I was fortunate enough to spend some time at the brand new Beauport Hotel last night. To say that it exceeded my expectations is beyond an understatement. The attention to detail is second to none and I coveted each and every piece of art, piece of furniture, lamp, sconce, throw pillow, cushion, etc.
My best attempt to describe it is Pottery Barn (or maybe Restoration Hardware) meets America’s Cup. It is crisp, modern, comfortable, cozy, bright, nautical, and chic…all at once. It feels just enough like “Gloucester” while also feeling like a wonderful retreat and escape. I felt at home….and yet a million miles away.
While there, I sat in a formal dining room to tape our podcast, at the indoor bar for a delicious tomato and mozzarella flatbread, by the rooftop pool for the sunset, and then on the expansive ocean-front deck by the fire pit. Each space had its own feel…while yet being completely cohesive. There are comfortable sitting areas everywhere you look. Plenty of nooks and crannies for intimate seating for two….and large tables and seating configurations for meeting up with a large group of friends.
Honestly, even last night with a chill in the air, I could have sat on the deck for hours on end.
We are beyond blessed to have so many fabulous choices here on Cape Ann. The Beauport Hotel is, in my opinion, the precious last piece of a puzzle. Kudos to all involved in the enormous efforts of making it a reality.
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Spent some time on the deck at the Studio the other day had a fantastic meal and a great time. Crazy, yummy sushi, perfectly cooked edamame, and the best mussels I’ve ever had.
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Pick #3: BeanStalk Adventure Ropes Course at Jordan’s Furniture
Experience the thrill of traveling from one activity to the next. Test your agility and balance, as you make your way across our exclusive, one-of-a-kind sky ropes course. Head up 12 or 24 feet and step off onto zig zag beams, crisscross angled rope ladders, and hold tight for spaghetti hand lines. Walk the plank at 24 feet where you travel out on a 6 inch standalone beam, only to pivot ever so perfectly and return.
Admission Prices:
BeanStalk Adventure Ropes Course (with Zip Line) – $12.50
BeanStalk Adventure Ropes Course (without Zip Line) – $10.50
Must be at least 48″ tall or 42″ if accompanied by a chaperone.
BeanSprout Adventure Ropes Course – $6.25
Must be less than 48″ tall.
The boys and I explored the Cox Reservation the other day and attended the Intro to Geocaching class that I mentioned in my “Picks” post. While the fun of hunting for geocaches isn’t really new to us, we had a great time joining a small group of other attendees and hunting for some hidden boxes with some “professionals.”
The Essex County Greenbelt boasts tons of great properties that are always offering a large variety of fun and educational activities.
Please keep in mind this post comes from a humble mother, whose son had a trip to the ER for stitches doing something similar…on a MUCH smaller scale….when he was with me. So, this post isn’t a holier-than-thou-for-pete’s-sake-watch-your-kids-I-don’t-make-any-mistakes kind of post.
So…if you EVER see one of my kids screaming full throttle…smack down the middle of South Street in Rockport at 7:35 (meaning DUSK) on a scooter…with no helmet… like the young man that I had to swerve to miss last night…. please, please do your best to make him stop.
This particular young man…and I have no idea who he was…scared the day lights out of me, but also could have been really, really hurt. I’m not even necessarily meaning hurt by a vehicle, but hurt by something as simple as a pebble or a crack in the pavement that could have sent him flying through the air.
Oddly enough, I just had to have a reminder with my older son after watching a Go Pro video that he shot while biking around our neighborhood. I could tell by the video that he wasn’t looking over his shoulder to survey for cars behind him before crossing to the other side of the street. I’m so glad that I was able to show him the video to reinforce the lesson. Likewise, watching that boy last night gave me the opportunity to tell them what not to do, but I know they won’t always listen.
Sigh. Be careful kids. Please.
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Sunday, June 5th 10:00-4:00 rain or shine @ the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
$15 per car…member and non-member
Join us on Sunday, June 5 for a day of nature and fun. Featuring Marcia and Mark Wilson of Eyes on Owls.An unforgettable natural history experience for the whole family!
Among the many activities:
Live owl presentations throughout the day
Insect Zoo
Face-painting & Henna
Children’s games and activities
Craft demonstrations & sales
Butterfly Plant Sale
Food! Whoopie Wagon! Captain Dusty’s ice cream!
Raffle with lots of great items to choose from
Naturalist-guided walks & pond explorations
Guided tours of our butterfly & bird habitat gardens
Exhibits and activities on solar power, sustainability, & being green
Pick #2: Intro to Geocaching at the Cox Reservation
My boys and I love using our hand-held GPS to look for geocache boxes in our area. I’ve been meaning…and will eventually…do a blog post it. For now, I bet this event will be lots of fun!
Come experience the fun new sport of Geocaching, the web-based hide-and-seek game that is growing by leaps and bounds across the country!
Instructors will share how to use a GPS unit and astute powers of observation to find hidden caches at the Cox Reservation.
Learn strategies for locating cleverly hidden caches and Geocaching etiquette.
Along the way, we will also teach basic GPS skills, including creating waypoints and plotting a course. One GPS unit will be provided to be shared per family.
We love hopping on the Lady Jillian, going for a cruise around the harbor, listening to the informative tour, and maybe jumping off for a bite to eat, an ice cream, or a stroll through Rocky Neck before getting back on to head home.
Not only a great mode of transportation, but also an inexpensive way to spend some time on the water with the kids.
As always, for a more comprehensive list of family activities, please visit our friends at North Shore Kid
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Like everyone else in the world, between the boys’ sports, events, and school projects and my own meetings, errands, and random commitments, I feel like it has been forever since I have had a night to sit, book in lap, and simply relax.
We came home from school in a timely fashion yesterday, the boys rode bikes with the neighbors, we cooked on the grill, ate down back on the patio, and then….as soon as the boys were in bed…I actually found a whole hour to sit on the side deck and read. There may have been one Summer Shandy involved as well. And…even better….it could have been longer if the sun didn’t set and the bugs didn’t come out.
I will take many more evenings just like this, please.
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As is often my go-to on rainy weekend days, I headed to the pool at Cape Ann’s Marina Resort yesterday. You have heard me say this before, but it is a total score if you are a parent of a young child…especially ones that can swim confidently on their own.
We were there for a little over four hours, the kids swam, we ate lunch, and hung out with friends.
We always have great, easy, inexpensive fun there and that has only become better with their new and improved menu by the pool AND the great renovations outside! Today I ordered the strawberry summer salad, the boys had the chicken tenders with the world’s BEST honey mustard, and we shared the cheese trio plate with havarti, manchego, and brie….and mango slaw + pita chips.
I love hanging out with the boys, but I can’t wait to go back hit the raw bar, have some yummy drinks, hear some music, and sit by the water with some friends too.
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Met a friend for dinner at the brand new Pigeon Cove Tavern last week. I had one super yummy Blueberry Mojito, a roasted beet and arugula salad, and a delicious burger with Krystal Cave Aged Cheddar and Green Garlic Aioli. So good.
I will definitely go back again and can’t wait to sit outside on the deck. Give it a shot for sure.
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I seriously needed a new key chain. My commander was just that much taller than my new car and I’ve discovered…over and over again, each time I get behind the wheel…that my keys now actually whack me in the knee the entire time I drive.
So, as I often do when looking for something particular and yet original, I took to Etsy.
I custom ordered my color block “sun, sand, sea, and salt” key chain and it came in the mail yesterday. Love.
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Harbortown Arts Market is an eclectic marketplace of New England’s vibrant indie-maker scene, featuring more than forty of the best designers, artists, and vintage curators from Cape Ann and beyond. Happening on Gloucester’s working waterfront in the heart of the city, this market features FREE PARKING, gourmet food trucks, exceptional harbor views, as well as proximity to the outstanding food, galleries and special events of the city’s Harbortown Arts Festival happening Memorial Day Weekend.
The Harbortown Arts Market is happening Saturday, May 28th, from 10AM to 4PM, at 65-67 Rogers Street in Gloucester. It is a co-production of Harbortown Cultural District, Rusty and Ingrid Creative Company of Gloucester, and Mill Gypsies, and it is a part of the Harbortown Arts Festival.
Etsy Mill Gypsies are an eclectic caravan of artists, makers and vintage dealers who travel to converted, artist/retail mills throughout New England. We bring awareness and a sense of community to the amazing mills we visit! The Gypsies are making a special appearance at the Harbortown Arts Festival in downtown Gloucester, MA.
Pick #2: Free Family Fun Fest at Wolf Hollow
Free Family Fun Fest
Sunday, May 29th, 2016 (11am – 3pm)
Make your Memorial Day weekend truly memorable! Bring the whole family to howl with the wolves for FREE!
Guests will enjoy:
One of a kind, educational presentations every hour.
Still and forever a favorite! Maritime Gloucester opens this weekend and you should really make a point to stop on by. So much to see and do for a variety of ages and one of my favorite gift shops ever….not to mention the incredibly easy-on-the-wallet price of admission!
A shout out to my “How much money is in the money jug” winner, Beverly Bernhard, for fulfilling her promise of sending 1/2 of her winnings to the charity of her choice.
Beverly selected Family Promise North Shore Boston and they were very happy to receive her donation.
They do great work and I am thrilled that GMG could help with a small donation to support all that they do for the families they serve.
Be forewarned….this is going to be a story about one of my boys.
Last Sunday was Wally’s birthday at Fenway Park. I took Finn in with me for the day because…at 6 years old…he is still a huge fan of mascots and, that being the case, Wally’s birthday is the place to be.
Many a mascot have been known to fly in to celebrate with Wally at the park on his big day each year and both of my boys have really enjoyed being in attendance in years past.
On the way into the park Finn started to ask questions about whether or not mascots are actually “real.” I asked him what he thought. He listed many reasons explaining why Wally couldn’t actually be real….which broke my heart just a little bit. My only response was, “Well, all I really know is that Wally has always been really nice to us and he makes me smile. Real or not, Wally is Wally and I think he’s pretty great.”
Fast forward to the action at Fenway. Wally had an A list of friends fly in indeed. A thought which still makes me laugh. I think it would make the best short film ever to see the mascots each grabbing their suitcases, running out of their home ballpark, hailing a cab or hopping in a limo, taking off for the airport, checking through security, and buckling up on planes across the country…prior to meeting up at Logan Airport and driving off to Fenway together.
We watched the pre-game action on the field and then Finn wanted to head up to the Green Monster to watch a couple of innings before heading down to Wally’s Club House for the birthday celebrations. Turns out that Wally and his friends had the same idea. Wally takes to the Green Monster during each game to do the “Wally Wave” with some fans. At the end of the 2nd inning Finn was suddenly surrounded by Mascot Mania and couldn’t have been happier. Unfortunately, being little, Finn was soon pinched out of the action on the crowded stairs and was about to be lost in the shuffle. As soon as the birthday dance started, T.C. (from the Minnesota Twins) came to his rescue and scooped him up to give him the coolest view in the park. Finn was beaming.
As if that bonding wasn’t cool enough, we bumped into T.C. and the other mascots again during Wally’s birthday party. By then, all Finn cared about was hanging with his new pal T.C. I explained to him that the mascots were having a really busy day and had lots of fans to meet and a schedule to keep. No sooner than I had said that, though, T.C. turned around, recognized Finn and gave him a special “hello.”
At that moment, T.C. became Finn’s favorite thing ever. Any doubts about mascots being “real” vanished and he was beaming. Finn talked about T.C. for the rest of the day. On the way home it occurred to him that he may not have the opportunity to see T.C. again. The doubts that filled Finn’s thoughts on the way into Fenway had been replaced with the purest and simplest memories of a new favorite day at the park.
At bedtime Finn asked, “Do you think T.C. has already left Boston?” and then rolled over and said, “Happy Birthday Wally” to his little stuffed green monster. Ahhh….to be six again.
After downloading photos and videos from the day, it occurred to me just how great T.C. had been. I realize that it is surely in a mascot’s job description to bring enjoyment to fans young and old….but, T.C. went out of his way. Anyone who brings such pure joy to one of my children deserves a “thank you” right? So, I emailed T.C. I can’t lie, I felt a little funny actually emailing a mascot and I certainly didn’t expect to hear back. But, I did. Not only did T.C. email me back, but he seemed genuinely happy that I took the time to let him know that he made Finn’s day. T.C. asked for Finn’s address. He said that he wanted to send him a little something.
Just a few short days later, a box arrived in the mail. T.C. had sent Finn the mother load of Minnesota Twins goodies. Finn was….well, really, the only word that seems right….incredulous. His giggle as he figured out that the box was actually from T.C. is one of the most precious things I have ever heard.
The fact that someone…in this case a big furry bear named T.C. all the way from Minnesota…took such time and care to make my little guy smile….will be one of the moments that makes all right in this sometimes overwhelming and crazy world for this mom. Huge kudos to T.C. for embracing his ability to make Finn feel special.
Mascots are real.
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The Motif No.1 Day Festival celebrates Rockport across the arts. And all of it centers around the fishing shack-artist’s studio-tourist attraction that started it all: an old building right on one of Rockport’s historic wharves that was painted so often by artists at the turn of the last century that it was given the nickname Motif No.1 by Lester Hornby, a well-known artist and instructor of the period.
Film, poetry, dance, music, and art-making activities are all a part of the festival, as well as historical presentations and a Motif No.1 Day 5k and Fun Run, with proceeds to benefit Rockport Public Schools’ wellness initiatives.
“We are excited to announce that Flight of Fire, The Strumbellas, Joywave and Fitz and the Tantrums will be performing at this years FREE Radio 92.9 EarthFest Presented By Whole Foods Market. The festival will take place at the DCR Hatch Memorial Shell on May 21st, 2016 from 10:00am-5:00pm.”
Pick #3: Let’s Go Fly a Kite: A Practically Perfect Mary Poppins Party
Sunday, May 22nd 1:00-4:00
It’s an afternoon of Poppins fun for the whole family at this Mary Poppins Party at Crane Estate. Activities include kite making and flying, chalk drawing, lawn games, and more. Kite aficionados from Kites Over New England are on hand to show their kites and flying techniques. Tea, lemonade, and cookies are served.
That was me blowing my horn. Only it isn’t really my horn. It is the horn that belongs to phenomenal school where I am incredibly privileged to teach.
While I could always wax poetically about many of the special things that happen there on a daily basis, I don’t. So, when I do…you know it is going to be even extra special. Like today. This isn’t just any proud moment though. This one also includes the one and only, Sista Felicia. This week, for one super fun night, Harborlight-Stoneridge Montessori and Sista Felicia joined forces.
See, our Middle School students put their wonderfully creative minds together and planned themselves a pretty exceptional week-long field study trip to Gloucester. Gloucester may have, at first, seemed like an odd choice since these students all hail from the North Shore area, but given the fact that they were excited to dig deeper, explore further, and learn more substantially about this special place we call home, it wasn’t really an odd choice at all.
They rented themselves a pretty sweet home on the beach, created a week-long vision of learning, drew a logo, and planned a week to end all weeks. With the direction of their teachers, but the license to make their own decisions, they planned a week that includes working closely with Tony Wilbur at Maritime Gloucester, a sail on the Ardelle, some time on the Adventure, learning how to SUP, a trip to Cape Pond Ice, a meeting with Angela Sanfilippo, a visit with a couple of local artists, a lobstering trip, a visit to Hammond Castle, a walk on Dog Bar Breakwater, and much (much) more. Oh, wait…much more…including breaking in their vacation pad by preparing an exceptionally delicious meal with Sista Felicia.
Don’t be surprised if you hear more about this trip in the week to come, but in the meantime I wanted to show you how fantastic it was to have my worlds collide. Felicia, no surprise, led these students like the expert she is. She had them working all areas of the kitchen with enthusiasm and, in the end, a fantastic meal consisting of appetizers, “cocktails”, salad, main courses (obviously including locally caught fish), and a dessert….but, most importantly, teamwork…was served.
Thanks so much, Felicia! A side note, that probably goes with out saying, is that the food was delicious and received accolades from all.
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One of my “picks” for last week was the Annual Plant Sale at the Trustees, Long Hill Gardens. While I didn’t make the actual plant sale, I did take a group of my “grown-up” students for a walk up there on Saturday afternoon for a quick botany lesson. It truly never fails to disappoint and if you haven’t hiked the property, you really should.
Good Morning Gloucester 