Hi! I’m Christine Carbonaro-Freda.
I’ve called Longmeadow home for more than 20 years, and Western Massachusetts has a way of getting into your bones. It’s the beauty of the Pioneer Valley, the culture, the neighborhood gems, and the people who truly show up for one another. Once you’re part of this community, it becomes part of you.
I’m a mother of three, an entrepreneur, and someone who has spent decades building businesses, launching nonprofits, volunteering, and forming relationships throughout Western Massachusetts that I genuinely treasure.
Some of you may remember me from Paint Social Art, the entertainment company I founded in 2012. It was the first business of its kind in Western Massachusetts, bringing people together to laugh, create, and leave with their own masterpiece. The business has evolved over the years, but Paint Social Art is still creating fun and memorable experiences throughout our community.
Over the years, I kept noticing something: there wasn’t one easy place to discover all the great things happening in Western Massachusetts. You might hear about a major event or a big restaurant opening, but what about the new neighborhood spot with an amazing patio? The small business offering something completely different? The local fitness studio creating a great new program? Or the weekend event you would have loved to attend … had you known about it before Monday?
That’s why I created Western Mass Insider. A local newsletter delivering to you the best local events, local businesses worth supporting, and neighborhood gems you may not have discovered yet; delivered straight to your inbox every week. No politics. No bad news. No noise. Just everything worth knowing about the place we love.
When I’m not writing Western Mass Insider, you’ll find me on the golf course, at a live music show, or sitting with good friends enjoying good conversation and a great bottle of wine. Every summer my family heads to Cape Cod; a tradition we started when my kids were small and one I treasure deeply. I’m also a UConn grad, a DIY enthusiast, and a devoted player of mahjong, canasta, and rummikub.
This newsletter is for anyone who loves Western Mass as much as I do.
Welcome!
I’m glad you’re here!
Christine