With the big day coming tomorrow, I thought I should hurry up and post some more. The boys get a kick out of these dragons.
Author: Nichole S.
Nichole’s Picks 10/28 + 10/29
Pick #1: Halloween Haunted Happenings in Rockport
The town of Rockport has all sorts of fun things planned for Sunday. Pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating through town, a showing of Hocus Pocus and more. Check out their facebook page HERE
Pumpkin carving begins in Harvey Park at 11:30
Trick or Treating takes place between 3:30-5:30 throughout the shops downtown
From 6:00-8:30 a screening of Hocus Pocus takes place in Harvey Park and the concession stand will be open.
Pick #2: Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium the Musical
Brooke and Zeke have been cast as the leads in the school’s new production of an old play about a…Phantom. Strange things start disrupting rehearsals and they have to wonder: is this someone’s idea of a joke? Or is the Phantom real? A silly and spooky adventure ensues that will keep the whole family in suspense until the final curtain! Suggested for families with young people ages 7-16+. The show is 70 minutes long with no intermission.
Pick #3: Ipswich Ale Halloween Extravaganza
Saturday at 2 PM – 5 PM
The Ipswich Ale Brewery will be one stop that you won’t want to miss on your trick-or-treating route this year!
Swing by the brewery for free beer samples and take in the spooky sights and sounds of the brewery.
Don’t forget to bring the kids and let them sip on an Ipswich Soda Pop or snack on some candy while they show off their costumes!
As always for a comprehensive list of family activities visit our friends at North Shore Kid
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Oh My Word. So Good.
My new favorite thing ever!
Picked this up at Applecrest Farm in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire over the weekend. Our favorite farm, by the way.
This on some whole grain toast and a Hot and Dirty Martini would be kind of perfect.
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Applecrest Farm
The stars aligned and neither of the boys had a hockey game on Saturday so we slept late and then headed north to New Hampshire. Destination? Our favorite farm….Applecrest.
We fed the goats….for like ever….because I really can’t get enough. We took a ride past the corn fields to the apple orchards….even though we didn’t actually pick apples. The boys strolled through the pumpkins to find the ones. We listened to the Monadnock Bluegrass Band play some pretty sweet music. We drank some cider and smoothies. We shopped a lot in their gorgeous new barn shop….and ate some pumpkin whoopie pies in the sun before heading home. The ride up there, if you take the back roads, is super pretty and only adds to the awesomeness of the day.
If you’re looking for a new farm to visit this should be it! We’ve been bringing the boys since they were tiny. The Storybook Hayride, put on by the theater department of a local high school, was one of Thatcher and Finn’s favorite fall traditions for several years in a row. While the boys also love some of the farms closer to us with the potato launchers, paint ball, bouncy jump pillows, and go karts…. even they can agree that there is something undeniably special about simply being together at Applecrest. The fall foliage, live music, delicious smells, baked goods, orchards, hay rides, and farm animals were exactly what we needed as we took a break from our over-scheduled and rushed weekends. The fact that the farm is also incredibly dog friendly is a huge plus in my boys’ books. They must have met 20 dogs along the way the other day. Applecrest is the kind of place that strangers end up chatting, folks seem to be taking their time, and a perfect fall day unfolds around you while you can simply sit and take it all in.
Did I mention that they have a new outdoor bistro that serves wine and beer as well? Shot, score.
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Free Speaker Series Presents, “Second Language Learning in Young Children” at Harborlight
Come join us for this FREE Curriculum Spotlight focusing on how young children best learn a second language
Thursday, October 26th, 8:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m
Harborlight Montessori, 243 Essex Street Beverly, MA 978-922-1008
www.engageyourworld.org
As the only school on the North Shore currently offering language immersion in our preschool and kindergarten classrooms as well as weekly lessons in Spanish and Chinese to children from PK – Grade 8, Harborlight Montessori has created a language experience that allows our students to learn systematically and organically. Our World Language faculty members are all native speakers, which helps to create a genuine, meaningful, and effective curriculum.
Please join us as Harborlight’s Director of World Language, Sandra Lee, shares her vast knowledge and expertise concerning the most effective way to help young children learn a foreign language. She will share why exposure to a second language should begin at an early age, how second language acquisition is approached at Harborlight, useful online tools to promote further language acquisition at home, and discuss some common misconceptions about second language learning.
Sandra Lee is the Director of World Languages at Harborlight Montessori in Beverly, as well as a Teacher in the Children’s House Program. She has authored both articles and books on the subject of second language learning in young children.
Watch these two short videos of our young students using both Chinese and Spanish as a part of their language immersion and/or language lessons.
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Fall Reflections
Finn and I had to pull over in North Andover the other day to take these photos of the fall reflections on Stevens Pond.
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Those Sea Cadets are Just Flying Helicopters, No Big Deal
Gloucester’s David G. Ouellet Division of the US Naval Sea Cadets had the pretty phenomenal opportunity to fly with Boston Helicopter yesterday. Each member took a turn to take to the air with a pilot and even got the go ahead to take the controls. Unseasonably warm temperatures and a bright blue sky made the day all the more perfect.
In Sea Cadet fashion, the day wasn’t only about the chance to fly. Under the direction of their distinguished leaders, instructors, and Petty Officers the cadets also participated in combat medical training and gun safety training. They practiced marching, spent some time in class, and took a brief exam on the material presented to them at their last drill.
I can’t say enough about this program. If you have or know of a child age 10-17 who may be interested in or could benefit from the US Naval Sea Cadet program do yourself a favor and inquire.
READ ABOUT THE US NAVAL SEA CADET CORPS HERE
READ ABOUT GLOUCESTER’S DAVID G. OUELLET DIVISION HERE
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Halloween Decorations #4
The fun continues….hoping to come across some more Halloween fun this weekend.
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Nichole’s Picks 10/21 + 10/22
Pick #1: Essex ClamFest
The annual Essex Clamfest has everything the small town is known for including arts and crafts, K-9 demonstrations and, of course, the ever popular clam chowder competition. Nearly 1,000 people taste the best of the best, each voting for their favorite in the People’s Choice Award, while nine esteemed judges helped to select the winner of the Judge’s Award.
Read more at the Essex Chamber of Commerce HERE
Pick #2: Boston Children’s Theatre Presents: Goosebumps, The Musical Phantom of the Auditorium at the Larcom Theatre
Brooke and Zeke have been cast as the leads in the school’s new production of an old play about a…Phantom. Strange things start disrupting rehearsals and they have to wonder: is this someone’s idea of a joke? Or is the Phantom real? A silly and spooky adventure ensues that will keep the whole family in suspense until the final curtain! Suggested for families with young people ages 7-16+. The show is 70 minutes long with no intermission.
Dates from now through to November 5th available.
Pick #3: The Addams Family at Stage 284 at the Hamilton Community House
The Addams FamilyThe Addams Family features an original story, and its every fathers nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family a man her parents have never met. And if that werent upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something hes never done before keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesdays normal boyfriend and his parents.
Please note: Addams Family Musical may have some “spooky undertones” therefore, Parental Discretion is advised for this production.
Seating Description:
Green Seating is Premium Interactive Seating and handicapped accessible
Yellow Seating is General Seating and handicapped accessible
Red Seating is Riser Seating not handicapped accessibleRUN TIME: Approximately two hours.
Performances on these dates:
Saturday, October 14 – 7:30pm
Sunday, October 15 – 2pm
Saturday, October 21 – 3pm & 7:30pm
Sunday, October 22 – 2pm & 6:30pm
Thursday, October 26 – 7:30pm
Saturday, October 28 – 3pm & 7:30pm
Sunday, October 29 – 2pm & 6:30pm
As always, for a comprehensive list of family activities, please visit our friends at North Shore Kid
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Halloween Decorations #3
The Halloween decoration hunt continues.
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Halloween Decorations #2
Back on tour in search of Halloween decorations with the boys. We drive by this one at Ken Knowles Fine Art each day.
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The Bruins Academy and Former Bruin Andrew Alberts at Talbot Rink
This past Saturday the Boston Bruins learn-to-skate program, the Bruins Academy, teamed up with Cape Ann Youth Hockey at the Dorothy Talbot Rink in Gloucester for some on the ice instruction and fun.
Some very lucky skaters received, in many cases, their first on-ice lesson, completely decked out in Bruins gear, alongside former Bruin and NHL defenseman, Andrew Alberts.
It was so much fun to watch him skate with the kids. He was beyond phenomenal and played group games like the best of them….while also offering up many special one-on-one moments to wobbly first timers.
My favorite moment of the day? Watching Andrew Alberts give his undivided attention to a tiny one who had fallen and had absolutely no idea of how to get up. I hope the video footage finds its way to this little one’s parents as his potential skating career unfolds so they can look back and laugh at how it all began….on the ice at Talbot Rink…with a Boston Bruin cheering him along. See video below.
A huge “thank you” to the Boston Bruins, the Bruins Academy, and the Cape Ann Youth Hockey volunteers who worked together to make this a huge success.
Read More About the Bruins Academy Here
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Halloween Decorations #1
The boys have challenged me to make hunting for stellar Halloween decorations a thing like when we drive around and look for the best Christmas light displays in December. So, for the next few weeks we’ll evidently be looking for and taking photos of Halloween decorations. Feel free to share good locations!
Here’s some found at the Rockport Inn and Suites.
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Nichole’s Picks 10/14 + 10/15
Pick #1: Rockport Harvestfest
Saturday, October 14th.
Always a great time! READ HERE FOR MORE!
The annual Rockport Harvestfest celebration features the best regional bounty of the season — all in an unbeatable setting.
New England food producers gather under a giant tent on one of Rockport’s historic working wharves to celebrate the best of local food with fresh seafood, pastries, cider doughnuts, chowder, small-batch jams, locally-grown produce and more.
Local craft beers and wine produced in Massachusetts are on hand, along with Rockport’s own Twin Lights, with soda crafted from the 120-year-old company’s original recipes. Cooking demonstrations take place throughout the day, the highlight of which is the Seafood Throwdown, a competition-style showcase between two chefs, demonstrating the versatility of fish, coastal New England’s most significant harvest.
Harvestfest features plenty of live bluegrass, jazz, folk, indie rock, cooking demos, a farm expo, and plenty of activities for families.
Pick #2: Grand Prix of Gloucester
CRAFT SPORTSWEAR Gran Prix of Gloucester | 14 & 15 Oct 2017
Rounds 1 and 2 of the Vittoria Northeast Cyclocross Series presented by Cycle-Smart“Gloucester is a special race for me. It’s a true New England classic: the big, rowdy crowds always show up, the course is dynamic and challenging, and all the top riders line up. Historic, classic, and epic” – Jeremy Powers US National Cyclocross Champion“There is something about that place. It’s got a soul. I’ve been everywhere in the world that cyclocross races, and little comes close to the aesthetic drama of Gloucester.”
– Christopher Zigmont, cycling industry representative (Boston Globe)“The incredibly well-organized event and huge, energetic crowds of racers and fans make Gloucester an amazing weekend of racing. It’s no surprise that it’s called ‘The New England World Championships.'” – Maureen Bruno Roy, Bob’s Red Mill-Seven Cycles
Read Posts from year’s past by GMG contributors at these links
https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2016/10/17/grand-prix-gloucester/
https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2016/10/15/video-2016-gloucester-grand-prix/
As always, for a comprehensive list of family activities, visit our friends at North Shore Kid
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Some Fair Fun
We couldn’t squeeze in a trip to the Topsfield Fair until the very last day…and in the rain at that…but, we still had a really great time!
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For the Birds
Kind of fascinating when you stop and really appreciate them…
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Forced Family Freaking Fall Fun
I jest. Really. But still, there are definitely some must dos this time of year….and I have wicked parent guilt if we don’t squeeze them in. Silly as it is.
I know that I’m supposed to be doing a “Nichole’s Picks” post, but honestly this is a tricky time of year to get creative. If we’re keeping track, these are my picks…and the fall must dos.
- Topsfield Fair
- Awesome Autumn Fun at one of the MANY fantastic farms/orchards near us
- Salem….. get your Halloween freak on for sure.
We do the Topsfield Fair every year, for sure. That’s 1 point for Team Schrafft.
Contrary to that, every year I say we’re going to go enjoy some Halloween fun in Salem, but we never do. That’s tie score, Schraffts 1, Fall Forced Fun 1.
Apple picking is the dark horse of our fall fun tour.
I always want to go apple picking….and sometimes the stars (and by stars I mean hockey schedules) align and we get to participate in some Forced Fall Family Freaking Farm Fun. But lately, we’ve been letting the season get by us without nearly as much farm fun as normal! This year I won’t have it.
My favorite farm is Applecrest up in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. I’d really love to know….what is yours?
Read all about Applecrest HERE
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GoSun Stove
Anyone out there ever use this? I’m intrigued…especially for fish on the boat.
GoSun is a young company comprised of designers, engineers, and change-makers, intent on serving the world with unparalleled green cooking solutions. We are passionate about our products and how they power our customers’ lives. Founded in a small suburban garage, we grew quickly thank’s to our community of committed customers, who not only believe in our products, but also use them to bring people together.
At GoSun, we are big believers in nourishing the good things in life and helping others do the same.
GoSun Sport
Our fastest solar oven. Bake, roast or steam a meal for two people in minutes, reaching up to 550°F (290°C). GoSun Sport sets the bar for portable solar stoves.
Bake, boil or fry a meal for eight people, (4x more food than the speedier GoSun Sport) using only the sun. Due to unprecedented demand, the Grill will be on back order, shipping in October/November 2017.
Click HERE for GoSun Stove Website
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Clean Sheets
I’ve come to love and appreciate clean sheets of ice as much as my boys.
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That Ship Has Sailed
That ship has sailed….well, actually, The Ship has sailed.
I’m not sure how I missed this fact until just last weekend, because I’m fairly certain I’ve been by since its demolition, but regardless…it is gone.
What’s next? Hilltop or the Orange Dinosaur Mini Golf….oh, wait.
Local fun fact: I read last night that the ship was actually built by a retired Gloucester sea captain named James F. Wilkinson….back in 1925.
Good Morning Gloucester 