**THE WINE AND CHOCOLATE EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT**
The Salem’s So Sweet festival kick’s off tonight with a Chocolate and Wine Tasting Friday, February 5 with delicious treats ranging from chocolate cheesecake to chocolate truffles to chocolate ice cream. There will also be a nice wine selection from area wine shops and restaurants. The event will be held at Hamilton Hall, 9 Chestnut St., Salem, MA starting at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are going fast for this popular Salem event. This is a chocolate lovers dream. Chocolate selections will range from chocolate truffles to ice cream. We anticipate chocolate mousse, flan even cheese cake may make an appearance at this year’s event. In addition to all these scruptious chocolate choices there will be a lovely selection of wine. The Chocolate and Wine Tasting is the kick off event for Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival. The tasting will be held Friday, February 5 at Hamilton Hall, 9 Chestnut Street from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance at 265 Essex Street, suite 101. Participating businesses include: Capt.’s Waterfront Grill & Club, Captain Dusty’s Ice Cream, Coffee Time Bake Shop, Finz Seafood Restaurant, Harbor Sweets, Nathaniel’s in the Hawthorne Hotel, Maria’s Sweet Somethings, Market Wine & Spirits, Pamplemousse, Rockafellas, Salem Beer Works, Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites, Salem Wine Imports, Sixty2 on Wharf, Strega Restaurant & Lounge, Victoria Station and Ye Olde Pepper Co.
Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival will feature sixteen artfully carved ice sculptures downtown Salem starting Saturday, February 6 at noon. This year the festival will include an ice carving demonstration at 1:00 p.m. at Pickering Wharf on Feb. 6 by Ice Effects. Also, new this year the Phillips House will host a mixed media ice sculpture by local artist Josh Gerloff, featuring the Phillips family dog. Back by popular demand…the Salem Witch at the Salem Witch Museum
Below is a complete listing of the ice sculptures.
1. CASABLANCA – Sponsored by Pickering Wharf Merchants Association
2. GONE WITH THE WIND – Sponsored by Pickering Wharf Merchants Association
3. DR. ZHIVAGO – Sponsored by Pickering Wharf Merchants Association
4. THE EIFFEL TOWER – Sponsored by Sophia’s
5. THE SALEM WITCH – Sponsored by the Salem Witch Museum
6. FASHION TIGER (Inspired by Iris Apfel) – Sponsored by the Peabody Essex Museum
7. CAT WITH CAULDRON – Sponsored by Bewitched in Salem, Essex’s N.Y. Deli & Pizza, Glass and Etc., Lotus Gifts, Marley Properties Salem, Polonus European Deli, Salem’s Vintage Photography, Thai Place, Witch Tee’s
8. ICE CASTLE – Sponsored by Bernard’s Jewelers, Pamplemousse, Salem Trolley, Samantha’s Costumes, Signatures, Trolley Depot, Witch’s Hide
9. FOOD DOME – Sponsored by The Lyceum
10. PUFF AWAY – Sponsored by Red Lion Smoke Shop
11. TICKLING THE IVORIES – Sponsored by Rockafellas
12. BOSTON SPORTS TEAM LOGOS – Sponsored by Tavern in the Square
13. MAX (From Where the Wild Things Are) – Sponsored by Cornerstone Books
14. PHOENIX RISING FROM FLAMES – Sponsored by the Art Corner
15. PRINCE, THE PHILLIPS FAMILY DOG – Sponsored by Historic New England – Phillips House
16. CRYSTAL SNOWFLAKE – Sponsored by Laura Lanes Skin Care (Located at Essex and Washington St.)
As you look to the year ahead, save the date for Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival February 5 – 14, 2010. This popular festival starts with a delicious Chocolate and Wine Tasting in Hamilton Hall on Friday, February 5 at 6:30 p.m. and continues with beautiful ice sculptures throughout downtown Salem starting February 6 for as long as the weather allows. Come downtown Salem and enjoy chocolate samples, fantastic discounts, the beautiful sculptures, a golden ticket contest, window displays and much more. Details will be posted soon.
Salem Heritage Days kicked off with a fantastic Maritime Festival run by the National Park Service and continues through the week and into the next weekend with the Salem Chamber of Commerce Essex Street Fair. Whether you enjoy pizza or ice cream, running races or face painting and clowns the Salem Heritage Days is for you, Salem residents. Salem has a lot to offer year round and this is just a sample of of the many activities you can enjoy living in Salem.
Here are a sample of a few activities downtown Salem…
Monday, August 3
Salem Senior Recognition Days
Salem Senior Trolley Rides and admission to the Witch House, Witch Museum, House of Seven Gables, Witch Dungeon Museum, New England Pirate Museum and the Witch History Museum – Free admission for Salem residents ages 60 and over. Proof of age and Salem residency is required. Call for hours.
Mayor’s Night Out Restaurant Sampler – 5PM-7PM
Join Mayor Kim Driscoll for hors d’oeuvres samples at Gulu-Gulu, Tavern in the Square and The Grapevine Restaurant. The group will meet at Gulu-Gulu at 5 p.m. Pre-registration required (max. 40 participants). Cost: $20 (Cash Bar) Proceeds benefit the Salem Main Streets program. For more information or to register call the Salem Chamber at 978-744-0004.
Tuesday, August 4
Ice Scream Bowl – 6PM-7:30PM – Salem Common (formerly known as the ‘Scooperbowl’)
We all scream for ICE-CREAM! Indulge your sweet tooth! Sample flavors from many of the North Shore’s finest creameries and ice cream parlors. Bring the whole family. $5 Adults / $3 Kids. Proceeds to benefit Salem Main Streets. For more information contact the Salem Chamber/Salem Main Streets at 978-744-0004.
Wednesday, August 5
Window Box & Traffic Island Awards Ceremony – 5:30PM – Emmerton House Garden – Hawthorne Blvd.
Please join Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, the Salem Garden Club and the Salem Beautification Committee as they award the winners of the City’s window box and traffic island competitions. Light refreshments will be served immediately following the ceremony.
Thursday, August 6
Salem Farmers’ Market – 4PM-7PM – Derby Square
If you haven’t had a chance to visit The Salem Farmers’ Market. Come visit us at Historic Derby Square on Front Street in Downtown Salem and is held every Thursday evening from 4-7:00 starting June 25, 2009 through October 29, 2009. Continue reading »