Social Media Genius Chris DeWolfe from Mamie’s Kitchen Tweeted Out This Mudiga Steak Sandwich With Bacon Special and I’m On It

What, you think you’re gonna go tweet out something like Mudiga Steak Sandwich With Bacon and Provolone On A Virgilio’s Roll and Not Think I’m Gonna be all over that like white on rice.

You crazzzzy!

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Passports’ Makeover after Olive Kitteridge

After HBO filmed there, our Passports Restaurant (110 Main Street) is taking the opportunity to renovate and will reopen soon. Top notch painter Katherine Richmond, center, is in charge of the wall treatments. Owner Eric Lorden is working his ass off, with his trusted crew. Passports is the only restaurant I've ever sent people to, who went out of their way to come back and thank me for the recommendation.
After HBO filmed there, our Passports Restaurant (110 Main Street) is taking the opportunity to renovate and will reopen soon. Top notch painter Katherine Richmond, center, is in charge of the wall treatments. Owner Eric Lorden is working his ass off, with his trusted crew. Passports is the only restaurant I’ve ever sent people to, who went out of their way to come back and thank me for the recommendation.
Here, owner and chef Eric Lorden, in the white t-shirt,  is pulling up 100+ years of flooring with a claw hammer. Eric and his construction crew are going petal to the metal, and hoping to open in a couple of weeks.
Here, owner and chef Eric Lorden, in the white t-shirt, is pulling up 100+ years of flooring with a claw hammer. Eric and his construction crew are going pedal to the metal, and hoping to open in a couple of weeks.

Pet of the Week-Pumpkin Spice

pumpkin spice

Hi, my name is Pumpkin Spice and I am a playful, sweet and cute two-month-old kitten with a handsome orange coat.   I am here at the Cape Ann Animal Aid, located at the Christopher Cutler Rich Animal Shelter, Four Paws Lane, Gloucester.   The staff and volunteers are so nice and the shelter is beautiful with lots of room to stroll around, toys, windows and bird feeders to look at!   I am looking forward to being adopted, especially in time for the holidays.

Please check our website at: CapeAnnAnimalAid.com to learn more about our upcoming events and adoptable cats and dogs.   It is ok to stop by with toys for our shelter animals here.   Everyone says that I am just like my name – sweet and spunky!

Passports Unearths Classic Tile Buried Under Layers Of Flooring

Undergoing a renovation after Olive Kitteridge Taping Passports Restaurant they discovered a tile floor from decades ago.

The plan is to restore it to its former glory.

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Community Photos 11/19/13

Janet Rice Photo

Last evenings sunset from Niles Beach.

Best-Janet

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Man At The Wheel Sunset photo from Anthony Marks

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Peter Feinstein submits-

Lowering the topmasts on the schooner Lannon. Season over! Capt. Heath Ellis aloft. Photo by Peter Feinstein

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Chickity Check It! – GMG Nominated For New England’s Best Something or Other

Here’s the link-

The Boston Artists’ Life on a Dime -An Online Newspaper

“New England’s Best” Nominee – Captain Joey and GoodMorningGloucester

Fun City Baby- Gloucester That Is.

Kent Circle Christmas Tree photos from Anthony Marks

Hi Joey
It’s that time of year. Ringo Tarr and crew set up the Kent Circle Christmas tree Friday November 15th.  Ringo Tarr and Joe Novello traveled to Nova Scotia to pick up the tree.
The Santa parade a part of the tree lighting will step off about 3:00 pm Sunday December 1st from the state fish pier in Gloucester.
The parade route is Parker street to Main street to Western ave. and ends at Kent Circle for the annual Christmas tree lighting with Santa and Mrs. Clause.
Hope to see you and the girls there.
Best Anthony

Ken Duckworth Hosts Alan Watts Book Discussion

Ken Duckworth -2 ©Kim Smith 2013Ken Duckworth and Michelle Anderson

Ken Duckworth spoke before a packed house Sunday evening for the last event of the season of The Writers Book Club, which featured The Book: On the Taboo of Knowing Who You Are, written by the philosopher Alan Watts.

Duckworth's oysters ©Kim Smith 2013The Writer’s Book Club events are co-hosted by Eastern Point Lit House and Duckworth’s Bistrot.  Every seat in the restaurant was filled, and I understand that the house could have been sold three times over. I hope Ken will lead another discussion in the future and perhaps it will be held at a larger venue so more can meet this wryly humorous and engaging side of Ken.

Ken Duckworth  -3 ©Kim Smith 2013We have all come to appreciate Ken for his extraordinary talents as the star chef that he is, and it was equally as enjoyable to listen to him share about a philosopher for whom he cares so deeply and passionately. I am very inspired to read The Book by Alan Watts and hope I can locate a copy before my train ride to NYC this Thursday!

Chris Anderson ©Kim Smith 2013Chris Anderson, Eastern Point Lit House Co-founder

To date, this is the second Writers Book Club event that I have attended and I can’t tell you how much I have enjoyed the beautiful dinners, the speakers (Ken and Steve Almond), fellow guests, and the warm and welcoming hospitality of hosts Ken, Chris, Michelle, Nicole, and Jenn.  Thank you Duckworth’s and Eastern Point Lit House!!! Best wishes for an equally successful season of events this coming year!

Michelle Anderson Ken Duckworth ©Kim Smith 2013Michelle and Ken

The Writer’s Book Club is taking a little break during the holidays, but they are already planning a wonderful lineup of exciting speakers and authors for the 2014 season.

©Kim Smith 2013Sunday afternoon I had the pleasure to attend not one, but two fantastic local events. Rather than cramming both into one post, tomorrow I’ll share about the Savour Wine and Cheese’s First Annual Wine and Beer Tasting event.

Ken Duckpwrth -4 ©Kim Smith 2013

Filming in very low light with the Fujifilm X-E1 at ISO 12,000–even so, the Fuji powers on! 

Check out my first post for the Essex County Greenbelt!

Milkweed Eastern PointMilkweed Patch at Eastern Point Lighthouse

Rockporter Patricia Mandell, who helps the Essex County Greenbelt by volunteering for Mary Williamson, Director of Communications, suggested to Mary that perhaps Greenbelt would be interested in reblogging the posts that I write for my blog, Kim Smith Designs, and for GMG; posts that are relative to the Cape Ann ecology. You have read my “World’s Easiest Method of Propagating Milkweed” here on GMG and can now find it on the Greenbelt blog. Check out Greenbelt’s blog and website for a comprehensive view of who they are and of all the good they accomplish, their properties, maps, projects, and events.

Artist Spotlight Series – Guatopo

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Spotlight on Guatopo – Adriana “Gigi” Mederos and Stevie Black

Gigi Mederos, originally from Venezuela, is known for her Rocky Neck gallery, Aquatro, and its island blue floors and warm, inviting atmosphere. This past year was Gigi’s third season running a gallery and making art on the Neck. She was also the Artistic Director for the Rocky Neck Art Colony this past year.

Stevie Black is a native New Englander who has been on the North Shore for the past 10 years. Stevie is stepping down from his post as the Marketing Director for the Colony during the 2013 calendar year to devote more time to developing and promoting Guatopo’s product line and new collections. The limited-edition ties that were developed and designed by Stevie were a huge hit this summer. Bold and elegant, these ties were designed to reflect the wearer’s personality and put the finishing touch on their ensemble.

This holiday season, partners Adriana “Gigi” Mederos and Stevie Black, bring a collection of hand-crafted and hand-painted 100% silk scarves and compact mirrors along with their all-new for 2013 collection of men’s ties and trivets created under their Guatopo label. The name “Guatopo” comes from Guatopo National Park, about an hour south of Caracas, in Gigi’s native Venezuela. Pronounced “gwa-toe-poe,” the park is mostly tropical rainforest with many watersheds flowing from a central mountain range that rises to 5000 feet. A short, refined name, they chose Guatopo because it embraced the micro/macro subject matter in Gigi’s work and the authentic quality of her paintings, from which many of their patterns derive.

Keep up with all their events and happenings in 2014 by going to http://www.aquatrogallery.com and look for them at The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, East Gloucester during the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival

Saturdays and Sundays, Noon-4 PM

November 30 – December 29

http://www.rockyneckartcolony.org/winter.php

Manchester Harbor without a Sunrise or Sunset

Even on a gray day, there is still a great view… Click pictures to view full size.

Wednesday with Fly Amero ~ This weeks special guest: Charlee Bianchini

rhumbWednesdays Only: Prime Rib, $12.95!

Hello everyone!
Wednesday, November 20th
Special Guest: 
CHARLEE BIANCHINI! 

Photo by Louise
Photo by Louise

I am thrilled to have this wonderful young talent as musical
guest Wednesday evening.  Such a gifted songwriter… and
singer!  It’s looking like Charlee and I may be finding a bit
of chemestry when we play together – and the Rhumb Line,
as always, is the place to be on Cape Ann when the holidays
approach.  See you there!  ~ Fly 🙂

Dinner with Fly Amero: 8 – 11pm
*Each week features a special, invited musical guest
Dave Trooper’s Kitchen…
Prime Ribs are back! –
  $11.95 (while they last)
Prepared fresh weekly by “Troop”… always good!
Coming soon…
11/27 – Thanksgiving Eve, with…
Amero, Brown, Ginandes & Mattacks!

12/4 – John Rockwell

12/11 – Dan King 
(John Lennon Tribute)

12/18 – Amero Family Christmas

Looking forward…
…to seeing you there!  🙂 ~ Fly

Sista’s Helpful Tips

PrintHands down, some of the most commonly asked questions I receive is about frying. What oil do I use? How do I fry ? How do I get my foods thoroughly cooked, crisp and golden in color without burning it? Do I use; vegetable oil, lard, canola oil, or olive oil when frying ? What is my secret? With the holiday season knocking at our doors, I thought It be best to clarify the answer to this big question.

I always fry using La Spagnola Vegetable and Olive Oils Blended Oil. You may have noticed La Spagnola’s large tracker trailer trucks pulling in and out of  Gorton’s packing plant here in Gloucester on Roger Street. The big joke in our family is that I use so much of this product throughout the year, that I too should make arrangements with the La Spagnola Company, and like Gorton’s request to have weekly home deliveries of their product delivered right to my door step. I use it when frying, chicken, steak, fish, Arancini, Italian Donuts, Pinulata,…ect. It simply doesn’t matter what I am frying, it matters that when I am frying I only use this product. Why? … because without fail it always gives me the best end results of perfection!

oil to fry

Get to the market look for the large bright yellow gallon jug, usually located on the bottom shelf in the oils section, and stock up for the holidays. I know I will be stocking up, after all, I am Sicilian…and we Sicilians are known to do a lot of frying during the holiday season!

Don’t forget to send your Sista Felicia Recipe photos in to GMG and join the GMG FOB Cooks club! I will personally post them once per week.

The Oceanside Hotel, Magnolia, circa 1900

The Oceanside Hotel in Magnolia was built in 1878. With its 400 rooms, it was the 2nd largest hotel of its type in New England. Shore Road with a carriage underway is in the foreground. Sadly, the Oceanside burned to its foundation in 1958.
The Oceanside Hotel in Magnolia was built in 1878. With its 400 rooms, it was the 2nd largest hotel of its type in New England. Shore Road with a carriage underway is in the foreground. Sadly, the Oceanside burned to its foundation in 1958.

Max De Pree Quote of The Week From Greg Bover

November 15, 2013

“We cannot become who we want to be by remaining who we are.”

Max De Pree (1924- )

A Michigan native, Max De Pree is the son of D. J. De Pree, who started the very successful Herman Miller furniture company. Max and his brother Hugh ran and expanded the company from the 60’s up into the 90’s. He has written extensively on leadership in both the business and non-profit communities and his Leadership is an Art was a best seller. In the mid 1950’s he commissioned Charles and Ray Eames to design a home in Zeeland, close to corporate headquarters. It remains an icon of modernist architecture and interior design.