Ring in the New Year this weekend at one of the best annual holiday celebrations in all of Metrowest Boston…..New Year’s Needham 2017. Head down to Needham this Saturday and Sunday for the ultimate celebration. Enjoy family-fun events all day long at locations throughout the city. And, many of these events are free to the community! Needham is truly “Where the New Year Begins” this Saturday, December 31st! Here is all the information you need to make the most of your time this weekend at New Year’s Needham 2017:

Full Schedule and Map of Venues

Live Entertainment and Performances!

With the first event beginning at 9:30 am and the last one starting at 10:00 pm, it is impossible for you to not find something to keep you and your family entertained all day long. With story time for the little ones, dance performances, local singers and bands, puppet shows, theatrical performances, and more, there is something for everyone to enjoy this New Year in Needham.

Magic Show! http://www.newyearsneedham.org/comedy-show/

Don't miss the day's headlining performance by comedian and magician Steve Kradolfer. You will spend the evening mesmerized by his amazing magic tricks and mind reading abilities. The show begins at 7:00 pm at Needham Town Hall.

Countdown Party!  

The countdown festivities will start at 9:30 pm on Saturday at the beautiful Powers Hall. Dance the night away to Boston's favorite blues band The Love Dogs. There will be a cash bar and light refreshments served throughout the evening. The party will bring you right into the New Year until 12:30 am. Attendees must be 21 and older. Tickets are $30 per person. Purchase tickets HERE.

New Year’s Day 5K Run!

Start working towards your New Year's resolutions by participating in the Needham Running Club's 9th Annual New Year's Day 5K run. The race begins at 11:00 am on Sunday, January 1st, at the Needham YMCA Pool Building (863 Great Plain Avenue). Prizes will be awarded to the top runners. Enjoy food, beverages, and raffle prizes after the race. The cost of the race is $20 per person in advance and $25 per person on race day. Register in advance HERE.

We can't wait to celebrate the New Year with you in Needham!!!

Christmas is this weekend in Wellesley and Metrowest Boston! We love this time of year, with delicious freshly baked goods, beautiful snow falls, and quality time with all those that we love.

We like to use this time of year to reflect on all the blessings in our life. Team Lynch Real Estate would particularly like to THANK all of our past and current clients for the opportunity to work with them over the years!

We love helping clients fulfill all of their real estate needs in the Wellesley area! We know why this is such a great area to call home and enjoy sharing our years of experience to help those in our community find their dream homes. 

If you are interested in buying or selling your home in the new year, contact us today! We would be happy to help you reach all of your real estate goals in 2017!

Best Wishes for a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Christmas is almost here! Take the ease out of holiday shopping by finding great gifts for everyone on your list by shopping local in the Wellesley and Metrowest Boston area. With all the amazing retail, dining, and recreational options in our area, you can get the perfect gifts for all your loved ones. Here are our recommendations for Christmas gifts from around our towns!

Give the gift of music or live theater! The Center for Arts in Natick (14 Summer Street, Natick) sells gift certificates which can be used towards performance tickets or memberships. TCAN has great musical performances throughout the year to enjoy. The Wellesley Repertory Theatre (106 Central Street, Wellesley) is a professional performance group in our area which puts on thought provoking and entertaining plays during their season. Buy tickets to one of their great shows for the theater lover in your life.

If there is someone on your list who loves to be active in the great outdoors, buy them a gift certificate to the Weston Ski Track (190 Park Road, Weston). Cross country skiing and snowshoeing is available on over 15 km of trails and there is a lighted loop for night skiing. The best part of these gift certificates? They are also valid for any of the products and services at Charles River Canoe & Kayak and Community Ice Skating @Kendall!

With all the amazing restaurants in Metrowest Boston, it is incredibly easy to give the gift of a delicious meal to any foodie in your family. We recommend picking up gift certificates from:

Blue Ginger (583 Washington Street, Wellesley)

Sweet Basil (942 Great Plain Avenue, Needham)

Alta Strada (92 Central Street)  

For the little ones, you can find unique, fun gifts at the numerous local boutiques and stores in the area. Buy clothes, toys, gift certificates, and more at one of these great spots:

Sweet Pea Children’s Boutique and Hostess (483 Boston Post Road #3, Weston)

Wellesley Toy Shop (59 Central Street, Wellesley)

Tiny Hanger (200 Linden Square, Wellesley)  

Christmas is just around the corner! The Wellesley and Metrowest Boston area has become a winter wonderland with beautiful holiday decorations and festive cheer. Add instant curb appeal to your home and a cheery spirit by decorating your home's front porch. Here are our Top Tips for Fabulous Front Porch Decorating for the Holidays!

Let There be Light! Nothing says outdoor Christmas decorations like bright strings of lights. Draw attention to your front porch by wrapping porch posts and railings in twinkling lights. You can also use candles for a more natural, classic glow. Just make sure that they are placed in safe locations that are out of reach of children and pets, the wind, and will not pose a fire hazard.

Add Some Color! Make your front porch extra welcoming by adding splashes of color. One great option is with poinsettias. These pretty flowers are easy to come by during the holiday season and instantly add some bright color to your front porch. Real poinsettias won’t survive the Massachusetts weather. If you want to use real ones, display them in front facing windows. Otherwise, synthetic poinsettias look like the real deal and can withstand the outside elements. You can also add color to your front porch by adding clusters of ornaments or festive bows. Just choose a color scheme to keep your decorations looking classic and consistent.

Go the Natural Route! Evergreens are hearty and a great symbol for the holiday season. Use evergreen accents on your porch this holiday season by adding a wreath and some garland. Create a classic look by draping the garland on the railings. You can also use other natural decorations, such as pinecones, bare branches, and red berries.

Make it Welcoming! Add personal touches to make the front porch extra welcoming for your guests. Put a festive welcome mat out for visitors. This can tie your decorations together and provides a place to wipe feet before entering your home. You can also add a chalkboard sign outside to for a personal message to those that come over this holiday season.

O’ Christmas Tree! A Christmas tree doesn’t have to just adorn your living room. Adding a brightly lit tree to your front porch can add interest to your home’s entrance. Use outdoor lights and ornaments to create a festive display. If you have a smaller porch, opt for live trees in pots that can flank your front door.

It is that spook-tacular time of here! Halloween is just around the corner! Get in the spirit of the season at some of the amazing events planned in the Wellesley & Metrowest Boston area. Whether you are looking for the ultimate scare or want some tame family friendly fun, check out these great activities going on all month long!  

Bates Elementary School Pumpkin Fair

Date: Saturday, October 15th

Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Location: Bates Elementary School (116 Elmwood Road, Wellesley)

Cost: FREE!

The Bates Elementary School Pumpkin Fair is a favorite fall tradition for families in Wellesley. This event is open to everyone in the community. Your family will enjoy delicious food, live entertainment, children’s games and activities, and a haunted house! Plus, enjoy the great pumpkin smash!

Edgar Allen Poe Visit to Weston Public Library

Date: Tuesday, October 11th

Time: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Location: Weston Public Library (87 School Street, Weston)

Cost: FREE!

The works of Edgar Allan Poe are some of the most haunting. Listen to dramatic performances of The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven. Performed by Mr. Campbell Harmon, there will also be interesting information provided regarding the author’s life, death, and his impact on literature in the United States.

11th Annual Weston High School Pumpkin Festival

Date: Saturday, October 15th

Time: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Location: Town Green (11 Town House Road, Weston)

Cost: FREE!

Weston High School once again presents their annual Pumpkin Festival. This great fundraising event features everything you could want at a great family Halloween event. Enjoy cider, home baked goods, and traditional fair food. Listen to great live music. Decorate and carve a pumpkin. Plus, there are more activities for the kids to love, such as balloon animals, a magician, and face painting! All proceeds from the event benefit Camp Sunshine, a camp in Maine that helps families of children with life-threatening illnesses.

Halloween Happening

Date: Friday, October 28th

Time: 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Location: Wellesley Free Library (530 Washington Street, Wellesley)

Cost: FREE!

Bring your children down to the library for an afternoon of Halloween fun. Dress them in their scariest or prettiest Halloween costumes. There will be a costume parade at 4:30 pm. Prior to the parade, enjoy a spooky story time as well as arts and crafts!

Halloween Open Tower

Date: Monday, October 31st

Time: 1:00 pm

Location: Galen Stone Tower (Wellesley College)

Cost: FREE!

Come in costume to the Galen Stone Tower on Wellesley’s campus. The carillon (“bells”) in the tower will be performing spooky theme music for Halloween! Marvel at the talent of the Wellesley students who are playing the bells and at the beauty of the historic college.

Hoping to sell your home before the end of the year? Staging is an important step for all home sellers. It helps potential homebuyers visual themselves in the space and can increase the perceived value of your home. Adding seasonal touches add a nice touch but don’t over do it.

Make your Wellesley & Metrowest Boston home extra cozy and welcoming this season by following these 5 fall home staging ideas.

Add Curb Appeal. The outside of your home is the first impression for homebuyers. You want to entice the buyers into your home by making sure it looks its best before they walk through the front door. The first step to ensure curb appeal is to make sure that you maintain the landscaping. As the weather begins to cool, your garden and lawn can start to lose some of its beauty. Rake up leaves, remove dead plants, and trim trees and bushes. You can also add a few seasonal decorative touches to the front entryway.

Mums the Word. Add splashes of beautiful autumnal colors inside and out with gold and orange chrysanthemums. Pick up a perfectly round pumpkin to really add some fall decor to your space. Just don’t overwhelm any room with too much color. You just want to add some accents for points of interest.

Let in the Light. The changing season also means shorter days. Natural light help make your home look its best. Always keep drapes and blinds open to let in the sunshine. Turn on overhead lights in darker rooms or for showings that occur later in the day. If more night is needed, add some accent lights with tabletop and floor lamps.

Entice with Fall Smells. Your home will feel especially homey by adding fall scents, such as pumpkin spice, cinnamon, apple pie, or leaves. Add some scented candles or air fresheners throughout key spaces in your home to add a cozy feeling for all home buyers.

Keep a Cozy Fireplace. With crisp fall nights and the upcoming winter months, a fireplace can be an attractive feature for a Massachusetts homebuyers. You want to make sure yours looks its best. Keep it clean and highlight it with simple decor. It can be dangerous to leave a fireplace unattended. If you are able to monitor it during an open house, however, a fire can really add some warmth to your home.

If you are a Buyer looking to find your dream home this fall in the Wellesley area, Team Lynch Real Estate Consultants is here to help! We have incredible Featured Properties currently available! Give us a call today or visit our website at http://www.teamlynchrealestate.com/.

This summer was filled with days of family adventures outdoors. Our family took advantage of the warm, sunny days by exploring New England. The memories from our time in New Hampshire this summer will last us forever. 

Although the kids are back in school and Labor Day Weekend marks the unofficial end of summer, the beautiful weather in the Metrowest Boston area will stick around for a while! Enjoy the sunny days, crisp nights, and spectacular autumn colors this fall by continuing to spend time outdoors with your family. These are our favorite local spots to continue family fun adventures over the next couple of months. 

We are bound to still get some incredibly hot days this September. For those humid days when you need to cool off, splash around in Cochituate State Park (43 Commonwealth Road) in Natick. This state park is perfect for the water enthusiast…..with swimming, boating, windsurfing, and fishing available on the three large lakes. 

Bake a delicious homemade pie from the apples you pick yourself at Belkin Lookout Farm (89 Pleasant Street South, South Natick). Along with spending time picking apples and pumpkins, you and your family can make a whole day of it at the farm with all of the available activities. Your children will love the play area with farm animals, face painting, hay maze, train rides, and so much more. Try some hard apple cider in the tap room while enjoying a freshly baked apple cider doughnut. The farm is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Practice your putt at Golf on the Village Green  (315 Worcester Street) in Natick. You and your family will enjoy a game of mini golf while being reminded of our area’s history. The park is themed after the Freedom Trail. After finishing up your game, grab a delicious ice cream treat. The park is open daily. 

Go for a hike at Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary (280 Eliot Street) in Natick. You and your family can explore 9 miles of trails that will take you over broadwalks and past waterfalls. There are lots of awesome activities planned for the new season including fall foliage canoe rides, wildlife watching activities, and walks through wildflowers. The sanctuary is closed on Mondays.​

Marvel at stunning flowers and plants at The Gardens at Elm Bank (900 Washington Street) in Wellesley . This is the perfect spot for an afternoon picnic with your family. Your children will love exploring the gardens specifically themed for them. There are also several activities offered throughout the week at the gardens. Elm Bank is open Tuesdays through Sundays. 

Our furry friends are truly a part of the family! Although we appreciate our dogs everyday for the unconditional love they provide us, there is no better time to show Fido how much you truly love him by celebrating National Dog Day with a special day trip! Take your dog to a pet friendly restaurant or dog park to give him a day he will never forget!

Ready to go on a day adventure with your dog? Follow these get tips to enjoy National Dog Day to its fullest!

Plan Where You Are Going!

The first step is to decide where you and your furry friend are going to go. There are so many great options in the Wellesley & Metrowest Boston area! We will make your planning easy by recommending these awesome, local dog friendly spots!

Restaurants

Petit Robert Bistro (45 Chapel Street) in Needham has delicious french food for you and a dog-friendly patio for your pooch! Sip on some red wine while your dog hydrates with water from the provided water bowls!  

Not only humans love a cool treat on hot summer days! Your dog will love some ice cream from Cedar Hill Diary Joy (331 North Avenue) in Weston.

Parks

Centennial Reservation  (150 Oakland Street) in Wellesley is a dream come true for your dog! With almost 2 miles of trails, your dog will get plenty of exercise in a beautiful natural setting. And, when he gets too warm? He can take a dip in Bezanson Pond with the other pooches to cool off.

Needham Dog Park (145 Pine Street) is a special spot for your furry friend. Let him off the leash in one of the two fenced off dog areas.

Don’t let the name fool you….Cat Rock Park (Drabbington Way) in Weston is a dog paradise! Give your pet a full day of exploring of the lease on the trails, open fields, and swimming area.  

Pack Your Car!

With the hot summer weather, you want to ensure that your dog is comfortable during the entire trip. Make sure your car is fully gassed up before you add him as a passenger to avoid making additional stops that will leave him in the hot car.

Add any pet-friendly accessories to your car to make the trip easier and more fun. Put a blanket or extra cushions in the backseat so he is more comfortable on the trip. You can use a console cover to keep your dog in the backseat where he is safer and able to spread out more.

Your dog needs lots of water! Make sure to pack plenty of water bottles to keep him hydrated along with a bowl so he can easily drink it in the car or at your final destination.

Time to Go!

Beyond making sure your pooch is comfortable in the car, make sure to remember safety once you hit the road. Harness them into their seat to keep them safe in the event of a sudden stop.

While on the road, use the air conditioner and only crack windows a little bit. Although your dog loves the fresh air, it can be dangerous for them to have their heads too far out the window and there is always potential for them to jump out.

See an unexpected stop on your way? Make an extra spot. It’s your dog’s special day so make sure they are able to experience all that they might want to. Or, remember the spot for in the future and take your pet back there the following week.

Bring some delicious treats for you and your furry friend. Pack a picnic for you and your family. Be sure to throw in something extra special, and healthy, for your dog as well!

A photo lasts a lifetime so be sure to grab your camera to capture all of the fun that you and your beloved dog have throughout the day!

We hope you and your four legged family member have a very happy National Dog Day!

Looking for something fun to do in Wellesley and Metrowest Boston? There are several family fun events coming up through the next week. Whether it’s a movie, concert or outdoor activity, these summertime events offer something for everyone!

Wellesley

Saturday, July 16th

July Jubilation Sidewalk Sale: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm at Wellesley Square. Come for amazing deals from over 60 merchants located throughout Wellesley Square but stay all day for the family fun! Enjoy music, performers, food, kids activities, and so much more!

Thursday, July 21st

Pumpernickel Puppets: 2:30 to 3:30 pm at the Wellesley Free Library (530 Washington Street). Bring the family down to the library to see performances of  “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” and “The Lion and the Mouse”. This entertaining show will include colorful puppets, sound effects, and audience participation.

Friday, July 22nd

Summer Family Flix: 1:30 to 5:00 pm at the Wellesley Free Library (530 Washington Street). Watch the hilarious family animated films Ice Age and Ice Age 4: Continental Drift. Popcorn will be provided! First screening is at 1:30 pm and the second movie will start at 3:15 pm.

Natick

Saturday, July 16th

Natick Farmer's Market: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at Natick Common (Intersection of Routes 27 and 135). Stock up on some delicious food and beverages from local vendors and farmers.

Fun with Butterflies and Dragonflies: 1:00 to 2:15 pm at the Mass Audubon’s Broodmoor Wildlife Sanctuary (280 Eliot Street). Learn more about the magnificent butterflies and dragonflies that call the Broodmoor Wildlife Sanctuary home.

Summer Morning Canoe on the Charles: 6:00 to 9:00 am at the Mass Audubon’s Broodmoor Wildlife Sanctuary (280 Eliot Street). Enjoy the great outdoors on the beautiful Charles river. Admire at the local wildlife as you canoe.

Needham

Friday, July 15th

On Your Mark, Get Set - Read! Summer Film Festival: 3:00 pm at the Needham Free Public Library (1139 Highland Avenue). Bring the kids to the library for a screening of the Disney film Cloud 9.

Weston

Friday, July 15th

Olympics Celebration:  9:00 am to 5:00 pm at Spellman Museum (241 Wellesley Street). Celebrate the upcoming Olympic Games by viewing an exhibit of stamps that feature past Olympians, participate in many hands on activities, and potentially meet some past Olympians! Make your own Olympic stamps that you can bring home with you. Admission is FREE!

Friday Night Flicks: 8:00 to 11:00 pm at Town Green. This week’s Friday Night Flicks is the beloved 1980’s classic John Hughes film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off! Bring a blanket and watch the film on the big screen outside. Free popcorn will be available for the first 100 people!  

Sunday, July 17th

Caribbean Cruise Day: 1:00 to 3:30 pm at Memorial Pool (Alphabet Lane). Head down to the pool for a fun Caribbean themed day. Enjoy a sundae buffet, games led by cruise directors, and listen to some great music. Event is free with regular pool admission.

Tuesday, July 20th

Concert on the Green: 7:00 pm at Town Green. Swing the night away with the Tom Nutile Big Band! This great regional band features 15 musicians. Enjoy past swing classics as well as contemporary favorites.