Smart Phone for Dummy’s

Posted on by Ed Collard

OK…maybe it’s just me, but I’m overwhelmed by the amount of technology that’s at my finger tips with this ‘smart phone’. The Harbor Walk talking post have lead me into the world of bar code scanning. These talkingpost have a wealth of information for both tourist and residents alike. You will have to down load a barcode app to read the funny looking ‘thing a ma jig’ bar code on the sign. You will see a menu of great info. I still haven’t been able to get the audio but I’ll figure that out or one of our FOB’s will be kind enough to let me know what this dummy is doing wrong with his ‘smart phone’. Please don’t tell Joey about this post…he laughs at my tech savy enough already!!

Walking around the Hammond Castle

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

John Hays Hammond, Jr. built his medieval-style castle between the years 1926
and 1929 to serve both as his home and as a backdrop for his collection of
Roman, medieval, and Renaissance artifacts. The castle was constructed as a
wedding present for his wife Irene Fenton Hammond to prove how much he cared for
her.   In addition, the building housed the Hammond Research Corporation, from
which Dr. Hammond produced over 400 patents and the ideas for over 800
inventions.  Second only to Thomas Alva Edison in number of patents, John
Hammond was one of America’s premier inventors.  His most important work was the
development of remote control via radio waves, which earned him the title, “The
Father of Remote Control.”

 

What’s really going on with this Harbor Walk anyhow?

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

Honoring our past while embracing our future — through stories.  Most of us think we know the past.  Old stories.  History classes.  But if we really want to honor our past, we must feel it, not just memorize it.

The Harbor Walk helps us feel by getting us to participate in the experience of bringing the past to life using bleeding-edge technology.  Watch this “Walking Cinema” video (designed to be played on your smart-phone while you walk) for just one example of why today’s Times Editorial says, “Through the new HarborWalk, the city has taken story-telling to an entirely new level …”

Ann Marie, of the Bandit Kings  (certainly part of Gloucester’s promising future) literally walks us into the past through old postcards woven with imaginative narration over current video of Gloucester Harbor so we can feel Howard Blackburn’s journey.

Why should we honor the past?  There are more reasons than you’d want to read in this post, so I’ll keep it to one:  It’s us.  It’s where we’ve come from.  The past touches the core of our being.  Honoring the past honors ourselves, which is necessarily the first step in helping anyone else, or trying to make the world a better place.

Why should we embrace the future?  (You can see this coming, right?)  It’s where we’re going — whether we like it or not.  It’s our destiny.

The Harbor Walk doesn’t just embrace the future with new technologies and gadgets.  It also does it through native flower gardens that bloom spectacularly — right now, this fall, next year and every year; and through state-of-the-art recycled materials and lighting mixed with ancient granite posts.

Most of all, the Harbor Walk embraces our future by bringing people to the waterfront — Old, young and yet to be born.  People will feel our past through these stories that fill us with the essence of Gloucester so each one of us can embrace our future grounded in our Gloucesterness and prepared for what ever comes our way.

You can experience the Harbor Walk starting tomorrow at 1pm with the ribbon cutting.  And you can continue the experience all weekend long.  See tomorrow’s Harbor Walk schedule here — and you can download the  full weekend Harbor Walk schedule here.

These schedules highlight a few official Harbor Walk activities, plus dozens of others (under the heading Step Out into Gloucester) that were going on anyhow and are proof that  Gloucester’s rich cultural heritage is alive today and will be carried into the future.

You can  help that process along by participating.  See you there .  . .

FREE Acoustic Music Festival in Rockport on Sunday

Posted on by S.D. Kelly

David Cutler, Rockport’s acoustic music impresario (yes, I used that word), has been putting together this event for 33 years! While it’s usually held in Rockport’s beautiful Millbrook Meadow, this year the event is being held at the Rockport Legion Band’s bandstand on Back Beach. This is a great time to hang out in lovely Rockport and hear some good local music while enjoying food from Claire Franklin of New Year’s Rockport Eve. For more on that, read on. And click HERE to head over to the Rockport Acoustic Music Festival to discover the lineup and other information.

Here’s a letter from Claire, who is coming off of a really tough year and is looking for volunteers for the weekend. Claire puts on a huge event, Rockport New Year’s Eve, every single year (this weekend’s food tent sales serve as a fundraiser for the New Year’s Eve event). It is a major effort and everyone loves this event, so if you can help her out that would be great. We’re going to be in Maine this weekend and will miss all the action, but I wish I could be there alongside Claire. Everyone at the Acoustic Music Festival is in happy mood, listening to music while eating Claire’s hot dogs, hamburgers and more, so working in the food booth is a great way to be part of the event. You can contact Claire at her email address: claire.nyre@comcast.net to sign up for a volunteer slot or contribute in some other way.

From Claire:

Hello Everyone,

As most of you know, I lost my husband to lung cancer last January right after New Year’s Eve.  It has been a long road back to once again try to do the things I always have done in the past without him along side me.  Starting with this coming weekend’s Rockport’s 33rd Annual Rockport Acoustic Music Festival.  Each summer New Year’s Rockport Eve supplies the Food Tent for the festival.  We are again this year!

New Year’s Rockport Eve is looking for volunteers to help serve & cook on Sunday, August 12th from noon to 6pm.  Also, I would love a few helpers to set up from 10am – 12 noon and clean up from 6 – 7 pm.  This event has moved from Millbrook Meadow to the Legion at Back Beach this year.

Every fundraiser that I put on throughout the year requires that I beg people to help me.  I love putting on the New Year’s Eve program for the town of Rockport, but the begging for help is getting a bit harder.  Please come forward to volunteer to benefit such a wonderful event that I would love to continue year after year.  It takes about $34,000.00 to put on this event and button sales does not support this.  Fund raising is a must!  If you can just do one hour, I will take it or two or three.  Just answer this email and volunteer and please pass this on to everyone on your email list.

I am always looking for Baked goods to sell, also.  Brownies, cookies etc. that can be bagged and sold for 50 cents.

Thanks,

Claire

Street Bazaar photo series

Posted on by Matthew Green

I am going away for a spiritual retreat for the week, so if you are a person of faith, please keep me in your prayers!  My posts in my absence are a series of photos from the street bazaar.

– Fr. Matthew Green

GMG Stats Tuesday August 7 56,179 Views- Last 30 days 1,230,232 Views- All Time 20,945,924 Views

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

It’s funny because every time some newspaper of magazine interviews me for a piece on GMG they ask about the daily viewership and I tell them, then the magazine comes out a month or two later and the average views jump even higher.  We’re a freight train baby! 

In the North Shore Art Throb piece on GMG when Lou Mandarini asked me what we were doing for numbers I told him- 28,000 to 48,000 a day and that was just a month and a half ago.  If he asked me today I would say 38-56,000 a day. #Boom!

Check out the North Shore Art Throb article on GMG here

Gotta be doing something right.

An old timer calls me on the phone yesterday and tells me that I really ought to watch the language I use on GMG because it would be a shame to see us lose all the great things that we’ve built up here.  I’ll take it all under advisement buddy.

Yesterday August 7th- 56,179 views

image

Last 30 days- 1,230,232 Views

image

All Time- 20,945,924 views

image

Pet of the Week-Bradford

Posted on by Alicia Pensarosa

My name is Bradford and I am a handsome three-year-old male cat with a orange-and-white coat.

bradford pet of the week, cape ann animal aid

I am checking to see if there might be someone out there on Cape Ann who would like to adopt me. Please visit me at the Cape Ann Animal Aid now located at the Christopher Cutler Rich Animal Shelter, Four Paws Lane, Gloucester.  Check our website if you are interested in becoming a member, volunteer or would like to adopt me, please visit:  CapeAnnAnimalAid.com

Don’t forget the 2nd Annual Christopher Cutler Rich Golf Tournament to be held on Monday, October 15 at Bass Rocks Golf Club.   For further information, please visit: CapeAnnAnimalAid.com or call us at 978-283-6055 or e-mail us at info@capeannanimalaid.com

I won’t be at the Tournament, I don’t golf!

DOWNTOWN GLOUCESTER BLOCK PARTY AUGUST 18 FEATURES BERKLEE TALENT & FIVE OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE STAGES!-

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

image

Summer’s best party starts at 6 pm Saturday August 18 on Main Street in Gloucester and it’s free!

Main Street is transformed into a strolling mall featuring al fresco dining; shopping until 11 pm; a Kids’ Town and multi-performances at five outdoor stages. Diverse bands, dance troupes and jugglers perform!

Center Stage the Block Party presents Berklee Jazz and Roots in Gloucester. The Berklee School of Music conducts master classes in Gloucester public schools and donates a music scholarship to a talented local student. Enjoy this excellent jazz and reggae group at 8 pm at the Sovereign Stage.

Shows and dining from 6 pm, Saturday evening. Bring a chair if you like and plan to dance in the street. The third jubilant Block Party will be held September 15.

See www.glostablockparty.com for more information.

Wizard of OZ– David Cox Rehearsal Photos Group 2

Posted on by Manuel F. Simoes

For more information click below:

clip_image002

DSC_3815

Community Stuff 8/8/12

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Hello Joey,
My name is Talia DeWolfe, I am 12 years old and I am the founder of ‘Save a Star’ breast cancer walk affiliated with Susan G. Komen.
This is my second year organizing the walk at Stage Fort Park. This year it will be on Sunday, September 23rd and my goal
is to raise $5,000 for the local Susan G. Komen chapter. Last year I raised $2,500 from walkers and donations.
I named it ‘Save Star’ because I believe when we pass we become stars and I would like to help women fighting breast cancer from becoming a star.
The money not only goes to research but it goes to local women that are in financial need because of this disease.
I attached my flyer that people are allowed to print and pass out to whoever they would like. I also have registration forms for the walk for anyone
that is interested. They can email me at Saveastar@live.com
My mom said I should email you because you post positive events everyday on Good Morning Gloucester.
I was hoping you could help me spread the word about my walk this year.
Thank you,
Talia DeWolfe

image

On the next Cape Ann Profiles show host Rich Sagall interviews Cape Ann TV resident and author Ron Gilson. They discuss what it was like to grow up on the docks during the 50s, the hsitory of Gloucester as a fishing center and the future of the city. His book, An Island No More, is a popular memoir of Gloucester.
Cape Ann Profiles can be seen on Cape Ann TV Channel 12 on Friday, August 10 at 10:30AM and 7:00PM and on Sunday, August 12 at 2:00PM. It repeats on Friday, August 17 at 10:30AM and 7:00PM and on Sunday, August 19 at 2:00PM.
Rich Sagall is a physician and the president of NeedyMeds, a national non-profit that provides information on programs that help people unable to afford their health care costs. He also publishes Pediatrics for Parents, a children’s health newsletter.

Essex Wet Paint Day and Auction Tickets Available Now!
Saturday, August 18 (Raindate August 19)
Paint from 9 am to 3pm in Essex
Silent/Live Auction 5 pm to 9pm at Cox Reservation, Rte 133, Essex
Tickets $10 per participating artist
$25 per person
Tickets may be purchased by several Essex Merchants including Main Street Antiques, The Antiquarian,
Alexander Westerhoff’s, Bider’s Antiques, and Eventide Gallery
Visit Essex to watch painters at work…look for the RED balloons!
Hope to see you there for a fun night of music, friends and art!

Good Morning,

If there is time or any room, could GMG mention our wine tasting series on Thursdays from 5-7 beginning tomorrow, Aug. 9th?

We will share some cheese, wines and locally produced spreads. No cost associated, but must be 21 to attend. Peace out.

My best and thanks for all the shout outs you have given us.

Bottom Line The Camera You Should Buy- The new Sony RX100

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

They did what no one else has done.

Stuffed a huge sensor in a small camera that can fit in your front pocket.

No one researches new cameras like I do.  No one, because what I do on this blog makes me appreciate what a large sensor and super fast Carl Zeiss 1.8 lens in a camera body that can fit in your front pocket can produce.

How many times have I told you the best camera is the one you have with you? A large DSLR that you don’t lug around with you because it is just too cumbersome is USELESS TO YOU if you decide to not bring it along with you.  But now there is no tradeoff.  they put that huge DSLR sensor into a camera that can fit in your pocket. #Boom!

This is the camera I’ve been screaming that camera makers should make and that people WOULD pay up for.  Something that would deliver excellent results in a small form factor.

I resigned myself last year to chalking it up to it not being possible because I figured I couldn’t be the only person that wants to be able to carry around a camera THIS CAPABLE IN LOW LIGHT in their front pocket.

NOT AROUND YOUR NECK, NOT HANHING OFF A STRAP OVER YOUR SHOULDER!

IN YOUR FRONT POCKET TUCKED AWAY FOR THE MOMENT SOMETHING AWESOME HAPPENS AND YOU WANT TO CAPTURE IT IN AWESOME DETAIL.

THIS IS THE CAMERA.  DON’T THINK- JUST BUY IT. 

It’s a premium constructed, premium picture quality Hi Def Video Monster in a small form factor.

They took what was really good about the Canon Powershot series S95 and S100 which are both very good cameras and blew it out with a sensor that is over double the size of those two cameras which are good performers in their own right but the RX100 crushes them in terms of performance.

NO ONE HAS DONE THIS BEFORE.  IT IS NOTHING SHORT OF REVOLUTIONARY.

Here it is-

image

and the reviews-

First of all the RX100 sales success never stops. It still sells more than any other mirrorless or DSRL or High end compact camera at Amazon US (Click here to see the ranking) and slowly climbing the rankings at Amazon UK and Amazon Germany too. So let’s take a look at some of the most recent new tests:

The well know filmmaker and blogger Philip Bloom  usually tests heavy and expensive video stuff only but he could not resists to take a look at the Sony RX100 too: “This is aVERY small camera with a crap load of stuff in it and it does most of it, from what I have so far, very well. The best pocket camera I have used to date, beating my beloved Canon S100.” You can see some videos on his website (one of them I embedded on top of this post).

An enthusiastic review has been posted by the guys from The Verge (Click here): “Sony’s RX100 is nothing short of the best all-around compact camera I’ve ever seen. Where mirrorless cameras made waves by downsizing DSLR-quality photos into a package you could throw into your coat, the RX100 does the same for your jeans. It’s really no exaggeration to say that it produces images roughly on par with an average DSLR and kit lens combination, making this a revolutionary camera that means you’ll always be in a situation where you can take genuinely high quality pictures.”

You can buy it herehttp://astore.amazon.com/gmap-20/detail/B00889ST2G

Camilla MacFadyen Announces "Stock The Tank" Printing Workshop at Maritime Gloucester

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Click below for video-

image

DSC07296DSC07297DSC07298DSC07299

JoAnn Jastzab has Some Nice Things To Say

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

gmglogohires200x200

Joey, I wrote you last week after learning about GMG on a work visit to Gloucester.  We picked up a couple of culls after a dentist visit last  week  Our dentist is in Rockport and my husband  was back there today before picking up a couple 2 lb culls from you. OMG, again, they were so good. Fortunately (for me, if not my husband) he has to be back at the dentist again next Wednesday and will be stopping back for more.  Making paella with today’s leftovers tomorrow.
So happy we found you. Love what you are doing to build the sense of community in Gloucester  It is special.
JoAnn

25 days to the Beam Reach From Al Bezanson

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Joey…  more photos from GREEN DRAGON and another reminder…

The Gloucester Schooner Race takes place September 2nd.  Nowadays the race is set up as a beam reach, usually three times around a pair of buoys set a couple miles apart.    Schooners are at their best reaching, with the wind on the beam, and if there is a good breeze their big mainsails provide all the  power they can use.  Reaching is also the most comfortable point of sail – no rock and roll.  There is still space available for paying passengers on the larger boats, and the cost is usually less than the price of a ticket to a major league sporting event.

So, spectators, get off the boulevard and get on a boat for an up close and personal experience! 

Al Bezanson

GSF 2008image003Whee

36th Annual Magnolia 5k Road Race Presser From Randy O’Neil

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

36th Annual Magnolia 5k Road Race

Online registration is underway for the 36th Annual Magnolia 5K Road Race.  The popular race, whose course includes scenic vistas along Magnolia’s coastline, will take place on Thursday, August 30th at 6:00 PM and is expected to draw some of the finest runners on the North Shore and beyond.  "This race has a great tradition and is a great way to kick off the Labor Day weekend for runners and spectators alike", states Doug Reny, one of the race’s organizers. 
The race is professionally timed by Yankee Timing with splits on every mile and several water stops.  The pre-race entry fee is $25 with registration and race results available on coolrunning.com.
$100 prizes are awarded to the top male and female runners and other prizes for winners of age brackets.  The first 100 Runners to register get a free T-shirt and there are fun post-race raffles for gift certificates and prizes.
"We are very pleased to again be associated with longtime sponsor Cape Ann Savings Bank as well as our new relationship with the Manchester Athletic Club", reports Reny. 
Prior to the 5K race is a 1K fun run that has proven to be very popular with first time racers of all ages.  Associated with both races is a raffle for EMC Club Tickets for a September Red Sox game donated by Giant Glass.   More information, course maps, registration to the 5K and 1K races  and on-line purchase of raffle tickets are all available at www.magnolialibrary.org Registration is also available on race day at the corner of Norman and Lexington Avenues in Magnolia. 100% of the proceeds go to the Magnolia Library and Community Center.

This Just In: Official Harbor Walk Weekend Schedule

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

We just got the official schedule for the Harbor Walk Weekend that begins with the Ribbon Cutting this Thursday, August 9.  Download the complete schedule here.

Thursday’s schedule is below:

Harbor Walk Weekend 2012: Step Out and Experience Gloucester!

Thursday, August 9: The Inaugural Walk

1:00 p.m. Ribbon-cutting, St Peter’s Square with Mayor Carolyn Kirk,
Lt. Governor Tim Murray, State Senator Bruce Tarr, State
Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante and other invited guests

In Cod We Trust: Sample salt cod on the wharf, a staple of the early
Gloucester fishing industry. Provided courtesy of Latitude 43.

Mayor Kirk leads Inaugural Walk

3:30 p.m. Pre-screening of uncut Fiesta! film footage at St. Peter’s Club

Step Out into Gloucester:
10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Maritime Gloucester – Exhibits in the Gorton Gallery, Dive
Locker, Stellwagon Bank National Marine Sanctuary and
on the Wharf

3:00 -6:30 p.m. Farmers’ Market, Stage Fort Park

3:30 -5:30 p.m. Sail on the Pinky Schooner Ardelle

4:00 -8:00 p.m. Open House, Endicott College, 33 Commercial Street

4:30 p.m. Maritime Gloucester: Tour of Harriet Webster Wharf and vessels

5:00 p.m. Narrated tour to Marine Railways and Smith Cove/Rocky Neck Artist Colony on the Water Shuttle Leaves from Solomon Jacobs Pier

6:00- 9:00 p.m. Harbor Loop Concert featuring Mile 21 and The Runaround
Allen Estes opens with song in honor of the HarborWalk

10 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Beauport, guided tours on the hour.

Whale Watch and Fishing Charter options and more here.
Dining and Evening music venues and more here.

Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

If you are interested in Diving, the Diving shop at the Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center and talked to the gentlemen.  Great information.

Sir Orfeo and the Imp Trees

Posted on by God's Morning

 Commentary by Mary Colussi:  THE SASSY IMP TREE or THEATER PIE SUMMER PLAYHOUSE

          Do you know where the imp tree grows? Do you even know what one is? Don’t feel bad- before this morning, I had never heard of such a thing. Then, when I arrived at the Summer Pie Playhouse, I learned that our play this week is called “Orfeo and the Imp-Trees”. Still, the meaning of the phrase eluded me. Dona, the head director, charged my fellow cheerleader (a kind of counselor and Dona veteran, to those not in the know) and I with the intimidating task of acting out the story of unfortunate King Orfeo, never having rehearsed or even read the old Celtic legend.

          This was to enthuse the heat-battered, tired Players; to embolden them in the face of summer, if you will. And after perhaps the most terrible waltz ever performed- no offense to my partner, whose feet are probably still smarting from the ordeal of dancing with me- we came to the imp trees. By the end of that, the Players were ready to do what they do best: play, which is much more strenuous than you might expect.

          After our ‘rough draft’ performance, we split up into groups, and I worked with a Player who had taken on the role of imp tree. For the record, they are normal, noble trees, who when overtaken by mischievous spirits known as imps, become insufferable troublemakers. My young friend then came up with what may be the sassiest tree I have ever had the chance to act with.

          In case you have not noticed, this playhouse is a long ways from any theater group organized before. It’s small and weird and we don’t have scripts so much as guidelines, and even those guidelines are squiggly and easily crossed. It is the kind of thing that would and does inspire teenagers to come out of the lull of beaches and endless warm days to take part in. We dance with glittery bits of fabric (I being bestowed with the noble title of  “Scarf Minister”) sing a modified, magic-themed rendition of “Don’t Stop Believing”, and teach each other not only to be loud, but to be heard. Best of all, we come up with some great stuff to show the world. Or at least the Cape Ann area. So, what are you waiting for? The imp trees don’t like to be ignored, and trust me, you wouldn’t like to annoy an imp tree. There’s a mistake you only make once.