The wreaths are up on Main Street, the Lobster Trap Tree is beckoning and charming in its Before state, the shops and restaurants adorned and merry, and today’s weather is clear and crisp for Gloucester’s 49th annual “Ladies Night”! What are the store specials and holiday treats that will tempt us tonight?
photos: Sunrise – Main Street, Gloucester, Mass. ready for Ladies Night
For years my mother and I met up at Halibut Point Restaurant on the East End for a festive toast before strolling and shopping Main Street. I think I had my first buttered rum there. We had so many favorite stops. What Ladies Night traditions do you recall fondly?
**Which means: the 50th Ladies Night will land in Gloucester’s 400th+ Anniversary year!**
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Went over to Pauline’s Gift yesterday. Her shop looks so pretty and decorated. Here is an example of some of the treasures and gifts at Pauline’s Gifts, 512 Essex Avenue, Gloucester, MA 01930.
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Great gifts and vintage finds at Alexandra’s Bread bakery and shop on Main Street Gloucester, Ma. Festive selections are folded in during holidays year round.
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It’s beginning to look a lot like Present! Join us as we celebrate our opening for the 2018 season. We are located at 186 Main Street, across from the Police Station. We will have food, drink and all sorts of wonderful handmade things for you and the people you love!
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Annisquam Sewing Circle Christmas Fair, Satuday Dec 2 ONLY 8am-noon
Rockport Art Association –Cape Ann Artisans Dec 1 (4-9) & Dec 2 (10-5)
Rocky Neck 2017 Annual Holiday Show at the Cultural Center weekends through December 10th
Rocky Neck 2017 Holiday Show
“December in November–Giving the Gift of Art” Rocky Neck Art Colony members’ fine art and crafts sale, through December 10th, OPEN Fridays 5-8pm, Saturdays and Sundays 10AM-4PM. Downstairs is a beautiful John Nesta tribute.
photo caption: Orginal watercolor painting, Birch on the Neck, by Deb Schradieck, booth at the Rocky Neck Art Colony 2017 Annual Holiday members show
Don’t miss Mary Rhinelander
Installation 2017 Rocky Neck holiday exhibition and MCC cultural visit
DEB
RUTH MORDECAI
RICHARD HONAN
JOHN NESTA tribute Rocky Neck
JOHN NESTA small tribute exhibit
Rockport Art Association
Rockport Art Association
Jonathan Hotz exhibit at the Rockport Art Association
Jonathan Hotz Country Lane, solo exhibition at the Rockport Art Assoc
Rockport Art Association members’ photography group exhibition Installation Stow Wengenroth Gallery Rockport Art Association
Law Hamilton, On approach Floating Box Series, photograph archival ink jet print, Rockport Art Association,
Janice Koskey Proud Egret color photo Rockport Art Association group exhibition
Ray Crane, The Inner Harbor Gloucester, group show, Rockport Art Association
Janet Wolahan, Trawler Gloucester, oil on canvas, New Members group exhibition Rockport Art Association
Tom Amend, Abrupt Transition, Oil on linen, new members group exhibition, Rockport Art Assocaition
Dennis Poirier, on the Waterfront, acrylic on panel, 7 x 5, Rockport Art Association
Deborah Babson Boulders( “Courage”), etching with hand coloring from an edition of 50, Rockport Art Association
Deborah Babson Boulders #3 ( Work), etching with hand coloring from an edition of 50, Rockport Art Association
Rockport Art Association group exhibition
Scott Tubby, New Moon, oil, Rockport Art Association
Nancy E Davis, Wayward Path, oil, “Polly Thayer Starr Award for Excellence in any Medium”, Rockport Art Association & Museum
TWO DAYS ONLY Cape Ann Artisans at the Rockport Art Association Friday December 1 and Saturday December 2nd (10-5). Cape Ann Artisans has also announced their special 2018 Cape Ann Artisan tour dates- June 2nd and 3rd and Oct 6-8
Annisquam Sewing Circle Christmas Fair
Sat Dec 2nd 8am-noon, 34 Leonard Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
Beautiful Wreaths to decorate your Home
Potted plants and bulbs to Give or to Keep
Elegant Table Arrangements
Gourmet Foods for your Guests and Family
Exquisite Hand-crafted Gift Items
$3 Grabs for Mom, Dad and your Favorite Pets wrapped and ready to go!
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Inspired by Joey’s and Kim Smith’s countdowns and Greg Bover’s posts, I was thinking about a GMG countdown of favorite quotable Christmas and holiday excerpts, with an extra bonus for passages with Gloucester ties. Please add or send quotes, passages, and poems that we can delight in and share.
I’ll start with a description of jubilant awakening — children bursting through doors early Christmas morning — from a 1939 book by Jan Struther, Mrs. Miniver, which for me is also a sweet reminder about my folks as they followed a similar “stocking first-presents after” routine and were beloved.
A little background: Struther’s book stemmed from her popular fiction column begun in 1937 and published every two weeks in The Times. Following the book’s smash reception, the classic William Wyler movie, Mrs. Miniver, starring Greer Garson was released in 1942. The movie is based on the book but its own story. The movie was nominated for 12 Oscars and garnered 6 including best picture. The music is by Herbert Stothart who won an Oscar for his work on the Wizard of Oz.
Mrs. Miniver on embracing positive enthusiasm:
“It began in the same way every year: the handle of her bedroom door being turned just loudly enough to wake her up, but softly enough not to count as waking her up on purpose; (her child) Toby glimmering like a moth in the dark doorway, clutching a nobbly Christmas stocking in one hand and holding up his pyjama trousers with the other. (He insisted upon pyjamas, but he had not yet outgrown his sleeping-suit figure.)
‘Toby! It’s only just after six. I did say not till seven.’ ‘But, Mummy, I can’t tell the time.’ He was barefoot and shivering, and his eyes were like stars.
Fill out and drop off the raffle ticket at the Center any open day of the show, for a chance to win a Raffle to be drawn on December 21st during the Solstice Party. Winner will receive a $100 gift certificate good toward purchases at the show, or from any Rocky Neck Art Colony member artist.
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Mimi is an artist driven gift, jewelry and fine art store located at 19 Central Street in Manchester. It was started in Ipswich in the summer of 2007 with locations in Ipswich and a bit later Manchester. Having closed the Ipswich store about three years ago Manchester has become their flagship store.
Co-founders Mia Nehme and her daughter Claudia Bowman say that they search for gifts and fine art that are made or designed by artists, and they feature the work of several local painters and artisan gifts. In addition they carry glassware, silverware, scarfs, by several vendors including Ekelund, Simon Pearce, Le Jaquard Francais, Mariposa and more. Then there is an extensive selection of jewelry.
In the having something for everyone department, Mimi has gifts from $10.oo on up, Yankee Swap gifts to art work and gifts for very special occasions. For men they have created a “Man Cave” at the back of the store where they sell primarily shaving and smoking items.(Actually the “Cave” is a nice display case). They have a jewelry selection with pieces from various local artists. Aron Leaman of Gloucester, a artist who works in glass produced a number of glass globes with actual Singing Beach Sand inside. Mia highlights this to say that because they deal directly with many of the artists special orders even with design changes on some items can be requested.
From time to time Mimi holds special events in which their customers are invited to hear from, see and learn about particular vendors or artists work.
Mimi’s website is at http://www.mimigiftgallery.com, the store is at 19 Central Street just across the street from the Town Hall. Check them out!
42.577834 -70.767597
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Whether you are looking to shop locally for unique, affordable gifts for friends, family and co-workers, or just want to feast your eyes and have some holiday fun, don’t miss the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival starting the end of November and running through December at the beautiful Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street. Free admission and plenty of free parking this time of year. And did I mention, we throw great parties on Rocky Neck.
E.J. Lefavour
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As I mentioned in another post, I went down to Bearskin Neck one evening last week in search of Christmas decorations to photograph. A variety of the shops have nice window displays, but one of the few places that is really lit up is the Pewter Shop. You can’t miss it!
Recently, we (Holy Family Parish) bought a set of pewter cups and bowls from this shop for use at Mass, and at the time I was impressed by both their beautiful variety of pewter wares and the friendliness of the proprietors. I decided to go back to photograph some of the beautiful things they sell. It would be a good place to go for some elegant Christmas or Chanukah gifts.
Zan welcomed me to the store
Walking in and seeing everything shine makes quite a first impression.
Among the treasures they offer is a large variety of Christmas tree decorations.
Being a deyed-in-the-wool fantasy fan, I count these dragons among my favorite items in the store. I'll buy one someday...
Irish Pewter
They aren’t kidding about this being “Irish Pewter”. I saw these same items being sold in gift shops in Ireland earlier this year. Surprisingly, the price at this shop in Rockport is as good or better than what I saw in Ireland…
Don’t forget to go through to the back side of the store (as I did the first time I was there)…
Don't miss it!
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Big stuff in Rockport tomorrow night, December 9th, from 4 to 8pm! Over 30 (thirty!) stores throughout downtown Rockport will be offering discounts and promotions for holiday shoppers. The Old Firehouse Trust in Dock Square will be open serving hot chocolate, coffee and homemade holiday treats. And so that you can do two good deeds at once by shopping local and donating to the food pantry, donations of canned goods can be dropped off at The Old Firehouse Trust building as well. All donations of food benefit The Open Door, Cape Ann’s food pantry. Come enjoy the festivities and a fun night in downtown Rockport during this holiday season! Feel free to print out this handy shopping map to bring along with you so that you know what’s available tomorrow night – and don’t forget to stop in at The Old Firehouse to make your donation and enjoy something warm to drink!
Just download and print for your Rockport Shopping Guide!
Food Drive for The Open Door!
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In anticipation of tomorrow night’s special shopping event in Rockport, here’s a little preview of the store The Paper Mermaid, located at 57 Main Street in Rockport, just around the corner from Front Beach.
The Paper Mermaid is a treat, both visually and practically-speaking. Mary, the owner, carries some fantastic toys – we are faithful fans of the Automoblox line of cars (check ’em out, parents & grandparents – they are inexpensive, well-made, and kids like them – what more could you ask for?), books, and games. She also covers a lot of ground in the world of paper. There is a great selection of cards, many of which feature designs by local artists (including Mary herself), notepaper, and art supplies, both for children and grown-ups. The atmosphere of the store is both modern and vintage, wildly colorful but also somehow very calm. Shopping for toys and greeting cards can actually be a pleasant experience, shockingly enough, when you do it at The Paper Mermaid. The store is featuring a discount during tomorrow night’s shopping event – for details give Mary a call at 978-546-3553.
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No need to trek across the Atlantic to find French-made soaps and linens – you can just pop over to Rockport, where you’ll find La Provence right at 4 Main Street. La Provence is a Rockport institution, a store that has been a downtown fixture for many years now and a place where in-the-know locals go to find the most amazing tableware, linens and soaps on the East Coast. The soaps at La Provence are triple-milled, all-natural and use only essential oils. Such details matter because conventional soaps are full of harsh chemicals: bad for the environment and bad for you. Dawn Noble, Cape Ann native and the owner of La Provence, works hard to source high-quality French goods that are both practical and beautiful, with some great gift packages ranging from $10 to $50, as well as other items in wide range of styles and prices.
Besides being a hard-working small business owner (and mother of an amazingly cute baby that hangs out at the shop with her), Dawn is also the entrepreneurial mastermind behind the upcoming event, “An Evening of Holiday Shopping“, bringing over 30 shops together to promote a little Rockport shopping after dark. The sidewalks will be lined with luminaries and the shops will be offering in-store promotions for the event, taking place on Thursday, December 9th from 4pm to 8pm. Stop by, breathe in the amazing smell of French lavender (which is supposed to have a calming effect – perfect for the holiday season), and say hello to Dawn at La Provence, open year-round.
La Provence . 4 Main Street in Rockport . 978-546-5868
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Good Morning Gloucester 