Author: Pat D

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.

A very large beautiful barn I think many will recognize! Seems very proud and majestic.

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

We came across our friends the seals on the rocks at Brace Cove on a recent sunny day. I understand they are not exactly sunning themselves, but rather “thermo-regulating” but that doesn’t have the same poetic rhythm for a post title. I counted at least 17 of them, which is a larger group than I have seen in the past. They are just hard to resist.

We met friends for dinner at the Brown Dog on Central Ave in Ipswich recently. I think our fellow GMG contributor Nichole has recommended this place previously and I have been wanting to try it out for a while. It was a quiet weeknight and social distancing was not a challenge. The tavern atmosphere is cozy and warm. The masked staff was very friendly and helpful.

I tried the Reuben Sandwich, which I’d heard was highly recommended and it was very satisfying! Big enough to use a knife, but small enough to pick up. I also had their hand cut potato chips…a treat. Jim had the mac and cheese burger, which (as you can see) was mountainous. Irish coffee finished the wonderful meal for me. We’ll be back! I suggest you give it a try if you have not.

In between snow squalls and sunshine, we stopped at the Fishermen’s Wives Memorial and noticed she casts a long shadow, not surprisingly….. Always stunning.

The NEW Cape Ann YMCA website indicates it is scheduled to reopen this month and it appears they are very close to meeting that timeline. Construction is moving right along and several amenities are part of membership including outdoor turf field, Breakwater Roasters Cafe location, outdoor splash pad and recreation area as well as a state of the art gym! Consider membership and get ready for the new YMCA coming very soon!

A small St. Joseph’s Novena Mass was celebrated yesterday by Fr. Benetti at the Bishop Fenwick High School Chapel to bless the annual altar for the Gloucester Novena women. I do not know most of them by name, but Felicia Ciaramitaro Mohan and her mother Pat as well as Sefatia Romeo Theken made the arrangements and attended the Mass. Several others were a big help as well, but I unfortunately do not know their names. The Mass was livestreamed and is available here on the Good Morning Gloucester blog.

It was a blessing on its own to be able to attend and share such an event especially at this hopeful time in the pandemic crisis.

Where are you having breakfast this morning? May I suggest Mom’s Kitchen on Commercial Street? We stopped by this week in a tribute to having been at Mom’s Kitchen one year ago this week (March 12) after they had just reopened, but, ironically, everything else was starting to shutdown due to COVID 19. We have come a long way this year and it seemed logical to start this “new” post vaccination era with our friends at Mom’s Kitchen.

We podcast from there last March with the Mayor, Gloucester Public Health Director Karin Carroll and Sista Felicia. We didn’t intend for it to turn into such the chaos that it did during the podcast with shutdowns being announced steadily as we broadcast. We just didn’t know then where this was all going. Here’s the link to GMG Gloucestercast 387 in case you are interested from March 12 2020.

In the meantime, we visited this past week in cautious optimism that things may begin to look more normal soon. Jim had a veggie omelet, I had scrambled eggs with homemade salsa (excellent). We had a nice chat with Mom herself. The meal was relaxed, easygoing and satisfying, while maintaining necessary protocols. All our restaurant friends have had a heck of a time and we plan to try to support as many as we can as long as we feel safe…..and we have felt safe in all that I have shared with you all.

I promised I would include a live link to the new Massachusetts preregistration website when it became available this morning and it is: https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine This link can be used to request to book an appointment at one the the state’s mass vaccination sites. It will put you in line when you are eligible and notify you when an appointment is available. It further promises to keep you updated on a weekly basis as they warn it may take several weeks to secure a slot.

Preregistered people are encouraged to check the “vax finder” website here to book appointments at sites other than the state mass vaccination sites. This could mean getting an earlier appointment. You can work both tools to locate appointments. Preregistration does not exclude you from booking sooner at a different location when possible.

We are making progress toward a more normal daily routine!

It’s been busy on the water these last several days and we enjoy watching some crews return to the harbor and others leave, presumably with high hopes for a good day. Among others, here we see Marissa & Julie meet William E.; Cat Eyes and Allison-Carol.

We received this request for volunteers from Carol Mondello. It’s actually a great deal of fun to meet our visitors and have a chance to share knowledge about our favorite Gloucester spots, so give this opportunity some consideration!

“Good Morning,
I’m so happy to be planning to open as usual this coming season so I wanted to check in and see how you were doing and what your thoughts were on coming back this summer. I intend to allow visitors in at a reduced capacity with masks and social distancing required and of course additional cleaning protocols. Sources predict we will have a robust season with lots of people wanting to get out and about this summer. 
Looking forward to hearing from you and seeing you soon. 

—
Carol MondelloWelcoming Center CoordinatorStage Fort Park 978-281-8865

The State has developed a new preregistration system for those seeking vaccine appointments. Beginning tomorrow, Friday March 12, you can sign up and be enrolled in a virtual queue to be notified when an appointment is available for you at one of the mass vaccination sites. Residents are cautioned that it may take several weeks for an appointment to become available, but this seems like an opportunity to ease some of the anxiety caused by trying to obtain appointments in the current method. To learn more: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/preregister-for-a-covid-19-vaccine-appointment When a link to the preregistration is available, we will provide it (tomorrow)

More big news as described by NBC10: In a second major announcement, officials said the state’s seven mass vaccination sites will be reserved exclusively for educators during four dedicated days on Saturday, March 27, Saturday, April 3, Saturday, April 10, and Sunday, April 11.

This is pretty big news and a sign that perhaps we are gaining on this virus and heading to better days ahead.

Reflection on still waters.