Views & Reviews

Category for columns, book and entertainment reviews, etc.

MY MARBLEHEAD FIRST TIME: From dusty farm fields to the wild blue sea
Local News, Views & Reviews

MY MARBLEHEAD FIRST TIME: From dusty farm fields to the wild blue sea

It will not be news to the seafaring folk of Marblehead that in order to get out to a boat in Marblehead Harbor, you have to get into another boat. I have observed this from the safe shore of Crocker Park many times. Recently, a kind neighbor invited my partner and I out onto his boat over Labor Day. And so as we stood on the dock at the Boston Yacht Club waiting for a ride, what caught my attention was the youth of the taxi pilot: a young man, barely out of his teens if he’d made it there at all. Back home, I was literally raised on a tractor seat. That photo is me on my dad’s lap at bean harvest, circa 1979. The open-cab combine had manual steering and whirring blades of death a few feet below my perch. A scene so commonplace on the farm back then that my mom thought nothing of snapp...
FOOD 101: September breezes and lobster
Local News, Views & Reviews

FOOD 101: September breezes and lobster

Mid-to-late September. The town draws a collective breath and puts on its “resting face.” That’s the intimate smile reserved for year-round neighbors, more at-ease than the outward-looking seasonal smiles that welcome summer vacationers. As we settle into the familiar routines of school days, after-school activities and serious weekly groceries, we’re aware that summer has not quit us yet. This moment is our own private summer. We take time to note briney breezes, houses still decked in flags and flowers, the evening song of crickets and the silence between breaking waves. Mid-to-late September is a great time for a lobster roll, says chef Linda Bassett COURTESY PHOTO Now’s when we really savor a lobster roll. On the deck, the front porch or the beach. No waiting in lines at our ...
‘FolkZinger’ Christine Lavin returned to Me&Thee
Art, Community resources, Culture, Entertainment, Local News, Nonprofit corner, Views & Reviews

‘FolkZinger’ Christine Lavin returned to Me&Thee

Me&Thee Music kicked off its 54th season with a one-night-only performance from folk singer Christine Lavin on Sept. 8.  Known for her catchy ballads based on personal experiences and for her comedic commentary, the so-called “folkZinger” performed songs from her 25th solo album “On My Way to Hooterville,” as well as classic older tracks such as “If You’re Drunk You Cannot Buy a Puppy,” for an enthusiastic audience of fans new and old.  Lavin has played at Me&Thee multiple times in her long career, though as she put it, “Who’s counting?” Since releasing her first album in 1981, Lavin has toured all over the world and collaborated with many other folk artists. Despite hailing from New York, Lavin turned to the Boston area to get started as a musician, thanks to the app...
Just about one week left to see seven local artists’ shows at MAA
Art, Local News, Nonprofit corner, Views & Reviews

Just about one week left to see seven local artists’ shows at MAA

Following up the summer member’s exhibit, the Marblehead Arts Association is hosting seven solo member shows open for public viewing at the historic King Hooper Mansion on 8 Hooper St. The shows, spread throughout the mansion’s three floors, are open 12-5 p.m. every Wednesday through Sunday free of charge. The shows will close on September 24 to make way for the Photography Member Show and the “Fresh” Show beginning on September 30. Patricia Scialo demonstrates the techniques of printmaking and photography in her piece ‘Statuary No.2.’ The first door to the left upon entering the Hooper Mansion leads to the stunning black and white world of Patricia Scialo’s photography exhibit, “The Handmade Photograph.” Scialo’s work incorporates unconventional photography techniques such as paper...
Missing Jimmy Buffett
Art, Viewpoints, Views & Reviews

Missing Jimmy Buffett

Am I a Parrot Head? Do I drink margaritas?  Jimmy Buffett No, those are not what define the depth of my reaction upon hearing of Jimmy Buffett’s passing. Although I never met the man, or even knew anyone who was personally acquainted, he has been a part of my life for almost 50 years. I grew up with him.Many of his songs are wildly playful, laced with an infectious, carefree attitude. What’s not to love about ballads to cheeseburgers and flip flops and Pop Tops! Always with punchlines: “If we weren’t all crazy we would go insane.” But it went beyond that … way beyond. For one thing, his play with words was genius. “If the phone doesn’t ring it’s me.” And, “We are the people our parents warned us about.” The imagery and poetry within his lyrics are beautifully po...
LETTER: Mariner ‘feels like first-class hotel’
LETTERS, Opinion, Views & Reviews

LETTER: Mariner ‘feels like first-class hotel’

For those who are anxious to hear about the new independent and assisted living facility in town, The Mariner, I want to share with you our firsthand experiences. My husband, Peter, has suffered with Parkinson's and Lewy bodies the past 10 years, perhaps even longer. As his health has declined, we were so hopeful that once he could not live at home for various reasons, there would be a pleasant, caring, close, safe, memory care place to live. The Mariner has met all these requirements and so much more. Not only do they provide excellent and compassionate care, the facility feels like living in a first-class hotel with an diverse assortment of activities, food that matches any fine dining and a welcoming social environment. I know it was a long, hard struggle, but I think Marblehe...
Summer 2023: A retrospective in movies
Art, Culture, Opinion, Views & Reviews

Summer 2023: A retrospective in movies

As everyone knows, this past summer has been filled with highs, lows and everything in between. From climate disasters and Hollywood strikes to advances in both AI and green tech, the world has seen a lot. The movies released this past summer might be referred to with a similar introduction. This past summer, we have seen many surprises in the world of cinematic entertainment, but chief among these surprises seems to be the success of the “Barbenheimer” movement. We have witnessed the rebirth of the double feature. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? The term “Barbenheimer,” — is it offensive? Where did "Indy" go? What about Tom Cruise, Ethan Hunt? "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?” "Blue Beetle" bombed. Nothing seemed to work out like the predictions said that they would. Where did "Aster...
CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets for Aug. 30-Sept. 6
Local News, Nonprofit corner, Top Stories, Views & Reviews

CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets for Aug. 30-Sept. 6

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current associate editor/senior reporter Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org.  Sun prints in the gardenWed., Aug. 30, noon Create your own notecards with botanical designs using the photographic process called cyanotype. This class, led by Patricia Scialo,will be in the garden at the Marblehead Arts Association, 8 Hooper St. Admission is $35. Rain date is Thursday, Aug. 31, noon. Dads & DonutsSept. 2, 10 a.m.-noon Join Hestia on the first Saturday of each month for a special Dads & Donuts event when kidsand fathers (or father figures) come to play in Hestia’s Paint Your Own Pottery studio. There will be complimentary donuts. For mo...
COLUMN: Don’t gut renovate your historic home
Opinion, Views & Reviews

COLUMN: Don’t gut renovate your historic home

Marblehead is renowned for its abundance of antique homes, which give its winding streets a singular, picturesque charm that few other towns now possess. The reasons for this are many, but the simple fact is that we are fortunate to be the inheritors and stewards of such a remarkably well-preserved community. Our Old and Historic Districts Commission does a great job (and yeoman’s work) safeguarding the historic facades of our buildings. But the historic facades are just one aspect of the incredible architectural wealth of our community. Behind many of the beautiful, quirky and unique historic exteriors you see around town are equally beautiful, quirky and unique historic interiors. The purview of the Old and Historic Districts Commission does not extend to interiors, however, and e...
COLUMN: Storytime at Zoey’s Floating Library
Opinion, Views & Reviews

COLUMN: Storytime at Zoey’s Floating Library

For some people, summer means sand in the toes and a good book on the lap. Many of us have a list of books we hope to read this summer, but I’m guessing “Pete the Cat at the Beach” is not at the top of those lists. Thanks to our family’s favorite 6-year-old, it skyrocketed to the top of mine. On a recent vacation with family, our soon-to-be first-grader grabbed her very large pile of books (she doesn’t go anywhere without books) and sat with her feet in the pool, beckoning the eight of us in and around the pool to listen to her read. We didn’t make a splash as she read each word with intonation, displayed the illustrations for all to see, and carefully turned the pages of Pete’s adventure. Storytime at Zoey’s Floating Library was in session, and none of us — ages 21 to 82 — wanted t...