Salem MA – Page 43 – Salem Main Streets

Books to the Left & to the Right; Book Swap Time Again

Sep 192014

What can you do with a book? Read it, of course. And then? Use it as a paperweight. Or use two as bookends. The city of Salem offers a more community-minded suggestion this Saturday from 10 am -1 pm with a Free Book & Media Swap at the Senior center, 5 Broad St.

But this is no ordinary book swap. Not in magical Salem. No “swap” is necessary. You can just “drop off, take away, or do both” reports Salem Recycles, our city recycling committee.

All types of books will be accepted for the swap. Plus CDs, DVDs, and VCR tapes may be thrown into the mix. And what doesn’t get swapped out will either be donated or recycled.

All in all it’s an inexpensive (read that as “free”) way for community members to share books with others who might not be able to afford them and for anyone to be able to “check out a new or unknown author” without first purchasing.

Materials for swapping should be brought with you either the day of the swap (9:45 am – noon), or if you have a lot of items (thank you), then you are welcome to drive over to the Senior Center today between 5:30 – 7 pm where volunteers will take them off your hands.

For more details, call 978-619-5679.

(Image courtesy of adamr at FreeDigitalPhoto.net; border added)

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.

“Fantasy” to Become Reality as Theme for Halloween Parade

Haunted Happenings, Salem Event, Salem Festivals No Responses »

Sep 162014

Photo courtesy Social Palates

Preparations are underway for the 19th Annual Salem Chamber of Commerce Haunted Happenings Grand Parade. Step off is Thursday, Oct. 2nd for this gathering of young and old to launch our month-long celebration of Halloween, Salem’s “5th Season.” This year’s event will feature the theme “Fantasy.”

But the parade has expenses, and that is where the Chamber looks to merchants in the community to help defray the costs of extra police, ambulance, security, advertising, staging, etc.

This is accomplished through sponsorships of banners to be carried within the parade. For more info call 978-745-3855 or go to the Chamber of Commerce website. Deadline is this Friday, Sept. 19th.

As for the parade itself, you need be neither magician nor crystal ball gazer to foresee an endless choice of costumes based on many fantasy themed movies and books; expect to see a lot of characters from Frozen, Harry Potter, Narnia, Spiderman as well as Ghostbusters (30 year anniversary and re-release), Avatar and Hunger Games.

This time honored kick off of the Halloween season is full of color, pageantry, music and the enthusiasm of thousands of Salem’s students from kindergarten to college and our local business owners. Their participation is what makes this a highly successful, cherished event for our community, neighbors and visitors.

A & B Restaurant in Salem Serves Up Fundraiser for Northeast Arc

Salem Dining, Salem Event No Responses »

Sep 152014

Community involvement is a signature mark of many establishments in the Salem Downtown district. Tuesday, for example, A & B Burgers is holding an event simply stated as “Burgers & Fries & Fundraising.” The restaurant will be donating 15% of non-alcoholic/food sales generated from 5 – 9 pm to Northeast Arc. And there will be local celebrity guests & hosts.

Northeast Arc ensures that children and adults with disabilities are able to live, work, engage in civic life and play in the community. This is accomplished by offering a wide variety of programs including Autism Services, Day Habilitation, Deaf Services, Early Intervention, Employment Services, Family Support, Personal Care Assistance, Recreation, Residential and Transition Services.

Among the celebrity hosts and special guests at Tuesday night’s event will be Senator Joan Lovely, State Representatives Jerry Parisella and Ted Speliotis, Mayors Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr. of Peabody and Michael P. Cahill of Beverly, Essex County Sheriff Frank Cousins Jr. and John Boris, owner of John A. Boris & Associates.

And, after your dinner, if there’s ever been a time to not feel guilty about extending your meal for dessert, this is it. All for a worthy cause.

A & B Burgers is located at 50 St. Peter Street. For more info, call 978-594-8607 or 978-498-4997.

Playing With Your Food – Week 13

Uncategorized No Responses »

Sep 112014

Eggplant varieties at Long Hill Orchard

Playing With Your Food” is a weekly post highlighting a few of the many great uses for the wide range of produce and artisan food at the Salem Farmers’ Market, a Salem Main Streets project. The Salem Farmers’ Market takes place every Thursday from June 12 to October 23 from 3 pm to 7 pm on Derby Square. While we can never predict exactly what our farms will be able to bring each week, we do our best to reflect some of the fun items we’ve found recently and what’s likely to be available for the upcoming week. Hopefully this will give you a few new ideas to play with, and inspire you to try some new things at the market.

It’s true – the days are getting shorter, the nights are getting cooler, and some of those trees are starting to look suspiciously….not green. But don’t worry, we still have almost 2 months of market days left! In my opinion, this is really the best time for produce at the market because you can get almost anything. If you love the summer produce, we’re still swimming in summer squash, peppers, melons, and greens and herbs of all sorts, but those who can’t wait for fall are already seeing apples, parsnips, and a few winter squash.

That said, now is the time to continue celebrating the summer produce while we still have it! If you liked our first post about corn, tomatoes, and eggplant, get ready for a few more ideas.

Corn at Clark Farm

Tomatoes

Eggplant

Eggplant Basil Salad
Tortang Talong (Filipino Eggplant Omelet)
Swearing Like a Sailor Stuffed Eggplant
Laziest Eggplant Dish Ever – slice one large eggplant into 1/4″ thick slices across, spread lightly with mayo, sprinkle with parmesan cheese (as little or as much as you like), season with salt and pepper, and bake on a greased baking sheet at 400 F for 10 minutes until eggplant is fork tender.

Corn

And even better….

Eggplant and Tomato – Roasted Eggplant with Tomatoes and Mint
Corn and Tomato – Burst Tomato Galette… or try Tomato and Corn Pie

Pretty eggplant varieties at Heavens Harvest Farm

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