And so it begins. My Eloise who was 5 and a half months old when I published my first blog post on GMG, is now looking at colleges.

Huge thanks to Cosmo Palazola, son of my former roommate Tom PAL for showing us around the school, which is basically smack dab in the heart of the city.

After breakfast at new joint Bodega, touring the school and grabbing lunch at roofdeck spot “The Watch” we headed out to Shem Creek which came highly recommended by Mark Ring who may or may not have nearly drowned when trying to swim across Shem Creek with his fishing boots on.

Boston Symphony Orchestra violinist Lucia Lin will play the Jean Sibelius Violin Concerto No. 1 as the featured soloist highlighting the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra Winter Concert on Sunday, February 27. Music Director Robert Lehmann will raise his baton to start the concert at 3:00 p.m. at Swampscott High School auditorium.

The concert program will open with Michail Glika’s “Overture to ‘Russian and Ludmilla’” and conclude with Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 1.

Tickets can be purchased in advance on the Orchestra’s website, www.nspo.org or at Swampscott High on the day of the concert for $30. $25 for seniors and students.  Children 12 and under are admitted free.

Violinist Lucia Lin joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1985 and has enjoyed a stellar career as soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist.  She debuted at age 11 when she performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  Since then, she has won numerous competitions, including the 1990 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.  She has appeared with the Boston Pops, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Oklahoma Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and the Festival Orchestra in Graz, Austria.  She has served as the BSO’s assistant concertmaster and also has held concertmaster roles with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and London Symphony Orchestra.  She previously appeared with the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra in 2015.

Danish Composer Carl Nielsen wrote his first Symphony in 1891-92 and dedicated the work to his wife, renowned sculptor Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen.  The work is known for its distinctively “Danish” flavors and Nielsen’s personal style.

Out of concern for the health and safety of all musicians and audience members, the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra requires all patrons attending the concert present proof of a Covid-19 vaccination, or proof of a negative Covid-19 test no more than 72 hours prior to the concert.   Home tests are not accepted. Patrons will be required to wear masks and socially distance in the auditorium.

For more information about the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra, visit nspo.org.

Kate gave the awesome Regina her vision for a gift for Charleen’s birthday and Regina made it more perfect than she ever could have imagined!

Kate writes-

If you’re looking for an amazing gift or something for yourself, Again and Again Sail Bags are perfect! I gave her an idea of what I was looking for and she created this masterpiece. Perfection!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CaFwXv_Pwkt/?utm_medium=copy_link

Rich Evans Explains-

I always knew there was a logic to it, but I never saw it explained so well until I stumbled upon this delightfully informative short video on how the US interstates are numbered.

Those with 2-digits traverse the entire country
If they end in “0” they run East-West (10, 20, 30, ..)
If they end in “5” they run North-South (5, 15, 25, ..)

Those with 3-digits are bypasses and contain the last 2 digits of the interstates they bypass.

That’s it! (plus exceptions 😉 )

This is the before number. I’ll be weighing in Feb 18th in the morning to compare.

Thanks to Peter Carbone for the informal introduction last summer

Hedre’s a link to their website-

TASTING SIX ROBUST REDS AND WHITES TO TAME THE CHILL IN THE HEART OF WINTER HIGHLIGHTING THIS FEBRUARY 19TH SAVOUR – SATURDAY’S TASTING ARE THE  WINES OF SPECIALTY WINE MERCHANT HARRY “Z”. SPOTLIGHTING A PINOT NOIR AND PINOT GRIS FROM OREGON AND A MASSIVE TUSCAN BRUNELLO  DI MONTALCINO.  DO STEP IN FROM THE COLD AND JOIN US.

WHAT & WHY: As our culinary thinking is firmly centered on hearty, comfort fare… warming fish chowders and substantial beef stews laden with root veggies… to roasts flavored with family favorite au jus, roasted potatoes, greens in season and an array of homemade breads to corral the drippings, Harry “Z” fine wine selections for this tasting more than stand up to the big flavors / aromas that define winter food-favorites.  We continue our tasting and informational journey having our Saturday tastings emphasize everything in pairing wine and food.  Always complimentary tastings, & as always, the tasting is elevated using our imported Riedel stemware.  

WHO:Guest Host Harry “Z” wine merchant / importer / owner Main Street Wine Imports and Savour’s Kathleen Morgan have chosen wines primarily from small, independent, innovative vintners, one’s that match winter comfort food…roasts, stews, hearty soups and pasta    

WHEN: This Saturday, February 19th , from 2pm to 4pm + @ Savour  2pm to 4pm +

HOW: Saturday tastings are complimentary, as is parking behind the store with rear entrance.

Saturday’s Pourings include: two Oregonian reds; a Russian River Valley fav, big complex tastes from Tuscany, Sicily, and Argentina.

Duck Pond Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, OR, 2018, Alc.14.5%, Varietal: Oregon Pinot Gris, Tasting: Characterized by its tropical aromas and bright acidity. Flavors and aromas of lemon curd, nectarine, elderflower, grapefruit dominate, finishing crisp and dry. Pairs Well: This wine makes an excellent partner for shellfish, sushi, and most hors-d’oeuvres. Rating: Wine Enthusiast 89 ….$14.99

Octopoda Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, CA, 2019, Alc. 14.5
Varietals: Chardonnay Tasting: A very subtle nose hints at yellow plum, creaminess and just a hint of hazelnut. The palate has a lovely, sinuous, well-proportioned body that gains immensely from its ripe but zesty lemon freshness. The finish is dry, appetizing and bright.  Pairs Well: roast pork loin, rich fish( salmon, tuna), vegetarian, poultry Rating: The Wine Buyer 91..$19.99          

Firriato Etna Rosso, Le Sabbie Dell’Etna, Mt Etna, Sicily, 2019, Alc. 14%
Varietals: Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Capuccio  Tasting: bright ruby color with lively purple reflection, elegant bouquet envelops blueberries, cassis, plum jam, black cherry, licorice, pepper and dried violets. Lively, energetic, well-balanced, rich, harmonious taste with soft tannins. Juicy fruit tones adorn notes of cinnamon, black pepper and other spices. Pairs Well:  Good pairing with tomato/basil-based Italian food,  grilled meats, game and mature cheeses. Rating: Wine Enthusiast 90…. $25.99

Duck Pond, Great Oregon Wine Co., Natural Pinot Noir, Or. 2020, Alc. 14.2%
Varietals: Oregon Pinot Noir, Tasting: On the palate, crisp and bright black cherry leads to hints of earth and forest floor. The moderate tannin and acidity bring balance and a velvety texture to the finish. Multiple high-quality sites throughout Oregon contribute to a well-balanced palate and complex nose. rib roast, veal, game (deer, venison), poultry-chicken, turkey …$19.99

Piancornello, Brunello Di Montalcino, Tuscany 2016, Alc. 15%
Varietals: Sangiovese, Tasting: Fruit-focused and high-energy lifting up with a spicy and slightly exotic display, showing sour cherry, wild strawberry, savory herbs. It’s silky in texture with fleshy red berries further excited by juicy acids, giving way to salty minerals and pretty inner florals. Tannins saturate through the finish. Consider decanting. Pairs Well: lamb chops, top sirloin roast, game (venison/deer), Rating: James Suckling 94, Vinous 94…….$74.99

Domaine Bousquet Black Rock, Organic Malbec, Mendoza, Uco Valley, Argentina, 2020, Alc. 14.5%, Varietal: Organic Malbec, Tasting: Fruity aromas of raspberry, blackberry, plum and licorice. It’s medium-bodied with soft tannins and fresh acidity. Juicy. Vegan! The mouth highlights notes of ripe plums with soft and elegant tannins.
Pairs Well: gourmet hamburger brioche, roast beef club sandwich, grilled lamb kabobs, poultry Rating: James Suckling 90 …$17.99

Our Expanding Collection of Fine Wines In Half-Bottles …Perfect for two when one glass each will do!  

Adding to the Harry “Z” Main Street Wine Tasting this Saturday is Savor’s Everyday Tech Tastings at the North Shore’s Only Digital Wine Machine. >Taste up to 20 wines…complimentary. Kathleen welcomes questions for food pairings.

Welcome Your Donation in any amount (suggest $5) for Pathways for Children.
                                                                                                      Thank You! …Kathleen

For Your Mobile Calendar l Feb.-Mar., Savour Wine Tastings!
Feb. 19 – Harry Zarkades – wine merchant & owner, Maine Street Wines
Feb. 26 – Laura Rotondi of Baystate Wines
> Featuring Scott Family Sauvignon Blanc, $14.99, Wine Spectator Bargain Wine of the Year!
March 5 –  Kelly Ruby (Portuguese Wine Specialist)
March 12 – Dave Bender of Vineyard Road Wines
March 19 – Brooke Overheiser of Connoisseur Wines (Martignetti)

New Updated Mask Policy:  On February 11th  Gloucester’s Board of Health voted to end mask requirements in all public spaces including the retail community while encouraging people to continue to wear face coverings when indoors and with people of unknown vaccination status, and to respect, to be tolerant of people’s choice to wear masks.
> In accordance with the new policy, we welcome customers and vendors without mask and welcome customers and vendors wearing masks.
>Savour continues to provide the safest possible shopping environment for the health & well-being of our customers & our Savour team.
>We continue using our 5 Molekule high performance air purification units that clear the air of 99.9% of viruses, bacteria and allergens every hour, store wide.
>We welcome your use of our hand sanitizers. We will continue to sanitize credit cards before returning, and ask you respect customers who continue to socially distance. Thank you!

We are pleased to continue curbside pickup service

                  Savour Wine & Cheese  l  76 Prospect St.  l  Gloucester l  978. 282 .1455    
savourwineandcheese.com

We are having our first drive of 2022 and we’d deeply appreciate any “getting the word out” you can for us!

Come join us for our 1st “Pint for a Pint Blood Drive” of the winter at True North Brewery. 116 County Road, Ipswich, Ma 01938, on Saturday, Feb, 19th, 2022 from 8:30 Am til 3:00 PM.

I saw a saying once that said ” A single pint can save three lives, a single gesture can create a million smiles” The generosity of those who give truly breathes life into the phrase “Heroes come in all types and sizes!” Be one of those hero’s – give a pint of blood and receive a voucher for a pint of one of True North’s award winning brews as our thank-you!

Since its inception during the pandemic when many local breweries stepped in as safe locations in which to donate, Pint for a Pint has a running total of over 230 pints of blood and counting! That means your wonderful gift has gone onto help 690 souls!

Come on down and be someone’s everything, you never will know the impact of your gift, but someone’s everything will!

You can register at tinyurl.com/trueF19 or at scrawney-morgan.org.

Should you have eligibility questions about donating: 617-632-3206.

Appointments recommended – walk-ins taken as time allows!

As a special thank-you, donors will receive a Kraft Family Blood Donor hooded sweatshirt! The perfect season for the perfect gift!

Photo ID required for all donors – Hydrate well, drink extra water and please eat before donation!

Hosted by True North Ales and hookacure.org