Get your Pats gear in Salem

With only a couple of days left to get your gear on for the Superbowl, you don't have to look far in Salem to find Patriots t-shirts and hats for two-legged and four-legged friends.

Penelope's Pet Boutique on Washington Street will make sure you and your pup look the part for the big game.  In addition to t-shirts and hats for your pets, both Penelope's and her sister-store, Coon's, on Essex Street have AFC Champion t-shirts. 

Canine Patriots fans will delight at Penelope's Pet Boutique

Up the street, Witch Tee's has Patriots t-shirts and hats for him and her at both locations - one on Essex Street and one in Museum Place Mall.

Witch Tee's on Essex Street

Witch Tee's in Museum Place Mall

Tomorrow I'll talk about your many options for celebrating the Superbowl in Salem... from four-course meals at the Tavern in the Hawthorne Hotel to a Shantastic Superbowl Party at Vic's Boathouse, there are plenty of wide-screen TVs and appropriate half-time food on tap in Salem for the big weekend.

Go Pats!

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. 

2011 PEM Sale of the Year!

Mark your calendars! It starts next week!

Facebook friends, it's time to Tag & Shop!

It's December, the season of giving, and we are going to give-give-give for the next couple of weeks.  Some of Salem's most generous shops have given Destination Salem gift certificates to give away during December, and we are going to do just that!

Tag & Shop on Facebook

You may have followed and participated in our Tag & Dine give-away during November.  Tag & Shop will work in exactly the same way. Here's how to play...

1. If you aren't already, become a fan of Destination Salem on Facebook!
2. Each day between December 2 - 16 we will post a picture of a downtown shop and invite you to "tag yourself."  We post the pictures at different times, and it is completely random.  We try to do early morning, mid-day, and evening posts to reach people who are on Facebook at different times.
3. To "Tag" yourself, click "Tag this Photo" on the right of the page.  Facebook will then allow you to put your mouse on the picture and "tag" yourself.
4. Note: You do not have to actually be in the photograph to tag yourself in it!  
5. Facebook only allows 50 tags per photo, so once there are 50 you'll have to wait for the next opportunity. 
6. A random drawing will be done - yes, we have a fishbowl with 50 numbers in it in our office - after the picture has accumulated 50 drawings and the gift certificate will be awarded!

Here's the fine print: You can only win once, so if you win a gift certificate, please make way for others.

Good luck!

Get your glow on at Rouge

Rouge Cosmetics has a couple of noteworthy events coming up...  

First on the schedule is a day of Mario Badescu Facials on Saturday, November 13th. (Yup, that's this Saturday!). Make an appointment for a half-hour Mario Badescu facial done by Mario Badescu representative Vicki Caira.  She'll get your skin glowing and help you choose the right Mario products for colder weather!

Your facial is complimentary with the purchase of 3 or more Mario Badescu skincare products, and you get a free gift with any Mario purchase of $50 or more!  

 

If you aren't a Mario girl, but Darphin products call your name, make an appointment for a one-hour Darphin Facial on Thursday, November 20.  Darphin esthetician, and Rouge alumna, Marlo Freedman will make your skin look radiant! The Darphin facials are complimentary with the purchase of two Darphin products at the event. 

Appointments are very limited, so call or email Rouge today to reserve your time for beauty! 978-740-1044 or info@rouge.com 

Rouge is located at 322 Derby Street - just look for the pink glow! The girls have some great new products in for winter, so stop by and say hello! 

TV Diner Invades Salem this Friday!

This Friday is shaping up to be an excellent day to shop and dine in Salem!

New England's most watched food and destination television show, TV Diner, will be in Salem for the North Shore Mystery Dine Around event to benefit the North Shore Cancer Walk. This exclusive event - tickets are $75 and available through the Salem Waterfront Hotel - will include cocktails and Hors d'oeuvres at the Salem Waterfront Hotel before guests are whisked away to an undisclosed restaurant for dinner. No need to worry, though, the participating restaurants include 62 Restaurant and Wine Bar, Capts, Victoria Station, Finz, and Green Land Cafe (not too shabby!).

While guests at the North Shore Mystery Dine Around are hob-nobbing with TV Diner host Billy Costa, Jenny Johnson will be talking fashion with the girls at J.Mode on Front Street. This "Girls Night Out" event is free and open to the public from 5:30 - 8:00 pm.

After the Girls' Night Out and the Mystery Dine Around, the TV Diner Salem experience will culminate with a VIP After Party at the Salem Waterfront Hotel. Featuring a DJ, dessert buffet, cash bar, and silent auction to benefit the North Shore Cancer Walk. The After Party will begin at 9:00 pm.

Like any good promotion, there are a few ways to have a unique Salem experience and hang out with Billy Costa and Jenny Johnson on Friday.

1. Buy your tickets for the North Shore Mystery Dine Around and enjoy the fantastic cuisine and the entire evening with Billy Costa, TV Diner and the Salem Waterfront Hotel.
2. Pop into Girls' Night Out at J.Mode on Front Street between 5:30 - 8:00 pm to check out the latest fall fashions and say hi to Jenny Johnson. Or,
3. Shop Salem on Friday, September 10 and show your proof of purchase (of a qualifying amount) at the Salem Waterfront Hotel to get into the VIP After Party. Seven retailers and Historic New England's Phillips House are participating in the promotion, and complete details are online at Salem.org/tvdiner.

Whether you choose to shop or dine, or do both, you are invited to a great party for a great cause at the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites this Friday. For more information, visit salem.org/tvdiner or stop into any of these participating businesses: Cornerstone Books; Historic New England, The Phillips House; J. Mode; Pamplemousse; Rouge Cosmetics; Signatures Apparel; Treasures over Time; and Urban Elements.

Chef Antonio Bettencourt from 62 Restaurant & Wine Bar believes, “The North Shore Mystery Dine Around is a great event for a great cause. We look forward to seeing some of our regular customers and many new ones as well.”

Chef Bettencourt's feelings are shared by all of the businesses participating in the Mystery Dine Around and the shopping cross-promotion. This event is a great excuse to discover Salem's unique shop and dine scene and have a great time!

Urban Elements... check out the new online store!

I want you to shop in Salem. It's part of the experience. Come to Salem, walk along Front Street and the Pedestrian Mall, browse the boutiques and grab a bite to eat in one of the fantastic restaurants along Washington Street. Or stroll along Derby Street and Pickering Wharf seeking out treasures, and dine waterside on the Wharf.

Shopping in Salem is all part of the experience.

But if you can't get here, we have an awesome new online shopping option at Urban Elements. The gorgeous, eco-friendly products (perfect for hostess gifts, birthday presents, and a personal pick-me-up) that are on display in the store on Essex Street are also available online.

In conjunction with the new online store, Urban Elements has a snazzy new web site. Check it out.

And, if you can, come see the store at 230 Essex Street. It's one of Salem's best boutiques. And tell Kim that Destination Salem sent you!

'tis the Season! Farmers' Market Opens Thursday!

Yay!!

Are you feeling my enthusiasm? I could just sit here and write, "Yay! Yay! Yay!" all morning, getting more excited with each exclamation. Why, you ask? Well, because the Salem Farmers' Market returns to Derby Square for its second glorious season tomorrow, Thursday, June 17th.
The market will be open on Thursdays from 3pm - 7pm from June 17 through October 21, 2010.

Yay!

I love the Farmers' Market because it is convenient - right down town - and it brings farms from around the region to Salem; it generates a sense of community; and, most importantly, it gives us great food!!

Monkey bread, strawberries, greens, squash, tomatoes, corn... oh, I love the growing season. And I hold a special spot in my heart for Essex County and Massachusetts farms. The farmers of Essex County are not only farming and producing great food, but the farms are preserving the landscape. Supporting the farms, whether it is at their farm stands or at farmers' markets like Salem's supports the preservation of Massachusetts' amazing, living landscape.

Last year the Salem Farmers' Market served an amazing 38,000 people during the season. This year they hope to entice more people to the market by being open one hour earlier - at 3pm - each week.

There will be fresh produce, live lobsters, baked goods, and crafts for sale. (You may remember the Swiss baker from last year, and unfortunately, we have learned that he is not returning. My kids will certainly miss his pretzels.)

Here's what's old and new at the Salem Farmers' Market:

Returning Farms

• Clark Farm
• First Light Farm
• Gibney Gardens
• Salem egg farmer
• Maitland Mountain Farm
• Green Meadows Farm
• Long Hill Orchard
• Simone Farms
• Wally's Vegetables

Returning non-farm vendors:

• Rowand Seafood
• Rowell Fishing Company
• Ellies Salad Dressing
• Magick Moon Soap Wurks
• Living With Pets
• Creative Spirit Design
• Salem Soapworks

New Farms

• Flats Mentor Farm (an Asian vegetable farmer)
• Cider Hill Farm of Amesbury
• West River Creamery

The market will have numerous new vendors and products this year as well. Green Meadows Farm intends to bring local meat to sell at the market. West River Creamery is expected to bring a variety of cheese and nitrate free bacon and sausage. Rawberts Organic will also be a regular vendor at the market.

New non-food vendors

• Little Monkeys Photo Company
• Old Town Nantucket Baskets
• Ara Leamar Custom Art Glass
• Historic New England Phillips House
• Little Birds Fly (baby and toddler clothing)
• EMP (jewelry made by a local 11 year old girl)

The market is made possible through the generous support of Mayor Kimberley Driscoll and the City of Salem as well as numerous volunteers and the dedicated Salem Farmers' Market Committee.

The market is embarking upon a new program this year SNAP and will accept the EBT card at the market.

See you at the market tomorrow!!

How We See Salem: Author Brunonia Barry

Here is the second in our new series of how we see Salem.

Today we feature Salem author Brunonia Barry. Born and raised in Massachusetts, and currently living in Salem, Barry made her literary debut with the critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling novel The Lace Reader (William Morrow). Her second novel, The Map of True Places, hits booksellers in the U.S. tomorrow, May 4. Like The Lace Reader, The Map of True Places is set in Salem, and entwines many of our favorite historic sites, restaurants, and neighborhoods into the story of Zee Finch.

Brunonia will be celebrating the launch of The Map of True Places on Tuesday, May 4, at The House of the Seven Gables, 115 Derby Street, at 7:00 PM. This event is free, and books will be available for purchase through Cornerstone Books at the event.

Here are a few of Brunonia Barry's thoughts on Salem:

Brunonia Barry Writer: The Lace Reader, The Map of True Places Published by William Morrow/Harper Collins

Where are you from originally?
I was born in Salem Hospital and grew up in Marblehead (on the Salem harbor side).

How long have you lived or worked in Salem? My husband and I moved to Salem eleven years ago.

What is your favorite thing about Salem?
I like just about everything about Salem, but I think I like the people best.

What’s your favorite place to eat in Salem?
If you make me choose, I’ll say The Grapevine, but there are so many great restaurants, it’s not a fair question.

What’s your favorite place to shop in Salem?
Cornerstone Books. With a stop at A&J King (bakery) on the way home.

What is the first thing you do with guests from out of town?
First I drive them around the city to show them how beautiful it is. After that, we walk. I live in the McIntyre District which means you can walk to just about everything.

* * *

Do you want to shop, dine, and explore Salem like Brunonia? Here are links to the places she recommends:

• Cornerstone Books
• Grapevine
  
• A&J King
  

Follow Brunonia's blog, the Bru-Ha-Ha, and learn more about her books:

• The Bru-haha
• HarperCollins.com
  

More for Mom... Mother's Day in Salem

Mother's Day is just more than a week away. Are you ready? Here's some inspiration from this bewitching seaport...

Hotel Packages

Salem Waterfront Hotel & Marina

225 Derby Street, Salem MA 01970
SalemWaterfrontHotel.com | 978.740.8788

Mother's Day Brunch Package

Get away to the Salem Waterfront Hotel with the mom in your life for the night of May 8th and receive one full free Brunch per room based on availability.

Emerson Inn by the Sea, Rockport
One Cathedral Ave, Rockport, MA 01966
EmersonInnbytheSea.com | 978.546.6321

Treats & Pampering Fit for a Queen

Spoil Mom rotten with two nights accommodation for two anytime between May 7-10. Package for two includes flowers, champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries upon arrival, breakfast in the dining room on Saturday, and Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet. A late check-out will be arranged, so you can enjoy a leisurely brunch. This package is available from $399-$899, plus tax and gratuities depending on room type.

Mother's Day Programs & Specials

The Phillips House
34 Chestnut, Salem MA 01970
HistoricNewEngland.org | 978.744.0440

Free admission for Moms!

Free admission to all mother's on Sunday, May 9. Tours will talk about the history of Anna Phillips as the "mother of the house."

Rouge
322Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970
Rouge.com | 978.740.1044

Mother/Daugher Mother’s Day Makeover Special |$75 for two (a 50% savings)
Book a makeup lesson for yourself, and your mom get hers for Free! Enjoy a fun get-beautiful day with your mom. Are you interested in learning makeup

techniques from a pro and treating your mom too? Enjoy a personal makeup lesson for both of you at Boston’s best makeup boutique, Rouge Cosmetics. For just $75, you’ll get a private lesson with one of the award-winning experts at Rouge. They recently won “Best of Boston 2009 ” for Makeup Shopping by Boston Magazine, Improper Bostonian’s “Worth the Trip ” award, and the 2009 Best of Northshore editor’s choice award for bath & beauty. Book soon as appointments will fill up quickly! Valid for May only.

Sophia’s of Salem

105 Essex Street, Salem MA 01970
SophiasOfSalem.com | 978.741.1809

Mother's Day Weekend Honeystar Designs Trunk Show & Sale Visit Sophia's of Salem and find a gift of romance and artistry for Mom this year. Saturday, May 8 will feature a trunk show with handcrafted jewelry by Honeystar Designs. There will be complimentary refreshments on Saturday and Sunday, and all weekend you can enter a drawing for a Sid Dickens Memory Block! On Mother's Day all store merchandize will be 20% off. For more information and the Mother's Day weekend schedule, visit SophiasofSalem.com.

Treasures Over Time

139 Washington Street, Salem, MA 01970

TreasuresOverTime.com | 978.745.2330

Treasure Mom Drawing

Shop for Mother's Day at Treasures Over Time where you will find bead bracelets, earrings, and necklaces, gemstone earrings, rings and pendants in silver and gold, pashmina scarves, salt tea lights, Skagen watches, and natural stone vases (to fill with flowers, of course!). Stop in to shop or browse and enter the Mother's Day drawing for a $50 gift certificate to Caffe Graziani! No purchase necessary to enter raffle. Winner will be drawn on Saturday, May 8, 2010.

Mother's Day Brunch

Finz Seafod
76 Wharf St, Salem MA 01970
HipFinz.com | 978.744.0000

Mothers Day Buffet
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. $34.99 per person, $15.99 kids under 12. Price per person does not include tax & gratuity

The Hawthorne Hotel
18 Washington Square , Salem, MA 01970
HawthorneHotel.com | 978.825.4311

Mother’s Day Brunch
10:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Adults $39.95 Children (3-12) $14.95. Price per person does not include tax & gratuity

Salem Waterfront Hotel & Marina

225 Derby Street, Salem MA 01970
SalemWaterfrontHotel.com | 978.740.8788

Mother's Day Breakfast Brunch - Treat Mom!

8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. $29.95 Adults, $14.95 Children (12 and Under). Price per person does not include tax & gratuity. Reservations are recommended. Outdoor Patio Seating Available based on availability and weather permitting.

Emerson Inn by the Sea, Rockport
One Cathedral Ave, Rockport, MA 01966
EmersonInnbytheSea.com | 978.546.6321

Sumptuous Brunch Buffet

10:30 a.m – 2:30 p.m. $45 for adults and $22.50 for children, prix fixe, in the Grand Cafe at the Emerson Inn.

Cornerstone Books in March

Salem has a bunch of stores that I just want to hug. Cornerstone Books is one of them. It's a great place to hang out, browse the shelves, see an author read, meet with your book club, or grab a latte.

Here's what they have cooking in March:

Friday March 5^th at 7pm
Debra Crosby's A Quest Actor's Studio Presents A Night Of Entertainment!
Students aged 9 through 70 will be performing their monologues and stories. Debra Crosby's A Quest Actor's Studio is more than an acting studio. Founder Debra Crosby says: "Master the Craft of Acting & Discover the Confidence to Succeed in Life, on Stage and on the 'Big Screen!'" Debra Crosby invites everyone from actor to non actor to embrace the techniques from the performing arts and apply these skills directly to their life. A Quest Actor's Studio has a unique philosophy and approach in that each student is encouraged in a safe, supportive and positive environment to see their life as the ultimate creative expression or performance. Through humor, compassion and insight each student is urged to become engrossed in the Artistry of acting.

Saturday March 6^th at 1pm
Paul Tremblay and No Sleep till Wonderland
The Boston Globe just named Paul a likely heir to Robert Parker's "face of Boston" crime fiction! In the follow-up to the much-lauded, Bram Stoker Award nominee The Little Sleep, narcoleptic detective Mark Genovich is back! Come hear Paul read from No Sleep till Wonderland (Henry Holt, ISBN 978-0805088502, February 2010, $14.00) and see why he's being praised as one of Boston's best!

Sunday March 7^th at 11am
Discussion: The Environment
Do you like the Earth you live on? Do you care about it? Do you want to share your thoughts with others in our community who also appreciate our planet? Then come to Cornerstone Books on Sunday, March 7th at 11:00am. The group will be a free flowing discussion about any environmentally related topic! The goal is to get students and members of the community together to share their ideas and create a more connected community, with the environment in mind. The first ice breaker topic will be the movie Avatar, just to get the discussion going but where it stops nobody knows! Sponsored by the Salem High School Environmental Club.

Sunday March 7^th at 2pm
The PSIence Society Meeting
Come together and collaborate, discover, and discuss the PSIence of consciousness and mind potential. Hosted by Matthew Liscomb; please go to www.meetup.com/ThePSIenceSociety/calendar/12748432/ for more details.

Thursday March 11^th at 7pm
Calling All Educators: Julie Hahnke presents curriculum for The Grey Ghost
Middle-grade author Julie Hahnke meets with teachers to present her Parent's Choice Award-winning book The Grey Ghost, and demonstrate ways using the book can be integrated into classroom curriculum. Julie also demonstrates a presentation that she can deliver in YOUR classroom or school!

Thursday March 25^th at 7pm
Thursday's Theatre of Words and Music
Thursday's Theatre of Words & Music features established and emerging writers and artists to read/display/perform their work for the public at Cornerstone Books in Salem, MA. An open mike will be held following featured writers/artists--artists are chosen by first-come-first-serve. March's featured artists:

• Timothy Gager is the author of eight books of short fiction and poetry--and has received eight nominations fo rthe Pushcart Prize. His latest, Treating a Sick Animal: Flash and Micro Fictions (Cervena Barva Press), features over forty stories, many previously published in various literary magazines. He hosts the Dire Literary Series in Cambridge, Massachusetts every month and is the co-founder of Somerville News Writers festival. Timothy is the current Fiction Editor of The Wilderness House Literary Review, the founding co-editor of The Heat City Literary Review and has edited the book, Out of the Blue Writers Unite: A Book of Poetry and Prose from the Out of the Blue Art Gallery.
• Gloria Mindock is editor and publisher of Cervena Barva Press and editor of the Istanbul Literature Review based in Turkey. She is the author of 2 chapbooks, Doppelganger and Oh Angel, and two poetry collections, Nothing Divine Here (U Soku Stampa) and Blood Soaked Dresses (Ibbetson St. Press). Her third poetry collection, La Portile Raiului, Romanian translation (Ars Longa Press) is forthcoming. Gloria has been published in numerous anthologies and journals including UNU: Revista de Cultura and Citadela in Romania, Arabesques, Poesia, Phoebe, Poet Lore, Blackbox, River Styx, and Bogg. She has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, the St Botolph Award, and was awarded a fellowship from the Somerville Arts Council. Gloria works as a Social Worker and freelances editing manuscripts and conducting workshops for writers.

To get the most out of Cornerstone Books, visit their web site and sign up for their emails. Then you will get their events on a regular basis, as well as coupons and reminders that are sure to inspire you to add Cornerstone to your schedule!