Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/482452
28 | APRIL 2015 nshoremag.com "The hidden gem of Beverly is our collective arts community," says Mayor Michael Cahill. He points, for instance, to the city's work with Montserrat and Beverly Main Streets to commission world- renowned artist Anna Schuleit Haber to create The Beverly Ora- cle, a bold and significant public art project. The momentum toward Bev- erly as a city driven by the arts is evident in other ways, too. Bever- ly is home to the Furniture Insti- tute of Massachusetts, as well as the gallery and studios at Porter Mill Studios and Zeitgeist Gallery & Studios. Its restaurant scene is thriving, too. And at press time, the city's downtown was under consideration for designation as a Cultural Arts District from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. photographs by Robert Boyd (top and opposite) PLACES In fact, a Beverly Arts District is part of Beverly Main Streets' "20/20" initiative to revitalize the downtown. "The top priority for Beverly was to reinforce its identity as an arts and culture community," Im- merman says of the project. The idea is to make downtown a destination unto itself, and it seems to be working. One resident who lives downtown, Ashley Springett, says she loves walking across the street to Beverly Common or just a few blocks to Dane Street Beach with her son. "There are parks and beaches aplenty, plus a cute downtown with lots of tasty eateries," Springett says. "I feel safe walking and driv- ing around the city of Beverly, and appreciate that we have Montser- rat College of Art." The people behind The Cabot Performing Arts Center are also helping with the downtown re- vitalization. Henry Bertolon, Bill Howard, Richard Marino, Thadde- us S. Siemasko, and Paul Van Ness worked together to buy and reopen the iconic Cabot Theatre (home to Le Grand David and His Spectacu- lar Magic Company for 35 years) after it was closed for nine months and on the real estate market for 18 months. "There were several of us in Beverly who were very concerned that The Cabot would somehow disappear," says Van Ness, who lives in Beverly and co-owns Cin- emaSalem. After doing a few minor reno- vations, including painting the lobby and installing a small digital projector, The Cabot reopened in mid-November with several live sKoZs and filPs on tKe calendar But the team behind the purchase of The Cabot has other major reno- vations in mind. "We want to transform this 94-year-old, beautiful music palace MEDIAN 65 Dane St., 4 bd., 4 ba., 2,914 sq. ft., 0.17 acre PRICE $595,000 AGENT Coldwell Banker newenglandmoves.com HIGH END 97 West St., 7 bd., 9 ba., 9,538 sq. ft., 1.82 acres PRICE $4,995,000 AGENT J Barrett & Company jbarrettrealty.com Real Estate Washington Post editor and summer resident Benjamin C. Bradlee; author and summer resi- dent Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., and his son, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. NOTABLE RESIDENTS Ayers Ryal Side Elementary, Centerville Elementary, Cove Elementary, Hannah Elementary, North Beverly Elementary, Briscoe Middle School, Beverly High School, Northshore Academy at McKeown School PUBLIC SCHOOLS Paul Van Ness is just one resident to help revitalize the Cabot, above.