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Seaside Ice 2023

Skate Indoors – No Hats or Gloves Required

Seaside Ice at Blue Ocean Event Center in Salisbury Beach

Seaside Ice, hosted each year during the annual Sea Festival of Trees is a great choice if your looking for fun, affordable family activities during the holiday season. The ice skating rink is located inside of the Blue Ocean Event Center on the 2nd floor amongst the beautifully decorated Christmas trees. Plan a time to visit this local winter wonderland and experience the beauty of the season.

For the 2023 Seaside Ice skating season, the rink is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the Sea Festival of Trees, November 18th – December 3rd.  The cost to skate is included in the admission price for the Sea Festival Trees. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for ages 5 and under. You can bring your own skates or rent skates for a cost of $5.

Glide around the indoor ice rink as you skate to festive music, surrounded by sparkling snowflakes, gleaming decorations, andSeaside Ice, Blades the Bruin, Salisbury Beach, MA breathtaking views of the ocean. No hats, gloves, or jackets required. In addition to open skating during the Sea Festival of Trees, there are also a few special events you may want to check out, for example a chance to skate with Blades the Bruin or Elsa the Ice Princess. Make sure to check the Newburyport.com Events Calendar for Blue Ocean Special Holiday Events as well as other fun family events happening throughout the community.

 

 

Seaside Ice Hours | During Sea Festival of Trees
Saturday 11/18 from 11am – 8pm
Sunday 11/19 from 11am – 5pm
Friday 11/24 from 11am – 8pm
Saturday 11/25 from 11am – 8pm
Sunday 11/26 from 11am – 5pm
Thursday 11/30 from 5pm – 8pm
Friday 12/1
 from 5pm – 8pm
Saturday 12/2 from 11am – 8pm
Sunday 12/3 from 11am – 5pm

Call or email the Blue Ocean Event Center with questions, 978-462-2512 or email info@seaglassoceanside.com 

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The 2023 Santa Parade & Tree Lighting, Hosted by the Newburyport Rotary Club is scheduled for Sunday, November 26th, offering all the holiday cheer that’s to be expected of a downtown yuletide celebration – but there’s a twist. In this most nautical of cities, Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by boat. Honoring the Clipper City’s heritage as the birthplace of the U.S. Coast Guard, Santa and Mrs. Claus make their first local appearance waving from a Coast Guard boat on the Merrimack River before docking at the boardwalk for a joyful procession through the downtown area to the traditional tree lighting in Market Square.

Kids and families gather on the Newburyport waterfront to await the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus followed by a short parade that ends in Market Square with caroling and the Christmas tree lighting. To kick off the official ceremony, the Mayor gives Santa the key to the City, which is closely guarded and held at The Brass Lyon. The caroling is jointly led by the Newburyport and Triton High School Bands and Chorus with spirited participation from locals capped with Santa hats as they usher in the holiday season. It is important to know that the start time for this event is approximate as the Merrimack River tides can impact the arrival time of Santa & Mrs. Claus. We always recommend arriving early because once our VIP guests’ board their sleigh, this magical event proceeds quickly. Although the official event time posted on the Newburyport Rotary Club website is from 3 – 5:30 pm., they have provided us with more details. Santa & Mrs. Claus are expected to depart on the Coast Guard boat at 3:30 pm. The boat will go up the River towards Michael’s Harborside so that folks can get a glimpse of our VIP’s on the water. The parade start time is expected to be 3:45 – 4 pm by the time everyone is lined up and ready to go and it will take approximately 15 minutes for them to reach Market Square and another 15 minutes for caroling. The tree should be lit between 4:15 – 4:30.

Traditionally held on the Sunday afternoon immediately after Thanksgiving, the Newburyport Santa Parade & Tree Lighting is the much-anticipated kickoff of the area’s official holiday season.

Over the next few weeks Santa will pop up at a host of public events in the area, including a series of tours by firetruck (in Byfield, Newburyport, and Salisbury), and a wide variety of story times’ and parties at local libraries and recreational farms.

In early December in Newburyport, Santa takes up residence at Santa’s Workshop which is festively decorated by the Newburyport Horticultural Society, offering visits and photos with the kids in December. Check the Newburyport.com Events Calendar for the specific days and times.

The Newburyport Santa Parade & Tree Lighting is great example of teamwork and event collaboration for the benefit of the community. This special annual event is Hosted and organized by a large group of local volunteers from the Newburyport Rotary Club with help from the Merrimack River Coast Guard Station, providing transportation for our special VIP’s and the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce who provides the Market Square Christmas tree and our other beautiful downtown Newburyport decorations.

As part of the Chamber’s beautification program, they are in charge of all of the holiday decorations for our city as well as the beautiful hanging flowers you may notice during the Spring and Summer months. When purchasing one of our Newburyport VIP Cards you are able to donate a part of the proceeds directly to the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, these funds are allocated specifically to the beautification program.

2021 Santa Parade & Tree Lighting

Enjoy this fun video from UAV Look.

Community Theater in the Open

Dynamic Youth Arts & Educational Programming

Youth Arts Collaboration

Theater in the Open

Theater in the Open is dedicated to bringing creative and innovative community theater to the cultural landscape of Greater Newburyport. They stage high-quality original productions each year for the enjoyment of the community and they are dedicated to theater that is free and open to everyone! Theater in the Open is headquartered at Maudslay State Park and they offer youth arts education programs in addition to the free outdoor performances for the community.

Theater in the Open has been bringing theater performances to the public since 1979 when Anna (Clopton) Smulowitz launched the Newburyport Children’s Theater & Arts Education Program. They have also been central to the local arts scene on the North Shore. Throughout their history, the organization has been deeply involved in youth arts education. They provide wonderful opportunities for young people to express themselves and develop skills in theater, dance and visual arts. Theater in the Open hosts workshops that foster constructive, positive, creative experiences for young people. Their highly respected Summer Arts Workshops, provide programming for children aged 5 to 17, offering kids a range of enriching creative opportunities.

In 2017, Theater in the Open was selected by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to be the Curator of the Maudslay Gatekeepers’s House. This means that for the next 20 years, Theater in the Open will remain in Maudslay State Park and continue their incredible performances and dynamic youth arts education programming.

Theater in the Open brings the Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour to the community each year. This is the biggest fundraising event of the year in support of Theater in the Open. Circus Smirkus is an original full-length show held under a European-style one-ring big top tent at Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm.

Discover Theater in the Open’s quality performances. Simply bring a picnic blanket to Maudslay State Park to watch the creativity of this talented community theater company on display!

VISIT

Theater in the Open
1 Spring Lane
Newburyport, MA 01950
info@theaterintheopen.org

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All are invited to attend annual Menorah lightings in Newburyport and Amesbury, a wonderful opportunity to gather as a community to share the joy of Hanukkah traditions. The 2022 Festival of Lights begins this year at sunset on Sunday, December 18th and ends at sunset on Monday, December 26th. Each year Newburyport and Amesbury illuminate their respective downtowns with festive menorah lightings on all eight nights of Hanukkah. These public celebrations are open to all and enable our local Jewish communities to celebrate and share their cherished Chanukah traditions with all who would like to attend.

Newburyport’s Congregation Ahavas Achim will honor Hanukkah tradition by lighting a signature 6-foot-tall electric menorah in MarketMenorah Lighting, Market Square Newburyport Square. Newburyport will host an opening ceremony on Sunday, December 18th at 5:30 pm in Market Square, with prayers, songs and the lighting of the first candle, led by Spiritual Leader, Alex Matthews. Menorah lightings will take place in historic Market Square at 5:30 pm on 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 24th, 25th, 26th. On Friday, December 23rd the lighting will take place at 3:30 pm. These gatherings are open to the public and all are encouraged to attend.

In Amesbury, come light the menorah at the picturesque gazebo, in front of the Amesbury Public Library at 5:30 pm nightly during Hanukkah. The Grand Menorah Lighting is scheduled for 5:30 pm on Wednesday, December 21st and will be lead by, Rabbi Zalman Borenstein; of Congregation Anshe Sholom Chabad in Haverhill. The Amesbury menorah lightings are organized by Rachel Barcelona, founder and Director of The Brave Maccabees of Amesbury (Formally known as The Amesbury Chanukah Menorah Committee), with support from members of the Amesbury community, including Amesbury Spiritual Leader, Jerald Litcofsky, and other Jewish and gentile community members. The Amesbury’s menorah lightings traditionally include storytelling, songs, jelly doughnuts, and gelt (chocolate coins) for the children. The Grand Lighting generally runs from 5:30 – 7 pm. The start time for other evenings is 5:30 and there is not a set end time but they tend to be shorter than the Grand Lighting.

Community menorah lightings are an annual tradition that is relatively new to our area. Newburyport began its public menorah lightings in Market Square in 2012. Amesbury followed up with its own nightly celebrations in 2013. In 2019 when Hanukkah fell close to Christmas, Newburyport celebrated with an interfaith candle lighting service lead by: Congregation Leader Alex Matthews from Congregation Ahavas Achim, Reverend Rebecca Bryan from the First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist Church and Reverend Chris Nay from the Central Congregational Church.

Congregation Ahavas Achim, founded in 1896, is a welcoming and diverse spiritual community whose goal is to educate and inspire individuals and families to actively participate in Jewish Life, Torah study, prayer, acts of kindness. The congregation welcomes families and individuals from all backgrounds.

For Port Plums co-owners Karen and Katie Shernan, going into business together was a no-brainer. The mother-daughter duo purchased Newburyport Olive Oil Company in the Tannery Marketplace in December 2014 and have since taken over the adjoining space to open Port Plums, a high-end specialty foods and culinary equipment store. With the positive response and success of Port Plums, Karen and Katie have opened another fabulous specialty shop: Port Blue Accents, a specialty shop featuring many unique and eclectic personal accent items, located on Newburyport’s State Street – just a couple blocks away from Port Plums. We caught up with these busy ladies on a rare day off, which they spent cooking together (of course).

Newburyport Macaroni Kid: So which one of you first suggested that you go into business together?

Karen Shernan: I honestly don’t remember! We’ve always just kind of finished each other’s sentences.

It’s often hard to remember who came up with an idea first. It’s more like…before you know it,we’re working together on it. I do give Katie credit for finding the Newburyport Olive Oil Company when it was put up for sale. We are generally of one mind on things.

MK: Obviously you two are pretty close! Has it always been that way?

Karen: I’ve got pictures of Katie and me cooking together when she was really little. She was always one of those kids who wanted to try everything. Very open-minded about food.

Katie: To be honest, as an only child it was more fun to follow my mom around and do things with her than play by myself.

We’re actually cooking together right now! We just did a roast chicken with asparagus, applesauce, and mashed potatoes. We used to get together on Sundays and cook for the week. This is kind of like that – time to clean out the fridge! But we’ve been so busy lately we haven’t had a chance to cook together in about two months.

MK: Was cooking together your inspiration for Port Plums?

Karen: As a matter of fact it was a trip to Spain. Katie spent her junior year of college studying in Granada. I went to visit over the holiday break and we saw “Katie’s Granada”:it’s a small city that manages to be both historic and organic and cool. We were particularly inspired by the tapas there.

Katie: Granada is one of the last Spanish cities where tapas are still free when you order a drink! You can spend an evening sipping wine and trying all these little dishes. It was such an amazing food experience. On the plane back one of us said – I can’t remember who! – that we should try to recreate that sense of warmth and hospitality at home.

MK: Did either of you have any experience working with food?

Karen: Not at all. I had a 20+ year career in corporate. I was a Senior Vice President of account management for a software startup – primarily a sales role. I enjoyed my career and was able to save money toward retirement, but I realized that I’d rather take that money and use it for myself now.

It was a deliberate decision, but also just a matter of timing and staying open to whatever opportunity the universe had to offer– and taking advantage as it came along.When Katie found Newburyport Oil Oil Company it was just time to make the transition.

I firmly believe in just going for it, maybe even before you’re ready.

MK: Sounds like a lot of learning on the job.

Katie: We’ve made lots of little mistakes along the way – choosing the right payroll provider, point of sale system, that kind of thing. It’s definitely a lot of trial and error.

Karen: I say that if you’re making mistakes you’re doing it right. I mostly figure things out by the seat of my pants!

For example, I do most of the buying (finding, I should say) for the store – browsing online, going to places that I love and just seeing what appeals to me. We also go to craft shows like “New England-Made,” which exclusively features artisans and craftspeople from this area. It’s just a matter of keeping your eyes open.

Katie: We also like to take trips together to another town or venue just to get some new inspiration. We call them “sharpen the saw” days – because otherwise we’d get pretty dull!

MK: You seem to have very complementary styles. What do you most admire about the other and how do you think that benefits the business?

Katie: My favorite part of working with mom is that she encourages me to just try something. I’m more cautious and that leads me to avoid taking risks, even when they could really pay off. Whenever I go to her with an idea she just says “Try it!”

Karen: Katie was born going on 40. I really appreciate the way she thinks and how she helps me think things through when I get stuck. She can talk me off the ledge if I start to feel overwhelmed.

Katie: I guess I’m a little better at being reductive and narrowing many options down to the best few before making a major decision.

MK: How have your lives changed since going into business together?

Katie: For me it’s work/life balance. I used to commute two hours a day from my home in West Newbury to my HR-coordinator job in Lexington. Now my commute is about 10 minutes. I have so much more time to spend with my boyfriend, my friends, my dog. And what I’m doing is my passion. I may work on my business more than 40 hours a week but it’s so much more rewarding than what I was doing before.

Karen:I used to be a real road warrior, spending 2-3 weeks a month traveling for work. My friends were all work-related and spread out across the U.S. Now I have so many wonderful friends locally, and I feel such a huge sense of community. My social life if no longer corporate dinners with big clients. It’s so much more meaningful to me to participate in community events and be part of something righthere at home.

MK: What’s next for Port Plums?

Katie: We have had success hosting  a series of culinary events in partnership with other local businesses and and will continue to host many more.  We have had so much positive feedback and response as folks enjoy the social atmosphere combined with opportunity to learn from experts in the food and wine industry. Our second store, Port Blue Accents opened in the Spring of 2017. We are continuing to grow awareness as the Newburyport destination for unique personal accents and expand our customer following. While Port Plums is focused on culinary, Port Blue Accents features locally and regionally made home and personal accents and is wonderful place to purchase specialty gift items.

MK: You’ve got a busy year ahead of you! How will you measure success?

Karen: For me it’s about the customers who come into the store and are so thrilled to be there that they come back bringing friends and family to show them, too. They make my day more than anything else.

Katie: When the customers are as excited by the products we carry as we are – that’s what we consider success.

 

ABOUT NEWBURYPORT MACARONI KID

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Newburyport Mexican restaurant Metzy’s Cantina is heating up the airwaves on New England’s hottest foodie show! Owner Erik Metzdorf and Director of Operations and Chief Culinary Officer Anthony Leone were thrilled to welcome Phantom Gourmet as they filmed a segment highlighting the origins of Metzy’s Cantina, local support from the North Shore community, and Metzy’s delicious new creations. The Phantom Gourmet segment aired on Sunday, March 25th featuring Metzy’s super-cool space, fresh vibe, and flavorful eats. The episode also captured many familiar faces as many customers were at the restaurant during taping, enjoying fresh, flavorful food and beverages with Metzy’s unique Mexican flair.

Your certain to be craving Metzy’s once you watch this enticing video. Popular new menu items include tomatillo-based chili verde, Metzy’s chicken wings – offered one of three different ways (including Erik’s favorite mole sauce!) – and mini “street tacos” served on crispy shells. Also look for an announcement about Metzy’s Cantina’s expanded, full bar (coming soon).

Metzy’s Cantina is available for private parties. Mobile catering options include Metzy’s Taqueria (food truck) and famous Taco Bar – both available for work events and friends-and-family gatherings. Metzy’s Cantina also offers delivery, grab-and-go, pick-up options.

On weekdays, stop by for breakfast 6 AM-10:30 AM and start the day with mouth-watering tacos, burritos, breakfast bowls, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and small-batch roasted Francisco Davila Signature Coffees from family the roastery: Coffee Roasters of Charleston.

Metzy’s Cantina has established itself as one of the top meeting places on the North Shore for groups up to 100, serving fresh Mexican eats along with free WiFi, plenty of free parking, and the coolest vibe around. Come check out this popular Newburyport Mexican restaurant’s new indoor/outdoor space right next to the city’s MBTA Commuter Rail stop, just a short 1-mile bike ride or walk along the Clipper City Rail Trail to downtown.

Visit Metzy’s Facebook page to stay in the know about exciting new menu items, specials, live music and many local events you can find the Metzy’s food truck.

The Newburyport Choral Society (NCS) delivers a knockout annual holiday concert, but buy your tickets early – the pair of performances typically sell out days before the chorus sings a single note. This year’s concerts will take place at Belleville Congregational Church on Saturday, December 9, at 8 PM and Sunday, December 10, at 2:30 PM. The Sunday concert is Sold Out.

The NCS Winter Concert will feature its 125+-voice chorus, professional soloists, and a full orchestra performing classical, traditional, and contemporary seasonal favorites. In recent years, the event has also welcomed a performance by the Greater Newburyport Children’s Chorus, comprised of local singers in grades 4 through 8.

The 2017 program include “Christmas Oratorio” by Camille Saint-Saëns, popular arrangements of the Germanic hymn “Lo How A Rose E’er Blooming,” and an uplifting piece from South Africa titled “Hope for Resolution.”

If you go to the NCS holiday concert, prepare to lend your voice to the festivities. The audience will be invited to join in as the chorus performs holiday carols and traditional tunes of the season.

NCS is an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing outstanding choral music to the Greater Newburyport area, including Essex County and southern New Hampshire. It is one of the largest community choral societies in New England, and one of the nation’s oldest choral groups.

In 2017, NCS Music Director Dr. George Case was named by the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce as one of 40 Under 40 local entrepreneurs and leaders. The honorees were chosen for their “tremendous impact in the community where they work, and for their ongoing dedication to making Newburyport a very special place to live, work and play.”

Envelope yourself in yuletide song at the Newburyport Choral Society’s gorgeous and uplifting winter concert – an annual community event that’s not to be missed. Purchase your tickets online or at store locations from Newburyport as far as Ipswich, including the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce and Jabberwocky Bookshop, among others. Purchase tickets.

Bartlet Mall

A Scenic Park Rich in History

Bartlet Mall, a gorgeous historic park at the intersection of Pond and High Streets, is a great place for ice-skating, sledding, and enjoying nature. Its scenic views provide the setting for a wide variety of popular community events, including Yankee Homecoming Olde Fashioned Sunday, Art on Bartlet Mall, and the Newburyport Lantern Festival.

Bartlet Mall is an ideal place for taking a walk, walking the dog, having a picnic, biking or running. The Mall features a basketball court and one of the top 8 playgrounds in the Newburyport area, which means fun for people of all ages!

There are wide walkways and a series of footpaths that border the Mall and lead to the Frog Pond. It has also become a highly photographed area by many local photographers. The benches, walkways and shade trees create a beautiful setting.  And the view of Frog Pond, with its resident ducks and ornate cast iron fountain, is lovely.

Bartlet Mall dates to the 1600s when the first English settlers used the area as a place to water and graze sheep. It was also a training area for militias that would go on to fight in the Revolutionary War. The Mall was professionally landscaped in the late 1880s using plans by landscape architect, Charles Eliot. This work resulted in the beautiful paths and grassy lawns enjoyed by visitors today.

The historic Superior Court building, constructed in 1805, sits at the edge of Bartlet Mall. It is one of the oldest active courthouses in the U.S. Charles Bullfinch, who designed the Massachusetts State House in Boston, was also the architect for the Superior Court Building.  In fact, both Bartlet Mall and the Superior Courthouse are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bartlet Mall is a shimmering and beloved jewel in the heart of Newburyport’s historic district.

Bartlet Mall

High & Pond Sts.
Newburyport, MA 01950
978-465-7223

 

For upcoming events at Bartlet Mall, check the Newburyport.com Events Calendar.

We’re lucky to live in an area with more than its fair share of wonderfully designed and maintained playgrounds, including one rated top ten in the state! From relatively small but centrally located urban parks to expansive play structures banked by rolling hills and ballfields, there’s a playground for every age range and activity level. Here’s our insider’s guide to the top eight playgrounds in the Newburyport area, as rated by Macaroni Kid readers. Click the links below for an information-packed review of each park, including key details on shade structures, water play opportunities, and restroom access.

ACTION COVE

15 Bachelor St. West Newbury MA 01985
Action Cove’s whimsical, nautical-themed wooden play structure offers enough steps, slides, lookouts, and hideyholes to keep kids entertained for hours.

playgrounds in the Newburyport area, Action Cove

 

AMESBURY TOWN PARK PLAYGROUND

Lion’s Mouth Rd., between Friend and Highland Sts. Amesbury MA 01913
This expansive, newly renovated playground forms the heart of Amesbury’s park-recreation scene, boasting state-of-the art play equipment and a splashpad in summer.
playgrounds in the Newburyport area, Amesbury Town Park

 

BARTLET MALL PLAYGROUND
151 High St. Newburyport MA 01950
This relatively small playground overlooking the “Frog Pond” (Bartlet Mall Pond) benefits from easy access both to downtown Newburyport and to the footpath that rings the pond.

playgrounds in the Newburyport area, Bartlet Mall

 

CASHMAN PARK
202 Merrimac St. Newburyport MA 01950
Stop by Cashman Park on any given afternoon in good weather and you’ll find a social scene populated by parents, their babies and kids, and a wide variety of strollers, scooters, trikes, and bikes.

playgrounds in the Newburyport area, Cashman Park

 

INN STREET PLAYGROUND
25 Inn St. Newburyport MA 01950
What tiny Inn Street Playground lacks in amenities it more than makes up for in location, location, location
playgrounds in the Newburyport area, Inn Street Playground

 

MOSELEY WOODS
Spofford St. Newburyport MA 01950
Tucked into the woods just off the Merrimac Street traffic circle in Newburyport lies a 16-acre park featuring a playground, shaded picnic area, and hiking trails.
playgrounds in the Newburyport area, Moseley Woods

 

PERKINS PLAYGROUND
10 Beacon Ave. Newburyport MA 01950
Boasting a playground with a generous sandbox, Perkins Park is the go-to recreational area for families in Newburyport’s South End.
playgrounds in the Newburyport area, Perkins Park

 

PIRATE SHIP PARK
Little Neck Rd. Ipswich MA 01913
At this picturesque oceanview playground on Ipswich’s Little Neck, a modern play structure shaped like a – you guessed it – pirate ship offers lots of climbing opportunities.
playgrounds in the Newburyport area, Pirate Ship Park

 

Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm

Historic Farm in Newbury

Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm

Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm is a historic 231-acre property in Newbury with events and activities for you and your family to enjoy. The property features exhibits and interactive activities that demonstrate what it was like to live on a farm throughout the centuries. Much of the land at Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm is still under active agriculture!

Visit the expansive open land and tour the farmhouse to see what life was like in Newbury in the 1690s! The farm was originally used to raise cattle, sheep, horses, pigs and chickens. In addition, fruit, vegetables, flowers, barley and fresh meadow hay have been grown on the land. The main house was built with local stone, most likely from nearby Plum Island. There are several outbuildings including a large barn and visitor center that was originally a carriage barn.

There are many fun outdoor events at the Farm including Vintage Baseball from May to October. It’s a lot of fun to watch baseball being played with rules from 1881!

You can also visit sheep, goats, chickens and a horse on the property. The Farm partners with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to foster these friendly animals.  The Farm Friends is a program geared toward children 3 to 6 years old. The children who sign up for this program get to spend time with farm animals, listen to a story, and create a neat craft item to bring home. Programs run at various times throughout the year so be sure to check the Farm’s website for details.

Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm owned and operated by Historic New England, a cultural preservation organization. The season for Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm is from June 1st to October 15th, the grounds are open year round during daylight hours. It’s a great place to enjoy a stroll, ride bikes, cross-country ski, and ride horses. There is plenty of parking at Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm.

Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm

5 Little’s Lane
Newbury, MA 01951
978-462-2634

Directions: Take I-95 to Route 113, Newburyport. Route 113 turns into Route 1A (High Road). Follow Route 1A for 3.7 miles. Turn left onto Little’s Lane.

Looking for autism- and sensory-friendly options for family entertainment? From autism spectrum to sensory processing disorders, there are plenty of reasons why your child might need a little extra consideration when it comes to high-impact events or activities. Many large entertainment venues now make specific accommodations for these kids (think lower lights, decreased noise levels, and smaller crowds), so no one has to miss out on the fun.

Here are a few area events and activities specially designed to create a calmer environment for sensory-sensitive kids. (For a complete and continuously updated list, check out the Greater Massachusetts Special Needs Event Calendar.)

Movie Theaters

Cinemagic (Salisbury MA and Portsmouth NH) – Sensory- and family-friendly showings run once per month

AMC Theaters (Methuen and Burlington MA) – Sensory-friendly films run four times per month

Chunky’s (Haverhill MA and Pelham NH) – Lights up, sound down sensory-friendly showings run monthly

Museums

Boston Children’s Museum (Boston MA) – Morningstar Access for a less crowded experience once per month

The Discovery Museum (Acton MA) – Autism-Friendly Evenings, Sensory-Friendly Afternoons, Visually Impaired Family Evenings, Mornings and Evenings for Families with Deaf or Hard of Hearing & KODA Infant and Toddlers programs that offer increased accommodations and access to exhibits in an understanding environment

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (Dover NH) – Exploring Our Way Program is open the first Sunday of the month for families to enjoy the museum in a less crowded, understanding environment

Museum of Fine Arts (Boston MA) – Beyond the Spectrum program one Saturday per month for children ages 8-12 to explore galleries and create art

Restaurants

Autism Eats (Various Locations) – Hosts dinner parties in restaurants and function facilities with accommodations for sensory sensitivities

Chuck E. Cheese (Burlington, Danvers, and Methuen MA, and Newington NH) – Sensory Sensitive Sundays held the first Sunday of the month

Playspaces

SkyZone (Danvers MA) – Sensory Hours held on the second Sunday of the month

Storytimes

Amesbury Public Library (Amesbury MA) – Sensory Storytimes offered once per month

 

For more events for kids and families in the Greater Newburyport area, visit www.newburyport.macaronikid.com. Subscribe to our FREE weekly e-newsletter to have our complete calendar delivered right to your inbox: http://newburyport.macaronikid.com/subscribe/

No spring fever here – we’ve compiled a list of low-cost local indoor play places to take your young ones to get the wiggles out.

Harmony Natural Learning Center in Newbury hosts both morning and afternoon open-playtimes for ages 7 and under throughout the winter months. Stocked with simple activities that feature natural materials, Harmony offers a “unique play environment intentionally structured to minimize the adult role in leading and guiding play.”

Newburyport’s Joppa Flats Education Center, part of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, offers a wide range of programming for ages 3 and up, including a year-round “Imagine, Sing & Learn” series for ages 3-6 and a giant saltwater touch tank in summer. If the weather cooperates, you can cross the street to walk the path that hugs the airfield and then heads through a thicket toward historic Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm. About three miles away at Rough Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary in Rowley, you can explore more Mass Audubon trails and try to spot some of the area’s birds and small animals.

Ipswich Museumone of the great indoor play places for the area, has just opened a new model-train exhibit. It also offers hosts monthly homeschooler workshops for ages 6-12 that range from age-appropriate explorations of the museum’s collections to walking tours of Ipswich. Contact educator@ipswichmuseum.org for information on upcoming workshops.

All That Cheer and Tumble in Amesbury offers an open gym time most Tuesday mornings (check for schedule). The Imagination Stationz program features sensory activities, dramatic play, and an obstacles course.

The visitor’s center at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport offers a kid’s story hour for ages 3-5 on Monday mornings plus free movie screenings as part of its twice-monthly “Kids’ Conservation Cinema” series. Download a monthly calendar of events from PRNWR’s website.

Ipswich Birth to Three Family Center hosts a popular open playtime for young children, among many other programs for kids and families. Classes are free for residents of Ipswich and Essex and with a suggested donation of $6 for non-residents.

Seacoast United Admirals offers a weekday-morning PlayTime program for under-5s at its indoor recreation facility in Amesbury. Season-long memberships available.

The Do Drops playgroup for ages 4 and under is the Newbury Town Library’s best-kept secret. This freewheeling, twice-weekly playtime runs yearlong in the library’s Community Room.

Preschool Open Gym for ages 2-5 at the Newburyport Youth Services Rec Center offers a weekly opportunity to get the wiggles out in a spacious gymnasium with balls, mats, and plenty of room to run around.

Buddhaful Souls Yoga Studio in Rowley welcomes toddlers and their caregivers for a drop-in Friday mom-and-me yoga session ($10/toddler), and both the Rowley Public Library and the Salisbury Public Library host free kids’ yoga classes.

We hope you find this list of suggestions helpful when in search of fun indoor play places in the Newburyport area.

Visit the websites above for more details or – better yet – check the Macaroni Kid events calendar, where you can find ALL of these programs listed in one place!

Each fall, family farms all over New England invite us to come celebrate the harvest, hosting festivals and events throughout the season. The trend toward recreation, education, and outreach among America’s working farms makes fall the ideal time to show kids what “farm to table” is all about. Fall on the family farm is a true New England tradition. Here are three Newburyport-area farms that shouldn’t be missed as the leaves start changing and the pumpkins come out.

Russell Orchards (Ipswich). For over 35 years, Russell Orchards has welcomed visitors to its family-owned and -operated 120-acre fruit farm for a farm-to-table experience like no other. Pick-your-own apples available throughout the season (click here for tips). On weekends, you can access Russell Orchards’ picking fields by hayride! Kids can also visit with their barnyard animals and watch their signature cider donuts being made at the farm’s bakery. Russell Orchards’ expansive farm store features a wide range of locally sourced products. Wines and hard ciders made from the orchard’s own fruit are available for tasting Friday through Sunday.

Cider Hill Farm (Amesbury). Weekends through mid-October, celebrate fall at Cider Hill Farm with hayrides, apple picking, hundreds of pumpkins, hot cider donuts, and fresh-pressed apple cider. Cider Hill Farm is a perennial favorite among local families seeking to pick the perfect pumpkin for Halloween.

Marini Farm Corn Maze (Ipswich). This family-owned and -operated vegetable farm in Ipswich boasts a giant maze of “trails’” cut through 8 acres of living cornstalks (click here for an inside look). There is also a mini-maze for the little ones. The maze area also features a large children’s play area stocked with climbing structures, inflatable slides, and a 70-foot jumping pillow. Apple cannons and hayrides are available on the weekends (weather permitting). The corn maze, farm stand and bakery, pumpkin patch, and other attractions provide a great destination for families.

Now that it’s officially “fall,” family farms are ready to celebrate the harvest season. Get outside and enjoy!

Want to be the first to know about great local events for families in the Newburyport area? Join the 4,000 local moms and dads who receive our free weekly e-newsletter! http://newburyport.macaronikid.com/subscribe/

When Macaroni Kid Newburyport set about creating the ultimate teacher appreciation event, it was surprisingly easy to secure an impressive lineup of generous local sponsors. Our first-annual “Cool Schools” contest, timed to coincide with Teacher Appreciation Week May 2-6, invites parents and community members to vote online daily from April 26-May 9 for their favorite pre-k/kindergarten or early-elementary school. The winning school will receive:

  • Catered lunch for faculty/staff, courtesy of BUCCIARELLI’S in Salisbury
  • Catered dessert bar for faculty/staff, courtesy of DIANNE’S FINE DESSERTS in Newburyport
  • Coffee for faculty/staff, courtesy of NEWBURYPORT STARBUCKS
  • $500 cash prize, courtesy of CHILDREN’S HEALTH CARE in Newburyport

That’s a lot of GREAT prizes, especially when you consider that the preschool-to-grade 3 Bresnahan School in Newburyport boasts a whopping 120+ faculty and staff!

When I approached Mark Iannuccillo of Bucciarelli’s Butcher Shop about the contest in early March, he estimated that a catered lunch for 120 would cost about $1,200 in sandwiches – and he agreed to participate on the spot.

“Schools are an integral part of our community and Bucciarelli’s loves to support them in any way possible, most importantly because we are members of the community,” he said. “We live, work, and play here. Our kids play in the local parks and are students in the local schools.”

“When people shop small and shop local, it allows us to give back to our community,” he added.

For Dianne’s Fine Desserts, which will be treating the winning faculty and staff to a catered dessert bar, the choice to get involved was simple: “We are so thankful to be a part of this wonderful community and love getting the opportunity to give back, especially when it’s bringing awareness to local teachers and schools,” a company representative said.

Children’s Health Care jumped at the chance to furnish the $500 cash prize for the contest, in large part because supporting early education aligns perfectly with the practice’s emphasis on “full-circle health care.” CHC says it is committed to treating the whole child, including providing a nurse on staff to help parents engage with their child’s school to develop an Individual Education Plan (IEP) if necessary.

Our local Starbucks store in Newburyport was a particularly easy sell: The store manager, Jackie Savastra, has a daughter at the Bresnahan School! From a company perspective, “Every store is part of a community, and we take our responsibility to be good neighbors seriously,” she said. “We want to be involved wherever we do business.”

“Now more than ever, communities are relying on the private sector to share resources and help drive meaningful change,” she added, noting that April is Starbucks’ Global Month of Service, in which the company completes thousands of local service projects worldwide.

“The bottom line for these local businesses is that supporting Macaroni Kid Newburyport’s “Cool Schools” teacher appreciation contest is a great way to get involved in the community and celebrate what we can accomplish for our schools when we all pitch in together.”

“For complete contest details, and to find a contest entry form, please visit http://newburyport.macaronikid.com.”

 

February vacation week finishes Sunday the 21st from 1:30-4 PM with an exciting event at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, courtesy of Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center. The first-annual Winter Games invites families to complete a series of nature-themed challenges, such as “animal gait races,” compass orienteering, a scavenger hunt, and a mini bird-a-thon. (The day wraps up with home-baked treats and hot cocoa, of course.)

I caught up with Joppa Flats naturalist and Winter Games coordinator Kirsten Lindquist to find out what’s in store. “We’ve got a whole suite of games ready to go,” she says, “it really just depends on the weather.” If there’s snow on the ground, for example, activities may include winter-shelter building, animal tracking, and snow-science experiments such as looking at snowflakes under a microscope. Cold temperatures would be perfect for “Can Buddies,” in which families must figure out how to insulate a metal can to keep the water inside from freezing.

“It’s like Survivor meets science experiment,” says Lindquist. “Think facilitated nature play that incorporates a lot of games and very hands-on exploration.” Lindquist notes that it’s especially important to dress appropriately for the weather, including layered clothing and sturdy waterproof boots – participants may get a little muddy!

“Maudslay State Park is such a great community focal point. There’s just so much to explore,” Lindquist says. “We want children and families to connect with nature so that they’ll want to take care of it in the future.”

“I’m very excited about this event and hope it’s something we can do again and again for winters to come. Let’s make it a community tradition to play outside together each February!”

The Winter Games should help fill the sizable gap left by the popular Winter Carnival on Bartlett Pond, which will likely be cancelled this year due to recent unseasonably warm temperatures.

Stop by the Joppa Flats Education Center Feb. 15-17 for a series of indoor and outdoor “flyby” (drop-in) activities geared toward ages 2-6 and 7 and up. Each day will focus on a different theme: Wildlife around the World, Take to the Skies, and Animals of the Ice. Let’s go outside and play!

 

For more events for kids and families in the Greater Newburyport area, visit www.newburyport.macaronikid.com. Subscribe to our FREE weekly e-newsletter to have our complete calendar delivered right to your inbox: http://newburyport.macaronikid.com/subscribe/

A Hollywood film is midway through a five-week shoot that has turned the lower floor of a local assisted-living facility into a mini-movie studio, complete with film sets and editing, writing, and production rooms.

Avita of Newburyport, the new memory-care facility adjacent to Anna Jaques Hospital, beat out ten Boston-area locations to provide the real-life setting for “The Last Poker Game,” the story of two assisted-living residents who strike up an unlikely friendship. The movie features a star-studded cast including Academy Award winner Martin Landau, Paul Sorvino (best known for his role in “Goodfellas”), and – announced just last week – Maria Dizzia of “Orange is the New Black.”

The film crew has taken over all 24 apartments on Avita’s lower floor, which has yet to open its doors to residents. The apartments serving as film sets have been redecorated in a 1940s style to reflect the tastes of the movie’s main characters, and others have been commandeered for wardrobe, makeup, and other production needs.

While the shoot is focusing primarily on Avita property, it has also ventured into other parts of the city, shooting scenes on High Street, Atkinson Common and, most recently, Market Street.

Why Newburyport? First ask, why Avita? “The vibe…really fits what we are looking for,” co-producer Marshall Johnson recently told the Daily News. “It is a welcoming place; we want the characters to feel welcome at a time in their life when they are feeling pretty fragile.”

Once Avita had been singled out as the perfect location for the residential scenes, the film’s producers realized they’d lucked into a fantastic surrounding community as well. “We found a lot of little pockets in Newburyport that really work,” Johnson said.

Film co-producer Eddie Rubin agrees, telling the Daily News, “I was driving up State Street and I was snapping pictures and sending them to my wife saying, ‘Oh my God, you are not going to believe it,’ this town is fantastic. The old, red brick buildings, it is the quaint perfect little town and everyone has been so nice here.”

That initial warm, fuzzy feeling was mutual, judging from the reaction at Avita. “We’re bursting at the seams to announce that a film shoot is underway at Avita of Newburyport!” the facility posted on its Facebook page November 6. “Avita residents, families and associates are just so excited!”

So, how has the movie shoot impacted Avita residents now that we’re a couple weeks in? “They’ve been wonderful guests,” says Gerry Gallin, the facility’s executive director. “They’ve not disturbed one minute of our daily lives, and they have been very respectful of our residents.”

It helps to have a small footprint, notes Johnson. “We only have two trucks and we don’t have any star trailers,” he told the Daily News. “So, for us, we want to get in and get out…and be respectful of the people.”

Another major point in the production’s favor, as far as Avita is concerned, is the conscientious effort to present a realistic view of people struggling with memory issues resulting from dementia and Alzheimer’s. Howard Weiner, the film’s writer and director, is a doctor of neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Avita’s Gallin has only good things to say about the film’s director, producers, and crew. “It’s been a blast!” she says. “And they love it here, too. They’ve been utilizing all the amenities Newburyport has to offer, including restaurants and shops.” Gallin notes that one of the movie’s main actors has chosen to live in Newburyport for the duration of the shoot.

Gallin, who herself moved to Newburyport from Needham last year, understands the feeling. “We’re very fortunate to live here,” she says. “I just hope it doesn’t get too popular!”

Now that Hollywood has “discovered” Newburyport, it might be time to get ready for our close-up.

Last Poker Game at Avita, Newburyport MA Last Poker Game at Avita, Newburyport MA

 

 

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