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Taste of Ipswich Wine and Food Gala, 11th Anniversary, October 7th

September 29, 2008

Taste of Ipswich Wine & Food GalaWhen: Tuesday, October 7th, 2008, 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Where: Turner Hill, 251 Topsfield Road, Ipswich, MA 01938
Cost: Purchase Advance Tickets: $65 per person/$120 per pair; Tickets at the Door: $75 per person /$140 per pair.

If you love to eat and enjoy sampling fine foods, you may be interested in attending the 11th Anniversary Taste of Ipswich Wine and Food Gala on Tuesday, October 7th at The Inn at Turner Hill.

This year’s event will benefit the Ipswich Family YMCA & the Essex County Trail Association (ECTA).

Stroll through the newly renovated and enhanced mansion at Turner Hill sampling delicious foods prepared by outstanding restaurateurs.

Discover wines from a variety of vendors hosted by Marcorelle’s Fine Wine & Liquor Store.

You can also bid on a variety of fabulous silent auction items.
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Relay For Life Fundraiser at Sal’s Pizza, Amesbury, September 8th

August 31, 2008

Relay for LifeWhen: Monday, September 8th, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Sal’s Pizza, 84 Haverhill Road, Amesbury

Sal’s Pizza and the Main Street Congregational Church Light in the Dark relayy team will host a Relay for Life fundraiser Monday September 8th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Sal’s Pizza in Amesbury.
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Bloomberg.com Has Nice Review of Plum Island and Greater Newburyport

August 24, 2008

It’s always interesting to see how the Greater Newburyport region is viewed by visitors to our region. It helps provide a more balanced assessment of what we have in our region as seen from the outside, especially when we view our region as a tourist destination.

With that said, there is a nice online review of Plum Island and the Greater Newburyport region by Jeremy Gerard on Bloomberg.com., the New York-based international financial and information services concern.

Mr. Gerard and his wife recently explored Plum Island and Greater Newburyport during a three-night stay at blue: the inn on the beach at Plum Island.  All in all they were favorably impressed with the quality of the inn and the fine shopping, the numerous places to dine, great beaches and natural resources available to them while they were here in the Newburyport region.

He describes the Plum Island/Newburyport area as an “under the radar” destination that slips by many tourists as they visit Cape Cod and other more popular tourist destinations along the New England seacoast.

The easy commute to Plum Island/Newburyport from Boston and the lack of traffic congestion were also highlighted in his article. The lobster rolls and chowder offered at Bob Lobster’s were hits with Mr. Gerard as well as a host of other local attractions and dining establishments.

Here are a list of the locations/dining spots that were named (all favorably by the way) in Mr. Gerard’s review:

  • Bob Lobster (seafood and more; on the causeway (Plum Island Turnpike) to Plum Island)
  • Mad Martha’s -breakfast on Plum Island
  • Fowle’s- breakfast & lunch (including a wide selection of newspapers and magazines)
  • Plum Island Grille - dining (Plum Island dining)
  • 10 Center Street - dining (downtown Newburyport waterfront)
  • The Blach Cow -dining (downtown Newburyport waterfront)
  • Oldies Marketplace - antiques and all things used; a flea market
  • Gram’s - ice cream in downtown Newburyport

The only gripe that Mr. Gerard had about his stay was the 20.7 percent room/service charge (includes a 15 percent gratuity and 5.7 percent tax) that is applied at blue: the inn on the beach. We have seen this same complaint expressed in other reviews of the inn. Perhaps management of the inn should consider reevaluating this room/service fee charge structure to a more moderate rate as it is often the only blemish in otherwise fine reviews of the inn that we have seen.

To see all of Mr. Gerard’s review, visit his online review of Plum Island and the Greater Newburyport region by Jeremy Gerard on Bloomberg.com.


Summer High Tea At Crane Estate, Ipswich On August 27th

August 17, 2008

Crane EstateWhen: Wednesday, August 27
Where: Crane Estate, 290 Argilla Road, Ipswich
Cost: $30 to $40, depending on Trustees membership status and seating.

Do you want to experience a formal summer high tea in an absolutely elegant and breathtaking setting? I

f yes, then make plans to attend the summer high tea being hosted at the Crane Estate in Ipswich on Wednesday, August 27.

A ticket includes a tour of the Great House, the magnificent seaside mansion, at 2:30 p.m. followed by a catered tea at 3:30 p.m.

Tickets are $30 to $40, depending on Trustees membership status and seating. Preregistration is required. The first floor of the Great House is handicapped accessible.
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Iron Moon Farm’s Farm Stand To Be Back On Newbury Upper Green

August 14, 2008

Any day now, you should be able to buy vegetable and produce at Newbury’s Upper Green on High Road (Route 1A) from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, seven days a week.  Iron Moon’s selling season is about 17 weeks long and ends Oct. 31.

An article by Victor Tine in today’s Newburyport Daily News reports that Newbury Selectman voted unanimously to allow Iron Moon Farm owners Wendy and Colin Smith to set up their farm stand/wagon on the Upper Green for a second year. The Upper Green farm stand location is a temporary operation that would provide Iron Moon Farm with added visibility in the Newbury/Newburyport region until the Parker River bridge reconstruction work is completed.
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West Newbury Farmer’s Market, 9:00 to 12:00 pm, Saturdays

August 13, 2008

When: Saturdays, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm (Noon)
Where: Laurel Grange, 21 Garden Street, West Newbury

Stop by the outdoors Farmer’s Market that is held at the Laurel Grange, 21 Garden Street, West Newbury every Saturday morning from 9:00 am to noon. The market features locally grown produce and flowers.

If the weather is rainy or stormy, the market is held inside the Laurel Grange Hall.


Annual Three-Day Greek Food Festival, July 25 to 27

July 17, 2008

When: Friday, July 25 to Sunday, July 27, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Harris Street, Newburyport

If you love to eat Greek food, make sure you visit the Annual Three-Day Greek Food Festival, July 25 to 27, held by the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, located on Harris Street, Newburyport. The church will be hosting its annual three-day Greek Food Festival from Friday, July 25 to Sunday, 27.

The hours for the festival are from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The event is indoors, air conditioned, and held rain or shine.

Featured items include: Homemade Greek entrees such as gyros, lamb shanks, moussaka, chicken, lamb and pork kabobs, keftethes (meatballs), spinach pie, pastichio, Greek salad, plaki (fish), Greek pastries and more will be served.

Admission to the event is free.

Sunset Wine Tasting Cruise On The Merrimac River, July 16 & 23

July 10, 2008

When: Wednesdays (6:30 p.m.), July 16, 23 and August 6 & 27
Where: Plum Island Eco Tours, Newburyport, MA
Cost: $25 per person

Take a relaxing Sunset Wine Tasting Cruise and enjoy the calm waters and scenic views of the Merrimack River as you sample delicious wines with commentary provided by Rhonda Grady of A Grape Affair, Portsmouth, NH..

Sunset Wine Tasting Cruises are being offered on Wednesday evenings, July 16 and 23 and August 6 and 27.Cruises depart from the dock at Michael’s Harborside Restaurant aboard Plum Island Eco Tours at 6:30 p.m.

Cost: $25 per person. Includes wines and 90 minute cruise. Advance Registration is required.

Please call Rhonda at 978-388-5586 or email rhonda@agrapeaffair.com.

Website: A Grape Affair