Salem Happenings

Getting Your Kids Ready for School?

With the end of summer just around the corner, kids and parents everywhere are getting ready for the new school year. However, there’s no reason that your kids necessarily need to abandon all the fun just yet. In fact, if you’re looking for a couple of fun, but somewhat educational activities that will help your kids get back into a learning mindset and have one last hurrah before the 2015 – 2016 school year starts, I may have just the events for you.

The first place that you may want to check out, especially if your kids are into history or you wish they were, is Georges Island. This is because Georges Island has a number of events specifically designed to teach kids about the Civil War. Some of the events that are scheduled to take place at Georges Island this weekend include an interactive kids’ tour of Fort Warren entitled “Storming the Fort”; a Civil War Dress-Up that will give your kids the opportunity to not only learn about some of the clothing that kids and adults would have worn during the Civil War but also to wear some of it; a Civil War Lawn Games event that will give your kids the opportunity to play some of the games that kids and adults played during the mid-1800’s; and the Legend of the Lady in Black, which will let you and your kids hear the story of Mrs. Andrew Lanier, a woman whose ghost has been said to haunt the fort since she was imprisoned there in the early 1860’s. For more information on the events at Georges Island, which are free and open to the public, please visit the Boston Harbor Islands’ Events page.

The second place that you may want to check out, especially if you would like to expose your kids to a different culture, is the Boston Carnival Village. The Boston Carnival Village is a street festival that is specifically designed to create the same celebratory atmosphere that you would feel during Carnival in Trinidad. The biggest part of the festival is, of course, the Trini Style Carnival Parade, which begins at 1:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, August 28, 2015) on Blue Hill Avenue in Boston and ends in front of the Franklin Park Zoo. This parade typically features Caribbean bands, dancers, and masqueraders in a huge assortment of colorful costumes marching by a festival filled with arts and crafts, food, CDs, DVDs, and more. For more information on the Boston Carnival Village, please visit the Boston Carnival Village website.

Girl in Civil War Dress Photo Credit: WalterPro4755 / Foter / CC BY
Carnival Dancer Photo Credit: LukePricePhotography / Foter / CC BY

Women in Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s plays contain a number of female characters, and the roles of these characters have been analyzed, reanalyzed, dissected, and discussed for over 400 years. In fact, the depiction of characters like Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing), Hermione (A Winter’s Tale), Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), and Katherina (The Taming of the Shrew) are still discussed today by students and scholars alike. However, one of the things that many people forget is that all of the female characters on stage were actually played by men during Shakespeare’s time. As a result, the portrayal of women in Shakespeare has become a fascinating topic for discussion not only for the way Shakespeare originally described his characters, but also for the way that male performers have traditionally portrayed them. Fortunately, there is no longer a taboo against women performing on the stage, and there are now a number of theatre troops that would be more than happy to provide you with a very different, and quite possibly a much more true-to-life, depiction of the women in Shakespeare’s plays.

First, if you’re looking for a Shakespearean comedy that is on the darker side and addresses issues like cruelty, gender politics, and gender roles, the Brown Box Theatre Project has you covered. This is because the Brown Box Theatre Project is performing The Taming of the Shrew from now until September 20th. This show, which is performed by an almost entirely female theatre troop (there is one man and nine women in the troop) will allow you to see a re-imagined version of Shakespeare’s play about a nobleman tricking a tinker into thinking he’s a nobleman watching a play about “taming” the strong-willed but often difficult Katherina. For more information on the Brown Box Theatre Project’s production of The Taming of the Shrew, which will be performed free of charge at 7:30 P.M. in Andover tomorrow night (Saturday, August 22, 2015) and at 7:30 P.M. in Boston on Sunday (August 23, 2015), please visit the Brown Box Theatre Project’s website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for a Shakespearean comedy that drastically shifts from dark drama to lighter comedy at different points throughout the play while, at the same time, depicting a number of strong, intelligent women facing many of the same family issues and societal problems that women face today, the Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company has the show for you. This is because the Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company is performing The Winter’s Tale from now until August 30th. This show, which is performed by an entirely female theatre troop, will allow you to experience a re-imagined version of Shakespeare’s play about the families of two kings caught up in the arrogance, paranoia, and jealousy of their patriarchs. For more information on the Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company’s production of The Winter’s Tale, which is scheduled to take place free of charge at Nathan Tufts Park in Somerville at 2:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. tomorrow and Sunday (August 22 and 23, 2015), please visit the Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company’s website.

Photo credit: garryknight / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Get Fired Up This Weekend!

Fire has fascinated humankind since the very beginning, and while the world has certainly changed a lot since then, people’s fascination with the natural results of combustion have not. In fact, it may have been the first men and women that discovered that fire could be quite useful while they were living in caves. However, we, the men and women of the modern age, have invented more than our fair share of ways to create and use fire ourselves to heat our homes, cook our food, move our cars, and accomplish a variety of other incredible tasks. Unfortunately, the incredible power of fire can also cause its fair share of problems for when fire is misused and/or allowed to spiral out of control, disaster and destruction is all that can follow in its wake. As a result, it’s important to appreciate the power of fire and its ability to aid or destroy, and if you’re looking for a way to experience this power in a safe environment, you’ll definitely want to check out one of these events.

First, if you’re looking for an exhibition of fire in all its forms, Somerville is the place to be this weekend. This is because Ignite! A Global Street Food and Fire Festival is scheduled to take place in Union Square Plaza in Somerville from 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. tomorrow night (Saturday, August 15, 2015.) This festival will give you the opportunity to burn your mouth off with some of the spiciest food around as dancers, fire throwers, musicians, and more attempt to show you their inner and outer fire through a series of passionate performances. For more information on Ignite! A Global Street Food and Fire Festival, which is completely free to attend and open to the public, please visit the Somerville Arts Council website.

If, on the other hand, you’re more interested in a person’s inner fire or, in other words, what fire represents in a figurative sense, the FireBall may be exactly what you’re looking for. The FireBall, which is scheduled to take place at 8:00 P.M. tomorrow night (Saturday, August 15, 2015), is a fundraiser thrown by the Theatre on Fire. This fundraiser will allow you to participate in a fire-themed costume ball complete with prizes for the best costume, allow you to watch an awards ceremony, and allow you to help decide which of the eight theatre singers will win the Ultimate Boston Theatre Karaoke Battle. For more information on the FireBall, please visit the Theatre on Fire website.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter / CC BY

Escape the Heat in Salem

If you’ve been hiding in your house for the past couple of weeks huddled in front of your air conditioner for the chilly comfort it offers, you’ll be happy to know that the heat wave that has been plaguing the Northeast is finally over (at least for now). In fact, the weather this weekend is supposed to be great, especially along the coast, which means that if you are looking for a way to take advantage of the cooler weather, you’ll definitely want to head down by the water. And, if you’re looking for something to do by the water, it just so happens that Salem’s Annual Heritage Days Celebration ends this weekend. As a result, there’s probably no better way to spend your weekend by the coast than heading down to Salem to check out these events.

First, if you’re a history fan or a fan of American literature, the House of the Seven Gables may have the perfect program for you. This is because the House of the Seven Gables is hosting a Living History Lab from 10:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. and 2:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. on Saturday and Sunday. This educational workshop will allow you and/or your kids to experience what it was like to live in the mid 1600’s by attempting things like writing with a quill, preparing some of the food that people in the 1600’s would have eaten, performing some of the chores that people had to perform in the 17th century, and playing with some of the toys and games from the era. For more information on the Living History Lab at the House of the Seven Gables, please visit the House of the Seven Gables website.

Secondly, if you’re more of a shopper than a time-hopper, you may want to head down to Essex Street in Salem. This is because the Essex Street Fair is scheduled to take place from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday (August 8th and 9th, 2015). This fair will give you the opportunity to peruse and purchase art, books, clothing, crafts, jewelry, and an assortment of other one-of-a-kind items from dozens of small, independent vendors. For more information on the Essex Street Fair, please take a look at the Salem Heritage Days flyer.

Photo credit: lcm1863 / Foter / CC BY-ND

Checking Out Boston Sports This Weekend

Last week, I talked about how summer is a great time to get outside and explore the art around us because it’s one of the only times of the year that we’re not actually buried in snow. And, while some people might be wishing for those mountains of snow to return right now during this unprecedented heat wave, most people would agree it’s nice to enjoy some music, dancing, and other art during the warmer weather. However, it is important to remember that art is not the only thing that is easier to enjoy during the summer. In fact, if you’re a sports fan, summer can be a great time to check out some of the games played during the hotter months, attend a special event at a sports stadium, or even see some of the players from your favorite fall and winter sports get ready for the upcoming season. This means that if you are a sports fan in the Boston area looking for something to do this weekend, you will definitely want to check out some of these events.

First, if you are a Red Sox fan that hasn’t decided that the Red Sox are too painful to watch this year (and, therefore, are a braver fan than I), you may want to try and see them play the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend. The Red Sox are playing at home all weekend, and Ken Ryan, Dick Berardino, or Jim Corsi will be in Autograph Alley on Yawkey Way before each game to sign autographs. Best of all, if you’re a student that doesn’t mind standing to watch the game, you may be able to get standing room only tickets for a measly $9. For more information on obtaining discounted Red Sox tickets for students, please visit the Red Sox Student Ticket Offer page.

Secondly, if you’re a true Red Sox fan, but you just can’t bear to watch them get slaughtered night after night, you may want to consider buying tickets for the 10th Annual Boston Red Sox Picnic in the Park. Now, I will warn you right off the bat (if you’ll excuse the pun) that the Annual Picnic in the Park, which is scheduled to take place after Sunday’s Red Sox Game, is definitely on the pricey side at $325 a ticket. However, a ticket to this event will allow you to get a blanket, get autographs from Red Sox players, bid on a number of Red Sox items and experiences in a live auction, listen to the Boston Pops Jazz Band, have the rare opportunity to enjoy a BBQ on the field at Fenway Park, and more. For more information on the Annual Boston Red Sox Picnic in the Park, which is scheduled to take place after the 1:35 P.M. game on Sunday, August 2, 2015, please visit the Red Sox Foundation’s Picnic in the Park page.

Finally, if you’re more of a Patriots Fan than a Red Sox fan or you’re just really sick of the whole “Deflategate” thing and would like to see how the Patriots are getting ready to crush everyone this year, you may want to check out the Patriots’ Training Camp. The Patriots’ Training Camp, which runs from 9:15 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. every day at Gillette from now until Sunday, will give you the opportunity to see the Patriots practice, try some of the training techniques the Patriots use, and get some of the player’s autographs. Best of all, the Patriots’ Training Camp is open to the public and completely free to attend (even parking is free during training camp sessions), so you won’t have to pay a dime. For more information on the Patriots’ Training Camp, please visit the Patriots’ Training Camp page.

Photo credit: MacBeales / Foter / CC BY-ND

Indulge Your Artistic Side This Weekend

Summer has always been a great time to explore the art around us because it’s much easier to sing, dance, and create outside when you aren’t knee deep in snow. In fact, there is never a shortage of performers ready and waiting to demonstrate their artistic skill during this time of year, and this year is certainly no exception. As a result, if you’re looking for a way to indulge your artistic side this weekend, you’re in luck because there are a couple of events that are certain to help you find the artistic indulgences that you seek.

First, if you’re looking for a way to hear some great music without giving all of your money to a ticket broker, you should definitely check out the Boston Summer Arts Weekend. The Boston Summer Arts Weekend, which runs from 11:00 A.M. to approximately 11:00 P.M. tomorrow (July 25, 2015) and 12:30 P.M. to approximately 6:00 P.M. Sunday (July 26, 2015) is an arts festival that celebrates music in all its forms. This festival features a number of well-known and not-so-well-known performers playing Americana, blues, classical music, children’s music, folk music, and more. Best of all, all of the performances at the festival are completely free and open to the public, so you can listen to hours of great music without paying a dime. For more information on the Boston Summer Arts Weekend, which is sponsored by the Boston Globe, Citizen’s Bank, and WBGH, please visit the Boston Globe’s Boston Summer Arts Weekend page.

Secondly, if you’re looking for a way that you can head to the beach and still tell people that you were taking in some art, Revere Beach has you covered. This is because Revere Beach is hosting the 12th Annual Revere Beach National Sand Sculpting Festival this weekend, which means that from today until Sunday, you can see over 20 sculptors from around the world carefully crafting incredible works of art out of sand. In fact, this festival will not only give you the opportunity to see some truly awesome sand sculptures but will also give you and your family the opportunity to enjoy kid’s activities and rides, fireworks, food, live music, and more. For more information on the 2015 Revere Beach National Sand Sculpting Festival, which is absolutely free for everyone to attend, please visit the Revere Beach website.

Photo credit: Eric Kilby / Foter / CC BY-SA

Leaving the AC’s Cool Breeze

Chances are, you’ve probably heard the phrase “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” somewhere before. In fact, if you have been anywhere on the east coast of the United States this week, you have probably not only heard the phrase, but also realized that truer words have never been spoken. This is because our bodies and the bodies of almost all warm-blooded animals are able to cool themselves better in dry weather than humid weather. As a result, it’s much harder for everyone to cool off when it’s hot and humid, and many of us turn to our air conditioners looking for the relief we seek. The only problem is that you can’t really take your air conditioner everywhere you go unless you’re planning to sit in your car all day, so when it is really gross out like it has been this week, you may have trouble finding the ambition to leave your home. Fortunately, if you and your kids have spent all week in your house praising Robert S. Sherman, the man that invented the first portable, window air conditioner, you’ll be happy to know that there are a number of events this weekend that will let your family get outside and enjoy the nice weather that we’re supposed to have.

First, if you’re looking for a fun but educational way to enjoy the nice weather, you may want to consider a Salem Kids Walking Tour. A Salem Kids Walking Tour is a special tour that is specifically designed to let children, ages 6 and up, experience all of the history and mystery that the Witch City has to offer. These tours, which typically take place on Saturday mornings from 10:45 A.M. to approximately 11:45 A.M., will allow you and your kids to wander the city with a licensed tour guide in full puritan garb while you hear stories about the people, locations, and superstitions that have helped to make the city famous. For more information on the Salem Kids Walking Tours, which begin at Wicked Good Books at 215 Essex Street in Salem, Massachusetts, please visit the Salem Kids Tours website or stop by Wicked Good Books.

Secondly, if you think a tour would bore your kids out of their minds or they would be tired of walking after about 15 minutes, you might want to let your kids Play the Day Away at the Lawn on D. The Lawn on D, located at 420 D Street in Boston, is hosting a Play the Day Away event specifically for kids from 12:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Saturday (July 18, 2015.) This event will allow your kids to try their hand at arts and crafts, play a variety of different games, and enjoy interactive sculptures and works of art from the Boston Children’s Museum, the Museum of Science, and more. For more information on Play the Day Away at the Lawn on D, which is completely free to attend, please visit the Lawn on D’s Calendar of Events page.

Finally, if the only way that you’re going to get your kids away from their computer screen or their TV screen is to stick them in front of an even bigger screen, you may want to head over to the Prudential Center in Boston this weekend. This is because the Prudential Center is showing Frozen as part of the Mix 106.7 Family Film Festival at sundown on Saturday (July 18, 2015) in their South Garden. This event, which begins at approximately 6:00 P.M., will allow you and your family to enjoy a series of children’s activities, giveaways, pre-movie entertainment, and, of course, see the beloved Disney film that tells the tale of the Snow Queen, Elsa, and her sister Anna. For more information on the Mix 106.7 Family Film Festival at the Prudential Center, including upcoming shows, please visit the Prudential Center’s Events page.

Photo credit: Jan Tik / Foter / CC BY

Beating Summer Boredom This Weekend

Have your kids been sitting in the house all week hiding from the heat? Have they played with every toy and finished every game? Are they completely bored out of their minds? Well, if your kids haven’t done much this week and you are you desperately trying to find something for them to do this weekend, you’re in luck because there are a couple of events in the Boston area that are sure to put a smile on almost any kid’s face.

First, if your kids are huge fans of the Minions (you know, the little yellow guys from the Despicable Me movies) or they just like movies in general, they’ll probably love Minions Madness. Minions Madness is a celebration of the premiere of the new Minions movie that is scheduled to take place at the Showcase Cinema de Lux in Revere from 12:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, July 11, 2015). This celebration will feature airbrush tattoos, balloon twisting, face painting, photo opportunities, and a whole lot more. Best of all, it’s absolutely free until your kids make you buy them popcorn and take them to the new movie (which really shouldn’t come as much of a shock). For more information on Minions Madness at the Showcase Cinema de Lux in Revere, please visit the Minions Madness Eventful page.

Secondly, if your kids aren’t really into the Minions or you’re looking for somewhere that will allow your children to be a little more “active”, you may want to head over to the Children’s Museum at Holyoke. The Children’s Museum at Holyoke is designed to allow kids of all ages to learn, play, and explore a variety of exhibits. These exhibits include an ambulance, a bubble table, climbing and crawling structures, a fire station, a mailbox slide, a forklift, a theatre, a water table, and a whole lot more. The best part of visiting the museum today, however, is that the museum is taking part in the Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Fridays this week, which means that if you visit today (Friday, July 10, 2015), you can get in absolutely free. For more information on the Children’s Museum at Holyoke and the Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Fridays, please visit the Children’s Museum at Holyoke website or the Highland Street Foundation’s website.

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Celebrate Your Independence in the Witch City!

Looking for a great place to celebrate the 4th? Well, if you are, you may want to consider spending the day in Salem. Now, I know that the idea of celebrating Independence Day in Salem may seem a bit strange since it is known as the Witch City, but it is important to remember that the Salem Witch Trials are not the only claim to fame that the city has. In fact, Salem has a rich maritime history that stretches back to long before the American Revolutionary War, and you would be hard pressed to find too many locales that offer a better place to celebrate our country’s independence than one of the busiest merchant ports of the revolution. As a result, if you’re really looking for a great way to celebrate the 4th of July, you should definitely check out some of these events in Salem.

First, if you’re a morning person and/or a huge history buff, you will definitely want to be on Salem Common tomorrow morning. This is because Salem’s annual reading of the Declaration of Independence will take place on the common at 9:00 A.M. tomorrow (July 4, 2015.) This reading will give you the chance to join the mayor and a number of other officials from Salem as you hear the words that helped ignite the American Revolution. For more information on the Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Salem, please visit the Official City of Salem website.

Secondly, if you’re more interested in the actual celebration than the history behind it or you would simply like to enjoy both the history and the celebration, you will probably want to be on Derby Wharf tomorrow afternoon. This is because the National Historic Site at Derby Wharf is the location of the annual 4th of July festivities in Salem. These festivities will include a salute to the armed forces, kids activities, music from the band LUX and the Hillyer Festival Orchestra, a flyover by the 104th Fighter Wing of the Barnes Air National Guard Unit, and, of course, an amazing fireworks display. For more information on the 4th of July Celebration in Salem, including information about parking and additional security measures that have been added this year, please visit the Official Salem, MA Guide.

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The Best Things in Life Are FREE

Chances are, you’ve probably heard the old line, “the best things in life are free”, and you may have even heard it in one of the many different versions of the song with the same name. In fact, there are at least ten different versions of the song that was originally written by Lew Brown, Buddy DeSylva, and Ray Henderson for the musical Good News in 1927. Some of the well-known artists to cover the song with or without drastically altered lyrics include the Ink Spots, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Jo Stafford, Hank Mobley, Sam Cooke, Lou Donaldson, and Janet Jackson. As a result, there certainly hasn’t been a shortage of artists trying to convey the importance of the free things in life, but finding things that are free to enjoy can be a lot more challenging than it should be. It is, therefore, fortunate that there are a number of free activities in the Boston area this weekend that are sure to put a smile on your face without forcing you to touch your hard-earned cash.

First, if you are a Shakespeare fan, you may want to head over to the Fairbanks House in Dedham, MA this weekend. This is because the Fairbanks House is hosting the Dragonfly Theater’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at 5:00 P.M. tonight and tomorrow (June 26th and 27th, 2015) and at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday (June 28, 2015.) This production will allow you to see Shakespeare’s classic comedy about a group of ancient Greeks caught up in fairy mischief from the comfort of this historic house’s lawn. For more information on the Dragonfly Theater’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which is completely free and open to the public, please visit the Dragonfly Theater’s website.

Secondly, if you’re not really a Shakespeare fan or you would prefer wandering around an air-conditioned building to sitting on a lawn, there are a number of museums and historic locations offering free admission today. In fact, the MIT Museum in Cambridge, MA; the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA; Tanglewood and the Mount in Lenox, MA; the Worcester Art Museum in Worcester; and the Peabody Essex Museum and the House of the Seven Gables in Salem, MA are all offering free admission today as part of the Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Fridays. For more information on these locations and other locations that are offering free admission to everyone as part of the Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Fridays, please visit the Highland Street Foundation website.

Finally, if you’re looking for some free information on Norman Rockwell or any of the other artists that created the magnificent works of art that you may encounter at the museums above, you should definitely check out Artsy.net. In fact, Artsy will not only give you the opportunity to read biographies and articles on over 50,000 artists but will also give you the opportunity to see some of the amazing works of art that these artists have created.

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