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Salem MA is a Great First Date Option

Aug 212015

We just tweeted a silly little item, and then thought more about it.

Where do you take a #FirstDate to impress him/her? Salem MA. Just look at what is happening all day Saturday http://ow.ly/RdxnU @DestSalem

Salem MA really is a great place for a first date (and 2nd, and 3rd, etc).

There are over 30 activities and events listed on the Destination Salem Calendar alone for Saturday, 8/22/15. Over 30 just for Saturday!!!

That is important, because according to a number of websites, keeping busy and keeping the conversation going to build trust and familiarity are important on a first date.

Only 24% of people (surveyed at topdatingtips.com) said that they trust someone they’re out with on a first date! Communication and learning about the other person can ease anxieties.

What about the simple dinner and a movie? Prevailing thought is that the idea is not only unoriginal, it can get pretty expensive these days, be stressful and uncomfortable for both sides, especially in a fancy restaurant; then you go to a movie and don’t interact because you don’t know the other person’s “movie viewing” habits (do they like to chat during the film, make one-liners, focus strictly on the movie, etc).

According to the Art of Charm website:

“Instead of just taking the woman out to dinner, take her on an activity date. Ease the pressure of having to maintain constant stimulating conversation by doing something fun. That way you can shift your focus to an outside activity and let conversation arise more naturally.”

That applies to whether your date is female or male.

And that brings us back to Salem MA and over 30 things to do on Saturday August 22, 2015 (see the snippet above). Let Salem MA be your wing man.

Oh and what if the first date is on Sunday? There are just as many activities. We are here for you!

Time Well Spent, Mayor’s Night Out with Kimberley Driscoll

Salem Dining, Salem Event, SMS News No Responses »

Aug 132015

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Mayor’s Night Out 2014 – Photo Credit Social Palates

Let’s face it, our Mayor, Kimberley Driscoll, is a popular political figure. She is outspoken when need be. She listens to people in the community. And she is accessible. Point in fact, the annual event called Mayor’s Night Out, which takes place this year on Monday, Aug. 17th from 5-7pm.

And… YOU have the select opportunity to join Salem Main Streets and Mayor Kimberley Driscoll during this special tour of three of downtown Salem’s hot dining spots, this year with a focus on restaurants that feature products from the Salem Farmers’ Market!

“This is really such a great event, and I’m very excited this year that we’re highlighting restaurants who regularly source ingredients from the Farmers’ Market,” says Kylie Sullivan, Executive Director of Salem Main Streets. “We see so many of our local chefs down at the Market every week shopping for their menus that it was hard to pick just three for this year – that said, I think we’ve selected a killer lineup!”

And that lineup is…

5:00 – 5:30 – Firenze Trattoria
5:45 – 6:15 – The Naumkeag Ordinary
6:30 – 7:00 – Opus

Mayor’s Night Out is a unique opportunity to spend time with Mayor Driscoll, ask questions, offer comments, ask her to pass a napkin or if she’d like a refill on her beverage, etc. Low key, but lively, the walking tour of three dining establishments offers a fun time for those who reserve a spot quickly.

Tickets are $25 to participate with passed hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar at each stop. Tickets MUST be reserved in advance by emailing kylie@salemmainstreets.org, calling 978-744-0004 x15, or purchasing in person at our office 265 Essex Street, Suite 101.

Proceeds from Mayor’s Night Out support the efforts of Salem Main Streets. Our mission is the continued revitalization of downtown Salem as a vibrant, year-round, retail, dining and cultural destination through business retention, recruitment, and the promotion of the downtown district. Other SMS events include the Salem Farmers’ Market, Salem Arts Festival, Salem’s So Sweet, and the Ice Scream Bowl.

Shopping In Style This Weekend in Salem

Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Salem Shopping, SMS News No Responses »

Aug 052015

Bargains will fill the shelves, counters and floors of stores this weekend as Heritage Days closes out the weekend with the Essex Street Fair, and Pickering Wharf presents the next installment of First Friday.

First Friday is a stand-alone monthly activity by the good folks at Pickering Wharf, but this month it happens to fall during Heritage Days, so why not make it part of your Heritage Days celebration when you’re in town that day?

You will most definitely Shop, Dine and Unwind at Pickering Wharf where you will find exclusive specials, events and treats from over 20 unique shops and six fabulous restaurants.

First Friday festivities begin at 5pm with most stores remaining open until 9pm.

Participating restaurants will offer, at a minimum, 10% off with a receipt from a Pickering Wharf shop, as well as in-house specials. Some merchants will also have entertainment, refreshments, and some give-aways.

Bargains & free “stuff” make First Fridays at Pickering Wharf a must see event.

Then over the weekend, more than 50 vendors will participate in the Heritage Days festivities at the Salem Chamber of Commerce Essex Street Fair. The Essex Street Fair is an annual two-day event; this year it is to be held on August 8 & 9, 2015 from 10am – 6pm.

Along the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall artisans, craftors, and food vendors from in and around Salem join local merchants to sell their merchandise along the length of Essex St., from the Daniel Low Building to the Hawthorne Hotel.

Bring your friends and family to this street festival to browse through jewelry, crafts, paintings, and other unique items! Face painters and musicians will be strolling around to entertain the crowd.

For more information regarding the Essex Street Fair, contact the Salem Chamber of Commerce at 978-744-0004.

Heritage Days Offer A Slice of Pizza and Ice Cream on the Salem Common

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

Aug 022015

Whether you’ve come to Salem MA by car, motor bike, train, ferry, or bus, we hope you are enjoying yourselves during this week-long (Aug 1-9) Heritage Days celebration unfolding on our streets, sidewalks, harbor and grassy areas.

Continuing this week, two of the perennial favorites: Salem’s Best Pizza Contest and Ice Scream Bowl.

On Monday, beginning at 5pm (or sooner) there will be winding lines of people at the Salem Common waiting for the opportunity to sample pizza, vote on best pizza categories, and have a fun time interacting with other aficionados of the food that is sold at the rate of 3 billion pies annually in the U.S.

That is a lot of pizza. In fact, also according to Pizza.com, each person in America eats about 46 pizza slices a year. Average might be higher in Salem area when you consider that on Monday for a $7 donation fee (funds benefit the Salem YMCA) adults and kids (for a $5 ticket) get to sample from not one, not two, but several local pizza makers participating in this community event.

Advice: Bring a rectangular plastic container (the kind you use for leftovers) to hold your multiple pizzas.

This fan favorite is followed on Tuesday at 6pm, also at the Salem Common, by the Ice Scream Bowl where this time a number of participating ice cream shops have lined up booths for you to sample the best of the best in something perfectly suited for the warm weather we’ve been experiencing.

The confirmed list includes: Captain Dusty’s, Cherry Farm Creamery, Maria’s Sweet Somethings, Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, and Salem Screamery.

North Shore 104.9 FM will be in attendance with fun games and takeaways, Elsa from “Frozen” will be making an appearance, and other kid’s activities will be available throughout the event.

Ticket prices are $6 for adults, $4 for children and proceeds benefit projects of Salem Main Streets.

According to IceCream.com it takes 50 licks to finish a single scoop ice cream and that 87% of Americans have ice cream in their freezer at any given time (and they are right, just checked the freezer and there are two pints in there!).

Advice: Bring muffin or cupcake bakeware containers to hold the ice cream, especially if children will be part of your entourage for the evening.

Following both events at 7pm the Salem Willows Shell will play host to musical performances that will round out your day. Monday will offer Salem Community Concert Band and Community Jazz Band, both of which are made up of Salem residents from grade 7 through adult. Tuesday, the North Shore Concert Band Series will present a “Salute to Swing” music from the Big Band Era, featuring the Gerry Barrett Swing Band.

These are just some of the many events scheduled during Heritage Days. Check the community calendar for other events on these and the remaining days of the Festival.

( Cover photo courtesy of John Andrews at SocialPalatesPhotography.com )

Heritage Days, Salem’s Own Live Variety Show, Day 2

Contests, History, Salem Event, Salem Festivals No Responses »

Aug 022015

Did Saturday’s events for Heritage Days make you feel like an audience member at a 3-ring circus? Actually, we hope you were more an active participant than a passive observer. Because — there is more today!

For example, new this year, the City of Salem and the Salem Moose Family Center will join forces to combine today’s (August 2nd ) “Tour-a-Truck” event with “Public Safety Day” which usually happens in September. Along with all of the kids’ big truck favorites, there will be music and many new things to do and see, 10am – noon at Salem Willows. The Ladies of the Moose will also be donating 50 bike helmets to be fitted by the Salem Police Department (on a first come first serve basis, so get there early!).

As mentioned in our previous blog, blending the past, present and future, our Heritage Days celebration spans a week (Aug. 1-9) with events featuring food, fun, and activities for all ages. There are nearly 40 different events throughout the festival, some on different days, some at the same time. FYI: you really do need to keep the URL of the Calendar of Events for Heritage Days bookmarked on your home computer, tablet or cell phone.

Another city might hold a one or two day celebration of its history, but not Salem. We give it a week!

Mayor Kimberly Driscoll stated, “Another week of fun filled activities are in store for this annual tradition. I want to thank all the event managers that have worked so hard to bring almost 40 different activities to choose from during Heritage Days this year.”

Sunday begins with the “Bridge & Back 10K Road Race” at 8am. And that is what it is. Runners depart from the corner of Washington & New Derby Streets, Salem, cross the Salem/Beverly Bridge to Beverly and then back to Salem. The Race is sponsored by the Tavern in the Square and all proceeds go to the Boys & girls Club of Greater Salem. For more details, go to www.salemroadraces.com.

And from noon- 8pm the Salem Willows Shell will once again play host to Bridgin G.A.P.S. concert with performances ranging from local and non-local recording artists, live bands, dance groups, poets and others. Plus there will be guest speakers from various non-profit and charitable organizations.

Relive elements of Salem’s rich heritage at the House of Seven Gables in the Living History Lab (10:30am – 1pm and 2 – 4pm). You can actually experiment with history by way of hands-on activities (as examples, 18th century handwriting or 17th century food preparation). For specifics go to www.7gables.org.

Additionally, for our residents, Salem is the perfect place for your STAY-CATION. Spend a day being a tourist and take advantage of the generosity of our tourist related business community. Many are free to Salem residents all year long, such as the Peabody Essex Museum, the Salem Witch Museum, the Salem Trolley (June-September), and the a fore-mentioned House of the Seven Gables.

The Witch House will be free to Salem residents during Heritage week. The Salem Ferry always has discounts for residents and during Heritage Days the Sea Shuttle, Mahi Mahi Cruises and the Schooner Fame are offering discounts for residents.

As part of the celebration, the City of Salem will also double the merchant one-hour validation stamps at both garages, so you can spend a little bit longer enjoying downtown (some restrictions do apply).

As stated in the headline, Heritage Days is a variety show— and we’ve only told you about the 1st & 2nd days thus far! More in upcoming blogs, and don’t forget to bookmark the calendar URL.

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