Author: Nichole S.

When you’re over the bridge (a couple of bridges) and Mike Forgette of one of our favorite bands, Over the Bridge, realizes Gloucester peeps and some GMG representation are in the house. Thanks for the song, Mike! You can catch Mike Forgette at the GOAT in Portsmouth, NH most Saturdays, but look them up and find them lots of other places too. https://otbtunes.com/bio/

Opening Day = Warm Fuzzies. This time of year I miss my days photographing at Fenway Park so much. It has been 9 long (and busy) years since I was last invited to stand on the hallowed field of Fenway Park and photograph the team as they prepared for Opening Day. That particular Opening Day also gave us a Ring Ceremony as we presented the 2013 World Champions… which obviously makes it that much more special. Also, on that particular day, Tom Brady was in attendance ….as was Pete Frates. A lot has changed since then. The starting line-up, for one, is very different. The ownership has changed a little bit. We’ve lost a few greats. And, as of recently, we’ve watched as MLB, along with the rest of the world, endured a pandemic. What hasn’t changed, for many, is the buzz and warm fuzzies that come along with Opening Day and what it symbolizes. Warm sunny days in an iconic ballpark (although today will be in the 40s)….with the promise of an exciting season….and the hopes of a long play-off run. 6 months of baseball. In the words of Joe Kelly, “Baseball isn’t boring.” #baseballisntboring #joekelly Let’s go, Red Sox.

The Young Legends Ball Hockey Rink is really shaping up at Stage Fort Park! With lots of hard work and some new tile by MS3 Multi Sport Surface it looks fantastic.

Thanks to Joey, Pat, and Jim for spending a couple of hours out of their very busy days to support Finn and his fellow cast members at their dress rehearsal of Kitchen Catastrophes at Gloucester Stage Company the other day. It means a lot that they were their to cheer him on! The cast went on to do two super successful performances on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. Super proud of Finn for reaching pretty far out of his comfort zone!

4 years ago today, our city was rallying around this amazing guy! What fun that was! Having Jamie McDonald, ADVENTUREMAN, finish his epic 5,500 miles run from Washington state with us in Gloucester was such a exciting thing for so many of us! Now he’s home with brand new twins and an adorable toddler (equally as challenging, no doubt). Thanks, Jamie!

Like the rest of us, this is ready and waiting for summer weather.

Rocky Neck nook and crannies. This is one of the many little places on Rocky Neck that captures my attention whenever taking a walk or a drive.

Some nights simply call for a little Tonno time. This Jameson orange drink was delicious!

Going Green. The ice at the Union Arena in Woodstock, Vermont went green for the Pot O’ Gold Invitational this weekend. Super fun for my son’s team.

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.