note: these times are estimations from the bus company. Particularly in the case of flights out of Logan Airport on Sunday afternoon, we don’t recommend that you book a flight too close to the 3:00 pm arrival time projected below. There has also been some interest in van rental for a return trip for folks who want to leave early and make a later afternoon flight; we’ll try and help coordinate that interest as we get closer to the conference date.
Shuttle leaves Harvard Square Hotel, 110 Mount Auburn Street, at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday the 24th
ETA in Gloucester at 10:00 a.m.
First stop in Gloucester: The Eliot House: 18 Edgemoor Road (c. 10:00-11:00)
Second stop in Gloucester: The Eastern Point Lighthouse (c. 11:00-12:00)
Third stop in Gloucester: downtown Gloucester for lunch (c. 12:00-2:00)
“Eliot Aloud” will take place at some point at one of these three stops . . . weather and situation will determine where!
Shuttle pickup in Gloucester at 2:00 p.m. (pickup will be at the same location as the morning drop-off point)
Shuttle arrives at Logan Airport, Boston, at c. 3:00 p.m. (there will be space for your luggage on the bus, so you’ll be prepared for the Logan dropff, if you’re planning on that)
Shuttle arrives back at our conference hotel at c. 3:45 p.m.
Frances Dickey has recently traveled from Boston to Gloucester by rail. She has provided us with these helpful travel notes as well as some ideas about spots to visit in the area:
The MBTA Commuter Rail runs trains every hour from North Station (Green Line) to Gloucester (direction Newburyport—note, not West Gloucester) for $11 each way. (See https://www.mbta.com/schedules/CR-Newburyport/timetable)
To reach the Eliot House at 18 Edgemoor Road (on the opposite side of Gloucester harbor), take an Uber or taxi from the train station: Gloucester Taxi & Livery Service Inc. (978) 283-0099 or Fisherman’s Taxi (978) 283-1600.
The Eastern Point Lighthouse would be a nice destination; despite the “private road” signs, visitors are allowed to drive to the lighthouse, where there is parking. It is part of the Eastern Point bird sanctuary, too. Looks like there are some great views off the point. We could perhaps organize a side trip with the bus for anyone who wanted to venture beyond the Eliot house? I do think soaking in the nature on this beautiful peninsula is an important part of visiting Eastern Point.
Those who didn’t want to go to the lighthouse could hang out at Niles Beach, just a few steps from the Eliot house. There aren’t any restaurants right there, though the “Rocky Neck art colony” is nearby with 2 seafood restaurants in the vicinity (not sure if that is walking distance).
Over in Gloucester, in addition to restaurants, there is a self-guided Harbor Walk that includes a T S Eliot stop.
The Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester is open 1-4 on Sundays. There is an admission fee; and if you want to see the Edward Hopper exhibit, you need to purchase a timed ticket in advance (so, something people should do soon if they want to see it). (See also the notes below, which reference this Hopper exhibit.)
Gloucester Notes and Tips
The notes below come from a trusted source who’s lived in Gloucester for years. Because they’re not wholly positive (which makes them, I think, trustworthy!), and because the author’s identity doesn’t really matter to our group, I’ll just present them without the author’s name attached. What I hope these notes will do is help us all figure out our plans for lunch / snacks on Sunday.
Gloucester, though a working seaport/city and tourist spot, has several food venues that are are closed on Sundays and they would have been good choices for boxed lunches and casual cafe eating. That being said below are a number of options.
There is an Edward Hopper exhibit here at Cape Ann Museum until October. Tickets needed.
- Seaport Grille
- Full restaurant, Would need to call for a big group. They don’t usually take reservations but may in Sept for large group. Has a deck. Great lobster rolls – $32 May do a box lunch in advance.
- Source Bakery
- Casual sweet bakery and coffee cafe usually offer quiche and eggs sandwiches. Has a back room for large group.
- Beauport Hotel
- Nice hotel with nice deck with views. They take reservations.
- Minglewood
- Full restaurant. I don’t like the ambience inside but they have outdoor patio with small part of working harbor view. May do a box lunch in advance.
- Cake Ann
- I don’t like the indoor ambiance, they have a deck with sweet harbor view that I do like. Coffee and sweets only.
- Blue Lobster (part of Gloucester House)
- Limited seafood menu and outside seating only, sometimes music.
Rocky Neck Art Colony is in between Eliot’s summer home on Eastern point and downtown. Not sure anyone would land there, but if they do…
A number of galleries to enjoy and a retail arts gallery/cafe called Salted Cod.
Has a small bar in the retail space serving wine, beer and small plates.
Nearby to Salted Cod is The Studio. Food not great, but there’s a deck with nice harbor setting.
And if any of group come to Glstr other than Sunday and have more time I highly recommend touring the Sleep McCann House on Eastern Point, which is just fabulous. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Last – back in the downtown area, if you get box lunches – go eat on the docks behind Harbor Loop where Harbormaster office is. Picnic tables on dock with great view. Or on Stacy Boulevard — abutts the harbor.
