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Get to Know Newton

We are pleased to share our participation in the Charles River Regional Chamber's marketing video campaign series "Get to Know" aimed at promoting Newton, Needham, and Watertown and Wellesley as great places to visit. In partnership with Newton based Another Age Productions and funded by Meet Boston and the MA Office of Travel and Tourism, each video highlights 4 local businesses. We were honored to represent Newton! Look for our segment around 2:07.

The 3 other videos can be found here!

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Newton Neighbors Helping Newton Neighbors Care Packages

Newton Neighbors Helping Newton Neighbors

DONATE A CARE PACKAGE WITH ENTERTAINMENT ITEMS & BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR A NEWTON SENIOR OR CHILD IN NEED!

SEND A MESSAGE OF HOPE

Forced inside by the Coronavirus pandemic, members of the Newton community are still finding ways to reach out to their neighbors and friends to share messages of hope. Children put teddy bears in windows and we see rainbows popping up across the city and sidewalk chalk messages encouraging people to stay strong and stay inside. There are more ways you can help! Donate a care package to a Newton resident in need!

WHO WOULD I BE HELPING?

While Newton has a reputation for being an affluent suburb, statistics show that 1 out of 8 households in our city survive on less than $25,000 in annual income and 11% of Newton schoolchildren live in poverty. Newton Neighbors Helping Newton Neighbors, a Facebook group that was formed to connect community members to support one another and share resources during the Coronavirus pandemic, is sponsoring an effort to provide entertainment care packages to residents living in Newton public housing. In particular, seniors who have been self-isolating and young children (ages 5 and under) who need to be entertained and are not currently served by the Newton Public Schools. These groups have the least access to ways to keep engaged during this difficult time.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

NNHNN is partnering with the Newton Housing Authority to distribute these care packages to those in need. The Newton Housing Authority provides a high standard of affordable housing to Newton’s diverse population of more than 1300 residents.

In partnership with a number of local retailers who are creating these entertainment-oriented care packages, NNHNN is connecting members of the community who want to donate them to Newton residents who are the most vulnerable during this difficult time. We see this as an opportunity for you to help those in need while also supporting beloved local businesses in the hopes that it will enable them to stay afloat while closed to physical business.

Participating local businesses include:

WHAT DO THE CARE PACKAGES INCLUDE?

Care packages for seniors include items such as adult activity books (coloring books, crossword puzzles, sudoku and trivia), embroidery and cross stitch kits as well as “cheer” items such as tea, honey and trinket dishes. Care packages for kids include items such as picture books, puzzles, games, art activities, educational toys and craft project kits.

HOW CAN I DONATE A CARE PACKAGE?

Care packages are $50 and can be purchased online by clicking on the link to the local business website. Your purchase will be delivered directly into the hands of a Newton senior or child living in Newton Public Housing. Join us to support our community and send a message of hope to a Newton resident in need!

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Greentail Table Turns 5!

Greentail Table Turns 5!

We mark 5 years in business this week and count ourselves so fortunate. What started out as a crazy retail dream has turned into a blossoming reality. We are so grateful for all you have done to support us over the past 5 years! 

Endless people, including you, have contributed to our success and deserve our gratitude. Five years ago, an amazing cadre of friends answered the call to help paint the store basement, unpack, print and ticket all of the new merchandise and then showed up on opening day, July 10, 2014, to help test our new POS system and become our first customers. Our first few weeks were filled with a revolving door of friends who were so excited to finally step into the store which was in my head for so many years. To this day, I am still moved by the undying support of friends and family near and far who shop online or who make a pilgrimage to the shop regularly or whenever they are in town or in the country.

Right from the start, the Nonantum Neighborhood Association, led by Terry Sauro, became champions of our new enterprise and helped make the neighborhood aware of our existence and has supported us non-stop. I am honored to serve as business representative on the NNA board and could not be more pleased to have the store based in the wonderful village  of Nonantum in the city of Newton. Newton, Massachusetts, makes “Shop Small” and “Shop Local” a mantra and a mission.

The Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce has also been a major supporter. Within a very short time of joining the chamber, they held  2 networking events at the shop, which in turn, introduced local business people to Greentail Table, many of whom have become ardent supporters and customers.

Within a few months of opening our doors, we began cultivating a following of loyal and dedicated customers. Many of whom became raving fans and helped to spread the word throughout Newton and beyond, among their friends, neighbors, and colleagues. We are honored to count many of the early adopters among our fiercely loyal customers today. Too many to name individually, but you know who you are! 

We have also enjoyed the support of many of our makers and vendors who have conducted workshops on color to table settings to terrarium making. We’ve had chefs and cheese mongers, cookbook authors, candy makers and chocolatiers, florists, photographers and more grace our doors and share their skills and talents with our customers. Potters, candle makers, textile designers, a pyrographer, and so many other makers have spent time in our shop sharing their time and talent as well as introducing their fans to Greentail Table. 

We are also grateful to Chris Lyons, who assisted us on the PR front, as well as to all of the bloggers, editors, art directors, stylists, and photographers who have helped spread the word about Greentail Table in print and online in the Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, Boston Home, New England Home, and the Newton TAB. Editorial coverage has been critical to our success. One of the best anniversary gifts we’ve received is our inclusion in Boston Magazine 2019 Best of Boston List for Best Entertaining Essentials!

Other key players who have been paramount to our success are our Greentail Table team members--for which we are hugely indebted: Marilyn, Mary, Alicia, Parisa, and our on call “shop girl” Katie. Their, professionalism, customer service and loyalty have helped cultivate our success. We could not do it without them!

Another key ingredient of the Greentail Table team is our talented graphic designer, Maribel Sandoski of MBS Creative, who created our logo and all branding materials and who is responsible for all of our beautiful ads. We are so fortunate to be the beneficiary of  her endless creativity and mad skills. She makes us look good!

And finally, my gratitude list would not be complete without mentioning my husband, Jack, who has been by my side every step of the way. From business planning to store design and endless hours of tech assistance. His tireless support has fueled me and Greentail Table. My son, Nick, has also been a big booster and has logged time behind the register and in the basement, when needed. I could not do any of this without their love and support.

Thank you to each and everyone who has shopped with us. Your support of a small brick and mortar shop and online retailer is the reason we can celebrate our 5th year in business. In the age of Amazon, your support of small business is more critical than ever. Small shops and businesses, like ours, help to encourage a sense of community and to create the fabric of our towns and villages. We so appreciate your patronage and your commitment to shopping small and local

We look forward to our next 5 years and hope we can continue to surprise and delight you with unique products and warm customer service.

Gratefully,

Linda de Valpine

Owner

Greentail Table Owner Linda de Valpine

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2019 Spring In-Store Events

APRIL 9 6:30PM Caskata Tablesettings Workshop -- Come meet Donna Wayne who will be demonstrating inspiring table settings with beautiful pieces handcrafted in Caskata's Massachusetts atelier.

APRIL 20 1:00-4:00PM Kelly Mitchell of The Traveled Lane will be in the shop selling her travel related decor which "tells the story of who you are and where you've been"- coaster/trivet sets, ornaments, and more.

APRIL 24 4:00-8:00PM Pilgrim Waters Trunk Show. Come meet the award winning illustrator and designer, Susy Pilgrim Waters, and shop her gorgeous line of merino wool scarves, small batch handcrafted trays, and tea towels.

MAY 4 1:00-4:00PM Kate McGuire Pottery Pop Up -- Meet Boston based potter Kate McGuire and shop her wonderful wheel-thrown and hand-built creations.

MAY 7 6:00-9:00PM Ellie Kai & India Hicks Trunk Show --Join Nicole Pirani for this special trunk show as she discusses Spring and upcoming summer trends. Tarot card readings too! 15% of all trunk show orders will be donated to Furnishing Hope of Massachusetts.

JUNE 2 12:00-5:00PM Special Sunday hours in celebration of Nonantum Village Day. Official event festivities begin at Coletti-Magni Park at 11:30AM and last until 3:00PM. Come out and enjoy a Beatles Tribute Band, trackless train rides, a rock climbing wall, professional face painting, dance performances and more. All activities are free! Food stands will also be available. Check out @NonantumNeighborhoodAssociation on Facebook for more info!

JUNE 15 1:00-4:00PM Dara Cheek of Hieropice will be popping up in the shop this Saturday, June 15 from 1-4PM! Don't miss Dara's new botanical glassware, coasters, wall art and more! Dara hosted our Create Your Own Terrarium Workshop last spring --and has a passion for all things botanical and handmade. Come meet her and shop her handmade beauties--just in time for Father's Day!

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