Manchester by the Shop – Nor’East Frameworks

Nor’East Frameworks was opened in October of 1995. Owner CF “Chuck” Haybeck offers ready made photo frames as well as custom made frames in all sizes and various shapes. He uses a variety of woods including such things as recycled wood from fishing boats in Thailand.

Of the unusual things he has framed there was a shadow box frame he made to contain the x-ray of a broken bone along with a custom bent titanium rod that was used to set the injury.

There are all sorts of stories with every custom frame. A man and his wife to be were in Italy where he proposed and they celebrated (she accepted…) the moment with a bottle of wine. The gentleman was able to buy another bottle and have it shipped home where he held it for their tenth anniversary. Chuck was asked to build a shadow box to hold the empty bottle. I think Chuck could write a book of such stories.

On the fine art side Chuck has framed a 1914 John Singer Sargent painting. In this category Chuck provides restoration or replacement of museum quality frames.

An artist as well, Chuck has a BA in Fine Arts from Boston University. As a result he looks at all projects with the eye of an artist, not just a framer.  He says that a new or increasing problem for preserving artwork for the long term is protection from ultra violet rays from the sun. Special glass is needed to provide such protection, but Chuck now recommends UV protecting glass in more situations as a result of the increased use in homes of compact fluorescent lights. An unintended consequence of going green.

Chuck displays artistic items that are for sale like 3-4 color silk screens on paper with images from around Cape Ann, suitable for framing! Artists often display their work for sale on the walls of Nor’East Frameworks so its worth checking out Nor’East Frameworks if you need a frame, or not. Nor’East Frameworks is located across from the train station in Manchester at 40E Beach Street.

GloucesterCast 12/1/13 With Host Joey Ciaramitaro and Guests Toby Pett and Amandacakes

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GloucesterCast Taped 12/1/13 With Host Joey Ciaramitaro and Guests Toby Pett and Amandacakes

Topics Include: Family Cookie Day, Turducken, ChromeCast, Downtown Gloucester Ladies Night, The Hive Gift Wrapping Service, Buoy Painting, Lobster Trap Tree, Rockland Maine’s Lobster Trap Spike, Favorite Gloucester Breakfasts, Sugar Mag’s, Lobster Land, Sailor Stans, Mamie’s Kitchen, Charlie’s Place, George’s Coffee Shop, Willow Rest, Best House Made Hash, West Indian Hash, Reader Subjects, Cruise Ships, Beauport Princess, Thanksgiving Dinner, Turkey Pot Pie, Sista Felicia On Cover Of Cape Ann Magazine, Mariposa, Lowell Peabody Call-Out, New GMG Technical Jackets, Manchester Athletic Club Holiday Fair

Purchase- GMG Caps, Technical Jerseys, Hoodies, Dry Fit Shirts Here- http://gmg.storenvy.com/

First Snow – Essex

Snow

As frightful as snow may be, especially before the Thanksgiving travels, we were spared yesterday from adding snow to the storm troubles. It was just enough, though, to make some snow scenes appear.

Safe travels to all and enjoy Thanksgiving

Cape Ann Artists – Town Hall Art in Manchester

Move quickly to see works of 6 Cape Ann artists at the Manchester Town Hall. The exhibit will be there through Thanksgiving and all pieces are for sale. The artists include: Andrea Dunn, Kathleen Miller, Nancy Molvig, Ann L. Pulver, Leigh Slingluff, and Trina Smith. There are a variety of subject matters shown with several outdoor scenes and landscapes you may recognize.

Frenchman’s Pier, Days Creek

View of Manchester Harbor from Beach Street overlooking Days Creek. Frenchman’s Pier at Little River, Gloucester

Salt Water: Paintings by Hartley Ferguson

The opening of Hatley Ferguson’s Salt Water: Paintings by Hartley Ferguson was held November 22 at a new showcase for local artists. Essen’s Bakery owner Toby Gado is showcasing Harley Ferguson’s work following the opening reception “Art After Dark”.  The artist  has always lived by the sea from summers on Fisher’s Island to more than 30 years living in Gloucester and now her present location in the Basque Country in Northern Spain.

Although she has primarily been a figurative painter, the water and swimmers in this exhibit have been a recurring focus combining her love of the water and swimming with her love of the human form. While not self portraits, many of these paintings grew out of her experiences under, through and in the water.

Inquires may be made to and paintings purchased from the artist’s agent Sue Henderson, (978) 828-3826 or sueartistsagent@yahoo.com . A portion of the proceeds from painting sales will be donated to the Colleen Ritzer Memorial Scholarship Fund in Danvers.

Around Manchester

A couple of random pictures on a gloomy day! Click for larger images and captions.

Upcoming Events in Manchester

CapeAnn Chamber

Viva Verde – Celebrating Verdi’s 200th Birthday

Thanksgiving week starts with “Viva Verdi!” Saturday, November 23 at Crowell Chapel

Check Other Upcoming Events Below

The Diva and the Fiddler
The Diva and the Fiddler

Thanksgiving week starts this Saturday with American Soprano Diana Jacklin, and leading Austrian violinist Hartmut Ometzberger throwing a 200th birthday celebration for Giuseppe Verdi at Manchester’s Crowell Chapel at 7:30. They will be performing Ometzberger’s beautiful arrangements of Verdi, Mozart and Turn-of-the-Century songs in Manchester’s visually stunning 1903 chapel.

See the program, bios of the performers and other Holiday Music events at the Crowell web site (thecrowellchapel.com). And while you’re on the web, help with historic preservation by “sharing” this event with your friends through the Crowell Chapel Facebook page.

The Concert Series is sponsored by the Historic Manchester Trust which helps care and advocate for the maintenance of Manchester’s historic structures. Tickets are $25, and $15 for students and children under 12. Purchase them online, at local stores in Manchester-by-the-Sea including Nor’East Frameworks, North Coast Too! or by calling Woody Kelly at 617-755-9299.

The Manchester Council on Aging is offering Seniors special $10 tickets and transportation to the event. For information or tickets please call them at (978) 526-7500.

Free street parking at the edges of the Rosedale Cemetery. Parking directions are on the website: www.thecrowellchapel.com.

 

Viva Verdi 250x200 copy

 

Manchester Harbor without a Sunrise or Sunset

Even on a gray day, there is still a great view… Click pictures to view full size.

Manchester by the Shop – Central Street Gallery

Located at 11 Central Street in Manchester, the Central Street Gallery is an artists cooperative. Gallery Director Alison Rowell says that they have about 14 members who each rent wall space in the gallery which starts off at a width of approximately 73″. The artists can hang as many paintings as are practical.

The focus of the gallery is a traditional Plein Aire style with the paintings set in gold frames. There are some deviations on the theme providing  some different styles though the general style for paintings is still life and landscapes.

Each member of the Gallery agrees to rent space and also to paint 5-6 new paintings every two months which they deliver framed and ready for hanging. The Gallery presents six shows each year so the collection of paintings is changing every two months. To give each artist equal opportunity to the better display areas on the walls, every two months each artist rotates their space three wall spaces, guaranteeing each artist equal time in the front window.

Central Street Gallery is celebrating their fifth year at 11 Central Street and will be starting their next show with an opening night reception on December 7th. This show will focus on smaller works from the artists.

In addition to the Gallery there is a website (www.central street gallery.com) where more of each artist’s works are shown.

The artists are generally local with a number living in Manchester and Gloucester. Central Street Gallery is a great place to support local artists and is clearly a place to check out.

Manchester by the Shop – Mimi

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!

Manchester by the Shop – Surfari

As a start to a series highlighting local shops in Manchester, Christian del Rosario at Surfari agreed to be the first victim!

I have wondered for some time, how is it a surf shop can survive in New England, let alone Manchester by the Sea.  What I have been learning is the incredible appeal of SUP or Stand Up Paddle boarding.  As Christian says paddle boards have become the bicycles of water enthusiasts who can purchase racing models, cruising models and boards built for beginners. Manchester with it’s relatively flat waters, islands to visit and proximity to lakes has been perfect. The chances to exercise, explore hard to reach places, enjoy touring and for some explore yoga on a board and even fish are all around Manchester. Taken to the extreme there are organized races and SUP has even started to appear in rivers running rapids!

The surf market is also strong in the area and Christian says that the season is getting underway now. Storm waves that surfers pray for are stronger in the winter months and the season really extends from October to April.

Surfari sells surf boards, paddle boards, shoes, clothing, beach wear, water sport accessories, sunglasses and gifts. Many items are perfect as boating accessories as well.  Boards can be rented and lessons can be scheduled. They have sun shirts (AKA “Rash guards” for those on boards), and other sun protection items. They also have cold weather equipment for those surfers braving the ocean at this time of year.

In addition to lessons and working with the Manchester Parks and Recreation department, Surfari provides programs for adults and children from May to October. Anyone, not just Manchester residents, can participate in these programs so there are many ways to learn and enjoy SUP boarding.

Christian, his wife Nicole and two daughters have returned to Christian’s home town of Manchester after 13 years away. He has specialized in surfing and paddle boards and most recently was in Nantucket where he sold boards and provided lessons. Opening a retail store in Manchester looked like a great opportunity to expand from selling boards to clothing, accessories and all the other items they now sell.

Surfari is located at 26 Central Street in Manchester. Their website is http://www.standuppaddlesurfari.com . Stop in and say “Hi” to Christian and Nicole.

Festival of the Trees Manchester November 29th

A newly formed group made up of downtown merchants in Manchester have formed the Manchester Mercantile. In order to promote the Christmas season, create a festive atmosphere and plant the seed to think locally when shopping, they are organizing the first Festival of the Trees hoping to make this an annual event.

The plan is to decorate 24 8 foot tall Evergreens on the Town Hall Common. Groups (Hornet sports teams, a Middle School art class or make up a group) will be provided a tree and a string of white lights. The rest of the decorations are left to the imagination of the groups and individuals decorating.

Trees will be set up for decorating which will take place between November 29th and December 7th. The number of trees is limited so people are encouraged to sign up early.

For specific guidelines and sign-up sheets contact Nicole DelRosario at Surfari (978) 704-9051 or email info@supsafari.com.

Manchester Essex Falls to Northeast in Semi-Final Football Action

A tough day on Saturday for the Hornets as they fell in semi-final action to Northeast Metropolitan 38-12. Behind 14-6 at the half, the defense played long and hard in the second half and held for several exciting stops but the offensive team could only find the end zone one more time. A good season for the Hornets comes to an end, but memories of how far they got in the tournament should be an inspiration at the start of next season!

Click on photos to see larger format

Essex – A Front Rolls Through

About 3:45 on Friday, a front rolled through the area providing menacing clouds, incredible spots of sunlight and snow showers in the sky that melted before they hit the ground. Just incredible! Glad to live on Cape Ann and be able to see capture a few scenes like these.  Click the images for larger view

Sun Sets in Peabody (not “on”)

Not to panic, I was a passenger on this journey down Route 128 / I-95 . Traveling on the way to Reading for the Manchester Essex field hockey game and I got to watch a changing sky almost all the way.

Olive Kitteridge Another Time Another Camera…

Couldn’t hold back from going to see some of the filming and tried to get some shots of actors, crew etc.. Amazing amount of work to create a fantasy! After seeing some new stores and old cars I was able to look inside a bit…

Store Fronts – Seasonal, Weekly and Even Pure Fantasy

So many storefront windows and so many messages! Here are a few designed for the season, a celebration and pure fantasy.

 

Sunset By The Sea – In Manchester

While Singing Beach showed an almost pastel, soft set of colors with a little fog blowing in, the Harbor was sharp and bright! Always interesting how different things can look within a half mile!