The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Something looks different inside E.A. Davis…

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I dropped by E.A. Davis (579 Washington St.), now under ownership by Mahi Gold Outfitters, on its opening day this past weekend during Wellesley Square’s Holiday Stroll.

The brightly lit store still features the old-timey E.A. Davis sign out front and the classic cash register inside, but otherwise has a freshly renovated feel all dressed up for the holidays. Clothing hangs from fun rope swings, the wood floors have been refinished, and there is no shortage of colors to choose from despite this no longer being Lilly Pulitzer central.

The upstairs promises to open next year and feature kids’ stuff. The downstairs was off-limits, too, for now.

Without Mrs. Swellesley at my side during this visit, you’re not getting any fashion analysis out of me. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

Here’s wishing new owners Becky and Brian Voelkel a successful holiday shopping season.

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A familiar carousel horse from E.A. Davis of old

 

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The classic cash register remains

 

Here are a couple of E.A. Davis throwback photos from before the changeover:

EA Davis, Wellesley

EA Davis, Wellesley

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Linden Square, Wellesley
Riverbend, Natick

Wellesley educators walk out of school as contract negotiations drag on

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Members of the Wellesley Educators Association (WEA) capped off the week at schools across the district with an end-of-day walk-out on Friday, Dec. 2. The demonstration—during which educators, many wearing bright-red t-shirts identifying them as “proud union members”—took place soon after classes were dismissed for the day. It’s the second time in as many weeks that the WEA has organized a show of unity amid contract negotiations that have left teachers, paraprofessionals, librarians, nurses, secretaries, and many others working without a contract since July 1, 2022.

Wellesley Educators Association, Sprague School
Wellesley Educators Association, Sprague School

At issue for educators is what they call “Fair Five Now” demands that encompass issues such as parental leave; due process during individual contract disputes; wages, specifically a demand that Educational Support Professionals (sometimes referred to as paraprofessionals or classroom assistants) receive 6% annual increases; prep time for elementary school teachers; and specialists’ scheduling.

Contract discussion is on the Dec. 6, 6:30pm, School Committee agenda under executive session, meaning the public will not be allowed to listen to that part of the meeting. The School Committee meeting is online only, and may be watched on Wellesley Public Media.

The WEA union and the School Committee next sit down at the bargaining table to try to come to an agreement on Wednesday., Dec. 7.

Wellesley Educators Association, Hardy School. Photo credit: WEA Twitter feed
Wellesley Educators Association, Hardy School. Photo credit: WEA Twitter feed

Kyle Gekopi, president of the 713-member WEA union, in an email said, “We expect counterproposals on many of our ‘Fair Five’ points. These proposals have all been advanced multiple times by the WEA, but the Committee has stated they have ‘no interest’ in countering these proposals.  We are hopeful that our continued conversations with the  community will generate the Committee’s interest in these items.”

Linda Chow, School Committee vice chair and a member of the bargaining team, said in an email, “The School Committee is grateful for all of our educators and is committed to continuing to work with the WEA to reach a fair and equitable settlement as soon as possible. We can’t stress enough that we feel a deep responsibility for supporting all our students and educators while working within the budget parameters set by the Town, Town Meeting, and Select Board. We will continue to work through the bargaining process to get to this end goal.”

Page Waterman, Wellesley
London Harness, Wellesley

World of Wellesley to host documentary discussion on “Just Mercy”

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World of WellesleyWorld of Wellesley (WOW) will hold a documentary discussion about Just Mercy, the 2019 film that shadows world-renowned civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson. After graduating from Harvard, Stevenson heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or those not afforded proper representation. One of his first cases is that of Walter McMillian, who is sentenced to die in 1987 for the murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite evidence proving his innocence. In the years that follow, Stevenson encounters racism and legal and political maneuverings as he tirelessly fights for McMillian’s life.

WOW asks that you watch the movie or documentary at a time that is convenient for you, and then join the in-person conversation on Tue., Dec. 13, 6:30pm-8pm, at 219 Washington Street, Wellesley MA 02481 (Wellesley Friendly Aid, Living Room). Tea and cookies will be available during this relaxing and casual evening of thoughtful discussion.

You can watch Just Mercy on Amazon, Netflix, or get a copy through the Wellesley Public Library.

DATE: Tue., Dec. 13
TIME: 6:30pm-8pm
LOCATION: 219 Washington Street, Wellesley MA 02481 (Wellesley Friendly Aid, Living Room)

RSVP here to the event.

Please note that this event is mask optional. For more information: info@worldofwellesley.org

Wellesley Square’s Holiday Stroll gets the town into the spirit

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Wellesley Square’s Holiday Stroll just about had it all this past weekend, from Santa photos to shopping deals to the annual tree lighting. The only thing missing? Flying horses.

The kid in the stroller “wanted to know if the horses are going to fly,” a mom told me, pointing from the child to the horse-drawn carriage about to make its way from in front of the Station Oak at the post office up the hill to Town Hall.

Soon enough flying reindeer will be doing their thing.

In the meantime, Wellesley Square visitors had loads of fun, all leading up to the tree lighting at dusk.

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Wellesley Toy Shop was a draw

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The tree was not purchased in the Square, but came for the action

 

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Colors of the season at London Harness

 

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Horse-drawn carriage at Station Oak

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holiday stroll sing

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Frosty & Rudolph visit Anderson’s Jewelers (Photo courtesy of Beth Sullivan Woods)

Whitin Observatory Public Night at Wellesley College, Dec. 9

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Wellesley College will bring the stars up close and personal to viewers during its Whitin Observatory Public Night on Friday, December 9, 7pm-9pm on campus, rain or shine. Students will present their exciting research featuring exoplanets, aliens, galaxies and more. There will be activities for all ages, and visitors may observe the night sky with the observatory’s historic telescopes (if the skies are clear).

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Whitin Observatory, Wellesley College
Deland, Gibson, Wellesley
Rick Cram, leader

Karma restaurant sneak peek: We visit Burlington version of eatery coming to Wellesley

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With Asian fusion restaurant Karma on its way to Wellesley’s Linden Square, we got a jump on things by visiting Karma at the Burlington Mall. The local chain has four locations. Wellesley will be the fifth jewel in restauranteur Iverson Guo’s crown of upscale, sophisticated eateries.

We were unfamiliar with the Burlington area, so it took a tour of the mall parking lot for us to find the distinctive red pagoda-style front entrance. Impressive, heavy doors welcomed us from the sidewalk into the dining room. The restaurant can’t be be accessed from the mall.

We were joined by Nicci Kadilak, who publishes the Burlington Buzz, an online news source that focuses on Burlington, Mass. She’d visited Karma before and was ready with her recommendations. Nicci insisted we try the scallion pancakes ($11), and indeed, they were so good that Mrs. Swellesley’s advice for those visiting Karma when it opens here is, “Don’t go without trying them.” The order of six came to the table hot, flavorful, crispy, and served with a savory sauce.

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Flavorful & crispy scallion pancakes

Karma has a classy, fine-dining experience feel to it that is comfortable and welcoming. Seating options include booths, tables, and bar seating. We hear the cocktails are a specialty, but since day drinking isn’t our vibe we stuck with sodas. We were there at Karma’s Friday opening time of 11:30am, and the place filled up quickly around us.

Karma’s extensive menu focuses on Japanese assertive cuisine juxtaposed with the delicate sauces and styles of France. What that means—the chefs will make your order as spicy as you want it, but spicy isn’t a default option. You have to ask for it. Fresh herbs with a distinctly French flavor to them are in use, such as tarragon in some of the sushi dishes. Then again, jalapeño peppers bring Central American flair to many choices. Russia puts in an appearance with caviar, lots and lots of it, lending its briny luxury to many of Karma’s sushi offerings. Familiar classics are on the menu such as General Gao’s Chicken, Pad Thai, Crab Rangoon, and more. A multi-course Omakase menu, all the rage right now at area eateries, is available by reservation only. There are gluten-free options including chicken, steak, seafood, fresh vegetables, and more.

One way to experience a wide variety of the chefs’ sushi creations is to is order either the Great ($19) or Grand ($25) sushi lunch option, which includes miso soup and a salad. But be sure to emphasize that you are ordering the lunch special not the $118 sushi and sashimi platter for two. (Unless you’re looking for a truly huge lunch.)

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Karma in Burlington (we arrived as doors opened at 11:30am)

Gyoza is my must-order item at Asian restaurants, and Karma’s offering is tasty—the pork version has a sweetness to it and the covering is on the lighter side (less doughy than some dumplings I’ve had).

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Beautiful sushi and sashimi presentation, Karma, Burlington.

Look for Karma to open in Wellesley by Spring of 2023. Oath Pizza is another Linden Square place that will be coming soon.

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Future home of Karma in Linden Square

 

Wellesley Square has also experienced a restaurant rebirth, with La Toscano, Laughing Monk, and Lockheart as new additions to that area.

Where to Eat in Wellesley

Wellesley Business Buzz: New version of E.A. Davis about to open; Faherty to nestle in next to Lululemon; Changing cast of characters in Lower Falls

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The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

New version of E.A. Davis about to open

E.A. Davis, the longtime Wellesley retailer that changed hands earlier this year, is set debut in its new incarnation this weekend under the ownership of Mahi Gold Outfitters.

Brian and Becky Voelkel, whose Mahi Gold had been a popular seller on the floor of E.A. Davis, now own the Washington Street business that’s been undergoing a big time renovation.

We’ll be curious to see what semblances of E.A. Davis remain, and whether the redesign will attract any movie shoots, as the earlier version did.

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The sandwich board in front of E.A. Davis, as of Thursday…

 

Faherty to nestle in next to Lululemon

Retailer Faherty has now confirmed what we reported in May, that they’re coming to Wellesley Square at 50 Central St., formerly home to Talbots, and adjacent to where Lululemon is opening. We’d reached out to Faherty in the spring but got only a robo-reply from the family brand.

Faherty offers men’s, women’s, and kids clothing, and plays up its attention to sustainability. A quick sampling of items found lots of stuff for $98, including men’s polo shirts and shirts, but also a fair number of discounts and coupons to bring prices down.

The business has a couple of standalone stores in Boston, plus sells its products through many other retailers.

Faherty, Wellesley

Changing cast of characters in Lower Falls

Axiom Learning, a tutoring and test prep outfit formerly located at 254 Washington St., has headed east to 31 Washington St. Also in that building is PNPS Nursing & Homecare, which is readying new signage to promote its home health aide training center

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