Stephani Teran
Express staff
Well, the pumpkins are on their way out, the cranberry harvests and frozen turkeys are front and center at the grocery stores, and the only ghosts on our minds are the ones of Christmas Past. It’s the in-between time of year where some are still reveling in late Autumn and looking forward to the culinary customs of Thanksgiving, while others already have their tree up and gifts slowly making their way into closets and attics to hide until the big day -whichever “big day(s)” you celebrate in the coming month with its various festivals of light. Regardless of which group you find yourself in, it is the perfect time of year to bring your focus as local as possible for your gifts, activities, and all your upcoming holiday needs.
If there is one thing I have learned after a little over a year of being a part of the PHK Express, it is that our area of coverage may be on the smaller side compared to the big-time newspapers up north, but the amount of talent, services, brilliant minds, hard workers, opportunities, life-enhancing experiences, and overall goodness offered in our area is boundless and, frankly, a bit overwhelming, in the best way. So, whether you are looking for a special gift, a meaningful experience, a holiday card picture of the fam, the perfect tree, a delicious meal at home or out and about, or something to do with your friends and loved ones when its cold out and you are off from work and school, you don’t have to look or drive far!
Here is an outline of some of our favorite local businesses and services -many of them featured in the PHK Express over the last year and a half. Though online one-click purchasing might be tempting, and grabbing takeout on the fly might be quick, I hope you at least occasionally gift your patronage to one or many of these local gems where your support makes more of a difference than you could possibly imagine. Happy Everything Season! Let’s make it local!
Some of Our Favorite Retail Stores, Goods Suppliers, and Farms:
Mayflower Mercantile: A beautifully curated, country-chic retail store in the heart of Plympton offering local, handmade goods, antiques, and specialty foods.
4 Mayflower Rd., Plympton
http://www.mayflowermercantile.com
Nessralla Farm: A charming full-service local farmstand offering fresh produce, flowers, groceries, and locally sourced foods.
416 Plymouth St., Halifax
(781) 293‑6792
Bamps Toy Vault: Good old-fashioned toy-store charm meets a fantastic, imagination-fueled shop with a huge selection of toys, games, dress-ups, trinkets, and an ice-cream bar.
https://www.bampstoyvault.com
36 Main St., Plymouth
Pewter and Sage Hand-Painted Signs and Wall Art: Whether you need a sign for your business or a lovely holiday decoration, Sarah has you covered. Her natural talent, eye for aesthetic, and remarkable painting skills will be sure to give you a product better than you could have imagined.
Tinyurl.com/Shop-Our-Fall-Collection or @pewterandsage on Instagram
Once Upon a Thyme Farm: A lovely local flower farm and stand right out of a fairytale offering floral services, fresh honey, and natural-seasonal decorations.
http://onceuponathyme.ag
32 Parsonage Rd., Plympton
Revival Farm: A local pork farm providing sustainable, humanely raised pork with a farm shop.
http://www.therevivalfarm.com
6 Cross St., Plympton
Some of Our Favorite Christmas Tree Suppliers:
The Farm at Raven Brook: A family-run Christmas tree farm on some of the most beautiful acreage in Halifax. They offer stunning trees, a food truck, and seasonal décor in their farm shop.
http://www.thefarmatravenbrook.com
137 Wood St., Halifax
Schatten Berg Tree Farm: A family-owned, cut-your-own Christmas tree farm with winding woodland paths and stunning views of the Plympton forests.
Follow: Shatten Berg Tree Farm on Facebook or call: 339-832-8212
134 Brook St., Plympton
Falconer’s Garden Shop: A local favorite for all your gardening and outdoor space needs, Falconer’s offers pre-cut Christmas trees, local goods, and festive ambiance.
@falconersgardenshop on Instagram or call: 781-585-6035
94 Center St., Plympton
Some of Our Favorite Businesses to Take a Class:
Hello Peach Arts: Join local fiber artist, Jennifer Godbois, in her local workshop, to learn various fiber art techniques and make beautiful projects to be proud of.
https://www.hellopeacharts.com
North Main St., #1, Carver
The Cosmic Bee: Join local artists, Kara LeClair and Melissa Kowal Duggan on an art-fueled adventure to learn new art techniques and let your creativity flow uninhibited!
https://cosmicbeeart.wixsite.com or follow @cosmicbee.art on Instagram
Peaceful Pines Farm and Floral: Join Stephani on her beautiful flower farm, often in her cozy farmhouse kitchen for a seasonally themed craft or project and a seasonal meal. Visit the roadside farm cart for seasonal floral arrangements and decorations or contact her for event and floral design.
Follow @peacefulpinesfarmandfloral on Instagram and Facebook or call: 801-949-2232
109 West St., Plympton
Children’s Art Classes: Kids can learn about, and make art in, all kinds and mediums in a positive, self-esteem building environment from October-June.
1376 Washington St., Suite B, Hanover
111 Love Yoga: Explore the practice of Yoga in an accepting, calm space with Meg Murphy Garfield -all experience levels welcome.
Follow @111loveyoga on Instagram and Facebook
111 Upland Rd., Plympton
Middle Street School of Music: Gift your kids or yourself (they have more adults enrolled than children!) the adventure of music lessons with a team of professional teachers and musicians in a healthy, positive environment.
ttps://www.middlestreetmusic.com
12 Middle St., Plymouth
Plimoth Patuxet Museums: Aside from the infamous living history museum we all know and love, don’t miss out on the vast array of incredible classes and workshops, seasonal feast and dining opportunities, as well as free lunchtime lectures to attend online or in person to enhance your own education and interests in local history. They also hold a large craft fair in early December for your gift-giving needs.
https://plimoth.org
137 Warren Ave., Plymouth
Some of Our Favorite Local Places to Eat:
Keegan Kreations: If you are looking for the most delicious, straight-from-France quality, creative patisseries around, you must visit Keegan Kreations. Watch out for the eggnog morning bun -your taste buds won’t soon forget it.
https://www.keegankreations.com
136 Main St., Kingston and 20 Court St., Plymouth
The Tasty: Comfort food with a twist, locally featured, fresh ingredients, creative cocktails, and a local following, you can’t find a bad meal here.
42 Court St., Plymouth
https://thetastyplymouth.com
A3 Pizza: Coming from a legacy of family-centered, Italian food and business, Chef John Cataldi’s menu is anything but boring at this unique, locally beloved pizza place with plenty of delicious non-pizza items on the menu. The Ricotta Crostoni is a frequent flier in our household.
65 Summer St., Kingston
Solstice: Creative American cuisine and time-tested favorites fill the menu at Solstice with each seasonally-featured dish. The “Chicken Under a Brick” is never a miss here.
63 Summer St., Kingston
Rye Tavern: Come enjoy exquisite farm-to-table food in a 1792 Tavern located deep in the Plymouth pine forests on the oldest highway in America (unpaved and perfectly spooky).
517 Old Sandwich Rd., Plymouth
Grille 58: For classic dinners and something on the menu for everyone in the family, Grille 58 is a great place to gather family for a nice meal.
http://www.grille58.com
284 Monponsett St., Halifax
Some of Our Favorite Places for Entertainment:
Blake Planetarium: A perfect adventure for family and friends, enjoy a feature educational presentation under a full-dome screen. On the first Friday of each month, local astronomy expert, Steve Davies, will talk about the current night sky and teach you how to find and identify celestial objects.
http://www.blakeplanetarium.com
117 Long Pond Rd., Plymouth
True Repertory Theater: Local theater at its finest, don’t miss a chance to see passion and professionalism combined to give both tried-and-true pieces, as well as locally, modern day-written plays and artists a place to shine.
https://www.truerepertorytheatre.org
222 Main St., Kingston
Spire Center for Performing Arts: Enjoy a concert via local and well-known musicians and bands in a historic, specially restored venue with marvelous acoustics and a unique indie music atmosphere. Shows run most weekdays and weekends.
25 ½ Court St., Plymouth
Pilgrim Festival Chorus: Enjoy one of the many holiday programs from a premier local choir right in your backyard. With members from amateur to professional, each performance is pure artistic excellence.
Plymouth Philharmonic
Edaville’s Winter Wonderland: South Shore’s beloved holiday outdoor lights and train-riding experience is back!
https://www.edaville.com
5 Pine St., Carver
Some of Our Favorite Services:
Allison Thompson Photography: Professional, local photography for all portrait, headshot, and family events and occasions, Allison will make sure your images are the highest quality. They will easily become your personal treasures or great assets to your business profile.
http://www.acephotographyne.com
The Hot Mess Healer: Do you need some help with home organization for the holidays or to start the new year? If so, don’t hesitate to call Kelly of the Hot Mess Healer. Her expertise in home organization and functional design will take you from scrambling to find the Christmas decorations to having your ornaments color-coded.
https://thehotmesshealerma.com or call (781) 915-4050
Jillian Walraven: Professionally trained and brilliantly creative, Jillian offers the most incredible personal chef experience for every occasion. Each dish features seasonal, fresh, and local when-possible ingredients with a personal flare that is unmatched in the area. If you need inimitable food for a holiday party or a quiet dinner with friends, Jillian will deliver an unforgettable dining experience.
https://chefjillianwalraven.com
The Barker House: If you are going out of town for the holidays or just need somewhere for your beloved pup to play during the busy season, Dr. Bartlett of The Barker House and her team will make sure your pup is loved and spoiled to the fullest extent until you return.
http://www.barkerhousedogs.com
4 Elm St., Plympton
Colchester Farm: Though the growing season is coming to an end, don’t forget that beautiful Colchester Farm offers rental for their restored barn for your holiday entertaining needs.
Follow on Instagram @colchesterfarmsince1751 or call (781) 422-3921
90 Brook St., Plympton
Some of Our Favorite Local Publications and a Literary Haunt:
The Plympton Halifax Kingston Express: For the news that matters close to home, don’t miss out on weekly issues about important topics, events, and happenings in the tri-town area of Plympton, Halifax, and Kingston. Local newspaper is the heart and soul of communities and a gift subscription makes the perfect present for anyone in the area!
www.plymptonhalifaxexpress.com
ArtyPants Magazine: Subscribe to this independent print publication spotlighting New England-based artists, stories, and creative inspiration, blending curated art with editorial storytelling.
https://www.artypantsmagazine.com
edible Southeastern Massachusetts: Treat yourself to this regional food magazine covering local farms, restaurants, markets, and food culture across the South Shore and South Coast of Massachusetts.
https://ediblesema.com
Modern Midwife Mystery Series, by Duxbury-based author, Christine Whelan Knapp: Christine Knapp practiced as a nurse midwife for many years and is also a writer of academic texts and journal articles. Now, she combines her passion for midwifery with her love of mysteries in her award-winning fiction series.
https://www.thoughtfulmidwife.com
Balance is a Scam, by Plympton-based author, Dr. Amber Bartlett: Business psychologist and multi-business owner Dr. Amber Bartlett had written an unapologetically honest, psychology-driven, laugh-so-you-don’t-cry account of what it actually means to be an ambitious mother in a culture obsessed with the myth of balance.
Available for purchase on Amazon
Book Love: Visit a locally owned, independent book store in the Pinehills featuring local events, author talks, classes, and book clubs. Forget the box-stores for books and support book stores with heart and community in mind.
https://www.book-love.com
7 Village Green South, Plymouth
Some of Our Favorite Local Public Groups and Services:
Plympton, Halifax, Kingston Public Libraries: For a constant line-up of interesting classes, enriching events, clubs, and speakers, don’t forget to check out your local libraries! They are working hard to provide free activities, learning opportunities, and resources for your everyday needs.
Holidays in Halifax: Each December, the town of Halifax gathers in its town center for Holidays in Halifax, an evening of tree lighting, holiday cheer and family festivities organized by a dedicated volunteer committee. A tradition since 1996, it is the town’s warmest celebration of the season. This year’s event will take place on December 12.
https://www.festivalsinamerica.com/festival/holidays-in-halifax-halifax
Kingston Luminary Walk: Don’t miss this beloved evening of entertainment, food, fun, crafts, and music -all beautifully illuminated with luminaries.
https://www.kingstonma.gov/753/Luminaries
Some of Our Favorite Charities and or Community Service Programs:
South Shore Community Action Council: SSCAC offers fuel assistance, weatherization, childcare, food resources, transportation, and other support programs for residents across the South Shore.
https://www.sscac.org
The Arc of the South Shore: The Arc is a nonprofit organization in Hingham, Massachusetts, providing programs and advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, across the South Shore region.
https://arcsouthshore.org
South Shore Foster Closet: A 501c charity that helps to provide clothing and supplies to families who foster children.
https://www.southshorefostercloset.com
End Hunger New England: End Hunger New England is a regional branch of The Outreach Program that packages and distributes meals across New England, operating from a warehouse in Pembroke, Massachusetts and having delivered over 50 million meals since its launch.
https://www.endhungerne.org
Plymouth Area Coalition: The Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless provides emergency assistance housing for families at the Pilgrim’s Hope Shelter. Clients are placed at the shelter by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Living Conditions (EOHLC). Coalition shelters provides clients with safe temporary housing for their families, professional case management, and support services.
https://plymouthareacoalition.org
Here at the PHK Express, we hope you find this list helpful in making your holiday more local and special for you, your loved ones, and the businesses and organizations you will be supporting. If you are a local business, there is no greater gift you can give your local newspaper than supporting us by placing an advertisement with us to reach several thousand residents each week. Happy Holiday Season!