Author: Pat D

We had a very moody, foggy day in Gloucester recently. It was fascinating to watch. I just love this place!

Here’s a great deal for you as advertised on Instagram and other social media for the Mile Marker Igloos: igloo fee waived for breakfast or lunch Wednesday-Friday. Reserve your igloo online

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.

**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!

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.

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……

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.

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.

TOWN	NAME	PHONE	WEBSITE	OPEN?
Gloucester	525MainSt	978-525-3250	www.525magnolia.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Atlantic Motel Breakfast	978-283-0014	atlantisoceanfrontinn.com/breakfast-in-gloucester-ma/	MAY
Gloucester	Azorean	978-283-5500	www.azoreanrestaurant.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Beauport Hotel Dining	978-491-5090	1606restaurant.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Blue Collar Lobster	978-283-1812	thegloucesterhouse.com	TBD
Gloucester	Capt Carlos	978-283-6343	www.captaincarlos.com	TBD
Gloucester	Causeway *temp closed*	978-281-5256	www.thecausewayrestaurant.com	OPEN*
Gloucester	Charlie’s Place	978-281-5002	www.facebook.com/Charlies-Place-111697215533360/	OPEN
Gloucester	Crows Nest	978–281–2965	www.crowsnestgloucester.com/	OPEN
Gloucester	Dining Rooms at the Castle/Seaglass Restaurant	978-515-7386	www.castlemanorinn.com/chef/seaglass-restaurant/
Gloucester	Drift Cafe	978-314-4238	driftgloucester.com	TBD
Gloucester	Duckworths	978-282-4426	www.duckworthsbistrot.com/	TBD
Gloucester	The Franklin	978-283-7888	www.franklincapeann.com	OPEN
Gloucester	George’s The Office	978-281-1910	www.GeorgesOfGloucester.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Gloucester House	978-283-1812	thegloucesterhouse.com	TBD
Gloucester	Goombadi’s	978-879-4287	www.facebook.com/Goombadis	OPEN
Gloucester	Horizon Chinese	978-283-8815	horizongloucester.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Jalapenos	978-283-8228	jalapenosgloucester.com	TBD
Gloucester	Laneside Pub and Brewery	978-283-9753	www.capeannlanes.com/food-beverage	OPEN
Gloucester	Little Red Rooster	978-219-4004	littleredroosterglo.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Lobsta Land	978-281-0415	www.lobstalandrestaurant.com/	April 22
Gloucester	Machaca	978-865-3669	themachaca.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Marias	978-283-7373	http://www.mariasgloucester.com/	OPEN
Gloucester	Markouk Bread	978-283-3500	www.markoukbread.com/	OPEN
Gloucester	Midori	978-282-1888	midorigloucester.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Mile Marker One	978-283-2122	www.capeannmarina.com/dining	OPEN
Gloucester	Minglewood Harborside	978-281-0223	minglewoodharborside.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Mom’s Kitchen	978-282-4444	www.facebook.com/JustLikeMomMade0	OPEN
Gloucester	Oliver’s Harbor	978-559-7638	www.oliversharbor.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Passports	978-281-3680	passportsrestaurant.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Pilot House	978-281-1150	www.PilotHouseDragonLight.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Pratty’s CAV	978-283-9700	10 Parker St, Gloucester, MA 01930CAV	OPEN
Gloucester	Rhumb Line	978-283-9732	40 Railroad Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930	TBD
Gloucester	Salt Water Grille	978-879-4244	www.SaltWaterGrille.com	TBD
Gloucester	Seaport Grille	978-282-9799	seaportgrillegloucester.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Short & Main	978-281-0044	www.shortandmain.com/	TBD
Gloucester	Stones Pub	978-515-7366	www.facebook.com/StonesPubGloucester	TBD
Gloucester	Surfside Pizza	978-281-1700	www.surfsidesubsgloucester.com	APRIL
Gloucester	Taco Lupitas	978-282-9600	tacoslupitagloucester.wordpress.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Talise	978-515-7814	www.taliserestaurant.com	MAY
Gloucester	Thai Choice	978-281-8118	http://www.thaichoicerestaurant.com/	OPEN
Gloucester	The Cupboard	978-281-1908	not recently updated	TBD
Gloucester	The Rudder	978-283-7967	facebook.com/TheRudderRestaurant	TBD
Gloucester	The Studio	978-879-4896	facebook.com/TheStudio51	TBD
Gloucester	Tonno	978-879-4795	www.tonnorestaurant.com/	OPEN
Gloucester	Topside Grill	978-281-1399	www.topsidegrill.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Two Sisters Coffee Shop	978-281-3378	www.facebook.com/TwoSistersCoffeeShop	OPEN
Gloucester	Willow Rest	978-283-2417	http://www.willowrest.com/	OPEN
Gloucester	Yella on the Water	978-491-5334	www.yellagrille.com	TBD
Gloucester	Zeke’s Place	978-283-7817	zekesgloucester.com	OPEN
Rockport	7th Wave	978-564-5048	www.7thwaverockport.com/	OPEN
Rockport	Bean & Leaf Cafe	978-546-7500	www.rockporticecream.com/beanandleafhome	OPEN
Rockport	Bearskin Neck Bistro	978-309-8263	www.facebook.com/BearskinNeckBistro	TBD
Rockport	Blue Lobster Grille	978-546-9990	facebook.com/BlueLobsterGrille	OPEN
Rockport	BLUME	none listed	www.blumecoffee.com	TBD
Rockport	Brackett’s Oceanview	978-546-2797	www.bracketts.com	OPEN
Rockport	Brothers Brew	978-546-3775	27 Main St, Rockport, MA 01966	OPEN
Rockport	Emerson Inn Pigeon CoveTavern	978-546-6321	https://www.emersoninnbythesea.com/dining/	May 1 2021
Rockport	Feather & Wedge	978-999-5917	featherandwedge.com	OPEN
Rockport	Hong Kong Kitchen	978-546-2626	13 Railroad Ave, Rockport,	OPEN
Rockport	Helmut’s Strudel	978-546-2824	www.facebook.com/StrudelHelmuts/	TBD
Rockport	Hula Moon Cafe	978-546-2572	27 Mt Pleasant St, Rockport, MA 01966	TBD
Rockport	Lattoff Farmstand	978-879-3940	facebook.com/lattoffarmhousekitchen/	OPEN
Rockport	My Place by the Sea	978-546-9667	http://myplacebythesea.com/	OPEN
Rockport	Nates at Front Beach opening with new owners under a new name TBA		18 Beach St, Rockport, MA 01966	TBD
Rockport	Red Skiff	978-546-7647	15 Mt Pleasant St, Rockport, MA 01966	TBD
Rockport	Rockport House of Pizza	978-546-6066	19 Broadway, Rockport,	OPEN
Rockport	Roy Moore Fish Shack (Dock Square)	978-546-6696	Dock Square	TBD
Rockport	Roy Moore Lobster Co	978-546-6696	39 Bearskin Neck	TBD
Rockport	Salty’s	978-999-5947	www.facebook.com/SaltysLobsterDogsandMore/	April 2021
Rockport	Top Dog	978-546-0006	topdogofrockport.com	TBD
Essex	Blue Marlin Grille	978-768-7400	www.bluemarlingrille.com	OPEN
Essex	Boat House Grille	978-890-5113	www.boathousegrilleessex.com	TBD
Essex	CK Pearl	978-890-7378	www.ckpearl.com	OPEN
Essex	Down River Ice Cream	978-768-0102	www.facebook.com/DownRiverIceCream	OPEN
Essex	Essex Seafood	978-768-7233	essexseafood.com	TBD
Essex	Farnhams	978-768-6643	http://www.jtfarnhams.com/	OPEN
Essex	Great Marsh Brewing Company	978-890-7827	www.thegreatmarsh.com	OPEN
Essex	Sheas	978-768-6931	www.sheasrestaurant.com	April 8
Essex	Village Restaurant	978-768-6400	wedigclams.com	OPEN
Essex	Windward Grille	978-768-0050	windwardgrille.com	OPEN
Essex	Woodmans	978-768-6057	www.woodmans.com	OPEN
ACTIVITIES
Gloucester	Hammond Castle Museum	978-283-2080	www.hammondcastle.org	May 1
Gloucester	7 Seas Whale Watch	978-283-1776	www.7seaswhalewatch.com	April 17
Gloucester	Cape Ann Whale Watch	978-283-5110	www.seethewhales.com	April 17
Gloucester	YankeeFleet !CODFISHING! 4/1-4/15	978-283-0313	www.yankeefleet.com	April 1
Gloucester	Pauline’s Gifts	978-281-5558	www.paulinesgifts.com	May 2021
Gloucester	Cape Ann Campsites	978-283-8683.	www.capeanncampsite.com	May 15
Gloucester	Vista Motel	978-281-3410	www.VistaMotel.com	April 1

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.

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.

The fog rolled through quickly yesterday.

Sharing information posted on Facebook by the Causeway restaurant today Wednesday March 24:

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.

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!

Lost puppy behind the former Cape Ann Brewery. This tugs at my heart thinking that its owner might be feeling very sad. Maybe this post will help them reunite.

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!

TOWN	NAME	PHONE	WEBSITE	OPEN?
Gloucester	525MainSt	978-525-3250	www.525magnolia.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Atlantic Motel Breakfast	978-283-0041	atlantisoceanfrontinn.com/breakfast-in-gloucester-ma/	MAY
Gloucester	Beauport Hotel Dining	978-491-5090	1606restaurant.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Blue Collar Lobster	978-283-1812	thegloucesterhouse.com	TBD
Gloucester	Capt Carlos	978-283-6343	www.captaincarlos.com	TBD
Gloucester	Crows Nest	978–281–2965	www.crowsnestgloucester.com/	OPEN
Gloucester	Drift Cafe	978-314-4238	driftgloucester.com	TBD
Gloucester	Duckworths	978-282-4426	www.duckworthsbistrot.com/	TBD
Gloucester	Gloucester House	978-283-1812	thegloucesterhouse.com	TBD
Gloucester	Horizon Chinese	978-283-8815	horizongloucester.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Jalapenos	978-283-8228	jalapenosgloucester.com	TBD
Gloucester	Little Red Rooster	978-219-4004	littleredroosterglo.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Lobsta Land	978-281-0415	www.lobstalandrestaurant.com/	April 8
Gloucester	Machaca	978-865-3669	themachaca.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Markouk Bread	978-283-3500	www.markoukbread.com/	OPEN
Gloucester	Midori	978-282-1888	midorigloucester.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Minglewood Harborside	978-281-0223	minglewoodharborside.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Passports	978-281-3680	passportsrestaurant.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Pratty’s CAV	978-283-9700	10 Parker St, Gloucester, MA 01930CAV	OPEN
Gloucester	Rhumb Line	978-283-9732	40 Railroad Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930	TBD
Gloucester	Seaport Grille	978-282-9799	seaportgrillegloucester.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Short & Main	978-281-0044	www.shortandmain.com/	TBD
Gloucester	Surfside Pizza	978-281-1700	www.surfsidesubsgloucester.com	APRIL
Gloucester	Taco Lupitas	978-282-9600	tacoslupitagloucester.wordpress.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Thai Choice	978-281-8118	http://www.thaichoicerestaurant.com/	OPEN
Gloucester	The Cupboard	978-281-1908	not recently updated	TBD
Gloucester	The Rudder	978-283-7967	facebook.com/TheRudderRestaurant	TBD
Gloucester	The Studio	978-879-4896	facebook.com/TheStudio51	TBD
Gloucester	Tonno	978-879-4795	www.tonnorestaurant.com/	OPEN
Gloucester	Topside Grill	978-281-1399	www.topsidegrill.com	OPEN
Gloucester	Willow Rest	978-283-2417	http://www.willowrest.com/	OPEN
Gloucester	Yella on the Water	978-491-5334	www.yellagrille.com	TBD
Gloucester	Zeke’s Place	978-283-7817	zekesgloucester.com	OPEN
Rockport	Blue Lobster Grille	978-546-9990	facebook.com/BlueLobsterGrille	TBD
Rockport	Brothers Brew	978-546-3775	27 Main St, Rockport, MA 01966	OPEN
Rockport	Emerson Inn Tavern	978-546-6321	https://www.emersoninnbythesea.com/dining/	TBD
Rockport	Feather & Wedge	978-999-5917	featherandwedge.com	OPEN
Rockport	Hong Kong Kitchen	978-546-2626	13 Railroad Ave, Rockport,	OPEN
Rockport	Hula Moon Cafe	978-546-2572	27 Mt Pleasant St, Rockport, MA 01966	TBD
Rockport	Lattoff Farmstand	978-879-3940	facebook.com/lattoffarmhousekitchen/	OPEN
Rockport	My Place by the Sea	978-546-9667	http://myplacebythesea.com/	TBD
Rockport	Nates at Front Beach	978-546-0055	18 Beach St, Rockport, MA 01966	TBD
Rockport	Red Skiff	978-546-7647	15 Mt Pleasant St, Rockport, MA 01966	TBD
Rockport	Rockport House of Pizza	978-546-6066	19 Broadway, Rockport,	OPEN
Rockport	Roy Moore Fish Shack (Dock Square)	978-546-6696	Dock Square	TBD
Rockport	Roy Moore Lobster Co	978-546-6696	39 Bearskin Neck	TBD
Rockport	Top Dog	978-546-0006	topdogofrockport.com	TBD
Essex	Blue Marlin Grille	978-768-7400	www.bluemarlingrille.com	OPEN
Essex	Boat House Grille	978-890-5113	www.boathousegrilleessex.com	TBD
Essex	CK Pearl	978-890-7378	www.ckpearl.com	OPEN
Essex	Essex Seafood	978-768-7233	essexseafood.com	TBD
Essex	Farnhams	978-768-6643	http://www.jtfarnhams.com/	OPEN
Essex	Great Marsh Brewing Company	978-890-7827	www.thegreatmarsh.com	OPEN
Essex	Sheas	978-768-6931	www.sheasrestaurant.com	April 8
Essex	Village Restaurant	978-768-6400	wedigclams.com	OPEN
Essex	Windward Grille	978-768-0050	windwardgrille.com	OPEN
Essex	Woodmans	978-768-6057	www.woodmans.com	OPEN
ACTIVITIES
Gloucester	Hammond Castle Museum	978-283-2080	www.hammondcastle.org	May 1
Gloucester	7 Seas Whale Watch	978-283-1776	www.7seaswhalewatch.com	April 17
Gloucester	Cape Ann Whale Watch	978-283-5110	www.seethewhales.com	April 17

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!

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

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!

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.