Blue Shutters Open House for Por Cristo Nov. 14: Great Food, Shopping and Fun in Support of a Great Organization

For some friends of the Blue Shutters, it's hard to accept that the summer is gone, but actually the late fall and winter is a beautiful time on Cape Ann. The autumn colors are in the trees, the cool weather along the shore is refreshing -- and the beach is as spectacular as ever! This is also the start of the holiday season, and there's an event here in early November that'll help you get into the spirit.

You're invited to be our guest on the afternoon of November 14 for an open house with a fun, Latin America feel. Our "Taste of Latin America" charity open house is our way of calling attention to the great work of Por Cristo, a Massachusetts-based non-profit organization that has been providing healthcare to the poor in Ecuador for the past 30 years. In addition to great food with a South American flavor -- thanks to our guest chef Mark Sapienza of the Langham Hotel -- we'll be recreating the "bazaar" that was so popular when we did this event last year. You'll be able to get great deals on jewelry, scarfs and other items our friends from Por Cristo have brought back from Ecuador and the Amazonian rain forest. These make very unique gifts -- and it's all to support the charitable work of Por Cristo. So, come join us on November 14 from 2-5pm to have some fun, learn something new and kick-start the holidays.

Essex Clamfest Adds to the Fun on October 23

As if you need another reason to stay at the Blue Shutters later this month....in previous posts you've seen that we're having our Murder Mystery on October 23, and in nearby Salem, there's a weekend full of Halloween Happenings. On that same Saturday, there's the Essex Clamfest. Highlights of the event -- which takes place at Memorial Park in Essex -- include a chowder tasting contest, entertainment, children’s activities, artisan’s wares and more. The Clamfest runs from 11 am to 4 pm, giving you plenty of time to check out all those activities and still enjoy the Murder Mystery that night.

Blue Shutters Wedding Bells -- Part II

How cute are these two flower girls? We just had to share this photo from Melissa's wedding. Libby and Maggie -- from neighboring Manchester-by-the-sea -- agreed to pose for this photo by the fireplace in our Main Room.

Blue Shutters Wedding Bells

Weddings are a special ocassion around the Blue Shutters. We see many bridal parties across the footbridge taking photos on Good Harbor Beach. Many wedding guests stay here -- a few times we've had the groom spend the night. And then there are those weddings when we're fortunate enough to have the bride stay with us. That was the case today with Melissa -- who was here with family and friends this morning to get ready for her big day. That's her in this shot above, where she set up for her wedding preperation photos. If you're planning a wedding -- or planning to attend one here in Gloucester -- give us a call!

Planning for More Murder Mystery Fun -- Coming October 23

The Murder Mystery Night wouldn't be possible without the help of our resident Murder Mystery expert Michelle. She and her husband get in on the action as well. Here Rob plants a congratulatory kiss on Michelle for a job well done at our April Murder Mystery. She and the innkeepers have some special plans for October 23 -- call us for details!

Blue Shutters Innkeepers Help Make Murder Mystery Night Fun...and Easy

The Murder Mystery Night is loads of fun for our guests, and we here at the Blue Shutters look forward to getting in on the fun -- and we're there to work with Michelle, our Murder Mystery expert, to make sure everything runs smoothly (all our guests need to do is show up and play along). Last fall, innkeepers AnnMarie and Patty took on the roles of the "Evil Sisters" (those of you who have met them know this wasn't much of stretch). Join us on October 23 and come see how much fun this night can be!

Look at the Fun in Store at our Murder Mystery Night on October 23

Our Murder Mystery Night is just a few weeks away, and there are still plenty of spots left if you'd like to join in the "murder and merriment." We thought we'd share some photos from past Murder Mystery Nights to give you an idea of what's in store. Here the Black Widow (Sue, who came all the way from Cleveland with "Fabio" for this weekend last fall) meets Gizmo, who was a special guest at that evening's Murder Mystery.