Author: Pat D

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. I hope you are able to spend time with family and friends this holiday and to reflect a bit on gratitude. I am very grateful that the Gloucester community has embraced us as we transition from New Yorkers to the Gloucestermen we always have been deep inside. Relocating doesn’t grant us authentic Gloucester roots on its own, but the roots run deep in family ties and cultural history. So thank you all for accepting us with open arms.

I was reflecting on the fact that this Thanksgiving will be special in that we have our troops home from Afghanistan. Thanksgiving in 1918 after World War I ended and in 1945 must have felt similar relief so here are some snippets from the Gloucester Daily Times in 1918, 1945, and the year I was born (which is up to me to know and you to find out, but is sometime AFTER 1945……) Words of wisdom from the editor that year included “spirit of gratitude and sharing” ; timeless.

An update from Ken and Nicole at Duckworth’s Bistrot on Facebook today:

We drive by this beauty regularly and have always found it to be commanding and majestic. Sitting right across from the Bay View Cemetery on Washington Street, I found it especially pretty on a gorgeous November day. The weathervane is enchanting.

I follow a thread on Facebook that recently commented “No one takes pictures of cemeteries anymore”, and I thought “Please subscribe to the blog and follow my posts!” This is the Langsford Street Cemetery in Lanesville. It is a small, city owned, active cemetery roadside in Lanesville along 127. Most cemeteries are especially pretty in the fall, but this one has a special added bonus of looking out onto the water as well. It is very well kept and neatly arranged. There is an impressive monument to Civil War soldiers in the middle and a clear path down the center of the small area. The Guide to Cemeteries in Essex County, Massachusetts from the Essex Society of Genealogists notes the dates for this cemetery to be 1849-1959 though the City of Gloucester website lists it as active. It’s an easy stroll to view the various headstones in a quiet peaceful setting.

I stopped by the shop Present at 13 Main Street to see what there was to offer there. Boy, are there a lot of choices of wonderful items (think gifts especially) from so many of our local artists! Laurel was tending the store and she was making a decorative succulent dish to accompany the many other items in the store. You can see from these photos many familiar items along with and new work. I bought a necklace for the holidays….a gift to myself…… I highly recommend stopping by. Additional info available on their Facebook page here. Cheers! Shop local when you can!

We like to stop by the Flying Dragon in Essex and just browse around the store for interesting items. This time we bought some old but functional and decorative salt and pepper shakers. There’s always a great deal to look at here at Flying Dragon. Don’t forget to check out the little barn along the side! And the signage in the front window changes to reflect the goings-on, so that’s always something to watch for.

Thanks to Mark Ring for suggesting the 1640 Hart House in Ipswich! We had dinner there recently and left there saying to ourselves: “Well, that was fun!”. It advertises itself as featuring Elegant Country Dining, but don’t let that intimidate you as it did me at first. It’s apparently an old home made into a restaurant so the seating can be in any of several rooms. The room we were in included a bar and a fireplace, dark wood beams and comfy big chairs. You can see from the pictures that it was a bit dark in the room (you might want to bring some extra lighting along if you are of a certain age……) but this did not deter from the enjoyment of the atmosphere and food.

Jim had the Hart House chicken and I treated myself to the Grilled Tenderloin. The spring roll appetizer was especially delicious. The pace is relaxed and efficient. The food was done to perfection and the service was friendly and “just right”. Reservations are highly recommended and we plan to return someday.

It’s so easy to shop local with our shops right here in Gloucester. These wonderful gift ideas from Pastaio Via Corta are displayed at the corner of Hancock and Main. Just a thought…..

It’s Bananas! I love that place and the latest window dressing includes the coolest zebra on Main Street. Not for sale, this zebra came to Gloucester from Florida with the store owner. As cool as this window is (and they always are a treat), the owner tells me he has big plans for the best Christmas window yet this year. In the meantime, we have this…… There’s quite a bit of reflection going on here, but I think it adds to the cool factor.

We livestreamed the arrival of the new monster pizza oven to Bravo By The Sea 2 on Main Street this morning but here are some additional photos. The oven arrived by truck and was forklifted expertly (great job Scott) through the window opening then moved manually to the back wall of the restaurant. Pretty cool to watch.

Beth Panagos and her son Nick Panagos are hoping to open the restaurant in about 3 weeks/mid December, just in time for downtown holiday shoppers. Lots of primo local businesses right on Main Street for your shopping pleasure! Hope to see you there.

I noticed this insert in the concrete near the Good Harbor Beach footbridge recently, so naturally I was curious and felt compelled to do a little research. First question that came to mind was “What’s granolithic?” In case you were didn’t know either, it’s a type of construction material made of cement and fine granite (or other material). Apparently C.W. Pratt of Gloucester provided such a service for a period of time perhaps around the 1930s. I found Charles (contractor) and Helen Pratt with children Dana, Carlotta, Charles Jr., Ralph and Donald along with his mother Bridget living in Gloucester in the 1920 census. This matches up with the 1937 City Directory information you see here. His draft registration for WWI indicates home on Essex Ave and business on Maplewood. It was an interesting glimpse into Gloucester’s past. It pays to look down at your feet once in a chile.

I have been noticing some evidence of the changeover in seasons here and there around town, including this sleigh apparently getting prepped for the upcoming holidays. The weatherman says we may be getting our last warm November day this week, another sign of change. The boulevard urns are being re-dressed as autumn transitions to winter. As the sleigh says: “Wheeeeee”, we are off and running toward winter.

This barn on Granite Street in Rockport is not technically on the Scenic Byway, but it is “close enough” since it’s quite striking. Especially handsome in fall splendor.

It’s just two weeks until the next Cape Ann Makers Market at the Magnolia Library featuring many of your favorite local artisans. Like it or not, it’s time to think about the holidays!In only 2 weeks, Thanksgiving will be over and we will be heading down a fast lane to the holidays. Pat D’s Photos will be there and we hope you stop by to say hello. Here are some of the images I will be featuring on notecards, mugs, puzzles, ornaments and other fun stuff!

We had not been back to Essex Seafood on Essex Ave since they reopened a while ago and have been wondering if the magic was still there. We met friends for lunch and the magic remains! The new interior is open, clean and still smells new. The menu had all the familiar favorites on it and the staff was friendly and accommodating. One of us needed gluten free preparation which was provided simply and without hesitation. There is outdoor seating available and the inside is very comfortable. We had a lovely lunch with friends in a relaxed atmosphere. Great spot to meet people.

The traps are in and the tides are high. Taken at Lanes Cove recently, a favorite spot.

I did not expect to find a Veterans Day post at the Dunfugin Ramp yesterday, but here we are remembering the service and sacrifice of Edwin Haselgard, who has a memorial at the Dunfugin Ramp. I looked into his story a bit and was quite moved by it. Here’s one version by a Robert Drexler you might find interesting. Each of these stories pulls at your heart in gratitude to the veteran and to their families. I do not know the story of how Edwin’s memorial ended up at Dunfugin, but I find it beautifully appropriate.

From Facebook today, Destinos announcement: