Year of the Dragon 1

According to the Chinese calendar, we are in the year of the dragon! (As you may know, the Chinese have a 12-year cycle which assigns an animal to each year.)  I don’t lay any stock by astrology of any kind, Chinese or otherwise, but I like the idea of giving each year a “mascot”.

As it happens, I am particularly fond of dragons. So, in honor of the year of the dragon, I will post a series of photos and descriptions of varying “species” of origami dragons that I have folded.  These are either my own designs or, in two cases, fairly significantly modified by me but based on other people’s designs.

Here is today’s species: the Broadwing.

The dragon this model represents followed an evolutionary path leading to unusual proportions. It is small of body and had developed large wings that allow it to stay aloft for long periods of time. The hind legs are underdeveloped, because this dragon spends most of its time in the air. The front appendages, by contrast, have large, grasping claws, which the beast uses to snatch prey from the ground and kill it swiftly, eating while aloft.

Designed and folded by me, from a (single uncut) 6″ square of textured foil. The final model is 2″ from head to tail.

It’s Still On- The Thomas E. Lannon Groupon Now Front and Center On Boston’s Groupon Page And Dani Lubbers Lannon Photos

Now Just last week I was telling you that the number one thing I would tell anyone that they had to do on a 70 degree plus day in G Town was to go for a sail on the Lannon, and lo and behold BAM!  A groupon for half off.  These don’t last long and usually they shut it down half way through the day because they only release so many to groupon.  Don’t be a dope, get yours for 45% off now!

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The Fine Print
  • Expires Oct 8, 2012
  • Limit 4 per person, may buy 2 additional as gifts. Not valid until 5/12/12. Reservation required; 24hr cancellation notice required. Reservations are held until 10 minutes before scheduled sail time. Subject to weather. Not valid for Feature Trips.
  • See the rules that apply to all deals.

Here was what I wrote on April 22,2012-

The Schooner Thomas E Lannon Hauled Out At Rose’s 4:45 AM 4/19/12

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Joey C

It’s almost that time of year when all the really cool stuff around happens.  At the Top of my list for anyone coming into town on a nice day is a sail aboard the Thomas E Lannon.  Bottom line if a tourist had one thing to do and only one thing I’d tell them on a nice day to take a cruise aboard what I consider to be the most beautiful ship in the harbor.

Not only is the ship beautiful, but you also get to experience the warm genuine hospitality of some of the finest representatives our city has to offer The Ellis family. Captain Tom, his wife and sons are just the nicest most sincere, fun loving people you’d ever want to meet.

There is hospitality that is, you know, kinda forced, which in my book is fine because in the absence of the warm fuzzy true genuine friendliness I’ll take a forced friendliness over bad or rude service any day.  But from the minute you enter the booking office and you meet Kay you realize there is nothing phony about the Schooner Lannon’s operation.  They just happen to be really good at what they do, they love it and they provide a great experience genuinely and naturally- the best of all worlds!

This is not to say there aren’t a bunch of other very cool things to do around town like whale watches, deep sea fishing, Visiting The cape Ann Museum or The Heritage Center, coffee at one of our great coffee shops, breakfast at our many awesome breakfast joints, ect, ect.  I’m just saying, you give me a sunny 70 degree day and I have folks in from out of town, A guaranteed great time is to be had aboard The Thomas E Lannon.

click the first pic for the slide show-

 

Gloucester Webcam of The Day- Atalntis Oceanfront Inn

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.

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Check Out the Atlantis Oceanfront Inn Website Here

Benefit Yard Sale for Wellspring House May 6th

Benefit Yard Sale for Wellspring House

On Sunday, May 6, 2012 there will be a Yard Sale to benefit Wellspring’s children playground improvements organized by Ethan Wheeler from Gloucester Boy Scout Troop 112.   The Yard Sale will be held at 31 Eastern Point Road in Gloucester from 8 am to 1 pm.  All proceeds will go to pay for materials used to improve the children’s play area at a Wellspring residential facility. Creating a safe place for the children to play is part of Ethan’s Eagle Scout project.

Contact: Lisa Wheeler (wheels2636@aol.com)

Michele Shaw’s Elite Dance Centre in Gloucester Photo From Frank Ciolino

Here are the boys and girls from Michele Shaw’s Elite Dance Centre in Gloucester. They Danced on Saturday April 21st on stage at DownTown Disney.

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Bibliophile (L is for Librarian) From Local Tom Bruno Is Free Through Thursday

Hey Joey,
I’m doing a free promo of my short story Bibliophile from today
through this Thursday (May 3rd).
http://www.amazon.com/Bibliophile-L-Librarian-ebook/dp/B0073AJXN0
Thanks a million as always and have a good break,
Tom

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Gloucester Reads Shakespeare Laureen Maher

Adam Bolonsky produces the Gloucester Reads Shakespeare project

Larueen reads from "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" at the Beauty Bar on Parker Street.

First in a series of locals reading for the Gloucester Reads Shakespeare project at goodmorninggloucester.com.

www.beautybarstyle.com

On Another Jaunt Through Boston

The Old State House in Boston. This building housed the Colonial government from 1713 – 1776 and the State government from then until 1798. The lion on the left and the unicorn on the right are symbols of the British Monarchy. The originals were destroyed upon the reading of the Declaration of Independence from this balcony on July 18, 1776  They were replaced by replicas in 1882. The building now houses the State St. Orange and Blue Line MBTA station and a museum.

Love being grandparents.., we also did the Bouncy House

April 28, 2012 129

Pirate Party at Maddie and Cole’s birthday

Happy Owen

April 28, 2012Owen with the laugh

Maddie having so much fun in the Bouncy House

April 28, 2012 Maddie and the boucy house

Avery and Nonnie

April 28, 2012 Nonnie and Avery

Cole just loving it

April 28, 2012 Cole loving the boucy house

to the people who can’t understand why I’m shutting down my participation in the community listings for the next two weeks

To the people who are writing and asking me to make exceptions for deadline I set for the community listings:

I am very sorry.  These two weeks are the last two weeks of 2012 that I can completely enjoy my family before work goes to a seven day a week schedule through the end of the year.

I am sorry that you may not have seen the announcements that I posted and reposted every day this week in anticipation of this last vacation of the year.

I’ll recopy the announcement that ran every day this past week again in case you missed it over the course of the past 7 days-


gmglogohires200x200

If you have an announcement for the Community Stuff section it needs to be submitted before the 30th.

Please do not send in anything after the 29th of April.

The blog will still be updated every hour on the hour from 6am to 8pm.  I’ve been working hard to pre-schedule two week’s worth of content during my scheduled times and you’ll be in very capable hands with the rest of the GMG crew who I know will step up and keep the quality at the high standards that you’ve come to expect from us.

Thank you, the boss.


I would appreciate if you could cut me some slack for these next two weeks and not write in and ask me to make an exception because it pains me to not be able to help you but this is a commitment I’m making to my family.

 

I’ve worked tirelessly to make sure that I have pre-scheduled two weeks worth of quality Gloucester content for you while I’ll be away and the rest of the GMG contributors I’m sure would be happy to help you.

If you receive an email in response with a link to this post please pardon the brevity of my reply.  I simply won’t have time to give meaningful and heartfelt apologies to each and every person who may have missed the pre-announcements about the deadline.

Thanks again for your understanding- Joey

Love and Other Anxieties

My friend Lyda Kuth’s film Love and Other Anxieties played to a packed house yesterday at the Independent Film Festival Boston. Beautiful and heartfelt, Love and Other Anxieties is a personal exploration about the meaning of love and long-term commitment.

Click photo to view a larger image.

You can see in the above photo the line for Love and Other Anxieties stretched the length of a city block, wrapping around the corner, and ending behind the theatre.

Arriving early allowed a few minutes to have fun with street photography. My x100 is terrific for photographing people without being noticed and for the most part, passers-by don’t mind even if they do notice. Davis Square was teeming with people and the restaurants were jam packed.

With 98 films playing over the course of a week, and the greatest number of films shown during the weekend, I was impressed with how well organized is the festival–run entirely by volunteers.

I was hoping to take a snapshot of Lyda with her family after the film, but we were hurried out of the theatre to make way for the next film. Lyda was surrounded by a throng of well-wishers and friends and I was so happy to see her happiness. Congratulations to Lyda for the successful launch of her beautiful and touching film, first of many I hope!

Love and Other Anxieties Trailer 

Interview with Lyda from New England Film

This is one Save the Date you MUST pay attention to

OK, I know this is a blog and we’re supposed to post about what’s happening right now — especially while our fearless leader is on vacation.  But I just can’t resist telling people to save next Tuesday, May 15 at 7:30 for something you really don’t want to miss.

I’m going to bet there are people reading this who have never been to Shalin Liu.  Here’s your chance.  It’s FREE.  And I’ll bet there are people reading who’ve never heard a harpsichord played live.  You’re in for a treat.  Shalin Liu is probably one of the best places on Earth to hear one — and it’s right down the street.

Then there’s the fact that Greg Bover, who lives in Magnolia and works at C.B. Fisk, built the harpsichord that his wife Frances Fitch, one of the area’s most accomplished musicians, will be playing.  And the harpsichord is as beautiful to look at is it is to hear.  So save the date, come on out and enjoy the talent that’s right in our own back yard.

Now for the immediate.  This is a big week on Cape Ann:

  • Inge Berge starts his month-long residency at Giuseppe’s on Thursday
  • Brad Byrd brings his band to Minglewood for another video shoot on Saturday — and you can be in the video if you’re there.
  • Allen Estes is guest host at Rhumb Line Wednesday night while Fly is touring.
  • Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents are at the Rhumb Line on Friday

See the week’s full music lineup here (updates will be added as we find out about them)

ORION, Son of Poseidon

Orion Son of Neptune (Poseidon)

He was a handsome giant and a mighty hunter. His father gave him the power of wading through the depths of the sea, or, as others say, of walking on its surface.

Orion

by Melissa Lee;

“Orion was the son of Poseidon (Neptune) and Euryale. Like most of Poseidon’s children, Orion was a man of gigantic proportions. He also was quite the hunter, and the constellation that bears his name forms the shape of a great hunter in a defensive pose against Taurus, the bull.

While a young man Orion fell in love with Merope, the daughter of Dionysus and Ariadne.) Orion sought to marry Merope and he remained in the king’s service for some time attempting to win his favor, but Oenopion dragged his feet in arranging the marriage. Impatient, Orion raped Merope. Naturally, the king decided to take revenge. He got Orion drunk, and when the giant fell asleep, Oenopion put his eyes out and threw him out towards the sea.”     CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

http://Art-Rocks.org

Boston – Symphony Hall

One of the nice things about Gloucester is that we have the conveniences of living near Boston, but the benefits of a relatively small community.  Just a few days ago, I went to a concert at Symphony Hall. It’s great to have a world-class orchestra practically right down the road!

It was my first time at Symphony Hall, and although the performance itself was fantastic, I was also rather impressed by the venue.  Here are a few photos I took with my iPhone (using the accessory lenses I reviewed earlier, in most cases the Instagram app, and in the first case, a panorama app).

Just before the performance. The message projected on the wall is telling us to turn off all cell phones and electronic devices... and I take photos of the sign with my cell phone...