Day: August 31, 2013

Live Post Blogging: 1st Annual Lobster Bake

Posted on by Craig Kimberley

A sneak peak at what was a huge success. That Joey has great ideas!

Jeff Stein Has Some Nice Things To Say

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hey Joey, thanks for the great lobsters and keeping everyone up to speed with the goings on in Gloucester when we can’t be there.
http://steintrek.com/2013/08/30/being-the-idle-rich-is-awesome/
Jeff

Being the idle rich is awesome!

By JStein August 30, 2013

20130830-084729.jpg
I am doing it without the rich part but I’m totally living the life. If money was not a concern, it would be hard to motivate myself to work. I would spend my days donating money to needy bar owners.
I’m coming off of 10 days with great friends in Annisquam, Massachusetts. Gloucester is the nearest big town. If you want to know more about America’s oldest fishing port, go to Good Morning Gloucester, a blog written by Joey, (pictured below with what would soon be dead and in my friend’s stomach) from Captain Joe & Sons seafood on E. Main Street. It’s a warehouse on a dock where the lobsterman directly sell their haul. This year, we were buying 1.25 lb softshell lobsters for about five dollars each. Less expensive than going to McDonald’s.

For the entire entry click here

Today is Maritime Heritage Day at Maritime Gloucester! 10am-4pm

Posted on by capeannpainter

Today is Maritime Heritage Day at Maritime Gloucester! 10am-4pm. Area environmental groups and maritime heritage organizations will be set up with interactive exhibits along side of local crafters demonstrating their art. Sunny Fishcakes Music Review will be performing during the afternoon. Lunch will be available on the pier. Great, fun event for families and visitors.DSC07349

 

St. Vincent de Paul Society “Clothes Closet” Thrift Store

Posted on by Matthew Green

As mentioned in previous posts in my series on second-hand stores, it several local churches have thrift stores which aim to provide affordable items to everyone, but especially to those who are most in need.  The proceeds of these thrift stores generally go to support the churches and, as a consequence, their ministries to those in need in other ways as well. Such is the case at St. John’s Episcopal Church thrift store and at Trinity Congregational’s Cape Ann Thrift Store, which I have already reviewed, and at the Rockport Unitarian Universalist Society Thrift Shop (which I have yet to visit).

Holy Family Parish offers something similar, run by the St. Vincent de Paul Society. It has a “Clothes Closet”, located in the basement of the former St. Ann’s School, open to the public on Wednesday evenings from 5:00p.m.-8:00p.m. and on Saturdays from 10:00a.m.-1:00p.m. The entrance is found on the side of the building facing the parking lot next to Pleasant Street.

_DSC09045 SVP entrance

_DSC09044 SVP sign on the gate

They mostly stock clothes and shoes, although some other items like furniture may be available upon request. Here are some photos of what they have in stock:

They also have a food pantry for families in need. See their web page for more information.  The St. Vincent de Paul Society is also looking for more volunteers to help with the different services it offers to those in need; contact information is available on the web page.

– Matthew Green

Cape Ann Chamber Launches Drive for Special Cape Ann License Plate

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Cape Ann Chamber Launches Drive for Special Cape Ann License Plate         

Reaching out to the Cape Ann community for license plate design proposals.

The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce today announced the kick-off of the organization’s initiative to create a special Cape Ann License Plate. Following months of preliminary planning work, including the creation of a Cape Ann License Plate task force and consultations with the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), the Chamber is now moving into the design and public outreach phase of the license plate drive.

From now through October 15 the Chamber is reaching out to the Cape Ann community at large, inviting the submission of design ideas to create a distinctive and compelling image for Cape Ann’s special license plate. The license plate design competition is open to all who love and treasure Cape Ann, including residents and visitors, professional and amateur artists and graphic designers, the young and the young at heart.

All proceeds from the special Cape Ann license plate will be used for the sole purpose of marketing and promoting Cape Ann and the Cape Ann communities of Essex, Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport. “There is tremendous support and enthusiasm among the Chamber’s Board of Directors for this initiative, and we are thrilled to have this opportunity to raise a significant and sustained new source of funding to support Cape Ann tourism,” said Chamber C.E.O. Robert Heidt.

The RMV contracts with 3M to assist in the design and manufacture of special license plates, and designs are contained on reflective sheeting on the aluminum plates. All Cape Ann license plate design submissions must conform to the design specifications and restrictions detailed here. The RMV advises: “When it comes to the design of license plates, Simple is Better!” View a sample license plate here.

The Cape Ann License Plate task force will review all design submissions and choose three finalists, whose designs will be submitted to the community for a final round of public input. The winning designer will win a prize of $1,000, while the two runners up will receive prizes of $250 each. (Please note that prizes will be awarded upon issuance of the first Cape Ann license plates.)

“With so many creative Cape Ann people putting their artistic and design talents into this initiative, the new Cape Ann license plate is certain to become a top seller, not only locally but across the state,” said Chamber President Ed Collard.

The Massachusetts special license plate program is authorized and guided by the provisions of section 2F of Chapter 90 of the Massachusetts General Laws.  Under the law, once the Cape Ann license plate design has been selected and approved, the Chamber must collect at least 1,500 applications (together with the $40 special plate fee with each application) before manufacture and distribution of the special Cape Ann can begin.  The application fees will be held in escrow until the 1,500 threshold is reached.

For further information contact Peter Webber at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce at peter@capeannchamber.com.

Gregory G. Walsh | Director of Marketing & Communications

978-283-1601 | gregory@capeannchamber.com

978-283-4740 fax

Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce
33 Commercial Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
capeannchamber.com | capeannvacations.com | rockportusa.com

5th Annual Harbor Race Sunday September 15

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The Gloucester Gig Rowers and Maritime Gloucester are planning their 5th Annual Harbor Race for Sunday September 15. The 3+ mile triangular course is open to Pilot Gigs, Whaleboats, Dories and other traditional rowing craft. The course will start and finish at Niles Beach.  Registration opens  at 8AM,  at Niles Beach,. At 9:00 there is a Captain/Cox meeting and heats will start at 9:30am. Pre registration is strongly encouraged, contact Debe Holland at debe.holland@comcast.net or 781 608-9006. The cost is $30 per person, $25 with advance registration received by August 30th.

image

THEN and NOW – Main Street (1873)

Posted on by Manuel F. Simoes

Before photo and information Submitted by Fred Bodin:

51 Main Street (Cafe Bishco is there now).

West End of Main Street buildings, including the Cape Ann Savings Bank and the YMCA.

The second floor of the bank building became Gloucester’s first YMCA in 1858, one of the oldest Y’s in the U.S. The first YMCA was established in Boston in the Old South Church.

 

YMCA

IMG_3813

Today’s The Day!!! Call For Volunteers For The 2013 Gloucester Schooner Festival 1st Annual Lobster Bake This Afternoon!!!!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Mike Costello,Brett Ramsey and Daisy Nell Could Use A Hand Putting On A Hell Of A Time At The First Annual Public Lobster Bake At Maritime Gloucester.

If you would like to be part of this inaugural event head on down to Maritime Gloucester and have yourself a ball and 30 years from now you can say- “I was there at the first one!”

Sista Felicia will be there helping out and she will also have copies of her cookbook for sale.

The Details-

For More Info www.gloucesterschoonerfestival.net and to get tix www.maritimegloucester.org/visit/events.php

2013-LobsterBakeTicket-CAB

Saturday, August 31, 2013

10:00 am
Working Waterfront Walking Tour
Starting at Fishermen’s Memorial ($5 per person) Sponsored by the Schooner Adventure.

10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Maritime Gloucester Heritage Day
Maritime Gloucester, located at 23 Harbor Loop in downtown Gloucester, will host its annual Heritage Day celebration from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Center’s exhibits and aquarium will be open free of charge throughout the day. Free to all.

12:00 noon to 4:00 pm
U.S. Coast Guard Station Open House
Stop by the Station on Harbor Loop to learn all about the Coast Guard and its important role in Gloucester.

Lobster Bake

Click image to purchase tickets in advance.

4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
1st Annual Public Lobster Bake
Enjoy freshly steamed lobster, corn on the cob, and a Virgilio’s roll– all for $12 per person. Relax with your dinner on the slopes of the Fitz Henry Lane lawn while listening to Old Cold Tater & Friends. Also available for sale: hot dogs, hamburgers, veggies burgers, cold sodas & spring water, beer & wine.Tickets available in advance from Maritime Gloucester or at the event.

7:00 pm
Fireworks Party at Beauport/Sleeper McCann House (ticketed event, reservations required)
Watch the lighted boat parade & fireworks display from the terrace and lawn of Beauport and enjoy an abridged evening tour as the house transforms at night. Bring blankets, chairs, picnics, and mosquito spray. Candles are prohibited. Adults and children over twelve only, please. Registration is required. 978-283-0800 for more information.

7:00 pm
Concert on the Boulevard
Featuring the band “Full Circle”

7:30 pm
Boat “Parade of Lights”
Boat owners interested in participating in the Parade of Lights can register online athttp://www.capeannmarina.com/Forms/BoatParadeSignUp.pdf. For additional information, contact Tobin at 978-283-3293 or tobin@capeannmarina.com.

9:15 pm
Fireworks Display over Gloucester Harbor. (following Parade of Lights, time approximate)
(The Gloucester Fireworks Committee is in need of more donations for the Labor Day weekend fireworks. Donations may be made to The Gloucester Fund, 45 Middle St., Gloucester, MA 01930. Please notate “fireworks” on your donation.)