Category Archives: Fun

Fun in Newburyport, MA, enjoyable, amusing and entertaining events, images, happenings on the Newburyport Blog.

Historic Preservation Walking Tours

For those of you who like architecture and old stuff (fancy word: Historic Preservation), the Newburyport Preservation Trust is sponsoring 2 walking tours as part of the “Trails and Sails” Weekend, which is being sponsored by the Essex National Heritage Area.

Here’s the info:

Newburyport Preservation Trust

Superior Courthouse Tour, Newburyport
Part of Trails and Sails: A Weekend of Walks and Water
Presented by the Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC)
221 Essex St., Suite 41
Salem, MA 01970
978-740-0444

Date: Saturday, September, 29 at 11:00

Join Superior Court Judge Richard E. Welch II for a tour of the courthouse on Bartlett Mall in Newburyport. Designed by renowned architect Charles Bullfinch in 1805, it is recognized as the oldest continuously operating courthouse in the United States. John Quincy Adams and Daniel Webster are among the luminaries that have argued legal cases in this nationally significant building.

Newburyport Preservation Trust

Name That Style: A Walking Tour of Newburyport’s Diverse Architecture
Part of Trails and Sails: A Weekend of Walks and Water
Presented by the Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC)
221 Essex St., Suite 41
Salem, MA 01970
978-740-0444

Date: Sunday, September, 30 at 11:00

Join architect and adjunct professor of American Architectural history at Boston College John McConnell for a walking tour in Newburyport with a focus on the diversity of style found in residential architecture. Mr. McConnell will discuss the various features that define the many architectural styles found in Newburyport and will speak on the cultural forces that gave rise to each style.

Both events are being offered in conjunction with the sixth annual Trails & Sails: A Weekend of Walks and Water, a weekend of free events that celebrate the natural, cultural and historic resources throughout the Essex National Heritage Area.

All events are FREE. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.trailsandsails.org or call 978-740-0444.

Enjoy!

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Rain and Drought and Green Stuff

Who knew that I would love the rain so much.

I would water my yard, helping out the Newburyport Water Department marvelously during our “drought” and the “stuff” back there would perk up a little bit, but basically, no matter what I did, things looked “wilty” and “parched.”

My grey/green lawn turned brown and proceeded to become dust.

My green “lawn” turned grey/green except for a small piece around my dwelling that retained a kelly green color. (What this says about my dwelling, I’m not entirely sure.)

In the middle of our drought, when not a lawn mower could be heard, I actually got out my lawnmower and mowed my green morsel of grass.

(I wanted to go up to my neighbors and assure them that no, I was not abusing water restrictions by wildly watering my lawn. I just had this odd green scrap.)

And my finch feeders were swarming with finches still.

I think some of them were “baby finches.” A) Because there were so many. And B) because they were smaller and thinner than the other finches.

They also flew funny.

As I’ve watched “my” finches over the years, I’ve found that they have a wonderful long-wave flight. These poor little finches looked like little fluttery helicopters that might crash at any moment. I think that’s a give-away.

Ah, but there is nothing quite like the cooperation of Mother Nature. All that green stuff began to look perky and relieved. And the brown lawn is starting to actually turn green again. And I might be able to mow my lawn now without resident “drought guilt.”

I’d rather mow than water, or not water and worry.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

(Editor’s Note: The Primary to vote for Mayor of Newburyport, MA is this Tuesday, September 18, 2007. Don’t forget to VOTE.)

Statistics and Frogs on the Newburyport Blog

I’m obsessed with my “stats” (statistics for the Newburyport Blog). “Statistic obsession” apparently is “de rigueur” or at least “pretty normal” apparently with other bloggers.

(I find this weirdly comforting.)

I know a whole lot of people read the Newburyport Blog. That I get. And I know a whole lot of folks find the Newburyport Blog (mainly, apparently, through Google). I keep asking myself, self, “Who are these people who read the Newburyport Blog??”

Looking at the “key words” that people are searching for gives me some idea of who might be out there in Web Land.

Here’s an example:

1) “Property owners rights against frog ponds,” from a computer somewhere in Mattoon, Illinois.

And here’s another example:

2) “Neighborhood petition to save frog pond,” from a computer somewhere in, Willimantic, Connecticut.

(There was also someone searching for “frog panties,” but we just won’t go there.)

So, “ha,” to those of you who tell me you don’t read any postings that contain images of frogs (or “stuffed animals”) in them. The Newburyport Blog is, apparently, giving great comfort both to folks who want to get rid of “frog ponds” (George and the other frogs obviously think the searcher in Mattoon, Illinois is “frog phobic”), as well as great comfort to people wanting to save “frog ponds.”

Obviously this is not entirely true.

I can’t imagine what whoever it is, must think, when they are desperately trying either to get rid of a real live frog pond or save a real, live frog pond and they get George. Good grief.

Well, either they roll their eyes, and Web Land on. Or maybe the vague possibility, like some readers, who find the Newburyport Blog on a fluke, find themselves being on the “verge of,” or “admitting to” actually having crossed over to “Newburyport Blog addiction.”

For self acclaimed Newburyport Blog addicts everywhere, I thank you, and I am deeply appreciative if not downright touched. And to the people looking to get rid of frog ponds, or save frog ponds, some other blog/venue will just have to suffice.

(And in all seriousness, for the folks in the Midwest, and I do not know if that includes Mattoon, Illinois or not, our hearts go out to all the people who live in the places that have been so damaged by the most recent floods.)

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Self-Sustaining Newburyport Pets

My self-sustaining pets–the American Yellow Finches in my backyard (see earlier entry)… Well all of a sudden it’s feeding time at the zoo.

All summer long it’s been peck, peck, peck.

I looked out my window the other day at both finch feeders, and good grief within a matter of days they were half empty. Say what?

(I was going to subject the readers of the Newburyport Blog to a picture of one of “my” finches. But A) the picture looks like a yellow blob, and B) the readers of the Newburyport Blog are subjected to pictures of stuffed frogs, which are probably enough “animals” for one local blog.

But, if you are really dying to see what a gorgeous American Gold Finch actually looks like, please press here.)

One of the finch feeders is about 3 feet from one of my studio windows (I am a painter).

In the spring and for most of the summer, the minute I come near the window, whoosh, bye-bye feeding finch.

Now, I come by my window and they just look at me, as if to say, “What’s your problem, I’m eating here. Get lost already.”

Ok. Cool.

But all of this has me very curious. What the heck is going on? (Plus, I seem to have a whole lot of new finches. I used to only have 2 pair, now I’m counting at least 4. Wow.)

It turns out that these gorgeous little creatures are eating for 4-6. Finches breed late, the babies have hatched and everybody’s chowing down. Plus maybe some of these new finches are actually “baby” finches. (I don’t know. I just don’t know that much about finches.)

When I think about it, I remember this happening every year. Wild finch feeding. And then one day, no more finches.

And then, I finally get the message, everyone’s flown south. (But they always come back the next year.)

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Elections in Newburyport, MA, Civic Engagement or For the Birds

Many people say to me, “you’ve got to get a pet” (usually they want me to get a dog).

At the moment my notion of having a “pet” is having astoundingly low maintenance pets. (And no the frogs do not count as pets. A) They are “hard working” political consultants for the Newburyport Blog; and B) they are either stuffed or made out of plastic.)

No, the “pets” that I have are birds.

In my “garden/ backyard/ green-stuff,” I have 2 Finch feeders and 2 birdbaths. I mean are we talking really low maintenance here or what??

And I’m even lazy when it comes to my “self-maintaining” bird “pets.”

(You may have noticed I’m chatting about, of all things, birds. This is because I have a severe case of “candidate mind mush.” In Saturday’s Newburyport Daily News, July 28, 2007, there is a list of all the people who are running as candidates in Newburyport, MA.

Count’em… At this point, (having pulled papers) there are 6 for mayor, 11 for Newburyport City Councilor at Large (good grief), 3 contested seats, Wards 2, 4 and 5, so add 6 more; and 7 who have pulled papers for Newburyport School Committee.

Being lousy at math, I actually got out my calculator. That’s count’em, 30 people running for office in Newburyport, MA. Yes, believe you me, I’m all for civic enthusiasm and involvement, but 30 people pulling out papers, creates a severe case of Newburyport mind mush for this blogger.)

I look at the birdbaths and say, “ok, ok, so, they need a little ‘freshening’. I promise, I’ll take care of it.”

And then I dump some water in the 2 bird baths. Major effort on my part.

The first one in… the Blue Jay. Gets right in there, in the middle of the bird bath, flaps around, and soaks himself so that he looks like Alfalfa after the rain. (Sort of the “my way or the highway” approach or the “assertive” or “intense” or “enthusiastic” approach, depending on your point of view of bird bathing.) (And wow, does this date me or what. Alfalfa was in “Our Gang,” black and white TV. We are talking millenniums ago.)

And then the sparrows come. They congregate together in the one of the trees above the bird bath. Chirp and chat. And then all land of on the perimeter of the bird bath and proceed to jump in together and take a communal bath. (The sort of cooperation, committee approach to bird bathing.)

And my favorites are the yellow finches (they are gorgeous). They chow down on the Finch food, seem to either be oblivious or arrogant or just plain old enjoying themselves, depending on your point of view, that the finch food is only for them. Flitter down to a bird bath, take a couple of delicate sips, and then proceed to fly away, or continue to peck away, looking over their backs, for some unknown reason to moi, as they go at it.

I’m not sure which political type that this would correlate to. The readers of the Newburyport Blog would just have to decide for themselves. (Spoiled and entitled? Confident? I don’t know.)

So, yes, at this point, we have 30 people running for contested seats for the Newburyport 2007 election. I’m not exactly sure what this means. Whether some of this is “for the birds,” or whether this is an indication that low and behold, some of the folks in Newburyport, MA have woken up from an apathetic stupor and are taking an engaged interest in our small, New England seacoast city. I’ll just have to think a little bit more on this one.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, A Sidekick on Another Local Blog

Is George Cushing of Frog Pond at the Bartlet Mall, the political consultant to the Newburyport Blog ever excited.

George has found another blog that has a “sidekick.” (George is not sure whether he likes being referred to has a “sidekick,” but for the moment he’s decided to go for it.)

The other “sidekick” is on another local blog called H2oTown watertown’s watercooler.

The editor of H2oTown is Lisa Williams, and Lisa has recently started Placeblogger (probably more about Placeblogger at a later date, because it’s a pretty interesting concept).

George is both excited and at the same time wildly jealous. Because Lisa’s sidekick has his own video. And now George wants his own video. All the frogs want their own video. Good grief.

Forget it George, no video. In fact, I’m so sick of seeing photos of frogs lately on the Newburyport Blog, that I’m not even going to put a picture of you on this post, so there.

(George is not happy with this.)

Ms Williams sidekick is called “Nicnoc”. And you can press here to see the original post on Nicnoc.

And here is Nicnoc’s bio:

“Nicnoc has come from the planet [untranslatable] in search of new methods of governance for his homeworld, whose government is mired in petty feuds. His plans to visit the White House are nixed, so he decides to take in a Town Council meeting in Watertown, MA, instead.” (H2oTown, June 26, 2007)

And here is Nicnoc’s very cool video on YouTube:

Many thanks to Lisa Williams and H2oTown watertown’s watercooler (and of course Nicnoc).

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, The Anniversary of George Cushing’s Debut

In all the whirl wind in my brain about 87 High Street and what that could mean for Newburyport, MA and the residences therein (except for the realtors, who must be salivating), George Cushing reminded me that a year ago, yesterday, July 18, 2006, George Cushing of Frog Pond at the Bartlet Mall, made his debut on the World Wide Web, here at the Newburyport Blog.

Who would have thought, one whole year. Wow, George.

george.pillow.1.jpg
George Cushing pleased as punch at the
anniversary of his debut on the Newburyport Blog

And so much has happened since George has arrived. And who knew that frogs could be that popular.

(I, of course, am jealous.)

The twins appeared. Not that they’ve done much, but they are cute. And they still are way in the apprentice stage. They think they could be political consultants to the Newburyport Blog, but they may have to wait quite a long time. I don’t care how great they may be at researching Hollywood celebrities. Sorry.

2.twins.jpg
The Twins

And of course Georgiana Tadpole, George Cushing’s great love. The activist frog from the vernal pool behind the Wheelwright House.

georgiana.1.jpg
Georgiana Tadpole

Yes, George and Georgianna, horny little things that they are, have sired, goodness knows how many tadpoles this spring in Newburyport, MA. 100’s, I hope not 1000’s. Yes, and some of them must have made it to tiny frog status.

I have to say, I really haven’t kept up. I refuse to be an aunt much less be a grandmother to tiny frogs sired by George and Georgiana. Just forget about that one.

But Georgiana and sometimes George will go visit and see how the little things are coming along. That’s a drama for a whole other blog (and believe you me that one will not be written by moi).

So I’m very proud of George Cushing of Frog Pond at the Bartlet Mall. At least for this blogger, he has been a most welcomed addition to the Newburyport Blog.

Happy (late) anniversary George.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Easy on the Eyes

I was chit chatting with one of the array of municipal candidates and I found myself saying, “yes, that would be a good idea to visit so and so because you’re ‘easy on the eyes’.”

Now the readers of the Newburyport Blog may be scratching their heads and saying, who?? Who of this municipal array that has pulled papers or is likely to pull papers is “easy on the eyes?”

Maybe we will have a municipal “easy on the eyes” contest. Wouldn’t that be fun?

The municipal candidate in question wondered out loud to me about my assessment of themselves (the “easy on the eyes” thing).

Being the editor of the Newburyport Blog has been great, but I’ve noticed that every now and then that I get weighed down, like with this peccadillo stuff, watch every word I say, much less every word I write. Silly goes out the window. The weight of whatever sinks in. And I remind myself that the Newburyport Blog is a sideline and is supposed to be fun

And just as a btw, the “easy on the eyes” bit got lodged into my brain due to a correspondence regarding my 23 year old son, who is acting his heart out in NYC.

I got a wonderful email from a woman involved in the theater, who has a small production space that my son had briefly appeared in. This lovely lady went on to praise my son, which of course I loved, what mother would not. And she ended the email by remarking that my son was “easy on the eyes.”

Ever since then “easy on the eyes” has been wedged into my wits, and I guess it just popped out chit chatting with a Newburyport municipal candidate.

And later that night I found myself downright giggling, if not outright laughing at myself, that I would say something to anybody like “easy on the eyes,” because it was a quintessential, quirky Mary Baker Eaton thing to say. It was moi. (Remember, I have a stuffed frog for a political consultant for goodness sakes.)

And I was very relieved. Because if I don’t keep my sense of silly in all of this, I am in danger of having not just a “few peccadilloes,” but of turning into a dreary peccadillo possible porcupine. Which would be no fun at all, because peccadilloes popping up like porcupine quills tend to pop exuberant balloons.

Ouch.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Son, Shakespeare and Theatre Stuff

One of the “perks” of being the editor of the Newburyport Blog is that I get to brag brazenly about my son.

The justification of course is “education,” that a young man who went through the Newburyport Public School system could this day be doing Ok.

MY son, in NYC 10 months and in his fourth play. Yes, very proud Mom.

And the theatre company, Hipgnosis, has picked, for such a young, “hip” theater company, in today’s world, a very politically incorrect play, “The Taming of the Shrew” (by William Shakespeare).

Could Mr. Shakespeare consider moi, a female blogger with an occasional strong, uncooperative opinion, a “shrew?” Goodness, who knows? Maybe.

Hipgnosis Theatre
William Shakespeare
Taming of the Shrew

How did the Hipgnosis Theatre Company go about reconciling what could easily have been done in 1950, no problem, in the year of political correctness, 2007– the solution, a combination of Shakespeare and vaudeville. What can I say, I loved it.

A wonderful romp and what I considered a tongue in cheek approach to the “taming” part (which would be considered “spousal abuse” today) by the hubby and the “compliance” part by Kate, the “tamed shrew.” Plus, by the end of the play, there was no doubt about it, it was real obvious, that they were real, real “hot” for each other. Sizzle.

For goodness sakes, Shakespeare, if he were around today, would be right. It’s not until real, real recently, that women have gotten the privilege of speaking up about stuff (for which this female blogger and painter is most grateful, good grief) without being labeled a “shrew” or whatever nifty label equivalent. (Not that that doesn’t still happen on occasion today.)

We’ve had millenniums, not just centuries of women not being able to have a “say.” And it is this blogger’s humble opinion, that it’s not just in previous millenniums, centuries, decades that men like to have their women good looking, and to shut up and be quiet, and for goodness sakes do and say what you are told to say and do.

But in today’s world, my goodness, there are equivalents. Take the “trophy wife” with a lousy pre-nup:

Darling the sky is purple.

Yes, dearest, the sky is purple. And now can I have my Mercedes-Benz?

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Helping to Save Newburyport’s Historic Assets

In all the hoopla over the special election for the override for our schools, a snippet from the Newburyport Daily News sat in my “research” pile unattended.

Or maybe it was just too depressing to even think about it.

Yes, Todd Freemont-Smith of Wills Lane LLC got the go ahead to develop the back of the Wheelwright property. Mr. Freemont-Smith will be putting in a road and 4 houses on the back of this historic High Street land on Newburyport’s “Ridge.”

The article was in the Newburyport Daily News, May 22, 2007.

Sad stuff.

But there have been some good things happening for historic preservation in Newburyport, MA.

A demolition permit was requested for 6 Calswells Court a c 1800 Georgian period house. The owners, after talking with the Newburyport Historical Commission and the members of the Newburyport Preservation Trust, are now restoring this historic asset. Yeh.

A demolition permit was also sought for the house next to the Methodist Church on Purchase Street. That permit has been withdrawn as well, and the home is also being restored.

Fighting for one historic asset at a time in Newburyport, MA.

Probably neither the house on Purchase Street or the house on Calswells Court would have been saved if it were not for the 12 month Newburyport Demolition Delay.

The Demolition Delay has provided an opportunity to have a dialogue with owners of these two historic properties. And once the value and options were understood, both owners opted for historic preservation.

But we need more in Newburyport to protect our historic assets. A Local Historic District would be themost comprehensive way to protect the city’s architecture and streetscapes.

The city of Newburyport, MA actually has a Local Historic District Study Committee, which is a very big deal for Newburyport, MA.

And there is a fundraiser for the Local Historic District Study Committee being provided by the Newburyport Preservation Trust.

Local Historic District Fundraiser

Market Square c 1906

The fundraiser will be held this Saturday, June 2, 2007, from 4-6 PM at the historic house of one of Newburyport’s most illustrious writers, J.P. Marquand.

For more information please see the Events page of the Newburyport Preservation Trust.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Historic Photographs, 43 Winter Street

One of the most popular things on the Newburyport Blog appears to be the historic photographs of Newburyport. I had one more left that I had found from the Library of Congress, and I thought I would share it with the readers of the Newburyport Blog.

The photograph is of 43 Winter Street c. 1725 that was demolished in 1934 “For Highway Cut-Off,” to make room for what is now Route 1.

The Library of Congress has two wonderful exterior shots.

I not only love the house, but I also love the barn that is to the left of the dwelling in the first photograph below.

43 Winter Street
Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division. Historic American Buildings Survey, Arthur C. Haskell, Photographer, 1934.

The Library of Congress has an interior shot of 43 Winter Street as well. It might not make other people’s hearts go pitter-patter, but to me it is amazing. And it is particularly amazing because so many of the interiors of Newburyport’s historic assets are being ripped out without thought.

This interior invokes all kinds of memories for me, and I love it. It would be wonderful if people could be reverent not only of the exterior of our historic assets but of the interior of our historic houses as well.

And again here is this quote by Donovan Rypkema:

“…And if memory is necessary for significance, it is also necessary for both meaning and value. Without memory nothing has significance, nothing has meaning, nothing has value…

The city tells it own past, transfers its own memory, largely through the fabric of the built environment. Historic buildings are the physical manifestation of memory – and it is memory that makes places significant.”
© Donovan D. Rypkema, 2007, PlaceEconomics

Interior, 43 Winter Street
Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division. Historic American Buildings Survey, Arthur C. Haskell, Photographer, 1934

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport Preservation Trust and Community

One of the things I really like about the Newburyport Preservation Trust (and whether or not they are consciously doing this or not I do not know), is that they are building a sense of community around the issue of historic preservation.

The opening ceremonies for Preservation Week, sponsored by the Preservation Trust, were held at the old jail which is on Auburn Street, next to Newburyport’s Bartlet Mall, on Saturday morning, May 5, 2007.

Over 120 people attended, old, young, with and without children.

Chuck Griffin gave the tour and a history of the jail. There was a list of all of the prisoners who had been housed in the jail. The jail is also the subject of the oldest known photograph still existing in the US (taken in 1839, two months after the daguerreotype was introduced to the world). Mr. Griffin had examples of the buildings drawings and a petition signed in 1823 by a dozens of Newburyport residents who were in favor of having the jail built in our city. And there were also many tales of the jail itself.

Sarah White, the president of the Newburyport Preservation Trust, told me that a 90-year old woman reported to the Preservation Trust that she had been waiting her whole life to see the jail, but her mother told her, “don’t you go playing by that old jail,” when she was growing up. For years, the old jail was either used for different functions or was privately owned. The lady in question was thrilled to have finally seen it. And apparently many other folks felt the same way – they had always wanted to see the old jail.

The Newburyport Preservation Trust has also managed to unearth a documentary film about Newburyport’s Urban Renewal, made in 1974, right in the midst of the time when Newburyport’s Urban Renewal was taking place.

The film, will be shown Friday, May 11, 2007 at 6PM at the Firehouse Center for the Arts, which is located at Newburyport’s Market Square.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Literary Festival and Preservation Week

The second annual Newburyport Literary Festival (April 27-29, 2007) appeared to be a huge hit this weekend.

The seaside city of Newburyport, MA was full of folks, getting out of their cars with purpose and intent, heading off to hear some 70 writers at various locations across the historic city of Newburyport, MA.

Pretty amazing for only the 2nd annual Newburyport Literary Festival.

And starting this weekend there will be another festival of sorts. The Newburyport Preservation Trust is having its first annual Preservation Week starting Saturday, May 5th through May 12, 2007.

Good for the Newburyport Preservation Trust.

The Newburyport Preservation Trust has blossomed this year due to the efforts, in great part (there are others) to Sarah White, Steve Rudolph as well as Karen Battles.

From what I understand there will be posters telling all about the preservation celebration around town. Be sure to be on the lookout.

Preservation Week opens at 10AM at the old jail on Auburn Street, beside the Newburyport Bartlet Mall. Our very own Bill Steelman will be making the opening remarks.

And, as I think I’ve said before on the Newburyport Blog, Bill Steelman is one of Newburyport’s unsung heroes.

I first got to know Mr. Steelman when I was involved in the fight to save High Street. At that time he was working for the Massachusetts Historical Commission. I can absolutely guarantee you that we would have a strip-mall for High Street if it wasn’t for Mr. Steelman’s knowledge, involvement and expertise.

Bill Steelman has never been one to seek the limelight, so I couldn’t be more please that folks would have a chance to get to know this gentleman, who has a wealth of knowledge, in fact I often refer to him as a walking encyclopedia of knowledge, during Newburyport Preservation Week.

For a complete calendar of events, please check out the Newburyport Preservation Trust’s website, or go directly to the “Events” page of the Newburyport Preservation Trust.

We as a community are enormously lucky to have people step up to the plate– for the Literary Festival and also for Preservation Week. A big “thank you” to all.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Rail Trail

There was so much gloomy news today, that as I sat in my funk, George Cushing, of Frog Pond at the Bartlet Mall, the political consultant for the Newburyport Blog, suggested I concentrate on something happy. Something in the works, something that has funding, something everyone is enthusiastic about.

George Cushing suggested that I blog about the Newburyport Rail Trail, or the Clipper City Rail Trail (its official name).

George Cushing suggesting
I blog on a happy project

So digging through my files, yes, I found the story in the Newburyport Daily News, March 20, 2007 that yes, there was a Public Hearing for the first phase of the Clipper City Rail Trail.

And this is from the MassHighway website:

“The proposed project consists of a one mile path along the former B&M Railroad corridor from Parker Street (at the end of the MBTA Commuter Rail line) to the abutment of the railroad trestle bridge located at the edge of the Merrimack River. This path will consist of a 10′ wide paved surface with connections to local streets. A new pedestrian bridge is proposed at Low Street and the existing railroad Bridge at Merrimac Street will receive a new deck and safety barrier. The path will cross Parker Street and Washington Street at-grade. Proposed improvements at the edge of the river involve modifications to the railroad Bridge abutments and lowering of the rail bed embankment to provide access under Route 1/Gillis Bridge.” (http://www.mhd.state.ma.us/ProjectInfo)

I’m utterly unable to figure out what they are talking about, where the bridge on low street would go, where the path goes exactly… Luckily the Coastal Trail Coalition has a map which you can see if you press here.

According to the MassHighway website, the Estimated cost is $4,162,284. A tidy sum. However, the “project is planned to be funded through the 2007 Transportation Improvement Program for the Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization.” Another words state and federal funds. Whew!

How refreshing is that.

And the years and the work and the number of people involved is huge. So, we as a community owe them a great big “thank you.”

And I am very grateful that there is something so successful for me to blog about today.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

(Editor’s note: Here are two related and very helpful links. The Coastal Trail Coalition and The Essex National Heritage Commission.)

Newburyport, Chocolates and Buy Local

This is why we need these Buy Local folks.

We’ve got a new chocolate shop in town, opened and run by one of our good “newbies.” And yes, and there is a “Buy Local” decal in the store window.

The place is called “Ballotin Chocolates.” And it’s amazing.

It just opened. The proprietess, Ms Lisa Bleicken is a sweetie (no pun intended). And a real talented young lady at that.

Ms Bleicken is a fairly new local and a local architect, contractors etc were used to set this great place up.

And it’s all about chocolate.

I’ve never seen such beautiful chocolates. They look like unbelievable tiny sculptures. And Ms Bleicken had a very hard time convincing me to actually bite into one.

But, my, I was glad I did.

Yum.

Chocolate samples, chocolate cook books, cookies, chocolate children’s books, chocolate creams and soap.

And the whole place looks like it might expand one day to London, Paris, Rome and New York. Classy place.

This is why we need these “Buy Local” folks. A great new entrepreneur in town putting money back into the local economy. Yes, this is a very good thing. Much better than a chocolate chain store, Yikes!

So go check out this new “Buy Local” store out. Great for Mother’s Day, Easter, anniversaries, “thank you’s” and a “just treat yourself because it’s a great idea” day.

Ballotin Chocolates
16 Unicorn Street
(The small street across from the Newburyport Post Office)
Newburyport, MA
978-465-3800
ballotinchocolates.com

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

French Food Served With Bikinis

“French food served with bikinis?” Not in Newburyport, I can tell you.

Where has this wayward blogger been?

In Vegas? No.

In New York, New Yawk, NYC, the very blogger’s home town? But of course.

My father, who goes to work everyday, an 89th birthday (or 59th, depending on who you are talking to). Am I proud? You bet.

And a son with a small role opening off-Broadway. Am I proud? Oh, my, my, my… yes, yes, yes.

And a little art. Always, a little art.

And I swear, walking down a swanky part of town I see this banner on a restaurant window, “French food served with bikinis.” Middle of the day, restaurant is closed, lots of windows.

If I ever go back, I’m going to go in and ask, “French food served with bikinis??” Who wouldn’t go in and ask such a question with a sign like that? Which I suppose would be the point. Good marketing.

I tell the frogs this on my return. (They are glad to see me.) They proceed to hormonally hop up and down, roll on their little backs, with their ridiculous little legs wiggling in the air, blurping with hysterical laughter.

No, no, it’s “Blinis” not “Bikinis,” they say. “Blinis” are some sort of pancake. Or a fancy, smancy drink made with Vodka. “French food served with “Blinis,” the blurpy little green things insist. (Pretty smart for frogs.)

So, here I am in Newburyport, I can’t go back and find the stupid banner and see if it’s “Blinis,” “Bikinis,” whatever. And ask all those questions I had in mind.

And the frogs are bringing me up to date on all the goings on in Newburyport, MA. Waterfront, schools, landfill, garage, proposed demolition of yet another historic building.

A lot to digest as I try to figure out, just because I’m really curious, what the heck is a “blini?” And the age old question, “would you really eat a it with French food?”

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Frogs and The New England Really Religious Watch

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any weirder with frogs, The New England Really Religious Watch is concerned that I am corrupting the youth of Newburyport, MA and wherever, by having the frogs “live in sin” at the Newburyport Blog.

The New England Really Religious Watch is concerned that, you guessed it, George Cushing (of Frog Pond at the Bartlet Mall in Newburyport, MA, the political consultant for the Newburyport Blog ) and his “love interest,” Georgiana Tadpole, are setting a very, very bad example for youth in general on the World Wide Web.

George+G.jpg
George and Georgiana, both angry and perplexed
by the accusations

I assume that they are talking about the “Valentine” post where they mercifully and eventually “hopped off to froggy hormonal wonder-land wherever,” and my reference to “love-struck, hormonal frogs” around the Newburyport Blog.

First of all they are making the assumption, whether it is true or untrue, that George and Georgiana are “getting it on.” Personally, I do not think that there is any indication that that might be true, thank you very much.

Second of all George and Georgiana are adults (I think). Well at least George is. I’ve never had a “chat” with Georgiana about her age. However the last name of “Tadpole” does give one pause for thought. But she’s a FROG, for goodness sakes, so who cares how old Georgiana Tadpole might be. Good grief.

And G & G are FROGS. Even if they were humping their little brains out, they are FROGS not human beings. What right does The New England Really Religious Watch have in being upset that FROGS could be humping “in sin” or not “in sin” at the Newburyport Blog.

Am I supposed to insist that we now have froggy nuptials at the Newburport Blog? They just met, for crying out loud. Who knows if they want to get married or even if it would be a good idea. A little early to be insisting on a wedding for goodness sakes.

And do frogs even get married? I don’t know. I simply don’t know that much about this sort of FROG stuff. George is supposed to be a political consultant, not a political lightening rod. Good grief.

Who knew. Intimating that moi, the editor of the Newburyport Blog has fornicating frogs hopping around. Being threatened with lawsuits was bad enough. But this, Oy Veh.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

(Editor’s note: Having just read the editorial in the Newburyport Daily News, March 2, 2007, “Bloggers need beware of legal challenges,” reminding me once again that yes, there is such a thing as “blogging peril,” as far as I can tell by extensive Googling, etc, “The New England Really Religious Watch” is purely fictional, and such an organization does not really (I hope) exist.)

Newburyport, Influence of Infill

I was invited to a very nice gathering at the Newburyport Preservation Trust for its members and friends. The Newburyport Preservation Trust– a fledgling non-profit organization, with gobs of potential, with at last I knew, 120 members and growing.

My, a lot of new faces. And Historic Preservation can be so boring.

So why, I asked myself, this sudden interest and enthusiasm. Multi-determined, I’m sure.

A lot of “wakeup calls” from “infill” in literally backyards. There’s nothing like an objectionable project next door to make one suddenly become mucho interested in “zoning,” which is usually a major snooze factor.

Or to have an “infill” project next door, maybe not literally next door, but in one’s town, next door, a la the proposed Wheelwright property development. That seems to have gotten people very interested in what they might do to “save our town.”

And, much to my delight, the mayor of Newburyport, MA was not only invited, but showed up to this gathering of people interested in preserving our historic assets, the basis of our economic success now, and our economic strength in the future.

Good for Mayor John Moak. I really and truly was really pleased (all silliness on my part aside).

There were a number of Newburyport City Councilors there as well.

And the meet and greet turned out to be a tonic for civic burn-out, as well as just being plain old downright fun.

So good for the Newburyport Preservation Trust. Keep up the good work. And may the Newburyport Preservation Trust fulfill the potential that so many of us think that it could have.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

(Editor’s note: The Newburyport Preservation Trust was formed in 2005 as a non-profit organization. It’s mission is to inform, educate and advocate for the enhancement and preservation of Newburyport’s unique historic character and architectural legacy.)

Publishing, Weather, Comics and Newburyport News

This is what I’ve come to ask myself as I reflect on my momentary euphoria at putting links to horoscopes, the weather, comics etc on the Home Page of the Newburyport Blog:

Have I gone over to the “dark side,” the commercial side, by blatantly linking to CNN and the Weather Channel instead of my fellow struggling bloggers and even my own local media?

Or is this a case of “blogger savvy?” Aspiring to lure local readers to bigger things, in hopes that they might notice the encroaching elements and issues that (in my mind at least) plague their own home town? (Or have I just lost it?)

I’m not a black and white thinker. Multi-determined, probably.

I myself find that I now linger over my own blog, checking the weather, then my horoscope and finally finding out what Doonesbury could possibly be up to. I find that I actually forgo checking out the 20 something “stud-muffins,” that may be “very easy on the eyes” at the Personals.

Yes, a quick check at Sports. A wander over to the National News. (It’s fun.) And then I crawl back to the warmth of my own sometimes myopic blogging of my own small New England burg.

I think to myself, why not? Newspapers have a broad swatch of whatever and then lure readers to dangle over, while checking out TV Listings and the Comics. Why not moi?

Why not do it backwards? Have a small blog-about, about whatever and then lure readers with the possibilities of “stud-muffins” at the Personals and “laughter” at Comics and “euphoria and agony” at Sports.

In fact, I wonder why I had never thought of this sooner. Why not blend hot-stuff major mindsets and things with small city, local blogging?

One of my frustrations is that so many people in Newburyport, MA find out about “important stuff,” let’s say like the proposed development at the Wheelwright property, a year after the whole thing has gotten well under way.

I checked, the first blog entry on the SOS on the Wheelwright Property was way back in January 2006. The second major blog entry no less.

Where have these people been? Some of them have been reading the New York Times and the New Yorker for goodness sakes. All good stuff, but nothing in there about the encroaching dilemmas of Newburyport, MA. How will they know? Or at least how will they know a little sooner or the vague possibility of a whole lot sooner?

Or worse yet, they haven’t been reading much of anything, if anything at all.

So my little theory and experiment. A brief glance might inform about some of Newburyport’s concerns, whatever. And then, yippee, fun and serious stuff can be linked to, and hence, it might be worth a visit to the Newburyport Blog.

So I will be interested to see how the “Newburyport Blog goes national” thing goes. And at the very least, I’ll be entertaining myself, “dark side” or no. (Plus, the frogs love it. And, yes, this is the deciding of all important, possible deciding factors; factual, fun stuff for frogs.)

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

The Newburyport Blog: Weather, Horoscope, Sports, Personals

The Newburyport Blog gets national (sort of).

This Newburyport Blog gets national (sort of) thing, came by quite by accident (really).

I was think, gee, it would be nice to have the “weather” on the Home Page of the Newburyport Blog, but I couldn’t get the little weather button to work, so all I had was a link to Newburyport’s local weather on the side of the Home Page of the Newburyport Blog. Looked kind of lonely.

So what to put there to make “weather” look not so lonely? TV Listings, that might be fun. Let’s do that. Cool.

Still looking kind of lonely though. Horoscopes. Ooooh, Horoscopes. Love that one. So I look around the World Wide Web and came up with a “Horoscope” that was not too short and not too long and sounded sort of like my day. I went with that one.

Now I was really getting into it. What next? Comics. So I looked around the World Wide Web again, and came up with what I thought was a pretty good comic site, that includes Doonsebury. And you can go back and read all the Doonsebury strips you missed. How fun is that.

By this time, I’m really smiling. What are we missing now? Sports. I look around the Internet at sports stuff. All that I’m seeing is missing one very important ingredient: The Red Soxs. So I look at the two most likely links and come up with the best website. Maybe they’re not your favorite writers, but hey it’s not bad. This way when you check in with the Newburyport Blog, you can find out what’s going on with the Red Soxs and spring training. How cool is that.

I figured if people wanted to feel “tony” they might want to check the National News. And again it came down to reputation and a good website.

What would be really fun? The Personals. It’s a slow day a work and you want to pretend that you are 20 again, and can go check out the 20 something “stud muffins.” I’m loving this.

Oh, oh, oh… and then I found the coolest Crossword Puzzle. You can check “Regular Skill Level” and it will help you solve the darn thing. I just love the World Wide Web.

So come visit The Newburyport Blog and after you’ve read whatever quip I may have written, stay a while with me. Check out the weather; read your horoscope; find out what Doonesbury is up to today (can’t wait to see what they do with the Sunday Comics on the World Wide Web); follow the beloved Red Sox’s spring training, or whatever; glance at the National News; check out the “stud-muffins” in the Personals; and if things are really, really slow, work on that crossword puzzle and then have them solve it for you in a twinkle, and you will feel, oh, so smart. I did.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport