Author: Pat D

The Salt Water Grille on Washington Street now has outdoor seating set up!

Sharing information from the Mayor’s office to clarify some information regarding Gloucester Resident stickers and Beach Stickers for the 2021 season. From Facebook:

Our office has been getting lots of calls, texts and social media posts regarding a news article which has shared incorrect information on beach/resident stickers. If you have already purchased a Gloucester Beach Sticker, you DO NOT need a new, separate resident sticker. Please contact your Ward Councilor or City Clerk’s office regarding which streets are affected and how to acquire a resident sticker if needed, but a beach sticker will also serve as a resident sticker. Thank you and happy summer!

You cannot help but wonder about so much in this scene on Main Street yesterday. I’ve never really thought much about how packaging is packaged. Or how this can be controlled once opened. My forecast calls for imminent showers….of pink foam peanuts…..

Tonno was displaying a sandwich sign on Main Street noting they were offering brunch on Monday, the Memorial Day holiday and we impulsively decided to give it a try. I think the weather kept some of the bigger crowds away and we were able to sit at the bar for our meal. We were served efficiently and in a friendly manner, as we always are when we visit Tonno. It was delightful to sit at the bar and the lunch/brunch menu was more than adequate.

I ordered Lobster Benedict and Jim had the breakfast flatbread. They were very satisfying. I enjoyed the homemade English muffin as well as just the right amount of hollandaise. The company and the atmosphere is always stellar, the food unfailingly good. Try Tonno for lunch or brunch on the weekends.

Welcome back Stones Pub on Main Street! Opening today June 1 at 4 PM. Hope to see you there soon.

What a sight for sore eyes seeing the Ardelle out sailing in the harbor recently!

Jim Dalpiaz playing Taps on the boulevard as part of the national Taps Across America program for 2021.

The weather was kind of cold and clammy and we felt like we needed some comfort food and drink so we stopped at the Farm Bar and Grille in Essex on Saturday. It was the first day free of pandemic restrictions so we felt like we wanted to celebrate a bit. We sat at the bar (at the bar!) and ordered food because we wanted food, not because we were required to. It felt fantastic. The bar and restaurant were busy and the patrons and staff were very cheerful. Jim ordered the well named “Good Decision”: waffle fries with cheese and bacon. I ordered buffalo tenders and mac/cheese. Oh, so comforting! Thanks, Farm staff! We did feel welcomed back.

Sharing information from the Essex Seafood Facebook page. We are glad to see it re-opening.

In 1956, Memorial Day was still celebrated on May 30, no matter the day of the week (imagine that!). May 30 fell on a Wednesday 65 years ago. In 1968, it was decided such holidays would fall such that they made for 3 day weekends. I guess that’s an improvement, but I still prefer to recognize the traditional Memorial Day on May 30 each year.

Here are some of the pictures from the May 31 1956 Gloucester Daily Times for Memorial Day remembrances. Apparently it was rainy that day too……. Respectful remembrance to our fallen soldiers today.

What better way to start the weekend that starts summer than to watch some Little League baseball? Tigers vs. Pirates. A big shout out to the coaches, parents and volunteers who help make these memories a reality for the players.

I unburdened myself literally and figuratively by removing all the “extra” “emergency” masks, nose pieces and sanitizer from my purse. I am not going to lie….I am going to kind of miss the red white and blue gaiter. My purse is lighter and so is my spirit as summer approaches with a new outlook.

Sometimes when the “brain trust” is sitting around at the dock solving the world’s problems, I need to take a little break. I went down to look out at the harbor and found the Lily out and about. I kind of love seeing the Lily so it was a nice treat.

We noticed some nifty new signage for the Tonno outdoor seating area on Main St. Very eye catching!

Sharing information from Facebook today. Best wishes and fair sailing on your retirement.

Famously known as the best breakfast place you never think of (Joey C), the Atlantis Oceanfront Inn provided us with a great meal yesterday. Reservations are required and can be made by calling. We were called by phone when our table was ready as a COVID protocol. Be aware that the call to the table may not come from the same number you made the reservation with. So, if your phone is like mine, it ignored the call that came to let us know the table was ready. Near disaster averted since I was halfway paying attention.

Anyhow, Jane informed us that the cafe will continue to follow the same COVID protocols in this regard (phone call when table is ready) at least through the long holiday weekend as a precaution. Like many others, they are not prepared yet to increase seating capacity due to lack of employees to adequately serve the tables. Regardless, we had a wonderful breakfast by the water. We enjoyed a waffle and fish cakes to start our day. Lovely setting, good food, friendly service……make it a point to visit!

Several people have encouraged us to try Rosetti in Beverly, so we finally made it happen! They were not wrong. We totally enjoyed the experience. We had been out shopping so it was a great end to the day. We made online reservations, which was very easy. It is located in a plaza with plenty of parking and ease of access from the main thoroughfare. It’s location allows you to get some other errands done on the same trip.

It’s a pretty room, with bar as well as standard seating. Plastic barriers separated the tables and the bar seats. The staff stayed right on top of cleaning and sanitizing tables as patrons departed in preparation for the next set of diners. Becca was our server. She was friendly, efficient and informative. We were not rushed through our drinks or menu decisions. It was a very pleasant, relaxed atmosphere. It was a joy to just relax and enjoy.

The rolls were served with dipping sauce (excellent). We had meatballs as an appetizer since we wanted to give “Nonna’s Sauce” a try. They were quite tasty! Jim chose the Chicken Braciolettini with red garlic sauce and I had the Chicken Margherita. Outstanding! The portions are “just right” but because we stuffed ourselves with bread and meatballs, we each brought some entrees home.

The short drive off-island was well worth it. And now we are among those encouraging you to give Rosetti in Beverly a try.

What a difference from Sunday to Monday this week especially on our beaches. Still beautiful and sunny but Monday is a weekday and it was maybe 15-20 degrees cooler.

FOB David Collins read yesterday’s Gloucester Fire Department 1874 post and offers the following (very interesting) update:

Hi, Pat!   I saw your article on the Gloucester fire department and the “Cape Ann” steamer. Loved it, as usual.   I looked up Edwin Lewis Lane [1840-1916] and it appears you ID’d him correctly. His photo is shown at another point in the book.    

So far, I can only get him to be your 22nd cousin 2 times removed but his wife, Mary, S. James [1843-???] is your 15th cousin 4 times removed. He is a 4th cousin to my family.   I’ll work on it when I can over the next few days and see if I can find more on him and on some of the other fire-fighters in the group picture.   Stay safe! David

PS If you are correct and J. P. Nichols is James P Nichols [1842-1920] originally of Harwich MA, then his wife, Mercy S. Cole, is your 5th cousin 4 times removed. His father was from Scotland. And if F. E. Davis, is Frank E. Davis [1851-1936], his wife was Alice Elnora Colby [1859-1920], and she is your 5th cousin 3 times removed. I will be checking to see if this Frank Davis is THE Frank E. Davis of the Gloucester fish company, which I think he is.

Thanks David! This is an awesome addition to the story.