Month: May 2012
Sailing By
Year of the Dragon part 5
Our Kwanzan Cherry Tree In The Wind
Our Kwanzan Cherry Tree Which Has Yet To Be Demolished This Year By The Beetles Which Ravage It Annually.
This video was done more to test the manual focus on the camera I use, the Sony NEX-5N
Shot with Sony NEX-5N and Sony 50mm f/1.8 Lens
I have a love hate relationship with this tree. when it blooms it is beautiful but every year it gets smoked by these small green inchworm looking things first and then these shiny beetles and looks nice for roughly 3 weeks out of the year.
I’ve chronicled the life of this Kwanzan Cherry tree for the past 4 years here
here are some of the blooms from this year-
Gloucester Webcam of The Day- Gardner Winchester Computer Services Gloucester Harbor Cam
This Webcam and more can be found at www.gloucesterwebcam.com
This www.gloucesterwebcam.com local webcam portal project was an idea I had last year to have as many webcams streaming from local businesses or organizations as possible which highlight the incredible vistas that we as people that live and work here get to enjoy each and every day.
The idea was to have the organization install the webcam, have them embed the webcam feed on their own websites as well and have a link to each business website on the Gloucester webcam portal website to showcase their business as well.
Tim Blakeley from Gloucester Bytes provided the initial installation at ridiculously cheap cost because he believed in the project.
Discover Gloucester Visitor Guide Unveiling This Evening!

WHO TOOK THE DISCOVER GLOUCESTER VISITOR GUIDE COVER PICTURE?!?
Join us later today, 6PM at The Castle Manor Inn, to see who took the cover picture of the 2012 Discover Gloucester Visitor Guide… It’s a beauty!
Drinks and munchies, and great networking- with a sneak peek of the work that’s been done at this lovely Inn, before it opens to the public May 18.
We’re so proud of the Visitor Guide and of all the partners represented in it.
They’ve invested in their businesses and in the bigger tourism picture so that
Discover Gloucester can take on the challenge of promoting the entire destination.
See you at 6 today, The Castle Manor Inn, 141 Essex Avenue!
Screw you Homie! This tasty morsel is mine! From Matt Service
Alright, who’s the joker that left this for me at the dock?
I’m doing a little clean up around my desk on my last day at work before vacation and I find this bag containing some hair club for men bullshit!
Very funny, verrrry funny. When I find out who is responsible for this just remember that the big boss man has final editorial control over this here blog. You wanna mess with me?
It’s bad enough living with this male pattern baldness without having to be reminded of it with not-so-subtle hints of cheapo “thicker, healthier looking hair” products being left around your workspace.
Oh the humanity.
Candlelight Vigil for Caleigh Harrison ~ Friday @7:30pm
This Is Gloucester Joey C Black and White Series- Harbor Cove
a quick visit to Gloucester on Saturday April 21, 2012
Gayle White writes-
My friend, Kate, and I visited Gloucester last Saturday, and had the good fortune to walk through Fredrik Bodin’s Historic Photos Shop. Loved the shop! Fred Bodin was so informative about the area, and made sure we knew about your facebook and blog site. Very impressive! We also visited Jeff Weaver’s Art Gallery, Topside Grille for a sandwich, and Fisherman’s Outfitter’s (my brother’s store). We were able to take a quick ride up along the ?East Point along the water before heading back to South Boston. We didn’t get to see a fraction of Gloucester, so we’ll be back. In the meantime, it’s great to have your pages and pictures so we know where to visit when we come back. What a great place! Gayle White including a couple of pics – one is Fredrik Bodin, one is John White (fisherman’s outfitter) and last is one shot along ?East Point. Can’t wait to come back again!
Dialing Fitz
MIT Sailing Club
Cape Ann Museum Park and Sculpture Garden Opening Reception
WHAT: Cape Ann Museum Park and Sculpture Garden Opening Reception; free and open to the public, refreshments will be served
WHEN: Saturday, May 12, 4:30pm (immediately following Gloucester Public School District Arts Festival)
WHERE: Across the street from the Museum, located at 27 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, Mass. 01930
WHO: Remarks by J.J. Bell, Vice President of the Museum ; John Raimondi, the Rockport artist who created the Park’s central bronze sculpture, Dance of the Cranes, will be in attendance
WHY: Please join us in celebrating the official opening of our new landscaped park and sculpture garden. A wonderful urban green space for the citizens of Cape Ann and its visitors, the park includes an inviting granite stairway leading up from the corner of Pleasant Street (there is also an accessible walkway), a variety of plantings and two rugged granite benches for seating. At the center of the park is an engaging bronze sculpture Dance of the Cranes by Rockport artist, John Raimondi. The inspirational depiction of cranes in flight exudes the optimism and positive spirit which is reflective of the proud and triumphant architecture of the iconic City Hall, which serves as its backdrop.
The park and sculpture garden, located in the heart of Gloucester’s Civic District, appears at a time when much of the district is being refurbished, including City Hall, the Central Grammar apartment building, and the Saunders House and Sawyer Free Library. It is one of a number of initiatives to continue the Cape Ann Museum’s community outreach efforts, in this case, building a public amenity that includes a piece of the Museum’s collection. With this park and sculpture garden in the heart of Gloucester, the Museum hopes to establish a more visible connection with the public and to contribute to the creation of a “cultural campus” comprising the Museum, City Hall, the Saunders House and the Library.
Elf Child of Gloucester
Clara Bray~Elf Child, 1913 Alice M. Curtis/©Fredrik D. Bodin
People visiting the gallery fall in love with the ethereal charm of this photograph. It has universal appeal, and LIFE Magazine published the image in a special Children’s Issue in 1990. Back in 1913, a story with this picture ran on the front page of the Gloucester Daily Times. The headline read: She Proved Herself a Dainty Performer in a Pretty Play. The story went on to say that Little Miss Clara Bray was the leading character in The Elf Child Pageant, an event held on the Addison Gilbert Hospital grounds to benefit the District Nurse Fund. Six-year-old Clara, along with other Riverdale children, performed for an audience of 900, including Mr. and Mrs. John Hayes Hammond, their guests, acclaimed playwright Charles Rann Kennedy and his wife Wyanne Matthison, who was a leading actress on stage and in silent films. The costumes were designed by Mrs. Palmer of Rocky Neck. Clara later married Delbert Andrews, foreman at the Rocky Neck Marine Railways, and raised their family in Gloucester. In 1954 at age 48, Clara modeled for Cover Girl Makeup, and, as an accomplished pianist, performed at the Riverdale Grange and Trinity Church. I’ve met five of Clara’s children: Arlene, Caroline, Marilyn, Geraldine, and Bonnie, all of whom cherish this photograph. Reverend Bonnie Goodwin, pastor of the Christian Union Church in Truro, MA, is a special friend to myself and the gallery. Bonnie told me last night that her mother always had a distinctive glint in her eyes, and that sparkle never left, even in times of hardship. Clara, the Elf Child, was buried in 1979 at Beechbrook Cemetery, in Gloucester. Remember your Mother’s Day.
Printed archivally from the original 5×7 inch glass negative in my darkroom. Image #A8857-437
Fred
Fredrik D. Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
Like us on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/BodinHistoricPhoto
Welcome Tulip Trees!
The magnificent Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), also called Tulip Poplar or Yellow Poplar, is named and noted for its tulip-shaped flowers. Tulip Trees are native to the eastern United States and are relatively fast growing, without the problem of weak wood strength and short life span typical of fast growing trees.
Tulip Trees at the Gloucester HarborWalk Butterfly Garden
The foliage of the Tulip Tree has a distinct four lobed shape, with a beautiful fluttering habit when caught in the wind. Come fall, the tree is ablaze in brilliant clear yellow. Rich in nectar, Tulip Trees are a major honey plant of the east. In our region the tree typically flowers in June. The nectar also invites songbirds Cardinal and Gold Finch, as well as Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Liriodendron tulipifera is one of only two species in the genus Liriodendron in the Magnolia Family.
Fun fact from wiki: Native Americans so habitually made their dugout canoes of its trunk that the early settlers west of the Appalachian Mountains called it Canoewood.
Planting Underway at the Gloucester Harbor Walk Gardens
Tulip Trees (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Monday the Tulip Trees were planted at St. Peter’s Square and Tuesday was devoted to Whale Watch and General Store planting areas. Today we are tackling Gus Foote Park. You may notice a few bare spots; not all plants have been delivered. We’ll be adding more to the gardens as they arrive.
Jay Ramsey and his crew from Farm Creek Landscpaping are doing a top-notch job—professional and so enthusiastic. We are all so excited to see the installation of the city’s Harbor Walk gardens underway. I’ll be bringing you information on some of the native beauties we have planted and their value to the landscape and to wildlife. People often ask me why they have so few bees in their garden and I respond, “What have you planted for the bees and for all the pollinators?” When you plant for the pollinators, they will come!
Young Ladies Tea
From Lisa Ramos: The young Ladies Tea party hosted by the Magnolia Historical Society on Sunday May 6th was a great success! The girls dressed in their Sunday best for a tea party catered by Classic Cooks Catering. They enjoyed tea and pastries followed by magical entertainment from Freckles and Ruffles the clowns.
1650s Improv. Bet you’ve never seen music that looks like this!
Yesterday we introduced you to gimmesound artists of the week, Frances Fitch & Greg Bover (click here if you missed it — people asked what time is next Tuesday’s concert at Shalin Liu. Answer: 7:30pm).
Today we have a special treat as Frances Fitch show us some Harpsichord music written in the 1650s and then plays it for us. You can hear the entire piece next Tuesday night.
Plenty of music tonight starting at 7pm at six excellent Gloucester venues — all FREE. See the full music lineup here.
Young Artist of the Week: Becca!

This week’s artist is a little bit older than the ones I’ve shared with you the past fewweeks. Becca’s a part of Action Inc.’s Compass Youth Program that comes to do art with us at Art Haven on Friday afternoons. She painted this beautiful imitation of Claude Monet’s Carrieres-Saint-Denis on a bottle this past Friday! She’s done lots of other beautiful work with us as well and we can’t wait to see what else she creates!
If you know of a young artist that should be featured here, email dawn.gadow@gmail.com with a picture and a little info!





















