Day: September 30, 2011

Crazy Weekend Ahead Here’s Your Playbook

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Cyclocross, Joe Garland Tribute, the Bloody Mary Competition, buckle your chinstrap buckaroos, it’s gonna be a good one!

Saturday-

2011 Gran Prix of Gloucester October 1 & 2- It’s Coming

Setting Up Two Days Ago photos From Donna Ardizzoni

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Celebrating Gloucester’s Joe October 1, 2011

Stoga Remembers Joe Garland In This Video Interview

Sunday-

Final Mug Up, Bloody Mary Competition & End of Season Blow Out

The Season Grand Finale Mug Up and Ryan & Woods Distilleries sponsored Bloody Mary Competition (yep, we have raised the bar way up) at Rocky Neck, will be on Sunday, October 2.  Bob Ryan has very generously donated some awesome prizes for the creators of the winning Bloody Mary entries, including coasters, t-shirts, and Ryan & Woods Beauport Vodka (!!).  Also, for those planning to enter a Bloody Mary mix, so that we level the playing field and judging is based solely on presentation and mix, and no drink is heavy handed on the alcohol (it will be 10:00 am after all, and we have to protect our judges from inebriation), Beauport Vodka will be conservatively added to all mixes here before they go to the judges and attendees.  So no one has to go out and buy vodka and everyone’s entries will be made with only the best locally distilled Ryan & Woods Beauport Vodka.  Entrants only need bring a container of their best Bloody Mary mix creation and a glass with preferred garnishes for presentation to the judges.  In the best interest of judging time and the judges’ alcohol levels, we will limit the number of entries to six.  Of course, entrants must be 21 years of age or older.  As always at Mug Up, there will be plenty of great coffee, deviled eggs and whatever Mug Up type fare people bring along to share.  Always a good time and everyone is welcome at Khan Studio and the Good Morning Gloucester Gallery, 77 Rocky Neck at Madfish Wharf.  This will be the final Mug Up for the season on Rocky Neck, so don’t miss it.

John Ruskin Quote of The Week From Greg Bover

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

“What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do.”
  – John Ruskin 1819-1900

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Longtime professor of art at Oxford College, Ruskin’s influence on 19th and early 20th century art and architecture was profound. His popular books The Stones of Venice and The Seven Lamps of Architecture had their effect on Le Corbusier, Wright and Gropius, among others. He championed of the works of JWM Turner and the Pre-Raphaelite School setting the tone for a return to natural forms that prefigured the Arts and Crafts Movement. Proust, Tolstoy, and Gandhi round out an international assemblage who admired Ruskin for his poetry and Christian Socialist philosophy.

Greg Bover

Big News for Rockport’s HarvestFest!

Posted on by S.D. Kelly

We are thrilled to announce that Chef Frank McClelland of Boston’s legendary L’Espalier, the Sel de la Terre family of restaurants, Au Soleil Catering and Apple Street Farm will be the featured chef in a cooking segment on T-Wharf, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 15th.

Chef Frank McClelland, photo courtesy of L'Espalier

“…food is best when it’s in its purest form. My job is to enhance that natural flavor to allow the essence of the food to sing.” -Frank McClelland

This is a great opportunity to see a world-class chef at work, one who specializes in bringing the best out of local ingredients while practicing incredible culinary technique. Chef McClelland has a deep understanding of regional ingredients – no one appreciates what New England has to offer more than he does – and this understanding is demonstrated not only in the dishes he creates but in the fact that he sources many of the ingredients for his kitchens from his own farm, Apple Street Farm in Essex. Apple Street will also be featured that day offering produce from the farm’s Autumn harvest – and what could be more fitting for a harvest festival celebrating the best of New England?

Don’t miss the chance to see Chef McClelland at Rockport’s HarvestFest!

Saturday, October 15th 

1 p.m. on T-Wharf under the big tent

From L’Espalier: Chef Frank McClelland’s L’Espalier has been a perennial “best” of America’s restaurants for three decades, earning top accolades from Zagat, Forbes, Food & Wine, Bon AppĂ©tit, Frommer’s, Wine Spectator and CondĂ© Nast Traveler as well as nods in international media. L’Espalier is New England’s most decorated independent restaurant with twelve consecutive AAA Five Diamond Awards (the only one in Boston) and twelve consecutive Forbes (Mobil) Four-Star awards. He speaks and judges across the country at events like Taste of Vail, Foxwoods Food & Wine Festival and the Chefs Collaborative National Summit.

At the heart of Chef McClelland’s menus of New England flavors with French interpretation is Apple Street Farm, his organic farm in Essex, Massachusetts that is the primary source of heirloom produce and proteins for L’Espalier and his trio of casual Sel de la Terre bistros. The James Beard chef and cookbook author (Wine Mondays) views his life as a farmer-restaurateur as being on-trend. By living this life from his youth, he was early to the farm-to-table or “locavore” dining philosophy.

More Information:

L’Espalier

Sel de la Terre

Au Soleil

Apple Street Farm

Grandma Felicia’s Apple Spice Cake Recipe From Sista Felicia

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Grandma Felicia’s Apple Spice Cake

all photos Sista Felicia

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Ingredients:
3 Granny Smith apples
2 Macintosh apples
2 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pinch ground clove
ÂĽ teaspoon nutmeg
ÂĽ teaspoon cardamom
2 Tablespoon vanilla
½ Tablespoon vanilla bean paste
1 cup white sugar
3 cups flour
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup orange juice
1 cup vegetable oil
1 ½ tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
4 eggs
Recommended ingredients: use fresh apples from your local apple orchard.  I highly recommend taking some time out of your busy life and spend a few hours picking apples with your family and or friends. I promise ….It will make your life a little sweeter and the cake!

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Icing ingredients:
3 cups confectionary sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3    tablespoon warm milk (add more or less milk to get desired icing thickness)
·    Combine all  ingredients in a bowl and whisk into a smooth and silky icing
Preheat oven 350 degrees
Step 1: using an apple cutter cut and core apples

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Step 2: remove the skin with a pairing knife and cut into bite size pieces
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Step3: place apples in a bowl and toss with 2 tablespoon of cinnamon and set aside

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Step 4: in a separate bowl sift together all dry ingredients

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Step 5:  using a handheld mixer or stand mixer set on a medium speed beat eggs 2 minutes then add oil, vanilla and orange juice and continue to mix for 1 additional minute

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Step 6: on a lower speed carefully add dry ingredients

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Step 7: continue mixing until all ingredients come together forming a smooth cake batter

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Step 8:  fold apples into cake batter

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Step 9: flour and grease bunt pan or spring form pan (Baker’s Joy is a must have in your pantry during baking season)

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Step 10: add the cake batter to prepared pan and place on a foil or parchment paper lined cookie sheet

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Step 11: bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until a cake tester or wooden skewer is inserted and removed cleanly
Step 12: cool 10 min and remove cake from pan

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Step 13: Drizzle with vanilla icing

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Enjoy!!!

Ipswich Chowder Fest This Weekend

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey,

I haven’t seen any press on this, but the Ipswich Chowder Fest is this weekend in downtown Ipswich. What better place to sample some of the best chowder on the planet!  I’m attaching a shot of tonight’s dinner – take out from Halibut Point!

Enjoy!
~Bill O’Connor
North Shore Kid

Chowdah

Did You Know? (Joan Kerry)

Posted on by God's Morning

That Joan Kerry was born in London, July 27, 1929 and died October 5, 1996 on Rocky Neck in Gloucester?  She grew up in the Seattle area, attended Washington State University, and graduated from the Museum School at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 1958.  Kerry also studied in Tuscany and Sicily. 

She lived on Rocky with her companion and artist colleague, Giovanni Aceto in this house.  Kerry was an expert in the ancient medium of egg tempera, and developed innovative techniques for oil pastels, which were described by Gloucester artist Charles Movalli in a July, 1984 article in American Artist. 

On Rocky Neck her garden delighted passers-by, who would stop and chat, and inspired many artists to paint its lilies, pink poppies and wisteria vines.

Kerry was very active in the arts organizations of the Cape Ann area.  She was a member of the Rockport Art Association from 1977-1996, and was also active in the Rocky Neck Art Colony and a director of the North Shore Arts Association.  In 1971 she was the manager of the Rocky Neck Gallery in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

In addition to local awards, she had received awards from the Oil Pastel Association at Nyack-on-Hudson, N.Y., the Pen and Brush Club of New York City, and Arena 77 of Binghamton, New York.  The Christian Science Monitor had described the “brilliance, color, and imagination” of her work, and Long Island reviewer Malcolm Preston wrote of her paintings displaying a “dreamlike fantasy with intricate, sinewy rhythms.”

Kerry died in Gloucester on October 5, 1996 at age 67.  This is one of her paintings.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

Rubber Duck is the last one on the Greasy Pole

Posted on by paultmorrison

Rubber Duck knew it was her last chance on the greasy pole.

Doesn’t look that tough, tide seems about right.A guy in a boat with a chainsaw decided that Rubber Duck’s new name is “Hey Buddy!”

No argument from me! Hey Buddy it is.

You’re Invited! Eat, Drink, Rebuild Beach Gourmet, Savour Wine and Cheese and the displaced families as they rebuild after the tragic fire.

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

At The Elks, October 13th

Please join the community of well-wishers as we band together to raise funds to aid Beach Gourmet, Savour Wine and Cheese and the displaced families as they rebuild after the tragic fire.

We will enjoy food donated by local businesses, a cash bar, and a small live auction to benefit Beach Gourmet and Savour wine and cheese.

Click on the link below to RSVP. We need to have an idea of numbers. You may also email us ateatdrinkrebuild@gmail.com if you would like to donate but cannot attend.

Entrance fee is a minimum of $50 per person- you decide. Please pay that day by cash or check made out to Action Inc. The entrance fee will be dispersed among the families by Action. No credit cards please!

Sincerely,

Friends of Matt, John and Kathleen

RSVP Now!

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“SURVEY” AT ROCKPORT ART ASSOCIATION

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Show by Award Winning Photographers Law Hamilton and Dale Blank with Sculptor John Fleming Opens October 2

DaleBlank_ToolCompany“Survey,” featuring many new works by photographers Dale Blank and Law Hamilton and sculptor John Fleming, will be showing at the Rockport Art Association’s Martha Moore Room on October 2 through October 16, 2011.  An Opening Reception with the artists will be held on Sunday afternoon, October 2, from 2 – 4pm.

The collaboration of Ms. Blank, a Gloucester landscape photographer, Ms. Hamilton, a Rockport naturalist photographer, and Rockport artist/sculptor Fleming, “Survey” provides sweeping landscapes, graphic close-ups and double exposures designed to share their unique views of the world. Most of the photographs are representations of Cape Ann.  Mr. Fleming’s work is full of texture, yet reminiscent of charcoal drawing.
His sculptures inhabit the world created by the photographs.

“My sculpture primarily involves the human figure. To work on a sculpture, building and shaping the surface only to cut parts away and rebuild again, is to try to impart the same sense of growth, neglect, breaking down and recovery that we all experience,” says John.

Dale waits for the best light, in the golden hours before sunrise and sunset, or in the aftermath of a storm.  “I hope to increase appreciation of the natural and built environments by sharing the beauty of these places.” Reflections, symmetrical components and fleeting light are the mainstays of her work.

Law is known for her unique photographs of the region’s flora.  “Love of nature leads me to express through investigation, using patterns to lead the eye to a new perspective of what otherwise might be passed by,” she states.

All three are artist members of the Rockport Art Association. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 10am – 5pm and Sunday, 12pm – 5pm. Galleries are open free to the public.

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Official Statement From Mayor Kirk Regarding Rebuilding The Greasy Pole

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

I reached out to Mayor Kirk this morning for a statement about the greasy pole.
Here is her response.

The Greasy Pole will be rebuilt. I have already met with members of the Fiesta Committee this morning and assured them the city will be their partner. It will take a community effort though. We need the Fiesta Committee, the Waterways Board and the city to all step up to the financial challenge. The Greasy Pole represents a tradition and culture that we cherish in Gloucester, and we won’t let it vanish.

Regards, Carolyn Kirk Mayor

Valentino’s Pizza Reopens With Thin Crust

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

It was good, a crust unlike any other in Gloucester.  Incredible that yet another Pizza joint opens within a football field’s distance of at least 7 places to buy pizza. I count Sclafani’s, Sebastians, Virgilio’s, Giuseppe’s, La Trattoria, Minglewood Tavern, Valentino’s and I’m not sure if CafĂ© Sicilia does or doesn’t sell pizza.  All within a football field range.

Hopefully they can carve out their own niche and everyone can prosper.

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Going Once, Going Twice…………..

Posted on by capeannpainter

The Sawyer Free Library’s Annual Art Auction

You can place a silent bid Bid on your favorite Painting all Through the Month of September until Oct. 5th. The live Auction Will take place on October 5th 2011 including The preview party, with a lot of great food, drink and Entertainment will begin at 6pm and the live Vocal Auction Starts at 7pm. This is the time to get a great painting by one your favorite Cape Ann Artists for a great price.

Go and Check it out at the Sawyer Free Library!

CLICK HERE FOR THE SAWYER FREE LIBRARYS FACEBOOK PAGE

Live Greasy Pole Video Feed Right Now!!!! Live Interviews From the Beach

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Click to View It Live–

and Click Here For the Updates Throughout The Day

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Video Greasy Pole Being Towed Through Gloucester Harbor from Paulie Walnuts-

From DiscoverGloucester

we will  be updating all day

Official Statement From Mayor Kirk Regarding Rebuilding The Greasy Pole

I reached out to Mayor Kirk this morning for a statement about the greasy pole.
Here is her response.

The Greasy Pole will be rebuilt. I have already met with members of the Fiesta Committee this morning and assured them the city will be their partner. It will take a community effort though. We need the Fiesta Committee, the Waterways Board and the city to all step up to the financial challenge. The Greasy Pole represents a tradition and culture that we cherish in Gloucester, and we won’t let it vanish.

Regards, Carolyn Kirk Mayor

Donna Ardizzoni Photos-

Ex Champs of the greasy Pole, Tom Favazza, Scott Clayton, Stew McGillvary On the Scene


Greasy Pole Being Hauled Out Of The Water At Rose’s Marine From Paulie Walnuts

Another angle from Rob Foley

So proud of our team!
You guys are the best. I wouldn’t trade any one of you for anyone else. Great work on bringing this critical story to our readership and the world.
GMG Takin’ No prisoners!!!!
#boomthatjusthappened