Keeping it local

As I promised last week, I am reporting back on my Concord shopping spree. This is my attempt to help save the small retailers, part of the 3/50 Project. Visualize three local stores you always want to see in town, and try to spend at least $50 among them.

I started with a $22 charge at Concord Cleaners on Sudbury Road. I know all the cleaners in town are wonderful, but I really love that the folks at Concord Cleaners know my name as I walk in the door. They are so friendly and have a knack for removing the stains I manage to acquire. 

Then I went over to Thoreau Street and picked up vegetables, a lemon, three salmon patties and a bit more than a pound of grass-fed London broil at Concord Prime & Fish. That was $26.10. Next I walked up to Concord Provisions for more vegetables.

I had planned to cross the street and go to JuJus for Two Degree nutrition bars that I featured last week, but there they were, right on the counter at Concord Provisions. I purchased one in each flavor. At $2.49 each, you may think the price is steep, until you realize that each purchase benefits a hungry, malnourished child in Malawi, Africa. Then the cost no longer matters and the bar tastes even better.

Here is what I got for $33.60: Four sirloin dinners with asparagus, onions, lemon zest and white mushrooms, two meals with salmon patties and steamed spinach, three between-meal healthy snack bars and three fortified meals for deserving children in Africa. That is nine meals for less than $4 apiece, plus three snacks. I don’t think you can beat that.

On the way home, the 30-percent off signs on Brine’s windows caught my attention. I parked and purchased a down parka (I needed one anyway) for $192.49. It is a classic cut, Concord colors and should see me through scores of Januarys and Februarys. Sayonara, the clerk who helped me with the selection, assured me so.

MLK Weekend

I trust everyone had a wonderful weekend, and I know for many of you, it is still going on. The Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council hosted a beautiful celebration in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. last week at the Willard School.  If you were unable to attend, I recommend you view the video that Grant Mukai, Patch videographer, shot.

Dr. King is a hero one can never know too much about. I remember when my son, now 18, first learned about MLK in kindergarten at Alcott School. He was very impressed with the story about a doctor, who was also a king. He told me how a black lady wanted to have a seat on the bus and the bus driver would not let her. Then the king who was also a doctor came along and told the bus driver that the lady could have a seat. The lady sat down and the driver, who would not argue with a king, went back to driving the bus.

Well, my son had the general idea, and the lesson piqued his interest in MLK, whom he had now elevated to superhero status, that together we sought out more information.

Concord-based groups celebrated the legend this weekend, and if you don’t mind stepping out of Concord today, you and your family may still participate in MLK observations.

Here is one tip: Boston University, alma mater of MLK, my dad and spouse, is hosting the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration today at 1 p.m. at the George Sherman Union. This event is free and open to the public.

If you have the day off and want to stay around town, both outdoor skating rinks are up and running and quite popular. One ice rink is located at Emerson Playground, the other at Rideout Playground. Just bring your own skates. The weather has been glorious all weekend and promises to be so today. Bring the family and friends on a walk around Great Meadows or Estabrook Woods. Better yet, break out the cross-country skis and snowshoes. You will be so enthralled with the how beautiful the trees and pastures look all covered with snow that you will never notice the 20-something-degree temperatures.

Maybe you’ll decide to curl up on the couch and check out the “On Demand” button on the remote control. Go ahead, you work hard, you deserve a day to lounge around.

Whatever you decide to do today, I hope it is something that brings you and those close to you joy, because that’s how I think Martin Luther King would want us to celebrate his birthday.

Do you have something to share? Contact me at mcb23@comcast.net and I will make sure everyone knows.