Happy New Years

Grandson River enjoying his first Christmas

2010 comes to an end and we are happy you chose to follow our blog this year. It was a much less wordy blog as I was pretty busy all year, coming and going as time permitted. Sherry is back from her extended vacation this past fall and Bekky started in November and she is doing quite well. I am away from the Inn in December visiting the Middle East and my working wife here in Abu Dhabi.

The Cookie Tour did go off quite well with 1 major hitch. The night of the cookie tour, our boiler went out...not from lack of serviceing, but rather the Oil supply Tank developed a leak at 3 am on a cold frigid morning we lost heat and hot water... Yikes...a full house and no hot water. Sherry called the Service person after we discovered that the furnace would only go on for a short time then shut off again...Elwood was able to come in and get the system running that morning while we were getting ready for the Cookie tour and by mid afternoon the boiler was cooking again. What a mess... and would'nt you know it, why don't things break during the mid-week lull...

Snow has started to fall heavily on Dec 26th and now the hillsides are covered in the magical white powder. Skiing is in full swing and we are ready to ring in the New Year. We still have 2 or 3 rooms open for New Year's EVE and we have hot water !!!! Always a good thing.

Below are some pics of the cookie tour and the Gingerbread house. Enjoy

Last Chance to get in on the Cookie Tour 2010

The year 2010 is ending soon and next weekend Dec 11 and 12th is the annual Inn to Inn Holiday (Christmas) Cookie and Candy Tour. We always have a great time putting on this event. Sherry just loves to make our Gingerbread house and she won 1st place 2 years ago and 3rd place last year. It is a surprise as to what she will create this year. You will have to attend to see her creation...

This has been a much busier year then 2009, and we are happy for that, we thank all our loyal return guests and plan to repay your loyalty by continuing our 10% discount on all your return visits.

We are toying with the idea of doing something a bit different this year. Other Inns are doing a special package where in the year 2011, each visit adds another 10% off the current rate. It goes like this, your second visit is 10% off, your 3rd visit is 20% off, your 4th visit 30%, and each visit year adds another 10% off, until you get to your final visit which will mean that you get a free visit. I will limit the 'FREE' visit to be the length of your longest previous visit of 2011. This sounds like a win for all of us !

On another note, please welcome our newest employee; Rebekka. Rebekka comes to us from the Cape and she started working with us in early November. At the Cape Rebekka started out as the housekeeper, but was quickly promoted to be the resident Innkeeper late in the summer. At the Eastman Inn, Rebekka (or Bekky) for short will be the resident evening/night Innkeeper working with Sherry as needed during the day. She will also be our primary housekeeper. Join me in welcoming her to the Eastman Inn

November Specials and December Cookie Tour

It is getting to be a lot like Christmas....we are in the planning stages for this years annual Inn to Inn Holiday Cookie tour. Join us for a sweet and charming weekend in the Mount Washington Valley

Each year Sherry whips up around 1000 cookies and so do the other 15 inns who participate in this fun event. During the tour you visit each Inn, sample the home made cookies and candies

You be the Judge...that's right, Judge Judy and Joe Brown move over, you have the decision making power in that each Inn sponsors a Gingerbread or Cookie, hand made creation. Last Year the Eastman Inn won 3rd place for this recreation of the North Conwway Train Station.

Lastly we know that November is a slow month, so what we do is offer an amazing special. Stay and pay for 2 nights and the 3rd night is on us ! You must call and book this special through our online system or phone. No third party bookings for this great deal.

Happy Holidays..............wait is that too early to say ? Nawwwwwwwwww

4th of July at the Eastman Inn

If you were not here, then u missed a great 4th of July. We had a celebratory barbeque out on the dect with friends and family alike. Later in the evening we all sat and watched the fireworks being shot over the village. We had a perfect view from the porch. And we had some great Lemon Merangue pie and Bluberry Cream pie...Um Um.

Our guest of honor was my Grandson River Michels, here he is in the Wildcat River being introduced to his namesake !!!

Summer has started and the valley is starting to fill. Not too busy though as the traffic was light this weekend. We hope you think of the Eastman Inn when u make your summer travel plans

Herb Tour a Success

For those of you who missed it you should start planning a trip to the Valley next year. We had about 6 guests who participated in the annual Inn to Inn Herb tour and they all loved it!

We featured the herb Lavendar and presented it to our guest with all the meals and treats. It was a weekend to remember. Guests toured 14 Inns and each had special treats for all. Guests took home samples and recipies featuring some delicious foods. It is amazing what Sherry can do with Lavendar.

Spring Herb Tour in New Hampshire

Had enough of this below....skiing indoors all winter !

Then the time is ripe to come to the Mount Washington Valley for a lovely late spring Inn to Inn Herb Tour. The first weekend of June plan to be our guest as we host our part of the Heracious event. We plan on a fun cooking extravaganza...Our chosen herb here at the Eastman Inn will be Lavendar. Sherry has some great recipies she has been testing and you will be pleasantly surprised with her results.

As you tour each Inn, you will be treated to a variety of different treats. Each Inn will be showcasing a specific herb and provide you with their recipies to try at home. We are not just talking breakfast here, we are talking some good food ! Have you ever had Lavendar Ice Cream ? If not then your tastebuds will be inn for a pleasant surprise. So give us a call to make arrangements for the weekend. http://www.eastmaninn.com

Spring is on the Way- 3rd night FREE

This is what I am waiting for, spring warmth and snacks on the porch. This is our daughter Alicia in a picture taken last summer. She was very pregnant in this picture, now she has a 2 month old son named "River".

So spring has sprung, although they are still skiing at Cranmore Mountain this weekend per the lastest reports. So for our Spring
Special we are offering a great deal. Stay 2 nights and get the 3rd night FREE. Thats a 33% savings for your 3 day weekend. You can't beat that price. The snow is pretty much melted but the air is a beautiful blue and the streams are rushing. Spring is a good time to visit, there are very few tourists in the area and you pretty much have the place to yourself.

The entire Valley has many spring specials, food at restaurants, and the shops are having some pretty good sales. We hope to see you soon.

Restaurant Reviews

For something new to write about, I though I would mention some of the restaurants we recommend. I guess you would have to say we have a top 5, but who's counting. This is my subjective opinion and I am entitled to it..hah...I think it is pretty accurate as guests tell me in the morning about how their dinner went. On occasion we all have bad nights so what may be good one night, may be a bit less the special the next. Service is always an issue. Especially in early season as new staff come on board at the restaurants. It takes a while to get some restaurants up and running at full throttle in the Summer. Another 'gotcha' are weddings. If a dining place does weddings or hosts wedding dinners, etc. you can get lost in the shuffle and your plate may be delayed. I have started asking that question before I make a reservation for my guests. So her goes

By the way , these top 5 are not in any particular order.

1. The 1785 Inn. This is one of my personal favorites for a good ole New England style place. In the winter it is fun to sit by the fireplace and enjoy the warmth it gives off. This past December we made it early during a big snow storm..and we watch the world turn white out the large windows looking towards Mt. Washington. I have never had a bad meal here. We have had the salmon, the filet mignon, the elk and rabbit cooked 2 ways.. and loved it all. The waiters are a hoot and I never tire of their antics. The Yodeler will often times catch an out of towner by surprise !

2. Decades Steakhouse. For the first year I was here I never sent anyone to this place. I simply did not like the name...*shame on me....Since last summer I have been a half a dozen times and the food is always delicious. I order a steak, but it also has good seafood and pasta. The majority of my guests like it.

3. May Kellys Cottage: Want some good comfort food, Made like your Irish aunt made it. Then this is the place. It is in an old building with lots of old junk in the hall way leading out back to the restaurant. From the pub are huge glass windows giving u a great view of Cathedral Ledge. We have eaten here a number of times and we always try something different.

4. Thai NanKoping: Or something like that. Usually pretty good food, on occasion they must have a substitute cook, but for the most part the food is tasty and hot.

5. Thompson House Eatery in Jackson. 9 miles from us I usually dont often send guests that far, especially if you want more then 1 adult beverage. But the food is fantistic. My wife and I had Christman Eve dinner here last year and it was perfect.

OK...I am keeping this to my top 5 favorites...there are many more good restaurants to choose from, but this is my blog !

Not much snow

An Inch here, an inch there....what gives ? All of you down in the Mid Atlantic states are having all the fun ! We are busy getting ready for this Valentines day weekend. All the smart guys made reservations well in advance to romance your sweetie. If you waited until today or later you may want to try another inn. We recommend the Glen Oaks Inn in Intervale, or perhaps the Admiral Perry in Fryeburg, they may still have vacancies. We also suggest that you consider which restaurant you want to go to for dinner this weekend. Reservations are suggested, we can make that call for you, just let us know. Sherry is cooking up a Valentines surprise...she is always good for that kind of stuff ! Speaking of Valentines, I need to head off today and buy something for my wife. So long for now

February - WE need Snow

It's early Feb and most of the east coast is getting a good dosing of snow. The White Mountains could use some of that. We have the cold, now we just need the moisture. The Eastman Inn is humming along anyway. Valentines weekend we are just about full with 1 room left, but alas it only has twin beds and what kind of Valentines day fun would that be !!!!!!.

I just added a special for February, Stay any Thursday in February and get it 1/2 off if you stay on Saturday. If you extend until Saturday Night, you get Thursday 2/3'rds off. So call INN sick on Friday, come up on Thursday and use your savings for a nice dinner or an early start on the slopes on Friday.

Holiday Weekend and Snow

It has finally snowed here in North Conway. Not since Jan 1st have we have any measurable snow. So Cross Country skiing will be better and the downhill slopes have been making it because it has been very cold. The crowds are going home now so weekends will be pleasant around town. We hate the crowds (except at the Eastman Inn itself ).

New Grandchild has arrived

River Louis Michels, Arthur's Grandson arrived on December 31st at 3 pm and weighed in at a whopping 10 lbs, 1 oz....21 Inches...Here is the best shot we have of him so far. Mother and Baby are doing Fine. Grandpa Art went down on Jan 3rd to spend 4 days with them....He is a fine good looking gent.....I can't wait to have him come up to the Eastman Inn...I will waive the "No Children" rule for him !!!!