My View of Life on the Dock
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.
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.
Just like glass…. Thank you to Paul and Betsey Horovitz for this stunning photo.
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.
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.
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!
What a beautiful evening. Much thanks to Paul and Betsey Horovitz for this photo!
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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!
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!
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.
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
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
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!
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!
Here is today’s schedule of events (and Saturdays as well):
1:00 PM– 5:00 PM – Family Fun: Tons of fun with games, prizes, and much more for all ages!
2:00 PM – Watermelon Eating Contest!
3:00 PM – “Harpoon” Toss
6:00 PM – Weigh In Opens
7:00 PM – MINI Peabody Rally | Meet at MINI of Peabody @ 6:00 PM, or join us at Cape Ann Marina! CLICK HERE TO RSVP
9:00 PM – Weigh In Closes Boats weighing fish must be past the designated checkpoint buoys and committee boats no later than 9:00PM.
8:00-11:00 PM – Live music: Grits & Grocery | http://www.gritsandgroceriesorchestra.com
10:00 AM – VIP Bloody Mary Brunch (By Invitation Only)
10:00 AM – Porsche Nashua Rally
11:00- 3:00 PM Cornhole tournament, and family fun
12:00 PM – 92.5 The River Street Team arrives
2:00 PM – Weigh In Opens.
4:30 PM – Weigh In Closes when last tuna is weighed. Boats weighing fish must be past the designated checkpoint buoys and committee boats no later than 4:30PM.
6:00 PM – Closing Ceremonies
6:30PM – Dinner Served
*Spectator Tickets For Dinner Available On Site LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE*
Contact: Cidalia Schwartz | cschwartz@lyonwaugh.com | 978-532-8312
7:00 PM – Live Auction Begins
8:00 PM – Silent Auction Closes/Tournament Ends
This is, without a doubt, the place to be this weekend…starting early this afternoon. Check out the schedule of events in the first few photos below. Wednesday night’s private event was fantastic…and last night’s Captains’ Party was no joke at all.
Be certain to come down at some point, have a great time, and maybe bid on some auction items to help raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association! The Lyon-Waugh Auto Group has gone all out and, as always, Cape Ann’s Marina Resort is the perfect venue.
Captains and crews left the docks late last night or early this morning and hopefully some large tuna will be landed later today.
To kick off this year’s Bluefin Blowout at Cape Ann’s Marina Resort, the Lyon-Waugh Auto Group donated, not one, but TWO BMW i3s to the city of Gloucester! Warren Waugh made the presentation to Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken and Police Chief John McCarthy to help show Lyon-Waugh’s appreciation and support to the city. What an amazing gift!
To kick off this year’s Bluefin Blowout at Cape Ann’s Marina Resort, the Lyon-Waugh Auto Group donated, not one, but TWO BMW i3s to the city of Gloucester! Warren Waugh made the presentation to Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken and Police Chief John McCarthy to help show Lyon-Waugh’s appreciation and support to the city. What an amazing gift!
This guy, this gentleman, is what it is all about. I love Fenway Park. I love the sounds, the colors, the energy, the air, the motion, the memories, the stories….and the people. I like baseball (the players, the game, the history)….but, I LOVE the park and the stories of the fans who fill it. Two, in my book, very different things that, when coupled, create the most quintessential and perfect of New England days/nights. Goosebumps.
This gentleman is a fan who embodies generations of Fenway Faithful and I am so happy to have had to opportunity to share 9 innings of baseball with him last week. Honestly, every fan, young and old, should be so lucky as to share an inning of baseball with someone as dedicated and storied as him. Our first exchange was an awkward, “Excuse me. Sorry. Boys, be careful. Ok, sit down. Oops, sorry. Sigh. Hi.” After having troubled him to stand up, with a fair amount of effort, I was certain to place myself next to him rather than one of the boys with their sodas, gloves, balls, programs, and wiggly bodies. I sat somewhat sideways so as to give him as much space as possible…and to create a natural barrier between him and the endless assault of questions coming from Finn. We sat like that, with no further exchanges until the bottom of the 2nd. I wish I could remember who was at bat, when this nice, previously silent man, shouted, “Come on, you BUM!” and then smiled and added, “Sorry, boys, I’m not very nice sometimes.”
And….with that….our more frequent dialogue began.
As it turned out, the game we were watching side by side that Monday evening was his fourth game in four days. He was at the 16-inning Sox/Yankees game on Saturday and, yes, stayed for the entire game. “Unfortunately,” he was sure to add…because they lost. He was at the first game of Sunday’s double-header….and had also attended Friday’s game. Same seat? “No. Different seats each time. They had me in some obstructed view seats the last couple of games” he said while waving his hand in no particular direction. Shameful, I couldn’t help but think.
After some more silence I asked where he lived. I felt like I really wanted to envision the trip he had made four days in a row, alone, to get to those games….although I can’t really explain why. Well, I live in California now, but I’m home to visit. Of course most of the family I visit are in the cemetery now. I fly home in a couple of days and am going to see the Red Sox play the Angels…and then I’ll head up to Seattle to see the Mariners game next.
He went back to watching the game. I sat and contemplated all that traveling…all those innings…and how happy the game of baseball and the Red Sox must make him. And how that passion had probably shaped his life…
At one point he glanced my way for a split second and said, “You seem pretty knowledgeable about baseball.” I can’t lie…I may have blushed… coming from him. As I began to tell him a little bit about my time in the park and some of the things I had done, it quickly occurred to me that there was nothing I could say that would warrant taking his attention off the battle that was ensuing between the mound and the plate….so I allowed my answer to trail off into the wind. He didn’t seem to notice that I stopped talking…and I liked him all the more for it.
Later I asked, “How many games do you figure you’ve been to in all?” With a laugh he looked up and around the park and remained thoughtful just long enough for me to feel like he was having a brief walk down Memory Lane….and then began to answer. Well, I first started coming to games in the 40s. I worked here in the park in the 60s. I saw Game 7 in ’75. I’ve seen more than 300 hockey games, some Stanley Cups, some Super Bowls, and have gone to the Kentucky Derby three times. But, how many baseball games? I can’t count.
Wow. I mean, really…..wow.
My favorite thing though about this fan was the juxtaposition of his rough exterior and his sentimental love of the sport. He would go from, “Oh COME ON! YOU STINK!” to being the very first person on his feet to sing, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” or join along in clapping (each and every time) to, “Let’s Go, Red Sox!” There didn’t seem to be a second of the game that he didn’t experience completely and he seemed more in the moment than any other fan I’ve ever met.
The game ended far too soon….as there was so much more about him that I wanted to learn. The crowd around us began to disappear and the boys and I gathered up our things. He did not budge. We climbed over the seats in front of us and said a quick “good-bye.” I turned around once to steal a photo as his was a face I didn’t want to forget and caught him taking notes about the game while waiting for everyone else to go home. If anyone ever deserved to have Fenway Park to himself for a few minutes…it was him.
As the week progressed I thought of him often. While watching the Sox verse the Angels and then the Mariners on TV, I found myself scanning the crowd for his familiar face. Was he shouting, singing, cursing, laughing…..was he sharing his love of the game with yet another fan who would be forever grateful for the opportunity?
Thank you, Mr. Section 27, Row 3, Seat 20. May your life continue to be a Grand Slam, sir. May your bases be loaded, your pitch counts low, and your walk-offs frequent.
I just took a moment to look through the random folder of photos that I store for quick blog posts when I don’t have much time to craft something longer. I was surprised to see how many photos I’ve tossed in their and have yet to share. Like this one…
Good Morning Gloucester 