Merrimack Valley Magazine

Beyond Skin Deep

March 30, 2019 by Emilie-Noelle Provost Leave a Comment

— Sponsored —

Solace Wellness Center & MedSpa

This beautiful Tewksbury spa offers guests a peaceful sanctuary from their everyday cares and innovative products and services that can help them soothe their stresses, rid their bodies of toxins and bring their best selves to light.

If you asked most people what they think a med spa is like, a sterile office staffed by lab coat-clad clinicians wielding Botox needles might come to mind. After all, many med spas focus exclusively on the cosmetic products and procedures they offer, such as dermal fillers and chemical peels. But Dr. James Wu, a Board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and Diplomate of the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine who holds a certification in plant-based nutrition from Cornell University, and who is also a lifestyle and weight management coach, had a different vision when he opened Solace Wellness Center & MedSpa in Tewksbury in February 2018.

The first thing you notice when you walk into Solace is the overwhelming sense of calm. The space is large, airy and beautifully designed, the staff genuinely friendly, giving you the feeling that they really do care about how your day is going.

All of this, according to Wu, is by design.

“If someone is to feel truly well, they need to feel good about themselves; they need to manage their stress,” Wu says. “Our concept at Solace is to blend physical and emotional wellness to help people be at their best.”

Wu has incorporated concepts of prevention and health promotion from Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine into Solace’s treatment offerings. “There are important components of our overall health, like our emotional and spiritual wellbeing, that are not easily measured by Western methods,” Wu says. “I believe there is validity to those things even if we can’t explain them. That’s why
I wanted Solace to be a wellness center, not just a spa.”

Wu says he first became interested in non-Western health concepts several years ago when he was a therapeutic massage client. After a few sessions, Wu, who also maintains a surgical practice, noticed an improvement in his ability to work on his feet all day, every day. He had more energy and felt better in general. “I felt like massage would help me lengthen my career,” Wu says.

Solace’s model also stems in part from Wu’s research on the effects of chronic inflammation on our bodies and how, according to some studies, it can cause a range of serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, certain cancers, gum disease and premature aging.

“I read two books that really influenced my thinking,”
Wu says. “One was ‘The Inflammation Syndrome’ by Jack Challem, which talks about how many diseases that are common today are tied to chronic inflammation. The other was ‘The China Study’
[by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II], which talks about a long-term study of nutrition in China, and basically how people living in urban areas with a more Westernized diet have higher rates of cancer and heart disease than people living in rural areas who eat a plant-based diet.”

Because the skin is the body’s largest organ and is constantly exposed to the elements, Wu says that one of the most common ways that inflammation-causing toxins enter the body is through the skin.

To help address this, Solace offers a variety of skincare offerings which include several types of organic facials that, among other things, aim to rid the skin of toxins and improve its texture and brightness.

Solace also offers guests the use of three far infrared saunas.

Used for decades in Scandinavia, saunas can help stimulate blood flow and improve circulation, treat muscle and joint pain, help the body rid itself of toxins such as heavy metals, and also help to melt away your daily stress.

L-r: Dr. Wu; Janice Wu; Fabiola Harrington; Rebecca Moy. Photo by Adrien Bisson.

“The far infrared wavelength penetrates the skin and heats the body from the inside out, rather than from the outside in, like most saunas,” Wu says. “This can help the body eliminate impurities and even help decrease high blood pressure and improve heart health.”

Another cause of chronic inflammation is poor diet. “There are a lot of things we can control and do from a nutritional standpoint to stay healthy,” Wu says.

All Solace’s core team members are trained in lifestyle and weight management coaching. Guests interested in doing so can take advantage of this added benefit that Solace offers. “We’re not there to yell at people and tell them what they’re doing is wrong,” Wu says. “Our goal is to provide advice and encouragement, fresh ideas that people can adapt to their own lifestyle.”

According to Wu, many of Solace’s clients come in because they are interested in improving the way they look. “Most of our guests are in their 40s, 50s and 60s,” Wu says. “They tell us they want to look a little fresher, maybe five or 10 years younger.”

The spa offers a number of what Wu calls “advanced treatments,” things like Botox and Xeomin injections that can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the face, and advanced facials, such as the IPL Skin Rejuvenation and Photofacial, which uses light therapy to smooth your skin while treating facial veins, skin discoloration and age spots.

To insure the best results and to protect their clients’ safety, Solace uses skin care products in its facials that have been certified organic by the European Union standard called COSMOS EcoCert. “The FDA doesn’t regulate cosmeceuticals. The E.U. does,” Wu says.

One of Wu’s goals is to develop personal relationships with Solace’s clients. Because it’s Solace’s business to help people improve themselves in areas that can feel quite personal, Wu wants the spa’s guests to feel comfortable at Solace, to think of the spa as a respite from their everyday lives. “First and foremost, we want our guests to get to know us and trust us,” Wu says.

One of the ways Solace is making this happen is by offering spa and wellness packages that make it easier, and often more cost effective, for guests to take advantage of the spa’s facilities and services. These range from the “Refresh Package,” which includes unlimited use of Solace’s saunas and relaxation areas, 12 facials and discounts on products, to the “Ultimate Solace Lifestyle Package,” which includes multiple benefits chosen from Solace’s Advanced Treatments menu like DermaFrac Micro-channeling Facials, IPL Hair Removal and Xeomin for elimination of facials lines and wrinkles.

For people interested in seeing what Solace has to offer but might feel hesitant to call because they aren’t sure what types of services they want or need, Solace offers first-time guests a reasonably priced introductory service that includes skin analysis, a customized facial and a visit to the far infrared sauna. As an extra bonus for the telephone-shy, appointments can be booked right on Solace’s website.

“Our main goal is to help improve our guests’ quality of life,” Wu says. “If we can affect one or two things in a positive direction, sometimes that’s enough to encourage people to make other healthy changes.”

Solace Wellness Center & MedSpa
Tewksbury, Mass.
(978) 851-8600
FoundSolace.com

Sonic Explorations

March 29, 2019 by Pamela Sosnowski 1 Comment

A New Wine and Listening Room Opens in Downtown Andover

Chris Bachmann and Jenny Schneidewent sensed a need in downtown Andover as they put together plans for the wine and music bar that’s become perhaps the town’s hippest new spot for sipping and socializing. But what’s behind its name: Theory Wine Bar + Listening Room?

“It speaks to exploration,” Bachmann says, explaining how he and Schneidewent chose the name. “You have a theory and you do more things to explore it, prove it, and that comes with both wine and exposing yourself to things you may not have thought of.”

Chris Bachmann and Jenny Schneidewent opened Theory Wine Bar + Listening Room in the midst of the gas explosion crisis. Despite the rocky beginning, the bar’s easy vibe and exceptional sound system make Theory a promising addition to downtown Andover. Photo by Kevin Harkins.

Theory is located at 10 Main St. in a 2,600-square-foot space formerly occupied by Bruegger’s Bagels. The wine and music bar features live performances by local talent and an expansive wine list curated from small boutique wineries. Bachmann and Schneidewent researched a few other commercial spaces before deciding that Andover’s Main Street was overdue for a venue like theirs.

“Andover is a commuter town,” Bachmann says. “If you want to see a show, you don’t want to go all the way back into the city. Maybe you just want to go 10 minutes downtown, but there was no place to do that around here.”

On a chilly January night three weeks after its official opening, Bachmann’s hunch was being validated. By 8 p.m., it was standing room only at Theory’s sleek wraparound bar as the crowd waited for the evening’s live act to hit the stage. The bartenders offered wine samples and made recommendations.

At Theory, you can enjoy small bites such as cheese and charcuterie boards, tapenade, balsamic tomato and basil bruschetta, and artisan chocolates from Ovedia, an espresso cafe in Amesbury. With more than 50 wine options, there’s something for every aficionado, whether they’re into ticklish Italian proseccos or earthy red blends from California. A small selection of craft beer and nonalcoholic beverages is available.

The wine menu focuses on smaller producers. The emphasis, in the words of Schneidewent, is on sustainability and craft. Photo by Kevin Harkins.

Bachmann and Schneidewent felt overdue for a change when they came up with the idea for Theory. Bachmann, a bassist since his high school days, entered the information technology field while performing and recording with the rock band Under Atoms (UnderAtoms.com). He was climbing the corporate ladder, but his daily commute from Watertown to Boston at the time, plus the managerial demands of his job, became too stressful.

“I was tired,” he says. “You only have so many days left on the planet.”

When Bachmann’s father — an Andover teacher for more than 40 years — died, Bachmann and Schneidewent moved to Andover, and Bachmann decided to take a year off from his career to determine his next step. Wine, another passion of his since the ’90s, served as inspiration. He developed a friendship with Redstone Liquors owner Kamal Ganglani, who would refer customers to Bachmann for wine recommendations whenever he was in the store. Bachmann took a job at the Andover location and continued to learn all he could.

Schneidewent, a Milwaukee-raised metal sculpture artist and licensed massage therapist, now oversees Theory’s wine selection and food options. She enjoys introducing customers to unique new wines.

Left: It should come as no surprise, based on this image, that Theory is an audiophile’s dream. The custom sound system was created by Holt Hill Audio in Andover. Right: Theory features an innovative wine dispensing and preservation technology by Wineemotion. Photos by Kevin Harkins.

“Our focus is on smaller wineries that don’t pump out millions of gallons every year,” she says. “As much as possible we’re finding wineries that are really dedicated to sustainability and the craft.”

As for the music, Theory showcases local jazz, funk and indie folk musicians on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. The goal is to keep the atmosphere on the mellower side so conversation isn’t compromised. Bachmann is especially proud of a sound system at Theory that delivers crisp acoustics without the need to crank up the volume.

When there’s no live entertainment, Theory keeps the music flowing via a custom built and retrofitted sound system created by Andover’s Holt Hill Audio. Nestled among the vintage speakers, which are precisely stacked like giant Tetris pieces at the back of the stage, patrons will find a turntable and vinyl records for their listening enjoyment.

“You can come, take your time, enjoy the wine, and listen to the music without rushing through a meal and worrying that you have to leave,” Bachmann says. “We’d rather have people come and sit for a couple of hours, hang out and enjoy themselves.”

If you are a wine lover, audiophile or both, check their online calendar for upcoming tastings and live music events.

Theory Wine Bar + Listening Room
Andover, Mass.
TheoryWineBar.com
( Editor’s note: Theory closed for business in September 2019 )

A Guide to 2019 Area Summer Camps

March 26, 2019 by Katie DeRosa Leave a Comment

— Sponsored —

Cedarland Summer Camp

Cedarland Summer Day Camp offers two exciting camps: Full Day for campers age 4 – 12 and Junior Outing for campers age 12 – 14. Each camp is designed to address the needs and interests of the various stages of a child’s life. The common philosophy across our camps is to improve a child’s fitness and confidence through participation in a variety of fun activities in a non-competitive environment. Cedarland’s camp facilities include an Olympic-size pool, playground, basketball and volleyball courts, covered lunch area, locker rooms as well as use of aMAZEment Action Playcenter and Cedarland Mini-Golf, Batting and Ropes Courses. Register online at www.cedarland.net.

Haverhill, Mass. l (978) 521-7700 l Cedarland.net

IDEA Camp

Invent. Design. Create. Experiment. IDEA Camp is an exciting hands-on summer learning program for students in grades 5-9. Students have fun applying new skills and technologies. Students attend workshops at UMass Lowell’s North Campus and gain hands-on experience in science, design, computer programming, urban farming, and robotics. Other workshops include: You Code Girl, Architects Studio, Flight School, Kinetic Sculpture, Carnival Contraptions, Video Game Makers, and Wire Your Bedroom. This 3-week camp provides students the chance to work in college classrooms, engineering labs, and explore key campus locations. Enrollment for this full-day camp is open to all Merrimack Valley students. Tuition: $360/week. Lowell Residents $180/week. Need-based scholarships available. To register your student, contact Martha Cohn 978.674.9775; mcohn@lowell.k12.ma.us. To sponsor IDEA Camp, contact LZ Nunn 978.455.9775, lznunn@projectlearninc.org.

Lowell, Mass. l (978) 674-9775 l ProjectLearnInc.org

Kaleidoscope

Now celebrating its 39th summer, Kaleidoscope offers more than 180 half- and full-day, one-week courses for children ages 3 to 13. Popular topics include art, music, theater, science, math, animals, fashion, dance, domino physics, fencing, Lego, video, technology, cooking, languages and much more. New courses this year include Video Game Design, Rainbow Food Fest, App Inventors, Trail Blazers, Leadership Academy, Money Matters & many more. Students from more than 40 communities return year after year. Kaleidoscope is held in three separate one-week sessions at the Pike School in Andover, July 1-26, and features small classes and excellent teachers. Early care and extended day options are available. The KITE full-day program for academically advanced students in Pre-K through Grade 7 runs from July 29-Aug 2. This year’s theme is “It’s a Small World.”

Andover, Mass. l (978) 474-6232 l KaleidoscopeKids.com

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Nichols Village’s New Wellness Center Aims to Help Residents Have Healthy Brains and Bodies For Life

March 18, 2019 by Emilie-Noelle Provost Leave a Comment

–Sponsored–

At Nichols Village in Groveland, older adults enjoy living independently in a quintessential country setting with amenities that can help them enjoy life and keep their brains and bodies healthy long into their later years.

Set among 90 acres of woodlands, fields and rolling hills in Groveland is Nichols Village, an independent living community for adults age 62 and better. A variety of wellness programs are offered that enhance and help maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. In addition to the community’s close proximity to downtown Newburyport with its host of exciting dining and shopping experiences and convenient access to many beaches, golf courses and walking trails, Nichols Village offers several on-site conveniences and comforts including maintenance-free living, restaurant-style dining, biweekly housekeeping, daily social activities, wellness programs and an optional coordinated home care program.

Residents of Nichols Village’s 78 apartments and 16 cottages can also stay healthy by taking advantage of the community’s heated indoor pool and fitness center, which will soon see a major expansion. An integral part of this new expansion is the wellness center which will include studios for fitness and yoga classes, an updated, more spacious gym with new equipment, a heated pool larger than the community’s current one and a lobby with comfortable seating, all slated to open late 2019.

In addition, the new expansion will include 21 well-appointed apartments with granite kitchens and stainless steel appliances, a state-of-the-art performance center and a pub for casual dining experiences.

“We are all about encouraging residents to be and stay active, so they can remain independent. Exercise is important for brain health, and we want to help our residents ward off memory diseases like Alzheimer’s,” says Gina Velonis, a registered nurse who is Nichols Village’s wellness coordinator. “Our current fitness center and pool are very nice, but they are on the smaller side. Classes can get crowded. The new wellness center will be able to accommodate many more residents at one time, hopefully encouraging more people to take advantage of what we have to offer.”

According to Brenda Burkholder, Nichols Village’s marketing director, in addition to the community’s focus on physical fitness and staying active, another way residents are encouraged to take better care of their bodies and brains is through education. “Helping residents learn about things they can do to protect their brain health, such as the benefits of good nutrition, is so important,” Burkholder says.

Guest speakers who are experts on various health and wellness topics are periodically invited to Nichols Village to help educate current residents as well as prospective residents invited by Burkholder. When the community’s new performance center opens later this year, Burkholder says they hope to be able to invite speakers more frequently, and with the expanded space, will be able to host larger groups.

Nancy Emerson Lombardo, Ph.D., founder and president of HealthCare Insights LLC and Brain Health and Wellness Center — an expert on nutrition and Alzheimer’s disease — will be giving a talk at Nichols Village in early April 2019 about the role food can play in maintaining brain health.

Lombardo is an adjunct research assistant professor of neurology at the Boston University School of Medicine. She has more than 35 years of experience working in the field of Alzheimer’s disease, and is the developer of a nutritional program called Memory Preservation Nutrition.

To learn more about Lombardo’s talk and the Nichols Village lifestyle and details about the new expansion, feel free to call Brenda Burkholder at (978) 372-3930.

Nichols Village
Groveland, Mass.
(978) 372-3930
Nichols-Village.com

Good Eats – Sazon Peru

March 15, 2019 by Dean Johnson Leave a Comment

There is a backstory to this review of the Lawrence eatery Sazon Peru. I originally intended to review it late summer of 2018, and was, in fact, driving there on Interstate 495 when disaster struck and Lawrence, Andover and North Andover exploded. Instead of dining on delicious fusion cuisine, we were gridlocked on the highway as dozens of emergency vehicles screamed past us — in the breakdown lane, in the median, even weaving their way through stopped traffic.

We saw a lot of smoke drifting over Lawrence and maybe a half-dozen helicopters bobbing over the city. Once traffic started moving again, all exits to Lawrence were blocked by police. We just kept heading north until we found an exit we could take.

It seemed like a good idea to visit Sazon Peru another time. Little did we know that even if we had managed to get there, we likely would have been told to evacuate even before the cocktails were served.

Left: The Causa de Pollo o Atun blends striking textures and flavors. The mix of potato, chicken, avocado and chili cream was impossible to resist. Right: The pisco sour is made with a type of Peruvian brandy — it pairs well with many of Sazon Peru’s vibrant, zesty menu items.

Like most businesses in the blast zone, this restaurant wasn’t allowed to open for months, and only began serving again around the beginning of the new year.

Though an event like that could be fatal to many businesses, Sazon Peru seems to have bounced back. The single dining room is inviting and tidy. There is a small bar to the right as you enter, and tables that can accommodate around 50 diners. Colorful tablecloths are under glass, and smoky stemmed goblets are positioned on the tables. It’s a pleasant, neat and casual setting.

Not yet a Peruvian cuisine aficionado? Not to worry. Though the menu is in Spanish, there are English subtitles, and staffers are friendly and helpful. They may suggest a cocktail made from pisco, a type of Peruvian brandy, or perhaps something containing Inca Cola, a carbonated lemon verbena soft drink that’s popular in Peru.

A little historical background may be in order. Peru has jungles, coastline and mountains, so the cuisine is a rich mix of seafood, stews and potatoes, along with fruits and vegetables. There is also a sprinkling of Asian influences, the result of Japan’s impact on Peruvian culture over the years.

A small complimentary bowl of fried corn kernels was a fun start. They imploded with a powdery texture when chewed but quickly grew addictive.

Left: Another hit was the Lomo Saltado, a traditional Peruvian dish that includes sauteed beef with tomatoes and onions. Right: This seafood rice with ceviche salad dish demonstrates Sazon Peru at its best — a perfect example of tangy, complex and bright Peruvian cuisine.

The “Causa de Pollo o Atun” ($11.99) was a terrific starter. The mix of potato puree, chicken, avocado, chili cream and pickle juice was a visually striking platter. The melange of textures and flavors was impossible to resist.

Entrees include ceviches, generous rice dishes, traditional platters and more, with nearly two dozen from which to choose.
I went for the “Arroz con Camaron” ($15.99), a large and richly seasoned rice entree with shrimp, calamari and more, dramatically adorned with a lobster tail draped over the dish.

The “Lomo Saltado” ($15.99), another appealing platter, included sauteed beef and rice mixed with onions, tomatoes, a dash of soy sauce and wine vinegar. The mix of tastes and styles brought the dish together in a great way. The thickly-sliced french fries paired excellently.

Even something as classic as a rice pudding dessert ($4.99) was served with an agreeable twist — a dash of coconut.

By all means visit Sazon Peru. This independent eatery took a belly blow under the most unbelievable circumstances and was forced to stay closed for months.

Here’s the good part: You’ll be rewarded with a pleasant night out and some seriously good food at very reasonable prices.

Sazon Peru
Lawrence, Mass.
978-866-3964

[Please note that at the time of publication, the restaurant noted in this article was offering special services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please call or visit their website for updates.]