Northshore Magazine (Digital) December 2023

As I write this note, the fate of the Pink House hangs in the balance. The blush-pink 1925 Foursquare is located on Plum Island. The building is part of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge run by the National Fish and Wildlife Service and is facing demolition in the coming months if the property cannot be exchanged for a similar parcel of wetland. An icon in North Shore’s landscape, the house has served as a subject for artists and photographers for decades and has stood as an unofficial cultural landmark to residents and tourists of Plum Island. Although the home has no historical significance, its stark beauty and romance have made it a beloved attraction. It’s so beloved that a group called Save the Pink House was formed eight years ago to…

ANTHONY TIEULI The work of Anthony Tieuli, who specializes in culinary and portrait photography, has appeared in many local and national publications. In real life, he is a dedicated father, husband, and long-distance runner. His work can be found at anthonytieuli.com. JOANNA PRICE Joanna is a landscape and portrait photographer living in Salem, Massachusetts. She specializes in coastal photography along the North Shore, and especially enjoys shooting storms and fireworks. Joanna started taking photos when she first moved to Marblehead in 2011 as a way to get acquainted with the town. JEANNE O’BRIEN COFFEY Jeanne O’Brien Coffey has been freelancing for more than 10 years, covering everything from hot New York restaurants for the Zagat guide to top luxury travel spots for ForbesLife. She is Northshore magazine’s food editor and travels the region taste-testing chefs’…

When Chef Irtan Bleta opened I Pazzi in 2008, he named his restaurant after the Italian word for fools, because everyone thought he was crazy for opening a restaurant in the depths of a recession. Fifteen years later, the joke is on them: Bleta’s handmade pasta and focus on locally grown and seasonal food attracted a loyal following. Now he has purchased a building just down the street where, in addition to the dishes that grew his reputation, he has a wood-burning grill to cook prime steaks. Bleta’s new space is barely recognizable from the building’s previous incarnations (it was once a Friendly’s and then a bank), with three distinct dining experiences—an elegant main dining room along the windows in the front, a lively bar in the center, and a seating…

Pizza is such a beloved food that no matter where you find yourself on the North Shore, it’s not too hard to find a slice. But what you won’t find anywhere but Newburyport is Epicureo, home to some of the best pizza north of Boston. Epicureo is the brainchild of The Urban Epicurean himself, Tony Carbone, who has long had a personal passion for pizza. Located at 50 Water Street inside the Tannery Historic Marketplace, Epicureo is doing things its own way—cash only, no phone, and no online ordering. Carbone is completely devoted to quality over quantity, and it is this philosophy that flows through everything he creates at Epicureo. The pizzas themselves are served as whole pies in one size only (16 inches). The dough is prepared daily by Carbone…

As I write this note, the fate of the Pink House hangs in the balance. The blush-pink 1925 Foursquare is located on Plum Island. The building is part of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge run by the National Fish and Wildlife Service and is facing demolition in the coming months if the property cannot be exchanged for a similar parcel of wetland. An icon in North Shore’s landscape, the house has served as a subject for artists and photographers for decades and has stood as an unofficial cultural landmark to residents and tourists of Plum Island. Although the home has no historical significance, its stark beauty and romance have made it a beloved attraction. It’s so beloved that a group called Save the Pink House was formed eight years…

Driving through Wenham on a rainy afternoon, as late autumn’s moody beauty stuns beneath a deepening gray sky, I arrive at Vin Fromage, a new food and wine destination. With an antique bicycle parked outside, a little slice of European charm has made its way to Main Street. Tall windows filled with golden light cast an inviting glow on shelves rich with thoughtfully curated, small production wines alongside a vast selection of specialty goods from around the globe. The sound of soft jazz fills the space. Beautifully designed both inside and out, the shop has an old world feel. The second floor, reached by a grand staircase, opens to a gallery space, home to a special collection of Greek products including an amazing display of Greek wines from Hogshead Wine…