Author: Joey Ciaramitaro

November brings an electrifying moment of Irish theatre!

For two weekends only, Cape Ann Theatre Collaborative (CAT) is producing The Beauty Queen of Leenane—a dark comic masterpiece with more twists than Hitchcock & Bergman combined.

Hailed as a modern classic on its debut, The Beauty Queen of Leenane has been produced on the West End & Broadway, and received multiple critical awards for “Best Play.” It’s the work of Martin McDonagh, the acclaimed screenwriter ofIn Bruges and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Starring Pauline Miceli, Elinor Teele, Jeffrey Forte, and Marc St. Pierre, and directed by Marc St. Pierre, this is a Gloucester-based event not to be missed!

• Dates: November 9-11 & 16-18

• Times: Fri & Sat at 7:30 PM; Sun at 3 PM

• Venue: Gorton Theatre, Home of Gloucester Stage; 267 East Main Street, Gloucester MA 01930

• Tickets: $20 cash or check at the door

• Reserve: Email catcollab@gmail.com to reserve tickets

• Explore: Visit www.capeanntheatrecollaborative.com to learn more about the play, the cast, and the company!

On December 2nd from 1:00pm to 4:00pm the Elks Lodge 892 and the Cape Ann YMCA are holding a Hoop Shoot, Free Throw Contest for Youths ages 8-13.  Participants will have a chance to win 2 Celtics Tickets (winner & guardian) in their age category:  Girls: 8-9, 10-11, 12-13  Boys: 8-9, 10-11, 12-13.  Winners will also have a chance to advance through to District, State, Regional and National competitions.  This is a FREE event and all participants will receive fun prizes.  Young people from any city are welcome to participate.

As you know, the Elks is a not for profit charitable organization that promotes patriotism, youth programs, veterans assistance and community assistance programs.  

For years, residents of Cape Ann have lined up at the Annisquam Village Hall before the doors open for the annual Christmas Fair to purchase the beautiful greens, gifts, and gourmet goodies made by the ladies of the Annisquam Sewing Circle.

The fair is known for its beautiful wreaths, but there will also be decorated boxwood trees and mantle and table centerpieces suitable for smaller spaces.

The abundance and variety of handcrafted items will dazzle the eye—sweaters, socks, hats and mittens; placemats, potholders and monogrammed dish towels; needlepoint tree ornaments created by the members of the Annisquam Sewing CIrcle just for this fair, as well as many more one-of-a-kind items that will not be found anywhere else! Once again, Circle member Grace Murray has knitted one of her unique hats (her 335th!), which will be offered in a silent auction. Only one of these hats becomes available to the public each year.

Beautifully wrapped foods and baked goods grace the gourmet table —from homemade preserves to fancy cakes, gluten-free items and even Food for Fido and your Favorite Feline. The fair also features a glittering display of costume jewelry which for many shoppers is a destination itself. Hostess baskets and grab bags are also popular traditional items at the fair.

A delicious three-course luncheon will be served at 12:30. Tickets are $18 and reservations are recommended (visit Annisquamsewingcircle.org)
Founded in 1837, the Annisquam Sewing Circle is one of the oldest continuous independent societies of women in the United States and is the oldest one on Cape Ann. All proceeds from the Fair are contributed by the Annisquam Sewing Circle to Cape Ann community programs.

The thought of eating a mushy peach or apple totally disgusts me.

Kate and I agree that our Granny Smith apples Need to be dark green with white dots on them and hard as hell, no soft spots.

Some people I’m talking with say they won’t eat their peaches until they are soft and mushy because they’re sweeter.  Gross.

I want my peaches tart and hard and to come off in crisp bites-

Got out of work at 6:45PM and had it in my head to make sure I drive extra slow on the way home because it was Halloween night and I figured that would be prime time for kids to be out and about.

I saw three kids in one pack on Haskell and not another group all the way to my sister Felicia’s house where we had dinner.  While at Felicia’s only one group came by, a group of four one of which was Erin McKay’s daughter and then Buzzy Boo came home dressed up like a skeleton.

Uhmmmmmm, does anyone else remember what it was like when we were middle schoolers in the early eighties?

It was egg fights on the Golf Course and you’d get cans or shaving cream and put needles in the nozzle and then melt it down so the shaving cream would squirt out 7-8 feet or so.  Toilet paper in the trees?  We’d come home COVERED in shaving cream and eggs.

Those were good times.

The streets were packed with kids.  I’m not sure how it is around the rest of the city but  our neighborhood in East Gloucester was a dead zone.  Get to CVS today because I’m sure there’s a buttload of candy left over that they’ll be selling for next to nothing.

10^th ANNUAL TASTE OF CAPE ANN

Local restaurants come together in one night of support for YMCA Teens

WHAT:       The Taste of Cape Ann Celebrating our TENTH YEAR! The most delicious event of the year featuring the best of Cape Ann eateries offering food, wine and spirits for just $25 per person with 100% of the proceeds of ticket sales going to support the Cape Ann YMCA’s Youth & Teen programs in Gloucester and Rockport. Annually, some 200 guests take part in this fabulous foodie festival. Some local favorites include Cake Ann, Cape Ann Food Tours, Cape Ann Olive Oil, Common Crow, J Cakes, Latitude 43 & Minglewood Tavern, Lobster Land, Mile Marker One, Mom’s Kitchen, Nutty Redhead, Passports Restaurant, Pier 23 Kitchen, Pigeon Cove Ferments, Seaport Grille, Trio, Sugar Magnolias and more! Music by John Jerome.

Through the generous support of the Cape Ann community and Beauport Financial Services, Cruiseport Gloucester, Tom Davis, CPA, Robert Stewart, PC and Institution for Savings, proceeds directly impact the Y’s Teen Leadership Development programs and Teen Centers in Gloucester and Rockport. The Cape Ann Y has a long history of serving youth and teens in the Gloucester and Rockport communities and strives to empower the next generation of leaders by giving them the tools to succeed. Through service learning opportunities, leadership clubs and drop-in Teen Centers where everyone is welcome, the Y is creating an inviting and inspiring atmosphere for young adults to thrive.

WHEN:         Thursday, November 8th, 6:00 – 9:00pm

Tickets: $25/person

WHERE:       Cruiseport Gloucester

6 Rowe Square Gloucester

She had a hellova run.

RIP

Skipper Lou Williams,  Jon Avanzino and Tom Ring