Blog

Do You Know When The Kennebunkport Festival Is?

Posted on February 2, 2012 by captainlord

Here is the answer; plus, additional information!

The 2011 Kennebunkport Festival, with guidance from its founders, was proudly produced and presented by Maine Magazine. Working with the Festival board for 2012, they remain committed to promoting good living in Kennebunkport: food, wine and works of art, and the experience of enjoying them, seaside, in the Kennebunks.

Their hope is to give people from Maine, and from across the United States and Canada, a first-class experience in Kennebunkport where they can reconnect with old friends, make new friends and be part of an event that celebrates the excellence of the area’s chefs, artists, musicians, and wine and beer makers. Please check out their website for the whole event schedule plus the link from which to purchase tickets. Bev and I attended several events last year and had a lot of fun. We hope that you will contact us to be part of this annual festival and you’ll join us at the Captain Lord Mansion for a night or two. Your innkeeper, Rick Litchfield

What Other Renovations Are Happening Now At The Captain Lord Mansion, A Romantic Kennebunkport Bed & Breakfast Inn?

Posted on January 24, 2012 by captainlord

Last winter Bev and our painter completely redecorated the Union guestroom. This is a picture of the new look. It is so clean and fresh looking. Well, we should have addressed the bath also at that time! As I am writing this, workmen are busy tearing out the old jetted tub in the Union Bath. It sprang a leak during the summer and flooded the Mary Lord bath as well as the main lobby area. What a mess! Of course the accident happened at night and our night receptionist Ann had to deal with most of the chaos! It was impossible to do any replacement during the season, so here we are in January making needed changes. The new tub will have air jets, rather than water jets which are much more sanitary and easier to clean. It will take the rest of the month to do new plumbing, tub installation, wall construction as well as new tile work; however, it will be ready to rent by early February. Believe it or not, Bev will be doing the tiling. She did the tiling in the Captain’s Merchant Suite last winter when we replaced the shower in that room. What an amazing woman! Your innkeeper, Rick Litchfield

What is New At The Captain Lord Mansion, A Romantic Kennebunkport Bed & Breakfast Inn?

Posted on January 18, 2012 by captainlord

Bev and I are just returned from the Atlanta Gift Mart where we found several new items for Bev’s delightful gift shop. Additionally, we were able to purchase some replacement furniture for the inn. The cost of reupholstering furniture has gotten so expensive, it is often more cost effective to purchase new upholstered items. Of course our four-poster beds are the corner-stones of each guestroom. However, the constant use of guestroom couches and chairs necessitates replacing or reupholstering such items about every five years. As guests give us feedback on our “Guest Comment” cards, we take a serious look at each piece in question and determine whether to reupholster or replace. Also, we frequently replace mattresses. We purchase top-of-the-line firm mattresses and add a 2″ memory-foam topper to each bed. That combination gives you a soft top combined with a firm foundation. Sometimes folks wish not to have the memory foam topper, which we graciously remove during their stay. Many repeat guests take special note of our continuing efforts at detailing and freshening the guestrooms. So, this season, look for new furniture in several spots throughout the inn. Your innkeeper, Rick Litchfield

What Happened at The Captain Lord Mansion, A Romantic Kennebunkport Bed & Breakfast on June 15, 1978?

Posted on January 10, 2012 by captainlord

Bev and I began searching for a business during the spring of 1977. At the time we were living in Schenectady, NY. Bev was a successful advertising executive with McDonald’s, but she was being moved every 18 months as the company was promoting her up the corporate ladder. I was an advertising executive with a large advertising company in the Tri-City area. After evaluating our prospects for a married life together, we deduced that either I follow Bev and her career, she join the agency with me or we find a business of our own! Being young and naive, we thought we’d become independent restauranteurs. How silly! Every potential business we found either was on the market because the owners were getting a divorce or the son/daughter chef wanted out of the family business. What an auspicious introduction to a business of our own. However, we persevered looking at various types of business opportunities throughout New England and were shown the Captain Lord Mansion on March 17, 1978 by an enterprising realtor. It was being operated primarily as a boarding house for seniors; there were 7 women residents ranging in age from mid 80′s to mid 90′s. The owners also rented a few rooms to transients during the summer and fall months and the inn was listed in Norman Simpson’s “Country Inns and Back Roads”. That was the inn-goers “bible” before the Internet, cell phones and TripAdvisor! After a near disastrous adventure with the high interest rates of the period, we finally came to terms with the owner to carry a second mortgage at some affordable interest rates. Against the advice of his very prominent attorney, Jim agreed to carry paper. I guess we seemed to have sufficient business background to succeed. We closed on the inn June 15, 1978. I’ll never forget the feeling of excitement combined with anticipation and apprehension as we stood outside the inn watching movers move our furniture in the back door and the previous owners belongings out the front door. We have been blessed; we celebrate 34 years as owners and innkeepers this June 15 and begin our 35th summer season. It has been a wonderful experience and we still love the business and our guests. Thanks for the memories! Your innkeeper, Rick Litchfield

Have You Seen The Captain Lord Mansion, A Romantic Kennebunkport Bed & Breakfast Reviews On TripAdvisor?

Posted on January 3, 2012 by captainlord

Bev and I are very proud of the fact that The Captain Lord Mansion is the number one bed & breakfast inn listed on TripAdvisor. We try very hard to listen to feedback from our guests; we attempt to immediately rectify areas of concern that guests bring to our attention. For example, due to guest feedback earlier this year, we significantly improved our breakfast choices for those with dietary restrictions. A sincere “Thank you” to all of our guests who have taken the time to write a review about the CLM. Your innkeeper, Rick Litchfield

Introducing The Captain Lord Mansion “First Saturday Winter Wine Tastings”

Posted on December 27, 2011 by captainlord

Bev and I are pleased to announce our annual “First Saturday Winter Wine Tastings”. Beginning on Saturday, February 4 we will be having a wine tasting the first Saturday of each month through May. I met with one of our suppliers today and selected a group of excellent Spanish Wines that we’ll taste in February.

These tastings are a time to learn more about specific wines from a region; we will provide you tasting notes and other informative handouts. We start the events at 5:30pm and go to about 6:45pm; that allows you plenty of time to plan a romantic dinner after the tasting.

The March 3rd event will be hosted by our good friend, restauranteur Dick Varano and will feature Italian Wines. Dick owns three restaurants in Wells, Bill’s Chowder House, The Wells Beach Steakhouse and Varano’s, a superb Italian restaurant. This will be Dick’s third year hosting one of our tastings; he not only gives great info on the wines, but also provides interesting comments on his personal trips to Italy to visit the vineyards and producers.

The wine tastings are complimentary; they are included in the room rates for the weekend. Your innkeeper, Rick Litchfield

Check Out The Captain Lord Mansion, A Romantic Kennebunkport Bed & Breakfast on Facebook!

Posted on December 20, 2011 by captainlord

Have you had a chance to follow us on Facebook? I try to do daily postings about interesting news from the region that is more time sensitive that a posting in our Blog. I try to do a weekly Blog about more long lasting events and businesses in the area. Also, I post last minute discounts and packages on the Facebook page. I hope you’ll go to our page and “Like” us. Your innkeeper, Rick Litchfield

Have You Seen Portland Maine’s Victoria Mansion Decorated for Christmas?

Posted on December 13, 2011 by captainlord

Christmas at Victoria Mansion
November 25 through
January 8, 2012.
Daily 11-5.
Closed Christmas Day and New Years Day.
Victoria Mansion is lavishly decorated for the holidays by professional designers, decorators, and florists, making this a festive time of year to plan a tour. Visitors go through the house at their own pace, on self-guided tours using a printed program. Room stewards are available to answer questions. Guided tours are available for groups of ten or more, and can be arranged by calling the office.

During the holidays, Victoria Mansion is transformed into a spectacular holiday wonderland by local designers and florists. This year’s holiday theme is “Deck the Halls – The carols of Christmas”

Bev and I visited the Victoria Mansion two years ago with our niece and her husband. The theme that year was “We Three Kings” and we were overwhelmed by the beautiful decorations. The Victoria Mansion’s elaborate interior decor and magnificent woodwork is only enhanced by the Christmas decorations. We plan on making a trip to see this year’s decorations sometime before Christmas. If you are visiting The Captain Lord Mansion in the next couple of weeks, we encourage you to add the Victoria Mansion in Portland to your “must see” list. Downtown Portland, where the Mansion is located, is only about a 45 minute drive from Kennebunkport. Your innkeeper, Rick Litchfield

Have You Taken a Picture With The Captain Lord Mansion Christmas Carolers? Share Your Photos of This Historic Bed & Breakfast Inn and Kennebunkport?

Posted on December 6, 2011 by captainlord

Friends of ours took a picture of themselves and their children with our carolers and used it as their Christmas card. Have you taken a picture with the carolers? I know that Cliff and Jeannine have! Please share any pictures you have on our Facebook page. If you are coming to the Captain Lord Mansion for the holidays, please take some time to have your picture taken with the carolers and add it to our Facebook page. Also, we are looking to name the little dog with the carolers. Any suggestions? He is buried in the snow in this shot. And we have no snow! In fact, we just experienced the warmest November on record! Your innkeeper, Rick Litchfield

A Little History About Your Innkeeper Bev Davis at The Captain Lord Mansion, A Romantic Kennebunkport Bed & Breakfast Inn

Posted on November 29, 2011 by captainlord

How many of you know that Bev was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio? That was her home until she went off to college. She graduated from Butler University in Indianapolis with a degree in Radio and TV production. After graduation, she worked in broadcast there in Indianapolis for a small radio station that she says had a cast of characters similar to the ones on the TV series WKRP! After working in that low-paying job for a while, she interviewed and was hired by McDonald’s. She started out in the Real Estate department and was soon promoted to a buyer. She was responsible for developing several million dollar units in the Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Columbus markets. After moving from Real Estate into the Marketing Department, she was promoted to a Region Marketing Manager in the upstate New York market that stretched from Buffalo to Albany. That is where we met. I was the Account Supervisor on the McDonald’s Account in the Tri-City area of Albany, Schenectady and Troy. Bev is an accomplished cook, seamstress, gardener, interior decorator as well as loving wife and mother. She personally does all the decorating and designs and sews the window treatments, duvets and bed dust ruffles. If you are here in the summer and early fall, you may see her touches everywhere in our extensive gardens. She is the one who developed the idea of the “Memory Garden”, the waterfall feature and our newest planting area where the sculpture of the three children is located. I’ll share about my background in the next blog. Your innkeeper, Rick Litchfield