Month: July 2011

Blackburn Challenge Salty Stew From Al Peirce

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Check out Al’s by clicking the link below

Trash Paddler–

Here it is “high summer” and I’m getting a hankerin’ for some Blackburn Challenge Salty Stew. In fact, this upcoming weekend, those venturing to Cape Ann, Massachusetts should find all of the ingredients at their peak of ripeness. With that in mind I’ll share my recipe for cookin’ up this mess.

The first thing you’re gonna need is a big ole pot or, better yet, a great big vat. Next, get yourself a paddle, or perhaps an oar, for stirring. In addition to these items, you’ll need a heat source such as a fire, or, if using the Native American method, some good-sized “boiling rocks”: Twelvefoot, Bass, Brace, Normans Woe, Black Bess, and Tablet (any or all will do). These rocks will need to be gingerly added to the pot after having been heated in the fire.

To get started, fill the pot with some Annisquam salt water and rockweed. Throw in a small cape. Cape Hedge will do. Now add the following coves: Goose, Lobster, Hodgkins, Plum, Lanes, Folly, Hoop Pole, Gap, Whale, Loblolly, Brace, Lighthouse, Old House, and Freshwater.

Using your paddle or oar, stir the pot while adding some heads: Biskie, Gap, and Stage followed by some points: Stanwood, Thurston, Wheeler, Babson, Wigwam, Folly, Halibut, Andrews, Gully, Flat, Emerson, Eastern, and Mussel.

Next grab hold of some necks and toss them in: Davis, Brier, Dolliver, and Rocky.

At this point things will be coming to a boil. Now add a few islands: Straitsmouth, Thachers, Milk, Salt, and Tenpound. It’s important that they be added in this exact order.

Let all of this boil for 3 to 5 hours and then let simmer. If it starts to boil over the top, cool it with a little Good Harbor water or Cape Pond Ice.

And don’t forget the two most important ingredients. Remember to stand back, before throwing in a Dog Bar Breakwater and a Greasy Pole!!

Lastly, allow this concoction to cool to taste and wash it down with an Ipswich Ale on tap. See you on Pavilion!!!

GMG Stats July 21st 34,002 Views Largest Ever July Daily Views and The Growth Continues…

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Have you subscribed?  We must be doing something right. Smile

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Sista Felicia’s Iced Tea

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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Iced Tea

Ingredients:
10 cups cold water
3 ½ cups sugar
5 mint leaves (optional)
36 tea bags
10 cups ice
Juice of 1 lemon (optional)
Yields 6 quarts
Perfect for these hot summer days and nights. This Ice Tea is a delicious refreshing beverage, sure to compliment any summer time meal.

Adam Bolonsky Reports- It’s Official: That Recent Channel 16 MAYDAY Call off Gloucester Was a Hoax

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro
AUDIO Available – Coast Guard looking for hoax caller

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From USCGNewEngland

BOSTON — The U.S. Coast Guard is looking for a hoax caller that made a false distress call earlier this month in the Gloucester, Mass., area.

On July 7, 2011, Coast Guard Sector Boston received the Mayday call via VHF-FM radio channel 16 around 10p.m., stating a 24-foot pleasure craft was taking on water with two people aboard roughly 20 to 40 minutes outside Gloucester Harbor. Before losing communication with the Coast Guard, the caller stated both boaters were going to put on their life jackets. No other communications were received.

The Coast Guard launched boats and aircraft in response to the call and searched the waters of Gloucester throughout the night. The cost of the search totaled approximately $132,000.

The search was suspended the following day after no additional information was found and no missing persons were reported to the Coast Guard and local authorities.

Authorities are now utilizing advanced technologies in search and rescue missions. Rescue 21 is a system the Coast Guard utilizes to locate positions when a distress call is received. This technology helps the Coast Guard locate distressed boaters and has helped locate hoax callers.

When the Coast Guard dispatches its vessels and aircraft in cases of false distress, it not only drains limited resources, but needlessly puts our personnel at risk. Making a false distress call is a federal felony with a maximum penalty of five to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, $8,000 civil penalty and the possible reimbursement to the Coast Guard for the cost of performing the search.

Boaters are reminded that they are responsible for the safety and actions of their passengers and are encouraged to educate them about the proper use of emergency equipment including a marine VHF radio. Oftentimes passengers, especially children, may not understand the consequences of playing on the radio and reporting a false distress.

In response to the high number of calls, the Coast Guard offers a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of anyone responsible for making a false distress or hoax call to the U.S. Coast Guard. Anyone with information regarding false distress calls is encouraged to contact the U.S. Coast Guard at (617) 557-9091.

Click here for audio of hoax Mayday call

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Click here for Coast Guard responses to hoax Mayday call

Click here for CGIS hoax pamphlet

SUP off Of Pavillion Beach Photo From Donna Ardizzoni

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Check out CapeAnnSUP

I wonder if any of these folks will be participating in Saturday’s Blackburn Challenge

Boy Injured at Good Harbor Beach

Posted on by Manuel F. Simoes

Life Guards and Medics respond to a boy injured at Good Harbor Beach. 

Nathan (from Connecticut) said he observed the boy attempt a back-flip from the sand into the water.

 

 

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GMG Gear Preview- KAYALU RAM Marine Grade Gear Locking Suction Camera Mount

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Ed and I preview the Kayalu RAM camera mount before putting it to the saltwater test, using it to film The Blackburn Challenge.

I recently bought a Kodak zx-3  Playsport waterproof video camera.  It was the camera that GMG contributor Adam Bolonsky used to tape this year’s Greasy Pole.  When I found out that the camera was only $77 it was an absolute no-brainer.

Last week I used it to film my ride to Gloucester in this video-

As you can see in the video there is a decent amount of camera shake with it being hand held.  I couldn’t use my Manfrotto Modopocket because that is made to sit on a flat surface.

So then I got to thinking about how much cool footage I could get if I outfitted one of my lobstermen with a saltwater resistant type camera and mount and I began my search.  With some advice from Adam Bolonsky I discovered the Kayalu RAM suction mount which uses heavy duty marine grade materials throughout.  A simple mount made from ordinary metal would be useless after it’s first use hitting saltwater.

We plan to use the Kaylau RAM saltwater camera mount with an 8 inch toughbar extension and the Kodak Playsport zx-3 to capture some footage attached to Ed’s Kayak for the Blackburn’s Challenge.

Here are some pictures-

I’m looking forward to seeing how it holds up. Look for our review post race. In teh meanwhile check out our preview here-

I put it on my Joey’s Approved Products page if you want to order one from Massachusetts based Kayalu

Linda and Rob Castagna Write About Being In Gloucester

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Today

We are back enjoying Gloucester and Rockport.  We loved seeing the Greasy Pole musical just a month ago.  Thought it was exceptionally created and carried out.  Kudos to Henry for a dream played out.  We think the man who played St. Peter was perfect for the part.  He should lead all your parades in town, for sure, or at least stand on the platform by the greasy pole.
Today while children played on the beach, we observed the next generation of "walkers" carefully peanut butter the pole.  Took about an hour.  Then we watched as one of the greasers made it to the end.  Very impressive watching them prepare for the future…successfully at that.  For some reason, my husband wondered if it was chunky peanut butter…maybe it was a traction thing.
Then we walked the Boulevard and enjoyed watching Firdosh Pathan feeding the sea gulls and greeting people as they walked by.  That’s what we love about your town, there is always something for everyone to do and many times, it gets written up.  Blessings,
Linda and Rob Castagna
Milford on the Delaware, NJ

FirdoshSuccess!

It’s All About Sanibel Bean!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The very same day Lisa Ramos sends in this post about a place I’d never heard of in my entire life this dude walks in sporting a Sanibel Bean t-shirt.

If you don’t think it’s a small world you’re just plum crazy!

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I’m gonna have to stop in there next spring when I’m down on the Southwest Coast of Florida.

Adventure Hardware From Bill O’Connor

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hey Joe,

I was down at the Schooner Adventure recently and took this shot of the fore stay’s anchoring shackles on the bow.  Check out how the top shackle has a corkscrew-like twist in it to keep the eye of the stay on the correct plane.  Bill Holmes was there putting some finishing touches on the new windlass, and was telling me that the shackle is just one of the many custom pieces of hardware required to keep the Adventure rigged properly.

Enjoy,
~Bill O’Connor
North Shore Kid

Adventure_Fore_Stay_Shackles

Watchful Eye

Posted on by Marty Luster

 

Note On Black and White Photography

Because color naturally attracts the eye, it can sometimes distract us from the photo’s subject or the story it seeks to tell. Before I converted this photo to B&W, I didn’t take particular notice of the little boy in the background. After conversion, without the color of the original drawing my attention, the whole context of the image became clear. Here was a mom giving her son some freedom, but under her cautious, watchful eye.

For many ( if not most) photos, color is appropriate and is an important element of the beauty of the image. However, I find that for intimate, moody and dramatic scenes, B&W forces us to concentrate on the details and context of the picture. Specialized B&W editing programs, when used carefully and in moderation, can allow us to re-create the experience of old fashioned darkroom cropping, toning, contrast control (by push processing), dodging and burning to enhance the image to help tell the story. It makes me remember the hours spent in the darkroom with rolls of Kodak Tri-X anxiously waiting for the moment when, like magic, the image appeared on the photographic paper.

Watch as Fashion & Art Come Together

Posted on by S.D. Kelly
The sculpture-in-progress in the doorway of the gallery

Corina Belle-Isle, the creative force behind Rockport’s July 28th event Barefoot at Rockport: A day long celebration of fashion as art, has put together a whole roster of terrific events: pop-up shops featuring the work of different designers, a fashion show, an art exhibit and arguably best of all: a party to close the day that highlights summer fun in Rockport, with great food from Alchemy Bistro and cocktails created by Matt Rose.

And if having a great time wasn’t motivation enough to buy tickets, know that your purchase helps support Rockport’s two foundational arts institutions, Rockport Art Association and Rockport Music.

There is an aspect of Barefoot at Rockport that is really the symbol of the entire event, bringing art and fashion together in one unique installation. It’s called The Dress Project and is a collaborative work by artists Eugene Quinn and Virginia Fitzgerald, The Dress Project features a dress sculpted by Virginia using some of Eugene’s older canvases as a sort of fabric on the skirt. Eugene will then create a new painting on the bodice of the dress, creating — as described by Virginia — a sort of Phoenix effect: a new painting emerging from his older work. One exciting and interactive aspect of this project is that you can actually watch the dress (or “Claire” as the sculpture has come to be called…) take shape, so to speak, under Eugene’s brush and Virginia’s hands. Stop by Eugene’s gallery at 54 Bearskin Neck to see it in progress and then mark your calendar to see the final work revealed on July 28th itself. It will be shown at the Rockport Art Association from 2 to 4 pm before being auctioned off, with proceeds to benefit the RAA.

Eugene Quinn and Virginia Fitzgerald discussing The Dress Project.

Look for more details about Barefoot at Rockport in the days leading up to July 28th. For tickets and more information call the Shalin Liu Box Office at 978-546-7391 or click on this link to go to Rockport Music’s website.

Ruth Curtis, Guest Artist at Khan Studio and the GMG Gallery

Posted on by God's Morning

Ruth Curtis will be the featured guest artist at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery, 77 Rocky Neck from July 22, through August 4, 2011, with an Opening Reception on Saturday, July 23rd from 3:00-6:00pm.

Ruth’s passion is to share her love of the outdoors and nautical landscapes with others, and truly capture the beauty that surrounds us everyday.  Lighthouses, small town scenery, sailing the ocean, and vivid moments are all captured in her work.  Ruth brings to life the moments and images you want to treasure for life and pass on through the generations.  Her work has been showcased throughout New England and has won over 150 photography awards.  Stop by the Gallery and check out Ruth’s beautiful photography, and welcome her to Rocky Neck.  Ruth Curtis Photography www.ruthcurtisphotography.com.

Doesn’t it make you feel cooler looking at the photo of the horse strolling through the snow?

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

Broderick Steven Harvey Quote Of The Week From Greg Bover

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

“A dog doesn’t bark at a parked car.”
Broderick Steven Harvey (1957-    )

Click the photo for his wikipedia page

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A stand-up comedian and actor, Harvey is a West Virginia native with earlier careers as a boxer and mailman. Famously intolerant of atheism, he has written books of advice to the lovelorn, and is the current host of the game show Family Feud.

Greg Bover

Cape Ann Profiles Rich Sagall Interviews Maxi Levi

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

On the next Cape Ann Profiles show host Rich Sagall interviews Maxi Levi, a Rockport resident. They discuss his experiences as an adolescent in Nazi Germany and his escape to this country

Cape Ann Profiles can be seen on Cape Ann TV Channel 12 on Friday, July 22 at 10:30AM and 7:00PM and on Sunday, July 24 at 2:00PM. It repeats on Friday, July 29 at 10:30AM and 7:00PM and on Sunday, July 31 at 2:00PM.

Upcoming guests include Joey Ciaramitaro of the blog Good Morning Gloucester and other Cape Ann personalities who have a story to tell.