If you can look at this gorgeous photo and not find yourself singing, “Sailing” by Christopher Cross you are a stronger person than I am.
Thanks again to Paul and Betsey Horovitz for keeping me armed with wonderful photos of the Annisquam.
Author: Nichole S.
YETI…Well Thank Goodness
I took a three-day camping trip with four other “grown-ups” and 24 students a few weeks back. Campers’ parents were kind enough to supply us with tons of gear to make the trip a success. The 29 of us had 13 tents, 14 kayaks, 4 paddle boards, 3 grills, and several assorted coolers. The YETI cooler shown below….did its job…and then some. Don’t get me wrong….for the price these coolers better be game changers…but I was super impressed nonetheless.
In the days prior to the actual trip the children formed cooking groups, planned menus, and went shopping for all supplies and provisions. Pretty cool. While we had some larger 10 gallon jugs of water with purifiers, we also bought some small bottles of water. Those bottles went into the YETI warm….straight off the shelf of the grocery store….early Wednesday morning. Just before midnight, Thursday night, we fished some completely frozen bottles of water out of the YETI.
Joey loves the Kenley brand Double Insulated Beer Can Cooler-Insulator and the RTIC brand double-walled stainless tumblers. I wonder if there is a cooler out there as powerfully cold as the YETI…in a more affordable price? Thoughts?
Check out all YETI products HERE
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Essex Shipbuilding Museum
I spent such a wonderful morning at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum a couple of week’s ago. It had been far too long since I had taken advantage of that particular gem of maritime history and I am so glad that I did!
READ MORE ABOUT ESSEX SHIPBUILDING MUSEUM HERE
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Gloucester Fishermen Pride in Maui
Check out this car spotted in Maui!
Despite the fact that they’re not representing GMG, it’s pretty cool to see the Gloucester Pride being displayed so far away.
Thanks to Peter Horovitz for snapping this photo!
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Sandy Bay Yacht Club
In many ways this was the summer that wasn’t for us. We officially moved last week and the cleaning, organizing, packing, purging, and planning that had to happen prior to the actual lugging and moving was more than taxing.
As our summer winds down, I was feeling bad that we didn’t do nearly as much with Thatcher and Finn as we typically do…..but then I stumbled upon these photos….and I couldn’t help but smile. How bad could their summer have been when, after all, they had the opportunity to sail with good friends all summer long.
We’re super appreciative to all at Sandy Bay Yacht Club for helping the boys learn to sail….but more importantly, for the feelings of independence, camaraderie, and responsibility that come along with their lessons. I have absolutely no doubt that when my boys look back on their childhood summers, Sandy Bay Yacht Club will be a big presence in their happy memories.
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Is There Anyone Who Hasn’t Been to the Cape Ann Museum?
I recently had the opportunity to visit the Cape Ann Museum with a great group of students and the phenomenal West Parrish art teacher, Mrs. Paula Morgan. I was reminded, yet again, how lucky we are to have such an amazing museum on “the island.” If you haven’t been recently, you really need to go. Honestly, to raise your children here on Cape Ann and not share the museum’s beautiful history and art is a shame. I already can’t wait to go back.
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Update: Roads Open After A Portion of Gloucester Roads Closed. Strong Smell of Gas!
We were just coming from Rockport trying to get to downtown Gloucester at the lights by the extension and could not go straight. Lots of police cars and ambulances. We took a left at the lights to go down towards Lee’s and discovered that road to be closed as well. Lots of police action and smells strongly of gas. Not sure what is going on but plan accordingly.
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Summer on the Annisquam
Blessed are those who spend their summer days sailing on the Annisquam. Thanks to Betsey and Paul Horovitz for capturing and sharing some of the beauty.
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Early Morning on the Annisquam
Just like glass…. Thank you to Paul and Betsey Horovitz for this stunning photo.
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Rockport’s Fireworks and Illumination Night
Such a fun weekend coming up in Rockport!
Come and enjoy a day of fun in the town of Rockport! Start the morning at Farmers Market. Head over to Old Firehouse Trust and meet employees from Institution for Savings who will be handing out popcorn and free items. Paint your own lantern to help celebrate the day. Children can have their face painted. Everything is free.
Check out all the shops that have decorated their windows with lanterns. The town will have lanterns throughout. In Dock Square we will have live music starting at 2 PM until the show begins at 9. You can view the show from anywhere along the water. As always the show is weather permitting and the start time is, too.
As dusk descends on Rockport, settle in at Back Beach or anywhere along the shore to watch the fifth annual summertime fireworks display over Sandy Bay. The fireworks display will follow the Rockport Rotary Club’s Lobsterfest (3 to 7 PM), a unique, annual, outdoor dining and fundraising event at the Legion Bandstand, serving boiled lobster, clam chowder and more.
Visit facebook.com/RockportFireworks for detailed information.
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Saratoga Springs
Yesterday I wrote about our trip to the Saratoga Race Track and the Whitney. Well, after a fun day at the track, a phenomenal dinner at Delmonico’s Italian Steak House, and a good night’s sleep at the Desmond Hotel, we woke up in the morning and spent a few hours strolling through downtown Saratoga Springs.
I’ve been wanting to visit Saratoga Springs for several years now as I’ve heard some pretty great things about it. I can’t lie….as much as I love the boys….I’ve actually been meaning to get away for a “grown up” vacation as I believe I am correct in saying that the town boasts more restaurants/bars per capita than any other place in the country. It has also been dubbed “The happiest city in New York.” How can one go wrong?
Well, it did not disappoint. We parked next to a super cute park…in a covered lot…for free….and enjoyed walking through town for a couple of hours. My only regret is that we had a huge breakfast and were too full to enjoy any of the awesome restaurants that we passed by. Many were, for the record, totally dog friendly. We heard live music from no fewer than five establishments and did some great window shopping! It had such a great vibe, was totally clean, the people were courteous, and the architecture was stunning. Once again…I found myself not really ready to go home…and already looking forward to going back.
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Saratoga Race Course
The boys and I joined my parents, siblings, and cousin up in Saratoga this past weekend. A day at the race track was, as crazy as it sounds, just what we needed. The horses and grounds were gorgeous, the people watching was phenomenal, and the excitement was kind of intoxicating. The boys learned to read the racing sheets and make $5 bets for their favorite horses to show….don’t judge. We enjoyed the atmosphere, the beautiful day, and…yes…a couple of cocktails. The track at Saratoga, open only seven weeks each year, brings some of the very best horses, jockeys, and trainers to its grounds….which makes for some pretty great events. This past weekend was the Whitney…and the famous Traverse is coming up in just a few weeks. While it was oddly fun to be there with the boys, I look forward to a weekend away up there with friends as well!
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Evening at Lighthouse Beach
What a beautiful evening. Much thanks to Paul and Betsey Horovitz for this photo!
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Bruins Academy Learn to Play, Registration Open!
LEARN MORE HERE
https://www.nhl.com/bruins/community/youth-hockey-little-bruins
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This is the Bluefin Blowout. Highlights 2017.
My video highlights of this year’s #bluefinblowout tournament. Lots of fish, lots of laughs, lots of money earned, and…most importantly…lots of money raised for the Alzheimer’s Association. A huge congratulations to the Lyon-Waugh Auto Group including Warren Waugh, Cidalia Schwartz, Kruti Kansara, and the rest of their team, as well as, Drew Hale, and Rob Bouley!
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Music at the Beach, Rockport
Don’t forget that tonight is the second of the new and phenomenal Music at the Beach concert series at the bandstand on Rockport’s Back Beach! Pack a picnic, bring a blanket and some chairs, and settle in for a night of great music! Tonight’s performance is by Mari Martin and the Lucky Boys….and promises to be fantastic!
6:00 pm -8:00 pm
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Bluefin Blowout, Final Results
With more than a dozen and close to twenty fish landed in all…and eleven fish presented for official weigh-in…this year’s Bluefin Blowout was one for the record books. Long story short…if you didn’t make it down this year…be sure to make it next year. Eight fish came in Friday night (see post here) and three more came in on Saturday…those fish are show in the photos below.
Drew Hale and Rob Bouley were, as always, a huge presence and an integral part of the event’s massive success. Warren Waugh and his Lyon-Waugh Auto Group team, led by Cidalia Schwartz, took over the reigns (or reels) this year and pulled off four days of back to back tremendous events. The tournament is clearly geared to the captains and crews who pay for entry, but thanks to a million little (and big) details, the Bluefin Blowout is an event that all of Cape Ann can enjoy in a variety of ways. Food, drinks, music, vendors, family activities, games, contests, and more make Cape Ann’s Marina Resort the place to be all weekend long. On that note, anyone would be remiss to not mention Tobin and Drew Dominick, as well as, Joe Loiacano and their entire staff for being truly all hands on deck for this event. It should not go unnoticed just how much effort it takes to pull all of this off. Scott Marshall, the official Weigh Master from Compass Seafood, worked non-stop to clean the fish for official weigh-in for 4 hours straight on Friday and was back at it on Saturday. Ipswich Clambake, with some pretty spectacular teamwork, executed some giant meals for some pretty hungry crews. And…of course, Goslings, Titos, and Bud Light kept everyone well hydrated. A super important…and much appreciated job. DJ Scottie Mac, the official voice of the Bluefin Blowout, was there keeping the crowd enthusiastic all weekend long and it wouldn’t be the same without him. Ipswich Bay Cornhole League helped add to the fun during Saturday’s tournament hours.
Not only were the fish big, but the money raised for the Alzheimer’s Foundation was even bigger….and as exciting as it is to watch the giant bluefin back into the dock…at the end of the day, the charity is what matters the most. In the midst of some fantastic fishing and TONS of laughter…everyone was keenly aware that the real task at hand was to raise that money. So many people, most notably Warren Waugh of the Lyon-Waugh Auto Group, stepped up BIG time! I hesitate to list all of the amazing acts of kindness because I know I’ll miss some, but I watched captains donate dollars based on the size of their boats, I watched Captains donate the proceeds from the sale of their fish, and I watched winning captains donate back a portion of their tournament take. So many sponsors and vendors offered up unbelievably generous items for both the silent and live auctions….and as gifts for the captains and crews. Captain Steve Mscisz and his family donated their home on Nantucket to the live auction, Anthony Caturano and Tonno Restaurant along with Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken are providing two evenings of culinary perfection to the winning bidders, Lyon-Waugh auctioned off a weekend long Porsche rental to the two top bidders, and Three Lantern Marine and Fishing donated some pretty impressive tuna rods…along with so many other fishing supplies. Captain TJ Ott also offered up his boat, the Hot Tuna (of Wicked Tuna fame) for a private charter after production ends this season! The list truly goes on and on.
Several other people and organizations need to be thanked so please take a moment to check out the sponsor page at http://bluefinblowout.com/our-sponsors/http://bluefinblowout.com/our-sponsors/
Monies raised? you may ask….. Well, the live auction alone raised more than $21,000 for Alzheimer’s! The silent auction, while I’m not certain of the exact number yet, brought in a substantial amount more.
The money collected for the Tournament Daily Jackpot was $11,600 and 10% of that also went to the Alzheimer’s foundation.
The final results for the Bluefin Blowout look like this:
Sweet Caroline III, Captain Alan Murray and crew. 540 pounds
Took home $15,000 for their 1st place fish as well as a watch and a nautical clock both from Long’s Jewelers and a Zombait Lure. A two-year lease of an Audi A3…valued at $12,000 thanks to Lyon-Waugh.
Kelly Ann, Captain Mauro Dibacco and crew. 472 pounds
Took home $6500 for their 2nd place fish as well as a watch and a nautical clock both from Long’s Jewelers and a Zombait Lure. The Kelly Ann also won Friday’s Daily Jackpot equaling $5,000.
Final Offer, Captain Steve Mscisz and crew. 420 pounds
Took home $3750 for their 3rd place fish as well as a watch and a nautical clock both from Long’s Jewelers and a Zombait Lure.
Fat Tuna, Captain Bob Cook and Crew, 396 pounds
Took home won Saturday’s Daily Jackpot equaling $5,000.
Duck Soup, Captain Alan Petrucci Sr. and crew. 334 pounds
Shark Bait, Captain James Dolan and crew, 288 pounds
Whistler, Captain Kevin Granfield and crew. 285 pounds
Lily, Captain Bill Muniz (Hollywood) and crew, 282 pounds
Subdivider, Captain Johnny Johnson and crew, 276 pounds
Tonno, Captain Anthony Caturano and crew, 266 pounds
Rally Cap, Captain Alex Gonzalez and crew, 249 pounds
Here are some photos from Saturday’s festivities
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Friday’s Bluefin Blowout Results
Weigh-in at this year’s Bluefin Blowout opened at 5:00 last night…with the first boat arriving at the dock around 6:15. Eight boats and eight recorded weights later, and it was very close to 10:00 pm. The boats arrived back at Cape Ann’s Marina Resort one after the other, all evening long.
This year’s entries are off to an unbelievable start with more than a dozen fish already on ice and some guaranteed fish hitting the scale tomorrow as well.
Friday’s Results look like this:
Sweet Caroline, Captain Alan Murray and crew. 540 pounds
Kelly Ann, Captain Mauro Dibacco and crew. 472. (Friday’s Daily Jackpot Winner)
Final Offer, Captain Steve Mscisz and crew. 420 pounds
Duck Soup, Captain Alan Petrucci Sr. and crew. 334 pounds
Whistler, Captain Kevin Granfield and crew. 285 pounds
Lily, Captain Bill Muniz (Hollywood) and crew, 282 pounds
Tonno, Captain Anthony Caturano and crew, 266 pounds
Rally Cap, Captain Alex Gonzalez and crew, 246 pounds
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Getting Close to Weigh In
Excitement is brewing down here at Cape Ann’s Marina resort. With over a dozen fish landed and several coming in tonight for weigh-in, this is a show not to be missed! Some captains and crew will make the decision to stay out overnight and bring their fish to the dock tomorrow. No matter what happens we are in for a fantastic weekend!
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FIVE. 5 Bluefin Tuna Landed at the Bluefin Blowout.
Fish on…and on…and on…and on…and on. FIVE fish landed and due in for weigh in later this afternoon. That means A LOT of excitement and action down at Cape Ann’s Marina and Resort for this year’s 6th Annual Bluefin Blowout!
See you there!
Good Morning Gloucester 