Good Morning Gloucester

BREAKING GOOD NEWS

We are now opening for lunches seven days a week as well as dinner! Hopefully you all will be as excited as I am to be returning full-time for lunches starting this coming Monday, January 5th, 2026. I am so looking forward to being there with all of our Stones Pub staff and of course our customers who make Stones the Cheers of Cape Ann.

We are starting a new era here at Stones or should I say going back to the beginning! This year marks 15 years of Stones Pub serving our amazing community which has been incredible and so special to me. I have been part of it for many years 15 plus years at Jalapeños with Alex, Jaime, Luis and Steve, Il Porto which was above the Rhumbline with Georgie DeAngelis, Paulie & Mikey, Outrigger/Madfish, Blackburn Tavern with Bob Vallis (now owner of Brown Dog in Ipswich) way back to the Rock-a-Way which most of you probably don’t remember! Gloucester and all of Cape Ann is truly blessed with a restaurant community which is incredible and supportive of each other as well as Cape Ann in so many ways. I have been a part of it for so many years and want to make sure I thank every single restaurant person who supports not just Stones but our entire community and each other as we move forward.

These can be trying times and we are here to provide a place to take a breath. I am here baking macaroons to be handed out to anyone who just wants a little something sweet as I first did when we opened along with our fantastic carrot cake. Come on by to say hi. If you have time please feel free to just relax, unwind and hang out with me chatting or enjoy the hockey/football/basketball/polo game or play a round of cribbage/scrabble/pass the pig or whatever makes you happy.

I feel this is me coming full circle to be able to be there to take care of my people on every Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday!

242 Main St Gloucester

New Year/New Snow…

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So long 2025 and welcome 2026. Jim and I wish you all the very best in the upcoming year with just enough disappointment to allow you to cherish the joys. It’s a lot to ponder when you think about the past year and anticipate the new one, but don’t put extra pressure on yourself because of the date on the calendar. In the meantime, I hope you can appreciate just a few more pictures of our beautiful Lobster Trap Tree this year; some taken at angles you may not have previously seen.

This two-day festival hosted by Cape Ann Museum features ice sculptures, live music, salty treats, and engaging cultural activities scattered throughout Downtown Gloucester.

Plan your visit here: https://heyor.ca/oyqnxLhttps://discovergloucester.com/2025/01/09/experience-winter-by-the-sea-at-the-gloucesters-so-salty/?media_id=3799150618325559548_67266605582&media_author_id=67266605582&ranking_info_token=GCAzMmI1ZDYxNjJiOTk0ZjUxODJmMzA1NWQ4NTEzMzE0ZSX+m9YDJrTmppUNGBMzNzk5MTUwNjE4MzI1NTU5NTQ4KANuY2cA&utm_source=ig_text_post_permalink, or check out our latest blog post: https://heyor.ca/YZfix2

📸: Aram Boghosian

Photo:

Caitlin Smith

Finale…

Our fishermen work even after dark and it’s quite a beautiful sight from the water. Thank you! Fair winds in 2026.

Discussion by the Board:

MGL 138 S. 12D discussion and possible vote and recommendation to City Council:

The law was passed earlier this year allowing holders of a beer and wine license to trade in their license to convert it to an all alcohol license. The applicant will need to be

approved through the local board as well as the ABCC. Once converted this license it is

non-transferrable and cannot be sold as an All Alcoholic Beverage license.

Boston has recently accepted the law. As of tonight their Licensing Board is holding a

public hearing to consider what rules and regulations they want to adopt to establish a

local process for people to trade in their license.

City Council will need to approve of the statute in order for it to be in effect in the City of

Gloucester. .

Ms. Egan suggests that the board takes a vote and refer to the Mayor to include in the

Mayor’s report and then to City Council for approval. Once approved the Board can

develop the rules and regulations for the statute.

A public hearing would be required if someone were to apply for the transfer of the

license.

If the statute is approved and new rules and regulations are being adopted then you

would hold a public hearing for the rules you are adopting, then amend the rules.

Once a business closes down the license converts back to a wine and malt license and

the business will need to re-apply using the approval process again.

Ms. Prince moves to refer to City Council to adopt MGL 138 section 12D.Ms. Egan is going to send an email with a draft memo for the Mayor’s report.

Mr. Costa seconds

All in favor, 3-0

CITY OF GLOUCESTER

LICENSING BOARD MEETING

HARBOR MASTERS OFFICE

19 HARBOR LOOP #2

GLOUCESTER MA 01930

Meeting Minutes

October 14, 2025

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As we look back on another incredible year, our hearts are full and honestly, a little overwhelmed in the best way. This community has shown up for us time and time again. You’ve celebrated milestones at our tables, brought friends from out of town through our doors, danced to karaoke, clinked glasses at the bar, and trusted us to be part of your everyday moments. That means everything to us.

So we wanted to say thank you the best way we know how: with food, flavor, and a little bit of fun.

Starting Friday, January 2nd, 2026, Machaca is gifting our community something special, a $3 Bar Bite Menu, created purely as a thank you to Gloucester for an amazing year of support.

Yes, you read that right. $3 bar bites. Are we crazy? Maybe a little, but it feels right.

You’ll find these bites available bar service only, dine-in only, from 4:30–5:30pm, Tuesday through Sunday. It’s our happy hour love letter to the city we’re proud to call home.

And because Luis can never do anything halfway, we’re also featuring his $10 Pick Four Pu Pu Platter, a greatest-hits lineup of Machaca favorites, served bite-sized and perfect for sharing (or not 😉).

Here’s what’s on the menu:

• Guacamole
• Queso Dip
• Texas Caviar
• Empanadas
• Taquitos
• Fried Cheese
• Wings
• Nacho Fries
• Miguelitos Shrimp
• And the real star of the show…our $3 Mini Poblano Chicken Chimichanga

Yes. A chimichanga. For three dollars.

This isn’t a gimmick. This isn’t a limited one-day promo. This is our way of saying thank you—for supporting a family-run restaurant, for believing in us, and for making Machaca feel like home every single day.

It is truly an honor to serve Gloucester. This special is for you.

With gratitude (and a whole lot of love),

The Machaca Family 🌮❤️

Gloucester 2026
Trudy Clemens Photo