Patch Facts

5 Things: Fifty Shades of ... Color

A quick look at what you need to see, do and know on April 9 in Lexington.

1. Fifty Shades of Color: The Decorative Arts Guild Annual Show, Fifty Shades of Color, is open from 12 to 4 p.m. today at the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society. The exhibit features inspirational decorative art for the home, arranged in vignettes to demonstrate how color and decorative accents are an integral part of all home décor. 2. Today in Public Meetings: According to the town website, public meetings posted for today include the Tourism Committee at 11:30 a.m. at the Town Office Building, the Fund for Lexington Board at 4:30 p.m. at the Town Office Building, the Communications Advisory Committee at 6:30 p.m. at the Town Office Building, the Human Services Committee at 7:30 p.m. at Cary Hall and the Conservation Commission at 7:30 p…

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PHOTOS: Vine Brook Tavern: Not Colonial Fare

Channeling Tavern on the Green rather than Tavern Near the Green.

  Buckman and Munroe are Lexington’s most treasured and historic taverns. After last Wednesday there is a third: The Vine Brook Tavern on Waltham Street.  Vine Brook isn’t your great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather’s tavern. Buckman’s colonial guests dined on freshly-shot game made into a stew of the day, washed down with grog. Vine Brook owners Marcus Palmer and Brian Lesser, along with Chef Chris Frothingham, offer modern and more appetizing fare for  21st century visitors. During last Wednesday night’s grand opening guests noshed on morsels from the tavern’s extensive menu. Servers carrying white rectangular porcelain trays, heavy with Frothingham’s specialties, weaved through the milling crowd in the restaurant’s upper room. …

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Historic House Museums Open for the Season This Weekend (PHOTOS)

The Buckman and Munroe taverns, along with the Hancock-Clarke House in Lexington open for guided tours at 10 a.m. this Saturday, March 31.

The following press release was provided by the Lexington Historical Society. Lexington’s three historic house museums—Buckman Tavern, Munroe Tavern, and the Hancock-Clarke House—along with the Buckman Tavern Museum Shop all open for the season for guided tours. At each of the homes, experienced tour guides in 18th century attire will take the visitor through the important events of April 18 and 19, 1775. Buckman Tavern, at 1 Bedford St., will feature a new interpretation based on recent original research that has provided fresh insight into the lives of the slaves, youth, women, and militiamen of Lexington at the outbreak of the Revolution. Museum rooms have been refurnished and stories retold to reflect this new, in depth interpretation…

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About Town: Lexington's Historic Houses Open

There's still plenty of time to visit the Buckman and Munroe taverns and Hancock-Clarke Parsonage this fall season.

Lexington's three historic houses are open every day through Sunday, Oct. 30, Jane Morse, publicity director for Lexington's Historical Society, told Patch this week. Buckman Tavern, across from the Battle Green offers visitors a peek into our past and shows where the colonial militia gathered as they waited for the British Army. Hancock-Clarke Parsonage is where two of our most important reverends resided. Between the two they led the faithful for about a century. Munroe Tavern, taken over during the Revolution by Earl Percy and made into a hospital for injured British soldiers, was recently renovated and worth a repeat visit. A grand re-opening ceremony was held recently after a major restoration project. Lexington has so much history to…

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Get Out

Five Things To Do This Weekend: Sept. 23 to 25

What's going on in Lexington Saturday and Sunday.

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 weekend in Lexington. 1. Autumn Arts and Crafts Festival Where/When: Lexington Visitors Center, 1875 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24 (raindate: 9/25) Why Go: Nearly 100 artisans will display their hand-crafted works in ceramics, jewelry, woodwork, paintings, photography, fiber arts, glass, wax and more. Pricing: Free 'til you buy 2. Biodynamic Farming Talk Where/When: Waldorf School of Lexington, 739 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington; 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24 Why Go: …

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About Town

About Town: Munroe Tavern Invitation

See the restoration and participate in a special dedication!

The Lexington Historical Society is inviting the public to the Munroe Tavern on Massachusetts Avenue on Sept. 25 to help celebrate its recent restoration. Ongoing tours through the tavern are scheduled from noon until 4 p.m. A ceremony dedicating the Elsa O. Sullivan Program Center is slated for 2 p.m. I can’t think of a more deserving woman. Elsa -- known for her quick wit, a cane she doesn’t really need and her formal gloves -- always has a kind word for everyone, and she possesses a generous heart. Congratulations, Elsa. The event is open and free to the public. Please take advantage of this opportunity to see how the Historical Society restored the tavern, giving it new life and insuring its place in Lexington's past and future.

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Patch Passport

Travel Back in Time to Munroe Tavern

Travel Back in Time with the Wednesday Patch Passport, to discover the history and roots of Lexington.

Lexington is famous for being home to the first shot of the American Revolution, but it’s beginnings date back more than 100 years prior to April 19, 1775.  First settled as a part of Cambridge in the mid-1600s, the town we know today as Lexington was incorporated as Cambridge Farms in 1691 and then became its own separate town in 1713.  But what put this former farming community on the map—and keeps it there still today—is its place at start of American Revolution. Many structures remain from that important period in the history of the town and country, including the Buckman Tavern, Hancock-Clarke House and Munroe Tavern, all of which the Lexington Historical Society operates as museums. Though they’re all steeped in Revolutionary history…

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About Town

Updated About Town: Backtracking, A Bit

To market, to market... And some more Munroe Tavern information.

When you head to the Farmers' Market tomorrow think about two wheels rather than four. Yes,it's Bike to the Market day tomorrow where the Friends of the Lexington Bikeway and Ride Studio Cafe will host a bicycle corral. The first 40 cyclists to check in the bike valets (yes, you read correctly) receive a $2 gift coupon for the market, which may be used as cash for any purchase there.  The Friends are encouraging you to chat with them for a few minutes during your stay. They'll talk about stewardship and bicycle education programs. Posted at 5:45 a.m. this morning ... Last Friday I wrote about a visit to Munroe Tavern for a more-than-successful Regimental Soiree. Unfortunately, I admitted to gently touching the arm of General and President …

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About Town

About Town: Munroe Tavern Regimental Soiree

A full house turnout at the tavern.

By yesterday afternoon the Lexington Historical Society sent word that the Munroe Tavern Regimental Soiree was filled. The society’s Executive Director Susan Bennett confirmed the news, which was great for the society, but disappointing for those who wanted a peek at the newly renovated tavern. Susan and I chatted and I learned the yearlong overhaul cost $820,000, with $400,000 coming from the Community Preservation Act. I also learned no pictures were allowed inside the tavern. Drat. So, I’ll give you some outside views and tell you what’s inside. Lexington Historical Society Archivist Elaine Doran gave me a tour and explained the new addition, which really is the footprint of the original tavern.  The tap room, or the spot where …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: July 7

A concert, a soiree and a few meetings today in Lexington.

1. The Lexington Historical Society and their Colonial Singers are inviting folks to join them for a Regimental Soiree at Munroe Tavern tonight from 7 to 8:30 p.m. 2. Lexington's Appropriation Committee meets at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Cary Hall and its agenda includes making final 3 percent adjustments for the fiscal 2011 budget, liaison Reports by staff and members and the fall 2011 meeting schedule. 3. Also meeting this evening are the Historic Districts Commission, at 7 p.m. in the Town Office Building, and the Commission on Disability, at 5:45 p.m. at Cary Hall. Their agendas can be viewed here. 4. The Metropolitan Wind Symphony will peform its second Concert in the Park of the summer season from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. tonight at Hastings …

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