Author: Nichole S.

Have you seen the new Terminal E at Logan Airport? Pretty sleek. You can read about it HERE: https://www.massport.com/logan-forward/initiatives/terminal-e-modernization/

Also, just a couple days after International Women’s Day, it is cool to note that about 40% of the people working on this new terminal are women. Read more about that HERE: https://www.wcvb.com/article/logan-airport-celebrating-its-team-of-female-construction-workers/39452799

Thatcher has been glued to the laptop every evening taking Driver’s Ed classes so Finn and I snuck out for a quick dinner the other night…with the promise that we’d bring home take-out. Finn wanted all his favorites. So, nachos (Pile of Love…aptly named on the menu), Fried Pickles (Frickles), and of course the tuna avocado maki roll it was. We always love our nights out at Minglewood Harborside.

Finn and I went ice fishing last weekend. When a free day of no work or hockey presented itself, I asked Finn what he wanted to do (skiing, indoor golf, Dave and Busters….). His answer, no surprise, was fishing. 7 Degrees or not. So, I sent a message to the “Fish Nerds.” We’ve ice fished with Clay and Vinnie four times in the past. They immediately fit him in early the next morning and we made the really easy two-hour drive to Danforth Bay Camp Site to meet them on the lake. While it was definitely cold, they provide the tent with heaters for breaks from the elements…and it really wasn’t that bad. Finn and his buddy caught a total of about 12 fish…including the Crappie that Finn was hoping for. If you want to try ice fishing, but would like some guidance and gear….check these guys out. They actually have a podcast by the same name. They are super patient and spend much of their day helping their charters read the sonar to know exactly how to handle the line and look for fish below the surface. Good stuff….good guys.

You can find them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/the.fish.nerds

Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/fishnerdnation/

Or check out their podcast here: https://podcastnh.com/fish-nerds

Ice. My not-so-scenic photo. I can’t lie…I’m super envious of all of the beautiful winter, scenic photos that I have been seeing…from our own GMG contributors and beyond. Each weekend I tell myself that I’m going to go for a drive and take the time to take my own photographs, yet this is typically all I can produce. This is the extent of my scenic photos today…. Ice.

Spitfire Tacos. If you’re over the bridge and have a hankering for hand crafted tortillas, delicious spit roasted meats, and some phenomenal tacos that are the perfect blend of “old world tradition and contemporary culinary technique” head to one of Spitfire Tacos’ locations in either Salem or Marblehead. We used them to cater a faculty/staff meeting last night and in addition to the amazing tacos, their guacamole and tortilla chips were perfection for sure!

Check out their website here to find exact locations, see their menu, and learn more. https://www.spitfiresalem.com/

Where am I? Let’s take a break from the freezing cold temperature photos and think about this toasty room. Does anyone recognize this nautical decor?

This time of year I am greeted by the sunrise just behind City Hall each morning. Good Morning, Gloucester.

In case you need a reminder of how amazing the Beauport Hotel is, I stayed there the other night with several friends as we helped welcome Loran Caputo as the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce 2023 President.

Everything from the lobby, to the dining room, BOTH bars, and certainly the gorgeous guest rooms are simply perfect.

Even if you are not spending the night, make a point to visit and take a walk to appreciate the decor and the artwork. There are so many special nautical touches and pieces/photos that truly reflect Gloucester’s fishing industry. It’s where the working waterfront meets a bit of luxury. The best of both worlds.

A friend and I had lunch and watched part of yesterday’s first football game at the Mooring in Manchester-by-the-Sea. It is kind of the perfect combination of laidback-local and European Pub (although that might have had to do with the bartender’s awesome English accent). We had some nachos and fish and chips and enjoyed the game and conversation with the bartender. If you haven’t stopped by, you should!

I spy Thacher Island and Twin Lights in the background through lots of blue sky and past lots of blue water.

A room with a view. Admittedly, rooms with views are common in these parts, but that shouldn’t negate just how pretty it is along the Essex River. I was so happy to enjoy a nice lunch with a friend the other day at CK Pearl. The tide was super high and, even in January, the scenery was gorgeous. Those mussels too! …. But, that’s a post for another day.

Finn and I looked up and saw this black shape descending from one of the windmills. It got too low to catch a better photo by the time we got closer. I’m assuming it was a person working on it? Or do they send cameras up so they can investigate from down below? Anyone know?

Three years ago today. Sometimes, when life is simply all about work and taxiing my boys around, it can be difficult to find something “Gloucester” to share at 9:00 am. Today was one of those days. So, I turned to my Facebook memory and realized that three years ago today we were in Laguna Beach, California on a zodiac to see the whales, sea lions, and dolphins. That was Day #1 of our west coast trip to visit my brother. We later visited Rodeo Drive, the Hollywood Hills, Venice Beach, the Santa Monica Pier, and much more. About six weeks later we found ourselves in a full-blown pandemic and we were even more thankful that we had taken the opportunity to travel and spend time with family.

My boys and I had so much fun using this BOTE Rover Skiff last year in both Gloucester Harbor and on the Annisquam River. Unfortunately, launching it each day can be a hassle if you’re not so good at trailering…. Which I definitely am not! I’d give anything for a little slip or tiny piece of a dock or mud flat to keep it on along the river. I’m not psyched about the prospect of taking it underneath the cut bridge so somewhere between Cape Ann Marina and the Annisquam Yacht Club would be AMAZING! I realize what I’m looking for is like a unicorn, but I thought I’d throw it out here regardless. Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated!

Come grab your Raffle Prizes! We have a large number of unclaimed prizes that people won at last night’s Fundraiser for Scottie Mac at Cape Ann Lanes! Thank you all for purchasing raffle tickets. Below you will find the winners’ names and the prizes they won. We’ll be back at Cape Ann Lanes today from 2:00-4:30 if you can swing by then to grab your prize! If not, we’ll find another way to get it to you in the next several days. If you read this post and see a friend’s name…let them know!

Foster’s Gift Card: Craig Kimberley

Pellana Steak House: Craig Kimberley

Foster’s Gift Card: Vito Ferrara

Studio Restaurant Gift Card: Patrick McNally

Mom’s Kitchen: Patrick McNally

Cafe Bischo: Patrick McNally

Destinos: Patrick McNally

Double Down Gear from McCormick Kitchens: Ann Aiello

Maria’s Pizza: Paul Ciaramitaro

Pigeon Cove Ferments: Erin Murray

King’s Roast Beef: Erin Murray

525 Magnolia: Sara Gray

City of Gloucester Flag from Leo Francis: Steve Noble

Passports: Steve Noble

Angel Wings Wellness: Kanaka Poke

Jalapenos: Kanaka Poke

Jalapenos: Paul Blandurg

Yella on the Water: Michele Tocco

George’s Restaurant: Ann Aiello

Charlie’s Place: Kathy Numerosi

Oak to Ember: Kathy Numerosi

Oak to Ember: Nic Pszenny

Zeke’s: Robyn

Zeke’s: Jen Severino

Visa Gift Card: Ann Marie Cody

Visa Gift Card: Kayla Caisse

Visa Gift Card: Linda Jerome

The Franklin: Maureen Lane

The Franklin: Jeff Moutin

The Blue Marlin: Mike Bertolino

Preferred Auto: Will Philbrick

Preferred Auto: Tracy O’Neil

12 Lobsters from Dusty Ketchopoulis and Lady Lexi Fisheries: John Jermyn

Cala’s: Victor Anido

Pop Gallery: Kerrie Donahue

Goodwin Party Shop Gift Card and Gift Bag: Kerrie Donahue

Joey C. Print: Patrick McNally

Joey C. Print: M. McCoy

I watched some geese over at Endicott College for a moment yesterday. As they waddled off into the water, this is what they left behind.

The pan fried sole at the Gloucester House is one of my favorite dishes on Cape Ann. They’ll be closing for a few weeks for some renovations so you should get yourself into that back dining room:bar while you can.

I work most often on my computer at work and my laptop at home, but there is something super satisfying about pen to paper and I find that is how I still need to most often organize my thoughts and notes and lists. At work I have a notebook for different jobs and responsibilities and they recently have all become shabby and torn. If how excited I was to unpack these crisp new notebooks yesterday is wrong, I don’t want to be right. New year, new notebooks…. let’s go.

I dragged my boys to Market Basket at about 7:00 last night, but after a long day we didn’t feel like going home, unpacking groceries, and making dinner. When I asked the boys if they wanted to go sit down for a quick dinner there was no hesitation about where they wanted to go and what they wanted to eat. Minglewood sushi for the win. They always get tuna avocado Maki rolls, but I got the sushi special, the Harborside Roll (shrimp tempura, avocado & spicy tuna topped with sashimi, mango & pineapple-sweet chili sauce). DELICIOUS! The boys also shared a cobb salad….likewise pretty fantastic.

My son was adamant that he catch a fish on Christmas day. Success. With the low temperatures for much of the week he was able to go ice fishing several days in a row….starting Christmas morning.