Winter Evenings Glow in Concord

BY CINDY ATOJI KEENE

There’s a joke that goes: “What are the four seasons in New England? Winter, still winter, and three months of bad sledding.” Any shrewd Yankee – or wise visitor – chuckles at this saying but knows it just ain’t true. Rather, winter in the northeast is a wonderland of opportunity. As the sage Henry David Thoreau observed, “a healthy man, indeed, is the complement of the seasons, and in winter, summer is in his heart.” And in Concord, where Thoreau tread across snowy dells and meadows blanketed in white, hearts are “warm and cheery, like cottages under drifts, whose windows and doors are half concealed, but from whose chimneys the smoke cheerfully ascends.”

Ascend we do upon Concord, when the days shorten and the air is crisp, to explore this town that symbolizes devotion to liberty, intellectual freedom, and the integrity of village life. It is at dusk when the magic really begins, when the streetlights glow and on the outskirts, the barred owl swoops over marshland. It is at night, as well, when the spirit of the revolutionary war comes to life in local taverns where the hoisting of ale and boisterous conversation still converge for a meetinghouse of ideas. While some see winter as a time of hibernation, research has shown that those who see the season as full of possibilities – instead of limitations – experience greater well-being. This “Friluftsliv” is a Norwegian word that translates to “free air life,” and explains how to approach winter with a positive mindset: something to be enjoyed, not something to be endured.

Where to begin your own winter adventures in Concord as the sun sets? Why not start outdoors?

The Old Manse was the center of Concord’s political, literary, and social zeitgeist for a century. Special winter programs are planned to re-experience pivotal moments in our nation’s early history in this house, and the Old Manse transforms after dark. Experience a special candle-lit tour at twilight as you explore the chambers of the Old Manse lit by candles and the setting sun. thetrustees.org/place/the-old-manse

To walk in the eventide – or anytime – is a time of discovery, as Thoreau said: “We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying adventure.” Indeed, adventure awaits for those curious about the stories and history in our venerable streets and byways, as guided walking tours reveal our town’s treasured past. The Concord Visitor Center is open December weekends plus Dec 26-31, offering private and family tours. Learn more about our cultural heritage, and the role of African Americans or indigenous peoples. Or foster your child’s “sense of place” by visiting local landmarks that enhance an empathetic understanding of locale. visitconcord.org/visit/walking-tours

Twilight is the perfect time to stroll the grounds of Minute Man National Historical Park (nps.gov/mima/planyourvisit), Old Hill Burying Ground (visitconcord.org/listings/ old-hill-burial-ground), Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (concordma.gov/1956/sleepyhollow-cemetery), South Burying Ground (concordma.gov/1958/south-buryingground), and Walden Pond State Reservation (mass.gov/locations/walden-pond-statereservation). All of these historic places are lovely on a winter’s late afternoon and are open until sunset.

There is much to enjoy indoors as well. Be inspired by art exhibitions at The Umbrella Arts Center (umbrellaarts.org) and Three Stones Gallery (threestonesgallery.com).

Experience live theater at 51 Walden (51Walden.org) where Concord Players will present Indecent Feb 10 – 25, and Opera51 will perform Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro Dec. 17 – 18.

Brighten the night with music as the Concord Orchestra presents “The Vernacular Express” Jan 28 – 29 (concordorchestra.com) or cozy up with a good book at the Concord Free Public Library. concordlibrary.org

No doubt all this will leave you with an appetite, as did nightfall with the colonists who indulged in meat, porridge, or a fruit tart after the day’s work was done. Indeed, winter in colonial New England was a time of change and transition when many relied on the fruits of summer labor to survive the cold months. In fact, many inhabitants of Concord made the Colonial Inn their winter home in the first half of the twentieth century. That’s why it’s a special place to enjoy classics like chicken pot pie and yankee pot roast in a centuries-old building that has stood witness to history for almost three centuries. And what was once a storeroom for supplies during the Revolutionary War is now a cozy place to gather fireside for drinks and good conversation at the Forge Tavern. concordscolonialinn.com

Or enjoy a quick bite or full meal at any of our town’s restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries. You’ll find a complete list of places to eat on p. 35.

Speaking of dining, here is some food for thought: Thoreau wrote to a friend, “This has indeed been a grand winter for me, and for all of us. I am not considering how much I have enjoyed it. What matters it how happy or unhappy we have been, if we have minded our business and advanced our affairs?” So winter, to all of us, is just a season and whether it’s three months of bad sledding or a month of happy exploration, we must forge ahead.

Cindy Atoji Keene is a former editor at the Boston Herald. She is also a longtime contributor to the Boston Globe and has acted as creative director at Science and Theology News