fundraiser – Page 10 – Salem Main Streets

Anything Happening Before Halloween?

Sep 272013

Spotlights are about to be switched on. While it may not be the Greatest Show on Earth, Salem’s “Haunted Happenings” October month-long festival will give most other Halloween festivals a run for their money. But before we turn the page to all that is dark and gloomy and fun, September has one more week.

And what a week it has been and will still be.

Another great Farmers Market took place on Thursday, followed by a lively PEM/PM after-hours gathering of the Steampunk followers (as evidenced by the lively Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band pictured here). Feed the stomach and the mind.

Speaking of feeding oneself, Billy Costa of NECN’s “TV Diner” will serve (could not resist) as the emcee of the 4th Annual Mystery Dine Around Salem Waterfront Hotel, Friday from 5:30-11pm. The menu? “Be transported to one of 15 designated restaurants for a fabulous dinner; then following dinner, guests return to the hotel to enjoy the Decadent Dessert Buffet, dancing, live DJ, and the opportunity to bid on an assortment of auction items.” There may be tickets still available, call 978.740.8788. Proceeds to benefit The Lifebridge Campus.

Then looking ahead to Saturday, well you can’t beat the drums loud enough to support the special fundraiser for the Boys/Girls Club of Salem music program taking place at Wynott’s Wands, 127 Essex St.

Salem musician Aaron Katz from The Dejas plans to drum 30 hours straight in an effort to set a new World-Record for Drumming in a Retail Store. And spurring him on will hopefully be you and other community members making donations.

Children, tourists, artists and residents are invited to get involved and bring their own instruments to participate and show solidarity for the music program’s initiative— as well as give Aaron some musical changes of pace for his drumming.

Survival of another kind manifests itself later in the day, as The Running Dead- Zombie 5K run is unleashed. Runners will try to stay the course while besieged by “zombies” who have the lone goal of eliminating you. The choice is yours. Proceeds will benefit the NSMC Cancer Center. Info and registration at www.runningdeadz5k.com

And then the weekend ends with a full Sunday.

Cruise the historic waters of Salem Sound aboard a full-scale replica of the 1812 privateer schooner FAME! From 11am to 12:45pm passengers will learn about the fishermen, pirates, privateers, traders and men of war who shaped our North Shore. Limited Availability! No reservations. Booth opens at 10:30AM. First come, first served. 80 Pickering Wharf. More info available at www.trailsandsails.org.

Enjoy Spiritual Middens: The Archaeology of Folklore – an exhibit and artifacts on display at the Witch House, 310 1/2 Essex St. You will find featured deliberately concealed items designed to protect a home’s vulnerable places, the threshold and the hearth. Entrance to the exhibit is free to Trails & Sails event attendees from 1-3pm only. For more info go to www.trailsandsails.org.

Learn about Salem and the Abolitionist Movement. A walking tour will begin at Old Town Hall in Derby Square; examine the history and impact of local and national abolitionists in Salem. This 90 minute tour will move around downtown Salem on city sidewalks. For more info go to www.trailsandsails.org. Runs from 1-3 pm.

Share an experience as you observe The 3rd Annual Gimme Shelter Birdhouse Auction, 1-3 pm at Artist’s Row, 24 New Derby St. Featured birdhouses were designed, built, and donated by local folks of all ages and abilities. Proceeds to benefit the Northeast Animal Shelter. Hosted by Salem Collective of Artists and Musicians, Serendipitish, and Social Palates. For more info go to salemcollective@gmail.com. or www.facebook.com/salemcollective/events

Drive over to Winter Island Pavilion for the 4 Paws Fundraiser Charity Cookout for Service Dogs, from 1-5 pm. Food, games, a bounce house, and music are all included for the price of admission! Plus raffle prizes. All proceeds will go to the Charity 4PawsforAbility towards Gabriel Lacerda’s goal to help him receive an Autism Service Dog! Fun for the whole family and a great cause! For more details go to www.paws4gabe.com

Taste the Gables. Join local chefs for an elegant evening of fun, food, and camaraderie under the tent on The Gables’ oceanfront lawn. Proceeds will benefit the preservation of eight historic houses. Caterers and chefs, vintners and brewers will offer their specialties and compete for your vote. It runs from 4-8 pm at 115 Derby St. For more info go to www.7gables.org.

Many of these events are benefits. Salem may be famous for Halloween as a tourist destination, but we are that and so much more.

September means Oktober-fest in Salem

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Sep 102013

Raised mugs will be the order of the day at Salem’s Old Town Hall this Saturday, 9/14/13 from 7-11pm as Pamplemousse and Social Palates are joining forces to host the third annual Salem Ma Oktoberfest.

The German-themed event will feature beer from local breweries as well as traditional fare from Salem businesses including Polonus Deli, the Flying Saucer Pizza Company and the Lobster Shanty. A continuous line up of entertainment includes local acts The Nick Consone Band, Qwill, and Freevolt.

“Everyone had such a good time last year, there were games, contests and many showed up in traditional costume,” says Pamplemousse’s Diane Manahan. “We knew right away that this would become an annual tradition.”

Featured highlights for this year will be the Bratwurst eating contest, the Apple Challenge, Kazoo-kioki, and the German costume contest with prizes in each category. The host this year is Erik Rodenheiser of the Griffin Theater as Olga, the Angry German Beer Wench.

All proceeds will benefit the Salem YMCA. Last year’s event raised over $5,000 to support the Y for All Campaign.

Manahan adds that “Local politicians are donating their time and dressing up in traditional German costumes to help with the cause. Look for State Senator Joan Lovely, Councillor at Large William Legault, Councillors Josh Turiel and Tom Furey as well as David Eppley and Beth Gerard who are running for Ward 4 and 6.”

Tickets are $20 per person (21 and older, please) and include admission, German hats and kazoos, a souvenir mug. Beer from Blue Hills Brewing, Narragansett, Cody Brewing and Notch will be available for $2 and $3 as well as German wine. A variety of German faire will be available for purchase.Tickets can be purchased at Pamplemousse, Salem Cycle, The YMCA (all located in downtown Salem) and at the door. This event has been sold out each of the past 2 years, so get your tickets early!

We’re Jammin’, Jammin’…

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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

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.

Donations Needed for Downtown Decorations!

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Nov 032012

Salem Main Streets is looking for donations for Downtown Holiday Decorations. Every year Salem Main Streests collects donations to be able to hang live green wreaths throughout the downtown. Salem Main Streets also looks for donations to purchase and decorate a large holiday tree which is placed in Lappin Park. These programs would not be possible without donations from downtown businesses and the community. Please donate now! To donate or for more information contact Jennifer Bell, Salem Main Streets, 265 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970 or (978)744-0004 or Jennifer@salemmainstreets.org.

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