Good Chinese Take-out

No city or town is complete without a few Chinese restaurants. When I first moved to Gloucester several months ago, I was happy to see a Chinese restaurant right around the corner from my residence at St. Ann’s rectory: Ocean Garden (1 Maplewood Ave. in Gloucester).  According to the employee I spoke to there, Lily Chen, they have been in business for eleven years.  That means that their food and prices are good enough to attract a faithful clientele.

Ocean Garden, 1 Maplewood Ave. Not much to look at, but the take-out is very tasty!

I have ordered meals there several times (most recently this Sunday) and the food has been consistently hot and good, and I have always had friendly service.

Chicken with mixed vegetables and rice

Their wonton soup is just the way I like it, with a very flavorful broth and not-too-thick wontons.  I wolfed it down before I remembered to take a photo…

They are primarily a take-out restaurant, although there is one table where you could sit and eat. They deliver, and if you ask for delivery you might meet this friendly man:

Mike Marshall, one of the delivery men

He and his father Robert Marshall handle the deliveries. As I arrived, Robert was driving away with a delivery in a black SUV with a festive Christmas wreath still on the hood ornament.  Remember, Christmas isn’t over yet! Not until January 9th (at least, in the Catholic Church).

So if you’re looking for a nice hot Chinese meal, this could be a good option.   Lily said their specialty is the combination plate “General Gau’s Chicken”, but she added that some of their most popular dishes are on the appetizer menu – stock favorites like crab rangoon and chicken wings.

Full information about their menu, phone number, etc., is available on their website.

Auction – This Wednesday!!

Looking for something to do on Hump Day? Check out Gloucester’s new auction house.

This week Walt will have an auction that covers all shades of the spectrum. For example, there’s a showcase full of vintage jewelry, an Ibanez black acoustic guitar, art, lots of power tools & much more.

The auction starts at 6pm, but anyone interested should take advantage of the 3hr inspection that starts at 3pm in the afternoon. There’s usually a couple of hundred lots at least which are sold at each auction so there’s not a lot of time to give details on the auction block.

The auction is located in the Cape Ann Industrial Park, 17 Kondelin Rd. #7

More details at www.auctionwally.com/ and at: http://auctionzip.comauctioneer/gloucester

If you’re interested in selling your items call Walt at 978-395-7077

MA lic#2621

Beverly Hospital’s Welcomes Their First Baby of the Year

Welcome Brady Matthew!

Katie and Dan Desmond of Gloucester, MA welcome their new son, Brady Matthew born at Beverly Hospital on January 1, 2012, at 3:03 a.m., 9 pounds, 1 oz., 21-3/4-inches long.

Proud Grandparents:

Jim and Betty Gomes of Boxford, MA

Richard and Roberta Desmond of Salem,MA

Great-Grandmother (100 years old) Catherine Desmond of Revere, MA, will be visiting Brady today!

In addition to his Grandparent and Great-Grandmother, Brady has a large number of cousins, aunts, uncles and extended family to welcome him into the New Year.

Joe Walking Episode II Shot and Edited By Craig Kimberley

If anyone needs a professional for webvideo work Craig will be moving here and is looking for work. Contact me.

2012 Polar Bear Plunge Freshwater Cove Pics From Jerry Ackerman

Meanwhile, on the other side of the harbor, The Denizens of Freshwater Cove were up to their old tricks, too!

Happy New Year!

Jerry Ackerman

Favorite snapshots from the pre-plunge breakfast at Passports

Thank you Passports for hosting the super delicious New Year’s Rocky Neck Pre-plunge breakfast! A wonderful time was had by all!! Beautiful Ciaramitaro family–video footage will have to wait until tomorrow– in the midst of making New Year’s dinner for my family.  Happy New Year to All!

Click the last photo to see slide show

In Seine Field

In memory of Barbara’s mom, Mildred Kirschbaum, October 12, 1912 – January 1  , 2012.

IN SEINE FIELD

 

She’s in Seine Field, east of a nearby gate,

with her arms aiming at the fearsome sky,

as if proclaiming to all the trees, and

all the birds,  all the humans, and all the

creeping beings, all the grasses, all the flowers,

all the elements of earth and sky and

all the spirits of those that came before

and the force of  those who will come after:

I am here and I am perfect!

 

I absorb your bright sun, and rejoice in

your stormy clouds. I shake away your salt

winds that have taken many good men down ,

and I withstand your blasts of cold and your

furious summer fires; my roots are deep

and suck the nourishment of this dear land;

my limbs, long and limber , protect my core;

my elegant needles are dense and lush.

I am here and I am perfect!

 

And even when that day comes when branches

drop and my limbs crack and my trunk decays;

when my glorious needles curl , yellow

and fall, when even light breezes threaten

my ability to stand straight and tall  –

even when that end day comes and I fear

I can’t provide shade to the wanderer

and home to the joyous souls of Seine Field, still

I am here and I am perfect!

 

Marty Luster

Good Harbor Polar Swimmers at 8 AM Jan 1 2012

Happy New Year! Rocky Neck Plunge

What a way to start the New Year! The Rocky Neck plunge was great this afternoon and we couldn’t have asked for better weather.

Here’s our Man, Joey, fresh out of the water!

Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year! I hope 2012 is good to you.

~Alicia

gimmesound 2011 Music Highlights

2011Recap

Click the picture to watch our video of 10 music highlights of 2011.  Looking forward to an exciting 2012 with all the great music on Cape Ann.

2012 Rocky Neck Plunge Video shot by Peter Van Ness ~ Text of George Sibley’s Poem below:


Richard Gaines once told us that Peter and I are interchangeable,  so here is my post.

Vickie Van Ness, Ericka Hyam (raffle winner) & Mayor Kirk take the plunge with over a hundred others at noon on January 1, 2012 at Rocky Neck, Gloucester, MA

In keeping with tradition, George Sibley began the festivities with a poem, but it was hard to hear.  George was nice enough to give us a copy, so we could transcribe it here for those who missed it.  It’s a good one.

Another year has passed since we last
gathered on this shore;
Cathy has again directed me to discharge
this rhyming chore.

Even though of harbor water we’re about to
get a tankful,
The fact  we’re here with our fellows is itself
cause to be thankful.

To have our planet Earth, and upon it our
homes and lives;
Now we’re about to feel a wet chill which
both extinguishes and revives.

So as in the waters of this cove our last
year’s selves are smothered,
We have another year before us in which to
try to help others.

What a way to start the New Year

First a yummy breakfast at Passports and then the plunge into the water at Rocky Neck..  So much fun…  great people, weather and feeling of well-being..    Here is some pics others will follow….

January 1, 2011 002January 1, 2011 004January 1, 2011 011January 1, 2011 022January 1, 2011 024January 1, 2011 027