Welcome to the Neighborhood: Concord-Carlisle Neighbors

BY DAVID ROSENBAUM

Moving to a new town can be hard if you don’t know a lot of people. Getting adjusted to the town and making new friends can be a daunting task. If you are moving to Concord or Carlisle, that’s where Concord Carlisle Neighbors club comes in.

For many years now, Concord Carlisle Neighbors has been welcoming new Concordians and Carlislians by providing fun and engaging activities to meet other residents. Originally created as the Concord-Carlisle Newcomers club, the group changed its name a few years ago to reflect the fact that many members have been here a while. Either way, members just enjoy meeting new people and engaging in club activities.

Local resident Susan Lynch says “We were new to Concord in 2009 with two kids in elementary school and a baby on the way. Newcomers and the Gourmet Group opened up circles of new and veteran Concordians, giving us new friends for local advice, dinners, and even family vacations. It was, and still is, a great way to ‘break the ice’ with getting to know a wider set of neighbors and the neighborhood.”

By far the most popular, and well subscribed, activity is the Gourmet Group. If you like to cook this is for you! Groups of five couples/singles are created and given five menus per year to prepare. The menus follow a theme given annually, such as regional cuisines for a country or continent, or famous chefs. Each menu has recipes for appetizers, main course, side, and dessert along with wine pairings. Groups rotate who will be responsible for cooking each part of the meal or buying the wine so that everyone participates each time. In most groups, the hosting also rotates.

Whiskey Tasting

©David Rosenbaum

Wine, beer, and whiskey tastings are also popular. Some of these have been held at a member’s home, others at a local business. In each of them you have an opportunity to taste different beverages and learn about them from an expert, to eat some snacks, and, of course, to socialize.

Traditionally, Concord-Carlisle Neighbors (CC Neighbors) also holds one or two parties with no agenda other than socializing. Prepandemic, the last party was at the Concord Museum, where guests could see some of the historic exhibits in the newly opened addition. CC Neighbors has also hosted cocktail hours at local establishments, and even trivia night teams at the Colonial Inn.

Other activities include monthly newcomer coffees, book groups, a dining-out group, and an art salon. Members with ideas for activities are encouraged to organize something they think might be enjoyable, as well.

First Friday Coffee at Fern’s

©David Rosenbaum

If you are interested in learning more about CC Neighbors, go to the website ccneighbors.org and check it out. Club activities will be starting up in September after a COVID hiatus, so check their online calendar later this summer.

Finally, as member Lis Martin said, “Joining CC Neighbors accelerated our assimilation into the community, and we have made friends and connections we will keep for our lifetime.” You may find you do the same!

David Rosenbaum is a Concord resident. When he’s not heading up the ConcordCarlisle Neighbors club, cycling, or brewing beer, his day job is Solutions Engineer for Kaltura, Inc.