Author: Pat D

The new Silver Bear Emporium will hold its Grand Opening on Saturday April 25 from 10 am – 4 pm at 242 Main Street in Gloucester. It will be a multi vendor storefront located in a prime area of downtown. I encourage you to check it out and support local businesses. We wish you well!

We joined Mayor Lundberg and Peter Lawrence (Executive Director of Biomimicry New England) and others yesterday morning at City Hall to launch the 400 Trees Cooling Corridors Initiative kickoff. This initiative is an extension of the Gloucester 400 Trees project aiming to plant trees in and around Gloucester especially downtown. In addition, the program partners with the Cape Ann Garden Club and offers learning opportunities for school children through school and YMCA programs; as well as Tree Talks such as the upcoming May 14 event at the Sawyer Free Library featuring Lisa Giersbach. Partners in this include Heirloom Tree & Shrub Care. Speakers at this event included Mayor Lundberg, Peter Lawrence, Erin Anastasia-Murphy, Victoria Fortune, Chris Wood and Jack Montgomery. The program is actively seeking volunteers. If you are interested in more information or to volunteer check out this link: https://www.400treesma.org/ Happy Earth Day!

I’ve accepted that the season has changed so we will be changing our store hours as follows: we will try to have the store open Thursday-Saturday 11-5 each week and Sundays 11-3. Unless life gets in the way and then I will try to keep you posted on my Instagram page @patdsphotos So summer/fall hours start this Thursday April 23. In the meantime, here’s an update on nightlights available. Remember you can always reach out and there’s free delivery in the Cape Ann area.

Yea or Nay on these Oreos???? I’m a NO thank you. Oreos has several tempting options but this does not appeal to me even on sale…. but thanks for playing Nabisco!

Talise announced its season will begin May 8 Mother’s Day Weekend! Welcome back! Online reservations are now available as noted below.

You have probably noticed your backyard birds are reappearing and very busy at the feeders. Migration is well under way and we traveled up to Parker River Wildlife Refuge to check it out. We were rewarded with egret and swan sightings as well as some Norther Harriers. So happy to see them back! For additional photos, check out Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook at this link. You might decide to give a follow!

We treated ourselves to a night out with our friends Susan and Leo LaRosa by going to LaRosa’s on Market Square in Newburyport last week. What a delightful experience we had! Riley, our server was top notch. The meal started with focaccia bread topped with red sauce and cheese….very tasty. The wine selection was outstanding (though I had one of the cocktails…really delicious). Susan, Leo and Jim each got a different wine and they said it was excellent.

Here you see some of our food selections including Caesar salad, meatballs, prosciutto plate, Rigatoni Blanco, Chicken Milanese, and a Salmon entree. Our LaRosa friends were quite pleased with our entire adventure. It was WELL worth the drive. Highly recommended for a special occasion gathering of friends or family. Here’s a link for more info.

Our sunsets come in every form nature allows and I never tire of chasing it.

In case you didn’t know, the fabulous Yella on the Water along the boulevard has re-opened for the 2026 season. Open Wednesday-Sunday. More info and reservations here. Hope to see you there soon.

We were delighted to find some of the Great Blue Herons have returned to their rookery after losing all the nests a couple of years ago in a windstorm. We’ve been missing them! One of the herons took exception to a predator flyby and the verbal response from the heron was quite impressive. We’ll be watching the nests for youngsters in the next few weeks.

Here’s a chance to lend a hand to a worthy project AND motivate you to clean out those closets! Deadline April 16.

The YMCA is developing the Patillo building on Middle Street into affordable housing. This is how the construction project is coming along. For more information click this link.

We went to The Lobster on East Main St yesterday to have dinner with our guests and check out the First Annual NGOM (North Gulf of Maine) Shuck Off. It was a great event that drew quite a crowd. Kudos to the hard working staff at The Lobster for juggling all the craziness. Here’s the last part of the final round:

My favorite steak bomb hands down is available at Minglewood. All you have to do is ask for it! The sandwich arrives with freshly prepared shaved steak, onions and peppers surrounded by a crispy crunchy roll. The topper is that the roll is crusty without tearing your mouth into shreds. The second best part is that the sandwich is manageable with two hands and no utensils if you choose. Can you tell it hit the spot for me? Win Win Minglewood! Thank you for another winning menu item.

Sharing photos from Sugar Mags announcement of their Main Street opening at the former Oliver’s Harbor location. Open 7 am – 1 pm. I stop in for a scone which was perfect. Several customers were enjoying breakfast. Welcome back!

Sharing this information from Facebook regarding an upcoming fundraiser in Magnolia. Save the date!

Sharing information from The Lobster. This sounds like a great event. Hope to see many of you there.

The day many of us are awaiting is on the horizon! Tomorrow April 9 Lobsta Land on Causeway St. reopens for the season.

Sharing information about the annual Pizza Taste Off event:

It’s a joy to see the harbor busy with activity during scallop season. Welcome and thank you!