We caught up with CEO of NE Frog Pond, Developer of Pinkberry in New England, Trippe Lonian, to talk frozen yogurt and their upcoming grand opening.

With three successful locations in Boston, what brings Pinkberry to the North Shore? We’ve always wanted a location on the North Shore. In fact, a couple of our partners live there. At our locations in Boston, folks driving down there, have told us that they would love a store closer to them on the North Shore. In other words, the customers have demanded it. We’re very excited to open a store on the North Shore, and Beverly, specifically.

Going off of that question, why Beverly? A lot of customers were saying, “Why not Beverly?” We spent a lot of time thinking about what property would be right to deliver our Pinkberry experience. The one in Beverly is bigger than usual and it’s a beautiful store. We’re excited about joining the Beverly community.

The Pinkberry location in Harvard Square is very popular, especially with the college students. With several colleges around the North Shore region, do you think students will be a main source of business? I think Pinkberry appeals to a lot of people. We’ve gained a tremendous following with college students, but there’s also a strong appeal with families.

Are there any changes or advancements you plan on making that will set you apart from the other local frozen yogurt shops on the North Shore? Definitely – we really focus on delivering a unique product that’s crisp, light, refreshing. We work with our staff to really enhance the experience customers have at Pinkberry. There’s a new flavor coming out next week – strawberry – that we’re excited about. So, we’re always looking for the next best thing to bring to customers.

Will customers on the North Shore get the same catering and delivery options that Pinkberry offers through its general site? Yes, although those options won’t be available right when the store opens. We like to have customers come visit the store at first and, eventually, we roll out the delivery options later.

This makes seven in Massachusetts – any future plans for more? There are – we have a couple of other locations planned for next year in 2013. But right now, we want to stay focused on our location in Beverly.

The shop will open to the public May 26th at its location on 23 Enon St. – Alex Churchill 

Tickets $25; VIP Seating $50 – Fabulous Swag bag, complimentary cocktails and delectable treats, plus complimentary make-up tips and a quick polish at Interlocks Salon’s nail bar. Hot ticket items in a LIVE Auction – portion of the proceeds go to Clothes for Hope

Food trends come and go, but year after year, nothing speaks to the flavor of summer like a classic raw bar. For a fresh, vibrant taste of summer, look no further than the award-winning Tuscan Kitchen in Salem, NH. This May through August, Tuscan Kitchen will be featuring daily selections of the finest seafood from their new Summer Raw Bar, available for lunch and dinner. Enjoy the special catch of the day, or take on the succulent Tuscan Shellfish Tower. Choose from a selection of Local Oysters, Little Neck Clams, and Giant Shrimp Cocktail, or enjoy our luxurious Chilled Maine Lobster. Our wide variety of first class sea-sourced fare has something exciting to offer every seafood lover!

From The Raw Bar
Fresh Daily Selections
Tuscan Shellfish Tower
Local oysters, Little Neck Clams, Giant Shrimp Cocktail
Chilled Maine Lobster
Tuna & Scallop Crudo Served with a Trio of Signature Sauces

WHERE: Tuscan Kitchen│67 Main Street, Salem, NH 03079 │603-952-4875
WHEN: Available now through August 2012

RESERVATIONS:
Reservations accepted for parties of seven or more. Call-ahead seating is available for parties smaller than seven. Simply call (603) 952-4875 before leaving your home or office and if on a wait, you will be added to wait list ensuring priority seating! Upon arrival, please check in with the host at the front door. *There may be an additional wait when you arrive.

About Tuscan Kitchen:
Tuscan Kitchen is an upscale restaurant offering handcrafted regional Italian cuisine located in Salem, New Hampshire. Owner/Entrepreneur Joe Faro opened Tuscan Kitchen with one simple vision: recreating a true Italian experience. Everything from the imported Italian limestone on the building’s 17,000 square foot exterior, to the fireplaces, wood-fired oven, custom-made Italian imported pasta-making equipment, ingredients and menu reflects various regions of Italy. With 525 seats, an expansive yet intimate dining room, three private diningrooms, two outdoor patios, a wine bar and regular live entertainment, TuscanKitchen is the perfect place for enjoying a bottle of wine or cocktails, dining on all occasions, special chef and wine tastings, and holding special events and private parties alike. Tuscan Kitchen is located at 67 Main Street, Salem, NH, 03079. Hours of operation are as follows: for lunch: Monday- Saturday, 11:30AM to 3PM, Sunday, 12PM to 4PM; and for dinner:  Monday- Saturday:  5PM to 10PM and Sunday 12PM to 9PM. For more information, please call 603-952-4875 or visit www.tuscan-kitchen.com.

Shopping Center Welcomes New Specialty Retailers and Announces More New Stores Coming Soon

Northshore Mall, a Simon mall located in Peabody, MA, announced today the addition of a full-service day spa, a new women’s boutique and a relocation of one of the mall’s finest stores. The mall welcomes Green Tangerine Spa for peaceful retreat and Apricot Lane for fresh women’s fashion. Brooks Brothers will continue to provide timeless classics in a new location and the highly-anticipated Container Store will open in October.

“These new options coming to the mall represent what North Shore area customers really want,” said Joe Barilla, Leasing Representative at Simon Property Group. “We are proud to further strengthen our position as a premier, shopping destination that offers a full assortment of beauty services, fashions and home furnishings for our valued shoppers,” he added.

Green Tangerine Spa – Opening in July

Green Tangerine Spa offers the luxury and elegance of a city salon and spa right in the convenience of your suburban shopping environment. With a full line of spa and salon services including skin-hydrating massages, soothing facials, nutrient-rich haircuts and styles, make-up application and waxing packages there is something for everyone in this tranquil space. The Peabody location will bring the latest in spa services to renew your spirit, calm your mind and recapture that healthy glow inside and out.

Apricot Lane – Opening in July

This women’s fashion boutique will provide the latest designer brands and collections as well as unique gift ideas. The popular merchandise includes celebrity-inspired branded apparel, affordable fashion jewelry, handbags and accessories. Apricot Lane will have what you need whether it is an outfit for a casual outing or a special night out on the town.

Brooks Brothers – Relocating this fall

Brooks Brothers has been offering timeless, classic business and casual clothing for men, women and children at Northshore Mall for years. The store will continue to offer superior quality and impeccable service from their new location within the Nordstrom wing this fall.

New stores that have opened at the mall in 2012 include: G2 Salon, LEGO and crewcuts by J. Crew.

About Northshore Mall

Northshore Mall delivers a convenient approach to upscale shopping. Anchored by department store favorites Nordstrom, Macy’s, Macy’s Men’s/Furniture Gallery, JCPenney, Apple and Sears, the center offers more than 120 specialty stores, a newly renovated food court and five full-service restaurants, including P.F. Changs, Burtons Grill, The Cheesecake Factory, Legal Sea Foods, Chipotle and Joe’s American Bar & Grill.

Follow Northshore Mall for up to the minute updates on new stores and event listings on Facebook and on Twitter @ NorthshoreMall.

Saturday, May 19, 2012, 1:00pm – 5:00pm Registration & starting location: Unitarian Church Parish Hall, 26 Pleasant Street, Newburyport

The American Red Cross of Northeast Massachusetts is pleased to host an event of elegant chocolate decadence – our 9th Annual Chocolate Tour of Newburyport! All proceeds from this event will benefit our chapter of the Red Cross.

This walking tour of Newburyport will allow locals and visitors to walk the quaint downtown route, introduce themselves to wonderful local businesses, and partake in delectable chocolate treats and other samples from over 25 participants.

Ticket admission. This year, the American Red Cross needs your help more than ever to provide disaster relief assistance and retain the local programs and services around the North Shore.

There are many factors that play an intricate part to our wellness and while these two components are important, we also need to realize that there are many other factors. I will mention two for us to think about today. One is emotions, how we handle our emotions, this is detrimental to our well being, and the other is quieting our mind. You may know someone who you may see that their mind is constantly “on” or you may know someone that they tell you they are okay and that they are not angry about a situation, but you can see it, you can feel it when you are around them, they still are holding onto disappointment or being misled or worse yet being betrayed. These two areas of our lives, are an area where we have not been schooled as to how to take care of what we are feeling , nor have we been taught how to quiet our mind.

Just for a moment, I would like you to stop reading, close your eyes and focus on your breath. Take a deep breath deep down into your belly, feel your belly rise, feel the air fill your lungs and feel your belly rise as if you are filing up empty space within your body. As you exhale slowly, allow your breath to gently pass through your lips feeling the warmth of the air being exhaled. Take a moment and repeat three times.

Today take time to write down how you have been feeling. Just three sentences, what you feel in your heart that you may need to mend to feel light, joyful and filled with peace. Be honest with yourself. There is no judgment, now one is going to read it, just you.

Now…just for today, carry this thought with you, I move through my day with grace and ease feeling peace-filled. And let me know…how you are feeling.

July 9th – Opening Night! Presented by the Coco Key Hotel and Water Resort “…Soon to be a DoubleTree, so the cookies are coming.” Boston Lobsters vs Sacramento Capitals. Featuring Robby Ginepri playing for the Boston Lobsters. Join us in cheering on the 2012 Boston Lobsters at their home opener!

Agassi! Is now a Boston Lobster! Andre Agassi joins the Lobsters on July 19th in New York City.  This match, vs. the NY Sportimes at their Randall’s Island Stadium, will also feature tennis legends John McEnroe and Martina Hingis.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Johnny Mac Tennis Project (JMTP), to provide scholarships, coaching, transportation and other financial assistance to qualified young tennis players in the greater New York area.

Bahar Uttam, Owner of the Boston Lobsters, explained, “It is the Lobsters’ pleasure and honor to be supporting what the Sportimes and John McEnroe are doing in New York, and, of course, we are thrilled to have all-time-great, Hall-of-Famer Andre Agassi joining our team for this 2012 season WTT match. What a great night it will be.”

The Boston Lobsters are currently accepting applications for volunteers and ball persons for the 2012 season.

Volunteers receive a shirt, opportunities to watch world class tennis between & after shifts and a food voucher. Applications can be found in the contact section of the Boston Lobsters website. Volunteer inquiries please contact Lori Lynes the Director of Volunteers at lori@bostonlobsters.net and for Ball Person inquiries please contact Lauren Mihalchik Ball Person Manager at lauren@bostonlobsters.net.

Check out the events section of the Boston Lobsters website for upcoming Larry’s Kids Club events, meet Larry and free tennis clinics for kids and more. www.BostonLobsters.net

Congressman John Tierney

Join us on Monday, May 14, 2012 at the Lynn Museum as we delve into congressional history from the unique perspective of incumbent Congressman John Tierney who serves Lynn and the Sixth Congressional District.

Among the topics to be discussed will be the congressional budget and federal aid to cities such as Lynn and jobs.  Come listen to Congressman Tierney as he gives you a unique view of how Congress works.

Moderated by Attorney James J. Carrigan, this is the fourth in a series of roundtable forums designed to provide an exchange of ideas between experts and the public.  The discussion will be held from 6-7:15pm. Immediately following the program, a reception hour will be held where you can meet Congressman Tierney.

The program takes place at Lynn Museum, 590 Washington Street, Lynn, MA. Tickets will be available at the door.  Admission is $10 for LM members/$15 Non-members.  For more information,  contact the Museum at 781-581-6200 or visit our website at www.lynnmuseum.org.

Both SUP East Coast Style and Paddle Board NE have to reach 600 on their facebook pages for a winner to be chosen, start “liking” today! You could win a Trident Elite Paddle (pictured right) valued at $200!

Don’t forget Mother’s Day!

SUP East Coast/Paddle Board New England have lots of Mother’s Day boards, paddles, and swag on sale! Get your mom summer ready with the best gear! Not to mention their special package, buy 5 get 2 FREE (1 hour lessons/rentals) 125$

SUP East Coast/Paddle Board New England 47 Water St., Beverly

The charity tournament features a 4-person scramble format and costs $200 per golfer, which includes breakfast and lunch. Registration and breakfast start at 6:45 am and the tournament kicks off with a 7:30 am shotgun start. The tournament will also feature putting and driving contests and include an array of raffle prizes that will be given away during the event.

Generous contributions from a variety of local businesses are helping to make this event possible.  Lowell General Hospital is a title sponsor of the event and North Andover Soccer Association (NASA) is the premier sponsor.  Also sponsoring the tournament are All Care Laser Center, Blue Dog, Cakes By Design, Cedardale, Cincotta Landscape & Design, Coldwell Banker (Gretchen Papineau and Margus Deery), Daigle LLC, Downer Brothers Landscaping, Elements Therapeutic Massage, Engineering Service Corp, Jamie’s Restaurant, Mosquito Squad, Passport Pilates and TSR Hockey.

“We are grateful to all of our sponsors who are helping to make this important event happen,” says Tracy Sportelli, director of Everyone’s A Player.  “Their tremendous support, along with many local families who have donated to this event, will help us to get more kids on the field and make a positive impact on the community.”

For more information about sponsoring or participating in the tournament, please contact:

Jennifer Cordes: jencordes@msn.com
Tournament Website: www.eapgolftournament.com

About Everyone’s A Player
Everyone’s A Player (EAP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that offers assistance to low income and underprivileged youth in the Merrimack Valley to enable them to participate in organized sporting programs, and be exposed to higher levels of play with specialized camps, clinics and club level teams. The organization’s goal is to help families overcome the financial obstacles that may prevent youth involvement in sports and provide opportunities for children, through organized sports programs, to lead active, healthy lives, develop fundamental skills and make a positive contribution to the community.  To learn more about EAP, visit us at on Facebook.

Sunday, August 12, noon – 3:00 p.m.

Phillips House, 34 Chestnut Street, Salem, Mass.

Join the Phillips House and the North Shore Old Car Club for the Annual Car Meet. See vintage and antique vehicles, including the Phillips family’s collection of carriages, two Pierce-Arrows, and a Model A Ford, displayed on historic Chestnut Street. The house is open for tours, and refreshments and entertainment are available. Free event

Are you looking for a unique gift idea for Mom this Mother’s Day? Something she wouldn’t think of herself that is creative and meaningful? Whether she is a Mom who seems to “have it all” or is someone who doesn’t want anything material, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) offer the idea of a “Green Gift Membership” — a gift that can keep on giving throughout the year.

“Green” gift giving is becoming increasingly popular among people who are looking for gifts that also support the environment. A gift membership to The Trustees, the nation’s oldest statewide land conservation organization, might just be the perfect idea for Mom this year – especially if she loves the outdoors and believes in protecting the landscapes and landmarks that define the character of our communities.  Try pairing your gift membership for Mom with an outdoor, family “Quest” adventure at a local Trustees reservation, followed by a relaxing Mother’s Day picnic. Questing is a nature-based, treasure hunt-style activity that offers a fun and unique way to enjoy and explore the outdoors. One of the most rapidly growing family outdoor activities on the East Coast, The Trustees offer 13 Quests around the state which are all set to clever poems offering clues that reveal the history and scenic features of each property. Recently featured on WCVB-TV’s popular “Chronicle” program, Trustees Quests now come with a pocket sized Quest Detective booklet that serves as both a guide to their many quest offerings, as well as a way to collect stamps at the end of each quest. For more information, please visit: http://www.thetrustees.org/things-to-do/special-events/questdetective/.

“We have seen more and more of our supporters looking for ways to give a meaningful gift that also gives back to their favorite cause,” says Laurie O’Reilly, Director of Marketing and Membership. “Since The Trustees began offering gift memberships five years ago, we have seen steady growth in the number given every year.” Starting as low as $47 for individual members ($37 for students and seniors, $67 for families), a gift membership not only helps The Trustees advance its mission, but also includes the following:

Free/reduced, year-round admission to 106 stunning Trustees reservations located in 73 communities across Massachusetts, such as Crane Beach in Ipswich, World’s End in Hingham, the Old Manse in Concord, Bird Park in Walpole, and Cape Poge on Martha’s Vineyard; Discounts on stays at Trustees Bed & Breakfasts (The Inn at Castle Hill in Ipswich and the Guest House at Field Farm in Williamstown); Discounted fees for the hundreds of events, programs, lectures summer camps and workshops offered by The Trustees year-round for all ages; The Trustees’ Property Guide, a 224-page guidebook to the organization’s 100-plus reservations – available exclusively to members; A year’s subscription to our quarterly member magazine, Special Places, which keeps members up to date on Trustees news, events, and programs from across the state; and With a gift membership purchase of $125 or above, your gift recipient will also receive our Outdoor Adventure Kit (pictured above). Perfect for your favorite outdoor adventurer, this handy, portable pack includes a pair of binoculars, a multi-tool, a flashlight, whistle, and compass – everything needed for a fun day outdoors. To ensure timely delivery, please order gift memberships by May 1st at: 978.921.1944 or online at www.thetrustees.org.

Saturday’s solid lineup features The Pimps of Joytime, Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, Dub Apocalypse, Silvia Moreno, and the Salem High School Jazz Band. The lineup for Sunday is just as strong with more jazz and soul sounds with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band headlining, HDRnB, Soule Monde, Joel Larue Smith, and the North Shore Jazz Project All-Stars.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a world famous music machine that has been together for more than 30 years. They are synonymous with genre-bending romps and high-octane performances. They revitalized the brass band in New Orleans and around the world touring constantly in the U.S. and in over 30 other countries on five continents. The Dirty Dozen have been featured guests on albums by artists including David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Dr. John and the Black Crowes. The Pimps of Joytime are a charismatic, soulful band, whose well-crafted songs invite the listener to enter a world of infectious dance grooves and indelible melodies, performed by soulful vocalists and skilled musicians. The have recently collaborated with Cyril and Art Neville of the Neville Brothers and Roy Ayers.

The two-day festival will also feature a Salem Five music education tent, a kid’s tent, arts & crafts sale and much more.

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is a family-friendly, free event that presents a dynamic program of jazz, funk and soul performed by some of the hottest bands from New England and the United States. Ipswich Ale sponsors a beer pavilion at the Festival for both days. Proceeds from the Festival support music education and cover the expenses for putting on the Festival.

Also, on Saturday afternoon, May 12, The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival /Berklee College Summer Series kicks off with a performance by The Soul of a Man, a modern day, high energy R&B band whose sound is infused with blues, gospel, soul, and funk. The concert is held from 5 to 7 p.m. in Derby Square in downtown Salem, MA.

For more information on the Salem Jazz & Soul Festival please check to Festival web site at www.salemjazzsoul.org.

Christina Campa and Charley Morrow, winners of 2011 Hat Contest

Marblehead Festival of Arts Champagne & Culinary Arts Reception

The Marblehead Festival of Arts Annual Champagne & Culinary Arts Reception will be held Sunday, June 24, from 5 to 7 pm, under a tent at Fort Sewall, overlooking beautiful Marblehead Harbor. The Reception heralds the opening of the Marblehead Festival of Arts, which will be held June 30-July 4.

Event co-chairs Peter Jackson, Sandy McLaughlin and Lisa Hooper are busy lining up more than a dozen area restaurants which will showcase their menu specialties. Live music will be provided by Ned & The Big Babies, a soulful roots rock & punk band. Also featured is the annual Hat Contest where guests’ creations are rated in several categories.

The Champagne & Culinary Arts Reception is a fundraising event for the summer Arts Festival. Invitations will be available in advance at various Marblehead locations for $50 or on June 24 for $55. For additional information, please visit www.MarbleheadFestival.org.

Habitat for Humanity, Lowe’s seek female volunteers to build homes with low-income families 

Thousands of women across the country join together for National Women Build Week April 30 – May 8

In the days leading up to Mother’s Day construction crews of female volunteers will raise their hammers at Habitat for Humanity construction sites across the country in recognition of National Women Build Week, April 30 through May 8. Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell is  looking for local women to volunteer for a day at the Carter Way (off North Road), Bedford  Habitat construction site during this nine-day event. Construction or home improvement experience is not necessary.

“Local women will be volunteering Monday May 2nd through May 6th on a brand new home.  The week will start off with building walls and on Wed the walls will be raised to kick off the beginning of this affiliates first ever Women Build Home.   This is our 4^th annual event and the days fill up quickly. Women are encouraged to sign up soon in order to be guaranteed a build day” says Kim Trainor, Community Relations Mgr.  “This year we are asking women to make a donation.  We hope they will ask their friends, family and co workers to support them as they volunteer to build.  This Women Build project will not be possible without their support” says Kim Trainor.

The Mother’s Day timeframe was selected for its significance to many volunteers. Families with children make up a staggering number of those in need of adequate housing. More than 12 million children – one in six – live in poverty housing in the United States alone.

To date, female volunteers have built more than 1,800 Habitat houses nationwide .  Locally, Habitat for Humanity  of Greater Lowell has participated in 4 Women Build Weeks.  However, this is the first Women Build house this affiliate has built. To volunteer go to www.lowellhabitat.org and  click on the VolunteerUP button.  For more information call 978-692-0927 or email: ktrainor@lowellhabitat.org.

National Women Build Week challenges women to devote at least one day in the effort to help eliminate poverty housing. The event, now in its fourth year, has drawn more than 20,000 female volunteers from all 50 states.

Lowe’s is contributing more than $1.3 million to National Women Build Week and providing $5,000 Lowe’s gift cards and building materials to more than 250 Habitat affiliates. National Women Build Week is one of the major initiatives supported through Lowe’s five-year, $20 million pledge to Habitat.

As the underwriter of the Women Build program since 2004, Lowe’s conducts how-to clinics at stores to teach women construction skills and empower them to support Habitat projects across the country.

WHAT: Mothers are the focus of many Italian family traditions, and are truly the heart of the family. This year, celebrate your “mamma” at Tuscan Kitchen in Salem, New Hampshire this Mother’s Day. On Sunday, May 13th ,2012, from 11:00am to 8:00pm, families can experience artisan Italian hand crafted selections featured on the special menu such as the new pappardelle all’ antra with house made wide noodle, duck brasato and wild mushroom cream with truffle essence or the wood grilled veal porterhouse prepared with roasted vegetable agrodolce, truffled mascarpone gnocchi, and black mission fog vin cotta, full menu below. At the end of the dinner, every Mom will walk away with a complimentary rose from Tuscan Kitchen!

WHERE: Tuscan Kitchen│67 Main Street, Salem, NH 03079 │603-952-4875

WHEN: Sunday, May 13th, 2012, 11:00am to 8:00pm

RESERVATIONS: Reservations accepted for parties of seven or more. Call-ahead seating is available for parties smaller than seven. Simply call (603) 952-4875 before leaving your home or office and if on a wait, you will be added to wait list ensuring priority seating! Upon arrival, please check in with the host at the front door. *There may be an additional wait when you arrive.

Ray Griffiths Jewelry

Recently dubbed a “cool shop” by Boston Magazine, GLADSTONE, antique and contemporary fine jewelry gallery of Manchester-by-the-Sea will be welcoming Australian-born Ray Griffiths, renowned fine jewelry designer, and featuring his latest collection of designs in their first in-store trunk show.

Mr. Griffiths has been creating beautiful jewelry for more than 30 years drawing on inspiration from architecture and art, a degree in gemology, and his early training in the restoration of tiaras and crowns for royals.  Exquisite signature “crownwork” basket settings, and gorgeous gemstone combinations reflect unusual attention to detail and craftsmanship. These are elegant original jewelry designs with historic references that will create timeless heirlooms.

While at GLADSTONE, don’t miss a new exhibit of “Springtime Greenhouse Panoramas” by photographer Esther Pullman, and the curated collection of antique and contemporary fine jewelry selected by gallery owners Elaine Souza and Charles Gladstone – timeless pieces beautifully displayed.

Ray Griffiths will be in the gallery Friday May 4^th, 11 – 7 and Saturday May 5^th, 11 – 5.

Gladstone

antique and contemporary fine jewelry

36 ½ Union Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts  01944

978.704.9410, info@gladstonejewelry.com, www.gladstonejewelry.com

Gallery hours: Wednesday through Saturday 11-5, and by appointment

Aquatro Gallery features Guatopo, a collection of hand-painted textiles, including beautiful scarves and pillows, as well as fine art work on paper and canvas by Gigi Mederos, along with Amore by Grace Edwards, a fashion-forward, boutique-style jewelry line featured in many stores across the country. Gigi and Grace are perfect partners for their chic concept gallery bringing together beautiful, bold colors in each of their innovative designs.

Aquatro Gallery is a trendsetter on the Madfish Wharf with its bright turquoise floors and white walls creating a little piece of Caribbean summer right in Gloucester and making it a must-visit destination. Visit the Aquatro Gallery website at aquatrogallery.com for their hours throughout the summer and fall and to stay in touch and learn about all of the upcoming events at Aquatro and the Rocky Neck Art Colony.

ABOUT ADRIANA “GIGI” MEDEROS
Gigi Mederos is thrilled to bring back her fine art pieces for a second season on the ‘Neck and to introduce Guatopo, the surface and textile designs she and Stevie Black have been creating. Over the last seven years, Mederos’ body of work has expanded to include painting, drawing, printmaking, works on paper, and hybrid works that combine some or all of these practices. As an outgrowth of Adriana Mederos Studio, she and her partner, Stevie Black, have been working together to realize their dream of developing collections of surface and textile designs. Now that Gigi’s begun painting on silk, and other textiles and surfaces, their hard work is bearing colorful fruit. This summer season, you can find Mederos at Aquatro Gallery, a lively new space on the Wharf next to Madfish Grill in Gloucester, MA.

ABOUT GRACE EDWARDS
Grace Edwards launched her highly successful jewelry line under the brand name, Amore by Grace Edwards, in 2008. Amore is featured in many boutiques and trendy stores across the U.S. Grace is also the Creative
Director at Mia Luxe, a fashion fundraising company that uses jewelry as a platform for raising money for under funded children’s educational, arts, and sports-related programs across the country.

ABOUT ROCKY NECK
Home to arguably the oldest continuous ar t colony in the Americas, Rocky Neck in Gloucester, MA was recently designated as one of Massachusetts’ first “cultural districts” along with Rockport, MA’s downtown area. The Cultural District Initiative came out of an economic stimulus bill passed by the state’s legislature in 2010. A compact, walkable area with a concentration of artist’s studios and galleries, as well as restaurants and other venues, Rocky Neck continues to merge the best of the old and the new.

No need to travel to Charles River rowing clubs, Little Harbor Boathouse Rowing & Paddling announces its third season with classes for adults and teens May through October.   Six week spring rowing sessions for Teens and Adults begin May 7.  Registrations are now open and early sign-up is encouraged due to small class sizes.

“I had a wonderful time learning how to row, and you and the Little Harbor Boathoue coaches were all so positive and have an obvious love for the sport. I think that I have definitely become hooked on it! I will be practicing on the erg machine at the Y over the winter and would love to take it up again in the spring when you are back on the water!” said Salem MA resident Gillian Andrews at the end of the 2011 season.

“We’re delighted to announce LHB’s 2012 coaching staff including Former Israeli National Team and Sarah Lawrence College Crew Co-Captain Chantal Gil from Swampscott “ said Maryellen Auger, Little Harbor Boathouse owner.  Coach Gil competed in the Head of the Charles in 2007 and 2009 along with the Henley Women’s Regatta in 2010. While living in Israel in 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 she was ranked #2 Female Israeli National Team Rower competing in single, pairs and quads.  She is currently a Masters student at the Boston University School of Medicine studying mental health counseling and behavioral medicine.

“I am looking forward to sharing my love of rowing with north shore teens and adults”, said Coach Gil.  Little Harbor small boat sculling program offers a ball sport alternative for teenagers.  It is a fantastic sport for building character, getting in shape, and being launched into a collegiate, Olympic, Masters and lifetime sport.  Our Learn-to-Row program introduces the sport of sliding seat Olympic rowing. Rowers learn the basics of the stroke and build skills on the water in single Echo Rowing Shells.   Our Developmental Program offers rowers an opportunity to build confidence and technical skills.  Training takes place on and off-the-water including Indoor Rowing Machines, Circuit Training and Stretching Exercises.  There are many advantages to learning-to-row in small boats – a distinct advantage to the Little Harbor Boathouse rowing program, “ said Coach Gil.

Little Harbor Boathouse will be offering six week sessions for both adults and teens from May through October. Two-week summer Teen Sculling Programs run July 16 to August 23, Monday through Friday.  Participants are encouraged to register early to be assured placement in small classes.  For registration and more information, visit rowingforall.com.

2012 SPRING TEEN SCULLING PROGRAM:
Meets on M/W/F: 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. May 7 – June 15

SUMMER TEEN SCULLING PROGRAM DATES:

July 16 – July 26 – Monday through Thursday – 9:00 – 11:30 am
July 30 – August 9 -Monday through Thursday – 9:00 – 11:30 am
August 13 – August 23 -Monday through Thursday – 9:00 – 11:30 am

ADULT RECREATIONAL SCULLING PROGRAM DATES:

Starter Sculling
May 7- June 13 – Monday / Wednesday – 8:00 – 9:30 am
June 25 – August 1 – Monday / Wednesday – 7:30 – 9:00 am
June 26 – August 2 – Tuesday / Thursday – 7:30 – 9 am
August 6 – September 12 – Monday / Wednesday – 7:30 – 9:00 am
August 7 – September 13 – Tuesday / Thursday – 7:30 – 9 am
September 18 – October 25 – Tuesday / Thursday – 8:30 – 10:00am

Development Sculling
May 7 – June 13 – Monday / Wednesday – 6:00 – 7:30 am
May 7 – June 13 – Tuesday / Thursday – 3:45 – 5:15 pm
June 25 – August 1 – Monday / Wednesday – 6:00 – 7:30 am
June 26 – August 2 – Tuesday / Thursday – 6:00 – 7:30 am
August 6 – September 12 – Monday / Wednesday – 6:00 – 7:30 am
August 7 – September 13 – Tuesday / Thursday – 6:00 – 7:30 am
September 18 – October 25 – Tuesday / Thursday – 7:00 – 8:30am

Little Harbor Boathouse joins U.S. Rowing’s 11th Annual National Learn-to-Row Day hosting a free Learn-To-Row event on Sat. June 2 from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. “This is a community-wide event.” explained Ms. Auger. “We are inviting everyone to the boathouse to meet Little Harbor’s rowing and paddling coaching staff, watch demonstrations, try-out rowing and register for programs.”

Little Harbor Boathouse is part of Rowing and Paddling For All LLC, a Marblehead-based company dedicated to making kayaking, standup paddling and rowing accessible and affordable for all.  In addition to rowing programs, Little Harbor offers Kayaking and Standup Paddling Seasonal Memberships, Youth Summer Programs and Guided Tours. Further information about Little Harbor Boathouse Rowing and Paddling programs, Seasonal Kayak, Standup Paddleboard and Rowing Memberships, Coastal Rowing Weekends and recreational sculling programs including on-line registration for upcoming classes and events, visit: http://www.rowingforall.com

Northshore Mall, a Simon mall located in Peabody, MA, announced today the addition of new stores, services and dining options. The mall welcomes Brow Art and G2 Salon for a personal care experience, LEGO and crewcuts by J. Crew for children and new restaurant Thai Grille to the Food Court.

“We are proud to add new choices for shoppers at Northshore Mall,” said Joe Barilla, Leasing Representative at Simon Property Group. “With the addition of these retailers, we continue to offer North Shore area shoppers an assortment of stores, services and restaurants that have something for every member of the family,” he added.

crewcuts by J. Crew: Opening April 20

J. Crew is extending its comfortable and classic looks to children this month with the addition of crewcuts, its line of clothing, shoes and accessories for girls, boys and babies. crewcuts features unique items such as special occasion wear, cashmere, monogram clothing, cause-themed clothing and even school uniforms.

LEGO: Opening in May

Encouraging the development of children’s creativity since 1932, LEGO is bringing its world-famous bricks to the Northshore Mall’s JC Penney Court. The store set to open early May will feature toys, experiences and teaching materials for children as well as adult LEGO enthusiasts. Grand Opening weekend is scheduled for May 25th -27th. To help celebrate LEGO’s Grand Opening weekend, a life size Sponge Bob Square Pants will be built in the JC Penney court.

Brow Art: Opening in May

Eyebrow threading is an ancient Indian method that removes hair quickly and efficiently. Brow Art currently operating a kiosk in the mall, will soon offer eyebrow, facial, and body threading in new store location in the Sear’s wing in late May.

G2 Salon: Now open

G2 Salon is known for providing a full-service salon and spa services in all of their locations. G2 Salon is located near Legal Sea Foods and Joe’s American Bar & Grille.

Thai Grille: Opening in June

Rounding out the restaurant offerings in the food court, Thai Grille will add some fresh and flavorful options this summer. The menu offerings will include traditional Thai cuisine with a twist of American and Asian fusion.

About Northshore Mall
Northshore Mall delivers a convenient approach to upscale shopping. Anchored by department store favorites Nordstrom, Macy’s, Macy’s Men’s/Furniture Gallery, JCPenney, Filene’s Basement and Sears, the center offers more than 120 specialty stores, a newly renovated food court and five full-service restaurants, including P.F. Changs, Burtons Grill, The Cheesecake Factory, Legal Sea Foods, Chipotle and Joe’s American Bar & Grill.

Follow Northshore Mall for up to the minute updates on new stores and event listings on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NorthshoreMall and on Twitter @NorthshoreMall

Greg Stevens, CFP®, CRPS®: Senior Financial Counselor, Cabot Money Management

There’s more to retirement than a SEP, SIMPLE IRA, ROTH, or IRA. Instituting a retirement plan can be a great way to save money for your own retirement, offer a benefit to your employees and give your business a way to save on taxes. Explore options available to a small business owner and learn the pros and cons of each, including the Solo 401k and the Defined Benefit Plan, both of which have much higher contribution limits.

LOCATION: The Enterprise Center at Salem State University, 121 Loring Ave., Salem, MA 01970

For more information and to register click here

Lobsters Rule!

Beautiful Outdoor Living Space
Abbott Construction & Landscaping LLC is a full service landscape company that offers a full range of landscaping services to all of the North Shore and Essex County.  A small local company that got it’s start specializing in hardscape projects including patios, walls, walkways and stairs. Allow them to transform your houses backyard into a beautiful outdoor living space. Abbott Construction & Landscaping LLC, 978-767-5545, abbottconstructionma.com

Summer Stand Up Paddle Specialists
Surfari offers SUP lessons, rentals, tours, yoga and demos. We sell the latest SUP boards and gear for cruising, surfing, racing and fishing. We are also fully stocked with wetsuits, flip flops, clothes, sunglasses and accessories for living the dream in and out of the water! We provide knowledge and experience unmatched anywhere in New England. Surfari Stand Up Paddle & Surf, 26 Central Street, Manchester, 978-704-9051, standuppaddlesurfari.com

Summer Dance
Summer has never been better at Nancy Chippendale’s Dance Studios. With daily drop-in classes for all ages and abilities, everyone will get to learn from internationally recognized guest teachers. Summer Dance is also a great opportunity to train alongside our World Champions. We are accepting Summer Dance applications now. Nancy Chippendale’s Dance Studios, 110 Sutton Street, North Andover, 978-685-5533,
nancychippendalesdancestudios.com

LaserCraze Offers Good, Clean Fun!
Whether it’s an unforgettable birthday party or simply a family visit to burn off some energy, parents and kids alike enjoy LaserCraze’s world-class laser tag played in it’s state-of-the-art multi-level laser tag arenas. Enjoy fresh-baked pizza and cold drinks at the Craze cafe after the game! Two great locations. LaserCraze, 1600 Osgood Street, North Andover, or 15 Presidential Way, Woburn, 978-689-7700, lasercraze.us

Fabulous Skin
Tighter, more youthful skin is within your reach. Watch the fine lines of time fade away with a non-invasive therapy that tightens skin and reduces wrinkles. Your skin can look smoother, firmer and more radiant. 3DEEP technology stimulates new collagen production and creates visible lifting and tightening effects on your face, neck and body. Skin Deep Laser Services Inc., 205 Andover Street, Peabody, 978-587-2711, skindeep-ma.com 

No More Wrinkles
Fresh Face Injectables was started by Michelle Doran, a Nurse Practitioner in Marblehead. Specializing in Botox, Radiesse and Juvederm, she is awesome at erasing wrinkles, softening lines and plumping up lips on the North Shore. She provides girls nights, private parties and consultation at Euphoria Spa in Swampscott. Check her out online or call for a girls night, private party or consultation. Fresh Face Injectables, 617-256-3625, freshfaceinjectables.com

Bosom Buddy Bags
Bosom Buddy Bags are woven by artists in Bali. Ata grass is smoked over a honey and coconut husk fire, creating a warm golden color. Each bag is uniquely adorned with ribbons, vintage pieces and other fanciful finds. Starting at $112. Bernard’s Jewelers, 179 Essex Street, Salem, 978-745-0638, bernardsjewelers.com

A Dining Destination
Nine Elm American Bistro combines award winning cuisine, friendly service and casual ambiance to provide the North Shore’s best dining experience. Make a reservation and find out why our neighborhood bistro has become a dining destination.Nine Elm American Bistro, 9 Elm Street, Danvers, 978-774-9436, 9elm.com

Outdoor Living
Have you always dreamed about a beautiful outdoor patio? A custom outdoor kitchen set? A blazing hot fire pit to enjoy on chilly evenings? Make that dream a reality this summer! Let Wolf Hill Home & Garden Center provide you with today’s BEST paving stones, Cambridge Pavers. They use an exclusive ArmorTec technology that makes your pavers looks NEW for a lifetime. Wolf Hill Home & Garden Center, 60 Turnpike Road, Ipswich, 978-356-6342,104 Eastern Avenue, Gloucester, 978-281-4480, wolfhillgardencenter.com 

Incomparable, Distinctive & Unique
Laschi Hairstylists & Day Spa is committed to exceptional customer service. Our team is professional, talented and continuously educated. We provide a high-quality, comfortable and natural salon experience. We offer services using the finest products that will beautify and balance both the body and mind. We now offer eyelash extensions. Call the salon and spa to find out more. Laschi Hairstylist & Day Spa, 150 Main Street, Reading, 781-944-6111, laschis.com

Black Tie Service
Since 1983 Black Tie Limousine, Inc. has provided its clients with the highest level of expertise and reliability. Our professional staff of uniformed chauffeurs has undergone extensive training to ensure you a safe, trouble free journey. Our fleet consists of executive town cars, limousines, vans, luxury limousine motor coaches, touring coaches and Cadillac Escalade SUVs. Black Tie Limousine, Inc., 25 Bond Street, Haverhill, 1-800-624-9990, blacktielimo.com

The Hottest Thing In Your Kitchen Is Not Your Stove We provide personal service and extensive experience creating aesthetically pleasing, functional and cost-effective designs. We offer a variety of cabinetry for every style and budget. One-stop shopping streamlines designs and assists with the selection process. Contact us for a complimentary home visit to customize any project and evaluate remodeling needs. Cape Ann Kitchens, 607 Main Street, Stoneham, 781-438-2031, capeannkitchens.com

Thread: Stories of Fashion
1740-2012 Strawbery Banke Museum presents, Thread: Stories of Fashion at Strawbery Banke, 1740-2012. From May 1 to October 31, 2012. A rare opportunity to view garments and accessories from the historical collection alongside contemporary fashions they inspired exhibited in 6 historic houses across the 10-acre campus. The Passion For Fashion Gala (June 30, 2012) puts the contemporary designs on the runway! Strawberry Banke Museum, 14 Hancock Street, Portsmouth, NH, 603-433-1100, strawberybanke.org

A Hidden Gem
Main Street Boutique is a hidden gem in Bradford, MA with unique lady’s apparel and fashion accessories. We carry Pandora and Brighton plus Cartise, Katherine Barclay, Libra, Putori, Splendor and more. We give special attention to our customers! Mention NShoremag and receive 25% off one item excluding Brighton and Pandora – good thru May 26. Main Street Boutique, 151 South Main Street, Bradford, 978-374-0023

Essex Physical Therapy & Chiropractic
Dr. Provenzano is a doctor of chiropractic and physical therapy, affording him the ability to treat a wide array of conditions. Our goal is to provide our patients the most professional and effective care possible. Our location is based in a private setting, allowing us to provide personalized care. Essex Physical Therapy & Chiropractic, 16 Haverhill Street, Andover, 978-470-1499, essexptchiro.com

Hampton’s Newest Eatery
Savory Square Bistro is located at Chez Boucher Cooking School. The recently renovated dining room and bar & lounge captures the old world flavor of an authentic bistro in the South of France. Join us for a full dinner in the dinning room or for some light fare in the lounge. Also, offering a lovely Sunday Brunch from 10am-3pm Savory Square Bistro, 32 Depot Square, Hampton, NH, 603-926-2202, chezboucher.com

J.D. Jewelers-Price, Quality & Service
Specializing in diamonds and fine jewelry. Custom design, appraisals, expert in-store complete jewelry and watch repair. Offers a wide selection of loose diamonds, diamond mountings, wedding bands, emeralds, sapphires, rubies & more. We pay highest dollar for your unwanted jewelry. Voted best jewelry store 5 years in a row from market surveys of America. J.D. Jewelers, 10 Maple Street, Danvers, 978-777-0025, JDJeweler.com

Tucked away amidst a cluster of cottages on historic Rocky Neck in Gloucester sits an iconic gem called the Rudder. It’s tough to find, but an exciting discovery once you do. The restaurant sits in the middle of America’s oldest continuously working art colony, a place that was a haven for famous artists like Edward Hopper, Milton Avery, Nell Blaine, and Winslow Homer; even writers Louisa May Alcott and Rudyard Kipling spent time there.

Established in 1957 by the vivacious Evie Parsons, the Rudder has had a loyal following for decades. Now, with a renovation completed in 2010, the waterfront deck overlooking Smith Cove—guests can actually dock their boats right by the door—seats guests comfortably through rain or shine. The view that inspired decades of painters is as big of a draw as is the seafood, with sailboats and sunsets providing the backdrop for a lively evening.

Known for spectacularly fresh lobsters from Captain Joe and Sons, the Rudder also serves up quintessential summertime cocktails. Once such sipper has been a staple on the menu for 10 years and is what bartender and Rudder veteran Tony Wright says they are known for—the Ruby Red Martini. Its recipe has evolved between former staff and current bartender Laurie Logrande. It fuses grapefruit-flavored vodka and tart grapefruit juice with a touch of sweet orange liqueur. The addition of a dry, sparkling Prosecco balances the cocktail and adds a touch of effervescence. And who doesn’t love a sugared rim? The Rudder is open seasonally and is always busy. Plan your visit well in advance, especially if you’ll be arriving by boat. rudderrestaurant.com.  —Brandy Rand

Ruby Red Martini: Makes one serving
2     parts Absolut Ruby Red Vodka
1     part orange liqueur (Patron Citronge or Cointreau)
1     part ruby red grapefruit juice
Prosecco to top

Shake all ingredients vigorously in a shaker filled with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with sugar. Top with a float of Prosecco and garnish with a wedge of red grapefruit.

Jutting into the Atlantic at the northern edge of Boston Harbor, Nahant has long been a natural spot for marine research. More than 150 years ago, the science of American marine biology was founded at East Point by Louis Agassiz, a Harvard professor who maintained his summer cottage and laboratory in the seaside village. More recently, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, the Obama administration’s undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, as well as administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, did groundbreaking  research in experimental marine ecology in Nahant in the 1970s.

It should come as no surprise, then, that Nahant, which marine scientists lovingly refer to as “The Rock,” is once again becoming a home for cutting-edge oceanic research. This time, it’s Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center taking the helm; by 2017, Northeastern expects the MSC to be a global leader in the field of urban coastal sustainability.

Ph.D. student Steve Smith conducts research in a lab

From the outside, the science center is certainly unique. The facility is housed partly in a bunker built during World War II for defense of Boston Harbor and partly in barracks that are remnants of the Cold War Nike missile squadron. Inside, MSC is assembling a team of professors and researchers with diverse backgrounds and expertise in everything from climate change to sustainable fisheries. In the next three to five years, the center expects to hire 12 new faculty members, investing some $20 million in salaries and more than doubling the department, while spending $2.6 million on upgraded infrastructure.

“We’re trying to position the Marine Science Center to address the most pressing environmental challenges facing coastal ecosystems,” says Geoffrey C. Trussell, director of the
MSC. “There’s a lot happening politically, environmentally, socially, and legislatively that all involves the coast,” he adds. Northeastern’s large investment suggests the importance of the subject: Over 70 percent of the world’s population lives along the coast, and a third of the world’s megacities—places like New York, Tokyo, and Shanghai—are located near the sea.

“We all know that these coastal environments are essential to human health and human economies; fisheries and tourism are highly dependent on these areas,” Trussell says, adding that a fisheries expert was one of his first new hires. “This will put Northeastern on the map in terms of addressing critical fisheries issues,” he says. “Fisheries are so vital to our economy, but they are clearly a very contentious resource.”

Balancing Science and Policy Trussell notes that policymakers and stakeholders take a very different view than scientists when it comes to the issue of fishery management. “One of the fundamental problems is that none of those people are talking to one another effectively. So one of the big, overarching goals of our enterprise is to make it so the scientists and policymakers work together—so the science can actually inform the policy.”

In fact, much of the big-picture hiring that the center is doing is focused on that space between science and the realities of what is happening in the environment. “We’re not interested in creating a bunch of scientists who just work in their ivory towers on arcane issues that don’t really have any relevance to most people,” Trussell says. “In fact, we are doing just the opposite; we’re really trying to get at that interface between basic research and applied research that has immediate, tangible benefits to society.”

That’s not to say the center doesn’t encompass more fantastical elements. Chief among them: a squadron of robotic lobsters. Scientists at MSC studying neurology of lobsters and lamprey eels are working with robotics experts to invent mechanical creatures that may one day be used in homeland security, or to deliver information on subtle changes in underwater ecosystems. Rather than a remote-controlled apparatus, these lobsters will first be programmed to perform specific tasks, then be able to react to obstacles that may get in the way of performing those tasks—in essence, to think like lobsters.

A Decade of Planning Trussell has been laying the groundwork since he took over as director in 2002, but with the new founding dean of the College of Science, J. Murray Gibson, who shares his vision, things are moving fast—perhaps faster than even Trussell was expecting. “We have a dean, a provost, and a president now who all ‘get it,’” Trussell says. “We’re moving at light speed, which presents its own set of challenges.”

Among these challenges is to conduct negotiations simultaneously with three candidates for three different positions while also ensuring the facility has the resources to fund its big vision. “The bottom line is we’re going to grow,” Trussell says, “and that is going to take some new resources. The university is doing its part, but we really need to work hard on the philanthropic side as well as the grant-making side to make this vision a reality.”

Thus, in the meantime, Trussell’s own research, using sophisticated technology to study the effects of predators and rising sea temperatures on the genetic structure of sea snails, has taken a back seat to managing a program that is experiencing explosive growth. In addition to the new hires and a recent merger with Department of Earth and Environmental Science, a new marine biology major was launched last fall. The center projected that just four students would sign up for the major the first year, but it got 20 instead, testifying to the engagement of the next generation in these issues.

Connecting to the Local Community It’s not just college kids who are interested in MSC’s message. The center conducts monthly guest lecture and film series that are open to the public, focusing on topics as diverse as the geology of Boston Harbor and the health and fate of the world’s coral reefs. Carole McCauley, MSC’s outreach program coordinator, says the programs draw anywhere from 30 to more than a hundred people out to the center each month. MSC also works with homeschoolers, visits local schools with a touch tank of sea creatures, and hosts a number of programs onsite, all geared toward awakening an early interest in marine science close to home.

“The MSC’s outreach program is critical to the identity and mission of the lab,” McCauley says. “It aims not only to communicate the research that goes on here, but also to interpret the significant values of the site’s pristine rocky shore, marine life, unique geography, and varied cultural history.”

Filling a need for science exploration for preschoolers, the center launched the wildly popular Sea Tots in 2010. This program for three- to five-year-olds is offered in the spring and fall, focusing each week on a particular animal or topic, with opportunities for kids to get up close and personal with live critters, listen to stories, play games, or make crafts based on the day’s topic.

Community Outreach Director Carole McCauley

“We piloted the Sea Tots program without being sure if there would be a robust audience,” McCauley says. “Within three weeks, we were full to capacity.”

Another success story is the center’s two-week summer Coastal Ocean Science Academy program, involving about 24 high school students who have a strong interest in science and the marine environment. The Academy, in its sixth year, offers two sessions: an introductory program for first-time attendees and a more advanced, student-directed research curricula for returning students. Tuition for the program is $900, but the center sets aside some money for scholarships. It’s money well spent, too; one of the COSA scholarship students was so inspired by the program that she applied for—and was granted—a $17,000 scholarship to study at a residential marine science program in Maine for a semester.

While the windswept East Point may seem a world away, MSC faculty and administration are very much aware of the underserved communities at their doorstep; just across the water lies Lynn, where local beaches are often closed due to pollution. Engaging that population is an important part of their outreach mission, McCauley says, adding that despite the proximity of these communities to the shore, a surprising number of kids have never touched salt water. She recalls one group in particular who, after spending some time on the beach, were restless and asking to go back inside. McCauley was surprised—she thought things were going well. But their teacher explained that many of the kids were just not used to being outside. “This … made me really appreciate what we are able to offer to particular audiences, especially those who may never get to experience the shore, despite living within a few miles of it,” McCauley says.

Engaging Young Girls To that end, the MSC launched an ambitious partnership with Girls, Inc. of Lynn last year, including nearly 200 girls from elementary school through high school in its Beach Sisters program.

Beach Sisters runs 10-week after-school sessions for elementary school girls, studying things like local habitats and sea creatures. “It’s about generally stimulating interest and teaching them cool topics, so they don’t see science as daunting or scary,” McCauley says. The middle school program is offered during the summer and includes hands-on research and community involvement. For example, last summer, participants interviewed Lynn’s chief of police about beach pollution and researched causes of Lynn’s frequent beach closures.

Beach Sisters is an important program, explains McCauley, as the middle school years are when a lot of young people lose interest in science. “We’re trying to connect them to their local resources, as well as to connect with community and public officials,” she says. “There’s something to be said for this kind of hands-on thing that will hopefully encourage them to choose science study and perhaps four-year universities over two-year schools.” The Beach Sisters high school program is just getting off the ground; right now, it involves four girls spending five or six hours a week on a variety of topics with the goal of eventually participating in educating the younger kids.

As McCauley explains, “Place-based education, which is what we offer at the MSC, is not just about teaching kids about the marine environment. It’s also about making connections between individuals and their communities by helping them to understand the natural boundaries and resources within their area and to inspire them to become more active stewards of the local environment.”

Making connections is the overarching goal when it comes to everything going on at MSC, Trussell adds. Everything in the coastal environment is interconnected, and humans are having a large impact. By bringing together scientists from a wide variety of disciplines, Trussell hopes the MSC will be well positioned to tackle climate change—what he sees as the most pressing problem facing our coastal ecosystems.

“There was a time when this lab’s future was uncertain,” Trussell says. “My one goal is to make sure that when I’m done being director and I’ve moved on to something else,  I leave this place in a position that is unassailable. It is definitely personal.”  ●n

Floor after floor, Western Avenue Studios (WAS) in Lowell is a labyrinth of wonder. With a roster of mostly artist tenants, it’s also a solid real estate investment.

According to Rebecca Mattson of Sagebrook Development, LLC, investor TD Bank is funding the latest project at the five-building mill complex—a redevelopment of 50 uncommon “live/work” lofts—because the property owner, Karl Frey of BPV Lowell, LLC, was able to show that mostly due to his artist tenants, he’s experienced a less than one percent loss in revenue over seven years. “Before, commercial rents were late,” says Mattson.

Rebecca Mattson and Maxine Farkas at the Bridge, the area that will connect the artists spaces to the remolded studios

“Everyone here is treated as a small business,” says artist and WAS Executive Director Maxine Farkas. The more than 200 artists at WAS are currently working in 145 studio units across five floors of two converted mills. Mattson reported that studio space continues to expand as remaining commercial contracts expire. Currently, there is a waitlist of nearly 40 artists for studios, Farkas says.

WAS is the largest locus of artists in the entire Northeast. Thousands visited in 2011 to experience the incredible transformation. Each hallway is a wave of color, texture, fabric, metal, paint, and light, and each floor is a microcosm in and of itself. The fourth floor boasts activity enough for its own newsletter, the third a used book corner with proceeds benefitting WAS. “People who come here are coming for the community,” says Farkas.

Lofts for Artists According to Mattson, who worked on the new Boston Garden and Copley Square’s 20-story Trinity Place developments, the artists offered Frey a solution that made sense. The revitalization of this wilting 19th- and 20th-century mill complex along the Pawtucket Channel is the result of the shared imagination and ingenuity of the developer team and the artists. When Joan Fabrics filed for bankruptcy in 2006, artists started setting up shops, first on the fifth floor and then on the third. They have breathed new life and success into the whispering halls of industrial-hallowed grounds, captivating visitors at every turn. Still, they longed for “live/work” space, Farkas says.

Mattson says the possibility of another mill condominium conversion was not favored by the city of Lowell “and the costs aren’t great.” Also, Frey could not find a large commercial tenant for the property, she says. The build-out of the new Western Avenue Lofts in Mill G have artists elated. “My commute will be a stroll across the parking lot,” says jubilant jewelry artist Heather Wang. She and her husband, Chad, leased their new home in part because of its particular space—which included a cave-like section of an old freight elevator shaft that will be turned into his music studio—and its close proximity to Heather’s space at WAS. However, the most important thing to her is “the ability to customize and make the space work,” says Wang.

Live/work space is a working artist’s dream come true; everything from the circa 1930s era, 25-foot-on-center columns that leave units free of structural elements to the rents ranging from $835 to $1,625, which include heat, air conditioning, and two parking spots. This artist housing is also unique in that there are no restrictions, which often come along with federal and state subsidized projects, Farkas explains. Affordable housing subsidies for artists make units “conventional,” she says, adding that a live/work space has different requirements. “It’s been a struggle for artists from now until hell freezes over—it doesn’t work for what artists really need…how would Heather and Chad get their recording studio in?” she muses.

Pottery set up at Muddy Girls Studio

Common Latitudes Each unit, which ranges in size from 782 to 1,659 square feet, has a kitchen/bath/mechanical room module, eight-foot entry doors, and full sound and energy insulation. Many units are multi-level with exposed brick in the first-floor units and some ceilings as high as 25 feet on the second floor. Each artist has the freedom to add decking where space allows, colors, and any desired element, including pets. “As long as it doesn’t annoy anyone else,” says Mattson. Tenants must simply remove what they put in when they move out. With so few constraints and expenses, which are few—power for electricity, hot water, and cable/Wi-Fi—some artists are opting for five-year leases. At press time, there were 17 units left.

At WAS, the hallways and common spaces are open to the artists to create—as long as themes are “family-friendly,” says Farkas. There are no uniform wall colors, and potluck lunches are not only permitted, but encouraged. “Amazingly, with 200 people we have surprisingly few issues…It becomes an environment in and of itself,” Mattson says. She expects the loft hallways to have the same feel. They are extra-wide for art exhibition, with two common utility sinks on each floor and the latitude to develop communities that mimic those of WAS, she says.

Home and a Future With the new loft development, artists now have 250,000 square feet of space to stretch their arms, minds, and designs. Diverse and talented souls like Holly Berube, a painter and sculptor who is also event coordinator at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, fabric artist Eling Chang, painter Bill Berry, and Muddy Girls Studio potters are just a few of the artists at WAS. Chang and the Muddy Girls have signed leases for the new live/work spaces.

The lofts are a blank canvas with sealed concrete floors and primed walls, Mattson says. “It’s exactly what they are looking for.” She and Frey have also been creative in finishing the odd nooks and crannies found in old mills, such as the spray paint garden. “You couldn’t afford it all,” says Mattson. With the artists, “you just let them go.” Such solutions are often unacceptable in government-subsidized projects, Farkas points out.

The lofts open in May 2012 with a parking lot facelift scheduled for the spring. The project received historic tax credits, says Mattson, so Frey cannot sell the property for at least five years, at which time the artists could buy it as a co-op, she says. They have not drawn up papers quite yet—but “that’s the goal..”  ●n

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Driving through its mostly residential neighborhood, you might never imagine that the Gorton Theatre, an unremarkable-looking one-story brick building, has for the past three decades been debuting plays that go on to critical and popular acclaim on Broadway, off-Broadway, and stages throughout the world. Despite the slab floor left over from the building’s brief stint as a car dealership and the cinder block walls that hearken back to its original days as a fish storage warehouse, this theater at 267 East Main Street, abutting Rocky Neck Cove, is home to the renowned Gloucester Stage.

Center Stage

Founded in 1979, Gloucester Stage originally made its home at the Blackburn Tavern under the artistic direction of internationally known playwright Israel Horovitz. A summer resident of Gloucester, Horovitz is largely responsible for challenging the Gloucester Stage audience throughout his 25-year reign with 33 world premieres and 40 American premieres, 25 of which took place in New England.

“Israel used this as his proving ground,” says Andrew Burgreen, general manager of Gloucester Stage, pointing to plays such as The Indian Wants the Bronx, Line, and Sins of the Mother to highlight Horovitz’s special brand of brilliance.

It is no wonder, then, that by 1986, this theater with such critical acclaim had outgrown its birth place. That same year, the Gorton Seafood building became the next venue in which Gloucester Stage would further make its own mark on Cape Ann’s cultural scene. Over time, extensive renovations have slowly turned the space from fish locker into a full working theater, albeit one that carries its share of visual reminders of the cost of running a non-profit arts organization in 2012. The seats—all 190 of them—are haphazardly upholstered and tatty, though still endearing.

Not surprisingly, Eric Engle, Gloucester Stage’s artistic director since Horovitz retired from the position half a dozen years ago, has the same sort of charm that his favorite summer enterprise displays. As director of Harvard University’s Memorial Hall/Sanders Theatre and College Theater Venues in the Office for the Arts at Harvard, and having directed over 85 productions at various theaters throughout the Boston area in the past 25 years, he is quick to deflect the spotlight and attribute Gloucester Stage’s reputation for innovation to its audience. “Our audience is smart,” says Engle. “[So] we try to do creative interpretations of underrepresented musicals, because they insist on that…[they’re] open to being told each story in a fresh way.” A man of his word, Engle is bringing the rarely performed Carnival to Gloucester Stage this season. Last year, his pick was Frank Loesser’s The Most Happy Fella.

That Engle is hitting the mark as successfully as ever, albeit uniquely—musicals have only been cropping up on the play list since his reign as artistic director began—has recently been validated by the seven Independent Reviewers of New England nominations that Gloucester Stage has received for last year’s production of The Most Happy Fella, in addition to three more for Living Together and three for Nine Circles.)

Hillary Dallin, Publicity Director for Gloucester Stage

Although Lindsay Crouse was not among those nominated this time, the Academy Award-nominated actress (Places of the Heart) and a regular at Gloucester Stage since 2006, when she starred in the The Belle of Amherst under Engle’s direction, seconds that there is no better proving ground for a play than putting it before a Gloucester audience. “Gloucester is real; it’s the weather, the rocks, the multiplicity of the people,” says Crouse. “The austerities of this area make for a hard-bitten discipline in the residents.” Crouse should know. As the daughter of Hollywood legend Russell Crouse, whose many successes along with partner Howard Lindsay include the production of The Sound of Music, she has been summering in Annisquam her entire life. “It’s a magical place. My mother still lives there; she is always in the audience [at Gloucester Stage]. In that way, my life has come full circle.”

This season, Crouse will star in Round and Round the Garden at Gloucester Stage under Engle’s direction, June 14 thru July 1. As the third and final installment of Alan Ayckbourn’s The Norman Conquests trilogy, it is one of two plays in the upcoming season to be precast. The other, Nine Circles, a play that Engle launched in 2011 at Boston’s Publick Theatre to much acclaim, will reunite the award-winning Boston cast this summer in Gloucester. Besides Carnival, the 2012 season will be rounded out by two dramas—Athol Fugard’s Master Harold…and the Boys and Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart.

In addition to Crouse, regulars like Paula Plum, Nancy Carroll, Sandra Shipley, and Paula Bryan have become favorites of the Gloucester Stage audience over the years. With Horovitz and Engle’s connections being what they are, there has also been a cadre of young playwrights ushered up from Boston and New York over the years whose work, first presented at Gloucester Stage, has opened the door to future success in the industry. Richard Vitteri, now a Hollywood name, and more recently Joanna Rush, whose work was read during the Monday night reading series held throughout the summer, are two such recent finds. “It’s about keeping it in the family,” says Heidi Dallin, publicity director for Gloucester Stage, when asked about the advantage of reusing talent year after year.

Like Crouse, Dallin should know. Having haunted the place since high school in the ’80s, Dallin wears many hats there these days, not the least of which is Director of the Youth Acting Workshop (YAW), which runs weekend classes year round and longer sessions throughout the summer. Last December, YAW staged a Christmas production, Holiday Delights, conceived and directed by Dallin, that included a cast of 35 actors, age six through 16. Making theatre accessible to children on Cape Ann, especially to those that might not otherwise be able to afford it, is Dallin’s main mission. “One of the great things is that some kid who lives down the street from here, just around the corner, can perform on the same professional stage where the Paula Plums and the Lindsay Crouses were performing just a few months prior,” says Dallin.

“We’d like to make it so big that we’re ultimately able to call it a conservatory,” says Burgreen, whose job since he came on board two years ago has been to position the theater for a capitol campaign that will take it to the next level within five years. To that end, Epstein & Jocelyn, the same architectural firm that designed the Shalin Liu Music Center at Rockport Music, has already been busy drawing up plans for the next flurry of renovations to the theater.  “We’ll go public with the campaign in September 2012,” says Burgreen, who is only willing to say at this point that the intimacy that is Gloucester Stage will not be lost. “We’re not looking to go bigger—just better.”

Burgreen himself has an impressive background on both the administrative and the performance side of the stage lights. With Broadway credits for shows like You Can’t Take it With You, Oh, Coward!, and A Few Good Men, plus Off-Broadway credits for A Mom’s Life, Forever Plaid, and Queens Boulevard, among others, his acting career constitutes star billing. His administrative work includes time spent at Lincoln Center in New York and the Orpheum Theater in Hannibal, Missouri, as well as having established The 5th Street Acting Studio & Arts Space in Hannibal. This sort of professional versatility seems to be typical of the Gloucester Stage folk—without exception, everyone there has just a little bit of pixie dust settled about them that manifests itself in an uncanny ability to create something from nothing and make it look effortless.

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As for Burgreen, “what he knows is amazing,” says Chairman of the Board Bea Waring, who not surprisingly can stake her own claim to either side of the lights. Like Lee Meriwether, another regular at Gloucester Stage, Waring is herself a former Miss America, and is married to Bayard Waring of the North Shore’s own Waring School, a private school known for its excellence in the arts. “My responsibility is to keep everyone engaged and to get our neighbors on Cape Ann to realize what we have here.” To that end, Waring, using her showbiz name, Bebe Shopp, will be performing a song called Miss America Sisters with both Meriweather and Susan Powell (Miss America ’81) at the 2012 annual Spring Gloucester Stage fundraiser at Bass Rocks Golf Club in Gloucester on June 1. The song, composed by Bernie Wayne, who also composed Here She Comes, Miss America, was shared for purposes of fundraising with special permission from Wayne’s widow.

How is it that an artistic director can draw such talent to his organization on such a myriad of levels? “What catches my eye in an actor—or anyone—is [his or her] innate ability to connect,” says Engle. “Their honesty. That, and whether they are energy givers or energy takers. [Whether they are] Bette Midlers or Barbra Streisands.”

From the outside looking in, it appears Engle is up to his middle in Midlers—a fact that just might help Gloucester Stage blow the roof off that old building on East Main in the next season or two.

Bat Man Matt Steinberg

Dishing on dugouts, ballpark franks, and Scooby Doo with Matt Steinberg, director of gameday entertainment for the Lowell Spinners.

On June 18, the Lowell Spinners will kick off another season at LeLacheur Park. And while thousands will pour into the park to cheer for their favorite players, Matt Steinberg, the team’s director of game day entertainment, is nearly as popular among some fans as are the guys on the diamond. In his 15th year with the Spinners, Steinberg’s many responsibilities include making sure that fans are engaged and entertained even when there’s a pause in play. Here, Steinberg, who in the offseason is the social studies department head at Methuen High School, talks to Northshore about his fun-filled role.

What exactly do you do? My job is akin to a stage manager at a theatre. Essentially, I am the person making sure all the entertainment at the ballpark, including PA, video, music, on-field promotions, “Spinner”-tainment, and other assorted events that are not baseball or food related are running when they should be and without issue. This also includes the pre-game ceremonies, which can be a lot of controlled chaos, especially during theme nights. I like to tell my staff at the beginning of the season that, like a radio station, I don’t want any dead air, so when the ball is not in play during the game, we need to make sure that there is some sort of stimulation for the fans, whether its video, musical, or visual.

What’s the silliest thing you’ve had to do at a game? We take pride in the fact that we are all willing to embarrass ourselves every night, whether that means competing in a mascot race wearing a donut costume with a Sumo helmet (that’s my favorite) or dancing in front of our Scooby Doo Mystery Machine after tossing t-shirts into the stands. This job isn’t a job to me because every night we are having fun.

Do your students know about your other life on the baseball field? My students do know—I see them at the park often during the summer. They are stunned to see me in that light, because it’s a lot more casual than standing in front of a classroom.

What’s your ballpark food of choice? You can’t go wrong with a Ballpark Frank.

Are your kids big baseball fans because of what you do? My boys love baseball. In fact, last summer, they were old enough to come into the dugout and the clubhouse and meet a few of the guys, and they each have their own favorite Spinner now. They are at most games during the summer. —L.L.

1. Duane Scherer clock, $110, Sense of Wonder. 2. Metal reproduction clock, $195, Savoir Faire Home. 3. Duane Scherer clock, $84, Sense of Wonder. 4. Timeworks clock, $275, Peabody Essex Museum Shop. 5. Antiquité clock, $112, Red Bird Trading Co. 6. Vintage clock, $89, Sweetwater & Co. 7. Pier 1 Imports clock, $39.95, Pier 1 Imports. 8. Creative Co-op clock, $165, Sweetwater & Co. 9. Standing arrow clock, $75, General Goods. —Lysa Pelletier – Photograph by Glenn Scott

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Pictured Above: Flying Tomato shorts, $39,Red Bird Trading Co.; Three Dots tank, $40, Lyn Evans Potpourri Designs. —Lysa Pelletier – Photographs by Glenn Scott

1. Barton Perreira glasses, $515, Viola Lovely. 2. House of Harlow glasses, $195, Sole Amour. 3. Barton Perreira glasses, $395, Viola Lovely. 4. ICU glasses, $21.95, Peabody Essex Museum Shop. 5. A.J.Morgan glasses, $12.50, Irresistibles. 6. House of Harlow glasses, $125, Sole Amour. 7. Gold glasses, $24.50, Gap. 8. A.J. Morgan glasses, $32, Wish Basket. —Lysa Pelletier – Photograph by Glenn Scott

1. Wallaroo visor, $25, Swing With Style. 2. Bolle top, $62, Swing With Style. 3. Prince sneakers, $99.99, Dick’s Sporting Goods. 4. Adidas tennis dress with matching sports bra and shorts, $80, Willows Racquet Club and Fitness Center. 5. New Balance sneakers, $69.99, New Balance Factory Store. 6. K Bell socks, $9.95, Swing With Style. 7. Nike tennis top, $58; Nike tennis skort, $54, Bass River Tennis Club. 8. Fila wrist bands, $10, Swing With Style. Lysa Pelletier – Photograph by Glenn Scott

Credits: Styling by Lysa Pelletier for Team Artist Representative Hair and makeup by Bre Welch Photo assistant: Mike Cevoli. Talent: Emily Knudson for Maggie Inc., Michelle McHugh for Dynasty Models. Location: Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, 978-745-9500, pem.org

The Grill at Forty 1˚ North

Stylish hotels, gourmet restaurants, and a host of attractions are all helping to put the “new” into Newport, Rhode Island. By, Andrew Conway

History may be a powerful draw for visitors to Newport, but this is a city that looks ahead as much as it looks back. New hotels, restaurants, shops, and attractions keep this classic New England resort town looking fresh and vibrant, offering a summer sojourn that will put you in instant relaxation mode.

Stay
Perched on the waterfront on Thames Street, next to a private yet bustling marina, Forty 1˚ North has set a new standard in modern luxury accommodations. This stylish boutique hotel has 28 rooms, many with views of Newport Harbor, featuring Frette linens, soaking tubs, Malin + Goetz bath products, and on-trend accessories such as in-room iPads. The two Grand Suites and four Harbor View Suites are the pick of rooms, with two Cottage suites in separate buildings and two spacious Loft Suites above neighboring Christie’s restaurant. Start with a cocktail in the Oval Bar and a seafood dinner in The Grill, then relax at the Pavilion Bar on the marina. Check out the new 41˚N Card offering priority access, exclusive benefits, and special events during the summer months. 351 Thames Street, 401-846-8018.

Eat
Celebrating its first anniversary this summer, Thames Street Kitchen continues to dazzle diners with its stellar cuisine. Chefs Chad Hoffer and Tyler Burnley deliver ever-changing “field-to-fork” menus featuring fresh and organic produce from local growers in a casual, vibrant setting. 677 Thames Street, 401-846-9100. Just along Thames Street, Restaurant Bouchard is perfect for a romantic dinner with classic French dishes prepared by chef and owner Albert Bouchard. It’s also one of the best inns in Newport, so you can make a weekend of your meal. 505 Thames Street, 401-846-0123. Christie’s is part of Forty 1˚ North but has a totally different vibe. Fun and playful with swing seats, Neptune chairs, a wall paying homage to Newport bathing beauties, and outdoor dining, Christie’s serves up delicious Asian-inspired tapas plates and high-octane cocktails. 351 Thames Street, 401-846-8018.

See
Jump in the car for a wonderful day of mansion hopping. The Breakers, Marble House, and The Elms are the grandest of the Newport Mansions open to the public, but a visit to any of the 11 properties in The Preservation Society’s unique collection will provide a fascinating insight into America’s Gilded Age. 401-847-1000. For tennis fans, Newport’s International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum has an unrivaled collection of memorabilia dating back to the 1800s, and you can watch some of today’s top professionals and amateurs playing on the historic grass courts during the summer. 194 Bellevue Avenue, 401-849-3990. Newport is awash with colorful festivals throughout the year. Summer 2012 highlights include the Annual Great Chowder Cook-Off (June 2), Ocean State Tall Ships Festival (July 6-9), and Celtic Rock Festival (August 25). 800-976-5122.

Mixed Bag: Some of Michele Diodati's products

Michele Diodati turned her love of natural soaps into a successful shop full of products that are anything but typical.

As a girl, Michele Diodati saved up to buy fragrant, wholesome soaps at the local natural health store. So when she made her first batch of soap on a whim in 1999, she was only trying to make something that she would like. But when her friends asked for more, Diodati thought she might be on to something.

Thirteen years later, Diodati’s Plum Island Soap Company sells dozens of body products in her home-based Northern Boulevard shop and online. The larger-than-life pots on her stove attest to the enormous amounts of soap produced right in her kitchen.

Plum Island Soap’s beginning was inspired by the area’s natural beauty. While walking her dog, Diodati imagined shipwrecks off the coast as she found odd items strewn on the beach. One day, she imagined a crate of soap, fashioned a display from that vision, and her company took hold. “Plum Island is raw in its beauty,” she says. “No one has tried to carve it out or put up arcades.”

Diodati experiments with ingredients like coconut oil and beeswax to make all-natural products that came from necessity, she says. She wanted pure baby products after her son’s birth, so the baby line started. The dog had fleas, so she made a chemical-free bug repellant. She wanted an Origins salt glow and couldn’t afford the price tag, so all kinds of face products hit her shelves.

Diodati says small batches keep her products fresh. Even after years of making everything from body sprays to face moisturizers, she still compiles pages of information when making something new, like her latest line of face scrubs and masks.

The Man Can is Plum Island Soap’s best-selling product, with women buying the skincare gift set for the men in their lives. Women tend to favor anything lavender, although citrus and patchouli are popular as well. But Diodati is not afraid to experiment either; her black licorice lip balm and body butter isn’t something you find in many places.

Diodati especially loves using her orange ginger line when she’s feeling stressed. “I come out feeling like Wonder Woman,” she says. “I swear it is good for your soul.” plumislandsoap.com

Luna Sea!

Pavilion Beach Park on the causeway between Little and Great Neck and launch your kayak onto Ipswich Bay for no charge. Turn right for quiet marsh paddling, veer left for the Ipswich Marina, or straight ahead on Plum Island. On the way home, stop at Clark Pond Overlook for birdwatching. Little Neck Road. Ithaki Restaurant Owner Petros Markopoulos has been serving modern Mediterranean cuisine since 1997. The baked moussaka is a crowd pleaser, but the cheese saganki is culinary nirvana. 25 Hammatt St., 978-356-0099. Zumi’s Former Everest sherpa Umesh Bhuju serves fair-trade coffee in his friendly spot downtown (try the Caramel Cloud Latte). The ice cream rocks. 40 Market St., 978-356-1988, zumis.com. Nails Etc. Day Spa The paraffin pedicure here provides serious toe time. The spa has comfy chairs to sit in. 34 Market St., 978-356-9491. The Farm Store Appleton Farms’ 40 milking cows produce fresh milk free of additives, sold in old-fashion glass bottles. Coming soon: Dairy manager and award-winning cheese maker John Miller aims to make fresh ricotta, cheese spreads, brie, cheddar, and a Jersey milk parmesan. You can also buy grass-fed beef. The store is located in the barn off the Route 1A entrance. 978-356-3825. 1640 Hart House Scrumptious American cuisine includes shepherd’s pie, pumpkin ravioli, chicken with cranberry sausage stuffing, and huge glasses of Cabernet. Save room for the blueberry cobbler. Dine alfresco on the rooftop deck. 51 Linebrook Rd., 978-356-9411. Russell Orchards On your way to Crane Beach, stop to pick your own strawberries, blueberries, or apples in season. Back at the barn, you may catch some family folk music by farm manager and singer Miranda Russell. 143 Argilla Road, 978-356-5366, .

Foote Brothers Canoe & Kayak Rental Early summer, the Ipswich River’s woods are alive with birdsong. Much of the river is accessible only by canoe, so you feel you have entered wilderness as you paddle through the wildlife sanctuary, state parks, and Wenham Wetlands. It’s also a favorite with trout fishermen. Willowdale Dam, 230 Topsfield Rd., 978-356-9771, footebrothers canoes.com. Luna Sea! Owner Elaine Pura sells an eclectic mix of crafts, clothing, and furnishings from local artisans, plus items from her travels, with an emphasis on South African foods and cooking. She also has an eye for colorful textiles. 18 Market St., 978-356-8848, lunaseaarts.net. The Inn at Castle Hill Drive through the iron gates and enter another world. Many rooms have stunning views of salt marsh or ocean.

After a hearty breakfast, enjoy a long walk on the 2,100-acre estate along Crane Beach or through the woods. Leave your cell phone at home. 280 Argilla Road, 978-412-2555.

Ipswich has been tied to clams ever since Masconomet, chief of the Agawams, spent summers in the 1660s fishing and clamming on Hog Island. The salt, the mud beds of the tidal estuaries, and the ocean’s numerous nutrients all contribute to the clam’s abundance and taste, says Ipswich shellfish constable Scott LaPreste, a former clammer. “They taste real sweet, which is a function of the cold water. It keeps them fresh and firm,” adds LaPreste.

Clamming is still a robust business in town, worth up to $14 million annually. Despite all-weather digging, the whims of a clam’s lifecycle (it takes two to four years to grow to legal size), closings due to pollution or red tide, it makes sense as a good part-time living. The key to the clam’s survival is a cap of 125 commercial licenses, reserved for residents only. That ensures that only the serious stewards stay in business and self manage the 1,000 acres of flats.

Clammers dig in beds ranging from Plum Island Sound to the Castle Neck River. Residents can buy a recreational license with daily limits. Non-Ipswich residents can buy a day license. Need gear? Tedford & Martin’s Hardware on Hammat Street sells clam forks and baskets.

“Most dealers have their regulars they buy from year round,” says David Pulsifer, a clammer and the warehouse manager for Ipswich Shellfish Fish Market. They sell to distributors like Ipswich Shellfish, which in turn sells to restaurants like the Clam Box and Choate Bridge Pub in Ipswich, or Woodman’s and Farnham’s in Essex. A bonus: State rules dictate that because of the clear water, Ipswich clams can go straight to market without having to be cleaned.

Lawrence “Chubby” Woodman of Woodman’s may claim to have invented the fried clam, but Ipswich clammer Thomas Soffron took the surf clam, sliced it, fried it, and invented clam strips. The Soffron Brothers Company, started in Ipswich in 1938, had an exclusive deal with Howard Johnson’s restaurants to provide its trademark strips.

People will drive miles for a box of fresh Ipswich steamers dipped in clam broth and melted butter. They also line up at The Clam Box on Route 133, seeking just the right degree of crunch into the juicy fried clam. For some, summer is a box of Ipswich fried clams.

Map of the Ipswich River

Ipswich boasts a proud history that’s still evident against a beautiful, rugged landscape. By Tasmin Venn

Ipswich wears its history casually, and so do its people; no one thinks twice about driving over the Choate Bridge, built in 1764, the oldest stone arch bridge in the U.S., to dine on a burger and sip an Ipswich Ale at the Choate Bridge Pub. Story has it that the bridge’s engineer, Colonel John Choate, watched the opening ceremonies while mounted on a fast horse so he could make a quick escape in the event of a collapse. The bridge was a major shift from earlier wood structures. It—and Choate’s name—has stood ever since.

But the bridge isn’t the only structure that’s been here for centuries. Head down High Street and you’ll pass a parade of 17th-century houses. Ipswich has more “First Period” pre-1725 homes than any town in the country—about 60 in all. All are lived in, and pride in home and hearth—many of which you can walk into—makes the designation of an historic district unnecessary. Farther along is the Old Burying Ground with headstones dating to 1634; on the way is the site of the home of America’s first poet, Anne Bradstreet, who wrote about the transition from English civilization to New World wilds. On East Street is the former home of Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Updike, whose novel Couples tells about Ipswich spouses with too much time on their hands. In between sits the former house of American painter Arthur Wesley Dow, who ran his very own Ipswich Summer School of Art.

Stop by the Ipswich Inn for a delicious breakfast and pick up a recorded historic walking tour of High Street and beyond by Olde Ipswich Tours. On the way out to Crane Beach, you’ll pass the Whipple House (1677), one of New England’s oldest houses, and the John Heard House, a stately Federal mansion, both part of the Ipswich Museum. Up on Town Hill stands the plaque proudly pointing out that in 1687, Ipswich refused to pay taxes without representation, long before the Boston Tea Party. Across the street marks the spot where the devil left his footprints in the rocks after he jumped from the North Church’s high steeple, driven by fright from the sermon that day.

“What makes Ipswich special is the richness of the historic stock,” says Cindy Brockway, the program director of culture resources for all Trustees of Reservations properties. “I don’t know any other town as deep and rich as Ipswich is.”

But Ipswich has much more than history. For instance, nearly half the town’s 33 square miles is open space. “The town’s open space program has been very successful,” notes Kristen Grubbs, Open Space Program Manager. The Trustees of Reservations, Willowdale State Forest, and the south end of Plum Island make up that bulk, but the town, its businesses, and citizens have been very active in conserving any available land.  The most recent addition is a lovely mile-long walk up Turkey Hill. “I think what Ipswich has been able to do with town support has been unique,” she adds.

Wide Open Spaces

“[Ipswich’s] ongoing history of concerned citizen participation is unique, especially preserving and protecting its environment with the Open Space Preservation Act and the Great Estates By-Law,” says Ingrid Miles, former Chairman of the Board of Selectman.

Long-time resident Alicia Moore says: “Ipswich is one of the largest towns in the county, from the shores of the Atlantic to the shores of Hood’s Pond, with miles of hiking and biking trails in between. There’s wilderness in woods, and in the vast expanse of salt marsh…So much is undeveloped but dependent on a watchful citizenry pretty much aware of what could easily be lost.”

Crane Beach and Castle Hill are the jewels in the crown, thanks to preservation efforts by The Trustees of Reservations, but Appleton Farms, Greenwood Farm, Maplecroft Farm, Willowdale State Forest, and the 500-acres Essex County Greenbelt all provide good places for a pensive walk. You can also horseback ride, mountain bike, jog, kayak, sail, or canoe. The smaller gems, like the 60-acre Julia Bird Reservation, the Sidney Shurcliff Walk, or the EBSCO Bridge, offer strolling access to the Ipswich River. The Ipswich Yacht Club has overnight guest moorings in Plum Island Sound and a great youth summer sailing camp.

The town of 13,000 people has the mills powered by the Ipswich River to thank for diversity. Ipswich Hosiery Mill opened in 1868 and drew Irish, French-Canadians, Polish, and Greeks to work there. The mill closed in 1928 and the buildings were used first by General Electric and now EBSCO Publishing. Today, buildings continue to recycle themselves. LaSalette Shrine became Turner Hill, which is complete with an 18-hole championship golf course. The Proctor turned into New England Biolabs. Appleton Farms, one of the oldest continuously operating farms in the U.S., is able to survive in part by community-supported agriculture. Mercury Brewing will move into a renovated brick shoe tannery downtown and start a brew pub and tours. Castle Hill excavated its cistern to water the newly replanted white pine and Norway spruce on the Grand Allee.

What is it about Ipswich? William Wasserman, the former publisher of the Ipswich-based North Shore Weeklies, says,  “First, geography—beach, forests, rivers, clams, oysters,” he says. “Second, people—Ipswich has a good mix. Some commuters, some local artists, some strictly local folks who can make a living in town, some Democrats and some Republicans, good schools, and intense interest in local government. [Ipswich] is not a snobby town.”

Ipswich is also replete with beautiful views, but undoubtedly the best view in town is from the top of Castle Hill—which is also a popular wedding venue. While the Great House, the mansion Richard Crane built in the 1920s, is the most popular venue and can accommodate the most wedding guests, the Casino, Barn, and Steep Hill Beach are also popular. Laura Daley, event manager for the Crane estate, revels in couples’ first views of the Grand Allee, the half-mile-long lawn designed by Ipswich landscape architect Arthur Shurcliffe that sweeps down the hill to a cutout view of the Isles of Shoals. She says, “We have had people come in and stand in the door, their jaws agape, going ‘Wow.’”

Those not getting married can still enjoy the grounds when summer is in full swing: Thursday night concerts start at Castle Hill in July, with grounds open for picnicking on the Grand Allee at 5 p.m.

The Details

Date of Settlement: 1633. Date of Incorporation: 1634. Zip Code: 01938. Population: 13,175. Total Area: 33 square miles. Median house-hold income: $57,284. Schools: Paul F. Doyon and Winthrop Elementary Schools, Ipswich Middle and High School. Notable residents: John Updike (author), Anne Bradstreet (poet), Simon Bradstreet (governor), Arthur Wesley Dow (painter), Ed Emberly (children’s drawing book author), Dennis Eckersley (Hall-of-Fame pitcher), David Briggs (organist), Melissa Ferrick (musician), Arthur Shurcliff (landscape architect)

Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas recently opened his ARP Clinic in Danvers to share the success of an innovative treatment that healed his 2010 hip injury.

The clinic’s CEO, Anthony Bevilaqua, says the unique advanced recovery performance (ARP) treatment reduces any type of pain, from tendonitis to carpal tunnel.

“It’s really offering a service that is revolutionary and groundbreaking in a smaller, tight-knit community,” Bevilaqua says. “If I were a member of this community and this clinic was opened, I’d be pretty excited about it, just because there aren’t many other clinics out there like this where you can get this type of service.”

ARP technology is made for men, women, and kids of any age and in any physical shape. The treatment helps end pain and improve quality of life, whether or not the patient is an athlete. The clinic currently has two therapists and intends on utilizing other ARP therapists to conduct treatments via Skype.

Bevilaqua recalls a 16-year-old boy in the community who suffered from a double concussion during a football game and reaped extraordinary benefits from the ARP Clinic. The patient had been unable to get out of bed and missed six weeks of school. He had severe head pain and migraines and was commuting to Boston’s Children Hospital for treatment and therapy for pain relief to no avail. After hearing about the ARPwave Clinic from a family friend, the young boy went to the clinic, where his pain level decreased from a 10 to a two on a pain scale after just one treatment. He returned to school three days later.

“We can prevent up to 90 percent of most surgeries,” Bevilaqua said. “It can really change the quality of your life and help avoid the use of drugs and invasive surgery.”

Newcomers receive a free evaluation and a free treatment upon their first visit.  Most of them, Bevilaqua said, will walk out of the clinic pain free. Each time the patient comes back, the ARP treatment could potentially reduce their pain by 25 percent.

Thomas chose the North Shore to open up his first clinic because he loves the area and thought it would enhance the community. He hopes to open up more clinics in the Boston metro area in the near future, but right now is focusing on establishing a presence for the Danvers clinic and spreading his passion for this groundbreaking technology. timthomas arpclinic.com.

Owner, Melissa Donati

In Gloucester, Willow Rest may keep a low profile, but its menu is packed with big, bold flavors and farm-fresh ingredients. By Anna and David Kasabian

Inconspicuously situated in an old red-shingled building with gas pumps out front, Willow Rest is nestled at the bottom of a hill on a winding two-lane road riding up the spine of West Gloucester. Don’t be fooled by its modest appearance; inside is one of the most original eateries anywhere—not just the North Shore—which also doubles as a progressive gourmet grocer and unfussy neighborhood haunt.

Plop down on a stool at the counter or a chair at one of the tables and order from the simple paper menu or straight from the chalkboard of daily specials. Then, get ready for a wild, tasty ride. Chef and owner Melissa Donati has created a total food experience in her own image: warmly informal, eccentrically creative, unstintingly focused on quality ingredients, and with a Michelin-starred chef’s attention to detail: “The croutons floating on the soup were the wrong color,” she declared, “so I changed them.”

Come for breakfast and the Frittata of the Day, the Breakfast Burrito, the Morning Sandwich, or the impressive three-egg omelet, overstuffed with tasty fresh veggies and top-quality ham or bacon. Come for lunch or early dinner and feast on signature sandwiches like the Dogtown, Rte 127, Annisquam Delight, or the criminally addictive Big BLT, comprising crunchy cherrywood-smoked bacon, mixed field greens, sliced tomato, and mayo on grilled ciabatta. And then there’s their novel riff on the classic Cuban sandwich: Pork shoulder is braised overnight in a secret BBQ sauce, then piled onto a Saint Joseph’s roll (from the famous Virgilio’s Bakery of Gloucester), along with Black Forest ham (no hormones, no antibiotics), Swiss cheese, garlicky dill pickles, and spicy mayo.

And do not miss the focaccia, made from thin, herb-crusted dough. Options range from a modest sliced tomato-mozzarella-and-fresh basil version to some near-psychedelic combos, like sliced, marinated sirloin steak, hot cherry peppers, caramelized onions, mozzarella, and gorgonzola. Or, there’s the roasted yellow and red peppers, Kalamata olives, chopped tomato, roasted garlic, mozzarella, and feta. After sampling Willow Rest’s focaccia, you might, like us, swear off ordinary pizza forever.

Donati’s bakery turns out all manner of breads, pies, and cakes, including a velvety moist chocolate cupcake with a swath of buttercream frosting that will take you to heaven and back. There’s lots of fresh in-season produce from local farms—including Donati’s own mother’s—as well as artisanal cheeses and meats, and a selection of interesting grocery items that are, like everything else about Willow Rest, both different and delightful.

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The Menu

Chef: Melissa Donati. Sandwiches: The Big BLT ($5.99), Cuban ($7.99). Focaccia: Roasted Yellow & Red Peppers, Kalamata Olives, Chopped Tomatoes, Roasted Garlic, Mozzarella & Topped with Feta Cheese ($10.99). Dessert: Chocolate cupcake with buttercream frosting ($2.75). Location: 1 Holly Street, Gloucester, 978-283-2417, willowrest.com.

Jason Revilla with his Faith & Fortune tees

A local designer promotes awareness through fashion. By Brianna Lapolla

Fashion has long served as a form of self-expression, but for Jason Revilla, it’s his voice. Since 2009, Revilla, creator of Faith & Fortune, has been outfitting men and women with unique, limited-edition designs that are as much about helping others as they are appearance.

Upon choosing to pursue  a career in fashion design, the Faith & Fortune founder had just one prerequisite: His label would have to be about more than just looks. “I wanted to build a brand that cares as much about its immediate community as it does about its product,” says Revilla. “Faith & Fortune was inspired by a desire to combine these attributes in an industry that’s often self-consuming or about self-promotion.”

The label’s early days as a pop-up shop in Beverly were spent giving back to Beverly Bootstraps Community Services. Since then, Revilla has contributed to local and national organizations that help kids in crisis. Design and quality are not sacrificed in Revilla’s benevolent ventures, however. The ultra-soft statement pieces are effortlessly cool and easily compete with other high-quality brands that are sold in the same boutiques, like Habit Shop in Boston, Art Under Pressure in Washington, D.C, Salaam in Vermont, and online at Karmaloop.com.

Moving forward,  “I want the brand to become competitive in the sense that people want to know what it’s doing each season, how we are adding our unique twist, and, most importantly, how it’s using its influence to inspire community involvement through social initiatives,” says Revilla. “The more we grow, the more good we’ll be able to do.” faithfortune.com.

Brandi Baitchman and Dan Mclaughlin

Brandi Baitchman and Dan Mclaughlin, senior zookeepers, Franklin Park Zoo’s tropical forest. By Lindsay Lambert

Where they’re from: Rockport. What they do: Take care of many different animals, ranging from Panamanian golden frogs to gorillas. Why gorillas? “Gorillas are incredible animals. They’re smart, kind, and caring,” Baitchman says. “Gorillas have many human-like qualities, like laughter and a strong sense of family. They are really amazing to work with.” Adds McLaughlin, “After studying evolution in college, I had the most interest in working with primates.” Best part of the job: For Baitchman, it’s greeting the gorillas in the morning. “The gorillas are always happy to see us, she says. “They let out a loud ‘gorilla purr.’” For McLaughlin, it’s “getting to watch the baby animals, especially Kimani and Kambiri (both western lowland gorillas), grow up.” A surprising fact about gorillas: Gorilla nose prints are unique to each gorilla. Just like a human’s fingerprints, one can identify a gorilla by his nose print. zoonew-
england.org.

Jodi R.R. Smith

Oh, Behave! Author Jodi R. R. Smith’s latest book rolls out a new roadmap for good manners.

With the internet and social networking creating new privacy conundrums almost daily, good manners sometimes seem like a quaint—and rare—commodity. But to Jodi R. R. Smith, they’re still very serious business.
Author of The Etiquette Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Manners, the Marblehead resident (and owner of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting) had a lot to wrestle with when she sat down to write her third book. “It took about four years to finish,” she says with a sigh. “My first two books were more of a gateway for people who wanted just quick tips on etiquette. This one deals with all of its finer points.” The resulting 406 pages (Smith and her editors whittled it down from its original 800-plus pages) take on everything from dining habits and same-sex marriage to the changing landscape of etiquette in business.

“I always say that etiquette evolves to keep pace with society and technology,” she explains. For example, if you read an etiquette book from just 10 to 15 years ago, it would say that a man must always wait for a woman to extend her hand to him before reaching out to shake it. “That’s completely changed,” Smith observes. “Especially in the workforce, where manners have become gender-neutral. These days it’s all about rank; the highest ranking person holds out a hand first.”

Smith’s obsession with etiquette reaches back to her high school days, when she became fascinated with what kind of behavior made some people likeable. (“Not just popular,” she clarifies. “That’s very different. I mean what makes some people want to be around someone.”) She started researching everything written on the topic, from as far back as 1885 to new studies on psychology and perception. “All of it got boiled down into my brain and found its way into the book,” she says.

That includes, of course, the Internet. When she first started writing, there was no Twitter in existence yet. But by the time her tome was finished, it was a brave new world of confidentiality (or lack thereof) out there. “Privacy really doesn’t exist anymore on the Web,” she says. To that end, she added an entire chapter dedicated to electronic etiquette. “People need to actively guard their privacy and think twice or even three times before hitting ‘send’ or ‘post.’” mannersmith.com. —Alexandra Hall