Patch Facts

Five Things: Historical Commission Talks Demo, Gingerbread and More

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on Dec. 13 in Lexington.

1. Historical Commission and Demo Hearings: Among the demolition hearings on the Historical Commission's agenda, beginning at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Cary Hall is 48 Outlook Drive, reportedly the last of the land Fair Oaks estate that was built to be "preserved or all time."  2. Gingerbread Fun at Wilson Farm: From 3 to 6 p.m. today, Wilson Farm is hosting a hands-on Gingerbread Workshop, which includes a fully assembled house and everything you would need to decorate it. 3. Other Public Meetings: According to the town website, other public meetings posted for today include the Tree Committee at 7:30 a.m. at the DPW Building, the Board of Assessors at 8:30 a.m. at the Town Office Building, the Community Preservation Committee at 2 p.m. at the…

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Best of Patch Readers' Choice: Looking for Staycation Destinations

This week's Best of Patch Readers' Choice poll is looking for the best place to staycation around Lexington.

Staycation. Hmmm.That’s a word we haven’t heard in a little while, but we’re bringing it back for this week’s Best of Patch Readers’ Choice poll.  Here are a few favorite places, in no particular order, but if we're leaving anyone off of the list, please let us know in the comments and we'll be sure to add it to the list and poll below: Voting's open until 9 a.m. Friday. Ties will be broken by whichever business has the most positive comments posted below. We will announce the winner at noon Friday. Because this poll is not scientific, it is not the sole consideration in choosing a winner. The winner will be determined by the Patch editor, based on poll results and reviews on Patch Places. Please vote only once per survey, per Patch. …

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PHOTOS: Lexington Loves a Patriots' Day Parade

Large crowds lined Mass Ave Monday afternoon as the annual parade wound its way through Lexington Center on a wickedly warm Patriots' Day.

On this scorching April afternoon, Lexington's annual Patriots' Day parade wound its way through town a little slower than most years, but still delighted the thousdands who lined Mass Ave to watch the procession. The parade capped off a full slate of Patriots' Day events and activities in Lexington, which included an early morning reenactment, pancacke breakfasts, museum shows, dramatic retellings, concerts, tours and lunches. Click through the above photo gallery for some scenes from the parade as seen from Mass Ave.

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Get Out

Five Things To Do This Patriots' Day Weekend

A look at what's going on this Patriots' Day weekend in and around Lexington.

It’s Thursday, and you’ve got no idea what you’ll do this weekend. Lexington Patch is coming to the rescue. We’ve got the best bets for your done-work-outta-here time. Check our picks for the activities you'll want to take part in this Patriots' Day weekend in Lexington and beyond. 1. Parker's Revenge Where/When: Parker’s Revenge Site, near the Minute Man Visitor’s Center off Route 2A, Lincoln; 2 p.m., Saturday, April 14 Why Go: The Lexington Minute Men ambush the British Regulars headed back toward Boston, like Capt. John Parker’s local militia did April 19, 1775 to exact revenge for then men lost that morning on the town green. Pricing: Free 2. Tower Park Battle Where/When: Tower Park, Mass Ave.; 4 p.m., Saturday, April 14 Why Go: …

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LETTER: Busa Land's Roots Lie Deep in Lexington History

Audubon Road resident David Hoose writes that the Busa Farms land was every bit as important a "Witness to the Battle" the as historic homes surrounding the Battle Green, and should be treated as such.

Whether the Busa Farms land lives as a community farm, is turned into affordable housing or is paved over for athletic use matters less than the opportunity—one of the few remaining—that Lexington has to deepen a crucial link to our unique history. Along with dozens of other farms in the area, this modest plot of land, which became a farm as early as the 1640s, grew and supplied food to the early European settlers, to Revolutionary War era citizens, and to local families for two more centuries. Its roots lie deep in our Lexington history. In fact, Thomas Winship, descendent of the first family known to have farmed this land, fought and was wounded on Lexington Green on April 19, 1775. We would be wise to think of our history as imbedded in…

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Lexington: A Destination and A Dessert

The holiday season is here and entertaining aint easy. So Patch is looking around Lexington for tips to help make your holidays a little easier, more exciting and extra tasty. With this tip, put a little Lexington on your table.

Talk of shopping locally for Thanksgiving dinner typically means picking up produce at the farmers market or farmstand or ordering prepared meals or sides from someplace like Neillio's Gourmet. But that’s not the only way to get a little bit of Lexington on the table during the holiday season. It just so happens, this town shares its name with a sweet treat, a milk chocolate toffee almond chocolate chunk cookie, one of 15 varieties in Pepperidge Farm’s “American Collection.”  With real butter and natural vanilla flavor, milk chocolate chunks and other quality ingredients, the Pepperidge Farm website says these cookies seek to make the grocery store aisle a destination to rival their namesakes.  “We worked closely with our bakers to seek …

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POLL: The White House -- An Asset or Eyesore?

Take our poll and let us know in the comments section below.

A little to the east of Lexington Center, at 1557 Massachusetts Ave., sits the decaying Greek Revival commonly known as “the White House.” The Hammond A. Hosmer House, as it’s also known, used to be a school administration building and town hall annex, but hasn’t been used for much of anything since mid-2009, when the Department of Public Works utilized the space as its new building was being built. Various groups and ideas have been tossed around as possible uses for the building, should it be restored. But some in town would rather see the structure razed rather than renovated and reborn as a center for seniors, community members or tourism. (Read the report to the right for more info about the building.) So, with that in mind, we want …

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William Raveis on Real Estate, Revolutionary War

While in town to check out his company's expanded office in Lexington Center, William Raveis talked about the town's real estate market and history and where they meet in his mind.

William Raveis is a Revolutionary War buff. That, plus the robust local housing market, was part of the draw when he brought his burgeoning real estate business to Lexington a handful of years ago. And with the William Raveis office in Lexington Center wrapping up its big-time expansion, the namesake was in town yesterday, Oct. 13, to take in the new digs and talk history. Well, that and real estate. “The world changed because of this place right here,” said Raveis during a casual conversation with local media. “It’s world famous. There’s a big market with great quality and an amazing town.” At least part of the reason for Raveis' visit was the office’s 1,000-square foot expansion, which brought the office to about 3,200 square feet. The …

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Business Leaders Back Dana Home Proposal

At an Oct. 12 business breakfast hosted by the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, several spoke in favor of plans to turn the former retirement residence into an inn and restaurant.

Business leaders from several of Lexington’s industries spoke in favor of a proposal to turn the Dana Home into an inn and restaurant Wednesday morning at the Chamber of Commerce’s Business Breakfast Forum. From farmers to an airline leader to a hotel manager and school superintendent, several folks said a quintessentially New England bed and breakfast would benefit the town and, potentially, their businesses during the Oct. 12 forum at the Lexington Depot. “These are the kids of things that revitalize the community and make it worth living here,” said Nick Cannalonga of Wagon Wheel Nursery.  According to the Lexington Chamber of Commerce, the Dana Home proposal was tapped to be the forum’s featured presentation due to the “project’s solid…

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VIDEO: Liberty Ride Rolling On

The Liberty Ride is celebrating its 10th anniversary year by offering Lexington residents a discounted rate.

Lexington's oldest-souled 10-year-old, the Liberty Ride, is celebrating its first decade with an anniversary present for local residents. Through the end of the season, the Liberty Ride is rolling back rates by more than half for Lexington residents who hop on afternoon tours at the National Heritage Museum. According to a Liberty Ride press release, for the daily 1 or 2:30 p.m. trolley tours, Lexington residents will receive more than a 50 percent discount on current rates as their prices are rolled back a decade to the Ride’s inaugural season (2002). For the remainder of the 2011 season -- which ends Oct. 30 -- adults can board the Liberty Ride for $10 per person; children ages 5-17 only $5. “With Lexington’s 300th anniversary …

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