Dec 072013
 

Ho Ho Ho! Had you been part of the crowd we had at the Hawthorne on Friday night, you would have been shouting that along with the bright-eyed kids anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus.

There's SantaIt was a great evening and we thank the moms and dads who brought their children out.

We also want to thank all the people and organizations that helped to publicize and share the news about this event so residents and neighbors could participate. There were blogs, Tweets and Facebook postings.

And we especially need to thank all those who participated in this special event: The Hawthorne Hotel, Salem Common Neighborhood Association, 62 Restaurant, Salem YMCA, Arbella Drum & Bugle Corps, Singers in Common, Brian Donnelly, the Museum Place Mall, Salem’s Vintage Photography, Witch Tees, Bewitched in Salem, Glass and Etc., and the Paul Madore Chorale – not to mention the City of Salem and our incredible Fire Department!

For those of you who could not make it there: the Vine video below (thank you Salem News & Hawthorne Hotel).

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Dec 062013
 

Santa arrivesWhile there have been several sightings of Santa Claus in Salem and surrounding communities, Salem Main Streets has been informed by reliable sources that the jolly old fellow will make a full appearance 6pm tonight— at the Hawthorne Hotel.

In what has become an annual event, Santa will suddenly appear atop the roof of the Hawthorne Hotel. Using their truck ladder, Salem fireman will then help him down to the street where awaiting children (…of all ages…) will engage in cheering, smiling and delighting in his presence.

Santa will stop for cocoa and caroling at the Gazebo on Salem Common before continuing on to the Museum Place Mall; there he will sit for autographs and pictures.

Salem Main Streets would like to thank the Salem Fire Department, the Hawthorne Hotel, Salem Common Neighborhood Association, YMCA, Arbella Drum & Bugle Corps, 62 Restaurant & Wine Bar, Museum Place Mall, Brian Donnelly, and Salem’s Vintage Photography for their participation in this special event.

The Hawthorne Hotel is located at 18 Washington Square, Salem, MA

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Dec 042013
 

Feel like you are on a treadmill? We do here at Salem Main Streets; it has been one event after another since Halloween and we can’t stop because there are worthy causes this week which need to be publicized.

Wednesday

The Hawthorne Hotel will host a local event that has mirror images probably all over the country: a Fundraiser for the Victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan. It is set for Dec. 4 from 6 to 9pm at the Hotel. The proceeds from this evening will go to the American Red Cross in support of disaster recovery and relief efforts needed by over three million people in the Philippines.

Entertainment will be provided by The Ward Eights Band and DJ Patrick Runne. Hors d’Oeuvres will be created by the Chefs of the Hawthorne Hotel. And there will be door prizes.

Tickets may still be available; please call (978) 744-4080.

Thursday

Salem PantryGo Out Loud gears up for its 2nd Annual Give Out Loud campaign which is highlighted by two activities.

Victoria Station will be the site of a fun filled event that has to do with, oddly enough, food. Admission is free when you bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Salem Food Pantry (or you can just give a $10 donation at the door). Plus, there will be an Ugly Sweater Contest. Music by DJ Andrea, with special guest Gay Jim from Kiss 108. It begins at 7:30pm.

Go Out Loud is also donating 50% of all their Go Out Loud Discount (GOLD) Card purchases to HAWC (Healing Abuse Working for Change) in Salem.

For more info go to their Facebook page, website or contact them at info@gooutloud.com

Also on Thursday is another opportunity for you to support the local economy by shopping fresh at the Salem Winter Market. Old Town Hall, from 3 to 6pm is the locale for vegetables, breads, meats, jewelry and more— grown or produced by people within driving distance of Salem.

And that brings us to Friday.

A beloved annual tradition, Santa Claus will arrive at the top of the Hawthorne Hotel at 18 Washington Square promptly at 6pm, Dec. 6 – with assistance from the Salem Fire Department, of course. Santa’s arrival will be followed by a short stop for cocoa and caroling at the gazebo on the Salem Common. The parade will then continue to Museum Place Mall for pictures with Santa.

Salem Main Streets would like to thank the Salem Fire Department, the Hawthorne Hotel, Salem Common Neighborhood Association, YMCA, Arbella Drum & Bugle Corps, 62 Restaurant & Wine Bar, Museum Place Mall, Brian Donnelly, and Salem’s Vintage Photography for their participation in this special event.

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Nov 292013
 

Expect Salem (plus Beverly, Marblehead and a score of communities on the North Shore) to be overflowing with shoppers on Saturday. Small Business Saturday, initiated by American Express in 2010, is sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It is a day for people to show support to local merchants who operate businesses in their communities.

Small Biz SalemIn an effort to encourage Salem residents to “Shop Local First” this holiday season, Mayor Kim Driscoll announced that all parking in Salem would be free Nov. 28 – Dec. 1. This includes all on-street parking meters, City surface lots, and parking garages. Information about parking in Salem is online at http://parkinginsalem.com.

These are some of the busiest shopping days of the year,” said Mayor Driscoll. “Hopefully, by taking this step we can help inspire more Salem residents to come downtown and discover all the great retail shopping opportunities available at our independent businesses and shops.”

Karen Gordon Mills, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration has stated:

Small businesses are the back bone of our communities. And when we shop small, we not only get great products and services, but we support our neighbors and strengthen our local economies.”

She points out that, “Over the last two decades, small and new businesses have been responsible for creating two out of every three net new jobs in the U.S., and today over half of all working Americans own or work for a small business.”

That certainly sounds like the entrepreneurial spirit that drives the business economy in Salem.

“By shopping small,” she concludes “we can help America’s small businesses do what they do best: grow their businesses, create good jobs, and ensure that our communities are vibrant.”

More than 100 million Americans have participated in the Small Business Saturday promotion. Our merchants in Salem invite you to join the party.

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Nov 232013
 

No not Halloween. We do celebrate other holidays and traditions here in Salem Ma. In fact, we are building quite a resume as a December event destination for residents, North Shore neighbors and tourists. You will read about these in upcoming blogs.

Ribbons on poleAs a lead-in have you noticed some subtle changes in Salem as you walked around (we love walking around the Downtown district, everything is so conveniently located) this weekend?

Ribbons and wreaths are appearing all over the place. Elves? Gremlins? (Well, it is Salem…).

There is a really tall tree in Lappin Park. Did Samantha twitch her nose and it magically appeared?

Samantha snaps up a treeAs residents know, every year we join Mayor Kimberley Driscoll in lighting Salem’s Holiday Tree at Lappin Park (next to the Bewitched Statue at the intersection of Essex and Washington Streets).

This year’s event will take place on Friday, Nov. 29 at 6:30pm. We invite you to bring the entire family to enjoy carols with the Paul Madore Singers; there will also be cocoa and snacks on hand!

The event is organized by Salem Main Streets and the City of Salem. This year’s tree comes from Benjamin Nutter Architects in Topsfield, thanks in part to a donation from the Meetinghouse Church. Decorations and lights are made possible by individual contributions and donations from a number of local businesses. Salem Main Streets would like to thank North Shore Marine and Bill’s Auto Clinic for their services in delivering the tree.

And keep an eye open for changes to the storefront windows of merchants along such Salem locales as Essex, Washington, Front and Derby streets. They will also be getting into the Holiday Spirit.

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