Salem Shopping – Page 17 – Salem Main Streets

Vintage Market + Derby Square = Great Saturday in Salem

Salem Event, Salem Shopping No Responses »

Sep 102015

Salem is a community whose ‘life’ is steeped in the past, be it the history found in the witchcraft trials or maritime adventures or architectural advancements. So it comes as no surprise that a group of local vendors would build upon that theme with a special Vintage Market, Saturday, September 12th, in historic Derby Square, from 10am – 3pm.

Explains Jane Stauffer, one of the organizers, “We’ll have old prints, paper and artwork, vintage toys, mod-clothing and jewelry, plus home decor, along with retro kitchen utensils, ceramics, glass and gardening items.”

Also featured will be a diverse selection of textiles and linens, salvage pieces and some books and ephemera on Salem.

“We have such a variety of dealers,” advises Stauffer “that there will be something of interest for everybody.”

The group of Salem area dealers includes Connie Hoar from “ The Chalifour Collection,” Diane Guerette from “Decades of Decor,” Ann Knight from “Cabbage Rose Antiques,” Stacia Kraft from “Federal St. Designs,” Jim McAllister from “Culture Corner,” Gus Sousa from “Collins Cove Appraisers and Conservators” and Stauffer from “Homemaker Collectibles.”

And here’s a special treat, several dealers also plan to bring Halloween and Holiday decorations from the past.

“We hope people will come by and browse. You never know what you might find,” advises Stauffer.

Providing musical entertainment at the Vintage Market from noon – 2pm will be Rachel Baldwin; she is appearing as part of the Creative Salem, Derby Square free music series program which has been presented every Friday and Saturday in Derby Square from noon – 2pm this summer.

Mid-century modern, retro kitchen, pottery, textiles, vintage toys, glassware, salvage, prints, art & old Salem ephemera— all in one place. A great Saturday day trip or date. And it’s in historic Salem! How can you pass that up?

Feather Your Nest in Salem!

New Businesses, Salem Shopping, Uncategorized 2 Responses »

Sep 052015

HausWitch, 144 Washington Street

Ah, Labor Day weekend. Traditionally a time to enjoy the last gasp of summer, the last barbecue, the last day at the beach. It’s also traditionally a time when many people spend the long weekend painting, unpacking, and otherwise transforming a new house into a new home.

Whether you’re moving into new digs, finally getting around to some upgrades, or attending a housewarming, our downtown Salem businesses have everything you need to get settled. We did a little homework this week, and here are a few ideas we found:

Witch City Thrift Consignment & Thrift (301 Essex Street) is the place to start for everything you need… and everything you didn’t think you needed! Need plates? Got ’em. Need chairs? Got ’em. Need some funky odds and ends to decorate the walls? Got ’em. Need a Victrola? ….Yup. Just don’t be confused when the locals still refer to it as “Jerry’s”.

Newcomer HausWitch Home + Healing (144 Washington Street) is the brain child of Erica Feldmann, a micro-budget decorator who wants to help you “bring the good vibes home.” HausWitch offers unique and affordable ways to add something special to your new space, from clever little hanging shelves, to beautiful napkins dyed with turmeric, onion, and basil, to bunches of sage meant for “smudging“. HausWitch is also known for their HausCraft Spell Kits, careful selections of objects and meditations in a house-shaped box, intended for specific situations in your home (we recommend “Co+Habitate” to help smooth out the edges with new roommates).

Next up, a visit to Kan.del (inside Museum Place Mall) gives a solid reminder that candles can truly be works of art in addition to transforming a new space with scent. Another new kid on the block, Kan.del’s products range from the earth-conscious (like the rareEARTH and “Rescued Wine” lines), to the exquisite (check out the incredible beeswax “busts” of composers and dogs), to the uniquely Salem (including candles inspired in memory of individual Salem Witch Trials victims) – and of course, they will all make your new home smell fantastic!

Last but not least, we took a trip to Roost & Company (40 Front Street), who’s ever-changing offerings are always creative and beautifully displayed. From to gag gifts (especially good for anyone who’s been moving boxes all day), to cookbooks (for when you can find your kitchen again), to beautiful everyday items (why should shower curtains be ugly?), you can always be sure to find the perfect house-warming gift at Roost.

But don’t stop there! You can also find great finds for a new home at Edward John Home Decor, Hedrington’s, the Pickering Wharf Antiques Gallery, Pamplemousse, and many, many more. Our local businesses want to help you call Salem, MA home as much as we do, so go explore!

First Friday Feels Right at Home on Pickering Wharf

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

Aug 292015

Has it been a month already since the last First Friday at Pickering Wharf? If you missed FF last month, this Friday, Sept. 4th is your chance to experience the interaction between your five senses and all that the Wharf stores have to offer.

What began as a plan to recreate an 18th century shopping village theme at Pickering Wharf has evolved into a visually serene landscape dotted with an eclectic line-up of gift shops and many, many, many places to stop for lunch or dinner.

Then add to it the special touch of a First Friday when merchants stay open later and offer some extra special deals as a way of saying “thank you” to customers, and you have a great day trip / ladies night out / guy’s night out destination this coming Friday Sept.4th

For example, show a receipt from any wharf merchant on this First Friday of the month, and the restaurants will take 10% off of your lunch or dinner that same day or evening (10% discount applies to food at participating merchants 62 Restaurant & Wine Bar, Brodies Seaport, Finz Seafood and Grill, Longboards Restaurant and Bar, Regatta Pub in the Salem Waterfront Hotel, Sea Level Oyster Bar and Kitchen, Vic’s Boathouse & Victoria’s Station.).

Find a good deal and enjoy a good meal. Pickering Wharf is located off Derby Street in Salem MA.

Anime Comes Alive at Flying Saucer Restaurant

Contests, Salem Event, Salem Shopping No Responses »

Aug 232015

Remember Pokemon from your childhood? Or perhaps you are actively involved with some form of anime now? The videos and card games are still going strong. As is a much more grown-up and tightly written anime called Attack on Titan. Both of those as well as three other forms of anime will each have a day of exposure during the Flying Saucer Pizza Company special Anime Week, Aug. 24-28.

Explains Nicole Spirito, General Manager of Flying Saucer, “This is the first EVER Anime Week at Flying Saucer in our three years of being in business. We are well known for our creative intertwining of delicious pizza and good nerdy fun, and I decided that it was time for the anime/manga crowd to have a fun week just for them!”

Harrison’s Comics & Pop Culture in Salem is co-sponsoring the week long event and is supplying raffle prizes. It also holds Pokemon sessions & tournaments on Sunday afternoons.

She adds, “Harrison’s Comics has always been a loyal friend and partner with us as business owners in Salem, and we saw this as the perfect opportunity to have our worlds collide, so to speak. Many of our staff and customers are avid anime enthusiasts, and we all enjoyed collaborating on ideas to make this week fantastic.”

The night returns some fan pizza favorites, including the BULBASAUR and VEGETA – as well as introducing some lively cocktails. You are invited to wear your finest merch to receive some “awesome” Saucer freebies.

For those of you that don’t know about this art form, the word anime is a shortened version of animēshon and can be characterized by colorful graphics, vibrant characters and fantastical themes.

According to Wikipedia, “The earliest commercial Japanese animation dates to 1917, and production of anime works in Japan has since continued to increase steadily. The characteristic anime art style emerged in the 1960s with the works of Osamu Tezuka and spread internationally in the late twentieth century, developing a large domestic and international audience. Anime is distributed theatrically, by television broadcasts, directly to home media, and over the internet. It is classified into numerous genres targeting diverse broad and niche audiences.”

In other words, anime is everywhere and enjoyed by males & females of all ages and nationalities.

The schedule (at posting time):

Monday – Pokemon
Tuesday – Naruto
Wednesday – Dragon Ball Z with a special screening of Resurrection F at 8pm
Thursday – Inuyasha
Friday – Attack on Titan with a late night screening from 11pm-1am

And, don’t forget, adds Nicole, “We’ll be raffling off killer memorabilia provided by Harrison’s Comics each night!”

Flying Saucer is located at 118 Washington St, in Salem MA. And Harrison’s is across the street from Flying Saucer at 252 Essex Street.

Did You Forget This Is a Sales Tax Holiday Weekend?

Salem Event, Salem Shopping No Responses »

Aug 162015

Don’t feel badly if you either forgot or were unaware that Saturday & Sunday of this weekend had been designated as a “sales tax holiday weekend.” Important thing is you know now and can make your plans to “cash in” on some already great shopping options today at Pickering Wharf, along Front Street, Derby St, Washington St, etc.

Drive, ride a bike, or even be carried. Just get here any way you can.

If you want to get into the fine points of what exactly is and is not tax free go to this Department of Revenue site. Here is the basic info:

A recently enacted statute provides for a Massachusetts “sales tax holiday weekend,” i.e., two consecutive days during which most purchases made by individuals for personal use will not be subject to Massachusetts sales or use taxes. St. 2015, c. XXX (“the Act”). The Act provides that the sales tax holiday will occur on August 15 and 16, 2015 and on those days, non-business sales at retail of single items of tangible personal property costing $2,500 or less are exempt from sales and use taxes, subject to certain exclusions. The following do not qualify for the sales tax holiday exemption and remain subject to tax: all motor vehicles, motorboats, meals, telecommunications services, gas, steam, electricity, tobacco products and any single item whose price is in excess of $2,500. The Act charges the Commissioner of Revenue with issuing instructions or forms and rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of the Act.

And we are not alone. A total of 18 states and Puerto Rico are part of this parade. It is a great way to stock up on back to school supplies. But check first if you are going to try to stretch the rules. For example, while some states will allow a Halloween costume as apparel, the mask does not qualify.

An article on CNBC reports “Take Massachusetts. Last year, traffic over its two-day tax holiday increased 23.9 percent compared to the prior weekend, while sales increased nearly 60 percent, according to RetailNext data.”

In other words, save some money.

Older Entries Newer Entries