What better to start your week than with fine dining. The Emerson Inn by the Sea, as participant of ‘Boston Restaurant Week’, will offer a three-course dinner nightly August 22-26, from 5:30 pm until 9:30 pm. Restaurant Week benefits The Anthony Spinazzola Foundation, a non-profit organization that “Feeds Hungry Bodies and Minds.” For reservations, call 978-546-6321.

If you’re not quite in the mood for a formal sit-down dinner, how about “A Taste of the Sea, Italian Style,” at the Elks at Bass Rocks in Gloucester. 1970’s TV personality and chef Franco Romagnoli will host the event. Proceeds will benefit the Sawyer Free Library. Tickets are $60/person. Reservations are required and can be made by telephone at 978-281-5049.

The show must go on and North Shore Music Theatre embodies this spirit with the opening of ‘Abyssinia’ on Tuesday, August 23, following a fire in mid-July that forced the closure of the theatre’s stage facilities. ‘Abyssinia’ will be presented in the Shubert Theater in Boston and runs through September 11. Contact the NSMT Box Office at 978-232-7200 for information and reservations’including information on the bus shuttle being run into Boston for the convenience of the Theatre’s patrons.

Cape Ann Historical Museum’s featured exhibits this week include: Allan Freelon: Pioneer African American Impressionist; Deep Water: The Cape Ann paintings of Edward Loper; and St. Peter’s Fiesta Through the Years. For information and hours, call 978-283-0455.

The Rocky Neck Art Colony will present another of their artist demonstrations on Wednesday, August 24, 11am-noon, with a Watercolor demonstration by Joan Dyer at her studio located at 15 Rocky Neck Avenue in Gloucester. Note: Outdoor event; call 781-639-8283 for rain date.

Gloucester Stage Company’s presentation of Bathsheba Doran’s compelling and passionate drama, “Living Room In Africa” enters its final week on Wednesday, August 24. Don’t miss this powerful production, which closes on Sunday, August 28. For reservations and information, call 978-281-4433. In addition, Gloucester Stage presents the final two performances of ‘Plum Pudding’ in this year’s production of this hilarious show on Saturday and Sunday.

On Thursday evening, the Classic Rock ‘Walker Creek Band’ will play at a free concert on Harbor Loop in Gloucester at 7pm.

Another concert, this time Chamber Music, will be held on Friday evening at Hammond Castle. Music at Eden’s Edge will perform in the beautiful great hall. For information and reservations, call 978-283-2080.

Native American arts will be featured at the Annual Native American Pow Wow held at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester on Saturday and Sunday, August 27-28.

More music can be found on Saturday at the Essex Music Festival in Centennial Grove in Essex. Check the website, www.essexmusicfest.com, for hours, directions, and a full list of performers.

Finally, the week closes out the ever-popular ‘Old Cold Tater’, performing bluegrass in the Antonio Gentile Bandstand at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester on Sunday evening.

Culinary art, music, theater, watercolors, and more and waiting for visitors to Cape Ann this week.