Walk for HAWC

The purpose of HAWC is to create social change by taking action against personal and societal patterns of violence and oppression. HAWC provides services and support to victims of domestic violence residing in 23 cities and towns on Massachusetts’ North Shore in order that they may make informed, independent decisions about their futures.

How can I help HAWC?

I’m glad you asked.  There are a bunch of ways to help raise money and allow HAWC continue the work they do.  You can sponsor a walker, get a team together and walk, volunteer, promote the event or just swing by and join the walk yourself.  All these options are explained on their website hawcdv.org.

Now that you’re ready to help here are the details.

18th annual Walk for HAWC
Sunday May 1st. Registration and pre-walk activities begin at 11 a.m.; walk is at noon.
Start and end point is the Old Town Hall on Front street
Call 978-744-8552 or visit hawcdv.org to register

And… Since you will be right there you might want to enjoy the music and beverages from the Lobster Shanty as they will be hosting another Rhythm & Booze (the event we talked about last week).

As we say every year, whether you are a foodie or not this is a great opportunity to try out something new and save a few bucks while doing it. Keep in mind that this is a busy event so reservations are encouraged.

Participating Restaurants

62 Restaurant and Wine Bar (Three-Course $25)
62 Wharf Street, Salem, MA – (978) 744-0062

Adriatic Restaurant and Bar (Three-Course $25)
155 Washington Street, Salem, MA – (978) 594-1832

Bella Verona (Three-Course $25)
107 Essex Street, Salem, MA – (978) 825-9911

Cafe Polonia (Two-Course $15 & Three-Course $25)
118 Washington Street, Salem, MA – (978) 745-0045

Capt’s Waterfront Grill & Club (Three-Course $25)
94 Wharf Street, Salem, MA – (978) 741-0555

Cilantro (Three-Course $25)
282 Derby Street, Salem, MA – (978) 745-9436

Finz Seafood Restaurant & Grill (Three-Course $25)
76 Wharf Street, Salem, MA – (978) 744-0000

Grapevine Restaurant (Three-Course $25)
26 Congress Street, Salem, MA – (978) 745-9335

Great Escape (Three-Course $25)
50 St Peter Street, Salem, MA – (978) 745-5022

Green Land Cafe (Three-Course $25)
87 Washington Street, Salem, MA – (978) 744-7766

Lakay Island Restaurant (Three-Course $25)
168 Essex Street, Salem, MA – (978) 744-2308

The Lobster Shanty (Two-Course $15 & Three-Course $25)
25 Front Street, Salem, MA – (978) 745-5449

The Lyceum (Three-Course $25)
43 Church Street, Salem, MA – (978) 745-7665

Nathaniel’s at the Hawthorne Hotel (Three-Course $25)
18 Washington Square West, Salem, MA – (978) 825-4311

Regatta Pub at the Waterfront Hotel (Two-Course $15 & Three-Course $25)
225 Derby Street, Salem, MA – (978) 740-8788

Restaurant Gioia & Wine Bar (Three-Course $25)
140 Washington Street, Salem, MA – 140 Washington Street, Salem, MA

Rockafellas (Three-Course $25)
231 Essex Street, Salem, MA – (978) 745-2411

Salem Beers Works (Three-Course $25)
278 Derby Street, Salem, MA – (978) 745-233

Seaport Cafe (Two-Course $15 & Three-Course $25)
215 Derby Street, Salem, MA – (978) 594-8490

Tavern in the Square (Three-Course $25)
189 Washington Street, Salem, MA – (978) 740-2337

Thai Place (Two-Course $15 & Three-Course $25)
Museum Place Mall, Salem, MA – (978) 741-8008

Victoria Station (Three-Course $25)
86 Wharf Street, Salem, MA – (978) 745-3400

Salem MA Annual Spring Fling

On Saturday, April 2nd from 6 – 9pm , Salem Massachusetts will host the fourth annual SALEM SPRING FLING: A GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS presented by Pamplemousse at Old Town Hall. The Festival, which is fashioned after the Bacchanalia – a religious festival in honor of the god of wine, Bacchus – will kick New Englanders out of a long hibernation and jumpstart Spring by celebrating the Arts and indulging in craft beer, fine wine, and mouth watering food from North Shore restaurateurs.

Historically, the Bacchanalia was held in the Spring and priests and priestesses adorned with garlands of ivy would carry wine, honey, and cakes throughout Rome, celebrating and expressing themselves freely through music and pleasure.

This modern day version – Spring Fling – will feature a tasting of craft beers and beautiful wines from around the world. Truly a party fit for Bacchus! Guests will sample fine wines from Pamplemousse and Market Wine & Spirits and craft beer from Magic Hat, Harpoon, Cape Ann, Mayflower, Cody, Narragansett, Ipswich, Stone Cat, Clown Shoes and Left Hand Brewing.

Spring Fling will kick off Salem’s Restaurant Week with tastings from Sixty2 on Wharf, Gulu-Gulu Café, Café Polonia, Greenland Café, Tavern In the Square, Victoria Station, The Lobster Shanty, Upper Crust Pizzeria, Comida, Lakay Island and more. Enjoy coffee and ice cream from Café Valverde and Ben & Jerry’s. Salem Arts Association members will be on hand with fabulous hand crafted works and Art Throb will be launching their new art magazine! Groove to the Beantown funk of
Big Ol’ Dirty Bucket and their unique blend of Funk, Rock, R&B, Soul, Jam Grooves, Trip Hop, Latin Step, and Blues.

Meet familiar characters from myth and legend and enjoy the goddesses and nymphs that wander the “Garden of Earthly Delights.” Seek out The Oracle of Delphi to hear your fortune. Roman attire is encouraged! Experience the intoxicating power of this celebration on April 2nd from 6 – 9pm at Old Town Hall on the Pedestrian Mall in Salem, MA.

Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door and are available at salemspringfling.com, in person at Pamplemousse, Salem Cycle, Roost and The Picklepot or by calling 978-745-2900.

Salem Spring Fling is presented by Pamplemousse (Purveyor of Fine Wines, Beer, Kitchen and Homegoods) in association with Magic Hat Brewing, Salem Chamber of Commerce, the Salem Arts Association and Art Throb.

If you’d like more information please contact:
Diane Manahan
Pamplemousse
185-189 Essex St
Salem MA 01970
www.salemspringfling.com
781-367-9232 cell
978-745-2900 store
info@pmousse.com

10. Ding Ding.  The trolleys have taken their respective corners for the upcoming bout.

9. The lines to get in anywhere Friday night are getting longer while the skirts are getting shorter.

8. The seasonal migration pattern has brought a new flock of homeless to down town.

7. Light poles littered with signs directing you to the local ice cream shops.

6. The Public Works guys draining the water fountains every other day because they were turned into giant bubble baths.

5. Diving out of the way as short-pant wearers peddling pedicabs or riding segways fly down the walkways.

4. Bewildered tourists walking about town at 8AM looking for Dunkin’ Donuts or anything “spooky” open.  (Try the local coffee people.)

3. A proliferation of witch and wizard hats paired with flip flops and black socks.

2. Grateful Ted crawling out of his winter hibernation to play out doors.

And the number one sign that spring has sprung in Salem:

1. The triumphant return of outdoor seating; meeting your fellow Salemites under the stars for a frosty adult beverage.

Mojito by Arthur C.

The Main Event: Spring Fling vs. Spring Equinox Celebration

In this corner the veteran wearing the light green and white striped trunks, The Spring Fling!

Salem Spring Fling

On March 21st, Salem Massachusetts will host the second annual SPRING FLING: A GARDEN OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS sponsored by Magic Hat at Old Town Hall in the center of this beautiful, historic seaport. The Festival, which is fashioned after the Bacchanalia – a religious festival in honor of the wine god Dionysus or, as the Romans called him, Bacchus – will kick New Englanders out of a long hibernation and jump start Spring by indulging in the finest wines, craft beers and mouth watering food from North Shore restaurateurs.

This modern day version – Spring Fling – will feature a tasting of over 50 fine wines and international and domestic craft beers from Magic Hat, Ipswich, Cape Ann, and Harpoon. Wine professionals will be on hand with an assortment of vino from the US, Europe, South Africa, South America and Down Under. Truly a party fit for Bacchus!

Salem Restaurants such as The Old Spot, Finz, Sixty2 on Wharf, Rockafellas, The Lobster Shanty, AJ King Artisan Bakers, Cafe Grazziani, The Upper Crust Pizzeria, Gulu Gulu and more will tickle and tantalize your palate with delectable culinary delights! North Shore Artists will be offering an eclectic variety of art to please your eye and warm your home! Local favorite, Machine 475 will be performing live. Free chair massages provided by Living Well.

The Spring Fling is on Saturday March 21st from 1-4 at The Old Town Hall, tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

And in this corner… the new comer Spring Equinox Celebration to benefit the new playground on Salem Common.

Parents United of Salem (we never hear of them either, but apparently they have been working for a new playground on the Common for about 2 years now) is inviting you to their upcoming Spring Equinox Celebration, to benefit the new Playground on Salem Common. Partygoers will gather at historical Hamilton Hall from 7 to 10 p.m. on the first Saturday of spring, March 21, to sample food and drink from local merchants and bid on an array of auction items. Local jazz trio Bob Kendall & Friends will provide a perfect musical backdrop for munching and mingling and making springtime merry.

Wine tastings from Salem Wine Imports and Market Wine & Spirits; and beer offerings from Boston’s Sam Adams, Salem Beer Works, and fellow North Shore brewers Cape Ann Brewing Company (Fisherman’s Brew) and Mercury Brewing Company, which will provide non-alcoholic Mercury Soda in addition to its celebrated Ipswich Ale. Steve’s Market will supply water. Food will be provided by Sixty2 on Wharf, New England Meat Market, New England Soup Factory, Rockafellas, Salem Beer Works, and Upper Crust. Ben & Jerry’s, Blue Ribbon Bakery, the Hawthorne Hotel, Jacqueline’s Gourmet Cookies, and Ye Olde Pepper Candy Companie will offer sweets.

Next door to the ballroom, attendees will bid on everything from bakery tours to history tours, paintings to parties, and loads of lessons – Spanish, Italian, skating, home staging, and more. Big ticket items, including one week in a New Hampshire ski condo and box seats to a Red Sox/Yankees game at Fenway Park, will be auctioned in the ballroom by local parent Max Burbank. All proceeds from the auction and ticket sales will benefit the new  playground.

The Spring Equinox Celebration is on Saturday March 21st from 7-10pm at Hamilton Hall, tickets are $30 each or $50 per couple, PUS members get a 50% discount.

Let’s get ready to Rumble!

You will notice that some of the local restaurants are staying neutral or double dipping but our main factions are once again squaring off against each other.  I suppose if you were so inclined and wanted to drop $55 you could attend the Spring Fling in the afternoon and then the Spring Equinox Celebration in the evening.  Lets face it though, if these events were spaced out by a week or maybe two more people would go to both and it would be a win for us and a win for them.

Latest Line

Like every good Vegas price fight there has to be some betting odds.  What do you think, who will come out on top?  Where are you willing to spend your money, on our veteran the Spring Fling or the new kid Spring Equinox Celebration?