Author: Pat D

Pat D’s Photos is pleased to be one of the many fine local vendors at this year’s Magtoberfest Sunday Oct 8 from 11-5 on Lexington Ave in Magnolia. There will be food, music, a car show (10-2), in addition to vendors inside the library as well as outside. A shuttle will be running from Stage Fort Park this year, which is a great addition. As always, I will be offering photography items featuring images mostly from Cape Ann. Two new items will be appearing on Sunday! My Cape Ann Favorites 2024 wall calendar (8 x 11 and ready to hang) will be available in limited numbers for $25. Here are a sample of the images but you’re going to want to check the entire calendar out. Also new: gift certificates in any amount!

I came across the Phyllis A Pilot House on the dock at Maritime Gloucester and was very happy to know it found a new home there! So appropriate!

Sharing information from Grill Friends Facebook page. Now you have yet another reason to stop by Magtoberfest Sunday Oct 8!

I took a ride and found myself at Pebble Beach in Rockport as the sun was beginning to sink in the sky. The light was so beautiful and the water so peaceful, I stayed much longer than anticipated and was eventually accompanied by some shorebirds.

The Stage Fort Park Cannons Improvement Project successfully opened up and evened out that area of the park to make it ADA accessible. I, for one, appreciate the more level and stable walkway as well as the open views and additional seating. I was late to the game in checking out the improvements which have been in place for several weeks now but took a little walk up there to check it out in case you were curious too.

Some fall views of Half Moon Beach (my favorite beach in my favorite season).

I heard this from Mike Farwell in response to my recent post about Tall Ship Lynx hauled out at the Marine Railways on Rocky Neck:

I just saw your post of the Lynx on GMG. Ironically, I was down in Nantucket a few weeks ago and snapped a photo of it out on the water. My boat is right across the way in Smith Cove, will definitely have to head down and check it out.

I have attached the photo I shot of the Lynx in action.

Photo from and by Mike Farwell. Thank you Mike!

Cat Cavalinni shares the following information regarding an event at Hammond Castle:

Annette Dion, local Gloucester professional tarot card reader, will be teaching tarot at the Hammond Castle again this month! This two hour tarot class will take place from 7-9 pm (with a Q&A session after) on Wednesday, October 11th.  You have the option to attend in person at the historic Hammond Castle or you can link to a livestream (session recording included).  
If you’ve had an interest in reading the tarot, join Annette for this fun and informative class!
Sign up for registration tickets https://www.psychicannettedion.com  or go straight to  https://www.hammondcastle.org/
You don’t want to miss it!

Cat adds that 50% of proceeds will go to Hammond Castle restoration.

The recent sunsets have been pretty interesting. Here’s a view from the Paint Factory on Rocky Neck one night and from Plum Cove Beach on the next night. We are so happy to be here!

Sharing information from Cape Ann Makers Market regarding tonight’s Moonrise event at the Emerson Inn (now cancelled). Sorry to miss you all but hoping to see you soon at future shows and events!

Pat D’s Photos will join several other outstanding Cape Ann Makers Market vendors at the Emerson Inn on Cathedral Ave in Rockport tonight 5-9 PM for a Moonrise Market! The full moonrise should be spectacular and we hope you’ll stop by and say hello.

We stopped by Minglewood on Rogers St for a drink and snack recently. As usual, we were greeted like old friends and made ourselves comfortable at the bar. One of Jim’s favorites is the fried cauliflower with the dip on the side. I ordered one of the specials that day: quesadilla. I also highly recommend the Scarlet Martini! AND we added points to our Serenitee Reward account (you get a free app when you sign up!)

We plan to livestream from Minglewood later today so stop by and say hello.

Sharing news from the Annisquam Village Players:

ANNISQUAM VILLAGE PLAYERS SELECT

MORGAN REILLY AND ISABELLA SCHERBARTH AS

2023 AVP THEATRICAL ARTS SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Each will receive $1,000 for theatrical arts education and activities

GLOUCESTER, Mass. (Sept. 27, 2023)  – The Annisquam Village Players, the country’s longest continually running community theatre since 1863, is pleased to announce the selection of Rockport students Morgan Reilly and Isabella Scherbarth as the winners of the 2023 AVP Theatrical Arts Scholarship. Successful fundraising efforts this year allowed the AVP to offer the maximum award of $1000 to each recipient.

Part of the AVP’s mission is to expose young people to the theater arts and cultivate a wider appreciation for music, dance, and community involvement. To support and encourage our young performers, the AVP awards a scholarship each year to students aged 8-22, who have demonstrated a commitment to developing their artistic talent in acting, voice, dance or in theater production, and have participated in at least one AVP production in the previous three years. 

The scholarship funds can be applied to any artistic development, such as classes or private instruction in theater arts, or tuition to a school or camp program offering such instruction.

Morgan Reilly, 18, has performed in more than 25 productions, including every play at Rockport Public Schools since she was in fifth grade, as well as AVP productions “Beauty & The Beast” (2016), “Singin’ In The Rain” (2017), “Little Mermaid (2018),” “Mamma Mia! (2019), “Nothing To Hyde” (2021), “Mary Poppins” (2022), and this year’s historic production of “Gloucester Story,” where she shared the lead role of Deborah Wharton.  Morgan counts her roles on the AVP stage as Ally in “Mamma Mia!,” and Deborah Wharton in “Gloucester Story,” among her favorites. Last year, as a senior at Rockport High School, she won the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild (METG) Drama Fest Outstanding Performance Award in the preliminary and final rounds for her role as Shauna in “Beverly Billingsly Takes a Bow.” Morgan is currently a freshman at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley.

Isabella Scherbarth, 13, has been an active participant in the local arts while attending Rockport Elementary School, the Devereaux School and Waring School along with the summer and winter arts camps. She is a piano student and is a lead soloist in the Rockport Congregational Church Youth Choir under the direction of Kristina Martin. Now of mentoring age herself, she recently completed a week-long choral/arts program, Cape Ann Arts Alive, in which she collaborated with adult instructors and five other teen mentors – performing/directing/managing 22 children, age 6-12. Isabella made her AVP debut playing a fish in “Little Mermaid” (2018) and went on to play Valentine in last year’s production of “Mary Poppins.” She is currently an eighth grader at the Waring School in Beverly.

“It warms our hearts to announce Morgan and Isabella as this year’s winners of our annual youth arts scholarship,” said Victoria Fortune, chairperson of the AVP Scholarship Committee. “We’ve watched them both grow up on our stage through the years and develop into two very talented and solid individuals. They are passionate about the arts and always seem to enjoy what they do, no matter what is thrown their way.”

The AVP is a not-for-profit organization run by volunteers and is always welcoming new members of all ages and backgrounds. AVP membership includes full-time and summer residents from the greater Cape Ann area, local youth, as well as individuals with professional associations with theatre and music. 

For more information about the Annisquam Village Players or the arts scholarship, please visit www.annisquamvillageplayers.org.

Morgan Reilly (photo by Joe Wrinn)

Isabella Scherbarth (photo by Joe Wrinn)

We came across the Tall Ship Lynx hauled out at the Marine Railways on Rocky Neck. More information available at this link. Additional info here as well. She’s a beauty.

When I went to Russell Orchard a few days ago, I was looking for fall scenery to share. As fate would have it, I stumbled onto a more summer-like scene of a butterfly playground among blooming zinnias. I saw probably 4 different kinds of butterflies having themselves a feast in the colorful blooms. I was mesmerized. If you are heading that way with a child who likes butterflies, don’t miss the zinnia patch in the orchard.

Yesterday’s rainy Monday made this scene even more poignant for me. Special blessings on those left behind.

If this is the kind of sight that makes you stop in your tracks for a closer look, mark your calendar for Sunday Oct 8 on Lexington Ave in Magnolia for Magtoberfest Car Show. The car show will run from 10 AM- 2 PM but the rest of the festivities will run from 11 – 5 so plan your day accordingly. Registration for car show is free and not required in advance, but email GMGJim please for planning purposes if you have a car to show. GMGJim55@gmail.com

Pat D’s Photos will be among the vendors at the Cape Ann Makers Market Moonrise event at the Emerson Inn Rockport (Cathedral Ave) this Friday Sept 29 from 5 – 9 PM. It’s a wonderful set up and a relaxing stroll. I hope you’ll stop by to say hello. Here are some of the items you can find at the Moonrise Market:

It’s a great time to visit Russell Orchards on Argilla Road in Ipswich as the season transitions from summer to fall. As their website notes, apple picking is in full swing and blackberries are also still available to pick (as of the writing of this post). They do a great job of updating their website so check it out before you plan your picking experience. I love visiting at any time of year but fall is my favorite.