Hello Neighbors & Newcomers,

We hope that you have enjoyed a festive and merry holiday season with loved ones and are ready for an exciting and fun 2024 with us. We’re thrilled for what 2024 will hold, so come out and kick off a brand new year with lots of fun activities.

Stay updated by reading this first newsletter of the year and following our members Facebook page for the latest details. And don’t forget to sign up for the events as early as possible. How about right now? 😉

Ideas for more fun and events or just feedback? Don’t hold back! Share with any of us at the next event or drop us an email.

Happy New Year 2024! 

Best Wishes,
Rikke Bitsch-Nørhave, LNN President & Rachel Brownell, LNN Secretary

Coffee Talk

Thursday, January 4 @ 10am

Come and join us at True North Coffee to kick off the new year.

Feel free to drop in for a bit and even bring a friend. Be on the lookout for Facebook updates in case we need to communicate further, but RSVP is not required.

Movie Club

Tuesday, January 9

Our January Movie Club screening will take place on January 9th. Look out for a Facebook poll that will finalize the movie selection. More info on location & time will come closer to the date, based on showtimes.

If you want to be added to the list, RSVP by email. As always, everyone is welcome. Come by yourself, or bring your partners and neighbors!

Lunch Bunch

Wednesday, January 10 @ 12pm

Join us for our first lunch of the new year at Karma in Concord. Experience delicious Asian and fusion cuisine, combining flavors from Asia and delicate sauces and styles of France, Karma’s specialty.

Where: Karma Concord (Lunch Menu)

105 Thoreau Street, Concord, MA 01742

Please RSVP to Carol and Priya no later than January 9th to reserve your seat at the table.

Enjoy innovative preparations of both traditional Asian dishes as well as delicious fusion flavors, such a fun and tasty lunch in the new year!

Men’s Night

Thursday, January 11 @ 8pm

The LNN men will toast the new year on Thursday, January 11th at 8pm at Revolution Hall.

To RSVP and receive updates for this event specifically, please reach out to Chase.

Women’s Health

Wednesday, January 17 @ 6:30pm

How to transform New Year’s health resolutions into realistic goals that stick

Move away from short-lived and often guilt-fueling New Year’s resolutions and get on a sustainable path towards your health & wellness goals in 2024. 

Join us for a fun and productive workshop where you’ll learn about effective goal-setting strategies. You’ll be supported with creating targeted, realistic, and achievable lifestyle goals that will make a lasting difference to your wellness journey in the new year.

RSVP by Jan 16th to receive all the details.

Dog Walk

Thursday, January 18 @ 9:30am

January’s dog walk will be held on Thursday, January 18th, at 9.30 am. We will meet in the parking lot at Willard’s Woods (links to Google Maps). The entrance to the parking lot is on North Street. If you plan to attend, please give Nathalie a heads up so that she can wait for all to arrive!

Book Club

Thursday, January 18 @ 7pm

Happy New Year 2024 everyone! Let’s get together on Thursday, January 18th to chat about “The Lincoln Highway” by Amor Towles. 

In June, 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the work farm where he has just served a year for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett’s intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother and head west where they can start their lives anew. But when the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden’s car. Together, they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett’s future.

Spanning just ten days and told from multiple points of view, Towles’s third novel will satisfy fans of his multi-layered literary styling while providing them an array of new and richly imagined settings, characters, and themes.

RSVP by January 17th to  lexnnbookclub@gmail.com. On the morning of January 18th, we will email the time of the meeting and the address of our host to all attendees. Please bring a drink of your choice and/or snacks to share.

Ladies’ Night

Friday, January 26 @ 7pm

Come socialize, bowl, and/or karaoke with us at Kings Burlington. Please RSVP as soon as possible so that we can ensure the right size reservation and share details with you.

Golf Club

Various days, reach out for details

All interested players for our LNN ladies golf club, including those who may have attended an initial session already, should fill out this form!

Reach out to our new golf club email with questions. Looking forward to meeting all the LNN golfers and future golfers soon!

Walking Group

Keep an eye on our Facebook group for walking plans at great local spots. Or feel free to post your own walking plans to invite some neighbors along!

Hello Neighbors & Newcomers,

With these colder days upon us, it is great to have so many warms hearts around us to meet up for good times. We had a blast at the many events in November and look forward to seeing you all for the festive events we have planned for you in December.

Read more below and remember to sign up to get the event details! Don’t forget to sign up and join us for our wonderful holiday event the 2nd of December.

From all of us on the LNN board, Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones!

Best Wishes,
Rikke Bitsch-Nørhave, LNN President & Rachel Brownell, LNN Secretary

Mingle Holiday Party

Saturday, December 2 @ 7pm

Join us for our Christmas Mingle Party on Saturday, December 2nd @ 7pm at Il Casale. Wear some festive attire, and enjoy a drink with your friends and neighbors! 

Sign up via email, and please let us know if you’ll be bringing your spouse/+1. RSVP at the latest Dec 1st.

The bar area will be reserved for our party. LNN will be ordering light appetizers, and it will be a cash bar. 

We hope to see many of you there!

Cookie Swap

Thursday, December 7 10am-1pm

Join us for our holiday cookie swap. Bring two dozen of your favorite cookies to share and enjoy with your fellow bakers! Ugly Christmas sweaters encouraged but not required.

This was such a fun and delicious event last year, and we cannot wait to do it again. If you are willing, you might consider bringing the recipe to share as well. Don’t forget a container so that you can bring home other cookies to sample!

RSVP by Dec 6th to receive all the details.

Ladies’ Night Lights

Friday, December 8 @ 7pm

Join us for a drink and a walk in Lexington Center to check out this year’s Christmas lights. RSVP by Dec 7th to receive details.

Movie Club

Tuesday, December 12

December Movie Club screening The Holdovers! Our very own Liliana Kondracki was the location manager and will be joining us to talk more about the film after the screening.

Everyone is welcome. Come by yourself, or bring your partners and neighbors!

Save the time as the evening of December 12th. RSVP by email. More information on location and time to come closer to the date, based on showtimes. If you want to know more about the movie, including seeing the trailer, click here.

Holiday Lunch

Thursday, December 14 @ 11:30am

Join us for a special Holiday Lunch Bunch in a beautifully decorated private room for LNN members-only at Burton’s Grill & Bar in Burlington. Lunch Menu

Please note that space is limited at this restaurant. RSVP as soon as possible (no later than December 12) to reserve your seat in the private room.

Enjoy delicious traditional fare or chef-driven, innovative local preparations in a festive holiday setting sure to bring you cheer this season!

For our LNN community service during the holidays, please bring a non-perishable canned good, boxed item, or paper goods in original packaging to donate to the Lexington Food Pantry. It is a wonderful way to contribute to the community in which we all live, thank you!

Men’s Night

Thursday, December 14 @ 7pm

The LNN men will venture to The Heights Pub in Arlington on Thursday, December 14th at 7pm to enjoy a drink and some great company.

To RSVP and receive updates for this event specifically, please reach out to Chase. If you have suggestions for future men’s nights or want a reminder for upcoming events, fill out this form.

Book Club

Thursday, December 21 @ 7pm

Happy Holidays!  Join us on Thursday, December 21st to celebrate the winter solstice and discuss December’s book club selection, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

RSVP by December 20th to lexnnbookclub@gmail.com. On the morning of December 21st, we will email the address of our host to all attendees. Please bring a drink of your choice and/or snacks to share.

Coffee Talk

Friday, December 15 10am-12pm

Come and join us for coffee at The Roasted Granola Café in Arlington. (1346 Massachusetts Ave)

Feel free to drop in for a bit and even bring a friend. Be on the lookout for Facebook updates in case we need to communicate further, but RSVP is not required.

Golf Club

Various days, reach out for details

The new ladies golf group, with Sheila Tweeddale at the helm, has been a huge success so far. All interested players, including those who may have attended an initial session already, should fill out this form!

The group is inclusive of all levels, and we are hoping to establish a list of golfers in order to facilitate outings.

Reach out to our new golf club email with questions. Looking forward to meeting all the LNN Golfers and future golfers on the course soon!

Walking Group

Keep an eye on our Facebook group for walking plans at great local spots. Or feel free to post your own walking plans to invite some neighbors along!

Save the Date

Dog Walk

January 18th

After a December hiatus, the dog walk will return Thursday, January 18th!

Hello Neighbors & Newcomers,

It has been so fun to see so many of you at the wonderful assortments of events this month! A warm welcome to all of our new members joining LNN and our events for the first time.

November will be front-loaded since we know many will be busy and/or traveling around Thanksgiving. Be sure to check out the upcoming events and add them to your calendar so that you don’t forget.

Please also remember to renew your membership by November 15th, as we will be starting to clean up our member lists after that date. If you have any questions or if you lose access to our Facebook page or stop receiving the newsletter and believe it to be an error, don’t hesitate to reach out.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Best Wishes,
Rikke Bitsch-Nørhave, LNN President & Rachel Brownell, LNN Secretary

Golf Club

Various days, reach out for details

We are beginning to establish a new group within LNN for Ladies who enjoy golf, with Sheila Tweeddale at the helm. The aim is to include experienced golfers, golfers returning to the game, and new golfers interested in learning. Basically anyone interested in GOLF!

This fall saw the formation of a learn-to-golf group, who are having a ton of fun so far. We will continue this program into the spring, with a goal to eventually start a Beginner golf league at Pine Meadow!

Right now we want to establish a list of golfers, including their experience level, so that we can facilitate friends building foursomes, going to the driving range together, or visiting one of the indoor golf facilities over the winter.

Please fill out this form and/or reach out to our new golf club email if you’re interested in signing up and/or learning more! Looking forward to meeting all the LNN Golfers and future golfers on the course soon!

Bunco Night

Wednesday, November 1 @ 7pm

Costumes & themed goodies optional but encouraged for the spookiest Bunco night yet! This exciting Halloween bunco night will be held November 1st. Please RSVP to Lara.

Bike Ride

Friday, November 3 @ 9am

The clock is ticking on the nice fall weather… Join us on a (leisurely) bike ride to Concord and back (under 20 miles) to enjoy some fresh air before it gets too cold. We will take the bike trails and the woods so ideally no road bikes. We will make a stop in Concord for coffee/rest and ride back to finish the loop. Beginners welcome. Layers, helmet, water recommended. 

RSVP to Alexia, and meet on the bike path behind the Depot at 9am.

Ladies’ Night

Wednesday, November 8 @ 7pm

Ladies, join us at Tuscan Kitchen in Burlington for a drink & bite on November 8th at 7pm. RSVP to let us know if you’ll be able to attend so that we can plan accordingly and share any updates as needed.

Coffee Talk

Friday, November 10 10am-12pm

Join us for coffee on Friday, November 10th at Galaray House in Lexington Center. Feel free to drop in for a bit and even bring a friend. Be on the lookout for Facebook updates in case we need to communicate further, but RSVP is not required.

Coffee Class with Leslie

Saturday, November 11 @ 9:30am

Have you ever wondered how coffee shops make such a delicious cup of coffee? Join us for an educational coffee social Saturday, November 11 at 9:30am. The coffee social will be held at Shannon & Leslie Nielsen’s home in their coffee shop (aka living room). Shannon’s famous sourdough cinnamon buns and light breakfast fare will be served. Decaf coffee will also be served. Adults only please.

Please RSVP to Mari quickly since we can only accommodate about 14 people. If you can’t make this morning, we will be holding a 2nd coffee social on Saturday, January 20, so mark you calendars now!

Book Club

Tuesday, November 14 @ 7pm

Join us on Tuesday, November 14, to talk about “If I Survive You” by Jonathan Escoffery.

In the 1970s, Topper and Sanya flee to Miami as political violence consumes their native Kingston. But America, as the couple and their two children learn, is far from the promised land. Excluded from society as Black immigrants, the family pushes on through Hurricane Andrew and later the 2008 recession, living in a house so cursed that the pet fish launches itself out of its own tank rather than stay. But even as things fall apart, the family remains motivated, often to its own detriment, by what their younger son, Trelawny, calls “the exquisite, racking compulsion to survive.”

Masterfully constructed with heart and humor, the linked stories in Jonathan Escoffery’s If I Survive You center on Trelawny as he struggles to carve out a place for himself amid financial disaster, racism, and flat-out bad luck. After a fight with Topper–himself reckoning with his failures as a parent and his longing for Jamaica–Trelawny claws his way out of homelessness through a series of odd, often hilarious jobs. Meanwhile, his brother, Delano, attempts a disastrous cash grab to get his kids back, and his cousin, Cukie, looks for a father who doesn’t want to be found. As each character searches for a foothold, they never forget the profound danger of climbing without a safety net.

Pulsing with vibrant lyricism and inimitable style, sly commentary and contagious laughter, Escoffery’s debut unravels what it means to be in between homes and cultures in a world at the mercy of capitalism and whiteness. With If I Survive You, Escoffery announces himself as a prodigious storyteller in a class of his own, a chronicler of American life at its most gruesome and hopeful.

RSVP by November 13th to lexnnbookclub@gmail.com. On the morning of November 14th, we will email the address of our host to all attendees. Please bring a drink of your choice and/or snacks to share.

Dog Walk

Thursday, November 16 @ 9:30am

Bring your furry friends and join us for a dog walk at 9:30am on Thursday, November 16. This is a dog-focused activity, separate from our other walking group. We will meet on Hancock Ave. and take the bike path entrance there to Diamond Middle School then walk back through Merriam Hill. Parking on Hancock Ave. is available. Please express interest to Nathalie so that she can communicate as needed. We will plan to continue meet-ups on the third Thursday of each month.

Lunch Bunch

Thursday, November 16 @ 11:30am

Join us for a delectable lunch at the elegant contemporary Indian-designed Tashan, located in our neighboring town of Bedford.

When: Thursday, November 16 at 11:30am.

Where: 213 Burlington Rd, Bedford, MA 01730

Lunch Menu: https://www.tashanbedford.com/

Please RSVP to Carol & Priya by Nov 15.

Join us at the stylishly designed Tashan for tasty reinvented and refined Indian classics!

**The preferred method of payment for Lunch Bunch is cash. Please try to bring cash with you to simplify paying the bill. An alternate method of payment is to use Venmo.**

Men’s Night

Thursday, November 16 @ 7pm

Join the LNN men to sample the fun fall beers on tap at Revolution Hall on Thursday, November 16th at 7pm.

To RSVP and receive updates for this event specifically, please reach out to Chase. If you have suggestions for future men’s nights or want a reminder for upcoming events, fill out this form.

Women Health Session

Friday, November 17 @ 5pm

Join us for a LNN Women’s Health session on tips to avoid gut flare & gaining weight over the holidays.

• Gut health primer
• Gut health connection to hormones, cravings, inflammation, and disease
• Root causes of gut issues and weight gain over the holidays
• Tips to avoid or ease gut and weight issues over the holidays

RSVP to receive final details.

Walking Group

Keep an eye on our Facebook group for walking plans at great local spots. Or feel free to post your own walking plans to invite some neighbors along!

Save the Date

Mingle Holiday Party

Saturday, December 2 @ 7pm

Take note, book a sitter, and let’s party! We can’t wait to celebrate the holidays with our neighbors. Join us at Il Casale 7pm until they kick us out.

Cookie Swap

Thursday, December 7 10am-1pm

Mark your calendars now for what is always a favorite event of the holiday season, the LNN Cookie Swap! Start thinking of your favorite cookie recipes now and plan to bring about two dozen and a container to take home samples of everyone else’s. Stay tuned for more details.

Ladies’ Night Lights

Friday, December 8

We’ll take ladies’ night for a walk in December, so bundle up, grab a warm beverage, and stroll by some beautiful holiday light displays in the neighborhood!

Holiday Lunch

Thursday, December 14 @ 11:30am

Join us for a special Holiday Lunch Bunch in a beautifully decorated private room for LNN members-only at Burton’s Grill & Bar in Burlington. Lunch Menu

Please note that space is limited at this restaurant. RSVP as soon as possible (no later than December 12) to reserve your seat in the private room.

Enjoy delicious traditional fare or chef-driven, innovative local preparations in a festive holiday setting sure to bring you cheer this season!

For our LNN community service during the holidays, please bring a non-perishable canned good, boxed item, or paper goods in original packaging to donate to the Lexington Food Pantry. It is a wonderful way to contribute to the community in which we all live, thank you!

Hello Neighbors & Newcomers,

We loved seeing so many familiar and new faces at our end of summer potluck party! Despite some unfortunate weather shifting our plans last minute, what a fantastic evening we had with you all, and a huge thank you to our hosts, Lisa & Dennis, for offering their space to shield us from the rain.

The excitement builds as we gear up for a fun & busy fall season with many events to suit different preferences and availability. If there is something you would like to see more of, feel free to reach out and let us know. We welcome anyone who wants to organize an activity of their own as well. Can’t wait to see you all at our various events in October!

We are also excited to share a few updates to our board, committee members, and at-large board members for this year! We are so fortunate to have such a great crew, both new and experienced, to drive this group. It truly takes a village, so we are very grateful for all the wonderful volunteers.

• President: Rikke Bitsch-Nørhave
• Secretary: Rachel Brownell
• Treasurer: Mary Reynolds
• Membership: Alona Joynt
• Social Media Manager & Walking Group: Lydia O’Donoghue
• Book Club: Liliana Kondracki & Melanie Wood
• Lunch Bunch: Carol Colwell & Priya Patel
• Events: Helena Wennbo & Mari Defay
  • Bunco: Lara Kallander
  • Men’s Night: Chase Brownell
  • Movie Club: Rosa Sousa & Jo Rao
  • Coffee Talk: Weina Randal & Christina Yen
  • Dog Walk: Nathalie Huitema
• At-Large: Alexia Duc, Lisa Van Oossanen, Saskia Houwing, Tania Bojanowski, Lene Gleerup

Don’t forget to follow the Lexington Neighbors & Newcomers Members Facebook group and our Instagram to get the latest updates on our activities.

Best Wishes,
Rikke Bitsch-Nørhave, LNN President & Rachel Brownell, LNN Secretary

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Membership Reminder

Thank you to our ~70 families who have submitted dues for the year! If you haven’t already, please submit your $50 per family via this link in Paypal or personal check to take advantage of all the fun programming underway! 

Checks can be sent to Lexington Newcomers Club, 226 Grove Street, Lexington, MA 02420. 

If you do not wish to renew your membership, please also let us know so we can update our records. 

Questions? Please reach out to Alona/Membership: lexingtonma.newcomers@gmail.com

Ladies’ Night

Wednesday, Oct 4 @ 7pm

Calling all ladies to join us at Red Heat Tavern in Bedford for a drink & bite on October 4th at 7pm. Our group will gather in the front bar area and will get a selection of their delicious appetizers to share. Let Carol know if you’ll be able to attend so that we can plan accordingly and share any updates as needed.

Bike Rides

Friday, October 6 & 27 @ 9am

Want to make the most of the beautiful Fall days ahead in New England? Join us on a (leisurely) bike ride to Concord and back (under 20 miles). We will take the bike trails and the woods so ideally no road bikes (especially with some risk of mud these days). We will make a stop in Concord for coffee/rest and ride back to finish the loop. Beginners welcome. Layers, helmet, water recommended. 

We plan to repeat the activity twice a month if there is interest (so don’t hesitate to let us know if you may join some day so we can have you on our list).

When: Friday, October 6, 9 am-11:30 am (or so)

Where: Meet on the bike path behind the Depot at 9am

RSVP to Alexia

Movie Club Fall Viewing

Wednesday, October 11th @ 7pm

Calling all movie fans! We chose to postpone the launch of LNN’s film club to this month, so we welcome you to join us for our kick off!

Based on the responses to the Facebook poll, the overwhelming vote for the fall screening is for “You People”.

We’ll start screening on Oct 11th at 7PM at a member’s house. This is a very informal setting, so feel free to bring drinks/snacks to share. We can watch the movie and discuss (or go home if you prefer).

If you’re interested in being included, please email LNNMovieNight@gmail.com, and you’ll be added to the list to get more information. There are only 15 spots, so do respond quickly to secure yours!

Lunch Bunch

Thursday, Oct 12 @ 11:30am

Join us for a delicious lunch at the beautifully decorated Colonial Inn located in historic downtown Concord, MA.

When: Thursday, October 12 at 11:30am

Where: Concord’s Colonial Inn

48 Monument Square, Concord, MA 01742

Please note that space is limited at this restaurant. RSVP as soon as possible (no later than Oct 11) to reserve your seat at the table.

Lunch Menu

Savor classic American dishes alongside new favorites in a charming setting rich with Revolutionary War history!

Men’s Night

Thursday, Oct 12 @ 7pm

After coming out swinging in September, we’ll be hitting the “hyper”links this month.  Meet at X-Golf in Burlington to mix in some activity with our socializing. X-Golf has snacks and drinks available for purchase. Looking forward to seeing friends, old and new!

If you’d like to receive this newsletter for future updates and are not already on our mailing list, please reach out to Alona/Membership with an additional email address to add for your household.

To receive updates for this event specifically, please reach out to Chase.

Coffee Talk

Friday, October 13 10am-12pm

Join us for coffee on Friday, Oct 13th at Peet’s Coffee in Lexington Center. Feel free to drop in for a bit and even bring a friend. Be on the lookout for Facebook updates in case we need to communicate further, but RSVP is not required.

Walking Tour of Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University

Saturday, Oct 14 @ 12:40pm

Fall is in the air and the leaves are turning! Join us for a private LNN Member-only guided walking tour of Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, America’s oldest public arboretum. This National Historic Landmark is a 281-acre preserve in the heart of Boston stewarding one of the world’s most comprehensive and best documented collections of trees, shrubs and vines. This jewel in the famous Emerald Necklace park system was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and serves as a chain of parks linked by parkways and waterways in the Boston Area for all to enjoy.

We will meet at the Arnold Arboretum Visitor’s Center and begin our 90 min docent-led guided walking tour from there. We hope to catch some glimpses of the lovely fall colors in full array during our visit. The tour is a family friendly one. Outdoor events are weather permitting. 

Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum Address: 125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130

Cost: Free – LNN will cover the cost of the tour for members who RSVP their attendance

RSVP to Priya by October 12 to reserve your place(s) on the tour!

Dog Walk

Thursday, Oct 19 @ 9:30am

Bring your furry friends and join us for a dog walk at 9:30am on Thursday, October 19. This is a dog-focused activity, separate from our other walking group. We will meet on Hancock Ave. and take the bike path entrance there to Diamond Middle School then walk back through Merriam Hill. Parking on Hancock Ave. is available. Please express interest to Nathalie so that she can communicate as needed. We will plan to have future meet-ups on the third Thursday of the month.

Book Club

Thursday, October 19 @ 7pm

Join us on Thursday, October 19, to talk to “Before the Coffee gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.

What would you change if you could go back in time?

In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.

In Before the Coffee Gets Cold, we meet four visitors, each of whom is hoping to make use of the café’s time-travelling offer, in order to: confront the man who left them, receive a letter from their husband whose memory has been taken by early onset Alzheimer’s, to see their sister one last time, and to meet the daughter they never got the chance to know.

But the journey into the past does not come without risks: customers must sit in a particular seat, they cannot leave the café, and finally, they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold . . .

Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s beautiful, moving story explores the age-old question: what would you change if you could travel back in time? More importantly, who would you want to meet, maybe for one last time?

RSVP by October 18th to lexnnbookclub@gmail.com. On the morning of October 19th, we will email the time of the meeting and the address of our host to all attendees. Please bring a drink of your choice and/or snacks to share.

Women Health Session

Thursday, October 26th @ 7pm

Join us for a LNN Women’s Health session on stress, women’s hormones, and aging.

• How do hormones change through perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause?
• How do these hormonal changes impact our health?
• How does chronic stress affect female hormones?
• Surprising sources of chronic stress impacting our health
• How does unmanaged stress and hormonal imbalance accelerate aging?
• What symptoms should you look out for?
• Where to start to get a handle on your stress and support your hormones and prevent accelerated aging

RSVP to receive final details.

Bunco Night

Wednesday, November 1st @ 7pm

Wear a costume or just your luckiest outfit and come out for the spookiest Bunco night yet! This exciting Halloween bunco night will be held November 1st. Please RSVP to Lara.

Walking Group

Keep an eye on our Facebook group for walking plans at really pretty local spots, especially as we get into perfect leaf-peeping season. Or feel free to post your own walking plans to invite some neighbors along!

Hello Neighbors & Newcomers,

Welcome back! We hope you are having a fabulous summer and are gearing up for kids returning to school, eventual fall weather, and most importantly – your regularly scheduled LNN activities!! The excitement builds as we work on planning an awesome assortment of activities for the upcoming season. Read on to see what we have in store for September, including our end of summer potluck party!

We are also excited to share our executive board and at-large board members for this year!

President: Rikke Bitsch-Nørhave

Secretary: Rachel Brownell

Treasurer: Mary Reynolds

Membership: Alona Joynt

Events: Helena Wennbo

Book Club: Liliana Kondracki & Melanie Wood

Social Media: Lydia O’Donoghue

Lunch Bunch: Carol Colwell

Bunco: Lara Kallander

At-Large: Alexia Duc, Jo Rao, Lisa Van Oossanen, Mari Defay, Rosa Sousa, Saskia Houwing, Tania Bojanowski

Don’t forget to follow the Lexington Neighbors & Newcomers Members Facebook group and our Instagram to get the latest updates on our activities.

Best Wishes,
Rikke Bitsch-Nørhave, LNN President & Rachel Brownell, LNN Secretary

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WELCOME TO 2023/2024 | Important Notice about Membership

Welcome to September and a new membership period. We are excited about all the fun events in store.

Membership will again be $50 for your household, and you may pay via PayPal or check.

Questions?
Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to Alona/Membership on email: lexingtonma.newcomers@gmail.com

If you do not wish to renew your membership, please also let us know so we can take you off the newsletters list and update our records accordingly.

Walking Group

Keep an eye on our Facebook group for walking plans at really pretty local spots, especially as we get into that nice late summer/early fall weather. Or feel free to post your own walking plans to invite some neighbors along!

It’s a Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood – Historic House Tour & LNN Lunch Bunch Joint Event

Thursday, Sept 14 @ 9:15am

Join us for an eye-opening tour of the historic Hancock-Clarke House, a National Historic Landmark, located here in Lexington. 
Built in 1737, Hancock-Clarke House was the parsonage for the town of Lexington during the 18th century. Reverend Jonas Clarke was hosting patriot guests statesman and Founding Father John Hancock and Samuel Adams when they were awakened by Paul Revere on his famous “Midnight Ride” to warn Hancock and Adams that British troops had left Boston in the early hours of April 19, 1775.

The Lexington Historical Society has graciously offered us a private LNN member-only tour lasting approximately 1.5-2 hours.

**As an added bonus, The Lexington Historical Society hopes you will also visit their two other historic house museums and is offering all LNN tour participants a free house visit ticket for either Monroe Tavern or Buckman Tavern for use at another time.**

Please note that this event can accommodate a maximum of 15 people.

Cost: Group Rate of $10 per person. Free for members of the Lexington Historical Society – please bring your membership card.

Please join us, if you are able, after the tour for the LNN Lunch Bunch at your neighborhood Thai restaurant, Love at First Bite, 1710 Mass Ave., at 11:30am (see below).

Lunch Bunch

Thursday, Sept 14 @ 11:30am

It’s a Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood continues with…..

our first LNN Lunch Bunch of the season right in our very own beautiful downtown Lexington. 

We are happy to offer our members this joint event but you are always welcome to attend either the tour or the lunch if you can’t join us for both.

When: Thursday, September 14 at 11:30am.

Where: Love at First Bite 

1710 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington

Lunch Menu: https://www.loveatfirstbitema.com

Experience the vibrant flavors of Thailand in every bite!

Men’s Night

Thursday, Sept 14 @ 7pm

Please read the following aloud within earshot of your husband (bonus points for compelling vocal performances):

“Hey honey, LNN is restarting Men’s Nights with a new organizer. The next one will be at Revolution Hall on Thursday, September 14th, starting around 7pm. You should go and check it out! I heard that a bunch of husbands were getting roped into going, so you’ll be in good company! Also, Rev Hall is easy to pop in and out, so you won’t have to worry about showing up late or ducking out early.”

Indicate your interest in this and/or future events (and provide suggestions for other activities that you’d like to see) by filling out the form linked in the newsletter.

Coffee Talk

Thursday, September 21 10am-12pm

Join us for coffee on Thursday, Sept 21st at Tatte Arlington. Feel free to drop in for a bit and even bring a friend. Be on the lookout for a Facebook event to RSVP in case we need to communicate further, but RSVP is not required.

Book Club

Thursday, September 21 @ 7pm

Welcome to the 2023-2024 Book Club Season!  Join us on Thursday, September 21st to discuss our first selection  “Our Missing Hearts” by best seller author Celeste Ng (Little Fires Everywhere, Everything I Never Told You).

Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving but broken father, a former linguist who now shelves books in a university library. Bird knows to not ask too many questions, stand out too much, or stray too far. For a decade, their lives have been governed by laws written to preserve “American culture” in the wake of years of economic instability and violence. To keep the peace and restore prosperity, the authorities are now allowed to relocate children of dissidents, especially those of Asian origin, and libraries have been forced to remove books seen as unpatriotic—including the work of Bird’s mother, Margaret, a Chinese American poet who left the family when he was nine years old.

Bird has grown up disavowing his mother and her poems; he doesn’t know her work or what happened to her, and he knows he shouldn’t wonder. But when he receives a mysterious letter containing only a cryptic drawing, he is pulled into a quest to find her. His journey will take him back to the many folktales she poured into his head as a child, through the ranks of an underground network of librarians, into the lives of the children who have been taken, and finally to New York City, where a new act of defiance may be the beginning of much-needed change.

On the morning of September 21st, we will email the time of the meeting and the address of our host to all attendees.  Please bring a drink of your choice and/or snacks to share.

End of Summer Potluck

Saturday, September 23 6:30-9:30pm

Join us for our official end of summer party! While we are sad to see summer go, we are excited to celebrate a new season of LNN kicking off with you all.

We will enjoy a member’s lovely backyard on the evening of Saturday, September 23rd (or Sunday the 24th in case of rain). This will be an international potluck, so bring your favorite dish to share with others that represents where you are from, somewhere you have traveled, or somewhere whose cuisine you greatly enjoy. LNN will provide the desserts, so we appreciate if you can focus on appetizers, mains, or sides. Consider 10-20 servings per dish, if possible, and know that food can be made or purchased! While some non-alcoholic drinks will be provided, you may also want to bring a beverage of choice for yourself or to share.

Note that this event is oriented at our adult members. We can’t wait to see you there!

Community Announcements

Munroe Center for the Arts

• FALL CLASS REGISTRATION is open for MCA classes in visual arts & theater. Class descriptions are online at www.munroecenter.org. We are excited to be offering classes for teens and adults in our new printmaking studio, as well as returning favorites in visual arts, ceramics and youth theater.  
• NEW CLASSES – Ceramics Handbuilding with artist Judith Cooper, Evening Watercolor class for adults, Printmaking for teens and adults, Short Semester Bookmaking class, Saturday Young Artist Morning.
• RETURNING FAVORITES – Adult, teen and youth ceramics, Figure Drawing, Youth Painting & Drawing
• CALL FOR ARTISTS!  The Munroe Center for the Arts will be hosting a holiday art & crafts market JUST for artists 18 and younger on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9TH. Stay tuned for more information, and in the meantime, please share with youth you know who might want to use some time to build their inventory.
• GRANDPARENTS DAY EVENT on Saturday, September 9th from 10-12pm.  This is a FREE PUBLIC EVENT led by artist Alice DelDonno who will be teaching how to make art books with collage and paint.  All ages and abilities are welcome. Space is limited – register at www.munroecenter.org/grandparents-day

Lexington United Soccer Club

• You may not be too late to sign your kids up for K-2 Soccer Saturdays! Though the deadline has officially passed, since many kids hear about this program from friends as they head back to school, they can usually still be added late.
  Register here: https://lexingtonunited.org/k-2-soccer-saturdays/