Author: Pat D

Many of you are aware we spent quite a bit of time down at this year’s Bluefin Blowout held at the Mile Marker 1 Marina. It was an amazing fundraising event to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. So, the margarita last Monday at the FUNraising Bash tasted extra yummy. A day or so later we were honored to witness the arrival of the champion 728 lb tuna brought in by Jimmy Rig Charters (see video below)

Tonight’s Antonio Gentile Bandstand Concert with 4EverFab is rescheduled to Wednesday July 23. From the Cape Ann Savings Bank Facebook page:

The Lobsta Land osprey parents Annie and Squam are totally engaged in raising this year’s two chicks who have been named Ed (to honor Ed Becker) and Kate (to honor Kate Bowditch). Ed and Kate are rapidly growing and still very demanding of their parents. You can watch the Essex Greenbelt Osprey Cam here for yourself!

I noticed a post from the City of Gloucester Facebook page that the City has partnered with Seaside Sustainability to install a seabin in the harbor near the Harbormaster’s Office, so we went down to check it out. Here’s a quote from the City’s page: Thanks to our partnership with Seaside Sustainability , this innovative device is helping to keep our harbor cleaner by collecting floating debris from the water. The Seaside team regularly empties the seabin, logs what they find, and carefully returns any natural materials like seaweed back to the ocean.

A seabin is a floating trashcan that acts like a garbage skimmer to help keep the waters cleaner. If you’re walking down the ramp toward the pier for the Harbor Shuttle, you might notice it and wonder about it. Now you know. I think it’s a great idea that deserves a shout out. Thank you City of Gloucester and Seaside Sustainability!

I had a hankering for Destinos Buffalo Chicken Tender plate so we visited for lunch recently. It did not disappoint. We like to go and eat there because you can have salad bar and/or soup with your meal. Jim ordered a tuna sub. The place was busy with working people on short lunch breaks and Destinos staff accomodates that with ease. I took some of mine home for another meal so that’s a deal in my book! See you at Destinos on Prospect St.

Pat D’s Photos will not have store hours on Saturday due to the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Artisan Craft Fair on Washington St. in Lanesville. There will be vendors and food inside and outside so stop by and say hello! Pat D’s Photos will be inside.

We were fortunate to catch the Friendship of Salem as it was leaving our harbor to head home after spending several weeks at the Gloucester Marine Railways. Here’s the update from the Friendship of Salem Facebook page:

We’re excited to announce that the tall ship FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM will return to Derby Wharf this Tuesday, July 15th at approximately 2:00 PM. The square rigged, replica East Indiaman, has been at a shipyard undergoing critical structural repairs to its bow, and we are all looking forward to having the ship back at Salem Maritime National Historic Site.

While FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM is able to travel to Derby Wharf under its own power, the ship will be towed to the wharf so that the cover can remain on the vessel to protect work that has already been completed as part of this multi-year project. The ship isn’t quite ready for its big reveal, so the cover will be on a little longer while the final touches are completed.

With FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM back at Derby Wharf, rigging installation will begin late summer and continue throughout the winter and spring to prepare the ship for America 250 and Salem 400+ commemorations.

Free public visitation on board will begin Wednesday, July 30th. The ship will be open for guided public programs on Wednesday to Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 PM this summer and fall.

Make it your dinner plan to stop by the Bluefin Blowout Food Truck Fundraiser at Mile Marker 1 Marina tomorrow Wednesday July 16 from 5-8 PM. Pat D’s Photos will be there with nightlights, prints, notecards and more. Food trucks include Meat and Sweet Foods, Lobster Roller, Fenway Favorites and Lunch Lady. Entry is free and open to the public and meal tickets are $20. This allows you to get an item at the food truck and the money supports the Alzheimer’s Association. Stop by Pat D’s Photos table to say hello.

We happily returned to Saltwater Grille on Washington St mostly because I was longing for the Washington St Salad. It was as delicious as I remembered. It happened to be Margarita Monday so I ordered a raspberry margarita. I appreciated that I could actually taste the raspberry in it and it was very refreshing. Jim enjoyed his Half Moon Salad. We chatted with friends around the bar and it was a delightfully relaxing Margarita Monday! Thanks, Saltwater Grille!

Pat D’s Photos will be at the Craft Fair next Saturday July 19 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lanesville (Washington St) along with a variety of other vendors. Mark your calendars as this promises to be a fun event with food and fun. Also, Pat D’s Photos will be at the Bluefin Blowout this Wednesday July 16 as part of the Food Truck event and we hope you will stop by Mile Marker 1 marina and join us for the Bluefin Blowout to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Thanks to everyone who stopped by at the Block Party last night! Great job, Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce! Next Block Party Aug 9. Another date to mark in your calendar!

Our sister and brother in law visited recently and stayed in the Bulfinch House at Yankee Clipper Inn. We decided to check out the Captain’s Compass Bar on the grounds of the Yankee Clipper Inn on Granite Street in Rockport. They were super pleased with their experience there and we enjoyed an afternoon of drinks and snacks on the lawn. The bar is open summer weekends only Friday 4-8 PM; Sat and Sun 2-8 PM. Drinks and snacks are available from friendly efficient servers such as Cam. Pictured here you see prosecco, mojito, turkey panini, cheese and fruit plate and quesadilla. It was just right for the afternoon we were there visiting. Jim and I will plan to go back and take friends!

The first Block Party of the season will be held tomorrow Saturday July 12 starting at 6 PM along Main St but we will be at 44 Main Street all day (11 am – 9 pm) so plan to stop by and take advantage of our special ALL DAY SATURDAY offer of $3 for any and all notecards. These individually packaged notecards are blank on the inside and are beautifully giclee printed to make the colors pop. Everybody needs a few on hand and this will be your chance to stock up. These are some of the newest ones to give you an example but there are many more to select from. Stop by and say hello!

We haven’t seen a fawn in a couple of years so this was a little surprise and a fun treat.

I’ll never tire of watching children play in the ocean. It’s wondrous and joyful.

Last Tuesday, we started our day on the water with a ride out to Straitsmouth Island and ended the day aboard the Ardelle for the weekly Tuesday Schooner Challenge. This time, Isabella was crewed by the Schooner Adventure mates as we ventured out into the harbor for the “race” pitting Maritime Gloucester interns against the experienced Adventure crew. As opposed to the previous week, we were able to stay dry this time! There’s always something going on for these outings and this time we experienced a “man overboard” drill which included rescuing a lead filled bumper which was dropped overboard. We love watching these interns learn such a variety of skills during these sails. Highly recommended (PS there’s a Tuesday ticket discount). Tickets available here.

We stopped by The Burn on Main St (formerly Halibut Point) to celebrate their opening and Margarita Monday. The place was hopping for a Monday dinner time, which we were very happy to see. I got the margarita, expertly prepared. I also ordered the baked haddock and Jim got a veggie burger. We sat at the bar with friends and watched some of the grill prep as we visited and waited for our meals. To top things off, I had an Irish Coffee which was delicious though it lacked the whipped cream I like. That’s because they haven’t started offering dessert yet, so that was an acceptable reason…..Thanks Maria and crew at The Burn!

We checked something else off our bucket list this week when we took a ride out to Straitsmouth Island with the Thacher Island Association. This is a short excursion from the Rockport Granite Pier out to the island. After a brief introduction from the docents on duty (thank you Karen, Kate and Caroline!), visitors are invited to tour the island and lighthouse. *Don’t wander far off the trail thought, as there is posison ivy as demonstrated by Kate* In contrast to Thacher Island, both the island and the lighthouse are much smaller but there is no loss in the enjoyment we took from the surroundings and environment. I highly recommend this for yourselves if you’ve never been and especially for visitors that might especially enjoy lighthouses. Tickets book up fast though so don’t wait too long.

Are you exhausted from all the Fiesta/Horribles/July 4th activities? That’s too bad because the first Block Party is just one week away, so mark your calendars. Joey and I will be manning a table in front of 44 Main St starting at 6 PM Friday July 12. Stop by for some surprises and cool merch!

Machaca on Rogers St. for lunch during Fiesta was a great call. The Caldo Tlalpeno soup hit that spot on that coolish afternoon. Always outstanding. They also had the Bar Bites menu available and the taquitos were AMAZING—I am definitely getting those again. Jim had the slider variety from the Bar Bites menu which looked really tempting. Thanks, as always, Machaca for greeting us in a friendly manner, the efficient service and the wonderful menu!

Thank you to Boo Bird on Central St in Manchester for a lovely respite after our long drive home from New York. It was the perfect place to stop and refresh ourselves before we arrived home. I had the American Rice Bowl and Jim had the Fish and Chips. Jim was very happy with the fish batter..not too heavy with good flavor. Everyone has their batter preferences for fish and this hit the mark for Jim. I loved my salad. The screened open window seating was super comfortable on that warm day. We’ll be back soon!