My View of Life on the Dock
When you have a spare minute, I hope you”ll take a moment to look at the new website for my forthcoming film Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly. I had lots of fun creating the website and it was great to be able to assemble and house all the information in one place, including photos, upcoming events, the trailer, and a share page. Please let me what you think. THANK YOU!
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I got this email last night (name removed as to not embarrass the nice person)-
where can i find t-shirts for the hard merchandise? cant find it on this place, or im looking in the wrong place. help me out ok? thanx
In no way shape or form am I trying to be a prick here. It’s just interesting to me and I thought I’d share the fact that there are HUGE numbers of the population that haven’t figured out how to do an online search using a search engine.
I mean it had to take more energy for this kind person to type out the email asking where they can find Hard Merchandise T-Shirts than the energy it would have taken to type “Hard Merchandise T-shirt” into a search engine.
So you know they truly don’t understand how. They’re not being lazy, they just don’t understand that they could Google it.
Here’s a Public Service Announcement for those folks that haven’t figured out how to search for stuff online (an everyday life tool I think you should know about)-
There are other Search engines such as www.bing.com and www.lmgtfy.com you can use to perform searches for things you would like information about or products to buy.
I understand that many of you already understand this but if you saw how many questions a day I get with simple questions that can be answered with far fewer keystrokes you would understand that there are huge chunks of the population for which this tutorial will help immensely.
If we can help just one person understand how to perform an internet search that previously didn’t know how I’ll consider this post a smashing success.
thank you for your time and understanding
Joey C
With the number of Kickstarter campaigns spiraling into the stratosphere I’ve decided to launch my own Kickstarter campaign for the very first dedicated Vajazzling Studio In Gloucester.
Let’s be honest, if Short and Main can raise $22K to pay for a Pizza Oven, my drumming up the dough for a Vajzzling Studio should be a no-brainer.
If Duckworth Bistrot can enter a contest for a new door, if EJ can pull off a Kickstarter for her Owl and The Pussycat book, if some crazy cat lady can get a felt costumes for kitty cats project funded, then there’s no way in hell we would fail in our quest to raise enough dough for a fancy local Vajazzling studio.
It’s all the rage. Screw this lobster business crap. Stinky bait, angry lobstermen, early morning start time and long hours vs Vajazzling coochies for a living. Hmmm this is not a very difficult decision.
I’ll just need a back up man to take care of the not-so-attractive patrons. Paulie Walnuts is looking for work. Bingo! Paulie Walnuts and me Vajazzling coochies all over the North Shore.
Help me make my Vajazzling dream a reality. Look for my upcoming Gloucester based Vajazzling Kickstarter campaign which will be forthcoming. I will offer many levels of pledges starting with base level backers and working our way up to more comprehensive “rewards” for more substantial backers.
Short and Main offered a $100 option for-
Receive a signed copy of Food & Wine’s latest cookbook, “America’s Greatest New Cooks” featuring Nico and Amelia Monday. You’ll also receive a menu from opening night and a thank you video from Matt in his lobster suit.
Hell I’ll toss in a signed GMG DVD, a couple Homie Stickas and a video of me in a monkey suit singing the start spangled banner for a hundred bones.
Disclaimer: woman I live with and may or may not be related to through marriage will not be pledging.
If Jennifer Love Hewitt is all in for Vajazzling it’s good enough for me.
If this works out (and obviously it’s money in the bank) we’ll get Kim Smith in there to penizzle up dude’s man-parts.
We could take over the world Vajazzling and Penizzling women and men all over the North Shore.
Editor’s note:
Over/Under on the amount of time before we see a Kickstarter project for the Paint Factory project offering people the right to come in and paint or landscape the joint for a mere $100,000?
I’m saying within six months and I’m taking the under.
Craig and Felicia
Pat and Hannah Kimberley
Gloucester’s Sarah Green will host a special screening of the Terrence Malick-directed romantic drama To The Wonder, which she produced, on Saturday, May 25th at 7:30pm at The Cape Ann Community Cinema at 21 Main Street in Gloucester.
Green’s impressive filmography includes Jeff Nichols’ Mud (also now in theaters) and Take Shelter, as well as the boxing drama Girlfight. She has worked frequently with David Mamet and John Sayles, and produces all of legendary auteur Malick’s films, including The Tree Of Life, for which she was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture in 2012.
To The Wonder, which stars Oscar winner Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, and Javier Bardem, was the last film reviewed by the late great film critic Roger Ebert, who awarded it 3 1/2 out of 4 stars, saying of the interactions between its characters, “As all of these relationships intertwine, Malick depicts them with deliberate beauty and painterly care.”
Tickets for this special event are $15.00 ($13.50 for Cinema Members), and benefit the Cinema and its upcoming Kickstarter campaign to upgrade its projection equipment. Tickets can be purchased at www.CapeAnnCinema.com (or in person at the box office).
A full schedule can be found on the Cinema’s website at www.CapeAnnCinema.com.
Paul Jermain, Cape Ann TV board president writes,
“Thanks for accepting our invitation to participate in the CATV annual meeting next week.
You know, historically, CATV annual meetings, like most other of that ilk, have been a tad boring. Yes, the business got done, but holy smokes, it could be dull.
That’s why I’m so excited about the new format we’re going to try out next week, and your participation in it.
In contrast to an endless chain of drawn out speeches, this event is going to revolve around you and some select other producers. Now, I have to share a little bit about the Station in review of last year’s highlights. But, really, the core of the evening is going to be you and the others sharing a bit about your programs- how and why you got started; what you learned; and some interesting moments and clips. As a producer myself, I’m looking forward to hearing what you have to share. And you’ll probably enjoy listening to the other folks as well.
What: CATV Annual Meeting
Where: CATV Studio, 38 Blackburn Center
When: Tuesday, May 28th, 7-8pm
Why: Celebrate the achievements of the station and the producers over the past year.
I’m looking forward to seeing you again and working together to deliver an evening that people will really enjoy and appreciate.”
Thanks Paul for writing. I met Allen Estes at the station yesterday and he is looking forward to participating as well. Best wishes for the new format!
For all the reasons Jim Dowd so entertainingly cites in yesterday’s rant, plus the fact that your personal livelihood might actually depend on them, it’s that time of year to welcome tourists to Gloucester — and be grateful they’re coming.
The Gloucester Visitor’s Welcoming Center opens tomorrow at Stage Fort Park and Kathie Gilson, who runs it, has invited everyone who’s business supports Gloucester’s visitor economy to attend the opening reception at 5pm. Bring your brochures to display at the Visitor’s Welcoming Center for the season.
You might also want to check your listing on GloucesterMA.com, the City’s official visitor website. Everybody knows that the Web is the number 1 source of information for visitors and GloucesterMA.com is Gloucester’s #1 tourism website. It’s the top Google result for nearly every Gloucester tourism related phrase (hotels, inns, restaurants, etc.) and many local businesses report that GloucesterMA.com is their number 1 source of referrals after Google. It’s a free service offered by the City, so you might as well take advantage of it. If you need any changes to your listing, or it’s not there or you notice anything that’s incorrect, click here and explain the situation. It will be taken care of quickly.
On Thursday, May 24th at 7:30pm, The Cape Ann Community Cinema at 21 Main Street in Gloucester will present Hello Gloucester followed by a live set by Willie Alexander and the Persistence Of Memory Orchestra. Tickets are $15.00 ($13.50 for Cinema Members), and are available either at the box office or online at www.CapeAnnCinema.com.
January 12, 2013 was a memorable day in rock-and-roll. On that day, Governor Deval Patrick issued a citation that acknowledged Bay State rocker Willie Loco Alexander on the punk vanguard’s 70th birthday. His significant other, Anne Rearick, had planned a “surprise party du la monde” at Jimmy Tingle’s old theater in Somerville and dozens of musicians showed up to honor Willie and play tunes he has written over the past 5 decades.
Bands at the January celebration included Rockport’s A-Train Orchestra, Moose Savage, Breadman, Jon Hardy and the Bags, Birdsongs of the Mezozoic, Reddy Teddy, Barrence Whitfield, the Nervous Eaters, Rupert Webster (all the way from London), Kenne Highland, Dave Sag, Jon Macy, Asa Brebner, John Powhida, Frank Rowe, Dennis Brennan, Peter Wolf, Mission of Burma, Andrea Gillis, Persistence of Memory, Roger Miller, John Macey and Gloucester’s own The Boyfriends. All were there to honor a guy who has spent his life pushing the rock and letting it roll down on the hearts of Boston music lovers.
The film is produced by the Gloucester Writers Center video archive and directed by Gloucester filmmaker Henry Ferrini. The Gloucester Writers Center was founded to celebrate, preserve and promote the future of Gloucester’s rich literary legacy. Housed in the former home of poet Vincent Ferrini (1913-2007), the GWC is dedicated to fostering the tradition of local poetic investigation practiced by Ferrini and his friend and renowned Gloucester poet, Charles Olson (1910-1970).
Through a variety of community-based programming, including literary readings, workshops, youth programs, topical writers’ talks and conferences, and a residency program, the GWC will serve as a gathering place and resource center for local and international writers in all genres, fields and realms of interest.
The Cape Ann Community Cinema’s full schedule can be found online at www.CapeAnnCinema.com, with the week’s offerings available by phone at (978) 282-1988.
Last fall I began a new project, The Mary Prentiss Inn, located on Prentiss Street off of Harvard Square. The old garden had grown up and out and the plants had become too over-sized for the little borders out front of the Inn.
Mary Prentiss Inn ~ Before
Jennifer Fandetti, who runs her family’s Inn, had wanted more color throughout the growing season, as well as flowers to bring indoors to decorate the rooms.
Jennifer and bulb-planting helper
Our awesome fall crew planting the borders
We are all so weary of winter’s drab hues that when spring at long last arrives the tulips and jonquils are a wonderfully welcome sight. I make a special mix of color and variety for each client and later this season we’ll add perennials and annuals. The boxwoods give the borders a neat appearance and the hollies and magnolia provide structure and beauty throughout the year. Coming soon is a little cutting garden along the side of the building. For now, everyone, including guests and neighbors, are enjoying the new look at the Inn!
Harvard and MIT are just around the corner from the Mary Prentiss, and with all the graduations and events, if you need a wonderful place to stay, or recommend to a friend, The Mary Prentiss Inn is an absolutely perfect and delightful inn in the heart of Cambridge. The staff is gracious and helpful, the building has been beautifully renovated and restored (and is meticulously maintained) and all the rooms are charming and beautifully appointed, with decor by Charlotte’s Forsythe. Amenities include high speed internet service (wired and WiFi), cooked to order breakfasts, and 100 percent cotton bed linens. Every afternoon tea is served with super delicious homemade cookies and other sweet treats. Around back is a stunning secret garden and sunny courtyard used for breakfast, afternoon tea, and relaxing.
I watched as these two women were were walking down Mass Ave. They looked down Prentiss Street, and continued to walk by, but on second thought turned around and came back to photograph the flowers!
There were so many amazing community events taking place yesterday. Although our GMG Cape Ann Monarch Milkweed Project was held in the morning, I was able to attend the Rockport Film Festival in the afternoon, where Sarah Kelly, the festival’s organizer (and GMG contributor) had invited me to speak about my forthcoming film “Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly” and my short film”BomBom Butterflies” had been accepted to the screening.
Rockport was teeming with families and activities. It was difficult to find a parking space but when I finally arrived at the Firehouse where the afternoon’s screenings were taking place, Craig and Hannah Kimberley had very kindly saved me a seat. All of the films were well-worth seeing; just some of the highlights were Len Burgess’s film about the launching of the Schooner Ardelle, Robert Newton’s film about Gloucester’s WPA murals, and “Homemade Parade” by Emile Doucette. The short film event was followed by poetry readings from local poets. I left shortly after and returned home, with plans to return to the 7th Wave with my husband for dinner (where our son is the cook).
When we returned to Rockport at 7:00, Sarah Kelly was still working away at the Firehouse cleaning up with her family and friends after the day’s events. She was so gracious and I think is doing a fabulous job promoting the festival. I am hoping she will perhaps write a post-festival GMG post on her perceptions of the event’s successes.
We arrived at the 7th Wave Restaurant and were seated at a lovely spot by the window, with the gorgoeus view of the harbor made even prettier in the light of the setting sun. I had a Blue Moon beer, which I love because the name of the beer is one of my favorite Ella Fitzgerald songs. The beer was served with a wedge of orange–a flavorful touch, and fitting because Blue Moon’s list of ingredients includes orange peel. My husband had the cooked-to-perfection grilled mahi-mahi with a delicious spicy mango salsa. Usually I don’t order fried clams because frankly they often aren’t very well prepared and, as they are currently more expensive than a lobster dinner, it really is no fun to bite into a pricey soggy, soden lump of sand and grease. Have no fear of being diappointed at the 7th Wave because, really, their fried clams are to-die-for; simply the best fried clams I have had in a long time (take note Craig if you are reading this!). The batch I had last night was soooo fresh and delicious, perfectly golden brown and crunchy crispy on the outside, with tender, fat bellies on the inside. I had heard in Joey’s podcast with Craig that the fried clams at the Cape Ann Brew Pub are pretty awesome and I have yet to try those, but I know where I will be heading next time I get a jones for extra delicious fried clams and dinner with a stunning view!
7th Wave Khan Family
The Cape Ann Monarch Milkweed Project was positively a resounding success. Thank you to everyone who ordered and picked up your milkweed plants. Thank you to Joey who turned my small seed of an idea into a fabulous community-wide project and who also very kindly offered Captain Joe and Sons for mug up and pick up. Thank you to Felicia for taking valuable time from writing the world’s-greatest-cookbook-ever and spending the entire morning making and serving coffee and Sicilian gigilani cookies (I know that is totally misspelled) and for helping with the plants and for just being a great friend. Thank you to all my GMG fellow contributors and all the FOBs for coming, and for everyone’s enthusiasm in the project.
And, most importantly, the Monarchs thank you!!!
We have exactly fourteen plants remaining and all fourteen are spoken for. After all the plants are picked up and the money totaled, we will have enough to make a donation to the Rocky Neck Cultural Center. So thank you again. I am very inspired by the success of the program and plan to later in the summer have a Cape Ann Monarch Aster and Goldenrod Program.
Monarch Butterflies at Eastern Point
How to Plant and Care for Your Milkweed Plants
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) has a taproot. Plants with taproots do not like to be disturbed once established so it is best to plant your Common Milkweed seedlings as soon as possible. Common Milkweed is not too fussy about soil and is the milkweed we see growing in fields, roadsides, dunes, and meadows. It can reach up to six-feet in height, but more commonly grows two- to four-feet. Common Milkweed spreads by underground shoots and by seed dispersal.
The Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) are well-rooted year-old plants and can be planted in the garden now, or within the next month or so. Marsh Milkweed grows best in good garden soil and/or moist areas. Marsh Milkweed is clump forming and does not spread by underground shoots.
Both milkweed species prefer full sun, but will take some slight shade. Plant with the soil line equal to the soil line in the pot. Place a stake nearby so that you do not step on your little milkweed seedling. Water gently. Check frequently on your milkweed plant until it is fully established. Water when dry, but do not over water. Monitor for milkweed aphids. Milkweed aphids are tiny soft-bodied orange insects. If you do see any aphids, gently wash them away with water; no soap or strong pesticides needed!
You really don’t want to miss this — plain & simple. If you’ve been to The Cave, you know what we mean. If you haven’t , you’re truly missing out on a new Main Street gem. Check them out ahead of time and mark next Thursday 5/23 4-6pm on your calendar.
The Cave
44 Main Street
Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
978-283-0896
Chickity Check It- the Gloucester Schooner Festival’s Dandy New Blog!
Complete with printable schedules and everything.
It seems that this year they’re taking the promotion of the Schooner Fest seriously and we may get people to step up and take notice of what is one of the greatest events locally in G-Town.
You don’t suppose it had anything to do with the prodding of our month long Pre-Schooner Festival promotion last year do you?
Kudos to The People That Put It On To Be Getting Out Early and Often and With the Great New Website!
Hey Al Bezanson, I think they got the memo! 
Check It!- 29th Annual Gloucester Schooner Festival Website
This just in from Bob Hastings of the Gloucester Blues Festival: Hailed by Alternate Roots Magazine as one of the top 20 Boston Bands Right Now, Gracie Curran & the High Falutin’ Band will open the Gloucester Blues Festival on August 10.
This April’s Noise Magazine proclaimed, “Gracie is one of the best blues divas on the local scene.” Bob says she’s likely to join Lydia Warren during her set. It’s the blues. Who knows what will happen. See videos of the rest of this year’s Blues Fest lineup in this post.
Gracie and the band won the 2013 Boston Blues Society’s Blues Challenge and is a Boston favorite. Here’s a video them at Johnny D’s, one of my favorite places to go when I lived in Sommerville in the late ’70s / early ’80s.
“The Angels Share” is the Winner of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize and is playing at the Cape Ann Community Cinema this week.
Rob’s Interview:
The sweeping Irish historical epic “The Wind That Shakes The Barley.” The entertaining midlife crisis of “Looking For Eric.” The hard-hitting take on the world’s water woes in “Even The Rain.” Paul Laverty is responsible for writing some of the most intelligent and engaging films of the last decade, a trend that he continues in his latest, the bittersweet but heartwarming comedy from director Ken Loach, the master of social realist cinema. The film is the Cannes Grand Jury Prize-winning “The Angels’ Share” a very likable tale about city outsiders in search of a better life.
Glasgow boy Robbie (newcomer Paul Brannigan), while on community service, makes three friends, all similarly cast-out from society and hard-up to make ends meet. Little does Robbie know how much a drink could change their lives – not cheap booze, mind you, but the finest of malt whiskies. Robbie’s newly-discovered palate and delicate nose lead him and his crew to a strange new world – the Scottish Highlands – and the biggest gamble of their lives when a cask only rumored to exist appears and tempts them with a big way out of their hard-knock lives.
“The story grew out of the frustration with the way that young people are treated and demonized,” Laverty explains. “The chances are that people like Robbie will never find work in their lives – or taste Scotland’s national drink. They’re frustrated and angry and often self-destructive, and it was such a fun challenge to find a balance that would depict that.” To read the entire interview visit NorthShoreMovies.net
Last month, we previewed Chronicle star Ted Reinstein’s new book (see post here) with Motif #1 on the cover.
Tonight’s Chronicle at 7:30pm on Channel 5 previews his book for the first time on TV — and it features a segment on Gloucester & Cape Ann. Don’t Miss it!
After the show, take advantage of this gorgeous weather and check out over a dozen artists playing live tonight around Cape Ann tonight. See the full schedule here.
The newest element of Rockport Motif No.1 Festival is the Short Film Festival. Festival organizer and GMG’s Sarah Kelly writes that, “one of the goals of the festival is to help create grass-roots interest in Rockport as a place to work across the arts, and as a place that encourages working artists outside a historical context.”
All the short film entries accepted are screening on both Friday and Saturday. On Friday at 7:30pm at the Rockport Community House hear filmmaker Emile Doucette talk about his work and his short film “Homemade Parade” which captures the unique spirit of Cape Ann. On Saturday, at the Old Firehouse Trust, the screening events begin at 3pm. I will be giving a brief talk about my BomBom Butterflies short film and forthcoming film, Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly.
I am so excited to have been invited to be part of the first ever Rockport Short Film Festival and I hope to see you there!!
Saturday, May 18th at 3 pm
Motif 1 Short Film Festival Screening in the Old Firehouse Trust.
Your Motif No.1 Day Festival Guide HERE on GMG!
Plants will be available for pick up at Captain Joe and Sons, 95 East Main Street, Saturday morning at 9:00am and we will be there all morning until noon. Felicia is helping and we will have coffee for everyone. Written instructions will be provided on how to take care of your plants. Looking forward to seeing you all at the first ever Monarch~Milkweed Mug Up!
I did not collect the funds ahead of time. Please everybody, if you ordered plants, be sure to pick-up Saturday morning. I am counting on you!! If the project is successful, we will do this again later in the season, with Seaside Goldenrod and New England Asters, but we can only have another plant sale if everyone honors their commitment. Thank you!!
For more detailed information, see previous posts:
Monarch Butterfly and Marsh Milkweed
Cape Ann, home to the most oft-painted building in the US – celebrated in a festival on May 18 – deserves to be better known in Britain, says Paul Wade.
Mentioned-Rocky Neck, Cape Ann Museum, Hammond Castle, HA Burnham Boatyard, Thomas E Lannon, Motif No1, Bearskin Neck, Lobster Pool Restaurant, Duckworth’s Bistrot, The Franklin, Blue Shutters In, Emerson Inn, Beech Tree Bed and Breakfast, My Place By The Sea, Cape Pond Ice, 7 Seas Whale Watch, North Shore Kayak
Butterfly Courtyard with Native Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Thank you so much to everyone who came to the Willowdale Estate Artist Spotlight Garden Tour Monday night. We had an absolutely wonderful turnout. I would especially like to thank Senator Bruce Tarr who, although he could not make it, sent his liaison, Gloucester’s Barry Pett. Mr. Pett is Senator Tarr’s Director of Community Outreach and Constituent Services, and also has a background in architecture. He lives in a historical Queen Anne on Middle Street and was especially appreciative of Willowdale, which is a stunning example of an exquisitely restored Arts and Crafts stone mansion.
Courtyard window box with anemones
Thank you Briar and Sarah for your gracious hospitality and for all that you did to make last night’s event such a singing success. There were gift bags for all who attended and the staff prepared a wonderful array of Briar’s signature cookies, as well as a delicious selection of fruit and cheese, topped with a favorite sparkling wine!
Kate
The tulips were in full, glorious bloom, as were many of our native flowering trees and spring ephemerals. Both the Eastern Redbud and Carolina Silverbell were abuzz with myriad species of bees and tiny winged-pollinators.
Carolina Silverbell
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Good Morning Gloucester 