North of Boston Tourism Conference

On Friday I spoke about social media, specifically Facebook, and destination marketing at the North of Boston Tourism Conference. It was a pleasure to present in a session with Juli Lederhaus (on the left) from the Hawthorne Hotel and Judi Window (in the middle) from The Granite State Ambassadors. We had a lot of fun talking about social media and using it to connect with you, our visitors and guests.

Juli writes an amazing blog - and was the catalyst for this blog - about the Hawthorne Hotel. She also writes the Hawthorne's wedding blog, so if you're planning a wedding in Salem check that out for great ideas and inspirations. Judi has started AskNH on Twitter, which was inspired by 'Twisitor Centers" that are popping up on Twitter. AskNH is different insofar as it relies on you, the visitor, Tweeting your questions about NH and then you will get responses from Granite State Ambassadors. If you're going to New Hampshire, it's a great new resource. (New Hampshire, by they way, is less than one hour north of Salem.)

I spoke about Destination Salem's presence on Facebook (are you a fan?). We are also on Twitter, and you can subscribe to this blog if you don't already. Let me know what you think about all of our social networking. Send me your questions and I'll happily answer them. Send pictures and I might even post them. I can be reached at kfox@salem.org, or you can comment on this blog post.

The entire conference was excellent, with sessions on making historical destinations relevant, group travel, international travel, understanding your customers, and how the tourism industry is adjusting to the new economy.

Without getting into too much industry speak, I want to send out a THANK YOU to all of you who have continued to travel - even if (especially if!) you have modified your travel habits because of the the economic instability of the past 18 months. Wherever your travel takes you, and for whatever reason, it is appreciated. And if you haven't visited Salem in a while, come check it out. There's an awful lot going on in this bewitching seaport.

Iris after Dark!

Closing weekend of Iris Apfel exhibition, PEM stays open late with music, film, cocktails and shopping

Friday, February 5^th | 6:30 – 9:30 PM

Admission $10 | FREE to Salem residents & Museum Members

The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) celebrates the closing weekend of Rare Bird of Fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel in style with extended hours, music, film, outrageous shopping and suitably elegant refreshments. One of PEM’s most successful exhibitions ever — nearly 50,000 visitors since mid-October­­­ ­— Rare Bird of Fashion closes to the public on Sunday, February 7^th after an exceptional run at the Museum.

See what the critics have been saying about Rare Bird Of Fashion:

"Experimental, challenging, fun" ––The Boston Globe

"Not since The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has a closet held such magic" ––Boston Herald

"If the body is a canvas, then Apfel has long been painting in broad, bold strokes with every color on the palette" ––Stuff Magazine

"Geriatric glamazon, muse to millions" ––Bust Magazine

Hope for Haiti Fundraiser - January 30 &31

Bewitched in Salem, 180 Essex Street, Salem is having an in-store fundraiser on Saturday, January 30 and Sunday, January 31 to raise funds for Haiti relief. They will donate 50% of the gross cash sales of all Books, CD’s and DVD’s as well as 20% of all other merchandise sales.

If you are not in Salem, a percentage of all online sales (via Paypal) between January 30 - February 5 will be donated to Haiti relief.

Bewitched in Salem will also be selling original, locally designed and made Hope for Haiti T-shirts. 100% of the proceeds for the t-shirts, which cost $20.00 and are available in small - 2XL, will be put toward relief efforts for those affected by the massive earthquake that occurred in Haiti two weeks ago. T-shirts purchased online will receive free priority mail shipping to all 50 states.

Bewitched in Salem will be donating to Hope for Haiti's Children (HFHC), which is a 501(c)3 organization established in 1995.

If you are interested in making a donation without making a purchase, please send a check payable to Hope for Haiti’s Children to Bewitched in Salem, 180 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970.

The Center for the Arts at Salem State College presents an evening of dance on Friday, January 29

Five dance artists from across the United States, all graduates of the Hollins University/American Dance Festival Master of Fine Arts program, present solo choreography on the Mainstage at Salem State College, including fellow graduate and coordinator of the Salem State Dance Program, choreographer Meghan McLyman (pictured).

The Center for Creative and Performing Arts has, in recent years, brought many world class dancers and dance companies to the Mainstage, including Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey II, Dough Varone and Dancers, Paul Taylor 2, David Dorfman and more.

The Center for the Arts will usher in the new year with Dancing Solo on January 29, 7:30 pm. The performance will be at the Mainstage Theatre, 352 Lafayette Street, Salem (route 114 East). Tickets are $15 general/ $10 students and seniors www.salemstate.edu/arts or 978.542.7890.

The Center for Creative and Performing Arts at Salem State College sponsors over 100 events a year in theatre, music, dance, art and creative writing from world class visiting artists to student performances, with an aim to keep the arts affordable and accessible to everyone.

Photo cut title: Meghan McLyman performing Last on Harbour Drive

Photo credit: Jose Bustamante

Happy Anniversary to the historic Hawthorne Hotel!

Celebrating 85 years as a legend on the North Shore in 2010, Hawthorne Hotel certainly knows what it is like to have some history! In 1923, the Salem Chamber of Commerce and the Salem Rotary began arrangements to build a “modern hotel for Salem.” After more than half a million dollars worth of stock was sold, construction began on the hotel, designed by architect Philip Horton Smith. At the time, it was the largest Colonial Revival structure in Salem. Some of the notable architectural features include: corner quoins, 18' Palladian windows, and recessed arched windows – designs popular in Georgian and Federal-style buildings.

Today, the Hawthorne Hotel is recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a Historic Hotel of America.

Named after celebrated Salem author Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote The House of the Seven Gables and The Scarlet Letter, the hotel has been home to book signings and many poetry and book readings. With modern stories like The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (published in 2008 by HarperCollins) that include the Hawthorne Hotel within its pages, our connection to the literary world has been sealed.

Over the years, the Hawthorne Hotel has hosted many well-known personalities including
newsman Walter Cronkite, actress Betty Davis, General Colin Powell, former Presidents
George Bush and Bill Clinton, and New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. In 1984,
Vanessa Redgrave made the hotel her home for a month while making Three Sovereigns
for Sarah, a PBS movie about the Salem Witch Trials.

It was the television series Bewitched that brought the Hawthorne Hotel the most notoriety. In 1970, Elizabeth Montgomery, her real-lie husband and the show’s producer Bill Asher and the rest of the cast and crew stayed at the hotel for several weeks while filming episodes in and around Salem.

Just recently, two television shows were filmed in the hotel—the popular Canadian show Chris & John to the Rescue stayed at and filmed segments for their reality series "Halloween Superstar" at the hotel, and TLC’s What Not to Wear held the Reveal Party for fashion victim Leanne in the 2010 season opener.

And the Hawthorne Hotel has already got a lot going on in 2010. Renovations, including new carpeting (which you'll notice in the pictures of the Tavern and the lobby), TVs and more, are being done, and the hotel has that special "spit and polish" look of a grand dame celebrating a big year!

You can follow the Hawthorne Hotel online via blog, Twitter, and Facebook. Watch for specials and promotions celebrating this significant year.

Happy Anniversary, Hawthorne Hotel!!

Roost Valentine's Day Sale

If you haven't checked out Roost at 40 Front Street in Salem yet, here's your next best excuse - they are having a pre-Valentine's Day party on January 28 from 5-8pm.
If you need further endorsement, check out the recent review of Roost that was on the NorthShore Reviews Blog. It's all good!

VALENTINE’S CELEBRATION AT PEM

ROMANTIC EVENING OF JAZZ MUSIC, SPECIAL TOURS ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13^TH

SALEM, MA –– Back by popular demand, the Peabody Essex Museum welcomes the return of Dane Vannatter and His Jazz Quartet, for an evening of ‘Great Songs by the Great Songwriters.’ Enjoy the music of Duke Ellington, Ira Gershwin, and Cole Porter in the museum’s soaring glass atrium. Dance with your sweetheart under the stars and partake in our unique Valentine’s Day refreshments at the cash bar.

Before the concert and during admission, PEM invites visitors on a 15 minute ‘Art of Love’ gallery tour to discover artworks of tender affection on display in our American Art Galleries. Learn about the courtship and marriage of 19^th-century author Nathaniel Hawthorne and his wife, painter Sophia Peabody as told through her intimate works on canvas.

SATURDAY | FEBRUARY 13, 2010

Members: $20 | Nonmembers: $25

7:30 PM –– ‘Art of Love’ Gallery Tour

8:00 PM –– Great Songs by Great Song Writers, Dane Vannatter and His Jazz Quartet

Reservations online: www.pem.org/calendar OR 978-745-9500 X3011

About the Peabody Essex Museum

The Peabody Essex Museum presents art and culture from New England and around the world. The museum's collections are among the finest of their kind, showcasing an unrivaled spectrum of American art and architecture (including four National Historic Landmark buildings) and outstanding Asian, Asian Export, Native American, African, Oceanic, Maritime and Photography collections. In addition to its vast collections, the museum offers a vibrant schedule of changing exhibitions and a hands-on education center. The museum campus features numerous parks, period gardens and 22 historic properties, including Yin Yu Tang, a 200-year-old house that is the only example of Chinese domestic architecture on display in the United States.

HOURS: Open Tuesday-Sunday and holiday Mondays, 10 am-5 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

ADMISSION: Adults $15; seniors $13; students $11. Additional admission to Yin Yu Tang: $5. Members, youth 16 and under and residents of Salem enjoy free general admission and free admission to Yin Yu Tang.

INFO: Call 866-745-1876 or visit our Web site at www.pem.org.