Apr 192012
 

Spend your weekend downtown Salem April 20 – 22 at the Mass Poetry Festival.  The poetry festival kicks off Friday with programs for Families and Children; then moves into adult programing in the later afternoon. In the evening enjoy a headline reading with Robert Pinsky, Maggie Dietz and Major Jackson. The night closes out with an intercollegiate poetry slam at Victoria Station.

Saturday begins with workshops and more programs for children and families.  Throughout the day there will be activities for families in the Peabody Essex Museum. Across the street in the Museum Place Mall, the small press fair will run from noon to 5:00 pm. Montserrat College of Art will be silkscreening and giving away Mass Poetry festival book bags. At 1:30 pm there will be a reading of the 2012 Common Threads poets. More than 60 readings, workshops, panels and performances will sprawl throughout downtown Salem all afternoon. In the evening there will an amazing performance of song and poetry by powerful story tellers. The evening will end with a late night Poetry Slam organized by famed slam master of the Boston Poetry Slam Simone Beaubian!

Sunday also includes a full line up of events. Visit the official Mass Poetry website for full details. Festival buttons only cost $10. Link to full festival calendar here.

Share
Mar 252012
 

Salem continues to open new businesses, offering greater variety in the downtown. If you haven’t noticed yet, re-find has just opened a store for men ranging from gently used dress shirts to brand new designer ties. You can find them at 244 Essex St.

Opening soon in the downtown:

Life Alive Cafe at 281 Essex St. (The previous location of Coven.)

Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt at 76 Lafayette St. (Previous location of Salem Segway)

Something’s Brewing at 61 Wharf St. a new tea shop.

Every Occasion Boutique at 102 Wharf St. Fashion jewelry, clothing, accessories and more.

Three Potato Four 60 Washington St. Baked potato snacks with a variety of toppings.

Share
Mar 242012
 

Have you made all your plans for the weekend…

The Peabody Essex Museum has fantastic exhibits and activities this weekend.

Tonight is the annual Spring Fling Saturday, March 24 in Old Town Hall from 7 – 10 p.m. www.salemspringfling.com.
 
Swimming in the Shallows is being performed at the Salem Theatre Company. Visit www.salemtheatre.com for full details. 

 Restaurant Week starts this Sunday night visit www.salem-chamber.org for a full list of participating restaurants and many of their fixed price ($25) menus.

Share
Mar 222012
 

Downtown Salem has numerous opportunities for artists and art patrons. The Salem Arts Festival organized by Salem Main Streets is now accepting applications through March 31 for the Salem Arts Festival June 1 – 3. Go to the website www.salemartsfestival.com for more information. 

The City of Salem is also offering opportunities for artists. Artists are asked to submit designs for decorating downtown utility boxes by Friday, April 6. Selected artists receive $500.   See the city website at salem.com/pages/artbox to download the submission requirements and details for the Art Box Program.

The city has also just announced the opportunity for artists to apply for a spot in Artists Row for a seasonal program from May 24, 2012 – Oct 31, 2012.  Space is provided rent-free in exchange for free workshops/ performances.  Applications are available on the City’s Website at http://www.salem.com/pages/artistrow  Applications must be received by or before 4:00pm, April 11, 2012.  

Finally the Lady of Salem Downtown Beautification project is looking for business sponsors to purchase figures to be painted by local artists. For more information please contact Ellen Talkowsky at 978-619-5676 or etalkowsky@salem.com or Mary Ellen Halliwell at memhalliwell@yahoo.com.

Share
Mar 132012
 

Mark you calendar for the annual Spring Salem Restaurant Weeks! It starts on Sunday, March 25 – Thursday, March 29 and continues on to Sunday, April 1 – Thursday, April 5. You have 10 days to check out the delicious cuisine at a wide range of restaurants in Salem. The restaurants will be offering either a two-course prix-fixe dinner menu for $15, or a three- course prix-fixe dinner menu for $25, or both (note that these prices do not include drinks, taxes or gratuities). Reservations are encouraged. Participating restaurants are:

43 Church, 62 Restaurant and Wine Bar, Adriatic Restaurant and Bar, Bella Verona, Black Lobster at Stromberg’s Cove, Cafe Polonia, Capt’s Waterfront Grill & Club, Cilantro, Finz Seafood Restaurant & Grill, Grapevine Restaurant, The Great Escape, Green Land Café, Nathaniel’s at the Hawthorne Hotel, Red Lulu Lulu Cocina & Tequila Bar, Regatta Pub at the Waterfront Hotel, Rockafellas , Salem Beers Works, Scratch Kitchen, Seaport Café, Tavern In The Square, Thai Place, and Victoria Station. For more information or to see sample menus visit the Salem Chamber of Commerce Website.

Share