The fourth year of the GMG Downtown Gloucester Holiday Gift Video Series where we walk up and down Main Street and try to capture as many retailers as we can and highlight their best gift ideas one a day every day leading up to Christmas.
Day: December 6, 2012
Ladies Night At Dog Bar
Chickity Check It! What Causes A Sea Breeze From Sail Magazine
What Causes a Sea Breeze
By Teresa Carey • Posted: Dec 3, 2012
My first solo offshore passage began with sunshine, gentle breezes and easy sailing. But there was nothing gentle about my return to land at day’s end. Tempestuous headwinds opposed my progress as my little boat crashed through the waves in the gathering darkness. By the time I finally neared the harbor entrance, it was fully night and there was no light to guide me through the channel. I was tense as Daphne raced between the rows of channel markers, inconspicuous in the gloom.
Lobsta Trap Tree Lightig for Lady”s Nite
Saint Anthony By The Sea Chapel
On a Gray December Day
Windmill over Gloucester
All We Are Is Ducks in the Wind …
Multiple Exposure Fujifilm X-E1
To create a double exposure select the Multiple Exposure mode in the shooting menu. Take your first shot, and if acceptable, press ok. The first photo is now visible in both the viewfinder and the LCD monitor, which allows you to easily compose the finished photo. Take the second shot and press ok to exit. If you do not like the second shot, you have the option to retry.
Multiple Exposure mode allows you to change focal length, degree of focus, and aperture between shots. I absolutely adore this feature and can think of a hundred thousand images. Creating double exposures is always possible post production although I prefer the ephemerality of composing in the moment.
Over the past several months I have spent many mornings at Eastern Point trying to film the resident swans in their pre-dawn flight. My hope was to capture 20-30 seconds of swans silhouetted against the red rising sun. For the most part I have been unsuccessful and have only managed a mere snippet or two. The swans eye me warily and then head to the far side of the pond. Yesterday morning I went to my usual observation point to experiment with the Fujifilm X-E1 multiple exposure shooting mode. Perhaps because I was so focused on my exposure experiment and wasn’t paying a lick of attention to them or perhaps because I did not have my tripod with me (I am convinced now more than ever after today that the swans think my tripod is a rifle), but for whatever reason, two decided to groom themselves within arms reach.
Ladies Night Stuff That Came In today
Cape Pond Ice – Solving Christmas present problems in a Cool way
Joey – I’m not big on Tweeting, and The Weathervane is covering us on Main Street for Ladies Night with our CPI shirts, sweats & caps, but we do like to say that Cape Pond Ice Company has stepped up to solving alot of local’s, or former local’s, Christmas present problems over the years. The best selection of our "coolest guys & gals" merchandise line is right here in our 104 Commercial Street ice company office shop, and we’re open this time of year 9 – 4 weekdays, and Saturday 9 – noon. If someone can’t make that, call us, and we’ll make arrangements to meet you/
Article: Steve McCurry talks to WordPress.com about his work, and why he blogs
Steve McCurry talks to WordPress.com about his work, and why he blogs
http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/12/06/steve-mccurry-interview-on-wordpress
2012 Seacoast Holiday Fair Photos From David Cox
Hi Joey,
I have a couple of series of pictures taken by my Dad, David Cox at the Seacoast Holiday Baazar. They are great! We would love it if you would post them with the message below to the Friends of Seacoast.
The residents and staff of the Seacoast Nursing and Rehab facility would like to express our gratitude and give special thanks to the Friends of Seacoast for all they do to enhance the lives of the residents living at Seacoast.
The holiday fair sponsored by the Friends of Seacoast was a huge success and enjoyed by all!
Christmas, 1000 Origami Fish, and You!
Help us decorate Gloucester’s first (annual?) origami Christmas (or “Fishmas”) tree with 1000 origami fish!
For years, people have been decorating Christmas trees with origami for public display in cities around the world. For example, New York City has two famous origami-decorated trees every year: one in the American Museum of Natural History, and another in the Japan Airlines offices on 5th Avenue. I met with David Brooks of Art Haven and The Hive, and he loved the idea of doing one here in Gloucester! The current plan is to display it in the front window of The Hive on Pleasant Street.
Our project has two special characteristics. First, we are making the whole thing – tree included – out of origami. It’s not the first time it’s been done, but it’s not so common! Secondly, we want it to be Gloucester-themed, so it will be decorated with origami fish. This honors both Gloucester’s spirit and history as a fishing port, and the ancient Christian tradition in which the fish is a symbol of Christ, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.
We want to get as many people involved as possible. In the spirit of the Japanese tradition of folding 1000 origami cranes, we are aiming for 1000 fish, so, we need a lot of help! Come to The Hive on Saturday, starting at 10AM, to help us fold origami

fish! We are folding a specific origami fish model – the “Twist Fish” by Gay Merrill Gross (from her book Minigami). It’s very easy to fold. I will be there teaching for a few hours, and I will teach a few other people so they can teach others when I’m not there. We will have plain paper at The Hive that you can use, but you can bring your own paper too if you want to use fancier origami paper. (You can get paper at Island Art and Hobby on Main Street, or at other art and craft stores.) Also, you can decorate the fish after you fold it – draw a face or scales, paint it bright colors, or whatever!
The tree itself is already in production. I spent several hours yesterday folding with David Brooks and Mary Ann DeLouise to get our origami conifer off the ground:
Plus, next week I will be teaching two classes on origami holiday decorations! We will fold Christmas and Hanukkah themed models and geometric decorations (the variety of models depends on how we do for time). Folding materials will be supplied.
- Here are the dates:
- Friday Dec. 14, 6:30-8PM at the Hive, for teens and adults ($15)
- Tuesday Dec. 18, 6:30-8PM at Art Haven, for children ($10)
I will try to post a more detailed menu of models I hope we can fold.
OMG- Outstanding Cartoon Based Off Our Exit Interview With Lobsterman Wannabe Ben Grenon From North Carolina
The Infamous One Has The Answers To The Mysteries of The 19th Century Gloucester Windmill and It’s Photographer (Natch)
hey joey – this is the photo al mentions in gordon thomas’ ‘wharf & fleet’, shot by martha harvey (not hovey), one of gloucester’s photographer legends. she grew up on prospect court as martha rogers, married the artist george harvey and they set up shop in annisquam on river road. she stood about 4’10" in her socks and wandered all over the cape with a mammoth box camera and a suitcase of unexposed glass plates, some of them 11×14! she deserves an honorary chair in the lumpers’ lounge.
gordon thomas’ caption for this photo reads: "Winter Quarters on Five Pound Island, 1893. This fine Martha Harvey shot shows several schooners hauled up for the winter on the eastern end of Five Pound Island. Many vessels for various reasons were hauled up during the winter months and as most of the wharves around the harbor were busy, vessels were laid up at the Island until spring. In this photo, the inner harbor is frozen solid. The schooner, bow on with flying jib boom, is the beautifully names ‘Herald of the Morning,’ owned by John Pew and built in 1875. The clipper bowed schooner to the right is the ‘Columbia’, built in 1891 for Parmenter and Co. (not to be confused with the racing ‘Columbia’ of 1923.)"
Cape Ann Museum has a large collection of Harvey plates, as does the Annisquam Historical. CAM’s brilliant photo archivist has arranged a set of binders with inkjet prints from scans of the Harvey plates, available for browsing during regular library hours.
-infamous (and brilliant) fred buck
The infamous one is responding to yesterday’s post from Al Bezanson-
19th Century Gloucester Windmills From Al Bezanson
Posted on December 5, 2012 by Joey C
This illustration appears in History of the town and city of Gloucester, Cape Ann Massachusetts, 1892, by James R. Pringle, who wrote,
“A sketch of the town in 1817 was drawn by Capt. John Beach, from a point in the harbor opposite Ten Pound island, off Pavilion Beach. Standing out prominently in the foreground was an eight-sided wooden windmill erected on the site now occupied by the Pavilion Hotel. This had been built in 1814 by Ignatius Webber, and its long arms, fitted with sails, made it a conspicuous object, and gave the town quite a foreign aspect. It was subsequently removed to a position on Fort Square, where it became a familiar landmark, being destroyed by fire a few years ago.”
Another windmill, of more modern design, is prominent on Five Pound Island in an 1893 photograph by Martha Hovey, reproduced in Wharf and Fleet, by Gordon W. Thomas.
Al Bezanson
Community Photos 12/6/12
Golden Afternoon from Elinor Teele
John Donovan from Bothways Farms drove the John Deere Tractor and haywagon from the farm all the way to Singing Beach to bring Santa.
Hi Joey This morning I snapped a picture of these two brave guys paddling on the Annisquam River under the watchful eye of the Annisquam River frog.
Mary Page
The new normal as viewed from our row in Gloucester Harbor this beautiful December morning!
Best-Janet
Community Stuff 12/6/12
Fun, heartwarming Christmas stories
Ipswich humorist Doug Brendel will read his beloved Christmas story “Dirty” and his story-poem “The Day After Christmas” at Time & Tide Fine Art, 4 Market St., Ipswich, on Thursday evening, December 13.
The 7 pm event will serve as a fundraiser for the humanitarian “New Thing” charity that Doug and his wife Kristina direct in the former Soviet Union. Admission is free; donations will be accepted. Between the two readings, Doug plans to briefly introduce New Thing and answer questions.
For more information, contact Doug Brendel directly via 978-810-1005 or unconventional@dougbrendel.com.
Hello Kate,
I was thinking – that it would be great if you sent the info for the film to Joey
so he can put the event on his blog on wither Thurs. or Friday.
Here’s a link to the trailer:
http://capeanncinema.wordpress.com/advance-tickets/
Here’s the poster attached.
Love, ya G
North Shore Christian Men’s Choir Christmas Concert
North Shore Christian Men’s Choir
Christmas Concert
The North Shore Christian Men’s Choir Christmas Concert will take place on Saturday, December 22 at 2:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church,Four High Street, Rockport, MA. Special guests will include Scott Clements – trumpet and Colette Daniels – Hand Bells.
Free admission and refreshments served.
Rockport’s 67 Annual Nativity Pageant will take place at 5 p.m. from Dock Square.
Celebrate this special time of year by attending the concert, stroll around the beautiful
Christmas trees, visit the many shops and celebrate Rockport’s 67 Annual Nativity Pageant that surely will put you in the true Christmas spirit.
Holiday Party at the Rockport Senior Center, 58 Broadway on Wednesday, Dec. 12th from 11:30 – 1:00PM
There will be a luncheon and musical entertainment by Tony Malioek. The luncheon is provided by Senior Care Nutrition and the Rockport COA
The Menu is Roast Lamb with Gravy, Whipped Potatoes, Green Beans, Red Velvet Cupcake & Knotted Roll $2.00
Reservations required. Call Freda 978-546-2573
Tuesday, December 18th at 7PM
Tornado Terry & the Twisters will perform a Free hour long choreographed routine. They dance to the Big Band 40’s music as well as the 50’s Rock n’ Roll at the Rockport Senior Center, 58 Broadway, 978-546-2573 Everyone is welcome to attend.
Empty Bowl Painting at the Rockport Senior Center for The open Door on Wednesday, January 9th from 1:00-3:00 PM
There is no charge. Let us know if you are coming, so we can have enough bowls. 978-546-2573.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA:
Santa would like all to come to a Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser, Saint Ann’s School and the Ladies Guild will sponsor the breakfast.
Sunday Dec9th 8:30 a.m. to 11:30a.m.Monsignor Sullivan Hall, (St Ann’s Hall) Breakfast consist of Pancakes, Sausage, Coffee, Orange Juice or Hot Chocolate.
Cost:
Adults $8.00
Kids $5.00
Family $20.00
Come and enjoy a wonderful breakfast, and we promise to have a special guest from the North Pole and activities for the kids. All are welcome. Tickets on sale at the school, the office and will be sold at the door.