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The residents of Newton and Needham understand
the great significance of artistic expression. Art in its various
forms is proudly showcased throughout the area.
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Striving
to offer alternatives to large-scale cultural events in Boston, Newton
and Needham have an impressive roster of events, organizations and arts-education
opportunities. You are guaranteed to find at least one that interests
you!
The Mayor’s Office for Cultural Affairs is responsible for planning
citywide events and celebrations in Newton. This group also sponsors
arts enrichment classes for children. Funding for music, theatre, visiting
artists, artists-in-residence, dance, and science and humanities programs
comes from the Newton Cultural Council.
Cooperation is one of the keys to the growth and success of the arts
in Newton. The 2002 Discover Newton Arts information campaign was a
cooperative effort of more than 30 arts organizations and the City of
Newton. The result was the development and distribution of a listing
of all area arts organizations. In 2001, the Newton Coalition for the
Arts prepared the 2002 Unified Arts Calendar showing arts events and
locations.
Needham has two main organizations heading its arts programs. The Needham
Art Association sponsors visual art demonstrations at the Stephen Palmer
Center, while NeedArts is Needham’s coalition for the performing
arts.
Programs
Arts in the Parks is the arts component of the Newton Parks and Recreation
Department. Time for Partners brings together children 18 months to
3 years with an adult to experience art in various forms. The Family
Performance Series, offered through Newton Parks and Recreation, brings
children and parents together to enjoy plays and music just for them.
The Lower Falls Community Center in Newton offers programs in music,
art, dance and nurturing creativity. The Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community
Center in Newton is the home of the Jewish Theatre of New England. Plays
and concerts, the summer arts program for ages 4 to 16, the Magic Ark
Children’s Series, and classes for adults and children fill the
bill for introducing children to dramatic arts.
Music
Instrumental, choral, classical, jazz — Newton and Needham bring
the best in performance to area venues. When amateurs and professionals
combine their talents, the result is entertainment and food for the
creative soul. Many outstanding groups are dedicated to providing fine
music at affordable prices for the Newton-Needham area.
The Newton Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1965, presents four concerts
each year plus a Family Concert in February at the Rashi Auditorium
in Newton. The New Philharmonia Orchestra gives six Classics Series
concerts, three family concerts and two Pops programs each year, featuring
classical and light classical selections. Based in Newton and performing
at Trinity Church, the Boston Artists Ensemble features members of the
Boston Symphony Orchestra performing chamber music. Since 1983, the
Highland Jazz Organization has brought together people and music to
create a unique spirit and energy for playing mainstream and acoustic
jazz, Dixieland, Swing, and BeBop selections.
If vocal music is more to your liking, you have several options from
which to choose. The Showtime Singers of Newton brings professional
and non-professional singers together to perform Broadway songs. This
intergenerational group presents concerts throughout the year. For more
than 20 years, the Newton Community Chorus has featured professional
and amateur mixed voices singing classical and modern choral music.
This group gives two concerts each year. The 100 voices of the Newton
Choral Society have given three concerts of classical and contemporary
works annually for more than 25 years. Youth Pro Musica is a choral
singing group for students ages third grade through high school.
Visual
Arts
A visual feast of artwork is available in the many galleries of Newton
and Needham. Whether you visit the artists’ private studios and
galleries or take in an exhibition at a public gallery, you are sure
to encounter excellence. Newton Art Association, founded more than 50
years ago, hosts demonstrations by outstanding New England artists at
the Newton Senior Center. Throughout the year, critiques, lectures,
exhibits and workshops are open to the public.
The New Art Center in Newton is a community of artists, students and
art lovers ages 2 years and older. A faculty of 40 professional artists
serves more than 1,400 students each year in their pursuit of artistic
creation and education. Exhibits and classes help students understand
and experience art. Housed in a 19th-century church building since 1977,
the New Art Center also features two galleries.
The Starr Gallery at the Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center and
the McMullen Museum of Art at Boston College are other venues for exhibits.
Drama
Live performance has an interactive quality that is absent from other
entertainment venues. Several theater groups work to bring exciting
productions to children and adults in this area. The Newton Country
Players keep a creative edge in all their productions. The New Repertory
Theatre, an award-winning professional theatre company, presents five
plays each year at its 155-seat theatre in Newton Highlands. Productions
by the Jewish Theatre of New England and the Magic Ark Children’s
Series at Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center in Newton appeal
to all ages. Turtle Lane Playhouse in Newton is a regional theater that
produces five musicals each year.
Based in Newtonville, Brown Bag Opera educates children through interactive
opera performances. Combining music, drama and dance, the troupe presents
condensed versions of great operas in modern English with violin, cello,
piano and voice at area schools.
Founded more than 40 years ago, Needham Community Theatre welcomes everyone
with an interest in music, theatre and community service. Fun both onstage
and backstage is the order of the day. Productions include a musical
in the fall and a drama or comedy in the spring. This group is also
dedicated to supporting education in dramatic arts by providing scholarships
to graduating Needham High School students. The group also recently
donated a band shell to the Town of Needham and donated stage equipment
and a curtain to the Newman Elementary School.
Festivals
and Events
Newton’s and Needham’s community celebrations are open to
all who love to have fun! The occasion isn’t important — all
that matters is enjoying the weather, the people and the many activities
available. Here are some of the seasonal highlights.
Newton
Spring in Newton begins with the Boston College Arts Festival in April
at Chestnut Hill and continues with the Kids Fun Fest in May. Held the
third weekend in May each year, Newton Open Studios is a tour of local
galleries and more than 80 homes and studios of Newton artists. Work
in all price ranges is for sale during this event.
Summer brings June’s Antique & Hot Rod Car Show, a benefit
for the Newton Special Athletes Program. The Newton Pride Committee
sponsors the July 4th Fireworks and Open Air Market. From July to October,
the Outdoor Farmers Market offers the area’s finest homegrown produce
and homemade products.
Fall brings the Harvest Fair in October on the Newton Centre Green.
Children will enjoy activities and amusement rides just for them. Crafts,
face painting, pumpkin decorating and entertainment are waiting for
all. Also in October is Paddy’s Pub Shillelagh Shuffle. This road
race through Auburndale and West Newton benefits the Newton Special
Athletes Program.
Winter is anything but dreary with the Holiday Lighting Ceremony at
City Hall in December. Music and storytelling usher in the holiday
season, and you won’t want to miss the spectacular light display.
December ends with the Mayor’s New Year’s Open House, also
at City Hall, with entertainment for children and adults.
Needham
Spring in Needham means pansies, and the town celebrates these colorful
flowers in a big way each year with the Pansy Festival. Proceeds from
pansy sales help support the Needham Historical Society, whose dream
is to see every home in Needham with its own pocket of pansies.
Summer evenings are perfect for Friday Fun Nights at Rosemary Lake and
concerts at the Memorial Gazebo.
Fall equals fun in Needham. The Spooky Walk and parade in October is
for both children and adults dressed in Halloween costumes. The group
parades around the Town Common and then goes trick-or-treating at local
shops. Needham Parks sponsors the Turkey Hunt for children in October
and November, while Harvest Fair provides another celebration of the
bounties of fall.
Museums
and Libraries
Come indoors for fun and unique learning experiences. Needham Children’s
Museum invites interaction with hands-on exhibits, displays and creative
activities for children ages 2 through 10. Art lovers and artists are
sure to enjoy a trip to McMullen Museum of Art at Boston College in
Chestnut Hill.
Boston has many excellent museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts,
the Museum of Science and the New England Aquarium. These are all close
enough for a day trip. Check with the Newton Free Library’s Museum
Pass Program for free or reduced admission to area museums and attractions.
The Newton Free Library is an exciting community center for the arts
as well as the home of a growing collection of written works. As a Member
of the Minuteman Library Network, the Newton Free Library has access
to the collections of 45 area libraries. Writing workshops and groups
and book discussion and review groups meet each month to pursue their
literary interests. Poetry readings, lectures by guest authors and educational
programs add another dimension. Films, concerts and art exhibits nurture
art lovers. For children, there is homework help, story time and other
programs.
The Needham Free Public Library, founded in 1888, is adding to its current
facility and will nearly double its size. The new building will provide
a larger children’s section, more computer workstations and many
other amenities. Governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees, the Needham
Library is a member of the Metrowest Massachusetts Regional Library
System and the Minuteman Library Network. The Books-by-Mail Service
gives homebound residents access to the collection.
Historical
Sites and Beautification
Surrounded by the rich history of the East Coast, the citizens of Newton
and Needham are dedicated to preserving the historical landmarks and
the architectural beauty of this area. The Newton History Museum at
the Jackson Homestead is also the headquarters of the Newton Historical
Society. Tours of the museum are available Tuesday through Saturday.
Children, adults and families will enjoy the special events, such as
lectures, walking tours, holiday celebrations and exhibits by local
artists.
The Newton Pride Committee takes seriously Newton’s standing as
The Garden City. Each year this group sponsors flower bulb sales, tree
plantings, the Newton Garden Tour and the Beautification Awards. Newton
Garden Circle, Newton Highlands Garden Club and Nahanton Park Community
Gardens are also working to keep the city beautiful.
Walking tours of various historic areas of Newton provide a closer look
at the craftsmanship and care for which this city is known. The historic
Chestnut Hill District combines history and architecture in its educational
programs. Upper Falls Historic District and Newtonville Historic District
also have architectural reminders of other centuries. The Newton Historical
Commission works to preserve the community’s character.
The Needham Historical Society and Museum is dedicated to preserving
pieces of the past and to presenting the history of Needham through
lectures, exhibits and special events. Home to one of the world’s
largest collections of N.C. Wyeth paintings, the Kingsbury-Whitaker
House is where meetings, exhibits and other Historical Society activities
take place.
Restaurants/Lodging/Shopping
National favorites and international delights await you in the many
excellent restaurants of Newton and Needham. Local specialties include
submarine sandwiches, bagels and the best in seafood. Authentic Thai,
Italian, Chinese, Mexican and Greek dishes are readily available, too.
Whether you’re here for an overnight stay or an extended vacation,
you will find several comfortable hotels in the immediate area. Park
Lane Bed and Breakfast, in Newton, offers another option. Built in 1910,
this lovely home is only 25 minutes from downtown Boston and is a seven-minute
walk from the shops and restaurants in Newton Centre.
You must not leave the area without experiencing the exciting shopping
options at The Mall at Chestnut Hill and The Atrium, also in Chestnut
Hill. Filene’s Basement is a New England legend offering quality
clothing at bargain prices. Many of Newton’s villages offer a variety
of shops and neighborhood stores.
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