My View of Life on the Dock
A closer look…
Other than four years of college in Virginia, I’ve lived on Cape Ann for my entire life….however, I’m also fairly well-traveled. I’ve traveled in Africa, I’ve been to Central America, I’ve been all over Mexico, to the Caribbean, the West Indies, and throughout the United States and into Canada. And, for what it’s worth, I’m pretty city savvy. I spent a lot of time playing in the city in my teens, 20s, and 30s….and photographed inside Fenway Park for several years in a row…heading in and out of Boston each night during home stands.
So, while I call this post “City Mouse, Country Mouse”…I’m not necessarily either. However, I sure as all hell played the role of Country Mouse the other night in Boston…and I am NOT happy about it.
I am truly, truly an idiot.
This is how it went down.
I was meeting a friend in the city…just outside of Faneuil Hall. I know the area well, but was heading to a particular parking garage that I had never been to. I took a left onto Broad Street and saw the 75 State Street Garage in the Financial District ahead…a bit ahead, on my right. The traffic was total clusterf___. Horns were honking. Almost in front of the entrance to the lot, a white taxi was stopped, coming from the opposite direction, blocking a good part of my lane so that I couldn’t go forward. A nice man, on a cell phone, with a pile of money in his hand, appeared in front of my car and helped me navigate my kind of large SUV around the taxi and towards the garage entrance. He asked if I was parking, asked how long, and asked me for $10. As I didn’t have a ten….I handed him a $20…with a smile. He flipped through his pile of cash….as if looking for change….and then said, “just pull on down there (pointing to the garage) for a second and I’ll catch you.” “No problem,” I said.
I’m not sure why I wasn’t on my A Game during that exact moment in time….but, it only took about 6 seconds for me to realize that effer was off with my $$$ and that I’d clearly not be seeing him or my “change” anytime soon. I literally sat on the entrance ramp to the garage for probably a minute contemplating how I could have been such an idiot. Large parking lots never ask for money outside upon arrival. I know that. Everyone knows that. I also replayed my short conversation with the “kind and helpful” gentleman….and couldn’t help but think what a tremendous actor he was. While I was mad as all heck….I also couldn’t help but give him kudos for standing right there…in the middle of a super crowded busy city street…stealing money in broad daylight. And doing so with such manners and such a calm demeanor.
Shame on him….shame on me.
You may be happy to know that dinner at Strega in the North End was excellent, drinks at the Sail Loft were just like old times, and the company of an amazing friend more than made up for the $20 that I was scammed. My ego, however, is still bruised.
Consider yourselves warned my friends.
It is that time of year again for the Magnolia Road Race.
Hi Joey,
Our son Ted was recently in China and represented Good Morning Gloucester in Tiananmen Square, Beijing.
Love the blog – thanks (!)
Ed and Jody Dove
Marine Forecast :
Mon S winds around 5 kt…becoming SE in the afternoon. Seas around 2 ft.
Mon Night S winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft.
Pod Cast Weather :
http://www.spreaker.com:80/episode/4838942
Hourly Forecast:
Golfers had to use 1914 clubs and rules as outlined by Stephen Clayton (PGA).
It was a great day at Rockport Golf Club.
Then and Now Photo
MagnoliaCast Podcast with Guest Randy Oneil and Host Joey Ciaramitaro Taped 8/10/14
Topics Include:
Featuring Gloucester Sports Legend Randy Oneil, International Dory Racing, 2014 Magnolia Road Race, www.magnolialibrary.org,The 525,The Village Restaurant, Wenham Train Museum, Halibut Point Chowder, Sidewalk Bazaar, Palazolas Sporting Goods,
Go to www.magnolialibrary.org to register and get in on the Dry Fit shirts for the race before they run out.
Magnolia Road Race Sponsors:
Cape Ann Savings Bank
Jim’s Bakery
Stop & Shop
Daymark
Machine Tech
Rock the Baby
Innovation House
Freedom Fitness
525 Restaurant
Rooter Man
Cape Ann Auction
O’Hara Industrial Services
Harmony Barre
Also known as Sefatia and Joey
Sofia Gadbois, Elliot Davis, Jared Gilman, and Charlie Rousmaniere
A huge shout out to co-directors Terry Sands and Mary Curtis and the outstanding cast and crew of the Annisquam Village Players for once again creating a fabulously wonderful summer theatre event. The cast is stellar, the production flawless, and every act left you wondering, how can they top that! The children in the audience were especially mesmerized, rooting audibly for Peter Pan (played by the tremendously talented Elliot Davis), and grumbling loudly at the villainous and hilarious Captain Hook (featuring Rick Gadbois). Three Cheers and a Standing Ovation for All!!!
It was a joy to see families working together both behind the scenes and performing on stage, including the funny, fun, and talented Rousmaniere’s Will, Charlie, Julia, and Jack (Dana, when will we see you on stage?); the always entertaining Rick Gadbois with his beautiful and accomplished daughter Sofia (what stage presence!); and the charming Think Pink Flamingo, Lidi Sands, with her adorable son, Baby Rabbit Alex Sands.
With an extra special shout out to Terry and Mary for their superb direction and casting, Krisitna for her beautiful choral direction, to Chicki and her crew for yet another year of ingenious sets, to Deej Viau for brilliant choreography, and to Cem Uslu and orchestra for exquisite music. And with a special note of appreciation to Linette and her helpers for their always kind assistance to all.
An extra, extra shout out goes to costume designer Hanna Anderson and the very adroit costume committee for their utterly fantastic ensembles. Every costume was pitch perfect and beautifully executed. Hanna grew up in Annisqaum and now lives in Boston. She is only 21 years old. We’ll be saying—we knew her when…
And, to AVP’s newest stage manager, GREAT JOB Deb Michel!
To read more about the history of the Annisquam Village Players and how you can support their productions, visit the AVP website here.
Hard on the heels of a brilliant stint as Music Director of the Annisquam Village Players’ production of “Peter Pan,” 21-year-old Turkish pianist Cem Oslu turns his talents to a mostly classical concert at the Annisquam Village Church, Sunday, August 17. Pushing the ivories in another direction is nothing new for this young prodigy. Born in 1992 in Adana, Turkey, Oslu started his music education with piano lessons at age 12. In only a year, he had won a full scholarship to Bilkent University’s Faculty of Music and Performing Arts where, for five years, he had the opportunity to study with Sanem Berkalp, Hande Dalkilic, Karl-Andreas Kolly, Oxana Yablonskaya, Edna Golandsky and Olga Kern.
In 2009, Oslu was awarded Third Prize in the Kamuran Gundemir Piano Competition, and later that year performed the Grieg Piano Concerto in A Minor with the Bilkent Sypmhonic Orchestra (the Turkish “BSO,” in Ankara), conducted by Isin Metin. He was also invited to perform in the 10th Antalya International Piano Competition and at the Musica Mundi International Chamber Music Festival in Belgium. In 2010, he performed Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.1 with the Bursa Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ahmet Taviloglu. Later that year he was accepted to Vienna Conservatory where he studied for two years.
At Berklee College of Music, Oslu’s concentration has been Film Scoring and Electronic Production & Design. In 2013 he was awarded First Prize in the MTNA (Music Teacher’s National Association) Compositions Competition on both state and regional levels, and Second Prize at the national level.
Oslu moves to Los Angeles in September, with film work in his sights. Terry Sands, Director of the Annisquam Village Players, says, “Peter Pan might have stayed a boy forever…but Cem Oslu has already hit 21, and we’re going to say ‘We heard him when…’ He’s got a great future ahead of him, and we were lucky to get such a talent for our play. This concert will be cream on the top!”
The concert will include piano music of Bach, Chopin, Schumann, and Scriabin. Oslu promises to play a bit of Turkish music on the harpsichord (with its buff stop imitating the sound of the oud!), and a composition of his own, as well. The historic Annisquam Village Church is at 820 Washington Street in Gloucester (corner of Washington and Leonard Streets). General admission is at the door only: $15. / Students $10. One performance: Sunday, August 17.
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WHAT: Piano classics, and original compositions by Turkish prodigy, Cem Oslu
WHERE: Annisquam Village Church, 820 Washington Street, Gloucester
WHEN: Sunday, August 17, 7:30 PM
TICKETS: At the door only $15 / $10. Students
INFORMATION: 978.283.6416 or 978.281.0376
It’s summer, time to go fishing. You can catch a haddock, cod fish, flounder or redfish on the Pottery Trail, August 16 and 17 from 10-5 pm on Cape Ann. Nina Testaverde Goodick went out on her father’s traditional Gloucester fishing vessel as a young girl so she knows her fish. These days Nina creates beautifully detailed clay fish as decorative wall hangings. Her studio, Annisquam River Pottery, is one of ten studios and galleries open during the Pottery Trail as part of the month long Cape Ann Ceramics Festival. On Saturday, the 16th, from 11-2 pm Cynthia Curtis will offer people a chance to try throwing a pot on the wheel, something which appears deceptively simple to do. There’s no charge, and those who try it will come away appreciating how much skill it takes to make a mug or teapot. Also on the Pottery Trail, catch Tim Christensen sgrafitto porcelain at True North Gallery in Hamilton, Outdoor Sculpture at Flatrocks Gallery in Lanesville and Side Street Gallery on Rocky Neck and much more.
Each of the potters on the trail works in a unique style, with many different kinds of firing techniques. Most of the potters will be doing demonstrations. All will be available to discuss their passion for working in clay. Enter a free raffle at any stop to win a festival tee shirt or tote bag.
For a complete list of artists on the trail and more about the festival, visit: Cape Ann Ceramics Festival
Saturday, August 16 : Reception for Robert L. Williams
Celebrating Gloucester’s Heritage
American Impressionist oil paintings
@ Rocky Neck Gallery, 53 Rocky Neck Ave, Gloucester MA
Last night’s fireworks over Rockport Harbor were fantastic.
Found on the Hard Drive Gloucester Harbor 2006
Virginia Smith Writes~ Felicia, I finally made the Sunday Sugu ,Cunnsata Muddica,Meatballs. My family loved it all. Glad I had enough for freezer !This recipe came from Felicia Ciaramitaro Mohan‘s “Gifts of Gold” cookbook. A few differences from my usual however just so delicious with the Mudica Cunsata meatballs. !!!
Hey Joey,
I’m working on this campaign for Aquaball and we’re trying to drum up some kids for the commercial shoot. Could you post this info for us? Every time you post something the numbers spike for us so fast it’s kind of scary.
Here’s the sign up form that goes with it (that goes to the QR code).
Thanks,
Chad
Hi Joey, great things happening in Ward 3. The oval playground off of centennial will be renovated. We have received a $200,000 grant from the state. There will be a meeting there on Tuesday August 12. Could you please put this on the blog for me.
Thanks,
Steve LeBlanc
Good Morning Gloucester 