A First Day Hike and Support for a Theatre

Good morning, all, and welcome to the very last day of 2012! Congratulations for making it all the way through another year! I know it’s traditional to be reflective and look back at how the year went, but I’ll leave that to each of you to do on your own. Me, I’m looking forward.

And what better way to usher in the New Year here in Concord than by taking a First Day Hike with Henry David Thoreau? OK, he’s really historian Richard Smith portraying Thoreau, but still, it’s iconic and it’s only here.

There’s something so peaceful about taking a walk in the woods, and these woods are particularly inspiring. The walk takes place over at Walden Pond State Reservation on Route 126 (also known as Walden Street), beginning at noon at the house replica near the main parking lot of Walden Pond.

It all starts with Thoreau entertaining visitors, then from 1 to 2 p.m. Thoreau and DCR staff will lead a walk over to the Thoreau house site, about a mile round-trip. If you’re feeling particularly hale and hearty, you can feel free to continue walking around the pond, meeting back at park headquarters for hot chocolate. I have no doubt you’ll need it after a bracing winter walk.

The walk is free, sponsored by the Friends of Walden Pond, and is an activity of the Thoreau Society. For more information, or in case of inclement weather call 978-369-3254.

If You’d Rather Walk On Your Own…

For those of you who aren’t into the group walk, you can always take your own First Day Hike over at the Town Forest (aka Fairyland), Great Meadows, or Estabrook Woods. Then take yourself out for hot chocolate at one of the many places in town with the chocolaty beverage, and start the New Year off right.

Support the Arts

I know you just did a lot of giving in the past month, but here's a chance to give to yourself while giving to the community.

Concord Youth Theatre (CYT) is having their Annual Fundraising Cabaret this coming Saturday, Jan. 5, with the theme “Everything Old is New Again,” performed by their college alums and older high school students. Who doesn’t love a cabaret?? 

The event takes place over at 51 Walden at 7:30 p.m. – doors open around 6:45 – and you can purchase either a table for $250 or $300, or individual tickets ranging from $25 to $40. Plus, once you’re there and enjoying the show, you can purchase light food, as well as wine, mulled cider, desserts and coffee. Yes, a full great night out, right here in town!

To buy your tickets, go to their website here. And help our local children’s theatre continue to offer great programs, like their drama classes for ages 3 through grade 4, which begin on Jan. 8, and their Junior Performance Company for grades 2 through 4, which begin Jan. 18.

For a full description of all the wonderful programs CYT has to offer, as well as to register your budding thespian for classes, head over to their website.

Here’s to a fabulous start to 2013!

Do you have something you would like to share? Contact me at stefanieac@comcast.net and I will be happy to help you spread the good news. And follow me on Twitter: @stefanie3131