Month: August 2010

THIS WEEK ON CAPE ANN

THE ANNISQUAM VILLAGE PLAYERS present "Annie" August 10-15 in Annisquam Village Hall. You can bet your bottom dollar that this summer there’ll be fun. Photo credit: Wicked Local Gloucester, Ian Hurley.

THE CAPE ANN FARMERS’ MARKET will be open every Thursday through October 7, 3-6:30pm at its new location– I-4/C-2 on Rogers Street.

THE HARBOR LOOP CONCERT SERIES continues this Thursday, August 12, with Jenny Dee & The Deelinquints.

GLOUCESTER STAGE COMPANY presents "An Ideal Husband" August 12-29. Four actors portray nine characters, adding a gender bending layer to Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy about friendship, political corruption, blackmail, and redemption-as timely today as when first presented in 1895. 978-281-4433 m

THE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS invite young children and families to "Curiosity Companions" on Thursday, August 12, 11am-noon at Coolidge Reservation, Manchester. Cost is Members $5, nonmembers $8, children Free. Curiosity Companions explore the variety of habitats from woodlands, meadows, ponds, and the seashore. 978-281-8400

THE CAPE ANN MUSEUM will host Music in the Courtyard, featuring Freeana and Rosen on Friday, August 13, 4-5pm. This outdoor event is free and open to the public. 978-283-0455

Under a newly enacted law, there will be a HOLIDAY FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS SALES TAX on August 14 and 15, 2010. The tax holiday will apply to most items that cost less than $2,500. Information: Department of Revenue, Monday through Friday 10am-1pm and 1:30-4pm, 800-392-6089 (within in Mass. only).

THE CAPE ANN MUSEUM is pleased to present a book signing with Melissa Smith Abbott, author of The Legacy of the Three Melissas, on Saturday, August 14, 11am-12noon. The book signing is free and open to the public. 978-283-0455

VALENTINO’S RESTAURANT, located at 38 Main Street in Gloucester’s North End, will host a Murder Mystery Dinner on Saturday, August 14. Show and dinner 7:30pm, doors open at 7pm. Ticket price includes: All you can eat pizza, pasta & meatballs, chicken wings, salad …and the Show! Cash bar available. Tips not included.. Pre-reservations: 978-879-9293 .

THE GLOUCESTER WATERFRONT FESTIVAL will be held on Saturday-Sunday, August 14-15, 9am-6pm in Stage Fort Park. What better way to spend a summer day than strolling historic Gloucester Harbor? Gloucester’s beautiful Stage Fort Park will be bursting with the exciting displays of over 150 artisans and craftspeople. Rotary Pancake Breakfast on Saturday. Chamber Lobster Bake on Sunday.

THE ROTARY CLUB OF GLOUCESTER will host its annual Pancake Breakfast at the Stage Fort Park Bandstand on Saturday, August 14, 7:30am-11am. Tickets are $7 and are available from Gloucester Rotarians and at the breakfast. All proceeds benefit the Rose Baker Senior Center, North Shore Health Project, and SeniorCare–RSVP.

THE SAWYER FREE LIBRARY Children’s Library presents "Snakes of New England and the World" with the Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team on Saturday, August 14, at 10am. 978-281-9763

THACHER ISLAND ASSOCIATION is looking for participants to compete in a Kayak-a-thon on August 14, 12:30-6pm. The Kayak-a-thon will start from Back Beach in Rockport and paddle the 3 miles to Thacher Island. Participants are asked to sign up donating sponsors to support the Association’s funding raising campaign for a new boat. $25 registration fee. 978-836-7165

222 ARTS & WELLNESS CENTER, located at 222 Eastern Avenue in Gloucester, will host a Flea Market on Saturday August 14, 8am-3pm. Food, drinks, music and fascinating stuff. Furniture, too. Want to join us? Free spaces for everyone. The more the merrier. Call 978-281-6222  (speak to Lin). Rain date: August 15.

THE SEAWARD INN, Rockport, will feature veteran singer-songwriter Steve Nelson, Sunday Morning Live, August 15, 9am-noon during a Breakfast Buffet by the Sea. A two-time winner of the SESAC Americana Music Award, Nelson has also written songs for Barbara Streisand, Guy Clark, Dusty Springfield to Paul Anka, Big Bird and Winnie-the-Pooh. 978-546-3471

THE INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER OF THE NORTH SHORE AND CAPE ANN, INC. (ILCNSCA) announces a social event for August titled Jazz Brunch Buffet on Sunday, August 15, 11:15am- 12:30pm at Nathaniel’s Restaurant at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem. Suggested donation is $15 for a person with a disability and their PCA, $29 for person without disability. RSVP 978-741-0077

CAPE ANN HEALING CENTER, located at 85 Eastern Avenue in Gloucester, will host A Restorative Yoga Workshop with Osha Rose, RYT, on Sunday August 15, 2-3:30pm. Come replenish your spirit, relax your mind, and feel completely nurtured and cared for in a restorative yoga workshop. $20/class. Pre-register at 978 282-1191x-1.

THE ROCKPORT ACOUSTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL will be on Sunday, August 15, 12noon-6pm in Millbrook Meadow (across from Front Beach) in Rockport. Blues, folk, jazz, world, bluegrass, jams. All are welcome. Admission free.

ROCKPORT LEGION BAND CONCERT SERIES. Sunday, at 7pm at the bandstand overlooking Rockport’s Back Beach. Concerts will be held every Sunday evening through August 30; listeners are invited to bring their own chairs or blankets to this family-friendly program.

CENTRAL STREET GALLERY will host The Opening Reception of the late summer Show on Sunday, August 15, 5-8pm. This is the Cape Ann School at its best; plein-air oils by our award-winning artists. The show runs through October 3. 11 Central Street, Manchester. Thursday through Sunday, 12noon-6pm. 978-526-7650

THE LANDING AT 7 CENTRAL will host Celtic singer Michael O’Leary and string players Bob & Jennifer Strom for their Celtic music session on Sundays, August 15 & 29, 6-9pm. An acoustic session of mostly traditional songs and tunes from the Celtic countries. 978-526-7494

ANTONIO GENTILE BANDSTAND CONCERT SERIES. Sunday, August 15, at 7pm, Stage Fort Park, Gloucester, featuring Cape Ann Community Band (Concert Band) “A Salute To Swing.”

THE GLOUCESTER STAGE 2010 New Play Reading Series continues on Tuesday, August 17, at 7pm with Israel Horovitz’s New Shorts, a collection of new short plays by the Gloucester Stage Founding Artistic Director. 978-281-4433

ROCKPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY presents mystery writer Anne Canadeo on Wednesday, August 18, at 7pm. She will discuss her latest Black Sheep mystery, "Knit, Purl, Die." 978-546-6934

THE SCHOONER ADVENTURE presents "Schooner Races of the 1920’s Between Gloucester & Nova Scotia,"presented by John N. Morris, Ph.D., Author, "Alone at Sea" on Thursday, August 19, 7pm at the Sawyer Free Library. Admission Free. Morris’s ancestors have been fishermen going back to the seventeenth century. 978-281-8079

THE CAPE ANN MUSEUM will host Music in the Courtyard, featuring Old Cold Tater on Friday, August 20, 4-5pm. This outdoor event is free and open to the public. 978-283-0455

ROCKPORT MUSIC will host legendary folk/pop icon Jonathan Edwards in a very special concert with legendary blues man James Montgomery on Friday, August 20, 8pm at the Shalin Liu Performance Center. Tickets $29-$49 are on sale now from the Shalin Liu Box Office at 978-546-7391 

ANNISQUAM VILLAGE CHURCH will host Diva Diana Jacklin, violinist Hartmut Ometzberger, and pianist Thomas Enman as they perform music of Strauss, Beach, Copland, Ives, and violin pieces of Kreisler, Vieuxtemps, and Maud Powell on Friday, August 20, at 8pm. Donation $15.

There will be a MANCHESTER SUMMER CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT on August 20 at First Parish Congregational Chapel in Manchester. Classical concert including works by Bach, Brahms and Britten. Peformed by Estelle Choi, Sage Cole, Jonina Mazzeo, Emily Rideout, Sarah Schram, Verena Sennekamp, and Lorna Tsai. To reserve tickets, email mscm@sagecole.com.

11TH ANNUAL "NELSON’S RIDE" motorcycle memorial ride and celebration of life will be held on Sunday, August 22, at Stage Fort Park. Ride stages at 9:30am, leaves the Park at noon sharp. See Ride Route and times to avoid traffic delays. Riders and non-riders welcomed to come out to Stage Fort Park, live music, vendors, food, bike games. $15 donation per adult requested, children free.

CAPE ANN MUSEUM, in collaboration with the ROCKPORT ART ASSOCIATION, presents a Walking Tour of Rockport on Sunday, August 22, at 10:30am. This guided tour highlights the studios of many Rockport artists’ of the 1930s. The tour is $20 for members of the Museum or the Rockport Art Association and $25 for nonmembers. Space is limited and reservations are required. Deadline to make your paid reservation is Friday, August 13. 978-283-0455

RUN GLOUCESTER! 7-mile road race is set for Sunday, August 22, along the scenic Cape Ann shoreline. A field of 3,000 to 5,000 runners is expected for the inaugural race. Register at www.rungloucester.com. 978-494-4110

SAVE THE DATE

THE CAPE ANN MUSEUM will host Music in the Courtyard, featuring Susan Slowick on Friday, August 27, 4-5pm. This outdoor event is free and open to the public. 978-283-0455

222 ARTS & WELLNESS CENTER, located at 222 Eastern Avenue in Gloucester, will host a Kirtan on Friday, August 28, 7-9pm. Join Satya Lee Harrington and friends as we raise our voices in call-and-response chant. Beginners welcome…there are no wrong notes in chanting. If you would like to be a musician, please call 978-281-6222

Release and renew with sound and song at SoulSong, a relaxing yet energizing class led by singer and song-leader Michael O’Leary. If you can talk you can sing! 7-week session starts Wednesdays, September 1 & 8, 7-9pm at 222 ARTS & WELLNESS CENTER. Private sessions also available. 978-283-0495  or Michael@222artsandwellness.com

THE ROTARY CLUB OF GLOUCESTER presents its Fourth Annual Comedy Show at Cruiseport Gloucester on Thursday, September 2. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm. Dave Rattigan will host the show again this year and DJ Hazzard, Patty Ross and Jim Colliton have been lined up to perform. Tickets: $30, table of 10: $250. Tickets available at the Chamber or by from Ruth Pino.

THE ROCKPORT ART ASSOCIATION is holding a 50/50 Raffle for RAA Art Certificates– first prize is $15,000 in RAA Art Certificates. Tickets are $20 each and the drawing will be held on Friday, September 3, 5-7pm. 978-546-6604

GLOUCESTER SCHOONER FESTIVAL, Gloucester Harbor, September 3-6. Click here for information on riding a schooner during the Mayor’s Race on September 5.

THE GLOUCESTER MARITIME HERITAGE CENTER will celebrate Gloucester’s relationship with the sea with Gloucester Maritime Heritage Day on Saturday, September 4, 10am-4pm. The Center’s exhibits and aquarium will be open free of charge throughout the day. 978-281-0470

CELEBRATE GLOUCESTER, on September 5, sponsored by National Grid is the first ever concert and celebration on the I4-C2 property at 65 Rogers Street, recently purchased by the City of Gloucester.

Eleventh generation shipwright HAROLD BURNHAM will start construction on a new schooner – the Pinky Schooner Ardelle on Monday, September 6. The keel will be signed and frames will be raised. In celebration of the birth of this new schooner, THE ESSEX SHIPBUILDING MUSEUM will have demonstrations on traditional boat building techniques and food will be available for purchase, including ribs, chowder, hot dogs, beverages, and more. 978-768-7541