SCOTT BROWN’S ‘CITIZEN’S OPEN HOUSE’ TOUR
SET FOR JANUARY 29, 30 & 31;
A NORTH SHORE STOP IS SET FOR THE KOWLOON RESTAURANT ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 AT 1pm
Scott Brown will host a three day “Citizens’ Open House” tour set for Friday, January 29 to Sunday, January 31 throughout Massachusetts.
The newly elect Senator and his Party (as part of his 3 day tour) will make a 1pm stop at The Kowloon Restaurant, Route 1 North in Saugus on Saturday, Jan 30. Doors are open to the general public.
Title: Haute for Haiti
Location: Bliss Salon, Marblehead
Link out: Click here
Description: Almost all
businesses in Marblehead have donated something. Red Rock is donating
the frood and Shubies, Haleys and Cafe Italia are donating the wine and
champagne. There wiil be live music by Derek Rando with a stand up
bass and violin. All the proceeds will go to shelterbox.org which is
an international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency
shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by disaster. The
shelterbx contains a ten man tent, sleeping mats, thermal blankets,
water and water purification tablets, stove, tools, eating utensils,
simple school supplies You acn go to shelterbox.org to learn more. We
will also have a fashion show and will auction off all the outfits on
the models donated by local businesses.
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2010-02-11
Platinum Nails Salon, formerly ViVi Nails of 67 Water Street, North Andover has re-opened under new ownership. Emily Le and her daughter Lien Vuong offer excellent service and all of the latest techniques at the lowest prices in the Merrimack Valley. Services include manicures, pedicures and a full array of spa services also offered.
67 Water Street, North Andover. Ph: 978.681.8917
Monday to Saturday 9:30 AM-7 PM. Sunday by appointment
Title: Princess Tea
Location: Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Square W, Salem, MA 01970 978-744-4080 800-SAY-STAY
Link out: Click here
Description: Held in the Grand Ballroom. Enjoy a buffet and tea fit for royalty. See our famous princesses.
Reservations are recommended. Please call 978-825-4311
Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2010-02-20
End Time: 14:00
Title: Valentine’s Dinner
Location: Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Square W, Salem, MA 01970 978-744-4080 800-SAY-STAY
Link out: Click here
Description: 3) Treat your sweetheart to romantic dining in Nathaniel’s at the Hawthorne Hotel. Intimate dining, culinary excellence and live piano music. Please let us know if you would like to add a long stem rose or a champagne toast.
Make your reservations early by calling 978-825-4311
Date: 2010-02-14
Title: 2) Valentine’s Weekend Dining Special
Location: Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Square W, Salem, MA 01970 978-744-4080 800-SAY-STAY
Link out: Click here
Description: 3) An evening of romance and culinary delights with Nathaniel’s a La Carte menu and a special holiday menu created by our own culinary romantics. Live piano music.
Reservations are recommended. Please call 978-825-4311
Start Date: 2010-02-12
End Date: 2010-02-14
Historic Hotel is 85 years young in 2010
Salem, MA—“And me, myself personally, in order for there to be any kind of longevity there’s gotta be some history,” said American soul performer Edwin Starr. Celebrating 85 years as a legend on the North Shore in 2010, Hawthorne Hotel certainly knows what it is like to have some history!
Beginning in 1923, the Salem Chamber of Commerce and the Salem Rotary began arrangements to build a “modern hotel for Salem.” After more than half a million dollars worth of stock was sold, construction began on the hotel, designed by architect Philip Horton Smith. At the time, it was the largest Colonial Revival structure in Salem. Some of our notable architectural features include: corner quoins, Palladian windows, and recessed arched windows – designs popular in Georgian and Federal-style buildings.
Named after celebrated Salem author Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote House of Seven Gables and The Scarlet Letter, the hotel has been home to book signings and many poetry and book readings. With modern stories like Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (published in 2008 by HarperCollins) that include the Hawthorne Hotel within its pages, our connection to the literary world has been sealed.
Over the years, the Hawthorne Hotel has hosted many well-known personalities including newsman Walter Cronkite, actress Betty Davis, General Colin Powell, former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, and New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. In 1984, Vanessa Redgrave made the hotel her home for a month while making Three Sovereigns for Sarah, a PBS movie about the Salem Witch Trials.
It was the television series Bewitched that brought the Hawthorne Hotel the most notoriety. In 1970, Elizabeth Montgomery, her real-lie husband and the show’s producer Bill Asher and the rest of the cast and crew stayed at the hotel for several weeks while filming episodes in and around Salem.
Just recently, two television shows were filmed in the hotel—the popular Canadian show Chris & John to the Rescue and TLC’s What Not to Wear held the Reveal Party for their fashion victim in the 2010 season opener.
And the Hawthorne Hotel has already got a lot goin’ on in 2010—and that includes some renovations! Carpeting, TVs and more! Look for the days of the Grand Hotel!
Watch for more press releases filled with interesting facts and trivia about Hawthorne Hotel’s weddings and restaurant events, special promotions such as a special $85 room rate in honor of our 85th Birthday, updates on our renovations, and much more! Interviews and photos available.
Designated an “Historic Hotel of America,” the Hawthorne provides every amenity a “modern” traveler could desire and continues to welcome thousands of visitors every year. The hotel is 15 miles north of Boston and easily accessible from many major routes.
Historic Hotels of America is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Historic Hotels has identified 191 hotels that have faithfully maintained their historic integrity, architecture and ambiance. To be selected for this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old, listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or recognized as having historic significance.
Title: Grand Cafe Benefit for the Open Door of Cape Ann
Location: Emerson Inn By The Sea, One Cathedral Avenue Rockport, MA 01966
Link out: Click here
Description: Friday, February 26th to benefit the Open Door of Cape Ann. The Grand Cafe at the Emerson Inn By The Sea will offer a \’3 for $33 Prix Fixe\’ Dinner menu. The entire Grand Cafe menu will also be available. A Winter Spinach Salad, Filet Mignon wrapped with Apple Wood Bacon and finally Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding is the menu which our chef, Patrick E. Flannagan has created for this evening. The Emerson Inn will donate 10% of the entire dinner sales for the evening to the Cape Ann Open Door Food Pantry. To make your reservation please contact 978-546-6321. Thank you for helping us make a difference. We look forward to serving you soon.
Tel:978.546.6321
Date: 2010-02-26
The Trustees of Reservations to Host First-Ever Sustainable Seaside Wedding Show
Castle Hill on The Crane Estate
Saturday, April 17, 2010
WHAT:
The Trustees of Reservations invite community members, future brides and grooms, event planners, and all who are interested to attend the organization’s first-ever, sustainable Seaside Wedding Show at The Great House on Castle Hill located on The Crane Estate in Ipswich, MA. A National Historic Landmark, Castle Hill on The Crane Estate is one of the most sought-after wedding venues in the Northeast. The elegant architecture, panoramic ocean views, world-famous designed landscapes, and award winning Inn at Castle Hill’s Bed & Breakfast, offer a complete wedding package for couples who are looking for a special place to create their wedding memories.
In honor of Earth Day, The Seaside Wedding Show will feature over sixty area vendors who will share many options for choosing an eco-conscious wedding. Attendees will be able to sample food from caterers using local and organic products, learn about ways to conserve resources from florists who use biodegradable materials and sustainably grown plant materials, meet transportation providers offering horse drawn carriages, design companies offering invitations printed on recycled paper, and view couture gowns made of natural, eco-fabrics. Guests will learn how to create their ideal wedding day and choose sustainable options at the same time, from food to photography.
WHERE:
Castle Hill on The Crane Estate is located at 290 Argilla Road in Ipswich, MA. For directions and or more information, please visit www.craneestate.org or call 978-356-4351 ext. 4025.
WHEN:
Twelve o’clock to Four o’clock in the afternoon
HOW:
Purchase tickets at www.craneestate.org to be eligible for the GRAND PRIZE drawing: two glorious nights at The Inn at Castle Hill on The Crane Estate (over $900 value) www.theinnatcastlehill.com
Tickets: $5 for Trustees members; $7 for non-members; and $10 at the door.
About The Trustees & The Crane Estate
The stately seaside estate is owned and managed by The Trustees of Reservations, the nation’s oldest statewide land trust and conservation organization with 102 beautiful reservations located around the state; 20 of which are on Boston’s North Shore. More than 250,000 people from New England and beyond visit the historic Crane Estate year-round to experience it’s unrivaled beauty, swim at it’s world-famous beach, paddle in it’s breathtaking waters and surrounding salt marsh, and enjoy it’s historic Great House, Inn, trails, and rolling lawns.
The Crane Estate encompasses more than 2,100 preserved acres that include: The Great House on Castle Hill, a National Historic Landmark; Crane Beach, a popular summer destination; The Inn at Castle Hill on The Crane Estate, a renowned B&B; and the Crane Wildlife Refuge, a unique natural treasure boasting many plant and animal species.
Chicago industrialist Richard T. Crane, Jr. first purchased the 2,100 acres that would become the Crane Estate in 1910. Crane was captivated by the beautiful landscape, and over time worked with eight leading architects and landscape architects to shape his summer retreat. In 1928, he crowned the estate with a grand 59-room, Stuart-style mansion, designed by the world- renowned David Adler. Nearly 100 years later, the Crane Estate plays a vital role in the local community and beyond as a place for year-round recreation, historic house tours, weddings, corporate and private parties, art show, summer concerts, lectures, movie filming, summer camp and public volunteer opportunities.
This morning, I drove out to the Coast Guard station in Newburyport for a chat with Chief Surfman Trainer Benjamin Molnar. Ben drives a surfboat for the Coast Guard. This is a 47′ rescue boat that is built for rescue operations in heavy surf. Pretty cool place to work. We’ll have more on this boat and the lowdown on what Ben Molnar does for a living in the next issue of Northshore!
-Jack
KARLS SAUSAGE KITCHEN & EUROPEAN MARKET HOLDS T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST
(Saugus, MA) January 22, 2010 – Karls Sausage Kitchen & European Market is pleased to announce the winning artist and design for their recent T-shirt Design Contest. “Over the years we have received numerous requests for Karls T-shirts”, said Anita Gokey, co-owner of Karls Sausage Kitchen & European Market. “We thought the best way to design a T-shirt was to ask for advice from our loyal customers, who know us and love us”. They received over 40 submissions and ideas. The designs were then reviewed by a panel of employees and customers to select the winning design.
The winning design was submitted by Mike Snow of Melrose. Mike received a $50 gift certificate along with the first T-shirt off the press. In addition Karls selected a random entry to receive a T-shirt. This winner was Kristen Barry of Saugus will receive a T-shirt.
For more information on Karls Sausage Kitchen & European Market contact, Anita Gokey at 781-233-3099 or agokey@karlssausage.com or visit Karls online at www.karlssausage.com.
6th ANNUAL HAIR OF THE DOG WINE & BEER TASTING and ART SHOW TO BENEFIT MSPCA
Get ready for the 6th Annual Hair of the Dog Wine & Beer Tasting, a benefit for the Methuen MSPCA on Friday evening, April 30th , from 6 to 9 p.m. Hosted for the fourth year in a row by the Essex Art Center at 56 Island Street in Lawrence, the tasting will also feature an art show of works by over 20 Merrimack Valley artists.
In an effort to build on last year’s successful event, which had over 350 attendees and raised more than $10,000 for the Nevins Farm, the event this year will be even bigger and better. We’ve expanded the space this year to include Chester’s (which is right next door through the courtyard) giving us more space for attendees, artists, food and of course wine and beer! As usual the event is jointly sponsored by Essex Art Center in Lawrence and the owners of Andover’s Shawsheen Village Liquors, Michael and Sheri Helman and Whole Foods Market Andover.
The wines and beers will be donated, as always, by the Helmans. Whole Foods Market Andover, is back again this year and is providing another array of delicious appetizers for everyone to sample.
A wide range of artists will have works on view and for sale. They include jewelry makers, potters, painters, sculptors who work in clay, and artists who work in fabric. In keeping with the animal theme, some are even bringing animal-themed art.
Come meet the artists and the Helmans (but not their pets, and don’t bring yours, please). Have some food, a little wine and beer, and listen to the live music of the White Street Band, a Chicago style blues band with a rock and roll edge, while you contribute to a good cause.
The cost of attending the tasting will be $30 at the door or $25 in advance. Tickets can be purchased at Shawsheen Village Liquors, 4 Poor Street, Andover, (978) 475-3636; at the MSPCA, Nevins Farm, 400 Broadway (Route 28), Methuen, (978) 687-7453, Ext. 6105; or online at www.mspca.org/nevinsfarm.
One hundred percent of all ticket proceeds go directly to the MSPCA at Nevins Farm. Ten percent of all wine and art sales will also be donated to the shelter.
For more information, go to www.shawsheenliquors.com and click on “Good Wines for Great Causes.”
Title: The Frog Prince…A Musical!!
Location: Kaleidoscope Childrens Theater in Saugus
Link out: Click here
Description: Saugus, Feb. 7th at 2pm The Frog Prince…A Musical!!
Adm. $12. with free ice cream
Start Time: 2:00 pm
Date: 2010-02-07
See the Local Best of 2009!
The Marblehead Festival of Arts Presents the Winter Film Festival
Marblehead, MA (January 21, 2010) The Marblehead Festival of Arts invites the public to warm up at its Winter Film Festival in Marblehead Little Theatre, 12 School Street, on Wednesday, February 17, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. The screening is free of charge, and the doors will open at 7:00 pm.
The Festival will screen 12 short films, the best of the many films submitted last year to the Festival of Arts. The great majority of the films are by artists who are current or former residents of Essex County (including Marblehead), the Boston area, and New York. The films display a wide range of styles; genres include animation, personal documentary, comedy, drama, and satire; and the subjects range from the world’s strangest disease to North Shore noir to the Revere Beach of yore. Some of the filmmakers are expected to be present and they will talk about their work and answer questions at the end of the program.
Audience members will receive ballots to vote for their favorite film, and the People’s Choice Award will go to the winner. Fresh popcorn and other refreshments will also be available. For further information, visit www.MarbleheadFestival.org.
About Marblehead Festival of Arts (MFoA)
Founded in 1962, the Marblehead Festival of Arts has a rich history in producing a premier summer arts festival that has become a unique forum for artistic expression. Traditionally held each year over the July 4th weekend, the Marblehead Festival of Arts hosts a wide range of art exhibits (painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, etc.), outdoor music concerts overlooking Marblehead Harbor, Writers’ World, the Street Festival, Artisans’ Marketplace, and many other cultural activities designed to provide a fun and enriching experience for the entire family.
The MFoA is run by an all-volunteer organization comprised of more than forty committees and involving several hundred volunteers. It operates year round and relies solely on donations to fund its operations. Individuals, families, and businesses may become Festival Sponsors by making a tax-deductible contribution. For additional information on the MFoA, a calendar of events, volunteer opportunities, and sponsorship, please call 781-639-ARTS or visit www.marbleheadfestival.org.
By Kenneth Jones and Andrew Gans
19 Jan 2010
North Shore Music Theatre, the popular in-the-round Massachusetts theatre that shuttered due to debt in 2009, will reopen in 2010, according to its website.
“Massachusetts businessman Bill Hanney has reached an agreement with Citizens Bank to purchase the North Shore Music Theatre property in Beverly, MA,” a statement reads. “Hanney is currently putting together a new business plan and management team to reopen North Shore Music Theatre in the spring/summer of 2010.”
Firm Wins Gold for Best Interior Design at the 2009 PRISM Awards
from the Builders Association of Greater Boston
Newburyport, MA — October 22, 2009. Cebula Design, a full service interior design firm, recently was awarded the top honor for interior design at the 2009 PRISM (Prestigious Results in Sales and Marketing) Awards sponsored by the Building Association of Greater Boston.
Continue reading Cebula Design Wins Top Honors For Interior Design
On February 8, 2010, 6 o’clock at Bass River Tennis Club, Beverly Bootstraps Community Services will be hosting a ‘Bootstraps Best Chef’ Competition that will look much like the Iron Chef competitions seen on TV. The event will be held at Bass River Tennis Club and Billy Costa will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. The event will be spotlighted on Billy’s show, TV Diner on NECN.
Victoria Station is doing a fund raiser for Haiti January 27th. They will be closing the restaurant at 4 and featuring a Caribbean Buffet with all proceeds going directly to a group that donates 100% to Haiti.
More from Victoria Station…
On January 27 2010 Victoria Station will be hosting, along with Partners in Development, a fundraiser for the ravaged citizens of haiti. Partners in Development is a local non-profit agency that directly assists with the safety and welfare of the children that have been displaced and injured due to the Earthquakes that shook their society. Wednesday night January 27 at 4:00 PM we will be opening to the public and will be offering a buffet featuring authentic carribean cuisine. We will also have a representative from Partners in Development to answer any questions about the devastation and the re-development plans. The admission for the event is $20.00 and includes free live entertainment and buffet, the event begins at 4:00 and all proceeds will go to help in the relief efforts. Please contact us or Partners in Development if you have any questions. http://www.pidonline.org/About.html
Victoria Station / Vic’s Boathouse
86 Wharf Street – Pickering Wharf
Salem, Ma. 01970
Phone: 978-745-3400
Fax: 978-745-7460
Title: Roost’s Pre-Valentine’s Day Party
Location: 40 Front St, Salem, MA
Link out: Click here
Description: Wine, Cheese, Chocolate and 10% off Valentine’s items!
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2010-01-28
Title: Ladies Night Out at J.Mode
Location: J.Mode, 17 Front St., Salem, MA
Link out: Click here
Description: Gifts, Champagne, Chocolates & Cheese
Meet & Greet Jenny Johnson and Billy Costa from NECN’s TV Diner between 5:30 & 8:00
Receive J. Mode $25.00
Gift Certificate… to be used on any purchase of $100 or more… valid thru Feb 28th
Opening Night of Salem’s Ice Sculpture event
Start Time: 17:30
Date: 2010-02-05
End Time: 20:30
Newburyport – The countdown has begun, leading up to the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry annual “Big Win” drawing (formally known as the Chamber Pot).
The drawing of over $20,000 in prizes will take place at the Big Win.Big Party event on March 18th, 2010 at The Strand Theater on Green Street.The Chamber’s Big Win tickets are a great way to support your local Chamber AND take a chance on big winnings. The odds are 28 to 1 that YOU will be a winner. Odds this good don’t come along every day! Tickets are $100 each. Split your ticket with your friends, family or coworkers. Up to ten people can go in on a ticket together.
Continue reading Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry Annual “Big Win” Drawing
Republican candidate for US Senate Scott Brown made an appearance in downtown North Andover today in front of a large crowd of supporters. I’ll have to check the official count with the police later but it seemed like at least a thousand, maybe more. He spoke with reporters and then made his way down the street shaking hands with anyone who stuck out their hand. Here are some photos:
Northshore magazine turns its fashion photo shoot featuring G. Love into a music video! Listen to G. Love’s hit, “Holla.” See the full layout in the February/March issue of Northshore magazine. Continue reading Fashion Rocks
Bridal Registry at Luna Tuna
Add color and life to your new life with warmth and graphics in your china. Exciting designs from South Africa will enliven your table and your ambiance. Enhance your dinners with our new line of South African foods and ethnic cookbooks. World music selections complete the mood. Czech etched glassware, global and local crafts, and creative floral design.
Luna Tuna, 4 Elm Street, Ipswich, 978-356-8848, www.lunatunagallery.com
I Corinthians Mobius Bracelet
Everyone knows the most popular wedding reading which begins “Love is patient, Love is kind.” The single twist in a Mobius strip transforms a once two-sided sterling band into a bracelet with just one continuous surface which allows the complete passage from I Corinthians 13: 4-7 to be beautifully engraved. It arrives in a red leather look gift box ready for gift giving, and fits wrists up to 8″. Check out 10 other well loved verses.. Healing Baskets, Manchester-By-The-Sea, 978-526-1229, healingbaskets.com
Entertaining with Harbor Sweets Handmade Chocolates
Favors are a memorable part of any special occasion. Whether an elegant ending to a special dinner or a way to thank guests for sharing your wedding day, Harbor Sweets add the perfect touch! Sweet Sloops’ famous almond butter crunch and other milk and dark chocolate varieties are offered. They can be purchased in lovely favor boxes or economical bulk packs. Harbor Sweets, 85 Leavitt Street, Salem, 978-745-7648, harborsweets.com
Fabulous Finds – Fabulous Prices
Dino’s Winter Sale is now in progress. Choose from our complete selection of furs from trendy designer originals to luxurious full length mink coats to sporty shearlings. Our fur accessories including vests, purses, gloves and scarves are the ideal complement to any outfit. Let us tempt you with our styles, selection – and yes, prices. Dino Furs,
33 Main Street, Andover, 978-470-3344, dinofurs.com
Poochie-Bell Hooks
Use an ordinary hook to hang your dog’s leash? Never! Use a new Poochie-Bell decorative metal hook to hang your leash, keys, or Poochie-Bells. Available in six fun styles, these US-made hooks come complete with screws in a cute gift box. Pair a set of Poochie-Bells with a new hook, and you’ve made a wonderful new puppy gift that is functional and decorative. Come see our collection of Poochie-Bell hooks and bells. Gone to the Dogs, 55 Albion Street, Wakefield, 781-245-6787, gonetothedogsgifts.com
Going on Vacation?
Looking your best has never been so easy at spa ni’joli & salon. Airbrush tanning, eyelash extensions or weekend lashes, a pedicure, & a manicure is the perfect combination of services to making any woman feel special before going on vacation or attending a special event. spa ni’joli, 116 Pleasant Valley Street, Methuen, 978-682-9772, nijoli.com
The Beauty Cafe…
Look Amazing as You Walk Down That Aisle
Karen and her team can meet all your wedding needs. Relax with the best brow design of the northshore and an illuminating facial; bring your bridal party for manis and makeup at a girls’ night out; and of course, have Karen or one of her other experienced artists custom design your wedding look. Whether in-store or on-site, you will love the caring, personalized attention and professional results you receive. The Beauty Cafe, 515 Main Street, Melrose, 781-665-6650, thebeautycafe.nu
Where’s Fred?
Right here at Shubie’s! FRED is a fun, funky, funny, put a smile on your face (for not a lot of money!) line of cool gifts for all ages. Wouldn’t you like to still play with your food? FOOD FACE (ages 3+) is perfect for kids and the kid in you! Find much more FRED at Shubie’s! Shubie’s Marketplace, Wines and Spirits, 16 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead, 781-631-0149, shubies.com
Handcrafted
Shipshape is situated in an 18th century building in “OldTown“ Marblehead. We offer many hand made items by local artists, to enhance your table and lifestyle. One of the favorites is a hand crafted wooden mailbox decorated with a gold leaf scallop shell. Shipshape, 128 Washington Street, Marblehead, 781-631-7477, shipshapemarblehead.com
Always & Forever
A Special Remembrance… perfect as a gift or for yourself! We’ll take your wedding invitation and engrave it on any one of Mariposa’s brilliantly sand-cast aluminum serving pieces. At Rose & Dove, we offer artful and affordable gifts for all life’s occasions! Rose & Dove, Chickering Plaza, 579 Chickering Road, North Andover, 978-689-4141, roseanddove.com
Yankee Fireplace
The meticulous craftsmanship and practical design of Jotul’s Castine woodstove will add warmth to your home and family for years of winters to come. Yankee Fireplace’s two locations carry the Jotul wood stove line so you’re sure to find your warmth in your very own style. Yankee Fireplace, 140 South Main Street (route 114), Middleton, 978-774-1621, or 1200 Portland Road (route 1), Arundel, Maine, 207-467-8130, Yankeefireplace.com
Channeling Wilma Flintsone
Remember Wilma Flintstone and that big beaded necklace she always wore? The Baby Got Rox necklace from gdesign is the next best thing, featuring beautiful, bold rock crystal. Original Shine-OnTM beads add a warm silver glow. Gail Zona creates unique ‘wearable art’ in glass, metal, and stone for the discriminating jewelry fanatic at gdesign. See gdesign’s unique jewelry at the Newburyport Art Association’s Gift Shop and online. gdesign, Newburyport, gdesignontheweb.com
The February/March issue of Northshore is now available on newsstands. Check it out!
Inside you’ll find the tastiest local pizzas, Hamilton’s newest dining destination, and a comprehensive review of the best ski resorts in New England.
Plus more…
• Ski and Ride Guide 2010: Local picks and where to gear up
• Salisbury’s music scene returns to its glory days
• Ballot busters: The five key mayoral shake-ups
• Fashion Rocks: Hot winter styles with edgy rocker G. Love
• Making faces: Coco Chanel makeup master Guy Lento hits Salem
Local flavors make Hamilton’s 15 Walnut a must-dine. By Anna and David Kasabian. Photographs by Anthony Tieuli.
15 walnut is a welcome addition to Hamilton’s community shopping center. Headed by executive chef Sam Hunt, who held the same post at Indigo (the most recent restaurant within these walls), the mantra at 15 Walnut is local, fresh, and made from scratch. Continue reading 15 Walnut
Bob Parlee takes an idea for a bicycle and turns it into an international phenomenon. By Alexandra Pecci. Photography by Joel Laino.
Bicycle designer Bob Parlee might tell you that he never really went to school; that he just enjoys building things and figuring them out. But then his wife Isabel is likely to interject.
Continue reading Parlee Cycles in Peabody
Tupelo Music Hall in Salisbury welcomes music fans back to the beach. By Jack Morris.
Driving to salisbury beach in the middle of the winter used to be something only dog walkers and nature lovers might do. These days, add fans of rock and roll to that list. The Tupelo Music Hall Salisbury, located on Salisbury Beach in the New Pavilion building (also home to Seaglass Restaurant), opened in the fall of 2009 and has given music lovers on the North Shore a new reason to get out of the house and see live bands once again.
Continue reading Tupelo Music Hall in Salisbury
After a few days of pampering in the literary haven of Lenox, Massachusetts, you may not want to go home. By Jillian Ducharme
What was once the home to famed authors Nathaniel Hawthorne and Catharine Sedgwick, Lenox is now bursting with art, culture, and local flavor. This western Massachusetts enclave makes for the perfect mid-winter escape. Continue reading Lenox, Massachusetts
Entertain in style with these classic dining chairs. By Lysa Pelletier. Photograph by Sharon White.
1. French oak chair, $235, C’est La Vie. 2. William Sheppe leather woven chair, $325, Comina. 3. Chocolate linen chair, $395, Red Bird Trading Co. 4. Blue stained chair, $3,195 (set of eight), Cargo Unlimited. 5. French leather and burlap chair, $960, Savoir Faire. Continue reading Classic Dining Chairs
Warm up with The Port Tavern’s classic Irish Coffee. By Lauren Carelli.
There’s a cold rain falling on old snow, and the slush on the sidewalks has soaked through your boots, turning your wool socks into frigid sponges. Fortunately, The Port Tavern in Newburyport serves a few warm drinks to heat you up, including one of the oldest cold-weather remedies around: Irish Coffee. Continue reading The Port Tavern’s Irish Coffee
Two hungry souls hit the road in search of the best pizza around and discover there’s more to a slice than just cheese, sauce, and crust. By Anna + David Kasabian. Photographs by Glenn Scott. Food Styling by Liz Walkowicz
Ever since America’s love affair with the Italian pizza started after World War II, the pie has evolved from a cheap, everyday peasant food into an infinitely varied canvas on which inspired chefs and food artisans can create a masterpiece. In honor of the special place pizza occupies in our hearts and in our local cuisine, we took a journey around the North Shore to hunt down the best pizza makers we could find. Here are eight of the North Shore’s pizza-making elite.
Plum Tomatoes Brick Oven Pizza
Steak and Cheese Pizza (Small $9.99, Large $12.99)
Along a humdrum stretch of Summit Street in Peabody stands a squat building of brick and stucco, undistinguished but for the dark brown awning of Plum Tomatoes Brick Oven Pizza. Step inside and breathe in; the air is filled with the sweet, musky aroma of pizza pies baking. No fancy chairs, no slick catchy menus; what you have here is an unpretentious little pizzeria that combines obsession and craftsmanship to transform an everyday repast into a passionate feast.
Our new addiction? The Steak and Cheese Pizza: thin, crispy, chewy throughout, with those oven-blackened blisters of crust around the edges where stray shreds of mozzarella are toasted and crunchy. We love the sweet and tangy sauce, made fresh daily with San Marzano tomatoes (arguably the best sauce tomatoes money can buy) and the tasty mozzarella that’s bubbly and chewy on the surface and creamy smooth just below. All this is topped with top-quality shaved sirloin, and the whole thing is baked in what Plum Tomatoes founder and owner, Pasquale “Pat” DeLeo, describes as “an old-style, gas-fired stone oven with thick stone all around inside.” Intense and even heat is important, he says.
The Steak and Cheese is not a subtle pizza. From the first bite your teeth manage to wrestle away from a slice, you experience an intensity of crunchiness, chewiness, and extra-strength, full-spectrum pizza flavor. It is perfect for those times when you need a high-octane pizza fix. 145 Summit St., Peabody, 978-538-7586, plumtomatoespizza.com.
Soma
Arugula Pesto Pizza with Shrimp (Large $17)
Sleek and swank, Soma rules Beverly as the beacon of big-city chic. As we await our pizza at the bar, we note the earth-tone walls and golden-hued lighting, the sweeping zebrawood bar lit with playfully shimmering lamps, and the cool blues music drifting through the air. All combine to create an atmosphere of stylishness, sophistication, and, frankly, rather high expectations for the pizza, added to this dining landmark’s menu less than a year ago.
Soon we see our server float coolly across the floor, our Arugula Pesto Pizza with Shrimp held up and out in front of her like a trophy. As the pizza descends in front of us on one hand, the other hand sweeps onto the bar and places a pedestal where the pizza alights, nearly at nose level. It’s a dramatic presentation, even for a pizza with such a lofty pedigree. Could this pizza live up to its billing? Definitely.
Here is a pie that is at once both rustic and refined. The sourdough crust is gorgeous to look at and tastes even better with its deep flavor and substantial, yet yielding chewiness. The arugula pesto tastes fresh and rich. The skillfully sliced red peppers appear more polished than on other pizzas we’ve eaten. Even the intensely flavored shrimp look like a chef fussed over them. On top, tangy fontina cheese, bubbling and bathed in fragrant olive oil. Finally, a canopy of fresh, cold arugula with flavor, texture, and temperature that all contrast wonderfully with the ingredients below. 256 Cabot St., Beverly, 978-524-0033, somabeverly.com.
Tripoli Pizza
Extra Cheese Pizza ($2 per slice)
Tripoli Pizza on Salisbury Beach has been making pizza for over 60 years and little has changed. Not the recipes. Not the methods. Not the walk-up-service stall where they got their start here in 1945. It’s still serving slices on floppy paper plates, still open year-round, and still feeding legions of passionate pizza aficionados for whom the austere, fluorescent-lit, one-car-garage-size stall is a shrine. And the Extra Cheese Pizza, from all appearances, is, in fact, the Holy Grail.
Tripoli Pizza in Salisbury Beach was originally the summertime pizza outpost for Tripoli Bakery of Lawrence, a Merrimac Valley institution in its own right, renowned as much for their cookies and breads as their pizza. Yet it is Tripoli Pizza in Salisbury Beach where the enduring Tripoli pizza legend—and the preeminence of Tripoli Extra Cheese Pizza—seems to have taken wing.
This now-fabled concoction resembles a normal pizza in so many ways, yet it is unlike any other pizza you have eaten. Slices are square with a tender, cracker-crisp crust. The trademark Tripoli tomato sauce is mostly sweet and mildly tangy with more than a touch of garlic. The top is covered with grated cheese, sprinkled with oregano, and the whole thing is baked, sliced, and served hot. Order an Extra Cheese and the baker tosses on a circular slice of provolone and pops it back in the oven until the cheese weeps. So will you. 15 Broadway, Salisbury Beach, 978-465-3846, tripolibakery.com/pizza.
Red Rock Bistro & Bar
Lobster Pizza (Large $18.50, Double the lobster, add $12)
Every day, Red Rock’s Chef Lee Fannon and his crew turn out an amazingly diverse and wonderfully creative bistro menu of salads, sandwiches, appetizers, and main courses. But for all the culinary range and imagination you’ll find in evidence here, there’s nothing else on the menu quite like the Lobster Pizza.
Imagine this: Hand-stretch a hunk of house-made dough into an oblong flat about 12 inches long and six inches wide. Throw it on the grill until each side is nicely toasted with dark amber grill marks. Spread on some sweet mission fig jam. Crumble a handful of Massachusetts-produced Great Hill Blue Cheese. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and fresh corn kernels. Scatter a generous handful of lobster claw and knuckle meat. Toss it onto the deck of a ferociously hot oven until the bottom is crisp and the pie is barely cooked through. Just before it’s rushed out of the kitchen, scatter freshly-sliced shreds of scallion greens over the top so they barely begin to wilt before the pie is served.
Red Rock’s Lobster Pizza is about as far from familiar comfort food as you can get. And even though it does hearken to classic food combinations (like figs and blue cheese, and lobster and corn), combined this way on a pizza, it’s an original. Suddenly, lobster, figs, blue cheese, and corn–the most pronounced flavors–are transformed into one of those astonishing, synergistic combinations where each ingredient is delicious and distinct, yet there is also a singular overall effect of tastes, aromas, textures, and temperatures that is completely unique. 141 Humphrey St., Swampscott, 781-595-1414, redrockbistro.com.
Angela’s Coal-Fired Pizza
Vegetable Classico Pizza (Small $15.50, Large $18.50)
Apparently, when it comes to pizza ovens, it’s not just how hot you get it, it’s how you get it hot. At Angela’s, the way they get their ovens very hot indeed–as in 1,000 degrees hot–is by burning good old-fashioned coal, although not in good old-fashioned, smoke-belching, coal-fired ovens. Angela’s ovens, built to order in Abruzzi, Italy, are planet friendly. At first we were skeptical. Is this just a gimmick? But then we ate a large Vegetable Classico—in its entirety. We couldn’t help ourselves. It’s that good.
First, don’t be surprised by just how fast your pizza comes out of the kitchen, blistering hot and wafting steam. After all, a 1,000-degree, coal-fired oven is going to cook your pizza very, very fast. It’s also going to do some wonderful things to your pizza that no other oven can do.
The thin, hand-stretched crust, for one thing, is darkly toasted and totally crisped on the surface, yet deeply chewy beneath with a unique and pleasing charred flavor. The deck of the oven, where your pizza sits baking, cooks the bottom of the crust so quickly that the sauce, mozzarella cheese, and sliced onions on top stay moist and fresh. And the mushrooms and red and green peppers—themselves pre-roasted under the same hellish conditions—remain crisp and distinctly flavored. It’s all well worth a drive up Rte. 1. 890 Broadway (US Rte. 1 North), Saugus, 781-941-2625, angelascfp.com.
Oregano Pizzeria & Ristorante
Pepperoni Classico Pizza (Small $10.99, Large $15.99)
There came a point three years ago when Claude Elias and his family grew weary of their search for great pizza and down-to-earth Italian food without fancy names. So Elias decided to make it himself and opened Oregano Pizzeria & Ristorante.
From the start, Elias’ goal was to bring in the best, and that began with his pizza oven, which he found in Genoa, Italy. Next came his pizza maker, who trained side by side with a pizza master from Naples. The rest of his core ingredients, including extra-virgin olive oil, pepperoni, and fresh mozzarella, are imported as well.
“Our dough rises two hours, and then we refrigerate it for a minimum of 24 hours,” Elias explains. “What happens is it rises slowly, and that is the secret. Then we bake it at 800 degrees, so it’s done in just a few minutes.” Elias notes that just before it comes out of the oven, the pizza maker raises the pizza into the oven dome, where the temperature hits a scorching 1,500 degrees. This finishes the top and makes the whole thing extremely hot.
An excellent example of Elias’ artisanal talent is the Pepperoni Classico. The crust is thin, the edges are crisp, and the flavor is rich—a testament to the slow rising. A very fresh-tasting tomato sauce (Elias’ secret recipe), thinly sliced button mushrooms, distinctively tasty pepperoni, and fresh mozzarella make for a profoundly satisfying combination of flavors and textures. 15 Pleasant St., Newburyport, 978-462-5013, oreganopizzeria.com.
Flatbread Company
Coevolution Pizza (Small $9.75, Large $17.75)
This is pizza on a mission. But don’t worry; a big part of the mission is great pizza. And the other parts are saving the planet and having a good time. Who wouldn’t sign up for that? And for the folks at Flatbread Company, it’s not just marketing—they really mean it.
For example, the only cooking fuel we saw in use is firewood, which is stacked everywhere, inside and out. Pizzas are baked in a hulking, hand-built stone oven that looks positively prehistoric. Even the sauce is cooked in a witch-sized caldron hung over a blazing wood fire. Ingredients, as you might expect, emphasize locally-grown organic produce, free range chicken, clean meats, and all-natural, chemical-free everything else. Pretty earthy stuff, and boy, does it make great pizza.
Among the pizzas with names like Jay’s Heart (similar to a pizza margherita) and Community Flatbread (Jay’s Heart plus mushrooms, herbs, and caramelized onions), we liked the Coevolution. Shaped into an oblong pie (the current fashion among some artisanal pizza bakers), this pizza has a hearty rustic look. The crust delivers a pleasing balance of crunchiness and chewiness plus an earthy/yeasty aroma that can only come from long-risen dough. All the other toppings – including Kalamata olives, fresh rosemary, roasted red peppers, goat and mozzarella cheeses, red onions, and garlic—taste fresh and distinct. Mission accomplished. 5 Market Sq., Amesbury, 978-834-9800, flatbreadcompany.com.
Onion Town Grill
White Greek Pizza (Small $12, Large $15)
For all you North Shore trivia buffs, here’s an interesting nugget: our very own town of Danvers was once the onion-growing capital of the region. They even named the popular Danvers Onion in the town’s honor. Hence the origin of this establishment’s moniker, Onion Town Grill, which turns out to be a charming little neighborhood place that’s just as homey and folksy as its name would have you believe. And while it’s only been open a couple of years, it somehow manages to feel like it’s been here forever.
When it’s time to relax, Onion Town Grill looks like a perfect place to catch a game (on one of seven widescreens around the large, horseshoe-shaped oak bar), sip a beer, and munch on a fresh, hot White Greek Pizza. If you’re looking for fancy, go elsewhere. If you seek truth in pizza, eat here.
Notable on Onion Town Grill’s pie are the sweet, elastic, buttery crust; the creamy, aromatic feta; the high-quality Kalamata olives; and the fresh, tasty spinach. It’s a classic—some might say even basic—recipe for a pizza made in one variation or another by scores of restaurants in the area. Yet the one they make at this spot, lovingly operated by co-owners Gail Couture and Donald Harwood (sister and brother and both first-time restaurateurs) takes what could be just another ordinary White Greek Pizza and brings it to a much higher level. 175 Water St., Danvers, 978-774-3343, oniontowngrill.com.
Reading makes it tough to buy and even tougher to sell. By Jack Morris Continue reading Destination: Reading
Title: ST. Peter\’s Fiesta, Gloucester, Massachusetts
Location: Gloucester, MA
Link out: Click here
Description: Religious activities, music, food, sporting events, parade, culminating with the Blessing of the Fishing Fleet from the Boulevard (near Fisherman\’s Statue) on June 27 at 3 p.m. Sponsored by St. Peter\’s Fiesta Committee. 978-283-1601.
Start Date: 2010-06-23
End Date: 2010-06-27
Title: Jambu’s Valentine’s Wish List Party
Location: Jambu – 38 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead
Link out: Click here
Description: Valentine’s Wish List Party at Jambu Jewelry – February 4 and 11 from 4-7pm.
Start Time: 16:00
Date: 2010-02-04
End Time: 19:00
Jambu Jewelry
Winter Hours
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 5:30pm
Sundays: 12 noon – 5pm
Head downhill with the best gear this winter. By Lysa Pelletier. Photographs by Sharon White.
(Left – Right Top Row:) 1. Burton Ruler snowboard boots, $140, REI. 2. Oakley Danny Kass googles, $144.99, Buchika’s. 3. Smith Heiress googles, $115, Thunder. 4. Smith helmet, $160, REI. 5. Scott ski poles, $45, Sports Stop Wenham. 6. Line Prophet 100 skis, $649.95, Putnam’s Ski & Snowboard Shop. (Left – Right Bottom Row) 7. Flow Scotty Lago Quantum Snowboard, $449.95, Putnam’s. 8. Ride Contraband snowboard bindings, $219, Putnam’s. 9. Marker Baron ski bindings, $399.95, Putnam’s. 10. Salomon Shogun 173 skis, $659, Buchika’s. 11. Technica Dragon ski boots, $649, Buchika’s. Continue reading Hit the Slopes in Style
Downtown Salem, MA
Over a dozen artfully carved ice sculptures will grace downtown Salem starting February 6 as part of the 8th annual Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival. Ice Sculpture Themes range from the Eiffel Tower to the Salem Witch. This year will also feature an ice sculpting demonstration at 1:00 p.m. downtown Salem. Over 30 downtown businesses will offer discounts and free chocolate during the weekend as well. The festival officially kicks off with a scrumptious Chocolate and Wine Tasting event in Hamilton Hall February 5 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Salem Main Streets, the Salem Chamber of Commerce, and local retailers, restaurants and businesses invite you to attend the 8th annual Salem’s So Sweet, Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival. A decadent tradition of delectable chocolate, sparkling ice sculptures and Valentine’s Day shopping…don’t miss Salem’s sweetest event of the year! Continue reading Salem’s So Sweet 2010–8th Annual Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival
(Boston, MA) Massachusetts native and local business owner Bob Rottenberg was honored last week with a lifetime achievement award for excellence in the jewelry industry. Bob Rottenberg, CEO of Long’s Jewelers, was inducted into National Jeweler’s 22nd Annual Retailer Hall of Fame Friday night. The ceremony took place at a gala dinner at Gotham Hall in Manhattan, held in conjunction with the Jewelry Information Center’s 8th Annual Gem Awards.
Rottenberg, whose father and maternal grandfather were both in the business, got his start in the 1960s with a single store called Ross Jewelers in Lynn, Mass. He later bought Long’s Jewelers and eventually decided to bring all the stores he owned under the Long’s Jewelers name which dates back to 1878.
Today, Rottenberg continues an active role in the operation of Long’s Jewelers, which has five locations in Massachusetts. Long’s Jewelers remains a Boston favorite as they have been voted Best Jeweler by several area publications – Boston Magazine, Improper Bostonian, and Northshore Magazine all in 2009.
Rottenberg credits not only the customers but also the dedication of the management team and employees at Long’s for the company’s success.
“The people in the stores have been with us a very long time and are very capable,” Rottenberg says. “That’s what drives the success of any company, the people in the trenches.”
Bob Rottenberg’s two sons Judd and Craig Rottenberg play an integral part in the company’s success as well. Judd Rottenberg, a Graduate Gemologist with vast product knowledge, is a principal and manager of the Burlington, MA location. Craig Rottenberg, who holds a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management, is the President of Long’s Jewelers and maintains financial and marketing aspects of the business. Bob’s wife Dianne has also played a significant role in the success of Long’s Jewelers.
Rottenberg’s success has also stemmed from his product knowledge and strong relationships he has build with his customers over the years. He has maintained a balance of classic jewelry staples as well as fashion forward pieces in his stores by forecasting trends and taking note of what his customers are seeking. In addition, Rottenberg has given back to his community by sponsoring various organizations such as The Boston Marathon and The Jimmy Fund Walk.
“I enjoy the interaction with customers I’ve had for over 40 years–and now their kids, another generation,” Rottenberg says.
…
ABOUT LONG’S JEWELERS
Established in 1878, Long’s Jewelers currently operates five stores in MA: Boston, Burlington, Braintree, Natick, and Peabody. Long’s carries the finest collection of jewelry and watches from world-renowned manufacturers that include Rolex, David Yurman, Mikimoto, Roberto Coin, and Breitling. As New England’s Diamond Source, Long’s also specializes in diamonds and engagement rings. The Long’s diamond, wedding ring, and bridal jewelry selection includes signature pieces as well as items from top designers Ritani, Memoire, and Scott Kay just to name a few. Each store also offers a complete giftware gallery of crystal, porcelain sculptures, and gifts for baby and the home. Long’s also focuses on corporate gifts to suit every business need. Long’s is a proud member of the American Gem Society, the official award supplier of the Boston Marathon, and an avid supporter of many charities. For more information, log on to www.longsjewelers.com.
Co-owners and top stylists April Graffeo, Jose Batistin, and their team are happy to announce their award-winning Indra Salon and City Spa’s transition into a much larger space at 8 Main Street in Andover, Ma., this Wednesday. The new location will provide exciting new features and services, as well as the expansion of the Pure Talent Academy that will be open 6 days a week. We welcome you this week at the new Indra to have a sneak peak of the new space and daily demonstrations highlighting some of our new services. While you’re here you can also check out our expanded product line at our new Aveda Life Style Store.
For more info, go to: www.indrasalon.com
Thinking of tying the knot? Have you ever dreamed of hosting a destination wedding? Why travel half-way across the world, when the air is perfumed with romance on the North Shore? By Stacey Marcus Continue reading Northshore Wedding Guide 2010
Makeup Artist Guy Lento trades supermodels for super moms. By Leslie Martini. Photographs by Sadie Dayton.
Coco Chanel once said, “I don’t understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little—if only out of politeness. Maybe that’s the day she has a date with destiny. And it’s best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.” Continue reading Coco Chanel’s Makeup Artist, Guy Lento
Slimming down in style at Marblehead’s Burn. By Terri Ogan. Photographs by Joel Laino.
Burn is not your typical gym. This recently opened fitness facility located in Marblehead’s Village Plaza offers a variety of new classes to help shed pounds and invigorate the body. “Each class is one that will leave you feeling the muscle burn and the desire to create a new lifestyle,” says Amy Livermore, owner of Burn. “We are committed to creating an atmosphere unlike any other in the area.” Continue reading Marblehead’s Burn
Title: How Men Think (or Do They?) Comedy Tour
Location: Mission Oak Grill, Newburyport
Link out: Click here
Description: The show line up includes Salisbury\’s own Tony Moschetto from Comedy Central and The Playboy Channel, Rich Gustus from Comedy Central, Ed Kopesky, Mike Cote and Jim Bowes. The show content is so glaringly clear, as the comedians share their points of view on wives, mothers, friends, kids, careers, neighbors, growing older, love, lust, Internet dating. Women will appreciate it coming from guys who have no ulterior motives and will just honestly make them laugh.
Start Time: 7:30
Date: 2010-01-16
If a few inches are in the forecast, plow driver Anthony Laconte is ready to work. By Jillian Ducharme. Photograph by Christopher Churchill.
Anthony Laconte knows a thing or two about snow storms. As a plow driver for the town of Georgetown and owner of construction firm J. Derenzo and Co., he hasn’t missed a storm since 1982. He’s seen almost every type of snow fall from the sky, plenty of dumb driving maneuvers, and one orangutan. Continue reading Plow Driver Anthony Laconte
