Category: Chickity check it!

Heart of the Home

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

The 5th Annual Heart of the Home Kitchen Tour to benefit the Wenham Museum, Saturday, October 13. For tickets to the tour, call the museum at 978-468-2377 or purchase online at www.wenhammuseum.org

Be inspired by nine extraordinary kitchens in Beverly Farms, Boxford, Hamilton, Wenham, Ipswich, and Manchester By-the-Sea on the 5th Annual Heart of the Home Kitchen Tour to benefit the Wenham Museum on Saturday, October 13 from 11am to 4pm. Visit traditional and contemporary homes that highlight interior design in the room that is the heart of every home—the kitchen.

Get the party started in an open-concept kitchen with plenty of room for guests at an oversized island and cocktail lounge!  Remodeling? Find inspiration in a kitchen honoring the home’s 1765 heritage with historical elements blended with the conveniences needed for a busy 21ST century family, and “Take Joy!” as a whimsical menagerie greets you in a bountiful garden as you enter into a retro 1940’s kitchen bursting with colorfully painted cabinets, Big Chill appliances, and a circus train traveling around the ceiling! Visitors will discover how families lived and cooked more than three centuries ago with a visit to the cooking hearth in the museum’s 17-century Claflin-Richard’s House.

Tour guests are encouraged to bring a donation of non-perishable food to the museum on the day of the tour. Food donations will benefit the North Shore Families serviced through Beverly Bootstraps. Donations may also be delivered to the museum at 132 Main Street, Wenham, MA now through October 15, 2012. A link to the list of the top ten food items needed is posted on the museum’s website.

The museum is grateful to event co-chair Yvonne Blacker: Designer and Marketing Director at Designer Bath, and to the event volunteers, homeowners and designers including Howell Custom Building Group, lmk interiors, ltd, Meadowview Construction, Northshore Kitchens Plus, Wilson Kelsey Design, Inc., New England Design Works, and Designer Bath and Salem Plumbing as well as additional kitchen tour sponsors Renewal by Anderson, and the Salem Five Charitable Foundation, all who made this event possible.

Tickets to the tour include admission to the museum currently featuring It’s a Snap! Community LEGO Art now open through October 21 followed by the Train Time 17: Model Train Exhibit, November 9 – February 24. Proceeds from the kitchen tour benefit the museum’s educational programs and exhibitions, which help to educate over 3,500 school children and 35,000 annual visitors. For tickets to the tour, call the museum at 978-468-2377 or purchase them online at www.wenhammuseum.org.

Before and After Photos

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Willowdale Estate April 2008

In preparing for the lecture I am presenting tomorrow at Long Hill in Beverly, I came across several “before” photo of Willowdale Estate, from the spring of 2008, which was the year I began working on the gardens.

Taming the Wisteria Willowdale Estate Spring 2008

I’ve learned over the years to always take the all-important “before” photos. Clients, and prospective clients, love, love to see the transformation documented!

Five months later, September 2008. We created a “wisteria arbor” that guests could pass through.

Willowdale Estate May 2012

Christian Heeb In Town To Shoot Scenes for A German Travel Book Forwards-

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joey,
here the shot I took of you. I posted it on my Facebook page.

Many thanks
Christian

Check out Christian’s Facebook Page Here

Lobster Consolidator, Captain Joe & Sons, Gloucester, Essex County, East Coast, New England, Massachusetts, USA

 

Christian Heeb Photography

Linn Parisi from Discover Gloucester swung by the dock with Christian Heed.  An incredible photographer who travels the globe photographing for big time publications.

Linn regularly guides influential travel writers around Gloucester with her FAM tours designed to give these writers a great sense of what our community is all about!

Check out his site www.heebphoto.com

The Women’s Fund of Essex County’s 10th Annual Grant Awards Luncheon

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Miranda Russell

Essex County, MA, September, 2012 – The Women’s Fund of Essex County will host its 10th Annual Grant Awards Luncheon on Thursday, October 18, 2012 from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Peabody Marriott Hotel, 8 Centennial Dr. Peabody, MA.  The Annual Luncheon will recognize and honor the recipients of the Fund’s 2012 grant awards in the funding field of Economic Self-Sufficiency and Security, including Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, Citizens for Adequate Housing, COMPASS for Kids, Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, Inc., Girls Inc. of Greater Haverhill, Girls Inc. of Lynn, HAWC (Healing Abuse, Working for Change), Healthy Directions, Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center/ Girls Inc. of the Seacoast Area, Wellspring House, YMCA of the North Shore and YWCA of Greater Lawrence.

As a special thank you to The Women’s Fund’s donors and supporters, the Luncheon will also include entertainment by Essex County resident Miranda Russell, a dynamic singer whose interpretations of the great popular songs of our day, as well as American Songbook classics, have earned her praise from critics and audiences throughout the region and in Europe.  “Miranda Russell will knock your socks off – should you be wearing any this close to the beach”, noted the Boston Phoenix.

The Women’s Fund of Essex County is an organization of energetic, dedicated women helping to change the lives of women and girls in Essex County.  Founded in 2003 to promote philanthropy and to raise and distribute funds to organizations that provide opportunities and promote solutions for women and girls in need throughout Essex County, the Fund has awarded over $500,000 in grants to Essex County non-profit organizations to date.  The Women’s Fund is a field of interest fund of Essex County Community Foundation located in Danvers, MA.

To purchase tickets to the Luncheon and learn more about The Women’s Fund, please visit www.thewomensfundec.org.

 

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW for Berklee in Gloucester on October 25 at the Gloucester House

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Don’t miss the kickoff of the new  Berklee in Gloucester season with a benefit concert featuring the great The Jim Odgren Quintet at The Gloucester House in their front room with excellent acoustics.  The band plays jazz and standard songs in a style steeped in the rich tradition of 50’s and 60’s Blue Note jazz.  A portion of proceeds will benefit the Berklee2Gloucester Scholarship Fund.

Doors open at 6:30, so come for dinner and stay for the show.  You can purchase tickets on-line now or call 978-525-9093 reserve a table.  Seating is limited and last time the Gloucester House show was almost sold out, so don’t wait too long.

Here’s some more info on The Jim Odgren Quintet:

Both Professors at Berklee College of music in Boston, Dave Santoro (acoustic bass) and Jim Odgren (alto saxophone) co-lead the band. Joining them are three young and very talented Berklee student musicians – Roberto Giaquinto on drums, Davis Whitfield on piano and Lucian Gray on guitar. Their music swings hard, bringing out a style reminiscent of mainstream jazz from the era, combined with solos that venture into more modern sounds. Dave and Jim have released one cd together. It’s called “Day Dreaming“. It can be found on CDBaby here.

Jim Odgren, alto saxophonist extraordinaire, has put together an album filled with playing of extraordinary intricacy. Yet it’s executed with such style and ease, it’s accessible to the common listener. Its smooth melodicism, mixed with intricate lines and exiting harmonies makes this album a must to listen to. This is musicianship at the highest level and it deserves a place in everyones CD collection

Steve Johnson’s review of
Jim Odgren’s CD “Her Eyes” available here.

Berklee is back in Gloucester for a new season on October 25 at the Gloucester House

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

We’ve just worked out a new season of Berklee in Gloucester beginning with The Jim Odgren Quintet, featuring not one, but TWO BERKLEE PROFESSORS.  The band plays jazz and standard songs in a style steeped in the rich tradition of 50’s and 60’s Blue Note jazz.  We kick off the 2012/2013 season at The Gloucester House in their front room with excellent acoustics.

Doors open at 6:30, so come for dinner and stay for the show.  You will be able to purchase tickets on-line later tonight or tomorrow morning.  You can also call 978-525-9093 to get tickets.  Seating is limited and last time the Gloucester House show was almost sold out, so don’t wait too long.

Today we also set up the Gloucester2Berklee Scholarship Fund at Berklee.  This scholarship fund is earmarked for helping to send a Gloucester student to Berklee.  If you want to donate to the fund, bring a check to the concert, make it payable to Berklee College of Music and put Gloucester2Berklee in the memo.  Soon you may even be able to donate on-line.

Here’s some more info on The Jim Odgren Quintet:
Both Professors at Berklee College of music in Boston, Dave Santoro (acoustic bass) and Jim Odgren (alto saxophone) co-lead the band. Joining them are three young and very talented Berklee student musicians – Roberto Giaquinto on drums, Davis Whitfield on piano and Lucian Gray on guitar. Their music swings hard, bringing out a style reminiscent of mainstream jazz from the era, combined with solos that venture into more modern sounds. Dave and Jim have released one cd together. It’s called “Day Dreaming“. It can be found on CDBaby here.

Jim Odgren, alto saxophonist extraordinaire, has put together an album filled with playing of extraordinary intricacy. Yet it’s executed with such style and ease, it’s accessible to the common listener. Its smooth melodicism, mixed with intricate lines and exiting harmonies makes this album a must to listen to. This is musicianship at the highest level and it deserves a place in everyones CD collection

Steve Johnson’s review of
Jim Odgren’s CD “Her Eyes” available here.

Clear History Filming Seaplane in Gloucester This Afternoon

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

A dense blanket of fog came rolling in from the east this afternoon and really put a damper on the film crew’s efforts at filming the seaplane. The scene was gorgeous, but it looked impossibly unsafe to fly and to navigate through all the boats in the harbor. I am hoping the weather clears up for the film crew.

New Larry David Film Clear History in production. Read More in the Hollywood Reporter

Adele’s Skyfall and Happy Global James Bond Day!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Adele’s intoxicating voice along with the 77 piece orchestra for Skyfall is every sultry second a new classic Bond theme.

Skyfall premiered on Adele’s website this morning at 0:07.

Skyfall was co-written by Adele and and Paul Epworth and was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Epworth co-wrote and produced Rolling in the Deep. Skyfall displaced Rihanna’s Diamonds from the top of the iTunes chart this morning. The U.K.’s The Telegraph reports, “Previous Bond theme artists have all failed to take their songs to the top of the charts, including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Tom Jones, and Madonna. Duran Duran made it to number two in 1985 with A View to a Kill.

The single’s release comes exactly 50 years to the day since the world premiere of the first Bond movie, Dr No. And the film company behind the 007 franchise has designated today Global James Bond Day, with a number of activities to mark the anniversary.”

The film, Skyfall 007, starring Daniel Craig as Bond, is premiering on October 26.

A Roaring Time was Had by All!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Gerald Fandetti, Senator Bruce Tarr, Briar Fandetti-Forsythe

Last evening was a combined celebration of the ribbon cutting ceremony for the completion of the Willowdale Estate Coach House AND the 5th Anniversary party for the estate. Willowdale is a shining example of the Massachusetts Historic Curatorship Program. Senator Tarr was there to show his support for the curatorship program and to congratulate the family on their tremendous success.

~

The hostess and guests were dressed in smashing 1920’s inspired costumes, champagne and crazy delicious refreshments kept the party-goers energized, a swing band had the joint jumpin’, the tent was beautifully illuminated and aglow, and the garden glistened in the warm misty rain.  A roaring time was had by all!

Briar Forsythe, curator and proprietor of Willlowdale Estate

The Roaring Twenties, or as the French dubbed the period “AnnĂ©es Folles” (“Crazy Years”), was the time during which Bradley Palmer entertained in high style at Willowdale Estate, formerly referred to as the Bradley Palmer Estate. Willowdale Estate is the absolutely ideal venue for a twenties inspired celebration!

Gloucester MA- WatchBoom Destination of The Month!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

WatchBoom.com’s Travel Destinations of the Month

Living Local in Gloucester, MA

Living Local in Gloucester, MA

Immerse yourself in a vacation in Gloucester, Massachusets, a historical working seaport and artists’ colony. The proud and friendly residents are happy to have you.  So dive into Gloucester life – the water’s fine.

Read The Entire Article and More Here

A couple of weeks ago our buddy Scout introduced me to Courtney Drake-McDonough writer for

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Here she is during her visit to the dock.  Apparently she had a pretty good time here in Gloucester MA. Read all about it here

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Just when you thought it was safe to crawl into a hole for the winter

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

What’s this?  More music?  More fun?  I thought this was the start of the slow season.  Nope.  The truth is, folks, that there’s no such thing as a “slow season” in GTown any longer — at least not when it comes to music and the arts.  There are plenty of restaurants that stay open year round, plus lots of other year-round venues for music and the arts.

And we’re seeing an expansion of music venues even after summer is over.  Catch 22 is expanding their music offerings to Tuesday – Saturday and  Seaport Grille has music tomorrow (a new player in Wednesday night music).

Sure we might relish the idea of less traffic downtown and fewer tourists walking the streets, but that wears off quick.  This is what we want, right?  A thriving music scene all year long.

And this is precisely the time of year when we can  support the steadfast restaurants and venues who stay open all year long (see them here – along with their live music lineup for this week).  The best way to convince them that they’re doing the right thing is to go there.

Oh, it gets better.  Perhaps you caught the Gloucester Times story about Endicott (see here).  Nancy Gaines’ insightful article focuses on the educational value that Endicott will provide Gloucester residents and only hints at how Endicott students will help revitalize our City, breathing new life into arts, culture, science, music — all in the “off season”.  Becoming a college town is likely to be the best thing that has happened to Gloucester this century.  Let’s welcome Endicott and the students, parents, vitality and just plain fun they are bringing to our City.

Follow Eurodam Passenger Nicholas Sabalos Cape Ann Adventure on Twitter

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Follow Nicholas here- @nicholassabalos

of course you can follow your Boy Joey C here @Joey_C

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2012 Gran Prix of Gloucester Day 1 Results- Gloucester, MA

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Click here for- Gran Prix of Gloucester Day 1 Results

Some Photos From Janet Rice-

If you haven’t gone to watch the spectacle you’re really missing out.

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Gran Prix of Gloucester Video from Day 1 – Look out Joey, lots of bikes around town

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

If you missed today’s psycho-cross excitement, this video will give you a feel for what you can expect tomorrow.  You really can’t miss this international sporting spectacle, complete with beer, food and plenty of fun for kids.  So bring the family up to Stage Fort Park tomorrow.  You’ll be glad you did.

Joey, you might want to listen to what Christy from PeopleforBikes.org has to say about putting more people on more bicycles more often — especially in Gloucester!

I ran into Thom Falzarano who shot more race footage.  Look for that coming soon.

After a day of cyclocross you may want to warm up a bit.  (Can you believe it? John and I were surfing last week!).  Plenty of good options for catching great live music (in warm, dry venues) from Beethoven to Ska to 80s to Zappa to Funk, Jazz & good ol’ Rock n Roll!  See tonight’s full lineup of live music in Gloucester and Cape Ann here.

Over 3000 people from all over the world coming to Gloucester this weekend

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

This is their 14th year.  Can you believe it?  The Gran Prix of Gloucester is a major, international sporting event — and this year Paul Boudreau and his gang are bringing over 3000 people from all over the world to Gloucester (950 riders each day plus a couple thousand spectators), including international superstars of this 150-year-old sport.

“If you talk to anyone who knows Cyclocross all over the world, they know Gloucester,” says Paul Boudreau.  Now it’s time for Gloucester to get to know him — and the sport of Cyclocross.  What is Cyclocross?  Think of it as crazy bike racing.  I call it psycho-cross.  As Paul says  in the video, racers prefer “crappy” weather.  They race through crazy difficult terrain, have to get off their bikes and carry them over obstacles and often get covered with mud, sand, snow — almost always ending up wet and filthy.  AND THEY LOVE IT!  You gotta come out and experience this spectacle for yourself.  These racers are the strongest, fastest, best fit, toughest sporting contestants you will ever see.  You’ve gotta be to compete.

Plus there’s plenty of food and beer.  Kid biking (5 and up) and much more.  It’s a two-day, family, international, world-class sporting extravaganza right here in our own backyard.  AND IT’S FREE!  Don’t miss it.

Oh, and these people LOVE Gloucester nearly as much as we do.  Look at what they say on their website Home Page:
Known nationally as “the New England Nationals” – unfolds at one of the most beautiful race venues in the country: wind-swept ocean side park. Winners are a veritable who’s who of cyclocross: Johnson, Vervecken, Trebon, Anthony, Powers, Bessette, Dunlap, Knapp and more. Gloucester is one of the oldest UCI races in North America and attracts hundreds of racers and thousands of spectators.  … The Great Brewers Gran Prix of Gloucester is two days of international races where competitors from all over the US, Canada & Europe converge to race in the most beautiful race course in North America.

FOR ALL YOU RACERS AND FANS:  From Paul’s description of you in the video, I get the feeling you like to party — well folks you’ve come to the right town.  You’ve got over 28 live music choices at 15 warm, dry venues.  And lots of them are on the water, so if you really want to sit out on the deck in the rain, just ask.  The owners will probably accommodate you.  We’re nearly as psycho as you are!

See the complete schedule for all Live music in Gloucester and Cape Ann here.

Chickity Check It! Aerial views of Boston Harbor and its surroundings (including Gloucester)

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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Boston Harbor Beacon has some great arial photos of coastal Massachusetts

Check em out here

Here’s the Boston one (you’ll have to click the link to check out the Gloucester one here)

Aerial views of Boston Harbor and its surroundings

Posted on September 23, 2012 by admin

Chickity Check It! Bluenose II Current View and Relaunch Webcams Prep for Relaunch Next Saturday!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hi Joey,

The ties to Gloucester for the Bluenose II are strong and historic.  We’d appreciate it if you could post the relaunch of the Bluenose II live relaunch webcam in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.  As you probably know, the relaunch will be next Saturday morning ~7:00 EST (8:00 in NS).

The link to the live relaunch webcam is http://www.novascotiawebcams.com/south-shore/bluenose-ii-eventcam.html though it is not live yet.

The link to the Bluenose II current view is http://www.novascotiawebcams.com/south-shore/bluenose-ii.html

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Thanks so much, Margaret Jeddry

Location:

Lunenburg Shipyard, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada

Info:

Nova Scotia’s famous sailing ambassador is undergoing a major rebuild during 2011 & 2012 to ensure its legacy for many years to come. The project is taking place at the Lunenburg Shipyard, site of the construction of Bluenose in 1921. The public is invited to see and learn about preserving this important piece of Nova Scotia’s heritage. The work is being carried out by the Lunenburg Shipyard Alliance consisting of Snyder’s Shipyard, Covey Island Boatworks & Lunenburg Industrial Foundry & Engineering. Come visit the site until the re-launch this summer and see Nova Scotia boat-building at its best.

Related Links:

BLUENOSE II Website

Official BLUENOSE II Online Store

BLUENOSE II Photo Album

Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic

The Lunenburg Shipyard Alliance

View or Purchase Photos of Bluenose II

Destination South West Nova Scotia

Lowest Gas Prices In Gloucester

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Big disparity between Hamilton and Gloucester gas prices.  10 to 15 Cents

I’ll feature these price comparisons more often.  It’s always available to you by clicking the Gloucester Gas Prices link in the blogroll in the right hand column of GMGimage