Category: All About Newton

News, events, children’s activities in Newton, MA.

Bloggy Events in Newton and Cambridge

Bloggy Events in Newton and Boston

Ford Fusion Coffee Shop Takeover at L’Aroma Cafe

Capability:Mom and I went to a great Ford Fusion event at L’Aroma event thanks to an invite from Emily of Random Recyling who hails from neighboring Needham.

It was a coffee shop takeover (but in a good way!). Free coffee and pastries on Ford!

The Ford Fusion has a driver alert system to prevent drivers from falling asleep at the wheel.

Emily demonstrated the benefits of having a back up camera system! The parking lot at L’Aroma can be tight so this system is very handy!

Ford had several cars we could try out.

The engine is pristinely clean!

Boston Social Media Peeps Holiday Party at Kid Friendly Royal Sonesta Hotel Cambridge

My social media group had a lovely holiday party (because bloggers don’t usually have company parties) thanks to Mommy Niri and The Frugalette who pulled this off in less than a week! Special thanks to all the sponsors of our event including the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge near the Cambridgeside Galleria.

If you have guests in town looking for a place to stay, the Royal Sonesta impressed with gourmet food and kid friendly activities!

The Art Bar for kids is something the Royal Sonesta offers to all young guests. Food and art! A perfect combination for kids!

Colored playdough in vibrant colors entertained the kids!

Scallops with Celery Root Puree were plated to order and were perfectly cooked! This was truly delicious!

Healthy and delicious choices for adults!

The adult menu. Equally impressive and child-friendly menu for the kiddos too!

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors!!

January 3, 2013
Almost Midnight Madness Sale at Whole Foods Newton on Walnut!

Sunday Night from 10 pm to Midnight, shop Whole Foods for Exceptional Savings!

Exclusive deals at Whole Foods on Walnut at Beacon Streets in Newton including items 50% off! There will be additional Mystery Manager’s Specials revealed in store only! We will also have raffles, prizes and live music!

Other locations for this Madness Sale: Fresh Pond in Whole Foods is Open All night until 5am. Bellingham and Framingham also are having an Almost Midnight Madness sale from 10pm – Midnight.

Please join us here in Walnut/Beacon Whole Foods on December 23rd, Sunday, from 10 pm to Midnight for fun and exceptional savings including lots of Buy One Get One Free items!!

December 21, 2012
Newton Holiday Pop-Up Store!

Holiday Pop-Up Store at L’Aroma Cafe in Newton

Friday, December 21 8:30-Noon
at L’Aroma Café
15 Spencer Street
Newton, MA

Featuring gorgeous handmade goods from local artists and companies:
ceramics, hair accessories, accent
pillows, jewelry, wreaths, centerpieces,
photographs, hostess gifts, and outdoor
containers decorated for the holidays

A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS GO TO FAMILIES FIRST!

holiday pop up store poster

December 18, 2012
Special Holiday Fundraiser for New Repertory Theatre

New Repertory Theatre A Christmas Carol Fundraiser

Ken Cheeseman will be reading Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on Sunday, December 16th at Terry O’Reilly’s Irish Pub in Newton. Only 40 seats are available! Admission is a minimum donation of $25 which will be matched by New Rep’s matching program. Only 4 seats per person.

Please buy tickets here.

December 13, 2012
Upcycled Toy Invention Birthday Party for Kids

Science-Meets-Art Kids’ Birthday Party

Do you need a new birthday party idea for your kids? Something eco-friendly and creative? I just met the founders of KinetiCreations. Check out these toys kids make from upcycled materials!

Catapults!!!

Marble Maze!

Foosball!!

KinetiCreations shows kids that they have the ability and imagination to create ways of having fun themselves, using mostly recycled materials to build kinetic toys and games. Kids build and play with toys they invent.

This is a new local business developed by two experienced educators. For more information, please visit KinetiCreations for more information.

They also do birthday parties and private classes with prices ranging from $125-$250.

My kids would love this combination of invention, creativity and art!

Eileen Gagarin is a state certified K-12 art teacher and a local sculptor (www.eileengagarin.com). She has over a decade of experience teaching art to students of all ages. She has spent multiple summers volunteering as an art teacher in Latin America, teaches at various after school and adult education programs, and is an adjunct professor at Emmanuel College.

Matt Westling is an outdoor enthusiast and science dork with a history degree from Boston University. He has worked for after-school programs and summer camps in Brookline, Newton and Dedham as well as non-profits in Boston and abroad for under-privileged children.

December 12, 2012
Celebrations! A Family Discovery Concert & Instrument Petting Zoo

New Philharmonia Orchestra Family Concert & Instrument Petting Zoo

Sunday, December 16 at 3pm

First Baptist Church

848 Beacon St, Newton Centre

T-accessible by the Green Line “D Line” Newton Centre stop

Please join the New Philharmonia Orchestra and special guests, Newton’s Boston Ballet School and All-City Honors Chorus Treble Singers!

Join us to celebrate friendship, joy and peace on earth through music, song and dance! The New Phil and their special guests, Newton’s Boston Ballet School and the 80-member Treble Singers children’s chorus, will delight the audience with this magical program – dance among the snowflakes, take a sleigh ride, and fill your heart with song! New Phil’s famous Instrument Petting Zoo follows the performance; this is a terrific opportunity for children of all ages to meet and try the orchestra instruments! This imaginative and interactive program is appropriate for family members of all ages.

Tickets: $10-$15

For tickets and more information, please visit www.newphil.org or call 617.527.9717.

December 11, 2012
Newton’s New Indoor Winter Farmer’s Market

Newton has started its own Winter Farmers’ Market, which runs on Tuesdays from 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Hyde Community Center in Newton Highlands. I visited today and guess what I found?

Crisp and Delicious Apples!

Fresh Salad Greens! Hydroponic!

Artisanal Cheese!

Lovely soaps!

Artisanal Pasta from Nella Pasta.

Maple syrup from a local sugar house!

Live musical entertainment by Newton’s own Newton Family Singers. The Newton Family Singers are an intergenerational chorus and band celebrating family, community and American folk music. They are performing on Sunday, December 9th at 4pm at Memorial Spaulding Elementary School (250 Brookline Street). $10/adults $8/kids

Kettle Corn! YUM!

Coffee from Nicaragua … from her family’s own farm!

A LOCAL vineyard, Turtle Creek Winery, with Award Winning Wine!

Artisanal Jams, Jellies, Relish, Pickles, and Sauces from Coutts Speciality Foods.

Fresh Fish!

Spindrift healthy sodas and flavored sparkling waters!

Gorgeous fresh produce from Freitas Farm.

The nice folks at Whole Foods!

Seafood Chowder!

Thank you to the market manager for setting up such a great indoor Farmers’ Market in Newton! You should come by! As you can see, you can put together a wonderful dinner from the vendors here! Hope to see you next week!

December 9, 2012
Open House & Craft Fair at New Art Center!

Newton New Art Center Craft Fair and Open House

Sunday Dec. 9, 1-4pm, FREE

-Craft fair by New Art Center faculty

-Meet teachers

-Register for classes

-Register for February, April and Summer Art programs

–FREE Art activities for children

-Ceramics Demo

-Free Exhibitions with Family Connections Drop-In visits

Please stop by!

New Art Center in Newton

61 Washington Park

Newtonville, MA 02460

p.s. KIDS ART SPACE for grades 1 to 4Every Tuesday from 1:30 to 5:30pm – or you can pick your hours of drop-in and pick-up.
Fee: Drop-in fee $35 per afternoon OR tuition fee from January 8 to March 19: $320 (if you register by December 19) or $352 after December 19.

December 6, 2012
Cappella Clausura’s alternative Christmas pageant!

Cappella Clausura’s Christmas Performance

Cappella Clausura’s alternative Christmas pageant is back December 15th and 16th! This program is ever-popular with families, with its graceful child dancers, sing-alongs, giant puppets – and gorgeous music. But what makes it different is the source of the music: written by mostly cloistered nuns from 12th – 17th century Italy and Germany and told from Mary’s point of view. Who knew they composed such beautiful music, hidden away in their convents!

In a truly different sort of Christmas pageant suited to the entire family, with puppets, adult and child dancers and beautiful costumes, Cappella Clausura, Amelia LeClair, Director, and Creationdance, Helena Froehlich, Director, present Gloria: A Renaissance Christmas Pageant. This magical foray into the wide variety of music written mostly by cloistered women celebrates perhaps the most famous mother and son, as seen from Mary’s point of view. For this unique concert, Cappella Clausura has chosen works from its repertoire of lush medieval, renaissance and baroque music by Hildegard von Bingen, Sulpitia Cesis, Raffaella Aleotti, and Chiara Cozzolani, as well as the stunningly beautiful contemporary music of Patricia Van Ness inspired by ancient chant. Giant puppets and lively laude, or anonymous processional hymns, from 14th century Florence, will be included. Froehlich and company dance to spectacular choreography dressed in richly-hued costumes as Cappella Clausura sings the Christmas story all the way from the birth of Mary to the Visit of the Magi. The audience is invited to sing with the performers and join in the wonder and merriment!

Who: Cappella Clausura with CREATIONDANCE

What: GLORIA: A RENAISSANCE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

When/Where:
Sat., Dec. 15, at 2:00PM – First Parish Church, 349 Boston Post Rd., Weston

Sat., Dec. 15, at 8:00PM – University Lutheran, 66 Winthrop St., Cambridge

Sun., Dec. 16, at 8:00PM – Parish of the Messiah, 1900 Commonwealth Ave., Newton

Contact: Director Amelia LeClair 617-964-6609 or manager@clausura.org

Tickets: $15 – $25 at www.clausura.org or at the door

December 2, 2012
Newton Arts Stroll & Shop

On Sunday, December 2 from noon-6pm, Newton Centre is being transformed into a vintage Main Street for the Newton Cultural Alliance’s Arts Stroll & Shop. Featuring participation from 40 local businesses and 100 artists and musicians, the Stroll makes it fashionable for you to shop, eat, and art local.

The Newton Cultural Alliance (NCA), a coalition of 24 Newton non-profit arts and cultural members, is presenting the Stroll for the second year to make it easy for Newton residents and visitors to Shop Local – Eat Local – Art Local. The Stroll also brings culture and business together for the benefit of our community. Newton Centre shop and restaurant owners are enthusiastic for the opportunity to collaborate.

What can you expect at the Stroll? Empty storefronts on Centre St, Beacon St, and Union St are being turned into pop-up art galleries and performance spaces. Your favorite chic boutiques will be decked out and offering Stroll day discounts. Chefs are creating specialty menus for the event. NCA members the New Philharmonia Orchestra, Newton Open Studios, Newton Art Association, New Art Center, Cappella Clausura, Suzuki School of Newton, and more are providing the cultural entertainment. There’s fun and community spirit to be had for families, couples, friends, and everyone in between!

There is even a free community concert! At 4pm the NCA will present the collaborative performance at the First Baptist Church (848 Beacon St, Newton Centre). Join your friends and neighbors for the music and even join in a sing-a-long! Following the concert, a Stroll & Sing will follow luminaries that have been lit throughout the Centre. This is a guaranteed magical way to close a day full of community spirit, holiday joy, and supporting local businesses and organizations.

Stroll maps with participants and schedules are available in participating stores, on the Newton Cultural Alliance’s website, www.newtonculture.org, and the Arts Stroll & Shop Facebook page. For more information, visit www.newtonculture.org.

November 30, 2012