Six ways to raise your spirits in Salem this weekend

Usually I compile my list of Six in Salem as a recommendation, a thought, food for a whim. But this weekend's programming in Salem is SO OUTSTANDING that I'm writing this one as a "don't miss these six" list.

There's a definite buzz in the air, and the humidity is low, which makes it easier to hear (feel?!) the buzz! Salem's hoppin', so come on over.

1. Essex Street Fair, presented by the Salem Chamber of Commerce. It takes two words to get my family to the Essex Street Fair: Kettle. Corn. But there's oh-so-much more to it than that. Crafts, jewelry, paintings, stained glass, street performers, face painters, strolling musicians, and fun, fun, fun. The Essex Street fair stretches the length of Essex Street from Hawthorne Boulevard to Washington Street, and the hours have been stretched this year to 10am-6pm on Saturday and 10am-6pm on Sunday.

2. Tour the visiting tall ship Peacemaker, docked at Central Wharf until August 22. Tours of this 400-ton barquentine are free to the public between 10am-9pm on the weekends and 10am-7pm during the week. Central Wharf is part of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. nps.gov/sama

3. The Ninth Annual Phillips House Car Meet is on Chestnut Street this Sunday from 12pm-3pm. There will be a great assortment of cars, including the two Pierce-Arrows and Model A Ford that are part of the Phillips' collection. This is a free event.

4. Improv on the Bricks! Join the Salem Theatre Company for their 3rd annual improv comedy bash. Bring a lawn chair! Bring padding! This is the perfect way to add hilarity to your Saturday. Saturday and Sunday at 3:30pm. (It's worth noting that Maria's Sweet Somethings is RIGHT THERE, next to the bricks, selling dozens of excellent flavors of ice cream. And it's a known fact that ice cream is the perfect accompaniment for comedy.)

5. Crowninshield-Bentley Open House at the Peabody Essex Museum. In conjunction with Heritage Days, the PEM is offering free public tours of the Crowninshield Bentley House every hour on the hours. Period kids games will be presented in the yard ona drop in basis. The PEM opened the 1727 Crowninshield-Bentley House to public tours in June of this year.

6. Eat outside. Have you seen the weather forecast? Find a table street-side at Gulu Gulu Cafe, Caffe Graziani, Green Land Cafe, Asahi, The Lobster Shanty, or Rockafellas and enjoy great food and libation while watching the world walk by. Or, find a table waterside at The Black Lobster, Finz, Capts, or Victoria Station and relax while watching the tide change and the boats make their way in and out of Salem. Ahhhhhh.

These are my pics for the weekend, and there are many more events to choose from. Visit the calendar on Salem.org for more inspiration, or just head down to Salem and see where your mood takes you. It's going to be a great weekend! Enjoy.