Updated: 12 p.m.

New restaurant

I had a late dinner at Buca di Beppo last night and anticipate many more visits to the new Waltham Street restaurant. While there I met a few of the managers, the chef who oversees many of the "Bucas," and I had a fabulous Italian meal. Lexington now has a few Italian restaurants, but each has its own flavor and style. This one really hit home for me – and I'll tell you why in an article about Buca di Beppo.

The restaurant is in the third day of its soft opening, and gets its liquor license tomorrow. I foresee a popular new eatery and a place to buy sauce when I feel like cheating.

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Morning Post: 5:45 a.m.

Stan Abkowitz, founder and CEO of Burlington's Dynamet Technology sat quietly in the Selectmen's Meeting room last month and listened as Susan Rockwell told the audience the goals of Lexington's 300th Anniversary Celebration Committee.

The committee met with the public to see how the town's various groups, organizations and committees might participate. Abkowitz, a Lowell Street resident, spoke softly, but had a loud message. He and his business wanted to donate a titanium time capsule to hold treasures for our future generations.

He must have been reading our collective minds. Our committee had, at an earlier meeting, discussed the exorbitant costs of  time capsules and some of Lexington's earlier unsuccessful attempts at preserving the past.

For example, at an August meeting Van Seasholes, former Lexington High School principal, and a member of the committee, told of an LHS time capsule that, when opened, contained soggy and unrecognizable memorabilia. Apparently, the capsule did not have a proper seal. We talked about those new titanium models, but everyone agreed, the price – in the thousands – was prohibitive.

During yesterday's meeting Eric Carlson offered yet another sad tale. He remembered that when he was a child a time capsule was buried at the Church of Our Redeemer. With all the renovations, its location was lost. Metal detectors and digging haven't helped find the artifact slated for a 2000 opening.

Stan Abkowitz saved the day, and will help future Lexingtonians know our present and their past. During a phone call yesterday he said all he needs is to know what we're looking for and hopes we'll come for a tour to design it together.

What's amazing is he's not asking for anything in return. I asked why. Well, he's lived 44 years in Lexington, he said. "It will help the town and make the program successful."

He also had a different prospective, one that came from his MIT chemical metallurgy background. "It will promote the use of titanium when people hear about it.

With Abramowitz's donation, the committee is guaranteed that the contents will be pristine. "We're extremely grateful for the generous donation of the capsule by Stan Abkowitz," Committee Chair Susan Rockwell said.

With her lawyerly diligence, future generations are sure to find the buried treasure. "We're going to fully document the time capsule commemorating the 300," she promised.

Thank you, Stan. The committee and the town appreciate your generosity.

Lexington Coins and So Much More ...

Eric Carlson is the committee's newest member. Most know he owns Lexington Coin on North Hancock Street. What you might not know is that his shop holds so much more than coins. It's a small private museum. Eric has displays of fascinating Lexington memorabilia. Some of the items are for sale, some aren't; but it's all worth a look.