Good Morning Gloucester

This little bodega across the street from the beach in Port de Sòller cut the meat fresh and served it with fresh tomato. $3.75 US on a fresh baguette. Ridiculous. Supermercado Sa Botiga Des Port

Up, Up and Away…

ANNISQUAM VILLAGE PLAYERS TO PERFORM “GLOUCESTER STORY” MUSICAL AUG. 10-13

IN CELEBRATION OF GLOUCESTER’S 400^TH+ BIRTHDAY

Auditions to be held May 28 – Real Fishermen Wanted!

In honor of the City of Gloucester’s 400^th+ Birthday Celebration, the Annisquam Village Players – the country’s longest continually running community theatre – will perform Clayton B. Stockbridge’s “Gloucester Story” Aug. 10-13, 2023, on the docks at the Maritime Gloucester Wharf.

The show will require many cast and crew members so auditions will be held starting at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 28, at the Annisquam Village Hall, 38 Leonard St. in Gloucester.  To add to the show’s flavor, local fishermen are encouraged to audition and be part of this historic production.

The play was performed in Gloucester several times in 1953 and in subsequent years. And, for a short period of time, it became a popular pick for summer stock theaters.  This summer, the AVP will transform the original two-act play into a musical for the first time. 

In keeping with the celebration’s community theme, the show will incorporate original musical numbers from local musicians, including Daisy Nell, Peter Souza, and Corey Wrinn. Longtime AVP Music Director Marcia Groom will lead the musical transition.

In celebration of the Gloucester 400^th+, there will be no charge for performances, but a ticket reservation is required. Tickets will be available starting July 10.

“Gloucester Story reflects the heart of old Gloucester and what it was like to be part of the fleet in 1905,” said Terry Sands, AVP director. “Given the historic nature of this year’s performance and the connection to our community, we’d love to have some of the local salts be part of the show – either on stage or helping behind the scenes. It takes a community to stage a theatre!” 

Known as the Plumber Playwright of Gloucester, Stockbridge (1895-1973) crafted “Gloucester Story” to reflect the Cape Ann fishing industry in 1905 when schooners still ruled the seas and dory fishing claimed many lives. It tells the tale of a young son of a fish merchant dreaming about a life at sea, only to get his wish and some of the tragedy that came with it.

The play was published in 1953 in response to a 1952 Cape Ann Festival of Literature and Drama competition, sponsored by Broadway Playwright/Librettist Russel Crouse, for the best play about Gloucester from a resident of Gloucester. A life-long upper Main Street resident, Stockbridge had spent his youth working on the fishing docks before becoming a career plumber. He drew upon that experience, local lore, and the environment to create a story that genuinely depicts the livelihoods, personalities, and superstitions of that era. It is entirely fictional but the names, businesses, and plot motivations dealing with the folklore are all factual.

Sponsorship opportunities are available.

For more details about “Gloucester Story,” the life of Clayton Stockbridge, or the upcoming auditions, please visit www.annisquamvillageplayers.org.

Photo credits:

Photo of below deck, 1953 scene: Photograph by Bill Worden. Clayton Stockbridge Collection of the Cape Ann Museum Library and Archives, Gloucester, MA.

– Photo of Paul Lundberg as Capt. Nate Morrison in the 1969 performances:  Clayton Stockbridge Collection of the Cape Ann Museum Library and Archives, Gloucester, MA

147 Thatcher Rd Gloucester

978-281-1700

Two updates regarding City Hall; please take special note of change in location for a portion of the Gloucester Student Art Festival.

Check out all these delicious options, from breakfast, lunch, dinner and more – Magnolia Cafe has you covered!

20 Lexington Ave Gloucester MA
978-526-0443

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joey C – Good Morning Gloucester (@goodmorninggloucester)

It’s been beautiful for a couple of days so we went down to Minglewood on Rogers St for a couple of drinks and snacks on the back deck. WIN WIN is all I have to say. I ordered the frozen strawberry margarita (on the specials menu) and Jim got a beer. Since Zach had done such a great job at the meatball challenge, we had been hoping to get the meatball special but they had sold out of those on the first night they were offered on the specials menu. We soothed our disappointment with Veggie Spring Rolls and the nacho Plate of Love under the watchful eye of one of the resident seagulls. We had a blast thanks to our server Shawna but were even more tickled to learn there was a $10 bonus waiting for us on our Serenitee Rewards card! BOOM. It’s not hype that this reward program is a winner in money saving at participating restaurants. If you’re not enrolled, I gotta wonder…….

I Spy…

Get ready for some fun on Saturday, June 10 with a Community Scavenger Hunt to benefit The Rocky Neck Art Colony! 

Charge your phones, put on your walking shoes and start putting together your team of 2, 3 or 4 people to participate in the first-ever Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) Scavenger Hunt. The event takes place Saturday, June 10, starting at The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck (6 Wonson St.), where you will check in, receive your instructions and list of trivia questions, puzzles and items to collect.

Learn about Gloucester’s history as well as celebrating 50 years of RNAC and Gloucester’s 400⁺  anniversary.  You and your team will walk around Rocky Neck and Downtown Gloucester to solve puzzles such as “’1863’ is stated on its locus/cetaceans are now its focus,” answer trivia questions (“Which building in Gloucester houses a bell made by Paul Revere?”) and collect items (painted rocks from some enthusiastic first and third graders) to bring back to the Cultural Center at 1:30.

Everyone will receive the same list. Points will be given for all items correctly completed. The team with the most points will win. In the event of a tie, winner will be determined by the first completed submission. Prizes will be awarded for First, Second and Third place winners. Among the prizes are tickets for the Schooner Thomas E. Lannon, 7 Seas Whale Watch and Gloucester Water Shuttle passes.

So come out and join in the fun and frolic. You’ll be glad you did! 

Check for updates on the Rocky Neck Art Colony Eventbrite page: rockyneckartcolony.eventbrite.com.

With an exciting roster of exhibitions planned for 2023, The Rocky Neck Art Colony

invites the public to receptions and events throughout the year with refreshments,

admission and nearby parking free of charge. More information for all Rocky Neck Art

Colony events is available on the website at www.rockyneckartcolony.org, by email at

director@rockyneckartcolony.org or telephone 978-515-7004.

Gloucester’s City Hall will be closed on Monday, May 8th and Tuesday, May 9th due to continued clean-up efforts as a result of the small fire that occurred at approximately 11:30PM on Wednesday, May 3rd in City Hall’s basement. Minimal damage was incurred and no injuries were reported. 

The City is working closely with contractors to mitigate smoke damage and clean areas of the building impacted by the fire.

Vendors specializing in archives and artwork have been contracted to ensure that historical documents and pieces of art are maintained and restored appropriately. The City is also working with vendors focused on technology to assess computers and equipment throughout the building. 

All other City offices will be open, including the City Hall Annex, Department of Public Works, Police Department, and Fire Department. 

Residents are encouraged to access City services online and should contact City staff through email. Contact information for City staff can be found on the City’s website. 

“I am grateful for everyone’s patience and understanding while we navigate this clean up at City Hall,” said Mayor Greg Verga. “Our City Hall staff are working to meet the needs of our residents at a limited capacity. I want to ensure that everything is done right during this cleanup so staff and residents are able to safely get back into the building. I appreciate all of the time and hard work of our City staff and vendors over the past few days.”

City Hall is scheduled to reopen at regular business hours on Wednesday, May 10th.