What's open, and what's not, in January

I never like to promote what's closed (there must be a way to spin this to feature what's open, right?), but for these first two weeks of January, so many things in Salem are closed for cleaning, restoration, and repair that it's worth mentioning. 

In the spirit of wanting you to have a good experience in Salem, I submit to you the January 2011 list of

what's open, and what's not.

Visitor Center

Salem Regional Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street, is closed for repair and construction work until January 17.  The Orientation Center, 193 Derby Street, will be open during the vistior center closure.  The Orientation Center has public restrooms, a short, free film about the maritime heritage of Salem, and National Park Rangers on staff from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily. 

Salem Maritime, the National Park in Salem, will be offering regular tours of the historic buildings and tall ship Friendship on the weekends throughout the winter. nps.gov/sama

Activities...

CinemaSalem is open year-round.  Stay tuned for more details on the annual Salem Film Fest in February! 

Count Orlok's Nightmare Gallery is closed until March. 

The House of the Seven Gables is closed through January 13.  They will reopen with regular hours, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM on January 14. 

The New England Pirate Museum is closed until April 1. 

The Peabody Essex Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and Holiday Mondays (like January 17, which is Martin Luther King Day) throughout the year.  This week they are open late - until 8:00 PM - so you can see the final week of The Emperor's Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City before it leaves for The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. 


The Phillips House on Chestnut Street is open weekends, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM, with tours on the half-hour.  Please call ahead, (978)744-0440, during a snow emergency, as they don't have parking when there is a parking ban.

The Salem Wax Museum is closed until Thursday, February 2nd, and will be open Thursday through Sunday in February and all of February vacation (February 21 - 25) from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

The Salem Witch Museum is closed be closed Monday, January 3 through Thursday, January 6 and Monday, January 10 through Thursday, January 13.  It will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 

The Salem Witch Village is closed until February 20, when it will open for February vacation week 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

The Witch Dungeon Museum is closed until April 1. 

The Witch History Museum is closed until April 1.

The Witch House is open by appointment only in January.

Tours...

The Salem Trolley is on a well-deserved winter vacation. They re-open in April.  There are walking tour options during the winter, however.

Salem Strolls offers walking tours by appointment year-round, weather and ice permitting.

Hocus Pocus Tours depart at 3:30 PM in January and February. Advanced reservations (by 10:00 AM on day of tour) are required via phone, 781.248.2031, or Web site.   

Shopping... 

Artemisia Botanicals on Pickering Wharf is open daily year-round.

J.Mode on Front Street is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Sundays 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM.  Check out their "Serious Winter Sale" in January for savings of 30-75%!

Quintessentials on Pickering Wharf is open Fridays and Saturdays 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Sundays 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM and Monday holidays 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Salemdipity on Pickering Wharf is open Thursday through Monday, 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

The Trolley Depot is open Monday - Saturday 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM, and 11:00 - 5:00 PM on Sunday.

Ye Old Pepper Companie is open daily 10am - 5pm.  Come February, they'll have extra hours for Valentine's Day!

Food and Cheer...

Most of our restaurants are open year-round, and many, including Gulu Gulu Cafe and Green Land Cafe have live music during the week.   Adriatic Restaurant is planning a Game Dinner and a Wine Dinner - stay tuned for more information on those! 

Embrace winter by warming up fireside at Capt's, Finz, The Lyceum or The Tavern at the Hawthorne Hotel.  The cold weather is nothing a comfy chair and a fabulous cup of coffee (or a Hot Toddy) can't cure.  

Accommodations...

The Hawthorne Hotel, The Salem Inn, The Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites, Northey Street House Bed and Breakfast, Morning Glory B&B and Clipper Ship Inn are all open year-round. This is a great time of year for getting away, enjoying Salem's restaurants (there are more than sixty of them now), lingering over exhibits at the Peabody Essex Museum, and taking walks on the waterfront and Salem Common.