Old Town Hall Salem MA

For a while now various groups have been holding events there and using the space for all sorts of fun stuff.  A little over one year ago we discussed a few plans that people had floated regarding the future usage of the Old Town Hall.  The outcome was that since Gordon College does a fine job with its Cry Innocense program that they would become stuarts of the stucture and use it to promote the Arts and Community.

Continuing with this spirit of arts, education, community and entertainment the good folks over at Gordon College  have opened their doors to you on their new website www.SalemOldTownHall.com.

Time Travel Days at the Old Town Hall

The Gordon College Institute for Public History announces a collaborative festival for residents and visitors providing opportunities to interact with Salem’s rich and diverse history.  Time Travel Days is looking for musicians, performers, venders, and presenters to provide programming for students, history buffs and the community at large. Programming may be from any time period, but must be related to Salem.

Potential programming participants are invited to submit a response  to the call for proposals.  Programmers whose proposals are selected may be required to submit an additional application.

To find out more about this program and to download a application head over to their website.

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?

The weather might have been chilly Saturday afternoon but the band was hot, playing a mix of salsa and jazz that had everybody on the front steps of the Old Town Hall tapping to the music. People young and old brought their chairs, grabbed some food, ice cream and coffee and gathered in Derby Square for the first performance of this years festival.

Juan’s outstanding violin and vocals were backed up by some great musicians playing an interesting mix of viola, cello, base, sax, trombone, guitar, percussion, and keyboards. If you missed this fun energy filled set you can hear some tunes on his myspace page. Chavez’s band will be a hard act to follow and if the turnout was any indicator of future events, plan to get there early.

The only downside to this out door free event was the proliferation of unsupervised children running around yelling and constantly pestering the onlookers and band alike. At one point it got so bad the band leader mentioned it between songs. We love free cultural events but if pet owners can keep their dogs on a leash certain parents should take a lesson from them. (End of tangent.)

Salem’s history with Jazz

Most people are unaware that Salem used to host many Big Bands during the golden age of Jazz and Swing. The Salem Willows once was home to the Charleshurst Ballroom, now the Willows Casino. When jazz greats like Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Louis Armstrong would tour, they would do a few feature nights in major cities and supporting nights in smaller venues. Ballrooms like Mosleys on the Charles in Dedham and Charleshurst in the Salem Willows were just as important as the Coconut Grove in Boston.

Back in the Twenty’s Boston was much further away than it is now. Luckily for Salem, Charlie Shribman who operated a chain of ballrooms in New England and handled bookings for Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey and other bands, owned the Charleshurst Ballroom. In the summer of 1927 the Duke played nine performances at the Ballroom along with a variety of other top musicians throughout the years.

2008 Festival Schedule

The 2008 Salem Jazz and Soul Festival will continue through the summer with three different locations concluding with a blowout weekend at the Willows. Make sure to swing by and enjoy some of the bands. Free music this good doesn’t come around that often.

Derby Square

June 14th 5-7PM
Zach Hillyard Band

July 12th 5-7PM
Paulo Stagnaro

August 9th 5-7PM
Manami Morita

August 10th 1-3PM
The Nat Simpkins Band

Museum Place Mall at the Fountain

August 10th 2-4PM
Boston Horns

Salem Willows

Aug. 15, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
The Dan King Band

Aug. 16, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Ken Clark Ogan Trio
Brothers from Another Planet
Parker Wheeler Blues Project
The Mystics
Los Sugar Kings

Aug. 16, Noon – 4:00 p.m.
Eric Reardon and the Juke Joint All-Stars at
Hobbs’ Juke Joint

Aug. 17, 1-4 p.m.
Follow Hymn Gospel Choir
Marty Rowen and Last Call for Blues

]]> http://www.thesaleminsider.com/2008/05/12/salem-jazz-and-soul-festival/feed/ 2 http://www.thesaleminsider.com/2008/02/21/retail-revitalization-in-down-town-salem/ http://www.thesaleminsider.com/2008/02/21/retail-revitalization-in-down-town-salem/#comments Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:04:49 +0000 Glen Hughes http://www.thesaleminsider.com/2008/02/21/retail-revitalization-in-down-town-salem/ I while back I wrote a post regarding some of the disappearing businesses from Salem’s down town area. As a follow up I’d like to talk about some of the new businesses emerging and expanding.

Perhaps I was correct when I stated “now is the time to pick up retail space in the pedestrian mall.” When Cool Jewls moved out of their corner spot in the mall, Salem’s Vintage Photography saw an opportunity and moved right in. The prime location will surely boost their bottom line. Acupuncture Solutions is also moving from their current home next to Cinema Salem to a more prominent spot just down from Essex N.Y. Deli & Pizza.

Another move from inside the Museum Place mall and expansion into a more prominent location in the pedestrian Mall was Signatures. The womens clothiers storefront and interior looks much more clean and sophisticated. Now if they could get their website out of the early 90′s they would achieve a total transformation.

Fool’s Mansion closed its doors which is sad to see, now the goth kids will have to be content with Hot Topic. Update: According to the current owner a couple has agreed to purchase the shop and continue carrying its current clothing lines hopefully re-opening in April.  The papers may be passed as early as next week. On the other end of Essex Street however, Salem’s own manwitch Christian Day is set to open up his new venture Hex. Salem’s latest witch shop, in a fantastic location between Harrison’s Comics and Laura Lanes Skin Care.

Also hitting the ground running is Salem Wine Imports (seems like we mention them often around here) with a variety of offerings. The newly reopened Spirit’s is packing in the customers at their bar and still working out their dining issues. The old Bella Luna space has been built out and opened as Sixty2 on Wharf it looks to be a sweet summer spot.

The pedestrian mall will also be seeing an other new shop next month when Witch City Ink opens up across from Pamplemousse. Witch City Ink will be Salem’s first down town tattoo shop since the 1940′s. It’s owner a Salem resident was a driving force behind this art form becoming legal once again in Massachusetts, and prides himself in his clean shops and exceptional artists.

It’s nice to report on Salem businesses opening up and doing well. Keep your eyes open for more reviews of the shops mentioned here and a few in depth inteviews with the people that make it happen.

In keeping with the emerging theme of education during this school vacation week,  Frater Alephomen from the O.T.O. sent us a note regarding a lecture tonight.

The Knights Templar Oasis
Presents: Microcosmic Classes
When: Tue, Feb 19, Doors Open 7:30pm classes Begin at 8:00pm and go to – 9:00pm (Sometimes 9:30pm)
Where: The Temple – which is at 175 Essex Street (Above Samantha’s Costume) door number ONE
This week’s class description: Short topics on magic, mysticism, philosophy, etc…
Open to the public with a $5 donation.

Now for a little background on The Knights Templar Oasis.

The Knights Templar Oasis, based in Salem, Massachusetts, is an O.T.O. body serving the Thelemic community in Massachusetts and the surrounding New England states. We teach and practice Thelemic ceremonial magick, celebrate the Gnostic Mass, and are chartered to initiate through the III°. The interests of our membership range widely across esoteric practices and spiritual systems, but all find unity in their acceptance of the principles of The Book of the Law (Liber AL vel Legis).

The letters O.T.O. stand for Ordo Templi Orientis, the Order of Oriental Templars, or Order of the Temple of the East. O.T.O. is an Outer Thelemic Order which is dedicated to the high purpose of securing the Liberty of the Individual and his or her advancement in Light, Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, and Power through Beauty, Courage, and Wit, on the Foundation of Universal Brotherhood. The structure of the O.T.O., like that of Freemasonry and the ancient mystery schools, is based upon a graded series of initiations or Degrees. In these Degrees, the O.T.O. seeks to instruct the individual by allegory and symbol in the profound mysteries of Existence, and thereby to assist each to discover his or her own true Nature

I’m not one who goes to the movies that often, in fact until recently I can only recall 3 movies I’ve seen in the theater in the past 5 years. All that changed about a year ago when I was dragged kicking and screaming to the Salem Cinema.

Like many people I became disenchanted with the movies for a variety of reasons, there hasn’t been an original idea out of Hollywood in decades, movie lengths have shortened (80 and 90 minute movies) while prices have gone through the roof. While I love cinemas with stadium seating, big comfy chairs and troths of popcorn, I refuse to pay $12 for a ticket, $8 for a popcorn and $6 for a drink. Going on a date to the movies will run about $50. That is just crazy!

Since going to Cinema Salem my outlook has changed 180 degrees. Don’t set you expectations sky high when going to here for the first time. The theaters are old style with only a few hundred seats per screen. The seats themselves are also old skool flip down seats with no drink holders and not too much room.

Now for the upside. They have three screens showing current films. The prices are quite affordable, with admission prices being $8, kids and seniors pay only $6. That is less than a matinées price at other theaters. Popcorn, drinks and candy is also inexpensive. A couple can go to the movies get a large drink and popcorn for about $20. Thats about what you would spend for two cocktails and a tip at many of Salem’s local bars.

Cinema Salem also has a little cafe on site where you can grab a coffee and see some art by local and national artists. The employees are helpful and seem happy to be there. I have also found that the people who go there tend to be more polite than those that go to the big googleplexes. Even when seeing movies with groups of younger people (teenagers) they were not rowdy or boisterous.

Cinema Salem, going beyond your average theater

In addition to being a great option for a night out, Cinema Salem is a community friendly business. They often do “mom & baby shows” where the lights are up a bit and the sound is not at ear shattering levels. This past October they did a Horror Movie fest featuring classic films like Psycho, cult films like A Clockwork Orange and even a late night Rocky Horror Picture Show. Coming up in February and March they are hosting the Salem Film Fest 2008, a celebration of film and music.

What I find exceptional about Cinema Salem is their giving back to the community. Each month a portion of each ticket sold goes to a Salem grant totaling up to $1000.

CinemaSalem Grants are awarded monthly to deserving and innovative non-profit organizations. We’re interested in honoring and supporting groups that are making a difference in the world, and who are effective at communicating their vision and mission. If your organization is interested in applying, please pick up an application form in the theater lobby, or simply click here!

For more information about Cinema Salem grants see the community page on their website.

Like most theaters you can find show times and puchase tickets online through their website.

Seating: C
Sight and Sound: C+
Ticket Price: A
Concession Price: A
Overall: B