Author: Nichole S.

Full days of fun planned in both Gloucester and Rockport this weekend!

Pick #1: Rockport Makers’ Festival

Both Saturday and Sunday 10:00-5:00 throughout downtown Rockport.

For the second year, the Rockport Makers’ Festival returns to Rockport this December 14 and 15, 2019. This holiday festival is produced by a partnership of the Town of Rockport, Rusty and Ingrid Creative Company, and the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce.

The town-wide festival encourages holiday shoppers to buy artisan made gifts, and activates the village with festive events that celebrate the season, including free horse drawn carriage rides on Bearskin Neck, live music, and a “winter cocktail and beer tent”, featuring local Ryan & Wood Distillery and a selection of local brewers.

Throughout the downtown area and at Whistlestop Mall, over 50 of Rockport’s own creative businesses will be showcasing their maker-made gifts, as well as hosting interactive events in their shops, galleries, and restaurants. Events include a “Do-It-Yourself Candle Bar” at Rockport Candle Company and a free “Print-Your-Own Screen Print” with Rusty and Ingrid Creative Company.

Additionally, a juried indoor Holiday Market brings over 40 creative brands from the local area and all over New England to sell their handmade wares at three locations in the village: the Rockport Art Association & Museum, Brackett’s Oceanview Restaurant, and Spiran Hall. The market will be open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM each day and admission is free.

Other attractions include: an indoor Holiday Food Market hosted by Rockport Exchange on Saturday; Food Trucks; Saturday evening entertainment including a live concert at The Old Sloop Coffee House, a free holiday movie showing at Spiran Hall; and giveaway offers such as free tote bags (while supplies last) and a raffle prize.

A printed event map will be available to guide visitors to the many attractions, and a full schedule is available on the event website, www.rockportmakers.com.

READ MORE HERE

Pick #2: Middle Street Walk

“Where the Past is Present in a Seasonal Celebration”

Saturday from 10:00-4:00

READ MORE HERE

Pick #3:  Lobster Trap Tree Lighting and Art Haven Open House 

The end of a wonderful day on Cape Ann ends with an Open House at Gloucester’s Art Haven with cocoa, treats, craft activities, music, face painting and more.  As you see the crowd gathering immediately across the street, head outside for the Lobster Pot Tree Lighting at 4:30 for a sing-a-long and 5:00 for the tree lighting.

These stone lighthouse inspired pillars are fabulous.  While I have no idea who they belong to, I absolutely love them….especially in the winter.

I’ve decided that when the holiday rush gets to me, I am going to pause and reflect on this perfectly serene photo taken by Paul Horovitz.  This photo screams (or rather, whispers) calm.

If, by chance, you aren’t feeling the holiday spirit yet, take a trip to the beautiful Beauport Hotel to see their glorious holiday decorations.  It is impossible to not feel joy upon walking up the staircase and into the lobby.  Sit by the fireplace for a bit, look out to the harbor, and enjoy one of their yummy holiday cocktails.  I had something with fig infused vodka the other day and if was delicious!  If it isn’t too chilly, snuggle up on the deck by the fireplace with a blanket and forget about your holiday to-dos for a bit.  Don’t forget, before you leave, to stroll into the gift shop for some holiday shopping.

Pick #1:  Santa Arrives in Rockport 

Saturday, December 7th beginning at 1:00 pm

It doesn’t get more “New England quaint” than this.  Like a scene from a perfect holiday movie is Christmas in Rockport.

Santa will arrive by lobster boat at Rockport’s T-Wharf on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 1:00 PM. After carefully navigating his way off the boat and up onto T-Wharf, Santa will climb up onto a Rockport Forest Fire truck and parade across the street to Rockport Baptist Church.

Santa will be available to have photos taken with the children at the church until the Tree Lighting Ceremony begins. At 4:00 pm, Santa will head over to Dock Square to greet the crowd and kick off the Tree Lighting festivities, before climbing back onto the fire truck to begin his long return journey to the North Pole.

Magic 106.7  and HOOD will be in Harvey Park playing Christmas music and handing out eggnog samples from 12:30 – 3:45 PM.

Pick #2: Rockport Holiday Shopping Night

Friday, December 6th

Visit Rockport USA for more information HERE 

Enjoy a festive Friday shopping evening with many shops and galleries staying open for extended hours and offering exclusive promotions and giveaways. Stroll throughout Rockport’s historic downtown to the sounds of carols and songs of the season, and get into the holiday spirit. A hundred lighted Christmas trees will guide you to beautifully decorated shops and galleries along Main Street, Mt. Pleasant Street, Dock Square and Bearskin Neck.

Holiday Shopping Night Raffle:
To enter, simply fill out tickets from participating businesses and turn them in at The Fish Shack by 8:30 PM. The drawing will take place at The Fish Shack at 9 PM. You do not have to be present to win. Enter to win one of two $50 Cape Ann Gift Certificates
Get updates from participating businesses.

Pick #3: Winter Lights by the Trustees 

Tickets are necessary for this lovely event. The closest one to us is at the Stevens-Coolidge Place in North Andover.

Trustees’ Winterlights returns and is bigger and better than ever. Join us for magical experiences at three of our beautiful garden properties, Naumkeag in Stockbridge, The Stevens-Coolidge Place in North Andover, and new this year Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate in Canton, as they sparkle with thousands of shimmering and artfully designed holiday lights. Bring the family for scavenger hunts, crafts, seasonal characters and experiences, food and refreshments, and more. Winterlights runs multiple evenings each week starting the weekend before Thanksgiving and running through the end of December.

Get your tickets early before they sell out.

PURCHASE TICKETS AND LEARN MORE HERE

As always, for a comprehensive list of family activities, please visit our friends at North Shore Kid.

I took a quick drive around the Cape yesterday afternoon…post storm.  Bearskin Neck looked so sleepy when I stopped at Front Beach to watch the waves.  I do like how, while you can feel the chill in this photo, the pops of color still shine through.  Rockport is pretty no matter what the season.

I love the lighting in this photo from Paul Horovitz of the dredging that is taking place in the Annisquam River.  This crew has been hard at work for several days now.

Harborlight is pleased to be hosting a series of Open School events during the next several months. Visiting and tour opportunities during the school day as well as evening events are available.

Wednesday, December 4th:  9:00 am: Observe working classrooms and tour campus

Wednesday, January 8th:  7:00 pm: Tour campus and meet faculty and staff

Wednesday, February 5th: 9:00 am: Observe working classrooms and tour campus

www.engageyourworld.org

Reach out to info@harborlight.net or call 978-922-1008

I sat and enjoyed a cup of coffee with the Man at the Wheel yesterday morning while Thatcher volunteered at the American Legion to help ensure that everyone enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal.  He was watching the harbor as fearlessly and relentlessly as always.  No days off for him.  Thank you to all who worked yesterday while the rest of us enjoyed a day off with family. We are thankful for you.

Pick #1:  Winterlights at Stevens-Coolidge Place

Trustees’ Winterlights returns and is bigger and better than ever. Join us for magical experiences at three of our beautiful garden properties, Naumkeag in Stockbridge, The Stevens-Coolidge Place in North Andover, and new this year Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate in Canton, as they sparkle with thousands of shimmering and artfully designed holiday lights. Bring the family for scavenger hunts, crafts, seasonal characters and experiences, food and refreshments, and more. Winterlights runs multiple evenings each week starting the weekend before Thanksgiving and running through the end of December.

Get your tickets early before they sell out.

READ MORE AND PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Members: $12
Nonmembers: $17
Under 12: FREE

All tickets on sale now!

Pick #2: Gingerbread House Decorating at the Sawyer Free Library

CONTACT: Christy Rosso  978-325-5505  crosso@sawyerfreelibrary.org

Pick #3: Family Day at Castle Hill

Sunday, November 24
10AM-4PM

As always, for a comprehensive list of family activities, please visit our friends at North Shore Kid

“More than a fundraiser, Pie in the Sky fosters community spirit by bringing together more than 20,000 people throughout Greater Boston – including bakers, Pies Sellers, volunteers, donors, and sponsors to create the “World’s Greatest Bake Sale” in support of Community Servings’ food and nutrition program.

Each fall, more than 100 of Greater Boston’s most generous bakers, chefs, and caterers bake and donate thousands of pies that more than 500 volunteers sell to family, friends, and coworkers. You can select an apple, pecan, pumpkin, or sweet potato pie to pick up before Thanksgiving at one of our 100+ pick-up locations. (includine Engel & Volkers By the Sea on Main Street in Gloucester)

Each $30 pie or donation provides a week’s worth of nutritious meals for a neighbor who is too sick to shop or cook for themselves or their families.

The last day to purchase pies is Saturday, November 23rd! Get your pie before the shopping cart closes!”

CLICK HERE to purchase or donate a pie! 

🥧 Buy a pie and help someone in need! Hundreds of top bakers in the area donate pies to Pie in the Sky.

🥧 Each $30 pie (donation) provides a week’s worth of nutritious meals for a neighbor who is too sick to shop or cook for themselves or their families.

🥧 If you donate and purchase a pie you can come pick it up at many locations around MA including Engel & Volkers by the Sea on Main Street in Gloucester.

View their unbelievably impressive list of restaurants and bakers.  Who wouldn’t want a pie from someone on this list!

https://www.pieinthesky.org/bakers

It only makes sense that before the big day….the Macy’s Day Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade that is…that they test those awesome, massive balloons.  This year they are premiering four new balloons and bringing back many fan favorites.

READ BELOW FROM Featured Image also from https://www.northjersey.com/

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2019/11/02/macys-thanksgiving-parade-new-balloons-tested-east-rutherford-nj/2495523001/

New Jersey landed a sneak peek on Saturday at the giant balloons Macy’s will debut later this month for its 93rd Thanksgiving Day parade.

There were clear skies and no wind outside MetLife Stadium, perfect weather to test whether the massive, helium-filled characters will be able to make it down the 2.7-mile parade route in Manhattan.

“It’s nothing but fun,” said Dawn Weidow, one of the hundreds of balloon handlers. “Pure fun. Adrenaline rush.”

Four balloons will make their first appearance this year: Snoopy in an astronaut suit; two characters from the Netflix adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs & Ham;” SpongeBob SquarePants and his pet sea snail, Gary; and a creation designed by artist Yayoi Kusama. Smokey Bear is also returning in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the character’s creation.

The Macy’s parade debuted in 1924 with Central Park Zoo animals coming down the parade route and no balloons. Those premiered in 1927, with Felix the Cat.

The SpongeBob balloon is the character’s third iteration for the parade and Snoopy’s eighth, a record. Charles M. Schulz’s iconic beagle has floated above parade-goers 39 times, as an aviator, an astronaut once before, on ice skates, with Woodstock twice, as a “flying ace” and wearing a jester’s hat. This year Snoopy is 49-feet tall and 29-feet wide.

John Piper, a senior director of the Macy’s Parade Studio, said Macy’s returns to Snoopy because the world does.

“He is a classic and a perennial favorite,” Piper said. “There’s been a couple of years where we had other Peanuts characters, like Charlie Brown specifically, and I had some people ask me, well Snoopy’s in too, right?”

The annual balloon test in East Rutherford is not just a promotional event intended to kick off the holiday season. It’s also a required step for Macy’s to receive permits from New York City. Lt. Sean Patterson said the city has to make sure the new balloons fly safely.

The city implemented new rules after the 1997 parade, when a gust of wind caused a six-story-tall Cat in the Hat balloon to strike a light pole, showering debris on people below and injuring one woman so severely she almost died.

Each balloon has a police sergeant assigned to it to make sure it is flying correctly, and there are “wind sergeants” along the route who monitor wind speeds, according to Patterson, a safety officer for the parade who works for the New York Police Department’s emergency service unit.

Tucked away safe and sound for the winter and, like many of us, dreaming of summer days gone by and those yet to come.  Thank you, Paul Horovitz!

Pick #1:  North Shore Gamers Club at the Sawyer Free Library

Saturday, 9:00-4:30

Looking to get into the fun of modern board gaming? Come and learn from the best! North Shore Gamers will be hosting a game day open to all levels and types of board gamers. Bring your favorite game or play from our communal library.
Including Chess.

CONTACT: Devon Winkler  978-281-9763  devon@northshoregamers.com

LOCATION: Friend Room

 

Learn more about the North Shore Gamers HERE

North Shore Gamers is a meetup group dedicated to offering gaming events that are open and welcoming to all sorts of gamers. Whether you’re an old pro or brand new to the hobby, you’ll find a place here. The organizers have made a lot of friends in this group, and enjoy providing the opportunity for others to do the same.

We generally focus on strategy games, but there’s plenty of room for all sorts of genres, from dexterity games to word games, from trivia games to trick-taking games. We also tend to focus on learning new games, and are happy to teach anyone interested in trying something new. But, we also like to revisit old favorites from time to time. If it rates well on Board Game Geek (http://www.boardgamegeek.com) (and even if not, as there are plenty of hidden gems on that site) it’ll likely get played at one of our events.

To give you an idea what to expect, here are some of the games currently getting a lot of play: Codenames, Pandemic Legacy, No Thanks!, Deep Sea Adventure, Tokaido, Dominion, 7 Wonders, and Splendor.

Pick #2: Boston International Kids Film Festival 

The Boston International Kids Film Festival highlights the talent of independent filmmakers everywhere while inspiring young people to share their own stories with the world.

Welcome to a weekend of workshops and screenings of family-friendly films, both professionally and student-made, hailing from countries that span the globe!

Filmmakers Collaborative created the BIKFF in 2013 with a goal of showing kids that making a film can be a powerful way to tell a story, express your emotions, state a point of view and ( more importantly) to have fun!

By screening amazing student-made films from around the world while at the same time offering these young filmmakers a look at professionally-made films created just for them, we are enabling the next generation of filmmakers to realize the power and potential of media.

The young filmmakers that participate in FC Academy, our after-school and summer filmmaking program, are given center stage at special blocks throughout the weekend, as we screen the short films that they have created in front of their family and friends.

Combine all that with hands-on workshops on stop-motion animation, storyboarding and filmmakers meet-ups and you are in for an event that families of Greater Boston will be enjoying for years to come!

LEARN MORE HERE

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE HERE

Pick #3: Ski, Skate, Board Friends of Cutler Consignment Sale

READ MORE HERE

Saturday and Sunday, Nov, 16th and 17th
Saturday 11/16 – 9am-2pm
Our vendors will be here ALL day on Saturday
Sunday 11/17 – 11am-1pm
Clearance – 50% off most items (Vendors not included)

Cutler Elementary School
237 Asbury Street, Hamilton

Find great deals on new and gently used clothing and gear for the whole family! Skiing, skating, hockey, snowboarding, sledding and more! Top vendors include Plymouth Ski & Sports, Hardy’s Ski Emporium, Wenham Sports Stop, and More!

As always, for a comprehensive list of family activities, visit our good friends at North Shore Kid. 

These funny little goats were just out for a walk and taking their sweet time to cross the street in Rockport.  Maybe they were on their way to Goat Yoga.

I have yet to upgrade to the iPhone 11, but I love seeing the fabulous photos that the phone’s three cameras can take.  I’m always happy when Paul Horovitz shares his close up portraits of small discoveries from walks in the Annisquam.

This weekend is a big weekend for Cape Ann Youth Hockey! It is the annual Sal Grasso Memorial Tournament.  Each year, since 1987 (there may have been couple of years taken off in the middle) teams from Cape Ann play in a tournament against teams from Westmount in Montreal, Canada.  Programs alternate between traveling to the opposing host city each Veteran’s Weekend in November. This year Montreal teams will be traveling to us and we are excited to host their players and families.

Families who have been a part of Cape Ann Youth Hockey will tell you that the camaraderie off the ice between teammates, friends, and families is just as important as any game play that takes place on the ice…if not more.  Hockey is a commitment… to say the least. There are long weekends spent in cars, early morning wake ups, and expenses that are sometimes quiet hard to believe, but….through it all, the highs and the lows, shines the Sal Grasso Memorial Friendship Tournament.

Opening ceremonies take place on Friday at 4:30 and will continue all weekend long until the 3:00 pm closing ceremonies on Sunday.  Please stop by and cheer on our home teams.

Sportsmanship, friendship, and teamwork are at the heart of it all, but both programs will tell you that winning is nice too.  The Westmount teams, unbelievably, took the trophy for the tournament’s first 14 years in a row!  Since then, Cape Ann has won seven and Westmount five.

Montreal won the tournament last year.  Cape Ann is looking to keep the cup here in Gloucester Sunday afternoon.  Full stands and local support will certainly help that cause.

Read more about past tournaments by following these links:

https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2018/11/15/for-the-love-of-hockey/

https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2017/11/13/3-days-24-games-72-periods-25th-year-check/

https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2017/11/09/sal-grasso-memorial-tournament/

https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2016/11/14/congratulations-cayh-nation/

https://goodmorninggloucester.org/2015/11/16/a-lot-of-hockey-was-played/

This tradition is important to Cape Ann Youth Hockey and the City of Gloucester. Please come to Talbot Rink this weekend to cheer on our teams and to welcome our friends from Westmount.

Friends of CAYH, Paul T. Russo and Shawn Grasso will be dropping the ceremonial pucks for the first games.

Let’s fill the stands!!!

Dreary can still be pretty.  Thank you to Paul Horovitz for this early morning photo from Lobster Cove.

Pick #1: Purely Good in Our Neighborhood

This great event was rained out last weekend, but is on for Sunday, November 3rd.  Lots of local pure goodness. The event is FREE, but lots of great artisans and vendors will be on hand to sell their goods.  This event will raise money for Sweet Paws Rescue and Windrush Farm.

Pick #2: Fall Twice Loved Toy Sale

Pick #3: Sense of Wonder Family Walk: Cool Camoflauge

November 3: Cool Camouflage
In order to survive, animals use many disguises. They can stay very still, blend in with their surroundings, and even change color. Take a hike to look for these secretive creatures that hide themselves from prying eyes.

Read More Here: https://www.massaudubon.org/program-catalog/ipswich-river/69213-sense-of-wonder-walks-for-families-cool-camouflage

As always, for a comprehensive list of family activities, please visit our friends at North Shore Kid

Harborlight Montessori, Infant – Grade 8, is hosting an Open House on Tuesday, November 5th from 9:00-11:00.

Looking to make a change?  Always been curious?  Never thought independent school education was possible?  Have wondered, “Just what is Montessori anyway?”

If your children have the day off for Election Day, feel free to bring them with you.