Home Grown
May 6, 2010 by Northshore
Filed under Food and Drink
Fresh eats abound at the area’s top farmers’ markets. Read more
Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods in Haverhill
November 13, 2009 by Northshore
Filed under Business, Profile
Walking through the manufacturing facility at Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods is a little like visiting Willy Wonka’s hummus factory, if he had ever built one. Read more
Newburyport’s Rising Tide
November 13, 2009 by Northshore
Filed under Business, Profile
Written by Bryan McGonigle
Photographs by Christopher Churchill
As Ann Lagasse walks along Green Street in Newburyport, talking to residents and noting the new businesses she’s helped bring to town in the past decade, she stops here and there to admire the flower beds that New England Development supplies to its tenants. “We’re definitely a downtown, but we’re looking to attract staple stores, too,” she says. “That way, we’re not all coffee shops and banks.”
Yet much of the waterfront remains undeveloped. And across town, a petition at a local market gathered thousands of signatures aimed at saving that market from being replaced by a CVS, the latest phase of frustration for some Newburyport residents.
“The face of Newburyport has changed to an almost faceless town, with a few people in control sporting dollar signs in their eyes,” says local resident Lisa Hayford. “Newburyport’s soul was sold to a commercial devil, and now the residents are paying the price.”
An evolving makeover of the downtown area, combined with a dismal economy that has stalled long-awaited major renovation of the waterfront and a caused a visionary tug-of-war, define the ambitious and often exhausting course of progress in Newburyport.
Newburyport has a long history of financial advantage. Born in 1764 after Newbury’s port community prospered so greatly that it broke away from the rest of the town (and later annexed parts of Newbury to incorporate itself into city status in 1851), Newburyport became an epicenter of shipbuilding and trade during and following the American Revolution. The United States Revenue Cutter service—the predecessor to the US Coast Guard, which was established to fight smuggling—opened its first station in Newburyport in 1791, and lighthouses built by the Coast Guard still stand on Water Street and Plum Island. Newburyport was also a base for the privateer ships that attacked enemy ships that captured hundreds of British ships during the American Revolution and War of 1812.
Ships from all over the world registered their foreign goods at Newburyport’s Custom House. In turn, those built in Newburyport carried American goods around the world. The Currier yard built 97 vessels totaling more than 80,000 tons. Famous shipbuilder Donald McKay set up his operation in Newburyport and introduced clipper ships—famous for their grandeur, grace, and speed—in the mid-19th century. The shipbuilding district was overlooked by Federal-style mansions of the region’s famous shipbuilding families, including the Greenleaf, Cushing, and Bartlett clans.
Newburyport native and merchant Francis Cabot Lowell helped bring the Industrial Revolution to America in the early 1800s, and the innovations that gave birth to steam-powered mills served as more wind for Newburyport’s financial sails. Many of the large brick mill buildings around the city were built at this time.
In the 20th century, however, the decline of localized industry and the growth of suburbs and strip malls caused Newburyport to sink economically, leaving the city awash in stagnation. By the 1970s, Newburyport’s downtown commercial core was in disarray; many of the local shops were closed, and much of downtown was slated for demolition. The Newburyport Redevelopment Authority, established in 1960 to address revitalization of the downtown central business district, renovated some of the area, including the waterfront park it built with the Newburyport Waterfront Trust. But the more ambitious plan for a grand hotel on the waterfront was fought by community activist groups for years, because the hotel was planned for public land, and it slowly sunk into wishful thinking.
Then came the Lagasses. In the 1990s, Chuck and Ann Lagasse moved to Newburyport from Haverhill and bought several buildings, setting out for renewal and charting a new course toward preservation and restoration of downtown and the waterfront.
“We moved here, and we liked old buildings,” Ann Lagasse says. “We saw some opportunities. This town has the best collection of Federalist-style buildings in the nation, and we wanted to preserve that.”
Before long, the Lagasses were the city’s biggest commercial landowners, with about 25 percent of the downtown area in their hands. Their work inspired other renovation efforts, and property values in the city went up. Newburyport witnessed a commercial rebirth under the Lagasses, who invested in condominiums, renovated Michael’s Harborside restaurant, converted another old restaurant into the Black Cow, and renovated the Atkinson Building downtown into office space and residences, among many other projects.
The Lagasses enlisted the guidance of Walter Beinecke Jr., heir to the S&H Green Stamp fortune, who had revitalized much of Nantucket by buying waterfront buildings and renovating them with appealing 18th-century architecture. Impressed with the renovations he’d made with Nantucket, the Lagasses met with him in the early 1990s and asked for his advice in preserving and revitalizing Newburyport’s downtown and waterfront. Beinecke agreed to help and went a step further: he moved to Newburyport.
“It was great,” Lagasse says of having Beinecke as a mentor. “He was a visionary, concerned about the big picture, but also concerned with the details.”
Beinecke left Newburyport a few years later to be closer to his family in Texas and passed away in 2004. Around that time, the Lagasses met with Beinecke’s Nantucket protégé, Stephen Karp, and began discussions about investing in Newburyport. The Lagasses were millions of dollars in debt and couldn’t materialize their goals for Newburyport on their own.
“We knew we needed a strong partner to develop the waterfront property,” Lagasse says. “We had mortgages on the properties, and the sale price included that debt. We wanted to find an entity that had the expertise and experience to develop the waterfront.”
Karp is chairman and CEO of New England Development, a company he started in the early 1970s, specializing in commercial real estate that developed more retail space in its first 30 years than any other developer in the Northeast. The company’s portfolio included the CambridgeSide Galleria in Boston and the massive Pinehills residential community in Plymouth, and NED had purchased and renovated properties on Nantucket, where Karp kept his work in line with Beinecke’s vision of preservation on the island.
“Frankly, we talked to many companies at that time, including companies that were interested in particular parcels,” Lagasse says. “We liked NED’s proposal because they had an interest in the entire portfolio, and we believed we could continue to work with them.”
Karp had reportedly declined to invest in Newburyport the first time he was approached, but later changed his mind and was drawn to the city. “Walter introduced me to Newburyport, and we discussed the similarities and differences with Nantucket,” Karp says. “I had great appreciation for the character of Newburyport, the preservation of older buildings, the unique shops and restaurants, the location on the Merrimack, and the close proximity to Plum Island.”
Karp began buying several of the Lagasses’ properties in 2005, starting with 31 properties and adding on from there. He had a vision for the town, one that was estimated at more than $100 million that included long-term development of the waterfront. Ann Lagasse stayed on with NED and now helps manage its Newburyport properties.
“The Lagasses created value in their preservation of building character, land purchases, and appreciation of the location on the water,” Karp says. “Ann continues her work in finding new tenants who serve a year-round population.”
Lagasse says she and others at NED have been canvassing in other towns, talking with business owners to attract new businesses to fill up Newburyport’s downtown. Today, Newburyport is home to more than 17,000 residents and hundreds of businesses, and NED is the largest property owner in the city, with 50 retail stores in town as well as a couple of schools, some office space, marina space, and executive office suites.
The development in Newburyport has involved mixed-use buildings, properties that serve as businesses, office space, and schools, as well as residences. Neighboring Salisbury is in the midst of a revitalization effort with proposed mixed-use buildings as well, and Newburyport may serve as a loose example of what to expect there, since many renovated buildings in Newburyport have been that way for some time.
“We’re focusing on making the buildings work on every level,” NED spokesman Tony Green says of Newburyport. “It already is a mixed-use downtown; it’s already here, and we’re a part of it. The new development we do will be consistent with that.”
New England Development’s ambitions have met with some local backlash, however. Some say they are concerned about their town being turned into a Nantucket imitation—“Nantucketization” is a common term around town—and some are concerned about the influx of new, often high-end stores coming in from out of town and replacing Newburyport’s familiar character. Although the Nantucket revitalization was a loose model for NED’s plans, Lagasse and Karp insist they have always planned to maintain Newburyport’s character. Karp has met with Newburyport residents a few times since purchasing the Lagasses’ properties and has had Lagasse talking with residents and insists that feedback does not fall on deaf ears.
“We try to listen to what people have to say,” Karp says. “We can’t always agree with everyone. The community will have input into any major development that will change downtown.”
Recently, it was announced that the White Hen Pantry on Pond Street would not have its lease renewed. Instead, the nearby CVS would be expanding and taking up the entire plaza space. This has led to outrage in that neighborhood from people who have frequented that White Hen for many years.
“Maybe CVS offered more rent, but I’m not really sure,” says Robin Munroe, whose husband has owned that White Hen franchise for about 12 years. Although the Munroes own that franchise, the actual tenant is White Hen, so deals are made through the corporate office. “Nobody’s talking to us. All we know is our lease ends in April, and that’s it.”
The Newburyport White Hen has many loyal customers; Munroe said they get an average of 1,500 customers a day. Since news of the White Hen’s imminent closing became known this past spring, there has been a petition posted at the market that has gathered more than 5,000 signatures. In September, there was a protest outside the White Hen held by Liz Frame, a local business owner outraged by the decision to replace the market.
Frame, who owns the Fancy Schmancy store near downtown and sings in a local band, has been a supporter of the White Hen effort for a while, but her concern is for the whole town, and she has long been outspoken with her concern about NED. Frame says she and others in town will be watching to see how the development progresses. The White Hen situation has put many on alert and has ignited fears of the NED renovation efforts.
“I don’t begrudge Mr. Karp his vision to develop the downtown,” Frame says. “It’s ultimately going to be good for everybody. But from a more altruistic, community-minded viewpoint, there are potential landmines that need to get navigated, and this whole White Hen-CVS thing speaks to that issue.”
Neither White Hen’s nor CVS’s corporate offices responded to requests for comments for this article. Lagasse acknowledges the frustration over the decision not to renew White Hen’s lease, but said the decision was one based on the location of the plaza in which White Hen operates and the company having to make a choice between White Hen and CVS due to the limit of space there.
“Both White Hen and CVS have been great tenants which served the community well,” Lagasse says. “Unfortunately, we could not expand this property—it’s a residential neighborhood—to accommodate both their future needs to grow.”
Some properties owned by NED have seen their rents go up. NED also requires a percentage of stores’ profits, which has alarmed some business owners around town. But taking a percentage of a store’s profits isn’t a practice reserved just for shopping malls, and it comes in exchange for helping the store make those profits, Green says.
“Percentage rate is common and has been a part of many leases in Newburyport that predate us,” he says. “The location, amenities, service, marketing, and support, as well as base rent level, can make such an arrangement attractive to both parties. Some leases have it, others don’t.”
With the economy in a slump, the development of the waterfront area, the major project to be undertaken by NED, has been delayed. The company had planned to tear down Oldies Marketplace along the waterfront near the Atkinson Building and build an inn, but in 2007, that plan was scrapped when the economy turned downward. Green and Lagasse say they may decide to go ahead with that waterfront inn once the economy picks back up again, but right now they aren’t sure. The company is working with the city on a walking pathway from Cashman Park to the waterfront, but the company’s eight-acre waterfront property remains undeveloped.
“In today’s economy, we’re focused on our businesses that are already there,” Green says. The company insists it remains committed to the change Ann and Chuck Lagasse envisioned for Newburyport more than a decade ago, and despite some outcry and concern from many in town, it has a lot of support from the community.
“I think people now know New England Development is a very reputable company that is here for the long haul,” Lagasse says. As she walks along the pedestrian Inn Street area and surrounding block, noting all the renovations that have been done over the years, people wave and say hello to her, even stopping their cars for small talk.
On Pleasant Street, where three new tenants of NED opened businesses last year, a new shop recently opened. Bobbles and Lace is a clothing and jewelry store based in Boston and Marblehead that has added Newburyport as its third location. The store, recently featured on WCVB’s “Chronicle” in a special bargain-hunting segment, specializes in high-end boutique looks with reasonable prices. All jewelry is under $45, and all clothing is under $80. The expansion to Newburyport was ideal, according to Co-owner Lindsay Rose Rando, a former Los Angeles boutique owner and model who co-owns Bobbles and Lace with her aunt Valerie White Russo.
“We wanted a town with a real downtown feeling where people spend the day,” Rando says, excited because the shop had been open for just about 20 minutes and she‘d already made her first sale. “There’s such great shopping here. And every person who has come in has been such a pleasure and so welcoming.”
Regarding animosity from some local residents toward NED, Rando doesn’t understand it. “There are a lot of negative feelings, but I couldn’t tell you how much of a joy it’s been,” she says, adding that she finds her rent to be reasonable, and the people at NED have been nice and professional in working with her. “One day we wanted to change the color of our awning, and [Ann Lagasse] was down here later that day with colors to pick from. It was great. I’m not used to that.”
Getting people to come to Newburyport is one thing; getting them out of their cars may be another. Along the waterfront is a large parking lot with hundreds of parking spaces, used by people who work in and visit the town. But as Newburyport Planning Director Sean Sullivan points out, it’s just not enough.
“During peak hours, it’s challenging to find parking,” Sullivan says. “I just walked outside, and the spaces are 99 percent full.” Parking in Newburyport has long been griped about, and with more development comes an increased demand for parking. To make the matter more critical, the Newburyport Redevelopment Authority is considering turning a portion of that area into a park, a move that would eliminate about 350 parking spaces.
The town recently hired an engineering consulting firm to conduct a parking study to determine the best place for a new parking garage, based on proximity to downtown, visual and environmental impact, and parking capacity. This was the ninth such study in recent history, causing many in town to question the credibility of such studies. This parking study was made possible by grant money from the federal and state governments, totaling about $500,000. With a price tag like that, Sullivan says the town is taking this parking study very seriously. The town has been working with NED on the parking situation, and there has been discussion between the town and NED about possibly using a parcel of land owned by the company near the waterfront as a parking area if need be.
While the economy might be bad, boating business is going well, according to Newburyport Marinas Manager Butch Frangipane. Frangipane recently celebrated his 35th year working at the marinas and has watched the marina life in Newburyport expand with the development. Since the Lagasses took over the marina properties, the number of boat slips has doubled to almost 500.
“Business has been reasonable for us; we hold our own,” he says. Boaters cruising up to Maine used to skip Newburyport and stop in Boston and Gloucester, and Frangipane says it was likely because boaters were forced to use the municipal docks with very little privacy. With the increase in boat slips and upgrades on amenities such as cable and electricity—and soon wireless Internet—transient traffic has seen a resurgence in Newburyport. “We’re building that business every year, and every year it gets better.”
Despite the rough economy and echoes of local dissent, Karp’s goal and vision for Newburyport remains the same as it was when he first started buying property in town four years ago. “Downtown Newburyport will be a bustling year-round destination that serves both residents and visitors,” Karp says. “I believe the work we have done has been consistent with the character of Newburyport. It is a wonderful city with room to grow while still respecting the past, yet continuing as the commercial center for the area.”
Haverhill
September 21, 2009 by Northshore
Filed under Destinations
On a recent drizzly afternoon in downtown Haverhill, my 12-year-old persists in sticking his head far out the car window. He cranes his neck upward, ignoring the rain drops hitting him in the face, and stares intently skyward.
“Look at the rooftops, Mom—they look like stairs tipped on their sides.”
He won’t let it go until I see for myself, so craning my own neck, I, too, look up at the rooftops of Wingate Street, in the heart of Haverhill’s Arts District. The roofline of the old, mostly brick buildings looks like something out of Mary Poppins or Harry Potter. Crenellations like castle tops. Ornate and surprisingly delicate wrought-iron filigree. Elaborately patterned masonry, which upon close examination look precisely like tiny sets of brick stairs tipped up vertically like escape hatches to the sky.
The buildings are prime examples of Queen Anne architecture, a hodge-podge style that took hold in America in the mid- to late-1800s, during the height of the Industrial Revolution. Many of them became home to the shoe factories, leather shops, and the numerous shoe industry suppliers that would make Haverhill an industrial powerhouse and international shoe capital by the early 1900s. By 1913, one out of every 10 pairs of shoes in America was produced in Haverhill, which was referred to as the “Queen Slipper City of the World.”
Today, local businesses and buildings don’t hesitate to tout their shoe heritage. The Lasting Room is a popular sports bar on Washington Street, named after the room in shoe factories where a “last,” a foot-shaped block, was used for manufacturing and repairing shoes. A few doors down, the Tap Restaurant and Brew Pub dispenses microbrews with wooden handles that are actual lasts. The Washington Street Shoe District invites strollers with hanging plants, ivy-covered brick facades, and painted murals in between the alleys of the old buildings. Menus posted in the windows of chic bistros and flyers announcing this week’s live music schedule among the street’s numerous clubs further convey an artsy vibe. One recent visitor, in a fit of surprised exuberance, was overheard likening a walk down Washington Street to “strolling the streets of Paris.”
One might say that the aging Slipper Queen is in the midst of a gigantic facelift. Mayor Jim Fiorentini proudly points to the $100 million in new investments over the past four years. Shuttered factories are now chic lofts and condominiums near a vibrant restaurant and music scene, as well as two commuter rail stations.
The city has also received over $350,000 in federal and state funding for improvements, as well as new trees and plants in the restaurant and arts districts. Police foot patrols were added to enhance security, and a new boardwalk on the Merrimack River is being built.
“We’re struggling to regain our footing, but we’re finding it in the arts, our restaurants, and our wonderful architecture,” notes Margot Lindau, who relocated her store, Margot’s Gallery, into a space on Wingate Street after falling in love with the building and the neighborhood. “The buildings are gorgeous. Now they are finding new uses and new lives.”
Sole town
Stuart Weitzman is known among discerning shoe connoisseurs for his attention to detail and trademark use of unique materials. “Name another shoemaker who has worked with cork, vinyl, Lucite, wallpaper, and 24-karat gold!” gushes the copy on his website. He may want to add fiberglass to that list, as per one of Weitzman’s most recent creations. Called “A Weitzman Family Affair: Three Generations,” the fiberglass shoe was designed by Weitzman, his wife Jane, and his daughter Rachel, and is encrusted with Swarovski crystals. The shoe is not for everyone and not just because of its $5,000 price tag. Five-feet long and six-feet tall, the shoe is literally a work of art.
Along with 13 other creatively painted giant replicas of vintage ladies’ shoes, the Weitzman shoe is part of the city of Haverhill’s Shoe-labration, a community-wide arts celebration of the town’s illustrious shoe history. Conceived by a volunteer civic group called Team Haverhill, the oversized shoes were commissioned by local artists and have been installed in strategic locations throughout town. They will be auctioned off at a gala celebration on October 24, with the proceeds benefiting the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce Community Arts and Education Fund, as well as select local charities of their sponsors’ choosing.
Local artist Elizabeth Persing painted the Weitzman shoe, as well as a Loch Ness-type creature called the Merry MAC with the help of students from the Silver Hill Horace Mann Charter School. “The kids were really excited about it. Not just the ones painting, but all of the children. They waited in long lines and just went crazy.” Since working on the giant shoes, Persing has also volunteered to mentor children painting many of the decorative murals scattered throughout downtown. “Up until the Shoe-labration, I lived in Haverhill, but I didn’t do anything in it,” she says.
Haverhill’s Got It All, Minus The Commute
Bistro 45
Soft lighting. A charming beamed ceiling and the tiniest of open kitchens. Steak frites, brie, and Moet & Chandon on the menu. Are we in Paris yet? Mais non! This neighborhood eatery in the heart of the Arts District pleases more than just Francophiles; it’s a tapas and martini bar as well. 45 Wingate St., 978-469-9700, bistro-45.com.
The Tap Restaurant and Brew Pub
With its worn wooden floors and infinitely long wall-length bar, you’ll feel at home in this neighborhood favorite, which has been quenching locals’ thirsts for more than 100 years. They pile the nachos high and brew their own beer in-house. (Their Homerun American Pale Ale may become your new favorite.) Want more? Check out their regular live music and the ample back deck overlooking the Merrimack River. 100 Washington St., 978-374-1117, tapbrewpub.com.
George’s Restaurant
George’s Restaurant recently tripled in size, expanding from 40 to 140 seats. The dental molding on the ceiling and the brass in the mezzanine are as original as are the grilled lamb lollipops over warm onion compote and blueberry port wine drizzle. 77 Washington St., 978-374-5150, georgesonwashington.com.
Margot’s Gallery
When you buy one of Margot Lindau’s indigenous pieces of art or jewelry, she will supply you with one of her well-written, detailed information sheets. Buy a pair of Baltic amber earrings, for example, and you will learn that the Romans called the yellow fossil resin “Gold of the North” and that it is thought to instill confidence in the wearer. 52 Wingate St., 978-373-0200, margotsgallery.com.
Second Thoughts
Shop for artsy home furniture and accessories and feel good about yourself and the planet, for everything in this funky shop is recycled, reused, or repurposed. Shutters convert to an attractive plant stand, and a salvaged bed footboard becomes an unusual one-of-a-kind bench seat. 63 Wingate St., 978-374-2222, secondthoughtsonwingate.com.
Winnekenni Castle
Once a private summer residence, this massive stone castle with four-foot-thick walls, nine bedrooms, a Grecian drawing room, and a Pompeian-style dining room serves as a recreational park and hosts regular events. 347 Kenoza Ave., 978-521-1686, winnekenni.com.
Image courtesy of chitchatlounge.com.
Paul Prue’s Picks for a Haverhill Live Music Club Crawl
Haverhill native, blues musician, and stained glass artist Paul Prue swears that the live music scene on Washington Street rivals that of New Orleans’ Bourbon Street, any day, but particularly on a Friday night. These spots feature national and local acts and all are within walking distance of each other, as well as commuter rail. The Chit-Chat Lounge has five different ballgames on the flatscreens, a Harley coming out of the wall, George Forman’s and Mohammed Ali’s signed boxing robe, DJs and live music, including, once upon a time, Jethro Tull and Joe Cocker. 103 Washington St., 978-374-9710, chitchatlounge.com. George’s Restaurant is a must-see on the third floor in Mal’s Lounge (see Where to Eat above). The Lasting Room is a pub and deli with great local live talent. 122 Washington Street, 978-373-9088, thelastingroom.com. For a good laugh, check out Pedro Diego’s with authentic Mexican food and live comedy on the side, 35 Washington St., 978-372-5247, pedrodiegos.com. No pub crawl in Haverhill would be complete without at stop at The Tap (see Where to Eat above) or at Peddler’s Daughter, one block over. This is a classic Irish pub in the best sense of the term. Pints and charm abound. 45 Wingate Street, 978-372-9555, thepeddlersdaughter.com.
For a Sweet Night Cap:
England’s Microcreamery is the perfect spot to end your evening, especially if you’re heading back to the train. Hand-churned on the premises. Cost: 59 cents per ounce. Infinite mix-ins. You can’t go wrong.
109 Washington St., 978-373-6400, microcreamery.com.
Haverhill Facts
Date of settlement: 1640
Date of incorporation: 1641
Zip code: 01830
Population: 59,902
Total Area: 35.6 square miles
Median Household Income:$49,833
Schools: 9 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 2 high schools, Northern Essex Community College, Zion Bible College
Notable Residents: Alexander Graham Bell, Tom
Bergeron, Andre Dubus III, Carlos Pena, Rob Zombie
Real Estate
Median: Price: $350,000; 267 South Main St.; 5 bedrooms; 3.5 baths; 2,890 square feet; .24 acres. Listing Agent: Elaine Sawyer and Jim Fitzgerald, Re/Max.
High End: Price: $2,175,000; 43 East Broadway; 5 bedrooms, 7 baths, 8,579 square feet; 4.85 acres. Listing Agent: Connie Doto, Century 21 McLennan & Company. —Alessandra Bianchi; photographs by Robert Boyd
River Monster Spotted at Haverhill Public School
June 15, 2009 by Northshore
Filed under News
HAVERHILL – JUNE 2009 – Fifth graders in the The Discovery Club, an after-school program at Silver Hill Horace Mann Charter School, joined local artist Elizabeth Persing, to create Merry Mac – Haverhill’s friendly river monster.
River Monster at Haverhill Public Schools - part of the 2009 Summer Shoe-la-bration
Merry Mac will be part of the Soles of Haverhill Shoe-la-bration, which will exhibit a number of decorated 6 foot shoes at different locations downtown this summer.
Liz Persing created the design for Merry Mac specifically for Discovery Club. For eight weeks, Ms. Persing will mentor the student artists and teach them techniques to turn her design into an enormous, colorful, whimsical work of art. Students have the rare opportunity to assist a professional artist in the process of creation and can explore their interest in pursuing a career in the arts.
After the summer long public art display Merry Mac, along with the other shoes, will be up for auction in October to earn money for local not-for-profits who contribute to Haverhill. Merry Mac, specifically, will help the Discovery Club and the Haverhill Foundation for Excellence in Education Foundation.
For more information on the Discovery Club and the difference it is making in Haverhill’s schools, please contact Program Director Tina Fuller at: (978) 469-8772.
For more information about the Soles of Haverhill Shoe-la-bration, please contact Leota Sarrette at: lsarrette@aol.com or visit: solesofhaverhill.com
JoJo White Celebrity Golf Classic
June 12, 2009 by Northshore
Filed under Events
Title: JoJo White Celebrity Golf Classic
Location: Renaissance Country Club – Haverhill
Description: An event of champions, the JoJo White Celebrity Golf Classic invites local golfers to play with celebrities, Ray Bourque, Jim Rice, Luis Tiante, Rico Petrocelli, Curt Shilling and more.
Start Time: 7:00
Date: 2009-09-27
Award-Winning Sculptor Funds New England’s Largest Solo Sculpture Exhibition!
May 28, 2009 by Northshore
Filed under News
May 2009 – HAVERHILL, MA – Award-winning metal sculptor Dale Rogers is launching a traveling exhibit of 20 of his unique 8-foot-high by 10-foot-long dog sculptures. The free exhibition, entitled The Big Dog Show, will be on display throughout New England for a six week period during August and September 2009.
“Art enthusiasts, dog lovers, families, residents and visitors will encounter a unique gathering of compelling ‘American Dog’ sculptures (see below) that are larger-than-life, accessible, and attractive to people of all ages. Bringing art to the masses is valuable to everyone—not only people who support the arts but those who enjoy it,” said Rogers.
Dale Rogers Dog Sculptures
This solo exhibition represents more than two years of planning and creation. Rogers is solely funding the traveling exhibition with an investment of more than $200,000.
“Dale sees this tour as an excellent opportunity to attract national attention to his work as a socially responsible artist with the intention of partnering with a corporate sponsor that shares these values and who can help him take this exhibit to Boston and cities across the nation,” said Kelly Martin, spokesperson for Rogers. “Dale hopes this event is appreciated by all and will consider it a success if people get involved,” added Martin.
For more information, including details about how to get involved, please visit: www.dalerogersstudio.com
About Dale Rogers: Dale Rogers, an award-winning metal artist respected within the arts community, creates sculptures out of cor-ten and stainless steel. Dozens of his pieces are seen in public spaces across the U.S.
2009 Tour Scheudle:
Bradford Common, Haverhill, MA – August 6th-11th, 2009
Peirce Island, Portsmouth, NH – August 13th-18th, 2009
Bartlet Mall, Newburyport, MA – August 27th-September 1st, 2009
Beverly Common, Beverly, MA – September 3rd-8th, 2009
Kerouac Park, Lowell, MA – September 10th-15th, 2009
Pentucket Bank Steps-in and Joins The Soles of Haverhill Shoe-la-bration
May 10, 2009 by Northshore
Filed under News
Haverhill – May 2009 - The Soles of Haverhill Shoe-la-bration is happy to announce that Pentucket Bank will be sponsoring one of the shoes on display. Pentucket Bank has proudly selected Haverhill’s beloved Winnekenni Castle and Park Conservation Area as the non-profit which will benefit from the sale of the shoe. Pentucket Bank is known for its longstanding commitment to Haverhull and to local non-profit organizations. So when Pentucket Bank CEO, Kendall Smith and the Bank’s President, Scott Cote, learned about the Soles of Haverhill Show-la-bration, they were among the first to step-up and join the exciting initiative.
Scott Cote stated that Pentucket Bank is proud to support Team Haverhill’s Soles of Haverhill Shoe-la-bration event and is pleased to choose the Winnikenni Foundation as their non-proft partner. This initiative is another great way to generate interest and excitement about the City of Haverhill and its rich history. Pentucket Bank believes strongly in promoting the history of Haverhill and the Winnikenni Catle and Park are great symbols that represent Haverhill’s history. The Winnikenni Castle demonstrates how well historic landmarks can be preserved and utilized to support the cultural and recreational needs of a divers community over many generations.
The Bank has been working with local artist Liz Persing who has developed a very creative design for our shoe. Liz’s design captures both the history of the Winnikenni Castle and incorporates it with the importance of the area known as Pentucket by the Passaconoway Indians or “The Land of the Winding River”.
For those who haven’t heard about this great public art display, the “Soles of Haverhill” launches in 2009 and is anticipated to become a regular event in the city’s cultural life.
The giant shows will be on display in prominent locations from July until October, when then will be auctioned off at a gala event at the Buttonwoods Museum. THe profits from the auction will go to the non-profit represented.
For more information on how to get involved, please contact committee co-chair, Leota Sarrette at: lsarette@aol.com
For those interested in sponsorship opportunities, the last day to apply is May 19th, 2009.
The Shoes Have Arrived!
March 18, 2009 by Northshore
Filed under Events
Haverhill, MA, March 17, 2009 – Ten shoes, each over 5 feet tall, which are at the heart of the upcoming Soles of Haverhill Shoe-la-bration have arrived and are ready for painting!
5ft shoes arrive in Haverhill, ready for painting!
The Soles of Haverhill Shoe-la-bration initiative is sponsored by the Soles of Haverhill Committee, a sub-committee of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce. It is a fund-raising event for non-profits which contribute to the arts and/or culture of Haverhill while recognizing the city’s historic contributions to shoe manufacturing and the impact the industry both has had on Haverhill, even to today.
Once the shoes are painted they will be on display in prominent locations from July until October. At that time they will be auctioned off at a gala event at the Buttonwoods Museum in Haverhill.
The Soles of Haverhill committee is looking for additional sponsors for individual shoes. There will be a meet and greet for current and interested sponsors in the Community Room at Pentucket Bank, 35 Merrimack Street in downtown Haverhill, on March 23rd from 6:30pm – 8pm. This will be a great opportunity to get additional information, see artists renderings and get a sneak peak of the shoes in person.
For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact committee co-chair, Lynn Murphy at: solesofhaverhill@yahoo.com or (978) 521-3790, or visit our website at: solesofhaverhill.com
Soles of Haverhill
March 10, 2009 by Northshore
Filed under News
Haverhill, MA, March 8, 2009 – This summer and fall, residents and visitors can expect to see a new public art festival in the City of Haverhill. The “Soles of Haverhill” will launch in 2009 and is anticipated to become a regular event in the city’s cultural life.
Fiberglass shoe forms, embellished by selected artists with unique surface designs, will be strategically placed around the city. The shoes will be sponsored by individual businesses or organizations, and each will represent a non-profit agency which contributes to the Haverhill community. The Soles of Haverhill Committee, which is organizing this event, is actively seeking sponsors, non-profits, artists and volunteers for this initiative.
The shoes, over five feet tall, will be on display in prominent locations from July until October, when they will be auctioned off at a gala event at the Buttonwoods Museum.
Alongside the public art component, a community history project called “Shoes and the Soul of Haverhill” will examine the long-term impact of the shoe industry on the city’s character and spirit. The entire initiative is sponsored by the Soles of Haverhill Committee, a sub-committee of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce.
The Soles of Haverhill “Shoe-la-bration” presents a genuine opportunity for residents to become involved with a first-time community art celebration event, and the Committee is actively seeking participants at this time. Sponsors, artists, non-profit organizations and volunteers will all be involved in an unforgettable experience: being part of a high-profile public art display that captures the imagination of thousands of people, encourages a community sense of well-being, and supports local non-profit organizations, local artists and civic involvement.
For more information about sponorship opportunties, please contact the committee co-chair, Lynn Murphy at: (978) 521-3790, email: solesofhaverhill@yahoo.com or visit: solesofhaverhill.com
An Evening Around the World
January 28, 2009 by Northshore
Filed under Events
Title: An Evening Around the World
Location: DiBurro’s Function Hall – Haverhill
Link out: Click here
Description: Spend and Evening Around the World Saturday, April 11th, 2009 at DiBurro’s in Haverhill.
The 23rd annual event & auction will benefit the children of The Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence. Over 400 people are expected to attend and help to raise funds to benefit some of the poorest, at-risk children in the Commonwealth.
Guest can enjoy an open bar 5:30pm-6:30pm, and the silent auction will run 5:30pm-7:30pm. The dinner will be held at 7:30pm with the live auction beginning at 8pm.
Tickets are $125 per person.
For more information, donation of an auction item, purchasing ticker, or any additional questions, please contact Kathy Boshar at: kboshar@lawrencebgc.com, call: (978) 683-2747, or visit: www.lawrencebgc.com
Start Time: 17:30
Date: 2009-04-11
End Time: 23:00
16th Annual Christmas Stroll
December 2, 2008 by Northshore
Filed under Events
Title: 16th Annual Christmas Stroll
Location: Downtown Haverhill
Link out: Click here
Description: For new friends and old friends alike, visit friendly downtown Haverhill for their 16th Annual Christmas Stroll.
Enjoy entertainment on the main stage, strolling musicians, a special Christmas Castle, and Polar Express activity area just for the children.
Santa will light the tree with Mayor Fiorentini and distinguished guests.
Shops and restaurants will be ready to welcome you — join in the “Sticker Stroll” for great prizes and gifts and find unique and eclectic shopping and cuisine from around the world, right in downtown Haverhill.
For more information, please visit: www.celebratehaverhill.com
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2008-12-07
End Time: 18:00
Bistro 45
September 20, 2008 by Northshore
Filed under Food and Drink, Review
Apparently restaurateur Michael Conneely knows how to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Read more
Best Health Club
July 21, 2007 by Northshore
Filed under BONS, BONS 2007
Cedardale, Haverhill Read more
Get 