NEW Business in a business: Ken and Regina Lane Raise the Bar at Seaview Farm Wine Room curated by Paige Farrell #CapeAnnEats #RockportMA

Raising the Bar!

Explore a great and diverse wine list expertly built out for a specialty farm stand amid the natural beauty of Cape Ann.

Seaview Farm NEW wine (and craft beer)  room will open to the public Wednesday, August 5th, 2020, and along with the farmstand, will be open seven days a week from 11-6. The farmstand opens at 10am.

Learn more about the  selection  from Ken and Regina Lane, Seaview Farm owners (first photo), and Paige Farrell, Wine Curator (second photo) below:

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About the wines at Seaview Farm

Bringing wine and craft beer to the Seaview Farm Store provides a wonderful opportunity to further enhance the selection of our own grass-fed beef, specialty foods, and other farm products. As owners of Seaview Farm, we worked closely with wine curator Paige Farrell as she carefully selected wines, which would resonate with the space itself — a room in the farmhouse that has been in our family for nearly 200 years.

Paige took a classic approach, setting the wines of France and Italy as the foundation; and then sourcing synonym wines from alternate European countries, as well as from the Finger Lakes in New York State, and the vineyards of California, Oregon and Washington. – Ken and Regina Lane

The selection of wines on offer is just a taste for all that is to come, as the Seaview Farm Store continues to develop as one of Cape Ann’s local culinary treasures. We are delighted that the combination of our farmhouse setting and Paige Farrell’s experience and passion for wines of the world means that our customers will have a selection of wines worthy of this beautiful region.”

Ken & Regina Lane, owners, Seaview Farm, and Paige Farrell, wine curator for Seaview Farm, Freelance Writer, Fine Wine and Hospitality Consultant, WSET Advanced Certification, Wine and Spirits; Diploma, 2020

 

About Paige Farrell

Paige Farrell has worked with fine wine for over twenty years, including at two Relais & Chateau properties. She has collaborated with Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand at the renowned Tru in Chicago, and with Barbara Lynch at Menton in Boston. In addition, she works with major corporate clients as the public relations, marketing and event manager for the Boston wine trade. For individual clients, she curates wine selections for private wine cellars. As a wine writer, Paige writes regularly for Northshore Magazine, and has written for The SOMM Journal, ELYSIAN Magazine, and several other publications. She has taught extensively about wine.

” Wine is more than a beverage to me. It’s a gentle chameleon; a muse connecting food to drink to family to friends to places to times; a portal to a slower pace and  — perhaps most especially — a poetic pause.” – Paige Farrell

Paige will be available to hire for private events, tastings, and personalized wine selections from the farm shop. She can be contacted at farrellpaige@gmail.com. Her website is www.paigemckeonfarrell.com.

Paige Farrell holds a BA in French from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with studies at Paris-Sorbonne University, Paris, France and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Presently, she is a Diploma Candidate with the prestigious Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). She is also a photographer, and has exhibited at Jane Deering Gallery and Flatrocks Gallery, both in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

 

Al fresco dining: Salt Water Grille

Salt Water Grille 226 Washington St, Gloucester, MA  (978) 879-4244

From their website:

Indoor & Outdoor Dining / Takeout/Curbside Pickup | WE BELIEVE IN QUALITY SO WE CHANGE OUR SPECIALS DAILY, CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK TO SEE! @Salt Water Grille and Pub
Wednesday, Thursday: 3pm-9pm, 
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12pm-9pm
Closed Monday, and Tuesday

 

outdoor seating al fresco - dining Salt Water Grill_20200727_Gloucester Mass_summer of Covid-19 ©c ryan (2)

outdoor seating al fresco - dining Salt Water Grill_20200727_Gloucester Mass_summer of Covid-19 ©c ryan

New pub: The Office at George’s plus outdoor seating at George’s Coffee Shop

George’s Coffee Shop expanded.

The Office at George’s — “Thirsty…You won’t be!”– a new local pub and local music and events will be open soon in the space of their former ice cream shop, Salah’s. (Some of the fixtures related to the ice cream business were repurposed for new owners opening across the street.) Also, George’s Coffee Shop added **new** outdoor seating as an option in response to Covid-19 phased re-opening.

 

The Office at George's local pub_20200727_Gloucester Mass ©c ryan (2)

 

Are you up for the 13-2 Gloucester beaches challenge? 13 beaches. 2 jumps. 1 city. Go! #Staycation #safecation #Covid19

Covid-19 and summer brought an old post to mind. Reposting summer 2020; First published in July 2016.

 

Are you up for a Gloucester beaches challenge?

A mid-week vacation day is the easiest. Oh, and you’ll need your resident beach sticker. We prepped our car with a picnic blanket for the seat, extra towels, and ice waters. Start early and grab a big  “lobsterjack”  breakfast because you’ll need the fuel. End late.

Let’s establish some base rules here.

First off, you need to spend at least 15 minutes at each beach. (You can tweak this a little if you want.) Next, you need to dive under. We suggest a ritual for each beach, e.g. ‘The Five and Dive’. Finally, you have to stop for ice cream and candy. Remember, you can do these beaches (or others or quarries in Gloucester) and jumps in any order. Be flexible for different ages and unexpected delays like staying at one beach for hours, or a friend asking you to drop off a sub (*cough* Joey *cough*). Most importantly, you have to do at least 13 beaches and 2 jumps in one day. Mind the tides. Be grateful we have so many choices.

The Beaches- partial list

alphabetical order

Annisquam lighthouse.  Coffin’s beach.  Good Harbor beach.  Long beach. Magnolia beach. Niles beach. Pavilion beach (by Beach Court). Pavilion beach bonus (by the cut). Plum Cove beach. Rocky Neck Oakes Cove beach. Stage Fort Park (1) – Cressy’s beach ( our alt. title ‘sea serpent’ big beach). Stage Fort Park (2) – Half Moon beach. Wheeler’s Point. Wingaersheek beach.

The Jumps- partial list

Annisquam bridge. Magnolia Pier.

*We did this challenge at least once each summer. (In 2016) we started off with breakfast at Willow’s Rest and continued from there. Our timing was random especially as we spent hours at Wingaersheek. The second meal to get us through the day came from the sandwich counter at Annie’s by Wingaersheek. Yes, they have a sandwich counter.

Gloucester Beaches sandwich directory

 

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Main Street Arts & Antiques is OPEN and spiffy inside and out #GloucesterMA

David Cox. 124 Main Street Arts & Antiques. Gloucester, Mass. (978) 281-1531

 

DAVID COX - call catherine- Main Street Art & Antiques 20200708_Gloucester Ma ©c ryan (2)

take 2(Coming soon…Archie’s picks 🐶🐶!~ And before/after photos  of a new jewelry and collector bag display by Kim)

 

Main Street Arts & Antiques is OPEN and spiffy inside and out #GloucesterMA

David Cox. 124 Main Street Arts & Antiques. Gloucester, Mass. (978) 281-1531

 

DAVID COX - call catherine- Main Street Art & Antiques 20200708_Gloucester Ma ©c ryan (2)

(Coming soon…Archie’s picks 🐶🐶!~ And before/after photos  of a new jewelry and collector bag display by Kim)

 

signs of the times: good egg private events held here | Outside the Box Cafe #GloucesterMA

Good egg private events at Outside the Box Cafe (alongside Audrey’s Flower Shop and The Rhumb Line )

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Outside the box_20200725_Gloucester Mass -covid creativity

TIME magazine on museums and historic homes during Covid-19 features Salem Massachusetts

 

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Excerpt from ‘The Uncertain Future of Places That Preserve America’s Past’

“Thanks to the City’s infamous witch trials, the historic homes and gardens on the Salem, Mass., waterfront usually get about a third of their annual visitors in the Halloween season. But the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lock-downs have created a scary situation for these places: most of the rest of their visitors arrive in the spring and summer. Thanks to the pandemic, this year’s busy time has been a wash, and it’s not looking like the fall will be much different. At the site of Salem’s The House of the Seven Gables and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s birthplace…” Read the full article TIME magazine here

Peabody Essex Museum has reopened with a modified schedule:

“Thursdays through Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm. To allow for safe physical distancing, a limited number of visitors will be allowed inside the museum and its galleries at any time. Reserve your tickets in advance at pem.org/tickets or by calling 978-542-1511.”

In Gloucester, both Beauport Museum and Hammond Castle are open. While Cape Ann Museum is not open, its on line, virtual fare has increased. Check out “CAM connects”- the most recent July 23, 2020 Cape Ann Music

Hammond Castle-  Advance purchase of timed tickets is required to enter the museum. Purchase your tickets here. Guest are also welcome to explore the Museum grounds including the Bell Tower, Drawbridge, Look Out Point and our iconic archesThe grounds are open from 9:30 am to 4 pm daily. Face masks are required and social distancing should be maintained as recommended by the State of Massachusetts and the City of Gloucester.

Beauport Museum – Historic New England property details: “The tour has been altered to maximize social distancing, and each tour is limited to four guests. Please read the “Know Before You Go” section below for more information on safety requirements. Advance tickets are required, and admission is free for Historic New England members. Buy tickets now.”

 

Signs of the times creative families: Long Beach chairs drive-in movies plus giant beach jenga #CapeAnnCovid #outdoorfun

creative family Outdoor cinema and Beach Jenga-Long Beach evening_Rockport Mass_20200722_view from Gloucester Mass. end of Beach©c ryan

What movie would you play?

Scenes from a beautiful summer evening on Long Beach July 21, 2020.

Signs of the times | one way routes, sanitized pens, and on point placard Surfside Subs & pizza Long Beach #CapeAnnCovid #GloucesterMA

Local businesses adjust to Covid-19 reopening “new” normal.

Surfside Subs and pizza shop one way routes and sanitized pens and on point pizza box placard

 

Beach Day! New safety signs at Long Beach #RockportMA. Residents only at Good Harbor Beach #GloucesterMA

Scenes from Long Beach

views from both the Rockport and Gloucester ends at about high noon (tide heading out)

Cape Ann SUP is set up renting paddle boards and lessons at Long Beach by the Cape Ann Motor Inn, and the Cow Mobile Ice Cream Truck. Dominic is too modest to mention but we know that he keeps an eye out there beyond his clients and has rescued swimmers. The rip tide sign reflects the corner of the cove. There was a rescue covered in the Gloucester Daily Times this week, “Friends pull 5 from riptide“. Afterwards a lifeguard chair has been relocated closer to this side and a new sign added at the entrance.

 

Scenes from Good Harbor Beach

about 11 and again at 4pm

WSJ article quotes expert from Addison Gilbert #GloucesterMA | Beverly Hospital on #covid-19 and air travel

The Middle Seat: The Greatest Coronavirus Risks when you Fly, Wall Street JournalScott McCartney article here 

 

“He was just asked to peer review a new study done in Germany by experts in airplane modeling that he thinks is instructive to…”

Mark Gendreau is the Chief Medical Officer of Addison Gilbert Beverly Hospital and an “expert on disease transmission on airplanes” 

 

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Snakes of New England just for you! Covid-19 closure isn’t stopping Sawyer Free children’s services summer fun and reading 😀📚🐍😀📚 #Gloucesterma #CapeAnnCovid #rattlesnakes

Don’t miss the chance to see a very special show right at home – “Snakes of New England with Rick Roth”

Here’s how:

“He has such a great ease and natural presentation! People register and the library sends them a link which they can watch–at their convenience–anytime July 20-25. Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team was so good to work with us offering this wonderful opportunity to learn.”

Flyer from Sawyer Free public librarySnake - Sawyer Free Childrens Services program

LEGO sets prizes! Covid-19 closure isn’t stopping Sawyer Free children’s services summer fun and reading 🧱😀📚

Lego Summer Challenge flyer from Sawyer Free public library– ongoing with Lego set prizes! Email photo of original creation to crosso@SawyerFreelibrary.org

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Al fresco dining: Yella on the Water expands their outdoor dining and hours #GloucesterMA #harborview

Accepting reservations with extended hours – Wednesday – Monday 11:30AM -10:00PM

Yella on the Water

978.491.5334

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YELLA al fresco dining expands into lot_20200709_Gloucester MA ©c ryan (2)

Signs of the times: Betta Daz Ahead #CapeAnnCovid #GloucesterMA

Now the second sign has me thinking about a third! What would you add?

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Al fresco dining: the Cupboard Stage Fort Park #GloucesterMA

Not so rough “eating in the rough”, the Cupboard serves up great food and glorious al fresco options at Stage Fort Park.

THE CUPBOARD RESTAURANT
GLOUCESTER, MA
(978) 281-1908

and ice cream! and now an ATM on site!

menu

www.cupboardgloucester.com

 

Judith Murray | Sargent House featured in NEW Massachusetts vacation trail #WomenTrailblazers #GloucesterMA #VisitMA

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See the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (Mott) July 2020 update below! Look for two FREE and easy business listing ideas, the 2019 Annual Report with all its visitor data, Covid-19 and its impact on the tourism sector, and Gloucester news that Judith Sargent Murray | Sargent House museum will be featured on the Regional Council Historic Women Trailblazers site! Gloucester boasts many women ground breakers.

 

BE SARGENT_Judith Sargent Murray mural Gloucester Mass _20180422_©c ryan
(photo caption – Monumental and stunning Be Sargent mural of Judith Sargent Murray is sited across Main street and front of historic house museum, Gloucester, Mass. See also HarborWalk marker here, and Cape Ann Museum.)

from MOTT July 2020:

(*Woodman’s photo)
July 2020
The spirit of Massachusetts is stronger than ever. Throughout the Commonwealth our friends and neighbors are working to keep people safe while helping to support the local economy – buying local, shopping local, staying local. We see people banding together for the common goal of keeping Massachusetts strong. In our arena, look no further than the new micro website initiated by the Regional Tourism Councils, www.spiritofma.com.  Congratulations to our RTC partners for this initiative. 

This month, Massachusetts moves from Phase Two to Phase Three of the Commonwealth’s four-phase plan to Reopen Massachusetts.  You can stay up to date on the latest Massachusetts news by checking the COVID-19 links below. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or comments.  

On behalf of all of us here at MOTT, thank you to the Massachusetts’ travel and tourism community for its resolve, optimism, and creativity as we move forward to brighter days ahead. 

Sincerely,

Keiko Matsudo Orrall
Executive Director

 

Massachusetts Reopening News

  • Beginning July 1, the Baker-Polito Administration has new quarantine guidelines for visitors coming to Massachusetts from seven neighboring states, including NY, NJ, CT, ME, NH, RI & VT.  See details here.
  • MOTT’s website, www.massvacation.com, now has FAQs for visitors coming to Massachusetts.
  • On June 28, the Commonwealth embarked on Phase II, Step 2 of the Reopening Massachusetts plan. Find information on when businesses can reopen here.
  • Indoor dining is now permitted.  For full restaurant guidance, click here.
  • State House officials announced additional administrative tax relief measures for local businesses impacted by COVID-19, especially in the restaurant and hospitality sectors. This tax relief includes postponing the collection of regular sales tax, meals tax, and room occupancy taxes for small businesses normally due from March through August, so that they will instead be due in September.

International Update

UK journalist, Abigail King, who had previously been hosted on an international FAM trip to Massachusetts, has written a blog on Nantucket, which was shortlisted for The Visit USA 2020 Media Awards. We are so happy to share that Abigail King won in the category of Blogger/Vlogger of the Year Award, with the submission of her beautiful Nantucket article from her visit; Fast forward to 3:41 to hear the award announcement by Visit USA! A sincere thank you to all in Massachusetts who hosted and made Abigail King’s experience in Massachusetts a memorable one.  Read Abigail’s piece on Nantucket here.

Industry News

Spirit of Massachusetts
The Regional Tourism Councils (RTC) have created a new micro website to promote Massachusetts as a great place to visit when the time is right. See details here.

Sales Tax Holiday
Massachusetts’ annual Sales Tax Holiday the weekend of August 30-31 offers a good opportunity to support Main Street businesses and the local economy.  See FAQs about the Sales Tax Holiday.

State Campgrounds
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation has opened state campgrounds beginning July 1.  See details here.

The 2020 Big E Cancelled
The Eastern States Exposition announced that due to the COVID-19 crisis, this year’s BIG E Fair has been cancelled.  Be sure to mark your calendar for the 2021 BIG E Fair: September 17-October 3, 2021, and keep up with the latest from The Big E here.

Massachusetts Celebrates Women Trailblazers
MOTT’s Historic Women Trailblazers digital page celebrates the achievement of women in the Commonwealth.  Stay tuned for the release of our digital booklet on the Historic Women Trailblazer’s page in August.

Massport News
Construction work at Logan International Airport this summer will affect traffic patterns at the airport, especially around Terminal B.  See details here.

Call for Brochures
Our friends at Simon/Lee Premium Outlets in Lee, MA, invite you to send them one box of brochures or visitor guides for display at their information centers.  There is no storage or stocking fee so please send your printed tourism information to: Carolyn Edwards, Area General Manager, Simon/Lee Premium Outlets, 17 Premium Outlets Blvd., Lee, MA 01238. If you would like more information, please contact Carolyn Edwards.

50 Great Things to do Under $50

MOTT’s ’50 Under $50’ special deals page is consistently ranked as one of our Top 5 visited web pages each month.  To list a special deal offered by your organization, the offer must be valid for a two-month duration and the admission of $50 must cover: two adults only and/or two adults with two children age 12 and under.

We are currently accepting ’50 Under $50’ offers for August/September/October. Please send your submissions to:  Phyllis M. Cahaly.

FREE means FREE!

With so many amazing free things to do in Massachusetts, we created a FREE category listing in our online calendar of events at massvacation.com.

Now, you can add your organization’s cost-free events to MOTT’s year-round calendars. Just click on ‘submit your listing’ on the bottom of the homepage, and follow the prompts.

COVID-19 Resources & News

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By the Numbers

  • In calendar year 2019, International visitors to Massachusetts totaled 2.5 million, which was down slightly from 2018.
  • Overseas volume to Massachusetts was just under 1.8 million.  The top five origin countries were: China (269 k), United Kingdom (247 k), Germany (104 k), Brazil (102 k), and France (101 k).  Canadian visitation to Massachusetts has historically been just under 700,000 with the majority of visitors coming from the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
  • The 2019 Annual Report has been published.

Drift Cafe taking it to the streets | al fresco dining ready on Main Street #GloucesterMA

Gloucester restaurants readying creative outdoor spaces along the west end of Main Street downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts

Drift cafe 3 Main Street 978-314-4238


great inner harbor and people watching from Drift cafe windows on Rogers