The winner is so getting laid tonight.
International broads all over the world just itching to get their hands on the winner.
Nature’s Art
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Everyone Was A Winner
at yesterday’s Season’s Best Cookie Competition and Solstice Party coordinated so exquisitely by Gigi Mederos and Stevie Black during the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck. Attendees got to taste the incredible and diverse array of cookies entered into the competition, and enjoy the antics of the serious but fun loving panel of judges made up of Mayor Carolyn Kirk, Ed Collard and Sister Felicia. Many attendees shopped and got to enjoy the wonderful selection of art and craft items available while checking some people off their lists. The artists got to enjoy selling their creations and knowing that they have made some money this holiday season. We got to enjoy the beautiful sound of Eva DiLascio’s singing group that unexpectedly appeared for an impromptu round of Christmas carols. Mayor Kirk had fun on her birthday and went home with a beautiful birthday cake baked by Karen Tibbetts. There were many new faces at the event, so the Cultural Center wins some new appreciators of the beauty of the space and the great things we have going on there.
The winners of the Season’s Best Cookie Competition (drum roll please) were:
1st place Salted Caramel Cookies by Alison Darnell and Heather Ahearn – winner of the coveted “Got Milk?” hand painted silk cookie scarf by Gigi Mederos
2nd place Savory Cookie by Sydney and Kaleigh Cirafice
3rd place Cranberry Turtle Bars by Diane Stringer
Classic Chocolate Candy Cane Bars by Jessica McGovern
Best presentation Cranberry Cardamom Shortbread Icycles by Two Time Winner, Jessica McGovern
but all entrants were winners because they get to have a group cookie baking class with Sister Felicia!
The Holiday Festival is open today from noon to 4:00pm with the final weekend of the festival being held Saturday and Sunday, December 28 & 29 from noon to 4:00PM with a Pre New Years Party on the 29th from 2:00-4:00PM.
E.J. Lefavour
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Thank you to Musicians, Sponsors, Volunteers & Fans for a magical solstice
What a gift it is to live in a community full of tremendously talented musicians, who can bring world-class music to one of Gloucester’s most treasured spaces.
All the performers were at the top of their game last night and, based on their level of talent, they could have brought giant egos with them.
But they chose to leave their egos at the door and collaborate at the highest level of professionalism in order to lift a packed house at Gloucester’s UU Church to a level of musical joy that many said they hadn’t felt in years.
Bravo!
Thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers and Cape Ann TV crew who helped to bring The Cape Ann Winter Solstice Concert to life.
Thanks, most of all, to everyone who came out to support our local music treasures and help restore the Meetinghouse so it can become a premier listening venue for dozens of major musical events every year.
Based on last night’s success, it’s safe to say we’ll be doing this again and again and again. Stay tuned …
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WINTER SOLSTICE SALUTATIONS FROM THOMAS PHILBROOK
Greetings to you!
Winter began with the solstice at 12:11 PM , December 21 (EST) — the shortest day of the year.
Wishing for you a warm and cozy holiday season.
Tom Philbrook
www.facebook.com/PhilbrookDigitalArt
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Can’t Wrap This!
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Octopus Salad
Octopus Salad
Ingredients
2½ cups Octopus, cooked, cleaned, and cut into ¾ inch pieces
1 cup sweet Vidalia Onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
¼ teaspoon red crushed pepper
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
¼ cup pure olive oil
juice of 1 large lemon
Step-by-Step
1 defrost octopus in large sink filled with cold water( will take several hours)
2 fill large stockpot with water; bring to rolling boil over high heat
3 carefully add defrosted Octopus to boiling water by holding the head firmly while lowering the legs in and out of the boiling water 3 times allowing the legs to shrink and curl; release and submerge octopus in water; return to boil
4 boil octopus 1 1/2- 2 hours or until fork tender; using long kitchen tongs, remove from water; cool 10 minutes in large colander
5 clean by removing lose skin, eyes, and center core; and cut legs and cleaned head into 3/4 inch bite size pieces
6 place cooked, cleaned, and cut octopus in mixing bowl, add onions; mix; reserve
7 in separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients; whisk well; pour over reserved octopus and onions; mix well
8 transfer to airtight container; refrigerate minimum 24 hours (I prefer to marinate several days); remove from refrigerator 1 hours before serving
Notes~
(1) Do not be fooled by the size of the uncooked octopus, as shown in the photos they cook down in size considerably
(2) I usually cook two or three 4-5lb frozen octopus which yields the amount shown in the first photo
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March of the Olive and Carrot Penguins
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Community Photos
Hi Joey,
All the best of the season to you, yours and your many blog viewers!
See you in the spring.
Bruce Louise Bonham
St. Catharines, Ontario
O’Maley Staff Mosley ugly sweater crew
Nichole Schrafft submits-
Great Holiday Photo taken by my co-worker, Gail Estes. Just made a bunch of thank you cards out of it. Incase you’re looking for a blog photo 🙂
Hi Joey,
Here are 2 shots from my travels around Cape Ann on Friday. I was coming down Rte 128 to Grant Circle and the late afternoon light captured my eye, so I snapped this as I was stopped waiting to enter the rotary.
The second one is a tree behind Woodman’s in Essex. I just thought it was lovely sitting by itself along the Essex River.
Mary Barker
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Why the Vikings fled Norway
From Al Bezanson
Why the Vikings fled Norway ___ For ages it has been obligatory for Scandinavians to ‘enjoy’ lutefisk at yule time. Having tasted this delicacy in Stavanger myself, I found it understandable that millions of citizens would emigrate from that beautiful region just to escape the obligation. Anyhow, that’s my theory. Lutefisk is cod marinated in lye over a very long period of time. If you enjoy snacking on Ivory soap you might enjoy lutefisk
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Community Stuff 12/22/13
It’s the final Cape Ann Community Contra Dance of 2013!
We look forward to celebrating the turning of the year with new friends and old on the dance floor.
Take a break and come enjoy the live music and the dancing fun.
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Fred Bodin Has Some Mack Daddy Gloucester T Shirts (and a killer attack lobster)
Check Out Bodin Historic Photo and get you some Gloucester Swag.
I use the Gloucester mug he gave me for my birthday every day of the week.
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Winter Solstice Cape Ann Farmer’s Market At The UU
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More Snowy Morning Photos
Iron Curlique
Winterberry ~ Ilex verticillata
Dogwood Branches ~ Cornus florida
Rosie
Red Bow
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4 Days til Christmas Song ~ Louis Prima Recording of “What Will Santa Claus Say”
Louis Prima, “The King of Swing,” was a New Orleans born son of Sicilian immigrants. Primo’s career spanned five decades and he was a trumpeter, singer, songwriter, and actor. Prima was also the voice of the orangutan in Disney’s the Jungle Book, performing the song “I Wanna be Like You.”
I am curious to know if any GMG readers ever saw Louis Prima play during his long career.
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Van Gogh
The Good Harbor Beach footbridge brings to mind Van Gogh’s Langlois Bridge at Arles.
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Our newest love
Ms. Hannah Grace
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A Sight Only A few Can See
Going passed the Manchester Historical Society, if you are very lucky, you can see the Nutcrackers standing guard… They appear only to those who can see beyond the streets and houses…
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Cape Ann Solstice Tickets Available at the Door ~ Plenty of FREE PARKING
You can’t get advanced tickets online any more, but you can still go the Gloucester UU Church and get tickets at the door ($25 for all ages). Box office opens at 4pm. Doors open at 7. Concert starts at 7:30. There’s plenty of free parking at the Church and nearby (Trinity Church parking lot and Library lot off School St. are both plowed) so come on down and celebrate the longest night of the year with some of Cape Ann’s finest musicians while you help to restore one of Gloucester’s most treasured buildings!
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Holiday Specials Galore on Cape Ann TV
It’s a big week of holiday specials on Cape Ann TV featuring Bruce Tarr’s Toy Drive, Holiday Delights, Local Music Seen Christmas special, Cape Ann Symphony Holiday Pops Concert, Church services, plus many other holiday events — and of course lots of football! Get the schedule here — and check out Cape Ann TV’s young Santa guiding his sleigh through the night sky below:
Good Morning Gloucester 