If you're one of the 100 or so folks signed up to walk the Greasy Pole out of a flatbed truck at Newell Stadium today, don't expect to see the thick biodegradable grease that usually covers the pole during St. Peter's Fiesta.
The pole — yes, it's the real one, rescued when its platform was unceremoniously dumped by high tides and winds in Gloucester Harbor in late September — will be slippery. But that slickness will come from Crisco oil, organizers of the St. Peter's Fiesta Committee fund-raiser say.
Those who have always wanted to try their hand — or feet — at walking the Greasy Pole can do so starting at noon at Newell Stadium. Each walk will cost $25, with all proceeds going to benefit the $85,000 project to rebuild the Greasy Pole platform and restore it to its usual harbor location.
There are still a few of the 120 spots available for the walk, which will be backed by food and other entertainment at the event. The ground beneath the pole will have padding to ease any pain from the inevitable falls, Fiesta committee heads Joe Novello and Anthony Cusumano said.
To reseerve a walking spot, call Peter Black Frontiero at 978-230-2002.
Ties to New York mayoral race
Incumbent Carolyn Kirk and Ken Sarofeen weren't the only people with Gloucester ties running for mayor on Tuesday.
In Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Brent Wilkes was challenging a two-time incumbent as well.
Wilkes served as municipal adviser to then-Gov. Michael Dukakis and as chief administrative officer for Gloucester before leaving the Bay State for New York.
He was challenging Scott Johnson, who, like Kirk, was elected to a third term.
25 providers offer Taste of Magnolia
Residents of other parts of Gloucester and those across Cape Ann and beyond are invited to get a special taste of one of the city's villages Friday night.
The occasion is Magnolia Library's annual Taste of Magnolia on Nov. 18 from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Jamie O'Hara, a program organizer, said this year's Taste, the 17th annual,promises some of the most diverse offerings yet, with some 25 restaurants and other food providers participating.
Those who have signed on are Sugar Magnolias, Magnolia House of Pizza, Lobsta Land, Classic Cook Catering, Carrie Lane Cuisine, Intershell, Jalapenos, MS Walker Distributing Co., The Patio Restaurant, Nicholas's, Gloucester Depot, Giuseppi's, Causeway, Tucker's Farm, Latitude 43, Jim's Bagel & Bake Shoppe, The Happy Taco, Cruiseport Gloucester, Valentino's Cafe, Cecelia's, Ocean Garden, Poseidon, Patti's Guacamole, Ryan & Wood Distillery, Five Guys Burger & Fries, Culinart, and Cape Ann Brewing Co.
Christian Collins, the Glocuester chef who made it to the final night of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's "Master Chef" reality TV hit, will be presenting a live cooking demonstration during the event, which will also include a raffle and a 50/50 drawing.
There will also be an auction, featuring state Sen. Bruce Tarr as the auctioneer.
Tickets are $30 per person in advance, or $35 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Extreme Truck and Auto, Jalapenos, Magnolia Library, Magnolia Variety and Palazola's Sporting Goods.
Partying on the Belle
A boat that spent 45 years fishing out of Gloucester and lobstering in Maine is now a party boat in Boston Harbor.
The Belle, refurbished at Gloucester's Rose Marine to accommodate 40 guests, is now homeported behind the behind the Barking Crab Restaurant in Boston. She may not have traveled under the Cut bridge a lot when in Gloucester, but now Belle must pass under the Northern Avenue swing bridge to leave Boston Harbor.
"The boat was well known and fished for years out of Gloucester and even spent time in Connecticut," cruise operator Charlie Gibbons, a former tow boat captain and fisherman, told www.lobster-online.com. "I have worked these waters for 30 years and now I want to be able to share my knowledge and offer people a good, fun time."
The Belle retired as a fishing vessel in Gloucester in 1991.
"We did our restoration on the railways at Rose Marina in Gloucester," Gibbons said. "With her mahogany and oak planking and all the extras used to prepare her for going to sea, you couldn't afford to build a boat like this today."
A little harp music in Lanesville
A visiting harpist will present music with a special inspirational goal tonight at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Lanesville.
Harpist and singer Christine Tulis will be joined by multi-percussionist Kem Stralka and with special guest Stan Strickland on flute and sax for the 7:30 p.m. performance, titled "Music for an Inner Journey."
Tulis, a former Gloucester resident, performs internationally and is based in San Francisco. She has played for two United Nations events dedicated to creating peace through music.
Tickets are priced at $18 advance, or $25 door, and can be purchased online at www.christinetulis.com.
Time to haul out the dories
Here's one more sign that winter is upon us.
It's time for Gloucester's International Dory Racing Committee to pack it up for another year, and that means hauling the dories out of the water and getting them onto dry land for the off-season.
Committee chief Erik Dombrowski said his group will be removing two dories Sunday morning, and they can use some volunteers to help haul, nest and put them away.
The dory folks will meet at 9 a.m. at the Gloucester High School landing with trailers, and at 9:30 a.m. at Eastern Avenue Self-Storage to help move them.
Two other dories will remain in the water for use through the winter, Dombrowski said; they will be hauled in for maintenance in the spring.
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