Moods of the Sea | Cape Ann Symphony Musicians Unleashed Special Event will feature members of the string section and vocalists

Posted on by Catherine

Heidi Dallin with the news from Cape Ann Symphony, a great theme from Musicians Unleashed for their next program.

Alexandra Dietrich

“Cape Ann Symphony continues the Musicians Unleashed Concert Series with Moods of the Sea Concert, on Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 3:00 PM at The St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1123 Washington Street, Gloucester.  The ticket price for Moods of the Sea Concert is $40.   Call CAS at 978-281-0543 or go to www.capeannsymphony.org to purchase tickets. 

Premiering in 2019, The Cape Ann Symphony’s Musicians Unleashed Concert Series are small intimate chamber concerts performed by members of the Cape Ann Symphony and guest artists at unique performance venues on Cape Ann. The Musicians Unleashed Concerts have become a wonderfully popular series with an overwhelmingly enthusiastic audience response.

The Moods of The Sea Concert combines music, literature and poetry performed by five string players and 2 vocalists. The program ranges from English poet John Masefield’s Sea Fever about longing for the freedom of life on the open sea set to music by John Ireland to Anton Dvořak’s String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 77, 2nd Movement written for the unusual combination of string quartet and double bass and in the lively joyful style of folk dance. 

Moods of the Sea captures the stylistic choices of these works, with undercurrents and rippling chords.  The program brings together motifs from folk traditions that expand to create full movements of beautiful sounds. 

The concert program includes: 

Salina Fisher’s Mata Au; Edward Elgar’s Sea Pictures, Op. 37; Gustav Holst’s  St. Paul’s Suite, Op. 29; Sea Fever, Music by John Ireland, Lyrics by John Masefield; and Anton Dvořak’s String Quintet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 77, 2nd Movement.

“Audiences can expect an eclectic afternoon of music, ” says Barbara Cox, Director of Marketing on the CAS Board, ” from beautiful vocals to soaring strings to joyful folk dances! We are excited to spotlight not only our CAS String players but also CAS Chorus member and Gloucester resident baritone John Fortado! Veteran Boston Mezzo soprano Alexandra Dietrich and cellist Taylor Stobinski make their Musicians Unleashed debut in Moods of the Sea. “

The musicians of Moods of the Sea are Cape Ann Symphony Principal Bass Richey Tally, a position he has held since 2009; CAS Violinists Margaret Cerjan and Oliver Klein, CAS Violist Brandon White and Greater Boston based teacher, recording artist and Cellist Taylor Stobinski.

Vocalists performing in Moods of the Sea are CAS Chorus member Gloucester’s John Fortado and mezzo soprano Alexandra Dietrich. A lifelong resident of Gloucester, MA, John Fortado has been singing as a tenor/baritone  soloist and in multiple choirs, among them Chorus North Shore, Share the Music, and Cape Ann Symphony Chorus. He studies with Rockport’s Wendy Betts.  He is an active soloist at the Orthodox Congregational Church in Lanesville as well as other churches and venues on the North Shore.  Alexandra Dietrich, a Puerto Rican American originally from Freeport, Maine, has performed with opera companies and orchestras including the Boston Pops, Odyssey Opera, Juventas New Music Ensemble, Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra, the Charlemagne Orchestra of Belgium, the Longy Chamber Orchestra, and MassOpera. “

The Musicians Unleashed Concert, Moods of the Sea is Sunday, February 8 at 3:00 PM at The St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1123 Washington Street, Gloucester. The ticket price for Moods of the Sea is$40.  Call Cape Ann Symphony at 978-281-0543 or go to www.capeannsymphony.org for tickets.

Shore So Salty This Weekend!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

OPEN ON A SUNDAY?!?! Your shake and tea dreams just came true, this weekend we’re getting salty and opening on Sunday too!! Come out and support your favorite local businesses downtown!! You don’t want to miss our special ice sculpture

Three Sweet Peas Bakery Rowley

Posted on by Pat D

We often travel north looking for wildlife and birds so we travel through Rowley regularly. But we haven’t recently stopped at the Three Sweet Peas Bakery on Main St in Rowley until recently. As usual, we were greeted in a very friendly manner. The cases were FULL of ready to eat treats and prepared foods. We got ourselves a sweet treat and some chicken parm with garlic breadsticks for a future meal. Gotta love it when you don’t have to think too hard about dinner. When you’re up that way, it’s well worth stopping in.

Timeline: Cape Ann Screening – The Blizzard of ’78

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

 ~ SAWYER FREE LIBRARY

The Sawyer Free Library is pleased to welcome Kory Curcuru of 1623 Studios for a screening of his latest Timeline: Cape Ann The Blizzard of 78′ on Friday, January 23 from 3:00 to 4:00pm in the Community Room. 

The Blizzard of 1978 was a catastrophic nor’easter that swept across New England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the New York metropolitan area. Forming on February 5 and lasting until February 7, this historic storm brought record-breaking snowfall, fierce winds, and widespread devastation. Massachusetts was hit especially hard, with snow piling up for over two days. The blizzard remains one of the most infamous winter storms in U.S. history.

Take a look back at this unforgettable event and its lasting impact on Cape Ann with Kory Curcuru of 1623 Studios.  Register at sawyerfreelibrary.org.

Gloucester’s So Salty- An incredible event with a huge range of community partners include in Downtown retailers and restaurants handing out salty treats and having promotions, and museums and library having special events- ALL FREE!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

This annual event brings over 2,000 people to the downtown area each January to shop at local stores, enjoy family friendly activities, visit the Museum Courtyard, and find each of the ice sculptures sponsored by local cultural institutions and businesses.

Gloucester’s So Salty will take place on Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25, 2026 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm!

Activities and Performances

Ice Sculptures, Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

While the downtown Museum is temporarily closed for renovations, we welcome you to visit us at the CAM Tent in the Museum’s Courtyard to grab a Brochure map of the weekend’s activities and find all the ice sculptures downtown (Hint, three are right by the tent in the Courtyard!).

Sea Shanties, Saturday, January 24, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Sea Shanties performed by Three Sheets to the Wind. Free and open to the public. Unitarian Universalist Church of Gloucester, Middle Street, Gloucester.

Sawyer Free Library, Saturday 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Meet Mayor Lundberg who will be reading Katy and the Big Snow, by Virginia Lee Burton, at 1:00 p.m. and enjoy free children’s activities and crafts on Saturday with Open Door and Pathways of Gloucester. Free and Open to the Public.

Sawyer Free Library: All events are open to all ages, families and community members!

  • Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. on the Second Floor (Children’s Department): Frozen Fun with Elsa: Elsa’s Frozen Ice & Snow show brings stories and the science of ice together for a fun morning of learning for children!
  • Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on the Main Floor (Reading Lounge): Live Music Trio featuring a variety of wintertime fun including Gershwin, Disney, some folk tunes, and classics
  • Saturday 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. on the Main Floor (Reading Lounge): Mayor Lundberg reads Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
  • Saturday 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. on the Ground Floor (Community Room): Get Salty with fellow Community Partners! The Open Door hosts Crispy Chickpeas (includes samples!!!) and Pathways for Children offers Salt Art Snowflakes (colored salt and glue of pre-cut snowflake shapes).

Businesses Downtown

Check individual locations for days and times including listings for Special Offers as well as Family Friendly Activities!

  • The Bookstore of GloucesterFestive window display, 10% off select Salty books, and special ‘salty’ candles for sale courtesy of A Tale of Two Candles! Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. & Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 61 Main St.
  • Floating Lotus All weekend: 10% Off storewide. Join us for a Drumming Class: Primal Roots Drumming on Sunday, Jan 25th, 1:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the store. (Bring your own drum or rent one! For tickets visit: www.floatinglotus.net/products/primal-roots-drum. 169 Main Street.
  • Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library Sawyer SATURDAY: Free events and activities! 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.: Frozen Fun with Elsa: Elsa’s Frozen Ice & Snow show brings stories and the science of ice together for a fun morning of learning for children! 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on the Main Floor: Live Music Trio featuring a variety of wintertime fun including Gershwin, Disney, folk tunes, and classics, 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.: Mayor Lundberg reads Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Get Salty with crafts by The Open Door and Pathways for Children. 2 Dale Avenue.
  • Dogtown BooksCreate your own Salty poetry, expressions or silly phrases on our front window! Saturdayand Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 132 Main St.
  • Fireflies Boutique Stop in for piece of Saltwater Taffy, free, at Fireflies Boutique. 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 100 Main St.
  • Cape Ann Olive Oil 20% off on all salts and salt related products. Saturday & Sunday, 10-:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 57 Main St.
  • Design of Mine, a local boutique, 40% Off storewide Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 33 Main St.
  • Sweats of Gloucester 20% off storewide Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., 85 Main Street.
  • Saluti and The Salted Cod After you find all the ice sculptures, come to Saluti, Gloucester’s new wine bar, located at the end of Main Street and enjoy a $5 mug of mulled wine or spiked cider! Good all weekend, 12:00 p.m. to closing. 272 Main Street. Offer also available at the Salted Cod on Rocky Neck (53 Rocky Neck Ave.)
  • Pop Gallery will be serving up Sales & Ales, warming libations and featuring some fun new looks as well as a Gloucester-So-Salty Raffle prize. Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., 67 Main St.
  • Local Colors Come paint salt dough fish, while supplies last; see and shop work by local artists too! Saturday & Sunday, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., 121 Main St.
  • Design of Mine 40% Off storewide, All Weekend. 33 Main St.
  • Happy Tails Shoppe 10% Off All Dog & Cat Treats. Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., 186 Main St.
  • Masshole & Co Pet Provisions Special:Doggie “Pawgaritas” – $1 with any purchase! A cucumber-based drink topped with whipped cream that pups can’t resist. Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., 137 Main St.
  • Mark Adrian Shoes Icy, salty streets getting you down? Stay safe, dry, warm and fabulous in new winter boots! Lots on sale! Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., 103 Main St.
  • Gloucester Apparel and Pat Ds Photos Buy-3, Get-One-Free Hat Sale! Includes Fleece Lined Caps. Pat D’s Photos: All notecards $3 each and large banner flags discounted to $25. Plus – free Salted Caramels 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day. 44A Main St., in between the Cave and Caffe Sicilia.
  • The Dress Code Stop by The Dress Code to warm up and enjoy 20% Off winter coats! Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 159 Main St.
  • Joe’s Fresh Fish Prints Come check out Fish Printing Demonstrations from 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., 6 Main St.
  • Castaways Vintage Café $2 Salted Caramel lattes!! Saturday & Sunday, 6:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m., 65 Main St.
  • Sample This Winter Sale! Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., 123 Main St.
  • Cape Ann Lanes/Laneside Pub & Brewery Special Offer! Buy-1, Get-one-free hot cocoa in our Winter Wonderland Beer Garden OR 10% off bowling and food after 4:00 p.m. Offer good all weekend! 53 Gloucester Ave.

Pre-Salty! GLO-ARTs – Make Your Own Ice Sculpture, A Children’s Program

Join Sawyer Free Library and Gloucester Center for the Arts (GloArts) to make a collaborative ice sculpture for the 5th Annual Gloucester So Salty Festival! We’ll be making elements for the collaborative ice sculpture using food coloring, natural plants, and more. We’ll also talk about how to assemble our final sculpture. Once the elements freeze, you’re invited to come back on Friday, January 23 from 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. to help put out our ice sculpture art installation outside the library! Patrons ages 11-19 (grades 6-12) are welcome to participate in this event. Space is limited, so registration is required.

Saturday, January 17, 1:30—3:30 p.m.

Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Avenue, Gloucester

My new friend

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Even with the dreary skies, this cute seal was very happy on the rocks.  This seal was far out, but it looked like this cutie was looking right at me.

 

Route 133 Auto

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

978-283-3331

Book online HERE

This deal expires January 31 2026so take advantage of our Repair More Save More Special.

Mention this Deal at the time of your appointment to save on services!