The SAT Reasoning Test is being offered at Newton South High School (and other area high schools) on March 10, and for many juniors this will be their first experience with the college admissions test. Here are some tips for not only this test on this date but also some general suggestions for successful standardized test taking. Register for the test- Tomorrow is the LAST day for late registration for the SAT Reasoning Test (this time around, no subject tests are offered). While you will also be able to take it on May 5 and/or June 2, getting this early start gives you a good sense of what …

Beach Day at Home – So you can’t make it to Florida or California this vacation. No problem- bring the beach to your house. Go to the hardware store and pick up a bag of sand (with this mild winter, you haven’t needed it for your driveway), cover the kitchen floor with newspapers and fill some boxes or pans with the sand. Crank the heat in your house and put the kids in bathing suits or shorts and tees. Grab some funky sunglasses, different sized containers and some doodads for decorating. Then make sand castles in your kitchen! Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt – This will take some planning, but …

Saturday Night Live once ran a hilarious sketch about getting your sweetie a “teddy bear holding a heart” as the supreme, “I didn’t plan ahead” Valentine’s Day gift. Don’t be that person! Here are our picks for thoughtful Valentine’s Day presents for all of the important people (and pets) in your life. For that special fellow – Letting your guy indulge in a habit or hobby that you might not share is the ultimate act of selfless love. Whether you let him watch an all day NASCAR race or get him some smelly stogies to go with a bottle of Scotch, you’re showing him you love him for who he is (and…

Wendy’s Super Easy Super Bowl Guacamole Ingredients: 1 bag of ripe avocados (4) from Trader Joe’s 1 container of fresh salsa from Trader Joe’s (spiciness dependent on your taste) 1 – 3 large cloves or garlic pressed or finely chopped 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 bag of tortilla chips (I like multigrain) Directions: Peel and pit avocados. Mash the avocados in a non-metal bowl (if one or more of them seems a wee bit under ripe, chop that/those instead of mashing). Drain the fresh salsa well (I usually use the lid to squish it down and just pour the liquid into the sink) and add it to the mashed …

The Oscar nominations were announced this week, and it looks like there is a great deal of controversy and some really surprising nods this year. But the following, our picks for films that got some sort of acknowledgement from the Academy, is a list that should be without dispute. Go see them (or rent them) before the Oscars air on February 26! The Descendants- Garnering five nominations (Best Directing, Best Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Picture), this touching tale of a family’s transformation is a surprising mix of humor and tragedy. George Clooney gives a …

  Sip some hot chocolate- Yes, we all need our caffeine fix in the AM, but what is more warming than a fragrant cup of hot chocolate on a frigid day? You can go to any of the many chain coffee shops in town (Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks or Peet’s) or hit one of the local shops like Lincoln Street Coffee, Coffee Corner, L’Aroma Café or Taste. Slurp some soup – Comfort food is the order of the day during New England winters, and soup is the perfect warming meal when you’re on the go. The New England Soup Factory has at least six types of soup each day, and during the colder months they also sell …

It may seem as if winter is never going to arrive in full force here in New England, but trust us- it will. And though the outdoor ice skating rinks still need a little help from Mother Nature to be solid enough for skating, there are also indoor locations where you can get in touch with your inner Nancy Kerrigan or Brian Boitano. Check Patch for updates as to when the outdoor locales are open and ready for skating. Auburndale Cove Ice Skating Rink (outdoor) – Lessons available when rink is open. Hours: Mon- Fri, 3pm – 9pm (opens one hour earlier on Tues); Sat, Sun, holidays and vacation, …

All Newton Music School – Want to see the musical stars of tomorrow before they hit it big? Or see the stars of today as they support local student musicians? Then check out the concert at the All Newton Music School. They have alumni and faculty concerts, student recitals and the popular Con Brio luncheon-and-lecture series. And since this is their centennial year, they will be holding a special concert with alumni saxophonist Ned Rothenberg on April 1. Tickets to this and their other shows, as well as additional information, are available at their website. New Philharmonia Orchestra- An …

If you’re like most folks, your New Year's resolution will be to get in better shape in 2012. This week’s Patch Picks can help you get a head start on figuring out just how you are going to do -- or avoid -- that. Join a gym or fitness studio – There are over two dozen gyms and personal trainers/coaches listed on Newton Patch, so you’d be hard pressed not to find one that is convenient to your home or office. Many of these locations offer trial periods or newcomers’ packages, so you can shop around a bit until you find the right fit…ness. Buy some exercise equipment for your home – If you’re …

B Street- Celebrating its first New Year’s Eve, B Street is pulling out all the stops with their “Bash @ B Street” - a sumptuous four-course meal for $55 or $75 with preselected wine pairings. First course offerings include grilled shrimp, cheese and fruit board and Parmesan baskets filled with chicken, basil and tomatoes; second course gives you a selection of salads (some are quite exotic sounding). For your entrée, you can choose among lamb, swordfish, or a surf-and-turf filet and lobster tail combo. Finally, end your celebration meal with a pear trifle, chocolate tasting plate or lemon …

Aquitaine Bis  - Oo la la - vive la cuisine francaise! Start off your week and the New Year with an assortment of French omelets, other egg dishes, Belgian waffles or stuffed French toast. Or, if you’re more in the mood for lunch fare, try a pressed duck confit and Gruyere sandwich or the famous Aquitaine Burger. Reservations can be made through OpenTable. The Biltmore – Though you might not want to be up and about that early, the Biltmore will be serving its usual hearty brunch menu beginning at 10:00 a.m. Cure that hangover with some sausage fritters or the Crazy Delicious Pub Fries (waffle…

Busy Bee  - This Nonantum florist has been in business for more than 24 years. Their specialty is weddings, but they can provide flowers for any special occasion. They can even make floral chuppahs (Jewish wedding canopies), and they carry a full array of both Christmas and Hanukkah bouquets. Crimson Petal – With plenty of free parking and a convenient Needham Street location, Crimson Petal is an ideal location to meet your floral needs. Their walk-in, refrigerated floral area is chock-full of blooms so you can either get one of their experts to design your bouquet or put your own creative …

First Unitarian Society in Newton 1326 Washington Street, Newton Phone: 617-527-3202 Type: Balsam firs Available beginning Saturday December 3. Pre-order or buy on the lot   Russo's 560 Pleasant St., Watertown Phone: 617-923-1500  Types: Noble Fir, Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir Available now. Call or stop by for prices.    Mahoney's Garden Center 115 Boston Post Road, Wayland  Phone: 508-358-7333 Types: Balsam Fir, Frasier Fir, Noble Fir, Grand Fir, Black Hill Spruce, Scotch Pine, Colorado Blue Spruce Some available now. Prices range from $7.98-$200-plus. Call for more details.   Allendale Farm …

Last week we shared where you could get pre-made items to put on your Thanksgiving table. This week, we’re letting you ambitious home cooks have a chance to look like Newton’s own superstar chefs. Here are some Thanksgiving recipes from local culinary masters. Cranberry Bread (Makes 12 slices) – from Clara Silverstein, author of The Boston Chef’s Table and A White House Garden Cookbook  Ingredients: 2 cups flour 3/4 cup sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup orange juice 1 egg 2 tablespoons canola oil 1 teaspoon grated orange zest 1 cup chopped …

Sure, you can go out to dinner: both Legal Sea Foods in Chestnut Hill and BOKX 109 will be open Thanksgiving night and offering specials for the holiday (other restaurants may be open; watch this space for updates). But if you’d rather be able to loosen your pants, watch the games and hang out with the family at home – but you don’t want to cook everything – here are some places you can get all or part of your Thanksgiving feast pre-prepared. New England Soup Factory- Soup might not be your primary meal focus on Thanksgiving, but luckily NESF also has a special “essentials” menu available to …

Many falsely believe that hunger is just a problem in the inner city. But hundreds, if not thousands, of residents right here in Newton and in surrounding communities need help providing food for their families and turn to food pantries for assistance. Keep in mind that many food banks will be fully staffed during this popular Thanksgiving and holiday season, but they will definitely need donations now and volunteers throughout the rest of the year. Centre Street Food Pantry – Located at Trinity Episcopal Church on Centre Street. Hours: Tuesdays 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. and the first Saturday of every…

Candy – The easiest place to get candy is at one of the local grocery stores (Star Market, Shaws or Whole Foods) or at the drugstore (CVS or Walgreen’s). And if you want to save some money and have more self control than this author, buy your candy for next year at the beginning of November and stick it in the freezer. Costumes  - Halloween Extreme is open in Newton Upper Falls and is still chock full of costumes. You can also drive a little bit to Eastern Coast Costumes in Waltham or get fun costume pieces at Savers in West Roxbury. Decorations – Again, the local branches of the national …

Last week we told you where to get pumpkins in and around Newton.  Unfortunately, there aren’t any places right in town to pick apples (unless you include the aisles of the local grocery stores), but there are many places within an hour’s drive or less.  Check the links for additional attractions at these farms, including cider making, hayrides, petting zoos and country stores. Autumn Hills Orchard – Groton, MA Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekends (and weekdays by appointment) NOTE: Cash only Carver Hill Orchards – Stow, MA Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., 7 days a week Honey Pot Hill Orchards – Stow, MA…

Pumpkin patch, farmstand, farmers' market or church - Newton and the surrounding towns are full of orange gourds just waiting for you to carve them into Jack o'Lanterns!   United Parish of Auburndale – daily through October 31. Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.  Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.   Newton Farmer’s Market at Cold Spring Park – October 18th and 25th Tuesdays, 1:30 - 6 p.m.    Carter Memorial Church (Needham) – daily through October 31 Monday - Friday, Noon - 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.  Sunday, Noon - 6 p.m.   Land’s Sake Farm (Weston) – daily through …

Cinco de Mayo is but a warm, distant memory as the chill of fall air settles in. But you can put a little “spring” back in your step by visiting these Mexican restaurants in Newton and nearby Needham and Waltham. Tango Mango – Owner Shirley Spinetta has a commitment to bringing fresh Mexican fare to Newton, thus saving locals from having to drive to Brookline to visit that other taqueria. Orders for burritos, tacos, quesadillas and salads can be tailored to your personal tastes – go big, go spicy, go home… or just go sit down and enjoy your meal! Chipotle – The Newton branch of this national …