salem – Page 15 – Salem Main Streets

How Great Are the Stores in Salem?

Contests, New Businesses, Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Shopping No Responses »

Jan 312015

It’s your turn! Salem Main Streets through this blog & website, our Facebook page, our Twitter account and other sources is constantly waving the flag in support of how great the merchants and organizations in Salem are. But now there are two ways for you to show your support— with a vote!

As it turns out, voting is underway for the Wicked Local 2015 Readers Choice Awards (ballot appeared in 1/30/15 edition of Salem Gazette) and Northshore Magazine BONS 2015 Best of Northshore (begins 2/1/15).

Rules, regulations, how to vote, when voting ends, etc. etc. can be found on their respective websites.

Through both the newspaper and magazine voting, you can single out gift shops, food stores, restaurants and so forth that provide the kind of customer experience you not only appreciate but want to share with others.

In both of the “best of the best” balloting our merchants will be competing with other businesses in North Shore communities, so be sure to convince friends to vote as well for their Salem choices.

If you’d like an idea on how well we fared last time on the BONS event, here is a link to a past blog As you’ll see, Salem was well-represented. Let’s do it again. Show these local merchants you like not only their products & services, but also the way they conduct business.

(Image courtesy of chayathonwong2000 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

Times That Try Men’s Souls – But Salem Ma Has Several Answers

History, Salem Event No Responses »

Jan 232015

No pro football this weekend. What will you do? What will you do? You could go into a defensive stance and mope around the house. OR, you could call an audible, and go for the option of another house— that is, Salem’s House of the Seven Gables . Make it a team effort and take the entire family for a tour of this historic site.

This is their suggested game plan: “Climb the secret staircase, experience living history, and enjoy our beautiful seaside campus!You could even make it an outdoor Family Photo Safari—everyone bring your cell, camera or tablet and spend some creative time snapping photos outside on our campus. Then choose your family’s best photo and send it to us or #h7g.”

They will give away one Family Membership to the winner from all submissions!

When you explore the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, better known as The House of the Seven Gables, professional guides will lead you on a 35 minute tour that introduces two prosperous merchant families, the Turners and Ingersolls, and reveals some of the earliest Georgian-style interiors. Guests also learn about Salem’s maritime history and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s connection to this legendary home.

And then there is the Museum Store, which besides stocking memorabilia and related items, is now also carrying candy selections from two of Salem’s well-known confectioners. Harbor Sweets and The Old Pepper Company. These candy companies have a history with the city of Salem that makes them both a great fit for the Gables store.

Now through June 25th hours for the House of Seven Gables are daily 10 am-5 pm. Closed on Wednesdays from January 1 through March 29, 2015, except for February 18. For more details, call 978-744-0991. The House of Seven Gables is located at 115 Derby Street.

Winter Wonderland Tour

A bit more adventurous? May we suggest the Winter Wonderland Tour being conducted by the fine folks at the Phillips House, Saturday, January 24 from 2 -3 pm.

“Rediscover the stories and the history of historic Chestnut Street this winter during the Phillips Favorites series. Chestnut Street is even more beautiful with a coat of snow. Bundle up and join us for an architectural walking tour, ending at Phillips House with a cup of cocoa and an optional house tour. We invite our visitors to experience the Phillips House staff’s favorite tours, stories, and movies highlighting the historic Chestnut Street neighborhood during the winter season.”

There may indeed be a coat of snow! What more could you ask for?

This tour is one installment in a six-part series of events which is packaged at $50 for the general public and $20 for Historic New England members. Space may be available at individual programs with admission being $10 for the public and $5 for Historic New England members.

Tour gathers at corner of Summer and Chestnut Streets near Hamilton Hall. Registration is required; call 978-744-0440 for more details or go to www.HistoricNewEngland.org.

McAllister on the Witch House

And if you just can’t get enough of history, we’ve got one more event to share. Jim McAllister, the legend who knows the lore of Salem and the North Shore is into week #4 of “52 weeks, 52 lectures.”

While, according to Jim “The majority of these weekly talks will relate to one or more facets of North Shore history or culture, others to Paris and other important French art centers and themes,” this Saturday, Salem is front and center.

The Witch House/Corwin House, 310 Essex Street will be explored beginning at 6pm.

“An empathetic perspective on the Putnams of Salem Village, an extended family that played a major and unfortunate role in the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, and an examination of the extraordinary social, economic, personal, and political pressures that may have driven them to do so.”

Due to space limitations, reservations are required. Contact Jim at culturecorner@gmail.com or call 978-979-5907.

Don’t sit by the sidelines this weekend. Get into the game that is Salem

The Party To LAUNCH! All New Year’s Eve Parties

Salem Event, Salem Festivals No Responses »

Dec 292014

“To get off to a good start” and “to enter energetically” are two definitions provided at the Merriam-Webster.com website for the word launch. No wonder we picked it to describe our annual New Year’s Eve celebration here in Salem Ma, this year set for Wednesday, Dec. 31st from 4-7pm.

LAUNCH! is a family-friendly, high-energy, music-filled, kick-off for the new year. We want you to be a part of LAUNCH! Everyone is welcome. Salem resident or not. No need to drive to and then back from Boston. Come on down to Old Town Hall and Derby Square.

And yes, 4-7pm. Our balloon drops promptly at 7pm. We will have the Big Countdown a full 5 hours before everyone else — unless you are celebrating with friends, family or co-workers in Accra (Ghana), Casablanca (Morocco), Dublin (Ireland), Lisbon (Portugal), London (England) and Reykjavik (Iceland) among other global locales where it will be midnight.

“We organized LAUNCH! for the first time last year, and it was immediately clear that this needed to be an annual tradition where the community could truly come together,” states Kylie Sullivan, Salem Main Streets Manager. “Plus there’s still plenty of time after our early countdown to catch one of the many other great events happening all over town on New Year’s Eve!”

There will be New Year’s Eve related activities, crafts for kids of all ages, music by the Dejas, the OnPoint Ensemble, the Boondock Sinners, and more. This event is free of charge thanks to the support of our partners, the City of Salem, Creative Salem, the Dejas, the Gathering, LEAP for Education, and Salem YMCA.

LAUNCH! will be a great way to ring in the New Year with your entire family at a reasonable hour, and then still be able to go to other parties later (with grandma or aunt Jane watching the kids).

Plus, it’s early enough that you can make a lot of noise and the neighbors won’t mind.

You Can Get Something For Free— Parking in Salem on the 24th

New Businesses, Salem Event, Salem Shopping No Responses »

Dec 222014

Let’s face, as much as you plan your gift lists, and check them twice, yes even thrice, comes Dec. 24th and you find someone just not getting the right gift message from you. Or one of the kids just doesn’t have enough stuff in his/her stocking.

What to do? Come to Salem Ma. We are open on the 24th and to make it easier for you, Mayor Kimberly Driscoll has announced that parking in all city-owned locations in Salem will be free on Wednesday, December 24. That not only is free parking but convenient as in not a football field away parking.

Whether you seek a romantic gift, a rare oddity, something fun & whimsical, or appropriate and suitable, our Downtown merchants have you covered.

So, to the procrastinators, the “oh-oh I forgot aunt Edna’s” and the seekers of the “perfect” gift to convey a special message, we say bring it on. And bring your car. We’ve got a nice free spot for it on Dec. 24th.

Raising A Glass to the PEM/PM Party

Salem Event, Salem Festivals, Salem Shopping No Responses »

Dec 142014

How many parties have you been to already this holiday season? Office party. Friend party. Family party. There is one more on your calendar— “Raise A Glass,” the theme for this month’s PEM/PM event, 6-9 pm, Dec. 18th.

This is an evening at the Peabody Essex Museum dedicated to the art of mixology; you get a fantastic opportunity to learn ways to impress your guests (you are going to be hosting a party yourself at some point this year or next, aren’t you?) with unique and traditional punch recipes demonstrated by local mixologists.

For example, which drinks should be shaken and which stirred? Or, what makes a great toast? To be entertained and educated is the continuing theme of these PEM/PM late night events, held on the third Thursday of every month. The museum is open until 9pm as well.

Also on tap for “Raise A Glass” will be comic stories of feasting and drinking by Jason Wilson, author of Boozehound, and Molly Birnbaum, author of Season to Taste, presented by The Tannery Series.

PEM’s first Maker-in-Residence will be on hand with a lesson about wearable technology and festive 3-D-printed designs. Consider distinguishing your wine glass with a design you personally create that night.

Entertainment and mood will be set by the sounds of smooth jazz by local trumpeter and New England Conservatory professor Peter Kenagy and his trio. There will be a cash bar and special small plate items from the Hawthorne Hotel.

Free admission to Salem residents and museum members; $10 for non members at the door. For more info go to the museum website or call 978-745-9500.

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