Behold: The Perfect Donut

Posted on by paultmorrison

Instead of once a week I’ve been hitting the Brothers Brew Coffee Shop more frequently. My favorite donut, the Butternut Crunch was not running out by 9AM anymore. I figured maybe everyone is on a diet but since my 11 AM purchased Butternut Crunch was fresh and warm I realized that they are just making more of them since I moved to town.

Today, after having a Butternut Crunch yesterday I thought I should slow the pace down and I accidentally stumbled upon the perfect donut. There are some very good fresh donut shops on Cape Ann but hear me out. Or just look at it:

The Butternut Crunch, Chocolate, and Glaze Trifecta. Eat them in that order. Trust me.

Brothers Brew is known for their bacon donut. A donut with a big piece of bacon on top. Rubber Duck reviewed that for Good morning Gloucester several years ago. An excellent donut but not one you can pack away every day unless you want to do a Shamoo the Whale act in Sandy Bay. But the threeway can be your daily go-to donut if you bring two friends.

Corbels Around Town

Posted on by Pat D

No, it’s not about bird watching.  Corbels are braces used to support a portico or for decorative purposes. I have noticed intriguing ornamentation and architectural details on older houses around town and set out to learn a bit about them.  P.S. It’s not always easy to find what something is called when you don’t know what the blazes you are talking about.

But I find them beautiful and thought you might also. Some of these are mostly decorative, some are more functional.  Some are older and some are bright and shiny-new.

 

 

NILES POND BRACE COVE RESTORATION UNDERWAY 2018 #GLOUCESTERMA NOR’EASTER STORM RILEY

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Large track-hoes (excavators) are needed to repair the damage done by the March nor’easter storm known as Riley.

The narrowest slip of land between a body of fresh water and the sea.

Native pussy willow trees survive storm after storm after storm after storm. More pussy willows, as well as other deep-rooted natives, need to be planted to help with the unending erosion.

Niles Pond water overflowing the bank and littered with debris swept in by the sea.

THANKING THESE BEAUTIFUL VIBRANT WOMEN FOR A SPLENDID FESTA DELLE DONNE – INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY – CELEBRATION

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Nancy, Enza, Enza, Faye, Jackie, Sefatia, Nina, Kathy, Geri, Fay, and Josie.

International Women’s Day was celebrated Friday evening at the Gloucester House Restaurant. The theme this year was royalty and the hosting committee created a beautiful, festive atmosphere with exquisite floral centerpieces, fun purple-themed decorations, and costumes–tiaras were required 🙂 Mayor Sefatia stole the show, dressed head to toe in royal garb with a flowing purple velvet cape. Lenny Linquata and his outstanding staff at the Gloucester House, as always, made a fabulous dinner spread for the guests including fresh roasted and marinated veggies, heaps of fried calamari, and bacon wrapped Brussel sprouts to name just some of the appetizzers, chicken Florentine or fresh-off-the-boat haddock, and a mountain of exquisite desserts. A heartfelt huge thank you to Nina Groppo, Nancy Millefoglie, Enza DiMercurio, Enza Ferrara Taormiina, Faye Pavia, Jackie Zappa, Kathy Numerosi, Geri Millitello, Fay Puopolo, and Josie Taormina for hosting this much anticipated annual event.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgJaH4rnwlD/

Beautiful Fish: Shorthorn Sculpin, Longhorn Sculpin, and Staghorn Sculpin -By Al Bezans

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Meet the Horned Sculpins:

 

Shorthorn Sculpin; Daddy Sculpin; Black Sculpin; Greenland Sculpin

The Shorthorn Sculpin, with its large flat head, vast mouth, weak tapering body, bat-like pectorals, and insatiable appetite, typifies the sculpin race in northern seas.

 

Longhorn Sculpin; Gray Sculpin; Hacklehead; Toadfish

Everyone who has fished along the shores of our Gulf is more or less familiar with this sculpin, for it is a nuisance to cunner and flounder fishermen. It often is bothersome to the angler to unhook when it spreads its needle-sharp spines and erects its spiny dorsal fin. It grunts when pulled out of the water and bites on any bait.

 

Staghorn Sculpin

The most southerly record for this Arctic sculpin, and the only one for the Gulf of Maine, is of a specimen caught at Eastport, Maine, in 1872, and now in the United States National Museum. It is only as a very rare stray from colder waters to the north that it ever reaches our Gulf.

 

From Fishes of the Gulf of Maine by Bigelow and Schoeder (1953)  courtesy of MBL/WHOI

http://www.gma.org/fogm/Myoxocephalus_scorpius.htm

http://www.gma.org/fogm/M_octodecimspinosus.htm

http://www.gma.org/fogm/Gymnocanthus_tricuspis.htm

Quiet times at Magnolia Beach

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

During sunset on Friday, noticed this little lobster on a kayak and also compared to last week, the harbor was calm and peaceful.

 

Swimming in Seattle!

Posted on by James Eves

Gloucester’s own….Meghan Colby of Cape Ann Sharks Special Olympics (YMCA North Shore)  has been selected as one of four athletes for Swim Team Massachusetts at the Special Olympics USA National Games

King-County-Aquatic-Center

downloadThe Special Olympics USA National Games (www.specialolympicsusagames.org) will take place July 1-6, 2018 in Seattle Washington. Venues will include the University of Washington, Celebration Park, Pacific University Seattle University, King County Aquatic Center and many more. We are proud to be sending a delegation of 50 athletes and unified partner in honor of the 50 th anniversary of Special Olympic movement as coaches and staff to represent
Massachusetts.
The National Games will feature nearly 3,500 athletes competing in 14 Olympic-style sports, with the support of 1,000 coaches, 8,000 volunteers and an estimated 50,000 family, friends and spectators. Non-competitive special events will include the Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run™ that will symbolize the start of the competition and Healthy Athletes, a place where the athletes can get vital health screenings. Youth and education events will also be held in conjunction with the Games as young leaders rally around making change for the better of the Special Olympics movement and promoting acceptance of those with intellectual disabilities.
The 2018 Games will bring an estimated 80,000 people to the greater Seattle area. It is projected, based upon past Special Olympics Games, that hotel room nights, dining, shopping, car rentals, tourism and more could reach $50 million during the week of the Games.
As you can imagine, the cost to cover clothing, housing, dining, medical, public safety, and transportation for this amount of individuals is astronomical. Please support Gloucester’s Meghan Colby as she represents Cape Ann proudly at USA Games- Seattle in July. Click here to donate!

Day 1 – Novena to St. Joseph

Posted on by Bridgette Mathews

We started today with our first morning Novena to St. Joseph at Felicia’s who so graciously opens her home each year for us to gather and share our intentions. This year we are holding weekend Novenas in the mornings so those who can’t make it at night can join us. Viva, Gesu, Maria, Giuseppe!

Moon Lit

Posted on by davefernandes2

Sometimes things just line up for you. While watching and waiting for our Snowy Owl to take flight and hunt,, she landed on this telephone pole perfectly aligned with the moon..

Dustin & Disney Sweepstakes

Posted on by Nichole S.

Salem Five is running a pretty fun promotion.  There are only a few days left to enter the Dustin & Disney Sweepstakes.  “Seven days of sunshine to uncomplicate your winter!”  Yes, please.

I, for one, would love to chill with Dustin and spend some time at both Sox Spring Training and Disney….all expenses paid, thanks to Salem Five.

One lucky family will be swept off to Spring Training in Fort Myers to see Dustin and the team take on the defending World Champion Houston Astros at Jet Blue Park and, get this – you’ll hang out with Dustin Pedroia before the game!  From there you’ll take a beach day on the Gulf of Mexico in Fort Myers before heading to Walt Disney World for two full days, with park passes to hop around all four of the planets most amazing theme parks.  All in all, like we said – seven days of sunshine to uncomplicate your winter.

To enter, all you have to do is head into a Salem Five Bank branch and ask about Dustin and Disney.

How to Enter: Visit any Salem Five branch to enter

Entry Period: February 12 – March 12, 2018

Sweepstakes Drawing: March 13, 2018

READ MUCH MORE HERE

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Last night’s dinner and drinks @unico2087 #myunicoexperience

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

We’re going to miss this place. Every single thing has been first class. The architecture is art. The landscape is art. The food presentation is art. If your travel agent suggests that you go to Sandals which was last cool in the 90s, find yourself another travel agent because they’re not doing their job. Overheard at the pool- “We were at Sandals in St Lucia and the rooms haven’t been updated in a long time. This place is brand new and is so much nicer.” Thanks my love for bringing me.

SNOW MOON SETTING OVER GLOUCESTER PHOTOS

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Snapshots from the time lapse filming – The day before the Nor’easter Riley, the early morning air was so still and calm, I was able to photograph while filming. That isn’t always the case because the slightest wind will jostle the movie camera and wreck a time lapse. Usually, you have to hold the tripod down with a death grip to get a good time lapse.

Singing Beach

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Driving by Singing Beach stopped to see what the beach looks like.  Lots of rocks on the soft sand.  Here is a surfer diving into a wave and the Hiram Walker House in the background of a wave.

Don’t miss Alice Gardner solo show at Matz Gallery!

Posted on by Catherine

What a beautiful show and radiant bellwether of spring.

Alice Gardner March 2018 exhibition at Sawyer Free Library

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