Two Free Lectures on Salem's History

Salem Maritime, the national park in Salem, welcomes two Salem State University faculty to speak at the National Park Service Visitor Center in Salem on Tuesday, June 21, 2011.  The presentations are free and will be held in the Auditorium at the Visitor Center on New Liberty Street.

9:15 AM - 10:45 AM

Salem and the North Shore in the Seventeenth-Century

Professor Emerson W. Baker, Professor of History, Salem State University

Professor Baker will discuss 17th Century colonial life here in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, especially in Salem.  The presentation will encompass Native American history and Saugus, the site of  Saugus Iron Works, the national park in Saugus.

11:00 AM - 12:30  PM

Salem and the China Trade: A “Glocal” Approach

Professor Dane A. Morrison, Professor of Early American History, Salem State University

Professor Morrison will discuss the experiences of Salem’s merchants in a way that makes the China Trade relevant to visitors to Salem today, connecting global history to the local resources in Salem. 

The lectures are free and all are welcome! 

The British are Here! The British are Here!

"By His Excellency's Command:"
General Gage and the British Army in Salem

They are encamped at Salem Maritime, the National Park in Salem, to be specific.  Salem is the happy host to a British encampment this weekend.  The encampment commemorates the arrival of General Thomas Gage in Boston in June, 1774. Gage was dispatched to move the capitol of Massachusetts to Salem, where the King hoped cooler heads would prevail over increasing troubles in Boston.  By the end of the summer, there were two regiments of regulars encamped around Salem, and the legislature had defied Gage's authority, and set about creating the Provincial Legislature, independent of Royal Government. 

Salem Maritime and the Center for 18th Century Life at Minute Man National Historic Park have teamed up to invite some of the best reenactors in Massachusetts to give a taste of what Salem was like in the summer of 1774.* 

The encampment began on Saturday, and continues through Sunday.  Sunday's schedule is:

11:00 AM: Morning parade and Service for the Troops
11:30 AM, 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM: "Awkward Squad:" learn how to drill like a Regular, using wooden muskets.

1:00 PM, 2:00 PM: Drill and musket firing demonstration
3:00 PM: Salute to the ship and end of event

 All Day: Surgeon's tent, camp life, meet the troops, Junior Ranger programs, Milliner's Shop, Gage's Headquarters, Colonial Games

It is wonderful to walk through the camp and talk with the reenactors, see the meat and bread cooking in the fires, and watch demonstrations in the field. 

 *Copy adopted by the schedule and program distributed by the National Park Service at Salem Maritime.

Take the Salem Ferry to the Bruins Victory Parade!

MVP Goalie Tim Thomas with the Stanley Cup, from BostonBruins.com

The Salem Ferry has added a 7:00 AM trip into Boston on Saturday morning, to help everyone get to the Bruins' celebratory parade in style, in time, and without traffic and parking hassles.

The parade begins at 11:00 AM.  Visit Boston.com for details.

Regular Ferry service continues after the 7:00 AM trip, with trips into Boston at 9:00 AM and on the "odd hours" until the last trip in at 9:00 PM.  The ferry returns from Boston to Salem on the "even hours," beginning at 8:00 AM, last trip to Salem on Saturday at 10:00 PM.  

Buy your tickets online at www.salemferry.com to guarantee your seat!

Congratulations, Bruins!!

Things Dad might love

Here are a few Father's Day shopping ideas from The Picklepot on Pickering Wharf:

- Hand painted silk ties for Ellen Hardy
- Wine glasses for Jack Walsh @ Dancing Sands ... The new Salem logo, the Friendship.
- Coasters with the logos of all his favorite Boston Sports teams
- Birdhouses made from drift wood collected on the North Shore
- photos from his favorite places

Rockafellas will be holding their annual "Golfafellas" event on Sunday - featuring indoor golf, prizes, food and ample drink.  

Schooner Fame sails at 2, 4, and 6 PM on Sunday.  The forecast looks perfect for a Schooner sail with dad.  I recommend making reservations! 

The Salem Farmers’ Market Opens Today!

Come to downtown Salem on Thursday, June 16 for opening day at the Salem Farmers’ Market and enjoy delicious local fruits, vegetables, lobster, breads, pastries, cheese and much more! 

The market bell will ring promptly at 3 p.m. signaling the start of the market, which will feature many of the same farms and vendors from 2010, as well as numerous new vendors. 

Opening Day Festivities

3:30 PM . . . Chef Tony Bettencourt from 62 Restaurant and Winebar will do a cooking demonstration

4:15 PM . . . Kiwi Kids will sing songs about recycling and what we can all do to help our Earth. Kids in the audience can join along with instruments provided by the Kiwi Kids. 

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Live music performed by Qwill.

In addition, Health Coach Diane DeGuzman will be at the market talking about healthy ways to use the foods you buy. This week she will discuss Strawberries for Breakfast, and how to spice up those all important whole grains with delicious strawberries. Recipes will be available! 

Salem Farmers' Market

Derby Square on Front Street 

Thursdays June 16 – October 20

3:00 PM - 7:00 PM 

EBT card accepted.

SalemFarmersMarket.org

Salem Farmers Market is organized by Salem Main Streets.

More pictures of our new public art

Here are pictures of the new public art on Essex and Front Streets.  If you missed my earlier post about the sculptures and their installation, click here. Each of the four pieces are done by artist Rob Lorenson. 

You have to check them out - they are different from each angle, and they really seem to want to be touched and interacted with.  We had a great time watching people watching the sculptures.  One passer-by quoted Steve Martin and announced, "I don't know what it is, but I want my picture taken with it!" (We aren't sure if that quote is from The Jerk or L.A. Story, if you know, please let me know.)

The corner of Front and Washington Streets.

Essex Street looking at Derby Square and Old Town Hall

Essex Street at Central Street (I want to sit in this one, and sip a latte).

Essex Street at the East India Fountain, by the Mall and the Peabody Essex Museum

 What do you think?!

Public Art in Salem - New Sculptures Displayed Today

Four contemporary sculptures by Massachusetts artist Rob Lorenson are being installed in downtown Salem today.  Three pieces will be located on the Essex Street pedestrian mall and the fourth will be placed by the intersection of Front and Washington streets. The sculptures will be in place through early November.

Installation begins of the first of four sculptures to be displayed on Essex and Front Streets this summer in Salem.

“One of the things we heard earlier this year at the Essex Street pedestrian mall meetings was that people would like to see more public art," says Mayor Kim Driscoll, "We’re looking at a number of ways to accomplish that, and one was to install these sculptures for the season. We see it as a way to test some ideas before moving forward with a full public art program.”

The public art program compliments the already dynamic arts and theatre scene in Salem, including the Peabody Essex Museum, the Salem Arts Association, Artist's Row, Salem Theatre Company, and several other galleries and arts festivals. 

I'll post more pictures of the sculptures when they are installed - and I'd love to see your pictures with and of the new sculptures!  Send them to me at destinationsalem@gmail.com.