Friday Fun – Page 15 – Salem Happenings

Swimming in the Spring

Have you been counting down the days to summer thinking that you just can’t wait to dive into a pool? Are your kids already demanding a trip to the water even though your thermometer clearly says its cold enough to snow? Well, if you or your kids have been patiently (or not-so-patiently) awaiting all of the warm months that follow the spring, there’s nothing that actually says that you have to go swimming outside. In fact, if you’re looking for somewhere that you and your family can enjoy some time in the water without turning into kidcicles or adultcicles, there are three places that you should definitely check out.

First, if you’re looking for a water source North of Boston, there is no better place than the CoCo Key Water Park in Danvers. The CoCo Key Water Park, which is one of my nieces’ favorite places to go, is a 65,000-square-foot water park that features a lazy river, hot tubs, pools (including a zero-depth pool), water slides, water cannons, water basketball, a giant bucket that regularly dumps water on unsuspecting vict…err…attendees, and a whole lot more. For more information on the CoCo Key Water Park in Danvers, please visit the CoCo Key Water Park Boston North Shore website.

Secondly, if you’re hoping to enjoy the water in the city itself, the Salvation Army Kroc Center of Boston’s Aquatic Center is definitely worth checking out. The Aquatic Center at the Salvation Army Kroc Center is the largest (and, to my knowledge, one of the only) indoor water parks in Boston. This park features a lazy river, pools (including a zero-depth pool), a 150-foot water slide that winds around both the inside and outside of the building, water sprayers, and a whole lot more. For more information on the Salvation Army Kroc Center of Boston’s Aquatic Center, please visit the Salvation Army Kroc Center’s website.

Finally, if you’re in desperate need of an indoor swimming spot South of Boston, the Cape Codder Resort & Spa in Hyannis has you covered. The Cape Codder Resort & Spa’s Indoor Wave Pool & Fitness Center is a lot smaller than the facilities at CoCo Key’s or the Salvation Army, but it is still filled with a number of fun features. In fact, this 8,200-square-foot complex houses two saunas, an indoor wave pool, two waterslides, a whirlpool, and more. For more information on the Cape Codder Resort & Spa’s Indoor Wave Pool & Fitness Center, please visit the Cape Codder Resort & Spa website.

Photo credit: tom@hk | 湯米tomhk / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Saint Patrick’s Day Revisited

If you read last week’s post and decided to attend the activities that I mentioned, there’s a pretty good chance that you spent your Saint Patrick’s Day weekend with your kids. Now, of course, there’s nothing wrong with spending a weekend with your kids, but Saint Patrick’s Day is often a time for adults (both young and not-so-young) to relax and unwind. As a result, if you were really dying to go out and enjoy your Saint Patrick’s Day by yourself or with other adults, it can be pretty disappointing when you just can’t find the time to actually do it. However, if you missed out on the celebrations last weekend, there’s really no reason to stay home and pine over times gone by because the party isn’t over yet.

In fact, if you’re looking for an Irish-themed activity this weekend, you may want to head on over to Cary Memorial Hall in Lexington, MA on Sunday (March 23, 2014.) This is because the Cary Memorial Hall is hosting the final Massachusetts performance of the Irish Rovers, a talented group of Irish performers who have been performing classic Irish songs for over 50 years. This means that if you have always been a fan or Irish music, you always wanted to see the Irish Rovers perform, and/or you just want to be able to say that you saw one of their last performances, this is a show that you really cannot miss. For more information on the Irish Rovers Farewell Tour and/or to order tickets for the show, please visit the Cary Memorial Hall website or visit the Irish Rovers Tour page.

If, on the other hand, you’re really not into Irish music (say, it isn’t so) or you really just prefer music when it’s in the background of a film, the Somerville Theatre may have a festival that’s more up your alley. This is because the Somerville Theatre, in partnership with Boston Irish Film Festival Productions, is hosting the 14h Annual Irish Film Festival. This festival, which runs until Sunday at 6:00 P.M., will feature a number of films from Irish filmmakers as well as awards for Best Documentary, Best Film, Best Short Fiction/Animation, Director’s Choice, and more. For more information on the 14th Annual Irish Film Festival and/or to purchase tickets (including the all access pass for the entire festival), please visit the Irish Film Festival, Boston website.

Photo credit: Bryan Maleszyk / Foter / CC BY

A Family Friendly Saint Patrick’s Day

Saint Patrick’s Day has always been a time for those of Irish descent to celebrate their heritage. However, like most celebrations, there’s always a few people that tend to overdo things and take the festivities to a whole new level. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a year that doesn’t have some headline, rumor, or story about a group of people who delved into their green drinks a little too quickly and found themselves in far more trouble than they had ever expected. As a result, locating a family-friendly way to celebrate the holiday without the mischief can be a little more difficult than it should be. Fortunately, if you are looking for a way to enjoy Saint Patrick’s Day with your family, there are a number of family-friendly events this weekend.

First, if you’re looking for a way for your children to learn more about their Irish heritage or you’re just looking for a party without the alcohol, you may want to check out Old Sturbridge Village. Old Sturbridge Village is hosting a “Celtic Celebration” this Saturday and Sunday (March 15th and 16th) from 9:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. This old-fashioned Irish party will allow you and your family to enjoy traditional Irish dancing, food, music, and stories while you learn all about the Irish immigrants that made their way to the United States during the 1800’s. Best of all, Old Sturbridge Village has a special deal right now that children under the age of 17 can get in free as long as they are with an adult that is paying the normal admission price. This means that getting in may be a whole lot cheaper than it normally would be. For more information on the Celtic Celebration at Old Sturbridge Village, please visit the Old Sturbridge Village website.

Secondly, if you’re not Irish or you’re really just looking for something to keep your kids busy for a couple of hours, Wit and Whimsy may have exactly what you’re looking for. Wit and Whimsy, which is a children’s bookstore located in Marblehead, MA, is hosting a Cinderella Storytime with the Boston Ballet from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. today (March 14, 2014.) This event will allow your children to hear the story of Cinderella told by some of the Boston Ballet dancers who are actually performing the ballet-version of Cinderella at the Boston Opera House. In fact, these ballet dancers will not just read the story, but will also teach your children some of the dance steps from the actual ballet. For more information on the Cinderella Storytime with the Boston Ballet, please visit the Wit and Whimsy Event page.

Finally, if the Cinderella Storytime sounds awesome, but you just can’t make it today, you may want to head over to the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library next Friday (March 21, 2014.) This is because the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library, which is also known as the Gloucester Public Library, is hosting Cinderella Storytime with the Boston Ballet from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. For more information and/or to reserve a spot, please visit the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library’s Event Calendar.

Photo credit: Bryan Maleszyk / Foter / CC BY

Exploring a Little Piece of American History

A photograph of a famous poster depicting the events that occurred on March 5, 1770. — A photograph of a famous poster depicting the Boston Massacre.

The Old State House as it appears today.

Chances are, if you know anything about American History, you’ve probably heard of the Boston Tea Party. In fact, if you went to school anywhere in the United States, you probably had the story of a group of grown men dressed as Native Americans throwing tea overboard drilled into your head over and over again. However, even if you are familiar with the famous tea-related event that played a significant role in the years leading up to American Revolution, you may not be familiar with one of the other events that actually increased tensions between Great Britain and the colonies long before the tea went into the sea. Now, I know what you’re thinking. What event could he possibly be talking about?

Well, I’m talking about the Boston Massacre, and if you have no idea what the Boston Massacre is, you’re not alone. It is definitely one of the events in American History that is not widely taught in our schools. Fortunately, if you are interested in learning about the Boston Massacre and you are in the Boston area on Saturday (March 8, 2014), there is a group at the Old State House that will teach you everything that you could possibly want to know about this unfortunate incident and what actually happened on March 5, 1770. This is because the Old State House with the assistance of a dedicated team of re-enactors will be reenacting not only the incident in which five innocent civilians were killed and six civilians injured by British Soldiers, but also the trial that followed the massacre. For more information on the reenactment of the trial, which is scheduled for 11:30 A.M. and 2:00 P.M., and the reenactment of the Boston Massacre, which is scheduled for 7:00 P.M., please visit the Bostonian Society website.

If a reenactment of the Boston Massacre doesn’t really sound like your kind of thing, but you really would like to immerse yourself in some history, you may want to check out the USS Constitution Museum’s Best of the Best 2014 Ship Model Show. This exhibit, which is sponsored by the USS Constitution Museum and the USS Constitution Model Shipwright Guild, will give you and your family the opportunity to see over 100 model ships that are painstakingly handcrafted to show every detail of the actual ship. In fact, you will not only be able to see models of ships from a number of different time periods, but also be able to meet the people that built the models, see how each of the models are actually created and restored, and even purchase your own model ship kit. For more information on the Best of the Best 2014 Ship Model Show, which runs every day from now until March 22, 2014, please visit the USS Constitution Museum’s Exhibit page.

Boston Massacre Poster Photo credit: denisbin / Foter / CC BY-ND
Old State House Photo credit: ericodeg / Foter / CC BY-SA

Are You Ready for the Spring Yet?

I don’t know about you, but I think we’ve had enough snow for one year. I mean 65 inches of snow should really be enough for just about anyone. Unfortunately, there’s a certain groundhog (who will remain nameless) that insists we are going to have another 6 weeks of winter, so what’s an exhausted snow shoveler to do? Well, there really are only two things you can do. You can try to get your mind off of the snow or you can move south. If the first choice sounds more practical, that’s probably because it is. As a result, you may want to know some of the things that you can do this weekend to get your mind off of the snow and to focus on the lovely season that makes all of the white stuff go away (eventually at least.)

First, if you’re looking for a way to get you mind off the snow or you’re looking for a safer way to satisfy your fascination with fire than taking a blowtorch to the ice in your driveway, you may want to check out Fire & Ice: A Winter Festival. This festival, which is sponsored by the Somerville Arts Council, is a celebration of all things hot and cold, and it’s a great way to celebrate the fact that it won’t be this cold forever. In fact, you, your friends, your family, and anyone else you feel like dragging along with you will have the opportunity to warm themselves up with a hot cup of coffee or freeze themselves to the bone with some ice cream while they watch fire spinners perform amazing feats and ice sculptures take shape right in front of their eyes. For more information on Fire & Ice: A Winter Festival, which is scheduled to take place in Union Square Plaza tomorrow from 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M., please visit the Somerville Arts Council website.

Secondly, if fire isn’t really your thing (“Fire bad!”) or the very mention of the word ice makes you cringe (“Ice worse!”), you may want to check out the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society’s Polymer and Beading Show entitled “Spring Starts Here!” This show, which begins tomorrow and runs every day from Tuesday through Sunday until the 16th, is a collection of artistic works that have a garden or spring-related theme. However, what really makes the show impressive is the fact that each of the works in the show are constructed completely out of polymer clay and/or beads, which means that each flower, wreath, and/or other spring-related piece of artwork took weeks, if not months, to complete. For more information on the Spring Starts Here Polymer and Beading Show, please visit the Lexington Arts and Crafts Society website.

Photo credit: *~Dawn~* / Foter / CC BY

Your Kids’ Vacation Isn’t Over Yet!

February Vacation is almost over but that doesn’t mean that you’re off the hook just yet. In fact, if your kids have been cooped up inside all week because snow, rain, sleet, and pretty much everything else that could possibly fall from the sky has been messing up your plans, you may be desperately looking for a way to salvage the end of their mid-winter break. Fortunately, there are a lot of places that schedule extra activities this week to draw in kids and their families while they don’t have school, and these events will continue until this weekend. As a result, if you’re looking for something to do with your kids before their vacation is over, there are a couple of places that you should definitely check out.

First, if your kids have been demanding some face time with the lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!), this may be a great time to give them what they want. This is because this weekend is the last weekend of Franklin Park Zoo’s Tropical Adventure program. This program will allow you and your kids to listen to stories about tropical animals, learn special facts about the animals that live in tropical climates, and, of course, see all of the tropical animals that the zoo has to offer. Best of all, this program is included in the zoo’s normal admission price, so you won’t have to surrender all of your hard-earned cash (as long as your kids don’t buy everything in the gift shop.) For more information on Franklin Park Zoo’s Tropical Adventure Program and other events at the zoo, please visit the Franklin Park Zoo’s event page.

Secondly, if your kids aren’t really into animals, but they love death-defying feats when other people are performing them, you may want to check out Circus Oz. Circus Oz is a troop of Australian acrobats known for their comedic antics, music, and most of all, their daredevil feats. These performers, which are actually recognized as the National Circus of Australia, don’t use live animals because they don’t need them. In fact, they are some of the most skilled (and silliest) acrobats you will ever see. For more information on Circus Oz, which will be performing at the Citi Shubert Theatre until this Sunday, please visit the Celebrity Series of Boston’s website.

Photo credit: BotheredByBees / Foter / CC BY

Wait…What Day Is It Again?

No matter what you do, there’s never enough time in the day to accomplish everything. In fact, there’s a pretty good chance that one of the most difficult tasks you will face on a daily basis is trying to figure out how you’re going to accomplish the mountain of tasks that you have set before you. As a result, it really should come as no surprise that you have to prioritize and put off things that you think you can accomplish later. The problem is that later, like tomorrow, next week, and eventually, never really comes, and it is very easy to find yourself in a situation where you have waited a little too long to accomplish the tasks that you needed to accomplish. Fortunately, if you have just looked at the date on this post or looked up at your calendar and realized that you are in one of those situations right now, there’s no need to panic. I’ve got you covered.

First, if you remembered to get a gift, but you’re desperately looking for some way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your mystery-obsessed Valentine, I have the event for you. The All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Braintree, MA is hosting a chocolate-themed murder mystery at 7:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, February 15, 2014) entitled “A Chocolate Affair.” This event will allow you and your Valentine to help solve a murder mystery involving a series of chocolaty characters, including BonBon Goodbar, Mayor P.T. Butterfingers, Melky Way, Mr. and Mrs. Reese, Truffles Lindt, Zagnut Goodbar, and more. Best of all, you will be able to sample a wide assortment of chocolates while you attempt to figure out who did it. For more information on A Chocolate Affair and/or to order tickets, please visit the All Souls Braintree Blog.

Secondly, if you totally forgot about Valentine’s Day and you’re desperately looking for some way to show your chocolate-loving Valentine that you care, I would highly recommend that you take a trip to Salem this weekend. This is because Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival, which began last weekend, runs until this Sunday (February 16, 2014.) This festival will allow you and your Valentine to view a number of carefully crafted ice sculptures as you wander the streets of Salem making your way from one chocolate shop to the next. In fact, if you didn’t remember to get your Valentine a gift, you may come across a number of chocolaty delights, jewelry, and other gift ideas in the small shops throughout the city. For more information on the festival, please visit the Salem Chamber of Commerce’s event page.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter / CC BY

How to Have Some Winter Fun in New England

New England has been known for its harsh winters ever since the first English settlers stepped foot upon its soil. However, just because the area is regularly buried in snow with a temperature ranging anywhere from 0 to 50 and a wind chill of who knows what doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t enjoy the weather outside. In fact, if your children are going a little stir crazy (and, in turn, driving you crazy), there are a couple of wintry activities this weekend that are sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.

First, if you and/or your kids have always loved snow tubing, you should definitely check out Amesbury Sports Park. This is because Amesbury Sports Park boasts the steepest snow tubing hill in all of New England, and with 8 lanes that are kept almost constantly snow-covered during the winter (temperature allowing), your entire family should have no problem enjoying the hill over and over again. Best of all, it’s only $27 a person for up to three hours of snow tubing, and you don’t have to buy your own tube. It is important to remember though that you cannot bring your own sled, and you will have to sign a waiver for each person going down the hill before anyone in your group can go sledding. For more information on Amesbury Sports Park and its facilities, please visit the Amesbury Sports Park website or call 978-388-5788 ext. 106.

Secondly, if really steep hills seem a little unnecessary to you and/or the price of tubing doesn’t really sound like such a great deal when you have eight kids, you may want to take a trip down to Holyoke, Massachusetts. This is because the Third Annual Holyoke Winter Carnival runs from today, February 7th to Sunday, February 16th, 2014. This event will give you and your family the opportunity to enjoy arts and crafts, chili cook-offs, dancing, hockey, hot chocolate, ice-skating, music, quilts, races, scavenger hunts, and a whole lot more. For more information on the Third Annual Holyoke Winter Carnival, please visit the Holyoke Winter Carnival website.

Photo credit: gfpeck / Foter / CC BY-ND

Ring in the New Year All Over Again

As the first month of 2014 draws to a close, many people have already begun to develop their own opinions of what the rest of the year will be like. In fact, some people have already decided that 2014 will be a great year while others have decided that they would really like a do-over. Fortunately, if you fall into the second category, there is a way for you to experience the start of a new year without waiting for 2015. Now, I know what you’re probably thinking, “either this is a trick or this guy’s nuts.” However, the fact of the matter is that there is another new year you can celebrate, and this new year is the Lunar New Year (or the Chinese New Year as it is also called.)

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate the Lunar New Year and learn about the traditions surrounding it, you may want to check out the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. The Peabody Essex Museum is hosting a Lunar New Year Festival from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. tomorrow, February 1st, 2014. This festival, which is included in the normal admission price to the museum, will allow you and your family to ring in the Lunar New Year with dancing, drumming, lanterns, swords, and a whole lot more. For more information on the Lunar New Year Festival at the Peabody Essex Museum, please visit the Peabody Essex Museum website.

If you’re just looking for a way to celebrate another new year (and get your do-over), Dance Republic has you covered. Dance Republic, which is a social, fitness, and sports dance studio located in Wellesley, MA, is hosting a Year of the Green Horse Social Dance Party from 7:30 P.M. to 11:00 P.M. tomorrow, February 1st, 2014. This dance party will feature dancing showcases, food, and social dancing with a Chinese New Year theme. For more information on the Year of the Green Horse Social Dance Party, please visit the Dance Republic Event page.

Photo credit: emmstitch / Foter / CC BY

Death by Chocolate? Hardly.

I've heard of death by chocolate, but I don't think this is what people usually mean. — I’ve heard of death by chocolate, but somehow I don’t think this is what people usually mean.

It doesn’t matter whether it is hot, cold, or somewhere in between, chocolate is one of the most popular foods available. However, did you know that chocolate doesn’t only taste good, but is also good for you? In fact, studies have shown that chocolate can help alleviate depression and stress, improve brain function, lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk of developing diabetes, reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke, and improve the overall functioning of your body in a number of other ways. As a result, it’s really no surprise that chocolate is so hard to pass up, and if you’re looking for a way to get your chocolate fix, there’s no better time to find some than now.

The first place that you should look if you’re in need of a chocolate fix is Old Town Trolley Tours. This is because Old Town Trolley Tours offers a tour of the top chocolate shops in the Boston area every Saturday from now until April 12th. This tour, which is known as the Boston Chocolate Tour, will allow you to learn all about chocolate from an actual chef while you travel to the Top of the Hub, the Omni Parker House Hotel, and the Langham Hotel’s Café Fleur to sample the best chocolate desserts they have to offer. Now, with a price tag of $75 a person, the Boston Chocolate Tour may seem a little on the pricey side. However, it is important to remember that the tour includes an all-you-can-eat chocolate buffet at the Langham Hotel’s Café Fleur, which may account for a large portion of the $75 fee. The tour also includes samples from each of the places you stop and samples while you travel courtesy of Beacon Hill Chocolates. For more information on the Boston Chocolate Tour, please visit the Old Town Trolley Tours website.

The second place that you should look if you’re desperately seeking chocolate this weekend is Harvard Square. This is because the annual Harvard Square Chocolate Festival, which is also known as the Taste of Chocolate Festival, runs from today at 11:30 A.M. to Sunday at 12:30 P.M. This festival will give you the opportunity to sample and/or purchase a variety of heavily discounted chocolates and chocolate-themed items while you listen to music, learn more about chocolate at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, and enjoy everything else that Harvard Square has to offer. For more information on the Harvard Square Chocolate Festival, please visit the Official Harvard Square website.

Finally, if you prefer your chocolate in cookie form, you may want to find a local Girl Scout. Girl Scout cookies are on sale from now until the end of February in most places, so it is the perfect time to stock up on those Thin Mints.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter.com / CC BY