There are many ways to escape the stresses of everyday life. You can relax with a great glass of wine or a refreshing beer. You can get back in touch with your creative side… but what if you could do both at the same time? This is the philosophy behind The Paint Bar in Newtonville. Several nights a week The Paint Bar hosts “Paint and Sip” painting parties (Sundays are Family Days). You can go solo or with a friend, or book an event, and they provide everything: canvas, brushes, paints, wine and beer. Each night/day has a featured painting that you work to reproduce, and there is an instructor…

Most people know that Boston has a bi-annual Restaurant Week, but few are aware that there is also a Spa Week. Once a year, SpaWeek.com offers a variety of $50 treatments at some of the best spas in the area.  Your Spa Week Great Escape will not only help you to relax and recharge, but you can get specialized treatments at greatly reduced prices. This year, there are four Newton spas participating in Spa Week from April 11 - 17. Most locations accept SpaWeek.com gift cards, so if you want to treat a friend to a Great Escape this makes a fantastic present. Check SpaWeek.com or the spas’ …

We all have those days when we say, “I could just use a nice glass of wine and a few minutes to unwind.”  And while The Great Escape is not suggesting that you escape into a bottle, if you are going to enjoy the fruit of the vine why not make absolutely sure it’s the best glass of wine you can have? This is where Urban Grape can make your “grape escape” even greater. Owners TJ and Hadley Douglas are committed to making sure every patron of their well-designed shop finds exactly the right wine. They will take the time to talk to you about what you like, what your price range is, with what food…

March is National Women’s History Month, so for this week’s Great Escape we’re going to encourage you to enjoy the work of some famous Newton women. Whether you prefer your escapism between the pages of a great biography/autobiography or on DVD, the following suggestions should provide some inspiration. Julie Taymor: Playing with Fire by Eileen Blumenthal and Julie Taymor – While lately she has been in the news for her disassociation from “Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark,” Newton native Taymor has a lengthy and prestigious career as a Broadway and film director, producer, and writer.  Amazon.com…

Last week, we gave you some suggestions about where to find sitters when you needed a night out. But sometimes it’s nice to get out of the house on the weekends without kids, particularly on a Sunday when the week looms large in front of you. This Sunday March 12,  you can do good for the community while satisfying your sweet tooth, then digest your treats while listening to New England authors share selections from their new novels dealing with some unusual families. At the Crowne Plaza Hotel from noon – 4 p.m., the Rotary Clubs of Newton and Waltham are hosting Death by Chocolate. A $15 …

For the past few weeks, the Great Escape column has been giving you suggestions for how to best enjoy your time out of the house and away from your usual maternal responsibilities. But in order to do that, you need someone to step in and take over for you with watching the kids, letting out the pooch and just making sure you really can go have a fun evening out, worry-free. Here are some suggestions as to where you can find childcare/sitters in and around Newton. SitterCity.com – This decade-old, national online service provides a remarkably comprehensive search engine for finding just that …

When you think about “the Great Escape,” you think about getting out of the house, meeting with your friends and trying to put out of your mind all of the million things about your kids, job and spouse /partner that take you away from focusing on yourself. But what if you could do that without even leaving the house? What if you could take yourself away from it all right in the comfort of your own living room? Yoga gives you the chance to get away without actually going anywhere.  Before you start contorting yourself into all of those poses you’ve seen people doing on TV, though, it’s …

As I am sure you are well aware, next week is public school vacation week. Many of you will be going away and will have the opportunity for some rest and relaxation with your families. But for those of you who will be spending the week in Newton, trying desperately to keep bored kids entertained day after day, this week is anything but a vacation. So when evening rolls around and your hubby or partner comes home (or you can hire a sitter), here’s an idea that should help you keep your sanity. The Pub Crawl is usually something associated with bachelor/bachelorette parties, but there’s no …

You take your kids to sewing, art and music lessons.  You make sure they have all the supplies they need and encourage them to practice so their skills improve. You’re supportive of their hobbies and recognize the need for them to express themselves artistically -- but do you ever apply this to your own lfe? Here’s a chance to “practice what you preach” by developing your own hobby. Bead and Pearl in Newton Highlands is a full-service bead and jewelry shop that also offers nearly two-dozen classes in jewelry design and creation.  From beginners’ classes in wire wrapping and stringing to more …

Your teens are holding a car wash at the high school Saturday. The grandparents volunteered to take the younger children to a movie Sunday afternoon. Your tweens take tap on Wednesday evening. It’s your time. Take it. Each week, we’ll tell you about one great idea to give you a much deserved break, and make your life a little easier, maybe a whole lot easier. -- You work hard to make sure the day runs smoothly for your family, but do you ever take the time to make sure that you are running smoothly? That is precisely the purpose of regular massage, and if you want to give yourself the kind of…