To Read Or Not to Read; Banned Books Week in Salem

 History, Salem Event, Salem Shopping  No Responses »
Sep 212014
 

Banned Books WeekSome people might compare a book ban to a witch hunt. That said it comes as no surprise Salem’s Wicked Good Books  is participating in educating residents and visitors during Banned Books Week, taking place now through Sept. 27th.

Taylor Carozzi, Wicked Good Books manager comments “We are supporting this effort because it is important to society to guard and celebrate our freedom to read and have open access to information.”

Displays and materials about banned books will be available.

According to the American Library Association (ALA) “Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community –- librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types –- in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.”

Wicked Good BooksThe ALA puts forth that sometimes “books are challenged with the best of intentions—to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information.” Other times it is censorship.

A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the actual removal of those materials.

You are invited to visit Wicked Good Books located at 215 Essex St. to see if you agree or disagree with the books listed.

Chirp, Tweet, Squawk, Coo — Birdhouse Auction in Salem Today

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Sep 212014
 

Birdhouse fundraiserThe Salem Collection of Artists and Musicians on Artists’ Row is conducting the 4th Annual Gimme Shelter Birdhouse Auction Fundraiser to benefit the Northeast Animal Shelter today from 2 to 4pm at Artists Row, 24 New Derby Street.

Birdhouse Auction?

The Northeast Animal Shelter, established in 1976, is one of New England’s largest nonprofit shelters that does not destroy any of the pets entrusted to its care. But, the operating budget must be built from contributions as there is no funding from municipal, state or federal sources.

An open call went out to motivate artisans, crafters and anyone handy with a hammer /nail to make and donate birdhouses of any size, shape or materials to the auction. Conceptual, functional and literal pieces were welcome and have been on display at Artists’ Row.

Kate and Jamie Leavy, owners of Roost, originally launched this project as a creative way to raise funds for the Shelter. They passed it on to the Salem Collective of Artists & Musicians. And over the years Gimme Shelter Birdhouse Auction Fundraiser has proven to be a fun event that involves the community and creates some very interesting looking birdhouses.

The Salem Collective of Artists & Musicians is located on Artists’ Row in downtown Salem. It makes & sells art as well as offers free workshops and performances now through the end of October. For more information call (978) 219-7226.

(Image courtesy of Salem Collective of Artists & Musicians)

Books to the Left & to the Right; Book Swap Time Again

 Salem Event  No Responses »
Sep 192014
 

Book swapWhat can you do with a book? Read it, of course. And then? Use it as a paperweight. Or use two as bookends. The city of Salem offers a more community-minded suggestion this Saturday from 10 am -1 pm with a Free Book & Media Swap at the Senior center, 5 Broad St.

But this is no ordinary book swap. Not in magical Salem. No “swap” is necessary. You can just “drop off, take away, or do both” reports Salem Recycles, our city recycling committee.

All types of books will be accepted for the swap. Plus CDs, DVDs, and VCR tapes may be thrown into the mix. And what doesn’t get swapped out will either be donated or recycled.

All in all it’s an inexpensive (read that as “free”) way for community members to share books with others who might not be able to afford them and for anyone to be able to “check out a new or unknown author” without first purchasing.

Materials for swapping should be brought with you either the day of the swap (9:45 am – noon), or if you have a lot of items (thank you), then you are welcome to drive over to the Senior Center today between 5:30 – 7 pm where volunteers will take them off your hands.

For more details, call 978-619-5679.

(Image courtesy of adamr at FreeDigitalPhoto.net; border added)

Playing With Your Food – Week 14

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Sep 182014
 

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Playing With Your Food” is a weekly post highlighting a few of the many great uses for the wide range of produce and artisan food at the Salem Farmers’ Market, a Salem Main Streets project.  The Salem Farmers’ Market takes place every Thursday from June 12 to October 23 from 3 pm to 7 pm on Derby Square.  While we can never predict exactly what our farms will be able to bring each week, we do our best to reflect some of the fun items we’ve found recently and what’s likely to be available for the upcoming week.  Hopefully this will give you a few new ideas to play with, and inspire you to try some new things at the market.

It may not officially be fall yet, but we’ve definitely entered the season for one of the most beloved symbols of fall food – APPLES.  If you’re like me, your eyes are probably bigger than your stomach when it comes to purchasing apples or apple cider.  Suddenly, you find yourself with three bags of apples and two gallons of apple cider that really need to be used within a week.  What to do?

Confession time – I am terrible with pie.  “Easy as apple pie” has no relevance to me.  So here’s a list things that I find EASIER to make than apple pie:

 

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Boxes of Far From the Tree Hard Cider ready to go!

 

Sounds Like a Good Time Planned at PEM

 Salem Dining, Salem Event  No Responses »
Sep 172014
 

PEMPM SoundHas it been a month since the last PEM/PM party? The calendar says “yes” and off we go. An Evening in Praise of Audio is the title for this Thursday’s late evening festivities when the Peabody Essex Museum opens its doors from 6 – 9 pm for an event to dazzle the senses.

MIT (yes, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) is sending some creative minds from the MIT Media Lab to share their latest project. Let’s repeat that. MIT is going to the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem Ma to share one of their projects with you: radiO-o

What is it?

According to the press release, you wear one of their battery-powered, button-like speakers and help crowdsource the soundtrack to the evening. Then, see MIT’s Opera of the Future create beautiful imagery generated from this interactive musical project.

In the Atrium, experience the sounds of DJ Kongo and DJ White Animal Sound and check out an impressive collection of vintage radios courtesy of the New England Antique Radio Club. Stop by the Maker Lounge to paint with sound and to build your own mini speakers for your smartphone.

Paint with sound. Intriguing. To give you a better idea of this event, the good people at Creative Salem put together an overview.

As always, PEM members and Salem residents (with ID) are admitted free of charge; nonmembers pay $10 at the door. There will be a cash bar and special small plate menu items from the Hawthorne Hotel. For additional info, call PEM at 978-745-9500. It is located at 161 Essex St.

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