A Little Bit of Gloucester in Key West

The four Blue Shutters innkeepers traveled all the way to Key West, but we still couldn't escape Gloucester. While in the Keys for "Fantasy Fest" we ran into our friends from the Topside Grill and Pub, Dennis and Dawn. We met a lot of great folks in Florida, but the nicest people were the ones from back home.

Blue Shutters Heads South to Key West

Just before Halloween the Blue Shutters innkeepers slipped out of town, heading south to Key West. The beaches weren't nearly as nice as Good Harbor, and our hotel couldn't compare to the Blue Shutters -- but the Halloween celebration down there couldn't be beat. It's a weeklong "Fantasy Fest" on the streets of Key West -- pet parades, toga parties, decorated floats and a massive outdoor costume bash. The theme this year was "Habitat for Insanity" and the the four of us -- together with friends Brenda and Danny -- joined in the fun as crazy doctors/patients. That's us above. A big thank you to our friends and back-up innkeepers Joe B and Connie -- and chambermaid Wendy -- who kept the Shutters running while we had fun in the sun.

Fall and Winter -- Great Times for Family Fun

There's a group of "girls" from western Massachusetts who stay with us each summer --there's Mom Janet, a bunch of her lovely daughters and their young girls...and every once in awhile there's a husband or son tossed into the mix (we jokingly describe this as our "girl scout jamboree"). That's a few of them in the photo here. They use this time to get away and get together, from homes near and far. Why bring up this summertime story now? Well, a few weeks back, they decided to take this show into the fall months -- it was a smaller group, but not surprisingly they brought alot of laughs to the Shutters. It was a surprise for Mom, who was celebrating a birthday. There were walks on the beach, dinner in town, conversations by the fire. We offer this up as a reminder that the fall and winter months can be a great time to plan that weekend getaway. You might just have as much fun as these girls!

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!