Visitor Center Open House to Feature Talk and Book Signing

Local author Robert Booth is going to do a talk and book signing at the Salem Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street, on December 15 at 7:00 pm.  The talk is going to coincide with an Open House in the Visitor Center gift shop, giving you two reasons to stop by the visitor center on the 15th (perhaps after the Winter Farmers' Market, which ends at 6pm!). 

Here's the scoop on the talk and signing:  

Marblehead-based historian and author Robert Booth will be presenting an illustrated lecture entitled When Salem Ruled the World: Salem’s Global Empire of Trade and Why it Failed, 1790-1830, based on his new book Death of an Empire: The Rise and Murderous Fall of Salem, America’s Richest City.  Salem was once a global capital of commerce, with 200 ships and a fabulously lucrative trade to the Orient starting in the 1780s. The story of Salem’s friendship with India, China, and the Muslim world is as fascinating and instructive as its abrupt fall from greatness, ending in the rise of a local crime lord and a sensational murder.

If you haven't shopped in the Visitor Center Shop, you may not be aware that it carries many books for adults and children, as well as gifts, stocking stuffers, and herbs and spices for holiday cooking needs.  The bookstore is operated by the National Park Service non-profit partner Eastern National, and all profits from sales go to support the interpretive and educational programs at Salem Maritime.

Essex Heritage members, teachers with an ID card, and Eastern National members will get 15% off the purchase price of Death of an Empire.

For more information on Death of an Empire, click here.  For more information on Salem Maritime, the National Park in Salem, and the Visitor Center, visit nps.gov/sama.

Shop different, Shop Salem. Or, For a Unique Gift, Shop in a Unique Place

It's all about shopping.  You may be baking, brining and simmering today, but come Friday it's going to be all about shopping.  I'm not a get-up-at-4am to shop Black Friday kind of person (much less a shop at midnight on Thanksgiving night kind of person).  I much prefer the unique gifts and personal attention one finds in the shops and boutiques of Salem.

Many of our stores are celebrating Black Friday (now also known as Plaid Friday) with discounts and promotions, and several stores are participating in the second annual Small Business Saturday.  Shake off your food coma from Thursday and stroll the historic, cobbled streets of Salem.  Soak in the atmosphere, and check out the promotions at theses stores, and others.

Front Street

Roost / Beehive / Scrub are offering $20 off your purchase of $100 or more (Click here for coupon.)

Roost

Boston Bead Company is running a "Buy More / Save More" promotion on Friday and a Small-Business-Saturday Free Gift with Purchase on the 26th. (BostonBeadCompany.com for details on both.)

Essex Street

Omen Psychic Parlor - Witches, Warlocks and Wine on Friday. After a hard day of shopping and left-over turkey, you'll need wine and Witches! 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm. Click here for calendar.

Signatures Apparel is having their Holiday Open House on Friday and Saturday, featuring 20% off all full priced clothing all weekend. Complimentary gift wrapping, boxes, and gift bags. They are also collecting donations for Toys for Tots and for St. Joseph's food pantry all season long.Visit them on Facebook.

Analee at Trolley Depot

The Trolley Depot is celebrating Black Friday and Small Business Saturday by offering 25% off all Analee on both days.  TrolleyDepot.com

Witch City Consignment and Thrift - Black Friday all week long. Click here for coupon.

Washington Street

Dine at Green Land Cafe this weekend and save 10% when you mention Black Friday.

Pickering Wharf and Waterfront District

The House of the Seven Gables

The House of the Seven Gables will open The Museum Shop on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday and offer a 10% discount on purchases this weekend. Come down to explore the wonderful range of seasonal gifts and take a stroll along the sea wall and enjoy the great views across Salem harbor.

Victoria Station will give you $5.00 off your food order when you show a receipt from any Salem business dated Saturday, November 26 on Saturday, November 26. 

Victoria Station (again!) is featuring all of their Massachusetts Craft Beers (including Notch, Cisco, Wachusett, Harpoon and Sam Adams) for $4 all week long!

Happy Thanksgiving, and happy shopping!

Have you made a wish list? Are you ready to shop late on Thursday?

This Thursday is Men's Shopping Night in Salem! 

Participating businesses are making the holidays extra-easy by offering wish lists, serving refreshments, and staying open late.  Salem Main Streets has all the details on their web site at SalemMainStreets.org.

See you Thursday... 

Salem Shopping Event

Tonight is The Salem Shopping Event downtown Salem, which is a great excuse to bundle up and come downtown to do some shopping. And you know you won't find any run-of-the-mill gifts in Salem. From organic baby gear to gorgeous jewelry to home goods that range from the practical to the whimsical (and are occasionally both), in Salem you will find gifts that will NOT be regifted.

There will be great discounts and promotions offered at shops in the Townhouse Square neighborhood (the blocks around Washington Street at Essex Street) and throughout downtown. I know Pickering Wharf shops are staying open late, as are shops on Derby Street and Front Street.  Grab that list and get ready to start checking people off!     

If you've sent a wish list of your own to Santa, make sure to pick up a Men's Shopping Night post card at participating retailers. You can create wish lists at more than ten downtown shops, check the shops off on the card, and leave it surreptitiously on somebody's bureau (or the dishwasher, or taped to the rear view mirror).  I recommend wishing for a lot, and then being pleasantly surprised by what is ultimately selected, wrapped, and left under the tree!

The postcard may be gender-specific, but don't let that stop you.  Anyone can create wish-lists! 

Shops will be open late tonight - and many are open late on Fridays and Saturdays in December, as well - and next Thursday. There will be drawings, prizes, tastings, refreshments...  it's going to be a very merry place to shop different, so shop Salem tonight and throughout this holiday season!