My View of Life on the Dock
Chef Doug Papows has accepted the Executive Chef position for Pigeon Cove Tavern at Emerson Inn by the Sea. Renovations are well underway and he is excited to join the team at Migis Hotel Group.
They are hiring! Applications for all positions are being accepted, front and back of the house.
Come on down to the Gloucester House on Saturday evening, March 19th at 6pm, for the annual Docksiders’ Wine Tasting event!
Here’s a great opportunity to support this terrific band in their continuing effort to positively represent not only Gloucester High School, but the City of Gloucester!
These kids work their rear ends off and are a worthy source of pride, but like everything, it takes a continual flow of resources to keep them going. The wine tasting, concert, and gift basket auction are a terrific opportunity to stop by and show these talented young musicians how much they are appreciated. Spread the word and bring your friends.
Tickets are $25 and are available at the door.
Please come and help make this event a success!
Winter Shorts on Vacation
The mini tours you love in the winter are back for the warmer weather
GLOUCESTER, Mass. (March 12, 2016) – The Cape Ann Museum docents are pleased to presentWinter Shorts on Vacation, a series of mini tours highlighting their favorites from the Museum’s collection. These tours will take place on Saturday, April 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every half hour. This program is Free for CAM members / $10 non-members. Space is limited; first come, first served.
Photo credit: Nicole Fandel
Spend a wonderful spring afternoon viewing the Museum’s collections with fresh eyes. Winter Shorts on Vacation offers a variety of six mini themed tours, developed and led by Museum docents. They are meant to appeal to a wide range of interests, so visitors can enjoy just a few or all of the tours if they choose. The schedule of tours is as follows:
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Wood You?
Explore the wooden objects in the Museum’s collection – from everyday kitchen implements to magnificent pieces of furniture, a cigar store Indian and several sculptures by James McClellan.
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Painting in the time of the Frog Ponders
Take a look at the paintings of Fitz Henry Lane through the lens of the Transcendentalists.
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. How Dear to Our Hearts are the Scenes of our Childhood
A quick romp through the Museum to look at several works relating to children and childhood on Cape Ann – the children who worked and those who played and those who sat still for portraits.
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Seeing the Light-Navigation & Lighthouses
During the age of sail, navigation was iffy at best. Learn why landfalls could be the most dangerous part of a voyage, and why the Fresnel lighthouse lens was a true breakthrough.
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Harvesting the Sea: Gloucestermen in the Heyday of Fishing Under Sail
More than 1,000 schooners called Gloucester their home port, sailing to fishing grounds as far as 1,000 miles away in search of finny gold. Both ships and men were called “Gloucestermen” — the ships tall, fast, and beautiful; the men tough, brave, tireless, and justly proud of their work.
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Fifteen Shades of Blue
Experience the impact of this favorite color during a whirlwind tour of the galleries.
THE 64th SEASON: A SEASON TO REMEMBER
Yoichi Udagawa, Music Director
Cape Ann Symphony Visits Spain, Germany & Japan in
A Global Tour Concert on Sunday, March 20
Concert Debuts World Premiere from Japanese Composer Koto &
Introduces Guitar Virtuoso Grisha Goryachev to Cape Ann
Cape Ann Symphony features a global musical tour with music from Germany’sBeethoven, Spain’s Rodrigo and a world premiere work from Japan’s Koto on Sunday, March 20, 2016 at 2pm at the CAS performance venue at Manchester-Essex High School Auditorium on 36 Lincoln Street in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA. Manchester-Essex High School Auditorium is handicapped accessible. Ticket prices are $40 for adults, $35 for senior citizens, $5 for Youth age 18 and under. For tickets and information, call 978-281-0543 or visit www.capeannsymphony.org.
The concert program includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C Minor; guest artist renowned guitar virtuoso Grisha Goryachev in his Cape Ann Symphony debut playing the exotic Spanish guitar concerto, Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez; and the world premiere of Araumi to Nagi (Stormy and Calm Seas) from Boston based Japanese composer Takashi Koto. Cape Ann Symphony Music Director and Conductor Yoichi Udagawa is eager to take audiences on this musical journey, “The fantastic musicians of the Cape Ann Symphony and I are thrilled to be able to perform such a varied and colorful program to our fabulous audience.” He is enthusiastic about the music set for the concert, “Our March concert features the fiery and explosive power of Beethoven’sSymphony No. 5 – one of the most dramatic and well known works of symphonic music ever written. It is a favorite of audiences, and we musicians love to play it! The Russian American guitar virtuoso Grisha Goryachev will join us as the featured soloist playing the gorgeous Concierto de Aranjuez by the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. The concert opens with the world premiere of Boston based composer Takashi Koto’sAraumi to Nagi (Stormy and Calm Seas). Inspired by the rhythms used by taiko drummers, this exciting new work is a musical description of the sea.”
Continue reading “Cape Ann Symphony’s Global Tour on March 20”
click photo for music info
The Best Day!
Nina and daughter Enza
From beginning to end, the pasta-making team is well cared for. When you arrive, Nina and friends have fresh bread baking in the oven and large vats of homemade ricotta steaming on the stove top. The friendships, the fun and conversation, and especially enjoyable is observing how greatly the children love to participate. From the oldest grannies to the teens, tweens, toddlers, and everyone in-between, making pasta with friends and family makes for a simply wonderful day!
Tower of Pasta Power!
Resident Photo Bomber Leo
If you would like to learn more about Gloucester’s Feast of Saint Joseph Community Film and the accurate account of how the project evolved, please go to the film’s website and click on the About the Film link and the Director’s Statement link. For periodic updates about the film, you can keep in touch on the blog page of the film’s website or friend me on Facebook.
Continue reading “SAINT JOSEPH PASTA MAKING WITH THE GROPPO FAMILY AND FRIENDS”
I can’t tell you how many years I’ve driven by this spot early in the morning and thought how beautiful the reflections were and continued on my way. It wasn’t until a couple years ago I actually stopped with my camera. It doesn’t look like much from the road, but early morning about an hour after the sun rises it’s such a beautiful, peaceful view. Of course as in any photographic location, the clouds, the tide and the position of the sun can change the scene from moment to moment but that’s what makes capturing these scenes with my camera so special to me. Our lives are so busy these days and if there is one thing my camera has taught me it’s that moments matter….so stop and be in the moment once in a while. (Nikon D90, F8, ISO 100, 1/10-18-200 mm Nikon lens)
Gloucester’s Feast of Saint Joseph Community Film Project
Filming continues, with great joy, appreciation, and thanks to all the families for their continued help. Dislocating my elbow this past winter set me back a bit in the editing department, however, every cloud has a silver lining. We have filmed additional scenes and are adding more daily. I recently invested in a second hard drive for the film and now all the footage from the past several years is thankfully backed up and in one safe place.
First and foremost, my deepest gratitude and most heartfelt thanks goes to the Groppo Family and Friends, who for the past several years have included me and my camera in every aspect of their Feast of Saint Joseph Novena and preparations.
Tremendous thanks goes to Maria Cracchiolo and Joe Virgilio for allowing filming of their Saint Joseph bread and pastry making. Thank you to Mayor Romeo Theken for her suggestion to get in touch with both Joe and Maria.
Again, I would like to thank all the families who granted interviews and took the time to share their beautiful stories and traditions. Special thanks to Felicia Ciaramitaro and Mayor Theken for their introductions and help organizing the interviews during the project’s earliest beginnings.
I think an additional thanks is owed Sefatia for her wisdom in organizing the trolley tour of Gloucester’s Family altars, which allowed for a window into this world of deep devotion and community spirit.
If you would like to learn more about the film and how the project evolved, please go to the film’s website and click on the About the Film link and the Director’s Statement link. For periodic updates about the film, you can keep in touch on the blog page of the film’s website or friend me on Facebook.
Ken’s golden polenta, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside
There are still a few seats available for the next Duckworth’s Eastern Point Lit House Book Club event (Sunday evening, March 20th). Ken, Chris, Jenn, Michelle, and Colleen do a beautiful job welcoming guests, and if you haven’t been, they provide wonderful evenings of, quite possibly, the best book club fare ever, freely flowing wine, and great discussions.
Last month’s discussion was led by Eastern Point Lit House co-founders Jenn Monroe and Chris Anderson.
Don’t be intimidated if you haven’t read the book in time for the event (which is oftentimes the case with me). I’m usually so inspired after the discussion, I find the time.
So deliciooooooous, that’s all I can say about Ken’s meatloaf and potatoes
An array of salads, vegetable dishes, and soup accompanies every dinner.
Come, I promise you won’t be disappointed!!
A home full of friends and family at the always welcoming Groppo Saint Joseph Novena.
The exquisite and elegant hand embroidery cutwork tablecloth was made especially for Nina’s altar. The flowers each year are organized and arranged by Jane Harper Beddus.
PHOTO COURTESY CAPE ANN MUSEUM
This year the Groppo’s are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Saint Joseph honoring Nina’ s mother, Di Gaetano Vincenza. Tomorrow night, Thursday, the nine day novena begins and all are most sincerely welcome at the home of Nina and Frank Groppo.
Saturday is Saint Joseph pasta-making day at the Groppo’s and it is the most fun, with everyone lending a hand, from the oldest granny to the youngest child.
Caffe Sicilia’s Maria Cracchiolo is returning from vacation on Saturday and special orders for her beautiful bread can be placed then. You can see a demonstration of how she expertly shapes the Saint Joseph altar bread here.
Jane Harper Beddus, the ‘flower lady’ arranging this year’s altar flowers
Join Sister Felicia in her kitchen with friends and family as they have a blast while showing you how to make limoncello at home. She has 2 recipes for you in this video, the classic and the creamy styles of limoncello!
(click the little gear at the bottom right for full HD video)
Dave Sag
There’s a big party goin’ on at the Seaport Grille.
It’s Scott Cook Night, celebrating the very first customer of that venerable institution. From 6 to 9 I’ll be slugging it out with David Brown, Mike O’Connell and Roger Brockelbank. It’s gonna be a blast. Afterwards we’ll be shifting our bods to The Glou. House to join with Madhouse to celebrate the life of Kay Ellis, of Lannon fame who passed last week.
http://www.seaportgrillegloucester.com/
My first post to GMG had me wondering what on earth I could possibly contribute to an already amazingly talented group of contributors. My daughter Abbey made it pretty simple for me by saying just start with what you know…photography! I picked up a camera about 7 years ago after my kids went to college thinking it would be something to pass the time and an outlet for my creativity, but as it turns out, the camera is evil! It makes you do evil things! It makes you learn stuff about what you are photographing. Like when the sun rises and sets (seriously…I had no idea that the best part of sunrise was actually before the sun rose!) So since this is a new beginning for me, and spring is in the air I thought I’d start this day off with a sunrise! You can visit lots of areas and see many sunrises, but I honestly can say that Cape Ann has THE MOST spectacular sunrises and sunsets. No…I’m not a morning person, in fact, I love sleep, but remember I told you the camera is evil? It makes you do evil things?? Well it makes you get up early too! So here you go….pick a day….get up early… bring your camera or just bring a blanket and a cup of coffee and treat yourself with the peacefulness and beauty of the early morning! My favorite place to go is Good Harbor Beach and on any given day there are a half dozen cars parked there and a handful of people on the beach walking and waiting. This morning’s sunrise was hindered by the clouds, so I’m sharing one of my favorites from GHB. I’d love to hear where everyone’s favorite places for sunrises are (on or off Cape Ann)!
(Nikon D610, 1/15 sec, F8, ISO 200 – shot in Raw with Lightroom edits)
http://shutterbythesea.artstorefronts.com/
Recently, I was contacted by the writer Claire Alemian as she was hoping to license one of my Brace Cove sunrise photos for the cover of her forthcoming novel. Claire grew up in Gloucester, her Dad worked at Cape Pond Ice, and her story is set in Gloucester.
Here is the cover!
I’ve never met Claire but she and her husband Bruce are taking me out for lunch this week. I am looking forward to meeting she and Bruce and wish Claire the greatest success with her novel. The following is the synopsis submitted by Claire ~
Claire (Tebo) Alemian, author of the novel “In the Shadow of Light, grew up in Gloucester during the sixties and knows well the many cultures that live there, including the waterfront where her father worked all of his life at the Cape Pond Ice Company. Before leaving at the age of eighteen, Claire worked in the fish factories one summer, an experience that gave her a first-hand view of the tough work and even tougher people that get up every day and make it happen.
Although her novel is a fictional story of survival and the search for truth, most of it occurs on Cape Ann and draws on her familiarity with it’s unique settings, colorful characters and diverse cultures that live side by side.
The story is told in the voice of Ramona Newton as she looks back on her earlier life. By the time she is fifteen, her mother has walked out, her father soon to follow, and she ends up at a place called the Far East, tending bar for Charlie Big and hustling pool in order to survive.
The story captures the turbulence of the 1960s and reveals the clash of generations and class divides, the turmoil created by the Vietnam War and racial injustice, and ultimately, a remarkable journey of finding oneself.
Anticipated release: June 27, 2016. Claire can be contacted at: claire@clairealemian.com
Wednesday, March 9th
This week, in honor and celebration
of the amazing life of KAY ELLIS
I shall be humbly stepping down from my duties at the Rhumb
Line. Not to say the establishment will be closed – just that Kay
was/is a dear, dear friend and my place is by her side. I look
forward to seeing you all next week! ~ Fly
Dinner with great music!
*Each week features a special, invited musical guest
Dave Trooper’s Kitchen…
Prepared fresh weekly by “Troop”… always good!
Plus a fine, affordable wine menu!
Upcoming…
Chick & Ellen
Fozzie Hill
Visit: http://www.therhumbline.com/
Mayor Romeo Theken and Ninety Nine Restaurant and Pub President Charlie Noyes signing the declaration.
Moving Gloucester Forward!
Today before an international delegation from the Seafood Expo North America held at the Gloucester House Restaurant luncheon, Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken announced a brand new partnership between Ninety Nine Restaurant and Pub, Gloucester Seafood Processing, and Fishermen’s Wharf. Ninety Nine will source local seafood from Gloucester to all of its 105 New England restaurants.
“The City of Gloucester would like to thank the Ninety Nine Restaurant and Pub for this new business opportunity for the Gloucester seafood industry. The relationship between our city and the Ninety Nine Restaurant and Pub would not have happened if it were not for the strength of Gloucester seafood and its world-renowned products, ” said Mayor Theken
“The Ninety Nine Restaurant and Pub is based here in Massachusetts and as part of our culture, we strive to build local partnerships with communities across the region. We see today’s announcement, and our decisions to contract Gloucester Seafood as a smart way to support our efforts to offer healthy, fresh, local options to our guests,” said President Charlie Noyes. “We are proud to support the local economy and offer Gloucester seafood to our guests given its strong reputation in the marketplace.”
Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives President Angela San Filippo, Maria and Sal Di Stefano
Chamber President Ken Riehl and Community Development’s Carol Thistle
Mayor Sefatia thanking Lenny Linquata
City Councilors Scott Memhard and Jamie O’Hara
See More Photos Here Continue reading “CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY ~ CELEBRATING THE NEW PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GLOUCESTER SEAFOOD PROCESSING AND FISHERMEN’S WHARF WITH 99 RESTAURANTS”
Good Morning Gloucester 