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Great Holidays Do Really Begin Here in Salem

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Dec 102014

Can you remember a simpler time when holiday shopping was a simple stroll through friendly hometown stores and not a race through impersonal, giant, crowded malls? We do. And we are bringing that back.

Salem Main Streets is introducing a Holiday Stroll on Saturday, Dec. 13th to encourage residents to shop local and enjoy their downtown during the holiday season. Over 40 downtown retailers have committed to staying open until 8 pm on the 13th, and most will be offering special holiday discounts, promotions, and yummy refreshments all day.

How’s that for customer appreciation and “small town” ambiance.

A full list of participating retailers is available for your use.

In keeping with our goal of this being a total community effort, Boy Scout Troop 83 will be running a gift-wrapping station on Derby Square throughout the day, and will be joined by Troop 24, which will be selling wreaths in part to benefit the restoration of the Arch on Salem Common.

And while we are promoting all things Salem for Dec. 13th, don’t miss the Pickering Wharf businesses’ Winter Walk of the Wharf, including a stroll with Santa from 1-4 pm.

But that’s not the only event we have to make your trip worth your time. To add that extra bit of spice to our holiday gift to shoppers, Main Streets is once again conducting the Salem Holiday Window Contest, which runs now thru Dec. 13th.

Over 40 downtown businesses will be participating in the annual Holiday Window Contest, and this year the public can vote on their favorites at a participating business, or online at www.salemmainstreets.org/windows. These retailers go all out to do up their windows to entertain you, and if past entries are any indications (and they are!), we have many, many creative minds— and a couple of far out ones, as you would expect from Salem, MA. A full map of participating windows can be found here. Voting ends on Dec. 13th.

And one more thing. Creative Salem is giving us an extra promotional boost (…thank you, John…) with a related photo contest. For your chance to win a Creative Salem prize pack (valued at $150) take a picture while you are strolling through town or looking at store windows. Share it on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Vine); use the hashtag #salemwindows when posting! Winner will be chosen on the 14th.

Shop, vote, take pictures, find bargains, chat with friendly sales people. All courtesy of your downtown merchants of Salem, MA.

For additional info, contact Kylie Sullivan, Salem Main Streets Manager, at 978-744-0004 or kylie@salemmainstreets.org.

Community Events Make Salem Perfect Holiday Destination

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Nov 282014

…And you thought Halloween was busy in Salem. Today and tomorrow we have several events to lead off the winter holiday season in style.

ART MARKET

In search of the perfect, unique little gift that says “I put some extra effort and didn’t just drive to the mall or walk into a giant department store?” Look to Old Town Hall in Derby Square where today (11/28/14) from noon to 9 pm will be an Art Market, courtesy of the Salem Collective of Artists & Musicians, the Salem Arts Association and Marrow.

There you will discover handcrafted items such as paintings, fiber arts, glass, pottery, jewelry and more. These works of art are created by local artists.

But that’s not all, later from 7-11 pm will be a Holiday Dance with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the Salem Food Pantry.

HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING

It’s just a tree and some lights. But it is so much more. At approx. 6:15 pm on Nov.28th, Lappin Park becomes the focal point of the city when residents join Mayor Kimberley Driscoll in lighting Salem’s Holiday Tree.

(The Park is the grassy area next to the Bewitched Statue at the intersection of Essex Street and Washington Street— directly across from our still standing Haunted Happenings Visitor Info Booth!).

It is a holiday tradition that lights up not only the tree but the eyes of children in the crowds with awe and delight. So bring the entire family out for carols with the Paul Madore Singers; as we expect it to be a bit cool, there will also be available cocoa and snacks!

The event is organized by Salem Main Streets and the City of Salem. This year’s tree is provided in part by a donation from the MeetingHouse Church and numerous donations from Salem’s October visitors. Decorations and lights were made possible by individual contributions and donations from a number of local businesses, including Morning Glory Bed & Breakfast.

Salem Main Streets would additionally like to express appreciation to North Shore Marine and All Star Collision & Towing for their services in delivering the tree, and the Salem Department of Public Works and Gary Gill for decorating the tree.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

And you need to put presents under your own tree (if you do a tree). Can’t find what you need at the Art Market? Black Friday shopping may not help you. We suggest you widen your search zone to all of Salem. We are a small business mecca. Almost every store is owned and operated by a small business operator, not a chain. Salem is where you can walk a block in any direction and find unique items for men, women, children and pets.

Saturday, Nov. 29^th is Small Business Saturday, a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. To encourage Salem residents to “Shop Local First” this holiday season, Mayor Driscoll has announced that parking in Salem will be free on November 29th in both municipal garages and on Washington, Front and Essex Streets. On November 30th all parking will be free, including at all meters, in both municipal garages, and in all municipal surface lots.

You can drive to the malls, park half a football field away from the stores, and once inside feel like you are on a treadmill forced to walk with the flows of the crowds. Or come to Salem, find convenient parking, and walk whatever way you feel to stores or restaurants. It’s your choice. Really, it’s your choice.

Warming Up to Downtown Shopping

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Nov 222014

What do the over 100 restaurants, gift shops, other stores and attractions in Salem Ma have in common right now? Besides good bargains and eclectic choices, they have heat! Temperatures today (Saturday) are not expected to rise beyond the upper 30s. So you can sit at home, or go to a cold impersonal mall — or make Salem a one-stop warm & toasty shopping/dining daytrip destination. (This also applies to Sunday, or for that matter any day you would like to visit.)

But don’t take our word for it. Friday’s Salem Gazette had an article and an interview related to downtown shopping.

In the first of two front page stories, the emphasis was on the lengths North Shore communities (including Salem) go during the holiday season to invite and involve the community in local shopping over malls and big-box stores.

Ethan Hartley wrote “…local businesses in Massachusetts can offer something that you will be hard pressed to find under the bleak, florescent lights of a conglomerate store or a shopping mall — old-fashioned holiday cheer and excitement with an emphasis on building a strong community.”

Community is a key word. Salem Main Streets endeavors to work with our downtown merchants to design and promote events which increase business traffic and cement customer support/loyalty. The second article, an interview by Gregg Phipps with our manager Kylie Sullivan points to one of those projects, the Salem Winter Market.

Is the Winter Market successful in bringing people downtown to shop and do you think more and more people are turning away from mall shopping?

“That’s certainly the hope. There are so many great shops in downtown Salem, and we try really hard to ensure that our vendor offerings at the Winter Market complement rather than compete with the surrounding businesses.”

Kylie went on to explain that as much as the Market brings vendors to downtown Salem, it also creates a community gathering space in downtown Salem where residents and visitors from neighboring towns stop to chat with the vendors, other shoppers and even with merchants in surrounding stores.

Shopping need not be impersonal. It can be fun. The Winter Market will be closed this week in light of Thanksgiving but will be open again on Dec. 4, 11 and 18. Our stores, restaurants and attractions are open now. And the warmth you feel when you go inside comes from the people, as well as the heating vents.

Dinner for Two or Three, Salem Fall Restaurant Week

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Nov 082014

For those of you who visited Salem during Haunted Happenings in October and enjoyed diverse dinners, now is the time to return. Less crowds, same great service and dishes. And for those of you who didn’t visit, you are also cordially invited to take part in the Salem Fall Restaurant Week (Sunday, November 9 – Thursday, November 13 & Sunday, November 16 – Thursday, November 20).

Salem is indeed a culinary destination. It’s been said that you could very well eat at a different restaurant along just Washington Street each night for a week and not experience the same cuisine.

Salem Fall Restaurant Week is an annual project of the Salem Chamber of Commerce.

For 10 days only, participating Salem restaurants will offer either a two-course prix-fixe dinner menu for $18, or a three-course prix-fixe dinner menu for $28, or both (note that this price does not include drinks, taxes or gratuities).

As stated above, expect a wide variety of delicious foods – from steak to seafood, American to ethnic, there is something for everyone. Restaurants offer multiple choices for appetizers, entrees as well as desserts.

For example…

Adriatic Restaurant & Bar is a casual dining restaurant featuring the cuisine of the regions surrounding the Adriatic sea. Fresh fish and seasonal vegetables, together with a wood burning pizza, create the main menu. In addition to that, a nice cocktail list, a great wine program, and a professional staff, help the guests to enjoy a lunch or dinner with their family and friends.
Firenze Trattioria is chef Zamir Kociaj’s way of sharing his passion for the authentic tastes of Firenze with the historic town of Salem. Merging years of experience with a neighborhood vibe, Firenze Trattoria is the perfect place to celebrate the simple moments shared with loved ones and friends.
Naumkeag Ordiniary creates a warm, welcoming environment to enjoy craft beers, inventive cocktails, and comfort food with a creative culinary twist. Naumkeag features a bar made from reclaimed wood, an ever-changing selection of craft beers, and eclectic selection of specialty cocktails. The kitchen at Naumkeag ordinary prides itself on making every dish from scratch using locally sourced, sustainable ingredients. The Naumkeag Ordinary is a perfect place to enjoy a snack and drink at the bar, or to sit and enjoy a leisurely dinner. There is something for everyone on their frequently changing menu.

Reservations are encouraged, please contact the restaurants directly. Please mention “Restaurant Week” when making your reservations. For an updated list of participating restaurants please go to the Chamber website.

Come once for the spooky. Return again for the tasty.

So, Anything Going On This Week in Salem Ma?

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Oct 012014

Step right up, though this may not be the “greatest show on Earth,” Salem Ma does try its best to give residents, North Shore neighbors and visitors the most for their time & money spent here during the month of October. Just this week we are opening our Info Booth to be staffed with ambassadors of goodwill to assist fun-seekers and officially kicking off festivities with the Chamber of Commerce 19th Annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade, as well as once again launching the Mayor’s Night Out and Trick or Treat with the Mayor events.

Practically speaking there are more activities scheduled for the first three days of October than we have room for in this blog. We suggest you look at the calendar information supplied by at least these three great community websites. Mix and match the information.

Specifically we would like to point out that:

The 19th Annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade, presented by the Salem Chamber of Commerce steps off Thursday, Oct. 2nd at 6:30pm. This year’s parade theme is “Fantasy.” Children from grade school through high school and perhaps a big kid or two from college will march through our streets in costume as a tip of the hat to all the activities to follow this month. The spotlight, though, is where it should be, on the young people who keep Halloween alive with their imagination.

The Mayor’s Night Out is Oct. 3rd and that Friday Mayor Kimberly Driscoll, in partnership with Salem’s attractions and museums, encourages Salem residents to leave their homes to sample attractions, museums and even parking (at East India Mall garage after 4 pm) free of charge! Just bring your Salem ID and be on the look-out from 3 – 10 pm for “Mayor’s Night Out” signs at participating businesses.

Trick-or-Treating with Mayor Kim Driscoll at the East India Fountain takes place from 5:30 – 6:30 pm. Bring the kids, join the Mayor as the procession will Trick-or-Treat along the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall, The Museum Place Mall Shops, and beyond. Trick-or-Treat Bags provided. Costumes encouraged. And of course, it is another free of charge event.

Salem’s Downtown District is prepared to show you a good time this month, this 5th season of our calendar year. We welcome “kids of all ages,” to explore and be entertained.

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