Jul 252015
 

Let’s repeat three words. LARGEST. SAILING. SALEM. Our seaport community was a key player in the early days of this country’s maritime exploration and trading. And it’s nice to see that our connection to the water continues as more than 400 junior sailors from around the country are expected to participate in the 2015 United States Optimist Dinghy Association (USODA) Optimist Dinghy New England Championship in Salem, Aug. 4-6 from Winter Island.

SailingThis is the largest junior sailing regatta in the United States, with sailors between the ages of 9 – 14. You noticed we didn’t say “sailors” to qualify the reference. These young people are every part of the word.

As an example just look at Sail Salem, which is the local host. It offers an educational program for children that promotes positive life skills and values through the sport of sailing. Founded in 2008, Sail Salem has introduced sailing to over 1,000 children from Salem and surrounding towns.

And it’s not just a one-time summer thing. Children have grown up through the program, from beginner, to intermediate sailor, to counselor in training, to sailing coach. The majority of a junior instructors are former students of Sail Salem.

According to Sail Salem, “Lessons are conducted in Salem Harbor off Winter Island to bring the love of sailing to many children who would not have had the opportunity to be on a boat.”

Adults are also encouraged to sail and evening lessons for all levels are available throughout the summer.

No wonder the 2015 Regatta is being held here. Previous competitions have been held in Newport, Rhode Island, and Portland, Maine

What does this have to do with the Downtown District, which is what we usually talk about? We expect a sizable percentage of those 400 sailors and families to explore Salem either before or after the regatta. We would like them to feel welcome. Spectators interested in watching the races from the water will find regatta tours at Sea Shuttle and Mahi Mahi Harbor Cruises.  Charter boats are available through McLaughlin Boat Works and Zim Sailing. Regatta accommodations options can be found at Salem.org.

One other thing. Sail Salem is still looking for volunteers to help with some of the on-land activities. Contact Pat Connolly-Atkins at pat@sailsalem.org if you would be interested in helping.

Sail Salem and the 2015 USODA New England Championship Regatta are sponsored by Cabot Wealth Management.

Complete regatta information can be found at SailSalem.org.

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Jul 152015
 

What did you do on the way to work yesterday? I took a live, guided, interactive tour of the Taj Mahal, followed by a walk through the streets of Dublin. All courtesy of an amazing new piece of social media technology called Periscope. And (weather permitting) you have the opportunity to see it in action as Salem Main Streets will be joining @SalemAMB in live streaming from the Farmers’ Market at approx. 5pm on Thursday.

Periscope, simply put, is a video of something going on, but it is live. And you the viewer can ask the film-maker questions in real time. It’s just like being there.

In the words of the developers, it was an idea of “discovering the world through someone else’s eyes. What if you could see through the eyes of a protester in Ukraine? Or watch the sunrise from a hot air balloon in Cappadocia? It may sound crazy, but we wanted to build the closest thing to teleportation.”

Periscope-screenshots-Periscope is available on iOS and Android devices. As it is owned by Twitter, announcements of live ‘scopes’ are issued on Twitter to all followers of that accompanying Periscope account. (You can also watch on your computer but there is no interactivity interface. Just copy/paste the link that appears in the Twitter promo).

By optimizing the Farmers’ Market for the initial broadcast, we are giving viewers in Salem, the North Shore — and anywhere in the world — the opportunity to ask vendors questions as we pass their tables.

Yes, indeed it is promotion for how great we feel the Salem Farmers’ Market is. But it will be enhanced by the interaction. Consider as we pass tomato baskets and someone from Ireland asks a question about which kinds of tomatoes are best with salad. Or someone in Los Angeles later remarks about the unusual aspect of lobsters at a Farmers’ Market.

If time permits, plans call for a second broadcast later in the evening of the PEM/PM party. We are strong supporters of the creative ways people express themselves in Salem through food, literature, art, music, etc. Periscope will be a way of not only “telling” people about it, but showing & interacting with them. What better way to display the community focus of the Peabody Essex Museum?

If you wish to see selected Periscopes (and we advise you while many are interesting, some are like a personal / vanity / diary / blog, and there are a few which are downright strange) go to http://onperiscope.com/ Only live ‘scopes’ can be played.

There is no charge to download the Periscope app (here is an excellent tutorial) if you wish to follow us on our journey of promoting all things Salem to the world. To participate in Thursday’s pilot efforts, either follow @SalemAMB on Twitter for a direct link notification, or open the Periscope app and click on the “Map” or “List” options and scroll down looking for titles that refer to the Salem Farmers’ Market or PEM/PM.

(Source of image is from medium.com/@periscope)

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Jul 132015
 

hitchbotIf you’ve driven a vehicle for enough years or miles, then you’ve seen all kinds of hitchhikers. Young, old, attractive and scarey. One thing they had in common was that they were all human. But setting off across America soon will be hitch-Bot, a robot hitching its way across America (he made it through Canada last year). And the launch party will be on Thursday, July 16, 6-9pm at our own Peabody Essex Museum during PEM/PM, the museum’s monthly evening party series.

In celebration of the season, the theme for July is Take Back Summer, with an opportunity to rediscover classic and wild ways to have fun, while also taking advantage of after-hours access to museum exhibitions. And what better tie-in is a summer road-trip?

On Thursday, July 16, the party-going public will also hear from hitchBOT’s co-creators. The next day hitchBOT will bid them farewell on a nearby highway as it begins its adventure by putting up its thumb to ask for a ride. The final destination is the Exploratorium in San Francisco.

hitchBOT is an outgoing and charismatic robot that began hitchhiking in July 2014. In less than four weeks, hitchBOT charmed its way into rides across Canada, depending on the help of kind strangers. hitchBOT cannot move by itself — except for its hitchhiking thumb — but can converse thanks to Cleverscript speech technology, which allows it to answer questions about where it comes from or its favorite pastimes.

hitchBOT’s family consists of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team of researchers from the fields of visual arts, engineering, computer science and communication. The project was originally co-designed by Dr. David Harris Smith, assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies and Multimedia at McMaster University (Hamilton), and Dr. Frauke Zeller, assistant professor in the School of Professional Communication at Ryerson University (Toronto), to see whether robots could trust humans.

People picked HB up and took it to bars, diners, concerts and then left it on the side of the road for someone else to take it further on down the road.

For example, hitchBOT hung out with the British Columbia rock band The Wild, which took it to their next performance. Another time it was taken to a wedding.

No one broke it, defaced it or stole it.

“hitchBOT was very well received as it made its way across Canada, Germany and the Netherlands – proving that robots can indeed trust humans,” said Dr. Zeller. “Given that hitchBOT is built out of a bucket, we thought it would be only natural if we let it have a bucket list for this exciting new adventure.”

hitchbot bucket listThe list includes Times Square in New York City, Millennium Park in Chicago, Mount Rushmore in South Dakota and the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

In the PEM blog Connected, the creators commented “In the case of hitchBOT, we have launched a type of robotic proxy, set forth not to explore the surface of Mars, but to explore a cultural terrain here on earth that is underwritten by evolved human curiosity, empathy and altruism. hitchBOT literally rides from place to place on a tide of goodwill, developing a personal history of face-to-face interpersonal interactions and a trail of social media participation. ”

Fans are encouraged to follow hitchBOT’s journey at hitchbot.me, and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. hitchBOT also invites users to share their hitchhiking stories and pictures using #hitchbot on Twitter and Instagram.

PEM’s evening parties, with music and dance performances, lectures and art-making stations take place on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Admission is free to PEM members and Salem residents (with ID), while nonmembers pay $10 at the door. There will be a cash bar and special small plates menu items available courtesy of the Hawthorne Hotel.

(Cover photo courtesy David Harris Smith)

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Jul 102015
 

Not only is Salem an entertaining daytrip destination, it also offers opportunities to further your own education. On any given weekend there are events that perform a double duty! Take these gatherings in July as an invitation.

Seventeenth Century Saturdays at Historic New England’s Gedney House

Salem shipwright Eleazer Gedney built the earliest portion of the Gedney House back in 1665! Follow-up and historically significant renovations to the structure in 1712 and 1800 resulted in dramatic changes to the house’s appearance.

GedneyWhen you visit the Gedney House during this month’s edition of Seventeenth Century Saturdays (July 11) and take the tours, you’ll see why it is not your typical historic house. You will gain insights & be directed to look more closely at the original post-and-beam timbers, brick nogging, and early decorative finishes in Salem’s second oldest historic house.

The Gedney House is located at 21 High Street, Salem, Mass.

The house is significant not only for its framing, but also for its evidence of early decorative finishes in the hall chamber and parlor. It has had three successive color schemes, the earliest of which is believed to date to the house’s construction.

In 1967, Historic New England acquired the house as it was being prepared for demolition. Historic New England is the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive regional heritage organization in the nation. It endeavors to bring history to life while preserving the past for everyone interested in exploring the authentic New England experience from the seventeenth century to today.

The museum will be open from 11am – 3pm with tours available on the hour. The last tour leaves at 3pm. Space on tours is limited due to the structure of the Gedney House. The fee is $5 for the general public and free for Salem residents and Historic New England members.

For more details call 978-744-0440 or visit www.historicnewengland.org .

PEM Lecture Series Provides Behind-The-Scenes Look at Historic Ropes Mansion

The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) presents a special 3-part lecture series on the Ropes Mansion this month which offers unique opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of the historic house and the family that called it home. The “One House, Many Stories” series offers an inside look at rarely seen areas of the 18th-century house, a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the hobbies enjoyed by the Ropes family and a greater understanding of the culinary tastes of the day.

Ropes MansionBuilt in (or close to) 1727 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Ropes Mansion was home to four generations of the Ropes family and is recognized as one of New England’s most significant and thoroughly documented historic houses. Filled with original furnishings, the house contains superb examples of 18th- and 19th-century furniture, ceramics and glass, silver, kitchenwares, textiles and personal objects.

The Ropes Mansion is located at 318 Essex Street, Salem Mass.

Each lecture session is led by curatorial staff from PEM or Historic New England and is followed by a free drop-in art-making activity from noon to 2pm in the Ropes Mansion Garden, which is open to the public. Cold lemonade will be served and gardener Robin Pydynkowski will be on hand to answer questions. All garden activities are weather permitting.

The current information we have is that the July 11th lecture “Behind-the-Scenes Architecture Tour” is sold out, but if you are really interested, give PEM a call, you never know when there is a cancellation.

(Dean Lahikainen, PEM’s Carolyn and Peter Lynch Curator of American Decorative Art, is scheduled to speak about the extensive renovation work completed at the historic house through the years. Guests are to be escorted to areas rarely open to the public. From noon – 2pm attendees can enjoy drop-in design activities in the garden.)

The 2nd lecture takes place on July 18th: “Pastimes and Pursuits.” Paula Richter, PEM’s curator for exhibitions and research, will explore the many interests of the family members. These included botany, sewing and needlework, books and literature, travel, collecting art and interesting objects, social activities and more. From noon – 2pm botanical illustrator and author Doreen Bolnick will lead drop-in sketching and watercolor painting in the garden.

The 3rd lecture is set for July 25th: “Kitchens and Cooking.” Nancy Carlisle, senior curator of collections at Historic New England and author of America’s Kitchens, will discuss the history of the kitchen from the early 18th century to the present. Then visitors will spend some time in the Ropes kitchen to examine how it reflects the standards of the day. From noon – 2pm you can sample a treat in the garden that was typically served during the 19th century. Tasting created by chef Rhiannon Nowak of the Hawthorne Hotel.

Tickets are $12 for members, $15 for nonmembers (per session). Reservations required, please call 978-542-1511 or go to pem.org/calendar.

Summer Salon Series at Salem Athenæum: Informal and Informational

Return to the back porch for the Salem Athenæum’s Summer Salons–informal and informational gatherings on Friday evenings at 5:30pm in July and August. Each week will feature a discussion or presentation by members and friends of the Athenæum. The conversations will be diverse–past salon topics have included travel, writing, beekeeping, Spanish pilgrimages, and astrophysics.

The concept of the salon emerged in 17th-century France and quickly became popular throughout Europe. These gatherings of like-minded people were meant to refine tastes and knowledge through the exchange of talents, news, and ideas. (And, we are advised, more than a few were rife with irony, romance, and black humor!)

Salem Athenaeum SmallerJuly 10, Joe McGuire: “Birding Stories, Tips and Tools”
A lifelong birder and nature lover, Joe’s presentation will include bird-watching tips (including information about phone apps and online alerts), fun facts, and stories from his bird watching excursions in all kinds of weather. This is aimed at the amateur nature lover.

July 17, Price Grisham: “Serious Subjects
In May, independent Jane Austen scholar, Price Grisham, participated in a symposium on religion and literature at Chawton House Library in Chawton, Hampshire, England, where Jane Austen lived the last eight years of her life. Price will speak about his experience at Chawton House and the paper he presented: “Serious Subjects”: Jane Austen’s Barometric Readings of the Georgian Church.

July 24, Lynn Murray: ‘Travels in Patagonia
The natural wonders of Patagonia including Cape Horn, glaciers, volcanoes, penguins and more will be brought to life through photos and discussion. This region is part of both Chile and Argentina and is located just 600 miles from Antarctica.  Visits to Buenos Aires, Santiago, and Valparaiso will also be highlighted.

July 31, Norman Gaudrault: “Two Years in America: The Discoveries of a French Family
Norman became an author after his career as a pediatrician, when he and long-time friend Georges Idier collaborated and wrote Two Years in America. Norman and Georges met in Tunisia in 1965 while Norman was volunteering with the Peace Corps. Over the years, they stayed in touch. More human and sensitive than a tourist guide, more vibrant than a simple cultural report, their novel explores the experience of a French family spending 2 years in the United States.

Do your part to keep cultural discourse alive and well in the twenty-first century!

No tickets or reservations are required.

For more information about this series, see www.salemathenaeum.net or contact Jean Marie Procious at 978-744-2540 or info@salemathenaeum.net.

Come for the entertainment, stay for the information.

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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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