Freaky Friday “The Comfy Chair”.

Posted on by capeannpainter

Bring your Phone or Tablet with you for a comfortable viewing experience of GMG while doing your business.

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MONTY PYTHON’S “THE COMFY CHAIR”

Give it time.

Nichole’s Picks of the Weekend 2/7 and 2/8

Posted on by Nichole S.

There is NO denying it….the snow is here…and it is here for quite a while or so it would seem.

So, don’t forget that the New England Sports Park is now open for excellent tubing.  Also, while the lure of hitting the bigger mountains up north is totally tempting and definitely worth it, we have some pretty sweet slopes that make for easy day trips or even simple half day trips near by.

 

In addition to it still being all about the snow…it is also all about the chocolate this weekend!

Pick #1: Chocolate or Bust!  In both Gloucester and Salem.  

Donna already mentioned that the Gloucester Chocolate Tour is taking place on Sunday from 12pm-5pm!   Read her post here!

 

Another pretty sweet event is  Salem’s So Sweet

Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate and Ice 2015 Festival – Feb. 6 through Feb. 15, 2015!

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Check out a map and see more information here!

Pick #2

I mentioned Patriot Place two weeks ago as a great place to go to get in the Super Bowl mood.  Well, now that the Patriots have won the big dance, there’s even more reason to go! For the next several days you can have the opportunity to have your photo taken with the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

The New England Patriots are Super Bowl champions for the fourth time in 14 years and for this weekend only, The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon is offering fans an opportunity to take their photo beside the Vince Lombardi trophy with admission to The Hall. Guests who bring their own cameras will be able to pose beside the trophy for a photo in The Grand Hall. The trophy will be available at The Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday Feb. 8. In anticipation of lines, The Hall will provide hot chocolate to guests awaiting entry.

Pick #3

This may be cheating because it isn’t actually a weekend pick.  Sadly, just like the Patriots Duck Boat Parade, Truck Day at Fenway happens on a school day.  If you’re able to sneak out, however, it is a nice way to cheer on the Sox as Spring Training gets underway.

This year Truck Day falls on February 12th!  The Truck  even has its own Twitter account. You can follow it here.

So if you want to send the Sox off at Fenway Park, mark your calendars for Thursday, February 12. That’s the day the equipment truck will make its 1,500 mile trek down to Florida — better known as “Truck Day.”

Here’s a video from last year’s big send off

truck

 

Everyday Backyard Birds of Essex County and What to Feed

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

During this snowiest of winters, I’ve been refilling the bird feeders several times a day. We usually only purchase safflower seeds because squirrels do not much care for the hard shelled seeds. Recently though I thought that with all the snow cover, our bird friends would benefit from some variety and decided to add black oil sunflower seeds to the mix. What a colossal error! This morning at the feeder a fight broke out over the sunflower seeds, with no less than five squirrels defending their new found cache. The sunflower seeds also drew two fat black rats to the feeders last night. We’re back to strictly safflower seeds!

The following are eight common birds that we see at feeders at this time of year and these eight species are content with the safflower seeds provided.

Male Cardinal ©Kim Smioth 2015Male Cardinal

Song Sparrow ©Kim Smith 2015Song Sparrow

House Sparrow ©kim Smith 2015House Sparrows

Mourning Dove ©Kim Smith 2015 copyMourning Dove

Caroloina Wren bird bath ©Kim Smith 2015Carolina Wren

White-breasted Nuthatch ©Kim Smith 2015White-breasted Nuthatch

Black-capped Chicadee ©Kim Smith 2015Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse ©Kim Smith 2015Tufted Titmouse

Safflowers seeds are available in bulk at the Essex Bird Shop.

Sawyer Free Library to Showcase Gloucester Cityscapes in February

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Paintings by local artist Erin Luman focus on overlooked lines and edges we walk by everyday
Artist Erin Luman and her daughter Hazel at the libraryGloucester artist Erin Luman with her daughter Hazel and one of her “City Spaces” paintings on display at the Sawyer Free Library this month. Courtesy photo.

John McElhenny shares –

GLOUCESTER, Feb. 4, 2015 – The Sawyer Free Library has kicked off a month-long exhibition of the works of Gloucester artist Erin Luman, whose “City Spaces” paintings focus on the rooftops, power lines and tiny architectural details of Gloucester that many of us pass every day without noticing.

Luman’s paintings highlight typical Gloucester scenes – a doorway on Center Street, a roofscape on Washington Street, a house on School Street. By capturing them on canvas, she forces us to stop and consider the everyday beauty in the heart of our city. The largest painting in Luman’s library show highlights the Birdseye building on Commercial Street, which was recently razed to build a new hotel.

“There is nothing more satisfying than seeing something old in a new light,” said Luman. “Neighborhoods and buildings I’ve walked past a million times become new when pencil hits paper. To slow everything down and find the balance between places that might be considered ‘ugly’ and the beauty in them is what keeps me inside this series.”

Luman, who lives in downtown Gloucester, worked with the renowned Gloucester painter Zygmund Jankowski to catalogue and photograph his entire collection before his death. Luman’s paintings from her “City Scapes” collection will be on display in the main entry of the Sawyer Free Library for the month of February.

For more information, visit www.erinluman.com.

 

 

Late Afternoon Fruit Smoothies!

Posted on by Sista Felicia

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This afternoon I cracked open a fresh coconut, purchased at Market Basket, for it’s milk to help daughter Amanda fix a fresh mixed fruit smoothie after her afternoon training secession at The Manchester Athletic Club. Our Magic Bullet is currently Amanda’s most favorite kitchen gadget. She is having fun blending different concoctions at least twice per day! 

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Fruit Smoothie

Ingredients

Assorted fresh fruit

Greek yogurt

Kefir

Local Honey

Flaxseed oil

Flaxseed

Fresh baby spinach

Fresh Coconut Water

Step-by-Step

1 combine all ingredients in Magic Bullet clear plastic container,(follow Magic Bullet max fill line; blend 30 – 40 seconds; transfer to serving glass; garnish with fresh fruit serve immediately

 

THROWBACK THURSDAY: THE INTERNET LAUNCHES…AND MACINTOSH’S FIRST COMMERCIAL

Posted on by Craig Kimberley

Remember how we got here?

THE FIRST INTERNET COMMERCIAL

THE LAUNCH OF MAC (During the Super Bowl)

Robins in an Apple Tree

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

These Robins were hanging in an apple tree on Lexington Avenue on Thursday, I would like to thank a friend of mine who called me to let me know they were there.

February 5, 2015 Robins in apple Tree on Lexington Avenue

February 5, 2015 hanging in apple tree

Alexander Gerst’s Earth Time Lapses

Posted on by capeannpainter
Published on Dec 22, 2014

“Watch Earth roll by through the perspective of ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst in this six-minute timelapse video from space. Combining 12 500 images taken by Alexander during his six-month Blue Dot mission on the International Space Station this Ultra High Definition video shows the best our beautiful planet has to offer.”

ESA

Lori McKenna @ Old Sloop this Saturday 2/7 at 7:30pm.

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Here’s your chance to get out of the house and enjoy one of the area’s best singer/songwriters in an intimate listening venue.

LoriMcKennaHere’s a taste of her excellent voice and songwriting.

 

Annisquam Village Talent Show has been RESCHEDULED

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns
IMPORTANT UPDATE!
Due to the weather (and piles of it), our Talent Show has been rescheduled
to Saturday, April 11

Reminders will be sent prior to the new date.

Annisquam Village Hall, 36 Leonard Street in Gloucester

Tickets at the door: $10 adults – $5 children under 16 ($30 family maximum)

All proceeds from the show will benefit Cape Ann Animal Aid. unnamed

Diane Blue joins The Dave Sag’s Blues Party tonight @ The Rhumb Line 8:30pm to 11:30pm 2.5.2015

Posted on by Joanne

ds bp db rl

 

http://www.dianebluemusic.com/

Dave says,

Well, I’m sitting around the house waiting for the snow to stop and my codpiece to dry, with Weal Of Fortune oozing out of my Elsie D. screen (no sound) and three martinis under my Kuyper belt, biting my toenails and begging for a break.
Rheumer has it that there’s another storm coming on Thursday, but I’m willing to shake my shaman rattle and toss the dicey bones on another outcome: The arrival of Ms. Diane Blue to our stage.  OMG, it’s been a while since Miss D., the Octomom® of the blues has been in these parts, and I’m so glad to have her back. Not only that, but she’s bringing along a killer band with some new people to tintinnabulate your eardrums with the latest ghastly sounds.
Firstly, there’s Bobby Gus, a veritable Boston mainstay, on catarrh. First time. Add Joe Bargar, one of my heroes, on keys. Then trip over Mr. Steve Bankuti, who never heard of me, on eggbeaters. First time, too. I’ve been dying to meet and play with these people. I need the thirty bucks. But, seriously, folks, I’m expecting to have a rousing good time waffling through the entire blue spectrum. C’mon out and dance!

logo rl

40 Railroad Avenue
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 283-9732

http://www.therhumbline.com/

Would You or Wouldn’t You?

Posted on by Nichole S.

Oh, God, No.

Look, I LOVE oysters.  I really do.

The more horseradish sauce the better.

I happily ate probably no fewer than 20 last weekend in New Orleans and it is a given that I look forward to eating them up each and every time I step foot in Halibut Point.  Key West to me screams “Raw Bar” and Nantucket means oysters at “CRU”.

So, last night was no different.

I happily met one of my best friends in the whole entire world….ordered from one of the best bartenders in the whole entire world (that’s right, Jack), and chatted with the one and only Heather…who has made it into 2 blog posts in a row….not that that is any claim to fame 😉

We ordered a dozen Duxbury Oysters and THANK GOODNESS this one didn’t make it to our plate.

So, my friends, after seeing this photo, the question I ask is, “Would you or wouldn’t you be able to choke this down?”  For the record, as you can see, it is the size of the a woman’s hand.

See Poll Below

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Looks Like the Makings of Another Storm #SnowiestWinterEver!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Brace Cove brace rock ©kim Smith 2015JPG

Brace Cove Gloucester

Eastern point Gloucester MA ©kim Smith 2015

Brace Point Gloucester MA ©Kim Smith 2015Brace Rock ©Kim Smith 2015