More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.
The game was afoot at the Wellesley Merchants’ Association Holiday Stroll Scavenger Hunt, as dozens of families searched for QR-coded snowflakes at participating stops throughout Wellesley Square for the chance to win $800 in gift cards from 32 stores. After the Hunt was completed, four winners were picked at random. The holidays are shaping up to be extra happy for the families pictured below, shown collecting their prizes at London Harness.
It may be the first time ever that an inflatable igloo has been set up in a Wellesley shopping area, but that’s the kind of magic that was happening at the the Linden Square Holiday Stroll on Sunday. The Courtyard was crowded with families looking to meet characters from Frozen, sip hot chocolate, enjoy carolers from the Wellesley High School choral program, and more. After the event shoppers went from store to store, knocking a few more items off their holiday shopping list. There’s still a good cushion of time until last-minute panic sets in, so shop local now in Wonderful Wellesley. Waiting will lead only to woe.
SPONSORED CONTENT: Are you ready to find the perfect holiday gift for everyone on your list? Great! Because Wellesley and Newton’s local, independently owned stores are ready to help you get across the shopping finish line with good cheer to spare. You can expect extra-special service, unique offerings, and a festive retail experience at every business in Swellesley’s Holiday Gift Guides. This is the year that holiday shopping becomes fun again.
SPONSORED CONTENT: Whether you prefer the convenience of online shopping, or you enjoy the experience of finding just the right gift at just the right store, discover the latest offerings from Wellesley’s locally owned tastemakers. Luxury and beauty are the watchwords for this holiday season’s perfect gifts. “Shopping should be fun,” is the mantra. So shop from home, leave home to shop, or do a little of each—every business in Swellesley’s Holiday Gift Guides is ready to help you delight all the recipients on your list.
After the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club took a pandemic-forced two-year hiatus from its annual full-scale Wellesley Marketplace event, the volunteer organization came roaring back to the WHS cafeteria last weekend, bringing in over 200 vendors and artisans who sold everything from gourmet foods to handmade jewelry. The place was packed with 2,000+ excited shoppers who purchased entrance tickets to the juried show ahead of time, in addition to hundreds who showed up the day of the event. We knocked a bunch of lucky gift recipients off our holiday shopping list, all in the name of supporting the WHJWC’s mission of providing impactful scholarships and grants to support those in need in our community.
SPONSORED CONTENT: Help the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club (WHJWC) welcome back the 44th annual Wellesley Marketplace holiday fair at Wellesley High School on Saturday, November 19 (the Saturday before Thanksgiving). It’s been three years since the WHJWC has been able to bring more than 200 local artists and craftspeople to town, so this year’s Marketplace is a special homecoming of sorts! Artisans are excited to set up their booths with a full range of goods including fine art, gourmet foods, hostess and teacher gifts, jewelry and clothing, home accessories, ornaments and children’s clothes.
Instagram: @wellesleymarketplace
Facebook: @Wellesley-Marketplace
SPONSORED CONTENT: You don’t have to leave Wonderful Wellesley to get yourself healthy, fit, and looking fabulous. Here there is every option imaginable for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
At Pure Barre in Linden Square, owner Katie Matsunaka notes an often overlooked aspect of getting into the studio is the social side. “Clients start coming here for the strength and wellness benefits, but before long they’ve found community at the barre. Real friendships develop when you’re working out with people who share your self-care goals.”
If your muscles are aching or just feeling stiff, there’s help at StretchMED Studios in Wellesley Square and StretchLab in Linden Square. “Movement is such an essential part of a healthy lifestyle,” says Bonnie Levy of StretchMed.
After all that working out, treat yourself to Bella Santé spa and salon, a gorgeous color and cut from Lisa James Salon or Atelier, or a make-up consult at Beauty and Main or Bluemercury. And for that all-year round summer glow, there’s Pure Glow to keep you looking sun-kissed and relaxed.
For the outdoor enthusiast, Papa Wheelies has a wide selection of bikes—from road to cruiser to electric—plus, you’ll find all the accessories like shoes, helmets and more. You can also get connected with the outdoors at Orvis, which just opened in Linden Square. “Our staff can help customers find great clothes for any outdoor activity, plus the gear they need,” store general manager Shannon Berry said.
