When something this historic comes to pass, it’s only right that a publication dedicated to telling Concord’s important stories pauses to pay homage to the people behind that moment. This is one such tale – something that the people of Concord will look back upon as a milestone in their shared history. And the two people behind it are just as important. They have long loved this town and worked hard to build a thriving community here. What we are witnessing is the passing of the baton – one beloved chapter closes, while another opens to new possibilities. The doors of the West Concord 5&10 will close forever on December 31, 2020.
Concord is well known for its rich history and stunning natural beauty. Residents and visitors alike deeply appreciate having
access to national parks which showcase these features. During
the COVID-19 pandemic, the parks are working hard to make visitors feel welcome – while doing all they can to help stop the spread of the virus. Here, we present some updates from two of
our most popular destinations.
With hospitality ranging from curbside pickup, to dining al fresco, to indoor table service, restaurants have pivoted with lightning speed to ensure safety and compliance with state regulations as they reopen their doors and their kitchens to eager diners. We caught up with a few of our favorite spots to find out more about what they are offering guests this summer.
Concord has always been a very special place. The people who call this town home have never shied away from a challenge, nor have they hesitated to do the right thing in trying times. From mustering the courage to fire the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” to creating a space which fostered a generation of literary legends, to standing up to fight for the abolition of slavery, Concordians are steadfast in the face of adversity.
Each year, thousands of people come from all around the globe to celebrate the events that gave birth to a new nation. The battles of Lexington and Concord are synonymous with freedom, liberty, and rebellion. The amazing reenactors, park rangers, tour guides, and museum docents in and around our community are all here to help and guide you as you experience the energy and excitement of the events leading up to that fateful day - April 19, 1775.
This year, for the 245th Anniversary of the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World,” there are many events planned in and around Concord during Patriots’ Day weekend. Here are a few favorites you won’t want to miss:
There’s something magical about Concord, Massachusetts. A persistent and insistent energy over the course of centuries has attracted artists, innovators, writers, revolutionaries, philosophers, abolitionists, social justice warriors, scholars, and a whole host of leaders and creative disrupters. They live among us today, and I had the great honor to sit down with two artists - Gregory Maguire and Andy Newman – in their Concord home to learn about their creative journey, and also about the very special place they created to raise their three adopted children.
Nestled in the sitting room of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s beautiful Concord home, I find myself in a cozy atmosphere that downplays the importance of the leather-bound volumes surrounding us as we chat. Photos of Doris and her late husband, Richard N. Goodwin (Dick Goodwin, as he was widely known), are hung alongside images of the Queen of England, Presidents – both Democrat and Republican, and even Che Guevara. These portraits are intermingled with family photos and treasures brought back from faraway lands. The impressive woman in front of me is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, a frequent guest on news channels and talk shows, a world-renowned speaker, a powerful role model, and a sought-after mentor. Today, however, in this inviting home designed as much for family and entertaining friends as it is for creating award-winning books, I have the true pleasure of sitting with my friend and neighbor to talk about her amazing life.
Downtown Concord is always a popular destination on summer afternoons, and perhaps nowhere is this more visible than on the porch at the Colonial Inn in Monument Square. “It’s incredible,” says Andy Seidel, the Inn’s General Manager. “Once we put the tables out in the spring and we get those first few nice days, we basically see it full from there on until the end of fall.”
Meet Kristin Canty - entrepreneur, owner of three restaurants and a farm, innovator, busy mother of four, and ardent advocate for reconnecting people to the earth and animals that are the building blocks of our food.
In a quest to help her son who was plagued by severe allergies since birth, Kristin learned about the principles of ancestral health - based on pasturing farm animals, raising crops without pesticides, and placing an emphasis on the consumption of raw and fermented foods.
