AMY ROBSON | Just Looking opens at Jane Deering Gallery, Gloucester on Saturday July 18th. To respect current safety measures, viewing of Robson’s charming paintings will be at Deering’s home property where works will be installed in the exhibition SHED, which is open to the air and has good circulation.  For address details, 917-902-4359  or info@janedeeringgallery.com.  Hours: Saturdays & Sundays 1:00-4:00pm or by appointment. The gallery and the artist are offering all works at very special prices.  Works from the exhibition can be viewed at: https://janedeeringgallery.com/exhibitions-jdg-gloucester-ma/amy-robson-keep-looking/1

Robson is a British/American artist (MFA, Chelsea College of Arts, London UK) who has spent the last twenty years visiting  Cape Ann.  For her first US solo exhibition, she presents a series of paintings made from drawing while sitting on just one rock overlooking the mouth of the Annisquam River over the course of six weeks in 2019.  Though based on one viewpoint, the highly diverse work celebrates the infinite possibilities of keen observation combined with an artist’s subjective experience.  Produced in a pre-Covid time, the series is prescient as we now find ourselves inhabiting infinitely smaller universes.

These two photos were taken 2 hours apart down at the dock yesterday. What a day!

A tradition unlike any other where every single July we have the same people bitching about the month or so of summer traffic that we’ve had every single July since I was sitting with my legs stuck to the vinyl back seat of our dad’s Mercury Grand Marquis without AC in 1972 on the Boulevard waiting for the bridge to go down.

Same as it ever was.  Mark it down.  This year (2020) it was July 12th when the Facebook warriors declared it the worst ever.

Last year it was July 20th

Guess what?  you can set your watch and bet on it that the same keyboard warriors will be pounding away declaring next year’s traffic somewhere between the second and third week of July 2021 “The worst they’d ever seen it.”

They should just go back to their Timehop and repost it every year and save the keystrokes 🙂

We were pleased to be able to have lunch at Yella on the Water at 25 Western Ave one weekend afternoon. I had especially been looking forward to the wings. We sat inside as the sun was pretty hot even though there was a brisk breeze. Seating is available on the deck and under an adjacent tent as well. Kelley was a warm and efficient server, anticipating our needs with great precision.

I had the wings and a chicken kebab, Jim went with fish tacos which he raved about. The strawberry shortcake was outstanding and a fitting end to a lovely experience. Owner Danielle stopped by and let us know most of the food is obtained locally and the bar liquors carefully curated. The extra care to detail shows and makes this a go-to. 

Opening day on 7/16! 

Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930

Get Directions

(978) 515-5600

Gloucester Railway, now Maritime Gloucester

The Hammond Castle Museum has recently announced its reopening plan scheduled for July 16. From their press release:

Hammond Castle Museum To Open for 45^th Season On July 16th

 Advance Purchase of Timed Tour Tickets Will Be Required For First Time in Museum’s History

Gloucester, Massachusetts – Hammond Castle Museum will open to the public for its 45^th Season on Thursday, July 16, 2020. In keeping with the health and safety guidelines set forth by the State of Massachusetts, the museum will only offer on-line tickets sales for timed tours to access the interior of the museum. Tickets may be purchased at: hammondcastle.org.

The 2020 Season schedule has been extended to offer more opportunities to visit the historic site. It is as follows:

• July through October: Open daily with tours beginning at 9:30 am and running every half hour with last tours starting at 3:00 pm Mondays through Thursday and at 2:30 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
• July and August: Thursday Evening Candlelight Tours at 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm and Spiritualism Tour at 9:00 pm
• ‘Carry In-Carry Out’ Picnics in July and August with advance purchase of any of the Candlelight Tours. Reservations are required.
• November and December:  Open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 am to 2:30pm

It looks like a very exciting season ahead and we are hoping to visit soon. In the meantime, we visited the grounds on a foggy afternoon. It’s always lovely there. We appreciate being allowed access until the reopening. Timed tickets available here.

Stones Pub has decided to close temporarily. We are disappointed but understand the myriad of difficulties the current environment causes. Hoping to see you again soon!

You know when you go to a seasonal type place and it’s a mish mosh of thrown together servers and it’s just a bunch of predictable greasy fried food?  Not at Mile Marker One.  Not under the expertly trained staff of Patrick Hurd and Chef Wheels.

Dinner was on point!  Hats off to the staff that could rest on it’s location alone but goes above and beyond with inventive dishes, expertly prepared and an excellent staff that is efficient and super friendly.