Evan – Page 20 – Salem Happenings

Friday Fun: Mother’s Day

This weekend, as you may already know, is Mother’s Day weekend, which means that it is a time to celebrate all of the things that your mother has done for you and a time to apologize for all of the trouble that you have caused over the past year. Unfortunately, you’ve probably already realized that it’s not always easy to come up with a way to honor the incredible amount of time, effort, and money that your mother put into raising you. In fact, finding a way to atone for all of the mischief you may have caused when were younger (or are still causing) can be even more difficult, and if you’re one of the fine, upstanding individuals who totally forgot about the holiday, you may be desperately seeking a way to demonstrate your respect for your mother this weekend. Fortunately, if you’re at a loss as to what to do for your mother this Mother’s Day, you’ll be happy to know that there a number of events specifically designed to honor your mother occurring throughout the weekend.

First, if your mother has a favorite museum or a favorite hobby that is related to one of the museums in your local area, you may want to look into taking her there. Many museums have special events and/or discounts this weekend specifically for mothers, and your mother may be able to get into the museum for free or at a large discount, view special exhibits, have brunch with other mothers, and/or take part in a bunch of activities specifically geared towards mothers and their children. Some of the museums in the Northeast offering special exhibits, brunches, and/or free admission to mothers this weekend include the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, the Discovery Museums, the Providence Children’s Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Secondly, if your mother isn’t really a big fan of museums, but she likes animals, you may want to check out your local zoo or aquarium. A large number of zoos and aquariums offer free admission, discounts on food and gifts, and other special offers for mothers this weekend. In fact, mothers living in the Boston area can get into the Franklin Park Zoo, the Stone Zoo, and the New England Aquarium for free on Sunday (although your mother will have to go with someone purchasing a full-priced ticket to take advantage of the Aquarium offer.)

Finally, if all else fails, you can always take your mother to her favorite restaurant. A lot of restaurants offer a special brunch or other special meals for mothers this weekend, and these meals can be a excellent way to celebrate the holiday and get some great food. However, it is important to remember that these brunches can be pretty pricey, and they tend to fill up fast. As a result, it is always a good idea to call ahead and make a reservation before you head over to the restaurant.

Friday Fun: Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is a day filled with music, food, and, for some among us, a little too much tequila. However, it is important to remember that there is a lot more to Cinco de Mayo than some interesting music and cuisine. In fact, Cinco de Mayo is not only a day for many individuals to celebrate their Mexican heritage, but also a day to celebrate the historical significance of the events that took place on that day. This is because the celebration of Cinco de Mayo marks a significant Mexican victory in the city of Puebla, Mexico on May 5, 1862.

At the time, the French, upon the order of Napoleon III, were attempting to invade and seize control of Mexico. Fortunately for the Mexicans and not so fortunately for the French, the French force of approximately 8,000 well-trained, well-equipped men were decisively defeated by approximately 4,500 Mexican soldiers near the city of Puebla. The French eventually returned with reinforcements and conquered Mexico, but the victory at Puebla delayed the French takeover by almost a year. This delay is significant because it not only inspired the Mexican resistance that eventually overthrew the French occupation, but also prevented the French from aiding the Confederacy during the American Civil War. As a result, Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of events that are not only important to people in Mexico but also to people in the United States as well. This means that everyone can join in on the celebration, and if you would like to join in, you may want to check out some of these events this weekend.

First, if you’re in the Boston area and you’re looking for a new way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, you may want to check out one of the Cinco de Mayo cruises. Boston Fun Cruises and several other Boston-based cruise companies are offering special cruises to celebrate the 5th of May with plenty of music, food, and beverages on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. For more information on these cruises and other Cinco de Mayo events in the Boston area, check out Boston.com’s Cinco de Mayo event page.

Secondly, if you’re in the Washington D.C. area and you’re looking for a more family-friendly way to celebrate the holiday, you may want to check out the National Cinco de Mayo Festival. The National Cinco de Mayo Festival is an enormous fiesta that is held on the National Mall each year from noon to 6 P.M. on May 5th. This festival is filled with art, food, music, dancing, dance contests, children’s arts and crafts, and a whole lot more. Need more information? No problem. Just check out the website of the festival’s hosts, the Maru Montero Dance Company.

Finally, if you’re in the San Francisco area or the San Diego area, you may want to check out the Mission neighborhood in San Francisco or Old Town in San Diego. Both of these areas have some of the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the United States, and you can expect to encounter Mexican beverages, dancing, food, music, jewelry, and more Mexican culture and history than you will see anywhere else outside of Mexico. To find out more about the celebration in San Francisco, check out the San Francisco Cinco de Mayo Festival website. If you’re looking for more information on the San Diego celebration in Old Town, on the other hand, you may want to check out the Old Town Cinco De Mayo Fiesta website.

Friday Fun: The Power of Music

“Music has charms to sooth a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” “Music is the voice that tells us that the human race is greater than it knows.” These quotes from William Congreve, Victor Hugo, and Napoleon Bonaparte, respectively, are from three very different people. However, all of these individuals had one thing in common — they all understood the power of music.

The power of music is something that we see on a day to day basis because music, as these three individuals suggested, has the power to soothe us, to express things that we don’t know how to say, and to demonstrate the strength of the human spirit. As a result, it’s important to remember that music is so much more than some simple words put to a pleasant tune, and if you’re looking for a way to soothe your mind and escape the trials and tribulations of the world around you, you may just want to know about some of the musical events that are taking place in the Boston area this weekend.

First, if you’re a fan of the opera or you want to be able to tell all of your friends that you have some serious “class”, you may want to check out the Boston Lyric Opera’s production of The Flying Dutchman. The Boston Lyric Opera, which is the largest and one of the most well-respected opera companies in the Northeast, is performing the original version of Richard Wagner’s tale of a cursed sea captain and the woman who loves him tonight at 7:30 P.M., Sunday afternoon at 3:00 P.M., Wednesday (5/1/2013) at 7:30 P.M., next Friday (5/3/2013) at 7:30 P.M., and next Sunday afternoon (5/5/2013) at 3:00 P.M. To find out more about the show and to purchase tickets, please visit the Boston Lyric Opera’s website.

Second, if you like musical theater, but the opera is not really your thing, you may want to look into attending the Berklee College of Music’s production of Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. Students from the Berklee College of Music are performing James Rado and Gerome Ragni’s well-known stage show about peace, social injustice, rock and roll, and the hippie movement tonight at 7:30. For more information on the show and to purchase tickets, please visit the Berklee College of Music’s event page

Finally, if you’re looking for something a little more current than music from 1841 or 1967 and you don’t mind waiting until Wednesday, Radio may have what you’re looking for. Radio, which is a relatively new club in Somerville, is hosting a fundraiser for the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing called Radio Loves Boston at 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday (5/1/2013.) This show will feature 20 independent bands playing every type of rock known to man, and all of the proceeds from the show will go to the One Fund Boston. If you’re interested in finding out more about the show, visit Radio’s Facebook page.

A Moment of Silence

Normally, I would use this opportunity to discuss some of the things that you can do to entertain yourself, your friends, and your family this weekend. However, in light of the tragic events that occurred in Boston on Monday and the alarming number of people who have been directly or indirectly affected by them, I have decided to forgo my usual blog post. Instead, I believe that the blogging equivalent of a moment of silence is in order to honor of all of the people who have bigger concerns than how they’re going to entertain themselves this weekend. As such, I leave you with a list of charities that are offering support for the victims and their families:

1. The One Fund Boston: A charity established by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Mayor Tom Menino, and a number of Boston businesses to assist those most affected by the tragedy.

2. The American Red Cross: The American Red Cross doesn’t need any further assistance for this disaster, but they will need blood, platelet, and financial donations in the future to help with other disasters like the one in Boston.

3. The Boston First Responders Fund: A charity established by local fire stations, police stations, and emergency medical services to assist the victims of the bombing.

Friday Fun: Patriots’ Day Weekend

For those of us who live in Maine or Massachusetts, this weekend is actually a three day weekend because of Patriots’ Day. Patriots’ Day, which marks the anniversary of the first two battles of the American Revolution, is only celebrated in Massachusetts because the battles took place there and celebrated in Maine because it used to be part of Massachusetts. As a result, if you live in one of these states (or you’re a student in Wisconsin, which gives public school students the day off because who can really resist a good excuse to cancel school), you may be about to get three days off in a row. The only thing is that if you live anywhere else, you probably don’t celebrate Patriots’ Day, you’re not getting a three day weekend, you’re not passing go, and you’re thinking that this all means absolutely nothing to you. However, if you’re in the area of Maine or Massachusetts this weekend and you’re looking for something to do, here are some of the things that you should definitely check out.

First, if you can’t resist a good road race or a bunch of sweaty people running miles and miles to prove that they are in much better shape than you or I, you may want to check out the Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon is one of the largest long-distance running events in the world with well over 20,000 runners each year competing to be the first to run approximately 26 miles through the streets of Boston. In fact, the Boston Marathon is not only one of the world’s largest marathons, but also the world’s oldest annual marathon as the first Boston Marathon took place on April 19th, 1897. The Boston Marathon has been held on Patriots’ Day each and every year since it first began, and this year, as you might expect, is no different. More information about the Boston Marathon and the best ways to watch it can be found on the Boston Marathon’s Website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for a race that’s a little shorter than the Boston Marathon or a little closer to Portland than Boston, the Boys and Girls Clubs’ Patriot’s Day 5-Miler may be the way to go. The Boys and Girls Clubs’ Patriot’s Day 5-Miler is, as you might guess, a five mile road race that takes place in Portland, Maine each year. This race, which is open to all ages, is a lot shorter, a lot younger, and a lot smaller than the Boston Marathon. However, the Boys and Girls Clubs’ Patriot’s Day 5-Miler has been around for quite some time (84 years to be exact), and it is a whole lot easier to enter if you’re interested in actually running. More information on the race can be found here, and if you’re looking for information on how to prepare yourself for a race like the Boston Marathon or the Boys and Girls Clubs’ Patriots’ Day 5-Miler, you should definitely check out Sports Fitness Advisor’s Marathon Training Guide. Running a marathon can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not in marathon shape, but the Sports Fitness Advisor Marathon Training Guide contains a number of articles that are designed to help runners at every skill level.

If you’re more into people who are slowly marching down the street than running down the street at high speed, however, you may want to check out Lexington’s Patriots’ Day Parade. Lexington has a huge Patriots’ Day parade every year that features a fife and drums corps, marching bands, floats, dancers, color guards, veterans and a whole lot more. In fact, if you want to find out more about the parade and a number of other events in Lexington during Patriots’ Day weekend, all you need to do is check out Lexington’s Patriots’ Day Website.

If, on the other hand, you’re looking for an activity that doesn’t involve people walking or running down the street, you may want to head up (or down as the case may be) to Ogunquit, ME. Ogunquit has a huge Patriot’s Day celebration every year, and this celebration includes a wide assortment of events such as bazaars, concerts, craft shows, hay rides, kid’s crafts, kid’s games, reenactments, treasure hunts, wine tastings, and a whole lot more. For more information on Ogunquit’s Patriot’s Day Weekend celebration, which takes place all weekend long, visit Ogunquit’s Website.

Finally, if you’re just wondering why Patriot’s Day has the apostrophe before the “s” in some places and has the apostrophe after the “s” in others, the answer is that there are actually three different ways to write the name of the holiday. In fact, you can write it as “Patriots’ Day” (which is how it is typically written in Massachusetts and Wisconsin), “Patriot’s Day” (which is how it is typically written in Maine), or Patriots Day (which is how is it typically written by anyone who really just doesn’t care.) However, it doesn’t really matter which way you write it because all three ways are actually correct.

Friday Fun: The Circus is in Town

If you’re a fan of the circus or a fan of really old cartoons, you’ve probably heard the line “He’d fly through the air with the greatest of ease, that daring young man on the flying trapeze” somewhere. However, chances are, unless you’re really into 19th century music, you probably don’t know where the line actually comes from. Well, if you’re wondering, the line is actually from a hit song that was written by George Leybourne in the mid 1800’s. Leybourne wrote the song to honor the impressive skills of a trapeze artist that was well-known throughout the world at the time, Jules Leotard.

Now, if you’re sitting at your screen thinking “well, that’s interesting and all, but I would like to hear something slightly more current” or “I quite frankly couldn’t care less about a couple of guys who are long since dead,” it might pique your interest to know that there are other circus performers out there who aren’t quite dead yet. In fact, spring marks the beginning of the circus season, and if you’re looking for a way to entertain your kids, your significant other, or yourself, you may want to check out some of these shows:

1. The Big Apple Circus tours the states of Massachusetts and New York from March 26th to July 28th with stops in Boston, Queens, Charlestown, and Lake George. This troupe features acrobats, clowns, dancers, jugglers, performing animals, trapeze artists, and more. For more information on the Big Apple Circus, visit their website.

2. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus is a lot larger than some of the other shows that are around and it tours over half of the country. This circus, which actually stops in cities year round, features acrobats, comedy acts, clowns, dancers, jugglers, knife-throwers, performing animals, strongmen, trapeze artists, and a whole lot more. In fact, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus has so many performers that they actually have them divided into four different tour groups. If you’re interested in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus, check out their website.

3. The Piccadilly Circus tours the country from March 27th to June 2nd. This troupe features acrobats, clowns, dancers, jugglers, motorcycles, performing animals, trapeze artists, and more. For more information on the Piccadilly Circus, visit their website.

4. Cirque Du Soleil, which literally translates to “Circus of the Sun”, is one of the largest circuses in existence, and they not only have troupes performing shows in the United States, but the rest of the world as well. Cirque Du Soleil’s shows are a little more unusual than your typical circus, but they always feature some of the world’s most skilled acrobats, clowns, jugglers, and other performers. If you want to find out more about Cirque Du Soleil, check out their website.

Friday Fun: Easter Weekend

It’s Easter Weekend – a time for the devout amongst us to reflect on ourselves and a time for the children and the not-so-devout amongst us to hunt for Easter eggs, scarf down candy, and hug people in giant bunny suits. Unfortunately, baskets, egg hunts, and bunny suits don’t put themselves together on their own, and you may be running around like the chicks that are often associated with the holiday trying to put together some Easter-related fun at the last minute. In fact, if you’re one of the parents who forgot about Easter entirely, since it’s a little on the early side this year, you may be desperately seeking a way to keep your kids entertained without straining your bank account. Fortunately, if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to entertain your kids this weekend, you’ve come to the right place as here is a list of some of the Easter activities that your kids may enjoy.

First, if you’re looking for an Easter egg hunt, but you just don’t have the time to set one up yourself, you may want to check out your local mall. A lot of malls have special events this weekend, including Easter egg hunts, opportunities to meet and get a photo with the Easter bunny, Easter crafts, free stuff, and a whole lot more. For more information on these events, check out the website for your local mall or take a trip to your local mall’s activity board (they’re usually located right outside the entrance to the mall or right as you walk inside the mall.) If you don’t live near a mall or there are no malls with special events in your area this weekend, you may want to try one of the larger farms in your area. Some local farms will actually have Easter egg hunts and other spring-related activities this weekend as well.

Secondly, if your kids are into art, you may want to check out some of your local museums. A lot of museums have special exhibits and/or special events this weekend, including Easter-related artwork, kids arts and crafts, and other similar events to keep your kids busy and, hopefully happy, this weekend. In fact, if you can’t find a museum with any special exhibits or events, you may want to look in your local newspaper or use your favorite search engine to see if there is an Easter arts and crafts fair in your area. There are a number of large Easter-themed arts and crafts shows this weekend, and many of these shows will not only allow you to buy handcrafted Easter items, but will also allow your kids to make them.

Third, if you’re not really concerned with the cost of the outing and your kids are big fans of food, you may want to consider an Easter brunch. Many hotels, local cruises, restaurants, and other similar venues offer an Easter breakfast with more food than you could possibly ever eat, arts and crafts, music, a visit from the Easter bunny, and/or any of a variety of other similar activities to keep your kids entertained. However, you should be prepared to leave your wallet at the door because these events tend to be on the pricey side.

Finally, if you really can’t afford to go anywhere or you’re just looking for something to keep your kids entertained while they’re sitting at their grandmother’s house, you may want to consider bringing along your tablet computer or your laptop. There are a number of sites with Easter-themed activities and games to keep your kids entertained for as long as you need, including:

Primary Games – Easter Games
Girls Go Games – Easter Games for Girls
Kaboose Easter Activities
And
DLTK Easter Activities for Children

Football Friday – Was It Really a Mistake for the Patriots to Pick Up Amendola?

Another Saint Patrick’s Day has come and gone, and we’re now into the part of March where there’s really not a whole lot going on. In fact, unless you’re sitting on a beach somewhere for Spring Break or you’re a video game fan on your way to PAX East, you’re probably going to have a hard time finding anything beyond the local concerts, wine tastings, and other similar events that you would typically find somewhere in your local area almost every weekend. As a result, this week, I’m going to talk about something a little different than I usually do and discuss something that all of the sports fans out there can really look forward to — football.

However, I’m not just going to ramble on about football in general because there’s simply too much to say in one blog post. Instead, I’m going to focus on one specific decision that has been highlighted by sports analysts, experts, players, owners, and fans everywhere. Which decision am I talking about? I’m talking about the Patriot’s decision to pick up Danny Amendola and let Wes Welker go to Denver, of course. Many analysts and experts consider this move to be a rare mistake on the part of the Patriots, but all the talk brings about an interesting question. Was it actually a mistake to pick up Amendola?

Let’s look at some stats. Wes Welker caught 118 passes for 1,354 yards and 6 touchdowns during the 2012 season. This means that Welker averaged about 11.5 yards per reception. Danny Amendola caught 63 passes for 666 yards and 3 touchdowns during the 2012 season. Amendola, as a result, averaged about 10.6 yards per reception. Now, looking at these numbers, you can see why so many people are saying that it was a mistake to let Welker go, since Welker had almost exactly twice as many receptions, yards, and touchdowns as Amendola.

Here’s the problem though. Welker had Brady as a quarterback while Amendola had Sam Bradford. Brady threw 637 times for 4,827 yards and 34 touchdowns during the 2012 season while Bradford threw 551 times for 3,702 yards and 21 touchdowns. As you can see, there’s a big difference between Bradford’s numbers and Brady’s, which means there were less opportunities for Amendola to actually move the ball down the field. If you don’t believe me, look at the number of times that Amendola and Welker were actually targeted. Amendola was targeted 101 times and Welker was targeted 174. This means that Welker had 73 more opportunities than Amendola to catch the ball, which could explain the difference between their stats.

Now, am I saying that Amendola is going to be the next Wes Welker? No, but I am saying that he could be. Amendola is only 27, his average yards per reception has improved every year (even when he was injured), and he’s shown that he can make the long catches that every team needs to win. Welker, on the other hand, is 31, and his stats actually dipped a little in 2012 (although, this dip could have been a result of the fact that his stats were inflated by his stellar performance in 2011.) As such, the Patriot’s decision to pick up Amendola may seem strange at first glance, but was it actually a mistake? No. Is it a gamble? Maybe. But, if the Patriots put Amendola in the same role as Welker and Amendola can stay healthy, things could get very interesting in New England.

Friday Fun: Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend

This weekend is Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend, which means that it’s time to show off your Irish pride, demonstrate your love for all things green, and eat, drink, and be merry. The only problem is that this weekend is one of the few weekends every year where there is so much going on that you may not be able to figure out the best way to spend your time. Well, if you’re at a loss as to what you’re going to do this weekend, it may please you to know that there are a slew of opportunities for merriment to be had. In fact, if you’re looking for some of the best ways to have fun this Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend, you may want to consider some of these activities.

First, have you considered attending a Saint Patrick’s Day parade? Cities throughout not only the United States, but the world as a whole are holding parades in honor of Saint Patrick and the Irish this weekend. These parades often feature floats, prominent local officials and celebrities, horses, performances, vendors that will sell your children just about anything under the sun, and people dressed in green as far as the eye can see. As such, if you’re looking for something to do with your family and/or friends this weekend, a parade can be a great way to go. Not sure where to find one? Not a problem. Most of the major parades throughout the world are listed on the Saint Patrick’s Day website.

Secondly, if you’re a music fan, you may want to consider attending a local concert. Many restaurants, bars, pubs, and other venues have special concerts with Irish bands this weekend, and you can never go wrong with some good food, some good drinks, and some good music. If you’re having trouble finding a good concert in your area, try checking your local newspaper, your search engine of choice, or the websites of the restaurants and concert venues in your area.

Third, if you’re more into the eating and drinking than the merriment that follows, you may want to consider attending a Saint Patrick’s Day dinner or party. Many communities have special dinners and festivals with food, drinks, and, in some cases, games for the kids. For more information on these events, try your local newspaper or the websites of local towns and cities.

Finally, if you’re just looking for something to keep your kids occupied this weekend, you may want to keep an eye out for some of the family-friendly and/or kid-oriented events that are taking place this weekend in your local area. A lot of places have special events specifically for children this weekend, including arts and crafts, puppet shows, scavenger/treasure hunts, races, and a whole lot more.

Friday Fun: Keeping Your Weekend “Green”

Chances are, you’ve probably heard the famous old song “Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!” However, if you actually live in one of the areas in which there’s been nothing but snow for the past month, you’re probably thinking “Let is stop! Let it stop! Let it stop!” In fact, you may have already come to the realization that the only people who could possibly ask for more snow are school-age children and people living in warmer climates than you (which, by the way, includes the people that originally wrote the song.) As such, you may be looking for something a little more green this weekend and a whole lot less white. Fortunately, if you are looking for something to take your mind off of the shoveling, the snow blowing, and the slippery snow-covered roads, you’ll be happy to hear that there are a number of “green” events this weekend.

First, if you missed last week’s post about the events in Salem, you may want to know about a certain green villain that is returning to the big screen. I am, of course, talking about the Wicked Witch of the West as Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful opens in theaters today. This film, which stars James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz, is actually a prequel to the original 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. However, this film, unlike a lot of the other books and musicals that have appeared over the years, focuses on the wizard rather than Dorothy or the witches. For more information on Oz the Great and Powerful, check out the movie’s official website.

Secondly, if you just can’t wait until next weekend for all of the Saint Patrick’s Day festivities, you may be pleased to know that some cities start their green celebrations a little early. In fact, you may be able to find concerts, parades, races, and other activities this weekend in:

Hartford, CTHollywood, FL
Chicago, IL
West Dennis, MA
Detroit, MI
Hamilton, NJ
Morristown, NJ
Rock Point, NY
Boardman, OH
Jim Thorpe, PA
Providence, RI
Manassas, VA
Milwaukee, WI
And a number of other locations throughout the United States.
Don’t see a parade in your area? Don’t worry, you can always check out the Saint Patrick’s Day Website for more information on Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations throughout the world.