A Summer's Weekend in Sturbridge - Things To Do Aug. 14-16
The weather is heating up, and it looks to be a beautiful summer weekend in Sturbridge, MA. If you happen to be in town, here is a list of events that are going on. If you participate in any, come back to this site and write a comment!
Weekend Events:
Stageloft Repertory Theater presents
"The Sunshine boys" - A Comedy by Neil Simon
Fri and Sat at 8 PM, Sun at 2 PM
Contact Ed Cornerly (508) 347-9005
Chess Tournament: 39th Continental Chess Open
Sturbridge Host Hotel
Main Street/Route 20
Read more info at: KindredSpirits Blog
Jaguar Festival of New England - you don't want to miss this!
Sturbridge Host Hotel
http://www.jaguarfestival.com/www.JaguarFestival.com/Welcome.html
Friday Events:
Friday Night Summer Dinner Series
at Old Sturbridge Village 5:30-9:00 PM
al Fresco Dining and Live Music on the Patio
Reservations Suggested: (508) 347-0363
Live Music - Admiral TJ Brien's
407 Main Street (Route 20), Sturbridge
(508) 347-2838
Saturday Events:
Hayloft Steppers
Square Dancing
http://www.hayloftsteppers.org/Dances.htm
Sunday Events:
Boston Red Sox 2004 and 2007 World Series championship trophies at Old Sturbridge Village on Aug. 15
11 AM - 3 PM
And if you're just looking for a place to eat, Sturbridge has a great variety of restaurants. Many of them will have live entertainment on this weekend. Check our list of restaurants for more information.
Kathryn Acciari, REALTOR - (508) 982-0686
Giant Fungi Attack Small New England Town - August 2009
STURBRIDGE, MA: The quaint town of Sturbridge, MA, is under siege by mysterious, enormous fungi. Numerous residents have reported that their lawns and gardens are little more than havens for toadstools and never before seen varieties of mushrooms. A summer of heavy rains and overcast skies has taken its toll on this usually drought-ridden area.
"I came home from vacation, and I had to chop down the mushrooms before I could cut the lawn," one victim proclaimed. "The mushrooms were as big as pancakes."
"Usually, by this time of the year our lawns have gone into dormancy from lack of rain," stated another home owner. "But this year even the folks with sprinkler systems have been able to turn them off and just rely on the rains."
But not all residents are taking the appearance of the fungi in stride. "Some of these growths are downright creepy," added one gardener. "I have to wonder if they weren't placed here by aliens or grew from some sort of oceanic upsurge."
While some residents are methodically removing the fungi using manual methods, others have raided the shelves of local nurseries for bottles of anti-fungal solution. Such sprays do appear to have some effect on preventing further growth.
While no unusual beings have come forward to claim credit for the fungi, residents are forewarned to use caution in dealing with the newly-appeared growths. They may be poisonous or cause undesirable skin reactions.
"If I knew whether they were edibile, I might saute them with my steak," one fellow was heard to say. "But I really can't identify these, so I'll just have to stay on top of them with my weed wacker."
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Story written by Kathryn Acciari. While the photographs are of true fungi, the story and quotes are entirely fictitious. No fungus was harmed in the making of this story.
The Plum Room - Mind, Body, Spirit - a New Business in Sturbridge, MA
A great big welcome to The Plum Room, which opened the first weekend of August 2009. Owner Valerie Allard has been hard at work arranging all of the goods she offers to the shop's visitors. The Plum Room provides herbal remedies, aromatherapy products, leaf teas, and a variety of other items to lift one's spirits.
The Plum Room is located at 425 Main Street (Route 20) in historic Sturbridge, MA. The building's 1880's construction suits the business very well, with its hardwood floors and beamed ceilings. Allard has spent quite a bit of time preparing for her opening day, painting the walls in earthtones and creating a welcoming atmosphere.
In addition to the products that Allard provides, she has invited the services of nearby practitioners. Dawn Simpson is an Angelic Life Coach who will be available for angel readings and Reiki healing. Janine Drake will offer tarot card readings. Allard hopes to provide workshops on these topics to her customers at The Plum Room.
During my visit to The Plum Room, I picked up a tea ball (something I'd been wanting to do for years), and Allard ground up an herbal tea mix of her own creation in her big marble mortar and pestle. The mix included ecchinacea, ginseng and several other ingredients. Allard recommended that this would make an energizing iced tea.
The Plum Room is open from 10 AM to 5 PM daily, including weekends. Allard is happy to be available in the evenings for those who need her, so call her directly for extended hours.
The Plum Room
425 Main Street
Sturbridge, MA 01566
(508) 344-0118
10 AM - 5 PM plus extended hours
The Plum Room makes a refreshing addition to the shops of Sturbridge, MA. Do something nice for yourself and stop in to see what The Plum Room offers.
- Kathryn Acciari
REALTOR, Community Networker, and Creator of AskMeAboutSturbridge.com
(508) 982-0686 cell phone
Blog: KathrynSells
Real Estate: RE/MAX Professional Associates
Serving It Up at Sturbridge Coffee House in Sturbridge, MA
Pia Rogers is the Queen Bean. She identified a need in Sturbridge, and has successfully created the only independently-owned coffee house in town.
Sturbridge is overflowing with coffee chains, but Rogers brings to town a place for true coffee-house fanatics to call home. What the national brands can't offer, Rogers does. Sturbridge Coffee House has an inviting setting within a cozy antique building on Route 20, the town's primary commercial leg. Rogers opens at 5 AM on weekdays, serving the regular commuters who stop in before they hit the highways.
The restaurant offers a pleasing variety of coffee brews and flavors that Rogers can modify at whim. For those who want to stay and sip, there are movable tables and chairs, and comfy leather couches for lingering. I spent a recent rainy morning at the coffee house making use of the free wi-fi access and enjoying the banter among the staff and customers.
To complement her coffee, Rogers puts forth a decadent breakfast menu. The display of baked goods at the counter is hard to resist: scones, muffin tops, bagels and a multitude of croissants. Chocolate or spinach/feta? Not an easy choice.
The coffee house serves lunch from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm, and the menu is refreshing. Green salads, all-natural soups (including lobster bisque), and healthy sandwiches. Rogers often offers specials. One adventurous lunch special was the Thanksgiving wrap: A turkey wrap with stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy. She frequently offers Facebook Specials too, which are displayed on her Wall.
In addition to a welcome environment, Sturbridge Coffee House plays an important role in connecting the community. Local artists regularly display their work on the walls, and fliers of events around town can be found throughout the shop. Fans look for the special events and entertainment. Rogers bring in a kids' musician twice a week, as well as small bands to perform for the evening crowd. Singles (age 30 and up) can meet at the coffee house's Singles Mingles.
Along with a number of other local merchants, Sturbridge Coffee House has stepped forward to be on hand at the town's Concerts on the Common on Thursday evenings. The photo above captures Pia Rogers in action at her booth.
Sturbridge Coffee House has a strong presence on Facebook, where you'll find up-to-date information on the restaurant. One of their slogans is, "In our House, new visitors become old friends." Stop in for a coffee and leave with a smile.
Sturbridge Coffee House
479 Main Street (Route 20)
Fiskdale, MA 01518
(508) 347-2288
Web: Sturbridge Coffee House
Review submitted by Kathryn Acciari, a Sturbridge REALTOR and developer of AskMeAboutSturbridge, the go-to source for Sturbridge info.
For single family homes, the Sturbridge market picked up during the months of April through June of this year. Of note, there has been one more home sold this year compared to the same time period in 2008, a possible indicator of stabilization. Condo, multif-family, and mobile home sales remain slugish. Check back in early October for my report on the 3rd quarter of 2009.
Sturbridge 2nd Quarter 2009 Market Report
| Home Type | Number Sold | Avg Price | Number Pending | Number Active |
| Single Family | 23 | $248,287 | 13 | 89 |
| Condo | 1 | $199,000 | 1 | 20 |
| Multi Family | 0 | $0 | 0 | 5 |
| Mobile Home | 0 | $0 | 0 | 6 |
Kathryn Acciari is a real estate agent based in Sturbridge and serving the towns of Central Massachusetts. She provides residential home buyers and sellers with honest, upfront real estate guidance and advice. You may reach her on her cell phone at (508) 982-0686.
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Serving home buyer and sellers in the towns of Central Massachusetts: Sturbridge, Southbridge, Charlton, Oxford, Auburn, Holland, Brimfield, the Brookfields, Spencer and more.
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