90 Seconds and Velvet

An Important Message from The Amazing Folks at The Backyard Growers Program

2013-05-17T13:10:00.001-07:00

I don't usually do one-off posts but this is important and needs to get out now so we can support and grow this great program that's helping our town get greener and healthier and more empowered to live more sustainable lives through a terrific agricultural education at the home-garden level.

I encourage you to learn about and support their programs. Most of my friends and family now have raised vegetable beds in their yards because of this group's efforts. Read on, view the video and please make a donation - help this program "Grow".

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hello Folks,
School gardens! Kids eating fresh veggies that they grew themselves!

We need your support to make it happen!

Please consider donating to our fundraising campaign to put a FoodCorps Service Member to work in our community.

Watch our super-fun fundraising video--it's guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

Thank you!
Lara

http://igg.me/at/backyard-growers/x/2913139

Backyard Growers is Growing!

Hungry and Artsy - a List of Todo's Supporting Causes with Soup, Chocolate and Beer

2013-05-09T12:56:00.003-07:00

I love my community. You know that, right? And I love anything that brings us all together to fill the halls of our local cultural havens. I like em better if there's good food. Tis' the season for a whole lot of hip local shenanigans and this weekend and beyond it's hot soup and student art, chocolate eating for bombing victims and celebrations of kind beer and sustainable business.

Gloucester City Wide Arts Festival is happening Saturday and don't forget tonight's Open Door Empty Bowl Dinner. I've also found a list of Boston restaurants holding foodie fetes to raise funds for the One Fund for Boston Marathon Bombing victims and some other hip brew and grub events like a hyper-local craft beer festival and the annual Taste of the North End. If your mom is anything like mine, I'd score tickets to one of these events and bring her out for mother's day with a double (triple) mission - show her your love, show your community some love, and EAT.

Empty Bowl Dinner to Benefit the Open Door
Thursday, May 4pm @ Cruiseport, Gloucester
The meal is simple—soup, bread and a cookie. Guests can choose and keep a soup bowl handcrafted for this community event. The bowl goes home as an unspoken reminder that somewhere someone’s bowl is empty. Soup is provided by the many local restaurants who support the Open Door's mission. Bowl were made by community members young and old in workshops held this winter.
The Cape Ann Open Door serves tens of thousands of Cape Ann residents with hot meals, healthy groceries, a mobile market, education, clothing and more. They are a very important resource in our community. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Summer Lunch and Mobile Market programs.
Tickets available at the door. $15 for adults and $10 for children under ten.

Gloucester Citywide Arts Festival

Saturday May 11^th10am - 3pm

Featuring artwork and performances by
Gloucester Elementary, Middle School and High School Students! Opening Ceremony 10am in the City Hall Auditorium

Locations include:City Hall, Sawyer Free Library, Cape Ann Museum, and The Hive

Activities and Events include:

Artwork, Claywork, Photography, Ballroom Dance Demonstration, Robotics, Culinary Displays, Poetry Reading, Drama and Musical Performances…..and more!! For more information check the schedule or call your local school!

2oth Annual Taste of the North End

May 10, 2013
North End, Boston

Master of Ceremonies Billy Costa, Host of TV Diner with Billy Costa

The Taste of the North End was founded by Donato and Nancy Frattaroli in 1993 as a benefit for Casa Monte Cassino. The Frattarolis became aware of Casa Monte Cassino when a family from Italy came into their North End restaurant.

The family was staying at the CMC while their four daughters received medical attention at Boston's Children's Hospital Boston. The Frattarolis were touched by their story and inspired by the mission of the Casa; to provide a place to stay for impoverished families from around the world while their children receive serious medical attention in Boston.The Taste of the North End currently features over fourty five restaurants, bakeries and distributors. Since its inception, the Taste of the North End has raised over $450,000 for Casa Monte Cassino and other local North End charities.

http://www.tasteofthenorthend.org/

Strega Waterfront One Fund Benefit

with Rob Gronkowski and Matt Light
Monday, May 13 6:00p to 8:00p
http://www.stregawaterfront.com
Matt Light and Rob Gronkowski will serve as celebrity bartenders. 100% of the proceed benefit the One Fund, aiding victims of the Boston Marathon tragedy. Admission is $50 per ticket. Price of ticket includes three drink tickets and an assortment of complimentary passed appetizers.

One Fund Events Statewide

Here's a great list of organizations and businesses that are hosting fundraising events to support the ONE FUND for victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing.

http://www.boston/ chefs.com/news/2013/5/8/one-fund-fundraising-continues/

Looking Ahead
Boston Strong Back Bay Chocolate Tour

Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 12:15PM

Hotel Chocolat, 141A Newbury Street http://www.bostonchocolatetours.com/
The walk itself is less than a mile and it ends nearby. You’ll pick up plenty of samples as you go, plus tips on tasting, buying and storing fine chocolate. Also special private tours will learn how to pair chocolate with wines! This exclusive 2.5 hour Boston Strong Back Bay Chocolate Tour will highlight the best of Back Bay and celebrate much of what makes Boston great, as it takes you by such locations as Copley Square, the Prudential Center, and the Public Library.

All proceeds from the tour will be donated on behalf of the One Fund.

Advance tickets required – tour size limited to 16. Reserve your space today!

Hyper-Local Craft Brewfest

June 14-15 The Armory, Sommerville, MA

http://bostonlocalfood.com/our-events/hyper-local-craft-brewfest/

is an annual event presented by Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts (SBN) that highlights and promotes local brewers of beer, cider & mead, artisan beverage makers, home brewers, and food vendors. It is also a major annual fundraiser for SBN’s Boston Local Food Programs. The goal of SBN’s Boston Local Food Program is to transform the local food system by raising awareness about the abundance of wonderful locally grown and produced products in Massachusetts and New England and by encouraging individual consumers, food and beverage producers, and vendors to Think Local First.

That's all I have time for now. Got to go get my soup on. Chow!

Kentucky Derby Party at Castle Manor starts in 30 minutes!

2013-05-04T09:55:00.001-07:00

The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports - All Afternoon!
The Best Kentucky Derby Party up at the Castle Manor Inn Today!
Celebrate the 139th Kentucky Derby at the Castle Manor Inn today! The party starts at 1:30. Enjoy succulent Southern snacks created by talented chef; Dawson Frock; a Lord and Taylor Fashion Show; Mint Juleps and other creative cocktails from Ryan & Wood Distillery, games, fun and live horses brought in from New England Equine Rescue for you to meet.
The Castle Manor Inn is just 1⁄2 mile up Route 133 from Gloucester Harbor on at 141 Essex Avenue. See it Castle at the turn of a small hill. From Route 128 take Exit 13 to Gloucester.
At this point best to call for reservations! 978-515-7386. $25 covers Food, games and all events1
Get your Southern Bell on and wear your Derby best hat. It might win cocktails for two!
Top this fabulous weekend Sunday with the Bananas Fashion Show at City Hall -2 pm.
You can keep your hat on.

What Do Vintage Fashion, Haute Cuisine, Pottery and Army Garb Have in Common?

2013-04-29T11:11:00.001-07:00

They are all the source of some VERY HIP fundraisers in the Boston area.

Readers know I dig on food. A lot. They also know I am a hippy-raised, eco-conscious, community-lovin' girl and a major cheerleader for people doing good work for other people. I especially like discovering cool food events, theater, music festivals and fashion that support good causes. Double win.

I've got a wicked list of some such events coming up in the near future and I want to share them. Keep in mind that this post was important enough to me that it actually beat out the 500 story lines I've brought back from my recent Caribbean travels. Legit. You'll see those later this week. For now - go do something fun, for somebody who needs a hand.

Here are some very worthwhile causes hosting some super worth-the-trip events in the next few weeks.

16th Annual Cooking Matters Fundraiser
Tremont 647 , Boston, MA

TONIGHT@ 6pm
Chef-owner Andy Husbands gets a few of his fellow chefs together to fight childhood hunger at his annual Cooking Matters fundraiser. Rub shoulders with culinary superstars including Josh Ziskin of La Morra, Jay Silva of Bambara, Seth and Angela Raynor of Pearl, Boarding House, Corazon del Mar, Raymond Ost of Sandrine’s and Olivier Maillard of Boston Chops. The fun starts with a St. Germain cocktail reception followed by five succulent courses (one from each cooker or set of cookers) each paired with a French wine. Proceeds from tickets, priced at $150 each, benefit Share Our Strength, the nation's leading hunger relief organization. Reservations are required so call 617.266.4600 if you want one.

Stepping Out for City Hall
Saturday, May 4th 7pm and Sunday, May 5th 2 pm

The friends of City Hall are delighted to announce our upcoming gala benefit :"Stepping Up for City Hall". On Saturday evening May, 4th Richard Leonard and his Bananarettes will perform acts and wear unique collections of fashions collected over the years. City Hall will be grand. Champagne, desserts and an auction of unique items will add to the event. Sunday, May 5th will see a matinee run of the Fashion Show, with light refreshments and general seating accommodating a larger crowd.

Saturday pm $75.00 per ticket - limited to 200 tickets only! Sunday event $35.00 per ticket at Bananas!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bananas/142405702473037

Spring Celebrity Series Presents Chef Kristen Kish

Winner of Top Chef Seattle: Season 10 & Chef de Cuisine at Barbara Lynch's Stir

Wednesday, May 8, 2013 6:15-9:15

Rogers Center for the Arts at Merrimack College

North Andover, MA 01845

Benefits Emmaus which provides permanent affordable housing, emergency shelter, transitional housing, housing search and stabilization services, adult education and job training, and compassionate support services to more than 3,000 people annually.

Details and tickets here: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=qhn7a5bab&oeidk=a07e75rp7b7ce51c258

Empty Bowl Dinner to Benefit the Open Door
Thursday, May 4pm @ Cruiseport, Gloucester
The meal is simple—soup, bread and a cookie. Guests can choose and keep a soup bowl handcrafted for this community event. The bowl goes home as an unspoken reminder that somewhere someone’s bowl is empty. Soup is provided by the many local restaurants who support the Open Door's mission. Bowl were made by community members young and old in workshops held this winter.
The Cape Ann Open Door serves tens of thousands of Cape Ann residents with hot meals, healthy groceries, a mobile market, education, clothing and more. They are a very important resource in our community. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Summer Lunch and Mobile Market programs.
Tickets available at the door. $15 for adults and $10 for children under ten.
http://www.foodpantry.org/01_About_Us/empty_bowl.html

ONGOING -

Sword and Plough Bags - Goods for the Good Featured Product

Sword & Plough bridges veteran empowerment, sustainable design, and classic fashion all in one product. We are a quadruple bottom line (people, purpose, planet, profit) bag company that works with American veterans to re-purpose military surplus fabric into durable and stylish bags.

Sword & Plough products are...

Made in USA - You can’t find a more American bag
Repurposed - Upcycling thousands of pounds of surplus military materials, reducing our energy consumption up to 95%
Rugged and Refined - Our products can stand alone on style, durability, and the soulful legacy of their fabric
Socially Relevant - Our brand aims to improve veteran unemployment and bolster civilian-military interaction.

http://www.swordandplough.com/

That ought to give you all something to do while I organize my thoughts on eating, drinking and adventuring in the French West Indies to share this week. Plus the funniest blogger I ever read. Wait for it..........

Don't forget to send me your events, ideas, book recommendations, invitations to review your restaurant and the names and emails of small business owners you know who need digital marketing and content services. I do have a day job you know.

April Vacation is Here - things to do while I'm soaking up the Caribbean sun

2013-04-15T07:59:00.000-07:00

T minus 22 hours till I ascend into the blue en route to St Martin, French West Indies, gastronomic capital of the Caribbean. Sorry, no, you can't come with me.

I will report on what I ate, where I danced, fish I chased, boats I sailed, neighboring islands I visited,French wine I purchased and didn't bring home and how I made out with my yoga practice working around my rusty French and my limited handle on Yoga Pose terminology. That ought to be a hoot.

Until then, I wish my readers a wonderful, fun, warm, springy April vacation week. I also hope you aren't worn thin with the never-ending drone of , "I'm bored" that is the soundtrack of school vacation. To that end, I'll leave you with some leads on things to do to keep the funwreckers busy.

See you soon, or as they say on French St Martin, "A bientot!"

Eco Scavenger Hunt

Cape Ann Timebanks Eco Scavenger Hunt
Solve verbal & visual puzzles like mazes & word searches to learn what eight downtown Gloucester businesses are doing to reduce their carbon footprints. Find out who's recycling or using energy-saving lighting. Play on a team or on your own. Win prizes from local merchants & enjoy refreshments at the after party at 2:30 p.m. at Latitude 43. Walk, learn, shop, & socialize at this Cape Ann TimeBank fundraiser.

*It's $10 before 4/13 to play solo or in teams. After 4/13 it's $15.
*Register Early & Learn more from our Frequently Asked Questions at: www.capeanntimebanks.org

Walk in the Woods, Learn about Nature

Trustees of Organizations has a packed schedule of activities at their properties across the state. Take a hike! http://www.thetrustees.org/things-to-do/

Get Cultured

Here's a list of free and cheap museums and cultural activities in Boston this week. http://ow.ly/jZfic

Good reads

Here's my lasted blogpost from Home News Here, the food section with lots of great spring recipe you can make together with ingredients form you local farmstand, plus a few videos on gardening (also a great activity for the family), and how to pair drinks with food, for when the entertaining of monsters is complete. You've earned it.
http://hnhfood.blogspot.com/2013/04/gardening-tips-spring-dinners-and.html

Customer's Always Right Family Tradition Edition

I just love the folks at Guiseppe's in Gloucester. Memory and Joe are great, fun family people with a great little concept in their casual Italian venue - mixing up piano bar and theme nights in a way that's really family friendly and fun. This "game show" night is always well attended - I'd make reservations. https://www.facebook.com/events/510412359000967/

Sign up for Spring Sports at the Cape Ann YMCA.

Get out and get moving and help support our amazing local YMCA. Program booklet here. http://www.northshoreymca.org/locations/cape-ann/programs/download-program-booklet/

Do the Harbor Walk

Harbor Walkin
Here's a local walkabout that is pretty and cultural, local and leaves you in the middle of a whole lot of good eateries no matter how you approach it.

Pirates' Tour and Sailors' Path

I made this post card in my days doing restaurant pr. Although it's clearly a tool to brand the restaurants - it's a cool map of kid friendly stuff downtown. Ignore the prompts to the eateries and just do the tour, hit the museums, read the markers and get to know our town.

Ok, so I gotta go. The family is glaring at me to wrap it up. House/dog sitter to settle. Bags to load, i's to dot, t's to cross. Time's up.

Have a great week. I know I will.

I Heart Research or What I've Been Doing While Not Working on My Blog

2013-04-02T17:02:00.002-07:00

Has it really been nearly a month since I've written a blog post?

Well, no, actually it hasn't, not really, just not here. See, I've been writing client blogs (and newsletters and facebook posts and tweets). And given that most of my clients run very cool businesses, I've been writing some very cool content. I work with some very hip folks and I find the content creation easy, because I believe in the product. I really couldn't fake it, which I guess limits me in terms of the "who" I'm working with, but it guarantees I won't ever look at a project as, like, a project. So writing for their viewers is as enjoyable as writing for mine, some of whom are probably the same people.

My favorite part of writing for clients is that it requires research. Extrovert though I might be, I'd be perfectly happy holed up in a vault digging through legal records and immigration papers. I spent a great deal of my undergraduate years this way. I was very happy there. And some of it even made it into academic publications, that are probably a lot less interesting than food blogs.

, But the research I'm doing for the freelance clients is more hands-on. In fact, it's even a bit of hand-stands-on. I'm quite busy attending yoga classes and learning to move my body in the most amazing ways as part of my yoga client deal.And I have been learning the language and teachings of Yoga and collecting inspirational quotes from Deepak Chopra and the Dalai Lama. The engagement you get from a cool Buddhist saying that goes out with the day's yoga schedule is more impressive than what you get from a food photo. And, it, too, makes people pretty happy.

I have been gathering data on cool, cheap and free stuff for kids to do in the Boston area, part of my pro bono work for my mom's 25 years and going strong preschool and I've been studying the crop harvest calendar to better understand CSAs because anyone promoting food or fitness knows that farms are in and factories are out.

I'm also booked up with wine dinners and tastings, menu redesigns, grand reopenings, charity events and beer samplings. I've been gathering articles on new trends in the food world and learning the who's who of California chefs. I've been getting up to speed on cultural celebrations and the food and music that come with them and studying the etymology of modern culinary terms.

And I've been watching food videos. Also, I've been ghost writing the social media pages of some of the coolest businesses in our community, because I know our community, and I know their businesses. Lots to learn, lots to write and, yum, lots to eat and drink. Thank goodness for all that yoga.

So it's hard, sometimes, to put my focus back on updating my own blog. I admit, I'm totally slacking on my 90 Seconds and Velvet following to build the following of my client's blogs. But I'm not selling out. Writing for clients supports me writing for you, both because I get great content from doing all this yoga and eating and drinking and cultural hooplah, and also because it finances me going out and doing these things on my own, and reporting back to you. Everybody wins.

Here's the plug part - I'm always open to new clients. Chances are, readers of this blog fall into the "categories of consideration" I like to call my parameters in seeking new business. I probably couldn't handle social media for a Pro Life group or a big box store, but give me a pilates studio, a summer lobster shack, a caterer, a budding theater, a private school, a tourist attraction or a day spa, and we are cooking with gas.

If you know anybody who isn't doing social media for their small business or who is doing it all wrong (you know, the restaurant that posts only about themselves and does it 18 times a day or the salon that mixes personal politics with business posts, the shelter that doesn't add pictures of puppies), send them my way. There's a very specific art to this kind of marketing, based on tons and tons of research that could either result in major increases in business, or in being de-friended or un-followed, yikes.

OK, thanks for indulging me that bit of self promotion. I love this stuff, I'm good at this stuff and I'm hungry to do more of this stuff. That is all.

MY PROMISE: My next post will be totally free of business or seriousness. In fact, it might be total nonsense just to balance the scales. Be sure to check soon. I've missed ya'll.

Getting My Yoga On - hard core training without the hardcore injuries

2013-03-04T12:17:00.000-08:00

Tax season is here. Which means vacation season is near. Why, because all those receipts add up to plane tickets if I play my cards right, the beauty of the 1099 life.

This year it's a return trip to St Martin, the "Culinary Capital of the Caribbean". Our annual family trip has not come together this year due to a merger at my dad's company (rendering them unable to commit to a trip till the dust has settled), my older sister's 40th birthday getaway to Mexico with her bestest childhood friends and little sister's construction dreams as her little fun wreckers outgrow their shared bedroom.

So we are doing a solo trio trip back to our beloved French Caribbean to catch up with friends who also make the pilgrimage for food and sun on the innumerable beaches of the shared French/Dutch island outpost.

Here's the catch. Our friends are marathon runners, bike racers and Iron men. So on top of the regular emergency drive to shed winter pounds to prep for the pre-season swimsuit, now I've got that whole "don't be the fat girl in the picture" pressure that comes with traveling with older friends in better shape (oh who also have more kids than me). And also, it's a European Island, which means miles and miles of gorgeous, lean, topless French and Italian women who somehow live on bread and wine but do not look like I do in a swimsuit. UGH!

So booking my trip now means scheduling serious hardcore exercise starting NOW.

I love exercise as much as I love food, which has always worked in a balancing-things sort of way. But aging has presented a new set of problems - a slower metabolism and a whole host of injuries from years of psychotic exercise activities means it's harder than ever to get in bikini shape in the short term. Pushing myself to shed pounds fast without committing to that awful diet thing now means risking complete immobilization. I've got to get creative.

Know what burns fat, lengthens and sculpts muscles, creates inner peace AND doesn't require pounding, jumping or other dangerous impact on knees, hip and backs? Yoga.

Gloucester has a wonderful, beautiful yoga studio with first class teachers, classes for all levels and ages and great workshops for beginners and children. The offerings are broad, detailed and very comprehensive, from one-on-one training to beginners workshops to kid's classes and a very intense heated vinyasa class with very wide schedule of times, there's literally something for everyone.

The studio is on Parker Street, with lots of parking, which is a huge plus when so many studios are hindered by limited spots on Main Street - I know, I owned my own place in several locations for years and it was ALWAYS an issue for classes happening anytime after dawn.

I started at Treetop this week, with a vinyasa class taught by Kat Mansfield. I haven't practiced in far too long, something made painfully obvious when we went over Chaturanga in acute detail. My form improved immensely with the neurosurgeon-like attention of a very connected teacher, and my soul lifted as we really focused on those chakras that we are failing to serve, but my triceps and my abs, well, they were screaming when I left. But not from injury, from attention. And it was the first time in a long time that I really worked out the physical and emotional kinks, and did so without creating new pain. I'm an over-exerciser, I mentioned this, and to put in 1.5 hrs of intense work without hurting myself, that's mesmerizing, gratifying and sustainable.

I'll be heading back tonight for a heated Vinyasa class with Elizabeth, and am already nagging my thin but travel-tightened business dude husband to put yoga on his radar as part of our "new us" approach to 2013. He studied with one of the owners before, when she taught in my studio, and was addicted. And it's easier than P90X, that monstrous 12 week body sculpting program we attempted together last summer, till an old snowboard injury hobbled him. And I heard about THAT for weeks. See, yoga IS better.

I'll keep posting about my progress, and in all likelihood, my pain and (TRY) to start sharing some recipes and dietary tips I've collected along the way. Meantime, read this list of yoga terms so you'll be a little less befuddled than I was when the teacher cued the next move (insert confused embarrassed expression here):
http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yoga-dictionary.asp

Then get yourself a mat, a reusable water bottle and some, ahem, "containing shorts", and join me at Treetop let your soul free while you keep your parts covered. I'll be the one falling out of crow, over and over and over, till I get it.

And I WILL get it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

NEW to yoga? Treetop Yoga Studio offers a Beginner Basics Class going on now.

Raw Beginner Basics with Kat Mansfield

Want to start yoga but feel a little nervous and worried? Been practicing for awhile but have some some
basic questions you might be too embarrassed to ask in class? Have we got a class for you! Come spend a
few winter Sundays with senior instructor Kat Mansfield and get your practice started -- safely and in a fun, relaxed environment.
We'll cover the basics of alignment and breathing, meditation and stress reduction and get you started.
"Practice and all is coming," said the famous yoga teacher, Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois . Start your practice in 2013 and become
your healthiest, most flexible, most relaxed self.

3 Week Series
Sundays, 12pm-1pm
2/24, 3/3, 3/10
$40 for the series, $15 drop-in
Full Schedule of Classes and Workshops Here: http://www.treetopyoga.com/index.html

Valentine's Day Trivia for those who will not be dining in a romantic venue this evening

2013-02-14T14:37:00.001-08:00

So, I am not going out tonight, as my Valentine is traveling for work (again). So there will be no foodie posts about what I ate or where I ate it, about wine or roses or champagne or chocolate or Louis Armstrong tunes that make you swoon. We are doing none of that today, so I have nothing to say on the matter. I'm sorry. Though I imagine anyone who does have lovers plans is probably out by now at some romantic venue sipping champagne by candlelight over a gorgeous aphrodisiac prixe fix and gazing lovingly into their mates eyes and therefore won't read this or be soured by it.

I'm not anti-Valentine's Day. In fact, I'm kind of a mush for it. Today is just not the day over here. We will probably eat like college kids and watch the Food Network. Girls' Night In.

I did buy my beautiful nine year old a puffy heart charm for her Pandora bracelet (at Gloucester's wonderful Village Silversmith, of course). It reads,'Yo" on one side and "Tu" on the other - I <3 you en Espanol. Seemsappropriate given how much time this child spends on foreign islands and in foreign countries. Plus, I mentioned I'm a word nerd, and I <3 interjecting our native tongue with pretty palabras whenever possible.

But it is that day and I should write about it in some way (I'm being cranky - we have fabulous plans for the weekend - I'm prone to drama, is all). So I thought I'd give my beer-drinking friends some trivia to play while they sit with singles coldly shunning the lover's holiday. I recommend turning it into a drinking game - with shots for wrong answers. Or better yet, a strip poker spin. Could resolve your singleness for the 2014 event. Just a suggestion. Dad, don't read this part.

A Little Valentine's Day Trivia - borrowed from all over the web

Approximately how many boxes of chocolate were sold for St. Valentine's Day in 2003?
36 million. This figure comes from the Chocolate Manufacturer's Association.

One legend of St. Valentine contends that he was a priest in third century Rome. The Emperor outlawed marriage because single men made better warriors. Valentine, however, continued to perform marriages in secret. When the Emperor discovered what Valentine was doing he ordered that Valentine be put to death. Who was the Emperor?
Claudius II. Claudius II died of the plague not long after the death of Valentine. He is one of the few Roman emperors to die a "natural" death.

Others claim that the Christian church decided to celebrate the feast of Valentine in an effort to 'christianize' the celebrants of a pagan festival that was held in mid-February. What was the pagan festival?
Lupercalia. Lupercalia was considered a purification and fertility rite.

The oldest known valentine that is still in existence today was written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife. Where was Charles when he penned this valentine?
In the Tower of London. The greeting is now located in the British Library in London.

Approximately what percentage of Valentine's Day cards are purchased by women?
85. This is according to the Greeting Card Association.

Approximately how many Valentine's Day cards are sent each year?
1 billion. Valentine's Day is the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. Christmas is first with approximately 2.6 billion cards sent.

Cupid is whose son?
Venus. Venus was the Goddess of Love and Beauty.

In what Shakespeare play is St. Valentine's Day mentioned?
Hamlet. Ophelia sings, "Good morrow! 'Tis St. Valentine's Day; All in the morning betime; And I a maid at your window,; To be your valentine!"

What three percent of pet owners give Valentine's Day gifts to their pets?
3%

What percentage of all Valentine's Day cards are accompanied by gifts?
Approximately one-third
In a poll of American women,which was the preferred Valentine's day gift - chocolate or flowers?

Chocolate

Which group of professionals receive the most Valentine's Day Cards?

Teachers will receive the most Valentine's Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, and sweethearts.

Which holiday sees the largest exchange of holiday cards - Valentine's Day or Christmas?

Christmas. About one billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged each year. The holiday is second only to Christmas in terms of the number of cards sent.

Who invented the Valentine's Day Candy Box idea?
Richard Cadbury invented the first Valentine's Day candy box in the late 1800s.

Which city receives over 1,000 letters address to Shakespeare's Juliet Capulet every year?

The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived.

How many roses will be sold on Valentine's Day in a given year?
About 110 million roses, most of them red, will be sold for Valentine's Day this year.

Which important household technology was patented on Valentine's Day in 1876?

The telephone. Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on the telephone, an "improvement in telegraphy," on Valentine's Day, 1876.

What percentage of American women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day?
Fifteen percent of women in the United States send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.
How much money do Americans spend on Valentine's Candy?
Americans spend $655 million each Valentine's Day on candy, making it the fourth biggest holiday of the year for confectionery purchases, after Halloween, Christmas and Easter (in that order).

What percentage of men make plans in advance for Valentine's Day?
36% !!! In the U.S., it's estimated that 64 percent of men do not make plans in advance for Valentine's Day.

The most notorious St. Valentine's Day was in 1929 when seven people were gunned down in an assassination attempt in Chicago. Five members of one mobster's gang planned to kill members of a rival gang, including the leader. What gang planned the shooting, and who was the main target?
Al Capone's gang planned to kill Bugs Moran. Bugs Moran was on his way to the garage where the killing took place, but turned away when he saw someone dressed as a policeman (the disguise of the killers) and escaped. One of the seven killed was an innocent man who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A Roman myth says that roses grew when Cupid was carrying a certain liquid to the gods on Mt. Olympus. Cupid spilled the liquid and from that spot roses grew. What was the liquid?
Nectar. Nectar was the drink of the gods, ambrosia the food of the gods.

During Victorian times, this was considered bad luck on Valentine's Day?
Signing the card.

Hope this gets you through the lonely night, and maybe leads to a less-than-solo wrap up to your evening ;-) Just kidding. Have fun, be safe and happy Valentine's Day.

Fat Tuesday - why DO we party like this? A little history

2013-02-10T17:08:00.000-08:00

It occurred to me that though I have learned a lot about the roots of Mardi Gras and Carnival in my trips to Louisiana and in the crowd at handful of similar "Carnivale" parades on my visits to the Caribbean, many folks probably don't know much about the "WHY" of Mardi Gras, outside of the obvious opportunity to get drunk and enjoy the cheap thrill of a boobie flash for the cost of a few beads. Indulge me a bit of academic intervention. Who knows? Maybe it'll come in handy at trivia night:

Mardi Gras History from the official New Orleans Mardi Gras site (paraphrased) http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/history.html

The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to medieval Europe, passing through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries to the French House of the Bourbons. From here, the traditional revelry of "Boeuf Gras," or fatted calf, followed France to her colonies.

On March 2, 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans, naming it "Pointe du Mardi Gras" when his men realized it was the eve of that festive holiday. Bienville also established "Fort Louis de la Louisiane" (which is now Mobile) in 1702. In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrated America's very first Mardi Gras.

In 1704, Mobile established a secret society (Masque de la Mobile), similar to those that form our current Mardi Gras krewes. It lasted until 1709.

In 1710, the "Boeuf Gras Society" was formed and paraded from 1711 through 1861. The procession was held with a huge bull's head pushed alone on wheels by 16 men--later, Rex would parade with an actual bull, draped in white and signaling the coming Lenten meat fast. This occurred on Fat Tuesday.

New Orleans was established in 1718 by Bienville. By the 1730's, Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in New Orleans, but not with the parades we know today. In the early 1740's, Louisiana's governor, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, established elegant society balls--the model for the New Orleans Mardi Gras balls of today.

The earliest reference to Mardi Gras "Carnival" appears in a 1781 report to the Spanish colonial governing body. That year, the Perseverance Benevolent & Mutual Aid Association was the first of hundreds of clubs and carnival organizations formed in New Orleans.

By the late 1830s, New Orleans held street processions of maskers with carriages and horseback riders to celebrate Mardi Gras. Dazzling gaslight torches, or "flambeaux," lit the way for the krewe's members, and lent each event an exciting air of romance and festivity.

In 1856, six young Mobile natives formed the Mistick Krewe of Comus, invoking John Milton's hero Comus to represent their organization. Comus brought magic and mystery to New Orleans, with dazzling floats (known as tableaux cars) and masked balls. Krewe members remained anonymous, and to this day, Comus still rides!

In 1870, Mardi Gras' second "Krewe," the Twelfth Night Revelers, was formed, with the first account of Mardi Gras "throws". Newspapers began to announce Mardi Gras events in advance, and even printed "Carnival Edition" lithographs of parades' fantastic float designs (after they rolled, of course--themes and floats were always carefully guarded before the procession).

1872 was the year that a group of businessmen invented a King of Carnival--Rex--to preside over the first daytime parade. Honoring visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff, they introduced his family colors of purple, green and gold as Carnival's official colors. Purple stands for justice; gold for power; and green for faith. This was also the Mardi Gras season that Carnival's improbable anthem, "If Ever I Cease to Love," was cemented, due in part to the Duke's fondness for the tune.

In 1873, floats began to be constructed entirely in New Orleans instead of France.

In 1875, Governor Warmoth signed the "Mardi Gras Act," making Fat Tuesday a legal holiday in Louisiana, which it still is.

Mardi Gras krewes developed from private social clubs with restrictive membership policies. Since all of these parade organizations are completely funded by their members, New Orleanians call it the "Greatest Free Show on Earth"!

So what are you gonna do with this info? You're going to come fatten up on Tuesday, February 12th from 11:30-close at Lat43 and Minglewood Tavern to help raise money for the YMCA Teens Service Mission to New Orleans. A little bit about the event and the cause...

4^th Annual Mardi Gras Fundraiser FAT Tuesday, February 12, 2013 11:30am- close

Teen Leaders from across the North Shore YMCA Service area will make their 4^th trip to New Orleans, Louisiana to assist in rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina disaster. Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans on August 29, 2005. and though many years have passed since Katrina destroyed most of New Orleans and its neighboring communities, there’s still work to be done to bring this area back to “normal”.

“The devastation is vast, even years later”, explains Rick Doucette, Executive Director of Teen and Camp Services at the Cape Ann YMCA. “This is a tremendous opportunity for local teens to help make a profound and lasting difference in the lives of people who so desperately need a helping hand.” Travel, lodging and meal expenses are estimated at $1,100 per youth. Our hope is to fully fund each teen’s trip through a collaborative effort with local donors and businesses doing events over the next couple months. The Latitude 43 event is in its 4^th year, and, like the trip itself, and has become a high point of our year; kicking off our fundraising efforts in preparation for the trip.”

“The event has been a big success for the teens raising travel money in past years. And it’s become a very important part of our connection to the community”, said Zak Sears, General Manager of Latitude 43 and Minglewood Tavern. “Even our music this year is locally based and totally donated. The guys from The Runaround are my friends and a few are my cousins. So when I asked them to help out, they agreed without hesitation. This is Gloucester”.

The teen participants are involved in the preparations as much as they are the actual mission. Dressed in Mardi Gras costumes, handing out beads and selling raffle tickets the night of is only part of their commitment to the success of their trip. Teens are credited for all of the in-kind (raffle item) donations they secure for the event.

“We believe this should be a team effort, and that the kids learn as much from having to work for their trip as they do in actually going to New Orleans,” Doucette explains. “And by soliciting their own raffle items, they are reaching out within their own circles to build awareness for the trip and for the importance of our work in Louisiana. These teens really get so much throughout the process to the end of the journey; their feedback in our Trip Reflections always show amazing insight and gratitude.”

Other events to support Y Teens Rebuild New Orleans IV include: A concert at the historic Larcom Theater in Beverly featuring Henri Smith and Charles Neville on February 8^th, 50% of ticket sales will be donated to the trip. Charles Neville is a Grammy winner and Henri Smith is both an incredible entertainer and a New Orleans native. The theater is a piece of history and the night will be one to remember. Tickets available throughwww.gimmesound.com

Event Details

Special supplemental "Big Easy" Menu available throughout both Latitude 43 and Minglewood for both lunch and dinner.

Live Entertainment in Minglewood Tavern from 7:30-10:30PM provided by:

The Runaround - Local Ska sensations

Reservations for dinner in the Latitude 43 Dining Room strongly recommended. Lunch reservations in Lat43 also available. Minglewood Tavern is first-come, first-serve.

Latitude 43 Restaurant & Bar

25 Rogers Street Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930 Phone: 978-281-0223

There will also be Raffles for Goods and Services, a 50/50 Raffle and other events planned throughout the evening.

As they say in New Orleans, "Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler". Let the good times roll......

Super Bowl in New Orleans, it's all about the food

2013-02-03T07:26:00.001-08:00

Today's the big day for football fans, though less a big deal for all of us up here in New England who won't be cheering our beloved Patriots on to Super Bowl victory. Still, we will eat and drink in celebration of, well, a reason to eat and drink while the Baltimore Ravens take on the San Francisco 49ers in Superbowl 47 at the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome Arena in New Orleans, LA.

And what a perfect time for a big ole football game to come to NOLA, just a little over a week before the BIGGEST event in the Crescent City's calendar year, Mardi Gras. It makes me happy to see this much tourist traffic and, more importantly, tourism dollars funneling into New Orleans as they continue to struggle to rebuild from Hurricane Katrina.
It'll surely help them out in a huge way.

I won't pretend to know (or really care) at all about football. I'm in it for the wings and the beer, but this year the location will have me glued to the set for the pregame festivities with a bit of N'awlins style revelry that just may be more memorable than the much-anticipated Super Bowl commercials.

Why do I care so much about the choice of venue for Super Bowl? Because I love New Orleans. Because I care deeply about the people there who have suffered such tragedy from Katrina. And because I am involved in a drive to send some smart, cool kids to NOLA to help with the rebuilding.

This week, I'm all about all things Cajun and costumed. As a planner and promoter of a couple of local Mardi Gras events (which fund the local YMCA Teens trip to NOLA), I'm spending a lot of time thinking about Fat Tuesday these days. From helping to promote a concert with New Orleans' own Henri Smith and Grammy winner Charles Neville at the Larcom Theater in Beverly, MA on February 8th to helping to plan the 4th annual Fat Tuesday event at Latitude 43 and Minglewood Tavern in Gloucester, MA, I'm up to my ears in beads and gumbo.

And speaking of gumbo, I think it's appropriate on this day of football feasting and in the next week of pre-lenten gluttony that is the very essence of Mardi Gras, to take a close look at the flavors of NOLA.

New Orleans cuisine is as extreme in flavor and color as it's people. Intensely hot, spicy, salty, rich, boozie or sweet, there is nothing mediocre about this stuff. Just how I like it.

I visited New Orleans about a decade ago and though the eateries may have changed since then, the "Must Eats" certainly have not. Here's a crib sheet on what you've got to try if you ever make it to the French Quarter:

Begniets - French for "doughnut", but hole-less and square and crispier than the American variety. If you try nothing else on this list, eat these.

Chickory Coffee - bitter, hearty, heart-racing stuff that is only palatable served as a foil to the sweet sticky begniets. Get them at the Cafe Du Monde in Lafayette Square for some incredible people watching.

Étouffée or etouffee is a shellfish and rice dish with a spicy blond "roux" found in both Cajun and Creole cuisine, but vary in spicing and, therefore, flavor depending on which culture's etouffee you order. The name means, "smothered" in French and refers to the regional cooking technique employed in making this dish.

Gumbo - consisting primarily of a strongly-flavored stock, meat or shellfish, okra, and seasoning and what the Cajuns call the "holy trinity" of vegetables - celery, bell peppers and onions. The name of this dish is likely derived from either the Bantu word for okra (ki ngombo) or the Choctaw word for filé (kombo). Economically speaking, gumbo is a great way to feed a crowd and use up "leftovers" in this colorful stew.

Hurricanes - every 20-something college kid who makes the pilgrimage to party till you puke on Bourbon Street has suffered the aftermath of a Hurricane bender. Sickly sweet and loaded with booze, every bar in town will serve these up in giant plastic souvenir glasses on the cheap. Created by tavern owner Pat O'Brien as a way to utilize poor local rum until he could get cases of scotch and whiskey, he poured the rum and juice mixture into a hurricane-lamp shaped glass and gave it away to sailors, who presumably suffered misery worse than death when returning to sea after a night of drinking them.

Jambalaya - a close cousin to the Spanish Pallella, Jambalaya finds it origin in the Caribbean dishes introduced by transplanted slaves and also varies based on Cajun or Creole preparation. Universally made with andouille (smoked) sausage and saffron (from the Spanish influence), the dish is made with trinity vegetables, rice and chicken and can be identified as Cajun or Creole by the use or absence of tomatoes among other things.

King Cake - served throughout the Carnival season, the cake has a small gift inside, often a small plastic baby, said to represent Baby Jesus. The person who gets the piece of cake with the trinket is entitled to various privileges and also obligations.

Mimosas - legend says that the Mimosa was invented at the Court of Two Sisters - the BEST spot for a giant brunch under a canopy of bayou verdant vines, and served up with great jazz. Every dish you might want to sample from the local cuisine will be present on the buffet tables. Go hungry and plan nothing for after - you'll be in food coma.

Muffeletta - think "hangover helper". Salty olive salad stuffed into an Italian cold cut sandwich served in crunchy bread, presumably designed by a young deli hand who'd dragged himself into work after a night in the French Quarter. Buy two bottles of water with your order. Take your rings off before bed or have them cut off the next day from the swelling.

Pralines - candied pecan loveliness that'll rip your fillings out and get you a serious scolding from your dentist. Eat them in small doses or suffer a mother of a white sugar crash.

Po Boys - the Po'Boy sandwich varies about as widely as the costumes at Mardi Gras itself, from content to seasoning, but is essentially battered, fried seafood served on crusty bread with a creamy sauce. Common Po'Boy varietals include shrimp, oysters, cat fish and soft shelled crab. The origin of the name is deeply rooted in New Orleans history, beginning as a free meal served at a local venue to strikers in a battle over unfair treatment of workers installing NOLA's famous street cars.
"Here comes another poor boy" was heard as the workers lined up for a free meal during the struggle against the street car company. The tale is colorful and worth a read. http://www.poboyfest.com/history

Hungry yet? Here's a link to a great recipe source with 50 or so Cajun and Creole regional dishes from authentic to diet. The first three listed are family cookbooks from Native Louisianans. I'd start there.http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Directory/List/LouisianaCajun-222-0.aspx

Not inclined to make it yourself?

Come to the February 12th Mardi Gras Event at Lat43 and Minglewood and try out their special Mardi Gras Menu. 10% of total sales for lunch, dinner and drinks will be donated to the Y Trip. Live music by the Runaround, goods and services raffle, 50/50 raffle, magic, facepainting and more.
978-281-0223 www.latfort ythree.com

OR the February 8th Concert, and buy the VIP package, which includes a Cajun buffet by award-winning restaurant Chianti at the meet-the-artists pre-party in the grande salon before the show. Tickets on sale online at www.gimmelive.tv. and at Gloucester Music, Casa de Moda in Beverly and at the Cape Ann YMCA or call 978-525-9093
50% of profits will be donated the the Y Trip

Charles Neville and Henri Smith Mardi Gras CONCERT at the Historic Larcom Theater

2013-01-29T16:09:00.001-08:00

Another Great Event to Support This Super Important Trip

gimmeLIVE presents

Henri Smith New Orleans Mardi Gras Concert

featuring Charles Neville with an 8 Piece Band

at the historic Larcom Theatre in Beverly MA

Friday, February 8, 2013 at 7:30pm

50% of profit benefit

Y TEENS REBUILD NEW ORLEANS TRIP

Grammy winner Charles Neville joins Henri Smith and his band for a traditional Mardi Gras benefit concert at the historic Larcom Theatre in Beverly , MA on Friday, February 8, 2013 at 7:30pm.

General Admission tickets are $20 in advance ($15 for people over 65 or under 18) and $25 at the door for all ages. You can get tickets at many North Shore YMCA offices and on-line here: http://www.gimmelive.tv/. A limited number of VIP Packages (premium reserved seating, meet & greet, exclusive pre-show party and more) are available on-line or by calling gimmeLIVE at 978-525-9093.

50% of profits benefit Y TEENS REBUILD NEW ORLEANS , the fourth year of an extraordinarily successful North Shore YMCA service-learning trip to help rebuild the Katrina ravaged City.

“I think it’s really important to provide teens and young adults with opportunities that take them outside of their comfort zone, teach the intrinsic rewards of serving others and help them experience the impact of working together for a stronger community,” Says Rick Doucette, Executive Director of Teen & Camp Services of the Cape Ann YMCA. “We expect about 100 teens from across the 26 communities served by the North Shore YMCA to join us for this vital service-learning trip this April.”

“The trip and the fundraising efforts have grown together,” explains Peter Van Ness, co-producer, with his wife, Vickie, of the gimmeLIVE Mardi Gras weekend benefit. “Last year we sold out Minglewood Tavern in Gloucester . This year we’re taking it to a whole new level and we were thrilled when the historic Larcom Theatre in Beverly offered their space. It’s a jewel right in our own back yard.”

Built in 1912, The Larcom Theater had been home to Le Grand David Magic show for 35 years until it closed last May. With its elegant horseshoe balcony, antique pressed tin ceilings and original silk wall coverings, the Larcom evokes the grand theater experience of a hundred years ago. The Larcom welcomes Grammy-winning saxophonist Charles Neville with Henri Smith and his band on Friday, February 8 in the spirit of building community on Boston ’s North Shore and in New Orleans .

CONTACT: Peter Van Ness

978.525.9093

pvn@gimmesound.com

Winter is the Best Season to Eat - here are your cliff notes

2013-01-27T17:01:00.000-08:00

As a restaurant warrior with some 20 years in the industry, I have spent most of my life around food and drink. From clearing coffee cups of steady, elderly regulars at the counter at Charlie's Place at the tender age of 14 to hauling giant hotel trays full of baked haddock and chocolate puddings for three turns of the Gloucester House function room for hundreds and hundreds of tour bus tourists every day through summers hustling lobster bisque and white wine in contraband real glass stemware onto the deck at The Studio in Rocky Neck, while generous, but fussy, gay boaters made me earn every dime but taught me a lot about the proper way to enjoy a meal, to operating my own health-centric gourmet personal chef service up through my stint managing the fabulous, foodie heaven farm to table Alchemy Bistro with the wooden sharing boards of wild boar and stuffed dates and locally foraged mushrooms (which would be delivered to the kitchen door before closing, when "Mushroom Alex" came out of the woods from his fungus hunt), to eventually taking over both the marketing and PR and the catering piece of a large restaurant group, I've earned my chops and I've learned something about myself - I'm a food addict.

I need to be around it. I like to know who's talking about it. I take pictures of it. I feel like a better mother when the fridge is full of it. I get excited when I have something new and delicious, and even more so if it's rare or gourmet and I will forage for a favorite, rare cheese or a specialty olive oil till I rediscover it, knowing the recipe won't be right without that elusive ingredient, though I rarely (never) write or follow recipes.

I'm ok with this. I have a pretty well developed theory about what a love of food says about the nurturing of a person's childhood. The kitchen is truly the heart of the home - the Heart(h) is the warmth and security of community since humans made fire. It's the safe place. Gathering around the fire meant life or death in protection from predators, in eating the days bounty and in staying warm when exposed to the elements. It's also where the stories of our human history were first shared and our first songs were sung. Just as a familiar beat of a simple drum symbolizes the rocking in the womb and soothes us in both an immediate and subconscious sense, so does the sharing of food in the warmth of the kitchen evoke the comforting sense of "belonging" that was an essential part of survival, of "life" and "safety" since we learned to walk on two legs.

People who don't care about food make me nervous. Like there's some part of them that was unloved and therefore lacking in contentment, broken, in some way. I feel sorry for them, and I don't invite them into my supper club. I don't worry that they are insulted by this, because they probably don't read a blog about food anyway.

So what was I actually trying to write about??? Oh right, cold weather being only improved by the fact that it is the eating time of the year. Yes, of course summer means fresh veggies, and farmers markets and shopping for fish that is so fresh it's almost swimming and connecting with your food at the supremely local level, but I'm talking about the DESIRE for food, the yearning to lay on the couch with a stack of Food and Wine, to book a table you need three weeks to get and to return to your favorite cozy spot and wait for your winter must-haves appear on the table, and the chef drops in to chat. THIS is a winter thing.

So here's what this meandering stream-of-consciousness narrative has led you to - a list. Not "A" list but "THE" list of food bloggers in Boston. Why should you care? Because it's your TripAdvisor for your tummy. Urban Spoon has comprised a kick ass list of the hottest food blogs in Boston and it is your HOMEWORK before you hit up Open Table to book a seat. Just like I wouldn't book a room without consulting the reviews of real travelers, I wouldn't book a table without getting the 411 on what real (unpaid) food enthusiasts have to say.

If you care enough about food to have read this far, you should check out this list. It's a pregame guide to getting good grub....But unlike my blog post, there's a shortcut. Look at the notes on what each one's focus is (they're widely different in scope, just like our palettes). Pare it down to a palatable (pun intended) list of one's that sing to you. Read them. Then pick your faves and for Michelin's sake consult them before you plan your next meal. Think of it as due diligence in dining. Your discretionary dollars will thank you, and so will your belly.

Read, and then go eat.

http://www.urbanspoon.com/bgs/4/boston-restaurant-blogs

YMCA Teens Service Mission to New Orleans Mardi Gras Fundraiser

2013-01-25T12:03:00.001-08:00

4^th Annual Mardi Gras Fundraiser

FAT Tuesday, February 12, 2013 11:30am- close

Event Details

Special supplemental "Big Easy" Menu available throughout both Latitude 43 and Minglewood for both lunch and dinner.

Live Entertainment in Minglewood Tavern from 7:30-10:30PM provided by:

The Runaround - Local Ska sensations

Reservations for dinner in the Latitude 43 Dining Room strongly recommended. Lunch reservations in Lat43 also available. Minglewood Tavern is first-come, first-serve.

Latitude 43 Restaurant & Bar

25 Rogers Street Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930 Phone: 978-281-0223

There will also be Raffles for Goods and Services, a 50/50 Raffle and other events planned throughout the evening.

As they say in New Orleans, "Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler". Let the good times roll......

Baby Steps to Weight Loss - an article from the personal training days

2013-01-10T10:01:00.000-08:00

As part of my commitment to self improvement and my commitment to (hopefully) bettering the lives of my readers just a lil bit, I've dug up some of my favorite articles, tools, worksheets and tips from my days as owner/chef/trainer at Facile Belle Personal Chef/Personal Fitness and Metamorphosis Studios.

If you didn't know me then, it's nice to meet you now. Here's another dimension of who I am - a fitness freak. Believe it or not, I actually like working out as much as I love food. Not so for most, for the rest of you all, here's some clever ways to manage those detestable changes that'll pay off BIG TIME.

Hundreds of students and clients, audiences and workshop attendees came through my doors in my six years in business. Some of them may be blog followers now. And if so, all of them will remember these.

I hope they help you to meet your goals in 2013 like they have for my clients over the years.

You're welcome.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Baby Steps to Weight Loss –

Little dietarydifferences

Plan Ahead, Stay Ahead
Keep your fridge stocked with eye-level, easy –access fruits and veggies. Wash grapes and baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, cukes and celery. Cut into bite size grab able portions and leave in the fridge on the top shelf That way, when the grazing crazies hit, or you’re too busy to eat a meal, the first choice you encounter is a good one. Pair 1 cup of veggies with a light cheese stick (in the cold cut drawer, and you’ve got a pretty satisfying stack without dirtying a plate.
Similarly, remove toxic food choices from obvious locations. Do not leave your kid’s leftover birthday cake on the top shelf of the fridge – stick it in Tupperware and put it on the bottom. They’ll remember it’s there – but you won’t. Get cookie jars off the counter, and put cracker bags BEHIND meal-makers in the cabinets.
If you have the cabinet space, keep snack foods in an altogether different location than your regular grocery items. I keep mine in with the breakfast stuff. Even on my worst day, I’d never eat goldfish at breakfast time, so I’m less likely to crumble then. Later, when you’re making dinner, you’ll have no reason to go into that cabinet and face temptation.
Prepare one healthy soup in your crock-pot every Sunday (if you don’t have one – buy one – they are about $25 for family size and they will be your saving grace throughout the week, on the fly).
Prepare tuna, grilled lean chicken breast, steak tips or hard boiled eggs, and wash salad greens every Sunday. Mix with your precut veggies (see above) for a 5 minute salad. Keep yummy salad toppers on hand (sun dry tomatoes, feta cheese, raisins, nuts) to make a fabulous restaurant quality salad and keep yourself from feeling denied.
Shop places like Trader Joe’s and your local butchery for all-natural marinated meats (refer to your chart for best healthy selections). These places often carry great sauces, all-natural light dressings and interesting salad toppers that you can keep on-hand and save the steps in preparation.

… About Small ExerciseChanges

Take the stairs every single time they're an option. No more elevators or escalators.
Make exercise a priority, not an inconvenience. Put it in your planner like every other appointment and keep this important appointment with yourself. Every other thing you do will benefit from making this commitment!
Park far from your destination, so you're forced to walk — this works at the supermarket, the mall, wherever. (This also helps you waste less time looking for a parking space!)
View tiring chores (shoveling snow, cleaning the house, weeding the garden, taking the garbage out, grocery shopping) as a chance to get in some activity.
Take the grocery cart back to the store when you're done loading your bags into your car.
If you take public transportation, get off one stop early.
Work out with a friend. You’re less inclined to blow off your friends than you are to blow off your exercise class.

Try different exercise classes until you find the one you like. It could be that you don’t HATE exercise, you just step aerobics. Shop around until you find something that works for you, so you won’t see working out as a chore.

Try different tools to enhance your workout. Add a few hills to your walk. Get an iPod to add tunes to your walk. Invest in long johns so cold weather won’t hold you back or buy a stability ball for your home, so you can do some abs and stretches first thing in the morning. Lots of great fitness equipment costs less than $20 to purchase (resistance bands, balls,) and having a few things at home will make you feel better if obligations throw you off your routine.

My 2013 Less and More Mantra - a healthier equation

2013-01-10T09:48:00.001-08:00

So I haven't written in weeks. I feel guilty about this. But I have a perfectly good reason. I've been building up a plan for personal iimprovement in 2013.
In no particular order, I vow to commit to the following this year:

More time with my daughter.
More "dates" with my husband, even if we do so at home.
More time thinking about healthy forward progress.
More home cooked meals.
More writing down those recipes
More time in the woods.
A more focused job search.
More time at the gym.
More early to bed and early to rise.
More time writing.
More learning.
More dancing.
More spending on culture instead of consumption.
More home improvement projects.
More sewing.
More reading.
More reflection.
More consistent contact with my friends (I'm terrible in the way of keeping up correspondence).
More self-improvement.

Of course, the MORE of these I add to my daily routine, the LESS time I have for the non-productive habits I really need to break. Here's what I'll be doing less of in 2013:
Less letting those who don't add value to my life effect my happiness.
Less mid week dinners out.
Less mid week wine and snacks.
Less making a "storm in a cup".
Less arguing in general.
Less carbs (ugh).
Less worrying about money.
Less finding happiness in things that cost money.
Less being short with my daughter because I'm not managing my own stress.
Less being late because I've mismanaged my time.
Less creating my own chaos.
Less driving to do errands when I can easily walk.
Less staying up late watching the cooking channel.
Less pursuing leads that I know won't make me happy, even if they do make me money.
Less feeling overwhelmed by the process.
Less blaming the past for my inability to control the present. None of this is in my hands.
Less focus on things that really don't matter.

Holiday Theater - This Weekend

2012-12-13T13:45:00.000-08:00

HOLIDAY THEATER

Holiday Delights at Gloucester Stage Company

Heidi Dallin brings us another impressive medley of holiday vignettes, dance numbers and even a singalong. With a cast of over 40 local kids and scenes from everything from Little Women to the Christmas Carol, a Hanukkah celebration and a "football game" version of The Nutcracker, the show is ever changing and the performance always great fun for the whole family. Show opens tonight and runs at 7pm Thursday-Saturday with a 2pm matinee Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets here at www.gloucesterstage.com

A Christmas Carol at North Shore Music Theater

A local holiday favorite performance, the NSMT returns to a more traditional interpretation of Charles Dicken's classic tale of the rebirth of the greedy Ebeneezer Scrooge through an evening long journey among memory and specters. The show has been a holiday highlight for 19 years and this year's show is by far the best yet. We saw it Sunday afternoon and it was everything we love about this tale - gorgeous costumes, hilarious hooligans, haunting ghosts, terrific dance numbers and a cast that works together magically, and some who have shared that stage for the whole 19 year run of the show. Don't miss it, this year's is positively wonderful. www.nsmt.org

"Live Women Knitting", Hot Chili and Cold Beer - Men's Night Picks

2012-12-13T13:42:00.000-08:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year, the night we send unseasoned boys out to fulfill our Christmas Wishes. Don't worry, the shop and barkeeps have got them covered with food, sales, beverages and gift-wrapping all over Main Street tonight. Tonight's picks:

Present - a seasonal gift shop great for picking up special handmade gifts for mom, wife, secretary and daughter. The ladies at Present will be offering hot chili and "Live Girls Knitting" tonight

Life is Good - shrimp dip, cold beer and 20% off regularly priced cool clothing for the whole family

Jewels of Gloucester - wine, cheese and crackers and 20% off

Guisseppe's Pizza and Piano Bar - the Final competition of "North Shore Voice" singing competition will mean this place will be packed with revelers and hecklers. Expect a wait. But it'll be worth it.

Palazola's Sporting Goods - will be serving up wine, cheese and crackers plus 20% off stuff for well, you guys

Alchemy Bistro - "Two Buddys" show at the Alchemy of Art Gallery to benefit the Gloucester Education Foundation. EJ LeFaveur and Joey Ciarametaro combine their painting and photography collections for a show and sale with 10% of proceeds supporting the GEF

The Cave - artisnal wine and cheese shop will be offering "Caveman" Chili, cold beer, pate and rat cheese plus discount gift certificates. Who wouldn't love a Cave Gift Card? I would. Please tell my husband

Greenlife - organic and earth friendly clothing and gifts

20% off your WHOLE purchase plus chips and dips, local and artisanal cheeses and organic crudite

Advice, ideas & gift wrapping from our helpful and expert team.

Common Crow - 20% off your most expensive item, plus free dips& crudite & cookies!

Seaport Grille - FREE Chowder from 4-7PM, Entertainment: Kevin Smith 7PM-10PM, 1/2 Price Appetizers, and A $100 and $50 Gift certificate will be drawn at 10:00PM. You must be present to Win!

Gloucester Glitterati Holiday Feast

2012-12-09T08:07:00.000-08:00

Let's be honest. Only a food addict would dedicate this much time to talking about, photographing and promoting food and restaurants as a hobby. This blog is not my job. It's what I do with my free time. Some people play Soduko. Other's bowl. Some belong to book clubs or gardening clubs or golf clubs. I eat.

And I belong to a club that's all about food. We call it the Gloucester Glitterati, and it's a gathering of female foodies who meet monthly to share recipes, stories, plans, tips, and, of course, a fantastic meal.

Our monthly food writer's dinner is typically held at a local restaurant, culminating in articles aplenty about what we ate, what we drank, what we are individually working on and what we are going to work on together. The social media buzz in the aftermath of each monthly meeting is electric and the photographs that circulate are positively mouth watering. It's my favorite night of the month.

This month's gathering broke tradition in that we opted for a potluck at the home of Sheree DeLorenzo, foodie, chef, business woman and owner of Cruiseport Gloucester, an impressive new part of the local skyline with a working international cruise dock, a giant, gorgeous function room, a smaller function room and a full-service restaurant. She's a new addition to our group, and makes the best bolognese I've ever eaten.

Add to this mix Open Kitchen producer
Patrycja Pawlak
with her ever-on image recommendations (hide the wineglasses like the politicians do. It's not good to have all these drinks in the photos), Heather Atwood, cookbook author, food columnist, fashionista and supermom, Melissa Abbott, formerly the ad sales manager from the GDT and perhaps one of the most prolific producers of home hewn food products (she came with goodie bags of homemade sun dried tomatoes, a spice blend and even blackberry brandy), and competitive chef Laurie Lufkin, and her collection of award winning recipes for everything from potato salad to baked goods and you'll understand the caliber of culinary contributions that set our table. Be jealous.

I brought a recipe from a product I am reviewing. And it definitely held it's own at this high stakes fete.The "Stir it Up" Pepper Jelly Asian Pulled Chicken Lettuce Wraps were incredible. The sweet heat was PERFECT in contrast to the creamy heat of the red cabbage slaw and soft butter lettuce leaves with crunchy won ton, pecan and golden raisin "crouton".

The post on the recipe is here:

http://90secondsandvelvet.blogspot.com/2012/12/stir-it-up-pepper-jelly-asian-pulled.html

We ate buttery crumbed macaroni and cheese, a persimmon and pomegranate salad that was as gorgeous as it was gloriously balanced, rich lasagna and Bolognese, pumpkin bread that would make your grandmother jealous, lemon squares, gingerbread cookies and wine and honey French bread that I could have consumed by the loaf. It was, as usual, the feast of all feasts.

Links to the Gloucester Glitterati's blogs are listed here. Always great sources for recipes, kitchen tips, restaurant reviews and food events, I recommend subscribing to all of these blogs. I read them every day, at the gym.

http://www.gloucestergourmet.com/

http://www.heatheratwood.com/

http://food.eagletribune.com/recipe-videos/

http://www.shereedelorenzo.blogspot.com/

"Stir it Up" Pepper Jelly Asian Pulled Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe and Product Review

2012-12-09T08:04:00.000-08:00

Food review, why me? Why not?

I’m a foodie and a restaurant rat and a blogger and an enthusiast and I'm mad-dialed-in on social media. I'm also a former personal chef and a cookbook author and a restaurant marketer and currently, pretty open to projects, barter and contract.

So it's no surprise that restaurant owners and marketing reps would reach out to me for a review on their menu drop, product launch or special event. These are the perks of being a lifestyle blogger. I said I love to eat. I especially love to eat for FREE. So when someone sends me food to try, I'm in.

But I'm a food snob and something of a clean foodie. With 20 years in the restaurant industry in every role from bus girl to manager to director of marketing to personal chef (I owned a fitness and food business for many years), I'm not interested in eating anything sub-par. And I wouldn't serve it to my family or friends. So you know I wouldn't offer it up to the girls in my club, my foodie club, the Gloucester Glitterati. These ladies cook, write about, photograph, video, promote and sell nourishment at the highest culinary level, from the purest sources, often from their own hives and gardens. This is a tough group of critics to present with a product test recipe. I brought out my "Stir It Up" Pepper Jelly test drive for this one. Thank heavens it rocked it or I might have to take up Soduko.

The pressure to produce an impressive contribution was intense and my desire to incorporate my newest product review, "Stir It Up" Cuisine's Pepper Jelly meant the stakes were high, and producing something amazing on a weekday, as a mom, meant bringing gourmet food production into my regular family style cook session. That meant only one thing - crock pot.

There's no single more important culinary tool in my house than my crock pot. None. It is filled weekly with soup, meat for pulling, sauce for using on meatballs, homemade pizza and as a started to be frozen till the next soup is needed. My mother is a crock pot cook. She's amazing and efficient and healthy and frugal and clever and I know nothing else. Crock pot cooking is healthier, faster and great for making multiple use bases for bulk cooking. Plus, it's only one dish.

The "Stir it Up" Pepper Jelly Asian Pulled Chicken Lettuce Wraps were incredible. The sweet heat was PERFECT in contrast to the creamy heat of the red cabbage slaw and soft butter lettuce leaves with crunchy won ton, pecan and golden raisin "crouton". This is hands down the best this recipe has ever come out, and it's really, truly all about the perfectly balanced Stir It Up Pepper Jelly. I didn't have to change it at all to get the flavor I was looking for. It was already there.

Here's how to make it yourself.

Asian Pulled Chicken

1/2 jar "Stir it Up" Cuisine Lime Pepper Jelly

2 lbs chicken breast, rinsed and trimmed

3/4 c rice vinegar

2 generous scoops pickled ginger

1 tbs sesame oil

Combine ingredients in crock pot and cook for 5 hours on low till you can "pull" chicken with a spaghetti spoon. Cool. Serve in butter lettuce leave "wraps" topped with Cabbage slaw, Crouton mixture and a dollop of remaining Pepper Jelly. Recipes below.

Cranberry Horseradish Cabbage Slaw

1/2 bag shredded cole slaw mix

1/2 bag shredded red cabbage

1/2 cup rice vinegar

2 tablespoons cranberry horseradish mayonaisse (I use Boar's Head Brand)

1 tbs sugar

Stir wet ingredients till mixture is even. Toss in lettuce. Chill 5 hours.

Won ton, Raisin and Pecan Crouton

Mix 1/2 bag won ton crisps (the long skinny kind) with a 1/2 bag of golden raisin and spiced pecan salad topping.

Serving it up - drop 1 serving spoon of chilled pulled chicken into a washed lettuce leave, add slaw and crouton. Top with a teaspoon of additional pepper jelly and roll into a delicious, light, bite-sized sandwich.

This recipe will be the first in the long long long overdue follow up to my first cookbook , "Eat Well", which I wrote in my days as a fitness trainer and chef. Be patient, though. I'm not so good at translating "A littla this and a littla that" into measurements. This will take time. PS, they make sweet gifts.
http://www.stiritupcuisine.com/

Joey C and NorthShoreKid Lay Out the Lineup for Saturday's Middle Street Walk Family Day

2012-12-06T15:30:00.000-08:00

As a "downtown" mom living in the heart of the oldest inhabited neighborhood in Gloucester, the hubbub of our annual "Middle Street Walk" is our family's favorite festival of the holiday season, with the antique homes of Middle Street decorated in period style and every community building filled with arts, crafts, music, food, magic and cheer for the young and the young at heart. Highlights include narrated trolley rides along Middle Street, complete with some island trivia, the lighting of the lobster trap tree (adorned with buoys made by children at Art Haven) and a host of performances by some of the most talented musicians on the island.

From morning till night, the streets of Gloucester's downtown are filled with families enjoying wonderful, free holiday activities and celebrating those old timey traditions that make the holidays truly special.

Never one to reinvent the wheel, I looked to Gloucester's own Joey Ciarametaro at Good Morning Gloucester blog for the 411 on the jam packed lineup of events for our annual "Middle Street Walk" on Saturday, December 8, 2012. With some help from NorthshoreKid, Joey's put up this comprehensive list of fun family stuff for the holiday season, all within walking distance downtown in Gloucester.

Dress warm, bring cocoa and plan to stop for lunch at one of the Main Street restaurants to make sure you take it all in. There's so much to do...

To quote Joey, "chickity check it out"

http://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/2012-middle-street-walk-schedule-of-events-saturday-december-8-2012/

There's also a facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MiddleStreetWalk

Listen for the Songbirds

2012-12-06T10:46:00.001-08:00

Cape Ann's own Songbirds Choral Ensemble will by filling the streets and shops of tonight's downtown Ladies' Night with the sounds of Christmas starting at 6pm. These lovely ladies will stroll and sing throughout the evening to set the soundtrack to what will surely be a joyous evening out in Gloucester.

Ladies' Night is Upon Us - Here's Your Itinerary

2012-12-06T08:48:00.004-08:00

Ladies Night "Spin for Diabetes" at Lone Gull Coffee House

Stop by and help raise money for Diabetes!
To benefit Insulindependence, an Organization that runs fitness and adventure programs for people affected with diabetes.
Funds raised helps other volunteers run local (monthly) events for adults and children with diabetes.
RAFFLES INCLUDE:
Gift Basket from New England Running Company
12 Bottle Case of Wine
50/50
Please visit the website at Insulindependence.org for further information on how you can help.

Leavitt and Company Trunk Show, Live Music and Raffle at Franklin Cape Ann

Holiday Trunk Show and Annual Gift Certificate Raffle and (upstairs)for Ladies Night Out, downtown Gloucester at The Franklin Cape Ann!! Music, too!! 5pm-11pm, Swing by for Adorable Accessories at Affordable Prices!! Live music (downstairs) with Rich Figurido and Pete DiStefano 8-11.

Ugly Sweater Contest at Toodeloos & Island Art And HobbyCome in to either store form 6-11 PM on Ladies Night (this Thursday) and enter our "Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest" - the tackier, the better :) Who will take the prize?? PS, you must be wearing the sweater...Prize to be announced later.

Open House, Favors and Raffle at EnVogue Salon

5-8pm at 96 Washington Street
FREE gift upon entering
Refreshments will be served
Raffle
Discounts on gift certificates & Product SALES
Tel {978} 281-8870

PLUS - snacks, beverages, discounts and lots of treats at retailers throughout downtown.

Share a laugh, a photo, a raffle, holiday cheer and a good time with the women of Gloucester and support local businesses.

Holiday Delights at Gloucester Stage Company - Tickets on Sale now

2012-12-05T11:36:00.000-08:00

A must do for the entire family.

Get your tickets now at www.gloucesterstage.com

Wednesday's Featured Business - Thousand Word Photography

2012-11-30T09:31:00.000-08:00

What do spray paint, a second hand store, a beautician's license and a whole bunch of kids have in common? They are the roots from which Thousand Word Photography was born.

Jessica Adams and Vanessa Gigliotti are Gloucester, MA mothers with an eye for opportunity. From Jess's skills with second hand props and her trusty spray can to their use of the natural environment of their beautiful Cape Ann neighborhood, the photographers at Thousand Word Photography create natural, light embracing, artistic portraits for clients using props lovingly scouted in antique shops and thrift stores, refinished in their homes and studio space and arranged to create anything from boudoir to bridal to newborn images.

Jessica is an aesthetician and cosmetologist by trade. She is also the mother to a yours-mine-and-ours family of five busy children ranging in age from one to thirteen. She and her partner, Jon, met several years ago and to quote the message (spray) painted on the wall in the family's den, her world changed, "All because two people fell in love". Motherhood shifted her schedule and Jess, ever the entrepreneur, set out to find a profession that blended her salon skills and her eye for art and creation with her hectic schedule.

Vanessa, a mother of two and a server at a local restaurant had been operating solo for awhile, mostly through personal connections, but was ready to move into a larger, more structured undertaking.

"Vanessa and I have been great friends for a million years", says Jess. "We were always the ones with the camera, the ones who grabbed that shot of the kids walking in the woods that ultimately ended up being used by our friends for their Christmas photos. So we started talking about it, starting our own business. And then it all came together.
I love the camera. And I have always been crafty. I collect old stuff, paint it up and use it to decorate my house. So when I started to read photography books, enrolled in online course and really learned about the technical side, my mind started going towards creating unique settings using what I know best, old stuff refinished".

Jessica spray paints everything - old headboards missing the rest of the frame, battered baskets just big enough for a baby to slip inside, the fabric on a faded love seat (yes, she assures me, there is such a thing as color-fast fabric spray paint).

And it works. Thousand Word Photography produces truly memorable images in their Washington Street studio using those otherwise overlooked yard sale finds. Their clientele is growing exponentially in the short year since they officially opened and with their vision for new enterprise, it's doubtful that'll slow any time soon.

Currently offering hair and makeup pre-shoot using her cosmetology skills, Jessica and Vanessa's packages include Bridal hair/makeup/photo and little girl birthday parties, Bachelorette Beauty Bashes and Hollywood Boudoir Shots with full makeup and hair prep. Her energy is electric, her vision is vast and her skills, abundant and very frugal - all the makings of a successful small business.

But small is not their goal. Vanessa and Jess have bigger plans. "With the hotel coming in to town, we will finally be able to capture the location wedding business that is dying to come to Gloucester. And we already know how we are going to make that part of our success".

Thousand Word Photography creators share the dream of creating a one-stop-shopping business where formal wear specialists, tailors, cosmetologists, photographers and caterers work with busy brides and event planners to simplify the overwhelming elements of the "Big Day" in a one-venue, one-visit personalized session. They, of course, will head up beauty and photography.

"We know it's a long ways off, but with the amount of business we already have and the ideas we keep coming up with, this is only going to get bigger and better," beams Vanessa.

Like I said, these girls are entrepreneurs.

And they are hopping with Holiday Card Business, with a special kickback for 90 Seconds and Velvet readers - 10% off holiday sessions or a free 8x10 print for your home when you mention 90SecondsandVelvet.

Find them online at www.thousandwordphotograph.com

Weekend Happenings - A Whole Lotta Holiday Local Here

2012-11-29T14:04:00.000-08:00

Wow. Sometimes it's the chicken, and sometimes it's the feathers.

This weekend is all chicken, or Christmas Goose, more accurately. Saturday is brimming with local events for the family, with holiday fairs all over Cape Ann and even some fun stuff for the grown ups. Read on, and get out there - shop local, see old friends and share a carol, a cocoa and that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from enjoying the simpler traditions this season.

GLOUCESTER

THE LONG VIEW - Plan to hit this one AFTER you've brought the kiddos to 10000 holiday fairs:

Craft Beer Holiday Tasting Event

hosted by Merrimack Valley Distributing Company

Railroad Avenue Liquors
2-5PM

FAIRS

Our Lady of Good Voyage Holiday Fair

9-1pm at 142 Prospect Street
Fried dough breakfast. At 10:30 a.m. Santa arrives and at 11:30 lunch will be served.The bazaar will feature Portuguese sweet bread, baked goods, a general store and more

Beeman Elementary School Holiday Fair
9-2pm at 138 Cherry Street

Games, arts and crafts, spin art, sand art, gingerbread house kits, raffles, silent auction and lunch. All proceeds benefit school’s enrichment programs.

Trinity Congregationalist Church "Christmas by the Sea"
11:30-1pm at 70 Middle Street

Gloucester Fish chowder, hot dogs, pictures with Santa, silent auction, lots of great Christmas stuff; fresh greens, wreaths, jewelry, crafts, holiday foods, Advent calendar, ‘Cookie Walk,’ White Elephants, clothing at thrift shop next door.

Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s Holiday Bazaar

10 -2 pm at 292 Washington Street

Professional vendors, bake sale, raffles, white elephants, photo ops with Santa till 11 a.m.

United Methodist Church

9-2pm at 436 Washington Street

Christmas ornaments, stocking-stuffers, white elephant items and baked goods.

Saint Ann's Church Holiday Bingo
6:30pm at

Christmas Fair at Lanesville Congregational Church

9-1pm at 1120 Washington Street in Lanesville

Baked Goods, Used Books, Craft and Handiwork, Christmas Wreaths and Greenery, White Elephants, chowder and more. Proceeds benefit Mississippi Missions project.

St. Paul Lutheran Church Christmas Fair
9-1pm at 1123 Washington Street in Lanesville

Photos with Santa, homemade Nisu bread, kissing balls, wreaths, swags, raffle Dave’s homemade chowder

ROCKPORT
Santa's Arrival in Rockport and Tree Lighting
1-4pm at Bearskin Neck, and Dock Square

Santa will arrive at Rockport’s Bradley Wharf on Bearskin Neck on Saturday, December 1 at 3:45 p.m., following a brisk lobster boat ride across Sandy Bay. Then Santa will climb up onto a Rockport Forest Fire truck, Cape Ann Jazz Band. At Dock Square Santa will briefly ascend the platform to greet the crowd and kick off the Tree Lighting festivities, before climbing back onto the fire truck to begin his long return journey to the North Pole.

Santa Paws Fundraiser

Benefit for Cape Ann Animal Aid

11-2pm at Smith Hardware and Lumber

ESSEX

Breakfast with Santa
8-11 am at Essex Elementary School
Enjoy a great breakfast when Santa visits Essex Elementary School. $5 per person or $25 per family.

Essex Shopping Open Houses
Find the perfect gift at Essex's unique
Antique and Specialty Shops and treat yourself to lunch or dinner at one of
Essex's Restaurants! Many businesses will be offering specials and refreshments.
Eat, Shop and Be Merry in Essex!

Complete Schedule of Essex Holiday Events

IPSWICH
Cranes' Castle "Greening of the Greathouse"
Friday - Sunday at Castle Hill
Celebrate the magic of winter as the Great House on Castle Hill is festively decorated by area florists and designers. Enjoy live music, a dance performance, a children's "Eye Spy," refreshments, and more at this Winter festival. On Friday evening, make it a date and come for live jazz music and a drink at the cash bar. On Saturday and Sunday, visit the Gift Gallery for distinctive holiday gifts. Please consider bringing an unwrapped gift for our "Giving Sleigh" to benefit needy families through Ipswich Caring.

Complete Schedule of Events

MANCHESTER-by-the-SEA

Christmas-by-the-Sea

Friday - Sunday at Throughout Downtown
Lucky 9 Raffle Drawing on Thursday (tickets $25; grand prize of $1,000, more than 20 prizes in all!); Open Houses in the shops all weekend long; Shop Manchester Night on Friday; Pancake Breakfast, Santa's arrival, and Jingle Bell Walk on Saturday; Concert and Lighting of the Friendship Tree on Sunday; and much more!

Friday, November 30, 4:00 to 9:00 pm - Shop Manchester Night
Downtown Manchester-by-the-Sea stores will be OPEN until 9:00 pm.
Here's how to play...
-Get a Shop Manchester Night Passbook, available from participating stores.
-Collect stamps from all participating shops, between 4:00 and 9:00 pm

Complete Schedule and List of Participating Merchants