Year: 2011

Toy Drive & Meat / Seafood Raffle

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

This weekend is "Christmas by the Sea" Weekend in Manchester by the Sea, MA – the kickoff to the holidays in town.  The weekend’s events start on Friday night with a local "shop around" event which offers incentives to people for browsing and shopping at retailers in town.  On Saturday, Santa arrives by boat into Manchester harbor and then there is a Christmas parade in which the children march with santa to the community center for a Santa meet-and-greet. Finally on Sunday, we will light the "Friendship Tree" in the center of town.

This Saturday night, December 3rd, I (along with my band) will be hosting a fundraising event at The Landing at 7 Central – a Manchester restaurant & pub.  Our band will be donating our time and performing from 9 to midnight in order to collect new, unwrapped toys for Pathways For Children (http://www.pw4c.org) in Gloucester. Each guest who brings a toy will receive a raffle ticket and will be entered to win one of several Meat Prizes throughout the evening.  Also, if guests do not bring a toy, they can purchase raffle tickets and the money raised will be used to purchase toys. Currently, several Manchester and Gloucester restaurants and businesses have donated grass fed ground beef, roasts, etc..  We are still looking for donations of meat that will be raffled off throughout the night.

I am writing in hopes that you will make a donation.   I think having some seafood donated by Captain Joe & Sons would be a fun play on the Meat Raffle concept and would tie back nicely to funds being donated to Gloucester’s Pathways for Children.  All who donate – whether a restaurant, butcher or local business – will be recognized and would be more than willing to hand out coupons, collateral or any other info you would like throughout the night.  Should you choose to donate, I can pick up your donation on Friday or Saturday.

Look Good/Feel Good $200 Give-away @ gimmesound Starts Today!

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Kory112811

Hey pay attention!  $200 Look Good/Feel Good Give-Away.  gimmesound.com new contest starts today (11/28/11) sponsored by Sunbanque, 156 Prospect St, Gloucester, MA.  It’s the Look Good/Feel Good $200 give-away, including tanning, hair, nails & fitness. (This would be a great GIFT)   Here is how it works:

  • There will be a question in every lineup video (Monday – Friday)
  • Click here to see today’s video
  • On Friday, click the ANSWER LINK under the video to give us your answers (you won’t see the link until Friday)
  • The FIRST person with the 5 correct answers wins the $200 Look Good/Feel Good Give-Away from  Sunbanque.  GOOD LUCK!

Join the Bandit Kings at the Rhumb Line tonight for Open Mic.  Get today’s live music lineup and check out Gloucester’s best local music!

Gloucester Dog Park Receives Generous Donation

Posted on by Alicia Pensarosa

A follow up to the fundraising performance of Sylvia from May Lou Maraganis: 

Dusky Foundation Pledges $100,000 with Matching Funds to the creation of Cape Ann’s First Dog Park

Before a group of supporters at a benefit performance of ‘Sylvia’, a play about a rescue dog, a dog park and the relationships that ensue it was only fitting venue for the Friends of Gloucester Dog Park to announce the generous contribution by the Dusky Foundation of $100,000 to create such a park here inGloucester. Mary Lou Maraganis and Judi Masciarelli, co-founders of the dog park, have devoted the last year and a half to making this a reality.  With a core group of volunteers to assist them and the donation by the Dusky Foundation, groundbreaking is under way for phase one.

Although the city council unanimously approved the appropriation of land for the dog park at Stage Fort Park, the park will be built entirely by private donations.

Eighty percent of the $100,000 Dusky donation will be in matching funds making your donation go that much further and the dog park built that much sooner.

This is a recreational park built by and for the community to bring together the dog-loving community.

All gifts designated for the dog park are tax-deductible, and donations can be made through the Gloucester Fund. Checks should be made out to

                        The Gloucester Fund (earmark for theDogParkin the memo section)

                       45 Middle Street

                       Gloucester,MA01930

If you would like to take advantage of limited naming opportunities, or would like to donate materials or services, please contact gloucesterdogpark@gmail.com or call 978- 768 3400 for further information.

Visit www.gloucesterdogpark.org and sign-up for the Friends of Gloucester Dog Park newsletters. 


Gloucester Blue From Mark Destino

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Mark writes-

Hi Joey,
Walking through the east village yesterday late afternoon. Stumbled upon the Cherry Lane theater – Saw the poster. Caught the play – only its sixth run through. I think it was about pilgrims verses the natives  – but isn’t everything.  
Had a funny little post performance chat and a sweet fish town remembrance with Izzy and Gillian. 
The world is curious but particularly Gloucester – shes a most curious place.
We, from far and away, send our love home.

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Holiday Magic or Several More Reasons to Shop Small Not Mall

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Alexandra's Bread

Kim Smith writes-

During my mad rush Tuesday morning to shop for our Thanksgiving dinner, I first stopped in at Alexandra’s Bread to pick up several loaves of their freshly baked bread. Knowingly, I had placed an advance order because the bread at Alexandra’s is so super delicious they are often sold out. I not only needed baguettes for dinner Tuesday evening, but for our fondue dinner planned for Wednesday evening. It is our tradition to serve fondue on Christmas Eve and to the kids, fondue symbolizes warm- and cozy-holiday-fun-dinner; they now request it for “Thanksgiving Eve” as well.

I next popped into Pearl’s to see if Sue had any fondue forks. Pearl’s is a wonderful vintage everything shop at the east end of Main Street. Fondue forks are designed with extra long, heatproof handles and I needed several additional forks for our guests. Sue did not have any fondue forks, but Deb, the meter attendant who was, very fortuitously, standing at the counter chatting with Sue, mentioned she just-so-happened to have a set at her home that had not sold at her recent yard sale. Deb said she’d be happy to deliver her forks to Pearl’s and Sue very graciously agreed to be the go-between. I bought them sight unseen for ten dollars.

Next stop was Abacus Computer and MacDaddy, across the street from Pearl’s and several doors down from Alexandra’s. Their tagline is “Your PC and Apple Repair Service Specialists.” I explained to Frank that my daughter was arriving Tuesday night and was only staying for a few days. Could they possibly squeeze in a look at her laptop to see what was wrong? Yes, no problem, and requested we bring in the computer promptly at 10:00am Wednesday morning.

The following morning Frank and Thad looked it over and thought perhaps they could repair and have it back to her by that afternoon, even though it was by no means an easy fix, needing a new hard drive, along with various other problems. WOW—you don’t get service like that at the big box stores, as a matter of fact, at the Apple Store in NYC, the salesperson told my daughter her laptop was unfixable and not to waste their time.

Next stop was Pearl’s, where we picked up the most gorgeous boxed set of wooden handled fondue forks, circa 1960—very Eames looking— and far more elegant than the forks we had planned to use. Thank you Sue and Deb and thank you Holiday Spirits!

More Holiday Magic—later that afternoon, Abacus Computer and The MacDaddy called with the good news Liv’s computer was ready for pick-up. Cleaned and repaired, it is working perfectly. Thank you Frank and Thad and thank you again Holiday Spirits for working your Holiday Magic!

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Check Out Kim’s Blog Here

Gorgeous Gloucester Sunrises On www.gloucesterwebcam.com Right Now

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Check ‘em out and bookmark the site to bring you back to G Town even when you’re away- Live!

www.gloucesterwebcam.com

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Carrie Fisher Quote of The Week From Greg Bover

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

    “Holding on to a resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”

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Carrie Fisher (1956-    )
Born to Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, one of Hollywood’s golden postwar couples who messily divorced when she was two, the actress, novelist, lecturer, and screenwriter is perhaps best know for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the early Star Wars movies. She is thought of as one of the smartest people in the film industry and has had a less well-know career as a script doctor and writer. Her novel Postcards from the Edge and her memoir Wishful Drinking detail her battles with substance abuse and eating disorders. The Emmy Award winning Fisher continues to tour as a lecturer and appears frequently on television (30 Rock, Sex in the City, etc.)

Greg Bover

The Compass Rose-Custom Tattoos

Posted on by Alicia Pensarosa

Gloucester has a new tattoo shop on Main street-The Compass Rose.  Mike and I passed by today and we stopped to check them out.   The shop is at 35 Main street in a pretty sweet 2nd floor location. It’s clean, professional, with artwork covering the walls.  Mike decided to get a custom skull tattoo.

 

Matt Maguire owns the shop and also works as an artist along with  Jon Saulnier. We didn’t have a chance to meet Matt, but he sounds like a pretty cool guy and a great artist. Mike worked with Jon, describing the tattoo he wanted while Jon worked his magic designing the tattoo.

Jon working on Mike’s tattoo:

One of Jon’s works of art:

The finished tattoo:

Jon did such a great job on Mike’s tattoo. The design and colors are perfect.  I’ll be making an appointment for myself this week to get my rosa rugosa tattoo touched up.  The Compass Rose welcomes walk-ins as well as appointments for custom work. You can contact them and see their work at http://compassroseink.com.

~Alicia

Merry Christmas and A Feel Good Turkey Story From Charity (no relation) Ciaramitaro

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

If you don’t feel good about the way you or your mom cooks your Turkey after seeing this shit-show then god help us all.

Charity writes-

First turkey: my poor vegetarian mommy tried to cook a nice turkey for my brother and his beautiful girlfriend.  Second turkey: my daughter and I cooked, she is just basting it one more time.  I gave her directions but she didn’t listen.  She called me crying and said she couldn’t talk about it for 6 months. I warned her that it might end up on Good Morning Gloucester.  She said OK as a warning to others and as long as we don’t verbally talk about it.
Happy Holidays!
Charity Ciaramitaro

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Is that pineapple I see in that turkey?

Note to self- do not under any circumstances eat at a vegetarian’s house for Thanksgiving.

The Santa Parade

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

What an amazing day to watch the parade.  Lots of fun, music and joy.

Mrs. Claus

The Coast Guard

 The elves of Toodeloos on the Parade Route

Rick Doucette and Big Bird

Snow falling at the Tree

 Love Christmas..  Have all a great season

Donna

 

Time Travels

Posted on by Marty Luster

TIME TRAVELS

Each time I walk through Gloucester, it’s like tripping through time;

whether down by the docks, or out along the back shore,

or up along Main Street, Middle Street or in Dogtown,

Eastern Point, Lanesville or, more to the point, Rocky Neck.

 

One afternoon in July, camera in hand, I headed out

Rocky Neck Avenue cloaked in the peace of Smith Cove

and the universe of color, texture and form  in

the galleries, shops and displays  all along the way.

 

As I approached Alma McLaughlin’s gallery and

raised my camera to my eyes, I was surprised to

find that time had been reversed and the last hundred years

on the Neck had vaporized; it was as it had been.

 

But the strangest part of this sight and gentle afternoon

was that I was not alone on Rocky Neck Avenue,

visiting the old sites and scenes of a century past.

Like a lantern dimly lit, a woman  came in view

and joined me on my  serene trip through time.

 

We did not speak, but both briefly paused to appreciate

the bright creations that adorned the walls of the gallery

that could be seen through the orderly glass-paned store front;

in a building, a street,  we had come so far to see.

Marty Luster