Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 28 OCTOBER 2019 FAC E S + P L AC E S part of the North Shore, which was renamed Manchester-by-the-Sea in 1990. You can fully explore the town in a day. The MBTA Commuter Rail from Boston drops passengers off in the center of town, where you'll also find plenty of parking should you choose to drive. If you arrive in time for breakfast, head to local favorite Allie's Beach Street Café on Beach Street, less than a minute by foot from the train station. In addition to power smoothies and creative lattes with flavors like orange-chocolate, the airy, white-painted eatery serves all sorts of egg dishes, avocado toast, and sweet treats. Once fortified, stroll 20 minutes up to Singing Beach, passing by Manchester Harbor on your right, followed by Masconomo Park, where bands play on summer evenings in the open gazebo. The nearly three-quarter-mile-long beach got its name from the sing-song sound the sand makes when walked upon. If you have a car, consider visiting Coolidge Reservation, located off Route 127 heading north toward Gloucester. The Trustees of Reservations owns the 66-acre swath of land, which features a great lawn, stunning ocean vistas, woodlands, wetlands, and a beach. Back in town, grab lunch at Bravo by the Sea, famous for its crispy-crusted wood-fired pizza. In addition to standard toppings like stop by Cargo Unlimited, where you'll find European furniture, art, lighting, rugs, vintage jewelry, and even some edgy clothes. Like many North Shore towns, Manchester-by-the-Sea has its fair share of excellent restaurants, such as the recently open Antique Table, serving regional Italian fare like garlicky sautéed clams, pappardelle Bolognese, and panko-crusted local haddock over lemony risotto. The post-and-beam building that houses it was constructed over a century ago and functioned first as a tavern before becoming a stage coach stop, a post office, and finally a restaurant. Another popular hangout is Black Arrow, a farm- to-table eatery owned by Brendan Crocker, who grew up in town. In addition to stellar cocktails, he serves hearty seasonal fare ranging from tuna tartar with crispy wontons to cheeseburgers with homemade fries. "Generations of families have lived in Manchester and developed lifelong friendships within the community because of its small size," says Fabyan. "And while very few inhabitants ever leave the town, the ones that do always come back to visit." FAC E S + P L AC E S Top to bottom, Manchester-by-the- Sea has a quaint downtown, Bravo by the sea serves delicious pizza pies, and Lauren Bunker owns The Stock Exchange, a consignment shop. tomato and cheese, they offer toothsome combinations such as sage, pear, and Fontina. Then head to Captain Dusty's, a local go-to for lip-smacking homemade ice cream in flavors like Dutch chocolate, mint Oreo, and ginger. With a few exceptions, most stores in Man- chester are independently owned, and often by women. A longtime favorite is The Stock Exchange, a 44-year-old consignment shop where you might score a gently used pair of Jimmy Choos, a vintage purse, an Italian linen tablecloth, a chandelier, or even an antique dining room table and chairs. "Our philosophy is to be the destination of choice for discern- ing shoppers and satisfied consignors," says owner Lauren Bunker. "The Stock Exchange has an eclectic mix of ever-changing inven- tory. Customers come to experience the fun shopping atmosphere." Mahri is another female-owned boutique, run by award-winning artist and master gold- smith Marianthe Anagnostis Bode. She sells her unique silver and gold jewelry, along with creatively designed women's clothes, cash- mere toppers, hats, handbags, home goods, and other gifts. For eclectic home furnishings,