WHO: “Mean” Dean Harvey
JOB: Chili chef
HIS PICK: Ipswich Ale Brewery
LOCATION: Ipswich
“Ipswich Ale Brewery knows how to have a good time as they host events throughout the year (where you can often spot the Tapmobile). I’m really looking forward to going to the restaurant/bar at their new location in Ipswich and having a drink with people who share my love of great beer.”
Photos, food content, and area events are a few of the things you’ll find posted by Joey Ciaramitaro, the outspoken author of Good Morning Gloucester. The blog’s popularity is evidenced by its always-active (and entertaining) comment threads. Good Morning Gloucester, goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com
Readers’ Choice: Good Morning Gloucester
There’s nothing like a lively pub and a frothy beer after a long day, and Cape Ann Brewing Co.in Gloucester is where we love to go. The brewery, which moved to a new location on Rogers Street last year and now boasts its own Fisherman’s selection, featuring ales, IPAs, and stouts, among others. Using two-row Barley imported from Europe, the brew crew concocts some of the most memorable flavors on the North Shore. Cape Ann Brewing Company, 11 Rogers St., Gloucester, 978-282-7399, capeannbrewing.com
Readers’ Choice: Ipswich Ale Brewery, Ipswich. Ipswich Ale Brewery, 23 Hayward St., Ipswich, 978-356-3329, ipswichalebrewery.com
By offering its students an environment in which to explore technical aspects of dance while having fun and getting great exercise, the North Shore Dance Academy in Danvers has made a name for itself. And its name should be at the top of the list for those seeking a studio full of nurturing instructors who know how to realize and develop a child’s potential. North Shore Dance Academy, 27 Garden St., Unit 2 Danvers, 978-304-0893, northshoredanceacademy.com
Readers’ Choice: NRG Dance Center, Peabody. NRG Dance Center, 201 Andover St., Peabody, 978-535-5147, nrgdance center.org
Spend some time on the North Shore and the Topsfield Fairis sure to come up in conversation. And for a good reason: It’s a blast! There simply is something for everyone. Who wouldn’t get a kick out of giant pumpkins, bearded goats, and big bulls? And let’s not forget headlining entertainers (the legendary Flying Wallendas appear this year). With music, rides—and, oh, the food!—and a whole lot of everything a fair should have, the Topsfield Fair is our pick for one not to miss. Topsfield Fair, 207 Boston St., Topsfield, 978-887-5000, topsfieldfair.org
Readers’ Choice: The Vintage Bazaar & Music Festival, Salisbury. The Vintage Bazaar, 45 Ferry Rd., Salisbury, 978-518-0128 vintagebazaarne.blogspot.com
Since opening in 2006, Renaissance in Haverhill has offered world-class golf on rolling greens. The club, home to the first-ever Brian Silva Signature Course, gives golfers a place to perfect their game while taking in the North Shore’s most exclusive environs. Renaissance Golf Club, 377 Kenoza St., Haverhill, 978-556-0900, renaissancegolfclub.com
Readers’ Choice: Renaissance Golf Club, Haverhill
With its par-72 course, pro shop, and award-winning Keon’s restaurant, Georgetown’s Black Swan Country Club is a high-caliber getaway for golfers. Its meticulously maintained greens and verdant vistas make it a true pleasure for every kind of golfer. They offer challenging courses for the more advanced and mostly green, hazard-free courses for casual players. Black Swan Country Club, 258 Andover St., Georgetown, 978-352-7926, blackswancountryclub.com
Readers’ Choice: Far Corner Golf Club, Boxford. Far Corner Golf Club, 5 Barker Rd., Boxford, 978-352-8300, farcornergolf.com
Offering a Saturday-through-Wednesday lineup of entertainment, Kitty O’Shea’s Irish Pub in Beverly is a hot spot for the Irish pub enthusiast. The menu is chockfull o’ yummy nibbles like curry chips, imported Irish sausages, and Guiness beef stew. Wash it all down with a foam-topped pint and call it a banner day indeed. Kitty O’Shea’s Irish Pub, 298 Cabot St., Beverly, 978-927-0300, northshoreonline.com/kittyosheaspub
Readers’ Choice: Port Tavern, Newburyport. Port Tavern, 84 State St., Newburyport, 978-465-1006, theporttavern.com
There’s no place better than the Sand Bar in Lynn for grabbing a mic, getting on stage, and giving it a go at Karaoke with Christie every Friday night. With its beach bar vibe, outdoor Tiki hut, and regular crowds, it’s a great venue for letting loose your inner rock star. The Sand Bar, 714 Washington St., Lynn, 781-593-7263, sandbarlynn.com
Readers’ Choice: Fantasy Island, Salem. Fantasy Island, 516 Loring Ave., Salem, 978-745-1700, fantasyislandsalem.com
Home to Rockport Music, the Shalin Liu Performance Center in downtown Rockport often plays host to some of music’s most gifted performers, from solo pianists to string quartets. It’s also home of the annual Rockport Chamber Music Festival, which boasts a roster of world-class musicians, plus free community events and educational opportunities. When it comes to taking in a performance, we haven’t enjoyed more stunning views than those visible through the performance center’s massive windows, providing the perfect New England backdrop for a beautiful soundtrack. Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main St. Rockport, 978-546-7391, rcmf.org
Readers’ Choice: Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport
New York City has the Great White Way, Boston has the Wang, the Wilbur, and the Paramount, and the North Shore has Beverly’s North Shore Music Theatre. Throughout the year, theatre buffs from all over can take in big-name shows (Legally Blonde, Annie, and Hello Dolly! among them) performed by casts who often give the big-city productions a serious run for their money. North Shore Music Theatre, 62 Dunham Rd., Beverly, 978-232-7200, nsmt.org
Readers’ Choice: North Shore Music Theatre, Beverly
Swanky. That’s one way to describe the Venetian Moon in Reading. Total sophistication and taste are its appeal. Black-and-white décor set off with choice colors make for a chic backdrop for the sipping of dreamy cocktails and the tasting of stellar appetizers, steak, chops, seafood, and Italian entrées. The tapas and desserts are beyond delicious and satisfy even the most hard-to-please palates. Venetian Moon, 680 Main St., Reading, 781-944-3633, venetianmoon.com
Readers’ Choice: The Blue Ox, Lynn. The Blue Ox, 191 Oxford St., Lynn, 781-780-5722, theblueoxlynn.com
Established in 2001, the Newburyport Yacht Clubis now widely recognized as one of the premier boating facilities on the Northern Massachusetts/Southern New Hampshire coast. The Club House and Marina are located on the Merrimac River, just minutes from I-95 and Route 1. The marina features sheltered deepwater dockage and is approximately a mile and a half upriver from one of the best sport fishing and sailing areas in the Northeast. Newburyport Yacht Club, 300R Merrimac St., Newburyport, 978-463-9911, newburyport yachtclub.com
Readers’ Choice:Marina at Hatter’s Point, Amesbury. Marina at Hatters Point, 60 Merrimac St., Amesbury, 978-388-7333, marinaathatterspoint.com
Originally known as The Ware and built by vaudeville veterans in the 1920s, the Cabot Street Cinema Theatre in Beverly is a rare gem that seems to have weathered the decades untouched by always-evolving technology. Take in a domestic or foreign-language film while getting lost in the ambiance of a bygone era. Cabot Street Cinema Theatre, 286 Cabot St., Beverly, 978-927-3677, cabotcinemamovies.com
Readers’ Choice: Cinema Salem, Salem. Cinema Salem, 1 E India Square Mall, Salem, 978-744-1400, cinemasalem.com
Consistently recognized as one of New England’s premier museums, the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem is a revolving door of world-class exhibits by and about some of the world’s best-known artists and most fascinating subjects and cultures (we loved the Ansel Adams exhibit). Interactive exhibits, educational workshops, lectures, and other hands-on opportunities—plus a gorgeous gift shop—will keep you coming back for more. Peabody Essex Museum, 161 Essex St., Salem, 978-745-9500, pem.org
Readers’ Choice: Wenham Museum, Wenham. Wenham Museum, 132 Main St., Wenham, 978-468-2377, wenhammuseum.org
Die-hard sports fans can always be found at Tavern in the Square in Salem, cheering their teams to victory as they watch on big-screen TVs. The atmosphere here invites some good-natured chaos, while a selection of domestic and international beers will keep you cozied up to the bar for the entire game. Tavern in the Square, 189 Washington St., Salem, 978-740-2337, taverninthesquare.com
Readers’ Choice: Tavern in the Square, Salem
Like friendly competition and dazzling friends with your wealth of useless knowledge? Head to the Winner’s Circle in Salisbury, where Thursday nights mean intense competition and a $100 prize. Winner’s Circle, 211 Elm St., Salisbury, 978-462-8994, winnerscirclema.com
Readers’ Choice: Winner’s Circle, Salisbury
If you want to take in a beautiful view, go for a swim, or just stroll the shoreline, Crane Beach in Ipswich is your place. Adored by visitors for generations, this beach is particularly special as it is also conservation land. Pack a picnic, don your suit, and experience the sea at its finest. Crane Beach, 290 Argilla Rd., Ipswich, 978-356-4354, thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/crane-beach-on-the-crane
Readers’ Choice: Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester. Good Harbor Beach, Rt. 127A, Gloucester.
The North Shore is loaded with wonderful galleries, but Gallery Della-Piana in Wenham stands out in our minds. Since opening its doors in 2009, the gallery’s exhibits have inspired artists and onlookers of all ages with pieces from myriad genres—including Abstract, Representational, and Non-Objective. Visit its collection and get lost in a world both aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking. Gallery Della-Piana, 152 Main St., Wenham, 978-468-1944, gallerydellapiana.com
Readers’ Choice: Mosher Gallery, Rockport. Mosher Gallery, 13 Main St., Rockport, 978-546-3666, moshergallery.com
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