Category: Community Photos

MUSIC ON THE MEETINGHOUSE GREEN

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

EZEKIEL’S WHEELS PERFORMS FRIDAY AUGUST 20 AT MUSIC ON MEETINGHOUSE GREEN
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation presents Ezekiel’s Wheels in a free Friday evening concert on Meetinghouse Green at the corner of Middle and Church Street, August 20 at 6:00 p.m.

Boston’s Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band has been captivating audiences around the world with their passionate virtuosity and contagious energy. Klezmer music has the familiarity of chamber music and the force of rowdy dance band music. Ezekiel’s Wheels’ contemporary spin on Jewish music enthralls audiences from elementary school students to the judges at the International Jewish Music Festival, who described them as ‘a true musical democracy’.

Free-will donations go to the evening’s featured local non-profit partner, the Grace Center, a day resource center for men and women in need of a safe and supportive environment in Gloucester, Salem and Beverly. Fresh pizza will be available from a local food vendor.

The 2021 summer music series is dedicated in memory of Harry Hintlian for his encouragement, generosity, and for making the Meetinghouse a net zero building. For more information, a full schedule of upcoming concerts, and to sign up for the GMF newsletter, visit www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org.

CONCERT DESCRIPTION
Ezekiel’s Wheels honed their craft in Boston’s farmer’s markets and subways stations, where the informal settings created ideal opportunities for musical experimentation. They succeeded in building up a community of fans and friends across the city. They have since fine-tuned their skills, and have performed at the Shalin Liu Performance Center, the Kennedy Center and at Yidstock. In 2017 they expanded their repertoire to include songs in Yiddish and English. Ezekiel’s Wheels features Jonathan Cannon (violin), Kirsten Lamb (double bass, lead vocals), Nat Seelen (clarinet), Pete Fanelli (trombone), and Abbie Reisman (violin, backing vocals), who sadly is not available to play at this concert.

Music on Meetinghouse Green, now in its sixth season, features nine free Friday evening concerts with great music, favorite foods from local vendors, and benefits a different North Shore non-profit organization each week through free-will donations from the audience. Concert goers bring lawn chairs and blankets to spread out across the spacious green. Performances are handicap accessible, parking on the Green is limited to persons with disabilities only.

ABOUT THE GLOUCESTER MEETINGHOUSE FOUNDATION
Founded in 2015, the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation is dedicated to preserving the landmark building as a civic hub, entertainment venue, and community center. In addition to its work to preserve the historic 1806 Meetinghouse, GMF is currently raising funds to restore Meetinghouse Green to provide a safe and more flexible outdoor concert and event venue.

OUR SPONSORS
Thanks to our Sponsors all the series’ expenses, such as for the musicians, are pre-paid. 100% of the free-will donations go to our non-profit community partners.

Platinum          John & Janis Bell, J.J. & Jackie Bell, Cape Ann Savings Bank, J. Linzee Coolidge, Scobie Ward

Gold                 BOMCO, Michael & Mary Ann Bresnan, Landesign, Inc.

Silver               Anonymous, Tom Burger & Andrée Robert, JoeAnn Hart & Gordon Baird, Pat Johnson & Jeff Henderson, Susan McKain & Ken Steiner, Charles Nazarian, John & Sandra Ronan

Bronze             Jerry Ackerman, Karen Bell, Pamela Bynum & Henry Ferrara, Peter Calkins & Susan Casey, Frederick Cowan, Richard Gardner, Rev. Janet Parsons, Dick Prouty, Joe & Maggie Rosa, Peter & Kathleen Van Demark, Kathleen Williams, Sarah Willwerth-Dyer & Michael Dyer

 

THE FRIKI TIKI of GLOUCESTER

Posted on by Manuel F. Simoes

2021-08-10-4472

THE FRIKI TIKI of GLOUCESTER!!!!!!

Seize the Day and do something different. Book your party and celebrate your birthday, anniversary, marriage proposal, divorce, wedding, rehearsal dinner, bachelorette, memorials or just because it’s Friday…or Saturday, Sunday,Monday,Tuesday, Hump Day or Thursday.

Enjoy a scenic cruise along the oldest and most beautiful harbor in America .
90 minutes
Can accommodate up to 20 people

Bring your own food and refreshments.
Suggested cruise times:
12-1:30
2:30-4:00
5:00-6:30

 

Can arrange special times to accommodate your schedule
Board at Solomon Jacobs Landing & Park at Harbor Loop next to the  Harbor Masters.
Call Ginger at 978-281-5557 for further details and bookings.

 

BINGO NIGHT

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni
Join us at the library for a fun night of BINGO! Tickets are $15 and your ticket includes 15 bingo cards and a dauber.
1 Cash Prize per game! 5 games!
*Additional cards and concessions can be purchased at the event.
Click the below link to be taken to our website to purchase tickets:
https://www.magnolialibrary.org/events

Magnolia Pier at the end of the day

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Even though it was a little cloudy on Sunday the beach and Magnolia Pier never disappoints.

Article in the Manchester Cricket about Arts Abound

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Wander into Arts Abound on Lexington Street in Magnolia, and you’ll find a quiet world of local art.  Fine art photography, watercolors and paintings, hand painted silk clothing, gifts, jewelry, and even home accessories.  There are two common threads running through the shop—local creative talent and Susan Wheeler.

First, Susan Wheeler.  An artist herself and a former pastry chef, the idea of opening a retail store with a cooperative bent and filled with unique, hand-crafted things just felt right.  Wheeler had been coming to Cape Ann regularly from Vermont to visit her mother, Vivian, 93, who had moved to Magnolia in 1980.  Eighteen months ago, she moved here permanently, and as she got to know Lexington Avenue and its retail community, Wheeler first thought there might be room for a creative meeting place to run art workshops, offer graphic design and maybe some retail items for purchase.

Home Arts Abound
Susan Wheeler, owner of Arts Abound in Magnolia, is on a mission to promote and discover local artists on Cape Ann, with a cooperative approach to retail.

Photo: Erika Brown

There was an open retail space, so in November 2019 with eight artists, she went for it.  Wheeler said she found it “thrilling and interesting” to find artists, curate the items and “keep it interesting.”  The shop, she said, got off to a good start with holiday shopping.

“I started with an open mind,” said Wheeler.   “But there’s so much artistry here on Cape Ann.  It hasn’t been a problem finding talented people who make beautiful things.”

Nearly two years in, Arts Abound has established itself and evolved.  The store in the spirit of other Cape Ann retailers focused on local artists, like Local Colors, the artists’ cooperative retailer on Main Street in Gloucester or Gallery 53, the juried art gallery run by members of the Rocky Neck Art Colony, also in Gloucester.   Today, Arts Abound has 23 artists on her roster, nearly all from Cape Ann.  They help Wheeler by offering their pieces on consignment, and Wheeler promotes and sells their work.  And she is an enthusiastic promoter of their work, their talent, and their artwork.

The journey It hasn’t been without challenges.  Less than six months into her new venture, the pandemic hit and like most businesses, Wheeler adapted.  She offered hand-sewn masks (selling hundreds), offered appointment-only shopping, personal shopping and home delivery.  She also put plans for workshops and education on the back burner and took on freelance graphic design projects.

“The pandemic hit businesses hard, and we were lucky to have supporters and get through,” Wheeler said.  “I think about how great everyone was.  Even with selling masks, which we made and left outside for people to pick up and pay on the honor system, every single person paid.”

Wheeler has also really gotten to know her retail neighbors along Lexington Avenue, where by chance nearly all are women-owned and the community is tight.  There’s Shakteau Interiors, All Purpose Flowers, Jennifer’s Hair Salon, among many others.  This summer, the neighborhood brought back its popular Sunday Magnolia Farmer’s Market, which closes down Lexington Avenue, brings in music, and most retailers set up displays on the sidewalks outside.  It’s a real community feel.

Wheeler packs the space with all manner of artists, spanning painting, photography, pottery, glasswork, silk-screen, collage, and more.  Besides Wheeler’s own work, there is Stephanie Mason, Brenda Malloy, Melissa Cox (the photographer, who is the artist behind Local Colors in Gloucester), Karen Keough, Lisa Knebel, Tin Can Sally, Donna Ardizzoni, Dave Fernandes, Erik Hahr, Alissa Cohen, John Abisamra, Alan Bourgault, Kaitlyn Manley, Christine Gauthier-Kelley, Derek, Miriabilio, Hermit Hill, and Larry Parsons.

Home Arts Gauthier
Hand painted silk, by Manchester artists Christine Gauthier-Kelley.

Courtesy photo

“We’re not just a local independent store,” she said.  “Of all the artists featured here, and just about all of them are local.”

Home Arts Tin Can Sally
Gloucester artist Sally Seamans (“Tin Can Sally”) works with recycled cans to make art and jewelry.

Courtesy photo

Looking ahead, Wheeler is excited about continuing to celebrate the work of local artists.  She’s also excited to reconnect with some of her original ideas about making a space for people to mix and learn with artists’ workshops and reception that boost a bigger sense of community.

Stratton and Maze at Marshalls Farm Stand

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Took the grand kids over to shop at Marshalls Farm Stand for great veggies and fruit and of course went to visit Stratton the gentle horse and our friends the Alpacas, Maze was very engaging with the kids.