Month: August 2021

The Blues Trail Revisited From Ted Reed Now Available To Rent

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The Blues Trail Revisited

In 1971, Ted Reed drove through the South to find some of the last living blues legends and to discover the roots of American music. Fifty years later, Reed returned to experience the evolution of American music, resulting in this memoir that encompasses the upheavals of Civil Rights and the power of memory.

“A story of blues friends, fans and follow-through, Ted Reed’s remarkable BLUES TRAIL REVISITED spans 50 years — tying together past Southern blues traditions with those of the present-day and perhaps even the future.”
– Roger Stolle, Cat Head Promotions

“The memories that this film brought back were outstanding and made me want to go back and discover some of the places that I missed . . . This movie will also make anyone that is not into the Blues or Mississippi change their mind.”
– Paul Benjamin, North Atlantic Blues Festival

Rent here

GLOUCESTER STAGE THANKS NEAL MAVER FOR SERVING AS THE CHEF CONSULTANT ON NEW PLAY: SEARED

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Gloucester Stage wants to give a big shout out to Tono’s Neal Maver as their very special Chef Consultant on the production of SEARED being performed now through August 22 at Windhover Center for Performing Arts in Rockport!

Maver shared the tricks of the culinary trade with the play’s lead James Louis Wagner recently in his busy kitchen of Tono in Gloucester to get Wagner ready for the show.

Gloucester Stage’s  hilarious and insightful new play, SEARED is set in an intimate working kitchen of a New York City restaurant where it explores the delicate balance between a creative spirit navigating success, recognition, and responsibility to a financial bottom line.  

Gloucester Stage’s performances are outdoors Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 3:30 pm at Windhover Center for the Performing Arts, 257R Granite St, Rockport, MA. Tickets are now on sale and available at www.GloucesterStage.com.

Nothing to Hyde

Posted on by Pat D

The original musical Nothing to Hyde will be presented Aug 11-14 by the Annisquam Village Players. Here’s preview with Peter Nelson as Mr. Edward Hyde”

And a brief interview with Terry Sands:

Annisquam Village Players Present…….

Posted on by Pat D

Nothing to Hyde will be presented by the Annisquam Village Players this week August 11-14 outside between the town hall and the Annisquam Exchange on Leonard Street. We talked with director Terry Sands about this original musical written by Mary Curtis and Tony Hutchins. Tomorrow’s tickets have already sold out so get yours online as soon as possible ($35). Loosely based on The Strange Tale of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, this production features Peter Nelson as Edward Hyde. He presented a number for our entertainment which I encourage you to review below! Very entertaining.

Get your tickets online for this outdoor event (spaced seating so limited tickets available)! You won’t want to miss this original production.

I have video to share but am currently unable to upload it. Please stay tuned!

Apartment Homes That Shine

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Halyard's avatarCape Ann Home

At Halyard, discover a collection of modern residences and thoughtful amenities that set the new standard for apartment living in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Offering one and two bedroom apartment homes, Halyards expansive floorplans are sure to check off all your “must haves” when searching for your next home. Give us a call today 978-515-2500 to set up a tour and discuss all the options available to you. halyard

halyardapts.com

halyard

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Blackburn Challenge Cup — pat morss

Posted on by patmorss

Last Saturday was the annual 20-mile “around Cape Ann” Howard Blackburn race for anything you can row or paddle. Also, more water and wildlife this week.

A little too close. Adventure in the background, spectating
A traditional 2-person dory
I was sailing when welcoming a paddleboarder, rounding the breakwater for home
This dog was learning how to cast, from the breakwater
A surprise proposal or engagement party on Ardelle; guests were hiding
Canada Geese navigating the lily pad maze on Niles Pond
There appears to be an abundance of Monarchs on Eastern Point this year
Another mother turkey, also short-handed (winged) with only two fast-growing young
Many bees are pollinating our hydrangeas
Show-off. But, a colorful spinnaker

Magnolia Pier at the end of the day

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Even though it was a little cloudy on Sunday the beach and Magnolia Pier never disappoints.

At 1430 Coast Guard Station Gloucester was conducting training on the CG 47322 in the vicinity of Ten Pound Island when they were diverted for a search and rescue case involving 2 injured boaters on board a 23ft vessel

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro
May be an image of body of water

U.S. Coast Guard Station Gloucester

At 1430 Coast Guard Station Gloucester was conducting training on the CG 47322 in the vicinity of Ten Pound Island when they were diverted for a search and rescue case involving 2 injured boaters on board a 23ft vessel, one with a reported back injury, near Thatchers Island. At 1454 MLB 47322 arrived on scene and transferred 2 Station Gloucester personnel to the vessel to render aid. The Coast Guard personnel assessed the patients and rendered appropriate first aid and proceeded to closely escort the vessel into Rockport Harbor where EMS was standing by. Once safely moored the Coast Guard members transferred both injured boaters to Rockport EMS for further evaluation and transport to the hospital. Many thanks to all our port partners, Gloucester and Rockport Fire Departments and the Gloucester and Rockport Harbormaster’s for their continued support!

9th Gloucester Blues Festival this coming Saturday

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hey Joey—
The Gloucester Blues Festival is back this coming Saturday, August 14th at Stage Fort Park, and once again my friends and I will be setting up a tent to promote the Blues Foundation. This is our third year supporting the foundation and its work for furthering blues music today through its Blues Music Awards, aiding musicians with its HART fund, and promoting music education through its Blues in the Schools program. My production company sponsored this year’s Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist Album which went to King Solomon Hicks—he’ll be performing at the festival Saturday afternoon.  The lineup is going to be a great one, and we’re hoping music fans of all stripes come and enjoy a day of outstanding talent. We will also be taping interviews for the Blues Trail Revisited podcast, so please come by our tent, we would love to meet you all!

More Info Here

Article in the Manchester Cricket about Arts Abound

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Wander into Arts Abound on Lexington Street in Magnolia, and you’ll find a quiet world of local art.  Fine art photography, watercolors and paintings, hand painted silk clothing, gifts, jewelry, and even home accessories.  There are two common threads running through the shop—local creative talent and Susan Wheeler.

First, Susan Wheeler.  An artist herself and a former pastry chef, the idea of opening a retail store with a cooperative bent and filled with unique, hand-crafted things just felt right.  Wheeler had been coming to Cape Ann regularly from Vermont to visit her mother, Vivian, 93, who had moved to Magnolia in 1980.  Eighteen months ago, she moved here permanently, and as she got to know Lexington Avenue and its retail community, Wheeler first thought there might be room for a creative meeting place to run art workshops, offer graphic design and maybe some retail items for purchase.

Home Arts Abound
Susan Wheeler, owner of Arts Abound in Magnolia, is on a mission to promote and discover local artists on Cape Ann, with a cooperative approach to retail.

Photo: Erika Brown

There was an open retail space, so in November 2019 with eight artists, she went for it.  Wheeler said she found it “thrilling and interesting” to find artists, curate the items and “keep it interesting.”  The shop, she said, got off to a good start with holiday shopping.

“I started with an open mind,” said Wheeler.   “But there’s so much artistry here on Cape Ann.  It hasn’t been a problem finding talented people who make beautiful things.”

Nearly two years in, Arts Abound has established itself and evolved.  The store in the spirit of other Cape Ann retailers focused on local artists, like Local Colors, the artists’ cooperative retailer on Main Street in Gloucester or Gallery 53, the juried art gallery run by members of the Rocky Neck Art Colony, also in Gloucester.   Today, Arts Abound has 23 artists on her roster, nearly all from Cape Ann.  They help Wheeler by offering their pieces on consignment, and Wheeler promotes and sells their work.  And she is an enthusiastic promoter of their work, their talent, and their artwork.

The journey It hasn’t been without challenges.  Less than six months into her new venture, the pandemic hit and like most businesses, Wheeler adapted.  She offered hand-sewn masks (selling hundreds), offered appointment-only shopping, personal shopping and home delivery.  She also put plans for workshops and education on the back burner and took on freelance graphic design projects.

“The pandemic hit businesses hard, and we were lucky to have supporters and get through,” Wheeler said.  “I think about how great everyone was.  Even with selling masks, which we made and left outside for people to pick up and pay on the honor system, every single person paid.”

Wheeler has also really gotten to know her retail neighbors along Lexington Avenue, where by chance nearly all are women-owned and the community is tight.  There’s Shakteau Interiors, All Purpose Flowers, Jennifer’s Hair Salon, among many others.  This summer, the neighborhood brought back its popular Sunday Magnolia Farmer’s Market, which closes down Lexington Avenue, brings in music, and most retailers set up displays on the sidewalks outside.  It’s a real community feel.

Wheeler packs the space with all manner of artists, spanning painting, photography, pottery, glasswork, silk-screen, collage, and more.  Besides Wheeler’s own work, there is Stephanie Mason, Brenda Malloy, Melissa Cox (the photographer, who is the artist behind Local Colors in Gloucester), Karen Keough, Lisa Knebel, Tin Can Sally, Donna Ardizzoni, Dave Fernandes, Erik Hahr, Alissa Cohen, John Abisamra, Alan Bourgault, Kaitlyn Manley, Christine Gauthier-Kelley, Derek, Miriabilio, Hermit Hill, and Larry Parsons.

Home Arts Gauthier
Hand painted silk, by Manchester artists Christine Gauthier-Kelley.

Courtesy photo

“We’re not just a local independent store,” she said.  “Of all the artists featured here, and just about all of them are local.”

Home Arts Tin Can Sally
Gloucester artist Sally Seamans (“Tin Can Sally”) works with recycled cans to make art and jewelry.

Courtesy photo

Looking ahead, Wheeler is excited about continuing to celebrate the work of local artists.  She’s also excited to reconnect with some of her original ideas about making a space for people to mix and learn with artists’ workshops and reception that boost a bigger sense of community.