It's time for half price appetizers.  Two of Newburyport's better restaurants are offering a great choice of appetizers that can be a meal in themselves for half price during the early part of the evenings.  Check out the Plum Island Grille - great food - and Mission Oak Grill - higher priced but mediocre.    12/01/2010

  Here is a link to a very interesting article in The Daily News about how home values in Newburyuport MA are increasing. 11/29/2010

Newburyport Massachusetts Homes and Condos Sold in Q2 Newburyport Single Family Home Sales The Newburyport, Massachusetts 2nd quarter real estate market report indicates that there were 58 homes sold in Q2 2010 as compared to 28 in 2009. This represents a 107% increase in the number of homes sold. The average sales price changed from $431171 in 2009 to $448378 in 2010, a 4% increase in value. The days on market changed -5 % from 114  to 108. Visit Newburyport MA real estate for information about the community which will assist you in assessing market values. The 2009 Newburyport MA real estate annual report provides a 4 year trend analysis for yearly activity. Newburyport Condominium Sales The Newburyport, MA condominium market data indicates that there were 35 condos sold in the secon... 11/28/2010

John Wells is a great listener who immediately understood what I wanted to buy. He found me the ideal property at the right price in less than two weeks. Every step of the purchase was handled efficiently and thoroughly. I highly recommend John's real estate services. - Ronna Caras, 11/21/2010 11/21/2010

The Newburport/Boston commute   From Newburyport you have a choice between commuter rail and park ‘n ride.  Park ‘n ride wins hands down, in my opinion.  Very comfortable couches, leather seats that tilt back, wifi and laptop tables, tv, music, cold bottled water free on board and free coffee before boarding, all nice stuff, all stuff the train lacks. Same day round trip is $22 and it takes just about an hour to South Station or Logan Airport.  Clean, great service, and free parking.  Takes about one hour, and it's painless. The same buses originate in Dover NH, and go on to Portsmouth before coming to Newbuyrport.   Add about a half hour more to the trip.  There is no rail alternative. By car it's about an hour without traffic, rush hour you never know.  The Rte. 95 part of the drive i... 10/28/2010

The Black Cow, Newburyport   I live near The Black Cow and go there from time to time because of the social networking that goes on in the bar area.  It's a big singles spot for people in their late 30's and older.   The atmosphere is great, the staff is superb and motivated.  It's a very well managed, very busy restaurant in a stellar location. I don't get that they can't do better with the food.  It's good, but not great, and there are plenty of talented chefs around who could do a much better job.  The other day I tried their Duck Quesadilla.  It was good.   That's all.  It was heavy, filling, and totally lacking in anything special.  I've had quite a few meals there, and the entrees are fine, but there is nothing about the food that makes me want to make that a destination for dinne... 10/27/2010

Last week I enjoyed two dinners at Michael's Harborside on the Newburyport Waterfront.  A decade ago Michaels was your typical burger/fried seafood/lobster mass dining establishment, with no creativity in the cuisine.  Much has changed. The menu offered a steamer special, which my companion and I foolishly ordered, since I hadn't had steamers all season.  It was fine, but the food that requires talent to cook is so good, don't waste your money here on the standard fare. We followed with more apps:  PUMPKIN SEED SCALLOPS Served over mascarpone cream and cranberry pomegranate drizzle - to die for - and spicy tuna ahi, served on crispy wonton chips with seaweed salad and advocado.   Both of these dishes were perfectly prepared, well presented and a true pleasure to eat, and at about $10 a ... 10/26/2010

This is a great article in today's Newburyport Daily News:   http://www.newburyportnews.com/local/x1744210093/Love-Bus-sees-growth-hope-in-fight-against-cancer   I'll match my clients' donations - up to 10% of the commission from your transaction.  Call me!     10/22/2010

Realtor John P. Wells was invited to a cookout at the American Yacht Club in Newburyport. I frequently sail here with friends. The American Yacht Club is the oldest yacht club in the Country, and is beautifully located along the Merrimac River at Joppa Flats. Boating is such an important part of living in Newburyport!   09/08/2010

Dana and his daughter Hillary live in Newburyport and own the Warren Street Market and Deli. Here Newburyport Realtor John P. Wells asks them about the success of their fantastic sandwiches. Check them out at www.warrenstreetmarket.com 08/26/2010

Last night I went out on the Captain's Lady III from Plum Island in Newburyport. It was an evening of classic rock n roll featuring the Low Murphy Band. I had a great time, people were having fun and dancing and the music was great. A few more samples of the evening: 08/15/2010

What a great night! We left from Plum Island at 7 and cruised down the river to Newburyport with the classic rock band Low Murphy Band giving us some great music and vocals. Great time for people living in the Newburyport area, visiting or looking for fun events for singles and couples! Here are a few video selections. 08/15/2010

Lobster Rolls in Newburyport: Plenty of places to find them. But during the warm weather the very best Lobsters Rolls to be found in Newburyport are at a kiosk in front of the Newburyport Custom's House Museum where Chef JP hangs his hat. These lobster rolls are sublime; the taste of the lobster explodes in your mouth. No mouthful of mayo here, just moist, rich flavorful lobster meat. And for ten bucks it's steal. Don't miss JP's lobster rolls in downtown Newburyport! 08/07/2010

I stopped by the Waterfront Park in Newburyport this evening to check out the scene for this year's first Open Air Movie in Newburyport. One of the many wonderful features of living in Newburyport, there were hundreds of Newburyport families, as well as singles, seniors and couples, spread out on the lawn for "The Wizard of Oz". A spectacular summer evening. I stopped to chat with a young mother who was sitting in the midst of three children: 08/04/2010

  Let's throw away some State money.  Why not?   Why should we spend money on teachers when we can spend a half million to try and get another $5 million in federal money to build a parking garage we don't need? Here my letter to John Tierney.  I will also publish his response.     August  1, 2010   Dear Representative Tierney, As the former chairman of a committee the studied alternative parking and transportation solutions in Newburyport, a land use planner, and someone involved in city issues who has been studying and writing about the garage issue, I am very concerned at the decision to waste one half million of the State's dollars on a study for a garage in Newburyport.  There is no evidence to suggest a need for such a garage; on the contrary, solid data from parking tells us that... 08/01/2010

Check out this phenomal band!   They are playing as part of Newburyport Yankee Homecoming Free Waterfront Concert series from 7:30 to 9:00 tonight.   A great night of fun, dancing, meeing new people, and beautiful weather!  Newburyport is a wonderful place to live! www.entrain.com  07/30/2010

Singles living in Newburyport have lots of opportunities to meet other singles, and since I have been helping single people to buy homes in Newburyport, Amesbury, Salisbury and other towns, as well as meet other singles in the area, I have been asked to create a blog where singles people can sign up for information about local singles events. Newburyport has a lot to offer, from a wide choice of restaurants, to great Newburyport Nightlife spots, boating activities including party boats, social events, acting and dance studios and more.   In addition,  a series of small, intimate dinner parties are planned for selected people who want to meet other like-minded singles in a more comfortable, less pressured situation.  If you would like to receive notices of these events, send me an email ... 07/30/2010

Since the NRA has instigated an $8 per day charge for waterfront parking during the weekends, the lots have been consistently only fractionally utilized.  Few are willing to pay that fee, and apparently people are finding sufficient parking elsewhere.  When the City Council voted to designate the Titcomb Street as the location for a garage, I wrote that there was no economic justification to invest in a garage.   Some of us seem more interested in capturing Federal money to pay for it than using common sense.   We cannot fill our waterfront lots with paying customers, and those lots are located right downtown.  Even if we eliminate those lots, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that people will pay to park a few more blocks away.   On the contrary, we should be looking at the ev... 07/25/2010

 This is long but it's complete as published today.   Besides the ongoing daytime activies there are waterfront concerts every night from 7:30 - 9:00.  Hope to you see here!       Yankee homecoming events SUNDAY, JULY 25 OLD-FASHIONED SUNDAY Bartlet Mall, High and Pond streets PANCAKE BREAKFAST 7:30 to noon Presented by Turning Point Inc. NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN GATHERING 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ART ON BARTLET MALL 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ANTIQUE CARS ON POND STREET 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ROAMING RAILROAD AROUND THE POND 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. J&J PONIES 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. YANKEE HOMECOMING FOOD BOOTH 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. NEWBURYPORT ROTARY CLUB SAUSAGE STAND 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. FLY-FISHING DEMONSTRATION 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. CANOE TILT ON FROG POND 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sign up at food booth MAIN STAGE ENTERTAINMENT OPENI... 07/23/2010

    Plum Island, Newburyport MA and Newbury, MA:  Finally the long awaited rescue operation is funded and in place.  For the last three years I have been reluctant to show waterfront properties on Plum Island because of erosion; the DEP had prevented the traditional erosion management measures and only recently had reconsidered and allowed "dune management" to occur.  Now, with the dredging operation, my concerns are alleviated.   It's time to sell Plum Island Real Estate again!  Great properties, great location:  This is the only sandy beach location near a town center that is full of restaurants, activities and charm (Newburyport MA) within an hour's drive of Boston.   Portsmouth NH is less than a half hour away.  Check out this article in today's Newburyport Daily News:  http://www.n... 07/17/2010