Great Dinner at Fox Creek Tavern

We rode over to High Street in Ipswich to have dinner at the Fox Creek Tavern, which has become one of our favorite spots. It was a quiet dinner hour there and Michael was our server (great job Michael!). The atmosphere is cozy and friendly, seating appropriately distanced, varied menu choices are available. They always have very interesting drink and entree specials available.

I chose a margarita with cherries added….BOY was that good! Nice and tart just the way I prefer. Our friend manager Cecilia and I are going to have a conversation about that wonderful cocktail!!! Jim ordered fried pickles and I had French Onion soup prior to our meal. The cilantro lemon chicken tacos were a FANTASTIC blend of flavors and textures. I believe it was listed as a new menu item. Jim had the Reuben sandwich. We were very happy with our meals once again. Fox Creek Tavern has not failed us once! Highly recommended, well worth the ride.

Beauport Burger Night!

**BREAKING NEWS: tonight March 29 is the final Burger Night at the Beauport and a brand new GMG burger will be featured!!!*** Be there or be square…….. Gotta show up to see what it is.

If you missed Burger Night at the Beauport last Monday, this is what you missed……I am not generally a fan of fried chicken on a sandwich, but this was OUTSTANDING. There’s also an Artist in Residence Gallery Series to enjoy while you are there in case you needed another reason to stop down. Another night of great service from our new friend Tara. Seating is appropriately spaced and servers are masked. Contact information is taken for seating and several people were on the outdoor deck. Maybe we’ll see you tonight!

Need Help Getting Your Vaccine Appointment?

If you live or work on Cape Ann and are eligible for a COVID vaccine but are having trouble securing an appointment, help is available. An informal group of caring people calling themselves the “COVID Angels” are working the keyboards in the overnight hours when new appointments are released to help people get their appointments. To get a name on the list the Angels will work from, email VaccineHelp01930@gmail.com (that’s the zip code, so those are zeroes) with the following information:

Name

Date of Birth

Cell contact number

email

Address

Insurance carrier and Policy number (not required to get a vaccine, but you will be asked)

Please also indicate if vaccine is for a male or female. (some of the appointment sights require this choice, sorry)

Please understand the Angels will do the best they can but nothing is guaranteed. Most (all ) current vaccine sights are out of town, so be aware. You should expect to hear back by email from the appointment sight within a few days.

These wonderful volunteers set alarms to get up in the middle of the night to help with this effort. They have their own families and jobs during the day so it’s a terrific service they are offering. Questions can also be submitted to VaccineHelp01930@gmail.com So, check your eligibility and ask for help if needed.

Now and Then at 279 East Main Street

We stopped at Dogtown Books on Main Street recently to drop off a new GMG sticker and, of course, I had to take a peek at what was being offered in the Local History section. Lucas very nicely showed me 2 large bound volumes of the Gloucester Daily Times, each covering 3 months of 1956. I immediately snatched them up and dragged them home (they are big and bulky). I am including a shot of me hauling my bounty back to the car.

So we got them home and started going through them page by page, day by day. This story came to our attention right away. The Grand Opening of the Yankee General Store at 279 East Main Street. This store ran from 1956-1974 and even made note in the Boston Globe of its penny candy availability in a Feb 22 1960 column, a portion of which you see here. Some of you surely have memories of this place! Share them in the comments for all to enjoy.

Today, the store front looks nearly the same though it currently houses a medical practice. More stories from 1956 Gloucester forthcoming……

Lovely Spring Day at Pebble Beach

Pebble Beach on Penzance Road in Rockport is a favorite stop for a little reflection and meditation. It looked especially pretty one day this past week. I even walked down to the water with the intention of putting my feet in (ala Donna Ardizzoni!) but chickened out of taking my boots off! Soon……enjoy the peace and beauty.

Area Restaurants Spring Guide Updated

When I first came up with the bright idea to share seasonal reopenings in Gloucester, I did not expect the list to blow up quite the way it did. It was not originally intended as a full guide to all restaurants but it is getting much closer to that than to its original purpose. I will mostly not be including sub/pizza/coffee/pickup spots UNLESS they are seasonal and expecting to reopen soon. With all those caveats, and with much thanks to FOB Bex Borden for her work on this here’s the updated list as of March 26 2021.

If you’d like to download your own copy, here you go.

TOWNNAMEPHONEWEBSITEOPEN?
Gloucester525MainSt978-525-3250www.525magnolia.comOPEN
GloucesterAtlantic Motel Breakfast978-283-0014atlantisoceanfrontinn.com/breakfast-in-gloucester-ma/MAY
GloucesterAzorean978-283-5500www.azoreanrestaurant.comOPEN
GloucesterBeauport Hotel Dining978-491-50901606restaurant.comOPEN
GloucesterBlue Collar Lobster978-283-1812thegloucesterhouse.comTBD
GloucesterCapt Carlos978-283-6343www.captaincarlos.comTBD
GloucesterCauseway *temp closed*978-281-5256www.thecausewayrestaurant.comOPEN*
GloucesterCharlie’s Place978-281-5002www.facebook.com/Charlies-Place-111697215533360/OPEN
GloucesterCrows Nest978–281–2965www.crowsnestgloucester.com/OPEN
GloucesterDining Rooms at the Castle/Seaglass Restaurant978-515-7386www.castlemanorinn.com/chef/seaglass-restaurant/
GloucesterDrift Cafe978-314-4238driftgloucester.comTBD
GloucesterDuckworths978-282-4426www.duckworthsbistrot.com/TBD
GloucesterThe Franklin978-283-7888www.franklincapeann.comOPEN
GloucesterGeorge’s The Office978-281-1910www.GeorgesOfGloucester.comOPEN
GloucesterGloucester House978-283-1812thegloucesterhouse.comTBD
GloucesterGoombadi’s978-879-4287www.facebook.com/GoombadisOPEN
GloucesterHorizon Chinese978-283-8815horizongloucester.comOPEN
GloucesterJalapenos978-283-8228jalapenosgloucester.comTBD
GloucesterLaneside Pub and Brewery978-283-9753www.capeannlanes.com/food-beverageOPEN
GloucesterLittle Red Rooster978-219-4004littleredroosterglo.comOPEN
GloucesterLobsta Land978-281-0415www.lobstalandrestaurant.com/April 22
GloucesterMachaca978-865-3669themachaca.comOPEN
GloucesterMarias978-283-7373http://www.mariasgloucester.com/OPEN
GloucesterMarkouk Bread978-283-3500www.markoukbread.com/OPEN
GloucesterMidori978-282-1888midorigloucester.comOPEN
GloucesterMile Marker One978-283-2122www.capeannmarina.com/diningOPEN
GloucesterMinglewood Harborside978-281-0223minglewoodharborside.comOPEN
GloucesterMom’s Kitchen978-282-4444www.facebook.com/JustLikeMomMade0OPEN
GloucesterOliver’s Harbor978-559-7638www.oliversharbor.comOPEN
GloucesterPassports978-281-3680passportsrestaurant.comOPEN
GloucesterPilot House978-281-1150www.PilotHouseDragonLight.comOPEN
GloucesterPratty’s CAV978-283-970010 Parker St, Gloucester, MA 01930CAVOPEN
GloucesterRhumb Line978-283-973240 Railroad Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930TBD
GloucesterSalt Water Grille978-879-4244www.SaltWaterGrille.comTBD
GloucesterSeaport Grille978-282-9799seaportgrillegloucester.comOPEN
GloucesterShort & Main978-281-0044www.shortandmain.com/TBD
GloucesterStones Pub978-515-7366www.facebook.com/StonesPubGloucesterTBD
GloucesterSurfside Pizza978-281-1700www.surfsidesubsgloucester.comAPRIL
GloucesterTaco Lupitas978-282-9600tacoslupitagloucester.wordpress.comOPEN
GloucesterTalise978-515-7814www.taliserestaurant.comMAY
GloucesterThai Choice978-281-8118http://www.thaichoicerestaurant.com/OPEN
GloucesterThe Cupboard978-281-1908not recently updatedTBD
GloucesterThe Rudder978-283-7967facebook.com/TheRudderRestaurantTBD
GloucesterThe Studio978-879-4896facebook.com/TheStudio51TBD
GloucesterTonno978-879-4795www.tonnorestaurant.com/OPEN
GloucesterTopside Grill978-281-1399www.topsidegrill.comOPEN
GloucesterTwo Sisters Coffee Shop978-281-3378www.facebook.com/TwoSistersCoffeeShopOPEN
GloucesterWillow Rest978-283-2417http://www.willowrest.com/OPEN
GloucesterYella on the Water978-491-5334www.yellagrille.comTBD
GloucesterZeke’s Place978-283-7817zekesgloucester.comOPEN
Rockport7th Wave978-564-5048www.7thwaverockport.com/OPEN
RockportBean & Leaf Cafe978-546-7500www.rockporticecream.com/beanandleafhomeOPEN
RockportBearskin Neck Bistro978-309-8263www.facebook.com/BearskinNeckBistroTBD
RockportBlue Lobster Grille978-546-9990facebook.com/BlueLobsterGrilleOPEN
RockportBLUMEnone listedwww.blumecoffee.comTBD
RockportBrackett’s Oceanview978-546-2797www.bracketts.comOPEN
RockportBrothers Brew978-546-377527 Main St, Rockport, MA 01966OPEN
RockportEmerson Inn Pigeon CoveTavern978-546-6321https://www.emersoninnbythesea.com/dining/May 1 2021
RockportFeather & Wedge978-999-5917featherandwedge.comOPEN
RockportHong Kong Kitchen978-546-262613 Railroad Ave, Rockport,OPEN
RockportHelmut’s Strudel978-546-2824www.facebook.com/StrudelHelmuts/TBD
RockportHula Moon Cafe978-546-257227 Mt Pleasant St, Rockport, MA 01966TBD
RockportLattoff Farmstand978-879-3940facebook.com/lattoffarmhousekitchen/OPEN
RockportMy Place by the Sea978-546-9667http://myplacebythesea.com/OPEN
RockportNates at Front Beach opening with new owners under a new name TBA18 Beach St, Rockport, MA 01966TBD
RockportRed Skiff978-546-764715 Mt Pleasant St, Rockport, MA 01966TBD
RockportRockport House of Pizza978-546-606619 Broadway, Rockport,OPEN
RockportRoy Moore Fish Shack (Dock Square)978-546-6696Dock SquareTBD
RockportRoy Moore Lobster Co978-546-669639 Bearskin NeckTBD
RockportSalty’s978-999-5947www.facebook.com/SaltysLobsterDogsandMore/April 2021
RockportTop Dog978-546-0006topdogofrockport.comTBD
EssexBlue Marlin Grille978-768-7400www.bluemarlingrille.comOPEN
EssexBoat House Grille978-890-5113www.boathousegrilleessex.comTBD
EssexCK Pearl978-890-7378www.ckpearl.comOPEN
EssexDown River Ice Cream978-768-0102www.facebook.com/DownRiverIceCreamOPEN
EssexEssex Seafood978-768-7233essexseafood.comTBD
EssexFarnhams978-768-6643http://www.jtfarnhams.com/OPEN
EssexGreat Marsh Brewing Company978-890-7827www.thegreatmarsh.comOPEN
EssexSheas978-768-6931www.sheasrestaurant.comApril 8
EssexVillage Restaurant978-768-6400wedigclams.comOPEN
EssexWindward Grille978-768-0050windwardgrille.comOPEN
EssexWoodmans978-768-6057www.woodmans.comOPEN
ACTIVITIES
GloucesterHammond Castle Museum978-283-2080www.hammondcastle.orgMay 1
Gloucester7 Seas Whale Watch978-283-1776www.7seaswhalewatch.comApril 17
GloucesterCape Ann Whale Watch978-283-5110www.seethewhales.comApril 17
GloucesterYankeeFleet !CODFISHING! 4/1-4/15978-283-0313www.yankeefleet.comApril 1
GloucesterPauline’s Gifts978-281-5558www.paulinesgifts.comMay 2021
GloucesterCape Ann Campsites978-283-8683.www.capeanncampsite.comMay 15
GloucesterVista Motel978-281-3410www.VistaMotel.comApril 1

Eagles Back in Magnolia at the Nest!

The eagle pair is back in Magnolia! You’re going to want to watch this video taken at dusk last night by our neighbor Jim Manning. This video shows one of the eagles flying to a tree, ripping a branch off and returning to the nest. The eagle pair worked quite a while on the nest and hung around in the area long enough for us to witness them upon our return. Thanks neighbors for documenting this amazing feat!

I have been in contact with Mass Audubon regarding this eagle / hawk behavior, especially since we witnessed the same kind of activity at Little River. I had my suspicions and Marj. Rimes Wildlife Information Line at Mass Audubon shares the following. I believe this is what we are seeing. Amazing!

By this time of year most eagles are already on eggs. It’s not uncommon for a new pair to play house and build a nest that they don’t actually use, so I wonder if this is what is going  on with this pair. Also, the behavior of robbing a Red-tail is unusual enough that I wonder if this is the same pair in both places. It would be fantastic is you could determine if the eagles are banded and if so, if you could determine the band information. Even if you can’t tell the number, if you can tell the band color it helps narrow down its origin: https://ccbbirds.org/what-we-do/research/species-of-concern/virginia-eagles/eagle-band/ The reason the band information would be cool is that it would let you age the bird. Eagles don’t breed until their fourth or fifth year, far more typically in the fifth year. But the fourth year birds are the ones most likely to “play house” by building a nest for practice.

Turkeys on the Run

We were driving along on Rogers Street and noticed a flock of gulls, squawking up a storm and dive bombing toward the home’s roof. This roof has several levels and some ornamentation so it took a minute for my eyes to adjust and realize there was a turkey atop this house dodging and ducking the gulls. It was quite a surprising sight. I hopped out of the car with my camera as the turkey made its way to a lower level behind the house and out of sight. A nice couple in another vehicle stopped to say they saw the same except they thought there was more than one turkey. So we both tracked them down in a back alley making their way down again to ground level in a hurry to avoid the paparazzi (me). Reminded me of the Beatles fleeing their fans so here are Ringo, John, George and Paul on the run in the alleys of Gloucester.

Egrets Back in Town

A sure sign of seasonal change is seeing egrets again. These are my first for the year, hanging around near Mile Marker. Welcome back. You are a sight for sore eyes.

Delightful Annisquam River Pottery

We recently went over to Annisquam River Pottery to pick up a donation check from Nina Testaverde Goodick in response to our Tipsy Seagull ice cream challenge (thanks so much Nina!). We had time for a little chat and studio tour. I am quite enchanted by the pottery cross adorned with sea glass. She told me a little family history, which is deeply woven into the fabric of Gloucester history. It was a heartwarming chat with a lovely lady. And her pottery is darn awesome too! Annisquam River Pottery can be found on Facebook by searching the same or at the link provided. Warning that one of those crosses may not be available to you if I get there first!

Area Restaurants Spring Guide 2021

FOB Bex Borden suggested we post updated information for seasonal reopenings of restaurants and activities. Then she created the spreadsheet! What you see here reflects her amazing efforts to gather information for you all! We will plan to keep you posted weekly with updates. Happy Spring and Summer to you all!

TOWNNAMEPHONEWEBSITEOPEN?
Gloucester525MainSt978-525-3250www.525magnolia.comOPEN
GloucesterAtlantic Motel Breakfast978-283-0041atlantisoceanfrontinn.com/breakfast-in-gloucester-ma/MAY
GloucesterBeauport Hotel Dining978-491-50901606restaurant.comOPEN
GloucesterBlue Collar Lobster978-283-1812thegloucesterhouse.comTBD
GloucesterCapt Carlos978-283-6343www.captaincarlos.comTBD
GloucesterCrows Nest978–281–2965www.crowsnestgloucester.com/OPEN
GloucesterDrift Cafe978-314-4238driftgloucester.comTBD
GloucesterDuckworths978-282-4426www.duckworthsbistrot.com/TBD
GloucesterGloucester House978-283-1812thegloucesterhouse.comTBD
GloucesterHorizon Chinese978-283-8815horizongloucester.comOPEN
GloucesterJalapenos978-283-8228jalapenosgloucester.comTBD
GloucesterLittle Red Rooster978-219-4004littleredroosterglo.comOPEN
GloucesterLobsta Land978-281-0415www.lobstalandrestaurant.com/April 8
GloucesterMachaca978-865-3669themachaca.comOPEN
GloucesterMarkouk Bread978-283-3500www.markoukbread.com/OPEN
GloucesterMidori978-282-1888midorigloucester.comOPEN
GloucesterMinglewood Harborside978-281-0223minglewoodharborside.comOPEN
GloucesterPassports978-281-3680passportsrestaurant.comOPEN
GloucesterPratty’s CAV978-283-970010 Parker St, Gloucester, MA 01930CAVOPEN
GloucesterRhumb Line978-283-973240 Railroad Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930TBD
GloucesterSeaport Grille978-282-9799seaportgrillegloucester.comOPEN
GloucesterShort & Main978-281-0044www.shortandmain.com/TBD
GloucesterSurfside Pizza978-281-1700www.surfsidesubsgloucester.comAPRIL
GloucesterTaco Lupitas978-282-9600tacoslupitagloucester.wordpress.comOPEN
GloucesterThai Choice978-281-8118http://www.thaichoicerestaurant.com/OPEN
GloucesterThe Cupboard978-281-1908not recently updatedTBD
GloucesterThe Rudder978-283-7967facebook.com/TheRudderRestaurantTBD
GloucesterThe Studio978-879-4896facebook.com/TheStudio51TBD
GloucesterTonno978-879-4795www.tonnorestaurant.com/OPEN
GloucesterTopside Grill978-281-1399www.topsidegrill.comOPEN
GloucesterWillow Rest978-283-2417http://www.willowrest.com/OPEN
GloucesterYella on the Water978-491-5334www.yellagrille.comTBD
GloucesterZeke’s Place978-283-7817zekesgloucester.comOPEN
RockportBlue Lobster Grille978-546-9990facebook.com/BlueLobsterGrilleTBD
RockportBrothers Brew978-546-377527 Main St, Rockport, MA 01966OPEN
RockportEmerson Inn Tavern978-546-6321https://www.emersoninnbythesea.com/dining/TBD
RockportFeather & Wedge978-999-5917featherandwedge.comOPEN
RockportHong Kong Kitchen978-546-262613 Railroad Ave, Rockport,OPEN
RockportHula Moon Cafe978-546-257227 Mt Pleasant St, Rockport, MA 01966TBD
RockportLattoff Farmstand978-879-3940facebook.com/lattoffarmhousekitchen/OPEN
RockportMy Place by the Sea978-546-9667http://myplacebythesea.com/TBD
RockportNates at Front Beach978-546-005518 Beach St, Rockport, MA 01966TBD
RockportRed Skiff978-546-764715 Mt Pleasant St, Rockport, MA 01966TBD
RockportRockport House of Pizza978-546-606619 Broadway, Rockport,OPEN
RockportRoy Moore Fish Shack (Dock Square)978-546-6696Dock SquareTBD
RockportRoy Moore Lobster Co978-546-669639 Bearskin NeckTBD
RockportTop Dog978-546-0006topdogofrockport.comTBD
EssexBlue Marlin Grille978-768-7400www.bluemarlingrille.comOPEN
EssexBoat House Grille978-890-5113www.boathousegrilleessex.comTBD
EssexCK Pearl978-890-7378www.ckpearl.comOPEN
EssexEssex Seafood978-768-7233essexseafood.comTBD
EssexFarnhams978-768-6643http://www.jtfarnhams.com/OPEN
EssexGreat Marsh Brewing Company978-890-7827www.thegreatmarsh.comOPEN
EssexSheas978-768-6931www.sheasrestaurant.comApril 8
EssexVillage Restaurant978-768-6400wedigclams.comOPEN
EssexWindward Grille978-768-0050windwardgrille.comOPEN
EssexWoodmans978-768-6057www.woodmans.comOPEN
ACTIVITIES
GloucesterHammond Castle Museum978-283-2080www.hammondcastle.orgMay 1
Gloucester7 Seas Whale Watch978-283-1776www.7seaswhalewatch.comApril 17
GloucesterCape Ann Whale Watch978-283-5110www.seethewhales.comApril 17

Healthy Smoothies Coming to Main Street Soon!

Shore Nutrition is moving in at 139 A Main Street (across from Toodleoos) apparently offering healthy smoothies. The former business, VIP Fitness has relocated to Pleasant Street. Welcome Shore Nutrition and best wishes!

Eagle Pair at Little River

We came across a pair of eagles in the vicinity of Little River yesterday battling constant assaults from unhappy hawks. The eagle appear to be a nesting pair attempting to get their nest ready. Two trips were made to leave the nest to retrieve sticks. The hawks seemed to take advantage of any momentary lapse of watchfulness, attacking again as soon as the mate returned with nesting material. It was a stunning display of coordinated defense as the eagles placed themselves strategically to protect the other’s back and the nest as the hawks approached. The hawk pair also seemed to coordinate its attack of harassment. A great deal of screeching from both species was heard. It seems these eagles are in this nest to stay so we will be keeping an eye on them.

For additional pictures, please visit Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook: http://bit.ly/3vLe5FB

Hawks or Eagles? Who Wins the Nest?

The first day of spring seems like a good time for this. There’s an interesting story developing in our backyard tree here in Magnolia. There’s a hawk nest that wasn’t used last year that the eagles AND hawks have been showing interest in these past several weeks. With nesting season upon them, the interest has grown recently. About a week ago, a hawk screeched into the nest while an eagle was there but the hawk left quickly. A few days ago, I was able to capture the eagle in the nest around 9 AM and a hawk in there around noontime (see green circles).

We do not know how this is going to pan out. The eagles are clearly building a nest somewhere nearby as we see them carrying sticks into the tree. I contacted Mass Audubon about the situation and this is their intriguing response: Bald Eagles will occasionally upgrade a Red-tail nest for their own use, but it’s fairly uncommon, and I think your speculation is right about the eagle using it as a source for sticks. If the eagle is there fairly regularly, I suspect the Red-tail will abandon it, as the eagles are essentially the enemy. The other thing that’s unusual is that the nest wasn’t used last year, and I’ve never heard of a Red-tail re-using a nest that hasn’t been used in two years.

It is our suspicion that the eagles are taking the nest apart for their own nesting material as fast as the hawks are rebuilding their nest for upcoming use. A selection of “our” hawks and eagles in or near the nesting area. I will keep you posted!

Seaport Grille for Relaxed Dinner

We stopped at Seaport Grille on Rowe Square this week for dinner. I love the atmosphere at Seaport Grille, both in season and during the “off” season. At this time of year it is quiet, but with a gentle buzz as if in anticipation of the upcoming better weather. Charlotte was our server, friendly and masked. Separated seating as appropriate within current protocols was in place. I had the filet mignon and the famous Seaport Coffee (probably the main reason I went) and Jim had the seafood trio. It was a lovely relaxed dinner and we enjoyed the relative quiet. I, am, however, looking forward to a busy summer for everyone.

Seasonal Reopenings for 2021

I’d like to compile a list to share of seasonal reopenings for the upcoming spring and summer but I need your help! If you have dates to announce for reopening seasonal establishments or services please share them in the comments or by emailing me GMGPatD@gmail.com to be added to this list which I will plan to update as often as necessary. I’d like to stick to Cape Ann, with an emphasis on Gloucester and the immediate area and include restaurants, activities, ice cream and the like. Thanks!

Meanwhile, here’s what I have so far. It’s not much yet, but if you are as anxious for the season as I am, you’ll understand! It’s St. Patrick’s Day, so time to think toward spring and summer.

Shea’s in Essex April 8

Cape Ann Whale Watch April 17

7 Seas Whale Watch April 17