Newagen Seaside Inn Receives 2012 Brides' Choice Award

{Southport,ME} – January 24, 2012 – WeddingWire, the nation's leading wedding Marketplace, is excited to announce Newagen Seaside Inn has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012 for Ceremony & Reception Venue! 

The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, Newagen Seaside Inn was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients. 

Newagen Seaside Inn is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes  the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year. 

“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Newagen Seaside Inn for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”

We are happy to announce that Newagen Seaside Inn is one of the very best Ceremony and Reception Venues within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able  to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012. 

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/newagen-seaside-inn-southport/abd2261b90226db2.html. 

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Southport Island featured as one of 15 Secret Island Getaways

Photo Credit: Just Us 3 - Flickr

Thanks to our good friend and fabulous photographer, Michele Stapleton, we discovered this great story on Southport entitled 15 Secret Island Getaways from www.10best.com. Here's what they had to say about our Island: 

"Experience the charm and simple beauty of New England's coastline without the hustle and bustle of the busier tourist towns.  Southport Island offers all the best of Maine - including the unbeatable seafood and cozy accommodations - without the flocks of tourists typically found among the region's more popular vacation destinations." 

For more information on planning a Southport Island vacation, contact Newagen Seaside Inn at 1-800-654-5242. 

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Newagen Seaside Inn is Wedding Wire Rated for 2011

 

Newagen Seaside Inn is now WeddingWire Rated for 2011. 

Southport Island, Maine - November 11, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation's leading wedding technology company, is pleased to announce that Newagen Seaside Inn is WeddingWire Rated 2011 for Wedding Reception Locations. WeddingWire Rated is an annual award program that distinguishes wedding vendors across the country for their excellence. Based on hundreds of thousands of recent wedding reviews, WeddingWire Rated is the most recognized and trusted brand among engaged couples looking to find the best local businesses for their wedding. 

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A Summer Wedding at Newagen Seaside Inn: Aerial video courtesy of Sperry Tents

 

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Tafelski Mellen Polar Plunge at Newagen Seaside Inn

 

The heat has been oppressive in the east the last week, however temperatures near coastal Maine and at Newagen Seaside Inn have been much cooler. Mike Tafelski and Anne Mellen are celebrating their wedding weekend from "hot-lanta" and hoped to escape the heat. While the air temperatures were record breaking and hard to control, one sure way to cool off is through an icy plunge into Newagen harbor, which has become a tradition at Newagen Seaside Inn. Don't think it's polar? Watch this video and listen for the jubilant reactions from the Mellen Tafelski entourage as they hit the frosty surface. Or for a closer look, join the alumni, visit the Inn and enjoy the plunge yourself. Congrats Anne and Mike, hope the weekend was all you imagined it would be.

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A Summer Wedding in Boothbay Harbor at Newagen Seaside Inn

Video courtesy of Dan Debruin from Northeast DJ's

 

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Maine Attractions and Events: Fireside Tales at Newagen Seaside Inn with Becky Rule

 

Rebecca Rule loves stories and she's been collecting them around and about New England for most of her life, and telling them to appreciative audiences for fifteen years, give or take.  "Stories speak to us of community," she says, "They hold our history and reflect our identity. They connect us.  In the oral tradition, the more you give a story away, the more it belongs to you. I love nothing more than giving stories to audiences, and, on the best nights, receiving stories in return." 

 At Newagen Inn on Wednesday, June 15 at 7:30, she’ll tell some stories --  her favorites are the funny ones -- and invite audience members to contribute a few of their own.  No pressure -- just the fun of being together and laughing together.

Rebecca Rule's latest book is  Headin’ for the Rhubarb: A New Hampshire Dictionary (kinda).  Other books include Could Have Been Worse: True Stories, Embellishments, and Outright Lies; and  Live Free and Eat Pie: A Storyteller’s Guide to New Hampshire.   

Come join us each Wednesday this summer for Fireside Tales with some of New Englands most interesting storytellers, historians and characters. For more information on staying at Newagen Seaside Inn, just minutes from Boothbay Harbor, visit us at www.newagenseasideinn.com. 

 

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Southport Island & Newagen Seaside Inn featured on the Today Show as a "Secret Island Getaway".

 

 

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Bob Charest Band: Maine Wedding Band

 

It's always a treat to have the Bob Charest Band at the Newagen Seaside Inn.  They feature all styles of popular music, from tasteful dinner music to high-energy dance sets.  Along with superb performance quality, bridal couples and their guests love how Bob reads each crowd, responding to what they're enjoying and playing to their tastes.  The band members - three lead singers, rhythm section, and horn players - add to the fun by being very inclusive and interactive with the crowd.  In addition to providing the perfect soundtrack for your wedding reception or party, smaller ensembles, from solo piano to an instrumental jazz trio, are available for your ceremony and cocktail hour. Playing just the right blend of multi-generational music, the Bob Charest Band is the perfect complement to your special event.   

For more information contact the Bob Charest Band at www.bobcharestmusic.com 

 

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Family Travel Abridged

 

Locating quality travel tips online can be overwhelming. If you enter the term "family travel tips" you'll discover 412,000,0000 results. By the time you surf through those results you'll be hosting your grandkids for a sleep over!  

We were excited to see a neatly compiled blog post, Keeping Your Kids Safe - 25 Top Travel Trips, from an unlikely travel source called Masters in Public Health. Probably not your next great Travel Blog, but nevertheless, the article reduces an oversaturated travel blogosphere and provides help for the web weary travel trip explorer. 

For other travel tips, check out Surviving the Drive: 10 Tips for Low Stress Car Travel and 10 Ways to Get More Bang for Your Travel Buck. Or, if you are planning a trip to Maine, why not pick up the phone and call Lin Koch, our resident travel expert at Newagen Seaside Inn, at 800-654-5242. 

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Emily Carter: Maine Wedding Florist

Emily Carter Floral Designs brings innovative designs to each client's wedding while tying in little personalized details unique to the couple and their style.  Whether it is through her specialty line of rentals or incorporating elements native to Maine, it seems certain that when a client selects ECFD they are ensured to be overwhelmed with delight from start to finish.

“The various qualities of the seasons are amazing in New England: the vibrant colors of Summer, rust tones of Fall, pristine white and grays of Winter and the pastel charm of Spring.  I love taking advantage of the seasonal flowers and using them in ways that ring true to Maine and there is no greater place to do this than seaside at Newagen,” quotes Emily.

Looking for a Maine Wedding Florist, visit www.emilycarterflowers.com.  

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Planning Your Maine Wedding: Meet the Livingston Quartet

This past summer we had the privilege of hearing the Livingston Quartet at a September wedding. The Livingston Quartet offers an unparalleled jazz experience.  Having studied with faculty at New England’s elite music institutions, Nathan Joseph (guitar), Molly Ridley (piano), Jasper Boyd (bass), and Fhiwa Ndou (drums) perform at weddings, charity events, and university functions as well as jazz clubs in Boston and Portland.  Livingston Quartet showcases a repertoire that ranges from classic to contemporary, and the group is equally comfortable providing a tasteful backdrop as it is taking center-stage. For more information contact Nathan at njoseph@bowdoin.edu. 

For more information on planning your Maine Wedding, contact Jason Schlosser at jason@newageninn.com

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Jason and Hannah's Coastal Wedding at Newagen: An Amazing Day and An Epic Arrival

 

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2010 in Review: A Sunny Season Sets Over Newagen Seaside Inn

Photo by Nina Sharma West (Fall photo contest entry)

The summer season of 2010 is now a memory and goes into the annals as one of the most spectacularly sunny seasons on record.

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Traditional Newagen Lobsterbake at Newagen Seaside Inn

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A Focus on Dan Stevens, Head Chef at Newagen Seaside Inn

 

 

            His goal is to be fresh. Farm-fresh and sea-fresh, that is. 

            Head chef Danny Stevens enjoys playing around with foods and gets a kick out of introducing new dishes to appreciative diners.  But what he especially loves about menu-designing and cooking for Newagen Seaside Inn guests is that he can talk to farmers or fishermen and have locally grown and harvested vegetables and seafood in hand and on the table the next day.

            “Freshness and farm-to-table is our emphasis,” says Stevens, adding that he can pick lettuce or other greens right from the Inn’s own gardens. Lobsters that are served one night were likely caught right off Southport Island that morning. 

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His Way, Her Way, Their Story - A Coastal Maine Wedding at Newagen Seaside Inn

 

 Amy and Kevin met on the softball field, playing for opposing teams.

“Amy was playing second base, and I hit a double and easily cruised into second,” says Kevin. “I tried to make a joke, but Amy’s team was losing at that point and she only scowled at me.  That’s how it started.”

At some point, Amy says she had a crush on Kevin and “he finally looked in my direction.”

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10 Off the Beaten Path Adventures in the Boothbay Region

                                    Courtesy of www.lighthouse.cc

1. Barrett Park, Lobster Cove Rd., Boothbay Harbor

2. Maine State Aquarium, McKown Point, Boothbay Harbor

3. Shipbuilders Park, School Street, East Boothbay

4. Town of Boothbay Walking Path, Grimes Cove, Ocean Point

5. Hendricks Head Beach Lighthouse, Beach Road, Southport

6. Seashell Museum at Dolphin Mini Golf, Hardwick Rd., Boothbay

7. Knickerbocker Lake Public Access, Barter's Island Rd., Boothbay

8. Porter Preserve, Kimballtown Rd, Boothbay

9. Ovens Mouth Preserve, Dover Rd. Extension, Boothbay

10. The Pine Room, Newagen Seaside Inn (sorry, for guests of the Inn only) 

For more information on these great adventures or to book your Maine vacation contact us today at 1-800-654.5242. Relaxation... Now taking reservations.

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Places to Stay in Boothbay Harbor - A Great Deal on the Maine Coast

 

 

Are you planning a trip to Boothbay Harbor this summer? Consider Newagen Seaside Inn located just minutes from Boothbay Harbor on scenic Southport Island. Book now, lock in a great deal and save 15% instantly off your stay. Click here for more information on rooms or call us at 1.800.654.5242. All stays include a full breakfast. 

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Authentic Maine Lobsterbake in Boothbay Harbor at Newagen Seaside Inn

 

 

Join us every Tuesday at 6PM this Summer for an authentic Maine Lobsterbake. That's right. A real Maine Lobsterbake. Lobster, clams, corn on the cob and potatoes, all steamed together in seaweed over the open fire. Savor the one-of-a-kind taste that can only come from the Maine shore. Bring friends and family. This feast provides memories that will last a lifetime. Join us for a unique Maine dining experience. The price is $30 for adults and $15 for children. Call us at 207-633-5242 to make reservations. Get crackin'! 

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Relaxation... Now taking Reservations - Great Deals on the Maine Coast

 

 

Take a much-deserved break from the tension of your everyday life at one of New England's most scenic destinations. Let the ocean breeze, farm fresh food in a casual coastal setting, and breathtaking views become your priority. 

For a limited time only, enjoy 15% off midweek or 25% off a two-night stay at Newagen Seaside Inn located just minutes from Boothbay Harbor on Southport Island. Visit us at www.newagenseasideinn.com to make reservations or for more information on great deals. 

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Boothbay Harbor Summer Season Update - Newagen Seaside Inn Off to a Warm Start

 

 After weeks of painting, planting and preparing, Newagen Seaside Inn has opened its doors and started off the bustling 2010 season with two weddings, a lobster bake and the Portland String Quartet spring workshop.  The early summer-like weather with clear blue skies provided an auspicious beginning and resonated in the cheerful faces of guests and staff alike.

Guests and neighbors are commenting on how nice the inn looks.  Spring storms took down a slew of trees on the inn property, which has opened up more space for grass and sunshine.  A vegetable garden has been planted for Chef Dan Stevens to use greens that are as fresh as can be.  Our garden expert Wendy has created a new rose garden by the pool and expanded other flower gardens so that they are teeming with color.  The inn, the pool and even the skiffs have all received new paint jobs and are sparkling.

New on staff this year are dining room manager Lucas and front desk staff Rebecca, Wendy, Robin and Brenton who join Lin and innkeeper Jason in helping guests feel welcome. 

This Thursday, June 3, the inn hosted the annual Southport Firemen’s dinner; the firemen served a four-course meal with a farm fresh focus. After a morning visit to the local farmers market, the culinary team walked away with fresh produce from Oyster Creek Mushrooms, Goranson Farm's Fresh Produce and Hahn's End Cheese. Guests raved about the beer battered fiddleheads, Statler chicken with a rhubarb jam and petite peanut butter chocolate tartlet to name a few.

Speaking of dinners, the dining room, in keeping with the inn’s ad campaign of “discover the state of unwind,” will turn to a dress code and atmosphere of coastal casual to promote relaxation and the state of unwind. One guest last week said she had entered the inn “all wound up” and within a few hours she reported being “unwound.”   As young folks say, that’s good stuff!

The first fireside chat will be stories of Burnt Island Light by Southport friend and lighthouse keeper actor Howard Wright on Wednesday, June 16 at 7 p.m. by the fire pit on the lawn, weather permitting.  Come relax by the bonfire and hear tales of life of a coastal keeper. 

For more information on Newagen Seaside Inn explore the State of Unwind online by clicking here. 

Author: Robin Beck, Guest Services Coordinator and Boothbay Harbor Blogger

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Things to do while in Boothbay Harbor - Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

 

Pemaquid Point, with its dramatic streaks of granite reaching to the sea, squeezed and shaped by massive movements thousands of years ago, would be a fascinating place to visit even without its pretty white lighthouse. The spot is one of the most visited attractions of the Maine coast, receiving more than 100,000 visitors each year. 

The picket fence, which is a work of art, is worth the trip alone. The light keeper's house is now a museum, and there is an art gallery at the park, but the best part of this trip is climbing around on the point itself, enjoying the spectacular scenery and taking the inevitable photo of the light reflected tidal pool. The Lighthouse is open in season from 9am to 5pm

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Things to do while in Boothbay Harbor - Farnsworth Museum

The Farnsworth Art Museum offers a nationally recognized collection of American art in its elegantly appointed galleries. Such great names in 18th and 19th-century American art history as Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Sully, Thomas Eakins, Eastman Johnson, Fitz Hugh Lane, Frank Benson, Childe Hassam, and Maurice Prendergast are represented in the museum's permanent collection entitled Maine In America.

The museum also houses the nation's second-largest collection of works by premier 20th-century sculptor Louise Nevelson and has opened four new galleries to showcase contemporary art. Its Wyeth Center exclusively features works of N.C., Andrew, and Jamie Wyeth - Americas first family of Art.

The Farnsworth also owns two other buildings open to the public. The Farnsworth Homestead, located behind the museum, offers a glimpse into the life of prosperous Victorians. A 25 minute drive away in th village of Cushing is the Olson  House, perhaps Maine's most famous home, which was immortalized in Andrew Wyeth's notes painting Christina's World. Ask at the museum for directions or information. 

The museum is open daily 10am to 5pm. 

16 Museum Street, Rockland, Maine

(207) 596-6457

www.farnsworthmuseum.org

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Whale Watching in Boothbay Harbor - Maine's Most Popular Attraction

 If you have been to Boothbay Harbor, you have no doubt seen or heard of Cap'n Fishes Whale Watch and Nature Cruises. Cap'n Fish and Whale Watching in Boothbay Harbor go together like... well, like Fish and Chips. The Fish Family are the originator of Whale Watching in Boothbay Harbor and have over 80 years of experience operating passenger vessels in the Boothbay Harbor Region. Combine that experience with some of the latest technology and that translates into high probability that you will see whales.. If no whales are spotted on a Cap'n Fish Whale Watch they offer a rain check good on any of their other cruises. Based on previous years records, it is unlikely that one would not see whales. 

For more information on Whale Watching and their other cruises visit them on the web at www.mainewhales.com. To begin planning your next Maine vacation, why not check out Newagen Seaside Inn, a member of Historic Hotels of America, located just minutes from Boothbay Harbor on scenic Southport Island.

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Historic Video of Newagen Seaside Inn & Boothbay Harbor from 1959

Last week was full of nostalgia. A former guest, Barbara Lugton, shared this incredible video of the Inn which features Newagen, Boothbay Harbor and one of our famous and very traditional Lobsterbakes. The footage is priceless. 

We also received this quote from a long time guest, Marijo Dougherty, "I just wanted to comment on how much I enjoyed seeing your website and the aerial view of Newagen. I spent each summer there in the 1950's as my parents rented 'Pine Cottage" each summer. My mother, Josephine Dougherty was a great friend of John Brooks..she called him "Brooksie"...and he loved it when she was staying there. He loved to take us out in his cabin cruiser. On Friday nights when the big lobster bake was held down on the rocks Brooksie would let us eat in the dining room...as my parents were not seafood fans...We were the only ones in the dining room! At that time Newagen was referred to by we teens as being for the "newlyweds and the nearly deads". I see that has changed...good for you."

Thank you to the Lugtons and Dougherty's for sharing some memories. 

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"The Snails Have Something to Tell You..." The Winning Engagement Story

Everyone's engagement story is unique and amazing and it was difficult for us to choose just one. At the heart of a good story is it's ability to live on even after the event has ended. In Susan and Chad's story they celebrate the moment and have a personal historic monument where they can revisit and celebrate. 

Here is their story....

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Online Contest: Your Amazing Engagement Story Please

 

Richard Bach said "True love stories never have endings." 

With Valentines Day only 11 days away and the wedding planning season in full swing, it seems like a good time to unveil a new online contest. We are inviting you to share with us your amazing, funny, romantic or surprising engagement story. Please submit a favorite photo of you and your spouse by Friday February 12 and limit the entry to 500 words or less. Send your inquiry to amazingstories2010@gmail.com. The winner will receive 2 nights including breakfast and dinner at Newagen Seaside Inn. Looking forward to hearing from you!

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Animoto: A 3 Minute Tour of Newagen Seaside Inn

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Fresh Snowfall at Newagen Seaside Inn

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December Weather on the Maine Coast - Incredible Surf at Newagen

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