My View of Life on the Dock
The giant lobster trap menorah is ready for sundown illuminations and hand painted dreidels created by local children and community. Quiet snow this morning. Peace, hope and light to all who celebrate, near and far.
Hanukkah falls between December 7th-15th, 2023. Temple Ahavat’s community lighting ceremony to mark the beautiful Festival of Lights and hope will be held on December 12th this season.
I’m reposting a photo from last week that showed how the Lobster Trap Menorah looked in the morning snow, and at night; also public menorahs on Main Street Gloucester and Rockport. Swing by to see a new candle lit daily after sundown.
Photos: Menorahs on Main Street Gloucester and Main Street Rockport
Photos: Winter snowfall #2 on landmarks and rooftops in Gloucester 12/6/2023. Easy morning errand ๐ Right click for caption / pinch and zoom for full res.
Antoinetta was checking on the Chris Williams installation–“Will you be there? Don’t forget December 9th! Saturday is the big reveal and dedication ceremony!” [Scheduled with the Middle Street program, right before the Lobster Trap Tree Lighting which is on Harbor Loop by Maritime Gloucester’s Deck the Docks!]
Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives is just getting going. This gem was spotted November 15th, the first of the season. Will Barbie pink be among the 2023 trends? Maybe. More homes and neighborhoods will be added, so be sure to check back. Photos will be posted on Good Morning Gloucester in separate batches.
photo caption (pinch and zoom to enlarge): For the 7th year in a rowโand the 4th accompanied by a map with photosโenjoy snapshots of Gloucester’s decorated homes. Scroll down to see the first batch of twinkling houses that have been added to the Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2023 map edition as of November 25. Also, scroll down to a list of area ‘Mark Your Calendar’, not-to-miss, seasonal events.
In addition to the area’s rewarding drives past cheery homes, beautiful seasonal tree lightings and festive sparkling downtowns are bustling with activities.
2023. Annual events (days and times differ year to year)
Happy Chanukah 2022
Reminder – Menorah lighting celebration is tomorrow, Tuesday Dec. 20th, 2022, 5:30-6pm
Day | Night photos: Lobster trap menorah is up. The 3rd candle will be lit in sequence tomorrow. The shamash candle raised in the center is lit first, to help light the others.
6th annual Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Gloucester, Massachusetts – the web-based digital map on Google is now LIVE!
Gloucester 100 sparkling homes added to the map so far. Streets include: Centennial Drive, Cherry St (near O’Maley), Derby St., Elizabeth Road, Essex Ave / Rt. 133 (between Kent Circle and Little River), Fleetwood Dr., Friend Ct., Green St., Grove St &Colonial, Grove near Maplewood, Hampden & Gaffney, Hodgkin St., Lendall St off Harrison, Lupine Lane, Maplewood at Derby, corner Mt Vernon & Oak St, Perkins St., Poplar St., Reservoir Road, Reynard St., Skywood Terrace off Harrison, Spruce St., Starknaught, Washington St. (between Azorean and the rotary)
Bright Nights and Sights.
If youโre looking for holiday cheer any day of the week, you canโt beat the New England charm of twinkling homes and neighborhoods in Gloucester, Massachusetts. For the 6th year in a row, enjoy a selection of seasonal lights and Christmas displays on Gloucester houses. Many streets join in together, glittering, and have for years. Every year is unique. With each passing new day more homes are decorated. Since 2019, the year’s curated selection –on average some 200+ homes– has been google mapped and each pinpoint has a photo(s).
Scroll down to see the first batch of photos for the 2022 map (as of December 4, 2022), and 2022 trends further down. More homes and neighborhoods will be added, so be sure to check back.
Photos: C. Ryan, Nov. 24, 28, and Dec. 4, 2022
Trends so far? 2022 is looking like The Year of “JOY” signs, which by the way is an easy & cheery Ispy addition for Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives. Also, illuminated green sequined wreaths and evergreen kissing ball pairs framing doors.
It’s easy touring whether by car or via smartphone, desktop, or preferred device. Grab a hot chocolate and go or view from home! Imagination and themed repeat visits encouraged.
Notes about the map: This map is great in the embed mode because when you scroll down, each house photo(s) pop up, with a big arrow that directs you to that one point. From a desktop, hovering or right clicking the house icons reveal the photos for each pinpoint. For those who prefer a paper copy –which doubles as a seek and find sheet–click on the three vertical dots and then select “print” (horizontal mode best) from pull down menu. You can also google search Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Good Morning Gloucester.
2021 Map here
2020 Map here
Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Map 2021 edition now features about 200 decorated residential homes with Christmas light displays in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Updated as of 12/11/2021
Trends so far? Can you spot a snowman in the photos? Yes, yes you can! In Gloucester, Massachusetts, 2021 is showing super strong as the “Year of the Snowman”. More and more are popping up each day, all sizes and varied media. What a fun seasonal seek & find, countdown treat, or bedtime routine sweet repeat.
Climb Harrison Avenue and enjoy the creative inspiration on every block. The resurfaced paving is a plus. On warm winter nights, this stretch and offshoots would be a great park & walk.
(Scroll down to see photos. Pinch and zoom or double click depending upon your phone/desktop. On mine I double click and then have to select “Full size”)
Wrapped trees are big this year, too. A Thurston Point twinkling annual reminds me of New York’s landmark Tavern on the Green, circa 1970s Warner Leroy Crystal Room reno. Little “Tavern on the Riverine” in Gloucester is inspiring a few more wrapped Thurston trunks in 2021. Who knows? Perhaps a Thurston trunk trail may become a neighborhood seasonal thing.
All over the map. Every neighborhood. Go!
100+ **new photos** added to the map include:
Concord Street; Eastern Avenue-Rt. 127; Essex Avenue-Rt. 133 and streets off of Essex Ave; Kent Circle; Harrison Ave. and surrounding streets; Hartz; Long Beach Road; Lupine Ln.; Main Street; Magnolia, various; Marina Drive; Mt. Pleasant Ave; Rockport Road; Thurston Point area; Washington Street; Western Ave-Stacy Boulevard; Witham area
To see the first 100+ #GloucesterMA 2021 house photos already posted 12/5/2021 on GMG click HERE
Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives 2021 map
The map is great in the embed mode because when you scroll down, each house photo(s) pop up, with a big arrow that directs you to that one point. From a desktop, hovering or right clicking the house icons reveal the photos for each pinpoint. For those who prefer a paper copy –which doubles as a seek and find sheet–click on the three vertical dots and then select “print” (horizontal mode best) from pull down menu. You can also google search Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Good Morning Gloucester.
5th year Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives #GloucesterMA map
Gloucester is big on winter lights charm and New England architecture. Many neighborhoods join in together, glittering, and have for years. Every year is unique. Scroll down to see the first batch of photos for the 2021 map – as of December 4, 2021. More homes and neighborhoods will be added, so be sure to check back. This first week in December is twinkling less than last year at this same time. (By December 29, 2020, more than 250 illuminated homes were mapped.) Weather impacts planning and displays. Perhaps the mighty wind storms October 24th and 27th and November 11, 12, & 19 may have waylaid some early trimming prep. Could it be the supply chain clog?
Trends so far? 2021 is looking like “The Year of the Snowman”, which by the way is an easy & cheery Ispy addition for Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives. A Mandalorian holding a baby Grogu was new to the list of lawn inflatables.
How lovely to see Temple Ahavat Achim Lobster Trap Menorah back again!
#GloucesterMA house photos Dec. 4, 2021: C. Ryan
Before the lighting ceremony and hand-painted buoy ornaments. Town wreaths and banners were installed even earlier. 2021 lobster trap tree lighting ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 11th ** new date** Due to the forecast, the event will move to Sunday, Dec. 12th.
Bring on the ladders! Before Thanksgiving- some photos November 18th, 2021.
Mighty effort: the Blue Christmas and Red Trim dazzlers on Reynard were surprisingly bare November 18, 2021. Now they’re all decked out, too.
Open Door food pantry drive drop
This is the 5th year of Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives. Here’s the 2020 map for comparison. More than 250+ homes were illuminated and over 100,000 map views were tallied in just a couple of weeks!
Notes about the maps: The maps are great in the embed mode because when you scroll down, each house photo(s) pop up, with a big arrow that directs you to that one point. From a desktop, hovering or right clicking the house icons reveal the photos for each pinpoint. For those who prefer a paper copy –which doubles as a seek and find sheet–click on the three vertical dots and then select “print” (horizontal mode best) from pull down menu. You can also google search Holiday Lights and Cocoa Drives Good Morning Gloucester.
Temple Ahavat Achim, Gloucester, Mass. Hanukkah December 2019
December 22, 2019 the first light Temple Ahavat Achim Gloucester, Ma., 2019 – An additional (buoy) candle on the giant lobster trap menorah will be lit each night until full illumination on the 8th night.
Lobster trap menorah lighting
Sunday Decemberย 22, 2019 at 5:30pm
atย Temple Ahavat Achim, 86 Middle Street, Gloucester, MA. It would be the third year for this tradition.Upcomingย TAA event: movies and Chinese food December 24th at Cape Ann Cinema & Stage.
Lisa Smith of Cape Ann TV won a national award for her report on Gloucester’s Giant Lobster Trap Tree and Menorah which will soon be linked on the Gloucester HarborWalk marker #32 for the temple.
The new building was designed by Maryann Thompson. Learn more about her design.
She was part of a fantastic symposium at Cape Ann Museum this year. I’ll add that link, too.
https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2016/12/08/before-gloucester-
lobster-trap-tree-awaiting-painted-buoys/
Wonderfulย new video from Lisa Smith and Becky Tober,ย Gloucester’s Giant Lobster Trap Christmas Tree and Menorah ~ Celebrating the Holidays Gloucester Style featuring David Brooks, Jim Dowd, Avery McNiff, Jill Wach, our Joey, and many more!!
Good Morning Gloucester 