Good Morning Gloucester

Young people getting together to rehearse and perform show tunes, traditional music, and classical pieces?

This will be fun!

But it’s not just about fun. It’s about learning, it’s about giving back — and most of all, it’s about building community.

Young singers and musical theatre enthusiasts ages 6 to 18 are invited to enroll in a brand-new “Community Through Music” Youth Chorus being launched by a group of likeminded North Shore residents, to be conducted by prominent local musician Lucas Callahan.

The group will learn, rehearse, and grow together through music, and present 3 free public concerts, as well as performing at community fundraisers — all part of a commitment to serving the community. And there will be one musical fundraising event each year in support of the Chorus.

“Community Through Music” will rehearse at Ascension Memorial Church, 31 County St., Ipswich, on Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8.

This unique learning and performing opportunity will span the academic year. Tuition will be $800 per year, $400 per semester, with a payment plan available, as well as scholarships. These fees cover the costs of the conductor, accompanist, sheet music, choir folders, and concert programs. Chorus members will also receive a discounted rate for private lessons from the conductor.

For more information, contact Lucas Callahan via CallahanMusicBusiness@gmail.com.

THE DING DONGS

A Captivating Comedic Thriller by Playwright Brenda Withers and Director Rebecca Bradshaw

Performances Friday, August 11 through Sunday, August 27

Gloucester Stage Company is excited to announce the highly anticipated opening of THE DING DONGS, a comedic thriller by Cape Cod playwright Brenda Withers and directed by Gloucester Stage’s Artistic Director Rebecca Bradshaw. A part lesson in how power evolves and how intimidation works, audiences will have the opportunity to experience this thought-provoking play beginning Friday, August 11, through Friday, August 27, at the Gloucester Stage Company’s historic waterfront theater. 

Rebecca Bradshaw, will bring Withers’ play to the stage, having directed its 2022 debut at the Kitchen Theatre Company.  Re-uniting the work’s original cast and creative team, she will lead the incredibly talented ensemble of actors in reprising their performances, including Karl Gregory (Joe), Erica Steinhagen (Natalie), and Nael Nacer (Redelmo), who was previously seen at Gloucester Stage in the critically acclaimed regional production of Tiny Beautiful Things for which his powerful performance was nominated for an Elliot Norton Award.  

In the critically acclaimed THE DING DONGS, when sweet-faced strangers show up on a suburban doorstep, the tight-lipped homeowner finds their story suspicious: the house, they claim, was their childhood home, and they’ve come in hopes of getting a quick peek. As they cheerily muscle their way across the threshold, using wit and wordplay to mask a more sinister threat, it becomes clear the couple has no intention of leaving. 

“I’m ecstatic to be able to take a second stab at Brenda Wither’s The Ding Dongs, shared the Director, Rebecca Bradshaw.  “The flexibility and trust Brenda instills in her interpreters is a playground for a director. This play has a way of twisting and turning with every line, even after watching it countless times it still leaves my jaw dropped. I can’t wait for Gloucester to join this wild ride!”

“The Ding Dongs” delves into the complexities of human relationships. It bends reality with wit and mystery as we are asked to examine who has the right to stand on the land they inhabit,” said Christopher Griffith, Gloucester Stage’s Managing Director. “Brenda Withers’ brilliant, witty, and insightful script combined with our own Artistic Director Rebecca Bradshaw’s masterful direction promises an unforgettable experience for our audiences, one that will linger long after the final curtain call.”

THE DING DONGS will run from Friday, August 11, to Sunday, August 27. All performances, unless noted, are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 pm at Gloucester Stage Company located at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester. Tickets are now on sale and available at GloucesterStage.com. 

The 2023 Season at Gloucester Stage has been made possible by the Shubert Foundation and the Applied Materials Foundation. STEW is made possible with support from The Marla & Clifford Robinson Family Fund and by Coldwell Banker.

PERFORMANCE TIMES AND LOCATIONS:

All performances, unless noted, are Wednesday & Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 pm at Gloucester Stage Company located at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester. 

Tickets to the Gloucester Stage 2023 season are on sale now. Single Ticket prices range from $15 to $67, with discounts available for seniors, military families, college students, youth under 18, E.B.T. Cardholders, W.I.C. benefits, and Cape Ann residents. For detailed ticket information, visit www.gloucesterstage.com. 

Season Packages start at $200 for four tickets for any mainstage performance and include early access to seating, no fees, and free ticket exchanges. Packages can be purchased or renewed by calling the Box Office at 978.281.4433 or visiting gloucesterstage.com/subscribe. 

For additional information, contact The Box Office, located at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, or can be reached at 978.281.4433 or boxoffice@gloucesterstage.com. 

º Member Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) Union 

*Member Actors Equity Association (AEA) Union 

I will be returning soon to Gloucester, but I have to admit lunching at a glacier is an experience Gloucester cannot provide and I will miss it. We took a boat tour from Seward to Aialik Glacier on the Kenai Fjords National Park. There are only 6 of us on this photography tour so it has been pure pleasure to enjoy the wonders of Alaska with this small group (thanks to Slonina Photography). We got to witness some calving, which is when chunks of ice break away from the glacier and fall into the water. From our distance, some of those ice chunks appeared to be smallish but the thunderous noise from the echo was chilling! Glacier ice kept our drinks chilled. If you ever have the chance, this is highly recommended.

http://www.bluefinblowout.com

The GloucesterCast will be live-streaming Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday from 1-close each day. We hope you’ll join us!!!

While The Hopper Exhibit will be opening tomorrow, you should know that while the Hopper exhibit is over the top amazing for us to witness, that there is so much to see at the Museum that it’s just crazy not to go visit any time of the year!

Here’s a link to the site which has a wealth of information about what’s going on-

www.capeannmuseum.org

Summertime and the Livin’ is Easy…

Come on out and have some fun tonight!
Remember I will be giving out a signed pair of Drumstix from Phil Collins, you have to be at the show to win, also handing out 5 free “V57” T Shirts..because I can!

Doc

THIS SATURDAY, July 22, 2 – 4 pm

COMPLIMENTARY

FINE WINE TASTING @ SAVOUR WITH TOMASSO MISTRETTA OF VINIFERA ITALIAN WINES

 We have a very special tasting this Saturday of the wines of Vinifera, which is a distributor of boutique Italian wines.

Tomasso Mistretta comes to us from Florence, Italy. He knows the wines, their history, and the best food pairings, so come down Saturday and enjoy the great wines he is pouring and the wonderful stories from his Italian home.

WINES

Mormoraia Sauvis, San Gimignano, Italy

Varietal: Vernaccia, Alc.13%

Mormoraia was an ancient convent surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, where only the murmur of prayers filled the air. In 1980 the entrepreneur Pino Passoni and his wife Franca bought it to give substance to their dream of building a vineyard. In 1990, a year after the birth of their son Alessandro, Pino and Franca inaugurated the renovation work on the Mormoraia estate and vineyards. In 1995 the first cellar was built, conserving the original architecture: arches and loggias, stone walls, ceilings with wooden beams, and terracotta floors. The hectares of vineyards and olive groves around the estate are expanded, while modern techniques are adopted for the various stages of winemaking, such as aging in French oak barrels and barriques. In 2012 Alessandro Passoni, at the age of 23, became the manager of Mormoraia. Vernaccia is the typical vine of San Gimignano, and the straw yellow Sauvis is fruity, lively on the nose, with hints of hawthorn and apple. It is balanced, harmonious, and persistent on the palate, with a pleasantly acidic finish. Pairs well with fish, shellfish, white meats and fresh cheeses. $24.99

Conte VistarinoRies, Oltrepò Pavese, Italy

Varietal: Riesling, Alc. 13%

The Giorgi di Vistarino family has owned their agricultural estate in the municipality of Rocca de’ Giorgi in the Oltrepò Pavesesince the mid-15th century. The Vistarino dynasty is today represented by Ottavia Giorgi di Vistarino, who carries on the important generational responsibility of preserving the environment and biodiversity. The estate extends for 826 hectares, of which 102 are vineyards, 300 are woodlands, and the rest is land where sustainable agriculture is practiced. The Riesling pours straw yellow with golden reflections. Its aroma is full and fruity, with a pleasant scent of white peach, quince, and pink grapefruit. On the palate, it is pleasant and dry, with fresh acidity and a pleasant mineral flavor. Pairs well with fish, seafood, lightly spiced cuisine like Thai or Indian. $29.99

Contesa Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy

Varietal: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Alc. 14%

Lying along the fertile lands of Collecorvino, the 50 hectares of Contesa vineyards in the Pescara hills are a heritage that the vineyard owners are dedicated to taking care of. The Montepulciano, Sangiovese and Trebbiano espalier vineyards are trained using the spurred cordon system, while the lakeside vineyard in the lower part of the hill, the realm of pecorino grapes, is trained according to the Guyot system with high plant densities per hectare and low yields to guarantee the highest quality. The Montepulciano pours ruby with garnet reflections. On the nose, it has aromas of very ripe red fruit and jam, with hints of toasted cocoa. The taste is round, warm, and tannic. The wine is full-bodied, structured, and mature. Pairs well with roasted and braised meats, game, aged cheeses, and cured meats. $24.99

Brigaldara Valpolicella, Italy

Varietals: Corvina 55%, Corvinone 25%, Rondinella 20%, Alc.13%

Vines have been growing on Brigaldara Island since the 12^th century. The Brigaldara farm as we know it today was born with the purchase of the land, in 1928, by Renzo Cesari. Today, the Cesari family still runs the vineyard, Today the Brigaldara farm covers over 120 hectares, of which 47 are planted with vineyards and the remainder with olive groves, crops, pastures, and woods. The Valpolicella pours a bright ruby. Vibrant aromas of redcurrant, blackberry, and candied violet are present on the nose. It is quite juicy on the palate, with floral red berry flavors given precision by lovely acidity. It is a very well-balanced wine. Pairs well with pasta with red sauce, barbecued meat, risotto. $19.99

Icardi Surisjvan Nebbiolo, Langhe, Italy

Varietal: Nebbiolo, Alc.14%

Lino Icardi gave birth to the Icardi winery in Castiglione Tinella, in 1914. Today two of his descendants, Dilui Claudio and Mariagrazia Pierino, follow in their ancestor’s footsteps. They believe in respecting the seasons and the times of nature, and the natural cycle of the vines. Grass, flowers, and plants grow between the rows of the vineyards. They do not use nitrogen products, pesticides, or herbicides. They see themselves as guardians of the land and maintain hectares of forest, without crops, to promote biodiversity. The Icardi Nebbiolo is a ruby red color and has an elegant bouquet with hints of violet and spices that extend to the palate, and a dry finish. Pairs well with roasted root vegetables, pasta with meat, Asian food in brown sauces. $34.99

 Find out about new wine arrivals and other events at Savour by following Facebook and Instagram. 

And don’t forget to check out what’s new in our beer case, including two juicy NE IPAs and a clean, refreshing rice lager from East Regiment Brewing, a veteran-owned brewery in Salem and a crisp new lager from Rockport Brewing.

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Kathleen’s Price-Value Gems:

Unique to SAVOUR our three price-value collections, with

each category ($9.99ers – $14.99ers -$19.99ers) offering hundreds of wines

at one price, personally curated by Kathleen, some have limited availability.

9.99ers…the quality is taste delivering above-price enjoyment …Value!

14.99ers…exhibiting qualities of complexity…Elevating the Experience!

19.99ers…value laden wines by innovative vintners…Expect Exceptional!

Adding to this Saturday’s wine tasting with Dave is Savour’s Everyday Tech Tastings at the North Shore’s Only Digital Wine Machine. Fun to use and enjoy!  Taste up to 20 wines with new selections regularly added…& yes, complimentary. Kathleen welcomes your questions for food pairings.

Welcome Your Donation in any amount for Pathways for Children.

Thank You! …Kathleen

 For Your Mobile Calendar

Savour Wine Tastings!

July 15 – Dave Bender of Vineyard Road wines

July 22 – Tomasso Mistretta of Vinifera Italian Wines

July 29 – Matt Brooks of Cynthia Hurley Wines

August 5 – Gordon Alexander, Owner Terroir Wines

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Continuing to offer a case discount 0f 10% on wines and all items purchased with the case to all customers. Wine Club members get 5% off on 6 bottles and all items purchased with the 6 bottles. Thanks again for your support!

 We continue using our 5 Molekule high performance air purification units that clear the air of 99.9% of viruses, bacteria and allergens every hour, store wide.

We are pleased to continue curbside pickup service

Savour Wine & Cheese l 76 Prospect St. l Gloucester l 978. 282 .1455