Super disappointed. We drove up from Boston on a Saturday…read moreand over half the art galleries/shops listed in their directory were permanently closed or closed on Saturday of all days! cute buildings but nothing like they advertise.

Totally cool place to saunter and check out various art galleries. There are a couple of…read morerestaurants and a terrific ice cream place too.

Beautiful location - great art - wonderful people. Perfect way to spend an afternoon…read more UPDATED - I've now been to two of the North Shore Arts Association summer Auctions, and each time have walked away with paintings that I love. First off - If you've never been to an auction - they're awesome! The first time I went, was actually my first auction ever. And as a result, I was a little over-zealous and bought 2 of the first 6 paintings that came up. Luckily they were smaller, and very reasonably priced (I purchased one for $150 and the other for $250, both framed), so I didn't do too much damage, but I sat on my paddle for the rest of the day. This past summer, my wife and I were married, and as a wedding present to ourselves, we were looking for something a little bigger with some personal meaning. After some intense bidding, we ended up purchasing a large Nathalie Nordstrand watercolor of Pebble Beach - a place where we've spent a number of summer days. It is now hanging in our living room, and is a great reminder of our summers in Gloucester as well as the auction action at NSAA. If you are at all interested in the idea of owning original New England artwork, the summer auction at NSAA is a great and very exciting way to do it. Not to mention that the entry fee also includes an open wine bar and generous appetizers - it's really enough of a reason in itself to take a drive up the cost and spend the day in a beautiful location.

Driving to NSAA is a treat in itself. The view of Gloucester harbor from the parking lot of the…read moreassociation is breathtaking. This is an organization that displays the work of its membership in a gallery with rotating exhibits. There are two levels - so a surprisingly large collection of work can be displayed at once. Most of the work is representational oil painting of landscapes, still lifes, and a few portraits - although there are a few watercolors, charcoals and abstract pieces on display at the moment. The staff of the association are friendly and helpful. Insider tip: ask to have a ballot so you can vote on your favorite piece of work. It's a very democratic and yelp-like way of recognizing an artist! There is some world-class artwork on display and admission is free. Well worth a trip! They're open May through October, seven days a week. This would be a great excursion for a weekend date: combination art association, fried seafood on the water, and the proverbial long walk on the beach ;)

Visiting this gallery is truly an aesthetically uplifting experience. First off, the gallery is in…read morea house located just off the Gloucester waterfront -- it'll make you want to hurl your 9-to-5 job into the ocean and go boho. The house is absolutely charming with brightly painted trim and the stairs to the entrance are stenciled with Sigrid Olsen's hand-made designs. The gallery is in Sigrid's actual house, with the living room serving as the show room. Jazzy music just flows from the Bose speakers mounted in the corners, as you are charmed by Sigrid's ceramics, paintings, and notecards. Even my children understood that they were in a special place, and were thrilled to each buy $2 postcards. You can buy a charming card for $2, $4, $5 or $10 for a handpainted card. I've bought two of her handpainted cards, and framed them for art in my bathroom. If you are lucky enough to have the $$$ and room for a painting, they range from $75 and up. Plus, the ceramics are stunning. I met Sigrid personally at the gallery, and she is very nice and down to earth. Check out Sigrid's web site for a closer look. The parking is a bit of a challenge, but if you drive around a bit, you'll probably be able to find a spot (or go on a cloudy or rainy day). Highly recommended.