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Tag: Block Party
September 2012 Block Party From Fred Bodin
It was really crowded all night long on Main Street, as usual for a Block Party.
So many people came into my gallery that I lost count, perhaps between 100 to 150 folks. On the lower right is a display of free samples of hand-made Gloucester soaps. We sell them here, and there are a few left. All natural ingredients. The soaps have unique and interesting names, and my favorite is Dirty Clammer.
I got to escape from the gallery for a few minutes, and went to the POP Galley, my wonderful friends and neighbors. [real reason – we ran out of wine, so I had to beg for some, and POP obliged with a bottle of bubbly]. It was a thirsty, fun-loving, and interesting crowd. My bad news is that it’s almost midnight and I’ll be opening early tomorrow for the cruise ship Eurodam, arriving in the morning, and to clean up the party debris. But I do love it! Sadly, the next planned event for Downtown is for Ladies’ Night in early December (two and a half months away), and after December, nothing from January 1st until Fiesta, in late June (that’s almost six months!). Give me a break! We should have something like a Block Party every month of the year. The West End shops will make that happen.
Fred Bodin
Bodin Historic Photo
82 Main Street Gloucester, MA 01930 info@BodinHistoricPhoto.com
Like us on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/BodinHistoricPhot
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A Few Early September 2012 Block Party Shots From Len Burgess
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Top 10 ways to have the most fun @ tonight’s BLOCK PARTY ~ The last one in 2012
- Don’t sweat the weather. It will be nice.
- If you want to sit down and eat in a restaurant MAKE A RESERVATION. Here’s a list of restaurants offering al fresco dining (with phone numbers).
- Wear layers (it will be clear, but cooler than you’re used to tonight).
- Bring the family. No need to pay for a sitter. There’s plenty of entertainment for kids.
- MOTHERS: Re-read #3 and don’t complain that you’re cold and want to go home early. Your husband isn’t cold just because he doesn’t have a coat on. Neither are your kids. I don’t want to hear anybody say, “You make me cold just looking at you.”
- Embrace walking. That’s the point. Don’t waste time looking for the closest possible parking space to Main St. It’ll only infuriate you, which isn’t the best way to start off the night. Here’s how I look at it: I can eat more because I’m walking it off!
- If you don’t like the entertainment, walk a little. You’re bound to find something you like. Then come back to where you were. Entertainment at each stage changes every hour. See the entertainment lineup here.
- If your kids don’t like the music you like, send them to Rick Doucette at Kid Town or Daddy O’Keefe in front of Mark Adrian Shoes. See map here.
- If you really must have inside entertainment, go see Rita Chiarelli, Canada’s queen of the blues, LIVE at Cape Ann Community Cinema at 7:30pm (costs $15, but worth it).
- Be prepared to see friends and neighbors you haven’t seen in a while ~ SMILE, you’re at a PARTY!
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Block Party Entertainment Update ~ Correction for tonight ~ Will Hunt’s Excellent Tech Question for the Cowsills
This just in from Block Party Guru Val Markley:
LEE – Touching and uplifting Originals and Sing-along will be at the Mystery Train Stage at 9:30pm.
See complete Block Party Entertainment Schedule by STAGE here. See complete Block Party Entertainment Schedule by TIME here.
CORRECTION: gimmesound had Inge Berge listed at the Castle Manor Inn tonight. Inge told us he’s on guitar backing up Toni Ann Enes (check her out – very entertaining), but it’s not HIS gig. Thanks, Inge for clearing that up. See tonight’s complete music lineup here.
Last night at Cape Ann Community Cinema, our boy Will Hunt was in the audience as The Cowsills sang their hits, followed by a screening of their new film, followed by Q&A, during which Will asked how they recorded so many voices (6 or 7 parts on many songs) with a 4 track in 1967. The answer was that they mixed down all the band tracks first, then stood around a single mic, adjusting each singer’s volume by the distance from the mic. You singers know how hard it can be to keep your part when you’re RIGHT NEXT to someone singing another part. It takes some serious ear training to listen for the right resonance and maintain it throughout a song in ONE TAKE. You couldn’t just fix one part. EVERY BODY had to sing it again if anybody screwed up.
Then Susan Cowsill told us that they would often break out laughing and not be able to stop — kind of like laughing in church, she said. All in all it was a great night at Cape Ann Community Cinema. Tonight it’s the screening of Neil Young Journeys followed by a live acoustic set by Forever Young, the Neil Young Tribute Band (get tickets here).
http://youtu.be/ukmfbLpK0PM
And tomorrow, it’s Rita Chiarelli with a live set followed by her film Music From the Big House. See video below of her performing These Four Walls from the movie soundtrack
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Updates from Marina Evans, Rob Cowsill, Block Party, KBMG & more
Yesterday, we told you that Marina Evans was releasing another song from her Dogtown EP this week and she said, in her interview, that each new song would have a little more of a groove (see post here). This new one sure does. It’s a little more bluesy too. Listen:
And we said we’d have the Block Party Lineup soon. Today, we’ve got it sorted for you in two convenient ways. Here’s the Block Party Entertainment Lineup by stage. And here’s the Block Party Entertainment Lineup by Time. Either way, a splendid time is guaranteed for all!
Last week, we told you about Aurelia Nelson’s interview with Rob Cowsill (see that post here) on her show Curtain Up. Good stuff. If you missed it, you can listen to the podcast here. Rob doesn’t hold back with his stories about 1960s child stardom.
KBMG is back in action tonight at Jalapenos with the return of Dave Mattacks. It’s not too late, so hurry down.
And tomorrow (Wednesday) you’ve got six choices, including 3 hosts with special guests. Looks like hump day is picking up as Summer winds down. See the full lineup here.
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Another banner musical week on Cape Ann
Last week we told you about Marina Evans‘ new release (see post here). Well she’s got another one this week, next week and the week after (check this link for new songs each week). Plus she’s got a parallel project going on in Italy, which she plans to release in October. And you can see her at the Block Party on Saturday (full Block Party lineup coming soon). Busy Woman!
I caught Marina last night just before her set at the Rhumb Line. Here’s part 1 of that interview. More fun video and a couple of surprises from Marina coming later this week.
But no need to wait for the Block Party. There’s plenty going on all week. Remember Rob Newton’s FALL INTO THE RHYTHM movie/music celebration at Cape Ann Community Cinema starts tomorrow with LA CENERENTOLA and features The Cowsills on Thursday (more about that here).
Check the week’s full music lineup here.
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SEPTEMBER 15 DOWNTOWN GLOUCESTER BLOCK PARTY FEATURES FIVE OUTDOOR STAGES AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION!
Celebrate summer’s end at another entertainment packed Block Party in downtown Gloucester. Main Street transforms into a strolling mall featuring al fresco dining; stores open for shopping; Kids’ Town games and multi-performances at five outdoor stages. Diverse bands, dance troupes and you, the audience, perform! It starts at 6 pm and it’s free!
Enjoy big band jazz and rock with the Docksiders and the Cape Ann Big Band; virtuoso Ken Bonfield plays a dazzling handcrafted guitar; folk, blues, Doo Wop and rock from groups celebrated for distinctive harmonies and styles – Livin’ on Luck. Lauriellen and the Boys, Honky Tonk Women of Gloucester and Not That Blonde; emerging star guitarist/vocalist Marina Evans, London busker XN Trick and dance from OmBelly, Rockport Academy of Dance and Greg Coles Dance and Drum. Hit the street dancing with The Teal Street Band, Will Hunt and Friends, The Fraternal Combustion Engine and the Good Harbor Band. Acoustic Noir? Neo-Steampunk Cabaret? Check out the eclectic What Time Is It Mr. Fox? at the Dog Bar.
Center stage is you – sing Karaoke with Daddy O’Kee and his Incredible Invisible Band. Be the star of the show! Join us at the Info Plaza next to Mark Adrian Shoes and let’s hear what you’ve got!
Be on Main Street at six pm this Saturday evening for the opening acts. Enjoy a drink or a meal at any of the al fresco restaurants. Run in for a drink, run out for a dance! The stores are open until 11 pm – and every one of them is exceptional!
See www.glostablockparty.com for details and restaurant reservation information
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Block Party rainbow; camera woes
Just at sunset during the latest block party, there was a mild rain shower, and this glorious rainbow appeared. I managed to snap a shot, despite the fact that my camera was staring to malfunction.
This one came out OK, but many of my photos have started to be underexposed or just plain black (despite being on the right settings, even in the automatic mode). I need to either repair or replace the camera… Anybody know of a place nearby where I can get a Sony camera repaired? It’s not under warrantee anymore (it’s a year and a half old, and – silly me – I didn’t get an extended warrantee), so Sony will charge me a flat fee of $250 to repair it. Buying a brand new camera body of the same kind would cost $500. I’m torn between repairing it – it’s a great camera! – and upgrading to a new model…
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August Block Party (Photos by David B. Cox) 4 of 4
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August Block Party (Photos by David B. Cox) 3 of 4
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August Block Party (Photos by David B. Cox) 2 of 4
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August Block Party (Photos by David B. Cox) 1 of 4
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Big weekend starts NOW ~ Get ready to DANCE, PARTY, SHOP & WIN with this Classic, Camera-Swinging Video!
It all starts tonight with live music at 14 venues. See the full schedule here. Don’t worry about sleep (“I’ll sleep when I’m dead” – who said that? Leave a comment if you know). Get up tomorrow (Saturday) morning and go to the Rotary Pancake Breakfast — best deal in town and for a good cause. To get you in the right spirit, I thought it would be fun to reprise Ed Collard’s classic, camera-swinging coverage from 2010 (pants, shoes, turf & all).
Once you’re full of pancakes, walk down to the Waterfront Festival (click the STOP button on the video camera before you start walking — unlike Ed).
Be sure to stop by the GMG booth where you can enter to Win 2 free tickets to ORLEANS at North Shore Music Theatre PLUS 2 Killer GMG Mason Jars of Iced Tea.
Head right from the Waterfront festival to the Block Party for an evening of al fresco dining, dancing, shopping, music, kids’ games & prizes, street performers, life-sized street chess, robot squirt gun fights & more.
Then take the Block Party inside @ 8 local clubs until the wee hours. Check the complete live music listings for Saturday here. You’re guaranteed to find something you like — even if you don’t like to party.
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BREAKING NEWS FOR KIDS (big & little) ~ New Wacky Acts @ tomorrow’s Block Party
This just in from Block Party Artistic Director, Val Markely:
Tell the little and the big kids too – these whacky acts just signed on for Saturday’s Block Party!
Don’t Miss At Kids’ Town & thru the Street!
East Cackalacky :-musical saw, washtub bass, guitar, and “a threat of accordion.”
Peddler’s Fortune for kids (and grownups!) – audience-participation -prizes, fortunes, jokes, and face-painted mustaches to the brave.
Crudbot, a dancing musical robot that gets into water gun fun duels with audience members!
Want to help?
Contact: lseigel1@gmail.com to Volunteer!
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How many people went to the last Block Party?
TONS! As you can see by this photo of a small section of Main St. The whole street was this packed.
These block parties just keep getting bigger … and bigger … and bigger. More music, more dancing, more dining, more kid shows … you get the picture.
If you were there in July, you know what we’re talking about. If not, come down tomorrow and you’ll see what we mean.
And speaking of Kid activities: Just look at this photo to the right. Kids with painted faces, balloons in hand playing chess after dark in the middle of the street! How cool is that? Only in Glosta!
Be sure to visit Kid Town run by YMCA Kid & Teen Guru, Rick Doucette, who also makes all the balloon animals.
See complete the Block Party Schedule and more info here.
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DOWNTOWN GLOUCESTER BLOCK PARTY AUGUST 18 FEATURES BERKLEE TALENT & FIVE OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE STAGES!-
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.
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Ten Days Of July 2012 Downtown Gloucester Block Party Faces From David Cox Day 9
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Ten Days Of July 2012 Downtown Gloucester Block Party Faces From David Cox Day 8
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Ten Days Of July 2012 Downtown Gloucester Block Party Faces From David Cox Day 7
Good Morning Gloucester 