Author: Pat D

We are trying it again! The postponed Cape Ann Makers Market WILL BE HELD tonight Thursday Aug 26 at the Paint Factory and Ocean Alliance from 4-8 PM. I will have notecards, prints and other gifts available and if you mention GMG, there is a discount on whale items (excepting notecards)! Contributor Donna Ardizzoni will also be there along with Cape Ann Sea Salt and Hold Fast. Looking forward to meeting you tonight to benefit Ocean Alliance. It’s the final Culture Splash event for Summer 2021 so don’t miss out.

Here are some of the images I have featured in products such as notecards, prints, towels, coasters, puzzles etc that will be available tomorrow from 4-8 PM at the Paint Factory/Ocean Alliance Cape Ann Makers Market. Whale items will be discounted for anyone mentioning Good Morning Gloucester (except for notecards). Please stop by and say hello.

The post storm fog around town this week created some moody scenes. All beautiful and worth sharing. For some additional shots please visit Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook.

We met friends recently at the new oyster bar at the Beauport Hotel 1606 Restaurant. FOBs Susan and Leo LaRosa joined up for drinks, appetizers and entertaining stories from Adam the bartender. It’s a winning combination for sure. The oysters, flatbread and the Northeast Family Farms Artisan Tray were outstanding along with the drinks and the company. You cannot beat the atmosphere! We had a wonderful visit and we recommend you give it a try as well.

We had not had a chance to walk through Halibut Point until recently and (honestly) we were a little disappointed. Construction has dictated trail closures but we did take a decent walk around the quarry. We found a few pleasant surprises along the way including a branch laden with apples hanging over the quarry and some birds we did not recognize. Help identifying these birds would be appreciated. There were a pair hanging out a rock next to the quarry and another sitting in a nearby branch. They allowed us to watch for quite a while. We will go back on a prettier day after the construction is done and out of the way.

I love everything about this barn found just a little bit off the Byway at Halibut Point State Reservation. The location, the weathered exterior, the character all appeal to my eye and I hope you agree.

Important update from the Gloucester Waterfront Festival being held at Stage Fort Park today Saturday until 6 pm: there will be NO festival tomorrow Sunday as originally planned. So get down there today Saturday if you intend to go! Great food, music and vendors.

Boats of all shapes and sizes pass by the Paint Factory but fishing vessels are my favorite, especially if we see some familiar faces onboard and coming home! Welcome back Anita & Natalie, Kristina Marie, Reliance, Allison & Carol (Hi Capt Pete!), and the Stanley Thomas (shout out to Mark Ring and mate).

A few days ago, I posted the photo seen here and many of you correctly guessed its location at the top of the boulevard near the Tavern sign. But I did not see many thoughts on its significance. The date 1924 likely marks the first sidewalk installation, nearly 100 years ago. As you see from this excerpt, our own Stacy Boulevard was conceived to honor the 300th anniversary of the City. As we approach the 400th anniversary celebration, I find it significant that the medallion is still there after nearly a century.

From The Gloucester Guide by Joe Garland and excerpts available online:

The esplanade was conceived by George Stacy when that flamboyant hotel man became park commissioner in 1908, brought to reality on the inspiration of the three hundredth anniversary celebration in 1923, and restored in 1988. To make way for it, Gloucester (which has always had a partiality for moving heavy things around) relocated up in the back streets the houses that crowded the harbor side of Western Avenue. Fill was dumped; a new seawall was made; trees were planted; the esplanade was laid out; the benches were bolted down; and three years before his death in 1928, Mr. Stacy saw his boulevard done, his promise kept.

As I write this, it is just pouring rain and there are flash flood warnings. All I want to do is crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head, but GMG Jimmy saved the day with this bit of comfort food from Bischo on Main Street. PERFECT.

Please join us at the Cape Ann Makers Market next Thursday Aug 26 from 4-8 PM at the Paint Factory. (rescheduled due to weather forecast) I will be displaying notecards, prints, coasters and other items with some of the images below. Additional images and details available at Pat D’s Photos and Adventures Facebook page. When I signed up (with 30 or so other vendors), it seemed like a long time in the future but now it’s here and I’m a little nervous as I am new at this. So I hope you will stop by to say hello. Mention GMG and get a discount on items with whales on them (notecards excluded but anything else!).

We were blessed with yet another spectacular sunset this week! I cannot get enough of these and I hope you agree.

I saw this medallion in a local sidewalk for the first time and thought it was very interesting. Do you know where it is and why it is significant? Answers to follow…….

We did a little steel wool light painting on Good Harbor Beach recently. It attracted some spectators along with the bugs that come out at sunset. When we do this, we are very careful to take precautions against accidental flare-ups and the shore provides this safety measure for us. In addition, the beach at sunset is a win-win anyhow. Anyhow, this is Jim along with our visitors Aiden and Jake plus a total stranger celebrating his birthday.

Kudos to these good Samaritans at the cut bridge last night who came to the aid of a kayaker stuck in the pilings. They took the time to turn around, return to the aid of the kayaker and pull her away so she could continue her journey. I am sorry I did not catch the name of the boat but thanks guys!

Another favorite activity for land-locked visitors is to view our sunrises and sunsets across the water. Here are some from East Gloucester as we watched the sun set over the harbor.

As I have mentioned, we have family in town and a whale watch is very often at the top of the list of requested activities. Gloucester whale trips cannot be beaten and our favorite is Cape Ann Whale Watch where we had yet another successful trip to the delight of our family members. The whales weren’t overly active but still a real treat to watch. There was also a pod of very active dolphins which was very entertaining. Capt. John and the crew did an outstanding job, as usual. Naturalist Jamie is a real expert and our friend Keirsten is a top notch educator offering all kinds of information and tips for the passengers.

You can see a few additional pictures on Pat D’s Photos and Adventures Facebook page, but the most exciting news is that some of the whale photos I have gotten previously on these trips will be available as prints and notecards at next week’s Cape Ann Makers Market Aug 19 at the Paint Factory 4-8 PM! I will be joining a number of other outstanding vendors offering their local products and hope to see you there.

Following are examples of the images that will be available Thursday Aug 19 at the Cape Ann Makers Market:

CODA, a movie filmed in Gloucester about a fishing family’s trials and tribulations, is scheduled to open tomorrow at Gloucester Cinema. I highly recommend you make time to see it! You will see people and places you know well, you will laugh and you may cry a bit. You’ll be proud.

We are blessed with a group of family members for company this week so we are trying to hit some highlights. Despite the “Closed Monday/Tuesday” restrictions around town, there are still many good choices for dinner that are family friendly for a good sized group. We found the Blue Marlin Grille in Essex able to fill the bill! Our server, Jackie, gave us friendly attention and efficient service despite being very busy for a Tuesday night. We had a range of ages to please and the varied menu at Blue Marlin was perfect.

Warm bread starts the meal off, fresh and delightful. Among the entrees were Haddock Mornay, Fried Clam Plate, Shrimp and Chicken Louisiana, Stir Fry, a burger (giant!) and Steak Tips with Chicken Grill Combo and Spicy Shrimp. Something for everyone and everyone left happy. Thanks Blue Marlin Grille for making us look good as hosts.

There’s a blue heron hanging around Buswell Pond so I stopped to see if I could maybe get some photos. Missed the heron but it’s quite pretty there especially right at dusk.