J Mode is open late on Thursdays

Shop til you drop, ladies - the very hip J.Mode is open until 7:30 PM on Thursday nights for "Ladies Night." You can shop the fresh spring styles while enjoying wine and munchies.




If you haven't shopped J.Mode yet, it's on hip and trendy Front Street - a neighborhood of boutiques, coffee shops, and confections just around the corner from the restaurants of Washington Street and the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall.



J.Mode caries great lines, including... collections from Rebecca Taylor, BCBG, Nicole Miller, ISDA, Margaret O'Leary, Autumn Cashmere, Babette, Kinross, Hale'Bob, Alice & Trixie.



Not to mention Christopher Blue jeans, great accessories and the incredibly popular Spanx and Hanky Panky.

17 Front Street, Salem, Ma. 01970
978.744.7007

Golden Egg Hunt in Salem!! (You could win $100!)

Looking to get out of the house and have some fun…join Salem Main Streets on April 11th for the first annual Salem Golden Egg Hunt & Open House for a chance to win a Gift basket and a $100 bill. Jennifer Bell, Salem Main Streets manager explains, “We wanted to have a fun event in Salem for the whole family to encourage people to shop downtown and have a chance to win a really great prize.”

Participating merchants will hand out Golden(raffle) Tickets the week leading up to April 11th to the “egg hunters” who spot a golden egg in the store’s window. No purchase is necessary just have your ticket validated at 8 participating stores and turn in your ticket at a participating business or the Salem Chamber of Commerce by close of business April 11.

Many of these businesses will also have special on-going events to entertain, entice and thank customers for their patronage. For example, Pamplemousse will be holding a wine tasting, Penelope’s Pet Boutique is hosting the 3rd annual Easter Biscuit Hunt from 12 – 3, Rose Medallion Tea Room will have free brownies, Rita’s will have free samples, Signatures is offering 20% off all full priced clothing and delicious desserts, and Maria’s Sweet Somethings will have visits by the Easter Bunny, a jelly bean counting contest and much more.

You can visit the Easter Bunny from noon to 2 p.m. at the Museum Place Mall on April 11th. Afterward, from 2-3 p.m. the bunny can be spotted meeting and greeting people throughout downtown Salem. Salem Vintage Photography will be offering photos with the Easter Bunny for a fee.

Refreshments will also be available that day at these participating stores: Bewitched in Salem, Coons, Crunchy Granola Baby, Goddess’ Treasure Chest, Laura Lanes, Lotus Gifts, Marias Sweet Somethings, Pamplemousse, Penelope’s, Picklepot, Red Lion, Rita’s, Rose Medallion, Rouge Cosmetics, Samantha’s Costumes, Signatures, Thai Place, Treasures Over Time, The Trolley Depot, Turtle Alley, Salem Vintage Photography, Witch City Ink, Witch Tee's, and Witch’s Hide.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Bell at Salem Main Streets, 978-744-0004 or go to salemmainstreets.org.

Weddings at the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites

The Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites wants to host your wedding or special event!

They would like to bring your vision of a perfect day to reality. From intimate to elaborate, the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites is at your service. Their catering staff is dedicated to orchestrating all avenues to create an unforgettable wedding day just for you.

Contact Allyn Gamble, Catering Sales Manager, to help plan your special day at 978-619-1110.

Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites

Historic Pickering Wharf

225 Derby Street

Salem, MA 01970

The Lobster Shanty Opens on Wednesday!

I just love April 1st.

Here's another seasonal opening for you to celebrate: The Lobster Shanty will kick off the new season at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, April 1st.

Here's an update on their menu for the new year...

New, Old Menu

Last year we did some experimenting with the menu at the Shanty. As a result we've taken all of your favorites from every menu and put them on one awesome summer menu.

Our great burgers, including the Clyde and the Millionaire, are back. We've kept the wings, and improved our chicken tenders.

The lobster mac & cheese? You know it!

We've added some funky new Black & Tan onion rings and a 16oz hand-cut rib eye steak!

Come on now, you want more? Ok, we're diving in and making our own fresh mozzarella cheese - curds, whey, the whole shebang. We love our cheese at the Shanty, oh yes we do.

Oh, and we're bringing back the clambake. Chowder, corn on the cob, sausage, steamers and buttery lobster! Get your feast-on New England Style.

Yummm. And yet again, I find myself hungry after writing a blog post. You'll find The Lobster Shanty on Artist Row, at 25 Front Street, Salem, MA 01970.

Massachusetts Welcomes You

Yesterday was the annual Massachusetts Governor's Conference on Travel & Tourism. It is a great opportunity for those of us in the industry to do some networking, learn about travel industry trends (for example, of the 26 million travelers in the US, 65% are driving to their destinations), and get to see the new Massachusetts ad campaign.

You can see the new ad at Massvacation.com. It's funky and original. The music is by the Brian Setzer Orchestra, if you're curious.

While you are on Massvacation.com, don't forget to download - and use - your MassValue Pass. It's valid through Tuesday, March 31 (the spring MassValue Pass will be available in mid-April). It's good for discounts throughout Massachusetts, including Salem and the North of Boston region.

Visit Salem.org for complete listings of things to do, places to stay, eat and explore. In the meantime, here are the Salem businesses who offer discounts on the MassValue Pass.


LODGING DEALS
*Please check with each individual property for additional restrictions or blackout dates

Hawthorne Hotel
978-825-4364
25% off winter rates for standard rooms.

The Salem Inn
800-446-2995
Stay one night, get a second night 50% off.

Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites
888-337-2536
25% off select suites.Offer only valid Sunday-Thursday.


ATTRACTION DEALS

Historic New England Phillips House
978-744-0440
50% off two regular adult admission tickets.

The House of the Seven Gables
978-744-0991
Purchase one adult admission and get one child admission free.

Salem Witch Museum
800-544-1692
25% off admission.

DINING DEALS

Nathaniel's Restaurant at the Hawthorne Hotel
978-825-4364
25% off one dinner entree when two or more are purchased.

Volunteers needed for Spring Garden Day at the Phillips House!

Volunteers are essential to the survival of non-profits, historic houses, museums, and heritage sites. Here is a great opporutnity to volunteer your time by spending a spring day outside in the gardens of the Phillips House on Chestnut Street.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SPRING GARDEN DAY AT THE PHILLIPS HOUSE

Salem, MA
Saturday April 18
9AM-12PM

Join Historic New England and Plant Creations of Groveland for a day at the Phillips House to begin a light yard clean up and spring planting based on the Phillips family’s records. Bring your own tools. A light continental breakfast is provided.

There is no need to RSVP or to come for the entire morning. The staff would be thrilled if you stopped by to just rake a pile of leaves or plant a few flowers. This is a great opportunity to bring your children or grandchildren by the house and spend the morning out-of-doors while learning a little more about Salem’s resources. A free pass will be provided to all participants to tour the house that day or in the future.

The staff of the Phillips House has been researching Anna Phillips’ seed catalogs and orders from the 1920s-1930s in order to begin the process of creating a more accurate landscape based upon the Phillips family’s time at 34 Chestnut Street. Historic New England’s property care staff will be undertaking a cultural landscape report this summer, adding to the wonderful history that already exists for the Phillips House.

About Historic New England
Historic New England is the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive regional heritage
organization in the nation. It offers a unique opportunity to experience the lives and stories of New Englanders through their homes and possessions. For more information visit http://www.historicnewengland.org/.

Spring Springs with Attraction Openings in Salem!

Ahhhhh.... spring has sprung! The attractions that have been sleepy and, well, closed all winter are dusting themselves off, taking a big stretch, and opening for the 2009 season. Huzzah!


Here are four that are looking forward to welcoming you beginning April 1:


THE SALEM TROLLEY
8 Central Street (Tickets available on board and at the Trolley Depot, 191 Essex St.)
978-744-5469
http://www.salemtrolley.com/
Enjoy a historically accurate one-hour journey through five fascinating centuries. Free same day shuttle. 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (The last full tour departs the National Park Service Visitors Center at 4:00 pm.)



You can get a combination ticket to the next three attractions and save $5.00 per person...


WITCH DUNGEON MUSEUM
CELEBRATING OUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY
16 Lynde St.
978-741-3570
http://www.witchdungeon.com/
Award winning live re-enactment of a Witch trial followed by guided tour of the Dungeon. Open daily 10:00am to last performance at 5:00pm, April through November.

WITCH HISTORY MUSEUM
197-201 Essex St.
978-741-7770
http://www.witchhistorymuseum.com/
The stories of 1692 are told through a live presentation followed by a guided tour downstairs where you will see 15 life size scenes depicting these stories. Open daily 10:00am to last tour at 5:00pm, April through November.

NEW ENGLAND PIRATE MUSEUM
274 Derby Street
978-741-2800
http://www.piratemuseum.com/
A guided tour through the Museum where you will view historical artifacts, experience the adventures of New England sea-robbers, board a pirate ship and explore an 80ft cave. Open daily 10:00am to last tour at 5:00pm, April 20 through October, weekends in April and November.