Month: May 2023

My older son, Thatcher, turned 16 yesterday…. And then drove his younger brother and me from Gloucester to Danvers today. Yikes. I’m used to him driving the boat…. But not so much as comfortable with him behind the wheel of my car.

We had a wonderful dining experience at Fleur Cuisine on the T Wharf in Rockport recently. The bright, open atmosphere, friendly staff and menu selection all added up to an A+ experience. There is a small bar area, back dining room and outdoor seating. It was too chilly for outside so we sat in the back dining room. As usual, we were on the early side but the room filled up during our time there. Our server Maria was efficient and informed. We enjoyed plantains, the chicken entree and the pineapple bowl with shrimp. The chicken was amazing with just the right amount of spicy zing. We finished off with the best key lime pie I’ve had on Cape Ann. Get yourself there!

The North Shore League in comprised of 9 other clubs from around the North Shore. The season runs from September to April, culminating with league playoff championships in May. 

The MAC’s A Level 3 championship team bested 12 other participating teams from clubs around the North Shore. The team’s roster included Melanie Healey (captain) – Essex, Stephanie Benenson – Hamilton, Alina Franklin – Essex, Sarah Guido – Topsfield,  April Harb – Essex, Jane Henry – Wenham, Emma Perryman – Manchester, Jamie Sugar Butter – Rockport, Marcia Tatum – Topsfield, and Christine Woodman – Essex. 

The MAC’s A Level 4 team came in first place in the division and also went on to win the divisional playoffs. The championship team included Abby Considine (co-captain) – Manchester, Sarah Stock (co-captain)  – Manchester, Alison Mulford  – Manchester, Meghan Olington – Manchester, Laura Kneisel – Manchester, Ashley Casey – Manchester, Jen Zeilman – Beverly Farms, Allison Falk – Essex and Maura Blundin – Beverly Farms 

The Working Women’s Division 3 teams finished first in a division that included 11 other teams from surrounding north shore clubs. The roster includes Leslie Sullivan – Gloucester, Anne Cowman – Manchester, Antonella Cucchetti – Manchester, Sarah Wilwerh Dyer – Essex, Mary Giglio – Ipswich, Karen Smith Crowley – Manchester, Meredith Sobol – Danvers, Nikki Tierney – Gloucester, and Stacey Twombley – Rockport 

The North Shore League continues to get better and better each year.  MAC Tennis hosted 15 teams in 10 different divisions this year. Out of the 10 divisions, MAC Tennis had three league champions and 6 teams finish in the top 4 and advance to post season playoffs. 

MAC tennis teams are currently accepting new players for league play that begins in the fall, including players interested in Women’s Weekday, Working Women’s Weekend, Mixed Doubles and Men’s Leagues. Interested players should contact Todd Carpenter at tcarpenter@mactennis.com. 

Smith Cove hangout returns with new chef, tiki cocktails

The Studio Restaurant & Bar –Gloucester’s landmark hotspot overlooking Smith Cove – is set to make its long-awaited seasonal debut on Thursday, May 25. The neighborhood favorite will reopen under chef Matt Stavis, a fixture on the Cape Ann restaurant scene for over fifteen years who will showcase a menu of locally sourced seafood classics complemented by elevated American fare. 

The Studio has been a crown jewel of the Rocky Neck Art Colony for nearly 70 years. The indoor-outdoor hangout accommodates 380 guests with traditional dining room seating, sprawling bars inside and out complete with HDTVs, as well as lounge-style setups. The restaurant, encased all in glass, offers unobstructed views of Smith Cove from every seat in the house. For boating enthusiasts, The Studio boasts several slips for private docking and is the only venue to offer a boat shuttle directly to and from St. Peter’s Square in downtown Gloucester.

Helming the kitchen, Chef Stavis will bring twists to New American cuisine, raw bar delicacies and seafood creations. Stavis brings his passion for local sourcing to The Studio, working closely with Cape Ann-area fishermen and farmers. Restaurant-goers can expect to see an all-day menu with highlights like a Seafood Tower piled with two lobster tails, five each of oysters, shrimp and clams as well as four Jonah crab claws; a quartet of burger options including a Kelp Burger with homemade wakame salad and wasabi on a focaccia roll and a Tuna Steak Burger with wakame aioli on a brioche bun; Chef Matt’s signature Buffalo Chicken Mac ‘n Cheese with gemelli pasta, homemade cheese sauce and Frank’s Red Hot sauce-doused chicken finished with toasted breadcrumbs; and Hook & Line Baked Haddock, a gluten-free panko crusted haddock served with rice and vegetables. There is also a kid’s menu with favorites for the little ones.

To quench the insatiable summer thirst, the beverage program will boast something for everyone’s palettes. New this season are a collection of tiki cocktails dubbed “Tropical Getaways” like a Scorpion Bowl with Bacardi 151, Canerock and Plantation rums, Citadelle gin, Grainger’s vodka, citrus juices, and grenadine as well as the Truly Shark Bowl with Truly Hard Seltzer, blue curaçao and Grainger’s Deluxe raspberry vodka garnished with gummy sharks. The Studio also features refreshing frozen cocktails, signature libations, bubbly, wine including orange and rosé options, as well as a rotating selection of a dozen beers and ciders available on draught and another 16 canned options. While the classic pours are available, local producers take centerstage with options from the likes Rockport and Wachusett breweries.

The Studio Restaurant & Bar is located at 51 Rocky Neck Avenue in Gloucester. Beginning May 25, The Studio Restaurant & Bar will open daily from 11:00am-12:00am. The Studio Restaurant & Bar will also debut live music programming featuring local artists in June. Follow The Studio Restaurant & Lounge on Instagram at @studiogloucester.

Ripples…

It’s at Harbor Loop – at the buoy in front of the Coast Guard station – and it’s at 4:30pm. 

Link here- https://gloucesterstage.com/season-2023/

I recently downloaded the Merlin app from Cornell to assist with bird identification. The most useful attribute so far is the ability to record live birdsong and have it be identified. I admit to being kind of addicted. You see an example of a report here and the accompanying recording. We found our eagle pair recently along the river but I did not have my camera with me that day so I pulled out the phone to record when they started calling. So here are some other recent photos of that eagle pair along the river and a recording in case you love eagle calls as much as I do. (the audio file is at the bottom though the picture of the report looks like where you want to go)