Jul 302019
 

It’s that time of year again – the Best of the North Shore‘s annual awards have been announced, and our Salem businesses and events have risen to the top again! We are especially excited for the recognition of those projects that Salem Main Streets had a direct hand in, including the Salem Farmers’ Market, the Salem Arts Festival, Salem’s So Sweet, and (to a certain extent) Haunted Happenings.

Check out this awesome list of Salem-based award winners, or check out North Shore Magazine’s website for a full list –  http://www.nshoremag.com/bons-2019.

DINE
Bacon – Back Alley Bacon (Readers’ Choice)
Bakery/Bread– A&J King (Editors’ and Readers’ Choice)
Brunch – Ledger Restaurant & Bar (Readers’)
Burger – Ledger Restaurant & Bar (Editors’ Choice)
Fish & Chips – Turner’s Seafood (Readers’)
Fish Sandwich – Turner’s Seafood (Readers’)
General Excellence – Ledger Restaurant & Bar (Readers’)
Gluten Free – Life Alive (Editors’)
Indian – Passage to India (Readers’)
Mexican – Howling Wolf (Editors’)
Mussels – Finz Seafood & Grill (Editors’), Turner’s Seafood (Readers’)
New Restaurant– Stella’s Restaurant and Wine Bar (tie for Editor’s Choice), Ledger (Readers’)
Pizza – Bambolina (Editors’ tie and Readers’)
Ramen – Kokeshi (Readers’)
Seafood – Turner’s (Readers’)
Tacos – Sea Level Oyster Bar (Readers’)
Vegetarian – Life Alive (Editors’ and Readers’)

DRINK
Bar – Ledger Restaurant & Bar (Editors’)
Beer Garden – Notch Brewing (Readers’)
Beer Menu – Gulu Gulu Café (Readers’)
Brewery – Notch Brewing (Runner Up)
Distillery– Deacon Giles (Readers’)
Hard Cider – Far From the Tree (Editors’ and Readers’)
Juice Bar – Life Alive (Readers’)
Taproom – Notch Brewery (Readers’)
Wine List– Stella’s Restaurant and Wine Bar (Editors’), Ledger (Readers’)
Winery– 1634 Meadery (Editors’) – Salem Farmers’ Market vendor

INDULGE
Candies– Ye Olde Pepper Companie (Editors’), Harbor Sweets (Readers’)
Chocolate – Harbor Sweets (Readers’)
Cookies – Goodnight Fatty (Editors’)
Dessert – Ledger (Editors’), Caramel French Patisserie (Readers’)

LIVE
Farmers’ Market – Salem Farmers’ Market (Editors’)
Personal Chef Service – Fine Food + Cooking LLC by Ricardo Sanchez (Editors’)
Tailoring/Altering – Alterations by Rosa (Readers’)

PLAY
Arts Festival – Salem Arts Festival (Readers’)
Charter Boat – When and If (Editors’)
Family Hangout – Peabody Essex Museum (Editors’ and Readers’)
Festival (Fall) – Haunted Happenings (Readers’)
Festival (Spring) – Salem Film Fest (Editors’)
Festival (Winter) – Salem’s So Sweet (Editors’)
Museum– Peabody Essex Museum (Editors’ and Readers’)

SHOP
Cheese Shop – The Cheese Shop of Salem (Editors’ and Readers’)
Makeup Selection – Rouge Cosmetics (Editors’)
Yoga Apparel – Yoga Sakti (Editors’)

RENEW
Barber Shop – Badabing Barbershop and Shave Parlor (Readers’)
Bed & Breakfast – The Merchant (Editors’)

MINGLE
Billiards – Village Tavern (Readers’)
Guys’ Night Out – Bit Bar (Editors’)

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May 182019
 

On the second Thursday in June, the Salem Farmers’ Market will officially kick off its eleventh season on Derby Square. With over 35 vendors, the market will be held at Derby Square on Front Street in Salem, MA every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. from June 13th through October 17th, 2019.

“The Salem Farmers’ Market has truly become a destination for the community for over a decade now – it’s a gathering place as well as an opportunity to get fresh, local produce and other one-of-a-kind goods,” Salem Main Streets Executive Director Kylie Sullivan said, adding that the market typically draws over 2,000 market-goers weekly. “With the great range of vendors that we have, there’s something for everyone at our farmers’ market.”  

For five months every year, the largely volunteer-run market gives residents and tourists alike the opportunity to buy farm-fresh produce, seafood, baked goods, meat, and a variety of other goods. At the heart of the market are seven major farms: Clark Farm, Gibney Gardens, Maitland Mountain Farm, Grant Family Farm, Heavens Harvest Farm, Long Hill Orchard, and Wally’s Vegetables. They are complemented by an array of specialty foods, bakery products, spices, and non-food vendors. Exciting new additions to the 2019 market include The Herb Farmacy, The Cheese Shop of Salem, Romeo’s Juices, Roseadela’s, The Branch Olive Oil, Nubble Hydro Microgreens, Crepe du Jour, Chrissy’s Crumble, Bauman’s Best Botanicals, Giuseppe’s Ice Pops, and Uncommonly Good Bakery,  along with many other surprises and additions throughout the season. Every week the market offers live music and representation from different community groups and initiatives.

The market is made possible through the leadership of Salem Main Streets and the Farmers’ Market Committee, as well as the generous contributions of numerous volunteers.  We are actively looking for volunteers to help with weekly set up from 1:30 to 3:00, help at the info table between 3:00 and 7:00, and break down help from 6:30 to 7:30. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact salemfarmersmarket@gmail.com.

As in previous years, the market will continue to take EBT through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.  In compliance with the City of Salem’s plastic bag ordinance, we encourage attendees to bring their own bags – or buy a tote bag at the market to support our work!

To get the latest updates about the farmers’ market, visit our website at www.salemfarmersmarket.org, or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SalemMAFarmersMarket) or Twitter (@salemfarmersmarket).

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Apr 252019
 

Please join City staff and Salem Main Streets for a discussion of draft regulations for the outdoor display or sale of merchandise downtown, especially with regards to the Pedestrian Mall.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, 2019, 8:30 a.m. at the first floor meeting room, City Hall Annex, 98 Washington Street.

Draft regulations can currently be found online at https://www.salem.com/planning-and-community-development/pages/studies-and-reports.

Those unable to attend the meeting may submit their comments in writing to Kathryn Newhall-Smith at knewhallsmith@Salem.com.

Purpose: The purpose of these regulations is:

  1. To control for the sale and display of merchandise outside, but in close proximity, to a business with a traditional storefront within the downtown;
  2. To optimize the growth and income of retail businesses by allowing and encouraging the use of portions of the public right-of-way through an equitable review and permitting process;
  3. To enhance the visual appeal of the right-of-way through thoughtful consideration of materials, placement, and overall appearance of the outdoor vending facility;
  4. To ensure that there is safe, adequate passage along the entirety of the public right-of-way for public safety and emergency response vehicles and personal; and
  5. To provide safe, adequate access along the public right-of-way for persons of all abilities.
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Apr 222019
 

Join us for the sixth annual Salem Arts Festival Fashion Show Fundraiser – Friday, April 26, 7-10 pm – for a night of fashion, food, drink, and fun in support of one of Salem’s greatest festivals! The event is moving to a new location this year, the historic Hawthorne Hotel, at 18 Washington Square West.

“The Fashion Show gets bigger and better every year. It’s really the perfect way to introduce the dynamic, locally-focused energy behind the Arts Festival,” says Kylie Sullivan, Executive Director of Salem Main Streets (SMS), the community nonprofit that founded the Festival. “The need for financial support is critical for the success of the festival, which welcomes 7,000 attendees to downtown Salem every June. We are committed to keeping the festival free and open to the public, but we’re also committed to paying artists and performers – that means we need to raise some substantial funds.”

The one-of-a-kind event will feature fabulous fashions from renowned local boutiques and shops, including Curtsy, J. Mode, Lifebridge Thrift Shop, Modern Millie Shop, the Peabody Essex Museum Shop, re-find, The Boutique, Vampfangs, Beach Bride Baubles, RJ Coins & Jewelry, and Hive & Forge, as well as some final polish by local stylists Laura Lanes Skin Care and Rouge Cosmetics. Attendees can also expect outside-the-box accessories and surprises from local creative genius Grace & Diggs and other local makers from the Salem Arts Association on the catwalk.

Karen Scalia of Salem Food Tours returns as the mastermind behind fashion show logistics and staging, and with festival co-organizers Salem Main Streets and Creative Collective at the helm, locals know it’s going to be an incredible night. The Fashion Show will tap into the 2019 Salem Arts Festival theme of “Roots.” Lighting and ambience by Retonica will completely transform the historic ballroom throughout the night. The 2019 Fashion Show Fundraiser is generously sponsored in part by Salem Five and Derby Square Architects.

Advance tickets are $40 per person with a cash bar, tickets purchased the day of the event are $45 – but this event regularly sells out, so we don’t recommend waiting. VIP tickets are already sold out!

Purchase tickets over the phone at 978-744-0004 x115, in person at 265 Essex Street (Salem Main Streets), or online at https://salem-main-streets.ticketleap.com/fashion-show-2019.  Proceeds directly benefit the Salem Arts Festival.

About the Salem Arts Festival

The 11th annual Salem Arts Festival will be held June 7th to 9th, 2019.  SAF is organized by Salem Main Streets, the Creative Collective, and a collaboration of Salem organizations, including the City of Salem, Salem State University, Salem Food Tours, the Phoenix School, Peabody Essex Museum, the Salem Arts Association, and a significant number of dedicated locals. The festival also relies on the gracious support of its other creative partners, including Retonica Event Lighting, The Scarlet Letter Press, and Octocog Marketing and Design.

If you would like to support this dynamic annual cultural mainstay for its 11th year, please contact kylie@salemmainstreets.org or visit www.salemartsfestival.com/support.

Salem Main Streets mission is the continued revitalization of downtown Salem as a vibrant, year-round, retail, dining and cultural destination through business retention, recruitment, and the promotion of the downtown district. The Creative Collective connects creativity, community and commerce through a series of traditional and non-traditional marketing efforts, advocacy, events and resources.

For more information about the Salem Arts Festival, please see www.salemartsfestival.com or contact Kylie Sullivan at kylie@salemmainstreets.org or (978)744-0004 (x115).

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Jan 102019
 

Salem Maritime National Historic Site is affected by the government shutdown and is closed until further notice. A number of community members have been asking how to help or what they should know in the meantime, so local partners are working together to fill in the blanks.

Here are some things you can do to help:
  *   Take a walk around the park and pick up litter.
  *   If you see anything in need of emergency attention at the Salem Maritime Site (i.e. broken windows, extensive litter, damage) contact Ryan or Kathryn at Essex Heritage, 978-740-0444, or the staff at Waite and Peirce, 978-744-4319

Some concerned community members have expressed interest in starting up a drive for grocery gift cards and other needs. Federal employees are not allowed to accept cash or gifts, so while the thought is greatly appreciated, please do not organize this type of event.

Visitors in need of information should visit www.salem.org for an up-to-date list of what’s happening in town. For seasonal hours and information, please visit http://www.salem.org/seasonal-hours.

In case information is needed in person, visitors can be directed to:
  *   Waite and Peirce, 193 Derby Street; Open 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily
  *   Salem Main Streets/Salem Chamber of Commerce at 265 Essex Street; Generally open 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., weekdays
  *   Please note there are no public bathrooms at either location.

Information and needs will be updated as needed. Please send good thoughts for a prompt end to the government shutdown so that our colleagues can get back to doing their jobs of caring for the country’s first designated National Historic Site.

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