Wednesday October 28th, 2009

SYNTH: 80′s party with Darq

Synth: an 80's Halloween party

Tonight from 8:30-12:30 at Bangkok Paradise we get a special treat and get enjoy a decade with a DARQ twist! DJ Alvis, DJ Zombi and VuDu DJ will spin your 80′s favorites only spookier! And the 2nd annual Halloween Thriller Costume Contest will be held. Cash & prizes for best 80s costume, best non-80s costume & a grand prize for best in show! And best of all: NO COVER CHARGE. More info at myspace.com/decade80snight

Thursday October 29th, 2009

The Dumb Supper: Dinner with the Dead

Dumb Supper

The Hawthorne Hotel plays host to one of the most interesting events of the Halloween season, the Dumb Supper.  This dining event presented by the Salem Witches honors the dead with a “sumptuous dinner” observed in silence as touching music plays. The concept behind the Dumb Supper is great, by remaining quiet, you will open your heart and mind to those who have crossed over.  However the $100 a head price tag behind this vegetarian only meal will leave foodies an people concerned with the recession perplexed.

For more info about the night including the menu and to buy tickets check out FestivalOfTheDead.com.

Friday October 30th, 2009

The Official Salem Witches’ Halloween Ball

The official Salem Witches Ball

Join DJ Addambombb (you may remember him from last weeks Vampyre Ball)  as he spins a mix of pop, rock and goth at the Hawthorne Hotel from 7:30pm – 12:30am.  Unlike many Salem events during the Halloween season Witches’ Halloween Ball is an 18+  party.  Tickets are an exorbitant $150 but for many this is the best Halloween party out there and only event they will attend.  You can also win a $1,000 prize in the mythical monsters themed costume contest.

Witches Cup Bike Race by lostandfoundphotos

Back in the days of Greg LeMond Salem started up a world class bike race that found national acclaim with many top athletes coming to the Witch City to take part in the race.

In the cycling boom of the 1980′s, Salem proudly hosted annual elite calibre bicycle races with national exposure. It’s the goal of the Witches Cup organizers to revive the strong bicycle racing tradition in downtown Salem, Massachusetts. The last race to take place in Salem was a stop on the America’s Cup in June 2000.

In 2007 the Witches Cup was resurected by avid cyclists and fellow Salemites Paul Boudreau and Daniel Shuman (owner of Salem Cycle).  Now it its second year this race offers fun for everyone with classes for children, amateures, and eleite athleets.  Swing by the common today from 4pm on and see this great event.

I’m not a Salem resident, but my sister and her fiance live in Salem so I’m in town visiting them quite a bit.

Summer Sunset at the Willows by Keela B.

Well, Keela your image captured the eyes of many and you are our winner!

Thanks to the generosity of some great local businesses and promoters you’ve won the following prizes.

• 2 passes to Five Funny Females comedy show a $50 value given by Drinkwater productions
• $25 gift certificate to Spirits at 300 Derby
• 2 passes to DARQ
• 2 tickets to the Crow Brothers 9pm Vampire tour

I want to personally thank everyone who submitted a photo.  The talent level here is great.  Thanks also goes out to the businesses who donated the prizes.  People are already stepping up to donate for the next contest, don’t be left out. Check back next month for a new contest.

• 2 passes to Five Funny Females comedy show a $50 value given by Drinkwater productions
• $25 gift certificate to Spirits at 300 Derby
• 2 passes to DARQ
• 2 tickets to the Crow Brothers 9pm Vampire tour

The following images are presented in the order received. Once you view the images please use the poll to the right of this post to pick your favorite (voting ends on Friday).

You may vote only once and any duplicate votes will result in all of your votes being thrown out.

Essex Street Mall by Amanda L

Crow cooling off by Stephen C.

Rock Lobstah by Liz F.

Bike by Ryan M.

Concert on the Common by Stephanie H.

Salem Willows looking toward Beverly Harbor by Lisa C.

Summer Sunset at the Willows by Keela B.

Apples on Bridge by Jason H.

Mojito by Arthur C.

NOTE: View the winning photo here on our follow up post.

So use the great weather today to get out there and shoot something!

Don’t forget we have some great prizes this time around that were donated by local businesses.

• 2 passes to Five Funny Females comedy show a $50 value given by Drinkwater productions
• $25 gift certificate to Spirits at 300 Derby
• 2 passes to DARQ
• 2 tickets to the Crow Brothers 9pm Vampire tour

Salem Common

Summer in Salem

Summer in Salem is the theme of our current contest. We are looking for unique images that convey your idea of what Salem has to offer in these good weather months. You have one week to shoot you pictures and get them to us.

The Rules:

1. Photographs must be taken within the City of Salem (Massachusetts).
2. Photographs must be shot during the time period of the contest (no using last years cool photo of that watermelon that looked like Manny Ramirez).
3. Photographs must be on theme (we love seeing pics of your hot girlfriend or cool car but if thats not the theme then it doesn’t get entered).
4. Photographs must be received no later than 11:59pm on Sunday August 3rd the deadline date (Eastern Standard Time).

The Low Down:

1. You have one week to shoot and submit your photo. Photos or a link to them may be emailed to contest@thesaleminsider.com
2. All photos will be assembled and displayed in a post. Photos will show the same size (i.e. 500 wide by x high) and may be clickable to view a larger image, just like many of our images on this blog are currently displayed.
3. Everyone gets to comment and vote on the photos they like best.
4. After five days of voting a winner will be announced and prize will be awarded.

The Prizes:

Because we had so many great entries last contest many local businesses stepped up to the plate to offer a great prize pack.

• 2 passes to Five Funny Females comedy show a $50 value given by Drinkwater productions
• $25 gift certificate to Spirits at 300 Derby
• 2 passes to DARQ a $10 value (this is a 21+ event if you are under 21 a prize substitute will be given)

If you are a business owner and want to donate a prize we still accepting them for the duration of the contest. In return we will post a link to your business in our sidebar for the duration of the contest (not to mention all the links in these posts which garnered well over 10,000 page views last contest), contact us for details.

The fine Print:

• Entries must be submitted by email to contest@thesaleminsider.com, with either your photo attached or a link to its url. You may submit one entry per contest.
• You must hold the copyright of the pictures you submit. Also, you allow us (TheSalemInsider.com) to post your image here on our site for the world to judge (just for the photo contest, we don’t want to use it for any other reasons).
• Employees of TheSalemInsider.com are not eligible, sorry guys.

The bold complementary colors in Howard Street Graveyard Buttercups by Daryl B. just eeeked out a win over the super cute A dogs view of Salem Common by Robin R.

A big thank you goes out to everyone who participated.  Since people seemed to enjoy this we will be hosting our next photo contest in July, with a new theme and more prizes.  Speaking of prizes, congratuations again to  Daryl B. for winning a $20 gift certificate to the Salem restaurant of  your choice.

The following images are presented in the order received. Once you view the images please use the poll to the right of this post to pick your favorite (voting ends on Wednesday).

I probably should have mentioned this before but you may vote only once and any duplicate votes will result in all of your votes being thrown out.

Howard Street Graveyard Buttercups by Daryl B.

Howard Street Graveyard Seeds by Daryl B.

Tattoo Guns by Forrest F.

Painting at Witch City Ink by Forrest F.

Old Town Hall by Jeff W.

four kids on the bypass road appear to be headed for the train by David M.

Beat(en) LA, on Bridge St. by David M.

YARR!! by Rippin K.

A dogs view of Salem Common by Robin R.

Untitled 1 by Alex E.

Untitled 2 by Alex E.

Untitled 3 by Jennifer N.

Untitled 4 by Jennifer N.