It's not often you have the chance to attend a polo match only miles away from your home.  This weekend, the Norfolk Hunt Club, located on North Street in Medfield is hosting its Eighth Annual “Polo in the Country” event. During this Sunday afternoon gathering, spectators will have the opportunity to watch a professional polo match between the teams, Newport Polo and Byfield Polo. These players have competed throughout the United States and Europe. The gates to the event open at 11 a.m. and the match begins at 1 p.m. Event goers have the opportunity to purchase individual tickets, a table for…

If you are looking for a fall-activity for your family, head over to Ward’s Berry Farm in Sharon this weekend. The sprawling property has a gourmet market, playground, animal petting area and sandwich counter that features tasty sandwiches, smoothies and slushes. There’s enough to occupy your family for hours. There’s a large greenhouse and an opportunity to pick your own strawberries, blueberries and pumpkins during the appropriate season. During the fall, a big tractor takes you out to the sprawling pumpkin patch so you can hand-pick your own pumpkins from the vine. There are also hayrides …

September is here and we are embarking on the last few weeks of corn and tomato season. If you are looking for a local farm to stock up on the ripest and most delicious produce the season has to offer and a small excursion for your little ones, head to Jane and Paul’s Farm in Norfolk. The quaint but fully-functional farm located on the Medfield town line grows fresh tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, berries, flowers and other scrumptious products. Head over for an afternoon and wind your way through the corn maze, feed the chickens and goats with your kids and pick seasonal produce. During the …

Have the countless cheeseburgers, hot dogs and ice cream cones this summer got you down about your weight and your family’s health? Whole Foods in Dedham last week opened a new Wellness Club, a glass encased kitchen and workshop area at the supermarket devoted to healthy cooking classes, healthy lifestyle coaching and nutrition. Start the fall off on a healthy note by becoming a member of the Wellness Club. The membership gives you a 10 percent discount on select, healthy foods in the store, unlimited classes in cooking, nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices, and discounts on private …

It doesn’t need to be St. Patrick’s Day to indulge in a pint of Guinness and enjoy some traditional Irish music. Every weekend during the summer the Irish Cultural Center hosts musical events at its Canton campus. On Friday night, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. there is a music session, where guests can bring their own instruments and join in with musician John Kearney. At 8 p.m. traditional Irish musician, Bill Black performs live in the pub. Every week a different guest musician joins Black on stage. “It’s amazing how a new face can add so much to a session,” Black writes in a statement on the ICC …

Perched above a strip of stores in downtown Medfield sits an artistic treasure worthy of a night out. The Zullo Gallery is a small art center that has exhibits open to the public, art classes for children and live music on its outdoor roof deck during the summer. Every Thursday night in July and August for a small fee people can sip beer and wine at small tables while listening to music under the stars. Many of the acts are local or have local ties, including Keith Curbow, a jazz musician who grew up in Medfield. Curbow will be playing tenor sax on Thursday, Aug. 18 at 8 p.m. He is currently …

You don’t have to trek down to Plymouth Plantation or Sturbridge Village to experience a slice of history. Right in your own backyard is an array of historical spots that offer parents and kids a lesson in what gives New England its old-world charm. Every first Sunday of the month, the Westwood Historical Society gives tours of the Fisher School, a restored one-room schoolhouse built in 1845. The Fisher School was originally constructed on Clapboardtree Street when the area was considered West Dedham. It was named after a local farmer, legislator and Revolutionary War veteran Ebenzar Fisher, …

Almost every parent of a toddler around 3 years old asks themselves the same question: Is he or she old enough to go to the movies and not have to leave in tears before the previews are over? The answer to that question: Winnie the Pooh. The Disney movie came out last week in theaters and it’s the perfect first movie excursion for both boys and girls. Considering it's Winnie the Pooh, you don’t have to worry about witches, giants or scary villains who are going to keep your kid up at night for months and rob you of precious slumber. You can also rule out violence, inappropriate topics and …

When you hear the phrase ‘guided tour’ your body probably reacts with a yawn. There’s one guided tour in Foxboro that won’t leave you bored to tears. Head down to Patriot Place until July 31 and participate in a Segway tour of the expansive property including the nearby cranberry bogs that encompass miles of scenic land. That means zipping around Gillette Stadium and the countless stores and restaurants in one of those Segway Personal Transporters. Each two-hour tour includes an instructional training in an indoor-facility where you can practice your skills before heading out in public. There…

If you’re looking for a half-day outing with your toddler and don’t want to commit to a lengthy day at the beach or a trek into the Children’s Museum in Boston, the Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro is the perfect destination. Located only 35 minutes from Westwood, this local zoo has a lot to offer, including an array of animals, a small splash park, a snack bar, a pond to feed the ducks and a museum gift shop. The animal exhibits are surprisingly exotic for the suburbs, including African lions, red kangaroos, snow leopards, lamas, sloths and bears. The setup isn’t overwhelming for little ones who…

When looking to entertain your family this summer, the key word when searching for activities is "free." Bass Pro Shops in Foxboro loads up on free family fun until July 17. Head over any day of the week and find a multitude of workshops, games and sporting activities that will appeal to both parents and kids. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays you’ll find a shooting gallery for target practice and a shooting range equipped with BB Guns, as well as a soft bow and arrows. If you need to polish up your fishing skills before your seaside vacation there’s also a casting target area …

Are you looking for a quiet Fourth of July weekend opting out of hectic family BBQs and local fireworks celebrations? Head over to Rocky Woods in Medfield, a 419-acre nature’s paradise right on Hartford Street near Westwod. The land, which is similar to Westwood's own Hale Reservation, is owned by the Trustees of Preservation and includes trails and paths that wind around five man-made ponds, a 435-foot hill, hay fields and wetlands. The varied terrain makes it possible to spend hours meandering with your family on a weekend afternoon and not get bored. There are 6.5 miles of trails, but …

Dreading another scorching day without pool or beach access for your sweltering and bored kids? Memberships are still available for Membership Beach at Hale Reservation. The membership includes access to Noanet Pond, a beautiful body of water and sandy beach perfect for swimming, family outings and water sports. There are also more than a dozen events scheduled for this summer, only available to members, including a Fourth of July Celebration, campfire sing-alongs, cookouts and overnight camping. The beach is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. There are family, individual and senior …

As we announced in Thursday's Patch Picks, there are a variety of ways to celebrate Father's Day in Westwood. But if you're looking for an event that appeals to dad on Father’s Day weekend as well as the rest of the family, there is another option right around the corner. Head over to Canton for the annual Boston Irish Festival. The weekend-long event, which begins Friday night and ends Sunday night, is held at the Irish Cultural Centre of New England at 200 New Boston Drive off of Rte. 138. It includes dozens of attractions from music to athletic games held from morning until night …

Looking for an outdoor excursion near Westwood that doesn't entail driving hours to Acadia National Park in Maine or the Cape Cod National Seashore in Wellfleet? Behind Bass Pro Shops at Patriot Place sits a working cranberry bog. This bog, which is sponsored by Ocean Spray, includes nature trails for viewing, walking and educational strolls. The 32-acre cranberry wetland system and wooded area is open to the public from dawn to dusk and is the only active cranberry bog in Foxborough. It includes a half-mile nature trail, varying from three to six feet wide that consists of wood mulch. The …

Summer is a time of leisure, where schedules aren’t constantly packed with baseball games, school plays and homework. Kids have more time to play in the yard and parents don’t feel guilty if they cut out of work early and play a round of golf. Potter’s Place in Walpole offers classes all summer long for both adults and children to discover the artistry of pottery in a leisurely, relaxed setting. “The studio is big and bright and airy," said Lizanne Donegan, a teacher at Potter's Place, a non-profit located on Old West Street. "It’s a nice evening  activity. You aren't sitting in front of the …

Walk into Sweet Basil restaurant in Needham and you automatically feel transported to a trattoria in Boston's North End with wafting garlic, clanging china and a line out the door on a Wednesday night. The beauty of Sweet Basil is the feeling like you discovered a hidden gem, despite the fact everyone else in the MetroWest area knows about it. Located on Great Plain Ave. in Needham center, the small home-cooked–Italian-atmosphere is warm, cozy and intimate. The menu is decadent. Leave your diet at the door but bring a bottle of wine, the restaurant is BYOB (bring your own booze). You begin …

For a few years now, BOKX 109 American Prime, the swanky, steakhouse in the Hotel Indigo in Newton has been a chic alternative to traveling into Boston for dinner. The only drawback has been the steep prices and the heavy entrees that make you feel like you’ve consumed a small calf. Looking to reinvent the experience, executive chef Jarrod Moiles has revamped the menu infusing local ingredients that are lighter on the wallet and the stomach. “I wanted to create a menu that is still appealing but at the same time something that is lighter and more affordable,” said Moiles, who started at BOKX …

If you aren’t crazy about putting your freshly-pedicured feet into used bowling shoes, rest assured there are many other activities at Kings in Dedham's Legacy Place to occupy your night out. Looking for an escape on a Monday evening, Kings holds trivia night at their restaurant making it a perfect gathering for friends who want to grab apps and drinks. Teams of up to six players are formed and a disc jockey reads aloud questions. The winning team receives a $100, according to Doug Warner, marketing and special events manager at Kings. There are also smaller prizes that are given out during …

Wild mushroom profiteroles, asparagus salad, duck en croute and French toast crème brulee. No, this isn’t the meal served at the Royal Wedding - it is a four-course spread that will be prepared Tuesday night at Whole Foods in Dedham. The mammoth supermarket, a favorite among local foodies, offers a monthly Super Club open to the public. Sign up at the service desk for a night of culinary mastery for only $15 per person (no wine is served, just sparkling water). During the two-hour event, the chef and an in-house food expert presents the courses, highlighting preparation, nutritional value of …