Sweet News! Azúcar!

Mexican tiles on the dance floor.

Over the years, my family has been watching the careful expansion of Maynard's Mexican restaurant, El Huipil (pronounced "we-peel"). We always respected how owners, Alma and Alonzo, took smart, cautious steps, feeling the market out to make sure their next moves were the right moves.

Some months ago I had heard that they were thinking about taking the empty restaurant space on Main Street that's adjacent to El Huipil. I thought to myself, These two are thoughtful business people. What are they bringing to Maynard? And then I waited in anticipation.

In the time that I've lived in Maynard the site has been a successful, long-lived bakery and at least four different restaurants. The last business that had been there was The Brook Kitchen and Tap. I remember wanting all of the restaurants to succeed, but there was always something odd or awkward about the space and it was always too loud. Competing TVs and music at The Halfway Cafe and The Brook made it difficult to hold a conversation without yelling. There was nothing particularly memorable about the food.

A couple of months ago I ran into Tim Hess (our local architect at Studio InSitu) and he confirmed rumors for me: a menu that would be offering tapas (spanish-style small plates), a cocktail bar, a live music space, and even a small space for dancing. He told me that his company designed the restaurant, from concept, to interior design, lighting design, fabric choices, paint colors, and on and on. I knew that if he was on it, it was going to have style.

Pretty wallpaper in the Rum Room.

On Friday I ran into Tim at Serendipity Cafe and he offered to give me a sneak peek at Azúcar (sugar). I leaped at the chance. You guys, it's really great! They have taken this awkward, loud space and created lovely intimate spaces, and so, so stylish! This is a very grown up kind of restaurant, so though I'm sure kids would be welcome, if you have any, start lining up the babysitters—this is a special treat for adults!

At El Huipil, the sense is that you're always in a fiesta. The bright colors and decorations make it feel as though a party could start at any time. Azúcar is different—there's a romantic moodiness to the lighting and the seating arrangements. I can't quite put my finger on why, but I get the sense of a bygone era.

It seems that a lot of attention went into making this place feel special, so let me try to describe some of the spaces. I don't actually know what each area is called, so I'll just name them as best I can.

The stage and dance floor: Small and velvet curtained, it has the magical feel of a person-scaled puppet theater. The plan is to have live music three nights a week. On those nights the lovely tiled area in front of the stage will be cleared of tables and chairs to open the dance floor. There is a leather-upholstered "Hollywood banquette" (a wide, curved table with surrounding seating) that provides an excellent view of the stage.

The window lounge: This area probably seats about 12 (I'm guessing from memory). It has large, high-backed, plush, velour-upholstered banquettes and small tables. The ability to close drapes to this space means you can soften noise or close it off for a more-private party.

The bar: It's long and has big, heavy mirrors. When the bottles show up, it's going to sparkle. At the far end is a large piece of artwork made up of aluminum and recycled bottle caps-—very cool!

An ornate mirror in the Dining Room.

The main dining room: This is an internal space that is a little shielded from the stage area by a wall. Cutouts let some light and music through from the front. Above the tables, decorating the back wall, are an array of musical instruments.

The rum room: This is the most intimate of the spaces, and probably my favorite. It has a smaller bar of its own, and I think they'll be serving specialty rums here. The walls are covered with a wallpaper of large-print tropical plants. There are some cigar boxes on display on one wall, but don't worry, nobody will be smoking in here.

There is no justice in my descriptions or any photos I took. You'll just have to pay attention for an opening date and head down to Azúcar and see for yourself.

Update: Since my post on August 12, 2019, Alma and Alonzo decided that they wanted to make the restaurant an age-restricted restaurant to people over sixteen. Maybe this will change in the future, or maybe it won't. It does feel very grown up and romantic in there, which I think many adults enjoy, and I know from the many conversations I've had that a lot of people are pleased to have a kid-free (of theirs or other's kids) night out with a spouse. 

Heartbreak Undone

Last year I, and many other people I know here in Maynard, were heartbroken when we learned that the Mathison family was leaving to go back to the Carolinas, where they are originally from. Maybe you don't know them and are wondering why I would dedicate a whole blog post to a family who was moving away. I mean, people move, right? What's the big deal? But this family was special in the way that they embraced the community. They seemed to embody the whole big feeling that I have about this place.

I met Val and Brent at a mini Open Studios in ArtSpace Maynard back in 2015. I did what I always do when I meet new people in the area—I asked where they live. They told me that they had recently moved to our small town and were really excited to be here. I'm always curious, so I asked what brought them specifically to Maynard—I've been here so long that it's good to get a fresh perspective on our town. They talked about needing to move to this area and about how their realtor drove them around to all the local towns. They both talked about passing through Maynard, looking at each other, and both articulating that this was it—this was the place. That they just knew it. I think they stayed in my studio for more than an hour that day, just talking about the local community and how they were getting their footing in this new place.

In the three years that they lived here, the family was quick to get involved. From government, to family matters, to the arts—there was so much to be involved in and they just jumped right in. I was amazed. At some point, after they had been here maybe two years, I asked how much of their love of the town was really just about how they embraced it. My thought was that maybe they would have found home wherever they were because that's who they are. They both insisted that this wasn't the case, and that what we have here in Maynard is something special.

Fast forward to late spring 2018 when they told their Maynard friends that they needed to move back to the Carolinas for work. There was sadness in the community they had built for themselves. Even they struggled with going though there were so many positives to the move. I, for one, tried to make the best of it. Brent and I talked about how they'd move back someday, how maybe it wouldn't be so long, how maybe they could vacation here. But the sadness was still there. I felt a need to blog about it, but every time I tried I struggled over what I would even say.

After they moved, I told Brent that I wanted to do a blog post about their family and what it means to be part of this community, and how hard it can be to leave. He approved. I kept putting it off, and putting it off. I'm glad I did. After one year away, they decided to move back. They had a lovely house in the south. They had family nearby. There was the job. Still, they wanted to be back here with all of us, and I am so glad for it.

The connections we make to each other are foundations that support us and make us feel like we belong here. Communities are built by people, one at a time—that's you and me.

Welcome back home, Mathisons!