Tag: Essex

Open! Mayflour bakery 162 Main Street in #EssexMA

Posted on by Catherine

Mayflour is now open in Essex! Tucked into the colorful junction of Main St & Rt. 133, the new space has the same calm & cheery vibe it had in Rockport, only more so. The specialty cake and coffee shop is much bigger with several tables and chairs inside, and access outback to standing tables, a pollinator garden, and ever-changing vistas of the gorgeous Great Marsh.

What’s carried through to Essex from Rockport? Master confectioner Jocelyn’s award winning pre order specialty and wedding cakes and tasty sweet and savory treats are made from organic and locally sourced ingredients. Also, Mayflour’s morning beverages–the organic and cold brew coffee, teas, and seasonal sips (especially come winter their yummy hot chocolate and marshmallows)–are returning favorites.

What’s new?

One big and happy addition is a cold case so Mayflour can stock pot de crème and other small fancies on any given day, and speciality cakes on Fridays and Saturdays for any “last minute” and “just because” celebrations we all can use more of.

Parking

There is one accessible parking spot to the right of the entrance. Six parking spots are available across the street on Main St. in front of Andrew Spindler Antiques. The bakery opens at 7:30 A.M.–before 8 A.M. is hard to come by for a bakery on Cape Ann–so it’s a convenient stop before work or school.

August 2023 photo block Mayflour. Small batch bakery. coffee. cakes. 162 Main Street, Essex. Thurs-Mon 7:30-3. Artist Elissa Lincoln’s artwork is featured. The sustainable bakery opened in July.

Mayflour on the move on Cape Ann from Whistlestop #RockportMA to #EssexMA…

Posted on by Catherine

After five years on the block of Whistlestop mall in Rockport, Mayflour (and its bakery/coffee shop formerly known as Blume) is temporarily closed. Mayflour is reopening in 162 Main Street, Essex come Spring 2023, just perfect timing for new beginnings. How will they build out and design their new space?

Photos: Mayflour, Rockport. November 21 and December 30, 2022

RESTAURANT TAKE OUT, DELIVERY, AND CURBSIDE PICK-UP MOST UP-TO-DATE LIST

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

The information is provided in collaboration with Discover Gloucester and the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce.

Last updated on April 9th at 10:45am.

Click Here for the complete list.

PORCUPINE ON CAPE ANN!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Good Morning Gloucester reader DB took a snapshot and reports that she saw this little Porcupine moseying along the side of the road in Essex on Friday.

The North American Porcupine is more commonly seen in central and western Massachusetts, less so in the eastern regions of our state. Porcupines are nocturnal, preferring to hide away during the day in dens and treetops, which is another reason we don’t often see them in these parts.

So wonderful that DB saw this and was able to get a photo. Thank you for sharing DB!!!


Additional North American Porcupine photo courtesy wikicommons media

RAW SEWAGE SPILL INTO THE GREAT SALT MARSH

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

A sewer pipe in Essex broke over the weekend, spewing raw sewage into the Essex River Salt Marsh. I am so very sorry for our local clam diggers–just as the season was getting underway–devastating. The clam flats will be monitored, at a minimum, over the next 21 days before any determination about reopening will be made.

Essex River Clammers

About the Great Marsh

“In Massachusetts, the North Shore’s Great Marsh is the largest continuous stretch of Salt Marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Great Marsh includes over 20,000 acres of marsh, barrier beach, tidal river, estuary, mudflat, and upland islands extending across the Massachusetts North Shore from Gloucester to Salisbury. In recognition of these extraordinary resources, a portion of this area was designated by the state in 1979 as the Parker River/Essex Bay Area of Critical Environmental Concern. The Great Marsh is an internationally recognized Important Bird Area (IBA) as it contributes to the preservation of many breeding and migratory birds. This unique complex of natural systems add ecological, economic, recreational, and cultural value to our daily lives both on the coast and inland where land is connected by river and stream networks.” Read more about the Great Marsh Coalition here.

Gloucester Daily Times update on Cape Ann Reads

Posted on by Catherine

Look for special group exhibits and readings to be announced later in 2018- “Cape Ann Reads to Hit the Road” by Gail McCarthy, Gloucester Daily Times

This month: come to Gloucester’s City Hall on January 27 for a Cape Ann Reads celebration. Explore early drafts & drawings as well as published children’s picture art and books–all by Cape Ann artists and writers. The Book Store of Gloucester will have a satellite book shop devoted to published picture books right on site.

Gail McCarthy Gloucester Daily Times announcing Bruce J Anderson grant award for Cape Ann Reads January 8 2017

DEVASTATING FLOODING WOODMAN’S ESSEX, DOWNTOWN ROCKPORT, ROCKYNECK, BACKSHORE, ANNISQUAM, GLOUCESTER HIGH SCHOOL

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

 

PHOTOS AGGREGATED FROM FACEBOOK: DAVID RASA, JOEANN CRAWFORD, SEAN MURDOCK, AND SAMANTHA KETCHOPOLUS

Great idea and beautiful new trail map! Woman Owned Businesses along the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway Route 133/1A

Posted on by Catherine

One for All and All for One !

Local women retailers and colleagues from Gloucester, Essex, Ipswich and Rowley met early last spring about working together to market their businesses.  These street level shops represent 4 cities and towns, and share a regional ‘Main Street’ – Route 133/1A, part of the gorgeous 90 mile Essex Coastal Scenic Byway. The new Woman Owned Businesses Along The Essex Coastal Scenic Byway brochure will be in stores before Labor Day. I’ll re-post with higher resolution images and final copy when it’s unveiled. While you’re exploring this contemporary woman owned businesses trail, don’t miss the fantastic historic exhibition The Women of Essex – Stories to Share show sponsored by the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum, on display on the 3rd Floor of the Essex Town Hall and Library, 30 Martin Street (Route 22), Essex.

Fun route is easy to follow

#1 Pauline’s Gifts, Gloucester

#2 Essex Bird Shop & Pet Supply, Essex

#3 Sea Meadow Gifts and Gardens, Essex

#4 The Essex Exchange, Essex

#5 Olde Ipswich Shop & Gallery, Ipswich*

#6 AnnTiques, Ipswich

#7 Be Modern, Ipsiwch

#8 Lost Treasures, Rowley

#9 Serendipity at Todd’s Farm, Rowley

*Johanne Cassia, who owns Olde Ipswich Shop & Gallery –#5 on the new map–painted the illustration of their businesses featured on the brochure.

front

 

Woman Owned Business on the Essex coastal byway

I’ve included a few scenes from The Women of Essex – Stories to Share exhibition at Essex Town Hall and the renovated bright space on the top floor, accessible for all.

photo- Women of Essex: Restauranteurs (detail from installation Essex Town Hall)

20170821_09065220170821_090708 (1)

20170821_090720

20170821_090645

20170821_090641

20170821_090838

20170821_090148 (1)

20170821_090103

ALPACA SHEARING DAY AT THE MARSHALL’S FARM

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Just like sheep, alpacas need to be shorn at least once a year. Their beautiful fleece is so thick by the time spring comes along, the animals would suffer tremendously in warmer weather if not shorn.

Family and friends lend a hand for alpaca shearing day.

Malcolm Cooper arrived Sunday morning with his assistant Krystian Hoszkiewicz.

Expert shearing, with a firm but kind touch. 

Andrew Spinney from Paynter Saltwater Farm in Essex brought three of his alpacas for shearing, along with Maggie the sheep. Maggie likes getting shorn, so much so that she turned into an acquiescing blob of jello.

Angela administers a monthly shot to prevent parasites.

Here’s Nikki helping with the Paynter alpacas. Next is an after-shearing photo, with the Marshall’s daughter Jennifer. What a difference!

Alpaca lower teeth and upper dental pad.

Alpacas only have bottom teeth. On the top they have a hard dental pad. Alpacas eat by trapping grass between their teeth and the dental pad, and then nipping it off. Some alpacas are genetically pre-disposed to misaligned teeth and need to have their teeth trimmed. If the teeth were not trimmed, it could lead to eating disorders and starvation. A protective guard is placed in the mouth and the teeth are quickly ground with an electric grinder. It takes all of about 30 second for an alpaca’s dental treatment!

Pippi Longstocking’s first dental check up.

One-year-old alpacas Maisy, Rascal, and Pippi Longstocking had their first shearing. The yarn made from the first shearing is referred to as baby alpaca, and it is silky soft, luxurious, and super warm.

Maggie’s wool is more course and contains lanolin. After she was shorn, you could feel the sticky lanolin on her skin. Because alpaca fleece bears no lanolin, the yarn is hypoallergenic.

Pippi Longstocking’s first buzz cut.

Phew, I was exhausted just filming the Marshall Family corral twenty plus alpacas and one tubby little Maggie. The Marshall’s alpacas are beloved family members, each named, and each with a unique personality to go with their name–Pokey, Magnolia, and Rascal, to mention just a few. Animal farming is super hard, non-stop work, especially when the animals are as well taken care of as are the Marshalls.

The public is welcome to come stop by and visit the alpacas. Yarn from the Marshall’s alpacas is available to purchase. At the present time, Angie’s Alpacas is open by appointment. Call 978-729-7180 or email Angela at Angiez65@hotmail.com. Marshall’s Farm is located just next to Marshall’s Farm Stand at 148 Concord Street in West Gloucester.