Author: Nichole S.

This fella appeared to be standing guard over the harbor from his perch on the jagged pier.

There is still a little bit of time to register for the Fishermen Cup! The GHS Fishermen Street Hockey Tournament is on Saturday, August 20th beginning at 9:00 am at Talbot Rink. Teams consisting of 1st + 2nd graders, 3rd + 4th graders, 5th + 6th graders, 7th-9th graders, and 10th-12th graders are welcome to enter. Teams should consist of 4 players, 1 goalie, and one sub. No more than six players per team. See contact and registration information below!

I had to stop and take some photos of the sky at Niles Beach last night. It was interesting how soft and light the sky looked there….in contrast to the storm clouds that were slowly menacing their way over the harbor at the exact same time.

The giant Challenger looks even more massive when you go past it on a very little boat.

This helicopter was going back and forth dropping buckets of water over the Poles Hill fire. Thanks for all your hard work!

“The only place in the world where you can drink a cold Sam Adams…. While looking at a cold Sam Adams.” The Beantown Pub in Boston serves up lots of ice cold Sam Adams as tourists and locals alike enjoy a beer directly across the street from the burial site of Sam Adams.

This gaggle of geese started racing us the other day when we were cruising down the Annisquam on our rover skiff. It was neck and neck.

Make way for Geese. I dropped three teenagers off at 6:45 this morning for three hours of hockey in Peabody and drove the long, winding way to work to enjoy some early morning quiet. I was happy to pause and watch this gaggle of geese slowly cross the road. With no other cars in sight I got to sip my coffee and not feel the need to hurry up and scoot around them as they made their way from the pond to the cemetery. Slowing down is good.

For those of you who haven’t seen it, here is a quick video of just about 1/2 of the scene at the backside of Wingaersheek Beach. Click on this post to see more. I started filming half way down the beach unfortunately. Those who have spent a day there by boat know it well. The constant shifting of lines and anchors, the battle for the beach, the shifting tides and sometimes fast currents. If, however, you catch a day when the crowds are more quiet…it can be a pretty perfect way to spend a day! This particular Saturday, we decided to avoid it all for a more peaceful place just a little ways away.

Gloucester Stage presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare.Get your tickets to see the final shows of the Summer Outdoor Performance at Windover in Rockport.

Shakespeare’s classic is going Dirty Dancing, Back to the Future, and all out 80’s in this family friendly performance. 

“Camp Athens” is a magical place, especially under the fairy moonlight! Four teenage lovers find out Love is Strange when their partners break things off before the big dance.  Love troubles aren’t just for teenagers, with even the Camp Headmasters falling into a lovers quarrel. And if that isn’t enough, the Camp Counselors are trying to rehearse a performance for the Big Dance – to no avail. Add in a magic potion capable of making anyone fall in love with the first person they set eyes on – What could possibly go wrong? Fusing 80’s music, dance, and some serious comedy, this wonderful outdoor event was meant for Windhover Performings Arts Center’s magical setting.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is presented Tuesday July 19 through Friday July 22 at 7:30pm and Saturday July 23 at 3:00pm and 7:30pm. The outdoor performances are under the big tent at the Windhover Performing Arts Center located at 250 Granite Street, Rockport. Seating is general admission, runtime is 90 minutes, appropriate for ages 6+

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

My younger son, Finn, recently began rowing with the Gloucester Gig Rowers. What a great club… he’s happy to have yet another opportunity to be on the water and be introduced to a different aspect of Gloucester’s rich maritime culture. You can check them out here: https://www.gloucestergigrowers.com/

While this photo doesn’t do it justice (sigh) the sunset behind City Hall last night was tremendous. I pulled over to watch it for a moment and was so happy that I did. Watching the inner harbor fall asleep at the end of a busy…and incredibly hot…day was just what I needed.

I met some friends quickly to have a drink on the deck of Lobsta’ Land. My basil cucumber splash was delicious and we shared the Lobsta’ Land sampler appetizer with yummy coconut shrimp, crab cakes, calamari, etc. A musician was playing some perfect summer songs and the view is pretty sweet. The deck space really transports you to a vacation vibe. It felt good to “get away” for a bit.

I always love our busy harbor. Large fishing vessels, pleasure boats, gig rowers, tour boats, whale watches, kayaks, seagulls, seals….and Joey. If you look closely you’ll see Joey heading home after making a quick departure when the sudden rain had subsided. Skiff life.

Last night was a wonderful kick-off event for the Bluefin Blowout. You’ve heard us talk about this year’s tournament a lot and as tournament time nears, we’ll be covering it significantly. Last night’s event was beautiful and very successful (more about that later), but I was struck by the quiet of the marina outside of the tent. As captains/crews/boats arrive and the competition kicks off, those docks will be bursting with excitement, competition, and camaraderie. Good times ahead!

I drove by this gentleman playing music on Main Street the other day and circled back to listen and take a photo. Unfortunately he was taking a break by then, but how lovely to have this on Main Street on a beautiful day.

Seeing cruise ships in the inner harbor always catches me by surprise even though they’ve been coming for a while. I’ve only been on one cruise….and it was a smaller, not-so-glamorous, ship that simply took us from Florida to the Bahamas and back. Each time I see one in Gloucester I mean to do a quick internet search of their itinerary.

I’ve never been able to walk by this statue of Carl Yastrzemski without taking a photo.

Mark your calendars, get your swag, bid on items, join the fun, get ready to have a great time!

What you need to know. The Bluefin Blowout is not only one of the best events on Cape Ann…it is one of the leading fundraisers in the quest to #ENDALZ. There are so many ways that you can be present, have a blast, and help raise money for an unbelievably important cause. Do yourself a favor and save this schedule of events. On the calendar you will find two special events that are available for ticket purchase (The Bluefin Blowout Bash Fundraiser and the Bluefin Blowout BBQ By The Sea), the dates/hours when the tournament is open to the public to watch fish weigh-ins, have some drinks, enjoy music with DJ Scottie Mac, witness some awesome competition and camaraderie, etc. and the hours when you can purchase some of the much-coveted Bluefin swag, merch, and apparel… which you can also purchase on-line here…http://bluefinblowout.com/products/

Don’t miss out on that! The tournament brings together a pretty special group of people (captains, crews, sponsors, volunteers, organizers, attendees, fans of fishing, fans of Cape Ann, fans of simply have a GREAT time) but, most importantly, it brings together a group of people who share a pretty magnificent goal of raising $500,000 to help in the battle to End Alzheimer’s Disease. Be a part of the festivities, be a part of the fun, be a part of the giving. Those who give, gather. Come gather and have a good time. Also…and super important… the auction site is now live- browse the unique auction items benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association: https://bit.ly/BFBAuction22