A beach and Fiesta Weekend

The weather was fabulous for a weekend with all the grandchildren with Beach, Fiesta even going to visit Stratton at Marshalls Farmstand. Lots of fun

Leo, you knew he was going to do it

St. Peter’s Fiesta – Ferris Wheel at Night #GloucesterMA

Festive night scene shared with GMG

Photo credit: FrankfromGloucester – Ferris Wheel at Night – with big spider on the side

Not sure if I will like ricotta pie…but I want this one! And I love Virgilio’s cannolis

Virgilio’s added the champagne tricolor Italian cookie atop the pie and it looks so festive! Year round Viva

( 978) 283-5295

The Winner from start to finish

 

		The Senior Seine Boat Race VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Fiesta – Wednesday – 2019

Fiesta Sip & Shop @ Design of Mine June 27th 6pm-8pm Live Music by Toni Ann Enes

 

Join the festivities in the West End with ToniAnn Enes

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Shopping, refreshments, good vibes !

 

 

 

Design of Mine

33 Main Street

Gloucester, MA 01930

 

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Bloopers and Blunders: Greasy Pole Edition

These guys.  All so much fun to watch.  Those winning walkers get lots of press, and rightfully so, but also worth celebrating are some of the Greasy Pole’s unsung heroes. Cheers to those who hit the water with no flag in their hands.

Gloucestercast 286 With Susan Lipsett, Chris McCarthy, Pat and Jimmy Dalpiaz and Joey Ciaramitaro 7/1/18

Gloucestercast 286 With Susan Lipsett, Chris McCarthy, Pat and Jimmy Dalpiaz and Joey Ciaramitaro 7/1/18

 

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Topics Include:

Free Tickets To Cape Ann Community Cinema – Share this post on Facebook for a chance to win two free tickets to Cape Ann Community Cinema, The Cinema Listings are always stickied in the GMG Calendar at the top of the blog or you can click here to go directly to the website

Plover Free Podcast

Cronuts

Mom’s Kitchen Muddica Steak Sandwiches For Breakfast!

Fiesta To Out Of Towners vs Fiesta For People That Grew Up With It

Overserved

One Hour At A Time Gang

Machaca

Bourbon Tasting

King Arthur Flour Baking School

Captain Jerome Rand Solo Circumnavigator returns to Gloucester after 8-1/2 months at sea!

 

 

Friday fiesta at the beach

A few photos of the greasy pole and seine boat races..

		Friday Fiesta At The Beach VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Early morning

Doing clean up.. everything is ready

Donna Ardizzoni / Circle Consulting Group 978-526-9222

around town #60..a little Fiesta…a little joey and his girls on their way to fiesta

 

Alicia Unleashed- Fiesta Cast

 

The FIESTA CAST with Samo and Sam Frontiero (Barrett)

Epicsode 82: BUONA FIESTA FRIENDS! It’s that time of year again! It’s our 3rd annual Fiesta Cast!

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We sat down with LEGENDARY SAMO! The oldest Greasy Pole Champion and the ripe age of 42!

We could have sat and talked with him all night! He told us stories of walking the greasy pole at the age of 10, his first walk at the age of 15. Gave us some history lessons on the Greasy Pole, and some behind-the-photo stories! See if you can catch all the names dropped in this episode!

Whether you’re hearing these stories for the first time, I would like to take a trip back through Memory Lane! We promise this is been the best Fiesta Cast yet!

#podcast #aliciaunleashed #SAMO #greasypole #viva #FiestaCast #StPetersFiesta #GreasyPoleChamp #PavilionBeach

1973 Greasy Pole Walker Fiesta photo challenge

“4th of July greased pole walk over water Glouceter, MA 1973” by Spencer Grant

Can anyone identify the Greasy pole walker, boat leaper, and little boy in the cool inflatable (50 something years old now)? Are you in this photograph on the platform or watching from the water?

1973 ©Spencer Grant

click on thumbnails to enlarge

 

 

Don’t miss Alice Gardner solo show at Matz Gallery!

What a beautiful show and radiant bellwether of spring.

Alice Gardner March 2018 exhibition at Sawyer Free Library

 

 

 

 

 

Soul Rebel Project Concert Castle Hill tomorrow & Zach joins in!

Soul Rebel Project will be playing tomorrow at the Thursday Night Picnic Concert at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate. It’s the 21st year for this summer concert series at Cranes, a Trustees property, 290 Argilla Rd, Ipswich, MA. Concerts are 7pm – 9pm and gates open at 5pm for the tailgate picnic part. Tickets are available for sale at the gate only: Members: $20/car; Nonmembers: $30/car; Walk-in, bicycle, & motorcycle: $10. 

I’m psyched to hear that Zach Gorrell will be joining in. You may know Zach from his work at Sound Harbor Cape Ann Art Haven or Cape Ann Big Band. They just played Fiesta. He’s awesome! Of course, Gloucester knows Soul Rebel Project, too. And they just played during Fiesta at Minglewood.

The Thursday Night picnic concerts at Harbor Loop in Gloucester are free and held from 6-9pm. Tony Frontiero and John Rockwell & the Headlands are playing Harbor Loop tomorrow.

Enjoy some sights and sounds from Soul Rebel project

 

Throwback 2011 from Walt

Here are pictures from from the Soul Rebel Project band from last year’s concert at Cranes. Thanks for sharing these great pictures! Good luck tomorrow!

Things are Looking Up for the Greasy Pole Champ, Jake Wagner

Or at least I was looking up at Sunday’s Greasy Pole Champion, Jake Wagner.  I learned quickly from my vantage point just under the pole that that grease is no joke.  Thatch, Finn, and I came home covered in it.

Congratulations to all of the walkers!  There were several very close calls this afternoon! Good showing by all!

Joe G writes GMG: Does anyone have more information on this Rosario Piraino painting? WWII Veteran, Artist, GHS Class of 1945

Joe G writes:

“Hello Joey:  I’ve been trying for many years to find out some information about a painting by Rosario Piraino that I have. In image of that painting is embedded below. 

I did mail a letter to an address in Gloucester back in about 2003, to whom I thought was a relative (I think the name was Carmella Rosario), but my letter was returned and marked “Not at this address.”  I’d sent some emails to a woman who’d shown on her Facebook page that she was indeed related to Mr. Piraino, but I never got any response. 

In any case, I’m trying to find out if there is a gallery or other place where some of his paintings may be on view. His work is quite good. 

If you might have any information about the subject I would be very appreciative if you would be so kind as to share any of it with me.  

Thank you.”

Rediscovering art and artists can be slow detective work. I don’t know the approximate year of the painting. The rocks could be identified. GMG readers may know more: is there a fellow artist that showed together in a group show with Rosie, traded art, stories? Did he hang his paintings in his house? Did he have a studio? Do you own a similar work? I did not find his name in some local artist member directories. The obituary describes seascapes and schooner as motifs. Let’s see!

For GMG readers like me who did not know him (I know many did), here is some information about Rosario Piraino that may jog some memories. Joe G thanks for the note and intriguing request.

Rosario A “Rosie” Piraino (1927- 1989)

Rosario was born in Gloucester on November 23, 1927. He was a life long Gloucester resident and graduate of the Class of 1945. He was a member of the ROTC. His interest in the GHS yearbook, Flicker? Drawing. He was a WWII army Veteran and member of the Capt. Lester S. Wass Post #3, American Legion and the Gloucester Lodge of Elks No. 892.  He was a professionally trained artist with a fine arts degree from the Art Institute of Boston. In 1971 his family resided at 14 Orchard Street. For nearly 3 decades, he worked as an artist and Art Director at MIT before retiring in 1991*. There is a comment about carpooling with him to Lincoln Labs.

*From the printed matter for his obituary:

“Rosario was dedicated to his family and his beloved city. He was happiest strolling the boulevard meeting and greeting his friends. He spent his younger years working as a fish cutter along the waterfront. Along with his friend, the late Charlie Favalora, he owned and operated the Pioneer Fish Company.

He was an accomplished fine artist, having painted many seascape images of the Cape Ann waterfront. One of his favorite subjects was the schooner “Gertrude L. Thebaud”. Rosario was an avid golfer, who was affectionately known as the “King of Candlewood”, a nod to the three “holes-in-one” he made in his retirement. He will be missed by the many friends who enjoyed his sense of humor, stories and positive attitude.

In addition to his wife of six years, he is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Stephanie and Steve DelTorchio, Kathryn and Douglas Goodick and Paula and John Reilly all of Gloucester, three sons and two daughters-in-law, Stephen and Gayle (Frary) Piraino of Rockport, Dominic Piraino of Phoenix, AZ and James and Donna (Durland) Piraino of Gloucester, six grandchildren, Jeffrey Piraino of Rockport, Stephen and his wife, Kimberly DelTorchio of Satellite Beach, FL, Lindsay and Amy DelTorchio and Lauren and Adam Goodick all of Gloucester, three brothers, Frank Piraino of Gloucester, James and his wife, Marie Piraino of Waltham and Walter and his wife, Susan Piraino of Peachtree City, GA, a sister, Phyllis and her husband, Ernest Morin of Gloucester, a brother-in-law, Paul Ventimiglia of Gloucester, two sisters-in-law, Eileen Trupiano and Francesca Piraino both of Gloucester, Josephine’s grandson, Jonathan Moore of Essex and many nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his first wife, Grace M. (Ventimiglia) Piraino, a brother, Anthony Piraino and a brother-in-law, Salvatore Ventimiglia.”

Their daughter, writer Stephanie DelTorchio, responds.

Their daughter, Kathryn Goodick, ran for Ward 4 City Council in 2015. That link is from GMG which ran any candidate press release that was sent in.

Piraino’s 2008 quote in the Boston Globe Saints and Sinners Collide (Fiesta and Brewery):

“In the onetime fishing capital of the world, the St. Peter’s Fiesta – a five-day festival where faith, family, and celebration are emphasized – brings thousands of people into Gloucester’s downtown. But over the last decade, as the fishing industry has nearly collapsed and the fiesta has taken on commercial sponsors – such as liquor companies – some wonder if more people see the event as a reason to party than to pray. “They took God out of it,” says Rosario Piraino, a retired fisherman and fish plant owner.”

Gloucester and Fiesta at Peabody Essex Museum

As I frequent museums and collections for work,  and Gloucester art abounds, I suffer bouts of ‘Gloucester acquisition affliction’ . Relative newcomers at PEM include a St. Peter Fiesta scene by Gifford Beal and one of Portuguese Hill by Olga Itasca Sears.  As much as I am fond of PEM– and I mean no disrespect to this august institution– I sorely wish the Cape Ann Museum had received the art or funds for acquisition. There are few major historic paintings of Gloucester (and the greater region) which remain in private hands. They include works by Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper. I’m trying.

While at PEM for special exhibits, I often check the permanent installation. Are the Frank Benson works and Norman Rockwell on view?  Check. I make a point to spend time in front of the Philip Reisman 1951 Tuna Shed, another Gloucester painting and one that Wicked Tuna fans may like to scrutinize.  Reisman was a masterful, versatile painter, and a smart gentle man. I was lucky to know and work with him. The Cape Ann Museum has examples of his Gloucester paintings in their collection and a binder of slides, photographs he took, many Fiesta. I remember labeling some.

I paused more than I ever have at the John Trumbull portrait of Alexander Hamilton. (Hmm. Have museums tagged works representing Alexander Hamilton? It would be a mastery of quick edits matched up to the Lin Manuel Miranda song.)

GIFFORD BEAL (1879-1956), Fiesta of Saint Peter, Gloucester, c.1930                                              Oil on masonite, Gift of the family of Gifford Beal, 2006. Peabody Essex Museum.

OLGA ITASCA SEARS (1906-1990). Portuguese Hill, Gloucester. ca.1950s. Oil on canvas. The Sheila W. And Samuel M. Robbins Collection. Peabody Essex Museum. (2015 acquisition)

PHILIP REISMAN, Tuna Shed, 1951, oil on masonite. Gift of Louise K. Reisman. Peabody Essex Museum.

#Hamilton, @ Lin_Manuel, #PEM                                                                                                     John Turnbull, Portrait of Alexander Hamilton, 1792, oil on canvas, gift of George A Ward, 1918, collection Peabody Essex Museum

I am looking forward to the upcoming Childe Hassam show opening July 16th at PEM. I went to see the Rodin exhibit.

Do You Have Your Fiesta Sunday Whites Ready For Today?

 

Buona Fiesta Sunday Everyone!

I will be Snapping Photos along the parade route of all the kids wearing their “Traditional Fiesta White Outfits” again this year!  Look for the Fishing Boat Oars & flag me down for your photo! Photos captured today will be posted tomorrow!