elementary School nurse Mandy Bass says:

    “Business partners include Whole Foods, Legal Seafood, and Pink Berry, among others (24 business partners in all; the founder is working on getting more kid friendly businesses such as book stores, Learning Express, toy stores involved).  Setti Warren  is behind it 100% in the interest of community wellness, and to support local businesses.

    Another nice aspect about WellCoin is that healthy habits rewarded are things people can do without spending a lot of money; go for a walk,  eat a healthy snack, etc. if they are not already involved in after school sports.

    WellCoin also encourages anyone to participate; certain activities are specifically capped so the elite athlete is not rewarded beyond the individual who wants a healthy lifestyle. We were told, for instance, exercise is capped at 1 hour; if you exercise for 4 hours a day, you get the 1 hour credit and a Congratulations!

    This type of project is in line with objectives for elementary aged children written by the HHS, CDC, and affordable care act (prevention commission).”

    WellCoin

    Here’s more information about Wellcoin:

    “Wellcoin makes it fun to get healthy and stay healthy”

    Well Coin was founded by a Newton MD, Glen LaFel. It’s a for-profit company which has a mission “to help the world get healthier by increasing the frequency and diversity of healthy activities in our daily lives.”

    It uses “health currency.” You earn virtual Wellcoins when you do healthy activities. There is a list of thousands of healthy activities which have assigned Wellcoin values (The amount earned is based on how hard the activity is to do, how long it takes to complete, the impact on your health , etc.) People can redeem their Wellcoins for goods + services from Wellcoin Partners, (which are local businesses, who choose to participate, and choose their rewards they will be offering and how many Wellcoins the reward will cost.)

    People know what to do (healthy eating + activities), and this rewards them for their good choices. People earn virtual currency for doing something healthy and then reporting it.

    Individuals sign up for free. Right now, it is geared to adults, but they are starting Wellcoin Family, where parents sign up, and enroll their child. This initiative will help to teach the children about healthy activities, etc. in a way that gives rewards. Parents can get points for driving their child to soccer practice, going to the farmer’s market with their child, cooking healthy meals together… Then the family can decide together whether to get a quick reward, or to save up for something together. (This is similar to the old S+H green stamps.)

    Newton is the first model city for Wellcoin, and it was launched in Newton in May 2013. By early October 2013, 500,000 coins had been earned by people in Newton. DZ has earned over 14,000 coins since May.

    WellCoin can be utilized by adults or children. It’s easy to sign up. Just go here.