Author: Nichole S.

Turtle!

Posted on by Nichole S.

Friends of ours were sailing just outside the Eastern Point breakwater when they spotted this guy or gal!  Before getting close enough to clearly identify it, they said that the huge head almost looked like a very small humpback whale calf.  Upon closer inspection it was, without a doubt, a massive turtle!

For all the time I have spent on the water in this area, I have never seen a turtle like this!

Can anyone chime in?  Is this pretty rare? I’m sad that the photo doesn’t do justice to what was, based on their description, a beautiful creature!

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Nichole’s Picks 7/11 + 7/12

Posted on by Nichole S.

Pick #1:  Rockport Navy Weekend

PLEASE GO HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF EVENTS

With kickball, tours of the ships, a Navy Band concert, a pancake breakfast, some softball against the Rockport Police, and more…Rockport Navy Weekend is always a good time.  Kudos to its organizers and the host families who share their homes with the sailors.

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Pick #2: Cape Ann Museum

Second Saturday/Family Fun Free Day:  Summers on Cape Ann

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SATURDAY, JULY 11

11:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m.   Youth and Family Programs

Second Saturday/Family Fun Free Day 

A drop-in program for families with young children. 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Includes free admission for family members, gallery guides and related art projects in the CAM Activity Center.

Saturday, July 11 Summers on Cape Ann  

Check out more about the Cape Ann Museum HERE!

Pick #3:  Salem Willows Seafood Festival

  July 10th-12th

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Indulge Yourself at the Salem Willows Seafood Festival! Dozens of restaurants and food vendors serve up their seafood specialties including lobster, chowder, shrimp, clams & all the New England Favorites! Nonstop entertainment with the best regional bands, sample culinary masterpieces at the Wicked Bites Culinary Demonstrations tent, Kiddie Land, Local Arts, Crafts & Merchants. Beverage Courtyard serving beer & wine. Fireworks Saturday night at 9:30pm!

CLICK HERE TO GET ALL OF THE DETAILS!

For a more complete listing of family friendly events, please visit our friends at North Shore Kid

RESTOKE

Posted on by Nichole S.

The other day we stumbled upon a skate boarding course and met some fantastic and fascinating people who were out enjoying the gorgeous day and spreading the word about their local companies and their missions.  While I did a quick “live blogging” post in the moment, I wanted to better acknowledge the local companies who were out their sponsoring the fun.

One of those companies was RESTOKE.

They have a pretty cool mission if you ask me….not to mention some great apparel and accessories.

RESTOKE is a word that is meant to impact everyone in a positive way. RESTOKE means to relive that unique and hard to come by feeling you get when you are doing something that thrills and excites you, whatever it is, and to Never Stop! Our focus is to provide RESTOKE through our lifestyle apparel and accessories, that inspire the passion in you to do and keep doing whatever it is that excites and thrills you.

Please check out their website by clicking HERE
or by going to www.restoke.com

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A Narrow Escape

Posted on by Nichole S.

Yesterday I posted some photos of the luxury yacht Time For Us as it exited the Annisquam River and entered Gloucester Harbor.  I also included the link in case you were interested in renting it.

Here’s that information again.

The 122 foot yacht can be rented for a mere $70,000 per week…plus expenses.  The good news is that it comes with a 5 member crew, sleeps 8 in its four cabins, comes with two wave runners, two kayaks, 1 wakeboard, water skis, some “towable toys”, and two tenders…one measuring 32 feet and a smaller one that is 16 feet.  In the photos below you can see her larger tender following her into the harbor. Not bad.

The interior is indeed pretty sweet as is the outdoor deck/lounging space…and, of course, the jacuzzi isn’t so bad either.

Here’s some video of her as she conducted a big squeeze and narrowly exited the river through the Blyman Bridge.

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I’d Make Time For “Time For Us”

Posted on by Nichole S.

Check out this humble little number that we saw squeezing (literally) through the cut bridge a moment ago.  I’ll post the video later.

image image image image imageCheck out how you can go about chartering it HERE

http://m.yachtcharterfleet.com/luxury-charter-yacht-26762/time-for-us.htm

Sunday Afternoons are Getting Real Again at the new Blue Collar Lobster Co.

Posted on by Nichole S.

Many of you probably know by now that there is great new outdoor seating and a new restaurant area at the Gloucester House.  Named the Blue Collar Lobster Co., this new establishment stands to be a lot of fun on Sunday afternoons.  Think old school…like waaaay back to 1991ish.

Thatcher and I stopped by quickly today to take some pics and to grab a bite to eat.

Two crab races, two rounds of corn hole, one virgin pina colada, one margarita, a hotdog, and some great reggae songs later, we left thinking, “We’ll definitely have to go back with the rest of the family and some friends next week!”

Get Your Skateboard On!: Live Blogging With Two Pretty Excellent Local Companies in Rockport!

Posted on by Nichole S.

The boys were psyched to stumble upon this action right now!  On the corner of Marmion Way and Richard’s Ave in Rockport, two local companies are joining forces for an afternoon of skateboarding fun.

Pulp and Fizz a local label that produces independently made music and who has a fantastic mission for doing good and helping artists thrive, and whom follows the motto “thoughtful provisions for living a life full of love, color and music” AND RESTOKE (forgive me for not knowing how to make that R backwards!!) “a lifestyle apparel brand created to inspire the pursuit to relive the stoke and NEVER STOP!” are currently setting up some pretty cool obstacle courses for boarders to tackle.

I look forward to doing a longer blog post to do these two great companies justice later on…

In the meantime, if you’re in the area…get on down there!

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Fire

Posted on by Nichole S.

Rockport’s bonfire burned fast and strong last night.  What a great way to end what feels like a month full of festivities.  Here’s the view from across the harbor while standing on Lumber Wharf.

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In Case You Missed the Horrible’s Parade…

Posted on by Nichole S.

In case you weren’t able to get down to the Horrible’s Parade this year, you got stuck in the hellacious beach traffic, or you just didn’t want to go… here is what you missed.

Next stop, Rockport.

Come Sail Away: Sandy Bay Yacht Club

Posted on by Nichole S.

Since he was about four-years-old, Thatcher has known that he wanted to start sailing lessons at the Sandy Bay Yacht Club in Rockport as soon as he was old enough to begin.

Old Enough happened this week!

For as much time as I’ve spent on boats, I’m not a sailor, so it blows my mind to watch him out there in the harbor sailing solo.

I have been so impressed with the staff and instructors and I am looking forward to watching Thatch grow, learn, and advance through the ranks in the SBYC sailing program.

Quintessential summer.

Who is Manning the Ship?

Posted on by Nichole S.

With this many Rhumb Line employees all at the same wedding, it begs the question “Who is manning the ship.” Not included in the photo, but in attendance is Fred Shrigley and MANY musicians who have graced the Rhumb Line stage!!!

Congratulations to the King and Queen

Posted on by Nichole S.

Congratulations to Dan and Amanda King we are honored to share in their amazing day and wish them a lifetime of happiness. Let the dancing begin!