Season’s Greetings
from Our Concord Team
Celebrating home, heritage, and timeless beauty all around town. Considering buying or selling a home? Reach out today or stop in to our Concord o ce at 24 Main Street in downtown Concord.
Photo from left: Wade Staniar, Kelley McCarthy, Sarah MacEachern, Abby Gurall White, Ruth Kennedy Sudduth, Emerson White, Sarah Kinsman, and J. Stanley Edwards (front row).
“I
from the
FOUNDERS
A Season of Giving — And a Fond Farewell
WWhere did the year go?! It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating Concord250 on April 19. How quickly the year went by – and we find ourselves with shorter days, crisp evenings, and the holiday season just around the corner. Friends and family gather to break bread and share memories together. Beautiful lights twinkle against the night sky, and the warmth of a fire or a good meal keeps us cozy and warm. It’s the holidays!
Discover Concord’s 2025 Guide to Holiday Gift Giving is the sixth edition of a special project created during the COVID pandemic in 2020. We were touched to see how it brought joy and connection to our community, and it has become quite a tradition in and around Concord.
We hope this special collection of gift ideas entirely from local shops, restaurants, museums, and specialty businesses will encourage you to shop locally this holiday season. You can feel good knowing that a far larger share of your dollar stays in the community when you buy your gifts from a local business. They have so much to offer! Unique, artisanal, and specialty gifts are personal and make an impact with loved ones. We hope this collection will help you find just the right ‘something’ for those on your holiday list.
As we contemplate what is ‘naughty’ and what is ‘nice’ – part 2 of the film based on beloved local author Gregory Maguire’s literary masterpiece, Wicked, will grace movie screens beginning November 21. Wicked: For Good challenges our notions of what is ‘good’ and what is ‘evil.’ Maybe you’ll find yourself inspired to expand your ‘nice’ list in unexpected ways.
There’s one precious gift I must mention here – the gift of friendship and collaboration with my dear friend Cynthia Baudendistel, which has spanned more than 20 years. She and I started Discover Concord in 2019 to share our love of storytelling through the lens of history and tourism in this amazing town. We were rewarded with a community we adore – from writers, to photographers, to historians, to the many readers from around the world who interact with us every day. What an amazing experience!
Cynthia’s heart and soul have been poured into each and every one of the 35 issues created in the six and a half years since that first experiment in 2019.
But the time has come and after a stunning career in publishing, spanning more than 35 years, Cynthia is retiring. It seems fitting that her last project for the Concord community is the Gift Guide for everything she does is a gift. I want to take a moment to thank her for her amazing inspiration, wisdom, guidance, patience, and incredibly hard work in helping me to make this publication possible. Knowing her has made me a better person. Working with her has made Discover Concord a very special publication. Thank you, dear friend, and enjoy retirement and a new set of adventures. We will all miss your talent, but I shall miss you most of all.
To our great big community of wonderful humans here in Concord, throughout the state, across the country, and around the world – this holiday, may you all find joy, happiness, friendship, laughter, and love.
Happiest of Holidays,
Jennifer C. Schünemann
2025 Guide to Holiday
Gift Giving
ANTIQUES
34 Bobbi Benson Antiques
51 First Rugs
43 Northeast Numismatics
53 North Bridge Antiques
FINE ARTS, GUITARS & CUSTOM FRAMING
46 Alice Rosa, Artist
46 Barbara Willis, Artist
58 Chiha Portraits
46 Deborah Richardson, Artist
55 Edward Feather Photography
51 First Rugs
19 Frame-ables
46 Jean Lightman, Artist
46 Jill Goldman-Callahan, Artist
46 Julia Miner, Artist
46 Lonnie Harvey, Artist
59 Minuteman Guitars
16 Three Stones Gallery
47, 57 The Umbrella Arts Center
BOOKS & BOOKSHOPS
32 Barefoot Books
24 Barrow Bookstore
31 Concord Bookshop
5, 54 Discover the Battle Road
52 Year 2000
CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
27 Loveday
35 Nesting
51 Patina Green
31 Reflections
ECLECTIC, FUN & A BIT OF WHIMSY
61 Artisans Way
24 Barrow Bookstore
54 The Bee’s Knees British Imports
31 Debra’s Natural Gourmet
27 Loveday
35 Nesting
43 Northeast Numismatics
30 Puck and Abby
11 Revolutionary Concordians
Trading Cards
47, 57 The Umbrella Arts Center
19 Wee Forest Folk
EXPERIENTIAL GIFTS
21 Camden Writers
58 Chiha Portraits
10 Concord Museum
53 Concord Orchestra
61 Concord Players
24 Concord Visitor Center
25 Cruise Planners
60 Discovery Museum
55 Edward Feather Photography
21, 57 Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area
35, 56 Friends of Minute Man National Park
20, 57 Guitar Museum of New England
24, 48, 57 Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House
11 Sons, Daughters, and Children of the American Revolution
47, 57 The Umbrella Arts Center
57, IBC Wright Tavern
FLORISTS & HOLIDAY GREENERY
33 Concord Flower Shop
42 Verrill Farm
HOME FURNISHINGS & DÉCOR
61 Artisans Way
54 The Bee’s Knees British Imports
51 First Rugs
51 Patina Green
30 Puck and Abby
JEWELRY
17, 60 Artinian Jewelry
61 Artisans Way
51 Fairbank and Perry Goldsmiths
27 Loveday
35 Nesting
51 Patina Green
31 Reflections
16 Three Stones Gallery
LODGING
7 Concord’s Colonial Inn
PHILANTHROPY
56 Art for All
56 Concord Art
56 Concord Free Public Library Corporation
56, 61 Concord Players
21, 57 Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area 35, 56 Friends of Minute Man National Park
57 The Friends of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery 20, 57 Guitar Museum of New England
24, 48, 57 Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House 42, 57 The Umbrella Arts Center
57 The Walden Woods Project 57, IBC Wright Tavern
REAL ESTATE & CUSTOM BUILDERS
1 Appleton Design Group
3 The Attias Group
64 Barrett Sotheby’s Int’l Realty
35 Carleton-Willard Village
OBC Compass
IFC LandVest
41 William Raveis Real Estate
RESTAURANTS & CATERING
27 Adelita
7 Concord’s Colonial Inn
31 Debra’s Natural Gourmet
9 Fiorella’s
25 Woods Hill Pier 4
43 Woods Hill Table
SERVICES
39 CS Bailey Landscape
21 Camden Writers
58 Chiha Portraits
42 Concord Chamber of Commerce
42 Concord Funeral Home
25 Cruise Planners
55 Edward Feather Photography
19 Frame-ables
53 Lexington Graphics
40 Native Interior Design Studio
21 Twelve Points Wealth Management
26 West Concord Shopping Plaza
SPECIALTY FOOD & WINE SHOPS
54 The Bee’s Knees British Imports
54 Concord Market
30 Concord Teacakes
31 Debra’s Natural Gourmet
19 Dunkin’
33, 42 Verrill Farm
43 Vintages
33 West Concord Wine & Spirits
STOCKING STUFFER IDEAS
32 Barefoot Books
24 Barrow Bookstore
54 The Bee’s Knees British Imports
31 Concord Bookshop
31 Debra’s Natural Gourmet
5, 54 Discover the Battle Road
19 Dunkin’
30 Puck and Abby
11 Revolutionary Concordians Trading Cards
19 Wee Forest Folk
57, IBC Wright Tavern
52 Year 2000
THANKSGIVING TURKEY & FIXIN’S
33 Verrill Farm
©istock.com/Black Lollipop
MAKE LIFE MORE DELICIOUS!
At Fiorella’s we put our passion for life and our love for hospitality into everything we do. Life is flavored by sweet moments, and we truly want you to cherish them all. Bring life’s best ingredients together with the ones you love, and savor every bite.
30 YEARS OF Family Trees : A Celebration of Children’s Literature
November 22 – January 4
Experience a one-of-a-kind installation of dozens of elaborately decorated story trees, each inspired by a picture book.
Sponsored by Barefoot Books.
Holiday House Tour
December 6, 10 am – 4 pm
Visit six beautiful private homes throughout the Concord area festively decorated for the holiday season.
Presented by the Guild of Volunteers.
Spread Some Holiday Cheer This Season
Support Your Local Shops and Restaurants
Here’s how much of your $100 purchase stays in your community when you spend at . . .
Source: American Independent Business Alliance
2025 Holiday Celebrations Around Town
Craft Fair at the Hunt Recreation Center
Nov 15 | 9 am – 2 pm
Kick off your holiday shopping at the annual craft fair, where local artisans present a stunning array of handmade jewelry, paintings, fiber arts, and more. You’re sure to find the perfect gifts for family, friends, or even yourself. ConcordRec.Myrec.com
Early Bird Pajama Party at Debra’s Natural Gourmet
Nov 22 | 5 – 9 am
Put on your most festive pjs and head to Debra’s for their annual early bird sale. Take advantage of great discounts to stock up on Thanksgiving and holiday favorites, then stroll along Commonwealth Avenue and visit the many other shops that join in the fun of this pre-Thanksgiving tradition. DebrasNaturalGourmet.com
30 Years of Family Trees: A Celebration of Children’s Literature
Nov 22 – Jan 4
Tuesday to Friday: 10 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday: 10 am to 5 pm This is one of Concord’s most cherished family events. Each year, Barefoot Books
partners with Concord Museum to create a wonderland of holiday trees, each ornamented with hand-made decorations inspired by a picture book. Sit and read together or join in a festive scavenger hunt. This year’s trees will feature a mix of classic children’s books – from Goodnight Moon to the Very Hungry Caterpillar – and inspiring new books, many by local authors. Related events, including a birthday party to celebrate 30 years of Family Trees, will take place in December. ConcordMuseum.org
Concord Turkey Trot
Nov 27 | 8:30 am
Start Thanksgiving Day by running for a good cause. Join the 2025 Concord Turkey Trot and support Open Table charity. MarxRunning.com/ concord-turkey-trot
Menorah Display at Debra’s Natural Gourmet
December
Thirty-six years ago, Debra Stark began the annual
tradition of sharing the Festival of Lights with the community by displaying her collection of menorahs in the windows of Debra’s Natural Gourmet. Today, her son Adam continues the tradition. Stop by and admire the remarkable collection of menorahs held in trust for the community. DebrasNaturalGourmet.com
Gingerbread House Display | December
The Concord Free Public Library will once again display Dr. Andrea Resciniti’s stunning holiday gingerbread house. You’ll be amazed at the intricacy and wonder of her work. ConcordLibrary.org
Winter Market at The Umbrella Arts Center | Dec 5 - 7
A holiday tradition! The Winter Market features more than 70 local and regional artists displaying unique, handmade pieces. There are demonstrations by the artists, live music, a holiday café, and much more. TheUmbrellaArts.org
The 15th Annual Holiday House Tour
Dec 6 | 10 am - 4 pm
Home for the holidays the phrase conjures memories of magical times made even more special by a beautifully decorated home filled with cherished holiday heirlooms or unique new decorations. This is your chance to visit six of Concord’s most beautiful homes, festively decorated for the holiday season. ConcordMuseum.org
Concord Center Tree Lighting
Dec 7 | 3 - 6 pm
Make it a family tradition to welcome the festive season with the Town of Concord’s Annual Tree Lighting. There will be a parade, outdoor entertainment, festive store fronts, hot cocoa, and much more. The Concord Players will be singing carols from 3:45 – 4:15 on the steps of the Post Office on Walden Street. Inside the Performing Arts Center
at 51 Walden Street, enjoy festive holiday music from The Concord Band along with hot cocoa and refreshments. Santa will even make his way down Main Street aboard one of Concord’s fire trucks to light the Town Tree! ConcordRec.Myrec.com
Holiday Pops with the Firebird Pops Orchestra at The Umbrella Arts Center
Dec 12 at 7:30 pm
Dec 13 at 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm
Dec 14 at 3:00 pm
Join the Firebird Pops Orchestra and Firebird Vox Choir as they present another extraordinary holiday concert! TheUmbrellaArts.org
West Concord Holiday Stroll
Dec 13 | 10 am – 2 pm
Join in the magic of the holidays as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus welcome you to West Concord. Shops will be serving holiday treats, and you’ll find plenty of great sales to make holiday shopping a joy. VisitConcord.org
Holiday Pops with the Concord Band
Dec 13 | 6 – 8 pm
A Concord tradition since 1976, Holiday Pops returns with your favorite tunes, guest artists, and audience sing-alongs. It’s sure to be an evening to remember! ConcordBand.org
An Old-Fashioned Christmas at Orchard House
Dec 13 and 20: 10 am – 5 pm
Dec 14 and 21: 12 pm – 5 pm
Experience all the joys of Christmas through seasonal sights, scents, and sounds within the festive, tastefully decorated Alcott home during the Annual Holiday Living History Program that has been a family favorite for decades! Visit with the Alcotts, their notable neighbors, and faithful friends while they prepare for holiday celebrations. Enjoy
interacting with living history portrayers as they share Alcott traditions and savor the cozy ambiance of the household from days gone by. LouisaMayAlcott.org
Latkes & Laughter: A Holiday Celebration | Dec 17
Join the Town of Concord and Kerem Shalom for a Chanukah celebration. Enjoy music, games, crafts, more. Harvey Wheeler Community Center. VisitConcord.org
Jolabokaflod at Barrow Bookstore
Dec 23: 10 am – 5 pm
Dec 24: 10 am – 3 pm
Is there anything better than curling up with a good book on a cold winter evening? Barrow Bookstore has revived the Icelandic tradition of receiving books on Christmas Eve and spending the night reading. Stop by to pick up a free wrapped book and a packet of hot chocolate. Weather permitting, the books will be outside in Barrow’s book cart. In the event of bad weather, books will be available inside the store. BarrowBookstore.com
Winter Wonderland
Jan 24 | 1:00 pm
It’s a new year, but the winter fun isn’t over. Head to Emerson Field / Hunt Recreation Center for a day of horse drawn sleigh rides, food, music, a bonfire, and more. ConcordRec.myrec.com
Courtesy of The Concord Players
Concord Players Caroling
© Jim Sabitus
Holiday Pops at the Umbrella Arts Center
Jolabokaflod at Barrow Bookstore
© Barrow
Bookstore
Our holiday show shines with abstract photographs by Jennifer M. Johnston, collage by Joe Faria and Melissa Kulig, pastels by Rebecca Clark, miniature watercolors by Zoe Paschkis, sparkling jewelry by Lyca Blume, and a delightful collection of handmade objects in clay, stained glass, cloth, and wood. Stop by and bask in the holiday glow!
Opening Reception: Saturday, December 6, 6 - 8 pm Nov 26 - Dec 30
Marie Foley, Revolutionary Concord, Concord Toybox, and Albright Art
A Season of Stories Worth Sharing
IIn the 19th century, Concord was home to a literary revolution spawned by writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, and others. That legacy still thrives today, as local authors continue to inform, inspire, and stir the imagination. And during the holidays, there’s no better gift than a book — something thoughtful, lasting, and deeply personal. Whether you’re shopping for wonder, wisdom, or local history, stop by Barefoot Books, Barrow Bookstore, or Concord Bookshop and discover the perfect read for everyone on your list.
CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT
Coming Soon to West Concord: The Guitar Museum of New England
TThere is a new kind of museum coming to the heart of the fun and vibrant neighborhood of West Concord. Seventy-four Commonwealth Avenue will soon be home to The Guitar Museum of New England!
“Concord — arguably the birthplace of America — is the perfect home for a museum that celebrates the iconic instrument that represents such a range of American music, from bluegrass, to country, to blues, to rock n’ roll and beyond,” said Wilson Schünemann, Founder of Minuteman Guitars and the creator of the Guitar Museum of New England. “West Concord is a dynamic and arts-oriented neighborhood, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to pick this spot as the future location to make this dream a reality in the town that my family calls home.”
Wilson has been synonymous with guitars since his first (monthlong) exhibit of a stunning collection of more than 20 instruments built by Luthier Steve Klein, showcased at The Umbrella Arts Center in 2017. That exhibition attracted thousands of visitors and culminated in a day-long symposium on the Art of Guitar Building and a concert with the legendary Bill Frisell at the theatre at the Umbrella. The musical instrument curators of both the MET and the MFA made the trip to Concord to see the exhibit, which was written up in the national publication Guitar Aficionado.
In the years since, Wilson has put together custom exhibits on a range of guitar themes, both in Concord and across the Northeast. His extensive network of legendary guitar builders in the United States and around the world, acclaimed musicians, music photographers, and music instrument museum curators all helped shape a dream into a plan of action.
Wilson and his wife, Jennifer (co-founder of Discover Concord magazine), were delighted to acquire 74 Commonwealth Avenue
and are looking forward to working with the West Concord Advisory Committee and the West Concord Cultural District as they develop plans for a new building to house the museum. They plan to host plenty of community coffee chats and lunch and learn sessions in early 2026 to ensure the museum adds to the neighborhood in a deeply positive way.
While the plans for the museum are developing, the Schünemanns plan to host pop-up exhibits in 2026 to bring a fun preview of the museum to the community.
“Everyone I’ve spoken with is excited to hear that the Guitar Museum of New England is coming to West Concord,” said Helen Halloran, President of the West Concord Business Community. “It will be a perfect fit for our cultural district and a unique addition to the neighborhood. This will undoubtedly attract new people to the village who will discover all the other great places to shop and eat in West Concord!”
“I’m so excited that Wilson is bringing the Guitar Museum of New England to West Concord!” said Kate Yoder, Executive Director and Founder of the Concord Conservatory of Music. “The museum will be an exciting destination for visitors new to the area to explore our vibrant cultural district and all we offer. I see many synergies that can be explored between CCM and the Guitar Museum, such as sharing space, providing master classes, and being a great resource for our music community.”
Tax-deductible donations to help bring the museum to life are deeply appreciated and can be mailed to The Guitar Museum of New England, PO Box 1037, Concord, MA 01742.
Anyone interested in staying informed as plans come together is invited to sign up for a quarterly newsletter at GuitarMuseum.org.
*This article made possible with the support of the Guitar Museum of New England
Claire Vail
Tokens of Compliment and Love: 19th Century Concord Celebrates the Holidays
BY RICHARD SMITH
WWhen November rolls around each year many Americans begin to think about the upcoming holidays. Traditional family recipes are dusted off for Thanksgiving as relatives and friends are invited to share the feast. Almost as soon as dinner is over, thoughts turn to Christmas as decorations, presents, and parties become the center of attention. Many of our holiday traditions date back to the 19th century, and modern Americans would easily recognize their ancestor’s Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.
As the Puritan hold on New England weakened by the 19th century, holiday celebrations became more popular, and it was Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day when family and friends would gather for celebrations. Our modern Thanksgiving holiday began to take shape in the mid19th century, with President Lincoln making it a national holiday in 1863. An 1865 Thanksgiving was not much different from our own today.
Celebrating the new year was a major holiday for many New Englanders. To modern eyes, New Year’s Day in the 19th century would look much like our Christmas; house parties would include songs and a large
buffet with eggnog and sweet treats, while small presents would be exchanged amongst friends and family.
By the 1840s, the celebration of Christmas was becoming more acceptable throughout New England, but it wasn’t always that way. The early Puritans who settled in Massachusetts considered the holiday to be unnecessary, a distraction from their strict religious discipline. In 1659, Massachusetts made it a crime to observe Christmas in any way other than attending church. That law
Santa Claus depicted in an engraving in Howitt’s Journal of Literature and Popular Progress. London, 1848.
was repealed in 1681, but Christmas was still unpopular in Massachusetts.
The influx of German and Irish immigrants in the mid-19th century saw Christmas celebrations becoming more common, even among native-born Yankees, so much so that in 1856 Massachusetts made Christmas a legal holiday. For many New Englanders it was a secular holiday rather than religious. Stores and shops quickly caught on to the growing popularity of Christmas and by the 1830s book publishers were producing fancy and expensive “gift books” by popular writers like Charles Dickens specifically for Christmas. And merchants were using the image of Santa Claus in advertising to entice gift giving.
Of all the Concord writers, the one who is best associated with Christmas is Louisa May Alcott; after all, her most famous book begins with the line, “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents.” As early as the 1840s, the always-progressive Alcott family celebrated the holiday when few New Englanders did. In his Fruitlands Journal from 1843–1844, Bronson Alcott wrote about exchanging “little gifts” with his children on Christmas Day. And in December 1846 the Emersons rode to the Alcott’s Hillside in a horse-drawn sleigh to enjoy a festive
The first published American illustration of a Christmas tree. Printed in Boston, 1836.
RIGHT: New Year’s Eve 1865. Lithograph By Fuchs. Published By Kimmel and Forster; 1865.
FAR RIGHT: Nathaniel Hawthorne reading to his family at The Wayside, 1864. From A Pictorial History of American Literature by Van Wyck Brooks and Otto Bettmann. Published by J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd., 1956.
Christmas dinner that included individual notes tucked away inside pies.
It seems that the Emersons themselves did not celebrate Christmas, and they typically exchanged gifts on New Year’s Day. Like many of us, Waldo had a hard time deciding on what sort of gifts to buy, writing in 1844, “If at any time it comes into my head that a present is due I am puzzled what to give, until the opportunity is gone.” It should be no surprise that he favored books as a gift, but he added, “Flowers and fruits are always fit presents; flowers, because they are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.”
In later years, after she achieved success as an author, Louisa Alcott wrote dozens of Christmas stories. One of her favorite books as a young girl was A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, and Louisa’s stories show Dickens’ influence as she wrote about the true meaning of Christmas and how it is better to give than to receive - a belief she learned from her father and mother.
In December 1854, Louisa’s first book was published. Called Flower Fables, it was a collection of stories that she had created for the young Ellen Emerson. Fifteen-year-old Ellen would write of a very special present that she received that holiday season: “So this morning I saw a bundle on the entry directed to me. I opened it and found the ‘Flower Fables’ all bound and printed very nicely with pictures, but on turning it over I saw my name in large letters and discovered that ‘twas dedicated to me! Of course, I fell down in a swoon ”
Stories about the Thoreau family celebration are hard to come by. Henry Thoreau barely mentions any holiday in his Journal, and it’s not known exactly if - or how - the Thoreaus celebrated any holiday. But we do have a brief glimpse into a Thoreau
Christmas when Henry and his siblings were small children, and it comes from his older brother John. Jr. in an 1839 letter to a friend:
“When I was a little boy I was told to hang my clean stocking with those of my brother and sister in the chimney corner the night before Christmas, and that ‘Santa Claus,’ a very good sort of sprite, who rode about in the air upon a broomstick would come down the chimney in the night, and fill our stockings if we had been good children, with doughnuts, sugar plums and all sorts of nice things; but if we had been naughty we found in the stocking only a rotten potato, a letter and a rod. I got the rotten potato once, had the letter read to me, and was very glad that the rod put into the stocking was too short to be used.”
Concord was extremely progressive when it came to celebrating Christmas. In 1853, Caroline Brooks Hoar came up with the thennovel idea of a town-wide celebration of the holiday. The festivities would be held at the Concord Town Hall, and every child in town (up to the age of 16) would get a present. And while there is no evidence that Henry Thoreau celebrated the holiday, he agreed to supply a tree for the festival:
“Got a white spruce for a Christmastree for the town out of the spruce swamp opposite J. Farmer’s. It is remarkable how few inhabitants of Concord can tell a spruce from a fir and probably not two a white from a black spruce, unless they are together.”
Two days later he would report in his Journal:
“In the town hall this evening, my white spruce tree...looked double its size and its top had been cut off for want of room. It was lit with candles, but the star-lit sky is far more splendid tonight...”
The idea of a whole town celebrating Christmas was still such a rarity in New England that the Springfield [Massachusetts]
Republican newspaper published a story about Concord’s “interesting festival.” “All the children of the town participated,” the newspaper reported, and someone dressed as St. Nicholas distributed presents to the children - some 700 in all!
Even Thoreau wasn’t immune to the idea that a new year can bring new hopes and dreams. In 1852, he wrote in his journal, “Woe be to us when we cease to form new resolutions on the opening of a new year!”
Six years later he was still ruminating on the meaning of a new year and - not surprisingly - its connection to nature: “Each new year is a surprise to us. We find that we had virtually forgotten the note of each bird, and when we hear it again it is remembered like a dream, reminding us of a previous state of existence
The voice of nature is always encouraging.”
Many of the holiday traditions that the Concord writers were familiar with are still in vogue, as are the reasons behind these celebrations - peace, love, hope, and joy. Emerson called it a season for “tokens of compliment and love” while in December 1854, Nathaniel Hawthorne reflected on sentiments we can still relate to every holiday season:
“I think I have been happier this Christmas than ever before, — by my own fireside, and with my wife and children about me, — more content to enjoy what I have, — less anxious for anything beyond it in this life.”
Richard Smith has lectured on and written about antebellum United States history and 19th-century American literature since 1995. He has worked in Concord as a public historian and living history interpreter for 25 years. He has written and edited 10 books for Applewood Books/Arcadia Publishing and is a regular contributor to Discover Concord.
Loveday Lockets Highlight a Treasured Tradition
FFrom November 8 through the holidays, Loveday Boutique will showcase hand crafted contemporary lockets from 14 artisans, alongside a selection of vintage finds. These modern heirlooms are created with a range of materials, including precious metals, diamonds and gemstones, walnut wood, and Formica veneer.
“Lockets can open a conversation and create meaningful connections,” said Kirsten Ball, owner of Loveday Boutique. “I often wear my grandmother’s locket, which holds a photograph of her inside it. When I’m wearing it, I feel her comforting presence.”
The early history of the locket is linked to that of reliquary jewels, made to contain holy tokens from a martyred saint. Wearing a relic close to the body was a sign of faith and served as an amulet to protect the wearer against both physical and spiritual evils.
These intricate pieces gained popularity during the Georgian and Victorian eras, with hidden compartments to hold portraits, love notes, or a beloved’s lock of hair—tiny tokens of affection that could be kept close to the heart and hidden from view.
Queen Victoria popularized this sentimental aspect when she wore a locket containing Prince Albert’s portrait and a lock of his hair following his death. Today, the locket continues to evoke sentimental meaning. Passed down through generations, they are symbols of love, remembrance, and continuity, linking us to the stories of our ancestors and allowing us to carry a piece of our heritage with us.
For a truly one-of-a-kind gift, please visit this special exhibit from November 8 through the holidays at Loveday Boutique, 115 Commonwealth Ave. in West Concord.
*This article made possible with support from Loveday Boutique
Mexican cuisine you’ll love – made fresh with sustainably sourced, local ingredients
Enjoy dining in our festive restaurant and bar
OUR HOURS:
Tuesday - Wednesday 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Thursday - Friday 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Sunday 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Catering and private events also available
Learn more at adelitaconcord.com
1200 Main Street – Concord, MA tel. 978-254-0710
Photos by Roan Callahan
Kirsten Ball Showcases the Loveday Locket Collection
| Adelita | Middlesex Savings Bank | West Concord Laundromat | West Concord Pharmacy |
Light U p the Season Winter Events to
ART THAT ENRICHES
Inner Sojourns
Three Stones Gallery
ThreeStonesGallery.com
Oct 15 – Nov 23, 2025
Delve into the mystical world of Tarot cards through the evocative mixed media sculptures of Elisa Adams. Her captivating series, Formed by the Fates: A Journey through the Major Arcana, interprets the mystical symbolism of 22 of the cards, inviting you to embark on a meditative and introspective experience with each unique piece. Complementing this journey, abstract
encaustic collages by Athena P. Tasiopoulos ignite curiosity and a serene calm with their mesmerizing neutral tones. Avery S. Bramhall presents new oil paintings, completing this vibrant show with a burst of color and bold brushstrokes.
Everglow – Holiday Show
Three Stones Gallery
ThreeStonesGallery.com
Nov 26 – Dec 30, 2025
Browse an entrancing collection of fine art and handmade objects including abstract photographs by Jennifer M. Johnston, unique cardboard collage by Joe Faria, and vivid pastels by Rebecca Clark as well as new works by Tim Dunnbier, Brenda Cirioni, Jonathan MacAdam, and Zoe Paschkis. Discover a sparkling variety of handmade items by guest artisans including jewelry, ceramics, stained glass, textiles, wooden clocks, driftwood candleholders, ornaments, and more.
Holiday Open House
Wee Forest Folk
WeeForestFolk.com
Dec 9, 2025; 3-6 pm
Explore the charming world of these exquisite minatures, locally hand-crafted since 1972. Shop for gifts and enjoy yummy treats as you learn more about the local family who crafts these adorable treasures. 887 Bedford Rd. in Carlisle, MA.
MUSIC THAT INSPIRES
Music & Transformation
Concord Conservatory
ConcordConservatory.org
Nov 21, 2025
Discover the captivating arc of transformation in music with pianist and speaker, Jackson Carruthers joined by guest violinist Sarah Whitney. Through discussion and live performances, they will show how a single musical idea evolves and expands.
Folk Roots
Concord Orchestra
ConcordOrchestra.com
Dec 5 – 6, 2025
Join conductor Zeke Fetrow and the Concord Orchestra as they perform Zoltan Kodály’s Dances of Galánta, Nino Rota’s Concerto for Bassoon, Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 5, and Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland. Featuring Richard Svoboda, principal bassoonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players since 1989.
Radiant Light: A Celebration of the Season
Concord Women’s Chorus
ConcordWomensChorus.org
Dec 6, 2025
Don’t miss this glorious program of music, featuring Dan Forrest’s Lux: The Dawn from on High, scored for women’s chorus, piano,
Lyca Blumenecklace with labradorite pendant
violin, and cello. Other favorites include Ruth Morris Gray’s jazzy, drum-driven What Child Is This and Siyahamba, Forrest’s warm and inclusive Shalom, and Elaine Hagenberg’s heartfelt O Come, Emmanuel.
Winter Concert
Concord Chorus
ConcordChorus.org
Dec 13, 2025
Join the Concord Chorus, now in its 80th year, for an unforgettable evening of music celebrating the beauty and spirit of the season. This inspiring concert will feature masterworks by Brahms, Gjeilo, Gounod, Palestrina, Still, Stainer, and Vaughan Williams alongside traditional carols with audience participation.
The Magic Flute Opera51
Opera51.org
Dec 20 – 21, 2025
Join Tamino as he sets off on a quest to rescue Pamina, daughter of the Queen of the Night. The Magic Flute is Mozart’s last opera and is currently the third most-often performed opera worldwide.
and mandolin and Joe Walsh switching between mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, mandocello. Experience their artistry in an intimate evening of sublime music.
Far, Far Away
Concord Orchestra
ConcordOrchestra.com
Jan 31 – Feb 1, 2026
Experience a winter’s evening of extraordinary music including Mozart’s overture to Don Giovanni, Alexander Borodin’s In the Steppes of Central Asia, and John Williams’ Star Wars Suite. The winner of the Young Artist Concerto Competition will also perform.
THEATER EXPLORES NEW WORLDS
Tick,
Tick...Boom!
The Umbrella Arts Center
TheUmbrellaArts.org
Oct 10 – Nov 23, 2025
This autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Awardwinning composer of Rent, is the story of a composer and the sacrifices that he made to achieve his big break in theater. Set in 1990, this compelling story of personal discovery is presented as a rock musical filled with instantly appealing melodies and a unique blend of musical theater styles.
Matt Flinner and Joe K. Walsh
Concord Conservatory of Music
ConcordConservatory.org
Jan 24, 2026
Known for their mastery of tone and tasteful musical approach, this mandolin duo brings profound voices and diversity of texture to the acoustic and bluegrass worlds, with Matt Flinner on the banjo
She Kills Monsters
Concord Players
ConcordPlayers.org
Nov 7 – 22, 2025
When the totally average Agnes loses her sister Tilly in a fatal car crash, Agnes uses Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook to open a gateway into a magical world filled with fantastical creatures. Armed with a sword, her imagination, and an entourage of badass heroines, Agnes embarks on a quest to save Tilly’s soul. But when the lines between reality and fantasy blur, Agnes doubts she has the courage to slay the mightiest of dragons and say farewell to a sister she never really knew.
Twelfth Night
The World’s A Stage Players
ConcordPlayers.org
Jan 16 – 24, 2026
The World’s A Stage Players, the resident Shakespeare troupe of The Concord Players, is proud to return this winter to celebrate the season with a new production of Twelfth Night. Set amid the countercultural swirl of the late 1960s, this Twelfth Night reimagines Illyria in a world shaken by the Vietnam War and alive with new identities, music, and rebellion. Shakespeare’s comedy of disguise and desire becomes a kaleidoscope of love, loss, and the radical joy of remaking who we are.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Concord Players
ConcordPlayers.org
Feb 13 – 28, 2026
Christopher is a brilliant, socially anxious fifteen-year-old with a unique and logical mind. When he discovers his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, murdered with a pitchfork in his neighbor’s yard, Christopher sets out on a journey to investigate the crime. His investigation takes him far outside his comfort zone, and Christopher must brave rude neighbors, frightening strangers, and the city of London itself. Christopher’s investigation uncovers secrets about his neighbors, his father, and his long-dead mother — secrets that will change the course of his family.
To Kill A Mockingbird
The Umbrella Arts Center
TheUmbrellaArts.org
Feb 27 – Mar 22, 2026
Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird opens in a sleepy Alabama town in the midst of the Great Depression, where Scout and her brother, Jem, live with their widowed father, lawyer Atticus Finch. While the children act out stories and muse about their mysterious neighbor, Boo Radley, the facade of their seemingly peaceful town begins to crack when a young black man is accused of a terrible crime. Driven by an unshakeable moral conviction, Atticus defends the man in a trial that sends violent waves through the community, teaching young Scout about prejudice, compassion, and the courage to do what is right.
Matt Flinner and Joe K. Walsh
Courtesy
Appleton Design Group
Concord Flower Shop
Concord Teacakes
Debra’s Natural Gourmet Puck and Abby
Verrill Farm
West Concord Wine & Spirits
Woods Hill Table
Beautiful landscapes crafted with care
Winner Top Luxury Brokerage, Inman Golden I Club1
Winner Top Brokerage, The #1 Real Estate Company in the U.S., Inman Innovators2
Winner Best Luxury Real Estate Brokerage in CT, FL, MA, NY & SC3
Awarded Top 100 Luxury Real Estate Brokers of the World4
Overall Winner HGTV’s Ultimate House Hunt5
The Best of Nantucket, Best Real Estate O ce6
#1 Luxury Broker by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®7
#1 Independent Brokerage in nine-state footprint
#1 Independent Brokerage in nearly every local market
#1 Market Share in Mirasol, Palm Beach Gardens, FL8
#1 Market Share on Jupiter Island, FL9
#1 Market Share in Grey Oaks, Naples, FL10
#1 Market Share in Port Royal, Aqualane Shores, and Olde Naples, Naples, FL11
Explore Christmas traditions around the globe! barefootbooks.com/joy-to-the-world
The best part of the holiday season is getting together to make delicious food. Enjoy these cozy — and unique — recipes at your next holiday gathering!
NIGERIAN PUFF PUFF
Recipe adapted from Ramadan on Rahma Road (Barefoot Books) written by Razeena Omar Gutta, recipes by Faaiza Osman, and illustrated by Atieh Sohrabi
ADULT HELPER NEEDED
MAKES 18
• 2 cups all-purpose / plain flour
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 packet dry yeast
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 cup warm water
• Vegetable oil for frying
sweet fried dough balls
1. Place the flour, sugar, yeast, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl and mix well.
2. Stir in the water until the mixture is similar to a thick cake batter. Add more water if needed. Set aside for 40 minutes.
3. Pour vegetable oil into a pan, about 2 inches deep, and place on low-medium heat.
4. Test if the oil is ready by dropping a bit of the batter into it; if it sizzles and rises to the top, the oil is ready. Be careful not to overheat the oil.
5. Use a tablespoon or your hand to drop balls of batter into the oil.
6. Fry until the bottom is golden (about 1 minute). Flip and fry till the other side is golden too.
7. Remove into a colander lined with paper towels to drain the excess oil.
8. Serve warm.
ROPA VIEJA
Recipe by Edible South Florida, adapted from Cocina Criolla and Minuto by Nitza Villapol. Featured in Old Clothes for Dinner?! (Barefoot Books) written by Nathalie Alonso and illustrated by Natalia Rojas Castro
ADULT HELPER NEEDED SERVES 8
Ropa vieja is traditionally made with flank steak and gets its name from the texture of the beef, which shreds when it is cooked. Ropa vieja is usually served with white rice.
• 2 pounds flank steak, skirt steak, or brisket
• 1 onion, sliced in half-rounds
• 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 large aji pepper (or other sweet pepper), cut into strips
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 8-oz can tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 bay leaf
• ½ cup golden cooking wine (vino seco)
• 7-oz can red pimientos
• cooked white rice to serve 8
• optional: olives or capers
1. Divide the onion slices, garlic, and aji pepper into two equal piles.
2. Place the beef in a pot (or a pressure cooker). Add half of the onion, garlic, and aji pepper. Cover with water.
Illustrations adapted from Joy To The World! (Barefoot Books) written by Kate DePalma and illustrated by Sophie Fatus; Ramadan on Rahma Road (Barefoot Books) written by Razeena Omar Gutta and Faaiza Osman, and illustrated by Atieh Sohrabi; and Old Clothes for Dinner?! (Barefoot Books) written by Nathalie Alonso and illustrated by Natalia Rojas Castro
3. Bring to a boil, then cover and cook over low heat for 2–3 hours (or cook in pressure cooker) until the beef is tender enough to easily shred with a fork.
4. Scoop the cooked beef into a large bowl, setting aside the pot with the leftover cooking broth for later use. In the bowl, use two forks to separate the meat into fine strips.
5. In another large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the remaining onion, garlic, and pepper, and sauté for a few minutes.
6. Lower the heat and add the beef, tomato sauce, salt, bay leaf, and cooking wine. Cook, covered, for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid sticking. If necessary, add a spoonful or two of the leftover cooking broth to keep the mixture moist.
7. Remove the bay leaf. Drain and add the pimientos, and add optional olives or capers.
8. Serve over white rice.
Vegetarian/vegan option: Use a meat alternative such as soy curls, which come in pieces that look like ropa vieja. Soak an 8-oz package in warm water for 10 minutes, then drain the soy curls and start with step 4. Sauté all of the onion, garlic, and aji pepper at once rather than dividing them up. Use hot water instead of broth if needed to keep the mixture moist. Tofu or green jackfruit could also be substituted but would not look as similar to the shredded beef.
Barefoot Books is an award-winning, 30-year-old independent children’s book publisher based in Concord, MA. Learn more by visiting www.barefootbooks.com.
DEC 5-7
The Umbrella Stage Company in partnership with Firebird Pops Orchestra present
DEC 12-14 FRI 7:30 pm • SAT 12 pm & 4 pm SUN 3 pm
NOVEMBER 20, 7:30pm
The Umbrella Concert Series presents Salt Lick Sessions, casual and intimate shows spotlighting some of your future-favorite musical acts emerging through the Salt Lick Incubator program. Discover multi-genre up-and-comers Olivia Barton, Carter Benjamin, and Kieran Rhodes. World class music, right here in Concord!
A GIFT OF ARTS! Want to give the art-lovers in your life something special this holiday? Why not give an exhilarating arts experience! The Umbrella offers online Gift Certificates good toward any stage production, art class, or workshop!
TheUmbrellaArts.org/Gift-Certificates
CULTURAL SPOTLIGHT
Orchard House: A Legacy of Literature and History
BY JAN TURNQUIST
IIt is rare to find the very home where a beloved feminist author penned her most famous work, Little Women—a novel that has never been out of print for over a century and has been translated into more than 50 languages. Rarer still is to find that home still preserved just as she and her family left it, filled with their personal belongings. Add to that a rich history spanning centuries, and you have Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts.
Built in the 1600s, Orchard House underwent various modifications before 1857, when Amos Bronson Alcott—father of the then-unknown Louisa May Alcott— purchased it along with its outbuildings, 12 acres of land, and a flourishing apple orchard of over 40 trees. Despite the home’s poor condition, Mr. Alcott proudly named it after the orchard. Family friend Lydia Maria Child later wrote:
“The house of the Alcotts took my fancy greatly. When they bought the place, the house was so old that it was thrown into the bargain, with the assumption that it was fit only for firewood. But Mr. Alcott has an architectural taste... He let every old rafter and beam stay in its place and added [all the outbuildings] to the rear. The result is a house full of queer nooks and corners, and all manner of juttings in and out... The capable Alcott daughters painted and papered the interior themselves. Gradually, the artist-daughter filled all the nooks and corners with panels on which she painted birds or flowers; over the open fireplaces, she painted mottos in ancient English characters. Owls blink at you,and faces peep from the most unexpected places. The whole leaves a general impression of harmony.”
sister May painted directly on the walls above Louisa’s desk and fireplace, and three of May’s beautiful, framed paintings also adorn the room.
The work on the house took nearly a year, but the results were utterly charming. Louisa wrote, “The wandering family is anchored at last,” and indeed, Orchard House became the Alcotts’ longestheld residence. A decade later, at the desk her father built in her bedchamber, Louisa wrote her timeless classic Little Women, using Orchard House as the setting. Inches away sits her well-worn pincushion and sewing basket, with her name inscribed on the notions pouch she carried while serving as a Civil War nurse. Her
In May’s bedchamber, her original drawings—done directly on her walls—remain intact. One is greeted by charming angels, gods, and goddesses, along with her lovely rendering of Aurora Greeting the Dawn, which she copied from a painting borrowed from neighbor and close family friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson. A costume trunk, used by the sisters for their theatricals—echoed in Little Women—rests in the corner, further immersing visitors in the Alcott family’s world. Every room holds family treasures, and many visitors remark that stepping into Orchard House feels like walking through the pages of the book.
Just beyond the house stands The Concord School of Philosophy, a unique structure designed by Mr. Alcott. One of the first adult education programs in the country was conducted there, attracting esteemed lecturers and attendees from near and far. Women were treated as intellectual equals to men, which was remarkable for the time. It remains unchanged, still inspiring intellectual discourse through programs held today.
Courtesy of Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House © Trey Powers
Orchard House
The Alcotts also cherished the home’s history where five generations of the original Hoar(e) family lived before them and witnessed pivotal moments in American history.
In 1675, during Metacom’s (King Philip’s) War, Sachem Metacom led a tribal coalition against English colonists. Christianized Native people—known as Praying Indians— were caught between two worlds and persecuted by both sides. Most were forcibly removed to Deer Island in Boston Harbor, where many perished from starvation and exposure. However, the home’s owner at the time, John Hoare, successfully petitioned the Massachusetts General Court for the right to shelter the Nashobah Praying Indians on his land, saving many lives. To this day, their descendants honor his act of compassion and friendship.
family members and friends—never give up, no matter how difficult the struggle. The story’s themes of love, perseverance, and valuing people over possessions transcend time and culture.
A century later, on April 19, 1775, the house and John Hoare’s descendants bore witness to the start of the American Revolution.
Timothy Hoar Sr., a member of the Concord militia, rushed from the home to join his fellow soldiers upon hearing the alarm. His 16-yearold son, Timothy Jr., was milking cows when he saw British troops marching past the house, their fifes and drums boldly proclaiming their power. Stirred by the sight, he later joined George Washington’s Continental Army to fight for independence.
As powerful as this history is, it is the Alcott family and Little Women that yearly draw tens of thousands of visitors from across the U.S. and the world. They bear witness to the enduring impact of a novel whose flawed yet resilient characters—based on real Alcott
Desk that Louisa May Alcott’s father built for her in her bedchamber, upon which Little Women was written in 1868
Visitors sometimes share deeply personal connections to the novel. One woman from India, through tears, said she had “waited her entire life to visit this house” and described how she and her mother read Little Women together in India and that she lovingly called her mother “Marmee.”
While Little Women captures the heart of the Alcott family, their real-life contributions to literature, art, education, philosophy, and social justice are even more profound and ahead of their time. Many visitors are surprised to learn, for example, that the Alcotts were involved in the Underground Railroad and that Louisa, an early suffragist, was the first woman to vote in Concord—albeit in a local election when women were allowed to vote for the school committee.
Despite its significance, Orchard House nearly faced demolition in 1910. A real estate prospectus advertised it as “a splendid location for a new mansion.” It was saved solely because of its association with Louisa May Alcott, her inspiring family, and Little Women. In 1911, a group of dedicated Concord women banded together to preserve and open the house as a museum.
Over time, Orchard House has become a beacon of hope and a testament to the enduring power of compassion, personal agency, and the determination to make the world a better place. Louisa’s friend, Cyrus Bartol, profoundly captured the essence of Orchard House when he said:
“She unlatches the door to one house and... all find it is their own house which they enter.”
Jan Turnquist is executive director of Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, an internationally acclaimed portrayer of Louisa May Alcott, historical consultant, and Emmy winner for her Orchard House documentary which airs and streams on PBS.
We are proud that TripAdvisor named Orchard House “The #1 Thing To Do in Concord” and that Yankee Magazine designated it as “Simply the Best.” It is a National Registered Historic Landmark, visited in 2002 by Honorary Save America’s Treasures Chair Laura Bush, who passionately advocated for its preservation. Thanks in part to this bipartisan program (initiated by Hillary Rodham Clinton), the house—once sinking unevenly into the ground with near-collapsing walls—was saved and remains exactly as the Alcotts left it. Today, The National Trust for Historic Preservation lists Orchard House as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Places for a different reason. Scan the QR code to learn more.
This article made possible with the support of Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House
Courtesy of Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House © John Kennard
The Concord School of Philosophy in winter
A Toast to Winter: A Luscious Pecan Pie & an Elegant Cocktail
DEBRA’S PECAN PIE
RECIPE BY BEATRICE STARK AND TORI PRUNIER
Adam Stark of Debra’s Natural Gourmet writes, “We served this pie at my wedding, instead of cake. It’s that good! Pecan can be both my favorite, and my least favorite, pie. Too often, it’s too sweet — sparse, lonely pecans adrift in a sea of corn syrup and starch. Not here. Here, we lean into the featured ingredient — three whole cups of pecans go into one pie. We use unrefined sweeteners like Vermont dark maple syrup, and thick brown rice syrup. Not as a healthy compromise, but because they’re where the flavor comes from. We also use Native pecans instead of cultivated pecans. You don’t have to. You can use standard, modern, jumbo pecans. But Native pecans make a better pie. They’re smaller, they have a nicer texture, and they’re often wild harvested. They’re what our great-grandparents used for their Thanksgivings.” DebrasNaturalGourmet.com
¾ cup maple syrup (insist on dark robust grade)
½ cup brown rice syrup
4 large eggs
1 Tbsp flour (can be whole wheat, or a gluten-free alternative)
3 cups Native pecan halves
1/8 tsp salt
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 pie crust, frozen or home-made
DIRECTIONS
Beat eggs. Fold in all other ingredients except pecans. Fold in pecans and fill the pie shell. Bake at 275 degrees for 45 – 60 minutes, until done.
COCKTAIL THYME
BY BRIGETTE
SANCHEZ OF IDEAL MIXOLOGY
As winter settles in and the evenings grow long, Cocktail Thyme offers a sophisticated way to warm up by the fire. This elegant drink blends the smooth depth of Chivas Regal with the nutty sweetness of Disaronno and the bright, citrusy lift of yuzu and Cointreau. But what truly sets it apart is the thyme-spiced limoncello, an aromatic infusion that adds an herbal note both comforting and unexpected. The thyme sugar rim adds a subtle flavor and fragrance with every sip, making the first taste as memorable as the last. Perfect for a festive dinner party or a quiet night in, this cocktail balances rich warmth with refreshing brightness — a reflection of the season itself. Whether served before a meal or as a cozy nightcap, Cocktail Thyme invites you to slow down, savor, and find a bit of golden light in the coldest months of the year.
1.5 oz Chivas Regal
.75 oz Disaronno Amaretto
.75 oz yuzu juice
.50 oz Cointreau
1 oz thyme-spiced limoncello (steep two sprigs of fresh thyme in limoncello for one hour)
Thyme sugar for the rim of the glass (mix a small amount of chopped thyme into granulated sugar)
DIRECTIONS
Moisten the rim of a martini glass with lemon juice and dip it in the thyme sugar to coat the rim. Stir the rest of the ingredients over ice and strain into the prepared glass.
Simon & Schuster book by Nancy P. James
The Story of the Y2K Panic and those participants who did not know the outcome.
The never before told story of a nation united to solve a global challenge.
This historical record recounts reporters’ stories of the Pentagon losing all reconnaissance data at 7:00 PM Eastern time (midnight GMT)
New Years Eve, while not advising the Joint Chiefs before their press conference at 9:00 PM. The length of the Y2K data loss was not reported for years. The press had reported earlier that the US was sharing satellite data with both Russia and China as a precaution to prevent a Y2K nuclear “mistake.”
This book also describes how our sitting president, Bill Clinton, acted against his own political interests to sign legislation limiting Y2K litigation for the benefit of the nation.
Concord local Nancy P. James has more than 40 years of technology and risk analysis experience. She designed and created the first internet liability insurance policy in the United States. James’ work has been published in Best’s Review, by the American Bar Association, ComputerWorld, the Boston Bar Journal, the Boston Business Journal, and Women’s Business. She can be reached at: jamesnancy@comcast.net and www.nancypjames.com
Folk Roots
Friday, December 5, 2025 8:00PM Saturday, December 6, 2025 8:00PM
Kodaly Dances of Galanta Rota Concerto for Bassoon Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 5 Copland Appalachian Spring
Far, Far Away
Saturday, January 31, 2026 8:00PM Sunday, February 1, 2026 2:30PM
Mozart Overture to Don Giovanni Borodin In the Steppes of Central Asia
TBD Young Artist Winner Concerto Williams Star Wars Suite
CONCORD ORCHESTRA
MUSIC DIRECTOR ZEKE FETROW | CONCORD, MA
Richard Svoboda Bassoon Soloist
Giving Back to Community
Non-profit groups are at the core of Concord’s beloved cultural and historic heritage. They preserve our history, foster our creativity, educate, inform, and even feed our community. These are the people and volunteers who serve Concord year-round, and our town would be so much less vibrant without them. We encourage you to give generously as you think about your year-end giving. Here, we spotlight some of the many treasured philanthropic organizations in our town.
ART FOR ALL
Art for All is a community art space and outreach organization based in West Concord. We bring people together through accessible and inclusive art experiences, offering workshops and creating collaborative public art projects. Our weekly Art for All Abilities program has supported artists with cognitive differences for nearly seven years. Your support helps keep these programs free, vibrant, and open to all. Please give generously to help Art for All continue to grow and thrive. Simply scan the QR code, or mail your check to Art for All, 152 Commonwealth Ave., Studio 16, Concord, MA 01742. More information at ArtForAllConcord.org
CONCORD ART
You are why we’ve been Concord’s Center for the Visual Arts for 100 years! Your support sustains us and encourages our continued growth. It is because of you that we present eighteen exhibitions annually, maintain an
important collection of 20th century artists, offer an unparalleled program of art classes, workshops, demonstrations, tours, and artist talks, encourage emerging artists and curators, and are the visual arts center for more than 1,000 members. Please give generously this holiday season at ConcordArt.org/donate/ 37 Lexington Road, Concord, MA 978-369-2578
CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Concord Free Public Library Corporation is committed to its mission to sustain and enhance all that the Library has to offer by maintaining, improving, and expanding its historic buildings and grounds to provide beautiful spaces for the extensive free programming available at the Library. Your generosity is essential to preserving the legacy of the Library as a place for community, culture, and learning for all ages.
Make checks payable to the Concord Free Public Library Corporation, 129 Main St., Concord, MA 01742 (Attn: Development Office), or scan the QR Code to donate.
THE CONCORD PLAYERS
Founded by Louisa May Alcott 106 years ago, The Concord Players have been providing the Concord community with quality productions ever since. With your donation and support, we will be able to continue for another 100 years! Thank you for your generosity this holiday season!
ConcordPlayers.org | 51 Walden Street | 978-369-2990
FRIENDS OF MINUTE MAN NATIONAL PARK
The Friends of Minute Man proudly support free events, education, and preservation at Minute Man National Historical Park. In this 250th anniversary year, the Park needs our support more than ever. Your contribution will help tell the story of our nation’s birth in the place where it all began. Make a year-end gift today at FriendsOfMinuteman.org/annual-appeal FriendsOfMinuteman.org | 174 Liberty Street, Concord, MA | 978-318-7822
THE FRIENDS OF SLEEPY HOLLOW CEMETERY
The Friends of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Inc., continue in our third decade to beautify, enhance, and promote this Town treasure through donor support. Your generous gift is deeply appreciated. Give online at FriendsOfSleepyHollow.org/Donate.html
Or mail your kind donation to The Friends of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Inc., PO Box 313, Concord, MA 01742 info@friendsofsleepyhollow.org
FREEDOM’S WAY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA
2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. Throughout the country the occasion will be commemorated as an opportunity to reflect on the past and explore the future.
Within the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area, where the events that launched the American Revolution took place, 2025 and 2026 provide an opportunity to showcase the region’s unique role in the creation of the American story, inspiring the regional initiative, Freedom’s Way 250. Please join us by supporting this effort to to commemorate the semiquincentennial and illuminate the region’s rich history. Your generous donation is deeply appreciated. Please give at FreedomsWay.org/support/ 94 Jackson Rd., Suite 311, Devens, MA 01434 | 978.772.3654
GUITAR MUSEUM OF NEW ENGLAND
The Guitar Museum of New England is coming soon to West Concord! This exciting new
initiative is dedicated to sharing the story of the guitar builders (luthiers), musicians, and artists who celebrate America’s most iconic instrument through education and engagement. Our mission is to spark curiosity and foster a deeper appreciation for the guitar as an instrument and as an inspiration for music around the world. It takes a big community to bring this dream to life! Can you help? Your generous tax-deductible donation is deeply appreciated. Please mail your check to Guitar Museum of New England, PO Box 1037, Concord MA 01742. Information at GuitarMuseum.org
LOUISA MAY ALCOTT’S ORCHARD HOUSE
Your generous contribution helps support the world of Little Women at Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, where guests from around the globe are invited to explore the very rooms where this cherished story was brought to life. With nearly 80% of the original furnishings still in place, Orchard House offers an intimate glimpse into the daily lives of the Alcott family, as if they’ve just stepped out for a moment. Now in its second century of education, inspiration, and preservation, this Concord landmark remains a timeless destination, inviting visitors to walk through history and be enchanted by the enduring magic of the Alcotts’ legacy. Please give generously at LouisaMayAlcott. org/donate to help us share this story for generations to come! 399 Lexington Road, Concord, MA | 978.369.4118
events, and visual arts programs. Make your tax-deductible gift to The Umbrella by December 31 to help us reach our goals!
TheUmbrellaArts.org/Support 40 Stow Street, Concord, MA 978-371-0820
THE WALDEN WOODS PROJECT
The Walden Woods Project (WWP) is a nonprofit organization founded by recording artist Don Henley in 1990 to acquire, preserve and steward land for conservation in Thoreau’s Walden Woods. We provide programming that perpetuates Thoreau’s environmental/social reform legacy and applies his philosophy to contemporary environmental protection challenges, human rights issues, and our connection to the natural world. The WWP library houses collections for use by the public to advance their understanding of the literature and legacy of Thoreau. Please help us continue this important work with your generous donation. Information at Walden.org
THE UMBRELLA ARTS CENTER
72¢ of every dollar donated helps to fund arts education classes, performing arts
WRIGHT TAVERN
Please help support us as we transform the Wright Tavern into an Experiential Museum for all to enjoy- please give generously! Thank you – and Happy Holidays! WrightTavern.org/ donate 2 Lexington Road, Concord, MA 978-369-9602
Trivia CONCORD
1
QAs the holiday season approaches, you may find yourself venturing into the blustery days of winter for celebrations or shopping. In his essay “A Winter Walk,” Henry David Thoreau wrote that on “the coldest day in winter,” a healthy man carries:
A. A flask of hot cider
B. Heated potatoes in his mittens
C. Summer in his heart
D. Self-respect and heroism
E. A squirrel muffler
Questions 2 through 7: Trying to think of the perfect gift for someone? Here are some suggestions from Concord authors of old.
2 According to Henry David Thoreau, what was “the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations?”
A. Apples
B. Books
C. Nature
D. Solitude
E. A washboard (for the special woman in your life)
3
Do you ever regift your own things? In 1853, why might Thoreau have wanted to give you a book (or several) from his own library?
4
In his book Tablets, Bronson Alcott (the father of Louisa May Alcott) wrote that “good books, like good ______, are few and
chosen; the more select, the more enjoyable.”
What is the missing word?
A. Apples
B. Students
C. Conversation
D. Friends
E. Dreams
5In his essay “Gifts,” Ralph Waldo Emerson says the “genius and god of gifts” is:
A. Apples
B. Friendship
C. Letters
D. Short visits
E. Love
6In the opening chapter of Mosses from an Old Manse, what gift did Nathaniel Hawthorne say was a heavy imposition on a feminine nature?
A. Apples
B. Multi-gabled houses with more corners to dust
C. Intellectual power
D. Old friends with vendettas and excellent memories
7What did Henry David Thoreau give as a wedding gift to Nathaniel Hawthorne and his wife Sophia when they moved into the Old Manse?
A. Apples
B. A map of walking trails around the Old Manse
C. A garden
D. A book of poetry
Looking for an excuse to procrastinate from finding that perfect gift? Questions 8 through 10 may give you ideas for things to read—or eat.
8
Try your memory! Complete this opening line from a famous book written in Concord: “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any ______ .” Bonus: Which character said this, in what book, by which author, and in what year was it published?
9 The holiday season brings to mind sweet treats. But the short story Candy Country was anything but sweet— featuring sentient gingerbread slaves, volcano ovens, and resurrection funerals for sugar-people. Who was the author of this story?
A. Louisa May Alcott
B. Harriet Lothrop
C. Gregory Maguire
D. Nathaniel Hawthorne
10
In the 1800s, a particular dessert (such as one Louisa May Alcott read about in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol) was often made in a copper pot, doused in alcohol, and garnished with a sprig of holly. If the pot had not been properly maintained, copper might leach into the dessert, causing unfortunate gastrointestinal distress—and a lack of friendship toward the cook. What was the dessert called?
La Pieta in Concord Center
Barrow Bookstore Presents:
1. C. Summer in his heart. Partial credit if you guessed “Self-respect and heroism”— that appears in Thoreau’s essay “Walking.”
A2. B. Books. Thoreau wrote this in his 1854 book Walden; or, Life in the Woods (Chapter 4, “Reading”). As Thoreau wrote in an October 28, 1853 journal entry: “I have now a library of nearly 900 volumes, over 700 of which I wrote myself.” He was referring to the unsold copies of his first book, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers (published 1849). Thoreau had paid to print 1,000 copies, but sales were slow, and the printer insisted he remove the unsold stock. Thoreau rented a cart, brought the books home to Concord, and stored them in his family’s attic.
4. D. Friends. Although, as a teacher, Bronson Alcott probably also appreciated good students.
5. E. Love
6. C. Intellectual power. Hawthorne rented the Old Manse from 1842–1845 and found it a place of peace. In describing visitors who could benefit from rest there, he wrote that it was good for those “on whose feminine nature had been imposed the heavy gift of intellectual power, such as a strong man might have staggered under.”
7. C. A garden. Although the garden required work, Hawthorne appreciated the gift. He wrote in Mosses from an Old Manse: “My garden, that skirted the avenue of the Manse, was of precisely the right extent. An hour or two of morning labor was all that it required. But I used to visit and revisit it a dozen times a day, and stand in deep contemplation over my vegetable progeny with a love that nobody could share or conceive of who had never taken part in the process of creation.”
8. Presents. The line “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents” was “grumbled by Jo” March in the opening of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, published in 1868.
9. A. Louisa May Alcott. It’s a wicked tale (but not that Wicked). In Candy Country, a little girl named Lily is whisked away by the wind to a sugar-based land whose inhabitants are made entirely of candy. However, the story quickly takes a dark turn as Lily starts to eat her way through the population.
10. Christmas pudding. No matter the aftereffects, you’d hope people remembered it was the thought that counted—and best of all, some recipes included apples!
For more than 50 years, Barrow Bookstore has been a favorite of residents and visitors alike, specializing in Concord authors and history, children’s books and literature. The shop also provides a wide array of gently read and rare titles ranging from paperbacks to first editions and original manuscripts. Staff members have all worked as tour guides and reenactors in Concord and are happy to share their knowledge about the town and its history. Discover more at barrowbookstore.com.
Illustration from Candy Country
