holiday Newsletter november 20th
a letter from scott
I’m starting to get dizzy. On March first with the advent of COVID 19 we started our on-line store and when that began to fail we started our patio restaurant, and now, driven inside by the anticipation of high winds, freezing temperatures, and no patio heaters we will be emphasizing prepared food, take-out dinners and reinvesting time and energy in online and in-store holiday shopping. All this is quite exhausting for our crew and hard to keep up with for our customers. But for the General to survive we need to keep the store going at least until the effects of the pandemic stop tossing us about.
It was just one year ago that I excitedly anticipated Little Women’s arrival in local theaters. I had no thoughts of social distancing or masks or pods or travel restrictions. This year, I’m not sure what your plans are for the holidays but at the General we are going to try and make it as festive (and safe) as possible for you to shop here. If you need a little shot of holiday cheer, mulled cider or hot cocoa, this is the place. If you need an apple, pecan or pumpkin pie or a basket of pastries for breakfast by the fire, this is the place. If you need stocking stuffers, or just some home town gifts, this is the place. This is the place that wants you to feel like you still have a home town.
I am an optimist who thinks if we can make it through until the vaccines arrive we have a decent shot at not only surviving but coming back stronger than ever. However, this won’t happen because I say it will. It will only happen if we have your support. Many of you have already told us what you want to see at the store. We hear you and we are actively bringing back many of your favorite things. If you have a favorite item, let us know. Pick up the phone (978-430-0062), email (office@harvardgeneralstore.com) or catch us in person at the pick up table. Watch for our emails and posts. We can do custom wine, Champagne, alcohol, cake and pie sales and we will guarantee that prices will be competitive. It is more important that we have your business than if we make a profit. We hope to help you make this holiday season as memorable as always
-Scott
SAYING GOODBYE TO THE PATIO AND HELLO TO The HOLIDAY SEASON
We are so grateful to our community who joined us week after week, 70 degrees or 40, to have a drink or meal on our patio. In such a strange and divisive time it is always a heartwarming reminder of what really matters—making connections, valuing friendships and relationships, coming together and sharing our days with each other. Masks can’t change that! As we close the patio for the winter, we have many fond memories to carry us through until the spring when we hope to see the picnic tables full again.
We will still serve great lunch and dinner for curbside pickup, and we have some great unique holiday gifts in store — from games and retro toys to candles, homewares, beautiful pillows and apparel, jewelry and much more. In the coming weeks we will be creating private in-store shopping sessions, complete with shopping concierges and gift wrapping, to welcome you back into the store in a safe, distanced, enjoyable way. Stay tuned for how to sign up for your time slot!
Upcoming Virtual & Socially Distanced Events
FRUITLANDS MUSEUM HOLIDAY MARKET
December 5-6, 2020 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Join us for this festive, European-style, outdoor holiday market to shop for your family and friends while supporting local artisans. Find vendors spread throughout the Fruitlands campus, offering safe, socially distant opportunities to shop high quality handmade local crafts.
Admission is free for Members, $10 per car for Non-Members, and includes access to the outdoor market, grounds, trails, Art Gallery, Native American Gallery, and Wayside Gallery.
Please note, that for safety during this time, all admission access to the site is through advanced online ticketing HERE. Be sure to book your admission pass prior to your visit.
The Harvard General Store will also be offering 10% off lunch at the store for those who stop by our market booth!
We’ll be offering light bites from the restaurant and just-in local gifts, housewares, apparel and more.
whats new at the harvard public library
There are 2 brand new resources for homeschooling families at HPL: BookFlix and Scholastic Teachables. BookFlix has digital fiction and non fiction books for early and emerging readers. Teachables is a resources for worksheets, lesson plans, and games! More info on that is HERE. Patrons can log in with their library card number.
RBDigital is a resource for digital magazines. There are 3200 titles with unlimited checkouts and no due dates!
You can reserve titles for curbside pickup here.
New Library Hours:
Monday and Wednesday 10:00 – 5:00
Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 – 8:00
Friday 10:00 – 2:00
Saturday 10:00 – 4:00
Recipes, local profiles, store deals & More!
PRE-ORDER THANKSGIVING SIDES AND PREPARED FOODS FOR PICKUP BY NOV 21 & 23!
Already taking on cooking the turkey? We’ve got you covered with fan-favorite sides from homemade cranberry sauce to pumpkin pie that will make everyone at your table happy and festively full. Pre-order for curbside pickup Monday Nov 23, Tuesday Nov 24th and Wednesday, November 25 HERE.
Pies must be pre-ordered by Saturday November 21st but sides can be ordered up until Wednesday.
friend of the general store nana mason teaches us to make the perfect carrot cake!
nana mason’s carrot cake with cream cheese frosting
Anna B Mason also known as “Nana” was born and raised in Billerica, MA in 1934, a true Depression baby. She has always been passionate about and loved to bake - even doing loads of wedding cakes! “Grampy” (John D Mason) was the love of her life (she talks about him every day) and her “Chief Tester” he would try and eat anything of hers! He passed away in 1995. Nana has lived in Harvard since 2004 to be closer to her grandchildren. She has two kids - Jennifer Mason and Angela Mason-Blinn (of Harvard) married to Richard Blinn, three grandkids and EIGHT great-grandchildren!!
Jon and Erin Blinn, Kyla, James, Colin
Rachel and Ryan Dill, Caleb, Mason, Patrick and Grace
Riana and Adam Nazzaro and Henry
Nana and her sous chef
Pairs perfectly with a latte from our cafe.
Ingredients
Cake
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 cups AP flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
3 cups finely grated carrots
Frosting
1/4 cup butter
1 8oz pkg cream cheese
4 cups confectioners sugar
2 tsp vanilla
Milk if needed - you don’t want the icing to be soft
Make the frosting first and set aside.
In a large bowl on your mixer beat the oil and sugar, add eggs one at a time. Combine all dry ingredients and alternate with ground carrots. Beat well and add vanilla. Nuts optional.
Set oven to 325 and make in 9x13 pan or round pans. Bake for 30-40 minutes depending on your oven, checking at the 30 minute mark.
Tag us on Instagram or FB if you make it! We’ll be sure to pass it on to Nana.
Package Store Deals: cases of wine 10% off & TKKS Whiskey show
The Kelsey and Katie Show (TKKS) is filming an in-depth and educational winter themed whiskey tasting with Alison Mouratis of Russell’s Reserve Whiskey and Rye. Kelsey, Katie and Alison will chat about several featured whiskeys and ryes in our package store. Tune in this weekend to see it and see what fun TKKS deals we’ll have on American whiskeys and ryes.
Don’t forget to celebrate the commencement of the happiest time of the year (or so we think) by using our wine case discount in the package store—10% off! You can sip seasonally by the fire! Simply adding 12 bottles to your online cart will add the automatic discount to your order.
Thanksgiving Wines we recommend: Argyle Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley, Pietradolce Etna Bianco from Mount Etna in Italy and brand new to the package store, Terra Madre Posip Premium from the Dalmatian coast of Croatia.