New England Aquarium

June 1, 2015 

While I have been catching up with high school friends these past couple of weeks, the one topic that has come up in every conversation has been that of summer bucket lists. Hearing more people talk about making lists doesn't surprise me because I know for me at least I never feel so energized, motivated, and positive when the sun's rays hit me. I think creating a summer bucket list is something everyone should do because A) this season never lasts long enough and B) it will encourage you to live out your best one yet. But before you grab your nearest pen and pad, I feel it is important for me to emphasize why you shouldn't become too attached to your list. 

I am a chronic over-achiever, so for me lists are my best friends, but sometimes being that way can have negative repercussions- I don't have enough time to accomplish everything I set out to do, stress knots in my shoulders, and I am forced to write out even more to-do lists that would make even the most organized cringe. The lesson to learn here is while it's good to have items on your bucket lists, it's even more important to be adaptable because we're only capable of what we're meant to do. 

A place I'd recommend all of you to put on your summer bucket lists is the New England Aquarium in Boston. It receives 1.3 million visitors a year, is a global leader in ocean exploration and marine conservation, and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.  And if you can't find the time to visit the Aquarium, just keep swimming! Happiness isn't about accomplishing everything you have on your to-do list, but how much fun you have along for the ride. 

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New England Aquarium

1 Central Wharf 

Boston, Massachusetts 02110 

#617-973-5300 

Creations Cafe, One Year Anniversary, and Big News

May 15, 2015 

The sun has come out to play- this time for good- and so is my return to this blog! 

This past week I completed my junior year of college, and one of the ways I rewarded myself was with a breakfast trip to the best cafe in my hometown of Wakefield, Massachusetts- Creations. 

My recent visit at Creations was my second one. During my first time, I went for lunch and I ordered their Mandarin chicken salad. 

Despite it being a favorite for many locals, it offers up a relaxed atmosphere and is never too congested. 

This right here is the strawberry smoothie and in total Creations has twenty different kinds. For $0.39 you can add protein, immunity, fat burner, multi-vitamin or energy. 

The Aloha Wrap: 2 eggs, honey ham, pineapple slices, and Swiss cheese. 

 So yummy! 

Creations is the perfect place to go for the healthy pick me-up. I'm sure my waistline was thankful I started commuting this past semester as it was the best semester for me in terms of my diet, but during finals week I derailed and crashed on junk food. 

Summertime is my favorite season to blog, and I couldn't be happier the sun is starting to bleach New England. There's something magical and infectious when the weather gets nice. I personally feel that the summer, unlike any other season, really gets my muscles pumping, both my actual muscles and creative ones.

This month marks a year that I started blogging and it's been quite the adventure. This blog has published thirty-five posts and received a makeover in January. So what is the big change coming up soon? *Drum roll, please* I'm going to Germany in July! I know it's not somewhere in New England, but this trip will mark my first time going to Europe and I've always wanted to expand this blog to feature international destinations. I will be visiting Heidelberg, Worms, Munich, Nuremburg, Dresden, Potsdam and Berlin. Be sure to stay tuned for more info! 

Have a great weekend! 

Creations Cafe 

400 Main Street 

Wakefield, MA 01880 

#781-246-2550 

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Another Blog Update

Hey Everyone, 

I hope you are all enjoying the spring weather that has finally come to New England. I just wanted to write to let you know that my next blog post will be up on May 15. I miss blogging, but I need to focus all of my energy on my remaining week of college. Not only will another locale be profiled on my  blog that day, but I will also be sharing some exciting news! 

Have a great weekend! 

-Lee 

Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie

My name is Lisa and I am a chocolateholic. I consume it for every occasion (celebratory or solemn) and mood (happy, depressed, uninspired, PMS, ect.). Last Thursday, when I got up extra early to study for an exam that was later that morning, I was popping mini Hershey Easter eggs. And when the test was over, where was I to be found? At Oprah Winfrey’s favorite place for chocolate, the Ye Old Pepper Companie in Salem, Massachusetts,  which is also America’s oldest candy company. 

The interior of the Ye Old Pepper Companie with its floral wallpaper, cloud white curtains, pale pink shelves, lace table cloths, and colorful big bows helped spring me into the Easter mood when I stepped through the door. Their rich chocolate is still handmade using the original recipes from when it was founded in 1806, and only the best and most fresh grade A butter, dairy cream, fruits, and nuts are baked inside their copper kettles over open-fire gas stoves. For those of you who aren't the biggest chocolate fans, you can still come, as they are also produce various arrays of  lollipops, taffy, fudge, and other hard candies. 

The Ye Old Companie has been profiled on the TV shows Chronicle, Food Network, and Phantom Gourmet and written about in American Road, American Profile, and The Salem News. In November 2009, their turtles were featured as one of 'Oprah’s Favorite Things' in The Oprah Magazine and last year the store was voted 'Best Candy Shop' by North Shore Magazine. 

Mary Spencer had all but the clothes on her back when she moved to America with her son, Thomas, from England. When a neighbor found out she knew how to make candy, the two pitched in together to buy a struggling Spencer a barrel of candy so she could start up her own business selling a type of candy called Salem Gibralter, which is said to be the first cane made and sold commercially in America. At first, she sold it only to Salem residents and crew ships only, but when others found out about Spencer’s gift, she purchased a horse drawn wagon (which can be found at the Peabody Essex Museum)to start traveling across the North Shore. This is why the company’s logo is a sketching of Spencer pulling a wagon.

After Spencer’s death, Thomas managed the business until 1830 when he returned to the mother country to inherit a fortune. He sold the company to John William Pepper who renamed it Ye Olde Pepper Companie. He continued to sell Salem Gibralter, as well the first stick candy manufactured in America called the Black Jack, which is made of black strap molasses.

For over two hundred years now, the Burkinshaw family have been the owners of the Ye Olde Candy Companie, and they still sell Gibralter and Black Jacks. In fact, they actually have candy on display that is over 150 years old. The first Burkinshaw went to work for Mr. Pepper in the 1800s sweeping the floors, and eventually worked his way up through shipping and manufacturing before purchasing the company.  

During my visit, I bought three of their world famous turtles- almond (dad’s), cashew (mom’s), and dark chocolate with sea salt (mines). They were all recommended to me by their new cashier who was more than happy to help.  Each turtle proved chocolate is God’s greatest creation, and it was the best treat while I watched the crazy season finale of Pretty Little Liars.

With Easter being five days away, it’s time to run on down to Salem to fill your baskets with Ye Olde Companie's goodies. The sweet tooths of your loved ones are guaranteed to be in heaven. As American cartoonist Charles M. Schulz once said, “all you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt. 

Ye Old Candy Companie 
122 Derby Street 
Salem, Massachusetts 01970 
978-745-2744

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Winter Island Park

What have all of my blog posts from 2015 had in common? They’ve all featured me complaining about the nasty winter New England has had. But I’m so done ranting about that topic, as I’m sure you are too, because it’s the second day of spring!! And my hope is that by publishing this post about Winter Island, the weather will ironically start behaving like spring. I know that thought is irrational, but one can dream!

Winter Island is a 45 acred island connected to Salem Neck in Salem, Massachusetts. It is surrounded by Smith Pool, Cat Cove, Salem Channel, and Juniper Cove. In 1994, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places and the Archeological District. Of all the places I have blogged about, this destination definitely has one of the most fascinating stories. 

This tiny island may seem insignificant, but it has been the home of the Native American Naumkeags, the birthplace of Salem’s first fishing and ship building industry, and a military establishment from the War of Independence to World War II.

It received its name because it guarded fishing boats during the harsh winter season. Eventually people began building houses along Salem Neck, and in 1637 a public house was licensed here to meet the needs of people traveling here. Winter Island didn't offer shelter and protection to just civilians, but the military as well. In 1643, the first fort was established. These forts reached colonial fame when Salem became the only port in New England not captured during the American Resolution. 

Another wave of change Winter Island brought to Salem was during the eighteenth century when it became the sight for the ship building industry. The 800-ton Frigate U.S.S Essex, completed in 1799, was the largest ship Salem ever made and it was given to the US Navy. Before it was captured in a sea battle near Chile, it seized over a dozen ships during the War of 1812. The city of Salem is such a huge symbol to American maritime that many things at my college are named after shipping terminology- Clipper Card (student/faculty IDs), Navigator (online portal), The Log (student newspaper). Today,  people can keep their sailboats here and take them out on the ocean during the nice weather. 

Though Winter Island is now a family-friendly locale for people to swim at and enjoy a picnic, from 1772 to 1821, it held the execution of four. Yes, Winter Island was also known as Execution Hill. It was selected to hold such morbid events because its open space could accommodate for tens of thousands. The last person executed here was sixteen-year-old Stephen Clark for possessing arson. At the time, Salem's population was less than 8,000, but close to 20,000 people from  across several regions witnessed Clark take the gallows. This case sparked so much controversy, petitions were written up to reconsider the use of the death penalty. Capital punishment in Massachusetts was legal from 1620 to 1984, however, the last execution happened in 1947.

The only things remaining on the island from the nineteenth century is the lighthouse and the Plummer Home for Boys. 

In 1869, $30,000 was used to finance construction of three small lighthouses along the North Shore to enable vessels to enter the harbor. 

Founded through the will of Caroline Plummer, the agenda of the Plummer Home for Boys is "that children need families, skills and community to become healthy adults."  

Though Winter Island is no longer under the control of the federal government, history is still being made here; it's just more personal and individualized. Today, this site is an RV park, popular during the summer months. It is here many city residents gather to watch Fourth of July fireworks, and private and public events draw people from all over the country. In a fortunate twist of fate, the new legacy of Winter Island is of happiness, laughter and love. Here's hoping those kind of memories are in the near future! 

50 Winter Island Road 

Salem, Massachusetts 01970

#978-745-9430 

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Blogging Update

These past two weeks I was hit hard with schoolwork as my university prepared for spring break, so my second blog post for March will be up next Sunday, March 22. In the meantime, check out Art Tease  Magazine (http://www.artteasemagazine.com).  It's an e-zine about the best of Greater Boston art and culture, and tomorrow they will be publishing a piece I wrote on Salem State University' recent production of "And Yet We Go On." 

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Parker's Maple Barn

Because my dad is an excellent cook and breakfast is my family’s favorite meal, the only place we go to for breakfast is Parker’s Maple Barn. Parker’s Maple Barn is a family establishment located in the quaint country town of Mason, New Hampshire, a town historically known as the boyhood home of “Uncle Sam” and illustrator/writer of children’s books, Elizabeth Orton Jones. 

The building Parker's now occupies was built 1782 and was the home of an early American family called “The Laurels”. In the 1930s, the place was purchased by William Buzzell who operated it as a dairy farm until the 1950s when the Parkers family bought it to serve as their home. When the barn got passed down to Ray Parker and his brother in 1969, they decided to reconstruct the beloved place into a family establishment. It began as being nothing more than a small Sugar House, but since 1987 Parker`s Maple Barn has become well-known throughout New England for their famous hearty breakfast and lunch. 

The most popular order on the menu is, The "Parker`s Special"- which consists of two eggs, two pancakes (or one French Toast), two bacon, two sausages and ham (or ham hash), home fries, and toast. My dad orders that, and since I didn’t have the stomach to wolf down that much I ask for the “Mini Parker Special”, which is the exact same order only you get one of everything instead of two. My parents and I all ordered their Pumpkin Pancakes, which are the size of an average plate, because you can’t go to Parker’s without having their maple syrup. Parker’s makes their maple syrup from the surrounding trees the old fashioned way by using wood fire. Their Sugar House is in full operation from March until mid-April every year. During the sugar season, the wait can be a half an hour  so I’d recommend touring the Sugar House or checking out the Corn Crib Gift Shop, which sells maple products and Native American arts, crafts, clothing and jewelry. 

      From when my family and I went in December. 

You might think my family is crazy because our drive to Parker’s takes us an hour, but going to Parker’s is only a yearly or bi-yearly treat for us. Another thing that makes Parkers exceptional is the experience. Parker’s is located in the middle of a winding country road, far from crowded and noisy neighborhoods. In fact, Parker’s is so isolated that most people find it by accident when they are out looking at foliage. The interior is charming as well with its high ceilings, wood burning stoves (the barn’s only source of heat), and old farming tools and touristy knick-knacks adorning the walls. Amazing food and a serene atmosphere, what’s not enchanting about going to Parker’s? 

1316 Brookline Road
Mason, NH 03048
(603) 878-2308

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