Contests – Page 3 – Salem Main Streets

Wanted: Pokemon Hunters for an All Day Poke-Walk in Salem Ma

Contests, Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Shopping No Responses »

Jul 272016

Fad or not, the search for Pokemon has quickly (and surprisingly) ingrained itself into the hearts and minds of people of all ages the world wide— and Salem is a perfect example with this Sunday’s (2-8pm) “SalemGo! Catch Em’ All!” city-wide Pokemon Go event that will include a scavenger hunt, a costume contest, various prizes, pizza, and (of course) Pokemon!

John Andrews of Creative Salem, one of the sponsors explains, “The event will be an all-day Poke-walk that will be open to any willing participants. You can casually follow the map with some friends, or you can participate in the Pokemon-Themed scavenger hunt that will take you all around town.”

Chris Ricci, driving force behind the project further explains that “SalemGo! Catch Em’ All!” will be a team event. “There will be a maximum entry of three people per team, so be sure to team up with some pals! Bringing a battery charger would be ideal, and you can get portable ones fairly inexpensively at electronic stores. And be sure to dress well for the weather! This summer has been unpredictable, and it could be a scorcher on Sunday, so dress well and stay hydrated!”

John adds, “So excited to be hosting this amazing Pokemon event this Sunday throughout Salem. Working with our friends at @livelongandpizza and @silvermoonc0mics and more, this is a must attend for Pokemon fans.”

In fact Flying Saucer Pizza Company will be the official Pokemon Center of the evening where you can grab a bite as well as some specialty drinks.

And Silver Moon Comics will be hosting the costume contest; everyone is encouraged to give it a go and have fun with it!

Salem Main Streets caught up with Chris Ricci for some additional insights on “SalemGo! Catch Em’ All!”

Fads come and go. What makes Pokemon Go different?

“Fads are interesting in more recent years as the vast majority of them have been strictly digital. Apps and games have taken the world by storm, and I distinctly remember everyone and their mother playing Angry Birds like there was no tomorrow.

But, now here’s Pokemon Go, which I think is extremely different despite falling in the same category. Pokemon Go combines the nostalgia of the old Pokemon games from the mid-to-late 90s and adds in not only a digital element, but a virtual reality element. The app quite literally forces you to walk around to accomplish anything, which is marvelous because it’s essentially an excuse to go outside.

Naysayers and detractors will say how people shouldn’t rely on an app to go outside, but why not?

People are having an incredible amount of fun playing it, and the game itself is inter-connected with everyone so if you see a Pokemon in your vicinity, other people in the same area can too. We live in an incredible town that has tons of places to not only catch Pokemon, but to earn experience points and to battle, and we also live in a place where people can feel comfortable doing so without the looming fear of something bad happening.

So, yes, this fits the mold for a fad, but the ripple effect that Pokemon Go is having on the city is unlike anything I’ve seen in games.”

According to Salem Patch, here are five of the many Pokéstops in Salem:

Salem Witch House
St. John’s Roman Catholic Church
Essex County Bell
The Lady of Salem
Salem Superior Court Building

Have you found any at your office itself?

“Oh, of course! There’s been a whole bunch in the office and around the office itself. We live in a city that is very busy when it comes to Pokemon, and this was taken into account when it comes to the walk that is scheduled. It’s going to go through various terrain to insure that there are a wide range of different Pokemon to catch!”

And… What teams are you and the other sponsors?

“This is a good question. Personally, I’m on Team Valor (Red) and I know some of our sponsors are on Team Mystic (Blue), but in the end, the teams don’t really matter. Especially for the walk. You can have a team full of Valor members, or you can mix it up and play with your friends that are on other teams. When I designed the walk, I only had one thing in mind: having fun. And it’s much more fun to play with a bunch of friends as opposed to rivals.”

Be sure to check the Facebook page event for more info on “SalemGo! Catch Em’ All!”

And we will see you Sunday!

Be a Part of Salem’s Beautification

History, Salem Event No Responses »

Jul 172016

Green thumbs or not, the residents and businesses of Salem are being invited to once again take part in the annual Window Box Competition.

What is a Window Box? It is just as it sounds, a container in the shape of a box, showcasing live flowers or plants. It hangs (sometimes sits) from a window of a home, office or street-side business.

But, you’ve never built one? That should not deter you from the competition. This is Salem Ma! Anything’s possible (especially with this link offering do it yourself instructions).

Key thing to be aware of is the choice of wood. According to the DIY network:

“Certain types of wood aren’t suitable for this project. Pine rots easily and oak turns black when wet, so they are not good choices. Cyprus has a high oil content which makes it weather-resistant. Cedar is both decay-resistant and affordable; it can be left natural or can be stained, and it is available in smooth or rough finishes. Teak and mahogany are beautiful, but expensive.”

Ready to show off your gardening and/or creative design skills?

Register by phone at 978-619-5676 or by email at etalkowsky@salem.com with the subject: Window Box Registration, and include your name, street address and telephone number. Deadline is July 28^th.

Judging will follow on July 30 – Aug. 2. Then the awards ceremony and reception are set for Aug. 10 at 5:30pm (during our Heritage Days Festival) in the garden of the Pickering House at 38 Broad St.

There will be light refreshments served and attendees also will be able to tour the interior of the Pickering House.

This event is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the City of Salem, the Salem Beautification Committee and the Salem Garden Club.

And the 2016 BONS Winners in Salem Are…

Contests, Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Salem Shopping 2 Responses »

Jul 132016

Results are in, and the big winners are— all of you that frequent, support, and voted for Salem merchants in the 2016 BONS Survey. Northshore Magazine’s “Best Of North Shore” is a tradition that elicits a great deal of interaction before, during and after votes are submitted and tabulated.

By far the biggest winner of the year is Opus in Salem, pictured above holding 6 awards across 5 categories! Congratulations!

Here are the results indicating how Salem establishments rated.

Dine

Alfresco – Sea Level (Editor), Turner’s (Readers’), Finz (Readers’ Runner-up)

Bacon – Scratch Kitchen (Readers’) and Back Alley Bacon (Insider Tip)

Bakery/Bread – A&J King (Editor AND Readers’)

Breakfast – Ugly Mug (Readers’)

Clam Chowder – Turner’s (Readers’, Tie with Woodmans)

Farmers’ Market – Salem Farmers’ Market (Readers’)

Gluten Free– Life Alive (Readers’)

Indian – Passage to India (Readers’)

Italian – Bella Verona (Readers’), Firenze Trattoria (Neighborhood Notable Nosh)

Lobster Roll– The Lobster Shanty (Readers’), Longboards (Readers’ Runner-up)

Mussels – Sea Level (Readers’)

New Restaurant – Bambolina (Editor)

Pizza – Bambolina (Editor 3-way tie! With Papa Razzi and Short & Main), Flying Saucer (Readers’)

Seafood, Prepared – Turner’s (Editor AND Readers’)

Sushi – Koto (Readers’)

Vegetarian – Life Alive (Editor AND Readers’)

Waterview – Sea Level (Readers’)

Drink

After Work Drinks – Opus (Readers’)

Bar – Opus (Readers’)

Beer Menu – Sea Level (Editor), Gulu Gulu (Readers’)

Cocktail – Opus (Readers’)

Distillery – Rumson’s Rum (Readers’)

Hotel Bar – Tavern on the Green at the Hawthorne Hotel (Readers’)

Irish Pub – O’Neill’s (Editor)

Sports Bar – Sidelines (Editor), Tavern in the Square (Readers’)

Winery – Mill River Winery, Rowley-based vendor at Salem Farmers’ Market (Editor AND Readers’), Far from the Tree Hard Cider (Honorable Mention)

Indulge

Bake Shop, Pastry – Caramel Patisserie (Editor), A&J King (Readers’)

Candies – Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie (Editor), Harbor Sweets (Readers’)

Chocolate – Harbor Sweets (Editor AND Readers’)

Cookies – A&J King (Readers’)

Live

Personal Chef – Fine Food & Cooking by Ricardo Sanchez (Editor)

Personal Training – CrossFit Iron Spider (Readers’)

Tailoring – Alterations by Rosa (Readers’)

Play

Family Hangout, Indoor – Peabody Essex Museum (Editor AND Readers’)

Festival, Fall – Haunted Happenings (Readers’)

Festival, Spring – Salem Film Fest (Readers’)

Festival, Winter – Salem’s So Sweet (Editor AND Readers’)

Golf Course, Private – Kernwood Country Club (Honorable Mention)

Museum – Peabody Essex Museum (Editor AND Readers’)

Park – Salem Willows Park (Readers’)

Tourist Attraction – Peabody Essex Museum (Readers’)

Renew

Barbershop – Paxton (Editor)

Hotel – Hawthorne Hotel (Readers’)

Yoga – Yoga Sakti (Editor 3-way tie AND Readers’)

Shop

Beauty Products – Rouge Cosmetics (Readers’)

Bike Shop – Salem Cycle (Readers’)

Books – Wicked Good Books (Readers’)

Cheese Shop – The Cheese Shop of Salem (Editor AND Readers’)

Clothing, Women’s Upscale Boutique – J. Mode (Readers’)

Consignment – Modern Millie (Readers’)

Gifts – Peabody Essex Museum Shop (Editor), Roost (Readers’)

Makeup Selection – Rouge Cosmetics (Readers’)

Yoga Apparel – Yoga Sakti (Editor AND Readers’)

Mingle

Dancing – Rockafellas (Readers’)

Girls’ Night Out – Opus (Editor)

Late Night Nosh – Howling Wolf (Readers’)

Singles’ Night – Opus (Editor AND Readers’)

You can check out the full list at Northshore Magazine.

Fashion & Passion Make the Salem Scene

Salem Event, Salem Festivals, SMS News No Responses »

Apr 072016

Talk of the town this past week has been about fashion. Salem, the Witch city, a hot spot for fashion? Yes, it is. An evening of fashion, fun, dancing, and more takes place Friday, April 8 at 7pm in Old Town Hall, as a fundraiser for the upcoming Salem Arts Festival.

The popularity of the SAF Fashion Show Fundraiser is not just in the fashion but in the community input. The fabulous fashions come from local boutiques, including: Avalanche Company Store, The Boutique, Lifebridge’s Second Chance Thrift Shop, Modern Millie Vintage & Consignments, Ocean Chic Boutique & Waterbar, Peabody Essex Museum Shop, RJ Coins and Jewelry, and TBT Post.

And even the make-up is contributed locally by awesome artists from Laura Lanes Skin Care, Rouge Cosmetics, and Radiance Lifestyle Salon.

But the local input doesn’t stop there.

If you’d like, you can actually start the evening earlier at 5 pm with art and a glass of prosecco at the opening of Ellen Hardy’s “French Toast” show at The Ugly Mug Diner.

Next at 6 pm, head over to The House of the Seven Gables for the opening of the Caroline Emmerton exhibit – AND if you bring your Fashion Show Fundraiser ticket with you, you can get a free drink!

Then, just before 7pm, head back back for the SAF Fashion Show Fundraiser at Old Town Hall.

It will be hosted by local comedian and Salem Comedy and Spirits Festival founder Mark Scalia.

You can dance the night away with DJ Noel Snow, with additional performers to be announced. Food, drink, and raffle will make the evening complete.

In fact, Bambolina, Ferreira Foods, Opus, and Jodi Bee Bakes will provide bite-size treats to sweeten up the night!

SAF Fashion Show Fundraiser has been generously sponsored by People’s United Bank. Special thanks to Salem Food Tours, Creative Salem, and the City of Salem in coordinating this event.

Old Town Hall is located at 32 Derby Square in Salem. For tickets order on-line, or call 978-744-0004, ask for Kylie Sullivan at Salem Main Streets.

Your support will help to keep the Salem Arts Festival growing and free for all!

BONS Balloting: Give a Warm Vote to Your Fav Biz

Salem Dining, Salem Festivals, Salem Shopping No Responses »

Feb 142016

On a brisk, minus degree feel-like day as we’re having, the options on activities could be limited. While there are still plenty of things to do and see in Salem, if you don’t want to go outside, but still wish to be in a “Salem state of mind” then may we suggest voting for 2016 BONS Readers’ Choice Awards (which began February 1st and ends May 1st).

Winners will be listed in the annual BONS issue of Northshore Magazine (to be distributed in July), alongside Editors’ Choice for the same categories. But, note, online voting is for Readers’ Choice only; Northshore editors and the BONS committee select Editors’ Choice BONS winners separately from the Readers’ Choice winners.

The top vote recipients in the survey and eligible write-in nominees from 2015 voting are used to populate the drop-down menus. This is your opportunity to share with others why you frequent – may we say “haunt” – restaurants as well as general and specialty small businesses in Salem.

If you’ve never voted or haven’t recently, a few things of which to be aware:

Previously, regional or national chains were allowed to qualify as nominees. But beginning in 2015, that privilege was restricted to only local organizations and locally owned franchises
Traded votes for services or discounts is cause for disqualification. In other words, retailers are not allowed to produce a marketing mailer, website ad, social media post, etc., that offers a discount or free service with proof of a vote.
Businesses with multiple locations are to be recognized by the specific location. For example, if a business has locations in Salem, Peabody, and Andover, each location will have its own nomination.

Votes are tallied by the amount of unique votes each business receives. You are not allowed to vote for the same subcategory more than once; to ensure that all votes for each category are unique, their system requires a verifiable email address for each vote.

This year, more than a dozen new sub-categories, including Cookies and Distillery, and an entirely new category: Mingle have been added. Check them out.

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