Year: 2011

The Burnham’s Field Gardener Series- Devon the shellfish biologist

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Burnham’s Field is the largest green space in central Gloucester. There’s been a resurgence of pride in Burnham’s Field, including a new 20-plot garden. GoodMorningGloucester is now running a series of video profiles of the Burnham’s Field Community Gardeners. Here are their stories.

By John McElhenny

Burnham’s Field Gardeners – Devon the shellfish biologist

Devon, a shellfish biologist, spends most of her days along the Massachusetts coastline. So it’s a treat after work to sink her hands in the dirt of her own garden. “Cape Ann and the North Shore are a combination of land and sea,” she says. “You get the best of both worlds.”

 

The Block Party Steering Committee Sends Thanks

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

THANK YOU, GLOUCESTER!

Heartfelt and appreciative thanks to all the wonderful people who helped the “second generation” Block Party Committee produce the first Downtown Gloucester Block Party of 2011! With three successful years of the Block Party to live up to, it was an honor and a challenge to accept that baton.

In particular, we thank the people of Gloucester for your support, attendance, and enthusiasm!  It was our pleasure to see so many residents (and visitors!) gather downtown to celebrate our city.

We appreciate the support and cooperation of Mayor Kirk and the City of Gloucester; Fire Chief Dench and Police Chief Lane, Lt Aiello, Mark Foote and their departments; Public Works Director Mike Hale and the DPW staff, especially Mark Cole; Joe Ciolino and the entire Planning and Development Board; and the members of the Liquor Board.

We very much appreciate the support of The Gloucester Daily Times.

We thank the wonderful folks who generously donated their time and talent to keep us “Dancing in the Streets”: Willie “Loco” Alexander; Honky Tonk Women of Gloucester; Livin’ on Luck; The Cape Ann Center for Dance; The Polygroove Orchestra; The Bones and Roses Circus Sideshow; Strings Attached, Banjo Roger Hussey; magician Joe Howard; bongo/poet Jay Kameese; and face painter Kathy Heywood.

Thanks to the originators of the Downtown Gloucester Block Party, who guided us so well: Janice Lufkin; Linn Parisi; Erika Hansen; Peter and Vickie Van Ness; Jackie Hardy; and Joe Ciaramitaro.

Thanks to Good Morning Gloucester for spreading the Block Party love. Thanks to Dawn Gadow and Art Haven; Kate Seidman of the Art Room, Michael Butter of the Empire, Henry Allen of the Annie and the Cape Ann Savings Bank. Thanks also to Rick Doucette and Camp Spindrift, and to Katie Milne and the YWCA Clean Team for a great job cleaning up!

A huge thanks to the participating businesses and civic organizations: Alchemy; Art Haven; The Art Room Boutique; The Black Swan; Bodin Historic Photo; The Bookstore; CafĂ© Sicilia; CafĂ© Bishco, Cape Ann Brewery; Cape Ann Cable TV; Common Crow; The Dog Bar; Dogtown Books; the Dress Code; the Franklin CafĂ©; Gabriel’s Ltd.; Gimme Sound; Giuseppe’s; Gloucester Estate Buyers; Gloucester Fine Arts; Gloucester House; Green Life; Harbor Goods; House of the Raven; Jalapeño’s; Kids Unlimited; La Trattoria; Latitude 43; Local Colors; Magic Scarf; Main Street Arts & Antiques; Mark Adrian Shoes; Mystery Train; Palazzola’s; Passports; Pisces; Pop Gallery; Stone Leaf; Stop & Shop Gloucester; Stuff; Sugar Magnolias; Tiny Island Beach Glass; Toodeloos; Topside Grill; Valentino’s; Village Silversmith; Virgilio’s; The Weathervane; West End Sweets; World’s Hands.

And of course, a big thanks to our the volunteers: Nancy Olsen and Alex; Tonya Woolcott Riggs; Diane Usewick; Will Hunt for audio support; Hartz Street Nursery School; Dave Amero; John at Village Silversmith for helping us power the stage; to Julie Titone for helping clean up; and to anyone else who strung a light, carried a ladder or did any of the many things that made the event come together so smoothly.

We thank you all—and we look forward to seeing you at our second Block Party of 2011: Saturday, August 20!

Sincerely,
The Downtown Gloucester Block Party Steering Committee: Valerie Marcley, Artistic/Organizational Director; Mark McDonough; Jennifer Goulart Amero; Judith Brackley; Lucinda Seigel; Lorre Anderson; and Dawn Gadow
glostablockpahty@yahoo.com

The Gear You Should Buy- The Bogen Manfrotto 797 ModoPocket Small Folding Camera Stand

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The next recommendation I have is for a tiny collapsible camera stand made by Bogen Manfrotto which not only uses the standard screw but it folds up into itself flat so it keeps a pocketable compact camera pocketable even while having something that will keep the camera still in low light situations where you need to keep the shutter open for longer periods of time and a camera would be prone to taking a blurry shot due to movement while the camera’s shutter is open to allow more light in.

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When taking photos in plenty of light any camera will do, but when taking pictures in low light you need to take advantage of whatever tools you have at your disposal to reduce camera shake which can lead to blurry unusable photos.

modopocket

Of course you can use a flash but most photographers who want the most natural looking photos absolutely hate using a flash.

Here is an example of a photo taken with a flash-

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and without-

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Note how the colors are much more natural in the photo without the flash?  The results are  almost always more preferable to take a photo without using a flash.  The way one can accomplish this without having a pile of blurry unusable photos is by using a tripod, or some other means to stabilize your camera.

The reason I always tell people that the absolute number one best bang for your buck investment in camera gear is the Bogen Manfrotto Modopocket because it, unlike a tripod adds an insignificant amount of bulk to your compact camera while still being sturdy, well built and totally stabilizes your camera in low light conditions where you prefer not to use a flash. For $17 you will get incredible dividends on the quality of your photos.

You know all those early morning shots?  There is absolutely no way I could take those hand held. IMPOSSIBLE!

They either were taken using the modopocket or a tripod.  the main benefit of the modopocket being that it is always attached to my camera so I never miss an opportunity because I would need to set it up.  I simply unfold it from the base of my camera to which it always attached.

Here are some pictures taken with it-

You can see how I rested the camera with the modopocket attached right on the hand rail and set the timer to take the picture 2 seconds after I released the shutter as to avoid any camera shake at all.

here is a video I took with it, note how clear it is and stable without a any jittery movements which make video look crappy-

Here is a review I did on it after I bought it a couple of years ago (it hasn’t left my camera mount since I bought it)

Pros: Lightweight, Folds Small, Excellent Value, Good Stability, Great Design, Unfolds Quickly

Best Uses: Video, Macro Photography, Tight Quarters, Low Light, Travel, Night Shots, Portraits, Landscape/Scenery

Describe Yourself: Photo Enthusiast

I photo and vblog blog so having a portable camera at all times is critical. I can leave this attached to my Sony DSC H20 and still keep it in my pocket. For night time shots with long exposures it holds the camera securely. This is not to replace your full scale completely adjustable tripod but for the very little cost to be able to take macro shots in poorly lit areas or conduct impromptu interviews it is fantastic and must have IMO. I have an example of the unboxing and a video I took of it in my review here-https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2010/05/28/lobster-vs-crab-filmed-using-manfrotto-modopod/

You can buy it here for $17.05 which is almost half off it’s retail price.-

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2011 Downtown Gloucester Sidewalk Bazaar Info With Grace Giambanco Numerosi, Christine Orlando and Linda Palazola

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Things Are Looking Up for R.Duck

Posted on by Marty Luster

Here is  ANNE up from Mystic Connecticut going through the Cut.

But look more closely. It seems that our little yellow friend is moving up in the world.

Click to enlarge.

Gloucester Fisherman Joe Sanfilippo From Mark Burnett’s Expedition Impossible Interview Tomorrow Night

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joe will be rowing in the Blackburn Challenge this weekend in a 650 pound dory.  Joe says that it’s a little different circumnavigating the cape in a 650 pound doey as opposed to a 60 pound fiberglass kayak

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Rubber Duck Field Trip

Posted on by paultmorrison

Rubber Duck was bored so it was a drive into Boston to ride the Swan Boats and then off to try her hand (rubber wing) at Proteomics. But then she started thinking she might be missing too much fun back on the island …

She’s back now and Rubber Duck will be on the bow of a kayak this Saturday behind Gloucester High School waiting for the 8:25 AM horn announcing sea kayaks can start in the Blackburn Challenge. We might take the scenic route around the island so don’t expect her at the greasy pole before 2 PM and save her some cold beer. She won’t be last since I will be four feet behind her. Not sure where Ed will be. Possibly on one end of a tow rope but anyone’s guess which one of us will be doing the towing. Maybe the duck will tow both of us.

UPDATE: Blackburn Challenge has 403 sailors signed up manning some 253 boats following the course below this Saturday morning. Get to your favorite point of land on Cape Ann and cheer them on.

Click map for interactive adventure.

Did You Know? (Girls Night Out)

Posted on by God's Morning

If you missed the Sangria and Silpada party at Khan Studio and the GMG Gallery last month, you’ll want to make sure you catch this one (if you love really unique, affordable jewelry and a reason to party on Rocky Neck, that is) at Niki Ahearn’s newly opened Madfish Gallery at 77 Rocky Neck, Gallery G5.  And if you love karaoke, there’s that too afterwards at Madfish Grill.

NORTH SHORE ARTS ASSOCIATION – EXHIBITION IV “SMALL PAINTINGS” & MUSIC AT EDEN’S EDGE CONCERT- A TRIBUTE TO VINCENT FERRINI

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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North Shore Arts Association presents Artists Members Exhibition IV “Small Paintings”. The show will run from Sunday, July 24th through Saturday August 6th. Artists Members Exhibition III will continue through Saturday, July 23rd in the main gallery.

North Shore Arts Association is proud to host Music at Eden’s Edge on Saturday, July 23rd during their summer-long 30th Anniversary Celebration with the annual Norbert and Francesca Benotti Memorial Concert at 8 pm. This performance pays tribute to the late Vincent Ferrini, whose poetry inspired “Listening to the Sea Winds!”

North Shore Arts Association has a thriving artist membership of over 350 contemporary artists recognized nationally and worldwide. They come not only from Cape Ann, but throughout North America. NSAA’s historic old building, located at 11 Pirates Lane in Gloucester, provides the opportunity to view the largest collection of paintings and sculpture on Cape Ann.

North Shore Arts Association is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sundays from Noon to 5:00 pm. The gallery extends its evening hours to 8 pm on Fridays through August. In addition to exhibitions, NSAA also offers demonstrations, workshops, lectures, critiques, an art auction on August 6 and more. Please call 978-283-1857 or visit www.nsarts.org for more information.

Run Gloucester Chosen as Race to Run by Runner’s World

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Considering The Huge World-Wide Circulation Of Runner’s World This Is A Great Article For The Race and Gloucester PR In General

Click the photo to read full sized.  I have a nice photo credit for my man at the wheel pic Smile

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Another Beautiful Evening on Cape Ann

Posted on by Alicia Pensarosa

Sunday Evening’s Sunset at Annisquam Light. Looks like it will be another beautiful day and beautiful evening on Cape Ann today.

Grandma Ethel Needs To Put Down the Crack Pipe

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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Grandma Ethel’s Lobster Rolls Rock

A Recipe from Island Creek Oyster Bar

lobster roll!

It all started out innocently enough.  It seemed reasonable when you quickly scanned over Granny’s ingredient list and hey, I can even let a lobster roll that has celery in it ride without calling them out but there it was, looming.  The devil in the details-

PICKLES!!!!!!

Ingredients
4 1ÂĽ-pound lobsters, steamed
1 c. mayonnaise
½ c. pickles, diced small
½ c. celery, diced small
2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. celery salt
2 tbsp. kosher salt
2 tsp. white pepper
6 tbsp. butter
8 hot dog buns

She was doing so well.

  • regular hot dog rolls- check
  • butter- check
  • mayo- check

But then the train veers off the tracks

Celery, lemon both no-nos, but the issue which is unforgivable here is glaring- the addition of goddamn pickles to a lobster roll.

Unforgivable.

Once again I will refer to a simply acronym which tells it all- KISS

Keep It Simple Stupid

There is no need to get all crazy just to be different.  You can understand how some bananahead out in California could make this kind of mistake.  But someone from the Northeast?

For shame!

At least it’s not as bad as last week’s debacle from the broads in California who tried to pass off a lobster roll using frozen lobster meat, celery, onions, lemon and jalefuckingpenos.

Or Bucky From Ohio who details a lobster roll made on a French baguette.

Granny must think she has Tiger Blood ala Charlie Sheen if she thinks sneaking such ridiculous ingredients like pickles into a lobster roll is gonna go unnoticed.

Not Here- Not Now Granny.  It’s Lobster Roll  Eatin’ Season and We Ain’t Gonna Let You Lead These Poor Unsuspecting Folks Down  A Lobster Roll Road Paved With Pickles Of All Things!

Here’s how to do it Grannycakes

Fun with Capt Pete on Water Shuttle

Posted on by Manuel F. Simoes

Enjoy a different perspective of Gloucester Harbor from the Water shuttle.

Capt Pete makes it fun and informative.

Click on Photo below and enjoy a short slide_show.

 

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Beautiful Industry- Viking’s Office Door At The East Gloucester Marine Railways As Seen From Inside The GMG Gallery Khan Studio

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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