Events this month – guitar, bestsellers and investments

The first week of May is packed full of some great events this month here at Waterstone. Keep reading for details, and join us if you can. Also, don’t forget about our upcoming Boston Marathon fundraiser dinner. It would be wonderful to see you there. Click here to read more, and to see what other EPOCH communities are doing to raise money for victims.

Guitarist Dwight Phetteplace to perform at Waterstone (May 5)

WELLESLEY – Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome guitarist and singer Dwight Phetteplace for a performance of traditional folk, blues and acoustic music on Sunday, May 5 at 2:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Call 781-235-1614 to RSVP. Waterstone is located at 27 Washington St., and includes 134 apartments for seniors 62 and older. It features independent and assisted living rental apartments. For more information, call 781-235-1614.

Lorna Ruby of Wellesley Books to visit Waterstone (May 6)

WELLESLEY – Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome Lorna Ruby of Wellesley Books, an independent book store, on Monday, May 6 at 2:30 p.m. for a discussion of current best sellers. This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Call 781-235-1614 to RSVP. Waterstone is located at 27 Washington St., and includes 134 apartments for seniors 62 and older. It features independent and assisted living rental apartments. For more information, call 781-235-1614.

Waterstone hosts Tax Free Investments discussion (May 7)

WELLESLEY – Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome Rockland Trust for a discussion on tax free investments on Thursday, May 7 at 4:30 p.m. Representatives from the bank will offer tips for earning tax-exempt income. This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Call 781-235-1614 to RSVP. Waterstone is located at 27 Washington St., and includes 134 apartments for seniors 62 and older. It features independent and assisted living rental apartments. For more information, call 781-235-1614.

Animal Experience to visit Waterstone (May 8)

WELLESLEY – Waterstone at Wellesley will host Animal Experience, a traveling petting zoo of various animals, to the community on Wednesday, May 8 at 2:30 p.m. Founder Matt Gabriel will educate attendees on the lives and habitats of the animals he brings. This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Call 781-235-1614 to RSVP. Waterstone is located at 27 Washington St., and includes 134 apartments for seniors 62 and older. It features independent and assisted living rental apartments. For more information, call 781-235-1614.

Stephen Collins to perform at Waterstone (May 9)

WELLESLEY – Waterstone at Wellesley will welcome acclaimed actor Stephen Collins for a one-man show on Thursday, May 9 at 2 p.m. Collins will celebrate Shakespeare’s April birthday in a presentation of the bard’s works. This event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required. Call 781-235-1614 to RSVP. Waterstone is located at 27 Washington St., and includes 134 apartments for seniors 62 and older. It features independent and assisted living rental apartments. For more information, call 781-235-1614.

Red Sox, a cappella and more

Every year there comes a special day that is unlike any other. For those in the Boston area, the Red Sox season opener is, well, a bit of a big deal! That’s why we decided to celebrate in a big way here at Waterstone. We invited local celebrity Herb Crehan to deliver a lecture and facilitate a discussion about this famous team. Herb is a Boston baseball historian and author of several books on the topic. He has delivered talks at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, New England Cable News, WBZ radio and elsewhere, and has been regularly featured in Red Sox Magazine for the past 15 years. We also decked out the Waterstone River Room in Red Sox memorabilia and had a ton of traditional baseball fare, including hot dogs with all the toppings, freshly popped buttered popcorn, drinks and more. This event turned out to be a ton of fun for residents, guests and staff alike. Hopefully your opening day celebrations were just as fun!

We also had the pleasure to welcome the Jewish a cappella group Shir Appeal earlier this month. Shir Appeal is Tufts University’s only co-ed, Jewish a cappella group. They have almost two decades of experience, singing along the spectrum of Jewish music – from Hebrew Pop, Israeli Rock, Traditional/ Liturgical melodies and even English songs with Jewish themes. Our residents, a portion of which are Jewish, really enjoyed this unique performance and the company of the young college students who visited.

Tap dancing, music and fashion – a little bit of everything

Happy Hour isn’t just for young professionals – it’s one of the best times of day here at Waterstone, and something we enjoy. We often host impromptu gatherings over cocktails and wine, and they are usually accompanied by entertainment of some sort, from bands to solo musicians to jack-of-all-trades performers. It’s a lovely way to socialize and continue to develop our community. Just recently we welcomed a new face: Tappin’ Ted Powers. Ted was a member of a rock band for many years before branching out to learn more instruments and skills, and then learning tap dancing. Ted’s unique performance had everyone else’s toes tapping along with him.

Earlier this month, also welcomed Bill Graham of the shop ‘Beautiful Things’ in Salem, who brought his popular “Little Black Dress” event with him. Bill uses his skills in decorating and accessorizing to explore the ways a woman can take a little black dress and adapt it to different circumstances and styles using accessories. Since first introducing this event in 2006, its popularity has exploded, and Bill has brought it to garden clubs, social clubs, and other gatherings across New England. We loved welcoming him to Waterstone, and the ladies of our community especially liked learning some new and fresh ways to revamp a classic black dress. Finally, we welcomed back the US Navy Band Northeast Woodwind Crosswinds, who performed and also socialized with residents, much to our delight. We hope to have them back again!

We have a number of other great events to round out March, including a cappella on the 27th and a fascinating history lesson with Gary Hylander on the 28th. Stop by for either, or both!

Caring for yourself during a tough winter

Winters in New England can be, as you probably know, a bit difficult. Brutal cold, heavy snowfall, intense wind, and dry air can all contribute to our skin, hair and nails feeling dry and uncared for, even if we slather on the lotion and creams. Treat yourself to a little pampering next month when we welcome some local experts for a skin care and pampering seminar. We will offer individualized skin care consultations as well as a discussion about the types of products to use depending on your skin type, as well as what to avoid. Should you really spend $100 on that tiny tub of face cream or would a $15 jar from the general store work just as well? Get answers to such questions and much more on March 26 at 2 p.m. at our community.

In the meantime, here are some tips and techniques for keeping your skin in good shape throughout the winter months.

Hydrate! Think about caring for your skin from the inside, out. If you aren’t hydrated, your skin is going to feel extra dry. So be sure to drink plenty of water.
Moisturize, of course. Whether cream, lotion or oils, moisturize early and often. Keep a spare bottle of your favorite product on your desk, by your nightstand, in the bathroom, in your purse, etc., so you can apply at any time.
Use a home humidifier to make the air in your home (or at least your bedroom, when you’re sleeping) more moisture-rich, as it will prevent your skin from drying out further.
Turn down the water temperature. It may be tempting to take a piping hot bath or shower when it’s so chilly out, but the hot water will have a serious drying effect on your skin. Keep bathtime short and use lukewarm water.
Exfoliate, but not too much. Use a gentle exfoliant once a week or so to make your skin soft and even more able to accept moisture. But don’t overdo it – too much and you will just dry yourself out.

Artists, pantomimes and musicians at Waterstone

We’re offering several fun and educational events at Waterstone at Wellesley this month. We are excited to host two art classes with multi-talented artist Linda Landsberg. Landsberg will teach watercolor, sketching and pastels on Thursday, Jan. 17 and Thursday, Jan. 31 at 2:30 p.m. This is the perfect opportunity to hone your artistic talent, or finally learn to do something you’ve always been interested in. Artists – or aspiring artists – should sign up for classes in AL reception. Class size is limited to eight, so sign up soon! Classes will be held in Country Kitchen.

We will host what is sure to be a thoroughly entertaining performance by mime and comic Jody Scalise in the River Room on Friday, Jan. 18 at 2:30 p.m. In addition to being a pantomime and comic, Scalise is also an actor, dancer and singer. With his gymnastic eyeballs and perfectly timed acts, it’s no wonder Scalise is rated one of the best talents in Boston.

The art awareness program Art Matters will also visit us this month on Monday, Jan. 28 at 2:30 p.m. in the River Room. Art expert Jane Blair will discuss and showcase art from the Renaissance. With a mission to entertain, stimulate and educate people with and about art, Blair’s presentation will be an enriching experience for art lovers and novices alike.

We’ll end the month with a performance by Rick Walsh Trio on Thursday, Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the River Room. Walsh is a talented singer and piano player who performs standards and classic hits from the 40s through today, accompanied by his saxophone player and bass player. The talented trio is known for their fun, engaging performances. We hope to see you at any or all of these events.

Waterstone at Wellesley is located at 27 Washington St., and includes 134 apartments for seniors 62 and older. It features independent and assisted living rental apartments. For more information, call 781-235-1614.

Randy’s Recipes: Eggnog Cheesecake with Currants

Chef Randy Farmer is always treating residents and guests to some seriously delicious food. Whether appetizer or entree, simple panini sandwich or a dessert that requires days of prep, we are constantly impressed with his skills, innovation and especially his much-admired sauces! Chef Randy kindly offered to share one of his top holiday dessert recipes here on the Waterstone blog: Eggnog Cheesecake with Currants. It may not be the healthiest of desserts, but what fun would be holidays be without a little indulgence? The recipe is below – try it out and let us know how it goes!

Filling

24 oz. Cream Cheese
¾ cup sugar
3 Eggs
4 Tablespoons Flour
1 cup Eggnog
2 Tablespoons Rum or Brandy

Crust

1-1/4 cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
1-1/2 Tablespoons Sugar
3 Tablespoons Melted Butter
Dash Nutmeg

Topping

10 oz. Red Currant Jam

Make crust by mixing graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter and nutmeg until incorporated.
Press into the bottom of an ungreased 10” spring form pan and bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees until set.
Reduce oven temp to 325.
In mixer, beat cream cheese until soft and fluffy.
Add sugar and beat until smooth.
Add eggs one at a time and beat until incorporated but do not over beat.
Add flour, eggnog, rum or brandy and mix on low speed.
Place spring form pan onto a sheet pan and bake for 45-50 minutes or until set. Before baking, add ¼” of water to the half pan to create a water bath.
Remove outer ring of spring form pan and let cool for 1-2 hours before slicing. If needed, run a knife around the edge of the cheesecake to loosen it from the pan.
Gently heat the jam until it loosens. Carefully spread it on top of the cooled cheesecake. Make sure the jam is not too hot.
When topping is cool, carefully slice.
Finish with a dollop of whipped cream sprinkled with nutmeg.

Welcoming Chef Ming Tsai to Waterstone

As mentioned in a previous post, we’re excited to welcome Chef Ming Tsai of Blue Ginger, a well-respected Wellesley restaurant, to our community on Monday, Dec. 10 for a book signing. Ming will be signing copies of his new book, “Simply Ming in Your Kitchen.”

Ming is a well-known culinary figure both in Boston and beyond, so it’s a special honor to welcome him to our community for this event. He opened Blue Ginger in 1998, having studied both mechanical engineering at Yale and the culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. He has also trained with Paris pastry chef Pierre Herme and in Osaka with Sushi Master Kobayashi. He also holds a master’s degree in hotel administration and hospitality marketing from Cornell University. Talk about an impressive resume!

Blue Ginger was a hit right out the gate, receiving “Best New Restaurant” distinction from Boston Magazine in its first year. That same year, Ming was named “Chef of the Year” by Esquire. Most recently, Blue Ginger was ranked by Boston Magazine is one of the magazine’s 50 best restaurants. Needless to say, if you have experienced Ming’s East-West cuisine at Blue Ginger, book a reservation ASAP! And, in 2013, you’ll have a new opportunity to experience Ming’s culinary expertise, at his soon-to-be-opened gastropub, Blue Dragon, in Boston.

Ming will visit us at 2 p.m. on Monday. Please contact Lisa Beckwith at 781.235.1614 or LBeckwith@WaterstoneAtWellesley.com to reserve your seat today!

Community Life: Book signings, Thanksgiving and more.

November was a busy month for the Waterstone community, between myriad performances, discussions, visitors, outings and, of course, our own very first Thanksgiving celebration. Our team did a wonderful job decorating the community for the Thanksgiving holiday, and the bright, bold sunflowers that adorned the tables were especially pretty. We pride ourselves on

good food, but the dining team really outdid themselves for the holiday celebration, and the food was both abundant and delicious!

Before the holiday, we had the pleasure of welcoming not just one, but three local authors for a book signing and intergenerational discussion. Authors Liz Sunaby,

Mitch Zukoff, and Karen Day stopped by to stopped by to sign copies of their books; See What You Can Be, Lost in Shangri-La, and A Million Miles from Boston, respectively. We’re lucky to have a lot of accomplished and interesting people living in our community and in nearby communities, and are even luckier that they were happy to join us for this great event.

Happy Thanksgiving!

To start, all of us here at Waterstone at Wellesley would like to wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. We hope it’s full of food, family, fun, and at least a little bit of relaxation! It’s our first Thanksgiving and holiday season as a community and we’re excited to embark on it, especially given we have Chef Randy’s delicious cooking to look forward to. Here are several Waterstone residents enjoying a drink around our common room fireplace on a recent afternoon.

In other news, we have some great events coming up after Thanksgiving. Check out some more information on them below. You could get some of your holiday shopping done, enjoy happy hour and music with a local artist, or… both! Hope to see you.

Bea Smith & Born 2 B Worn Trunk Show, Nov. 27, 11 a.m.

Bea Smith Clothing, an upscale fashion company, and Born 2 B Worn Jewelry will host a trunk show at our community. Items like bracelets, bags, scarves and earrings will be for sale. Call 781-235-1614 or click to RSVP .

Happy Hour with Rich Walsh, Nov. 30, 4:30 p.m.

Join us in welcoming performer and musician Rick Walsh for a look back at the music of Sinatra, Elvis, Nat King Cole and much more. Call 781-235-1614 or click to RSVP.

Just some October fun at Waterstone

First, the team at Waterstone would like to extend its thoughts and prayers to those affected by Sandy. We were fortunate to have missed the brunt of the storm, and residents reported feeling safe and comfortable within our home at Waterstone as the winds whipped outside. We all know, however, that many have been tragically affected by this storm and our thoughts and prayers are with them.

Before Sandy decided to make a mess of things along the eastern seaboard, residents and guests were having a lot of fun throughout the entire month of October, as you can see in some of the pictures below. Let’s review some of the interesting, unique and just plain fun events we enjoyed as October passed by. In one, you’ll see our beloved head chef Randy Farmer as he gives a talk about fine cheeses. We welcomed Wasiks Cheese Shop for that presentation and it was a huge hit. Who doesn’t love a fine cheese?

We also welcomed students from Babson College for a workshop and presentation on vision impairment. In the photo below, you’ll see a student working with resident Amalia Kalyvas during that presentation. It was wonderful to have the students visiting; it’s exciting to hear about their lives and passions as they just begin to pursue their interests.

We also welcomed the New Sound Assembly Barbershop Chorus for a rousing concern. They were such a talented and inspiring group of gentlemen. Our own Harold Bossung decided to join in on the fun and got up to perform as well, singing along with the best of them. We hope to welcome the chorus back again, since their visit was such a big hit.

Finally, look at friends Mildred Goodman and Pauline Grubin as they grin and display their fall crafts, cornucopias both created in honor of the harvest season. Quite a few residents participated in this unique event and the results were stunning. It was also just a really fun thing to do.

If you or you and a loved one or friend would like to participate in the regular slate of events, presentations and crafts we have going on regularly, just give us a call or check on our upcoming events on our website. We would love to have some neighbors and friends join us.