Day: December 9, 2013

Having a Bad Night?

Posted on by Fredrik Bodin
There is a huge 53 foot truck plus to 20 foot cab stuck outside on Main Street in front of my gallery. Bashful Fred went out and asked if they'd like Gloucester Police assistance to clear the parked cars (not all legally parked). I called and the officer said they'd send someone down. I've done this a hundred times. I wish I had a care package to give to truck drivers who get trapped in this pre-1700 curve. The truck is still there at 8:33pm. Two cruisers with lights flashing. This is a difficult one. Just don't hit my car and good journey. Oh yeah, that's my blue Jeep center foreground. I really don't want to sleep here. A young girl just came in to ask if I owned a gray Toyota Prius, related to the truck dilemma. I couldn't figure out where she was coming from, so I just thanked her for trying to help.
There is a huge 53 foot truck plus to 20 foot cab stuck outside on Main Street in front of my gallery. Bashful Fred went out and asked if they’d like Gloucester Police assistance to clear the parked cars (not all legally parked). I called and the officer said they’d send someone down. I’ve done this a hundred times. I wish I had a care package to give to truck drivers who get trapped in this pre-1700 curve. The truck is still there at 8:33pm. Two cruisers with lights flashing. This is a difficult one. Just don’t hit my car and good journey. Oh yeah, that’s my blue Jeep center foreground. I really don’t want to sleep here. A young girl just came in to ask if I owned a gray Toyota Prius, related to the truck dilemma. I couldn’t figure out where she was coming from, so I just thanked her for trying to help.

The Daily Traveler Chimes in On Gloucester’s Most Beautiful Lobster Trap Tree (and those other horribly misfigured Lobster trap trees from other places)

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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This Is a Thing? Lobster Trap Christmas Trees Are Serious Business in New England

By Jennifer M. Wood

December 7, 2013, 11:00 AM

We’re always excited to discover a Christmas tree that isn’t a “tree” at all. Like the one made of wine bottles at Seattle’s Hotel Vintage Park, the 2,130-foot tall “tree” of lights on the side of Italy’s Mount Ingino, and Lithuania’s recycled plastic bottle spruce. But for more than a decade, a new holiday tradition has been brewing in some of New England’s most charming coastal towns: lobster trap Christmas trees. And the competition to build the best of the bunch has gotten heated. We’re not about to get in the middle of a friendly fishing village rivalry, but take a look at the different ways in which five towns are putting their personal stamps on the lobster trap tree trend.

Click here for the entire story

I believe we’ve already chimed in year after year on the matter-  the evidence is clear and the people have spoken.   Sane people prefer our Lobster Trap Tree decorated by sweet adoring children from the Gloucester Community with heart felt appreciation for our lobster industry and hard working fishermen to the abominations seen below.

Don’t forget to bring your children down to Art Haven to paint a buoy to adorn the tree.  That’s what separates our lobster trap tree from all those horribly disfigured monstrosity lobster trap trees up in Maine that are all simply  built out of generic traps and cheap pre-made ribbons imported from China and manufactured in sweat shops with unfair labor practices.

Here we go folks, the fourth year of our fair and balanced GMG Lobster Trap Tree poll-

Gloucester’s Lobster Trap Tree Decorated With Hand Painted Buoys By The Loving Appreciative Children Of Gloucester MA-

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vs.

Provincetown lobster trap tree adorned with cheap imported Chinese pre-made slave labor ribbons-

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Isn’t Provincetown where all the gays are?  I know the gays are better than this, much more creative and artistic.  Be better Provincetown, you’re not representing well here- at all.

vs.

Then you got the terribly disfigured one from Maine where it looks more like a Christmas Spike than a Christmas Tree-

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Alicia MF DeWolfe Chimes in On Sticky Fingers

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hey Joey, 

Just made my maiden voyage to Sticky Fingers in Browns Mall and OMG! I grabbed one of everything (well i really wanted too) and brought it back to the restaurant for everyone to try! 

Everything is homemade and there is something for everyone! They even have a nice variety of gluten free goodies! 

I’m in love and I think I gained 20 lbs just walking in! 

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Passports Sangria Recipe!!!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

On Ladies Night we posted a Vine of Sally making the super delicious Passport’s Sangira. Readers wrote requesting the recipe and here it is, brought to you by Sally!

 A dollop of homemade raspberry puree (Passports makes their own puree)

Splash of orange juice

Glass of red wine

Fresh squeezed lemon and lime juices

Top off with a dash of club soda or 7 Up, depending on individual preference for sweetness

Garnish with an orange slice

Thank you Sally!!!

Passports  ~ Three Courses for $35.00 ~ Make Your Reservations Now for New Year’s Eve!

Recent GMG Post about Passports:

Passports Has Reopened Newly Renovated and Offering 20% Off All Gift Certificates Through New Year’s Eve

“Got Milk?” RNAC’s “Season’s Best Cookie Competition”

Posted on by God's Morning

cookie scarf got milk

Saturday, December 21, 2:00PM

The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck

As part of the Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival, the Winter Solstice Party on Saturday, December 21 will feature a “Season’s Best Cookie Competition”. Any kind of home-baked cookie may be entered, except chocolate chip – everyone makes good chocolate chip cookies – as we are looking for competitors to come up different, unique and prize-winning entries.

The first prize winner of the cookie competition will become the proud owner of this hand-painted silk scarf by Adriana Mederos, titled “Got Milk?”  This beautiful scarf depicts Shortbread, Anise, Oatmeal-Raisin, Linzerkuchen, Chocolate-dipped Diamonds, Biscotti, Baklava, Sugar Cookies, Snowball, Mandelkuchen, Macaroons, Almond Mezzalune, Polvorones, Pizzelle and Crinkles. There is also a First Place Blue Ribbon painted on the scarf to memorialize the winner’s proud achievement.

There will also be 2nd and 3rd place prizes, as well as prizes for “best presentation” and “classic”.

First prize – “Got Milk?” hand-painted scarf

Second prize – limited edition trivet

Third prize – set of Ice Box Bling

“Best Presentation” and “Classic” prize winners will receive notecard sets

The cookie competition will be judged by the Honorable and Venerable Judges Ed Collard (renowned master of food competition judging), Mayor Carolyn Kirk (whose birthday is December 21, so come help celebrate her birthday by bringing your well wishes and most awesome cookies for her to judge), and Sister Felicia Ciaramitaro (the Cape Ann Queen of culinary delights, so bring on your absolute best).

We are hoping to have some unique and festive cookie entries, such as those depicted on this delectable scarf, but bakers are encouraged to enter what they know to be their best cookie (again, no chocolate chip). If you would like to enter the competition, please email gigimederos@gmail.com with “cookie competition entry” in the subject line and your name, type of cookie you plan to enter, and your phone number in the email body. Entries will be limited to the first twelve unique cookie entry submissions received (we want to have diversity and be considerate of the judges’ waistlines, and eating more than 12 cookies isn’t in anyone’s diet). Please be prepared to bake at least two-dozen cookies, for the judges and party attendees to taste and enjoy.

Also, RNAC is considering creating a Best Cookies calendar as a fundraiser for 2015 which would include the recipes, bakers’ credit and photos of the 12 cookie entries.  Please indicate in your email entry if you are willing to share your recipe and have it included in the calendar, if we go forward with producing it.

E.J. Lefavour

The Friendship Tree and 24 Festival of Trees are lit!! – Manchester

Posted on by Lowell Peabody

Sunday evening was the official lighting of the Friendship Tree and the 24 trees in The Festival of Trees on Manchester’s Town Hall Common. A huge crowd had packed into the Congregational Church (SRO) for a 3:00 PM concert of Christmas songs and music, and then spilled out to fill the Town Hall Common and see the trees lit. They joined an already growing crowd who came for just the Tree Lighting and everyone brought the kids!

Just before..
The Friendship Tree Lights!
Followed by the Festival of Trees!

UPDATE: Cape Ann Winter Solstice Benefit Concert – Saturday Dec 21

Posted on by Vickie & Peter
L-R: Matt Leavenworth, Dave Mattacks, Allen Estes Wolf Ginandes photo: Renata Greene
L-R: Matt Leavenworth, Dave Mattacks, Allen Estes, Wolf Ginandes ~ photo: Renata Greene

Cape Ann’s top musicians come together this holiday season to celebrate the Winter Solstice and help raise money for Gloucester’s historic UU Meetinghouse Restoration Project.  Local legend, Allen Estes, is back with Matt Leavenworth on guitar and fiddle, Wolf Ginandes on bass and Fairport Convention founder Dave Mattacks on drums — all of whom brought us a magical night at the Larcom Theatre in October.

Sharing the stage with Allen and his band are some of Cape Ann’s top performers, from have a dozen genres, who come to celebrate the power of music to bring people together and lift our spirits.

Willie Loco Alexander & The Raztones
Fly Amero Gordon Baird
Inge Berge Charlee Bianchini
Ken Bonfield Dan King
T Max Michael O’Leary

Special Appearance: Gloucester Police Chief, Lenny Campanello sings Springsteen.

The entire concert will be taped for a Local Music Seen Christmas Special to be shown on Cape Ann TV.

TICKETS
Available at: Church Office
Liquor Locker
Online here
General Admission
$20 Advance
$15 Child/Senior
(under 12/over 65)
 
Reserved Pews
(online or call 978-525-9093)
$225 Center Pew Seats 12
$195 Side Pew Seats 10

GET TICKETS NOW

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Boxwoods Up In the Hizzy Y’all!

Posted on by Sista Felicia

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Hosted Our Annual Boxwood Tree Party Last Night.  Wine, Women, Boxwoods and Food.  What’s not to like?

Special shoutout to Mayor Kirk, Sheree Zizak, The Gloucester Housewives, Jim Haskell- Wine expert extraordinaire, partner in crime Dee Noble, Best Neighbor ever Deanna Ouderkerken and all the lovely ladies who came and kicked boxwood ass.

Winter Warmer

Posted on by Fredrik Bodin

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Winter weather is on our doorstep. Last night I appreciated our pellet stove, as I ate some bean stew. I love the “pellet,” as we call our heating stove. There will be some snow and ice on the ground tomorrow, but the pellet will be burning all night. In the modern world, buying bags of pellets is better than chopping firewood, and much cleaner. We also have central heating via propane. Here is the local go-to place for heating stoves, both wood and pellet: http://capeannchimney.com/

2013 Middle Street Walk Schedule

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Thank Bill OConnor for producing this readable, searchable program-

2013 Middle Street Walk Schedule of Events

Saturday, December 14, 2013
When Where and What
8 am –  6 pm Gloucester Boy Scout Troop #112 will be selling Christmas Trees on the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church lawn, Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 6pm
9 am-4:30 pm Saunders House, Sawyer Free Library

  • seARTS Wearable Art Holiday Show& Sale

    • (and Sunday from Noon to 4pm)
  • Raffle drawing to be held on Sunday at 3:30pm to benefit Sawyer Free Library
  • Raffle tickets sold at Saunders House and Library, Middle Street entrance of Sawyer Free Library 3pm
10 am- 2 pm Sawyer Free Library

Presentation of History of WPA Murals and Samuel Sawyer

10 am
to
3 pm

Gloucester City Hall

  • 10am – Welcome and Launch in the Auditorium
  • Festival Headquarters for information and buttons
  • Committee for the Arts will sell postcards of City Hall’s WPA Murals and have a table with information on City Hall Restoration efforts.
  • The Gingerbread House Contest Display – winner will be announced in Kyrouz Auditorium at 1pm.
  • Girl Scouts Troop #60235 – Bake/Cocoa Sale
  • The Phyllis A. Marine Association will have an information table and Ship’s Store.
  • Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church – Popcorn & Lunch Ticket Sales
  • ‘Community of Neighborhoods’ Quilts from the Rose Baker Senior Center
  • Cape Ann Museum – Folly Cove Designers inspired family ornament making and Museum Pop-Up Store
10 am-3 pm

Trinity Congregational Church of Gloucester
Cape Ann Thrift Shop Seasonal Goods Sale.

Cape Ann YMCA
Open house, kids activities, face painting and crafts

Sargent House Museum
Visitors can shop holiday Christmas decorations, enjoy seasonal foods and browse the museum gift shop for holiday gifts and treats
10 am-4 pm Cape Ann Art Haven

  • Join a community art creation! Help create a Giant Ice Sculpture (ice courtesy of Cape Pond Ice)
  • Buoy Painting for Lobster Trap Tree All Day

Sargent House Museum
Open House decorated for the season, Holiday Goodies & Seasonal Gifts.

10:30 am

Trinity Congregational Church of Gloucester
Performance – Bell Ringers

11 am

Sawyer Free Library
Magic by Matthew Cushman – Magician to the Red Sox
11 am – 4 pm

Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church
Make your own s’mores, coffee and cocoa for sale on the Church lawn!
11 am-2 pm Gloucester City Hall

Tours of City Hall Tower on the half hour by Maggie Rosa, Chair of City Hall Restoration Committee.

Guided Tours of Middle Street

11:30 am

Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church
Tour of this historic church

Gloucester City Hall Auditorium
Live performance – Cape Ann Big Band

11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church
Lunch with 2 menus:

  • Historic New England – Clam Chowder, corn bread & gingerbread cookie – $10
  • Modern New England – Fenway Frank, Cape Cod chips & brownie – $5
12 pm Trinity Congregational Church of Gloucester
Concert – Plum Cove Singers
12-2 pm Middle Street Trolley Rides
Featuring the Songbirds and a Holiday Sing Along, courtesy of CATA.
12:30 pm

Gloucester City Hall Auditorium
“Mixed Bag of Nuts”:

  • Christmas Carol Singing
  • Collection for ‘Toys for Tots’

Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church
Tour of this historic church
1 pm

Saint John’s Episcopal Church
‘A Children’s Holiday’ with the Rockport and Annisquam youth choir singing music for the season
1 -3  pm A Visit with Santa at Brown’s Mall
1:30 pm

Trinity Congregational Church of Gloucester
Concert – with Louis Stella (piano), Mary Jane Fabanio (cello), Jeanine Lynch (flute) and Robert Heinaman (French horn)

Gloucester City Hall

Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church
Tour of this historic church
2 pm

Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church
Concert – Elementary and Middle School String Group & Band and Gloucester High School Chorus
2:30 – 3:30 pm

Temple Ahavat Achim
Tour and Q&A Session with Rabbi Lewis

Sargent House Museum
Scenes from Judith Sargent Murray’s play “The Medium”, staged by the North Shore Folklore Theatre Co.
3 pm

Sawyer Free Library

  • seArts drawing
  • Concert: What Time is it Mr. Fox? Trio
3:30 – 5 pm

Art Gallery Open Houses – Pleasant & Main Streets
Visit All four Galleries and Win a Prize:

  • The Hive
  • State of the Art Gallery
  • Law and Water Gallery
  • Trident Gallery
4:30pm

Cape Ann Art Haven & Gloucester Police Station Plaza
Lighting of the Holiday Lobster Trap Tree and a visit from Santa!

Judy Beavers (Not Her Stage Name) Has Some Nice Things To Say About Shopping In Gloucester

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

We headed to Gloucester this afternoon, from Salem where we live, to do a bit of Christmas shopping.

As we neared Exit 14, there were several trees along the side of the road, which someone has decorated for the holidays.  Whomever took the time, thanks!  Such a great surprise.

As always, Gloucester shopping didn’t disappoint: the Island art & hobby shop, Local Colors, Toodleloos ….  all of Main St., always a pleasure.  Among the many reasons, just one of why we love Gloucester.

Judy B & Family

Mark Your Calendars Dec 13th At Bodin Historic Photo- For The 2013 GMG Holiday Party!!!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro
Are You A FOB?

Then you better get your sexy ass down to Bodin Historic Photo For The GMG XMAS Party December 13th! 6PMTil We Burn Down The Neighborhood!

I’m just gonna put this out there that if you consider yourself a FOB you had better show up for our killer  OFFICIAL GMG CHRISTMAS PARTY!!!!!!

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We’re gonna celebrate it all, Kwanza, spinnin the dradel, all that fun shit!

I’m springing for the Sebastians Pizza, bring a jug of booze or some beer, we will have cups and ice and we’re gonna have a good time.