Blue Shutters....Decked for the Holidays

Here are  a few more holiday photos

Scenes from the Blue Shutters at Christmastime

We think the Blue Shutters looks great all year long, but it's especially beautiful at Christimastime.  Unfortunately, not many of you are here in December, so we're sharing a few photos here.  We hope this motivates you to come visit this month -- there are lots of holiday activities around Cape Ann.  And plenty of fun right here at the Shutters.

Blue Shutters Open House Gives Our Friends a "Taste of Latin America"

A big thanks to the family and friends who came to the Blue Shutters for today's Open House -- and to Mark Sapienza (for the food), Kathy Hill (for the wine) and the folks from Por Cristo for the bazaar we ran right in our Fireside room.  All those who came had a great time -- including the four-legged friends who rand the beach and then enjoyed our backyward while the humans partied inside.  All the money raised in the bazaar -- featuring items Por Cristo brought back from Ecuador -- went to support the work of this organization that helps children in that poor South American country with medicines, medical equipment and medical training. 

A Sneak Peek at Today's Open House

Our Taste of Latin America Open House kicks off in just a few minutes -- and our chef, Mark Sapienza, has prepared a great menu (that's him preparing the delights for last year's Open House).

Here's a sneak peek at what's in store this year:

Tortilla Chips with Guacamole and Pico de Gallo

Shrimp Ceviche – Citrus, Green, Cilantro and Cumin Popcorn

Tangerine Pork Carnitas and Queso Blanco Quesadilla

Dulce de Leche Cheesecake

 

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A Final Few Tree-Trimming Photos....

More Scenes from the Tree-Trimming 2012

Scenes from the Blue Shutters Tree-Trimming 2013

Here are just a few scenes from our annal Tree-Trimming.  Thanks for all the family, friends and neighbors who joined in an evening of fun and holiday cheer.  You can come see the Blue Shutters Christmas Tree anytime this holiday season -- but one of the best opportunities is our Taste of Latin America Open House, which takes place this afternoon starting at 2pm.

Put a Blue Shutters Gift Card Under the Christmas Tree This Holiday Season

Black Friday and CyberMonday are behind us, but you can still find some great holiday gifts -- and you don't have to deal with long lines and crowded parking lots.  This holiday season, consider giving the gift of the Blue Shutters.  You can purchase Blue Shutters gift cards for any amount -- and they can be used any time throughout the year.  If you'd like you can enclose Blue Shutters brochures and info on other Cape Ann activities -- and make this gift even more special with a Blue Shutters tee-shirt, hoodie or sweatshirt.  Just call or email us for more information.  Or better yet, come for a visit and pick up your gift cards in person.

Blue Shutters Open House on Sunday December 2 -- A Holiday Event for a Great Cause (helping kids like this)

A reminder that we're holding our annual open house a week from this Sunday, December 2. While the Blue Shutters will be decked out for the holidays, there'll be a Latin American theme -- all part of our support for Por Cristo, a group that helps the needy children of Ecuador (that's a group of them in this photo). The folks from Por Cristo have brought back jewelry, scarves and other items from a recent trip to South America, and we'll be setting up a "bazaar" here at the Shutters. Great gifts -- and great deals. And all the proceeds go to support the work of Por Cristo. Please join us on that afternoon, anytime from 2pm to 5pm -- and be ready to get into the holiday spirit.

Join Us Next Saturday for Tree-Trimming, Ugly Sweaters, Christmas Cheer and Other Holiday Fun

Last holiday season we tried something new, inviting guests to come show off their ugly holiday sweaters. We're doing this again this year -- and making it part of our holiday kick-off Tree-Trimming event on Saturday December 1.  If you'd like to show us your ugly holiday sweater -- or see us in ours -- please join us that afternoon.  If you don't have one, we have some you can wear.  There'll be lots of other holiday cheer going around as we trim our tree and finish decorating the Blue Shutters for the season.  And it's a chance to tour around Cape Ann and see some of the holiday events planned in Gloucester and surrounding towns.  Check out this link for more info: http://www.capeannvacations.com/festival-event.cfm

Black Friday or Blue Shutters -- The Choice is Easy (if you ask us)

Here are two shots of Good Harbor Beach, taken the day after Thanksgiving -- otherwise known as Black Friday. While many folks are battling other shoppers at the mall, these beachlovers were enjoying a sunny day at Good Harbor. Among those out there was a four-legged friend, Travis. You'll see all shapes, sizes and breeds of dogs on the beach between mid-September and mid-May, but none as big (or as friendly) as this Irish wolfhound.

Gloucester Windmill -- The FInished Product

So we showed some photos of the new Gloucester windmill under construction a few weeks ago -- and here's a shot of the finished product.  You'll be able to see the windmill when you visit -- it's located in the distance behind the Blue Shutters, up by the second rotary on the way in from the highway. 

A Different View from the Blue Shutters -- Gloucester's New Windmill

Here's a view from the Blue Shutters most of you take for granted -- with your back to the beach, looking out over the trees in the distance.  Next time you visit, there'll be something to look for -- a giant windmill.  It's not completed yet, but here's a photo of this being erected.   The view through the window is from our Starboard apartment.

Something New on Good Harbor Beach -- A Dog at Play with a Plane

This time of year, you'll see all sorts of activities on Good Harbor Beach -- including folks flying electric plans and others playing with their dogs.  On this morning in early November, we spotted this one fellow combining these -- it was a great show.

Two Annual Blue Shutters Events Coming Dec 1 & 2

We don't want to rush the holidays, but we do want to give you a heads up on two Blue Shutters events that will help you get into the spirit of the season.

On Saturday December 1, we'll hold our annual Blue Shutters Tree Trimming.  Come see the Blue Shutters dressed for holidays and help us finish by decorating our tree.  Bring a contribution for the Gloucester food pantry, we'll give a 10 percent discount off your stay that weekeknd (Friday and/or Saturday).  We'll have some holiday goodies and a blaze going in the fireplace -- and of course, lots of good cheer (check out the happy faces of the folks who joined us last year).

If you stick around for the next day, you can join us for another annual event -- our "Taste of Latin America" Open House in support of Por Cristo.  There will be some wine and food with a Latin American theme, courtesy of our own "celebrity chef" Mark Sapienza of the Langham Hotel in Boston, and some Spanish wines, courtesy of our resident wine expert Kathy Hill of the Traveling Vineyard (fyi -- this will be a sneak preview of the Food & Wine Tastings Mark and Kathy will be doing at the Blue Shutters after the holidays). 

A favorite part of the day is a "bazaar" where you can shop for jewelry, scarves and other items from Ecuador (Why Ecuador?  This is where Por Cristo has been doing charitable work for more than 20 years -- bringing doctors, medicine and medical equipment to one of the poorest parts of South America -- and all the proceeds from the sale of these items go to support their work).

We always hold this at the beginning of the holiday season, giving folks a chance to find some unique Christmas gifts (check out the items on display last year in the photo below).

You can come for both events -- or just stop by on Sunday for the open house.  And of course, while you're here, you can slip out and walk the beach or head into town for lunch or dinner.

Whatever you decide, we hope to see you that weekend.

The Morning After Hurricane Sandy - Still Beautiful

It's the morning after the big storm, and as you can see Good Harbor Beach is just as beautiful. In fact, Hurricane Sandy has left some big churning surf in her wake. If you have a chance, swing by and see for yourself.

Watching for Storms...And Thinking of Our Friends in Sandy's Path

As we write this post, Hurricane Sandy is working its way toward us, but the fact is, some of our friends in NJ, NY and other parts of New England are likely to have more storm-related troubles than us. We wish you all good luck -- please stay safe. Let's get together here at the Blue Shutters at some point and swap storm stories. We don't have any storm photos yet (some of us innkeepers are off taking care of our homes) but here's a shot the last hurricane to hit our area -- Irene -- back in August 2011. We survived that one -- but as you can see there was lots of surf churning on Good Harbor Beach. And we'll see the same thing today and tomorrow.   We don't have any Sandy shots yet (some of us are off watching over our homes -- just like you), but here's a shot from yesterday, of some early storm watchers.

Celebrating October Holidays

October is nearly over, and we didn't want the entire month to pass without noting two of our favorite fall holidays -- Octoberfest and Halloween.  If you weren't able to be here in October -- for these holidays or other times throughout the month -- don't worry.  We'll have some fun in November as well.

High Tide, Big Waves...Lots of Beachgoers

Here are a few more shots of the high tide and the big waves on Good Harbor Beach today.  And a shot of the cars lining up with folks coming to enjoy a day on the beach.