4th of July at Old Sturbridge Village

Are you looking for an interesting way to spend Independence Day?  Don’t want to deal with the mob scenes that will no doubt be all over Boston, especially at the Esplanade?  Then why not come out to Old Sturbridge Village, where you can enjoy not one, but TWO special holiday programs?

Come for the day, and enjoy an 1830′s Independence Day.  Or come for the evening program, and enjoy entertainment, games, and to cap it all off – FIREWORKS!  Or choose to come for the day, and stay for the evening!  Please note that two separate admission fees are involved.  Daytime activities are regular Museum admission costs, a separate ticket is needed for the evening program.

Regular Museum admission prices are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (65+), $7 for kids (3-17), free, for kids under 3.  Museum members are admitted free.  For the evening program, current prices are $10 for members and $12 for non-members.  Kids under 3 free.  As of July 1, all tickets will be $15.  This sells out every year, so get your tickets ASAP!

Beer Tastings Aboard the Mayflower II

Back in May, I blogged about summer beer tastings aboard Plimoth Plantation’s Mayflower II.  Well, now the schedule has officially been announced.  These tastings will take place aboard the ship every Wednesday evening, from 5:30 – 7PM.  The cost for the tasting is $10 in addition to admission to the ship; Plimoth Plantation Museum members get to board the ship free.  Participants must be 21 +, and the cost includes a special Mayflower Ale pint glass to take home.

The only one of Mayflower Brewing Company’s beers I have tried so far is their Pale Ale.  They have it on tap at the museum’s restaurant.  I am anxious to try their other brews, most notably their Summer Rye Ale, I’ve been hearing great things about that stuff!

Come dressed comfortable and casual, no need for protective clothing – the ship doesn’t sail, it stays docked. I haven’t had a chance to see it yet, but I hear that the exhibit is staffed with costumed role players who will talk about what it was like to be a sailor back in the 1600′s. Yes, and the exhibit will actually be open, it’s open evenings now all summer.

Looking forward to our first visit, and to the beer!

Community Day at Strawbery Banke Museum

Would you like to enjoy a day out at a wonderful living history museum, for FREE, while helping hungry people at the same time?  If so, then mark you calendars for Saturday, August 7.  On that day, bring one non-perishable food item per person to Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, NH, and get FREE admission!  All food items will be donated to a local food bank.

What with so many people worrying about being overweight, and shopping for apidexin and stuff, there are just as many people who worry every day about where their next meal will come from.  Food pantry usage has been at an all-time high, while donations have been down.  With the poor economy and all, many people who once donated to food banks are now needing to use them.

So, if you are one of those who is fortunate enough to have a full pantry of food in your kitchen, why not fill up a bag with some cans and boxes, and bring the entire family to enjoy a day at Strawbery Banke?  Unlike other living history museums in New England, Strawbery Banke does not depict any one period.  Rather, it depicts life in the Puddle Dock neighborhood of Portsmouth from the 17th century through the 1950′s.  Sights to see include a wealthy sea captain’s home from the 1800′s, a Jewish immigrant family’s home from the 1920′s, an authentic corner grocery store from the 1940′s, complete with posters and stuff about the food rationing that went on during World War II, and much, much more.

Visit StrawberyBanke.org for directions and other info.  Just a word of warning – although they do have their own parking lot, it fills up very quickly.  Instead, park in the big garage that’s right in the middle of downtown Portsmouth (75¢/hour) and walk.  It’s not far at all!

Summertime Workshops for Kids at Plimoth Plantation

MOM!  I’m BOOOOORED! School is just out for the summer, are those of you with kids hearing this already?  Well, why not give them something unforgettable to do this summer, something that is not only fun, but educational (but you don’t have to mention that second thing…LOL!).

Kids aged 8-12 can have the opportunity to participate in a fabulous weeklong program at Plimoth Plantation.  Kids can experience what life was like back in 17th century New England, either from the viewpoint of the Native Wampanoag People, of or the English colonists of the period.  The regular exhibits at Plimoth Plantation show both ways of life, but this is a chance for kids to really immerse themselves into these lifestyles.  No computers, no video games, no TV, not even any outdoor electric grills to cook on. Heck, no electricity!

There will be three sessions each of the Colonial and Wampanoag programs, all run from Monday-Friday, 9AM-3PM, and all include a dinner for the families on Friday, after the final session.  There will be awards, photos for the families, and more.  See the link below for exact dates and costs.

For kids who’ve already done one of these sessions, there is also A Kid’s Life in Plymouth Colony: Part II. Many more activities are included, complete with a night spent on board the Mayflower II! One session only, from Monday August 9 – Friday, August 13.

For further information on any of these programs, please visit the Summertime Workshops for Kids page.

Bob’s Clam Hut to be Featured on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives

Yes!  It’s true!  Guy Fieri and the crew from the hit Food Network show, Diners, Drive-ins & Dives were recently in Kittery, Maine, taping at Bob’s Clam Hut!  Complete with his little red convertible!  And there is photographic proof – I snagged this pic from Bob’s Facebook page, you can see the entire album from the taping HERE.  And here’s a local news story.

Bob’s is the quintessential New England clam shack.  First opened in 1956, it has grown quite a bit over the years.  It now includes an indoor dining room, which is heated, so Bob’s is open year-round.  You can visit their website to see pictures of how the restaurant has changed over the years.

This is the sort of place where you place your order at the window, look for a place to sit, and then wait for your number to be called, and you pick up your food at another window.  A fixture at Bob’s is “Lillian’s Window” – Lillian has been taking orders at the Clam Hut since 1986, and is a beloved presence there.  She’s a very sweet lady, she has served us many times over the years.

Naturally, you go to Bob’s mostly for their famous fried clams.  Fried seafood can be tricky, if you overcook it by as much as a minute or two, you end up something with the texture and chewability of rubber bands.  But Bob’s gets it right; their fried clams, as well as other fried seafood, are always cooked to perfection.

Bob’s also makes a fine lobster roll, which came in second in NECN’s viewer-voted “Baby You’re The Best” poll for Best Lobster Roll.  They also recently took first place “Judge’s Choice” at the Prescott Park Chowder Festival in nearby Portsmouth, NH, for their classic New England clam chowder.  If you’re not in the area to sample this chowder for yourself, fear not.  The recipe is posted on Bob’s website.

No word yet on when the DDD episode featuring Bob’s will air…so keep an eye out for it!