Author: Pat D

If you haven’t been to the Visitor Welcome Center at Stage Fort Park recently, you haven’t been there yet! It’s been reopened and refurbished following pandemic restrictions and it’s quite lovely. Definitely worth a stop especially if you have company coming to town. It is staffed by vounteers like myself and run by the wonderful Carol Mondello on behalf of the City . Stop down and say hello (PS my shift is Thursday morning and I would love to meet you).Open 9 AM to 6 PM (except on Sunday closes at 5)

As some of you may know, the GMG crew did a podcast from the brand new deck at The Cove in Rockport yesterday. Though the day was a little cloudy, the hospitality from hosts Mike and Krysten Sjogren shone brightly on their newly opened deck. If you had visited this location previously known as the Peg Leg Inn, but haven’t checked out The Cove at Rockport on King Street, you are missing out on a gorgeous renovation and update. It is so beautiful and fresh looking yet still relaxing. The new deck will feature wine and beer in the afternoons and the view cannot be ignored. Shout out to Sharon and Matt as well! It’s too bad GMG Jim had to miss this podcast, but we will be visiting the deck soon for an afternoon break. Thank you Krysten for the wonderful photos you will know are hers as they are stunning late afternoon/sunset shots.

George’s will be under new ownership according to their Facebook post! Best wishes.

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!