Tag: Seasonal Openings

Oracle Rubber Duck Says: Winter of Our Discontent is Over!

Posted on by paultmorrison

It’s March! What’s so awesome about March Rubber Duck? It’s followed by April! And April is when we start making “Seasonal Openings 2015!” From Top Dog usually the last day of March to The Rudder right around Tax Day with Lobsta Land, Capt Carlos, Dairy Train, sprinkled in between. What tastes like spring more than a Fish and Cheese sandwich at The Cupboard? And the snow will melt soon! Look at WeatherSpark for next week:

This next week spends most of the time above that nasty freezing line.
This next week spends most of the time above that nasty freezing line.

So here is my lineup starting today for things to do to get you in the mood.
Friday March 6: Stones Pub for a Blue Duck Spring Burger. (Blue Cheese Portabella mushrooms, bacon, hold the sprouts between your knees.
Saturday March 7: Wash the car at Maplewood Carwash. It’s not for the car, it’s for you. You will feel better! Drive home slowly. Do not splash.
Saturday March 7: There is something else big today, what is it?
Sunday March 8: Spring Forward! That’s right, drive home from work and the sun is still shining!
Monday March 9: Big Apple announcement. Buy a watch? A retina MacBook Air?
Tuesday March 10: If you are going to grow tomatoes from seeds, sow them now!
Wed March 11: Run around in shorts! It’s 44 degrees out! After this winter that will feel like 85!

Thurs March 12: Have you ever seen Uranus? I have never seen Uranus! But you can this week. As Mars and Venus set in the evening if you scope them out with binoculars they will be very easy to find. Venus is wicked bright. Very close by will be an unblinking tiny blue dot. That is Uranus! Now you can say Rubber Duck showed you Uranus!

Saturday March 14: Pi Day! Biggest Pi Day ever because it is 2015 which means 3/14/15 9:26AM and 53 seconds all nerds head’s will explode with nerdiness!
Sunday March 15: Ides of March: Greg Bover posts an awesome quote from Caesar or Brutus et tu?
Tuesday March 17: Saint Patrick’s Day! Plant your peas! Still two feet of snow in your garden? Start digging. You have to plant them on Saint Patty’s Day or the world will end.
Wednesday March 18: EJ and Brenda Malloy and Jeff Amero and everyone else who has been rubbing it in on Facebook that they are in Florida will be dragging their sun tanned butts back to Cape Ann!
Tuesday March 31: Get your boat in the water by today and you win a prize!

Friday, March 20: at 6:45 PM EDT First Day of Spring, Equinox, equal day, equal night!

Wednesday April 1: Seasonal Openings really get underway. You can make it. Meet me at the Rudder or The Studio, who is going to open first?

Then this happens Sunday April 5th
Then this happens Sunday April 5th

Seasonal Opening Part III: Rubber Duck filling out her dance card

Posted on by paultmorrison

As you’re pumping out the basement of your restaurant today, washing the lobster bibs, and shining up the nutcrackers make sure you refresh your website and Facebook page. Better yet, send an invite for opening day to all the people who really “liked” you.

Top Dog with a bit a snow
They shoveled out the entrance. Come on down!

Top Dog of Rockport opened yesterday. Hot Chihuahua in the rain?
Red Sox Opening Day in Baltimore Monday March 31.
Topside Grill Tuesday April 1.
Lobster Pool in Folly Cove: Friday, April 4 then weekends rest of April
Red Sox Home Opener next Friday April 5.
Captain Carlos Thursday April 10. Their COUNTDOWN on the right is just weird.
The Rudder Thursday April 10 5 PM
Lobstaland Friday April 11.
Goose Cove Gardens two weeks April 12.
Cape Ann Wale Watch first trip: Saturday, 1:30 PM April 19
Marshall’s Farmstand the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend May 23. Get a farmer Bob card and save.
The Cupboard, around the same time as Marshall’s.
First GMG MugUp at the Madfish Pier. EJ?

Cape Ann Seasonal Openings Part II

Posted on by paultmorrison

This list used to be easy to make but Cape Ann is exploding with openings today. So turn this computer off, finish that cup of coffee and get off your butt and get out there. Because when you are putting up your Christmas wreath this fall you do not want to regret missing one day of the season. The outdoor, eat a fried clam and enjoy Cape Ann season.

Rockport Update: “BearskinNeck.net has this covered. Click Here for their facebook update. TopDog opens today. Helmuts Strudel is Open. Roy Moore is open. Lobster Pool next weekend.  The Town Fathers officially did not roll the sidewalks up last night. Really. Click Bearskin to get the full list.

Below I stick my normal list but there are plenty more places opening this weekend.  I could spend time adding names and links but I got a date with a fired clam and I don’t want to

Hot Tip: Cape Ann Whale Watch sets sail starting on Saturday April 13 at 10AM weather permitting.  Tonight, after you drag your fired clam filled sunburned butt back to the couch click here and get tickets.

Saturday, March 30, Top Dog of Rockport opens.

Thursday, April 11, Lobsta Land Restaurant opens.

Thursday, April 11, Captain Carlo’s opens.

Friday April 12th, Dairy Train in Rockport opens.

Thursday, April 18 The Rudder opens.

Seasonal Openings of Cape Ann 2011: Part III

Posted on by paultmorrison

Friday, March 25, , Nate’s of Front Beach Rockport It’s open. What’s better than fluffy pancakes and a walk on the beach?

Friday April 1, The Lobster Pool of Rockport 11:30 AM Friday. You might find me on Saturday, April 2nd with my BYOB six pack and some fried scallops and fried clams at the picnic table closest to the guitar watching the boats entering Folly Cove. It might be snowing. I will still be there.

Friday, April 1, Topside Grill opens. The dining room is completely renovated but the martinis have not changed. Opening Day party with music by John Jerome. Then Tuesdays are always Oyster night. Check out the Good Morning Gloucester artwork on the walls.

Saturday, April 2, Top Dog of Rockport opens for the eleventh season. A clam roll at a picnic table outside. That is my official start of the season. Might be chilly so go for a Hot Chihuahua Dog with Chili Cheese Fries.

Thursday, April 14, Lobsta Land Restaurant opens. Even though their website says “thanks for a great season” still, the news has leaked out. Just say “Lobsta Land!” out loud. I feel better already.

Friday, April 15, Captain Carlo’s opens with Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents playing that evening. Your taxes are in. Time to celebrate.

Still looking for definitive opening dates on the following which had these for opening dates in 2010: The Rudder: April 15, The Cupboard: May 6, Popo’s Gourmet Hot Dogs, and  Surfside Subs on Thacher Road, all around April 27.

And although The Ice Cream Store of Bearskin Neck, Rockport does not have a specific opening date they get a mention because they made a Facebook Page today. Open soon. If your business starts a Facebook or a Twitter account and you keep it up to date with cool announcements you get the Joey C Star of Approval with special mention on the GMG blog. Send in comments to this post the address of your website, Facebook, or Twitter account and you’ll be listed.

Seasonal Openings 2011: Part I

Posted on by paultmorrison

This is my pre-seasonal opening post. I request any restaurant, clam shack, or pretty much anything which has been closed for the winter on Cape Ann to post a comment here as to the exact date they will open. Add some extras, how many seasons, what’s on special that first day.

At least one week prior to April 1 I will post an updated list. To wet your appetite I have two conformations of opening days:

Friday, April 1, Topside Grill opens. The dining room is completely renovated but the martinis have not changed. Opening Day party with music by John Jerome. Then Tuesdays are always Oyster night.

Saturday, April 2, Top Dog of Rockport opens for the eleventh season. A clam roll at a picnic table outside. That is my official start of the season. Or a Bad Dog with Chili Cheese Fries.

Those are the only two I have definitive dates. Last year’s announcements included, The Rudder: April 15, The Cupboard: May 6, Popo’s Gourmet Hot Dogs, Nate’s at Front Beach, Surfside Subs on Thacher Road, and Capt Carlo’s all around April 27 with Lobster Pool of Rockport and Lobsta Land both sometime earlier. So is Lobsta Land year round forever now? Don’t you wish all of these places did that?

Signs of Spring, Signs of the coming summer. Mister And Misses Bathroom sign at the Rockport Information booth is my first sign of spring. What’s yours?