Surprenant & Beneski, P.C. is sending us around town to their favorite food spots because they know this time of year is all about food and family (and also because this year, more than ever, our favorite small businesses need a shout-out). S&B loves to get lunch from The Baker in downtown New Bedford so we went to find out what Brandon Roderick was up to…
When it was first introduced by Dominique Ansel in 2013, the cronut — a combination croissant/donut — caused a bit of a ruckus in NYC. People lined up around the block to buy them at his bakery. Scalpers bought and resold them for many times the original price — at one point, they were charging $100 per cronut and $5,000 for a 20-piece order. This winter, The Baker in New Bedford brings the cronut to the South Coast.
We’ve already thrown out our 2020 calendar and we’re excited to greet 2021! To get us off on the right foot, we’ve found 8 Great Things for you to do in the month ahead, with many thanks to Anne Whiting Real Estate for sponsoring this fun list!
1. Run Away!
Some of us may have picked up some bad habits in 2020. Start some good ones this month by joining the
Surprenant & Beneski, P.C. is sending us around town to their favorite food spots because they know this time of year is all about food and family (and also because this year, more than ever, our favorite small businesses need a shout-out). Dorothy Cox Candies & Ice Cream is where S&B went for holiday gifts this year, so we paid them a visit…
Cocoa bombs have a much better ring to them than Zoom bombs. Dorothy Cox’s Candies & Ice Cream is working overtime to end 2020 on the cocoa bomb note.
Surprenant & Beneski, P.C. is sending us around town to their favorite food spots to find out their holiday specialties because they know this time of year is all about family and food (and because this year, more than ever, our favorite restaurants need a shout-out). Tia Maria’s European Cafe is a favorite spot from which Suprenant & Beneski frequently orders lunch….
She had me at malasadas. Then she added “we make it with moonshine and lemon zest” and I was setting up the photo shoot.
Our sponsor Surprenant & Beneski, P.C. asked us to feature some of their favorite local restaurants during the holidays because they know this time of year is all about family and food (and because this year, more than ever, our favorite restaurants need a shout-out). S & B likes to order lunch regularly from Brick Pizzeria because the pizza is oh-so-good. While they are in the know about Brick’s secrets for a stand out pizza, most people we asked were as surprised as we were to learn just why Brick’s pizzas are so good…
December is that super busy time of year when we’re overwhelmed with parties, shopping, cooking, entertaining. Except not this year. Sure, we’ll still be busy getting ready for the holidays but our calendars are going to be a lot more open. So use this year as an excuse to slow down a little and build in some quality time celebrating all the wonders the South Coast has to offer. Enjoy our 8 Great Things for the month ahead, with many thanks to Anne Whiting Real Estate for sponsoring this fun list!
The Symphony Shop’s ChrisMoose sporting a ukelele that could be yours!
1. Uke Can Do It!
Just say the word ukulele and the corners of your mouth start turning up. It just conjures up the feeling of happiness and good times. So there has never been a better time to pick up the ukulele than now. The Z is obliging by offering us a 4 week virtual classes for kids and adults, beginners and advanced beginners. And may we suggest you check out the Symphony Shop in Dartmouth to buy your ukulele. See here to register for the classes.
2. Say Bakery Bike 5 Times Fast
The Starchasers are meeting at the Buzzards Bay Coalition headquarters in New Bedford’s downtown for a slow ride around the city that they’ve dubbed the Casual Bakery Bike Tour. We love every word in that name: Bakery, Casual. Bike. Tour. Join them on Saturday, December 5 at 9:30. Registration is free but you must register here. Register early because space is limited.
3. To Market, To Market
Tiverton is keeping its farmer’s market going through the winter in the airy and light-filled community hall at Sandywoods Center for the Arts where they’ll open all the windows and doors to let the outside in (and increase air flow). With safe, easy access to fresh and local produce, meats, seafood, art, and music every Tuesday — rain or shine — from 2 to 6 pm, we bet it’ll be the highlight of your winter weeks. 43 Muse Way, Tiverton. Starting December 15, through the winter. See more here.
4. Snow Place Like Home
The 1834 Rotch-Jones-Duff mansion is dressed to the nines for the holiday season and the garden will be illuminated from sundown on, seven days a week. Even better — on Fridays in December, they will have family friendly themed nights (like Ugly Sweater Spirit Night and Hoe, Hoe, Hoedown!) See more here.
5. The Show Must Go On
The New Bedford Symphony’s Holiday Pops concert is an annual tradition and they’re not letting us down this year! They’ve got lots of treats: the NBSO musicians will be performing holiday favorites at festive South Coast locations, the Showstoppers will be there, and — special treat — Broadway’s Elena Shaddow will sing holiday songs with Yaniv’s virtual accompaniment. Tickets are just $10 and you’ll receive a private Youtube link — you can watch the performance when it first airs on December 19th and for the month following that. See more here.
6. Celebrate the Solstice
Start the shortest day of the year off with a little nature and community. The Buzzards Bay Coalition has a sunrise stroll on the Solstice. It makes our list every December because we love the idea of joining together on the solstice. We also love the idea that from here on out guys, each day gets a little longer! Monday, December 21 at 6:30 a.m. Registration is free but you must register here.
7. D-I-Y Christmas Fun
We love cookies. And we love decorating them. What don’t we love? We don’t love gathering all the things needed to create beautifully decorated treats. Meredith Rousseau jumps in to rescue us! Order her Artisan Bake Shop kits to make cute cottages or colorful mittens and you’ll be able to throw yourself right into the decorating. Everything you need comes in the kits. And you know the cookies are made locally, with love. Artisan Bake Shop, 265 Walnut Plain Road, Rochester.
8. Wander A Bit
We’re adding something a little outside our borders because this will make you feel like you’ve really travelled across space and time. Rather than a stuck-at-home resident of 2020, pretend you’re a nineteenth century resident of the Gilded Age. The Breakers mansion in Newport is all gussied up for guests for the holidays and has a sparkling light show starting daily at 4 pm. Guests can purchase hot beverages (including adult beverages) to enjoy while strolling the grounds outside. See more here.
Even better, sign up to get our print issues delivered straight to your door. Just $19.95 gives you 4 issues with stories that make you feel good about the place you live, written and photographed by local talent.
When Liz Farley was seeking solace from the bustle of life and work in the Boston area, she started renting houses in Westport. She grew up visiting Cape Cod, but when her elderly parents sold their home in Osterville, which she had often frequented, she saw that as a sign to identify and embrace another coastal community. “Farmland by the ocean— that is my ideal place,” she says.
Somewhat surprisingly, she didn’t seek out summer rentals, but off-season ones, so as to have a place to get away for weekends. She rented on Westport Point, but while she loved the people, she knew that if she eventually retired there, summertime crowds would make it far busier and reduce her privacy.
Her next rental was further set back from the shore, on Fisherville Lane. She loved it, and she needed it. She had abruptly left her long-time career and now had a new full-time commitment: taking care of her brother, who had been in a bad accident.
Unfortunately, when she was ready to buy, finding the right property proved elusive. Thankfully, a neighborhood a little further up the Westport River had a home for sale that jumped out at her right away. Cadman’s Neck is a little community that had once been home to a religious camp, where only a dozen or so modest houses or cabins are sprinkled about. This particular house abutted Paradise Hill Farm and Westport River Winery, with the East branch of the Westport River only a stone’s throw away.
It was a small 1,300 square foot Victorian cottage. Never in her wildest dreams did Farley expect to purchase a Victorian cottage in Westport, but she loved it the moment she drove up to it. She bought the house fully furnished.
She realized that many pieces in the home—brought back to life with a little Murphy Oil Soap—fit her style perfectly. Those pieces included some artwork, chairs, and the kitchen table, among other things.
She walked into Pam Manchester’s Westport shop and said, “I think I need help. I bought a house and am confused as to how to set it up.” Farley had never worked with a designer before. Even when she renovated her historic Charlestown home, she had only “hired people to reupholster and choose fabrics.” Manchester visited not only Farley’s recently purchased cottage, but her permanent residence as well. And with the boon of quality pieces left in the house, “we had the perfect opportunity to mix old and new,” says Manchester, who was in the antique furniture business before opening Manchester Interiors. She has been advising her ever since, and this year helped Farley choose all new outdoor furniture for the large outdoor patio space.
They started with a color palette, working off a base of soft beige, which complements the light blue, green, and various wood tones throughout the house. Then they began addressing her needs—adding antique tables in some places, chairs and other furniture in others. “We didn’t see the need to go shopping in a bunch of antique shops,” says Farley. “Many items came from Pam’s store.” On a few occasions, they had some things custom-made. Manchester had Tiverton’s Scott James Furniture make custom beds, nightstands, and a coffee table.
Farley liked the artwork on the walls, from etchings of whales to old portraits of people. Above the fireplace is a landscape of Race Point in Provincetown. After a little research, Farley learned that it was coincidentally created by an artist in Charlestown, where it turns out, the previous owners had also lived. There are a lot of nods to nature, in fact. The organic patterns on pillows in the master bedroom are abstract shapes, looking somewhat like sea anemones. A mirror outlined by what looks to be deer antlers mimics the shape of the Victorian windows and is placed purposely in its spot as the roofline would not accommodate a normal rectangular one.
One of the final spaces to tackle was the room above the detached garage. They had a great starting point with wonderful ship lap throughout. Farley kept the two twin beds and painted the frames, but because they were narrower than usual twins to fit the space, she had to have mattresses and box springs custom made. A dresser that had been unused in the garage was cleaned and placed right between the beds to vary the color scheme. “COVID has accelerated my interest in being here full-time,” says Farley. “I love the privacy, and it’s my place of calm and respite.”
Written by Scott Lajoie, Photographs by Nat Rhea. To view more of Manchester Interiors’ work, go to manchesterinteriors.com.
This feature came from our current issue, on newsstands now. You can see the feature as it appeared in our pages right here.
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Our sponsor Surprenant & Beneski, P.C. is all about community. They asked us to feature some of their favorite local restaurants during the holidays because they know this time of year is all about family and food (and because this year, more than ever, our favorite restaurants need a shout-out). First up: Shipyard Galley in Mattapoisett. S & B has used Shipyard Galley to cater their past holiday parties and they know what a treasure it is.
Time to make the donuts debone the chicken.
Every morning, for the last thirteen years, Joe Sousa spends his morning deboning chickens, by hand. It’s not glamorous work but the owner of Shipyard Galley in Mattapoisett wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s used to putting his all into everything he serves at Shipyard Galley, his “scratch-made operation” that’s open 360 days a year.
The chickens are the star of one of his signature dishes: Tuscan Chicken. Other menu items may come and go but Tuscan Chicken is forever. One customer served it at a party. He came in the next day to tell Joe that one of his guests, who had travelled all
Turn up the heat and settle into the short, dark days with some things to distract us until the turkey is served. We’ve got something for everyone on the list: outdoor runs, madcap bicycle adventures, history happy hours, art, music and some nature. Many, many thanks to Anne Whiting Real Estate who sponsors this monthly round-up of things to do to keep our spirits up!
1. Get Both Oars in the Water
To have both oars in the water is an idiom meaning “to be and remain in a calm, stable, sensible, and pragmatic state or condition; to not be subject to extreme emotional reactions or affected by exceptional changes in one’s situation.” You can physically get both oars in the water with the Buzzards Bay Coalition at their Onset Bay Center with some instructional rowing for adults. Monday, November 2, 2020. 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Free but you have to register.
2. Tragedy, History and a Beer Tasting
If you need a reason to drink on a Tuesday, the Rotch-Jones-Duff House presents us with an educational one. Their history happy hour — H3 — is a brief talk on a historical topic accompanied by a virtual beer tasting. Local bartender, Nick Serpa will recommend a brew or two for you to share from home while you watch and learn about The Black Sheep by Mattapoisett’s Francis Davis Millet, including tragic details from the piece’s acquisition by the New Bedford Free Public Library. Suggested donation: $5 Members / $10 Public. Tuesday, November 10, 5:30 pm. Register in advance for this virtual event here.
3. Run, All Month Long.
The 6th Annual DNRT Trail Race is a little different this year. First off, you have the entire month to complete it (no “I’ve got a conflict” excuses). Second, you can mix and match among 3 unique 5K courses through picturesque DNRT properties which you can either run or walk. Run all 3 to compete for the coveted Triple Beanie (see this beauty on the right). All registrants receive a t-shirt and a Refried Apparel face mask. Find out all about it here.
4. Celebrate Fall River’s Newest Museum
After a first-time visit to MASS MoCA in North Adams this summer, we were blown away with the great combination created when you mix contemporary with old mills. When last month’s Fall River Fabric Festival featured a contemporary museum exhibit in the Merrow mill, visions of future possibilities danced through our heads! They’re keeping the current exhibit up until December 12 and you can see it by appointment. Sure, setting up an appointment is more work than just strolling in but it’s worth it: the museum’s creators, Harry & Brittni Harvey, can give you the inside scoop on the art. How often can you experience that!? Email them at [email protected] to schedule your visit.
5. Cranksgiving!
We’ve just learned of the New Bedford Starchasers and we’re so intrigued. Join them on a bicycle-powered food drive: part bike ride, part madcap scavenger hunt. All you need is a bike (or other human-powered or assistive device), a lock and a bag. Last year, the Starchasers collected over 130 pounds of food for the United Way’s Hunger Heroes Project! This mission is free, open to the public, and cosmically inclusive! Saturday, November 14, 8 to 2 pm. See more here.
Behind the scenes at the New Bedford Symphony’s last virtual concert!
6. “An Emotional Rollercoaster”
No, not the tagline for 2020. It’s how Shostakovich’s first Piano Concerto has been described: beginning in a restrained manner only to spiral out of control by the end. Written for the unusual instrumentation of piano, strings, and trumpet, the piece spans musical styles and includes quotations from folk songs, classical music, cabaret, and silent films. Watch as the New Bedford Symphony safely places 22 musicians (strings and trumpet) plus conductor Yaniv Dinur and internationally acclaimed pianist Alexander Korsantia on stage at The Z for a fantastic virtual performance of Shostakovich and Dvořák’s Serenade for String! November 21, virtually. See more here. Tickets are $10 and can be reserved here.
7. The Wonders of Nature
Think about splurging on a private naturalist-led tour at Allen’s Pond Wildlife Sanctuary for your family or pod on Wednesdays through Saturdays through November 21. Each two-hour program will guide your group on an exploration around the sanctuary, taking part in hands-on investigations of plants and animals and discovering how to observe the interactions and life cycles of various habitats. Starting at $130 for a group of 5. See more here.
8. A Neighborhood Star
We’ve loved Alison Well’s art ever since we wrote a profile of her in our May 2017 issue (see the digital version here). So we were thrilled to learn that the New Bedford Whaling Museum is featuring her work in the Braithmayer Gallery. In the Neighborhood fuses the influences of her love for New Bedford along with her Caribbean culture to create unique and vibrant mixed media, large scale paintings in this series. Purchase timed tickets to the museum here. Enjoy Alison’s virtual talk about the exhibit here.
There you go, 8 Great Things to get out and enjoy this month in the wonderful place we live. Again, our great thanks to Anne Whiting Real Estate in Dartmouth for sponsoring this blog. Want to show them you appreciate them as much as we do? Give them a like on Facebook right here!
Even better, sign up to get our print issues delivered straight to your door. Just $19.95 gives you 4 issues with stories that make you feel good about the place you live, written and photographed by local talent.
Good news, everybody! October sees a resurgence of events — so many that we had to leave some really good ones on the chopping block. There are even a couple of South Coast Almanac events in here. Since we are shamelessly plugging a couple of our own events, we added a bonus. So this month you’re getting 9 Great Things for the price of 8 Great Things. 😉
When it was first introduced by Dominique Ansel in 2013, the cronut — a combination croissant/donut — caused a bit of a ruckus in NYC. People lined up around the block to buy them at his bakery. Scalpers bought and resold them for many times the original price — at one point, they were charging $100 per cronut and $5,000 for a 20-piece order. This winter, The Baker in New Bedford brings the cronut to the South Coast.
