The first one sold out in four or five hours…

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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The second one sold out on the first day. Marketing and trying to stay current, here’s to a local employee’s initiative.

Kayleigh Bishop, bar manager for Jalapenos had a hunch Paint Nite would be a good fit for Sundays.  She and a couple of friends enjoyed one in Boston. Why not here? She was right. “They have been a huge positive, selling out weeks ahead of time. They’re so much fun to work. And just to be there for it—just to witness!” For Jalapenos, at first it was mainly regulars. Gradually it began to bring different crowds of people, sometimes older, sometimes younger, some from other towns. It energizes the regular business.  Jalapenos jumped in with the new programming January 2015. “People come in early, grab a seat. We’ve tried the back room and the bar area. The instructors are funny and personable, hands on.”  The teacher, Quinn Ramini, Paint Nite artist, is a local; he grew up in Maine and now resides and works in Gloucester. He’s also a trained artist teaching this class a few times a week or month. “Gloucester has an incredibly vibrant history and colorful culture which makes Paint Nite a perfect match,” he says. “The vibe that the town exudes compliments the event…I love hosting events here!”

Jalapeno’s Bishop suggests arriving early to grab a seat and order some food before starting- “the paint area not enough room to eat where you paint.” Then sit down with drinks and music. “Everyone leaves with some fun.” Bishop likes Paint Nite’s community–someone from here– purpose.

Anything else? “Look for groupons!” Maybe they can arrange with UBER, too.

Paint Nite raised 13 million in another round of financing in February and celebrated its 3 year anniversary.

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GMG Housekeeping

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

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Just back from the last vacation days of the year.  Hitting the ground running with a little site redesign to try to improve load times and make things less messy up at the top.

First things first, I had to let go of the slider up at the top.

I was in love with the idea of the slider and actually paid for a custom WordPress design which allowed for it but after having it for about a year I just can’t deny that it is distracting and added to load times.

So poof, it’s gone.

Secondly I changed the theme to allow for a full width scalable format meaning that our contributors can now post larger photos and videos and the blog will detect what size your monitor is and adjust accordingly.

Thirdly, the Navigation buttons are now implemented and stickied at the top of the blog which should allow you to find your way around much more easily.  All thanks for our awesome new navigation buttons go to James at Cape Ann Giclee who made them for us.

So in the past couple months, I launched www.capeanneats.com, www.capeannhome.wordpress.com, www.capeannwellness.com, built a new GMG Android App, implemented James’s awesome Cape Ann Arts Calendar, cleaned up the navigation with James’ help, got rid of the slider to improve load times, and increased the blog from a fixed width to a larger format scalable width to display photos and videos larger.

Rest on our laurels after 7 and a half years? Aw, Hellll Nooo.

Keep on pushing baby!

and guess what? we’ve got some more stuff up our sleeve Smile

#LetsDoThis

Dining at Davio’s

Posted on by Nichole S.

MarketStreet in Lynnfield is doing it right.  It isn’t merely a place to shop, bowl, walk, or dine…it is absolutely a destination.  It’s a reserve-a-few-hours-and-make-a-day-of-it kind of place.

The other day, after a bit of shopping, we sat at the bar at Davio’s and enjoyed some really fantastic snacks.

Check out their MENU here

See what else MarketStreet has to offer HERE.

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Look For Martin Del Vecchio On The News Tonight

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Martin writes-
Brandon Gunnoe from Channel 7 just interviewed me about the basking shark video.  He said the piece should air on the 10:00 news (Channel 56) and/or the 11:00 news (Channel 7).

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Instagramming My Garden

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Running around like crazy today and in need of a post to fill my 6 o’clock time slot, I had a few moments of fun instagramming in my garden, but oh my, does it need a good weeding! And by the way, our garden truly smells like how you might imagine heaven would smell. My book on garden design, Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities!, is chock-a-block full of information on how to create a fragrant garden–a garden that will keep you wrapped in beautiful scents from early spring through autumn.

Milkweed Seedpod ©Kim Smith 2014

Friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Vine. You can also subscribe to my design website at Kim Smith Designs, and film’s websites at Beauty on the Wing ~ Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly, Gloucester’s Feast of Saint Joseph Community Film Project, and Life Story of the Black Swallowtail Butterfly.

Mutiny Avoided on Ardelle

Posted on by Marty Luster

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This group of buccaneers staged a brief mutiny on board Ardelle  last Friday when they refused to disembark from the vessel upon its return to Maritime Gloucester after a beautiful harbor cruise.

The mutineers, from Denver, Colorado and points west, explained that they had such a good time, they didn’t want to leave.

Gallery 53 on Rocky Neck Opens the Season with Former Goetemann Artist Resident, Ekua Holmes

Posted on by James Eves

Gallery 53 on Rocky Neck, 53 Rocky Neck Ave, Gloucester MA 01930

Opening Reception: SAT, May 23, 6 to 8pm • Gallery hours: 10am to 6pm daily

Gallery 53 on Rocky Neck (formerly Rocky Neck Gallery) at 53 Rocky Neck Ave., Gloucester, MA, opens officially for the season on Friday, May 22.  In addition to 28 Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) artists, former Goetemann Artist Resident, Ekua Holmes has been invited to exhibit her extraordinary, vibrant collages at Gallery 53 as part of RNAC’s Summer Artist series. The public is invited to meet Ekua and gallery artists at the Opening Reception on Saturday, May 23, from 6-8 pm.

Ekua Holmes is a Boston-based artist, who creates colorful collages that reflect African American life. She uses news clippings, photographs, vibrant color and composition to infuse her work with energy; her layered, abstract creations convey a sense of unity and evoke memories that are both personal and universal. Holmes was chosen as a Goetemann Artist Resident in 2010 and the gallery welcomes her back to Cape Ann for a three-week show, from May 20 until June 9.

Five new artists have joined the gallery this year: jeweler Trish Conant, silkscreen artist Jane Keddy, wood turner James Lemieux,  watercolor/mixed media artist Martha Swanson and Stephanie Mason who makes fish prints using Gyotaku, an ancient Japanese printing technique. These artists join 23 returning RNAC members, Katherine Bagley, Judith Bly, Cynthia Curtis, Susan W. Daly, Marci Davis, Phyllis Feld, Joyce Frederick, Elizabeth Gauthier, Deborah Geurtze, Dina Gomery, Susan Hershey, Frederick Jillson, Mary R. McCarl, Skip Montello, Michael Oleksiw, David Piemonte, Mary Rhinelander, Judy Robinson-Cox, Tom Robinson-Cox, Kate Somers, Pam Stratton, Deborah Way, and

Ruth Worrall.

Gallery 53 on Rocky Neck is a juried co-operative gallery located in a historic 19th century building, which features an original and distinctive collection of fine arts by Rocky Neck Art Colony members. Previously known as the Rocky Neck Gallery, the collective hosts opening and end of season receptions and showcases work by invited New England artists in seven Summer Artist Series shows throughout the season. Gallery 53 is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm from May 22 until October 13.  See rockyneckartcolony.org for a full schedule of gallery events.

The Rocky Neck Art Colony, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, nurtures excellence in the arts through exhibitions, workshops, residencies and vibrant cultural events for its members and the public. Long renowned for its luminous light, this harbor and coastal location has been a magnet for some of the most revered realist painters in American art and a catalyst for the progressive ideas of artists Stuart Davis, Marsden Hartley, Milton Avery, and Nell Blaine, among many others. Today Rocky Neck continues to attract artists and art lovers to a thriving creative community. For up-to-date information, visits www.rockyneckartcolony.org

SELL OUT ALERT: 35 seats left for Art Garfunkel @ Larcom This Sat 5/23

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Art Garfunkel

Only 35 seats left for this very special evening with Art Garfunkel, one of popular music’s most revered icons.  Most of the seats are in the Balcony (get them here).  For this show, with only 2 people on stage, the seats at Balcony left and right (that normally offer a partially obstructed view) will be fine.  And they’re a bargain. Get them NOW!

Imagine seeing him and hearing his extraordinary voice in the intimate Larcom Theatre (right down the road in downtown Beverly) with gimmeLIVE’s perfect sound.

This will be Art Garfunkel’s only Boston area appearance on this tour.

It will certainly be an experience you won’t soon forget!  Don’t wait until tickets are gone.  Get them now, right here.

 

2cnd Annual Essex Police Car Show

Posted on by Lowell Peabody

The car show was held behind the Essex Police station on Sunday. Cars ranged from Street Rods to classic American and Classic European. Never knew that Car 54 was from Middleton, but there it was!

GHS Softball vs Winthrop

Posted on by David B. Cox

Gloucester looses 2nd game of doubleheader on Saturday.

Jim Dowd Pitches The Common Crow IndiGoGo Campaign

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Jo-E!

What’s up, neighbor?

Last time I was on the podcast we discussed how obnoxious all the Kickstarter/Gofundme/Indigogo/gimmiemoneydotcom.com action has gotten. Lately it does seem like everyone with a life goal expects somebody else to pay for it. We also railed on established businesses using Kickstarter in lieu of just getting a bank loan like normal people.

On that last point I’m going to walk back a little as part of the team helping the Common Crow move out to Eastern Ave. Kate and Pat (the owners) are taking a ginormous leap, investing literally a million dollars in partnership with Cape Ann Savings, the city’s Small Business Development arm and Stan Poole the owner/builder of the site and his crew. When they move out there next month the store will employ over 40 people full-time with bennies. And it’s a truly homegrown local business; they literally started in the corner of the Glass Sailboat on Duncan St. 15 years ago.

The Common Crow is going to crowdfund as part of their financing mix in order to pay for a few things they might otherwise put off at the outset and the rewards are pretty sweet if you are into what they have to offer. Stuff like bottomless cups of coffee, gift bags full of product, charcuterie boards (full disclosure: I had no idea what the crap that was a week ago), original pieces from local artists and and of course T-shirts and tote bags because that is apparently the law or something.

Folks should check it out and throw some support their way. It’s truly a local success story.

Later!

–Jim

Here’s the link- https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/common-crow-natural-market-builds-a-new-nest

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Chickity Check it!- THE U.S. COAST GUARD MOBILE APP @USCGNortheast #USCG

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Available for download May 16, 2015

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The USCG Boating Safety App features include:

  • Find the latest safety regulations
  • Request a vessel safety check
  • Check your safety equipment
  • File a float plan
  • Navigation Rules
  • Find the nearest NOAA buoy
  • Report a hazard
  • Report pollution
  • Report suspicious activity
  • Request emergency assistance

About the App

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