My View of Life on the Dock
Opening Tomorrow–
Looks great! The green and yellow is gone, replaced by a cohesive festive summer look, red and white stripes matched up with the blue and white.
Plus they’re heralding good news: SurfSide Subs and pizza & Ice Cream is the 2017 Rotary GHS Gloucester Interact Club‘s 10th Annual Pizza Taste Off (held at Cruiseport) winner – 3x!
1st place best overall
1st place best sauce
1st place best crust
Look for pizza specials on Wednesdays
Soooo exciting and very best of luck to Backyard Growers!!! Please share this post with your friends and ask them to vote, too.
Lara Lepionka, Executive Director of Backyard Growers, writes,
Hello Friends of Backyard Growers,
Backyard Growers is one of three finalists in the b.good Family Foundation’s competition to win a $35,000 grant! In all of Greater Boston, we were chosen as one of the finalists because of the work we are doing right here in Gloucester—so proud!
We are now at the public voting stage. Please do the following to help us win!
Thank you! Lara
I love stopping in to visit Maria and Nina at Caffe Sicilia anytime of the year, but especially during the holidays. The bakery was humming today, with their regular customers as well as regional and international travelers, and their refrigerator brimming over with special Easter orders. Folks are still purchasing raffle tickets for Caffe Sicilia’s giant chocolate egg to benefit children with autism. What a gorgeous day for shopping downtown Gloucester. Happy Easter and Happy Spring! 
Saturday afternoon and Haley is working like mad to fill everyone’s Easter basket. She has so much finesse and makes it all look so easy. I’m a messy cook and would after only a few minutes be covered in chocolate. Not such a bad thing, though.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BS6l5t-lUHM/
White Chocolate Turtles
https://www.instagram.com/p/BS6knItFE-u/
Caramel Choclate Nonpareils
Caffe Sicilia is raffling tickets for an enormous Easter egg. The funds raised are going towards autism. Did I mention the egg is DARK chocolate 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/p/BS6h5iMlNbR/
Donna Ardizzoni / Circle Consulting Group 978-526-9222
The Long Beach Dairy Maid has reopened for the season and Frank, who runs both the Long Beach Dairy Maid and SurfSide Subs, says that SurfSide Subs is reopening on Thursday. Visit their website here. Did you know you can order from SurfSide Subs online? Or call 978-281-1700.
The cozy business at 1064 Washington Street in the heart of Lanesville keeps pumping with a new name and owner, Alisha Clayton. Plum Cove Grind is now The Cove Cafe.
Mary is there early baking all the morning goodies.
Grab a coffee and stay an extra moment to meet with Ward 4 City Councilor, Val Gilman, most every Friday morning. Chief McCarthy might be there as well.
And for those wondering about former Plum Cove Grind owner, Meredith Glaser, she writes about her next chapter:
“All is very ok! Plum Cove Grind was a “life style” business. It allowed me to stay close and raise my kids and provide a nice business for the community and beyond( we had a lot of people from all over the world). Thanks to so many great customers.
After 11 years in business, my kids are all grown up so I had decided to look for a buyer.
The buyers were local people (Yay!), and I think they will do well. I’m thinking they will keep the great coffee and lattes and offering of yummy goods. So stay in touch, I’m certain it will be exciting to see what they do.
Say hi to Joey for me.”- Meredith Glaser
The Cove Cafe entrance April 2017. A new custom sign for the business is coming.
The Cove Cafe April 2017
Emrah Arslan the owner of Paprika Grill wants to help area artists by featuring solo exhibits. He and his customers will have the chance to see what’s happening in the community, sip some tea and appreciate art in this casual new hopping Mediterranean spot. Arslan’s art is…the food.
Paprika Grill will select the art. Exhibits will change every few months. Three months is a nice long time to have your work on display. To be considered for a sign up sheet rotation, interested artists should email Arslan with 3 or 4 examples. He’ll let you know if you’re in the queue. “I keep hearing Gloucester has a lot of artists.”
photo caption: Interior views of Paprika Grill and approximate 14′ length of available wall space. (The mirror and items can be rearranged.)
Paprika Grill, 185 Washington Street, Gloucester, MA
At beautiful bunny cottage! The charming bunny houses at Nichols Candy House were made by Diane P. Don’t you love her imaginative details? Notice even the tiny blue eggs on the window frame and chimney
Nichols has vintage chocolate molds to celebrate every season. One year as a surprise, Barbara Nichols made me a very special Scotty dog, made from one of their antique molds. She’ll make one for you, too, by special order. The bunny in the foreground is made from a vintage mold.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about our fabulous evening at the North Shore Magazine’s Grand Tasting event up in Salisbury. Of all of the vendors on site, and I assure you that I sampled many, my favorite was Evviva Cucina.
I couldn’t have been happier to learn that they are located in Beverly….mere minutes from my work. And, since my co-workers and I are always looking for a good place to unwind after a long (or short) work week, I have a feeling we’ll be visiting somewhat often.
Evviva Cucina is located at 45 Enon Street in Beverly….as well as their Westford, MA location. Their “Italian Inspired, American Made” Food to Cheer combines fresh ingredients, robust flavor, and a fair amount of flare…and is as beautiful as it is delicious.
Speaking of beautiful! Look at their space! Not only is the inside funky and fun…but the outdoor eating and corn hole makes it a destination…not just a restaurant. Grab some friends and your appetite….and share some laughs, eats, and drinks!
See you there!
Evviva Cucina’s Philosophy, you may ask?
An appreciation for the finer things in life, the hard work it takes to create
them and the commitment to share them with others was the foundation for Evviva Cucina.Our focus was the kitchen, the gathering area for friends and family to experience
the Chef’s scratch-made, regional Italian dishes. Designed to make
our bustling kitchen the show, allowing our guests to interact and appreciate the skill
and dedication shown by our kitchen team. This unique atmosphere proves a worthy setting for your culinary tour through Italy.Our dedication to scratch-made cooking is only matched by our passion for making it available to a wide range of guests. It was our belief that quality Food and Drink should be priced so that all can experience it’s greatness. We believe that we have created a formula that will have all our guest’s saying Evviva per la Cucina.
Secretary John Kerry reconnected with Mayor Romeo-Theken before he took to the podium to address more than 300 guests attending the Essex National Heritage 20th Anniversary gala at the Peabody Essex Museum. They go way back. Essex National Heritage was designated in 1996 with key support from John Kerry and Ted Kennedy.
Here’s a star, Emily Levin from Essex National Heritage. Everyone who hosts programs over Essex National Heritage fabulous annual Trails & Sails enjoys working with Emily.
The temporary Essex National Heritage illumination is projected above the Halo sculpture by Anish Kapoor.
4000 votes helped select a few Trailblazer nominees for a special champagne toast representing their mission and all the wonderful cultural resources across 34 towns. Kim Smith was in good company! We toasted the following 2017 Essex National Heritage Area Trailblazers:
1)PRESERVING THIS SPECIAL REGION
1st place | Essex County Greenbelt Association
2nd place | Ipswich River Watershed Association
3rd place | The Cabot
2)CONNECTING PEOPLE TO PLACE
1st place | The Trustees of Reservations
2nd place | Mass Audubon
3rd place |Essex Agricultural Society
3)BUILDING & GROWING OUR FUTURE
1st place — Peabody Essex Museum
2nd place — YMCA of the North Shore
3rd place — Valley View Farm
4)ADVANCING OUR EDUCATIONAL MISSION
1st place (tie) | Lowell’s Boat Shop and The House of Seven Gables
2nd place | Maritime Gloucester
3rd place | Essex Shipbuilding Museum
Nice detail: the second festive beverage for the reception featured the trio of colors in the Essex National Heritage logo.
Gloucester organizations and partners were featured in the slide loop including: City Hall for Community Preservation, Discover Gloucester, Lannon, Rocky Neck, Schooner Adventure, HarborWalk, Cape Ann Museum.
from Essex National Heritage printed matter:
On April 5 2017 we’re celebrating all of the incredible organizations and people that we’ve spent the last two decades working with to preserve and enhance the significant historic, cultural, and natural places that make Essex County like nowhere else. We are also THRILLED that Secretary John Kerry will joining as the celebrate. Secretary Kerry played a key role in the federal legislation designating the Essex National Heritage Area in 1996!
Who are the Trailblazers and which will receive a toast?
The public nominated 131 Trailblazers. While all Trailblazers will be recognized at the Gala, only a few will be honored with a special toast! The public was invited to vote for which Trailblazers will receive a toast, and the results will be revealed only at the event; toasts will be made at the Gala!
Oh my word, I’m still full. I’m going to go ahead right now and say that you’d be crazy to not pull out your calendars this very second and make a note to start looking for this spectacular event come about next January. January was, in fact, the month this year that my mom called me and asked, “Do you want to go to Northshore Magazine’s Grand Tasting with me?” Ummm, yes please.
So, last night, after work, the two of us drove up to the Blue Ocean Event Center in Salisbury….luckily with fairly empty stomachs. While I don’t know the exact number, I’m going to guess that there were close to 75 vendors on site to share their amazing cuisine, decadent desserts, craft beers, wide range of wines, and even some tasty cocktail creations. Live music in two rooms….with a pretty spectacular view of the ocean….added to the already ample ambiance.
I’m not even the slightest bit ashamed to tell you that I enjoyed some pretty sweet sushi, opulent oysters, steak tartare, a pulled pork slider, smoked salmon roulade, an avocado soup sip, pear sacchetti, and a lemon pistachio truffle (ummm….amongst other things). Like I said, I’m still full. As for drinks, you ask? I sampled a blood orange mule (yum!) from Powell & Mahoney Limited, a Melt Away Session IPA from Newburyport Brew Co., and a tiny bit of prosecco.
The last photo in this post shows the pretty sweet Swag (Schwag) Bags that were given out to VIPs. I, for the record, did not get one. Maybe someone at North Shore Magazine will see this post and remedy that for next year. Just saying.
With or without VIP status, I’ll be going back next year for sure. Kudos to North Shore Magazine, the vendors, and all of those who put this event together. Oh, and to my mom, for the great idea.
Check out Northshore Magazine’s Grand Tasting Facebook page to see more from this event.
Boston Globe
March 23, 2017
By Dave Rattigan
The city‘s Gloucester Fresh initiative had a big week, with a major promotional event and the announcement of a $13,000 grant award. It hosted more than 70 guests — including businesses from Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Mexico, and Iceland — at a tasting reception at Seafood Expo North America in Boston. The three-day expo, which ended Tuesday, attracted about 100 new business leads, according to a prepared statement from organizers. Also this week, Gloucester learned it would receive $13,000 from the state Division of Marine Fisheries’ Seafood Marketing pilot grant program. “If you are looking for fresh seafood, the quality that comes off our boats is 100 percent,” said Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, who spoke at the reception and ran a cooking demonstration with Angela Sanfilippo of the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association.
Mayor Sefatia and Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association Angela Sanffilippo provide and update to the Seafood North America Expo delegation on the seafood opportunities in Gloucester.
So this was unbelievably yummy. Every once in a while a grilled cheese sandwich sounds like the right thing to order. And this one did not disappoint.
Grilled cheese with arugula, roasted red peppers, and avocado from Half Baked Bakery in Beverly Farms. Come on.
We’re tuning in to watch Masterchef Jr because we read about Lila, a young chef from Rockport. What an accomplishment for this poised and talented cook. We’re not entirely current and caught up, so no spoilers, please. Excerpt from episode 3– “I live on an island so I’m used to cooking a lot of fish…”
Now check out the real thing! These kids are unbelievable! Catch up on episodes
Masterchef Jr Season 5 on Fox channel premiered February 9, 2017 with hosts Gordon Ramsey and Christina Tosi. Airs Thursday nights.
Preparations for St. Joseph celebrations are well underway throughout the City and our local bakers are baking up a storm. 
Saint Joseph rolls are available from Virgilios at 978-283-5395.
Maria and her Mom and Dad, Nina and Domenic, at Caffe Sicilia are now taking orders for the special Saint Joseph altar bread, zeppole, sfinci, ravioli, and cassata cake, and they can be ordered by calling 978-283-7345.
Can’t wait for Caffe Sicilia’s ricotta-filled St. Joseph Day doughnuts, or sfinci in Sicilian ❤
Photo by Federica Valabrega. Temporary public art bronze sculptures: Kristen Visbal Fearless Girl installed for International Women’s Day March 8, 2017 faces off Arturo Di Modica’s Charging Bull installed December 15, 1989. Fearless Girl was commissioned by State Street Global Advisory Stuart Weissman and part of McCann’s creative campaign
Robert D. McFadden coverage in the New York Times about the Wall Street Bull by Arturo Di Modica the day after it was stealthily installed (and removed then reinstalled, evermore)
The Fisherman’s Memorial screen print by Rusty + Ingrid Creative Company on the cover and featured in North Shore Magazine’s April 2017 issue– which also includes articles on Cape Ann’s iconic sculptors, plus Manchester by the Sea and filming on Cape Ann
October 2013 Willow Rest, 1 Holly Street, Gloucester, MA, window filled with Rusty and Ingrid Kinnunen screenprints –the first time I saw their work. I love how so many stores and restaurants feature creative arts. This one is a great case study and success story for creative exposure.
Look for Wikipedia-edit-a-thons (especially this week surrounding International Womens Day) encouraging everyone to add content and push women to be contributors. No previous Wikipedia experience is necessary –training help at the events or editing Instructional videos at your convenience
Good Morning Gloucester 