Although we may be caught up in another New England storm, or the threat of one, spring's promise of renewal is still a sure thing. The Middlesex Fells is a local treasure that fulfills that promise again and again. Part of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Fells is widely recognized for its biodiversity, its trails and its accessibility. At this time of year visitors may come across any number of vernal pools, where some of its creatures begin their lives. The beauty of its lady slippers, striped wintergreen, wild columbine and the rest of its 600 varieties of plants are …

Theatres have always been a great escape. Throughout history troupes of performers have been moving us to tears and lightening our troubles with a little laughter. Pauper's in Shakespeare's audience stood in a pit and paid a half penny to see performances. The musical, a song and sometimes a dance that comes with a story, is an original and enduring American art form. All of these possibilities come to life anew each year at the Stoneham Theatre, a refurbished 1917 silent movie house now in its 11th year of live performance. Enter this season's production of The Rimers of Eldritch, a drama of…

In The Wizard of Oz Dorothy has an adventure in technicolor that includes a great pair of shoes. Who can forget that glistening pair of ruby red pumps? Carrie Bradshaw, the iconic fashionista of Sex in the City consoles herself with great shoes while waiting for Mr. Right to come along. And in Florence, Italy there is a whole museum dedicated to displaying centuries of shoe fashions. Truth be told, most women know the power of a great pair of shoes and like Dorothy, they can escape the mundane in them if just for a little while. It's in that frame of reference that Mad About Shoe owner Linda …

A short trip to the National Heritage Heritage Museum in Lexington can take you a long way - to breathtaking views of our national parks and to an environment full of early American artifacts. This local treasure located at the junction of  Mass Ave. on route 2A currently showcases the photography of Quang-Tuan Luong, the intrepid traveler who braved extreme climates and wild rivers to capture the distinct features of the the photos in his exhibit "Treasured Lands: The Fifty-Eight U.S. National Parks in Focus." Luong lugged a 75-pound large format camera up to the summit of Mt. McKinley, …

Music can transport us back to another time or carry us to another place. As with jazz  it can define an age or it can mark a personal space as when we say, "They're playing our song." It soothes or enlivens, celebrates or commemorates. It lets us know beauty and feel as though we have a special connection with it. It expresses the inexpressible. It moves us at every age. And it all happens in our midst at the Winchester Community Music School. Boasting 800 students and 60 professional staff members the school provides lessons for children and adults. The school's offerings are so varied that…

At this point in the year people are known to have a hard time with the lingering cold and wind. People often worry about the flu that seems to be all around them. They yearn to be done with the tedium of hats and gloves and scarfs and boots and shovels. There is an oasis that can beckon to us from neighboring towns that offers a respite from the weather and a chance to peel away the psychological layers that are sometimes part of winter in New England. Give some thought to a neighborhood hotel. They let someone else cook, make the bed and in some cases, do the driving. The Hilton Boston-…

Some argue that the greatest escape, the one that provides the internal space to find renewal, lies within our imaginations. But that can be the most difficult of places to find. Errands have to be run. Work and family need tending. Besides that, ours is an age that leads us to a different destination - the cyber space that lies outside the realm of inner connectivity. How then do we get to renewal? One way is to let artists lead us there. In that regard, Winchester is particularly fortunate to have the Griffin Museum of Photography whose exhibiting artists evoke our imaginative thoughts, …

You layer your clothing; don hats, scarves, gloves and boots and anxiously watch the weather report. You'd trade winter wonderland for something more tropical if you could get away. Now you can. Tucked away in a quiet corner of the Philip Ciampa Salon is their Day Spa. Open the door to this tranquil suite and you soothe body and soul. Hear the gentle trickling of its built-in waterfall and the musical tone of its sound-scapes. With soft lights and earthy hues of pink and sand, the waiting area and the private rooms peel away the season's layers and transport you to a place that leaves the …

Your teens are holding a car wash at the high school Saturday. The grandparents volunteered to take the younger children to a movie Sunday afternoon. Your tweens take tap on Wednesday evening.  It’s your time. Take it. Each week, we’ll tell you about one great idea to give you a much deserved break, and make your life a little easier, maybe a whole lot easier. In the Company of Women is the title of a book published in 1994 by Brenda Hunter, Ph.D. In it she writes " . . . women need the fellowship of other women . . ." She asserts that the context of that communion is a necessary component in…