Uncategorized – Page 36 – Salem Main Streets

We’re Jammin’, Jammin’…

May 102013

…And I hope you like jammin’ too. The Bob Marley Ensemble will share their music and message Saturday, May 11th as part of the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival/Berklee College of Music Summer Series. Performance time has been reset to 5:30-7:30pm in Derby Square. It is sponsored by Lobster Shanty and expect to find a lot of good music and good feelings (and this is Salem, so there will be much good food to be had within walking distance).

Bob Marley Ensemble to perform at Salem Ma Matt Jenson, assistant professor of piano at the Berklee College of Music in Boston initially designed a class called “The Music and Life of Bob Marley” which presents an in-depth study of Marley’s life, maintaining respect for the soulfulness of his music and for his message of love and resistance to oppression.

This one semester class consists of 15 auditioned singers and instrumentalists who come from around the world. In a lecture-demonstration format, Jenson takes the students on a biographical tour of Marley’s fascinating life, and then rigorously coaches the ensemble as they prepare for performances.

Such as the one they will offer Salem. For more info go to www.salemjazzsoul.com

DrumFest & ZumbaFest

But that’s not the only music in Salem on Saturday. Not one, but two kickoff fundraisers will play out for Salem Culture Fest.

Presented by A3D (African Development through Drum & Dance), a Drum Fest will fill the air at from 10-11am at St. Peter’s Church. It is a drum circle event led by Mamadou Diop, president of A3D and leader of the award winning band “Mamadou.” For a $10 donation you can join in, bring a drum (some will be available). Mamadou to appear in Salem Ma

Doors to the ZumbaFest will open at 12:30pm, with dance sessions running from 1:30-3pm. Fee to participate is $20. There will be vendors, refreshments, activities and raffles for participants before & afterward until 4pm.

These funds will go towards mounting the annual Salem CultureFest, set this year for July 20 & 21. All funds raised there will be used to support the organization’s ongoing projects of educational development in Senegal, distribution of medical supplies to West Africa, and a donation to a local charitable organization.

For more info, go to www.a3dinc.org

PEM: Dirt Is Welcome Subject at Party

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May 062013

Leave it to the creative minds at Salem’s Peabody Essex Museum to unearth a really ground breaking topic for their next PEM/PM party event: DIRT!

Or more accurately, things you can do with what grows out of well-tended dirt.

On May 16 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, you will be able to sip specialty cocktails made with fresh basil and thyme and dig right into this fabulous party that celebrates growing gardens and eating local.

The event is part of the 3rd Thursday of every month series that PEM established in 2011. Facilities stay open until 9:30pm to accommodate the varied activities. Last month the event showcased the Nick Cave experience. Over 800 people attended.

Healthy dirt

In the midst of this night’s party atmosphere, new ways to use seasonal and locally grown food will be presented. Members of both Salem Community Gard ens and Salem Farmers’ Market will be on hand to share tips for gardening and local, healthy eating.

Meanwhile, environmental artist Kyle Browne demonstrates how to create a seedbomb, a little ball made of compost, clay and seeds that can be launched into inaccessible areas such as wasteland or railways.

Want to make a work of art at PEM? Since sketching is becoming a popular pastime. PEM encourages you to grab a sketchpad to draw a costumed, live model from Modern Millie Vintage and Consignments of Salem and Newburyport.

Word is that Modern Millie is providing a styled model and this one will be appropriate to the theme DIRT.

And music will be provided by the rootsy sound of Dan & The Wildfire. These Boston-based boys from Berklee College of Music are cultivating crowds as they perform up and down the East Coast.

PEM/PM is an fun opportunity for people to explore the galleries after dark and a way to engage the community in art-making, music and stimulating conversation.

Admission is free to Salem residents (with ID), $10 for non-members. There will be a cash bar. For more info call 866-745-1876.

Waiting for the Weekend

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May 012013

A new month is upon us and Salem residents know that means first and foremost, First Friday (on May 3rd) when merchants keep their businesses open until 8pm (some even later) to accommodate extra walk-in traffic. But this special weekend also features a Hats Off to Education gala fundraiser and the 2013 Mass Poetry Festival. Can you find the time to squeeze it all in?

First Friday (held on the first Friday of every month) is part of our efforts at Salem MainStreets to help promote not just the shopping potential of our Downtown District but to spotlight the merchants behind the counters. First Friday gives them a chance to be creative in presentation, theme, and goodies to give out.

oysters For example, Finz restaurant is offering $1 oyster from 5-7pm, while Vic’s Boathouse has $1 shrimp cocktail from 6-8pm and Pamplemouse has a special wine tasting event.

And you, the shopping public are the benefactors.

Also on May 3rd will be Hats Off to Education, a fundraiser for the Salem Education Foundation, whose goal is to provide funding for projects that further students’ educational experiences in science, mathematics, the arts and humanities. This “hat-themed” ticketed event features a live auction, $5,000 reverse raffle, great food and live music, and the new Wall of Wine (WOW!). The event begins at 7:30pm at the Hawthorne Hotel.

Tickets may be purchased: online at https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/communicate/EventTickets.action?auctionId=186435375 or at the door on the evening of the event.

There is also an Online Auction running now through May 5th with over 200 items including sporting and theater tickets, gift certificates to local restaurants and shops, weekend getaways and more. To participate in the Online Auction, go to www.biddingforgood.com/sefspringauction

For Friday night, here are just a few of the items up for bid.

Salem Lobstering Expedition & Dinner for four, Donated by Melea & Mike Nalli
Autographed Patriots Football, Donated by the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation
Unique Date Night: Perfume and Corset Evening followed by Dinner at Red Lulus, Donated by J’Adore & Red LuLu’s
Salem Sunset Cruise for Six, Donated by Cindy and Peter Theriault

The Massachusetts Poetry Festival is a three-day event (May 3-5) attracting a variety of local and regional poets, hosting poetry readings, interactive workshops, panel discussions, music, film, visual arts, and performances to various venues in Salem.

For full description of the activities (and there are many), participants, and most importantly registration to attend, go to their website. This is important. By signing up for all the events you wish to attend, even if not required, provides the Festival organizers with data to decide if they need to move a smaller event to a larger space.

The festival in the past attracted more than 1,500 poets and followers. So a word to the wise should be sufficient.

Get Into The Groove Saturday

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Apr 272013

Looking for a fun and rewarding diversion for this Saturday night? Look no further than Downtown Salem, Ma. Specifically 43 Church Street. The location and the establishment where from 9pm to midnight Boston-based rhythm and blues soul singer Jesse Dee will perform.

In support of Dee’s recently released CD, “In my Mind/In my Heart,” Salem-based System Soul will play DJ sets throughout the night. Raffles, hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. Tickets are $20, and proceeds will fund Salem Jazz and Soul Festival’s nonprofit mission of producing free concerts and supporting music education causes on the North Shore.

Something solid to eat, something wet to drink, some cool music and a warm feeling for contributing to a community organization. Can’t beat that for a Saturday night.

The Week That Was

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Apr 222013

Salem MainStreets, like many other community organizations watched the events of last week unfold in horror. Out of respect for the fallen and injured, we back-pedaled on self-promotion. A tweet here and there, some calendar entries, but for the most part we were glued to the TV and read social media to be in touch. Just like all of you.

“Freedom Is Not Free” (engraved on the Washington, D.C. Korean War Veterans Memorial). It must be tended to, watched and guarded. Boston, with the emotional support of Salem, NYC, Chicago and the rest of America did just that this past week.

Because of that we can return to our lives, and enjoy the benefits of living in communities like Salem and Boston.

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