Upper Falls Gears Up for a 'Magical' Twilight Meal at Hemlock Gorge

Seana Gaherin has a vision.

"I kept thinking about this really long table and everybody in the neighborhood that had a business feeding the neighborhood," Gaherin explains. "We should just get together as a neighborhood and break bread."

Gaherin isn't one to just let a vision rest, so a year ago she and a small group of Newton Upper Falls residents started taking steps to make the first Feast of the Falls at Hemlock Gorge happen.

On Sunday, that vision will materialize as 200 guests dine al fresco in the evening shadow of Echo Bridge.

"It has this magical reverberation," Gaherin says of the famous bridge. "It's just a spectacular place."

Gaherin says it took six or seven months to secure the necessary permits from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and Department of Conservation and Recreation. The permits came through just over a week ago, which meant the event organizers had very little time to pull such an enormous undertaking together, but that wasn't so much of a concern.

"The logistics are easy for us because we sort of do this everyday," relates Gaherin, who co-owns the popular Dunn-Gaherin's Food & Spirits in Upper Falls. "It was just getting the permissions and everybody's support."

On Sunday, some 200 guests will settle into an epicly long table as giant platters of grilled vegetables, fresh meats, rich pastas and piping hot bread are served by Newton "celebrities" and officials.

The first 180 tickets were distributed free-of-charge on a first-come, first-served basis to residents of Upper falls. Those 180 tickets had been snatched up within two hours.

But 20 tickets were held back, Gaherin explains, to be purchased by the highest bidders. The money earned through the auction of those tickets will be donated to area charities.

While there are "only" 200 people expected at this year's event, Gaherin is already dreaming of next year when she hopes to set a "half-mile table for 400 guests.

"We are going to limit it this year because we had such a warm reception and we need to learn and do it really well," Gaherin says, explaining that the event will be elegant and memorable.

Most importantly, it will be an opportunity for neighbors to enjoy a meal together, a factor that is critical to fully realizing the vision of the event, Gaherin explains, emphasizing that guests must arrive on time so everyone can sit down at the meal together.

"It's all about community," Gaherin said.

And what would community be with its stories. The evening will conclude with guests gathered to roast marshmallows for s'mores as some of Upper Falls' must senior residents share stories of the village's past.

"People are so excited about it," Gaherin says. "The spirit of the neighborhood, of people wanting to break bread with their neighbors, has been so great to see.

"Life is short, so you should take time to smell the roses and get to know your neighbors."

Bidding is underway for the remaining 20 tickets. Bidders can jump into the auction here.