In the Kitchen with ...

The Sweet Science of Grapefruit Sauvignon Sorbet

We're ‘In the Kitchen’ with Reasons to be Cheerful, the popular West Concord ice cream shop.

Every so often, Patch will venture ‘In the Kitchen’ to bring you the story behind popular, outrageous and original dishes, snacks and drinks from our local restaurants, sweet spots and coffee shops. This week, we dropped by Reasons to be Cheerful, the popular ice cream shop in West Concord. R2BC, as it's known to locals, has made more than 150 differet flavors of ice creams and sorbets, and at any time has between 30 and 40 flavors in rotation. That combines the standards -- vanillas, chocolates and strawberries -- with seasonal selections like berry-based sorbet and egg nog ice cream around Christmas. Earlier this week, Reasons to be Cheerful let Patch in their kitchen while they whipped up a batch of Grapefruit Sauvignon Sorbet. WARNING…

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Patch Facts

5 Things: A Concert to Benefit Emerson Umbrella

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on April 26 in Concord.

1. Arbor Day Tree Planting: At 10 a.m. this morning, a heritage apple tree will be planted at Heywood Meadow, a gift provided by the Garden Club of Concord's annual donation to honor Arbor Day. 2. Rory Block in Concert: At 8 p.m. tonight at the Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts, the Umbrella and Reasons to be Cheerful will present Rory Block with opening act David Maxwell. Costs $25 to $35, with proceeds benefiting Emerson Umbrella. 3. Left Behind: Evidence of Devotion & Destruction on the Gettysburg Battlefield: In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, the Gleason Library over in Carlisle will be displaying relics resident W. Irving Heald purchased in the 1890s from The Danner Museum of Gettysburg and gifted…

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mimicotton

4:14 am on Wednesday, May 15, 2013

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Patch Facts

Five Things: School Committee Candidates in West Concord, Meetings and More

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on Feb. 13 in Concord.

1. Meet and Greet School Committee Candidates: School Committee candidates Lisa Bergen and Cynthia Rainey will be at Reasons to be Cheerful in West Concord from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Stop by to share what issues are important to you, and speak with each of them about their goals. 2. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, public meetings posted for today include the Youth Advisory Board at 7:30 a.m., the Municipal Light Board at 8 a.m., the CCHS Building/Site-Based Subcommittee at 2:30 p.m., the CCHS Building Committee--Integrated Design Subcommittee at 6 p.m., the CCHS Building Committee at 7 p.m. and the Public Works Commission at 7:15 p.m. 3. Small Wonders Activity Program: At 10 a.m. this morning at the Concord Free…

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About Town

I Scream, You Scream

There are lots of choices for eating ice cream here in Concord.

I tell you, the life of a Patch reporter is hard, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone – especially when it involves ice cream, and checking out the different places to get it here in town. According to the Internet (and who doesn’t believe the Internet??) Americans eat 23.2 quarts of frozen dairy products per person per year. That includes ice cream, ice milk, sherbet and ices. That’s a lot of ice cream, so if you’re falling behind, now would be an ideal time to catch up. We are lucky here in Concord to have plenty of places to find the frozen confection, unlike our neighbors in Acton, who have to cross town lines to satisfy their sweet craving. Here, then, is a little guide to where to get your fix. Concord Center Right in the center of town…

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Janet Beyer

12:15 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Yup, Bedford Farms would be perfect if only they sold the ginger ice cream as the Bedford store does. We need an uprising!   more ›

Best of Patch Readers' Choice: Who Makes the Best Dessert?

Tell us where you go to satisfy your sweet tooth.

  The warm weather of summer is not far away, which also means residents will be able to once again enjoy the treats of the season. Here at patch we are all about desserts! That's the focus of this week's Best of Patch Readers' Choice poll - who do you think makes the best dessert in Concord.  But those desserts don't just have to be enjoyed during the summer. We want to know who you think makes the best dessert that can be enjoyed at anytime of the year.  Here are some of our favorite places, but if we're leaving one off of the list, please let us know in the comments and we'll add it: Voting in the poll below is open until 9 a.m. Friday. Ties will be broken by whichever business has the most positive comments in the section below. We …

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About Town

Winter Heat

Where to get a hot beverage.

  It’s the back half of the week, and I have to say, for a week in January, it’s been a pretty warm one. I would say this is the January thaw, but since there hasn’t actually been much of a freeze, I don’t think it qualifies. Still, there have been some icy cold days, giving me the opportunity to indulge in one of my favorite winter beverages: hot chocolate. Not that you can’t drink it other times of the year, but really, there’s nothing like a steaming cup of cocoa with whipped cream – or marshmallows, for those of you who like a heavier coating on top – while looking at the frosty coldness outside. In that vein, I thought I would – for the sake of our readership – take on the onerous task of taste-testing the various hot chocolates for …

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About Town

Falling Leaves

Come learn about trees and other fall things.

Hello and welcome to Friday! But not just any Friday: the Friday before a long holiday weekend. And not just a long weekend, but one that’s predicted to be positively balmy. Excellent for all those outdoor activities you want to get to before the snap in the air puts frost on the pumpkin and fleece on your back. I’m personally hoping to eat some cider donuts and drink hot apple cider at some local farm stand before the weekend is out. We’re still a little early for fall foliage — according to the weather guys, the cold snap should help kick that into gear — but it’s still the season for leaf peeping. And, if you’re a high school freshman, leaf gathering. It’s no secret that ninth grade earth science brings with it the much-feared leaf …

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Patch Picks

The Most New and Innovative Businesses in the Area

We take a look at some of the area's best.

Each week Patch runs a feature called Patch Picks, highlighting editor and reader picks of great local businesses, destinations, services, organizations, ways to spend a day off,  and more.  You’ll find useful lists to help you, your family, friends, and significant others find the best places for everything from Sunday brunch to New Year’s Eve celebrations, pumpkin patches, date night destinations, florists, girlfriend nights out, kids party places, parks and more. Want to suggest a list? Submit your idea in the comment box. We asked you this week to name the top innovation and new businesses in Concord as a part of this week's Patch Picks. Here's a look at the top five choices.

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About Town

Update: Summer Hours and Picnic in the Park

Things to look out for now that summer's in full swing.

I know we all like to get a jump on the weekend in summer, and our town employees are no exception. So before you head out to do business with the town, better check to make sure someone is there. Starting after the July Fourth holiday, the following departments will be closed at noon on Fridays: Finance and Human Resources, and Planning & Land Management. The Public Works Department and Light Plant will stay open on Fridays but some employees may not be there, opting instead to leave at noon and use paid leave hours, or work longer on the other four days. This schedule will remain in effect through Labor Day. And if you’re around on the Fourth… Consider stopping by Picnic in the Park, our own small-town celebration of the birthday of our …

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Comella’s Receives License for Outdoor Seating

The license was approved by Concord selectmen.

Diners at Comella’s on Walden Street will be able to take their meals outside this summer, thanks to a license that was approved this week. The Italian eatery received a license to have an outdoor seating area during Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting. The area was capped at eight seats. Also receiving a license this week was Reasons To Be Cheerful, the homemade ice cream shop planned for West Concord. The business was granted a Common Victualler license, taking it one step closer to a reality. Owner Wade Rubinstein said he hopes to open the store at the end of June or beginning of July. Also of note during this week’s meeting was Town Manager Christopher Whelan’s news that the Concord Free Public Library’s recent book sale raised $20,000.

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