The 27th Annual Salem Haunted Happenings

It's that time again... Salem Haunted Happenings is a mere 3 weeks away. Destination Salem's Official Guide & Schedule of Events for the 27th Annual Salem Haunted Happenings is available. If you haven't received one already - 9,000 of them went out direct mail on September 3rd, but they went bulk-rate, so you may not have received it yet - drop us a line at info@hauntedhappenings.org and we are happy to send a schedule to you. Please put "Haunted Happenings Guide Request" in the subject of your email. It makes for easier sorting!

The Haunted Happenings schedule this year is awesome. Really. I've seen 10 of the 27 Haunted Happenings, and they just keep getting better. The month-long festival will feature more than 140 events, venues, and attractions beginning October 2 and concluding on November 1.

Returning perennial favorites include the Opening Grand Parade and the Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair, both presented by the Salem Chamber of Commerce; The Spirits of the Gables and Legacy of the Hanging Judge dramatic presentations at The House of the Seven Gables; Eerie Evenings at The Witch House, and The Hawthorne Hotel's annual Halloween Costume Ball (with a CarnEvil theme this year). New additions to the schedule include a Children's Haunting on the Common with a hay bale maze, painted pumpkins, and games; the Witch City Haunted Oktoberfest presented by Ipswich Ale; and "Wharf Knots" at Pickering Wharf.

In addition to requesting the schedule via mail, it is available at the National Park Service Salem Regional Visitor Center (2 New Liberty Street, Salem), and throughout Salem. The HauntedHappeings.org website is being updated as I write, and it will include printable PDFs and listings of the schedule, events, extended hours, parking, traffic, and so on.

Discover the magic of Salem Haunted Happenings - October 2 - November 2, 2008.

"Appy Days" at Rockafellas

Rockafellas, a restaurant that offers great food, tappas, and more, is rolling out all the stops for "Appy Days" on Wednesday, September 17 from 7-9 pm. There will be free (yes, FREE!) appetizers, drawings and giveaways.

Bring 5 friends, and you will receive $5 off your next dinner at Rockafellas. Bring 10 friends and you'll receive 10% off your next lunch or dinner at Rockafellas.

Stay for Salsa Night after "Appy Hour" for Latin dancing... Cha, cha, cha! If you can't stay for Salsa Night on the 17th, check out Rockafella's Music Schedule and come back another time.

Magical Weddings in Salem

I'm sending out a big "Congratulations!" to the many, many couples who are tying the knot in or near Salem this fall. I've received requests from 10-or-so brides in the past couple of weeks who want Salem Visitor Guides or Salem Haunted Happenings Guides to included in their out-of-town-guests' goody bags.

And to all of the newly-engaged who are seeking the perfect place for your wedding ceremony, reception, or honeymoon - I suggest to you, Salem is the perfect place for your special event!

Here are a few ideas for a perfect wedding in Salem...

Hamilton Hall on Chestnut Street was designed by the incredible architect and wood carver Samuel McIntire. Built in 1805, it has set the scene for many a fabulous fete! The elegant ballroom features a dance floor that is suspended, so it gives when you dance. Rumor has it that ladies' feet don't tire when they dance at Hamilton Hall.

The tall ship Friendship is a unique spot for a wedding or a small reception. Docked at Derby Wharf at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, Friendship is a replica of a 1797 East Indiaman Merchant Ship. Coordinate your special event with Capt.'s, which is as "right next door" as you can get on the Wharf, and you'll have an affair to remember.

One of Salem's newest wedding venues is the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites. The hotel offers every modern amenity to ensure brides, and the entire wedding party, are comfortable and relaxed. There are 86 rooms in the hotel, and I recommend requesting one with a harbor view!

The best thing, I think, about The Hawthorne Hotel for a wedding is being able to throw your bouquet from the windows that peer down on the grand ballroom. The windows are there so the chaperones of yester-year could keep an eye on their charges who danced the night away in the ballroom below. I'm sure the staff of the Hawthorne will chastise me for thinking that's the best thing about having weddings at their historic hotel - the food is delicious, and the view of Salem Common magnificent, too. The little windows, though, that's unique!

Getting back to the all-important bride (I don't want to discount the mothers, or the bride's attendants, but really, it's the bride who has to bring the house down, right?) Head to Rouge Cosmetics or Laura Lanes Skin Care for pre-wedding make-up applications, skin care, massage, body treatments, and a general sense of calmness.

Body & Soul Massage & Wellness Center is a center for calm and relaxation that is perfect for everyone in the wedding party!

Once you have your perfect day set and scheduled, feel free to contact Destination Salem for visitor guides to provide to those out-of-town guests. We're happy to send them to you in bulk so each of your guest knows how much there is to do in Salem (when they aren't having a great time toasting the happy couple, of course!).

Timber Framing Demonstration to take place on Derby Wharf

Seventeenth Century Saturdays will be enhanced this month by a special presentation at Salem Maritime National Historic Site. In addition to hosting an open house in the 1675 Narbonne House on September 6 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, the National Park Service will welcome master carpenter James Whidden and architect Mathew Cummings to Derby Wharf. Cummings and Whidden will demonstrate traditional timber framing techniques at 1:00 and 3:00 pm. In addition to showing some of the ways that posts and beams were joined by colonial carpenters, Cummings and Whidden will talk about the work they have done on some of the most historically significant 17th- and 18th-century houses still standing on the North Shore.

About James Whidden and Mathew Cummings
James Whidden is a master joiner, including timber framing. For over 20 years he has practiced the art of recreating early American woodwork, hoping to preserve a vanishing skill. His woodworking shop is in Ashburnham, Mass., but his projects are primarily on the North Shore including the Day-Dodge House (Ipswich, ca. 1737) and the Captain Sutton House (Ipswich, ca. 1685). Jim serves on the Ashburnham Historic Commission.

Seventeenth Century Saturdays
This presentation is part of 17th Century Saturdays, an Escapes North program to open the North Shore’s 17th century architectural treasures on the first Saturday of the month from June to October. For more information, and a list of participating historic buildings, visit http://www.escapesnorth.com/.

Sign up for E-Updates!

Have you scrolled to the bottom of the Salem.org homepage lately? On the bottom of the page, there is a link to "Subscribe to the Salem E-news." This is a different list from signing up for the blog, so if you haven't signed up yet, please do!

If you have signed up - you'll know this weekend because our first of what will be regular electronic updates was sent out this morning. If you miss an electronic update, don't fret, they will be archived on Salem.org and you can read through them just like you can scroll through past blog posts.

On another note, the weather this weekend looks a bit damp - which means it's a perfect weekend to hang out at the Peabody Essex Museum. Wedded Bliss closes on September 14, the Maori Tattoo Exhibit continues, and the permanent exhibitions are excellent places to spend an afternoon.

Finally, The Lace Reader Trip to Salem Sweepstakes only goes for a few more days. September 11th is the last chance to enter to win this great trip, which includes airfare! Find more information at www.salem.org/lacereader.

Fall Restaurant Week in Salem - Correction...

Alas, I posted incorrect information about Salem's Fall Restaurant Week. I had the dates and the prices wrong (it takes real talent to print everything incorrectly!). I've corrected the original post, and here is the correct data from the Salem Chamber of Commerce:

Salem Restaurant Week 2008 will feature Dinner Only! A three-course dinner will be $20.08, and some participating restaurants will offer an exclusive $30.08 dinner option, as well.

Participating Restaurants:

Caffe Graziani, 133 Washington Street

Capt.'s Waterfront Grill & Club, 94 Wharf Street

Cilantro, 282 Derby Street

Finz Seafood, 76 Wharf Street

Grapevine Restaurant, 26 Congress Street

Lyceum Bar & Grill, 43 Church Street

Nathaniel's, 18 Washington Square West

Passage to India, 157 Washington Street

Regatta Pub at Salem Waterfront Hotel, 225 Derby Street

Rockafellas, 231 Essex Street

Sixty2 on Wharf, 62 Wharf Street

Spirits @ 300 Derby, 300 Derby Street

Strega Restaurant & Lounge, 94 Lafayette Street

The Tavern at the Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Square West

Thai Ginger, 335 Lafayette Street

Thai Place, Museum Place Mall

The Black Lobster at Stromberg's Cove, 2 Bridge Street

For more information please visit http://www.salem-chamber.org/ or 978–744–0004

September in Salem

It's Labor Day today, which means the summer for travel is "officially" over. Not for Salem, though! In Salem we are gearing up for another incredible October filled with Haunted Happenings.



There are a few notable events in Salem during September, however. So mark your calendars for the following great events:

• Salem Restaurant Week, September 14-18


• The Salem Literature Festival, September 12-14


• Taste of the Wharf, September 30

Nearly twenty restaurants will participate in Salem Restaurant Week, which will be another great week to eat out in Salem! Participating restaurants will offer prix-fixe dinners for $20.08, and some will offer an exclusive $30.08 dinner option (beverage, tax, and gratuity not included). Take advantage of this opportunity to return to an old favorite, or try one of Salem's new culinary hot spots. Restaurant Week is presented by the Salem Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call 978.744.0004.



The Salem Literature Festival will kick off what I hope will be an annual literary festival. Named "Literally Salem", the event will celebrate Salem's passion for all things literary through featured authors, readers, writers of prose and poetry, and word devotees of all stripes. Events will include author readings, writers workshops, an open mic, word games, and more! For more information, contact Beth Simpson at Cornerstone Books.



Pickering Wharf merchants will host “Taste of the Wharf” on Sunday, September 30 from 3-6 p.m. “Taste of the Wharf” will feature samples from Finz, Victoria Station, Capt’s Waterfront Grill, The Grapevine, The Regatta Pub and Harpoon Brewery. Mix 98.5 FM Radio’s Street Team will be live at with contests and prizes. Entertainment will include the acrobatic group the Sardine Family Circus, clowns and face painters. This is a great opportunity to explore this great shopping and dining destination in Salem's Derby Street waterfront district!



Tickets may be purchased for $5 at the following Pickering Wharf merchants and restaurants: Artemsia, Peter Barter, Capt’s Waterfront Grill, Special Creations, Finz, Antiques Gallery, Crafter’s Market, NuAeon, The Grapevine, Josh’s Place, Salemdipity, Victoria Station, Quint Essentials and Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites. Net proceeds from the event will be donated to St. Joseph’s Food Pantry.



Photos: Giovanni cooks at Caffe Graziani, The view of Finz and Pickering Wharf from Congress Street.