Hear Ye! Hear Ye! All Princesses are to gather...

It's that time of year again - time for little girls to get out their party dresses and tiaras and head to the Hawthorne Hotel for the annual Princess Tea!

A view from above

Hawthorne Hotel Princess Tea
Saturday, February 25, 2012
12:00pm – 2:00pm
Featuring tea, music and photos with the “Hawthorne Hotel” Princess in the Grand Ballroom!  Hats, white gloves and pink attire are optional and always in good taste.

Hawthorne Hotel Princesses

The Hawthorne Hotel invites all prospective brides to Open House

The Hawthorne Hotel is presenting an an elegant and informative Wedding Open House on January 29, 2012 from 11am-2pm and invites all prospective brides to let the Hawthorne Hotel create your special day!

Planning your wedding?  Helping someone else plan hers? It is great wedding advice to come to the Hawthorne Hotel and check out this elegant venue and make your dreams a reality!  The Hawthorne Hotel Wedding Open House will provide brides with all the information needed to plan the perfect wedding!

At the Open House, brides can:

• Meet the Hawthorne Hotel’s event planners and hear about a variety of packages, some starting at only $37.00 per person;
• Sample delicious wedding cake from Montilio’s Baking Company;
• Enjoy scrumptious hors d’oeuvres and wine in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom with a soaring 19-ft.
• ceiling, and Palladium windows overlooking Salem’s historic common;
• See and smell the creative flowers included in the packages and talk to the florist;
• Take a tour of the historic hotel’s newly-renovated sleeping rooms, perfect for visiting family and friends!

There is no reservation necessary to attend.  The date is January 29, 2012 from 11am-2pm in the Hawthorne Hotel’s Grand Ballroom.  

A Montilio's Cake

You can learn lots more about weddings at the Hawthorne Hotel on the hotel's Weddings Blog.  That's where these photos came from.

Hawthorne Hotel is in the holiday spirit

 

The Hawthorne Hotel has the holiday spirit!  They are offering 20% off your gift card purchase of $100 or more! Celebrate the holidays with an excursion to Salem by purchasing your gift certificates online now, or call the Hawthorne Hotel at (978) 744-4080.  You can also purchase gift cards at the Front Desk of the hotel.

Commemorate Civil War history in Salem

I love a blog topic that requires a brush-off of my historical knowledge.  Salem is known for the Witch Trials of 1692, fishing in the 17th century, trade in the 18th century, architecture, museums, and, today, great dining. Salem is not, however, known for its Civil War heritage.

The Hawthorne Hotel just may change that.

Salem and Essex County were involved in the Civil War from preparation to the battlefield.  From abolitionists and activists to enlisted men and officers, Salem and the surrounding area gave a great deal to the war effort.

If you are a Civil War history buff, the Hawthorne Hotel has a package for you.  Use it as a catalyst to explore Salem and the neighboring communities of Marblehead and Beverly, and on to Boston.  Use the New England Civil War Discovery Trail to lead you on your journey, and know that there are cozy accommodations at the end of your journey through history!

The Hawthorne Hotel Civil War Package includes overnight accommodations at the historic Hawthorne Hotel, breakfast for two, passes for two to the Peabody Essex Museum, and an itinerary and map of Civil War-related sites in the Salem area.  Prices begin at $199 plus tax per night, double occupancy, and are based on availability.

This package was created by the the New England Civil War Heritage Foundation.  Call (978) 744-4080 to make your reservations!

If you are interested in more Salem and Essex County Civil War / Abolitionist connections, you may be interested in the National Park Service's pamphlet on the Underground Railroad in Essex County.

Salem Spins! (We love this new bike program.)

I'm going to start with the local sponsors whose inspired involvement is bringing a wicked cool new program to Salem.  So, big, heaping kudos to the City of Salem, Hawthorne Hotel, Salem State University and Salem Cycle.   

What have they sponsored, you ask?  They have sponsored FREE TRANSPORTATION. And I'm not talking about walking.  

Salem is pleased to present its new, free, bicycle sharing program, which is provided by the City of Salem and Salem State University.  The program, aptly called Salem Spins, will open near the Hawthorne Hotel and at the Salem State Central Campus on Monday, September 26th.

Cool! How does it work?

Bicycles will be available at two "hubs."  The downtown hub will be near the Hawthorne Hotel.  Simply visit the front desk at the Hawthorne Hotel, show a credit card and valid ID (for security - there's no charge!) and you will be supplied with a key to unlock one of the bicycles. This easy transaction offers an easy, unique and free way to explore historic Salem.

The second hub will be at the Salem State Campus Police Station, where bicycles will be available to Salem State students and faculty. A Clipper Card is required for use of the bicycles at Salem State. 

Salem Spins will be offered from September through November and will re-open after the winter season in March (schedules are weather permitting and the program is active only during daylight hours).

Program underwriters and sponsors include the Green Communities Division of the MA Department of Energy Resources, the Hawthorne Hotel, and Salem Cycle.

Start Spinning! 

This is a great new option for residents, students, and visitors.  If you get out and about on a new Salem Spins bike, send me a picture at kfox@salem.org and I'll post a follow-up blog showing us all using this healthy, green, fun mode of transportation! 

Farmers' Market Gets a little Taste of Hell!

At the Salem Farmers’ Market Thursday, September 1 there will be a cooking demonstration by local chef Jennifer Normant who is currently appearing on the HELL’S KITCHEN Television show. Jennifer Normant is a chef with the Hawthorne Hotel here in Salem. She currently is on the FOX TV show which airs locally Monday and Tuesday evenings. 

We're so excited for Chef Jen, who has made it to the final five, and we can't wait to see what happens next!

The market is held Thursdays in Derby Square on Front Street from 3 – 7 p.m.  The cooking demo will take place starting at 3:30. The market features delicious fresh fruits and vegetables from 9 local farms including one certified organic farm. There will be delicious peaches, juicy tomatoes, beans and much more at the market this week. 

For more information go to www.salemfarmersmarket.org or call Salem Main Streets at (978)744-0004.

Executive Chef Steve Nelson with Chef Jennifer, from the Hawthorne Hotel blog.

North Shore Wine Week

More than forty restaurants and wine shops  are participating in North Shore Wine Week, a week-long celebration of food and wine north of Boston, August 21 - 27.  Six of the participating businesses are right here in Salem!

Participating restaurants and wine shops will be offering pairings, tasting flights, and tasting events.  There is a detailed calendar of events on NorthShoreWineWeek.com.

You can celebrate North Shore Wine Week in Salem at:

62 Restaurant & Wine Bar
Finz Seafood
Grapevine Restaurant
Nathaniel's (at Hawthorne Hotel)
Pamplemousse
Salem Waterfront Hotel

Short of Restaurant Week, this is the best excuse we've heard to get out and experience the great dining and shopping north of Boston, and especially in Salem. 

Salem Chef heads to Hell's Kitchen

Salem's very own chef Jen Normant is heading to Hell... Hell's Kitchen, that is.  A Chef de Cuisine for the Hawthorne Hotel and Peabody Essex Museum, Jen is going to put her cooking skill to the test during Season 9 of superstar chef Gordon Ramsay's hit FOX show, Hell's Kitchen. 

In the season premiere, Ramsay launches the competition with the signature-dish challenge.  Jen's signature dish is Special Secret Pork with Mashed Sweet Potatoes.

You can see Chef Normant and the other 17 chefs fare in Hell's Kitchen when the season premier airs on Monday, July 18th on FOX (8:00 - 9:00 PM ET/PT). 

The chef who wins season 9 will receive a head chef position at BLT Steak in New York City. 

Good luck, Chef Jen! 

Wizard of Paws

Here's a great excuse to get out and support the Northeast Animal Shelter.  The Wizard of Paws fundraiser will be at the Hawthorne Hotel on May 12. 

Easter Brunch at the Hawthorne Hotel

Make reservations sooner rather than later for the scrumptious Easter Brunch that is being planned by the Hawthorne Hotel. You can view their Easter Menu here.  It includes smoked salmon, carving stations, delicious desserts, and oh-so-much more. 

North Shore Magazine did a great interview with the Easter Bunny, in preparation for his appearance at the brunch.  You can read the exclusive interview here.

Easter Brunch Buffet at the Hawthorne Hotel will be served on Sunday April 24, 2011 from 10:30am - 6pm. 
For reservations, please call (978) 825-4311.  Cost is Adults $40.95  Children (3-12) $16.95.

Hawthorne Hotel Princess Tea

Attention all Princesses!  The Hawthorne Hotel has added a second Princess Tea to their calendar!  Get out your party dress, gloves, and tiaras, because on April 9th at 12 Noon it will be time to celebrate the princess in all of us.

This will be a day of castles and wishes-come-true.  This event is a favorite for little girls (and moms!), and judging by the pictures, it's a Hotel staff-favorite, too! To see more pictures from recent Princess Teas, visit the Hawthorne Hotel's Daily Diary. 

Tickets are $18.50 for 12 and under, $12 for children 3 and under, and $28 for adults.  For reservations, call (978) 825-4311.  Click here for complete information, including the royal menu.

Artists & Authors on display at the Hawthorne Hotel

The art scene of Massachusetts’ North Shore area has always been progressive and trend-setting. Artists like Winslow Homer and Mark Rothko visited often for inspiration and relaxation. The Salem Arts Association, relatively new to the North Shore arts association community, is active and helping the other more established arts associations continue to cultivate artists from Salem to Gloucester and from Rockport to Cape Ann. 
 

The Hawthorne Hotel, always active in the local community, has a great way to brighten up this long, cold winter. The hotel will host An Evening with Artists and Authors on Thursday, February 24 in the Grand Ballroom. From 5pm-9pm, the hotel will showcase some of the area’s most talented artists and authors, both new and established, while local orchestra Special Edition provides musical entertainment. 

An Evening with Artists and Authors is free and open to the public. Some of the artists available to meet and greet and who will have their work on display include: Ellen Hardy, Wendy Snow-Lang, Charles Lang, Elaine Snow, Jan Condon, Nancy Barnes, Dan Browne, james bird, Vicki Ryder, and Karen Hallion. Authors include: Christopher Jon Luke Dowgin, Matthew Fraser, Kristie Poehler, and the North Shore Writers Group. Salem poet, Claire Keyes will be doing a poetry reading.

Books and art work will be for sale. 

Specials will be available in the Tavern and Nathaniel’s that evening and visitors are encouraged to have a bite to eat after they have spent time in this exciting exhibition.