Natick Report

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

IMAX back in action in Natick

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The IMAX theater in Jordan’s Furniture reopened on May 27, and so Natick Report took it upon itself to check out the larger-than-life screen (76×55 -foot, to be precise).

When buying tickets I was a bit disappointed to see that the only available movie for the weekend was Jurassic World Dominion, the third entry in the popular dinosaur series. I’d seen the first movie years ago, but I had skipped the second one. On top of that, I hadn’t heard very good things about this one, and the sci-fi/adventure flick clocked in at 2h 26min. Hmmm—well, no one said that reporting Natick news would be cushy.

I bought two tickets ($18.50 each), and prepared to go to the theater. Driving to Jordan’s is dramatic in its own right, as it is perched on top of a hill overlooking route 9. After summiting the hill, parking was an easy affair. The entrance to Jordan’s promotes IMAX theater prominently, but once inside I was a bit lost as to where to go. If you were wondering, Jordan’s no longer hands out bead necklaces when you walk in; the Mardi Gras theme has been thoroughly exterminated.

In all likelihood I missed a sign, but I decided to guess which way to go, which resulted in some wandering until I found a helpful employee who pointed me in the right direction. When you first enter the store what you should do is walk straight to the back and then turn right into the leather section. From there, follow signs until you see an escalator.

The escalator gives the proper red-carpet treatment to IMAX movie-goers. The paparazzi mural, famous in its own right, is on both sides as you ascend, cameras flashing, making the entrance feel extra-special.

 

After the excitement of the escalator, the theater entrance is pretty basic: black walls, movie posters, and a snack bar with expensive popcorn. You come in at the back of the theater, with it sloping down from the entrance. The screen is truly big, and the seats are fairly comfortable, but they’re not miniature beds like in the nearby AMC theater.

Immersed in the experience

The movie itself was not very good, but if there was anywhere I would have wanted to see it, it would be in an IMAX theater. It was slightly too loud at some points, but the surround sound and giant screen made the dinosaurs and the action feel immersive.

The audience was a challenge at times. A gaggle of middle schoolers began a full volume conversation about halfway through the movie, and needed shushing from the rest of the crowd before they quieted down.

After the movie ended several audience member attempted to leave the way we had come in, before being herded to a second door on the opposite side of the theater. From there it was a quick exit through some more furniture galleries before heading home.

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Local creatives bring Art in the Park event to South Natick

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Local artists gathered in Shaw Park in South Natick last Sunday to show off their pieces of work, and even to play a little music. Organized by the Natick Art Association, artists came and set up their tents from 10-3pm, giving people a chance to see just what Natick’s creative community members get up to.

Not to be limited in form, the event included woodwork, jewelry, oil paintings, and music, and while Natick Report has been unable to substantiate the harpist’s claim that she “can play anything on this,” it sure sounded like she could. Twenty-five artists were set to be at the event, and their combined creative powers certainly drew in a crowd. Many of the artists were deep in conversation as I walked around the park, but I got a good look at just about every thing that I could have wanted to see.

 

Shaw Park is located directly across from Bacon Free Library in South Natick, which gave the option to go look out at the dam after admiring the art (which I am frequently reminded is actually the spillway—the dam is the boring part that stops the water, not the part where it all spills over). While parking can be a bit difficult, I found myself a spot with some ease, despite the crowd at the event. If you are feeling heartbroken over having missed Art in the Park, fear not! The Natick Art Association will host another Art in the Park event on September 11.

Young listeners entranced by the music

Apply to participate in Natick Little Free Library Community Build

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Have you ever admired those cute Little Free Libraries around town and thought about joining in the fun? You could be one of ten Natick families that will have the opportunity to participate in a free Natick Little Free Library Community Build workshop at the Morse Institute Library. Apply here by June 20.

Natick Little Free Library Community Build workshops will take place on July 7 & 9 as Natick families and neighbors come together during the summer reading season and go step-by-step through the process of building, completing, and installing their own Little Free Library.

Participants can expect a virtual orientation session on July 7, where they’ll learn safety tips for construction, how to use their library as a tool for neighborhood engagement, and hear from a library builder and elementary school teacher in Medellin, Colombia. Actual construction will take place on July 9 at the Morse Institute Library and will be facilitated by local carpenter, DIYer, and educator Farid Quraishi.

This workshop is family-friendly for anyone comfortable with using a hammer and screwdriver and requires no previous building experience. All Little Free Libraries will include registration on the official Little Free Libraries website.

This community volunteer-run workshop is being held with support from the Natick Center Cultural District and Morse Institute Library. Each Little Free Library has a value of $240, which is being made available free of charge to participants thanks to the sponsorship of Natick Cultural Council, Mathworks, and Eversource.

Little Free Libraries around Natick

Is it a phone booth? Is it a tiny house? Is it wonderful stained glass? Yes, yes, and yes, but it’s also a Little Free Library. Little Free Library is an organization dedicated to spreading accessibility to reading material all across the world. The main way they do this is by selling their Little Free Library kits, which are then put together and maintained by members of the community. Anyone can buy a Little Free Library, and Natick residents certainly seem to have an appetite for them. In my long search across Natick for every Little Free Library I could find, (with the help of the Little Free Library app) I discovered more than twenty in total.

Little Free Library Natick Cottage Street

 

Little Free Library Natick Walcott Street

Little Free Libraries are open to anyone, anytime. Books can be taken out of these libraries and returned at the reader’s leisure, or kept if they really loved their read. While looking at all these libraries I picked up a few books for myself (something from the Discworld series), but I could have taken enough Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy books to fill a warehouse. Those two guys are seriously inescapable.

Little Free Library Natick Pond Street

On the whole the Little Free Libraries in Natick are very impressive. Many library owners, unwilling to allow themselves to be constrained by the base model that can be ordered, branch out and create unique places for people to come find books. With the sheer number of Little Free Libraries there are in town, chances are there’s one just five minutes away from you.

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Jesamondo Salon & Spa at the forefront of safety

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Jesamondo

“Good to see you Matt, I had to get six inches off,” says a customer on her way out of Jesamondo Salon & Spa. Matt Traiger, owner of the business, returns the sentiment, and admits that he hasn’t been able to even get himself a cut yet. Since Jesamondo has been back up and running, customers desperate to get their hair back to a manageable length and shape have been coming in, glad to see their usual hairdressers rather than a member of their family armed with dull scissors.

At the moment, leaving Jesamondo is as easy as ever. It’s getting inside that’s a bit more complex. Outside the entrance to the long-time Natick salon and spa, located at 154 E. Central St., (regulars may remember when they were located in Wellesley) is a blackboard with a phone number. The message on the blackboard directs clients to give a call so that they may be greeted and let in by an employee. Be ready to get a quick scan via temperature reader to check if you’re running a fever.  

Inside, signs at the reception desk encourage social distancing, offer masks for sale, and inform customers that due to a “contactless payment system” they encourage the use of Venmo for tips. The hairdressers are donned in masks, gloves, goggles, and smocks, ensuring one more layer of protection.

Most importantly of all, however, is a brand-new hidden HVAC bio-defense system called the Synexis Microbial Reduction System. You can’t see the salon-safety system, because it’s tucked into air vents in the ceiling. The devices use humidity and oxygen to deliver safe levels of dry hydrogen peroxide  into the air. Proven to be effective against both surface and airborne contaminants such as viruses (including COVID-19, E. Coli, Staph, Norovirus, H1N1, Listeria, C.Diff), bacteria and mold, thirteen of the devices have been installed. It’s a system that has been scientifically proven and used for many years by professional athletic team, stadiums, and hospitals. Jesamondo is one of two salons in Massachusetts to install Synexis, and the only nail salon and day spa in Massachusetts to use it.

Matt is quite enthusiastic about the devices, and sees them as the future in battling against COVID-19. He says you can’t even smell a perm in the salon anymore.

The system has been tried and tested by organizations such as the LA Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays, to help players with asthma and prevent the spread of sickness between players within the locker room and the clubhouse.

According to State law the spa section of Jesamondo cannot be opened until Phase 2, Part 2 of the business reopening plan, which is scheduled to start Monday, June 22. Traiger is ready for that phase to begin. In fact, he’s confident that the spa could open today and be perfectly safe for both workers and customers due to the new safety system. The State provided funding to many small businesses to help them during the pandemic. Jesamondo used the funding to invest in the technology.

As of now Jesamondo is open for hair services through appointment, and Traiger is confident that it is a safe environment for workers and customers. With June 22 coming up fast, he says the staff is ready to welcome back customers for mani/pedis, waxing, facials, massage, reiki, and more.

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Lola’s Italian Grocery: up and running in Natick Center

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Lola’s Italian Groceria, located in Natick Center and run by Anthony Matarazzo, has been continuing its sales through take out orders while taking steps to ensure safety and sanitation. Lola’s has a second, smaller, location in South Natick located on Eliot Street. The South Natick location can only allow one customer inside at a time right now, and is take-out only. The Natick Center location still has in-store orders.

Lola's Natick

Customers have been willing to go along with social distancing guidelines within the store, and have made it easy for Lola’s to prioritize the safety of their customers and staff. There are no plans to create outdoor seating, simply because the sidewalk is too small. As of right now the majority of orders are takeout orders, with a majority of these orders being dinner, as opposed to the typical orders of sandwiches. It seems that the people of Natick still want hot dinners from local restaurants, even if they can’t eat them on site. Some of Lola’s dinner items are Cheese Lasagna, Cheese Ravioli with meatballs, and Chicken, Ziti & Broccoli, to name a few.

Lola's Natick

Lola’s has also worked towards helping the Natick community by donating lasagna to the Common Street Spiritual Center, which asked for donations in order to provide the food to those in need.

Is your Natick business back in action? Got something new to share? Let us know: natickreport@gmail.com