Three Cheers for the Fine Arts Theatre and Theatre Creamery Being Open Again!

It has been more than a year since the passing of Steve Trumble and the subsequent shutdown of the theater. In this last year I have watched the movie posters that hung in the marquee frames by the entrance fade to colorless. It always made me sad… and worried. Would we get our beloved little movie theater back? Who would buy it? What if it got torn down?

In March I told you that the theater has new owners who are going to keep running it as a theater, such great news! And they even had that Oscar Shorts event for two days in March where they invited the public to come in for free and watch all of the short films that were nominated for Oscars. During those events Les and Dafna took the time to  introduce themselves and talk about their vision for the theater, often having to wait for the applause to settle down before they could speak again. 

As Les and Dafna try to get a feel for the local movie appetite, be sure to show up when they’ve got something you like. Follow them on Facebook and their website to stay abreast of whatever they have going on. 

And speaking of appetites, with the opening of the theater comes the opening of Theatre Creamery, the ice cream parlor next door. It will be good to have that as an option right in the downtown area again. 

I drove by the theater the other day and was so happy to see new movie posters hung in the marquee. The grand opening kicked off yesterday, May 20th, with “Downton Abbey, a New Era”, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (which seems to be getting more and more popular as people hear about how amazing it is), and “The Duke.” I hope you get a chance to see one of these movies this weekend in celebration of the work Dafna and Les have done and the investment they have made in our community. 

Looking forward to seeing you all in and around the downtown!

The Fine Arts Theatre Will be Showing the Oscar Nominated Shorts, FREE, March 26 & 27

It's been one year since Steve Trumble's passing and the closing of the Fine Arts Theatre. In the last year many in the community feared that it would never open again. So it was with great excitement that last month the purchase of the theater by Dafna Krouk-Gordon and Les Gordon was announced. And if you've been wondering about the reopening of the ice cream parlor next door, they bought that, too! 

Dafna runs a non-profit, Toward Independent Living and Learning, that offers day programs, housing, vocational training, and more to people with disabilities. One of Dafna's and Les's hopes is to use the theater and creamery for vocational training. 

The Fine Arts won't officially be open until later in the year, with the creamery hopefully opening in April, but they have been anxious to start the celebrating in Maynard. They're having a Grand "Pre-Opening" by offering the community the chance to see the Oscar Nominated Shorts, and they're doing it at no charge! That's right, admission is free, but you do need to have tickets for seating since the theaters will be at a somewhat limited capacity. There is a 4-ticket limit per person. 

The screenings of the shorts will be on: 
Saturday, March 26th, 7pm
Sunday, March 27th, 3pm

The creamery will open for this special event one hour before the start times. Theater doors will open and concessions will be available thirty minutes before start times.

Here's what's happening on each of the two days:

Theater 1, which seats 300, will be showing the 5 Oscar Nominated Action Shorts, followed by the 5 Animation Shorts. (Just because it's animated doesn't necessarily make it kid friendly, so check the previews and use your judgement.) The runtime for all of these shorts is approximately three hours.

Theater 2, which seats 120, will be showing each of the Oscar Nominated Documentary Shorts. The total runtime is approximately three hours.

By attending both days, you can see all fifteen of the Oscar Nominated Shorts!

You can get your tickets in advance (which is highly advised) on Friday evening, March 25th from 5-8pm. Tickets are color coded, so think about which shorts you'd like to see on which dates:

3/26, 7pm, theater 1, Action and Animation Shorts: RED ticket

3/26, 7pm, theater 2, Documentary Shorts: WHITE ticket

3/27, 3pm, theater 1, Action and Animation Shorts: YELLOW ticket

3/27, 3pm, theater 2, Documentary Shorts: BLUE ticket

Any tickets that still remain will be available at the Fine Arts Theatre--on Saturday you can try to get a same-day ticket starting at 4pm, and on Sunday starting at 1pm.

The Maynard Public Library is allowing the use of their parking lot if the municipal lots get full. And don't forget to make a night of it by eating at one of the many restaurants Maynard has to offer!

Let's help Dafna and Les celebrate by showing up for this fantastic event!

Lost Without ArtSpace

 It’s been about seven months since I’ve been able to work in my studio at ArtSpace Maynard. That’s where my hats are born and where I make my mixed-media collages. I’m feeling a little lost without ArtSpace; a place where I could go on a daily basis to pour out my creativity, and gather with fellow artists. It’s where we would exchange ideas, offer critiques, and provide encouragement to each other.

Over the years, ArtSpace has worked ever harder to create a more vibrant space to welcome and inspire people from Maynard and the surrounding areas. In 2020 and 2021 some work done on our building revealed safety concerns and consequently half of the building needed to be closed to use. My studio was one of the ones affected. I am just one of the nearly two thirds of our artists who have been displaced. 

I have met so many people in Maynard through my various interests, but none have brought me as much of a sense of community as ArtSpace has. I joined in 2004–it's hard to believe that it’s been eighteen years. Little kids that tried on hats with me when they were in preschool are now off at college! Through the years, my studio at ArtSpace has given me more of a connection to Maynard. It gave me a place where I could welcome people, where we could talk, laugh, and share. We’d chat about the town, artmaking, the other artists; really whatever people were interested in. 

As the years passed, whenever ArtSpace would be hosting community events, like Open Studios or the Holiday Sale, I always struggled about whether to be in my studio putting hats on people (which I really love to do, I might add) or welcoming people to this special place. The struggle was because, as much as I love putting my hats on people, I really love to share the community of ArtSpace–I love to take people through the building and introduce them to the amazing artists we have here. I love to talk about what I know about our various artists and share insights I’ve learned about their art. I love the shy curiosity new visitors bring, and I love even more having them leave with connection, understanding, and a deeper appreciation for the varied processes of making art. 

My hope is that all the artists will be back in the studio soon and that we’ll be opening our doors to the community again, but it seems more likely that it won’t be till the summer. Our Board of Directors is being very thoughtful about hiring the right people and listening to all the experts to get us through this whole difficult process. So while I really long to be there making my hats, I’m confident that when we come out of this we’re going to be in much better shape than we have ever been. One of the most important things we need is to have the town renew our lease. You can help by letting the Selectboard know that you value ArtSpace in the community.

I hope you’ve had a chance to visit ArtSpace. If you haven’t, I look forward to welcoming you there when all this is done. If you want to keep track of ArtSpace, if you're interested in getting a studio (put your name on a waitlist), or if you want to make a donation (we are a nonprofit, 501c3 organization), here’s a link. If you would send a note to the Selectboard letting them know that we are important to Maynard, I would really appreciate it. You can send notes to: Select Board, 195 Main St., Maynard, MA 01754, or email Becky Mosca (she's the Select Board's Admin) at bmosca@townofmaynard.net. Thank you so much!

Gifts That Don't Take Up Space! Your Maynard Holiday Shopping Guide(Part 9)!

The people in your Maynard life might not have the space for lovely objects, or maybe they’re downsizing and want to live more minimally. There are lots of reasons to not want stuff. Here are a few "don't-take-up-space ideas" to think about.

Health and Fitness

Aim for Fitness

Personal Trainers: People often talk about wanting to get fit and healthier, but can’t seem to get motivated. Having a personal trainer is really helpful. If you really want to get some momentum, consider signing both of you up for six sessions with a personal trainer. Our local personal trainers are Aim for Fitness (Zoom sessions available), 5 Peaks Fitness.

Other kinds of movement and fitness:

Be the Love Wellness: Yoga, Running (lots of online classes available, teen classes, too)

Metrowest Kung Fu: Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and Yoga. From kid aged to very adult adults. Zoom classes available.

Explore Pathways to Wellness: Massage, Movement, Meditation, Relaxation

Gymja Warrior: Parkour-type workouts

Gym membership: Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness.

Massages: Too many hours at a computer and everyone's necks, shoulders, and backs are shot! Get them some relief. Massage Visits, Bailey Therapeutic Massage, Explore Pathways to Wellness, Nicole Koersky Muscular Therapy and Massage.

Manicure and pedicure: It’s 2021 and anyone who wants their nails pampered should get it done. Doing this with a friend or family member will add to the fun. 

Manicures and pedicures: Crystal Nails & Spa, Eco Nails & Spa, Toast n Shine.

Tanning: Toast n Shine

Eyelashes: Toast n Shine

Spa treatments: Eco Nails & Spa

Waxing: Toast n Shine

Hair salon/hair coloring

Maybe you, your kid, or some other Maynard local that you love, have been looking for some color, or maybe a haircut is finally in order. We have a lot of places to choose from. Hair in Harmony, VV's Hair Studio, Mia's Hair Studio, Thenderia's Hair Salon, Max's Barber Shop, Terry's Barber Shop.

Coop membership: By now you've heard that the Assabet Co-op Market is on it's way to opening doors in 2022. Members will get some special discounts, and in good years, also dividends.

If someone local that you love has kids, they might also need a break. Buy them some Jam Time. Not feeling like gathering in large groups? Buy some time for private play with other close friends.

Auto Manicures: This is not just a car wash, it’s auto detailing. Get the gift certificate now and make an appointment while you’re at it--I hear they do a good job and their calendar fills up quickly! (978) 461-0606

 

Live Entertainment

Sanctuary: Check the bottom of their homepage for a calendar of events. They have been having live music and comedy shows.

ACME Theater: This is live, local theater right here in Maynard. 

Gifts That Will Get Consumed

Oh the foodies and beverage aficionados--either you are one, or you love one! If you’re not up for dragging them out for an experience, then bring the experience to them! Grab some items from some of the following local businesses, and put together a basket of your own design.

Art's Specialties

Arts Specialties: Tasty imported foods, fancy pastas, meringues, nut mixes, charcuterie, cheeses, wines (including sake), craft beers, specialty olive oils, vinegars, and bulk teas. 

Maynard Maple: Syrup made from maple trees from around the Maynard community

Family Delicatessen: put together a gift basket from their offerings, which include bottles of wine, pasta, and crackers. You can even order prepared platters.

Amory’s Tomb: Craft beers, charcuterie and cheese platters,

Amory's Tomb

Green Star Herbals and Mass Wellspring: Sometimes an edible, there's certainly Cannabis available in Maynard. It’s not for everyone, but some may appreciate it.

I was hoping to still get one more post in, but maybe it's too late. I'll see what I can do, but if I can't get to it, here's to a great 2022! Next year I might need some help.

Holiday Shopping in Maynard, the Restaurant Edition! Welcome to part 8! (How long will she go on?!?)

Restaurants

Amazingly fresh food from Gigi's 

If you live in Maynard and would love the super-sensible gift of some tasty local food, might I suggest that you share this on your own social media timeline? It just might work. ;-)

Whether you’re eating in or taking out, Maynard has restaurants covering food from all over the world. In years past, I have given some of my family members gift certificates to restaurants in Maynard even though they live in Western Mass. It’s my way of saying, “Hey, I wish I saw more of you! Please come visit!”

~ Maybe you and your favorite travel companion haven’t been able to make that dream trip to Asia, but the longing is still there. You might consider gift cards that are a  “Tour of Asia” (Indian, Japanese, Thai, Korean, and Vietnamese).

~ You could practice your Spanish at El Huipil or Azúcar, and pretend that you've managed to hop on a plane to Cancún or Madrid.

~ Or maybe you have a pizza connoisseur in your life--you could get gift cards to all the "pie" makers in town and have a taste test night.

~ I often hear worries on social media that our older kids don’t have anywhere to go. Maybe having the funds for a few slices, a taco or two, a smoothie and a sandwich, or whatever they like, will give them and their friends a little hangout time.

Wings at the Pleasant Cafe

~ If you’ve got someone at home who is doing most of the cooking and you can tell that it’s not always the most fun job on the planet, think about letting Maynard cook for them. Get them a dozen gift cards to various restaurants, and once a month they could play this "Get Out of Jail Free Card" to spare themselves the meal-prep burden. This would be like those coupons kids make offering to take care of a chore, only you’d be guaranteeing them some level of quality.

Here are the restaurants. Rather than listing the businesses at the end, I'm including links to their websites right in the list to save myself some time. I'm sorry I couldn't include many photos. I didn't want to take any that didn't belong to me and I don't have time to ask permission, so I only used what they had on their websites. I will tell you, that just stopping in to all these sites sure made me want to grab some takeout!

Babicos: If you love diners, this is the place for you: waffles, french toast, and pancakes, patty melts, hotdogs, cheese burgers–you see what I’m getting at.

China Ruby: Cheapest drinks in town, plus Chinese food.

Serendipity: Small batch bakery, coffee, sandwiches and breakfast. They work hard at minimizing waste and being good stewards of the planet. Bring some cinnamon buns to your next gathering.

Siam Village: Of the two Thai restaurants in Maynard, Siam Village has lighter sauces.

The Boston Bean House: Big sandwich selection, various breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and coffee

Thai Chili: We’ve got two Thai restaurants. Thai Chili has richer sauces

Cafe of India: Lots of Indian options to choose from, and cocktails, too. 

Gigi’s: Vietnamese pho and vermicelli dishes. Who knew that they have excellent pork chops and steak?! 

Little Pusan: Korean grandma, Ms. Chong whips up her tasty food and serves it right to you.

Roasted Peppers: Pizza, pasta dishes, subs, and salads

Amory’s Tomb: a tap room serving connoisseur beers and ales, small menu of tasty snacks and sandwiches. 

Pizza Express: Greek-style pizza ideal for takeout.

Tasty curries from Cafe of India

Maynard Pizza and Bar: Pizza with a bar, need I say more?

Smack Noodle: Japanese stir fry noodles, ramen dishes, and tasty appetizers

Pleasant Cafe: Elegant pub food and a full bar

Azucar: Spanish tapas, paella, and cocktails–atmosphere!

El Huipil: Authentic Mexican dishes and margaritas

110 Grill: flatbreads, salads, burgers, and little bit from lots of places

Evviva Trattoria: Pasta dishes, sandwiches and salads

Maynard Village Pizza: subs, pizzas and calzones

Family Delicatessen: Classic deli sandwiches and their own signature creations, too.

Maybe you’ve got some other restaurant-gift ideas that you’d like to share. I’d love to hear about them.

Kitchen-y Things, Books, Pets, Original Art, Maynard Merchandise, Sports Teams and Stocking Stuffers! Holiday Shopping in Maynard (part 7)

I'm sorry that this is kind of a catch-all post, but I've realized that I am running out of time. And if I'm running out of time, that means you are, too! This is not my final post, but it's one made up of smaller lists, so I thought I should just get it out to you.

Kitchen-y Things

6 Bridges Gallery: locally-made cheese boards, utensil sets, bowls and mugs

Kind Goods

Kind Goods: towels, linens, wooden utensils, dishes, so many sweet thingsPaper Store: platters, cups, wine glasses, mugs Art Signals: Glaze your own spoon rests bowls, mug, and platters New England Appliance: Stoves and refrigerators

Books

Art Signals

ArtSignals: lots of like-new, used books in many themes–cooking, sports, fiction, coffee table, etc.

The Paper Store: a decent book selection of many themes–cooking, sports, fiction, inspirational, journals, etc.

The Maynard Public Library: a shelf of books for sale, all in like-new condition, many of them best sellers or award winners

6 Bridges Gallery: Books on Cape Cod, Cuba, and Maynard

Kind Goods: Inspirational coffee table books

For your Pooch or Your Pet Loving People

The Paper Store

Fancy collars: The Paper Store

Pet grooming: Wags to Whiskers, Scrub a Dog

Dog/Cat themed socks, mugs, decoration: The Paper Store

Paint your own pet dish: Art Signals

Reflective vest for walking your dog at night: The Outdoor Store, Ray and Sons

Headlamp for cleaning up after your dog at night (good citizen that you are): The Outdoor Store

Pet toys: The Paper Store, Sugarsnap

6 Bridges Gallery

Home Decorating and Original Artwork

Kind Goods: handmade goods sourced locally and around the world

6 Bridges Gallery: wall art, small sculptures, pottery, handmade wooden boxes, photography (many ArtSpace artists are represented here)

ArtSpace Maynard: though many artists are currently not able to work at ArtSpace, you can still reach out to them about their work. See the artist directory with sample images of their work.

UFO: 8 artists from ArtSpace, temporarily working at the UFO space

Gallery 7: for framing of your artwork or special objects

The Flower Pot: potted house plants

Jewelry

Richard Goddard Jewelers

Richard Goddard Goldsmiths: custom work, repairs, and original designs

Kind Goods: handmade goods sourced locally and around the world

6 Bridges Gallery: Super-locally-made jewelry (many ArtSpace artists are represented here)

Raspberry Beret: pieces that can help to build entire looks

The Paper Store: accessible jewelry popular with many 

Regional-Team Sports Fans

Outdoor Store: T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps

The Paper Store: t-shirts, hats, mugs

Foley and Sons: team rugs

Sugarsnap: caps

Maynard Merchandise

Maynard maple syrup: Maynard Maple, made here, using sugar maples from the community.

Maynardopoly game: The Flower Pot has them. They're a fundraiser for the Friends of Maynard Seniors, a group that raises funds to supplement the needs of the Senior Center.

Hand-glazed mug depicting the mill area: Kind Goods

Only in Maynard mug: The Boston Bean House, Sugarsnap, The Outdoor Store

Downtown Maynard prints, notecards, and t-shirts: 6 Bridges Gallery. These are being sold as a fundraiser for ArtSpace and will be restocked soon.

A Brief History of Maynard book: 6 Bridges Gallery

Maynard Port Wine (technically not from Maynard, but still cool): Art's Specialties

Sesquicentennial merchandise: Check the Maynard Sesquicentennial FB page for hours of when they are offering merchandise at Sanctuary 

Revel Revel released their beautiful graphic print of Maynard. 

Stocking Stuffers

This list isn't just for kids, and I don't actually know what people put in their stockings. When I was growing up, it was less expensive treats, maybe some socks and underwear. Maybe it's different in your house, so I'm including stocking-sized gifts.

The Outdoor Store has a big selection of stocking-sized gifts

Small, inexpensive toys, and lots of candy at Sugar Snap

Art’s Specialties has specialty chocolates

Socks and underwear are at The Outdoor Store, and The Paper Store has socks

Semi-precious stones from from Oliver's Wands and Wizarding Wares

Maple sugar candy from Maynard Maple

A can of specialty beer or other local consumables (for adults, clearly): Amory's Tomb, Art's Specialties, Green Star Herbals, Mass Wellspring

Handmade bars of soap: Kind Goods, 6 Bridges Gallery

Nail polish: Kind Goods

Original art: UFO

Cheese boards: 6 Bridges

Kitchenwares: Kind Goods

Travel place setting: 6 Bridges

Regional sports hats and caps: Sugarsnap

Regional sports hats and caps: The Outdoor Store

Semi-precious stones: Oliver's Wands 

Pocket knives:
The Outdoor Store

Cycling gloves: Ray & Sons

Chocolate bars: Art's Specialties

Band patches: Raspberry Beret

Small outdoor gear: The Outdoor Store

CDs: Art Signals

Nail polish: Kind Goods

Small toys: Sugarsnap

Small toys: Sugarsnap

Candy and small toys: Sugarsnap

Regional team rugs: Foley & Sons
(the Faucetorium)

 

Fancy pet collars: The Paper Store

Dog and cat calendars:
The Paper Store

Pet-themed gifts: The Paper Store

Pet toys: The Paper Store

Paint your own pet dish: Art Signals

Pet toys: Sugarsnap

Small bike gear and reflectors:
Ray & Sons

Handmade soaps: 6 Bridges

Maynard history book: 6 Bridges

Mug depicting the mill: Kind Goods

Maynard prints and cards: 6 Bridges

Pre-order Maynard T-shirts: 6 Bridges

Maynaropoly: The Flower Pot

Sesquicentennial merchandise

Revel Revel's Maynard illustration

I'm sorry that this post was such a motley mix, and I'm sorry that I don't have time to do the "businesses listed in the post" section. It just takes too long. I hope this helps you get your holiday shopping done now, and I hope you will remember all these cool things for the future!