Art Instruction at Home, a Gala, and the Visitor Center Opens

Ah, how things can change in a week! Last week it was sandals and shorts, this week we’re back to fleece and sneakers. Such are the joys of living in New England! It IS a little odd to see blossoms on the trees so soon, and the forsythia out, but I’m loving the colors. I only hope it doesn’t get cold enough to stop them in their tracks.

Today I want to tell you about local mom and businesswoman Alicia Cleary, who I met through my friend Kate Harmon. Alicia has had a fascinating life – she lived in Hong Kong in the last days before China took it back, and she’s worked in a bunch of cool places, like the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Now she’s living in Concord and raising her family, and it was while she was doing that thing that moms do, running her kids around to their various activities, that she began to think “there has to be a better way!” So she teamed up with her good friend Jennifer Seeman and together they created Arts2You.

Alicia feels that art is an important part of a child’s education, and she wanted to find a way to bring art instruction right into the home. So, just like you would with a piano teacher or math tutor, you have the instructor come to you, meaning there’s one less place to which you have to cart your kid around. It’s brilliant, really.

The teachers that Arts2You contract with all have more than one area of expertise. What’s great about this is, instead of taking, say, a class just in clay sculpture or figure drawing, the teacher can bring several mediums to the child, giving them access to different ways of expressing their creativity. So each child gets a uniquely individual art experience.

Alicia tells me she has connections with a number of local colleges, and a good number of art teachers at her fingertips. I checked around with a few friends and they loved the idea of bringing art instruction into the home, for the sheer convenience of not having to drive to yet one more place with kids, as well as the individualized instruction. It’s mostly geared to kids ages 8 to 12, and is currently available in seven local towns, including Concord. If you want more info, head over to their brand-new website; you’ll be supporting a Concord mom when you do.

Visitation Rights

With the coming of spring comes the opening of the Visitor Center – yes, I heard from my well-connected friend Maureen that it opens this Saturday, March 31. I know it looks like a small space, but it houses a plethora of information about our historic town, including trail maps, historic site pamphlets, things of interest, etc. Even if you’ve lived in town forever, it’s fun to check in there to see what you may have missed. Plus you can stock up on maps for when visitors come to see you.

Take a minute

The Concord Carlisle Community Chest is hosting its bi-annual fundraising gala, “It Only Takes a Minute,” this Saturday night, from 7-10 p.m., over at 300 Baker Ave. They’d like at least 300 attendees at this event, so if you haven’t bought a ticket yet, click here. The cost is $95, and the money goes to really worthy, local organizations like the Council on Aging and Minuteman Senior Services. Their website says their focus is neighbors helping neighbors, and that’s what you’ll be doing if you go. President Betsy Veidneheimer tells me the evening will be full of games fashioned after “Minute to Win It” – sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday night!

If you really want to go but have kids and no babysitter, the Friends of Concord Carlisle Girls Lacrosse are providing volunteer babysitting from 6:30-10:30 p.m., for a donation. But they only have 25 slots – once those are filled, they’ll have a waitlist. To get all the details on this, go to their website.

And if you just can’t possibly make it that night – you already have other plans, or you really hate game-playing – you can still help out by going online to their silent auction. But the bidding ends at different times for different items, so go NOW to check it out.

That’s all for now; see you in April!

Do you have something you would like to share? Contact me at stefanieac@comcast.net or Maureen at mcb23@comcast.net, and we will be happy to help you spread the good news. And follow us on Twitter: Maureen is @cosmo1162, I’m @stefanie3131.