My View of Life on the Dock
Congratulations to Captain Heath Ellis and all involved with the Thomas E. Lannon for a well deserved 2026 Tourism Industry Award for Frontline Hospitality!! Their sailing season is now closed until spring but you should definitely put it on your bucket list for 2027.
Here are some recently created social media accounts so you can keep informed on the opportunities to help support this foundation to honor Chris Dailey. Facebook and Instagram. Check them out and give a follow if it suits you.
The annual Essex ClamFest will be held today at Shepard Park in Essex featuring some of your favorite clam chowders, musicians and vendors. Stop by and say hello at Pat D’s Photos table! We’d love to see you 11-4 today. We’ll be back at 44 Main St Sunday 11-3.
We decided to try Luna Mare in Ipswich at the suggestion of our friends Susan and Leo. Thought they have been there for just over a year, it was a new experience for all of us. The menu of this Mediterranean style restaurant is wide ranging suited to most tastes. There is a long list of tapas which was very intriguing. We got hummus and olives to start off. Jim ordered one of the tapas: Sultan Delight. Leo got a lovely burrata salad; Susan ordered the paella (a half portion seemed to be plenty) and I ordered the shrimp scampi. I thought the scampi was among the best I’ve had and perfectly portioned.
The wait staff is extraordinarily friendly and helpful. There’s seating in the bar area as well as a dining area. We were there on a weeknight and the place was very busy. We finished with a couple of desserts to celebrate. They were sinfully rich and yummy. We look forward to trying lunch there soon.
Jim and I took a ride out west to the Quabbin area a few days ago. We had never been there and my friend John Slonina was hosting a day long photo tour. This seemed like a good idea to me as an introduction to an area we were unfamiliar with. Jim thought it might be a good idea to get an idea of what goes on during my photography tours with Slonina Photography. I am not sure he knew what he was getting himself into.
It’s about a 2 hour ride, easily do-able in a day. We started in the fog at Sawmill Pond. It was kind of creepy but also super cool for photography trial and error. We also visited Quabbin Park and Bear’s Den (a Trustees property). Along the way we stopped when we saw a pretty scene such as at the New Salem town square. We had a nice lunch at a nearby Irish pub. It was a day full of inspiration, climbing and boot-getting-stuck-in-the-mud adventures. For additional photos, check out Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook link here.
Our Fisherman Nightlights have been restocked at 44 Main St. If you think you’d like one for yourself or as a gift, I strongly recommend you reach out so I can hold it aside for you and plan for my re-orders in time for the holidays. At $30, these are at a great price point.
Also re-stocked are the 2027 Cape Ann Favorites wall calendars. These are available in limited quantities for $25 at the shop or at one of our upcoming shows. Next up: ClamFest in Essex Saturday Oct 24 from 11-4. Hours this week at 44 Main St will be Thursday and Friday Oct 22-23 from 11-5 and Sunday 11-3.
The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce will be holding the annual ClamFest Saturday Oct 24 in Shepard Memorial Park Essex. Along with many of your favorite clam chowders, Pat D’s Photos will be there! (No hours at 44 Main St Saturday this week)
Good night Gloucester. We love where we live.
An opportunity to get rid of some of that stuff you have sitting around:
If you recently purchased a 2027 wall calendar from Pat D’s Photos please check it to make sure it’s complete with all 12 months illustrated with photo images! A production error resulted in a few calendars being sold that aren’t complete. These calendars were sold at 44 Main St, at the recent Elks Fall Craft Show and at Magtoberfest. We will replace any calendars that contain blank months when news ones arrive in about a week. Please return your calendar to 44 Main St or reach out in comments, by messaging or email pdalpiaz19 at gmail.com Our store hours this weekend are today Saturday Oct 17 from 11-5 or tomorrow Sunday 11-3. My sincere apologies for the error. These are some of the images you SHOULD see.
We are so lucky to drive by Buswell Pond most days. It’s a such a pretty place, changing rapidly with the light and weather conditions. Fall reflections are difficult to resist.
Update from the Gloucester Police Department regarding the Halloween Party at Stage Fort Park … now scheduled for Oct 18
Halloween Party Update!
Unfortunately, another coastal storm has postponed the City of Gloucester, MA, Halloween Party at Stage Fort Park to Sunday, October 18, from 12–3 PM.
Thank you for your understanding! We hope to see you there for a fun afternoon of Halloween festivities!
Well played to the home of the Headless Horseman on Hesperus Ave! That’s how you celebrate a season!
A couple of annual Halloween events are coming right up so check out the details here. Oct 17 at Stage Fort Park and Oct 23 downtown:
Update from the City regarding getting your old trash and recycling bins turned in through October:
A few egrets were still hanging around on a recent fall afternoon at the Jones Marsh landing. I went searching for some classic fall shots and got egrets instead. I think these are Snowy Egrets and Great Egrets. There was quite a bit of bird activity down there, including a classic fishing scene to round the trip out. Additional photos and story details can be found at Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook. Check them out and give a follow if you like!
If you recently purchased a calendar from Pat D’s Photos (from the shop or from Elks Fair/Magtoberfest) please check to make sure it’s filled with photos. An error in production has produced a number of calendars with only 3 images instead of the intended 12. Yikes! Thank you to Karen to who brought it to my attention. We will replace it as soon as the new ones arrive. If you can bring the calendar to the shop I will replace it along with a little extra bonus for your trouble. You can also bring it to our next show at the Essex ClamFest Oct 24. If returning it in person is a hardship please reach out and we will make arrangements. pdalpiaz19 at gmail.com. I apologize for the oversight!! Thank you for your support. If your calendar is wrapped tightly with clear wrap it’s probably the wrong one. If it’s loosely wrapped in plastic I believe you are A-OK.
Have you seen this fountain sculpture in the garden across the street from the Cape Ann Museum on Pleasant St? It should look a little bit familiar for those who sometimes visit the Betty Smith garden at Stage Fort Park. It’s Triton the merman created by Walker Hancock. You see the Stage Fort Park version (minus the fountain feature) here from Pat D’s Photos. Many people do not recognize it when they see my image in the shop so I recommend you check out the Betty Smith Garden (not far from the tennis courts and Vietnam Memorial) at Stage Fort Park as well as on Pleasant St. The Cape Ann Museum is offering a walking tour on Oct 24 if you are interested. Link here.
I took another trip to the Essex Shipbuilding Yard along Main St in Essex recently to do a little fall walk-around. Did you know they are having a Pirate Party Fundraiser Oct 24? This yard is meant for just such an event. Looks like a ton of fun. We are sorry we can’t go this time but we’ll always return to the Essex Shipbuilding Museum buildings and grounds. Coincidentally, did you know they recently acquired 44 Main St in Essex to add to the museum’s footprint? 44 Main St in Gloucester is pleased to hear this.
Happy birthday GMG Jim. He’s adapted so well to Gloucester over all the years, it’s like he belongs here. Stop by 44 Main St today 11-5 and wish him well.
