Author: Catherine

posted content / cell phone photos mine, unless otherwise credited (thumbnail portrait of Catherine at MFA © David Cox photo)

Happy Fourth! Flags and porches along the Long Beach boardwalk ‘Little Boulevard’

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A ‘little boulevard’ – flags and porches, front cottages, Long Beach summer

and bonus red,white,blue thanks to glass fishing floats 

Al fresco dining: the Cupboard Stage Fort Park #GloucesterMA

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Not so rough “eating in the rough”, the Cupboard serves up great food and glorious al fresco options at Stage Fort Park.

THE CUPBOARD RESTAURANT
GLOUCESTER, MA
(978) 281-1908

and ice cream! and now an ATM on site!

menu

www.cupboardgloucester.com

 

Judith Murray | Sargent House featured in NEW Massachusetts vacation trail #WomenTrailblazers #GloucesterMA #VisitMA

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Sargent House Museum_20170831_Glouceseter Ma ©c ryan

See the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (Mott) July 2020 update below! Look for two FREE and easy business listing ideas, the 2019 Annual Report with all its visitor data, Covid-19 and its impact on the tourism sector, and Gloucester news that Judith Sargent Murray | Sargent House museum will be featured on the Regional Council Historic Women Trailblazers site! Gloucester boasts many women ground breakers.

 

BE SARGENT_Judith Sargent Murray mural Gloucester Mass _20180422_©c ryan
(photo caption – Monumental and stunning Be Sargent mural of Judith Sargent Murray is sited across Main street and front of historic house museum, Gloucester, Mass. See also HarborWalk marker here, and Cape Ann Museum.)

from MOTT July 2020:

(*Woodman’s photo)
July 2020
The spirit of Massachusetts is stronger than ever. Throughout the Commonwealth our friends and neighbors are working to keep people safe while helping to support the local economy – buying local, shopping local, staying local. We see people banding together for the common goal of keeping Massachusetts strong. In our arena, look no further than the new micro website initiated by the Regional Tourism Councils, www.spiritofma.com.  Congratulations to our RTC partners for this initiative. 

This month, Massachusetts moves from Phase Two to Phase Three of the Commonwealth’s four-phase plan to Reopen Massachusetts.  You can stay up to date on the latest Massachusetts news by checking the COVID-19 links below. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or comments.  

On behalf of all of us here at MOTT, thank you to the Massachusetts’ travel and tourism community for its resolve, optimism, and creativity as we move forward to brighter days ahead. 

Sincerely,

Keiko Matsudo Orrall
Executive Director

 

Massachusetts Reopening News

  • Beginning July 1, the Baker-Polito Administration has new quarantine guidelines for visitors coming to Massachusetts from seven neighboring states, including NY, NJ, CT, ME, NH, RI & VT.  See details here.
  • MOTT’s website, www.massvacation.com, now has FAQs for visitors coming to Massachusetts.
  • On June 28, the Commonwealth embarked on Phase II, Step 2 of the Reopening Massachusetts plan. Find information on when businesses can reopen here.
  • Indoor dining is now permitted.  For full restaurant guidance, click here.
  • State House officials announced additional administrative tax relief measures for local businesses impacted by COVID-19, especially in the restaurant and hospitality sectors. This tax relief includes postponing the collection of regular sales tax, meals tax, and room occupancy taxes for small businesses normally due from March through August, so that they will instead be due in September.

International Update

UK journalist, Abigail King, who had previously been hosted on an international FAM trip to Massachusetts, has written a blog on Nantucket, which was shortlisted for The Visit USA 2020 Media Awards. We are so happy to share that Abigail King won in the category of Blogger/Vlogger of the Year Award, with the submission of her beautiful Nantucket article from her visit; Fast forward to 3:41 to hear the award announcement by Visit USA! A sincere thank you to all in Massachusetts who hosted and made Abigail King’s experience in Massachusetts a memorable one.  Read Abigail’s piece on Nantucket here.

Industry News

Spirit of Massachusetts
The Regional Tourism Councils (RTC) have created a new micro website to promote Massachusetts as a great place to visit when the time is right. See details here.

Sales Tax Holiday
Massachusetts’ annual Sales Tax Holiday the weekend of August 30-31 offers a good opportunity to support Main Street businesses and the local economy.  See FAQs about the Sales Tax Holiday.

State Campgrounds
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation has opened state campgrounds beginning July 1.  See details here.

The 2020 Big E Cancelled
The Eastern States Exposition announced that due to the COVID-19 crisis, this year’s BIG E Fair has been cancelled.  Be sure to mark your calendar for the 2021 BIG E Fair: September 17-October 3, 2021, and keep up with the latest from The Big E here.

Massachusetts Celebrates Women Trailblazers
MOTT’s Historic Women Trailblazers digital page celebrates the achievement of women in the Commonwealth.  Stay tuned for the release of our digital booklet on the Historic Women Trailblazer’s page in August.

Massport News
Construction work at Logan International Airport this summer will affect traffic patterns at the airport, especially around Terminal B.  See details here.

Call for Brochures
Our friends at Simon/Lee Premium Outlets in Lee, MA, invite you to send them one box of brochures or visitor guides for display at their information centers.  There is no storage or stocking fee so please send your printed tourism information to: Carolyn Edwards, Area General Manager, Simon/Lee Premium Outlets, 17 Premium Outlets Blvd., Lee, MA 01238. If you would like more information, please contact Carolyn Edwards.

50 Great Things to do Under $50

MOTT’s ’50 Under $50’ special deals page is consistently ranked as one of our Top 5 visited web pages each month.  To list a special deal offered by your organization, the offer must be valid for a two-month duration and the admission of $50 must cover: two adults only and/or two adults with two children age 12 and under.

We are currently accepting ’50 Under $50’ offers for August/September/October. Please send your submissions to:  Phyllis M. Cahaly.

FREE means FREE!

With so many amazing free things to do in Massachusetts, we created a FREE category listing in our online calendar of events at massvacation.com.

Now, you can add your organization’s cost-free events to MOTT’s year-round calendars. Just click on ‘submit your listing’ on the bottom of the homepage, and follow the prompts.

COVID-19 Resources & News

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By the Numbers

  • In calendar year 2019, International visitors to Massachusetts totaled 2.5 million, which was down slightly from 2018.
  • Overseas volume to Massachusetts was just under 1.8 million.  The top five origin countries were: China (269 k), United Kingdom (247 k), Germany (104 k), Brazil (102 k), and France (101 k).  Canadian visitation to Massachusetts has historically been just under 700,000 with the majority of visitors coming from the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

  • The 2019 Annual Report has been published.

Drift Cafe taking it to the streets | al fresco dining ready on Main Street #GloucesterMA

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Gloucester restaurants readying creative outdoor spaces along the west end of Main Street downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts

Drift cafe 3 Main Street 978-314-4238


great inner harbor and people watching from Drift cafe windows on Rogers

Oliver’s Harbor Restaurant taking it to the streets | al fresco dining ready on Main Street #GloucesterMA

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Gloucester restaurants readying creative outdoor spaces along the west end of Main Street downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts

 

Oliver’s Harbor Restaurant 64 Main Street (978) 559-7638

 

Franklin taking it to the streets | al fresco dining ready on Main Street #GloucesterMA

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Gloucester restaurants readying creative outdoor spaces along the west end of Main Street downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts

 

The Franklin Cape Ann  118 Main Street  978.283.7888

 

FRANKLIN- al fresco dining ready_covid-19 reopening_Gloucester Ma- 20200627_©c ryan

 

 

Passports taking it to the streets | al fresco dining ready on Main Street #GloucesterMA

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Gloucester restaurants readying creative outdoor spaces along the west end of Main Street downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts

 

Passports 110 Main Street (978) 281-3680

 

Passports- al fresco dining ready_covid-19 reopening_Gloucester Ma- 20200627_©c ryan

Fiesta expressions in the year of Covid-19 #GloucesterMA

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FIESTA at the fort

 

St. Peter’s Club

FIESTA LONGING

aka seeing Fiesta where it isn’t

when canoes are more than – Fiesta longing

 

Always fiesta – Pop Gallery Main Street Gloucester MA

They had big plans to celebrate their 10th anniversary and Fiesta 2020

 

Fiesta blues

detail from Art Haven tape mural, Viva

Fiesta and Summer Reads at The Book Store of Gloucester

 

Fiesta inspiration – Juni Van Dyke drawings from Italy at Jane Deering Gallery

 

Greasy Pole

 

Greasy Pole shrine

 

 

Fiesta amid Be Sargent’s EPIC mural

 

wearing whites & Fiesta procession – portraits

 

Drift cafe – Mario and Luigi

 

 

Virgilio’s is open

 

 

Great Read – Gail McCarthy Fiesta 2020 articles

Fiesta and Friends Forever: Celebrating a Generation of Local Women Gloucester Daily Times 6/26/2020 Grace Favazza and Rosalie Laiachino

 

Also Remembering those who held St. Peter’s Fiesta close to their hearts:

“…Joe Novello, the committee’s president, said he was saddened by the sheer number of names — more than 70 — this year. In recent years generally 20 to 30 names have been read.

“The St. Peter’s Fiesta Committee sends out its condolences to all those families who have lost a loved one, and their memory will be in our thoughts and prayers at this time,” he said. Among those lost this year are…

Gail McCarthy, Gloucester Daily Times

Sugar Magnolias taking it to the streets | al fresco dining ready on Main Street #GloucesterMA

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Gloucester restaurants readying creative outdoor spaces along the west end of Main Street downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts

 

Sugar Magnolia’s  112 Main Street (978) 281-5310

SUGAR MAGS al fresco dining ready_covid-19 reopening_20200627_©c ryan

Caffe Sicilia taking it to the streets | al fresco dining ready on Main Street #GloucesterMA

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Gloucester restaurants readying creative outdoor spaces along the west end of Main Street downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts

 

Caffe Sicilia 40 Main Street  (978) 283-7345

caffe-sicilia_al-fresco-dining-ready_covid-19-reopening_20200627_c2a9c-ryan

 

Caffe Sicilia taking it to the streets | al fresco dining ready on Main Street #GloucesterMA

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Gloucester restaurants readying creative outdoor spaces along the west end of Main Street downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts

 

Caffe Sicilia 40 Main Street  (978) 283-7345

 

caffe-sicilia_al-fresco-dining-ready_covid-19-reopening_20200627_c2a9c-ryan

 

Tonno taking it to the streets | al fresco dining ready on Main Street #GloucesterMA

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Gloucester restaurants readying creative outdoor spaces along the west end of Main Street downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts

Tonno 2 Main Street 978-879-4795 

 

Jalapenos taking it to the streets | al fresco dining ready on Main Street #GloucesterMA

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Gloucester restaurants readying creative outdoor spaces along the west end of Main Street downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts

 

Jalapenos 88 Main Street 978-283-8228

JALAPENOS al fresco dining ready_covid-19 reopening_20200627_©c ryan

Red dots at Jane Deering Gallery! #CapeAnnCovid phased reopening first exhibit features radiantly colorful Juni Van Dyke art

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Life and nature. Place and memory. Every hue, line, shape and mark pulses affirmatively: Don’t miss the great joy of experiencing the Juni Van Dyke solo exhibition in person now on view at Jane Deering Gallery. Two people at a time are allowed in the space at this time. The gallery is open from 1-3 Saturday and Sunday, and by appointment.

JUNI VAN DYKE | The Journey…then and now

June 13 – July 12, 2020

Taking it to the streets | al fresco dining ready on Main Street #GloucesterMA

Posted on by Catherine

Gloucester restaurants readying creative outdoor spaces along the west end of Main Street downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts

 

Caffe Sicilia 40 Main Street  (978) 283-7345

 

 

Oliver’s Harbor Restaurant 64 Main Street (978) 559-7638

 

 

Jalapenos 88 Main Street 978-283-8228

 

Drift cafe 3 Main Street 978-314-4238

Drift wrap around on Main
great inner harbor and people watching from Drift cafe windows on Rogers

 

Tonno 2 Main Street 978-879-4795 

 

 

Passports – Sugar Mags – Franklin 

Passports- Sugar Magnolias- Franklin Cape Ann- safe- al fresco dining ready_covid-19 reopening_Gloucester Ma- 20200627_©c ryan

 

Not yet ready – Yella on the Water

Signs of the times: Viva! St. Peter’s Fiesta in the year of Covid-19 #StreetArt Cape Ann Art Haven

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Cape Ann Art Haven most recent tape art, the St. Peter’s Fiesta VIVA mural, can be found at the corner of Pleasant and Main Streets. The engaging subject is built into more with each passing day which rewards repeat visits. Here’s where the unfolding scene stands today:

St. Peter’s Fiesta spirit underway despite Covid cancellation – Cape Ann Art Haven tape art mural in progress, Gloucester, Mass.

See more at Cape Ann Art Haven arthaven.org

Cape Ann Art Haven current programs, free art kits, coloring book, and these new ephemeral public art projects were featured as part of Gail McCarthy’s wonderful Covid-19 series for the Gloucester Daily Times. Find the Art Haven article here: Creativity Amid Crisis

Signs of the times: Rumba While You Wait in line #TraderJoes clever #Covid-19 safety

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Covid-19 queue control at Trader Joe’s- a fun and clever waiting gesture keeps customers and staff safe and calm! Thankful for the smile.

(I hope people post images of the dancing–all levels!)