Portsmouth NH Homes Condos Real Estate

First I want to thank Ann Cummings for letting me be a guest author in her Portsmouth, New Hampshire Real Estate Blog - it's an honor and hope to bring a different perspective to everyone reading.

I am always interested in researching what architecturally relevant buildings there are in different places around the US. When asked to guest blog I found none other than the Phillips Exeter Library designed by one of my favorite architects Louis Kahn ...and it's in Exeter, New Hampshire! (Ok....maybe not in Portsmouth, and don't know how far, but definitely worth the drive).

**photo courtesy of Exeter.edu.com**

For you locals, this may not be a big deal and not think much of it. Well.....let me first tell you that you are extremely lucky. Louis Kahn was one of the architectural master minds of all times.

"Kahn's architecture is notable for its simple, platonic forms and compositions. Through the use of brick and poured-in place concrete masonry, he developed a contemporary and monumental architecture that maintained a sympathy for the site. While rooted in the International Style, Kahn's architecture was an amalgam of his Beaux Arts education and a personal aesthetic impulse to develop his own architectural forms."

Although you many still not think much of it, all I ask is that you visit the library with a different eye now that you have read this. To the untrained eye, the Phillips Exeter Library may look like a boxy brick building.....but look closely. From the entrance, to the transitions, to how the windows frame the view, to the use of wood and concrete, the geometric shapes and the use of natural light. You have a monument in your back yard, now I have to make a special trip to visit Ann.

Now ask me how you can apply this knowledge to New Hampshire Real Estate? Simple.....if you are relocating to New Hampshire know that there is historical and very relevant architecture there and you should not expect cookie cutter homes. If you are selling a New Hampshire home, know that people pay attention to details and make sure you stage, prepare and also point out important architectural features that may set you apart from other sellers.

Portsmouth New Hampshire is one of the fabulous dining destinations in the New England area.  We've got 'more restaurants per capita than most other towns/cities on the eastern seaboard', according to Diner's Club Signature Magazine.

If you love to eat out, Portsmouth NH is your kind of place!  Those of us who have the good fortune to call Portsmouth New Hampshire home have a huge variety of restaurants, cafes, sandwich shops, and more to choose from.

Here's a sampling of Portsmouth favorites:

**  BG's Boat House Restaurant and Marina - great local seafood overlooking one of Portsmouth's back channels.  Delicious! 
191 Wentworth Road   Portsmouth New Hampshire   603-431-1074

**  Dinnerhorn-Bratskellar Restaurant - great local seafood in the Dinnerhorn, and awesome pizza and sandwiches in a pub atmosphere in the Bratskellar!
 980 Lafayette Road   Portsmouth NH   603-431-0717

**  Library Restaurant - a fabulous steakhouse restaurant in the historic old Rockingham Hotel.  Esquire Magazine named the Library bar one of the top 50 bars in the country - how cool is that?!?
     401 State Street    Portsmouth New Hampshire   603-431-5202

Read more »

                      Happy Mother's Day

If you’re one of my regular readers, you know that I like to do Seacoast Sunday Scenes - showing off pictures from around my area.  Today, in honor of Mother’s Day, Im sharing pictures of my mom and my family.

This is the 4th Mother’s Day without my mom, she’s been gone barely 3 years at this point, 3 years last month, and I sure miss her every day. 

Happy Mother’s Day to all Mothers out there, and to all the Fathers who also play the role of mothers¦.

Last Sunday, I decided to put up a post showing some scenes from around the New Hampshire and Maine Seacoast areas.  I started off with historic Portsmouth NH churches last week, it was Sunday and it was Easter, too, so I thought that appropriate.

This Sunday, I thought Id show you some of the wonderful lighthouses we have here along the coast of New Hampshire and along southern Maines coastline.




Nubble Lighthouse, as most know it, is the most famous lighthouse here in this area.  Its real name is Cape Neddick Lighthouse, but Ive never heard too many call it that. 

Isnt it beautiful?  Its just gorgeous to see in person!  Its in York Maine, actually Cape Neddick Maine, which is part of York.

Read more »