The Snob Factor
We have a friend with a remarkable urban planning resume, the redevelopment of Newburyport, and a realistic futurist vision of Our Fair Port…a strong portion of our readers are not going to agree with his thoughts of what will make NBPT succeed in our modern times and for a bit of the future…I know this columnist did not immediately enjoy what he had to say and still may not…but upon reflection the man may be right on the money…
Our Newburyport Nosterdamus is convinced that the parade has passed Newburyport by (sometime ago)… he claims it is no longer the city of what it can or should be…applauding what was done in the past to make our modest city a showcaset he also points out that we have grown predictable and stale. He may be right…He feels strongly that what this once dynamic city needs is to cater to The Snob Factor…presently, we have very few downtown vacancies and all seems complacent with the mix…however, our Urban Planner Nosterdamus tells us that the downtown businesses will soon have to entice wealthy newcomers and visitors (and even its Old Trust Fund populace)…these are the people who want to spend a mere fortune for a choice steak and a bottle or two of designer wine and are not afraid to travel to find such…they have personal trainers, private chefs, fat wallets, and lots of mirrors…do not think for a moment that one Mr. Karp has not studied this demographic intensely…picture a series of upscale restaurants, boutique name clothing shops, and bold name hair stylists capturing prime real estate expanded along an also newly expanded and improved State, Middle, and Liberty Streets (such is coming my friends), and certainly that pivotal Karpsville waterfront parcel when developed will become the showcase of a new waterfront downtown…we do not guess that Mr. Karp will be promoting a 5 Guys Burgers chain, a Supercuts-like affordable haircutter chain, or a T-shirt shop (OK, maybe a Johnny Cupcakes)…no, let’s think Morton’s or Legal Seafood, Marc Harris, or such luxury clothiers as Louis…those names will not even cause a blink of recognition from the average retiree from Towle Silver, Kray’s, or The Ideal (restaurant)…but the folks who have immense wealth will immediately connect… gee, the future of NBPT is now traveling from a slum to a billionaire and people who are modest stockholders in its future whether being homeowners or natives to those who can afford whatever the price…but before we surrender our integrity to said snobs we should explore an opposite view or two…what happens when you can not afford to buy a sandwich downtown (laugh, but some martinis go for $17 in Boston these days) and how much faith can we entrust that the Snob Crowd will not abandon our Toney City for suddenly hipper locales…there is a history there…this column hopes a medium ground can be found.
Monkey’s Yogurt
Last issue we scooped the competition about the Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt chain coming to Newburyport…it will be located in the Monkey’s Fist former storefront…the chain presently has 115 stores with 76 more about to open…it will offer a seemingly infinite menu of frozen yogurt such as coconut, eggnog, passion fruit, snickerdoodle, Dole pineapple, and – even vanilla…the toppings are exotic, unusual, and quite enticing…when ready to enjoy (you have already created your own masterpiece) you simply weigh & pay…some wags will notice that very few employees will be required…the interior looks eerily like Dolce Freddo Gelato’s. the magnificent gelato emporium but a few doors down…and does not look anything like Gramm’s Ice Cream although those two will soon be engaged in a Great Yogurt War…this column would be incomplete if it did not mention just how great Monkey’s Fist’s owners Malcolm and Marlene Bell are…Malcolm and this columnist go back many a year starting off 20+ years ago while attending a torture chamber personal trainer’s (complete with medieval punishment machines)… We had the idea of our becoming Tarzan clones …yes we grew muscles, and lost weight where we should not have had any…yes, we tortured our boot camp instructor with pleas for amnesty, but she was deaf (we think)…often afterwards we went and had a beer together…one day we bumped into M & M, who were about to vacation in Hawaii…after small talk and much jealously on our part we bid Aloha…shortly after we were rather appreciative and surprised to receive a genuine (yes, with wooden buttons) Hawaii 5-O shirt as a gift…we will miss these pioneers of the rebirth of Newburyport (a solid 21 years) and hope they travel the world, relax on many a beach, and, Malcolm, grow muscles.
Oldies But Goodies
This columnist’s son just sent him a Web link from 35+ years ago…we think he is (needlessly) reminding his Dad just how old Dad is or is excited mutually about the treasure our adopted hometown has become…we’re talking Lawrence Rosenblum’s documentary Newburyport: A Measure of Change from blip.TV.com…this is a most amazing retelling about how this city was recreated/saved in 1975…every minute is fascinating, spellbinding, and dramatically honest…the photos of Our Fair City are breathtaking, historic, and rewarding… it is about 30 minutes long…but it is one of best 30 minutes you (native or carpetbagger) will ever spend…pour your glass of wine or pop open a fave beer…a fancy cheese or bag of chips do not matter…we are all in the same boat to marvel the (still ongoing) legacy…wonderfully, we are treated to the views of such heroes (and characters) as Truman Nelson, Byron Matthews, Hack Pramberg, Sue Little, Peter Latham, Ben Thompson, Bill Harris, and Jack Bradshaw…look them up on the Web and then appreciate them largely…for we owe them a huge thanks. Etc.
OK, who stole the Save Fowle’s petition?…no truth to rumor that developer Steve Karp was seen running from the counter…Happy 92 B’ Day to the forever young Mary Terzis…she still has IT…a spirit of Life, a thunderous voice making her thoughts count, and an immeasurable and contagious spirit of celebrating the gift of every day…we owe her our eternal thanks for sharing her amazing years with us…bet you did not know there is still a kitchen on the first floor of the former Monkey’s Fist that has long been hidden from view…as the holidays are celebrated and a new year races in this column would like to thank its readers for first reading us and then telling us if they agree, like, or disagree (all bases covered, hey) with what we have to say…it’s been quite a year, a rather wonderful year as there is no other place like Newburyport…we are so lucky to live here…and we are lucky to be writing for Newburyport-today.
