Author: Matthew Green

I am a translator, origami artist/teacher, and photographer, a blogger, former philosophy professor, and I love to sing. You can see my photos on Flickr and buy prints of some of them on Fine Art America. You can find me on Instagram, Twitter (@mehjg), and in various and sundry other social media sites on the web.

Music and food at Midori

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Last night, after a great singing session at the Inn at Babson Court,  a group of us headed over to the Midori restaurant (32 Washington Street). On Wednesday nights, they host the “Artists’ Cocktail” (8-11PM), an opportunity for musicians and other performance artists to get together, eat, talk, and share their talents.  Henry Allen and the New Swingset are the “anchor” group:

 

but last night we heard from several other people as well.  And the food is amazing!

This Japanese dumpling soup is out of this world! I haven’t tried many of their dishes yet, but I have sampled their Peking duck, their spring rolls, some sushi, etc., and they have all been well worth it.

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

Finding treasures in The Cave

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It’s been a while since I stopped by The Cave, but the other day I received an unexpected cash gift, so I decided to treat myself to something special! Laura always has good things in stock, so I headed over to her Main Street store.

There was someone in front of me in line, and as always I was impressed overhearing (sorry!) Laura help them pick out just the right assortment of cheeses based on flavor, texture, etc.  I ended up buying a nice bag of delicacies, including cheeses:

Some were things I’ve tried before, like blueberry honey – fantastic! – and the clothbound cheddar, which is a favorite of mine.  I also got two new items: First, cheddar with caramelized onions, which made a perfect companion for dinner (pork baked with onions, potatoes, and other veggies). Then, “Sir Francis” Bacon Chocolate Peanut Brittle!  No kidding! Bacon, chocolate, and peanut butter all together. How much goodness can you pack into one package? I had a piece in the evening. It is an amazing combination, but not the sort of thing I’d eat a lot of at once, as the flavors are fairly intense. (That’s good, because it’s not cheap!) I recommend it as a gift for your baconoholic friends!  In general, The Cave is a great place to find fine cheeses and other specialty foods. Laura will help you to find something just right!

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

 

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

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We can enjoy this weekend with family and friends and delicious food, thanks to generations of men and women who fought, and many of whom died, to protect our freedom.  Thanks and prayers for all those who made the sacrifice of laying down their lives for us! May God grant peace and rest to them, and consolation and support to their families!

And for a delicious coffee roll from Mamie’s Kitchen…

– Fr. Matthew Green

Dragons!

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Getting ready to move, I came across a box of origami dragons I have folded… They are mostly my own designs.  They are restless waiting to go to their new home!

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

Grand Re-Opening at The Art Nook’s New Location

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Last Saturday, The Art Nook had an opening reception at it’s new location at 58 Bearskin Neck in Rockport.

 

It features a variety of work by local artists, including Kathleen Miller, Stefan Mierz and Larry Martin-Bittman and Micheal Foley.

Kathleen Miller with one of her landscape paintings

 

Stefan Mierz next to one of his works
Larry Martin-Bittman with some of his paintings
Michael Foley at a recent presentation at the Cape Ann Museum - some of these works are being sold at the gallery
Michael Foley at a recent presentation at the Cape Ann Museum – some of these works are being sold at the gallery

Of course, the reception offered delicious food!  As we circulated through the gallery, many of us took a moment to admire the sunset from the gallery’s back patio.

– Fr. Matthew Green

We had fun last night at the origami class at The Hive!

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I am working with Art Haven to organize a 4-week series of classes in July. I will post details as soon as we have them!

– Fr. Matthew Green

Origami class at The Hive tonight!

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As previously announced, I will be teaching an origami class at the Hive tonight. I can tailor the content to the interests and needs of those present. We can do some nautically themed origami, including a variety of boats, and maybe a sea serpent (as in the photo above).

Or, have you bought an origami book or kit for yourself or a family member, only to have it get dusty on the shelf because no one can figure it out?  You are not alone! Bring it to the class, and I can teach the group how to read the diagrams and fold some models from the book!  It doesn’t matter how simple or complex the model is – I can help you understand what’s going on.  Sometimes, the problem is that the diagrams are  poorly done, or just plain wrong. I can help you over those obstacles!

As a final option, if there’s something you’d like to learn how to make, sign up for the course and let me know what you want to learn (and what your skill level is), by commenting on this post or by some other means. I will do my best to find something to suit your interest! I have over 100 origami publications in my personal library, and can also find a variety of instructions on the internet.

I hope to see you there!

– Fr. Matthew Green

Gloucester Citizenship Awards 2013

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The awards, given since 2006 by the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, recognize civic contributions that embody the best of the spirit that guides Unitarian Universalism: open-hearted giving to others, solely for what those gifts mean, for no pay, and often with no public notice. The men and women being recognized were chosen by the church Social Justice Committee from nearly 50 nominations submitted by the congregation and the
public.   The honorees this year are:

Dennis Acker and Rick Doucette
Roger Corbin
Newton Fink
Shannon Gallagher
Reverend Ronald Gariboldi
Paul Harling
Russell Hobbs
Sheldon (Don) Knowles
Karen Ristuben
Diana Smith

Click here for full information about the awards.

Here is a slideshow of the ceremony:

– Fr. Matthew Green

Origami class at The Hive this Thursday!

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As previously announced, I will be teaching an origami class at the Hive on Thursday. I will tailor the content to the interests and needs of those present.

For instance, have you bought an origami book or kit for yourself or a family member, only to have it get dusty on the shelf because no one can figure it out?  You are not alone! Bring it to the class, and I can teach the group how to read the diagrams and fold some models from the book!  It doesn’t matter how simple or complex the model is – I can help you understand what’s going on.  Sometimes, the problem is that the diagrams are  poorly done, or just plain wrong. I can help you over those obstacles!

 

Or, we can also simply do some nautically themed origami, including a variety of boats, and maybe a sea serpent!

As a final option, if there’s something you’d like to learn how to make, sign up for the course and let me know today or early on Wednesday what you want to learn (and what your skill level is), by commenting on this post or by some other means. I will do my best to find something to suit your interest! I have over 100 origami publications in my personal library, and can also find a variety of instructions on the internet.

I hope to see you there!

– Fr. Matthew Green

Dinner at Latitude 43

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On Tuesday, a friend of mine was visiting from New York. He loves good food, so we had planned to head down to one of Gloucester’s fine dining locations on Main Street.  We had settled on the Franklin, but when we got down to Main Street, we found out about the broken water main and saw that all the restaurants were closed.

We ended up going down to Rogers Street and trying Latitude 43.  I had only been there once before, quite a while ago, and it was the first time for my friend.  We were both impressed by the decor as soon as we walked in. The metal sculptures of the octopus, fish, etc., are quite something, as is the mural of the shoreline over the bar!

Our waiter, Zorba Kinigstein, was enthusiastic, friendly, and very knowledgeable about the menu, giving us tantalizing descriptions of how the different dishes are prepared and the different flavors and textures we could expect.  My friend ordered the lobster bisque and the pan-seared halibut special; I opted for the clam chowder and the crispy potato sushi roll (tempura asparagus, lettuce, avocado and cream cheese, topped with fried sweet potato and served with a spicy mustard sauce!) which you can see in my photo at the beginning of this post.

Everything was delicious! I’d read a lot about Latitude 43 on GMG before, but I don’t eat out often on my own and usually aim for more inexpensive options to fit my budget. I am glad that circumstances (and my friend’s generosity) led us to eat there!

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

Murder on Rocky Neck, The Opera – in its second and last weekend!

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Last night I went to this show over at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck.  It was a lot of fun!

 

There are several more performances this weekend: 7:30PM today and Saturday, and 2PM Saturday and Sunday. More information and tickets available here.

Here’s a slideshow:

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

Barbara Moody at the Cape Ann Museum

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Barbara Moody at the podium 2
On May 12 at 2PM, Barbara Moody gave a presentation on “Finding Your Unique Voice as an Artist”. She spoke to a fairly large audience about her own experience as an artist, accompanied by a slideshow illustrating her artistic journey through a wide variety of themes and styles in her work. She also showed a sort of time-lapse video of herself doing a charcoal painting; it was fascinating to watch the work evolve and change radically before our eyes!
Barbara Moody at the podium small

 

Barbara Moody was invited as the Distinguished Artist/Teacher this year for the Goetemann Artist in Residency Program, Rocky Neck Art Colony.  Click here for more details about her career and the Goetemann Artist in Residency Program.

– Fr. Matthew Green

Public School Children’s Art at the Cape Ann Museum

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As a part of the Gloucester Public Schools Arts Festival, the Cape Ann Museum has embraced an avalanche of visual arts produced by the school children.  The work is displayed all over the museum’s galleries, making an interesting juxtaposition with the work of professional artists.

Here’s a slideshow with more photos:

– Fr. Matthew Green

World Organ Day 2013 at St. Ann’s Church

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A week ago today was World Organ Day!  Althout it is an initiative of Notre Dame de Paris, it was celebrated around the world with more than 850 organ concerts.  Fr. John Kiley, pastor of Holy Family Parish, joined in with a concert here in Gloucester at St. Ann’s Church (a worship site of Holy Family Parish).

Fr Kiley on the organ

Organ concert smallAlthough St. Ann’s has a real pipe organ, it is in sore need of work, and the parish does not have the funds for the organ’s restoration.  So, Fr. Kiley gave the concert on the church’s electric organ instead. It sounds nice, but it doesn’t quite measure up to the real pipe organ.  After the concert, Fr. Kiley played one verse of a popular hymn using some of the registers on the old pipe organ that still work more or less well, and the difference was notable.

– Fr. Matthew Green

 

Love’s Labour’s Lost – don’t lose out on it!

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Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe’s production of Love’s Labour’s Lost is playing May 11, 17, 18 @ 8 PM and May 12 & 19 @ 3 PM, Rockport Community House 58 Broadway.  It’s a fun show!

Here’s a more complete slideshow:

– Fr. Matthew Green

An Impressive Use of Origami

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People do all sorts of neat things with origami.  Last October during my vacation in Paris, I saw this impressive use of origami in advertising at a Peugeot store on the Champs Elysees:

 

 

The origami involved is actually pretty simple; the genius of this display is the way the origami is arranged (and the sheer amount of folding involved!).

Do you want to do neat things with origami? Come to my next class at The Hive in downtown Gloucester, on May 23 at 7PM.

– Fr. Matthew Green