News – Page 9 – Salem Main Streets

Be A Physical Part of History- House of the Seven Gables

Oct 072014

Overwhelmingly positive and international in scope have been the responses to a fund raising project initiated last June by the House of the Seven Gables. And there is still time for you to get in on the ground floor of this national historic site’s endeavor— literally.

Karen Barter, Director of Development at The House of the Seven Gables explains, “The front entrance walkway of The Gables is in need of brick repair. We decided to do a fund raising project whereby bricks could be purchased and inscribed with the name of a family member or friend. It has been quite successful for other museums and historic sites.”

In fact, she adds that there has been strong interest from foreign supporters of the Gables. Not surprisingly, there are also many writers and authors wishing to invest in the project and have their names associated with the house noted author Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote about.

Think of it. Inscribe a wedding date. The names of your children. A loved one who loved Salem. The names will be there for all to see, for years to come. In fact it’s quite possible that your children could bring their children to Salem and take in the surprised looks when the young ones find the family names part of the living history of the House of Seven Gables.

Barter adds that businesses may also support the Gables project. Just no advertising, websites, logos, etc. Only words & numbers.

It’s a chance for you or a relative, whether near or far, to be able to say “that’s my Gables, I own a piece of it” when someone refers to The House of Seven Gables in Salem Ma.

If you’re interested…

Brick, 4″ x 8″, Red clay with laser cut script in black, 1-2 lines (20 characters per line) $65 each brick
Brick, 8″ x 8″, Red clay with laser cut script in black, 1-3 lines (20 characters per line) $125 each brick

The House of the Seven Gables reserves the right to not accept the wording of a donor if it does not align with their mission and code of ethics.

For more information, contact the Development Department at 978-744-0991 ext 126 or email kbarter@7gables.org

So, Anything Going On This Week in Salem Ma?

Haunted Happenings, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, SMS News No Responses »

Oct 012014

Step right up, though this may not be the “greatest show on Earth,” Salem Ma does try its best to give residents, North Shore neighbors and visitors the most for their time & money spent here during the month of October. Just this week we are opening our Info Booth to be staffed with ambassadors of goodwill to assist fun-seekers and officially kicking off festivities with the Chamber of Commerce 19th Annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade, as well as once again launching the Mayor’s Night Out and Trick or Treat with the Mayor events.

Practically speaking there are more activities scheduled for the first three days of October than we have room for in this blog. We suggest you look at the calendar information supplied by at least these three great community websites. Mix and match the information.

Specifically we would like to point out that:

The 19th Annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade, presented by the Salem Chamber of Commerce steps off Thursday, Oct. 2nd at 6:30pm. This year’s parade theme is “Fantasy.” Children from grade school through high school and perhaps a big kid or two from college will march through our streets in costume as a tip of the hat to all the activities to follow this month. The spotlight, though, is where it should be, on the young people who keep Halloween alive with their imagination.

The Mayor’s Night Out is Oct. 3rd and that Friday Mayor Kimberly Driscoll, in partnership with Salem’s attractions and museums, encourages Salem residents to leave their homes to sample attractions, museums and even parking (at East India Mall garage after 4 pm) free of charge! Just bring your Salem ID and be on the look-out from 3 – 10 pm for “Mayor’s Night Out” signs at participating businesses.

Trick-or-Treating with Mayor Kim Driscoll at the East India Fountain takes place from 5:30 – 6:30 pm. Bring the kids, join the Mayor as the procession will Trick-or-Treat along the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall, The Museum Place Mall Shops, and beyond. Trick-or-Treat Bags provided. Costumes encouraged. And of course, it is another free of charge event.

Salem’s Downtown District is prepared to show you a good time this month, this 5th season of our calendar year. We welcome “kids of all ages,” to explore and be entertained.

It Waits… For You… The Info Booth

Haunted Happenings, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, SMS News, Volunteer Opportunities No Responses »

Sep 292014

Hauntingly standing in and out of the shadows, the Salem Main Streets Haunted Happenings Information Booth waits patiently on the corner of Essex and Washington Streets. It waits for you.

For resident and tourist alike, young and old, American and foreign traveler, it does not discriminate in its need to feed— you information. Now that it has been dropped into place, the booth sits day and night awaiting the launch of our season of service. Volunteers will start staffing Thursday from 4:30 – 6:30 pm to coincide with the Haunted Happenings kick-off Grand Parade.

Stephanie Hagyard, a volunteer since 2008, and coordinator of this year’s SMS info team says “Our shift schedule will be 2 – 6 pm on Fridays (noon – 8 pm on Halloween), 10 am – 6 pm on Saturdays and noon – 5 pm on Sundays (might vary to 11 am on Sundays depending on staffing). The only holiday is Columbus day which will be a 10 am- 4 pm effort.”

She adds, “Most shifts are filled but there are a few dates/shifts that I would like to get a third/fourth person on- and November 1st is a new addition this year that needs people.” If you would like to volunteer, contact Stephanie at shagyard@yahoo.com.

You would become part of a community of ‘community volunteers’ who have provided direction and support to nearly 140,000 visitors since 2008. And this year with Halloween on a Friday, we can expect record numbers to cross Washington Street at Essex Street (which is the location of our booth).

Asked for advance advice to offer 10/31 visitors, Stephanie offered “Park once, wear comfy shoes, walk around, dress in layers, pay attention to your surroundings; if you are at an establishment getting lunch/dinner/coffee use the bathroom even if you don’t think you need to because who knows how long lines will be at other restrooms that are public.”

That’s the kind of straightforward, we believe useful info, you need from the booth volunteers, along with where the “witch this” and “witch that” are located.

The Info Booth beckons you….

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

History, Salem Event, Salem Shopping No Responses »

Sep 212014

Some 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.”

The 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.

Sounds Like a Good Time Planned at PEM

Salem Dining, Salem Event No Responses »

Sep 172014

Has 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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