Even on a gray day, there is still a great view… Click pictures to view full size.
Manchester Harbor without a Sunrise or Sunset
Author: Lowell Peabody
Man Supports the Arts With Statement to His Ex…
Amazing lengths some people will go to.. Perhaps this guy should have moved on long ago, but no. He buys a house next-door to his Ex and installs a work of art for her to admire.. A very expensive hand gesture. Click the article to read more! Jeez, can you believe this?
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Manchester by the Shop – Central Street Gallery
11 Central Street
Located at 11 Central Street in Manchester, the Central Street Gallery is an artists cooperative. Gallery Director Alison Rowell says that they have about 14 members who each rent wall space in the gallery which starts off at a width of approximately 73″. The artists can hang as many paintings as are practical.
The focus of the gallery is a traditional Plein Aire style with the paintings set in gold frames. There are some deviations on the theme providing some different styles though the general style for paintings is still life and landscapes.
Each member of the Gallery agrees to rent space and also to paint 5-6 new paintings every two months which they deliver framed and ready for hanging. The Gallery presents six shows each year so the collection of paintings is changing every two months. To give each artist equal opportunity to the better display areas on the walls, every two months each artist rotates their space three wall spaces, guaranteeing each artist equal time in the front window.
Central Street Gallery is celebrating their fifth year at 11 Central Street and will be starting their next show with an opening night reception on December 7th. This show will focus on smaller works from the artists.
In addition to the Gallery there is a website (www.central street gallery.com) where more of each artist’s works are shown.
The artists are generally local with a number living in Manchester and Gloucester. Central Street Gallery is a great place to support local artists and is clearly a place to check out.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Manchester by the Shop – Mimi
19 Central Street
The Man Cave on the left..
Mimi is an artist driven gift, jewelry and fine art store located at 19 Central Street in Manchester. It was started in Ipswich in the summer of 2007 with locations in Ipswich and a bit later Manchester. Having closed the Ipswich store about three years ago Manchester has become their flagship store.
Co-founders Mia Nehme and her daughter Claudia Bowman say that they search for gifts and fine art that are made or designed by artists, and they feature the work of several local painters and artisan gifts. In addition they carry glassware, silverware, scarfs, by several vendors including Ekelund, Simon Pearce, Le Jaquard Francais, Mariposa and more. Then there is an extensive selection of jewelry.
In the having something for everyone department, Mimi has gifts from $10.oo on up, Yankee Swap gifts to art work and gifts for very special occasions. For men they have created a “Man Cave” at the back of the store where they sell primarily shaving and smoking items.(Actually the “Cave” is a nice display case). They have a jewelry selection with pieces from various local artists. Aron Leaman of Gloucester, a artist who works in glass produced a number of glass globes with actual Singing Beach Sand inside. Mia highlights this to say that because they deal directly with many of the artists special orders even with design changes on some items can be requested.
From time to time Mimi holds special events in which their customers are invited to hear from, see and learn about particular vendors or artists work.
Mimi’s website is at http://www.mimigiftgallery.com, the store is at 19 Central Street just across the street from the Town Hall. Check them out!
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Manchester by the Shop – Surfari
26 Central Street
Christian del Rosario
As a start to a series highlighting local shops in Manchester, Christian del Rosario at Surfari agreed to be the first victim!
I have wondered for some time, how is it a surf shop can survive in New England, let alone Manchester by the Sea. What I have been learning is the incredible appeal of SUP or Stand Up Paddle boarding. As Christian says paddle boards have become the bicycles of water enthusiasts who can purchase racing models, cruising models and boards built for beginners. Manchester with it’s relatively flat waters, islands to visit and proximity to lakes has been perfect. The chances to exercise, explore hard to reach places, enjoy touring and for some explore yoga on a board and even fish are all around Manchester. Taken to the extreme there are organized races and SUP has even started to appear in rivers running rapids!
The surf market is also strong in the area and Christian says that the season is getting underway now. Storm waves that surfers pray for are stronger in the winter months and the season really extends from October to April.
Surfari sells surf boards, paddle boards, shoes, clothing, beach wear, water sport accessories, sunglasses and gifts. Many items are perfect as boating accessories as well. Boards can be rented and lessons can be scheduled. They have sun shirts (AKA “Rash guards” for those on boards), and other sun protection items. They also have cold weather equipment for those surfers braving the ocean at this time of year.
In addition to lessons and working with the Manchester Parks and Recreation department, Surfari provides programs for adults and children from May to October. Anyone, not just Manchester residents, can participate in these programs so there are many ways to learn and enjoy SUP boarding.
Christian, his wife Nicole and two daughters have returned to Christian’s home town of Manchester after 13 years away. He has specialized in surfing and paddle boards and most recently was in Nantucket where he sold boards and provided lessons. Opening a retail store in Manchester looked like a great opportunity to expand from selling boards to clothing, accessories and all the other items they now sell.
Surfari is located at 26 Central Street in Manchester. Their website is http://www.standuppaddlesurfari.com . Stop in and say “Hi” to Christian and Nicole.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Inner Harbor of Manchester
Fall view of the inner harbor of Manchester by the Sea. Click the image for a larger view.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Festival of the Trees Manchester November 29th
A newly formed group made up of downtown merchants in Manchester have formed the Manchester Mercantile. In order to promote the Christmas season, create a festive atmosphere and plant the seed to think locally when shopping, they are organizing the first Festival of the Trees hoping to make this an annual event.
The plan is to decorate 24 8 foot tall Evergreens on the Town Hall Common. Groups (Hornet sports teams, a Middle School art class or make up a group) will be provided a tree and a string of white lights. The rest of the decorations are left to the imagination of the groups and individuals decorating.
Trees will be set up for decorating which will take place between November 29th and December 7th. The number of trees is limited so people are encouraged to sign up early.
For specific guidelines and sign-up sheets contact Nicole DelRosario at Surfari (978) 704-9051 or email info@supsafari.com.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Manchester Essex Falls to Northeast in Semi-Final Football Action
A tough day on Saturday for the Hornets as they fell in semi-final action to Northeast Metropolitan 38-12. Behind 14-6 at the half, the defense played long and hard in the second half and held for several exciting stops but the offensive team could only find the end zone one more time. A good season for the Hornets comes to an end, but memories of how far they got in the tournament should be an inspiration at the start of next season!
Click on photos to see larger format
Dumont breaks free
Defense doesn’t budge
We’re ready coach!
Carter hands off
Carter gets away
Coach
Carr breaks free
Hennigan about to hit
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Essex – A Front Rolls Through
About 3:45 on Friday, a front rolled through the area providing menacing clouds, incredible spots of sunlight and snow showers in the sky that melted before they hit the ground. Just incredible! Glad to live on Cape Ann and be able to see capture a few scenes like these. Click the images for larger view
Southern Avenue
Hog Island from Farnham’s
Conomo Road
View of Essex River from Conomo Road
View Across Essex River
View Down River towards Crane Beach and Wingarsheek
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Sun Sets in Peabody (not “on”)
Not to panic, I was a passenger on this journey down Route 128 / I-95 . Traveling on the way to Reading for the Manchester Essex field hockey game and I got to watch a changing sky almost all the way.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Manchester Essex Field Hockey wins Semi Final!
Playing on a neutral field at Reading High School, the Manchester Essex Hornets took on the Ipswich Tigers in MIAA State Field Hockey Tournament Semi-Finals. In a hard fought first half the Tigers broke through first for a 1-0 lead but before halftime the Hornets were able to score the equalizer. In the second half both teams continued playing great defense and getting/allowing few scoring opportunities. The Hornets held a decided edge in penalty corners but had a tough time converting for scores. Manchester Essex did get a few more chances and managed to make one count for the 2-1 lead. The Hornets worked hard to preserve the win despite a strong finishing Ipswich attack. The Hornets move on to the finals of the State Tournament where they will face the perennial powerhouse Watertown. Game will be played at North Andover High School Saturday November 9th at 11:00.
Click on pictures for larger image.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
View from the Bridge and the Causeway
Sunsets in Gloucester and Essex.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Olive Kitteridge Another Time Another Camera…
Couldn’t hold back from going to see some of the filming and tried to get some shots of actors, crew etc.. Amazing amount of work to create a fantasy! After seeing some new stores and old cars I was able to look inside a bit…
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Store Fronts – Seasonal, Weekly and Even Pure Fantasy
So many storefront windows and so many messages! Here are a few designed for the season, a celebration and pure fantasy.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Sunset By The Sea – In Manchester
While Singing Beach showed an almost pastel, soft set of colors with a little fog blowing in, the Harbor was sharp and bright! Always interesting how different things can look within a half mile!
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Barns and Boathouses of Conomo Point, Essex
Somehow, lost in the beauty of Essex’s Conomo Point with views of open water, far away dunes and the Essex River, the boathouses and barns can slip into the background.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Halloween Creeps in By The Sea
A little early recon to check out the spooky, creepy, scary haunts awaiting the Tricksters and Treaters! Looks like a night of fright…
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Windows on Cape Ann – Can you place them?
Put guesses in a comment…
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Sun Sets on a Short Drive Home…
You can question my haphazard route, but it’s hard to question the picturesque nature of where we live. Amazing. Home to Manchester from Gloucester, via Magnolia.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Wobblin’ Goblins Parade in Manchester 10/26/2013
Saturday morning saw the first of the Halloween Trick or Treaters with the Wobblin’ Goblins Parade. Starting at Town Hall, the parade proceeded through Town with stops at the stores along the way for treats. The parade ended at the Community Center with a Goblin Party.
Good Morning Gloucester 