Birdies Gives Monadnock Families a Place to Gather

In the heart of downtown Keene, Birdies is offering something many parents in the Monadnock Region have been searching for — a welcoming community space where both kids and adults can feel comfortable, connected and included.Opened in 2024 by Beth and Matt Wood, Birdies was inspired by a simple idea: creating the kind of place they wished existed for their own family."We wanted a space we could go and feel comfortable and have our kids with us," explained Beth Wood. "Somewhere we could do a little work while our kids played — something open and friendly to everybody."As parents of two young children, ages 4 and 6, the Woods understood how isolating parenting can sometimes feel, especially after raising young children during the Covid years. Much of their inspiration came from local online parenting communities, including Facebook groups like Keene Moms, where families often turn for advice, activities and connection."I feel like Birdies does that for people," said Wood. "We have a lot of mom groups here. Adults get socialization while kids can play. I had my kids during Covid, and isolation is such a hard part of parenting. I wanted a space for kids and parents to socialize."Today, Birdies has become much more than a cafe or workspace. The downtown gathering spot hosts a wide variety of community events, including live music, bingo, trivia nights, art classes, shopping events and family activities. They recently wrapped up their first no-bake cooking series and are planning a summer craft series for kids.Families stop in to grab lunch, meet friends, finish some work, or simply enjoy a welcoming environment. Birdies also hosts puzzle groups and Mahjong meetups and offers private event space in both its main and back rooms.Weekly programming keeps families coming back. Thursday mornings feature children's crafts, while Saturdays offer a relaxed Parents and Kids Social — an unstructured time for families to connect and spend time together. Birdies also hosts special seasonal events, including a popular New Year's Eve Kids Party and family-friendly activities during downtown celebrations.On Tuesday July 7 and Aug. 4, there will be Bingo and July 14 and Aug. 11 there will be Family Friendly trivia held from 6 to 7:30 p.m., all free to join. There is also a Kid's craft series scheduled for the first four Saturdays in August at 10 a.m., with a small $5 free to cover the cost of supplies. Keeping events affordable is an important part of Birdies' mission."We try to keep kid events free or very low cost because we want this to be something all kids can be a part of," Wood said. "For some things, like the cooking class, there's a small $5 fee to cover materials, but we're not really profiting off it."Birdies also partners with other local organizations and childcare groups. Keene Montessori School regularly uses the space for hands-on crafts, and younger children often come to use the back play area."We are open to anyone," said Wood. "You don't have to buy anything to use our space."Birdies is located at 18 Main Street in Keene. Regular hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.For more information, visit birdieskeene.com or email bethwood.birdies@gmail.com.