Gloucester Daily Times
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/
Published: May 24, 2007
Weekend celebration to christen city's new marine terminal
By Gail McCarthy
Staff writer
The inner harbor is a beehive of activity in preparation for Celebrate Gloucester, a festival to honor the city's maritime and artistic heritage over Memorial Day weekend.
The festival marks the opening of the Cruiseport Gloucester Marine Terminal, located off Rogers Street at 6 Rowe Square.
The event will give residents and visitors an opportunity to visit the new cruise ship terminal, situated on more than two acres adjacent to waterfront. The terminal, which includes a 250-seat ballroom, will be filled with activities during the weekend, including an art show and maritime demonstrations.
There will be music all weekend long in two locations. A large tent with a stage will be erected along the waterfront, and there will be a stage inside the terminal where musicians will perform.
"The idea was to celebrate the opening of Cruiseport and bring people together, and what does that better than art, music and food," said Peter Van Ness, the Cruiseport general manager. "I like to think of Gloucester as the cultural center of the region. Some people are tired of contrived surroundings, but Gloucester is authentic. For hundreds of years, we've had these connections to art and fishing."
The weekend will showcase the progress on the restoration of Gloucester's Schooner Adventure. Visitors can view the latest work on the vessel, built in 1926, which is docked nearby.
"We're excited about the events of the weekend and the opening of the terminal. It's a great opportunity for Gloucester," said Marty Krugman, president of the nonprofit Adventure organization.
The vision of the weekend is to strengthen the bond between the maritime and arts cultures.
"That combination makes Gloucester's heritage unique," Van Ness said. "That's what Celebrate Gloucester is promoting, and if the people of Gloucester feel the Cruiseport belongs to them, then we have done our job."
The new business is committed to maintaining the public marine access to Gloucester Harbor. Artists also will be able to set up their easels at the waterfront to paint working harbor scenes.
Sara Young, executive director of the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, said she is excited about the opportunity for artists and musicians to bring their work and music to the Cape Ann audience.
"We have such a rich history here, and our goal is to make those collaborations between artists and the community to boost the creative economy," she said. "This festival does that in a big way. Both residents and visitors can see in one venue the vastness of what's here."
On the music front, the festival will present a special concert on Saturday night.
After more than 20 years, the original Pousette-Dart Band will be reunited at a concert to benefit seARTS and Schooner Adventure. The concert also features John Troy, Dave Mattacks and David Brown together with their guests Alan Estes, Fly Amero and others. The climax of the concert will feature all musicians on stage together with a special appearance by J.B. Amero.
Throughout the weekend, local authors, presenters, museum representatives and dancers will be in the terminal ballroom. Authors Ron Gilson, Chester Brigham and Peter Prybot will talk about their books. There will be museum representatives from Beauport, Cape Ann Historical and Essex Ship Building. Dance performances will be given by Miss Tina's and the Cape Ann Center for Dance.
Playwright Yvette Heyliger, who wrote "Hillary & Monica: The Winter of Her Discontent," will discuss her work, which opens this weekend at the Gloucester Stage Company. Geoff Thomas, grandson of former Schooner Adventure Captain Geoff Thomas, will discuss Gloucester's cenotaph, the memorial to fishermen lost at sea. Scott Memhard will talk about the history of ice and its connection to the fishing industry. Maggie Rosa will talk about Clarence Birdseye, the father of frozen food
Celebrate Gloucester schedule
Tomorrow at 6:30 p.m.
Adventure in the Arts Ball in Cruiseport Gloucester's ballroom overlooking Gloucester Harbor. Cocktails at 6:30 p.m. Grand opening ceremonies at 7:15 p.m. followed by dinner and dancing to the jazz-funk sensation Boston Horns.
Saturday
Festival Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tours of Schooner Adventure, juried art exhibition, live music on two stages, dance performances, children's activities, local authors, traditional New England food, maritime demonstrations and much more.
Dockside tent stage music schedule:
Noon - Gloucester High School Docksiders, directed by Dave Adams
1:15 p.m. - Chick and Ellen Marston
2:30 p.m. - Linda Amero and John Hyde
3:15 p.m. - Tony Gallo
3:45 p.m. - John Schindler
5 p.m. - Inge Berge.
Inside terminal stage music schedule:
Noon - Bill Gleason
1:15 p.m. - Julie Dougherty
2:30 p.m. - Michael O'Leary with Janice Fullman
3:45 p.m. - Ken Bonfield
5 p.m. - Tucker Lindquist and Paula Karahalis.
8 p.m. - Pousette-Dart Band Benefit Concert
The original Pousette-Dart Band (Jon Pousette-Dart, John Curtis and John Troy) reunites at Cruiseport Gloucester after more than 15 years. The band appears with special guests Dave Mattacks and David Brown. The evening also features Fly Amero, Allen Estes, Ned Nugent, and a special appearance by J.B. Amero.
Sunday
Festival Hours: noon to 5 p.m.
Tours of Schooner Adventure, juried art exhibition, live music on two stages, dance performances, children's activities, local authors, traditional New England food, maritime demonstrations and much more.
Dockside tent stage music schedule:
Noon - Barbara Koen
1:15 p.m. - Jenifer Tobiasz and Greg Tower
2:30 p.m. - Barbara and Al Boudreau
3:45 p.m. - Marty Rowan
4:30 p.m. - Three Sheets to the Wind.
Inside terminal stage music schedule:
Noon - Karen Ristuben Trio with Mason Daring and special guest Alec Razdan
12:45 - Toni Ann Enes
1:30 p.m. - Elaine O'Rourke
2:30 p.m. - Jeffry Hamilton Steele
3:45 p.m. - Old Cold Tater.
Art Auction:
At 3 p.m., the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts will hold an art auction and wine tasting.
The seARTS Art Auction on Sunday at 3 p.m. is open free of charge to those with a day pass.
Tickets for the Festival and Saturday night concert on sale at the Schooner Adventure office 978-281-8079.
Festival Day Passes are $10 for adults (Web only: $5 with purchase of a concert ticket). Children 12 and under are free. A Festival day pass is good for either Saturday or Sunday.
Pousette-Dart Band Benefit concert tickets are $25 each.
For more information, call 978-282-9700 or visit the website at www.CelebrateGloucester.com.