Pinnacle Residential Properties: wild overbidding has come back down to Earth

August 10, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

SPONSORED CONTENT: Below are homes sold in Wellesley July 21-August 2, 2022, as listed in the MLS database. Note, these are homes that went under contract an average of 60 days before closing. Spring prices were exceptionally strong, peaking in April, as was overbidding and multiple offers. It is still a strong sellers’ market, however, as interest rates have continued to rise, agents have definitely seen fewer multiple offers, and wild overbidding has come back down to Earth.

Pinnacle 8/9/2022 sales

Average list price: $1,815,996

Average sale price: $1,873,284

Touring Wellesley Square with Congressman Auchincloss

August 3, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss stopped into town yesterday for a short walking tour of Wellesley Square to learn about the changing landscape and challenges of the “downtown” shopping district. Organized by the Charles River Regional Chamber, the tour group included the Congressman; Greg Reibman and Tracey Aldrich Antaya of the Chamber; Town of Wellesley Assistant Executive Director Amy Frigulietti; and myself.

Congressman Jake Auchincloss, Wellesley — Congressman Jake Auchincloss, Town of Wellesley Assistant Executive Director Amy Frigulietti, and Charles River Charles River Regional Chamber president Greg Reibman walk through Wellesley Square. During the tour, Frigulietti discussed the ongoing Wellesley Square planning process and what residents would like to see in the area. She said initial brainstorming ideas from residents have included wider sidewalks, more parking, less parking, improved lighting, and planters. “We call it our Amenities Package. We’re looking to reinvest in the whole Square and kind of do a facelift of the Square.”

The small size of the group allowed the conversation to flow naturally as Auchincloss took the opportunity to speak with the owners of several businesses in the Square. Topics included:

Challenges of holding on during COVID
Parking—Demian Wendrow, Wellesley Square Merchants Association president and owner of London Harness and Tumi, said customers always want more parking. Auchincloss, a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, countered with, “Constituents are always going to say they want more parking, but what they really mean is they want to make it easy to find a space, and those are two different things.” He suggested working toward finding cheaper long-term parking away from the downtown core.
Town efforts—Frigulietti talked about the $50K grant the town has used in part so far for the town-wide Wonderful Wellesley initiative, and the $100K grant that was used to put together the parklet in Wellesley Square at the intersection of Central and Cross Streets, in between where the Gap was and Ardan Medspa + Salon operates.

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Wellesley Business Buzz: Bach to Rock instrument petting zoo; Fleuri reseeds across the street; outdoor dining at Alta Strada

August 1, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Our roundup of the latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

Bach to Rock instrument petting zoo at Linden Square

Bach to Rock is holding a series of free Friday instrument petting zoo events on Aug 5, 12 & 26. Each event will take place at 1pm in the Linden Square Courtyard.

The music school, which opened in Wellesley in 2016 and is now under new ownership, provides lessons in guitar, piano, drums, voice, violin, trumpet, and more for students of all ages and skill levels.

Fleuri Designs makes a move

Fleuri Designs has moved across the street in Linden Square, from the Roche Bros. side to the its new location next to Tatte Bakery. Owner Zoë Forbes has kept the store’s signature clean and beautiful Fleuri aesthetic with plenty of faux florals and plants, gifts, décor items, and chic home accent pieces. New to this location: occasional furniture, and a refrigerated case for fresh flowers. Zoë and her team can now let loose and make gorgeous fresh floral arrangements, something they couldn’t do across the street due to a non-compete clause with the Roche Bros. floral department. But non-compete clauses can’t cross the street, which is valuable information you heard here first.

Fleuri also has a location on Beacon Hill at 98 Charles St.

Restaurant visit: An outdoor dinner at Alta Strada

It’s hard to believe that Alta Strada in Wellesley Square has been serving delicious Italian classics for 15 years, but here we are. The popular local spot is owned by Michael Schlow, who runs four additional Alta Stradas as well as the Hermitage Inn in West Dover, Vermont; the Tico in Washington, DC; Monti Roman Pizzeria in Boston; and other restaurants. Many publications (Esquire, Food & Wine, Conde Nast Traveler) have joined The Swellesley Report in writing up aspects of the busy chef’s culinary empire.

The outdoor patio with its cheerful red umbrellas beckoned us on a warm night, the kind when ordering off the creative cocktail menu seems mandatory; We tried out the spot’s namesake Alta Strada, a vodka, pomegranate, and blood 0range mix served in a martini glass, a fun and summery way to start out the meal. In addition to about 10 specialty cocktails, there are several beer choices (including Peroni, an Italian beer), a few mocktails, and a wine list with many well-priced wines by the glass.

Crispy artichoke hearts with a light-tasting pesto bianco made with walnuts, garlic, and ricotta, and pickled fresno chiles served alongside the dish was an amazing and flavorful appetizer ($15), which we highly recommend. The garlicky sauce was the perfect foil to the crispy, but not greasy, artichokes. We went all in with the ricotta theme and also tried out the ricotta spread with crostini appetizer($14), a light and delicately flavored choice.

Alta Strada, Wellesley — Alta Strada appetizer: crispy artichoke hearts with pesto bianco.

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Top things to do in Wellesley before summer ends

July 26, 2022 by Duncan Brown Leave a Comment

We’re already a third of the way through summer, and if you’re staying local, there’s plenty to do in Wellesley.

Morses Pond

It’s no secret that it’s hot this summer, and so it’s no surprise that people are looking for a bit of water to jump into. Luckily, Wellesley is home to Morses Pond, which is staffed by lifeguards and is host to many beachy activities beyond just taking a dip. Aside from swimming, there are paddle boards and kayaks that can be rented and taken around anywhere in the pond at the cost of $10 for 30 minutes. On the beach itself there are pavilions that can be rented for events ($5 for resident, $20 for non residents), and beach volleyball is available for some friendly competition. The bathhouse offers bathrooms and changing stalls, and has a vending machine as well.

Wellesley residents can either buy a $10 day pass, or go for a season pass option. Adult season passes are $125, while children (under 16) and seniors can get one for $60. There is also $250 family pass option. If you are not Wellesley resident, there are no day passes available, and season passes run quite a bit steeper—adults are $190, and children/seniors are $90.

MOPO Fishing — Fishing at Morses Pond. Photo credit: Brandon Fitts

The Brook Path & beyond

The Brook Path is a 2.4-mile route that runs through Wellesley, roughly from the High School to the Nehoiden Golf Club. It’s a perfect place to walk, run, or bike on a sunny summer day. The trees provide shade, and there are benches along the path if you need a break or just want to sit outside in nature. The path runs adjacent to Fuller Brook which, if you are persistent and curious, you can discover leads to the Charles River. Fuller Brook has a fish ladder near Hunnewell Elementary School, and during spring migration you can see lots of leaping fish making their way over the little waterfall. The Brook Path is probably the best known and most popular path in town, so if you are looking for seclusion in nature, this might not be the path for you.

Wellesley is rife with trails, perfect for walking or running. Beyond the Brook Path, there exists a system of trails, maintained and mapped by the Wellesley Trails Committee. We have some personal recommendations for which trials are best, particularly in the summer, when heat is a factor.

The Sudbury Path (or blue arrow path) is well shaded and quite secluded, and runs for 4.6 miles. It’s never a very crowded trail, and it offers more physical challenge than the flat and level Brook Path.
The Crosstown Trail is a very long (6.2 miles), very flat path that cuts in and out of the town. We would recommend doing small bits of it at a time if you want to preserve the feeling of walking in nature. That being said, it offers diversity in scenery, and is easy to find parking for. A good place to start, depending on where you’re coming from, is the 900 Worcester St. parking lot near Dale Street.
The Centennial Reservation Trail, as you might guess, runs around Centennial Reservation. This is a popular spot for dog walkers, and is a scenic, hilly path. It’s on the shorter side, but has offshoots that can be explored. It is a little more exposed than the other trials in town, so remember to bring your sunscreen. The trail starts at the Centennial Reservation parking lot off Oakland Street.

fuller brook park brook path summer — Brook Path, Wellesley

Ice cream

Summer was made for ice cream. Or is it the other way around? Either way, Wellesley has delicious options for everyone’s favorite summer treat. Truly’s, a small, local store that usually has a line out the door on summer nights, often changes up their special flavors—dedicated Swellesley fans may recall the Swellesley Swirl flavor once offered—while keeping a unique selection of consistent items. We personally recommend the Cookie D lite soft serve option.

Also in Wellesley Square is J.P Licks. Although part of a chain, J.P. Licks does a good job keeping a local feel to the place by decorating their walls with art from local artists. As for the ice cream itself, there’s have a wide selection of what we would call “fancy” ice cream. This means it’s not just chocolate, it’s chocolate brownie. They don’t have just mint, they have mint cookies and cream. You get the picture. While they do have the more typical flavors, if you’re looking for excitement in your ice cream life, J.P. Licks can serve you well.

Dumpster Diving

The Wellesley Recycling and Disposal Facility is more than a place to throw away your trash and recyclables. You can also visit two spots to search for the cast-off treasures of Wellesley residents—the give and take section and the books section. Both these parts of the dump are constantly replenished by Wellesley residents looking to de-clutter their homes. From furniture to water guns, there’s little that hasn’t appeared at the RDF at one point or another. It can be a bit hit or miss, but the searching is half the fun.

book swap — Used books area, Wellesley RDF

Live theater

Wellesley Theater Project runs throughout the summer, putting on plays with young actors getting a taste of the theatrical world. Check out Newsies on July 28, 29, or 30. Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies.” When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys’ expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what’s right. Based on the 1992 motion picture and inspired by a true story. Ticket information here.

Restaurants

Wellesley offers a wide range of cuisine for the local foodie as well as those who are just plain hungry, and the town has enjoyed a recent infusion of new restaurants.

Increasingly, restaurants in town are branching out with outdoor seating, including the new Tatte in Linden Square, Maugus in Wellesley Hills, and Bocado in Wellesley Square.

Live concerts behind town hall

Live music can be found in Wellesley, behind Town Hall. Summer concerts start at 7pm, and rotate different musicians and bands throughout the summer. The remaining shows for the summer are being performed by The Tom Nutile Big Band on July 27th, and The Rico Bar Band on August 10th. The events are great for people of all ages, and additional entertainment is offered for kids with lawn games spread about the field. Hot dog vendors have also been known to make appearances.

town hall concert reminisants — Concert behind Wellesley Town Hall

Babson Globe

All praise the globe! Stare at it long enough, and it may stare back at you. Located within Babson College, the Babson World Globe has been around for over 60 years, having been completed in 1955. Since then it has been hidden away behind one of the campus halls. However, it has recently been moved to a more central location on campus, and can be more easily found in all its glory. The globe is meant to provide a realistic map of the world, and was initially made as a symbol of the college’s “global presence.” The globe is 25 tons, 28 feet across, and can be seen any time of day, slowly rotating on its pedestal. If you want to see one of the more striking pieces of art in Wellesley, and learn a new country or two while you’re at it, head on over to Babson.

Shopping

There will truly never be a lack of places to go shopping in Wellesley. Saying that you have walked every path, swam in every body of water, and loyally attended all the Summer concerts is believable, but don’t try and tell the Swellesley Report that you’ve shopped in every store in town. Wellesley Square is a good place to start any shopping endeavor. It offers a plethora of clothing stores, along with stores such as Paper Source, Wellesley Books, and many more.

Linden Square has just as much to offer, with stores selling things ranging from makeup to toys. Magic Bean, Bluemercury, Neenas, and others offer a variety of places to explore. Take a break in the Courtyard’s outdoor seating area if you need to take a load off your feet mid-shopping spree.

linden square summer afternoon — The Linden Square Courtyard

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Wellesley Business Buzz: Vanguard Renewables bought out for $700M; Ke-NO for now; Stay Fashion opens nearby

July 23, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Our roundup of the latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

Vanguard Renewables bought out for $700M, reporting making Weston move

Vanguard Renewables, a Wellesley-based firm whose products convert food and animal waste into natural gas, has been acquired for $700M by BlackRock Real Assets.

In a press release that weirdly skips over the price, the company says the deal will “drive its next phase of growth, including its plans to commission more than 100 anaerobic digesters to produce renewable natural gas across the country by 2026.” The company works with farms to convert organic matter to fuel.

The deal technically involved an acquisition of Vanguard from Vision Ridge Partners.

A Boston Globe report on the deal states that the company is plotting to move its headquarters this fall from Walnut Street in Wellesley to a bigger office in Weston.

KeNo for now

The Wellesley Select Board this week heard a request for a Keno gaming license by the owner of the Shell gas station and convenience store at 987 Worcester St., on Rte. 9. Keno is a lottery-like gambling game more often seen at bars than gas stations or convenience stores around here.

Shell station owner Sami Hamze already offers a no-frills version of the game called Keno to Go, but is looking for a more full-blown version that includes a monitor. The Massachusetts State Lottery grants licenses for Keno, but Hamze was seeking the town’s permission to install a monitor and possibly seating for it. The addition would mean more foot traffic and revenue for his business, he says, plus more revenue for the town.

Wellesley Executive Director Meghan Jop said that under the town’s zoning bylaw, there’s been a rule since 1996 preventing the streaming of games of chance. “It would be challenging to approve it,” she said.

Hamze said he’s aware of two local businesses that have or have had such monitors, and understood that such monitors might only be allowed if a business is a restaurant with an alcohol license. Regardless of whether this is true (and it could be worth the town investigating), it wouldn’t be justification for Hamze’s plan to be approved by the Board.

Select Board member Ann-Mara Lanza suggested Hamze might consider filing a citizen’s petition to get the bylaw changed. “I have no idea if Town Meeting would be receptive or not,” she said.

Board Chair Tom Ulfelder assured Hamze the group doesn’t want to stand in the way of an opportunity for the business.

The Board denied the license, but it has added an item to its July 26 meeting agenda to discuss and vote on sending Keno zoning for review by the Planning Board.

Stay Fashion Boutique opens on Rte. 135 in Natick

We had the pleasure of meeting Regiane de Araujo upon noticing a new women and girls clothing shop called Stay Fashion Boutique in Natick. Learn more about this store, which plans to expand beyond its initially Brazilian-inspired merchandise.

Pinnacle Residential Properties: recent home sales in Wellesley

July 23, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

SPONSORED CONTENT: Below are the homes sold in Wellesley July 1-19, 2022, as listed in the MLS database.

House pricing Pinnacle

Average list price: $2,011,125

Average sale price: $2,155,917

July Jubilation in Wellesley comes back strong

July 19, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

It’s official. July Jubilation , the annual sidewalk sale put on by the Wellesley Square Merchants Association, can’t be kept down. Last year the event was a quieter-than-usual affair as the public eased itself back toward in-person events. The year before, it was flat-out canceled, due to COVID. And who can forget the hot, hot, hot July Jubilation of 2019, when to combat temperatures in the high 90s, the town of Wellesley provided a truck with free cold water to help shoppers cool down, and mist machines were set up in the Square so customers and dogs could keep cool.

July Jubilation of 2022 was more like it. The weather was summery, but not too hot, with a protective cloud cover overhead and the occasional breeze. Live music, food, a juggler, stilt walker, and balloon twister, along with a bouncy house, a petting zoo, and more kept the kids happy. Merchants got into the spirit with deep discounts on great stuff, and shoppers scooped up the deals.