This is one of my favorites places to stop and take a look near Farnhams on Eastern Ave in Essex. In fact, my CB (crystal ball) image took second place recently in the most recent Essex in Bloom photo contest and is one of my all time favorite images. The skies have been amazing recently. Every night we remind ourselves what a blessing it is to be on Cape Ann.

Fall is maybe the best time to take a cemetery stroll with the falling leaves and long shadows. The Old Graveyard or Old Burial Ground in Essex behind the Essex Shipbuilding Museum Archives on Rt 133 is a perfect example for a fall cemetery stroll. As described in my handy “Guide to Cemeteries in Essex County, Massachusetts”: Small cemetery well maintained. Some stones seem to be missing and a few broken. Contains graves of the first 3 ministers of Chebacco Parish (Ipswich). My stroll seemed to validate those conclusions. It’s an easy walk and feels VERY historic due to the layout and the older tombstones. There’s more information and even a map available at this link.

Whatever you might have planned to do outside today, you should probably double check with the organization since so many of them have been re-scheduled to a rain date. The Oak Grove Cemetery event from Gloucester 400+ is a good example. Changed to tomorrow Sunday Oct 22 at 3:30 as per their Facebook post.

On a tip from GMG friend Liza R regarding a schooner hauled out at the Railways on Rocky Neck, I headed over there to see what was going on. What a busy morning! Schooner Adventure is indeed being worked on and there was a large vessel being moved around the lot. Codzilla and Polaris are also at the Railways. There’s ALWAYS something cool going on over there! Thanks Liza!

I was recently invited to attend the dedication of the Essex Shipbuilding Museum Schoolhouse Archives in honor of Jim Witham and took the opportunity to take a look around the Schoolhouse Archives at 28 Main St in Essex. If you love schooners, you really need to check it out. It’s small but packed with TONS of interesting artifacts and information about Essex Shipbuilding. I had not been there in quite a while and much has changed. I recommend you check it out when you can.

I was included in the event as a member of the organization, which has several fun events coming up including a Speakeasy fundraiser! See the image here for info.

Sharing information that the City Halloween Party is now scheduled for Sat Oct 28!

Maybe you’re like Jim and I…kind of rushing around getting to the places we did not get to often enough in-season now that off-season is looming. Yella on the Water along the Boulevard is a good example. We had dinner last night and it was amazing! The outdoor deck is still open, but I am not that hardy so we ate inside. I had the wings and a salad and GMG Jim had bouillabaisse. There wasn’t a lick left of the wings or the bouillabaisse to bring home. The wings are not traditional but are plump and crispy as promised. The garlicy sauce is perfection. Jim reported the bouillabaisse had just the right amount of zing. I also overheard another customer planning her meal around the chocolate creme brulee dessert, and that was that for me. Chocolate creme brulee and strawberry shortcake please! It was all wonderful. You have until Saturday Oct 22 to get there unless you want to go to Andover.

I came upon Utopia Farms market on Atwater Ave in Manchester last week. What a delight! It’s small and tucked in with a generous parking area and inviting outside displays. I picked up some cider and Virgilios bread but there is much much more. They offer fresh fruits and vegetables, pumpkins, apples, bread, frozen treats and cold drinks to name a few. It won’t be my last visit and I look forward to what is offered in other seasons as well. You can get updated information through Facebook Utopia Farms.

Word from the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is that ClamFest has fallen victim to the rainy weekend scenario we have been experiencing……. DARN. Pat D’s Photos was really looking forward to being there! Stay tuned for Pat D’s Photos updates……

Yep. GMG Jim and I went to City Hall during regular business hours and cast our in-person absentee ballots on Monday. Our plans for Election Day are uncertain and it was important to make certain we voted. We feel fortunate that we are allowed to cast an absentee ballot in person or by mail. For in person absentee voting in Gloucester, visit City Hall during regular business hours by noon Nov 6 and ask for a ballot. You will answer a few questions and be given clear instructions and then handed your ballot. It took less than 10 minutes for us to cast our ballots.

I became aware of this option thanks to several Facebook sharers, but Jason Grow’s Councilor page was the first place I happened to see the options (thanks Jason!). Links for further info contained in the images below. I am very grateful there are so many opportunities for voting in the manner that suits individual needs and schedules. However you vote, just do it!

When the leaves begin to turn, GMG Jim gets a hankering for Blue Marlin’s Italian Fish Stew and his birthday is a great reason to go! Blue Marlin on Eastern Ave in Essex is a favorite of ours and many others for many many reasons including the Italian Fish Stew. I had the onion soup and baked haddock. It was a large piece of haddock baked to perfection with just the right amount of topping. Jim had ravioli with meat sauce, also a fall favorite. The place was hopping even in the middle of the week but the servers were patient and friendly. We noticed families, couples, seniors such as ourselves and celebrations so Blue Marlin offers something for almost anyone!

Sharing information from the City regarding the pick up of old mattresses and box springs effective Nov 3 2023:

We attended the Cape Ann Plein Air Gala last night at the YMCA and it was like taking a walk through the entirety of Cape Ann within the confines of a gym. The artists each displayed a number of their works from this week so we saw Cape Ann through a variety of lens and viewpoints. It was amazing! The artists were open to chatting, the volunteers helpful, and the caterers amazing. Today Sunday Oct 15 2023 is Small Painting Sunday and you might want to get yourself up there to see for yourself. More info on remaining events can be found on their website Cape Plein Air. Thank you Susan Gould Coviello and volunteers and other members! An amazing event all around!

Here’s an easy way to get books to children!

*****UPDATE: THIS POP UP IS CANCELLED FOR TODAY SATURDAY OCT 14*****

Pat D’s Photos will be holding a Pop Up today Saturday Oct 14 at 95 East Main St from about 10:30-2. I hope you will stop by. We will be featuring our calendars “Cape Ann Favorites” with favorite images mostly from the past year ($25) We will also be featuring our glass ornaments/suncatchers ($25) which look great hanging on your holiday tree or in your window. We will also have puzzles, notecards, prints, playing cards, glass prints, flags and more!!! Our next show is the Essex ClamFest on Oct 21, always a fun event. If you can’t make it but have a question, please leave a comment or message me on Facebook Pat D’s Photos and Adventures (where you can see all the photos included in the calendar). We accept cash, check, Venmo, PayPal, credit/debit.

Yesterday was one of those fall days that makes it my favorite season, especially here in Gloucester. I was driving around and just a little bit inland, the skies were turning grey and threatening. But near the water, the sky was spectacular especially when reflected in the water. These are from Lily Pond where the colors haven’t quite turned yet but there were enough bursts of red and yellow to make it glorious.

I got this notification that the Essex Shipbuilding Museum plans to hold a yard sale this Saturday Oct 14. The list of items is intriguing especially for local artists. Bright and early at 7 AM rain or shine 66 Main St Essex. CASH ONLY

Some random views from the back shore on a gorgeous day recently for those of you “from away” and needing a dose of home.

Chris Maney submits the following information for an event at Seaside Cemetery Sat Oct 14 from a post on Cape Ann Community blog:

BAD CHOICES, BAD LUCK

October 10, 2023 ~ cmaney27

At Seaside Cemetery on Saturday, October 14th, from 2 to 4PM the free cemetery event, “Bad Choices, Bad Luck”, will give you the opportunity to meet a group of people who died in Gloucester between 1905-1933 and were buried in the City Home Lot of Seaside Cemetery.

In appearance the City Home Lot is a grassy, open field with slight undulations that shelters the bodies of 118 individuals.  Only 5 individual burial markers currently exist. The stories you will hear involve those individuals that died in the Gloucester almshouse or were unclaimed at the time of death or died as unknowns.

Present day Gloucester locals will assume the persona of those interred in the City Home Lot so that their individual stories can be shared with you.

The stories told come from extensive research by Sharron Cohen who unearthed the details of those buried in the City Home Lot.

To enter Seaside Cemetery (88R Langsford Street, Gloucester, MA 01930) from Lanesville, take the second left off Langsford Street or to enter from Rockport, take the second right off Langsford Street. Attendants will direct you to a parking spot. The cemetery’s roads are narrow and uneven so please be patient and drive slowly. The terrain in the cemetery is irregular, so be cautious when walking. Rain date Sunday, October 15, 2023, at 2PM.

For more details and registration go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bad-choices-bad-luck-tickets-726363772597?aff=oddtdtcreator

See you on the 14th!

We celebrated Oaktoberfest as well as GMG Jim’s birthday at Oak to Ember on Rogers St Monday night. We had never been to a special event by Neal and the crew at Oak to Ember, and this one was so much fun we will be on high alert for future events. The company was good, the service was attentive and the food / drink were outstanding. I tried the pork schnitzel and Jim had a brat. It was a great place for a celebration. Thanks for a fun evening!