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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Rockport Music Performance Center


Everyone in Rockport is thrilled about our new Performing Arts Center on Main Street. The 20 million dollar Shalin Liu Center was just completed in June 2010, with special acoustics, a seating capacity of 330 and an extraordinary backdrop of Sandy Bay. It is quite a jewel for our town. The center offers Chamber Music, Classical, a new Jazz series and simulcasts of the operas from the MET, along with a number of productions for our local high school plays. The Center even has a fully catered function room, which can be rented for weddings or meetings to boot!

The Tuck Inn is conveniently located just two blocks away from the Shalin Liu, and as we are open nearly year-round, we would be happy to accommodate your lodging if you come up for a performance.

To look at a complete list of their upcoming performances, ticket prices, or to purchase tickets, please click to their website at www.rcmf.org.

Come enjoy the music in our beautiful little village!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

What to Do In Rockport - The Innkeepers Picks!


The following is just a list of things that Liz and I like to do in town and often recommend to our guests. It's in no way complete, but just our personal favorites.

Walking:
1. The Headlands - (2 blocks away)
2. Marmion Way / Garden Path - (3 1/2 mile loop)
3. Halibut State Park - (60 acres of coastal park - 3 miles away)
4. Dogtown - off Curtis Street (over 3,000 acres of woodlands)
5. Kelly's Pond & Cape Pond - (2 hour woods hike just 3 blocks from the Inn)
6. Atlantic Path - (2 mile coastal walk from Emerson Inn to Halibut Point)
7. Throughout the residential neighborhoods to enjoy the gardens and architecture
8. Granite Pier
9. Steel Derrick Quarry Walk

Beaches:
l. Front Beach - ( 2 blocks away with grandkids)
2. Back Beach - (2-3 blocks away with grandkids)
3. Old Garden Beach - (3-4 blocks away with grandkids)
4. Long Beach - (2 miles away - great body surfing without grandkids!)

Train Rides: (Rockport train station is just 3 blocks away)
1. To Salem - (20 minute ride to museums, House of Seven Gables)
2. To Boston (1 hour ride to museums, sporting events, Boston Pops, and "ugh"-shopping)

Retail Stores:
1. Shopping - (150 plus shops/galleries to chose from - 2 blocks away) (window shopping only for Scott and the real deal for Liz)
2. Art Galleries / Studios - (approximately 20 - 25) (window shopping only for both Scott and Liz)

Dining:
1. Roy Moore's Lobster Pound - (boiled lobsters - freshly caught and boiled, yummy and inexpensive)
2. Brackett's Oceanview - (nice full-service menu with great views)
3. Nate's at Front Beach - (best lobster roll around)
4. My Place By The Sea - (exceptionally prepared food, a bit on the expensive side, but we suggest you go for lunch for the same wonderful food at a significant savings over the supper menu)
5. Fish Shack - (good hot meals, mainly fish and a bit less expensive than other)
6. Lograsso's - (4 nights a week, Wednesday - Sunday, Italian food...mmm, mmm, good!)
7. Emerson Inn - (in Pigeon Cove, 1 1/2 miles away, exceptional dining and setting for a special meal)
8. Ellen's Harborside - (great prime rib and lobster bisque...dee-lish!)
9. Molly's Sweet Tooth - (Richardson's ice cream - decadent!)
10. Top Dog - (the best hot dogs around!)
11. Bean & Leaf - (great coffee and dessert shop)
12. Hula Moon - (soups, wraps and take-out orders)

Playgrounds:
1. Behind school complex on Jerden's Lane (1/2 mile away)
2. At Millbrook Meadows - (2 blocks away for swings and to feed ducks)
3. Pigeon Cove on Story Street - ( 1 1/2 miles away)

Museums & Attractions & other:
1. Rockport Art Association - (1 block away)
2. Sandy Bay Historical Society - (3 blocks away - local history)
3. Local Library - School Street - (2 blocks away - we've spent lots of time in Children's department).
4. Shalin Liu Performance Center - (2 blocks away, extraordinary setting with multiple productions). (The last one we saw was Chad & Jeremy - "Who, you say?")
5. Little Art Cinema - (1 block away - old time movie house with equally old seats - ouch!)
6. Visit the Paper House in Pigeon Cove - 1 1/2 miles away (historical oddity).
7. Walking the grandkids to school, or the park or reading to them, whenever possible.
8. Bird-watching along the shore or local woods (without binoculars, because with them we never spot a thing!)
9. Our in-ground pool - (40 feet away for my daily 10 minute dip and then back to the salt mines!)

When you come to visit with us, Liz and I and our staff will gladly cover all of the above with you and give you some suggestions of things to see and do or eat within town or throughout Cape Ann. We are all fairly knowledgeable about our town and will be glad to handle any of your other requests as well...just ask!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Spring Has Sprung In Rockport & Here At The Tuck Inn!


We had one tough winter in Rockport this year along with most of New England. We’re relieved though, that the snows have finally melted, that we could put away the shovels, and can now happily turn our attention outside to the gardens around the inn.

You’ll find that our fall plantings are now in bloom, and that although the squirrels had a feast at our expense last year, it appears that the majority of our bulbs escaped our hungry adversaries. Thank heaven, as I planted 1,000 tulips along with 200 each of crocuses and daffodils along the front, the sides and lots of both of the buildings – What a Show!

While we may still be in the midst of our spring clean-up outside, our comfortable rooms and hearty breakfasts still await you inside, so come visit us and our beautiful little town this spring to enjoy the annual re-awakening!

Towards that end, to entice you at this time of year, we invite you to take advantage of our Spring Mid-Week Special (Mon-Thurs) which will be run from May 1st to June 23rd. The rate is $199 + tax for 2 people for 2 nights lodging (including breakfasts of course)!!

So shake off your “winter doldrums”, and come enjoy Rockport with us this Spring!