Good question, here’s the skinny. As you know many of the businesses take a week off after Halloween.  We usually take a week also.  This year when our week was up there were a few changes.  One of our contributors is doing a semester abroad starting in January but headed out to scope living conditions and get all set up. Also, our photographer; another  major contributor just had a baby!

Baby Rose

Thanks for the update, what’s next?

Glad you asked. We can’t do this alone so its time to ask for your help. We are currently looking for a few bloggers to help The Salem Insider and write a regular column.  Sound like something you want to do? Please read on…

Looking for Salem MA bloggers

We are one of the most read sites about Salem MA and offer a helpful service to both Salem residents and tourists looking for inside information about Salem Mass. In an effort to expand upon that we are looking for bloggers willing to discuss subject of specific interested to those groups.  Subjects include womens/mommy/family issues, Salem’s music and/or arts scene, and Salem history.

If you currently blog about those subjects and would like to expand your readership to the tens of thousands of readers we have per month let us know.

Not already a blogger? You don’t have to be currently blogging, if you are interested and willing share your insights with our readers on a regular basis drop us a line and we will be happy to give you the low down.

It takes a village (and all those other metaphors) so please, help spread the word and share insider views.

The kick-off for summer has reinvigorated us and now that Memorial Day weekend is upon us, there is LOTS of great stuff to do! PLUS, we have an extra night to go out and have some fun.

Special Events / Festivals

The Salem Ferry
A welcome site to see, the Salem Ferry will resume operations on Friday, May 22, 2009. Round trip service to and from Boston – a scenic 45-minute trip of New England coastline on a high speed catamaran with 6-8 round trips daily, 7 days a week. (978) 741-0220

Rockmore Floating Restaurant Opens For Season
Season opening of The Rockmore Floating Restaurant (May 22 – September 7, 2009). Hope to see you there! Catch a launch at The Congress Street Bridge. Launches board from 11:00 am – 9:00 pm daily. 781-639-0600 (seasonal)

Griffen Theatre is hosting comedy shows
Griffen Theatre will host several comedy events at its location at 7 Lynde St. in Salem. For tickets or information call 978-317-1169 or e-mail griffentheatre@gmail.com. Seating is limited in most cases, so reserve tickets early. Friday and Saturday, May 22-23, 8 p.m. Stand-up with New York comic Mike Reardon. Hosted by Erik Rodenhiser. This is a night of stand up with headliner Mike Reardon and other comics from the Boston comedy scene. Tickets are $20 and include complimentary beverages.

Young-adult author event
Steve Kluger, author of “My Most Excellent Year,” will speak on Saturday, May 23, 7:30 p.m., at Cornerstone Books, 45 Lafayette St. Admission is free.

Last spring’s No. 1 Book Sense young-adult pick is now in paperback. Romance, real life challenges and frequent hilarity follow three Boston-area teens in “My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins and Fenway Park.” Written in a series of school essays, diary entries, e-mails and instant messages, this novel about family, friendships, politics, baseball and musical theater is a heartwarming book for people who hate heartwarming books. For more information, call 978-744-1831 or visit cornerstonebooks-salem.com.

Memorial Day Events:

Sunday, May 24
There will be a wreath laying ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in St. Mary’s Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. At 11:30 a.m. there will be a Memorial Day Mass at St. John the Baptist Church, 28 St. Peter’s St.

Immediately following the Mass, there will be a Ceremony of Remembrance for those Lost at Sea on the Winter Island Pier. After this service, there will be a collation at the Stefan Starzynski Polish Legion of American Veterans Post No. 55, 9 Daniels St.

Monday, May 25
The annual Salem Memorial Day Parade will kick off from in front of North River Cycles, 83 North St., at 10:30 a.m., then will proceed down North Street to Orne Street and into Greenlawn Cemetery.

At the Civil War Monument will be held the Annual Ceremony of Remembrance beginning at 11 a.m. This year’s keynote speaker will be Major Martha L. Ryan, Nurse Corps, U.S. Army Reserves, who has been in the service for 22 years, most recently being assigned to the 323rd Combat Support Hospital in Iraq.

Also expected are state Rep. John D. Keenan and U.S. Rep. John F. Tierney.

Following the ceremonies, there will be a collation at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Witch City Post 1524, 95 Derby St.

Music

Friday, May 22

• The Intermission, Metavari 9:30pm @ Bangkok Paradise
• Neurological Damage & The Force @ Dodge Street
• Los Sugar Kings (mambo-salsa dance party 9:30pm) @ Edgewater Cafe
• Machine 475 @ Gulu Gulu
• Afternoon Blues Jam @ In a Pig’s Eye
  
• Traditional Irish Music (6-9pm) DJ Lost Daze (dance, pop, hip-hop 10pm) @ O’Neill’s
• Moonglow @ Rockafellas
• Phat Maxx 8:30 @ Black Lobster (Stromberg’s)

Saturday May 23

• DARQ (goth/industrial) @ Bangkok Paradise
• Sour D @ Dodge Street
• Standing Wave @ Gulu Gulu
• Traditional Irish Music (6-9pm) DJ (dance, pop, hip-hop 10pm) @ O’Neill’s
• The Spinz @ Rockafellas
• Reggae Vision 8:30 @ Black Lobster (Stromberg’s)

Sunday May 24

Music

Friday March 13th

• TBA  @ Bangkok Paradise
• Electric Sugar (rock) @ Dodge Street
• Los Sugar Kings (mambo-salsa dance party 9:30pm) @ Edgewater Cafe
• DJ Ondrej! ( 8pm) @ Gulu Gulu
• Janine Graham (9pm) @ Lyceum
• Traditional Irish Music (6-9pm) DJ Lost Daze (dance, pop, hip-hop 10pm) @ O’Neill’s
• Open Bar Band (dance, rock, pop, 80′s) @ Rockafellas
• Matt Tentindo (singer / guitar) @ Spirit’s at 300 Derby

Saturday March 14th

• DARQ w/ DJ Static (goth/industrial) @ Bangkok Paradise
• Have at it (rock) @ Dodge Street
• Open Blue Grass Jam (2:30pm) Rev. Bob & the Darkness ( roots/rhythm/ gothic blues) 8pm @ Gulu Gulu
• TBA(8pm) @ Lyceum
• Traditional Irish Music (6-9pm) DJ (dance, pop, hip-hop 10pm) @ O’Neill’s
• The Hitmen (dance, rock, pop, 80′s) @ Rockafellas

Movies

Cinema Salem will be showing the following.

Race to Witch Mountain (PG)
Friday at (4:50), 7:10 and 9:25
Saturday at (11:45 AM), (2:15), (4:50), 7:10 and 9:25
Sunday at (11:45 AM), (2:15), (4:50) and 7:10

Watchmen (R)
Friday at (3:20), 6:45 and 10:00
Saturday at (12:00), (3:20), 6:45 and 10:00
Sunday at (12:00), (3:20) and 6:45

Slumdog Millionaire (R)
Friday at (4:25), 7:00 and 9:35
Saturday at (11:15 AM), (1:45), (4:25), 7:00 and 9:35
Sunday at (11:15 AM), (1:45), (4:25) and 7:00

The Island  (NR – Russian w/ English subtitles)
Friday at (5:15), 7:30 and 9:45
Saturday at (12:15), (2:45), (5:15), 7:30 and 9:45
Sunday at 12:15), (2:45), (5:15) and 7:30

Insider Picks

Sometimes coming up with the Insider Picks for the weeekend is the most difficult part of posting all week long!  This week there are a bunch of great events, bands and movies to see.  Since the weather still sucks tonight is all about being warm, and there is no singer in town with a warmer voice than Janine Graham.  Have a few winter cocktails and check Janine out tonight as she belts out some jazz over at the Lyceum.  Saturday, make sure that you make it over to the  Gulu to kick the night off with Rev. Bob & the Darkness and one of their many brews then its time to dive into a scorpion bowl with the underground phenominon of DARQ.  Bust out your big boots and leather as DJ Static mans the deck and throws the thud down with some homesupn industiral and ebm.

We are in the process of busting out a new fall design for the blog (if our web guy ever gets some free time). There have been a bunch of people interested in writing columns for the blog but most of them seem to just trail off into the ether.

Since we rolled out our video posts I’ve been inundated with submissions, unfortunately most of them have been crappy psuedo-commercials for local businesses. If you have some quality Salem based video/film I’d love to hear from you.  If you want to show me a video of the junkers at your auto dealership – keep it to yourself.

We’ve also tapped some local business people and artists for a few posts coming out shortly.  They will help you navigate your way through the barrage that is tourist season in Salem.

Salem Literary Festival 2008 – Inspiration for writers and setting for classic and contemporary literature, celebrates its passion for all things literary in the 2008 Salem Literary Festival. The festival will start Friday night from 5-7pm at the Old Town Hall.  Get more info on their website at salemlitfest.com.

Callahan Family  Fundraiser – Two weeks ago over at the Gulu you helped raise over $11,000 for the Jocelyn Callahan fundraiser with the money slated to build a fence in the hopes a similar tragedy can be avoided.  It turns out that the city has already funded the building of a fence with construction to begin shortly.  The Callahan family is consitering putting that money to good use in the form of a scholarship.  This Sunday September 14th Dodge Street will be hosting an all day fundraiser for the family.  Swing by for some great music, stories and to put a few dollars to good work.

Callahan fundraiser at Dodge Street

Music

Friday September 12th

• Alanna Manning (6-9pm jazz) Acid Foley (10pm rock)  @ Bangkok Paradise
• Demons Alley, Two Saints, Red Invasion (rock) @ Dodge Street
• Los Sugar Kings (mambo-salsa dance party 9:30pm) @ Edgewater Cafe
• Dj Seth (indie, 80′s pop, alternative 8pm) @ Gulu Gulu
• Dave Retros (rock 8pm) @ The Lobster Shanty
• Traditional Irish Music (6-9pm) DJ Lost Daze (dance, pop, hip-hop 10pm) @ O’Neill’s
• Search Party (dance, rock, pop, 80′s) @ Rockafellas
• Matt Tentindo (singer / guitar) @ Spirit’s at 300 Derby
• mamadou @ (8-11:30pm) Strombergs

Saturday September 13th

• Fran  & Bobby Tyler (6-9pm jazz) Playing with Fire (10pm rock) @ Bangkok Paradise
• Break for Moose, Guided by Wires (rock) @ Dodge Street
• DJ Zati (10pm) @ Fresh Taste of Asia
• 2nd Saturday Bluegrass Jam (2:30-5:30pm)  Jo Henly (country, rock, pop 8pm) @ Gulu Gulu
• TBD @ The Lobster Shanty
• Traditional Irish Music (6-9pm) DJ Cee Block (dance, pop, hip-hop 10pm) @ O’Neill’s
• Open Bar Band (dance, rock, pop, 80’s) @ Rockafellas
• dis n’ dat @ (8-11:30pm) Strombergs

Movies

Cinema Salem will be showing:

Rocky Horror Picture Show (R)
Friday 11:55PM

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Burn After Reading (R)
Friday at 5:00, 7:30 and 10:00
Saturday at 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:40 and 9:50
Sunday at 12:30, 2:45, 5:00 and 7:40

The Women (PG-13)
Friday at 4:45, 7:15 and 9:45
Saturday at 11:15 AM, 1:45, 4:15, 7:00 and 9:30
Sunday at 11:15 AM, 1:45, 4:15 and 7:00

Tropic Thunder (R)
Friday at 4:10, 6:40, and 9:00
Saturday at 11:45 AM, 2:10, 4:35, 7:20 and 9:40
Sunday at 11:45 AM, 2:10, 4:35 and 7:20

Insider Picks

I say this all the time but if you haven’t checked out Rocky Horror here in Salem get your butt over there Friday night. If Rocky isn’t your thing you can’t go wrong tonight at Gulu-Gulu,  DJ Seth is always a house favorite.  Saturday in Salem is all about the rump shakin’ so it’s off to see Search Party at Rockafellas and sing cover songs at the top of our lungs.  Sunday swing by Dodge Street any time after 1PM for the Callahan Family benefit, its a worty cause.

This weeks Video feature comes to us from recent Salem transplant Jason Hawkins.  Jason, who I’ve had the pleasure of having a beer with is an enthusiastic young film maker looking forward to his first Halloween Season here in Salem.

Jason writes a blog called MakeFilmWork.com which talks about various video, photography and computer related ongoings. From his bio Jason writes:

I shoot, edit and light for video. Sometimes I do motion graphics and some audio production (but not as much). I also enjoy photography and building things. You should know up-front that I’m not very good at building things. But I still like it.

Recently he made a short about one of Salem’s Cemetery’s, I’d love to see the follow up to this piece when the hordes over run Salem in late October.

Salem, MA – The Cemetery from Jason Hawkins on Vimeo.

Jason is accepting some freelance work if you are in the market, just drop him a line.

None listed

Music

Friday September 5th

• TBD @ Bangkok Paradise
• Criticize w/ Supertonic (rock) @ Dodge Street
• Los Sugar Kings (mambo-salsa dance party 9:30pm) @ Edgewater Cafe
• Radio Scotvoid Productions (alternative, experimental, electronica 8pm) @ Gulu Gulu
• TBD (rock 8pm) @ The Lobster Shanty
• Traditional Irish Music (6-9pm) DJ Lost Daze (dance, pop, hip-hop 10pm) @ O’Neill’s
• Big Time (dance, rock, pop, 80′s) @ Rockafellas
• Matt Tentindo (singer / guitar) @ Spirit’s at 300 Derby
• The Classmates @ (8-11:30pm) Strombergs

Saturday September 6th

• TBD @ Bangkok Paradise
• Toolfist (rock) @ Dodge Street
• DJ Zati (10pm) @ Fresh Taste of Asia
• Rev. Bob & the Darkness (acoustic, gothic, blues 8pm) @ Gulu Gulu
• Grateful Ted @ The Lobster Shanty
• Traditional Irish Music (6-9pm) DJ Cee Block (dance, pop, hip-hop 10pm) @ O’Neill’s
• Richie Rich and the 24K Funk band (dance, rock, pop, 80’s) @ Rockafellas
• Hot like Fire @ (8-11:30pm) Strombergs

Movies

Cinema Salem will be showing:

Tropic Thunder (R)
Friday at 4:50, 7:15, and 9:40
Saturday at noon, 2:25, 4:50, 7:15 and 9:40
Sunday at noon, 2:25, 4:50 and 7:15;

Pineapple Express (R)
Friday at 4:30, 6:45 and 9:30
Saturday at 11:30 AM, 2:00, 4:30, 6:45 and 9:30
Sunday at 11:30 AM, 2:00, 4:30 and 6:45

Star Wars; The Clone Wars (PG)
Friday at 4:00, 7:00 and 9:10
Saturday at 11:40 AM, 1:50, 4:00, 7:00 and 9:15
Sunday at 11:40 AM, 1:50, 4:00 and 7:00

Insider Picks

I don’t know about you but after last weekend end of summer marathon partying I’m pretty beat this weekend.  That being said I’m going to muster up what I have left in the tank and rock out over at Dodge Street with Criticize.  Saturday I’ll start winding down early with the always entertaining Rev. Bob & the Darkness over at the Gulu. Summer is now over and we have a couple weeks before we are thrust into full time tourist town mode with more parties than you can shake a broom stick at.  Enjoy your down time while you got it.

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Big deal you say.  The 80′s were all about big hair, over sized suits, skinny ties, neon legwarmers, lace gloves, polo cologne, members only jackets, Z Cavericci, pegged pants and Delorians that might or might not travel back in time. Well, that is all true but there was so much more than that, and like all fashion, art and design movements music was its voice.

That voice is being heard again not only by those who listened the first time but also by a new generation too young to experience adult life in a Crockett and Tubbs suit or a Magnum Moustache™.   You can’t walk down a street in Manhattan or LA without seeing someone keeping it real in a pair of slotted retro 80′s shades, thanks Kanye West.  Super hot club DJ GirlTalk is mixing new Hip-hop with classic 80′s tunes exposing a new listeners to birthed the MTV generation.  Reality shows, reunion tours and “where are they now” exposés are some of the most watched programs of cable.

Thanks for the history lesson Pops but what does that have to do with me?

I’m glad you asked.

Remember that little club night over at the Bangkok Paradise – DARQ -  we told you about it a few months ago?  Well, it totally blew up.  We’re talking lines out the door, standing room only inside, killer music, people coming from Maine, New Hampshire, Western Mass, Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and plenty of after parties.  Apparently a friend of club promoter and Salem based DJ Vudu DJ who runs DARQ  is trying her luck with a new club night.    Lifelong Salem resident DJ Alvis is presenting Decade 80s Night.

Decade 80s Night

We sat down with DJ Alvis the other night and chatted about the 80′s, Salem, night clubs, art, drinks, business and the future.  Since my steno pool is being drained for maintenance the following is a general paraphrasing overview of our discussion.

TSI: Why Decade?

DJ Alvis: Look around, the 80′s are back and people are loving it.  From TV shows being revived to movies being made. Some 80′s influenced fashion is coming back. Even here in Salem bands are playing 80′s music in their sets.  People are into the 80′s again, listen to a few car commercials and you see that advertisers are capitalizing on the comeback.

TSI: What are some of your influences to start this night?

DJ Alvis: I’ve always loved the music.  You used to be able to go to club ManRay or The Upstairs Lounge and get your 80′s on, they had great nights. The Pill (a Brit Pop night in Allston) plays some 80′s and people dig it but there is no place that focuses on cool 80′s, especially on the North Shore.

TSI: So what 80′s music should people expect to hear?

DJ Alvis: The focus will be on New Wave, post-punk alternative, early industrial electronica and club music, everything from ABC to XTC.

TSI: With today’s technology and advancements in music delivery what kind of gear will you be using.

DJ Alvis: Trying to bring a decade’s worth of vinyl music to a club would require a moving truck so I’m sticking to CD’s and ipod, that will allow me to have thousands of songs at my fingertips so I can play some forgotten tracks, import versions and b-sides people might not have heard.

TSI: With all the music you’ll have on hand can I request some hair metal or Rick Astley?

DJ Alvis: You can request anything you want – and I’ll make an effort to play it but, as every good DJ knows, it’s the crowd that dictates the flow of the music.

Decade 80s Night is the first and third Thursday of every month starting this Thursday September 4th at 9:30pm.  It’s a 21+ night (sorry kiddies) and best of all there is no cover so you can save your pennies for the bartender.  You can friend Decade over at their myspace page myspace.com/decade80snight or on the facebook group Decade: 80s Night in Salem.

Now I’ll leave you with a favorite 80′s video of mine. Hopefully this will tide you over until you get your fix Thursday night.