Salem Witch Museum Conservation Work

If you've visited Salem this summer, you have probably noticed the shroud that covers the Salem Witch Museum.

The iconic edifice, which is one of the most photographed buildings in Salem, is undergoing one heck of a conservation effort. The Museum is preserving the stone work, roof, windows, and its massive pointed-arched triforium window.

Built in 1845, the building was originally the Second Church Unitarian. The staff at the Salem Witch Museum is doing an excellent job documenting the conservation of the building exterior, and the progress is being documented on the new Salem Witch Museum blog, Notes & Notions, as well as on their new YouTube channel.

There is a complete description of "What's Going On" at the Salem Witch Museum on their Web site at SalemWitchMuseum.com.

And, if you're coming for Haunted Happenings, fret not! The netting is scheduled to be removed at the end of September, when the October awnings will be installed to protect visitors from the elements as they wait for admission!

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!

Happy Birthday, Rouge!

Where does the time go?! It seems like just yesterday that I was being wooed by the glamor, beauty and stellar customer service at Rouge Cosmetics for the very first time. Hard to believe Rouge is turning 3 this year.

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!

To celebrate their anniversary, Rouge is offering complimentary mini-makeup lessons during the month of September. Appointments are necessary, and are available Sunday - Thursday, through September 30, 2010.

In addition to the mini-makeup lessons, Rouge will do a drawing for fabulous prizes, including a $200 gift certificate to the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa in The Plaza in New York City, a basket of Rouge goodies worth $200, and a special event makeup application! Make sure to enter when you are in the store this week.

But wait! There's more! Rouge is also hosting:

• Caudalie Facials and Bumble and bumble hair consultations on Saturday, September 18,
• bareMinerals Makeup seminars on Thursday, Setpember 23,
• NARS National Makeup Artist Doug Howell on Saturday, September 25, and
• Darphin facials on September 30th!

To make your appointment(s) for any of these events and your mini-makeup lesson, visit rouge.com or call the store at 978-740-1044. The store is located at 322 Derby Street, Salem - it's definitely worth a visit! Make sure to tell Ann you heard about how fabulous Rouge is from Destination Salem!
September is a great month to get beautiful for fall, and Rouge is the place to do it.

Photo: The girls at Rouge did hair and makeup for Today Show correspondent Sara Haines for a Today Show segment on Halloween in 2009. Check out more of Rouge's press and awards at rouge.com/rouge-press

Salem Named Favorite Day Trip!!

The Boston Parents Paper released it's "Best of the Best" issue this month, and in it the City of Salem is recognized as the Favorite Day Trip for Family Fun.
The recognition comes from editors and readers of the Boston Parents Paper, which produces its Family Favorite Awards annually. The awards recognize "exemplary products, support and information; stellar customer service, and a genuine interest in and affection for children and their families," according to the publisher's letter that accompanied the award.

Favorite Day Trip
The magazine highlights the "ample year-round opportunities for exploring history, art and oceanside adventures." It continues to say, "hop on the train from Boston's North Station, or the ferry from Rowes Wharf downtown, to reach Salem and get a glimpse of centuries past."

Sites highlighted in the article include:

• The House of the Seven Gables
• Salem Witch Museum
  
• Pioneer Village
• Peabody Essex Museum
• Salem Willows
• The Schooner Fame
• Salem Trolley

Salem is thrilled with this designation. If we are not already your Favorite Day Trip, we hope to be so soon!

For more information on Boston Parents Paper, visit Boston.Parenthood.com.

Check out the Passport Series at Sixty2

I don't generally need a reason to eat at Sixty2. Well, actually, the Warm Toffee Pudding does tend to be a driving force. I've heard equally good things about the cocktail selection, though. Oh, and the pasta is pretty darn divine.

Last year Chef Tony Bettencourt and his team introduced neighborhood nights as a great way to invite people to enjoy the fabulous food at a great price, mid-week. Now they've taken it up a notch with the Passport Series.

If you are craving a little bit of Europe, look no further than Pickering Wharf in Salem. Chef Bettencourt is preparing prefix dinners, which are being featured on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, that will take you to Spain, Italy, and France.

And it will only cost you $28 per person. Far less than airfare.

This is definitely worth checking out!

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!

A busy schedule at J. Mode

I was just on J. Mode's web site, and there is a lot going on at our favorite Front Street Boutique! Girls' Night Out is coming on September 10 - and it looks like a great time! Lots of tastings, fashions, and gift certificates. It's definitely something to check out.

If you can't make it on the 10th, J.Mode celebrates Ladies Night every Thursday until 7pm, with treats and specials. You can follow J. Mode on Facebook to know the specials in advance, or just plan to stop by before or after the Salem Farmers' Market!

There is also a Kinross Cashmere trunk show in September (we may not be thinking about cashmere today in the 90 degree heat, but fall is coming!), and Feng Shui color sessions on September 30.

Visit JModeFashions.com for all the details and complete information on this fabulous boutique in Salem.