Before I begin, a little about me: I grew up in northern NY State in a small, remote town in the Adirondack Mountains, then swapped country living for the Big apple: college at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. I followed that working another seven years or so as an animator/designer on TV shows like Courage The Cowardly Dog.
When big city living had finally had the better of me, I went back to school for my Masters in Education at RIT in Rochester, NY and taught at both the high school and college levels out that way.
Soon after, I followed my girlfriend to Ipswich, MA, where I freelanced from home as an illustrator and designer (and still do – I’m blessed to get paid to make silly stories and funny drawings for kids and immature adults).
Now and again, I’ll commute into Boston or New York to meet with clients before a new project begins. For me that usually means taking the train just a few times a year (and not 95, though I’ve also made that titillating sojourn more times than I’d like to recount. Hats off to all of you who do this commute daily).
In 2008, I married my girl, Karen and within a year of the birth of our first daughter, we bought a home in Newburyport… and here we are five years later.
So how does a guy who grew up and lived all over New York offer up chortle-worthy nuggets of enlightenment about being happy in Newburyport? Where does a diehard Canadiens / Yankees / Giants fan (don’t hate me because I’m beautiful) begin? Shaws vs Market Basket? The pros and cons of waterfront redevelopment? The state of our high school football field? Those weird, little mesh disks in the Merrimack? Better bagel than Abe’s ANYWHERE?… Why should I be writing a humor column about Newburyport?
Why me? Let’s continue with my delusion that preferring venison to seafood, lakes to ocean, grape/blackberry pies to whoopee pies (OK, that one’s a lie – Chococoa is unreal), and most especially, Habs to B’s might help me provide you, the Newburyport reader with some laughs and a unique perspective on life here. I mean, hey, I really DO like it here! Cue Paul Abdul’s “Opposites Attract” (or don’t… please don’t).
Just the name Newburyport sounds cool. It’s fun to say. It’s even fun to abbreviate. We all know those little white oval stickers with the four letters of abbreviated black text that we’re too cool to have on our own cars (but everyone else has one)? Well, NBPT is the only time scrunching up a word into four letters works. Ipswich is one cool beach town, but IPSW? Lose the oval sticker, Ipswich. Lose the oval sticker.
Though I’m more “a lake guy” I can’t deny how in total, childlike poke-a-dead-stingray-skate-thingy-washed-on-shore-with-a-stick awe I am of the ocean every time I see it. Last year, a 15 year-old kid caught a shark – A SHARK! – that’s insane. And Plum Island is right there. It’s so surreal to me that I’ve seen seals and snowy owls.
There’s something magical about the old, salty seafaring history and architecture of downtown Newburyport that immediately draws you in. It’s unlike anyplace I’ve ever been. The balance of rugged brick and stately gaslights look just as beautiful being pounded by sunlight as they do by a Nor’easter. And if the weather ever does sour my stomach, ducking into any of our local restaurants for some of the best small town food anywhere is just the ticket (I’m talking to you, Loretta’s Pulled Pork Sandwich, Agave Carnitas, and Ten Center Street everything).
Let’s not forget the beer. Who knew buying our home from Chris Webb would help him fund the Newburyport Brewing Company?
I think my wife and I should buy more houses (I’m an author/illustrator, not a financial wizard). Add to this, the many cool bars lining State Street, the annual Brewfest that my wife is no longer allowed to attend, and soon, another brew pub opening down by the water in the old Davis Auto building. Frank Sinatra said it best, “I feel sorry for people who don’t drink. When they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day.” Everything in moderation. As a compliment to this … we have about six or seven amazing coffee shops around Town each with its own loyal followers and unique personality and brews.
And Newburyport people ain’t too shabby either. How is it that all my best friends (and now, my two year-old daughter) are Bruins fans? This is way more surreal to me than the seals or sharks. Certainly, I’ve been much better received in here Newburyport than at TD Garden. Most importantly, Newburyport is home; It’s where I’ve planted our family roots, in an amazing neighborhood full of people we love. And how great is it that my kids will grow up in a town where education and literacy are absolute priorities? Have you had a peek at the new Bresnahan School. Just wow. And what other small town has two independent bookstores (suck it, Amazon) with its own highly regarded, well attended Literary Festival?
Newburyporters know community. They know how to party too. Yankee Homecoming? Truly a community-wide party! Seven days of serious celebrating… And did you hear? There’s a Brewfest.
Yeah, I like it here.
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