Opening day is huge. And we’re not talking baseball. We’re talking fried clams and ice cream cones at favorite New England spots that were shuttered for winter and are finally making their seasonal debuts. Many reopened in time for Patriots Day, the Boston Marathon, and April school vacation week. Other openings are staggered throughout the spring.
Here is the skinny on some clam shacks, ice cream shops, and more.
Clam and lobster shacks
Flo’s Clam Shack in Middletown, R.I., celebrating seasonal opening days since 1936, has re-opened for the season — Thursday through Sunday until Memorial Day when Flo’s will fry those clam bellies daily. www.flosclam shacks.com
Visitors to Mystic, Conn., as well as loyal locals, will be happy as a clam to know that Sea Swirl opened early April for the season www.sea swirlofmystic.com
A favorite spot for lobster rolls, the Beach Plum on Route 1A in North Hampton, N.H., re-opened April 8. There are also 78 ice cream flavors, too. www.lobsterrolls.com
Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar in Eastham, Mass., is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Fried clams, lobster dinners — and a bike path location. Opening day is May 12. www.arnolds restaurant.com
Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier, a family-run business that dates to the 1930s, in Kittery Point, Maine, opens for the season on Mother’s Day, May 14. Take your boat — you can dock it at the private pier. www.chauncey creek.com
Islesford Dock Restaurant & Gallery, a popular restaurant for decades on Little Cranberry Island, Maine, is under new ownership and will re-open June 1. “One of the many things people love about the Dock is the vibe of the place,’’ says new co-owner Michael Boland, “and we certainly hope to keep that, which means same moss-covered shingles, same ‘docky’ feel inside, of course same amazing views back to Mount Desert Island.’’ Menu faves like the Dock Chowder and Boykin Burger are also keepers — as well as the art gallery. www.islesforddock.info
Ice cream shops
While some New England ice cream shops persevere through the winter, like Toscanini’s in Cambridge, most located in seasonal destinations do not. Here’s the scoop on spring openings.
Jeff Christensen, owner of Cottage Island Market on beachy Plum Island, and his dog, Summer, will debut the Cottage Creamery, a sassy ice cream shop that will be overseen by Hilary Larson, who formerly owned Eat Cake in Newburyport. The PI Sandy — Richardson’s ice cream sandwiched between cookies — will be a specialty. Also new in the same space will be Cottage Surf for paddle board, surf board and kayak rentals. Opening day, May 19. www.thecottageplum island.com
Polar Cave Ice Cream Parlour in Mashpee on the Cape started scooping in time for April school vacation week. The friendly shop is celebrated for its frappes and sundaes, including the Polar Peppermint Twist. New this year: Lactose-free frozen drinks. www.polar cave.com
Mount Desert Island Ice Cream’s two Bar Harbor, Maine, locations will come out of hibernation the third week in April — no later than April 22. (The Portland location is open year-round). www.mdiic.com
Katie’s Homemade Ice Cream in Hyannis on Cape Cod opens on April 15, — with its namesake as the new owner. Katie’s mother, Julie Kimball, was the previous owner. Try the Cape Cod Sand flavor — it’s got a secret ingredient. www.katiesicecreamcape cod.com
Beginning April 28, it’s time to lick into a sweet avocado cayenne cone at Rococo Artisan Ice Cream on Dock Square in Kennebunkport, Maine. The Ogunquit location opens May 12. www.rococoicecream.com
In Wilmington, Vt., Creemee Stand will start serving its signature Vermont Maple Creemee ice cream, made with pure Vermont syrup, on May 19. www.creemeestand.com
Restaurant patios
The Barking Crab’s outdoor tent has a kick-off bash on April 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Toast to the Tent party will feature live music, appetizers, crabby cocktails — all complimentary. www.barkingcrab.com
Cinquecento’s Rosso Patio and Shipping Container Bar in the South End opens May 1. The recycled shipping container bar has a 12-seat bar and an outdoor lounge with tables for eating. An opening patio party will take place June 8. www.cinquecento boston.com
The buzz about the Beehive, a Bohemian, comfort-food restaurant in the South End on Tremont Street, is that the outdoor patio will open May 1. www.beehiveboston.com
Charlestown’s Pier 6 has a waterfront location with a roof deck and patio/deck with bar and lounge, too. Drink in the intoxicating Boston skyline views on May 1 when the patio opens for the season. www.pier6boston.com
Inns, hotels and resorts
On Nantucket, the harbinger of spring is Daffodil Weekend — held this year April 28-30 — and several hotels will re-open just in time to celebrate the flower. 76 Main, a boutique inn located a block from town (www.76main.com) and Twenty One Broad, a 27-room inn walkable from the Steamship Authority ferry terminal. (www.21broadhotel.com) will both open on April 27. Waterfront White Elephant hotel reopened on April 13. www.whiteelephanthotel.com
On Martha’s Vineyard, the historic 60-room Kelley House, celebrating its 275th anniversary this season, reopened on April 1 with renovated guestrooms. www.kelley-house.com And the sprawling Winnetu Oceanside Resort on South Beach in Edgartown opened on April 13. www.winnetu.com In Oak Bluffs, the Summercamp, a boutique hotel with harbor views, will open on April 28. www.summercamphotel.com
And Hidden Cove in Kennebunkport, Maine, will come out of hibernation on May 5. The property features 20 bungalows, each with floor-to-ceiling fireplaces (just in case). www. hiddenpondmaine.com
Laurie Wilson can be reached at laurieheather@yahoo.com.
