Norway — pat morss

Posted on by patmorss

Anne-Lise and I are back from a trip to Norway to see her sister Berit and husband Jan at their home on the island of Tjome, south of Oslo, Norway. The latter part of our visit was to the Alesund area, half way up the west coast.

Berit’s and Jan’s house in Tjome (center), on the fjord.
Gloucester’s shrimp season has been closed for years, but Norway’s remains open year round.
Jan feeds the shells to the gulls – singing for their supper.
Canada Geese are common for us. In Norway it’s the Greylag Goose.
The classic view of Alesund. Most of the city burned in 1904 and was rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style.
A hint of a Nordic Venice. We stayed at Hotel Brosundet (yellow bldg.), a former fishery warehouse.
Like Cape Ann, Alesund has breakwaters, lighthouses, and commercial waterfront buildings, mixed with tourism.
One of the surviving historic wood buildings, this antique shop could have been in Essex, MA.
Towns have doves, and cities (including Alesund) have pigeons.
I hope this Rock Pigeon is landing a kiss.
Commercial fishing vessels tied up downtown.
Sunset sneaking under the clouds, like here at home. The Gulf Stream allows boats to be in the water all year.
Evening view from Storfjord Hotel, an hour’s drive up Storfjord from Alesund. Spring was ahead of Cape Ann.
There were warning signs about Trolls on this hike through dark woods.
The pack ice and coastal mountain range were vast, as we passed over the southern tip of Greenland.

Late April at Rafe’s Chasm

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Took a walk out to Rafe’s Chasm on Tuesday.  There was whale activity out there.  The whales were very far out, did see some spouting.  So exciting to think that these beautiful mammals are so close.

CITY OF GLOUCESTER ANNOUNCES FAMILY-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT AT I4-C2

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

GLOUCESTER, MA – The City of Gloucester invites residents and visitors to a family-friendly community engagement event on Saturday, May 2, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., hosted on the I4‑C2 parcel at, 65 Rogers Street. The event is part of the Harbortown Cultural District’s From the Deep celebration and will offer hands-on activities, live performances, and opportunities for the public to help shape the future of the I4‑C2 site.

The gathering will give attendees a chance to learn about the site’s history, the regulations that guide its potential uses, and the role that future partnerships could play in delivering community benefits. It will offer interactive stations where attendees can share ideas and feedback about the site’s future. Staff from the City of Gloucester and MassDevelopment will be available throughout the event to answer questions. 

In addition to informational activities, the event will feature sea shanties performed by Three Sheets to the Wind, lobster trap demonstrations with lobstermen from the I4-C2 marina, and kids’ crafts hosted by the Schooner Adventure. 

If inclement weather occurs, the event will be relocated to the Sawyer Free Library’s Community Room on the ground floor.

This event is part of a broader visioning process that the City, with support from MassDevelopment, is undertaking to inform decision making about next steps for the I4-C2 site. In addition to this event, the City is offering a variety of ways for members of the public to share input and receive project updates. Details on all available opportunities to get involved are posted on the project webpage at https://www.gloucester-ma.gov/1586/I4-C2-Site-Visioning. 

Surfside Subs WICKED WEDNESDAY IS HERE 🔥

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The deals are 🔥 and you don’t want to miss this…

🍕 Buy ANY 18” pizza & get an 18” cheese pizza for just $5

👉 BONUS SPECIALS FOR TODAY:
🍕 Buy any 16” pizza & get a 16” cheese for $5
🍕 16” pizzas HALF PRICE
🦞 $17.99 + tax Lobster Roll served with chips & pickles
🦃 Half Price Turkey Sandwiches & Wraps

Perfect night to grab dinner for the whole family (or leftovers for tomorrow 😏)

📍 Don’t wait — these deals are for TODAY ONLY!

Excludes gluten free
Pizza deals cannot be combined
Not valid for online ordering

Teen Summer Send Off this Saturday, May 2 from 12 to 3 pm

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey,

Thank you for helping spread the word about the Drug Takeback Day event last Saturday- we really appreciate it!

I am reaching out again for your help promoting our annual North Shore Teen Summer Send Off, taking place this Saturday, May 2nd from 12 pm to 3 pm at the brand new McPherson Youth Center, 4 McPherson Drive, in Beverly.

This event is FREE and open to all middle and high school students from across the North Shore. The event will feature a live DJ, field games, henna tattoos, reptiles from Cape Ann Vernal Pond, raffles, free food, and more! Students can pre-register here: https://forms.gle/6DtE9kbekZGhtyt58. We are offering free transportation from Gloucester to Beverly and back- students can sign up for bus transportation in the registration form.

Please see the attached flyer for more details. If you can share this event in Good Morning Gloucester, we would really appreciate it!

Schooner Thomas E. Lannon Almost Ready To Sail

Posted on by Pat D

I am so happy to see the Schooner Thomas E. Lannon unwrapped and polished up for the 2026 season! I note they are offering Mother’s Day special sails so there’s a great idea! Tickets and info here: https://schooner.org/public-sails/ . See you dockside on Rogers Street soon!

I trust this stat more than anything I see or read on the news.

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

“

Forget traffic counts, dinner reservations, or how many out-of-state plates are still on 41. One of the funniest ways to measure season in Naples is sitting under a heat lamp at Costco.

Costco is reportedly moving around 500 rotisserie chickens per day right now, down from roughly 750 per day during peak season. Not exactly an official census, but hey, it tracks!”

Credit: Peter Busch (FB) for the chicken-count discovery

RAA&M ANNUAL ART AUCTION – Saturday, May 2, 2026, 2:00 PM (ET) – Live Online Only Auction

Posted on by James Eves

Featuring Masterworks by Historic Cape Ann Artists Offered in Rockport Art Association & Museum’s 41st Annual Art Auction on Saturday, May 2, 2026, 2:00 PM (ET).

Live Online Only Auction via LiveAuctioneers:
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/413071_rockport-art-association-and-museum-art-auction/


Auction Preview Exhibition in the Hibbard and Maddocks Galleries of the RAA&M:
Saturday, April 18 – Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Auction Preview Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10am – 5pm; Sunday, 12–5pm (Saturday, May 2nd, 10am – 12pm).

Noted Cape Ann historian and author Judith A. Curtis will give a gallery talk during the Auction Preview Exhibition on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 2:00 PM.

Bidding is available live online via LiveAuctioneers.com (with advance registration) or by submitting an in-house absentee bid directly with the RAA&M in advance.

See the RAA&M website for more information and an online photo catalog of all 189 auction lots: www.rockportartassn.org/auction

Lot 137 – Emile Gruppé (1896-1978), Drying the Nets, oil on canvas, 25 x 30 in.
Lot 132 – John F. Carlson (1874-1945), Mountain Stream, oil on canvas, 18 x 24 in.
Lot 157 – Jane Peterson (1876-1965), Flowers in a Blue-Green Vase, oil on canvas, 24 x 20 in.
Lot 128 – Frederick Mulhaupt (1871-1938), Gloucester Harbor, oil on board, 8 x 10 in.
Lot 16 – Aiden Lassell Ripley (1896-1969), Nudes in Forest, oil on canvas, 22.5 x 28.75 in.
Lot 25 – Emile Gruppé (1896-1978), Fisherman’s Wharf, Gloucester, oil on canvas, 25 x 30 in.
Lot 138 – Anthony Thieme (1888-1954), Fishermen, Eastport, ME, oil on canvas, 30 x 36 in.
Lot 140 – Charles Vickery (1913-1998), Sunset Schooner at Sea, oil on canvas panel, 18 x 20 in.
Lot 136 – Aldro T. Hibbard (1886-1972), Sugarhouse in the Hills, oil on canvas mnt. on board, 16 x 20 in.

RAA&M’s Annual Art Auction is a major fundraiser and a highly anticipated event. This prestigious auction attracts serious collectors throughout the country as well as those just starting an art collection.

Live online from the RAA&M’s Hibbard Gallery, this year’s auction features works by master Cape Ann artists of the past including Emile Gruppé, Aldro T. Hibbard, Anthony Thieme, Antonio Cirino, Jane Peterson, Frederick Mulhaupt, W. Lester Stevens, Harry A. Vincent, John Whorf, Max Kuehne, Charles Vickery, Paul Strisik, Kathryn E. Cherry, John F. Carlson, Hayley Lever, Aiden Lassell Ripley, Carl W. Peters, and Charles Paul Gruppé, among many others. The auction specializes in Cape Ann art but also includes works by numerous other prominent historic American artists. Also represented in this year’s auction are John Edward Costigan, Robert Lewis Reid, and Félix Ziem.

The auction, now in its 41st year, began with a bequest by founding RAA&M member Antonio Cirino (1888-1983). Cirino left his artwork to the association with the stipulation that the art be auctioned to help support the organization. The auction quickly evolved to include other historic Cape Ann artists and has been the RAA&M’s major annual fundraising event ever since.

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The Rockport Art Association & Museum is one of the oldest and most active art organizations in the country, with a long and distinguished history spanning over 100 years. Each year, the RAA&M welcomes thousands of visitors from around the world and stands as one of Cape Ann’s most prominent cultural beacons. Founded in 1921, the Rockport Art Association & Museum today includes nearly 300 Juried Artist Members and several hundred Contributing Members. By promoting year-round programs including workshops, classes, demonstrations, exhibitions, and community outreach as well as maintaining an impressive Museum Collection, the RAA&M remains dedicated to making fine art appreciation accessible to all.


Mission Statement:

Rockport Art Association & Museum’s mission is to foster the creation and appreciation of the fine arts through a rich and diverse program of exhibitions and educational offerings. RAA&M provides opportunities for a wide range of people to engage with art, maintains an impressive Museum Collection and carries forth the legacy of its founders by inspiring and cultivating artistic excellence and creative community on Cape Ann and beyond.

Surfside subs: THE LOBSTER KING IS BACK FOR 2026! 👑

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

It’s Tuesday… and you already know what that means 👇

🔥 Tuesday Lobster Roll Special
Just $13.99 + tax
Served with chips & pickles

Come grab one while they last — this one always goes FAST 🏃‍♂️💨

🍕 Bonus Specials for Today:

  • Buy any 18” pizza → get an 18” cheese for $5
  • 16” pizzas HALF PRICE

Excludes gluten free
Not valid on online orders

📍 Stop in and see why the Lobster King reigns supreme 👑🦞

Registration for the 2026 Gloucester Fishtown Horribles Parade is officially LIVE! The time you’ve all been waiting for is finally HERE! 🇺🇸🎉

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Registration for the 2026 Gloucester Fishtown Horribles Parade is officially LIVE!

Whether you’re joining us with a musical or non-musical float, marching as a Horrible, or walking in the parade as a politician, it’s time to sign up and claim your spot in one of Gloucester’s most beloved traditions!

👉 Fill out the registration form before parade day — you’ll need it completed before heading to GHS for lineup.

👉 Read through the parade rules and make sure your entire group is familiar with them.

This year’s theme is extra special:
🎆 Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of America! 🎆

Get creative, show your patriotic pride, and you could take home one of the exciting themed prizes (to be announced closer to parade day!).

Let’s make the 2026 Horribles Parade the most spectacular celebration yet — see you on the route, Gloucester! ❤️🤍💙

Registration link