Willowdale Estate Wins TV Show TLC Four Weddings!!!

Four Brides Judge Each Other’s Weddings. Even with Superstorm Sandy threatening to dampen Enza and John Procopio’s day, Willowdale takes the cake!

“In Italian tradition, rain is supposed to be good luck. We have the hurricane, so that means we are going to have life-long happiness.”  said groom John Procopio.

Willowdale Estate Topsfield ©Kim Smith 2012

Willowdale Estate pulled out all the stops to make the event a success. The competing brides were blown away by the catering “My sea bass was fantastic!” said one competing bride. Willowdale received a perfect score for the catering and also achieved the highest score for guest experience. The couple walked away with a luxury vacation in the Caribbean Islands and a wedding story that will be in the family for many years.

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/four-weddings/and-the-winner-isenza.htm

Watch the full episode:

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/four-weddings/videos/and-a-super-storm.htm

Willowdale Estate is a special events venue in Topsfield Massachusetts that provides celebrated restaurant style catering for all events, as well as complementary planning services. Willowdale’s fieldstone mansion is surrounded by over 700 acres of forest, the Ipswich River, and beautiful flowering gardens, with sweeping views, privacy, and endless possibilities for any event. Willowdale Estate is a full service venue with many amenities including a pristine Sperry Tent, equipment, and guidance from our experienced event planners.  For more information about planning your wedding, corporate event, or fundraiser contact Info@WillowdaleEstate.com or call 978-887-8211

New videos, new look, last minute updates — and who are the Rockaways?

We told you there’d be last minute updates and guess what, there are.  Henri Smith, Joe WilkinsGary Shane and others have agreed to join Will Hunt‘s production of Cape Ann Rocks for the Rockaways tomorrow from 4-midnight at The Hive.

OK, we’ve gotten some questions about this benefit.  People asking, Who are the Rockaways?  It’s not who; it’s where.  The Rockaways are a section of New York that was just creamed by Superstorm Sandy.  People who live there are a long way from getting back to normal and need help (see articles here and here).  One of my heroes, physicist Richard Feynman, was born in Far Rockaway.  Among other discoveries, Feynman figured out what caused the Challenger Space Shuttle to crash.  Check out this video for a great story of how he reluctantly agreed to join the Commission investigating the Challenger disaster and what happened next:

Speaking of videos, we’ve got some new ones on gimmesound — and we now feature them more prominently on the Home Page.  If you’ve got a music video you think we should feature, leave a comment and let us know.

And what a weekend for Live music, which starts at 1:30pm today and 11:30am tomorrow and goes on into the late night both days!  See full live music schedule here.

Last Minute Updates to Live Music this Weekend

Yesterday we told you about the Cape Ann Musicians performing at The Hive on Sunday 4-midnight to help raise money Superstorm Sandy victims in The Rockaways.  We said the lineup would change, and so it has.  Here’s the latest lineup, which now includes Satch Kerans and  Allen Estes who will perform with his son Dylan.  It seems like every minute, more musicians are jumping on board to help out, so stay tuned . . .

But don’t wait for Sunday.  Over 20 live music choices tonight and tomorrow (and you thought this was the slow season!)  See the complete weekend live music lineup here.

Cape Ann Rocks for the Rockaways

You heard it first on GMG: This just in from our friend Will Hunt:
Cape Ann musicians will perform at The Hive at 11 Pleasant Street in Gloucester from 4 p.m to midnight this Sunday, November 18, in a benefit for the Rockaways, the New York coastal community devastated by hurricane Sandy. Admission is free, but cash donations will be gratefully accepted. All proceeds will be donated to effective relief organizations already on the ground in the Rockaways.
Musicians scheduled to play as of today include Bradley Royds, the BFs, the Honky Tonk Women, Just Like Newman, the Buckners, Ron Schrank, Inge Berge and Guy Zacardi. Many more will appear.  A complete listing will be posted on gimmesound as Sunday approaches.
Superstorm Sandy brings devastation to Far Rockaway  (Mark Lennihan/AP)

Part III Superstorm Sandy Trilogy

Superstorm Sandy Gloucester ~ The Morning After

Filmed on October 30, 2012, the morning after Superstorm Sandy, at Brace Cove, Gloucester. We were very fortunate to miss the brunt of the storm; Gloucester survived with relatively minimal damage. A heavy, thick steely-gray bank of clouds dominated the sky and the sun broke through for only a brief period. The streaming shafts of sunlight created a beautiful ethereal glow filtering through the atmosphere. The wind was very strong and caused a good deal of camera shake.

Music composed by Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg and performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Opus 46: Morning Mood.

Part I Superstorm Sandy Gloucester

Part II Seagrass Fantasy

Part III Superstorm Sandy Gloucester ~ The Morning After

Video: Seagrass Fantasy for Your Halloween Enjoyment

Filmed at Brace Cove during Hurricane Sandy, October 29, 2012. Created for Good Morning Gloucester. Music composed by Camille Saint-Saëns ~ Carnival of the Animals.

Superstorm Sandy Gloucester

Filmed around Gloucester’s eastern most shores at noon during high tide on October 29, 2012 during Superstorm Sandy. Mother Ann Cottage fared well (the house next to Eastern Point Lighthouse), the swans were tucked in near the dock at Niles Pond, seagulls found shelter against a seawall, and the backshore road was still open (although jammed with sightseers) at the time of filming. Created for Good Morning Gloucester.

Music composed by Antonio Vivaldi ~ Le Quattro Stagioni, Opus 8, Concerto 2 in G Minor.