Check out @aqua_map to follow the Tall Ships and Schooners participating in @sail4th250 Super interactive chart which allows you to follow your favorites as they head to Boston for this historic weekend

Rockport Music presents a free day of music and fun for the whole family! July 11

A free, day-long celebration of live music,pop-up performances, and contemporary circus across Rockport.

On the Town transforms Rockport into a day full of live music, contemporary circus, and fun from Harvey Park and Bearskin Neck to Front Beach and Millbrook Meadow. The Shalin Liu Performance Center will host tours and concerts, and Millbrook Meadow will serve as the day’s hub with a tented performance space for music, circus, and hands-on activities for all ages.

Locations

Millbrook Meadow | Farmers’ Market/Harvey Park | Rockport Public Library Courtyard
Tuna Wharf | First Congregational Church of Rockport Lawn 
Front Beach | Rockport Art Association | Shalin Liu Performance Center

LEARN MORE

Schedule and Map

Spots of Backyard Color

The oppressive heat over the weekend forced me to slow down and just observe nature in our backyard. The heat did not seem to slow down the bird activities. We had several spots of color appear in the form of woodpeckers and orioles. I’m not sure where the cardinals went during the heat wave, but we haven’t seen too many. We were grateful for the entertainment these provided though.

Another great Beach day at Good Harbor

Wonderful Wednesday at Good Harbor Beach., with many smiling beach goers.   The ocean was telling a story.  The Purple and Red flags were hanging from the light guard stand.  The Red Flag is for rough seas and purple for marine life, such as jelly fish.  I did not see any jelly fish.  The Purple Flag does not indicate sharks.  It was a beauty of a day.

Backyard Growcery farmers market opens July 8

 ~ backyardgrowersgloucester ~ 

Learn more

Stop by downtown Gloucester’s farmers market, the Backyard Growcery, brought to life by Backyard Growers every Wednesday from 2:30-6:30pm at Burnham’s Field in downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts.

The Backyard Growcery brings fresh, local food to our community while supporting small-scale farms and up-and-coming food businesses. Visit weekly to shop high-quality, local produce, eggs, and other fresh and prepared foods. Join free veggie gardening and arts workshops, connect with family & friends, and support a vibrant local food system right in your own backyard!

The Growcery accepts SNAP/EBT, WIC and Senior Farmers Market Coupons. SNAP users can visit the Backyard Growers table every week to receive extra cash to spend at the market through Market Mint, Backyard Growers’ $5 SNAP match.

Explore this season’s vendor list

To kick off the season, on July 8 we are welcoming:
🥖 Bonny Breads – delicious bread & baked goods
🥪 Between Sandwiches – incredible prepared foods
🔨 The Cornerstone Creative – youth-crafted wood creations
🥕 First Light Farm – fresh produce from Hamilton
🐣 Pleasant Valley Gardens: The Bonanno Family Farm – fresh produce & eggs from Methuen
🍕 Rhea Pizzeria Napoletana – artisanal pizza to pre-order online and enjoy at the market
🥤 Shore Sips – the North Shore’s only dirty soda company
🌱 SweetSoil Foods – dried herbs & spices, natural snacks, and cocktail enhances from local organic produce
🥨 The Woven Crust – a hyper-local sourdough cottage bakery
🍄‍🟫 Underground Mushroom Co – fresh mushrooms & mushroom grow kits

Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy live music by 2 Guys, 10 Strings.

Plus, Burnham’s Field Community Garden will be open for public tours.

See you at Burnham’s!

Surfside Subs Today’s Specials at Surfside 7/9!🍕🦞

Treat yourself to one of our customer favorites today!

🦞 Lobster Roll – Only $19.99 + tax
Served with crispy chips & pickles.

🍕 Pizza Deals
🔥 Buy any 18” Pizza and get a second 18” Pizza HALF PRICE!
Limit one half-price pizza per customer.

🔥 16” Pizzas are HALF PRICE!
Maximum of 2 half-price pizzas per customer.

Perfect for lunch, dinner, or sharing with family and friends!

📍 Surfside Subs & Pizza
⏰ Open Daily: 11 AM – 9 PM

Specials exclude gluten-free crusts.
Pizza specials cannot be combined.
Not valid with online ordering.

Join Us At Saturday’s Block Party!

Thirsty Seagull Gloucester Apparel and Pat D’s Photos will be offering a variety of items and special deals for Saturday’s July 11 Block Party on Main St. We hope you will stop by outside 44 Main St. Show special for Pat D’s Photos nightlights: 2/$50 (normally $30 each). This is a good time to start holiday shopping! If you can’t make it, reach out in comments or by messenger. We deliver free in Cape Ann. Shop hours this week are today Thursday noon-5; Friday 11-5; Saturday 11- end of Block Party; Sunday 11-3.

Widow’s Bay Filmed in Gloucester Ma garners 19 Emmy Nods Which Leads Me To Ask, Is Gloucester Ma The Mecca For Making Award Winning Productions With The Recent Best Picture Oscar Win For Gloucester filmed ”CODA”?

People Magazine- Widow’s Bay is an eerie, fictional New England island featured in the Apple TV+ horror-comedy series. The atmospheric seaside town was primarily filmed across several Massachusetts North Shore communities, using multiple real-life Gloucester spots to establish its moody coastal vibe

Come and view many paintings by artists Ken Knowles and Ryan Davis at The Pathways For Children Fundraiser

Buy raffle tickets to win paintings 20% sale proceeds go to PathwaysFor Children plus 100% of raffle.Catered by Vinwood Caterers.No cover!!

Boats Wanted- Boat Parade Of Lights!

Save the date – Saturday, September 5th for the 2026 Annual Parade of Lights Boat Parade in Gloucester during the Gloucester Schooner Festival. Let’s celebrate the 250th America, decorate your boats and houses along the route.

Week of the Fourth — pat morss

Here’s a look at our Fourth of July week, celebrating the country’s 250th around Gloucester.

The right hand Mallard is also a male, just further along in his summer molt. Niles Pond.
An ‘American Lady’ found our butterfly bushes.
Gloucester’s 4th of July fireworks, on the 3rd.
Celebrating the 4th with a sail on Troll. Eastern Point Yacht Club.
London-registered Blue Guitar was back for a summer visit. [Eric Clapton never owned her.]
Lunch on the 4th with our last ‘Fisherman’s Pils,’ after the Cape Ann Brewing Company closed in 2021.
Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on TV – USS Constitution sailing above the Charles River Basin (drones).
Untitled early Mark Rothko watercolor (1934), in the Cape Ann Museum’s exhibit highlighting the years Milton Avery, Adolph Gottlieb, and Mark Rothko painted together in Gloucester.
The styles of all three grew more abstract later in life. Here is the comparison for Mark Rothko.
The non-rotating Fresnel lens that was installed in the south lighthouse tower on Thacher Island in 1861.
The museum’s 20-month renovation created fresh spaces for telling about Gloucester’s heritage.
A newly exhibited early watercolor by Fitz Henry Lane, ‘Burning of the Packet Ship Boston,’ 1830.
My favorites are still in the Fitz Henry Lane Room; for example ‘Three Master in Rough Seas,’ early 1850s.