Happy New Year, Neighbors and Newcomers! Make one of your new year’s resolutions to attend more LNN events. Hope to see you around and please let us know if you have any suggestions for the new year. As always, you can email us at lncexecs@lexington-newcomers.org. Also, don’t forget the LNN Member Directory is now available on the website, so check it out and connect with other members.

Upcoming Events

Lunch Bunch – Tuesday, January 8 at 12:00pm

Let’s ring in the new year with a lovely Japanese lunch at Lexington’s own Daikanyama.  The menu features sushi and other Japanese favorites like tempura, teriyaki and tonkatsu.  Plus you’ll enjoy laughs and conversation with fellow LNN members.

WHERE:  43 Waltham St, Lexington
RSVP to Kim at kimwcramer@gmail.com

Book Club – Thursday, January 10 at 7:30pm

The book for January will be Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.  Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. It is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.  Please join us at the circle for discussion!

Members are kindly asked to bring a beverage or food to share.
RSVP by Monday, January 7th:  email Priya at priyanpatel@yahoo.com for location details

Coffee Talk – Wednesday, January 16, 10:00-12:00 

Start your day off with coffee, nibbles and conversation with your LNN friends.

No RSVP: Just drop in!

Host: Susan Silber.  Any questions, email Angela at jammbenson@sbcglobal.net

Men’s Pub Night – Thursday, January 17,  7:30-11:00pm

Time to put 2018 firmly behind us and look ahead to the important things in life.  Like places where men can gather around huge fermentation vats.  A local brewery, Mighty Squirrel, has opened a taproom in Waltham at 411 Waverley Oaks Rd.  Expressions of intent sent to normrichter@comcast.net are appreciated. 🥃

Movie Night – Thursday, January 31 in the evening

We’ll catch a movie at the Lexington Venue then go out for drinks afterwords at Il Casale.  Join us for the movie, drinks or both.  Movie time and title to be announced in an upcoming Weekly Happening, once the movie schedule is released.

RSVP: email Lesley at lesleysegal@hotmail.com to RSVP

Walking Group – Tuesdays at 9am

Weather has not been cooperating with us on Tuesdays this fall, but walking group is still going strong and will continue through the winter months.  If it is really snowy or icy, then the walk may be switched to the Burlington Mall or coffee at Starbucks.  Email Deb at debbra.zucker@gmail.com to be added to the email group and receive the weekly walk details.

Ladies Night Out

New Member Ladies’ Pub Night – Thursday, January 24 at 7:30pm
Join us for a fun, informal night of cocktails and conversation.  This event is intended for all LNN members, but especially for those who have recently joined – in order to meet other “new newcomers” – plus any prospective members.  So if you know of anyone new to town or looking to expand their social circle, please spread the word about this event!
Location: the bar at Beijing Chinese Dining,1709 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington.
RSVP: email Kessa at kessaglisic@gmail.com to RSVP

Community Happenings

LEXINGTON SKI CLUB 

For almost fifty years the Lexington Ski Club has catered to avid snow sport families. Members enjoy comfortable accommodations at our lodge located in the White Mountains, prepared hot meals during ski season, and after ski activities such as board games and ping pong.  If your family likes to ski or snowboard and appreciates cooperative living, the Lexington Ski Club might be for you.  Currently, we are accepting applications for new members.  For additional information, please contact Cathy Fahy at cathfahy@gmail.com or 781-863-2052 or Joe Scholl at jpscholl4@gmail.com or 781-891-1832 or visit our website www.lexski.org.

FREE ESSENTRICS CLASS  

Join LNN member Farhana Stevenson on January 21 at 10am in her home for a free 1-hour class.  Essentrics is a a full body stretching and toning workout. It is great for toning your waist, abs, legs, buttocks and arms. It also helps to improve posture. Essentrics is a combinatioin of tai chi, pilates and ballet. It promotes lean, long muscles without pain. Weekly Essentrics exercise helps rebalance your body, protects you from injury and improves your overall form. For more information, contact Farhana at farhana.stevenson@gmail.com.

LOOKING FOR FAMILY-FRIENDLY BOSTON-AREA EVENTS….

Boston Central has an email newsletter that is a wonderful resource for fun activities for all ages in Boston and the surrounding suburbs.  To subscribe, click the following link: https://www.bostoncentral.com/main/newsletter.php

Dear Neighbors and Newcomers,

The holidays are a wonderfully busy time of year, so be sure to save time for at least one (or more!) of the many festive events we have planned this month. Hope to see many new and familiar faces at these upcoming events. We wish you and your families a safe and happy holiday season.

Yours,
Katie and Pam (LNN Co-Presidents)

Upcoming Events

Annual Holiday Party – Saturday, December 8th, 7-10:30pm

Toast the holidays with your fellow Neighbors & Newcomers for one of our biggest events of the year, the annual Holiday Party. Join us at Sanyo, a newly opened Asian restaurant in Lexington center. Appetizers provided by LNN and there will be a cash bar. Feel free to stay for the entire party or drop in for a quick hello. Kindly RSVP to the Evite that was sent out on November 15. If you have any questions, please contact Nassma at nassmahalaseh@hotmail.com or Sadia at sadia_sharif@hotmail.com.

Book Club – Tuesday, December 4 at 7:30pm

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance is a passionate and personal analysis of the loss of the American dream for a large segment of this country. The decline of white working-class Americans has been reported on with growing frequency and alarm – but never before been written about as searingly from the inside. Former marine and Yale Law School graduate, J.D. Vance tells the true story of what a social, regional, and class decline feels like. It is a deeply moving memoir, with its share of humor and vividly colorful figures – a story of how upward mobility really feels.

Come and join us for a fun and festive holiday Book Club!

Host: Sheila Tweeddale
RSVP to Priya at priyanpatel@yahoo.com

Holiday Lunch Bunch – Friday, December 7 at 12:00pm

Enjoy a festive and elegant lunch at Lexington’s lovely Artistry on the Green. A $28 Price Fixe Menu includes a starter, main dish as well as coffee or tea (tip not included). Space is limited to 20 for this annual and fun event, so RSVP ASAP! Also, in the spirit of holiday giving we are asking you to bring items for the Lexington Food Bank.

WHERE: 2027 Mass. Ave, Lexington
RSVP to Kim at kimwcramer@gmail.com by December 4

Bunco (& Left-Right-Center) – Tuesday, December 11 at 7:30pm

Bring: $5 ante for Bunco; $3 for L-R-C (exact change appreciated!); and a beverage or snack to share

RSVP: email Kessa at kessaglisic@gmail.com to RSVP and for location details

About the Games: Bunco is an entertaining, simple dice game, with no experience required. It’s played in multiple rounds with players alternating turns rolling the dice to match the target number. Whoever wins the most rounds is the overall winner. And because players rotate tables, it is a great way to meet and chat with different people. Left-Right-Center is an even simpler game, faster moving than Bunco, and is played at the end of the evening. Did we mention there’s no experience required?

Coffee and Cookies – Thursday, December 13, 10:00-12:00

Join us for our regular monthly coffee talk with a bonus cookie swap. If you would like to participate in the cookie swap, please bring 2 dozen of your favorite baked holiday cookie/treats and a container to carry them home. And if you want to skip the swap and just chat over coffee, that is fine too. Looking forward to tasting everyone’s yummy treats!

Host: Pam Richter

No RSVP, just drop in! Contact Angela at jammbenson@sbcglobal.net with any questions.

Walking Group – Tuesdays at 9am

Weather has not been cooperating with us on Tuesdays this fall, but walking group is still going strong and will continue through the winter months. If it is really snowy or icy, then the walk may be switched to the Burlington Mall or coffee at Starbucks. Email Deb at debbra.zucker@gmail.com to be added to the email group and receive the weekly walk details.

Community Happenings

Taste of Lexington: Thursday, December 6, 5-9:30pm. Lexington Mavens, Lexington Retail Association and Lexington Chamber of Commerce have partnered together to encourage shopping and dining locally. Retailers and restaurants in Lex center are taking part with offers, canapes and cocktails and enticing you to shop. There will be live music and even activities to keep the kids busy while you shop. Bring your family and friends and come out to support our town!

Find out more details at: Taste of Lexington Event Overview

A FRIENDLY REMINDER!! Don’t forget to renew your 2018-2019 LNN membership!! This will be your last newsletter/weekly happening unless you renew by the end of the week. See membership information in the “Announcements” section at the bottom of the newsletter.

Upcoming Events

Boston Harbor Walk – Tuesday, October 2 at 9:45am

Our regular Tuesday walk will take a road trip to Boston to explore the Harborwalk. This beautiful walk goes all along Boston’s harbor, connecting many of Boston’s most beloved neighborhoods. We’ll stop for lunch along the way and be back in Lexington by 3pm. We will meet at Starbucks on Bedford St at 9:45 and carpool into Boston from there.

RSVP to Deb at debbra.zucker@gmail.com details.

Book Club – Wednesday, October 10 at 7:30pm

This month’s book is “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas. Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Host: Sue Denham

RSVP to Priya at priyanpatel@yahoo.com

Kick-Off Cocktail Party – Friday, October 12 7:00-9:00pm

Kick-off the new LNN season by joining friends old and new at Aloft in Lexington. Appetizers will be served by the club and drinks will be available at the bar. All LNN members should have received an Evite invitation for this event – please RSVP via Evite. Numbers are limited, so please sign up soon! If you have questions, contact Nassma at nassmahalaseh@hotmail.com or Sadia at sadia_sharif@hotmail.com

John F. Kennedy House Tour – Wednesday, October 17 at 10:30am

The JFK House in Brookline, a National Historic Site, is the birthplace and childhood home of JFK, the 35th President of the U.S.. Our own LNN private tour starts at 10:30am and lasts 30-40 minutes. Admission is FREE! After the tour we’ll walk 2 blocks for lunch at Zaftig’s Deli (yum!!).

RSVP to Natalie at natalie_auer@hotmail.com for the tour, lunch or both. Carpools can be organized from Lexington once Natalie has all the RSVPs.

Ladies’ Pub Night – Thursday, October 18 at 7:30pm

Bunco is taking a break this month and we’re replacing it with a Ladies’ Pub Night. If this is a hit we may consider alternating months between Bunco and Pub Night. This month we’ll be at Via Lago from 7:30pm onward, so join us (we’ll have a table, so if you don’t see us ask the hostess for the LNN group). No need to RSVP, but if there are questions, please contact Kessa at kessaglisic@gmail.com

Lunch Bunch – Friday, October 19 at 12:00pm

Join us for some southern Italian food at Brelundi in Waltham (185 Crescent St). Homemade pastas, pizzas, arancini, and desserts plus delicious salads and paninis are what Brelundi is known for. Come hungry!

RSVP to Kim at kimwcramer@gmail.com

Coffee Talk – Wednesday, October 24, 10:00-12:00

Start your day off with coffee and conversation with your LNN friends. Feel free to bring along friends/neighbors who may be interested in learning more about LNN.

No RSVP: Just drop in! Host: Natalie Auer. Any questions or if you are interested in hosting a future coffee, email Angela at jammbenson@sbcglobal.net

Walking Group – Tuesdays at 9am

Everyone is welcome to join the walking group each Tuesday. The location of each walk varies to keep it interesting – we aim for about 90 minute walks. Deb will email the night before with the location (waiting until Monday evening avoids last minute changes due to weather). Some paths are flatter / stroller friendly and some are not – we’ll do our best to let you know trail conditions beforehand. No RSVP necessary – just show up, ready to walk. If you’re running late, call or text Deb & we’ll make arrangements to meet you.

Email Deb at debbra.zucker@gmail.com to be added to the email group and receive the weekly walk details.

Save the Date!

23rd annual Genesis Battle Green Run will take place Sunday, November 4 in Lexington. LexFUN! and Lexington Neighbors & Newcomers have joined forced to become a team: Spencer’s Sprinters, because a local pre-schooler needs our help! Lexington’s cutie-pie, Spencer Smith, has been diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome, a terminal, progressive disease – LIKENED TO CHILDHOOD ALZHEIMER’S, with devastating effects on the brain – that doesn’t have a cure…YET. We are participating in this race to help Spencer and other kids with Sanfilippo by raising money for the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation. We hope you’ll join our team!! You can do the 5K Walk, 5K Run or 10K Run. To register, visit www.battlegreenrunfoundation.org and choose “Spencer’s Sprinters” when you join an Existing Team. After you have completed registration, you can begin to raise funds for our team by joining at www.crowdrise.com/spencers-sprinters-battlegreen-run. Registered runners and walkers who create a Crowdrise profile and rasie $100 or more by October 15th will receive a FREE longsleeve Spencer’s Sprinters official race t-shirt. Questions? Contact Peg at margaretkastnerus@yahoo.com.

Announcements

Don’t forget to renew your membership! Renew before October 1 (tomorrow!) to keep your membership up-to-date. Dues are $45 and entitles each household to our newsletter and access to all of our activities. There are two ways to pay: 1) Paypal or 2) By check – Send a check made out to the “Lexington Newcomers Club” to our Membership Chair: Claire Nedham, 33 Liberty Ave, Lexington, MA 02420. Note that new members are requested to complete a membership form . Please feel free to pass on membership information to any newcomers or neighbors who you think may be interested in joining!

Looking for a house to host Holiday Party – Whether you have been a member for years or joined last month, if you have a house that’s good for entertaining we would love to borrow it for our annual December Holiday Party. The LNN party planners take care of everything – they just need someone to offer up their home for one evening. If you are interested, contact Nassma at nassmahalaseh@hotmail.com or Sadia at sadia_sharif@hotmail.com.

Check us out on Facebook! LNN has a Facebook page where you can connect with other members, post pictures of events and find out about upcoming events. Visit us at www.facebook.com/LexingtonNewcomersClub and be sure to “like” us!

Want to get more involved with LNN? We are always looking for members to host events (bunco, parties, book club, coffee talk, etc) and likewise we are open to suggestions for new activities/excursions. If you are interested in hosting, have any suggestions or want to help out with LNN in any way contact us at lncexecs@lexington-newcomers.org.

Upcoming Events

Walking Group – Tuesdays at 9am starting September 4

Everyone is welcome to join the walking group each Tuesday. The location of each walk varies to keep it interesting – we aim for about 90 minute walks. Deb will email the night before with the location (waiting until Monday evening avoids last minute changes due to weather). Some paths are flatter / stroller friendly and some are not – we’ll do our best to let you know trail conditions beforehand. No RSVP necessary – just show up, ready to walk. If you’re running late, call or text Deb & we’ll make arrangements to meet you.

Email Deb at debbra.zucker@gmail.com to be added to the email group and receive the weekly walk details.

Our first walk of the season is Tues., Sept 4 at 9am. Meet at Starbucks on Bedford St. (60 Bedford Street, Lexington). We will walk the bike path which is paved & shaded.

Book Club – Thursday, September 13 at 7:30pm

This month’s book is “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng. The Richardson family lives in the planned community of Shaker Heights, Ohio—a place of wealth, comfort, and stability—and they are a clan that embodies those traits. But when Mia, a single mother, and her fifteen year old daughter, Pearl, rent a house in the area, their very different lives will merge with those of the Richardson family and begin to contort the carefully laid lattice that supports their views. Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of long-held secrets and the ferocious pull of motherhood-and the danger of believing that planning and following the rules can avert disaster, or heartbreak

Host: Sue Stapleton. RSVP to Priya at priyanpatel@yahoo.com

Lunch Bunch – Friday, September 14 at 12:00pm

Join your LNN friends for a delicious local lunch. This month we’re dining Lexx, a long-standing Lexington favorite.

RSVP to Kim Cramer at kimwcramer@gmail.com

Ladie’s Movie Night – Thursday, September 20 7:30pm

Please join us for a fun and entertaining ladies’ night, hosted in the home of an LNN member. We will have time to socialize with friends old and new before watching a movie together. Snacks will be provided. Members are kindly asked to bring a beverage to share. RSVP to Lesley at lesleysegal@hotmail.com for location details.

Bunco (& Left-Right-Center) – Tuesday, September 25 at 7:30pm

Bring: $5 ante for Bunco; $3 for L-R-C (exact change appreciated!); and a beverage or snack to share
RSVP: email Kessa at kessaglisic@gmail.com for location details

About the Games: Bunco is an entertaining, simple dice game, with no experience required. It’s played in multiple rounds with players alternating turns rolling the dice to match the target number. Whoever wins the most rounds is the overall winner. And because players rotate tables, it is a great way to meet and chat with different people. Left-Right-Center is an even simpler game, faster moving than Bunco, and is played at the end of the evening. Did we mention there’s no experience required?

Open House Coffee

Wednesday, September 26, 10:00-12:00

Join us for an open house to kick-off the 2018-2019 LNN season. This event is open to both current members looking to catch up with old friends and non-members interested in learning about what LNN offers. Feel free to bring along someone new to Lexington or looking to expand their community.

No RSVP: Just drop in!

Host: Angela Benson. Any questions or if you are interested in hosting a future coffee, email Angela at jammbenson@sbcglobal.net

Men’s Pub Night – Thursday, September 27 at 7:30pm

Please join us at Via Lago (on Mass Ave across from Cary Library) to reconnect over drinks!  Expressions of interest sent to normrichter@comcast.net are appreciated, so that Norm can let Via Lago know how many stools to set aside.

Save the Date!

November 4 – 23rd Annual Genesis Battle Green Run

more details about these events to follow….

Announcements

Don’t forget to renew your membership!

Renew before September 15 for $40 . After that dues increase to $45. Please remember to renew by October 1 in order to keep your membership up-to-date. Membership entitles each household to our newsletter and access to all of our activities. There are two ways to pay: 1) Paypal or 2) By check. Note that new members are requested to complete a membership form. Please feel free to pass on membership information to any newcomers or neighbors who you think may be interested in joining!

Want to get more involved with LNN?

We are always looking for members to host events (bunco, parties, book club, coffee talk, etc) and likewise we are open to suggestions for new activities/excursions. If you are interested in hosting, have any suggestions or want to help out with LNN in any way contact us at lncexecs@lexington-newcomers.org.

23rd annual Genesis Battle Green Run

The 23rd annual Genesis Battle Green Run will take place Sunday, November 4 in Lexington.  LexFUN! and Lexington Neighbors & Newcomers have joined forced to become a team:  Spencer’s Sprinters, because a local pre-schooler needs our help!  Lexington’s cutie-pie, Spencer Smith, has been diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome, a terminal, progressive disease – LIKENED TO CHILDHOOD ALZHEIMER’S, with devastating effects on the brain – that doesn’t have a cure…YET.  We are participating in this race to help Spencer and other kids with Sanfilippo by raising money for the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation.  We hope you’ll join our team!!  You can do the 5K Walk, 5K Run or 10K Run.  There will be more info to come in an email soon on how to register for the run or walk and join our fundraising team.  In the meantime, if you have questions or are eager to register before then, contact Peg at margaretkastnerus@yahoo.com.