Salem 2026, What Should It Look Like?

 History, Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Shopping, SMS News, Volunteer Opportunities  No Responses »
Feb 122017
 

The conversation has begun. Are you a part of it? Do you want to be? Mayor Kim Driscoll, in her State of the City address last month, announced a community visioning process known as Imagine Salem. All Salem residents and community members are invited to join the Imagine Salem community conversation to prepare a road map to what they want the community to look like in 2026—the year that Salem celebrates its 400th anniversary.

The dialogue will be framed around housing, jobs, and transportation with themes of equity and inclusiveness woven throughout the topics. The vision will serve as a guide for future decisions.

“Salem has seen tremendous investment and growth over the past ten years,” said Mayor Driscoll. “New residents are joining longtime families in calling Salem home. Brownfields are being transformed, the waterfront is coming alive, and downtown has become a vibrant destination for the region. We’ve made important investments in our infrastructure, and our local economy is robust. Now the question is what kind of city do we want to be in ten years? How do we make sure our city is best positioned to continue our prosperity? From schools to housing and transportation to employment, let’s set some expectations for ourselves and then work to get them done.”

What can you do now?

  • Visit the website (www.imaginesalem.org).
  • Take a brief online survey.
  • Like Imagine Salem on Facebook.
  • Share a photo on Instagram.
  • Attend the citywide meeting on March 8 (6:30 PM Salem High School).
  • Come to a small get-together for coffee and conversation.

Those interested in doing more are invited to host a small group conversation. The conversation could be over a cup of coffee, at a book club, or a Sunday lunch with the family — however you typically meet with your friends, family, or social groups.

The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) will provide you with the tools you need to facilitate a fun and engaging conversation about the future of Salem. Contact the DPCD (imaginesalem@salem.com, 978-619-5685) for more information.

“The people of Salem are what make this City great,” said Mayor Driscoll. “Our community’s vision should reflect their lives and experiences, and advance our collective hopes and dreams. I urge everyone to join the Imagine Salem conversation. I hope you will participate in as many ways as possible. Your contributions will help shape the vision for Salem’s future.”

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Winter Market Returns Just in Time for Thanksgiving

 Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Farmers Market, Salem Shopping  No Responses »
Nov 162016
 

SFM_winter

How many more people are suddenly coming for Thanksgiving dinner? Don’t panic. You can still serve them all, and with the freshest of items, because the Salem Winter Market returns this Saturday, Nov. 19th (and again on Dec. 17) with the best of the season goodies from area farmers and vendors.

A seasonal extension of the Salem Farmers’ Market, this year’s Salem Winter Market will take place on Saturday, Nov. 19th and Saturday, December 17th­, both from 1 pm to 5 pm.  The indoor market this year will take place inside the Museum Place Mall (1 Church Street).

You will wander through the Museum Place Mall to touch, smell, and feel locally grown & made items— and interact with the vendors themselves.

“How did you grow this?”

“What did you use to make this look like that?”

“How do I cook this to get the most taste out of it?”

That is what a Market is all about. You talk direct to the “manufacturer” with no middle man. No trucking company. No sales clerk. Direct and fresh.

“We are also very excited to showcase our vendors in the Museum Place Mall this year, where we can complement and highlight the variety of great year-round tenants in the mall,” says Kylie Sullivan, director of Salem Main Streets. “I think a lot of our residents underestimate the great range of retail, restaurants, services, and attractions that are in the Mall right now. There’s something to do and see every day of the week here!”

And who are the vendors at this year’s Salem Winter Market?

FARMS

  • Gibney Gardens (Nov only)
  • Grant Family Farm
  • Honey Pot Farm
  • Long Hill Orchard
  • Maitland Mountain Farm

SEAFOOD

  • A & J Lobsters

TEAS, HERBS, SPICES

  • Hannah’s Herbals
  • Salem Spice

SWEETS

  • Bella and Harvey
  • Grammy’s Bakery

WINES & HARD CIDERS

  • 1634 Meadery

JEWELRY & CRAFTS

  • Aerophytes
  • Heritage Handmade/Shine Jewelry

PREPARED FOODS

  • All Fruit Inc
  • Beckah’s Bangin’ Butter
  • K’s Kitch’n
  • Popped Gourmet Popcorn

 BED, BATH & HOME PRODUCTS

  • Bare Cheek Beauty

PASTA

  • Valicenti Pasta Farm

Mark your calendar for the Salem Winter Market, Saturday Nov. 19th at the Museum Place Mall, 2 E India Square Mall, Salem MA.Then bring a big bag or box. You will need it!

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Come to Salem, But Don’t Drive

 Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Salem Shopping  No Responses »
Oct 132016
 

We mentioned this on our Facebook page, as probably other community organizations have commented in posts on their Facebook or Twitter accounts, but we think it really merits repeating: avoid driving to Salem this weekend.

We don’t have any hard statistics, just real time observations which lead us to believe that there are a lot more people checking out and enjoying all that Salem Ma has to offer this year. Parking is hard to find. Streets are getting backed up with traffic.

bubble-man-at-fmThe idea is to spend a day in Salem Ma and have fun. We want that to be what you take away when you leave.

So, leave the car at home. Take the train. Or ride in on any number of MBTA buses  that pass through the Witch City. Or travel aboard the Boston Harbor Cruise ferry. There is a lot going on. As a perfect example, here is an advisory from the Salem Police Department in reference to this weekend:

  • Saturday, October 15: Salem YMCA Witch City 5K road race starts at 9am at the Salem Willows. No road closures are planned, however anticipate traffic delays along the following roadways: Memorial Dr, Essex St, Rte 1A, Rte 114 including Hawthorne Blvd, Derby St, and Fort Ave, ending at Restaurant Row.
  • Sunday, October 16: Witch Ride Motorcycle Ride has been rescheduled for Sunday October 16. Rte 114 and Rte 1A will be impacted, but not closed to traffic, from Marblehead to New Derby St. Rte 1A, including Derby St, will be closed to traffic between Lafayette St and Congress St. Congress St will also be closed to traffic. Anticipate road closures and traffic delays from noon to 3pm. There will be a no parking tow zone on Derby St between Lafayette and Congress St from 11am to 3pm.
  • Saturday & Sunday, October 15 & 16: There will be no on-street parking on Essex St from Hawthorne Blvd to New Liberty St from 6am to 10pm. This section of Essex St will also be closed to through traffic from 9am to 10pm. Access to Museum Place garage will be via Brown St only.

Although every effort to keep roads open will be made, please be aware that any roads necessary to maintain public safety will be closed without notice. Officers will be posted in key intersections at peak times to assist with traffic when possible.

Many businesses and organizations in Salem go to great effort to provide entertaining & informative diversions for you, we just want to make sure you have an easy way to get to them all!

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Salem Farmers’ Market Closing for the Season

 Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Farmers Market, Salem Shopping, SMS News  No Responses »
Oct 112016
 

final-day-fmFinal Farmers’ Market of 2016 season is Thursday, Oct. 13th, 3-7pm at Derby Square! Wow. Seems like only yesterday we were looking at applications, seeing who was returning, and who we could add to uphold our reputation as one of the liveliest and most diverse farmers’ markets in the area.

Derby Square is such a perfect spot as a backdrop for the vendors and their produce. It is wide. It can be entered from practically any side. The steps lend themselves to being look out points to “see it all” from one spot, or they can be extra seating to watch balloon makers or performers singing.

One more shot at bringing home the freshest of the fresh produce local and regional farmers transport to our tables. One more chance to interact with the farmers.

But don’t worry, it’s not goodbye forever – Salem Main Streets is pleased to announce the return of the Salem Winter Market!  A seasonal extension of the Salem Farmers’ Market, this year’s Salem Winter Market will take place on Saturday, November 19th and Saturday, December 17th, both from 1 pm to 5 pm in the Museum Place Mall.  Save the dates and follow us online for more information about vendors and products, to be released in November.

The Salem Farmers’ Market and Salem Winter Market are both made possible through the leadership of Salem Main Streets and the Farmers’ Market Committee, as well as the generous contributions of numerous volunteers.  To get the latest updates about the farmers’ market, visit our website at www.salemfarmersmarket.org, or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SalemMAFarmersMarket) or Twitter (@salemfarmersmarket).

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Food Trucks Roll Into Salem, Deliver Walk-Up Delights

 Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Shopping, Uncategorized  No Responses »
Oct 012016
 

Step right up ladies and gentlemen to the Food Truck of your choice, Saturday & Sunday (Oct. 1 & 2) as not one, not two, but 25 rolling restaurants set up for business at the Salem Common from 11am to 6pm.

The Salem Food Truck Festival is a two-day event being hosted by South End Open Market at Ink Block and Creative Salem.

From the Salem Food Truck Festival  Facebook page, they comment “We are excited to offer fellow food lovers an event featuring 25 food trucks, live music and family fun. With a range from grilled cheese to whoopie pies, there is sure to be something for everyone! Save the date and save your appetites for one of the area’s biggest food truck events!”

These entrepreneurs go through a lot, as you can see from the Infographic: parking nightmares, gas prices, weather and permits. They could use your support.

food-trucks-on-the-commonBesides the background on the Food Truck biz, we’ve also presented the list of trucks that, as of this writing, will be parked along the Salem Common.

  • Roxy’s Grilled Cheese
  • Bon Me Food Truck
  • The Whoo(pie) Wagon
  • Bon Me Foods
  • Pomaire Boston Chilean Food Truck
  • Tenoch Mexican
  • The Roving Lunchbox
  • The Dining Car
  • ChikChak Food Truck
  • Plouf Plouf Gastronomie
  • Frozen Hoagies
  • Sheherazad Truck
  • North East of the Border
  • Mo’Rockin Fusion
  • Trolley dogs
  • The Chuck Wagon
  • Taco Party
  • Vulgar Display of Poutine
  • Morning Salute
  • Sach Ko Truck
  • Cookie Monstah
  • Japalicious
  • Friskie Fries
  • Sante Mobile Farmhouse Café

And from what we’ve learned of Food Truck etiquette, it is ok to buy one thing from one and another thing from another. The perfect walk-up mix & match lunch or dinner option.

(Infographic from Column Five )

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