We've got a brand NEW Library here in Portsmouth, and it just opened this morning!!  It is just a beautiful building, both inside and out.  The landscaping still has to be done, and that will be taken care of in the spring.  Even without that, it's gorgeous!

I took this picture this weekend of the sign made by the Portsmouth Middle School, which is right next door to our new library.  I thought it was really cute to see this, and a great indication that everyone has been so looking forward to opening day!

I just got back from a very nice guided tour of the library, and there are so many really neat things that we now have that our old library just didn't have the space to offer.  It is probably one of the nicest libraries I've ever been in!

The new library is in a great location - it's right next door to the Portsmouth Middle School, and it's a really quick walk to all the downtown neighborhoods.  Sidewalks line the streets, so kids don't have to walk or ride their bikes in the street to get to it.

With 38,000 square feet of space, compared to 15,400 in the old library, there's plenty of room for all kinds of really neat features that just couldn't be accomodated before, and there's room to grow, too.  Right on the first floor, there's a cafe area with vending machines and it overlooks the courtyard area.  There's a kids department that has lower counter and bookshelves to make it really kid-friendly, along with activity rooms and story-time rooms.  The library also has a new teen section, set up just for teenagers with lots of windows and some really cool curvy seating areas for them.  There's a new section "Today's News", featuring newspapers and magazines, as well as an extensive reference and periodical section on the 2nd floor.  A large video section is now available, just as if you were in a video store, and there's a new music collection of CDs for adults.  Another new section is devoted to large print books and audio books.  One feature the staff is especially proud of is the special collections department - it now has a large room to make it much easier to see all the collections on local history.  This room is really nice as it has a beautiful view of the North Mill Pond.

There are several meeting rooms that can be used by the public, there's a multi-media room available, lots of comfy seating areas all over the building.  There are internet-access computers just about everywhere you look, and there's a copying/printing room as well.  You can use any of the library's computers, or you can bring your own laptop and use the free wireless network if you choose.  And for everyone's comfort and convenience, yes there are restrooms in very convenient locations.  We know how important those are!  This library just makes you feel welcome and at home - you walk in and you just want to stay awhile.......that's a great library!!

            

Our new library is a "green" library building, one of the first in New England.  It's referred to as a LEED Building, which is 'leadership in energy and design".  LEED is a voluntary design technique put out by the US Green Building Council.  The building uses mostly natural products - the bookshelves are ash wood, most of the trim is fir wood, there are loads of windows everywhere letting in tons of natural light, and most of the windows open so fresh air can circulate when possible and weather permits.  It does cost more to build a 'green' building, but it was worth it!  This library will serve our town well for many, many years to come.

This new 'gem' is truly a source of pride for all of us who live here in Portsmouth.  It's been a LONG time coming, but from what I saw today, it was WELL-WORTH the wait!  The search for a new location began way back in 1986, and here it is, 20 years later, a beautiful reality!! 

This library, as well as all the other area benefits, help to make my job selling homes in the area so much easier.  If you come for a visit, you'll love it!  I can safely tell you that, because I've lived here for 28 years, and I LOVE it here!  Every time I go on a trip, I enjoy where I am, but I just love coming back home!

If you're interested and would like to check out the during-construction pictures, check this link out.

I read this in today's paper, and thought it was so true - "Libraries are special places.  They need to be treasured."  No truer words could be spoken, and our new Portsmouth Public Library will be cherished and treasured by residents and visitors alike for many many years.

Ann Cummings

It's really very easy to fall in love with 
Portsmouth New Hampshire, and the  whole Seacoast area!   

We have so much to offer both residents and visitors alike.  As a matter of fact, many buyers I've worked with over time initially came here as visitors, returning again and again, and then decided to make Portsmouth their primary home.  And it's no surprise they do, if you ask me!   ;-)

 
Five GREAT reasons to make Portsmouth YOUR home:

~~  Portsmouth has a terrific location!  We are right here on the coast of New Hampshire, just 45 minutes south of Portland Maine and 45 minutes north of Boston, Mass.  The closest snow skiing is an easy 30-40 minute drive to Gunstock Ski Mountain.  The coast, with our beautiful beaches and Atlantic Ocean, is right here at our doorstep.   We've got great highway access for all major commuter routes, airports in 3 cities are less than an hour's drive and we have a small airport right here in Portsmouth, Amtrak rail service is just 15 minutes away.

~~  Portsmouth is just full of all kinds of things to do year-round!  We've got parks, multiple theaters and venues for all kinds of productions - plays, musicals, concerts, etc.  Loads of shopping abounds all over the place, and we've got just about every kind of dining right here in Portsmouth that you can think of!  Spring through Fall, our Seacoast Farmer's Market runs every Saturday - a great place to buy fresh local produce, make new friends, and meet up with old friends. 

~~  Portsmouth has great schools, including a beautifully renovated and expanded high school.  We have 3 wonderful elementary schools, serving the various neighborhoods around town.  And to add to all that our schools have to offer, we have a brand new beautiful library right next door to the Middle School.  In addition to our great schools right here, we're only a few minutes away from the University of New Hampshire, located in Durham.  UNH has one of the prettiest college campuses you'll ever see!

~~  Portsmouth offers great housing opportunities of all kinds, with a home to fit everyone's needs.  Being in New England, we have all kinds of antique homes as well as lovely new construction homes, and everything in between.  We've got great condos - both conversions as well as newly built, in all price ranges.  We have plenty of homes for buyers to choose from, and with today's interest rates what they are & prices a little lower than they were last year, it's a GREAT time to be a buyer!

~~  Portsmouth's economic environment is great!  We've got many great businesses here in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.  Over the last few years, a number of high-tech businesses have relocated to this area, causing this area to be dubbed the "e-Coast".  Our downtown area has free wireless set up, a perfect environment for businesses and business people who love being downtown.  They are looking into expanding this further to encompass more of the downtown area as well going into some of the neighborhoods close to downtown.  Plus here in New Hampshire, we have NO income tax nor do we have a sales tax!!

And as if all those reasons weren't enough to convince you Portsmouth is a great place to call home, we've got a FABULOUS Little League Team!! 

Come to visit - come to STAY because you'll want make Portsmouth New Hampshire YOUR home!  Once you're here, this area just makes you fall in love with it, and this just helps to make my job that much easier!

Ann Cummings                 

Portsmouth New Hampshire Homes

New Portsmouth Library Set to Open!!

Our NEW Portsmouth City Library is scheduled to open on Monday, December 18th, and the grand opening will be January 7th, 2007.  If there's a snow storm on the 7th, the new grand opening date will be January 14th.

This is exciting because it's a fabulous building that's been in the making for a long time coming.  The location is terrific, right next door to the Portsmouth Middle School, and a very easy walk from downtown and all the downtown neighborhoods.

For more information on books that have been checked out, the hours of the new library, and all the programs being offered, check out this link.  You can also call the library at 427-1540.

Great news, and I'm really looking forward to seeing it open! 

Looking for something to do in Portsmouth?? 

We have three great theatrical treasures here in Portsmouth New Hampshire, and two of them offer year-round enjoyment for residents and visitors alike!

The Music Hall is a historic theater that was built in 1878.  It's the oldest theater in New Hampshire, and the second oldest theater in New England.  This beautiful 900 seat theater is one of only fifteen theaters built in the 1800s still in use in America. 

In its early years, The Music Hall was home to vaudeville performances and silent film shows.  Today, it offers a wide variety of offerings, from films, comedy, concerts, evenings with authors, and so much more.

In 2004, the theater went through a multi-phased, multi-million dollar restoration that returned this gem to its turn-of-the-century splendor.  Much of the beauty and original structural construction and design was able to be restored, as well as upgrades to technology, stage systems, and patron amenities that will enable this beautiful theater to continue offering fabulous programs for many years to come.

This is the stunningly beautiful restored arch above the stage.  It's called the "proscenium", and you just have to see this in person to see just what an amazing restoration job this was.

In 2003, the US Senate voted to include Portsmouth' Music Hall in the "American Treasures" because of its preservation and restoration work.

Some of the upcoming events are "A Vintage Christmas"; "A Celtic Yuletide"; "Holiday Pops with the NH Symphony Orchestra"; and "Clara's Dream - A Jazz Nutcracker".

Just a couple of blocks away from The Music Hall is another of Portsmouth's special little gems - The Seacoast Repertory Theater.  This theater in the round was orginally built as a beer and grain warehouse in 1892.  It was renovated into the theater we know today back in 1979.  Because of the size of this theater and due to it being a theater in the round, you'll experience a much more intimate setting here.

Boston Magazine has selected The Seacoast Rep Theater for their "Spotlight on the Arts Award for Best Year Round Theater" in the Seacoast.  They've won this award several times for their premier entertainment offerings.

Some of the upcoming plays on the calendar here are, "Miracle on 34th Street"; "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"; "The Spitfire Grill"; and a varierty of
other plays.  The schedule here usually has 3-4 different plays offered each month.

Both The Music Hall and The Seacoast Repertory offer annual memberships as well as ticket sales for each individual event.

We are very fortunate here in Portsmouth to have both year-round and summer theaters!
Our beautiful Prescott Park has offerings all summer long that include concerts, plays, story-telling, art shows, chili and chowder cook-off festivals, and more.

Come and visit us, and check out all three theaters!  With all the various offerings each has to offer, you'll certainly find something everyone will enjoy.  Once you've been here to visit us, you'll fall in love and want to make this area your home!! 

Ann Cummings

Portsmouth New Hampshire on Saturday mornings is a great place to be!!  We have a really wonderful Farmer's Market, put on by the Seacoast Growers Association.  Our market runs from early May to the first weekend in November, every Saturday, from 8am to 1pm.  The parking lot of our Portsmouth City Hall, 'up on the hill' is the place to be! 

What a wonderful way to meet new friends, catch up with old friends, and just pleasantly spend the morning checking out all the locally grown produce and fresh foods!   Everything for sale there is all 100% locally grown, and you can meet the owners there, proudly displaying their fruits, veggies, baked goods, flowers and plants.  You can also try (and buy) prepared foods there, as well.  Some of our now-famous locally grown companies got their start at the Farmers Market, giving out samples of their foods.  And, it's also a great place to buy crafts and fine arts as well - great gift-buying and fresh food shopping all in one place!!

This season was the 30th year of the Seacoast Growers Association.  They are a non-profit organization who put on Farmers Markets in 6 different Seacoast areas.  They grow and sell 100% of their products at these markets.   I can tell you, it does make a difference knowing you're buying locally grown really fresh products - they don't get any fresher than this!

To learn more about Portsmouth and the surrounding areas, be sure to visit my website - while you're there, check out real estate for sale in New Hampshire and Maine.  My other blog has some additional great information about Portsmouth and surrounding areas - feel free to browse my posts. 

Ann Cummings

    MUSIC IN THE SEACOAST AREAS!!

A new website has been born, as of October 31st, featuring local bands in and around Portsmouth New Hampshire, including the towns of Dover, Durham, Somersworth, York, etc.  The bands featured are from New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts.

www.whosplayin2nite.com features links to venues in the area with live music, and also features links to the bands' individual websites.  This website will be updated weekly so you'll know who's playing where and when, as well as show reviews.

What a great way to be able to check out what's going on each week in the area for live music!

                    Ann Cummings