Music – Page 4 – Salem Happenings

Escaping the Dog Days of Summer

The dog days of summer have officially begun, and the heat that is associated with the season is definitely upon us. In fact, if you’ve been anywhere in the Northeast over the past couple of weeks, you’ve probably been watching your thermometer melt (if it hasn’t just quit on you in an outright act of defiance) as your next door neighbors attempt to cook their breakfast on the sidewalk. Fortunately, if the forecasts for this weekend are even remotely close to correct, the next few days should be a whole lot nicer. As a result, you may want to use this time to get out and enjoy the weather before your thermometer goes on strike again. And, if getting outside while it’s cool sounds like a good plan to you, you may want to check out one of the big summer festivals that is scheduled for this weekend.

First, if you’re a big fan of seafood or you just like hanging out by the ocean, you may want to head over to the Salem Willows this weekend. This is because the Salem Willows Seafood Festival begins today (July 11, 2014) at 12:00 P.M. This festival, which will run until 10:00 P.M. on Sunday, will give you and anyone you feel like bringing with you the opportunity to try some of the best seafood on the North Shore, to watch cooking demonstrations, to peruse a variety of items from local artists and merchants, listen to music from a variety of local bands, and entertain your kids with games and other activities. The festival will also feature fireworks, a lobster roll eating competition, and more. For more information on the Salem Willows Seafood Festival, please visit the Fest Events website.

Secondly, if you’re not really all that into seafood or you’re just a much bigger fan of the tried and true New England tradition of eating ice cream until you explode, WGBH may have the festival for you. This is because WGBH is hosting their annual FunFest tomorrow (Saturday, July 12, 2014) from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. This festival, which is definitely aimed at the younger crowd, will allow you and your children to choose from a wide assortment of ice cream favors while you listen to music, play games, and meet some well-known children’s characters like Arthur, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Curious George. For more information on the WGBH FunFest, please visit the WGBH website.

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Rock Out This Summer

One of the great things about summer is that there’s never a shortage of things to do. In fact, it doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for a BBQ, a concert, an entire music festival, or something completely different, there’s always something going on. The only problem is that with so many events, it can be tough to figure out which events are actually worth spending your time on and which events would be better left to somebody else. As a result, if you’re looking for a good way to spend your time without wasting it on something you hate, you may want to know a little more about some of the big concerts and festivals going on this weekend.

First, if you’re a fan of classical, folk, jazz, and/or other similar music from around the world, there is a program at the Boston Public Library that you may be interested in. This program, which is appropriately entitled “Concerts in the Courtyard”, is a series of hour-long concerts that run from 12:30 P.M. to 1:30 P.M. on Fridays and 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Wednesdays until the end of August. These concerts will feature performers that specialize in music from around the world, including music from countries such as Brazil, Columbia, Egypt, Ireland, Scotland, Venezuela, and New Jersey (I know, I know. New Jersey isn’t technically another country, but if you’ve ever been on the New Jersey Turnpike, you know that it can feel like you’re spending days traveling to a far away land.) For more information on the Boston Public Library’s Concerts in the Courtyard series, including more information on the performers, please visit the Boston Public Library’s Programs and Events page.

Secondly, if you’re more of a fan of rock and roll than you are of “worldly” music or you’re just in desperate need of a huge BBQ, you might want to check out City Hall Plaza in Boston this weekend. This is because City Hall Plaza is hosting the Phantom Gourmet BBQ & Music Festival from 12:00 P.M. today (June 20, 2014) to approximately 6:45 P.M. Sunday (with some occasional breaks in there for sleep.) This festival will feature some of the best BBQ teams from around the world, drinks, and an assortment of bands including the Mighty Mighty BossTones. For more information on the Phantom Gourmet BBQ & Music Festival, please visit The Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Party website.

Finally, if you’re a fan of music in every form regardless of whether it’s rock, folk, or somewhere in between, Harvard Square is definitely the place to be this weekend. This is because the 7th Annual Make Music Harvard Square festival is tomorrow (Saturday, June 21, 2014) from 2:00 P.M. to approximately 10 P.M. This festival, which pretty much takes over the entire area around Harvard Square, will give you the chance to listen to alternative, blue grass, country, folk, funk, grunge, Goth, hip hop, jazz, pop, R&B, rock, world music, and more. For more information on the Make Music Harvard Square Festival, which is also known as the Fête de la Musique, please visit the Official Harvard Square website.

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The Finer Things in Life

We’ve all heard the old expression, “stop and smell the roses”, but how many people actually take the time to follow through on that advice? I mean, if you stop and think about it, there’s no way around the fact that we live in a really busy world. A world in which school, work, family, unexpected disasters, and a whole list of other similar issues and responsibilities suck up our time faster than an overpowered vacuum cleaner. As a result, it’s often a wonder that anyone has the time to actually sit back, relax, and take in all of the finer things in life. However, it’s still important for everyone, not only for themselves but also for the sanity of the people around them, to find the time to enjoy the little things. Fortunately, if you’re looking for a way to enjoy the finer things in life this weekend, there are several events that are sure to help you relax and put your mind at ease.

First, if you’re an art fan looking for an inexpensive way to see a wide assortment of great artwork, you may want to head on over to the Museum of Fine Arts on Monday. This is because the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is holding an open house on Monday (May 26, 2014) from 10:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. This event will allow you and your family to enjoy the Museum’s artwork, hear music from several different live bands, see live dancers and other performers, try your hand at making your own artwork, watch Technicolor films, and do a whole lot more for free. For more information on the Memorial Day Open House at the Museum of Fine Arts, please visit the Museum of Fine Arts Programs page.

Secondly, if your passion is more geared towards the culinary arts than the art you would typically find in a museum, Watson Adventures may have a scavenger hunt that’s more up your alley. This is because Watson Adventures is hosting the Munch Around Cambridge Scavenger Hunt at 2:00 P.M. tomorrow (Saturday, May 24, 2014.) This adults-only scavenger hunt will allow you and your friends to search the city of Cambridge for some of the best ice cream, hot chocolate, pizza, sandwiches, and other foods around. For more information on the Munch Around Cambridge Scavenger Hunt and/or to reserve your spot, please visit the Watson Adventures website.

Finally, if you’re more interested in spending time with someone rather than something, you may want to grab your significant other and head over to the Boston Public Garden Lagoon. This is because the Lagoon is the home of the Swan Boats, which are a great way for you and your loved one to enjoy some quality time together on a pleasant, romantic ride around the water. For more information on the Swan Boats, which currently operate daily from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., please visit the Official Swan Boats website.

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How To Get Your Kids Outside

A house can be a wonderful thing. It can protect us from the elements, shield us from creatures both big and small, and give us a place to store all of our stuff. In fact, if you have kids, it can be a place for them to store all of their video games, toys, TVs, movies, and everything else that they have collected. As a result, it should come as no great surprise that the average child has very little interest in leaving his or her house at all. However, every so often, there comes a time when a parent has to find a way to get his or her child to go outside (either for the benefit of the parent or the child.) It is, therefore, fortunate that if you are looking for a way to get your child out of the house and into that magical place called the outdoors, there are a number of outdoor events for children in the Boston area this weekend.

First, if your kid is a big fan of kites, there are actually two major kite-flying festivals this weekend, the Franklin Park Kite and Bike Festival and the Revere Beach Kite Festival. The Franklin Park Kite and Bike Festival, which runs from 12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Sunday (May 18, 2014), will give you and your children the opportunity to eat, purchase your own kite (if you don’t have one already), borrow a bike to tour the park, and, of course, fly a kite. For more information on the Franklin Park Kite and Bike Festival, which is completely free, please visit the Franklin Park Event page. The Revere Beach Kite Festival, which runs from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. on Sunday (May 18, 2014), will allow you and your children to decorate kites, listen to music, and, as you have probably guessed, fly your own kite. Best of all, if you don’t have a kite and you can’t afford one, Sea Side Kites is actually giving out free kites to the first 300 kids under the age of 12 at the festival. For more information on the Revere Beach Kite Festival, which is free to attend, please visit the Official Revere Beach website.

Secondly, if your kid would rather rock out than watch a piece of fabric dance in the wind, you may want to head to Somerville this weekend. This is because the Somerville Arts Council’s annual PorchFest is this Saturday (May 17, 2014) from 12:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. PorchFest, which has become a tradition in Somerville, is a daylong event in which musicians throughout the city setup their equipment on their porches in order to demonstrate their musical skills with everything from the banjo to the electric guitar and beyond. For more information on PorchFest and the bands that are playing, please visit the Somerville Arts Council PorchFest page.

Finally, if your kid is in college and you’re desperately looking for a way to get your child out of his or her dorm room, the Red Sox may have you covered. This is because Sunday night (May 18, 2014) is College Media Night at Fenway Park. As a result, students can purchase Standing Room Only (SRO) tickets for $9 a ticket or seats in a number of seating categories for $20 a ticket. Best of all, if your kid can’t make it to the game this weekend, the Red Sox are offering SRO tickets to college students with a valid ID for only $9 all season long. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, please visit the Official Boston Red Sox Student Offer page.

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Making Mother’s Day Memorable

There are some truly remarkable people in this world, but very few people are more remarkable than the average mother. I mean when you stop and think about it, who in their right mind would spend nine months with a tiny little person kicking them, making them sick, and causing every sort of havoc possible to ensure that this same little person could do all of these things to both of his or her parents for the next 18 years? Now, I know what you’re thinking “when you put it that way, it doesn’t sound like a lot of fun.” However, if everyone focused on the downside and ignored the rewarding experience that parenting can be, none of us would be here. As a result, the powers that be have designated this Sunday as Mother’s Day to recognize all of the women who have sacrificed a portion of their lives and/or their sanity to make sure that we are here to celebrate the occasion.

And, if you are looking for a way to celebrate, here are a couple of ways that you can make this Mother’s Day truly memorable. First, if you’re a relatively new mother or the mother of a young child and you’re looking for a way to celebrate mother’s day with your family, you may want to head over to Boston Common this weekend. This is because the Friends of the Public Garden are hosting Duckling Day, which is sponsored by the Motor Mart Garage, from 10:30 A.M. to 12:15 P.M. on Sunday (May 11, 2014.) This celebration of the famous book by Robert McCloskey, “Make Way For Ducklings, will feature clowns, a dramatic reading of “Make Way For Ducklings”, a duckling parade, face painting, magicians, music, puppet shows, play equipment courtesy of Knucklebones, and a whole lot more. In fact, there will even be massage therapists standing by to offer free massages to all of the moms out there that are looking for a chance to unwind. For more information on Duckling Day or to register for the event, please visit the Friends of the Public Garden Events page.

Secondly, if your mom is a big fan of flowers (specifically lilacs) and you’re looking for something that your mother would love, Arnold Arboretum may have the perfect way to make this Mother’s Day memorable. This is because the Arnold Arboretum is hosting Lilac Sunday this Sunday (May 11, 2014) from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. This daylong celebration will allow you and your family to eat, drink, partake in family-oriented activities, see more than 170 different kinds of lilacs, and more. For more information on Lilac Sunday, please visit the Arnold Arboretum News and Events page.

Photo credit: JD Hancock / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

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.

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Twas The Weekend Before Christmas

Twas the weekend before Christmas, when all through the house
Every creature was stirring, even the mouse.
For nothing was wrapped and the tree was still bare,
In fact, half of the presents still aren’t there.

The children, with scissors in hand, are jumping on their beds,
While visions of a gift-less spouse or child dances in your head.
And everyone thinks you’re desperately seeking that elusive baseball cap,
But what you really want is just one more minute to nap.

When, all of the sudden, you get a look like the mad hatter,
And your spouse begins to wonder what’s the matter.
Away to the computer you fly like a flash,
Click away the screensaver and begin your shopping dash.

Then, the quiet click of your mouse,
Is interrupted as all through the house,
Your screams can be heard for everyone to know,
When you realize there’s no way for your presents to get through the snow!

You sit silently contemplating if there’s something you can click,
To make your gifts appear at your home really quick.
Unfortunately, with only days left to order,
There’s nothing you can do except make a run for the border.

However, I’m very happy to say,
That there is still hope on this winter day.
For if it is a last-minute gift you seek,
Here are some ideas to make your holiday less bleak!

1. Candy

There’s really no question that everyone from kids to adults loves candy, and candy, as a result, has become one of the staples of many holidays. Candy canes, chocolate, and peppermint bark are only a few examples of the sweets that are typically associated with Christmas. However, there’s nothing that says that you have to go with candy that is specifically related to Christmas, and you may find that putting together a basket or a box of some of your friend’s or loved one’s favorite candies can be a great way to come up with a last-minute gift.

2. Digital Goods

Almost everyone loves books, movies, music, and/or video games, but trying to make your way through the mall around Christmas time to get these gifts is never a simple task. However, there is an easier way to get these items, as all of these items have one thing in common. They can all be downloaded.

In fact, if you have a friend or family member with a Kindle, a phone or tablet with a reading app, or another similar device, you can actually buy books online and send the books that you buy right to their device using the e-mail that they have associated with that device. If, on the other hand, you have a friend or family member who is really into movies and/or music, all they need is a computer, a laptop, or a streaming device and you can buy any song, CD, or movie that you want and send it directly to them. And, if you have a friend of family member who is really into video games, all they need is a computer or a console for you to buy them a game and download it.

In the end, the only thing that you need to remember is that you will need your credit card and you will need to make sure that you buy something that will actually work with the device that your friend or family member has. It is also important to note that not every game and movie is available for immediate download, and if you are looking for something specific, you may not be able to find it in some cases.

3. Gift Cards

Alright, I know what you’re probably thinking. Anyone can give a gift card, and it really doesn’t require a lot of thought. In fact, you may be thinking that, even if you wanted to get someone a gift card, there is no way that you will be able to make your way through the crowds this weekend to pick one up.

Fortunately, gift cards don’t actually have to be boring, and they can be a lot easier to get than people think. This is because most grocery stores, pharmacies that belong to national chains, and other similar stores not only sell their own gift cards, but sell gift cards for other retailers as well. As a result, you may be able to go to your local grocery store or pharmacy and find a group of gift cards to all of your friend’s or loved one’s favorite places without going to every store under the sun. Best of all, if you choose a group of gift cards to places that you know your friend or loved one goes to all the time, it will prove that you actually put some thought into it and that you didn’t just pick up a gift card at random.

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Keeping Your Kids Busy During The Holidays

With Christmas less than two weeks away, the countdown has truly begun. In fact, most parents and children are now running around faster than their electric meters in anticipation of the arrival of Old Kris Kringle. As a result, many mothers, fathers, and other guardians are currently in the process of trying to figure out how to alleviate some of their children’s excess excitement before they go out to get the gifts that their children are so excited about. Fortunately, if you are running around trying to find a way to keep your kids busy or, at the very least, find a way to keep them from tearing your house apart, there are a couple of holiday events this weekend that are sure to help.

First, if your children really love to see all of the holiday decorations and/or you prefer holiday decorations when their attached to someone else’s electric meter, the Somerville Illuminations Tour may be the way to go. This tour, which begins at Somerville City Hall, will allow you and your family to see all of the decorated houses in East or West Somerville (depending on the tour your choose) from the comfort of a trolley car. Best of all, you will not only be able to see all of the lights without driving around aimlessly, but will also be able to enjoy coffee, cookies, hot chocolate, kid’s crafts, and music while you wait for the trolley to arrive. For more information on the tour, which runs from 4:30 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. on Saturday (December 14, 2013), please visit the Somerville Arts Council website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for something to do later in the weekend or you had a traumatic experience with holiday decorating at some point (perhaps you never found the one bulb that burned out), the Charles Hotel in Cambridge may have the event for you. This is because the Charles Hotel is officially opening their ice rink on Sunday and, in honor of the occasion, the Hotel is hosting an Ice Rink Opening Party from 12:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. This party will allow you and your family to skate for free, drink hot chocolate, watch professional skaters demonstrate their skill on the ice, and keep your kids busy with arts and crafts if skating really isn’t their thing. For more information on the Ice Rink Opening Party at the Charles Hotel, please visit the Ice Rink Opening Party’s Yelp Page.

Photo credit: Minnesota Historical Society / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Friday Fun: The Season of the Witch Has Begun

As we approach the end of the first week of October, many people are already in the process of planning out their Halloween costumes and looking for ways to partake in all of the merrymaking and treats that All Hallows’ Eve has to offer. Unfortunately, the celebrations that people typically associate with Halloween are now being overshadowed by the events that are dragging on in our nation’s capital. In fact, with the government shutdown, there are approximately 800,000 government employees wondering when they are going to see another paycheck and countless government contractors and other businesses that are trying to figure out what they’re going to do with their own employees if something doesn’t happen soon. As a result, there is a growing number of people who simply don’t have the funds to enjoy Halloween in the way that they typically would, and some of these people are already looking for a way to keep their kids happy this All Hallows’ Eve.

Fortunately, if you are one of the people looking for a way to keep your kids happy or just someone looking for a way to get your mind off of your politically-induced financial woes, there are a number of Halloween-themed activities that will allow you to get an early start on the festivities without breaking the bank.

First, if you’re a big fan of shopping or your friends and family members have a strange interest in shiny things, there’s no better way to start off the Halloween season then in the Witch City itself, Salem. This is because the Salem Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Haunted Biz Baz Street Fair, which is more commonly known as the Bizarre Bazaar, this weekend from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday (October 5, 2013) and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday (October 6, 2013.) This street fair, located at the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall, features over 75 vendors selling everything from doll clothes and jewelry to books and souvenirs. However, it is important to remember that the Biz Baz isn’t your typical street fair, as there will not only be vendors but also music and street performers as well. For more information, please visit the Salem Chamber of Commerce website or call 978-774-0004.

Secondly, if you’re already in Salem for the Biz Baz and you’re looking for something to keep your kids entertained, you may want to take a quick walk around the corner to Salem Common. The Common has a bunch of activities for kids this weekend, including contests, food, games, inflatable slides, moon bounces, and even a movie on Saturday night. For more information on the events taking place on the Common this weekend and other events happening in Salem throughout the month of October, please visit the Haunted Happenings website.

Photo credit: Powerhouse Museum Collection / Foter

Friday Fun: Wedding Weirdness

Anyone that has ever planned a wedding will readily admit that a wedding can be a strange, stressful, and expensive affair (and no, I don’t mean the word “affair” in the Panic at the Disco sense.) In fact, unless the word “stoic” is engrained in the DNA of every single person attending, there’s a pretty good chance that even the most well-planned wedding will include some family drama, some people taking their merriment a little too far, and/or some photographers or caterers who are more than happy to relieve the wedding couple of the enormous weight of their life savings. However, many brides-to-be, grooms-to-be, parents of the bride, married couples, and a number of other people who have or haven’t been involved with a wedding in some way will find it comforting to know that there are a couple of events this weekend that will allow them to unwind and look at their situation in a new way.

First, if you are a former bridesmaid looking for a reason to put on your old dress or someone who has always dreamt of being a bridesmaid, you may want to head down to Boston Common tomorrow. This is because Boston.com is hosting the 2nd Annual Running with the Bridesmaids on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. This event, which is a strange parody of the running of the bulls designed to raise money for The Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, will allow individuals and teams of up to six to compete in a one-mile run while they wear some of the most ridiculous bridesmaid’s dresses possible. Prizes will of course be awarded to the top fundraiser, worst dressed team, worst dressed individual, and the individual with the worst hair. And, if you really have no interest in actually running in a bridesmaid’s dress, don’t worry. You can always just watch. For more information and/or to register for the event, please visit Boston.com.

Secondly, if you want to try your hand at playing your own wedding music or any other music for that matter, you may want to check out the Street Pianos Boston Festival. The Celebrity Series of Boston is hosting Luke Jerram’s project Play Me, I’m Yours: The Street Pianos Boston Festival from today, September 27, to Monday, October 14, 2013. This festival features 75 pianos that have been placed throughout the Greater Boston area so that anyone can play them. In addition, each of the pianos has been decorated by a local artist or organization, and all of the pianos that survive the two and half week festival will be donated to charity. For more information on the Festival, please visit the Street Pianos of Boston website.

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