Author: Nichole S.

Seeing yellow. A trip down the Annisquam River is always full of photo opportunities no matter what the weather.

Uncle Frank’s Pizza. I picked Thatcher up at work the other day and he was starving. With Finn off with friends, I told Thatch we could order quick take out. He asked if we could get Uncle Frank’s Pizza. I, for some reason, had not heard of it, but was happy to give it a try. Thatch gave it high praise and evidently he and his friends order it quite a bit. Uncle Frank’s Pizza is located in the Commons Plaza at 214 Eastern Avenue on the way from Gloucester into Rockport. We ordered the Four Cheese Pizza, Thatcher’s choice, and it was delicious! He was happy to tell me all of the other things he has tried….and I look forward to ordering it again. Delicious food, really friendly staff, and a super convenient location! Give it a try!

http://unclefranksgloucester.com/

Beautiful non-beach days and lonely lifeguard chairs.

The fog on the Annisquam…. While not conducive to a great beach or a boat day, was at least pretty. So, there’s that.

I got a kick out of this guy wading way out in the cove off of Rocky Neck (I always forget what it’s called). I asked Finn to snap a photo while we were driving by. Catching people in the act of doing what makes Gloucester pretty special is one of my favorite things to do. #becausegloucester.

I am definitely not a birder, but I did get a kick out of watching this scene play out above me last week. Two smaller birds did their best to keep a larger bird away from their nest…and maybe eggs (presumably). I watched for more than 20 minutes as the two smaller birds chased the larger bird around the neighborhood, off branches, and away from their spot. Feisty!

I stopped by Gloucester’s Vietnam Memorial last night. It is truly beautiful. Please visit it if you have not.

Man’s best friend. This sight kind of made my day. While driving down the boulevard and quickly stuck at the bridge, I happened to catch this moment between a person and their precious dog. I hope this photo finds this person! They are obviously lucky to have each other.

Several friends and I had dinner on the deck at Mile Marker One last night. We shared a few appetizers (which I forgot to photograph) that were delicious….specifically the SRIRACHA HONEY CAULIFLOWER BITES, CRISP & SPICY BROCCOLI, and the TAHINI HUMMUS, WHIPPED FETA & GREEN OLIVE TAPENADE. For dinner we also chose to share a few different entrees so we sampled the SEAFOOD-STUFFED PINEAPPLE, LOBSTER MAC & CHEESE, STEAK TIPS, FRESH BURRATA, CLASSIC CAESAR, and FISH & CHIPS. The Painkillers and Watermelon Coolers were perfect as well! Check out the menu here: https://capeannmarina.com/dining/menus/

While exploring the Corkscrew Swamp in Florida last week I learned about the rare Ghost Orchid and was lucky enough to see one thanks to park naturalists who had discovered one high in a tree and had a telescope pointed for visitors to observe it. There are only 2,000 in the world. The ghost orchid I photographed had just bloomed that day, however, there is a “Super Ghost Orchid” in the swamp that has drawn attention around the world. Unfortunately, that particular orchid did not bloom for the first time this year until just a few days after our visit. You can learn more about that Ghost Orchid at the website below.

https://corkscrew.audubon.org/visit/corkscrews-ghost-orchid

“The ghost orchid is aptly named for a few reasons. Its white flowers have a vaguely spectral appearance, and they seem to hover in the forest due to an illusion created by the leafless plant. This effect also makes the rare orchid even harder to find, especially outside the brief, unpredictable window when it blooms in summer.

Unfortunately, the ghost orchid is also at risk of living up to its name in another way. It’s an endangered species, limited to scattered populations in Cuba, the Bahamas, and Florida, where it exists in just three southwestern counties.

It inhabits remote swamp forests and small wooded islands, yet still faces an array of threats from humans, namely poaching, climate change, loss of pollinators, and loss of habitat.

The species has long enchanted anyone lucky enough to see it, and we’re still learning its secrets—including new research that challenges what we thought we knew about its pollinators.”

I flew home on Saturday afternoon from a trip to Florida and I was REALLY hoping that we’d head North enough while looping back towards Logan to look down and see Fiesta. It would have been such a fun photo to snap. Unfortunately, we made the turn over Beverly instead and didn’t quite make it to the skies over Gloucester. But, this photo of Beverly, the Bev/Salem Bridge, and Salem is cool nonetheless….not as cool as a shot of Fiesta would have been, but cool enough.

I love this photo of Finn and a fish he caught pond fishing the other day. His buddy, Ryan Tarr took it and it couldn’t be more perfect. Nice fish, Finn….and awesome photo, Ryan!

While I didn’t get a lot of Fiesta time myself this year, I am so appreciative of the amazing coverage that other GMG contributors worked so hard to provide! It isn’t nearly a matter of being there to take photos, it is also rushing home, sorting, editing, writing, and beating deadlines (often with iffy WiFi) to post things while also getting them to you in a timely manner. Not easy to keep up with when the fun events are back-to-back for days in a row.

About 45 minutes after the greasy pole, and just after the junior seine boat races had ended, this beautiful rainbow appeared above St. Peter’s Fiesta. Click post to see other photos.

Remains to be seen…. Along the Essex River. See what I did there?

We took a ride down the Essex River the other day. No boat traffic and no greenheads on a quiet Monday afternoon!

Dive right in. I captured this gentleman mid-dive after talking to him while fishing a bit off the bay side of the Annisquam.

A funny little alien on the boulevard. And, can we talk about the absolutely gorgeous (unfiltered) color of the sky!

My son was fishing last night and I couldn’t help but snap some photos of the Fisherman’s Memorial as the night sky was such a beautiful color of blue.

Many of these boys just finished their Cape Ann Youth Lacrosse career with a final game/win against Swampscott’s Big Blue on Sunday. Some of these boys have been playing together or within the program for as many as eight years. This particular team, comprised of 7th and 8th graders, will watch 1/2 their members move onto High School lacrosse now that the season has ended. Actually, several of the players were able to play JV lax for GHS this year as well. With a fun jamboree out at Fort Devens this coming weekend, the boys are excited to wrap up and celebrate. Thanks, Coaches. https://capeannyouthlacrosse.org/