Meet Your Neighbor

'Star Wars' was a Formative Movie for this Priest

Get to know the leader of Christ Church in Hamilton.

Name: Patrick Gray Street: 151 Asbury St. (behind Christ Church) Family: Wife, Naomi Gray - we just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary on Nov. 21!  Two kids - Ezra who is eight and in third grade at Cutler, and Ella, who is five at the Christ Church Parish Day School. Occupation: I'm an Episcopal priest, and the Rector (which basically means Head Pastor) at Christ Church of Hamilton and Wenham. Hobbies/interests: I wish I had more of them! But being with my family is tons of fun for me, whether it's at the beach with them during the summer or sledding in the winter. We like games in our family, so we do a lot of "gaming," as well. What are you passionate about? I want people to know Jesus Christ. What did you study in school? I …

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North Shore Nibbles

Black Cow's New Look, Martini Bar's Arrival at the Mall Among North Shore Food Buzz

A round up of North Shore restaurant and food news.

When you're looking for a night out and a break from cooking, you might want to know what's new not just where you live, but in other nearby North Shore communities. Here's our round up of the latest food news in the area. The Black Cow Tap & Grill reopened with a splashy new look and 33 beer taps. Did we mention it now has 33 beer taps? Our columnist, Michelle Gilliss, recommends these three caterers for your holiday parties, or just to pick up an extra dish or two to round out your home-cooked offerings. Burrito fans: The new Chipotle in North Beverly was scheduled to open Thursday. The Farm Downtown um, bought the farm. The sandwich place on Ratoul Street has been replaced by Lisa's Pizzas, Pastas and Paninis. Massachusetts limits how …

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'New Cow' Features Gas Fireplace, Brighter Space and 33 Taps

After seven months of renovations, the Black Cow Tap and Grill reopened this week with a bevy of changes.

A newly renovated Black Cow Tap and Grill has reopened in downtown Hamilton, with a new menu "They layout is unbelievable," said general manager Nicole Ananian, who said customers have "literally stopped in their tracks" in the five days since it reopened. Owner Joe Leone said Black Cow has been in its Bay Road location for 18 years without any major changes. "We're going to do it for another 18 years," Leone said. "This is the new Cow." The restaurant had been closed in April to undertake the changes. Changes run the gamut, all adding a "modern industrial" look, he said. A two-sides brick fireplace in the middle of the restaurant was removed and the dining and bar area was opened up into one large space. The room is completely opened up …

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North Shore Nibbles

Winfrey's Plans in Beverly and Other Top Restaurant Headlines

A look around the regions at some of the latest happenings with food and restaurants.

Here are Patch, we love local food news. Whether a new restaurant is coming to your community, an old favorite is closing down or a local chef is plating something special - our North Shore Patch sites been there to cover it. Below is a look at the restaurant and food stories recently covered by area Patch sites. If you see something that sparks your interest, just click on the headline to read the full story. HAMILTON-WENHAM Black Cow Eyes November Reopening Black Cow Tap and Grill plans to reopen in November, according to owner Joe Leone. The restaurant, on Bay Road in downtown Hamilton, has been closed for renovations since April. The work is designed to make the restaurant lighter and brighter. Leone said that he plans to "hopefully" …

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Black Cow Eyes November Reopening

The Black Cow restaurant in Hamilton has been closed for renovations since April and is shooting to reopen in November.

Black Cow Tap and Grill plans to reopen in November, according to owner Joe Leone. The restaurant, on Bay Road in downtown Hamilton, has been closed for renovations since April. The work is designed to make the restaurant lighter and brighter. Leone said on Tuesday that he plans to "hopefully" reopen in November. No new seats will be added, but instead rearranged. The entrance was moved from the center to the side of the restaurant and there will be more seating near the window. The last time the restaurant underwent changes was 2001, when it was given permission to expand from 82 seats to 101 seats. The renovations include installing new hardwood floors, bar and bathrooms plus a gas-fired fire pit in the middle. The restaurant is also …

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15 Walnut Owners Continue North Shore Expansion

The restaurant group that owns 15 Walnut in Hamilton plans a new restaurant in the North Shore's top restaurant city - Salem.

The North Shore-based chain of restaurants that includes 15 Walnut Bistro is Hamilton is adding its first Salem location, according to the Salem News. Serenitee Restaurant Group plans to open a restaurant named Opus in November in the space that had been home to Greenland Café on Washington Street in the downtown for the past few years. In early August, Salem Patch reported that the new restaurant may add a function space to the new restaurant. In Hamilton, before 15 Walnut, Serenitee operated the restaurant under the names Blue Smoke Bar and Grill and later Indigo. In recent years, the restaurant has been popular and one of only two public restaurants with waiter service in Hamilton since Black Cow temporarily closed to undergo …

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Black Cow Owner Plans New Newburyport Restaurant

As the downtown Hamilton location of the Black Cow becomes closer to reopening after renovations, the restaurant's owner has plans for a new waterfront pub in Newburyport.

The owner of the Black Cow Tap and Grill in Hamilton plans a new waterfront pub in Newburyport, according to the Newburyport Daily News. In addition to the downtown Hamilton location, Black Cow also has a location in Newburyport and has been working for years to get the needed permits to put a new restaurant on the Beverly waterfront. The Hamilton location has been closed since April, undergoing renovations that will make it lighter and brighter. The significant changes to the front façade, including moving the entrance, have been largely completed. The Hamilton restaurant is slated to reopen in September. In Newburyport, Leone’s new pub would go in the space currently home to Davis Auto Parts at 38-40 Merrimac St., according to the Daily …

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Changes to Front Windows, Entrance Get Underway at Black Cow

The Black Cow restaurant closed in April to undergo renovations and this week the changes that had required town approval got underway.

Changes to the entrance and front windows at Black Cow Tap and Grill got underway this week after the restaurant renovations got an OK from the Hamilton Zoning Board of Appeals. Owner Joe Leone has said he plans to reopen the downtown Hamilton restaurant in September after renovations. It has been at its current location for 19 years and the restaurant has been largely unchanged during that time, although it was expanded from 82 seats to 101 seats in 2001. The restaurant closed in April to undergo the renovations. The plan is to make a small existing entrance on the north side of the restaurant into the main entrance and remove the existing center entrance and replace it with windows. A handicapped entrance of the side of the building will…

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know Today in Hamilton and Wenham: July 11

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Wednesday, July 11. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Owls: Live owls are coming to Hamilton-Wenham Library on Wednesday night. The library is presenting a program called “Wingmasters” at 6:30 p.m., which will, among other things, show how owls “use their specialized sight, hearing and flight to survive.” It is free and open to the public. 2. Slurpees: Wednesday is July 11 - a.k.a. 7/11. And that means at participating 7-Eleven stores they will be giving away free 7.11 ounce Slurpee drinks between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Locally, the promotion is running at the 7-Eleven on Elliott Street in Beverly plus at two locations in Salem (North Street and Norman Street) plus four locations in Peabody and one in Gloucester. 3. Light …

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Michelle Bailey

5:06 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Free 7.11oz of Watermelon-Lime Slurpie served up by Mike in Beverly on a hot afternoon...It's must be July 11!   more ›

'Lighter, Brighter' Black Cow Headed for September Reopening

The Black Cow restaurant will be closed until September to undergo renovations that will make it brighter and lighter.

Changes to the Black Cow Tap and Grill in downtown Hamilton will make the restaurant lighter and brighter, owner Joe Leone told the Hamilton Planning Board on Tuesday night. The restaurant closed in April to undergo renovations and Leone said he expects it to reopen in September. The Planning Board's review of the renovations, which it heard on Tuesday night, comes under a provision in the zoning bylaw called abbreviated site plan review because the restaurant’s seating area will increase by 27 square feet, although 9 square feet will go towards a new entrance area. No new seats will be added. Leone said he had hoped to reopen sooner than September except that he has to wait until the July 11 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting for it to hear …

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Tyson Goodridge

9:46 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012

and the staff friendly?   more ›