News from the North Pole!

The holiday spirit is in the air downtown Salem with holiday wreaths, a holiday tree, window decorating contest, fantastic shopping and dining and Santa’s arrival on the roof of the Hawthorne Hotel scheduled for December 2.  We invite all to experience the excitement that fills the crisp, winter air in the historic streets of downtown Salem.  Shop, Dine and enjoy downtown Salem.

Santa Claus will arrive in Salem as he traditionally does on the roof of the Hawthorne Hotel on Friday, December 2 at 5:30 PM. The Salem Fire Company is expected to assist him with their ladder truck. He will proceed from there to the Museum Place Mall to hear the wishes of children. Music will be provided by Salem's own The Dejas.

This is just one of the many Holiday Happenings in Salem.  Visit Salem.org/holidays for more events and holiday inspiration!

Black Friday & Small Business Saturday

As we drove through Salem on Thanksgiving, I was delighted to see closed shops, darkened restaurants, and quiet streets (other than people out for post-pig-out walks). It was a serene scene that made me smile, happy to know that the business owners and employees were not at work, and enjoying a day of rest and thanks.


That was yesterday. This is today.

A number of businesses are participating in Small Business Saturday tomorrow, and some of our wonderful small businesses are offering Black Friday specials today.  So, don't get crammed and jammed at the mall. Come to Salem and enjoy our unique boutiques, our small businesses, and our wonderful restaurants and cafes. 

BLACK FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

• 62 Restaurant & Wine Bar is running "Free Spuntini Black Friday"
• Finz is offering 10% off lunch or dinner with proof of purchase at any shop in Salem on November 26.  Finz Gift certificates are 10% off on November 26 and 27.
• Green Land Cafe has a special Black Friday Menu, featuring 3 courses for $26.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

• Finz is offering 10% off between 11:30 - 4:30 PM on Saturday with proof of purchase at any shop in Salem on Saturday. AND, Finz gift certificates are 10% off on Friday and Saturday! HipFinz.com
• Victoria Station will give $5 off your total order on Saturday, October 27, if you bring a receipt showing you spent $25 or more in a Salem small business! (You must have proof of purchase with Saturday's date, valid one day only, not to be combined with any other promotions.) VictoriaStationSalem.com

A FINAL NOTE... ABOUT HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS 

We kick off our Holiday Happenings today.  Join Mayor Driscoll tonight (Friday) at 6:00 PM at Lappin Park for the annual Tree Lighting, and check out the other wonderful holiday events planned on the Holiday Happenings Brochure.  And visit Salem.org/holidays for updated events, promotions, and coupons throughout the holidays. 

Things to be thankful for

There is much to be thankful for in Salem this holiday season, including:

Wonderful cultural sites like the Peabody Essex Museum, which bring the world to Salem.  This weekend, they feature the annual Peabody Essex Museum Antiques Show, which will showcase antiques dealers from around New England and their furniture, paintings, porcelain, jewelry, rugs and decorative accessories. 

New England traditions, like lighting the community Christmas Tree.  Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll will light the Salem tree, in a new location this year at Lappin Park on the corner of Essex and Washington Streets, on Friday, November 27 at 6:00 pm.

New businesses, including the dozens of restaurants and shops that have opened in Salem during the past year.  Make sure to include dining in downtown Salem in your holiday plans, and follow Destination Salem on Facebook because we still have a few more gift certificates to Salem restaurants to give away!

Our longtime partners and friends at the shops and restaurants that have been in Salem, growing with the community, over the past decade(s).  Local favorites like The Trolley Depot, Aroma Sanctum Perfumery, and The House of the Seven Gables shop will be offering Wish Lists this holiday season to help you get what you really want!

Holiday Shopping!  We love shopping for the holidays. Whether you are spending a little or a lot, there are great places to buy unique gifts in Salem.  Roost, The Behive, Urban Elements and others will be staying open late on December 16 as we celebrate Men's Shopping Night in Salem.  Its' the perfect time to come downtown and check out the wish lists that have been created to help you make wise decisions!

Classic Christmas programs like the Trolley Christmas Carol, which is presented every year by The Salem Trolley and Griffen Theatre.  This unique tour of the Dickens classic takes you to the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, and delivers you safely at the end of the evening with a message of hope, generosity and Christmas cheer.

Theater in downtown Salem.  This year the Salem Theatre Company opened its very own space in downtown Salem, and on December 2nd they will open their holiday production, The Long Christmas Ride Home. 

This dynamic city with so many assets it is difficult to capture them all in one list. From Chestnut Street to the tall ship Friendship, the Witch Dungeon Museum to Winter Island, Salem Common to Pickering Wharf, Roger Conant to Samantha from Bewitched. 

And, of course, we are thankful for...

Our fantastic visitors and guests. Thanks so much for visiting in 2010, and we hope to see you in the future!  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

What's Open in Salem this Weekend

I know, it's the off-season. But that doesn't mean there's not a lot to do in Salem this weekend! Here's a list of what's open and what's hot. Bring your shopping list with you, and don't forget your appetite. You'll never want to leave...

If you haven't seen the film at the Salem Regional Visitor Center, this is the weekend. Where Past is Present is a great overview of the history of Salem and the region, which is the Essex National Heritage Area. It's free, 27-minutes long, and beautifully done. Great for all ages (my 8-year-old is a huge fan), it spans early settlement, maritime, and industrial heritage of the region.

The Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, Salem | www.pem.org
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. (Check out the Iris Apfel exhibit. It's wonderful!)

The Salem Witch Museum, 19 ½ Washington Square North, Salem | salemwitchmuseum.com
The Salem Witch Museum brings you back to Salem 1692. Visitors are given a dramatic history lesson using stage sets with life-size figures, lighting and a narration - an overview of the Witch Trials of 1692. Their exhibit,Witches: Evolving Perceptions, examines the stereotypical witch, aspects of witchcraft in the 17th century, modern witchcraft and the phenomenon of witch hunts. Do you believe in witches? Don't answer until you visit us.

The House of the Seven Gables, 115 Derby Street, Salem | 7gables.org

The 1667 Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, more commonly known as the House of the Seven Gables, is an American masterpiece and a New England treasure. One of the most famous structures in America, The House of the Seven Gables features some of the country’s earliest Georgian interiors, a secret staircase, and Colonial Revival gardens. And, the property is decorated by local garden clubs for the holidays.

After visiting the House of the Seven Gables, be sure to stop into Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie at 122 Derby Street. America’s oldest candy company still sells Gibralters, which were the first candy made and sold commercially in America, and carried around the world by Salem sea captains and their crews.

The Salem Maritime National Historic Site, 160 Derby Street, Salem | nps.gov/sama

Salem, Massachusetts is one of the most important parts of our early nation. Visit historic buildings, stroll the wharves stretching out into the harbor, board the reconstructed tall ship, Friendship, listen to stories of the sailors, privateers, and merchants who brought the riches of the Far East back to America. See the free film, To the Farthest Ports of the Rich East in the Orientation Center.

Home for the Holidays at the Phillips House, 34 Chestnut Street, Salem | historicnewengland.org/phillipsmuseum

Historic New England will be hosting an open house on Saturday, December 12 from 11 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Phillips House. This Federal-style mansion contains a family collection that spans five generations, and is the only house on historic Chestnut Street that is open to the public.

Finally, it's Salem Open Studios this weekend. Visit more than a dozen artists in 17 spaces throughout Salem. The map and artist listing is online here: http://saa.onefireplace.org/Default.aspx?pageId=501826

Home for the Holidays at the Phillips House

Historic New England will be hosting an open house on Saturday, December 12 from 11 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Phillips House on 34 Chestnut Street in Salem, Massachusetts.

Jim and Maggi Dalton of Singing String Music in Salem will perform “Harmonies for Home and Hearth,” which will include holiday music and parlor games for all ages. The cost for the performance is $5 for Historic New England members and $10 for nonmembers. Family pricing includes 2 adults and 2 children and is $15.00 Historic New England members and $20 nonmembers. Performances will take place at 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. Advance registration is suggested.

Free activities for the public include the “Christmas with the Phillips Family” house tour, light refreshments, and a stop on Salem Art Associations’ Open Studios tour in young Stevie Phillips’ playroom. A special holiday sale, benefitting Historic New England’s 36 historic homes, will be ongoing in the gift shop as well.


About Historic New England
Historic New England is the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive regional heritage organization in the nation. We bring history to life while preserving the past for everyone interested in exploring the authentic New England experience from the seventeenth century to today. Historic New England owns and operates thirty-six historic homes and landscapes spanning five states. The organization shares the region's history through vast collections, publications, public programs, museum properties, archives, and family stories that document more than 400 years of life in New England. For more information visit HistoricNewEngland.org.

The Holidays Come Alive at the Hawthorne Hotel

There is always something happening at the Hawthorne Hotel! Check out the special events on tap for the month of December:

"Toys for Tots” Teddy Bear Tea
Saturday, December 19, Noon - 2pm
A favorite tradition at the Hawthorne, this tea is dedicated to "Toys for Tots". Buffet luncheon with finger sandwiches (see menu). All children will have the opportunity to have their picture taken with the Hawthorne Bears. Price $21pp/Adults and $13.50pp/children (children are free when they bring a "Toys for Tots" donation--new and unwrapped, please--only two per table). Reservations are strongly recommended. Please call 978-825-4311. (Prices are inclusive of tax and gratuity).

Brunch with Santa
Sunday, December 13 & Sunday, December 20, 11am - 2pm
The Christmas spirit is alive with this special holiday brunch. Santa will be on property to hear holiday wishes and spread holiday cheer. Prices are $28.95/Adults and $14.95/children. Nathaniel's and Sophia's. Reservations strongly recommended, please call 978-825-4311.

Caroling with Julie Doherty
Christmas Eve, 4pm -7pm
Join us in the Grand Ballroom & The Tavern from 4pm - 7pm on Christmas Eve, December 24th for a true holiday tradition in Salem. This event is open to the public. Admission is by freewill donation to a local charity; collections will be taken throughout the evening.. A cash bar is available in our Ballroom. Our restaurants are open for normal business hours if you would like to join us before or after the caroling event. Please call 978-825-4311 for information.

Christmas Eve Dinner
December 24, 5:30pm - 10pm
Christmas Eve deserves the elegance of Nathaniel's & Sophia’s. Enjoy our à la carte menu as well as holiday specials. Please call 978-825-4311 for reservations or information.

Christmas Day Buffet Brunch
December 25, 11am - 3pm
Buffet in the Lobby, Nathaniel's, Sophia's, The Tavern and the Ballroom. Brunch served from 11am - 3pm. Prices are $40.95/Adults and $16.95/children. Reservations are required. Please call 978-825-4311. As this is one of our most popular brunches we recommend calling early for the best choice of reservations.

Christmas Day Dinner, December 25, 6pm -10pm
Nathaniel's and Sophia's à la carte dinner menu as well as holiday specials. Please call 978-825-4311 for reservations or information.

New Year’s Eve Dinner, December 31, 6pm -10pm
Elegant four-course, prefixed dinner. Live Jazz music (no dancing). Nathaniel's and Sophia's. Price TBD. Reservations strongly recommended. Please call 978-825-4311.

Rockafellas Holiday Brunch Sing-Along, Sunday December 20!

Check out Rockafellas' 5th annual Holiday Brunch Singalong on Sunday, December 20 at 12:00 noon. Featuring a holiday sing-along with Lisa Love and Billy Garzone. $22 per person, children 10 and under are free!

And, mark your calendar for Rockafellas' Holiday Dinner Show featuring the Compaq Band on December 13th (that's this Sunday!!). Seatings start at 6:00 PM, dinner is at 6:30 PM, reservations are required. $38 per person, children 10 and under are free).

RockafellasofSalem.com or (978) 745-2411 for more info!

Santa's Arrival & Holiday Tree Lighting rescheduled to Friday, December 4th

Due to the bad weather Santa's arrival in Salem was rescheduled for Friday, December 4th. Festivities start at 5:30 p.m. on the Salem Common where we will be on the lookout for Santa’s arrival. Holiday music will be provided by the Gathering Church and the Salem High School Alumni Organization will be on hand with free hot chocolate while we wait for Santa. Following tradition, Santa will descend from the Hawthorne Hotel (around 6:00 p.m.) assisted by the Salem Fire Department and, with the help of his elves, distribute candy to the children.

Mayor Driscoll will welcome Santa to town. She will then lead Santa and elves through the Essex Street pedestrian mall to light Salem’s Holiday Tree. This lovely evergreen tree towering over 20 feet will be lit at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Essex Street, in the East India Square Fountain by the entrance of the Museum Place Mall. Holiday music along with free hot chocolate will be provided by the Gathering Church and will be served by Salem's Beautification Committee members.

Inside the mall children can sit on Santa’s lap and share their holiday wish list and receive a candy cane. Museum Place Mall merchants will have face painting and activities to entertain children while they wait for Santa.

The event is organized by Salem Main Streets, the City of Salem and the Salem Beautification Committee.

Good links for visiting Salem

Today's blog post features a few updates and links that I hope you find useful.

Last Friday I sent out an e-blast that highlights some of Salem's Holiday Happenings. If you did not receive it, you can click here to view it online. If you would like to receive future e-blasts, join Destination Salem's mailing list by clicking here!

Destination Salem has a snazzy new video about the Ten Free Things to Do in Salem. Click here to see the video (thanks to Chamber PG for producing it!), and you can view the list on Salem.org.

If you are looking for things to do in Salem, visit the calendar on Salem.org. There are amazing events, which range from Santa Claus to theatre to shopping days to house tours to exhibit tours, happening in Salem during the next six weeks. Take advantage of it all!

Do you have a MassValuePass? It's free, and it will get you discounts on attractions and accommodations around Massachusetts. The Salem Inn, Phillips House, Salem Witch Museum, The House of the Seven Gables, Witches Cottage at the Griffen Theatre are among the Salem businesses that accept the card. The MassValuePass is a program of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (thanks, MOTT!)

Finally, we are always adding new discounts and deals to Salem.org/deals, so check it out. There are great packages and incentives.

Finally, you can subscribe to this blog by entering your email on destinationsalem.blogspot.com. If you've already done that - thanks!

Happy Monday, and happy Thanksgiving week!

Another Snow Postponement to Report

The big band event that was scheduled at Rockafellas for this past Sunday, Decmeber 21st, has been rescheduled for Sunday, December 28th. The rest of the details for the evening remain the same - you can review them on the December 16th post of this blog or visit Rockafellas' web site.

Happy Holidays!

Snow postpones "Cold is the Nightwind."

This just in...

The Dec. 21 "Cold is the Nightwind" Program has been postponed to Dec. 28 due to the snow, ice, and downtown parking ban that was in effect in Salem over the weekend...

"Cold is the Nightwind" A Victorian Christmas Program will be held on December 28, 2008, at 2 p.m. at St. Peter's Church, Salem, MA. (We'll have the New Year to celebrate musically, too, after all!)

Ticket sales have been extended to Dec. 28 and advance tickets will be on sale all week! You can purchase tickets at the door, or online, as well.

Holiday Happenings in Salem

There is a lot going on in Salem for the holidays. Check out some highlights below (thanks to the Salem Chamber of Commerce for providing their comprehensive list!) and download your copy of the Holiday Happenings brochure at Salem.org.

Chulamama Maternity & Baby - 12 Deals of Christmas - 320 Derby Street

Through December 12 - Every day from now until December 12 Chulamama is having a daily special: Discounts, raffles and free gifts! All offers are good while supplies last and discount prices will go back up the next day. For more information call (978) 741-4600.

The Theatre of Light Presents: Narnia.....the Musical - St. Peter's Episcopal Church - December 13 and 14. Saturdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 3 pm - NARNIA....the Musical, based on "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", C.S. Lewis' most popular story from the Chronicles of Narnia, will be presented by the Theatre of Light on the above mentioned dates. Suggested ticket donations are $5 for children ages 5 and under, $10 for students and seniors and $15 for adults. For reservations and more information call (781) 210-9818.

Peabody Essex Museum Winter Festival - East India Square - Saturday, December 13 from 11 am - 1 pm

Midwinter Magic, inspired by Claude Debussy's work for piano, Snowflakes Are Dancing. Len Gerwick and Deborah Cosine delight audiences with this story of two children awaiting the first snow, featuring over 30 puppets. For adults and children ages 5 and up.

Gingerbread Houses and Cookies - Saturday, December 13 from 11 am - 3 pm - Chefs from the award-winning North Shore Community College Culinary Arts program in Danvers demonstrate the art of gingerbread house construction and decoration. Decorate your own gingerbread cookies for a yummy snack! Don't miss the chefs' gingerbread house interpretation of the museum's Gardner-Pingree House.

Crystal Watercolor Snowflake - Saturday, December 13 from 1 - 3 pm - Create a design as unique as a real snowflake. Paint with watercolors; then sprinkle on some salt and see what happens! (For all ages).

Make Your Own Snow Globe - Saturday, December 13 at 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm - For adults and accompanied children ages 7 and up.

Animals in Winter - Saturday, December 13 at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm - Meet at the information desk. For accompanied children ages 3 - 6.

For more information on these events visit http://www.pem.org/.

Teddy Bear Tea at the Hawthorne Hotel - 18 Washington Square West, Salem, MA

Saturday, December 13 from Noon to 2 pm - A favorite tradition at the Hawthorne, this tea is dedicated to "Toys for Tots". Buffet luncheon with finger sandwiches. All children will have the opportunity to have their picture taken with the Hawthorne Bears. Adults $21, children 12 and under $13.50 or free when they bring a "Toys for Tots" donation (new and unwrapped, please). (Above prices are inclusive of tax and gratuity). Reservations are strongly recommended. Please call (978) 825-4311.

Holiday Event at Maria's Sweet Somethings - 26 Front Street - Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14 - Visit Maria's Sweet Somethings this Saturday and Sunday and take a dip at our chocolate fountain. Also, enjoy complimentary samples of other fabulous gourmet items. Shop for great gifts for everyone on your holiday list - Marias carries Christopher Radko, Bearington Bears, Gund, Kurt Adler, Patience Brewster, Jim Shore and much more! Custom gift baskets, corporate gifts, shipping. For more information call (978) 825-9111.

The Jewel Tones at New Civilitea - 318 Derby Street - Saturday, December 20 from 1 to 4 pm - Celebrate this joyous season with the Marblehead High School Jewel Tones. The Jewel Tones will be entertaining at New Civilitea for the afternoon of December 20. Stop in to hear this highly trained group of young singers as they bring joy to your world with their unique arrangements of the holiday standards. No Charge. For more information call (978) 740-2832.

Celebrate the Season at Rockafellas - 231 Essex Street

Holiday Brunch Sing Along featuring Lisa Love & Billy Garzone on Sunday, December 21 at Noon. $22/person, children 10 & under free!

Holiday Dinner Show featuring the Compaq Band and special guest singers Ed Scheer and Britt Sawdon. Sunday, December 21 at 6 pm, seating starts at 6 pm and dinner at 6:30 pm. Reservations required, $38/person, children 10 & under free!

For more information call (978) 745-2411

American History & Music Festival

Mark your calendars for the American History & Music Festival Inaugural Event on Dec. 21, 2008, at 2 p.m.

This family-friendly event will be held at St. Peter's Church and will feature a program rich in holiday traditions and spirit, including:

• Cold is the Nightwind: A Victorian Christmas Program - a concert featuring Jim & Maggi Dalton
• Illustrated Talk on Salem and Regional Christmas Customs with Historic New England's Julie Arrison and Megan Mac Gregor
• Tour of the lovely and historic St. Peter's Episcopal Church and more!

Ticket prices:

• Adults $10.00
• Festival Excursion (Children under 12 years of ageaccompanied by one adult) $18.00
• Family Festival (Two adults with their children under 12 years of age) $25.00
• Historic New England Members: $8.00

Print ticket order form here

Downtown Salem's Tree-Mendous Event!

Come downtown this weekend when Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, The Salem Beautification Committee, and Salem Main Streets will hold their Tree-mendous Event - a Holiday Tree lighting in Derby Square at Old Town Hall.

The tree lighting and festivities will begin on Friday Evening, November 28th at 6:00 p.m. when Mayor Driscoll lights the City's 18 foot Holiday Tree. There will be Victorian Carolers, hot chocolate and cheer. And, get a jump on your holiday shopping at the shops on Front Street!

Activities continue through the weekend when there will be Christmas Trees for sale on Artist’s Row and hot chocolate, hot cider and cookies made by the Lobster Shanty. "Shanty Clause" will make special appearances on Saturday and Sunday between 4-6 pm.

November 28 - 3:00pm to 8:00pm
Saturday, November 29 – 9:00am to 8:00pm
Sunday, November 30 – 9:00am to 6:00pm

Proceeds from the events will benefit the Salem Beautification Committee and Salem Main Streets.