July 2, 2006 was a “high water mark” for Brian D. Porch, Jr. and Mary Rinaldi for it was then - tucked into the privacy of the sand dunes on the Jetties Beach during a picturesque sunset – that Brian asked Mary to marry him!

Pictured from left are Brian and Mary presenting their paddleball rackets and beach football to our very own Otilia as a thanks for their enjoyable stay! So for good fortune, future “wanna-be’s” can now reserve the gaming equipment during their stay at the Century House!!

Brian, originally from Bloomfield, Connecticut, lives and works in New York City, where he and Mary, originally from Beaverton, Oregon, met. Mary remarked to Otilia and JeanE that, "the quaint and comforting charm of the Century House provided an exclamation point of romance on what turned out to be a magical weekend.” Innkeeper Gerry was relieved that the diamond didn’t slip out of Brian’s hand and get buried in a dune of sand (worse than finding a needle in the haystack!)

Julia O'Malley-Keyes, one of our master artists who joined Century House Art Program last year has a long time romance with big J-boats, classic yachts and costal living. These are reflected in her penchant for luminous oil paintings of these beautiful masters of the sea. Julia has been painting since she was 8 years old. She has worked with Harry Connick Jr.  She has spent many years studying with noted fine artists in Europe, China, New York City and on Cape Cod. Her father and yearly excursions to Newport, Camden, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard resulted in her action packed oil paintings and limited edition marine prints of the numerous classic yacht regattas of the summer season. Julia says, “The sea is in my blood.” "It seems completely natural that as a mature artist I have focused on marine art, it feels like coming home”.

Her unsurpassed use of vibrant color and luminosity executed in an Old Masters' technique faithfully conveys the sense of place, the ebb and flow and the thrill of big yacht racing. View her work: One Woman Show September 8 - September 16, at the Robert Wilson Gallery, one of the many galleries on Nantucket.

Queen sleigh with love seat, skylight. A cozy third floor European style room with glimpses of the blue ocean. In the room you will find plenty of books to read, a comfortable queen sleigh bed under a skylight, which has marble floored private detached bath and a love seat with harbor views. This room has a paddle fan, an old book covered sea chest and unique wall hangings.

Guest Comment: “Whimsical skylight over the bed greeted us in the morning light (we left the shade up); and at night we followed the stars in the swirling sky”

The Beach-Blossom's horticultural name is Rosa Ragosa; its pink flower cascades over the dunes, sea grass and fences making it the room choice to complement our water theme!!

"What is the Blue Sky but Water Soaring in the Heavens."

US Navy's Blue Angels have taken flying to the new level. Since 1946 they continue to dazzle and inspire millions across the world with their cutting edge performance. Nantucket and the Century House celebrates the arrival of the BLUE ANGELS, the U.S.Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron on September 30, 2006. The BLUE ANGELS mix formation flying and solo routines using F/A-18 Hornets, performing approximately 30 maneuvers during the aerial demonstration.

Come join us at the Century House for a weekend of memories and discover more Freedoms of Nantucket, attending this event for free!

Innkeeper Gerry Connick is passionate about the Century House and gives 100% of his energy to its smooth operation for twenty some years. His daily routine is the same: 4:30 AM morning rise, a tour of the property for any abnormalcy; a trip to the market to secure the freshest berries, produce, flowers and items for the morning's famous Gerry Bountiful Berry Buffet Breakfast; consultation with housekeeping and reservations staff, followed by a round of meetings and errands.

A successful corporate dropout who quit Corporate America in his 40's to pursue his freedoms. Gerry's life has always been by the sea since early childhood in Lynn, Massachusetts. His life adventures include serving in the Navy aboard the U.S.S. Brush, building submarine propulsion systems for General Electric, and for the last 25 years, living with his wife Jean Ellen on the islands of Nantucket and Palm Beach.

While the Century House is a boutique, luxury inn, he sets the tone, welcoming his guests as if to his private residence (which is also on the property), so one is free to be oneself; when you arrive you become part of the inn's family respecting one anothers privacy and sense of subtle comraderie. Gerry is a wealth of knowledge of the known and little known treasures about the Island ; so come join his Gerry Berry Buffet Breakfast and Discover his Freedoms of Nantucket.

Interesting facts about Gerry:

- joined the Navy at age 17.
- designed all the rooms at the Century House.
- reads a book a day.
- loves jelly doughnuts-Dunkin Donuts only (limited quantities per
  his wife).
- has an undying love and affection for his 1945 Green Ford truck
  which is parked at the Century House during the Season.
- is in love with the same woman who still 'rocks his boat.'
- owns a dinghy for several years, that hasn't been on the water
  which is named after his one and only love: his Princess Jean Ellen.