
Surprise on Main

My View of Life on the Dock
Brick cladding exterior renovation underway on a ‘for sale’ commercial building spanning Main Street to Rogers, 21 Main Street, with tenants Mystery Train and St. Peter’s Club. Before and In Progress photos below.
Multi story major building prep foreshadowed extra weight
Note the architectural details developing like the decorative pattern emphasized by quoins (pronounced “coins”) toothed (staggered), lighter in color, and running 2/3 the full height (at this point) where the building edges meet.
Stay tuned for the After photos.
Shop local shop small
Generous Gardeners were busy again, this time at Cross Street at the end of 128. There was lots of hard work clearing and planting, with a welcoming thanks at Pratty’s afterwards.
It’s nice to have the sidewalks opened up again along with a better look at the Harbor Village Apartment building and how it fits in on Main.
PS I saw that Stone’s new lounge space was open last night!
Black Friday is a November 29, 2019, please shop local and shop small.
Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) acquired original art by Paul Cary Goldberg and Jon Sarkin for its special new research institute headquarters on Main Street — which means they built an impressive ~~temporary~~ corporate collection from the get-go! *update 1/10/19: GMGI stresses that “these pieces are on loan, and remain property of the artists and are for sale.” Ok! So they could be a great start to a permanent collection. For a peek inside, including in-situ shots, see Kim Smith’s post about the GMGI expansion groundbreaking
Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) is excited to host an Artist Reception for Paul Cary Goldberg and Jon Sarkin on Thursday, January 10th from 5- 6:30pm at GMGI’s Research Institute at 417 Main Street. RSVP Please contact Ashley Destino (772.708.8266 or Ashley.destino@gmgi.org) if you’d like to join us!
GMGI regularly hosts private groups, including science educators from the North Shore this January. GMGI will be announcing plans for public Open House dates in the coming weeks!
Mark your calendars: on Thursday January 24th, 2019, there’s an academy open house at the teaching facility in Blackburn (55 Blackburn Circle, Gloucester, MA.,) for the community and prospective students to learn more. Check it out!
The Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library is holding a public meeting November 15, 6-8pm, seeking ideas about the library’s next steps.
In May and June 2018, the library’s volunteer group, thinkGloucester, held a series of community meetings facilitated by Gloucester Conversations. People were invited “to join these open conversations to share ideas and input for the library’s five-year strategic plan.” I went to one of the meetings which was lightly attended with 12 participants beyond staff, board and facilitators. Further outreach included meetings off site in different wards as well as through social media and on line. Postcards were sent to every residence encouraging participation in an online survey. I’ll look for a link to a summary page of results from that feedback. In the meantime, here’s a link to a message from the Board – Creating our Future an update on the building project, June 2018
More staff, books, better bathrooms, celebrate Saunders, children’s library, local art, archives!
Prior posts about proposed library plans Continue reading “Weigh in! Sawyer Free Public library seeking ideas for next steps (since the summer 2018 thinkGloucester conversations) November 15th”
The Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Public Library is holding a public meeting November 15, 6-8pm, seeking ideas about the library’s next steps.
In May and June 2018, the library’s volunteer group, thinkGloucester, held a series of community meetings facilitated by Gloucester Conversations. People were invited “to join these open conversations to share ideas and input for the library’s five-year strategic plan.” I went to one of the meetings which was lightly attended with 12 participants beyond staff, board and facilitators. Further outreach included meetings off site in different wards as well as through social media and on line. Postcards were sent to every residence encouraging participation in an online survey. I’ll look for a link to a summary page of results from that feedback. In the meantime, here’s a link to a message from the Board Creating our Future an update on the building project, June 2018
More staff, books, better bathrooms, celebrate Saunders, children’s library, local art, archives!
Prior posts about proposed library plans Continue reading “Weigh in! Sawyer Free Public library seeking ideas for next steps (since the summer 2018 thinkGloucester conversations) November 15th”
“Force” yourself to have some fun. Be easy to fold into an evening filled with festive shopping, drinks and tastings, or shake off some of your family, maybe plan for a rematch on Men’s night…
Besides treats at all the shops, participating nosh eateries include: Caffee Sicilia, Cafe Brew & Spirits, Cape Ann Brewing, Gloucester House, Happy Belly, Franklin, italianis, Jalapenos, Jim’s, Passports, Pilot House, short and Main, Thai Choice, Tonno, Topside, Virgilios
Wednesday, December 6, 2017, 7:30PM Gloucester featured on WCVB Channel 5 Chronicle
Thursday December 7, 2017 downtown Gloucester Annual Ladies Night (5-10PM), Star Wars Trivia at Happy Belly and other downtown restaurant specials
Friday December 8, 2017 HARBOR VOICES
Saturday December 9, 2017 downtown Gloucester Middle Street Walk (10-4:30), HARBOR VOICES (4-8), Cape Ann Art Haven Lobster Trap Tree Lighting (4:30), Family and Friends Shopping Day (5-10PM)
December 12, 2017 Temple Ahavat Achim Lobster Pot Menorah
December 14, 2017 downtown Gloucester Customer Appreciation Night
December 18, 2017 downtown Gloucester Shopping Spree drawing
December 21, 2017 downtown Gloucester Men’s Night
Want to open a street level store on Main Street in Gloucester or buy a building? There are several available ground floor listings. What do you imagine filling these spaces?
A new Nail Salon is opening at 137 Main Street (formerly Koo De Kir and Toodeloos– before Toodeloos! moved across the street) so that space is out.
These open spaces:
242 Main Street – (former A Paine in Al’s Glass space after he moved from Maplewood)
232 Main Street – Animal Krackers space will be available one day as building is for sale
6 Elm Street (former Common Crow space) at corner of Main
180 A Main Street A (former Magic Scarf space) William C. Rochford building (Action Inc) Magicscarf 19 Pond Road was having a sale.
123 Main Street – (Kids Unlimited space closing)
8 Pleasant Street at corner of Main (former J Barrett & Co realtor space relocated to Main Street)
206 Main Street – (not available! former Cameron’s building was sold and will be redeveloped)
Toodeloos! and Island Art and Hobby at 142 Main Street is year round fun. They’ve consolidated two long standing creative and well curated independent local stores together into one space: both a fabulous local toy store and a professional art supply shop.
Toodeloos! is between the Birdseye and Winslow Homer HarborWalk story moment markers, and a short jaunt to the summer cinema at I4C2.
And from the HarborWalk marker at St. Peter’s park, it’s easy to check out the new murals by Danny Diamond at Cape Ann Brewery 11 Rogers Street!