Welcome to Salem MA, Home of Award-Winning Businesses & Events

 Contests, History, New Businesses, Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Shopping  No Responses »
Jul 082015
 

BONS 2015Another week, another set of votes by you the customers of North Shore businesses & events. You have spoken again; this week we present the Best of North Shore survey by North Shore Magazine which indicates we must be doing something right in Salem MA. Over 30 top awardees!

Scan down the alphabetical list (typed up by our own tireless Kylie Sullivan, Executive Director of Salem Main Streets – TY Kylie!) to find your favorite dining choice, business or service. Perhaps you’ll see a place you’ve wanted to try but never have. Now’s as good a time as any! And congratulations to all the merchants & business owners, managers and staff!

62 Restaurant & Wine Bar – Best Italian – Editors’ Choice
Most Romantic – Reader’s Choice
Best Donut – Editors’ Choice

A&J King – Best Bakery, Bread – Editors’ AND Readers’ Choice
Best Bake Shop, Pastry – Readers’ Choice

The Barking Cat – Best Pet Boutique – Editors’ Choice AND Readers’ Choice

CinemaSalem – Best Movie Theater – Editors’ AND Readers’ Choice

The Cookie Monstah – Best Cookies – Editors’ Choice (tied) * Note – not Salem based, but a staple of the Salem Farmers’ Market

Finz Seafood & Grill – Best Seafood, Prepared – Editors’ Choice (tied)

Gulu-Gulu Café – Best Beer Menu – Readers’ Choice

Harbor Sweets – Best Confectionary – Readers’ Choice

2014_Guide_CoverHaunted Happenings (city-wide event) – Best Festival, Fall – Readers’ Choice

Hawthorne Hotel – Best Hotel – Readers’ Choice

Landry & Arcari – Best Rugs – Editors’ AND Readers’ Choice

Life Alive – Best Vegetarian – Editors’ AND Readers’ Choice

Mahi Mahi Harbor Cruises – Best Charter Boat – Readers’ Choice

Melita Fiore – Best Bake Shop, Pastry – Editors’ Choice (tied)

Mighty Aphrodite Maternity Consignment – Best Maternity Clothing – Editors’ Choice AND Readers’ Choice

Milk and Honey – Best Gourmet – Honorable Mention

Mud Puddle Toys – Best Toy Shop – Editors’ Choice AND Readers’ Choice

North Shore Boot Camp (at B&S Fitness) – Best Boot Camp – Editors’ Choice

Olde Main Street Pub – Best Pub Food – Editors’ Choice (tied)

Opus – Best Sushi – Editors’ Choice Best After-Work Drinks, Readers’ Choice

Passage to India – Best Indian – Readers’ Choice

Paxton – Best Barber Shop – Editors’ Choice

Peabody Essex Museum – Best Museum – Editors’ AND Readers’ Choice Best Tourist Attraction – Readers’ Choice

Roost & Company – Best Home Décor – Readers’ Choice Best Gifts – Editors’ Choice (tied) AND Readers’ Choice

Rouge Cosmetics – Best Beauty Products – Readers’ Choice Best Makeup Selection – Editors’ Choice (tied) AND Readers’ Choice

Salem Willows – Best Family Hangout – Editors’ AND Readers’ Choice


Salem’s So Sweet (joint event by Salem Main Streets/Salem Chamber of Commerce/Destination Salem) – Best Festival, Winter – Editors’ AND Readers’ Choice

Scratch Kitchen – Best BBQ – Editors’ Choice

Sea Level Oyster Bar – Best Seafood, Prepared – Editors’ Choice (tied)
Best Waterview Restaurant, Year-Round – Editors’ Choice

Tavern in the Square – Best Sports Bar – Readers’ Choice

Tri-City Sales – Best Kitchen Appliances – Readers’ Choice

Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall – Best Seafood, Prepared – Editors’ Choice (tied) AND Readers’ Choice

The Ugly Mug Diner – Best Breakfast – Editors’ Choice (tied)
Best Brunch – Readers’ Choice

Witch City 5K (organized by Salem YMCA) – Best Community Walk/Run – Editors’ AND Readers’ Choice

Ye Olde Pepper Companie – Best Confectionary  – Editors’ Choice (tied)

Yoga Sakti – Best Yoga Studio – Editors’ AND Readers’ Choice
Best Yoga Apparel – Editors’ Choice AND Readers’ Choice

Readers’ Choice Awards are those establishments who received the most votes through the open, online voting system. Editors’ Choices were selected by the North Shore magazine internal team and based on research / site visits. Voting was conducted February 1st through March 1st, 2015.

Changes This Year

While regional and national chains have been allowed in previous years to qualify as nominees, this year only local organizations and locally owned franchises were qualified to be nominees. Also, businesses with multiple locations were recognized by their specific location. For example, if a business had locations in Salem, Peabody, etc. then each location would have its own nomination process.

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Just Another Jam-Packed Salem Ma Weekend

 Salem Event  No Responses »
Jun 262015
 

Shakespeare FestivalFor those who might think the weekend before the 4th of July would be a quiet one in Salem, think again! Normally the Salem Main Streets blog focuses on single events to give you extra insights. But every so often we dip into the calendars of Creative Salem and Destination Salem to give you a flat out “Column A” of events to pick from when you visit. Here are just SOME of the options for Saturday:

8am-6pm Peabody Essex Museum has commissioned its first major outdoor  installation, a Stickwork by internationally acclaimed artist Patrick Dougherty. This temporary site-specific installation is made entirely of saplings and constructed on the lawn of PEM’s historic Crowninshield-Bentley House, at the corner of Hawthorne Boulevard and Essex Street in downtown Salem

10am-4pm Join Salem 1630: Pioneer Village for the first Shakespeare Festival at Pioneer Village. Performances scheduled throughout the day. Performers include Rebel Shakespeare Company, Upstart Crows, Cape Ann Shakespeare Troupe and more!

10am-5pm The Witch House is hosting its exhibit, “An Anatomy of Puck: Fairy Beliefs among Shakespeare and his Contemporaries”. Exhibit is included in cost of museum admission.

10am-5pm The House of the Seven Gables presents A Gracious Host: Visiting the Gables through the Years, an engaging exhibition showcasing the vibrant history of visitation at The House of the Seven Gables. Journey through the past, and experience the history of one of America’s most famous homes as it transformed from a residence into a cultural icon.

Noon-2pm The Derby Square Summer Series hosted by Creative Salem and Front Street Coffeehouse, continues this Saturday with local singer-songwriter Aspen Ridge. Come on down to Derby Square from 12-2 for some lunch and great music.

4-7pm, The Acoustic Series at Village Tavern presents DITTO which features the mainstream classic music of James Taylor, Neil Young, Harry Chapin, Simon and Garfunkel, Crosby Stills and Nash, The Beatles, and many others, showcases by the perfect blend of acoustic instruments and voices. Upright bass, cello, and acoustic guitar lend appealing visual interest while creating a big sound, often compared to that of a full band.

7:30-10pm Salem Theatre presents Larry Kramer’s award-winning social drama, The Normal Heart. The narrative follows one man’s fight to awaken the world to the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s in New York City.

9-11pm The Merj at Broadie’s Seaport, Eclectic, awesome club cover band on the North Shore of Boston!

What will you do? What will you do? Come to Salem Ma and have a good time no matter which you select. (And remember, this is only a partial list. Go to Creative Salem or Destination Salem for complete listings.)

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Expansive Murals and Intimate Portraits – Thomas Hart Benton at PEM

 History, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Workshops  No Responses »
Jun 142015
 

THBExpansive murals, vertical spirals, size changes that make you feel like you are looking up & down into a scene, these are the calling cards of a man once called America’s best-known contemporary painter, Thomas Hart Benton— and the subject of a special Peabody Essex Museum exhibit.

In fact, this is the first major exhibition on Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975) in more than 25 years and the first ever to explore important connections between Benton’s art and the movies. American Epics: Thomas Hart Benton and Hollywood was organized by the PEM in collaboration with the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City, Missouri) and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (Fort Worth). It will be at PEM through September 7th in the Special Exhibition Galleries.

Benton’s art & style will also be the theme for “Epic Adventures,” this month’s PEM/PM late night evening party.

But first some background on Mr. Benton. According to PEM, Benton became acutely aware of storytelling’s shift toward motion pictures after working briefly in the silent film industry, and “developed a cinematic style of painting that melded European art historical traditions and modern movie production techniques.”

In paintings, murals, drawings, prints and illustrated books, Benton reinvented national narratives for 20th-century America and captivated the public with his visual storytelling.

Benton’s story is fascinating, the ups / the downs (an informal survey of museum-goers at all the participating institutions revealed that only 25% had even heard of Benton), how he perfected his technique and how he was received are all part of this PEM podcast.

And, if you have the time, this WBUR (90.9 FM, Boston’s National Public radio news station) feature story provides extra insights.

For example, besides the paintings to see in this exhibit, there is something you can actually touch. In the WBUR report, it is mentioned that “the artist fashioned clay models of characters and scenery that he would light up like tiny Hollywood film sets, then painting them. There’s a replica of a surviving Benton clay model (or maquettes) in the PEM show. The original was too delicate and valuable to ship, so in a first for the museum, curators actually created a 3-D print.”

This is interesting in itself as Benton once said, ‘I feel my paintings in my hands.”

The WBUR story also mentioned that Benton constantly traveled; his road trips sought out authentic stories, scenes and characters to populate his works.

As the great American road trip, from Easy Rider to National Lampoon’s Vacation, still inspires a sense of freedom and exploration, PEM/PM for June 18 from 6-9 pm invites you to follow artist Benton’s travels across America with map and postcard art, real-life road stories, a travel-themed beer tasting and gallery talks.

Also featured at this month’s PEM/PM evening are folk music sessions by Dan Blakeslee and Jennifer Evans, a visit from the Mobile Museum of American Artifacts and an author talk / signing with Andre Dubus III.

As always, a cash bar and refreshments available; members and Salem residents (with ID) free, nonmembers $10 at the door for PEM/PM.

The American Epics: Thomas Hart Benton and Hollywood exhibition was made possible in part by Bank of America and a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence. The National Endowment for the Arts and Carolyn and Peter S. Lynch and The Lynch Foundation provided generous support. Christie’s provided in-kind support. The East India Marine Associates of the Peabody Essex Museum also provided support.

For more info, go to PEM website or call 978-745-9500. The Peabody Essex Museum is located at East India Square (161 Essex St) Salem, Massachusetts.

(Cover photo “Bootleggers” Art © T.H. Benton and R.P. Benton Testamentary Trusts/UMB Bank Trustee/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY)

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Salem Arts Festival: A Living Portrait of the Local Arts Scene

 History, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Volunteer Opportunities  No Responses »
Jun 052015
 

Living, growing, expanding— the 7th Annual Salem Arts Festival (which takes place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday here in Salem Ma) will have several firsts this year.

SAF mainThe musical acts on Friday night will be outside on Derby Square for the first time! Yes, music is a lively element woven into the fabric of our Salem Arts Festival. Music is entertainment. Music is also art.

Speaking of art, the annual Juried Art Show had a twist on the submission process that apparently super-charged the number of entries, according to Kylie Sullivan, Executive Director of Salem Main Streets, (SMS), the community non-profit organization which started the Festival.

“I’m very excited about the juried gallery this year,” she says. “I think it’s the most diverse range of media and styles that we’ve ever had. This was our first year doing an on-site jury process, and we had more applications than ever before.”

And another “first” type event at the Festival is the “Front Yard Street Art” collaborative public art installation. It is one of the most anticipated events this year as it will transform Front Street into a temporary green space and masterpiece during the festival. “Front Yard Street Art” is a fiber arts project that was completed through the leadership of local artist Kate Babcock and the open participation of community members and groups of all ages and abilities.

In total, Salem Arts Festival will feature over 80 artists and performers, and includes a variety of art, music, dance, and theatre performances. The family-friendly event also includes art-making for all ages and artisan vendors selling their creations.

“There’s been a tremendous amount of collaboration between so many local groups and individuals to continue to improve and expand the festival every year. We’re so excited about the phenomenal energy and talent that will be on display this year,” adds Sullivan.

SAF logoThe Festival is spread out at a variety of venues in downtown Salem, with the focus primarily on Old Town Hall, Derby Square, Front Street, and Artists’ Row.

The Festival kicks off with an opening reception at Salem’s Old Town Hall on Friday, June 5th at 6 pm. The free event allows visitors to enjoy beautiful art work while being entertained by renowned local performers Briana Paquin, Siren of the Circle, and headliners The Squeezebox Stompers.

This year, the Salem Arts Festival also celebrates the launch of Liz LaManche’s piece “Salem’s Connected World,” the first commissioned public art project completed by the City of Salem’s Public Art Commission and Public Art Planner Deborah Greel. It will be visible all throughout the festival grounds.

In addition, the Festival marks the return of vendors to Artists’ Row, with all new tenants for the 2015 season.

The goal of the Salem Arts Festival is to promote all the arts in Salem and to provide the entire North Shore arts community an opportunity to showcase their talents. The Festival is run in collaboration with Salem Main Streets by a team of dedicated volunteers, including representatives from Salem State University, the Peabody Essex Museum, Creative Salem, and many more.

Visitors interested in attending the Salem Arts Festival can find easy access to the downtown by public transportation or parking at one of the many downtown lots in the City. For more information, please visit www.salemartsfestival.com.

2015 Salem Arts Festival Schedule

Friday, June 5th – Old Town Hall Gallery Reception – 6 pm to 9 pm
7:00 – 7:50 pm, Briana Paquin
7:50 – 8:00 pm, Siren of the Circle
8:00 – 9:00 pm, The Squeezebox Stompers

Saturday June 6th – Gallery, Street Fair, and Art-Making – 11 am to 6 pm

Derby Square
11:30 am – 12:15 pm, The Bordellos
12:30 – 1:15 pm, Witch City Belly Dance
1:30 – 2:15 pm, Brooks Young Band
3:20 – 4:05 pm, The Othership
4:15 – 5:00 pm, Dark Follies
5:15 – 6:00 pm, Poppa Cigar

Artists’ Row
1:00 – 1:30 pm, Olivia Gale
2:15 – 3:00 pm, The Whiskey Sippers
3:00 – 4:00 pm, Right Mix Quartet
4:00 – 5:00 pm, JAMINIC
5:00 – 6:00 pm, Art Attack

Old Town Hall Upstairs
2:30 – 3:15 pm, History Alive!
4:00 – 4:30 pm, Brady Kenny O’Brien Academy of Irish Dance
4:55 – 5:15 pm, Aurora Borealis Dance Company

Sunday June 7th – Gallery, Street Fair, and Art-Making – 11 am to 6 pm

Derby Square
11:30 am – 12:15 pm, Strange Interlude
12:15 pm – 1:00 pm, Pete and Chris Amusements
1:00 – 1:45 pm, The Coteries
2:00 – 4:00 pm, Linda Peck, around Old Town Hall
2:00 – 2:45 pm, True Monks
3:15 – 4:00 pm, Jumpin’ Juba
4:15 – 5:00 pm, Absolute Gentleman
5:15 – 6:00 pm, Machine 475

Artists’ Row
12:15 – 1:00 pm, Carubia Brass Bands
1:30 – 2:00 pm, 1+1
2:15 – 2:45 pm, The Ridiculous Project
2:45 – 3:15 pm, Jennifer Evans
3:15 – 3:30 pm, “Up”: A Play by Michael Jaros
4:00 – 4:45 pm, The High Meadow Howlers
4:50 – 5:10 pm, Christopher Noran

Old Town Hall Upstairs
2:45 – 3:05 pm, Jackie Bowden

*All times are approximate and subject to change.

Mid 60s temperatures and partly to mostly sunny days are in the forecast for the Salem Arts Festival . We invite you to bring the entire family for a most entertaining and enlightening day.

(Photo courtesy John Andrews at Social Palates)

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PEM/PM Fosters Unconventional Gatherings for Creative Minds

 History, Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Salem Shopping, Workshops  No Responses »
May 192015
 

R & PUnconventional gatherings for creative minds is the best description thus far for what transpires in Salem Ma on the 3rd Thursday of each month when the Peabody/Essex Museum kicks open its doors to a party of entertainment & engagement (PEM/PM) beginning at 6pm. Coming up March 21st the event is simply called Run & Play. But believe us, there’s nothing simple about it.

Run with your imagination and play with what you find. Possibilities are limitless

Channel your inner child with the help of Project Adventure, Marbles: The Brain Store and the Salem YMCA. Play a game of foursquare and compete in a relay challenge,  join Salem’s Wicked Running Club for its weekly No Rest for the Wicked 5K Fun Run, and then kick back and listen to music with a cool beverage.

As another example of imagination and playing with what you find, consider Stickwork artist Patrick Dougherty, who will be on hand for a meet & greet. What is Stickwork? It is something that has come to Salem.  Listen to the thoughts of Dougherty leading up to the local project at the Crowninshield-Bentley House located at 126 Essex Street.

As always, cash bar and small plates by Hawthorne Hotel.

No admission charge for PEM members, Salem residents and Salem State students with an ID. Otherwise there is a $10 fee for non-members, payable at the door. For more details, go to pem.org or call 866-745-1876.Run & Play

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