Month: December 2010

OK It’s Time To Put Up!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Paulie Walnuts has issued a challenge of sorts.  He has called me out and challenged me to take part in the great tradition that is the Rocky Neck Plunge.

For those of you who don’t know, the Rocky Neck Plunge takes place on New Year’s Day at noon.  A number of folks strip down and plunge into the icy cold waters of the Atlantic on Rocky Neck.

First what you should know is that I don’t even like to go into the water at Good Harbor in June.  I prefer a heated pool to ice cold ankles which feel as if they would shatter with a mere tap.

This being said I think this could be an opportunity.  A big part of GMG has been to show people what can be done with a little initiative and to get folks more involved in our community.  There are all these cool things happening all around us and when people say “There’s nothing to do around here”  I just wanna bitch slap them and tell them to wake the fuck up!  There is an embarrassment of riches around here when it comes to getting involved in our community.

So here it is!  This is your chance.  This is a new year.  Whatcha gonna do?  You gonna join your boy Joey and take the challenge?  This could be the beginning of the rest of your life as someone who doesn’t just sit around but someone that takes life by the balls and says “Fuck it! I’m Gonna  Do It!”

Get up!  Rise out of that Chair and scream to the heavens-

“I’M GONNA DO ITTTTTTT!!!!!”

No excuses!  2011 is gonna be even better than 2010!  Join me and others at Rocky Neck and bring the New Year in right!

Who Will Join Me?

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What I do for our readership.  Oy!

How do you fix scratches on your Swagger Wagon?

Posted on by DIY SKI GUY

Please watch my How To Video for step by step guide for the auto detailer in all of us.

If you don’t know what swagger wagon means, please watch this. Minivan is more than a vehicle that provides safe transportation for multiple passengers – It is a state of mind!

Regards – Patrick “Minivan” Ryan

Rockport’s Pageant has been Approved…

Posted on by S.D. Kelly

…by The New England Journal of Aesthetic Research.   Until now, no thorough online documentation of this great Rockport tradition existed.  But a researcher/photographer came to downtown Rockport this past Saturday and took some great photos of the Rockport Christmas Pageant under nearly perfect conditions (though a little snow would have been welcome).  The Pageant went off without a hitch.  The asses behaved, and so did the donkeys.  The choir sounded lovely, the three kings looked regal, and baby Jesus didn’t make a peep, though I can’t say the same for my own child.

photo credit: The New England Journal of Aesthetic Research

Check out The New England Journal of Aesthetic Research for, not only the pageant photos, but a great guide to all things aesthetically-fascinating in the New England Region.

Special thanks to Rockport Music for directing our attention to this resource.

Granny Day’s Swamp

Posted on by God's Morning
Dogtown, Granny Day's Swamp
Photo by E.J. Lefavour

Did you know that Jane “Granny” Day (#20 or #21 Dogtown Road – controversy exists over which was her actual location) was a school teacher, who worked out of the single-room schoolhouse at Dogtown Square, and that her house apparently abutted this swamp, known for swallowing sheep and other careless creatures that wandered too close. She lived to the age of 94 and died in 1814. This is a photograph of Granny Day’s Swamp, or part of it anyway, as it looks today.

Last Minute Christmas Gifts

Posted on by paultmorrison

If you’re like me you are about to start panicking because you haven’t bought any Christmas presents. Not a problem. Last year I stopped at Fred Bodin’s Historic Photo right in the West End in Gloucester at 82 Main Street and picked up a ceramic striper and a map of our neighborhood from the 1800s.  My kitchen wall:

Besides Fred’s shop there is Bananas, David Cox’s Antique store and a bunch of other good places along Main street to pick up some weird stocking stuffers.

You might ask, what the hell is that thing to the left it looks like an eel is stuck in the wall?! I call him Spot and I laugh every time I see it.  I picked that up on the 2010 Artisan’s Tour from Twin Light Studio on 52 South Street Rockport. Erin and Scott have a wall of these fish heads. You can click here and download the  2010 Artisans Brochure and circle Cape Ann picking up Christmas presents. The potters David Archibald (Plum Cove Pottery), Marty Morgan (428 Washington St), and Cynthia Curtis (follow signs to Paper House and go to top of hill), are great for picking up that last minute gift. And I just thought of another good gift. Have you got a husband or son you want to punt out of the house this winter for just a few hours? Give him the gift of a set of pottery lessons at Cynthia Curtis’ studio. She and expert potters from across Cape Ann teach you how much fun it is to throw a pot. If you don’t want to teach your husband how to throw a pot, send the kids on the weekend. All the addresses/contact info are in the brochure.

So get Christmas shopping but leave me some, I haven’t started yet.

[edit] Sheesh I called David Cox, Fred Cox. Sometimes I type too fast without thinking. Don’t anyone tell him. He doesn’t go on the intertubes so he’ll never know.

YMCA CHESS TOURNAMENT 2010!!!

Posted on by capeannpainter

 

From Chris Frontiero

YMCA 2010 Chess Tournament Poster

Sign of the Day

Posted on by Sharon

This cracks me up! (And I love kids!)

The Magic Scarf is a great little shop right on Main St. Nice people, nice stuff!

Do NOT Eat The Dip!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Note to self- never eat dip placed on a low laying table at someone’s house who has a dog.

The Foster’s Dog Goes To Town!

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GMG FOB Linda Colman Displays Her Photos All Framed Up

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Linda got three of my photos and framed ‘em up nicely.  She got number 1,3 and 15 from this set that is offered for sale

Linda Writes-

Hi Joey!  In defense of the high cost of custom framing, which you’ve mentioned a couple of times recently on GMG and which is the business I’m in, ya gotta admit these photos look like a million bucks!  Note the cool texture on the wood moulding.  I can’t wait to hang them up!  Merry Christmas,  Linda C.CIMG0136

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They look like paintings!  Well done with the framing Linda Smile

2011 Dogtown and Babson Boulders Calendar Update

Posted on by God's Morning

I have been getting calls from people looking for the calendars. I am out of them and won’t have more in until Christmas Eve Day – however, you can still get them at Joncien, 25 Bearskin Neck, Rockport (Leslie 978-546-9161), Dogtown Book Shop, 132 Main Street, Gloucester (Bob 978-281-5599), and at Toad Hall Bookstore, 47 Main Street, Rockport (978-546-7323), Willow Rest is out, but will have more on Friday. To all of you who have purchased the calendar, Thank You, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it. E.J.

Is Joey a WIMP? POLL!

Posted on by capeannpainter
Rocky Neck New Years Day Plunge 2010

Ok!  When I hang out at the Dock on Sunday Mornings Joey and I usually Talk on how to make the Blog better, get more “Exposure”, and add great content.

So Here’s my Idea. Joey always wants someone to create great content. Just ask Ed Collard who almost lost his life during the Corn Dog Challenge. Or ask Sharon Lowe who spent time Traveling on the Spirit of Massachusetts Schooner. Joey always seems use the excuse that he’s too busy down at the Dock to participate in these events. But! now it’s time for Joey to show he has some Balls.

It’s time for him to take the Plunge! The Rocky Neck New Years Day Plunge, That is. Can or will he do it?

Please show your support and vote Yes in this Plunge Poll. I’m sure he’ll try to talk some of the other Authors in joining him.

VOTE TODAY! and leave some comment encouraging Joey to take the Plunge!

EJ KHAN! GMG’s NEW AUTHOR

Posted on by capeannpainter

I talked with Joey down at the dock this morning to find out who this “EJ” was.

Of course he was no help at all. So I checked out her bio and thought I would post it so everyone would know who she is. It’s hard for some of us to explain who we are and why we want to share the Beauty of Cape Ann with all of you. Some of us are shy and humble to be a part of this exploding blog that GMG is. so here’s a little of EJ’s  bio.

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    E.J.

    Gloucester, MA

    Artist, researcher, spiritual traveler of this fascinating orb we inhabit, lover of life and all it has to offer.
    Hi everyone out there in GMG land. My name is Ellen “E.J.” Lefavour (a/k/a “Ejay Khan” – the pseudonym I used during my years as a political activist artist). I am a newcomer to Cape Ann, and thrilled to be a new contributor to Good Morning Gloucester. I am a painter and photographer who has lived and worked as an artist for 20 years, since leaving the corporate world in 1990 to pursue my passion. My contributions to GMG will consist of images (either my paintings, photographs, or the occasional video) and a little history about the image, called “Did you Know?” I hope to come up with tidbits of information that people don’t already know, or had forgotten they knew. As I am new here, everything is new and fascinating to me, especially the amazing history, so bear with me if I post something that is common knowledge – I’ll eventually come up with something that’s new to you. Please take a minute to comment on my posts, like them or not, especially if you have corrections or something to add, as that is how I, and all of us, learn. Have a Good Morning Gloucester, and a blessed day.

    http://www.khanstudiointernational.com/