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Exclusive Interview with the Easter Bunny

Talking tradition and egg hunts with the Easter Bunny. By Lindsay Lambert

Easter’s right around the corner, which means egg dyeing and hunting and baskets brimming with bright-colored candy and gobs of pastel plastic grass. The most quintessential of Easter icons, however, is the Bunny himself, who, on April 24, will once again be on hand in Salem at the Hawthorne Hotel’s annual Easter Buffet to visit with North Shore kids (and kids at heart). But first, Northshore scored some one-on-one time with the beloved Bunny, who took time out from his holiday preparations to answer a few pressing questions.

What’s the most common request you get from kids when asked what they want the Easter Bunny to bring them? Kids are so mature these days.  It’s not like 50 years ago when kids wanted a yo-yo or chocolates. Today, they want Wii games and sports equipment. Sometimes, thought, they want a puppy or kitten.

Any particularly unusual requests? Sometimes, the kids want me to come home with them to spend the rest of the day.

What do you do in your down time (you know, when it’s not Easter)? Much like Santa and his Christmas schedule, my year starts right after Easter is finished. Sometimes, after a nice long nap, I like to go on vacation with my wife and children.  Family bonding time is very important.

How many years have you been appearing at the Hawthorne Hotel’s Easter Buffet? It has been a long time, but I love visiting the hotel. The warmth and charm of the lobby and the restaurant is so great, and the people I meet there are so excited to be in such a legendary, historic hotel eating with their families.

What’s the best part about being the Easter Bunny? Being with all of the kids.

What’s your favorite Easter candy? Peeps.

What’s your favorite chocolate bunny? I like Russell Stover’s chocolate bunnies. They taste good and they have a low-carb version. I’m always watching my weight.

What’s your favorite Easter tradition? I love Easter egg hunts. It’s so much fun trying to find them. My wife is so good at putting them in very unusual places.

Where would your dream Easter egg hunt be held? Hmmm, after this winter, Fiji!

Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll

Mayor Kimberley Driscoll guides Salem to new greatness. By, Andrea Fox

In Salem, the mayor’s office is like many high-ranking offices in that it’s decorated with portraits of men. Some of the men stand regally; some pose by the water, their hair blowing in the wind. But under Salem’s first female leader, Kimberley Driscoll, the office has taken on a new air, and it’s not just because she’s a woman.

Attorney Neil Chayet eloquently appraised Driscoll when introducing her to the Salem Historical Society in 2009 by saying, “It’s rare when you get well-administered [local government] and vision.”

In 2006, Driscoll ran for and was first elected mayor during a major fiscal crisis. Now, in 2010, Salem is the recipient of one of four 2010 Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards and is one of 20 Massachusetts towns recognized for excellence in financial reporting. Driscoll consolidated services, arranged shared purchasing, building inspection, and made a successful Green Communities bid with Swampscott, as well as attracted millions in investment through the Seaport Advisory Council and federal grants for the ferry and planned Salem Wharf project—“our Route 128,” she explains.

The future of Salem, says Driscoll, is reflected in its past. Managing growth when “manufacturing is gone” can be found in waterfront opportunities, she says. Salem Harbor represents “our ability to bring back riches and wealth.”

Under Driscoll, Salem now has a capital improvement plan, a five-year forecast, and, having started near zero, a reserve fund of $2.5 million. Her administration has repaved 50-plus streets, reconstructed playgrounds, and restarted projects like the Old Salem Jail and Courthouse Complex. “We have a responsibility to leave Salem better than we found it,” she  says.

On top of professional management, Driscoll communicates and initiates feedback expertly. She engineered the e-newsletter “FYI Salem” and a number of public surveys, has thousands of Facebook friends, and actively posts city news. It helps with “consensus building,” she says.

Driscoll claims to have been unknown in 2006. “I had the least in the bank…But I was showing up and talking to anyone who would basically put on a pot of coffee.”

Chilean Wine Dinner

Enjoy a taste of Chile! Go to Finz Seafood and Grill, located in Salem, MA for their Chilean Wine dinner. Each course will be paired with a complimenting Chilean Wine. $45 per person (gratuity and tax included)

hipfinz.com for more information

Destination: Salem

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Mention the city of Salem to someone in passing conversation, and the response will likely be a comment about witches. But these days, there’s more to this bustling seaport than a few black pointy hats and some dusty old brooms. Just point your mouse in the direction of Facebook and search for the Salem, MA fan page, where 14,000 people have turned this online destination into a modern speakeasy. Continue reading Destination: Salem

Home Grown

nsjj10_ne_farmersmarketsFresh eats abound at the area’s top farmers’ markets. Continue reading Home Grown

Salem Jazz and Soul Festival Lineup is in

SALEM JAZZ and SOUL FESTIVAL SET FOR AUG. 21 – 22nd
Lineup Set for Derby Square Artists and Festival Performers

SALEM, MA –The lineup is set for the fourth annual Salem Jazz and Soul Festival that will once again occur this August at the Salem Willows. The Festival will be preceded once again by special afternoon concerts on the second Saturday of the month sponsored by the Berklee College of Music at Derby Square in Salem.

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival/Berklee College Summer Series kicks the summer off on May 8th with a performance by Annette Philip, who plays a interesting blend of jazz funk and experimental music. Philip is an Indian vocalist, composer/arranger, recording artist who thrives on experimenting with the human voice.

She has shared the stage with artists such as Buster Williams, Victor Lewis, Jack DeJohnette, Airto Moreira, Lew Soloff and many others. Her quintet explores the music and ideologies of different countries, traditions, and cultures, drawing from jazz, funk, Latin, Indian and Middle Eastern influences.

Other artists in the Berklee Derby Square series this summer will be: June 12, Tubby Love, (Experimental – Soul – Reggae); July 10, Nicky Egan, (Soul – R&B – Funk) and on August 14, Ben Powell (Jazz Violin). All of these concerts are in the Derby Square Plaza in downtown Salem and run from 5 – 7 p.m. on Saturday afternoon

The two-day lineup for the August Salem Jazz and Soul Festival on Aug. 21 & 22 at the Salem Willows has also been set.  Saturday, Aug. 21;  10:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., Main Stage: Salem High School Jazz Band; Eric Reardon & Global Stew; Trick Bag; Dopapod; Miss Tess & The Bon Ton Parade; Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band featuring the Boston Circus Guild and the The Sam Kininger Band. The Erinn Brown Band will be performing during the afternoon in the VIP Juke Joint.

The lineup for Sunday  Aug. 22, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. is: Main Stage: The Northshore Gospel Ambassadors featuring Sweet Willie D and Lisa Marie; Peter Fedele’s In the Weeds; Sugalito; Dwight & Nicole and The Grace Kelly Quintet.

The two-day festival will also feature an arts & crafts sale, music education classes, a kid’s tent and much more.

This is the fourth consecutive year for the Salem Jazz and  Soul Festival. The Festival is a family-friendly event that presents a dynamic program of jazz, funk and soul performed by some of the hottest bands from Boston and the North Shore. Proceeds from the Festival support music education and cover the expenses for putting on the Festival.

For more information on the Salem Jazz & Soul Festival please check to Festival web site at www.salemjazzsoul.org

Fabulous Finds

teacup-pendantPrecious Meets Exotic
Discover one of the countries most talented new jewelry designers Belle Brooke – where precious metals meet exotic gemstones and fancy colored diamonds. Each elegant piece of jewelry created is unique and made from 100% recycled precious metals. Exclusively at The Jewelry Vault.  The Jewelry Vault, 4 Lowell Road, North Reading, 978-357-8470, thejewelryvault.comroom117hires

Want to Get Away?
A quiet, romantic setting close to home is right around the corner! Enjoy one of our many Jacuzzis and then cuddle up in front of a glowing fireplace. Top it off by reserving a massage for Two and in the AM enjoy breakfast at the pancake house (1 block from the Inn). Country Garden Inn & Spa, 101 Main Street, Rowley, 1-800-287-7773, countrygardeninnandspa.com

mothers

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom
Did I tell you recently how much I appreciate everything that you do for me?  You are always there for me when I need you.  When I had the twins, and when I had the flu.  You magically appeared and made everything ok.  All these gifts express my deepest gratitude and love for everything you have done and continue to do for me and my family. Healing Baskets, Manchester-By-The-Sea, 978-526-1229, healingbaskets.compem-red-handbag

Nothing Average About It
Not your average store and not your average museum shop. The award winning Peabody Essex Museum Shop sells unique, interesting, fun, and unusual items from stylish jackets, chic jewelry, and engaging children’s toys to decorative home décor. Treat yourself, spoil your friends and delight your family with gifts that stimulate the mind, invigorate the senses and enrich ones spirit. Peabody Essex Museum Shop, 161 Essex Street, Salem, PEMshop.com

ringsStack ‘Em
Stackable rings and bangles enameled by hand in gold vermeil or rhodium plated embellished with ZC. Colorful, artful, contemporary. Rings are $30-$40. Bracelets are $48.00-$65.00. J. Mode, 17 Front Street, Salem, 978-744-7007, jmodefashions.com

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Looking For a New Hair Stylist?
These stylists have the talent commonly found on Newbury Street! The prices are affordable and you avoid hassles like traffic and parking problems.  They are thoroughly trained at Bumble and bumble in New York on new trends and techniques. This busy salon is open seven days per week and even has childcare on the premises. spa ni’joli, 116 Pleasant Valley Street, Methuen, 978-682-9772, nijoli.com

soapSpring Cleaning
If packaging isn’t enough, you need only smell these handmade soaps from Saipua to fall in love.  Carefully crafted in small batches, Saipua soaps are olive oil based and filled with calming ingredients like rosemary, mint, and tea tree oil.  This fabulous find exfoliates the skin with crushed sea salt and nori seaweed.  Find Saipu soaps at Roost, a new boutique in downtown Salem. ROOST, 40 Front Street, Salem, 978-744-HOME, roostsalem.com

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Who Needs a Gym When You Have Shoes!
The Habari in Chocolate from MBT not only looks great but helps you stay looking great too. MBT’s specially designed outsole exercises a large number of leg muscles that in turn stimulate your metabolism and burn extra calories. Additionally MBT’s can firm your abdominal, leg and buttock muscles (just in time for swimsuit season!). So, stroll about town getting fit and looking fabulous. Why go to the gym when the gym can come to you? JL Coombs, 1 State Street, Newburyport, 978-462-2262, and 45 Main Street, Andover, 978-470-8121

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Renew and Refresh Your Home For Spring
Studio KC, a full service interior design and decorating firm is focusing this spring on delivering high end design to those with limited time and budgets. We’re taking the headaches out of the interiors process with time saving interiors and decorating packages. Call for a consultation! Studio KC, 978-998-4578, kristina@studiokc.biz

addicted

True Boutique Experience Without High Priced Tags
Addicted is a charming contemporary women’s clothing boutique located right on Swampscott’s waterfront. The shop aims to bring some of the best and most innovative brands presented in a friendly, stress-free atmosphere.  Addicted is carrying lines that appeal to a wide variety of ages.  All items are under $100! Modern fit, contemporary attitude and affordable prices! Addicted, 148 Humphrey Street, Swampscott, 781-598-5700, shopaddicted@verizon.net

opal

New at Rouge Cosmetics… The Clarisonic Opal™
The Clarisonic Opal™ Sonic Infusion System is the newest skin care innovation from the lead inventor of the Sonicare™ Toothbrush. Opal provides an immediately noticeable reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, and firmer, brighter, more hydrated skin under eyes, by combining sonic frequency, and a gentle kneading motion to maximize the transfer of serum into the epidermis. Rouge Cosmetics, 322 Derby Street, Salem, 978-740-1044, rouge.com

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Nautical Nuance
Aptly named the “Botticelli Cuff”, this striking adornment is forged of sterling silver and brass and encrusted with pearls and white topaz.  Handmade in the heart of NYC by Echo Of The Dreamer. Their pieces are a refined celebration of nature and will surely awaken the dreamer in you.  Echo’s collection and more can be found at Jambu.  Jambu – Inspired Jewelry, 38 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead, 781-639-9600, jambujewelry.com

Roost Urban Country Design

Roost offers a little Southern hospitality in Salem. Continue reading Roost Urban Country Design

SALEM JAZZ AND SOUL FESTIVAL SPRING GALA

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival’s fourth-annual Spring Gala concert will be held on Saturday evening, April 17, in the Peabody Essex Museum’s atrium. “ALL KEYED UP” will feature the area’s marty-rowen-indoor-performance1hottest pianists, organists and keyboard players performing a full evening of jazz, soul, boogie woogie and blues.

Artists for the evening include Grammy Award-winner David Maxwell, Marty Rowen and Ken Clark of Fats Hammond, Jen Kearney of Jen Kearney and the Lost Onion and Benjamin Zecker of the Boston Horns.

The evening’s excusive sponsor is Tache Real Estate. The concert benefits the fourth-annual Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, scheduled for Aug. 21-22 at the Salem Willows, as well as four performances in Salem’s Derby Square throughout the summer. As in previous years, plans call for a week-long Festival of events and performances in clubs and restaurants in the city in mid-August.

Proceeds from the night will support the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival’s mission to support music education programs and provide free concerts for the public.

Tickets for the Spring Fundraiser are $50 per person or $45 for PEM members.

For more information, please contact the PEM box office at East India Square, Salem or call (978) 745-9500 or visit http://pem.org/events/ or www.salemjazzsoul.org

Giving the Gift of Time

As part of Salem So Sweet 2010, Treasures Over Time is giving away a Skagen Watch to introduce customers to their gallery in Salem, Mass. Entry forms are available at the Treasures Over Time gallery at 139 Washington St. in Salem and entries must be received by 5:00 on Valentine’s Day Sunday Feb 14, 2010. The beautiful timepiece has a lustrous Mother-of-Pearl dial with Swarovski Crystals to mark the hours and a bright red leather watch strap. Perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Watch

North Shore retailers Hip Baby Gear and Two Girls Shop join forces in a new Salem, Ma Location

Salem, Massachusetts, February 1, 2010 — North Shore retailers Hip Baby Gear and two girls shop have joined forces in a new Salem MA store, opening Saturday, February 6. Two girls shop and Hip Baby Gear together offer an eclectic mix of products for women, men, children and families including clothing and gifts for women, infants and toddlers, home decor, toys, strollers, designer diaper bags, nursery bedding and more.

The Grand Opening is Saturday February 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 83 Washington Street , Salem MA , with snacks, raffles, gift certificate giveaways and more. The first 20 shoppers will receive goody bags with fun stuff from two girls shop and discount coupons and every shopper will enter a raffle to win great prizes including a Tub Trug storage solution, Skip Hop Diaper Bag, Boon infant mealtime gift set and the new Baby Jogger City Mini luxury stroller!

“We are so excited to partner with two girls shop in a beautiful Salem location. Hip Baby Gear has always been known for our cool gear for babies and toddlers, but joining forces with two girls shop allows both stores to offer a new concept for North Shore shoppers… a one-stop-shop for hip products for the entire family,” notes Monica Winter and Rick Winter, owners of Hip Baby Gear. “Two girls shop offers their customers creative, fun and unique products that are appealing to women and men of all ages, so having Hip Baby Gear’s stylish, but still practical, products mixed in seems like the perfect fit.”

About Two Girls Shop
The philosophy of two girls shop incorporates a strong sense of timeless design, quality, usefulness and an appreciation and consideration for our environment. With a wide range of merchandise, including clothing, home décor, gift items and furnishing, two girls shop strives to inspire customers with creative, fun, edgy and quality shopping. You will find stylish products from well-known brands like Michael Stars and Tepper Jackson as well as one-of-a-kind finds from independent designers, both locally and around the world.

For more information about Hip Baby Gear visit http://www.hipbabygear.com

Princess Tea

Title: Princess Tea
Location: Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Square W, Salem, MA 01970 978-744-4080 800-SAY-STAY
Link out: Click here
Description: Held in the Grand Ballroom. Enjoy a buffet and tea fit for royalty. See our famous princesses.

Reservations are recommended. Please call 978-825-4311
Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2010-02-20
End Time: 14:00

Valentine’s Dinner

Title: Valentine’s Dinner
Location: Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Square W, Salem, MA 01970 978-744-4080 800-SAY-STAY
Link out: Click here
Description: 3) Treat your sweetheart to romantic dining in Nathaniel’s at the Hawthorne Hotel. Intimate dining, culinary excellence and live piano music. Please let us know if you would like to add a long stem rose or a champagne toast.

Make your reservations early by calling 978-825-4311
Date: 2010-02-14

Valentine’s Weekend Dining Special

Title: 2) Valentine’s Weekend Dining Special
Location: Hawthorne Hotel, 18 Washington Square W, Salem, MA 01970 978-744-4080 800-SAY-STAY
Link out: Click here
Description: 3) An evening of romance and culinary delights with Nathaniel’s a La Carte menu and a special holiday menu created by our own culinary romantics. Live piano music.

Reservations are recommended. Please call 978-825-4311
Start Date: 2010-02-12
End Date: 2010-02-14

Hawthorne Hotel Reaches a Major Milestone!

Historic Hotel is 85 years young in 2010

Salem, MA—“And me, myself personally, in order for there to be any kind of longevity there’s gotta be some history,” said American soul performer Edwin Starr. Celebrating 85 years as a legend on the North Shore in 2010, Hawthorne Hotel certainly knows what it is like to have some history!

Beginning in 1923, the Salem Chamber of Commerce and the Salem Rotary began arrangements to build a “modern hotel for Salem.” After more than half a million dollars worth of stock was sold, construction began on the hotel, designed by architect Philip Horton Smith. At the time, it was the largest Colonial Revival structure in Salem. Some of our notable architectural features include: corner quoins, Palladian windows, and recessed arched windows – designs popular in Georgian and Federal-style buildings.

Named after celebrated Salem author Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote House of Seven Gables and The Scarlet Letter, the hotel has been home to book signings and many poetry and book readings. With modern stories like Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (published in 2008 by HarperCollins) that include the Hawthorne Hotel within its pages, our connection to the literary world has been sealed.

Over the years, the Hawthorne Hotel has hosted many well-known personalities including newsman Walter Cronkite, actress Betty Davis, General Colin Powell, former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, and New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. In 1984, Vanessa Redgrave made the hotel her home for a month while making Three Sovereigns for Sarah, a PBS movie about the Salem Witch Trials.

It was the television series Bewitched that brought the Hawthorne Hotel the most notoriety. In 1970, Elizabeth Montgomery, her real-lie husband and the show’s producer Bill Asher and the rest of the cast and crew stayed at the hotel for several weeks while filming episodes in and around Salem.
Just recently, two television shows were filmed in the hotel—the popular Canadian show Chris & John to the Rescue and TLC’s What Not to Wear held the Reveal Party for their fashion victim in the 2010 season opener.

And the Hawthorne Hotel has already got a lot goin’ on in 2010—and that includes some renovations! Carpeting, TVs and more! Look for the days of the Grand Hotel!
Watch for more press releases filled with interesting facts and trivia about Hawthorne Hotel’s weddings and restaurant events, special promotions such as a special $85 room rate in honor of our 85th Birthday, updates on our renovations, and much more! Interviews and photos available.

Designated an “Historic Hotel of America,” the Hawthorne provides every amenity a “modern” traveler could desire and continues to welcome thousands of visitors every year. The hotel is 15 miles north of Boston and easily accessible from many major routes.

Historic Hotels of America is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Historic Hotels has identified 191 hotels that have faithfully maintained their historic integrity, architecture and ambiance. To be selected for this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old, listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or recognized as having historic significance.

Salem’s Tavern in the Square

Finding your way to Salem’s newest watering hole shouldn’t be a problem; just look for the long red awnings that dominate an entire block at one of the busiest corners of town. Continue reading Salem’s Tavern in the Square

Haunted Places on the North Shore

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These are the tales of lost souls said to have spooked North Shore travelers and residents for decades. Who are these restless spirits and what do they want? By Lauren Danahy. Photographs by Christopher Churchill. Continue reading Haunted Places on the North Shore

Brunonia Barry Puts Salem On The Literary Map Again

nson09_brunonia_1Author Brunonia Barry has lived all over the country, but when it came to writing her New York Times best-selling novel, The Lace Reader (recently released in paperback), only Salem would do for influence and inspiration. Continue reading Brunonia Barry Puts Salem On The Literary Map Again

Fundraiser for the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival

Title: Fundraiser for the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival
Location: Knights of Columbus Hall, Salem
Link out: Click here

Description: A major fundraiser for the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival , “Soul Lotta Love,” featuring a rare reunion appearance of the great soul band, Barrence Whitfield and the Savages. Whitfield tore up the finale of the Saturday concert at this year’s Salem Jazz and Soul Festival at the Salem Willows. He is a legendary North Shore-based R & B singer who always explodes on stage with a limitless energy and enthusiasm for his music. The sound he has crafted over two decades of performing is unquestionably his own. The fundraiser will also feature an auction where more than a dozen exciting prize packages, from nights out on the town to spa treatments and more will be offered.
Date: 2009-09-19

Halloween Ball Tickets NOW ON SALE!

SALEM, MA  – JUNE 2009 – The highly anticipated opportunity to buy tickets to the Hawthorne Hotel’s Halloween Ball has arrived!

Here is the link: http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=1822364

Through Ticketweb, tickets are $85 each plus Ticketweb’s fee which varies according to how many tickets you purchase. Tickets through Hawthorne Hotel are not available yet, but they will be $90 each from the hotel, (so Ticketweb is really the way to go).

The theme this year will be “Reality Bites!!!” and is our crazy look at the myriad of reality television shows that seem to be everywhere you look. From lost to hell’s kitchen, and surviving every challenge, we will take them on and make them uniquely Halloween in Salem, Massachusetts. Three floors of entertainment, food, dancing, live and DJ music, photos, people-watching to the max, all for your enjoyment.

The hotel rooms are sold out, but you might try the Emerson-by-the-Sea in Rockport, as they are an easy commute into Salem on that craziest of nights. They are also packaging with us, if you want them to provide everything including transportation to our door.

The ball takes place ON HALLOWEEN this year, Saturday, October 31st.

MOD NIGHT! featuring DJ Seth!

Title: MOD NIGHT featuring DJ Seth!
Location: Gulu Gulu Café – Salem, MA
Link out: Click here
Description: Indie 80′s Pop and Alternative. A bit of music in all genres, LIVE at the Gulu Gulu Cafe in Salem, located at 247 Essex Street.
Start Time: 20:00
Date: 2009-06-12

The Insider’s Guide to Book Collecting at PEM

Title: The Insider’s Guide to Book Collecting at PEM
Location: Peabody Essex Museum – Salem, MA
Description: Dr. Sidney Berger, the Ann C. Pingree Director of the Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum, will host a lecture on Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 5pm, and answer your questions about all aspects of book collecting. From how to start a collection to how spotting a fake, Dr. Berger will be your guide to the fascinating and rewarding world of rare and fine books.

For more information on this lecture, please contact Elisabeth Buell at: (978) 745-9500 ext. 3138, or by email at: elisabeth_buell@pem.org

About Dr. Sidney Berger: Dr. Berger is currently the Ann C. Pingree Director of the Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum, and a professor in the Communications Department at Simmons College in Boston. He holds his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in Medieval and Renaissance English Literature, and was a Curator for the American Antiquarian Society from 1987-1990. Dr. Berger has taught and lectured extensively on rare books and collections, as well as reviewed literature on the subject.

For additional information and museum hours, please visit: www.pem.org

Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2009-06-11

Tache Realty’s Wicked 1/2 Marathon

Title: Tache Realty’s Wicked 1/2 Marathon
Location: Bentley School – Memorial Drive – Salem, MA
Description: Join B&S Fitness for the the Wicked 1/2 Marathon supported by Tache’s Reatly on Saturday, September 26th, 2009.

Athletic race backs will be given to the first 300 participants that register. Tech Shirts will be given to the first 500 runners. And there will be $600 in cash prizes to the top finishers.

Pre-registration is: $40 (before Sept.17th) and then $50 until race day, ($60 on race day).

Registration will take place at 6am prior to the start of the race at 7am.

For additional information, please contact Brandi Dion at: bnsfitness@yahoo.com

Start Time: 6:00
Date: 2009-09-26

Wild Fish 1&2 Mile Swims (aka. Purley Mad 2 Mile)

Title: Wild Fish 1&2 Mile Swims (aka. Purley Mad 2 Mile)
Location: Collins Cove Beach – Salem
Description: Join B&S Fitness for the Wold Fish 1&2 Mile Swims (otherwise known as Purley Mad 2 Mile) taking place Saturday, August 8th, 2009 at Collins Cove Beach in Salem, MA.

NEW Athletic race bags and tech shirts will be given to the top 100 participants that register with a ca$h prize to the top Male and Female swimmers in each race.

Collins Cove Beach is located on Webb Street (off of Bridge Street). Just follow signs to Salem Willows Park and the Cove will be on your left.

Pre-registration is $20 per individual and day-of registration is $25.

Registration will begin at 12pm prior to the start of the race at 1pm.

For additional information, please contact Brandi Dion at: bnsfitness@yahoo.com

Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2009-08-08

Haunted City Junior Triathlon

Title: Haunted City Junior Triathlon
Location: Dead Horse Beach – Salem Willows Park
Description: Join B&S Fitness for the Haunted City Junior Triathlon Saturday, August 1st, 2009 in Salem, MA.

Cost is $25 pre-registration, and $35 day-of. Registration will begin at 7:30am prior to the start of the race at 8:30am.

B&S Fitness will be hosting a Youth Triathlon Training Clinic Sunday, June 19th at Dead Horse Beach at Salem Willows Park. The clinic will cover all aspect of the race including biking, running, swimming, transition skills, nutrition, and injury prevention. The cost of the clinic is $10 per individual and will be from 9am-11am.

For additional information, please contact Brandi Dion at: bnsfitnes@yahoo.com

Start Time: 7:30
Date: 2009-08-01

Masterpiece Lecture: Conversation Sleuthing: Revealing the Dutch Masters

Title: Masterpiece Lecture: Conversation Sleuthing: Revealing the Dutch Masters
Location: Peabody Essex Museum – Salem, MA
Description: Featuring: Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., Ph.D. | Curator and Art Historian, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Daniel Finamore, Ph.D | The Russell W. Knight Curator of Maritime Art and History at PEM and Ian McClure | Chief Conservator, Yale University Art Gallery.

Join the country’s foremost Dutch art experts as they unveil the science and mystery behind restoring priceless works of art. Top conservators will explore hot issues in the world of art preservation highlighting paintings on view in PEM’s newest exhibition, The Golden Age of Dutch Seascapes as well as works in PEM’s own collection.

Live in the Galleries – Conservator Theresa Carmichael will restore an 18th-century Dutch painting in The Golden Age of Dutch Seascapes galleries every Wednesday and Friday (through September 7, 2009).

Weekend Festival — Events, workshops, activities celebrating The Golden Age of Dutch Seascapes on June 13 and 14 from 10:30am to 5pm each day.

HOURS: Open Tuesday-Sunday and holiday Mondays, 10 am-5 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
ADMISSION: Adults $15; seniors $13; students $11. Additional admission to Yin Yu Tang: $5. Members, youth 16 and under and residents of Salem enjoy free general admission and free admission to Yin Yu Tang.

For additional information, please call: (866) 745-1876, or visit our Web site at: www.pem.org
Start Time: 15:00
Date: 2009-06-13
End Time: 16:30

The Witch’s Cup 2009

Title: The Witch’s Cup 2009
Location: Salem, MA
Description: hosted by Salem Cycle, the 2009 Witch’s Cup is a bike race that starts in Salem Common and rides around the city.
For more information, please contact (978) 741 2222 or dan@witchscup.com
Start Time: 16:00
Date: 2009-08-12
End Time: 20:00

Sixty2 On Wharf

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It is a rare occasion to find a restaurant where all of the stars are aligned—an informed and attentive staff, an original wine list, and a chef who understands precisely how to crack the code on flavor Nirvana. Salem’s intimate restaurant, Sixty2 on Wharf, just a year in business, has all of this, and then some.

Without a doubt, chef Antonio Bettencourt is very talented, has an obvious passion for food, and understands the pleasure it can bring. Dish after dish is its own little symphony of intricate flavor balance—with fresh notes that rise in sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami (savory), they are the five tastes we all know but rarely experience in harmony.

The meal began with two antipasti dishes, Cauliflower and the Arancini prepared perfectly and portioned thoughtfully. The cauliflower is lightly battered, fried, and served with currents (sweet), pine nuts (a bit of savory), and red wine agro dolce (a rich Italian version of sweet and sour sauce). The idea is to get a spoonful with all of this in one bite and enjoy the flavor rush of all combined.

nsjj09_sixty2_2The Arancini, a deep fried risotto, stuffed with fontina cheese over tomato confit and basil, was crisp, firm, and well seasoned. Bettencourt creates his confit with the tastiest tomatoes you will ever find: San Marzano (don’t ever make your pasta sauce without this canned tomato). He cooks them for 3-4 hours on low heat to make the flavorful concoction reach its peak in richness.The micro-crunch of your first bite to break through into the cheese-laden risotto, the contrast of the smooth, meaty confit, and the high note of basil make for an unforgettable combination.

My choice for the pasta course was the Garganelli served with red wine-braised duck, dried cherries, pine nuts, and Tuscan kale. This delectable dish raised the flavor bar many notches. The sauce was deep and savory, and here, the dried cherries brought in a condensed flavor that contrasted so nicely with every bite of the tender duck. The pine nuts rounded out the flavor and introduced a bit of crunch, while the Tuscan kale (a tender version of common kale), a tiny note of bitter, balanced the entire dish. The pasta is made in-house with a triedand- true balance of two flours and eggs.

nsjj09_sixty2_3My choice for the main course was the slow roasted pork chop with broccoli rabe. The pork was served atop a mostarda (an Italian fruit and mustard condiment) of Seckel pears (tiny, sweet variety), cippoline (sweet onions), and dried cranberries. The pork was tender and flavorful—a shoulder chop which, because it has fat, has flavor. This dish is a fireworks display of deliciousness.

Wines here change frequently and come via the wine steward who travels the globe in search of new, interesting vintages. I sampled two reds, the Chiantari 2007 Nero d’Avola, and the Altesino 2005 Rosso di Altesino, and one white, Batasiolo 2007 Gavi di Gavi. Each was very enjoyable and each had its own distinct character.

nsjj09_sixty2_4For dessert, I chose the Apple Crostada, an almond tart with currents, served with an amazingly creamy, cinnamon gelato. The slightly sweet, buttery crust, filled with chunks of apple and almond slivers, capped with a Dinner is Served: Chef Antonio Bettencourt, top right, has an obvious passion for food. Some favorites, from left, the Apple Crostada, the Garganelli served with red wine-braised duck, dried cranberries, pine nuts and Tuscan kale, and the scallops being prepared.

The Menu

62 Wharf Street (Pickering Wharf), Salem, 978-744-0062, 62onwharf.com
Chef: Antonio Bettencourt
Antipasti: Cauliflower, Arancini ($5 each)
Pasta: Garganelli ($12)

Entrée: Pork, which is a slow-roasted pork chop with broccoli rabe an a mostarda of seckel pears, cippoline and dried cranberries ($23)Dessert: Apple Costada with currants andcinnamon gelato ($7) —Anna Kasabian

Salem Helicopter Pilot

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For a guy who has spent the past 18 months flying former President George W. Bush, and now President Barack Obama, all around the world, it was Col. Ray L’Heureux’s “victory lap” over the National Mall with Bush and his family on Inauguration Day this January that he will cherish the most.

“Just when you think you’ve got the memory, another one gets tacked on,” says L’Heureux, the Commanding Officer of Marine Helicopter Squadron One. “Of all the great things we have done supporting the former President, Inauguration Day was one of those days that I will absolutely remember, saying goodbye to the one president that I got comfortable and personal with.”

As the commanding officer of HMX-1-, the helicopter that transports the President of the United States, L’Heureux, a former Salem High School student, is responsible for not only the executive helicopter that he pilots and his cargo (the President, more often than not), but also the approximately 800 Marines under his command. L’Heureux frequently flies the President to events around the country and the globe. To do that, he must oversee the breakdown of the helicopter, which is then loaded into a cargo plane and re-assembled at the destination.

nsjj09_helicopter_2During his sophomore year at Salem High School, L’Heureux says he first knew that he would fly some day, but was unsure of how or when. It wasn’t until college (Nathaniel Hawthorne College in Antrim, NH) when a recruiter from the Marines made an impression with him that sealed the deal. He enlisted in 1980 and served his first tours as a Presidential pilot from 1992-1996 for then Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton. He says that it has been a dream job for him to command the Marines of HMX-1. “This is the pinnacle job as a Marine helicopter pilot; from a flying and command perspective, a whole lot of things have to be lined up for this job. My timing was impeccable.”

While Col L’Heureux’s tour of duty as the Presidential helicopter pilot comes to an end this summer, he has had the honor of shuttling President Obama to numerous events around the country. “President Obama seems very appreciative of the service that we provide,” he says. “He is very cordial and has a wonderful family.”

But what of the North Shore? L’Heureux still has family in the area and visits from time to time. He says he longs for the restaurants on Derby Street in Salem but it is his next assignment that will keep him far from the Atlantic coast. When Col L’Heureux’s tour of command at the helm of HMX-1 ends this summer, he’s off to Hawaii where he will serve as Chief of Staff for Marine Forces Pacific. Tough duty, we know. —Jack Morris

Big Band Swinging Blues Event at PEM a Hit!

SALEM – April 2009 – Boston Horns Big Band, brought the swing back to Salem, in support of the Salem Jess & Soul Festival. Backing three of the best blues vocalists on the music scene today: Boston Music Award nominees James Montgomery, Toni Lynn Washington and local soul-singing sensation Barrance Whitfield.

barrence-whitfield

It's all about soul for Barrance Whitfield singing at the Big Band Swinging Blues Festival at PEM - April 17th, 2009

All proceeds from the event went to the support of the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival’s mission to support music education in the Salem Public Schools and other local music initiatives.

The Peabody Essex Museum was a great host and displayed a divine spot for a little bit of the swing and blues.

To learn more about the Peabody Essex Museum, please visit: www.pem.org

For an upcoming scheudle of events and performers of the Salem Jazz & Soul Festival, please visit: www.salemjazzsoul.com

audience_at_spring_gala_pemsjf

Band and Audience at PEM - April 17th, 2009 - (photo by: Tom Uellner - www.tomuellnerphotography.com)

Speaker: Mary Ann Tirone Smith

Title: Speaker: Mary Ann Tirone Smith
Location: Salem State College – Martin Luther King Jr. Room, Ellison Campus Center
Link out: Click here
Description: Novelist, Mary-Ann Tirone Smith, best known for The Book of Phoebe, An American Killing, the Poppy Rice Mysteries, and Girls of Tender Age, will read selections from her works in the Martin Luther King Jr. Room at the Ellison Campus Center at Salem State College.

mtsmith

Admission to the readings is FREE.

For more information, please call: (978) 542-7890, or visit: www.salemstate.edu/arts

Start Time: 19:30
Date: 2009-04-23

PEM presents: Actress & Author Madhur Jaffrey

Title: PEM presents: Actress & Author Madhur Jaffrey
Location: Peabody Essex Museum – Salem, MA
Link out: Click here
Description: The Peabody Essex Museum of Salem presents award-winning actress and best-selling author Madhur Jaffrey at the PEM Morse Auditorium, Saturday & Sunday, April 4th-5th, 2009 at 2:30pm.

Regarded by many as the world authority on Indian food, Madhur Jaffrey is an award-winning actress and best-selling cookbook author. Her classic first book, An Invitation to Indian Cooking, was published by Knopf in 1973, and she has been the host of a series, Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cookery for BBC television. She has appeared in more than 20 films, including Merchant Ivory’s Heat and Dust, and written more than 15 books. She won James Beard Awards in 1982, 1994, 2000, 2002, and 2004.

Ms. Jaffrey will speak about her recent book titled Climbing the Mango Trees: A Memoir of a Childhood in India (2006) as part of Sensational India! ─ a weekend-long festival of Indian music, dance, visual art and cuisine at the Peabody Essex Museum.

Tickets are included in museum admission, but must be reserved by April 3rd, 2009.

A book signing will follow the lecture. The program was made possible by the George Swinnerton Parker Memorial Lecture Fund.

For ticket reservations or more information, please call: (978) 745-9500 ext. 3011, or visit: www.pem.org

Start Date: 2009-04-04
Start Time: 14:30
End Date: 2009-04-05

Salsa Dancing with Junior and Jetta

Title: Salsa Dancing with Junior and Jetta
Description: Beginning March 31st, 2009, dancers Junior and Jetta will be hosting Latin Dance group classes and dance socials on Tuesday evenings from 7pm-11pm upstairs at Finz in Salem.

Whether you are an experienced dancer or have never stepped out on a dance floor, become skilled in the most popular Latin dances; learn to dance Salsa on 1 and 2, Cha Cha Cha, Merengue, and Bachata. They are a dance company dedicated to providing you with professional choreography for weddings or special events, private lessons, group instruction, and entertainment. No partner needed.

Beginner Level: 7pm-8pm
Intermediate Level: 8pm-9pm
Social Dance: 9pm-11pm

Tickets are: $15 for class and social; or $10 for social only.

For more information, please call: (978) 828-0418, or email: jettajelly@aol.com

Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2009-03-31
End Time: 23:00

Salem State College Music Faculty Recital

Title: Salem State College Music Faculty Recital
Location: Recital Hall – Central Campus – Salem, MA
Link out: Click here
Description: The Salem State College Music Faculty is showcasing their wide ranging talents at their annual concert event.

Original compositions by Professor Phil Swanson, the exquisite vocal stylings of Professor Gary Wood, and the elegant horn playing of Professor Dirk Hillyer are just some of the highlights of the evening.

Proceeds from the concert will benefit the John Finnegan Memorial Scholarship Fund. Finnegan was a Professor of Music at Salem State College from 1966 until 1988.

Tickets: $10 general admission, $5 for seniors and non-SSC students.

For more information, please call: (978) 542-7890, or visit: www.salemstate.edu/arts

Start Time: 19:30
Date: 2009-03-30

The Joesph Story House in Salem

Drilling 500-foot wells in the front yard isn’t just good for the environment, it’s old-fashioned yankee common sense for Neil and Martha Chayet. Continue reading The Joesph Story House in Salem

Douglas Smith and The Pearl

Title: Douglas Smith and The Pearl
Location: The Salem Athenaeum
Description: Historian Douglas Smith will discuss The Pearl: A True Tale of Forbidden Love in Catherine the Great’s Russia, one of the most original stories yet told about this period. Filled with a remarkable cast of characters and set against the backdrop of Imperial Russia, this historical account chronicles the forbidden and tragic romance between Count Nicholas Sheremetev, Russia’s richest aristocrat, and Praskovia Kovalyova, his serf, who became the greatest opera diva of her time and whom he secretly married.

douglas Smith is an award-winning historian and translator and a Resident Scholar at the University of Washington’s Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies. He has worked as a Soviet affairs analyst at Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty in Munich, and served as an interpreter for the late President Ronald Reagan.

This event is to be held at The Salem Athenaeum. Admission is $10, $5 for members.

For more information, please email: info@salemathenaeum.net
Date: 2009-03-07

14th Annual Wine Tasting & Silent Auction: North Shore Arc

Title: 14th Annual Wine Tasting & Silent Auction: North Shore Arc
Location: Lyceum Restaurant – 43 Church Street – Salem, MA
Link out: Click here
Description: The North Shore Arc’s 14th Annual Wine Tasting & Silent Auction will take place Friday, March 27th, 2009 from 7pm-10pm at the Lyceum Restaurant in Salem, MA.

Back by popular demand, Kim Carrigan of FOX25 Morning News Co-Host, will add effervescence to the evening as the hostess and auctioneer for the fourth consecutive year. Salem Mayor Kimberly Driscoll will serve at this year’s honorary chair.

Attendees will have the opportunity to taste a number of premium wines from a wide variety of vineyards. The live and silent auction provides an opportunity to bid on many unique items donated by corporations, small businesses and members of the community. Some of the items for this year’s auction include include artwork, vacation trips, gift baskets, sporting event tickets and more!

Proceeds go directly to the North Shore Arc and help to fulfill its mission of assisting children and adults living with developmental disabilities.

Advance tickets are available at recession-buster prices: $40 per single, or $75 per couple. Tickets will be $50 each if purchased at the door.

Online biding is now available for the auction on the North Shore Arc website (as of March 9th, 2009). Bid NOW!

For sponsorship information, to donate, and/or to reserve your tickets, please call the North Shore Arc at: (978) 624-2401, or email: blandry@nsarc.org

Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2009-03-27
End Time: 22:00

Salem Restaurant Week

Title: Salem Restaurant Week
Location: Downtown Salem
Link out: Click here
Description: Take your hungry stomach and head to Salem for a superb week of dining at Salem’s finest restaurants. Tastes include everything from seafood to Italian, to Asian, and more. Participating restaurants will offer decided three-course dinners throughout the week.

For more information, please call: (978) 744-0004, or visit: www.salem-chamber.org
Start Date: 2009-04-05
End Date: 2009-04-09

Panel Discussion: Chinese Contemporary Art and Its Place in the Global Market

Title: Panel Discussion: Chinese Contemporary Art and Its Place in the Global Market
Location: Peabody Essex Museum – Salem, MA
Link out: Click here
Description: The price and availability of contemporary Chinese art has skyrocketed in the last 10 years. Does the market reflect China’s growth as a global economic powerhouse? Does the popularity of contemporary Chinese art signify its acceptance?

Panelists are Melissa Chiu, museum director of the Asia Society in New York City; András Szántó, art critic and Senior Fellow at the Center for Arts and Culture in Virginia; and Robert Storr, dean of Yale Art School. Moderator is Trevor Smith, PEM curator of contemporary art.

Reservations for the event are suggested by March 27th, 2009.

For more information, please call: (978) 745-9500 ext. 3011, or visit: www.pem.org

Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2009-03-29
End Time: 15:30

Afro-Cuban Jazz: The Joel LaRue Smith Ensemble

Title: Afro-Cuban Jazz: The Joel LaRue Smith Ensemble
Location: Salem State College, Recital Hall – Salem, MA
Link out: Click here
Description: The Joel LaRue Smith Ensemble performs an evening of Afro-Cuban
Jazz – a mixture of infectious Afro-Cuban dance rhythms and luxurious jazz
harmonies. Smith is an award-winning composer and his ensemble tours
extensively all over the world. $10 general; $5 non-SSC students and
seniors.

For tickets and information, please call: (978) 542-7890, or visit: http://salemstate.edu/arts
Date: 2009-03-09

Tri-City Sales Grand Opening Celebration

Title: Tri-City Sales Grand Opening Celebration
Location: 262 Highland Avenue – Salem, MA
Description: Tri-City Sales is Celebrating their Grand Opening with a 3-day Celebration Event, March 6th, 2009 – March 8th, 2009.

Salem\’s Mayor, Kimberly Driscoll will be in attendance for the Ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 11:30am.

The event will also include raffles for several big prizes including: a Sansui LCD TV, a Bosch dishwasher, a GE front-loading washer, a Marvel built-in wine unit display, a Wolf BBQ Grill, and more!

The raffle funds ($1 admission for the raffle March 2nd through the 8th) will be matched by Tri-City Sales to benefit St. Joseph’s Food Bank in Salem.

Start Date: 2009-03-06
End Date: 2009-03-08

Imagineration

Title: Imagineration
Location: Salem State College, Callan Studio Theatre, 352 Lafayette Street – Salem, MA
Description: Students and faculty from Theatre, Dance, Music, Art and Creative Writing present original works that inspire the spirit of creativity and imaginative expression in a theatrical setting. The evening will include puppetry, short plays, animated storytelling, dance, and sculpture. Tickets are: $15 general; $10 non-SSC students and seniors.

For tickets or information, please call: (978) 542-6290, or visit www.salemstate.edu/arts

Start Date: 2009-02-26
End Date: 2009-02-28

Hip Hop Master Class with Liza Hostetler

Title: Hip Hop Master Class with Liza Hostetler
Location: Salem State College – O’Keefe Center (Gym A) – Salem, MA
Link out: Click here
Description: Liza Hostetler has been associated with the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio since 2000 and is the assistant choreographer for Unyted Stylz Urban Entertainment Umbrella. Liza will be hosting a free master Hip Hop class is for dancers of all levels and background.

For more information, please call: (978) 542-7890, or visit: www.salemstate.edu/arts
Start Time: 11:00am
Date: 2009-02-23

Stuff: Sculpture by Paul Bowen

Title: Stuff: Sculpture by Paul Bowen
Location: Salem State College, Ellison Campus Center
Link out: Click here
Description: Bowen’s work uses simple carpentry techniques to turn found materials, like stools, barrels, ladders and saw horses into unique sculptural pieces.

Gallery Hours M-F, 10am – 2pm or by appointment. Free.

For more information, please call: (978) 542-7890 or visit: www.salemstate.edu/arts.
Start Date: 2009-02-24
End Date: 2009-04-01

Sensational India!

Title: Sensational India!
Location: Peabody Essex Museum – Salem
Link out: Click here
Description: Sensational India! honors PEM’s unparalleled 200-year legacy of cultural exchange with India. Join PEM for the two-day festival and make connections between the rich Indian art and culture represented in the museum’s collections and India’s remarkable performing arts -traditional and contemporary- in its many exciting forms. PEM will celebrate with art, dance, music, film, food, hands-on art activities and more.

Families, hear tales from India read by storytellers, learn your fortune from a parrot and create rangoli art.

Saturday, April 4th, 2009: 

Gallery Talks: ReVision, Indian Artists Engaging Tradition 10am-11am, ReVision Galleries

India! 10:30am and 3:30pm, Indian Art Galleries

Interactive Artist Demonstration: Warli Painting 11am-4pm, Atrium

A Taste of India, 11am -12pm, Bartlett Gallery

The Jungle Book, 11am -12:30pm, Morse Auditorium

Musical Performances, Carnatic Ensemble, Noon -12:30 pm, Atrium

Indo-American Fusion, 12:30pm-1pm, Atrium

Family Art Activity, Torana Door Hangings, 1-3pm, Art Studios

Dance Performance: Nrityagram Dance Ensemble, 1:30pm-2:30pm, Atrium

Indian Classical Dance and the Arts of India – A Conversion 3pm-4pm, Morse Auditorium, (Adults)

Musical Performance, Hindustani, 4-4:30pm, Atrium

Fusion of Jazz and Carnatic, 4:30-5pm, Atrium

Sunday, April 5th, 2009:

Gallery Talks: ReVision, Indian Artists Engaging Traditions 10am-11 am, ReVision Galleries

India! 10:30am and 3:30pm, Indian Art Galleries

Interactive Artist Demonstration, Warli Painting, 11am-4pm, Atrium

Brick Lane, 11am-1:30pm, Morse Auditorium, (Adults)

Family Art Activities, Torana Door Hangings, 1pm-3pm, Art Studios

Dance Workshop, Odissi, 1:30-3pm, East India Marine Hall, (Teens & Adults)

Dance Demonstration and Performances, Traditional Indian Folk Dance
1pm-2pm and 4pm-5pm, Atrium

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 at 9:30 am, Mahjong Galleries, members-only gallery talk.

Made possible by Sam and Nilima Desai; The Desai Family Foundation.

All events  are included in museum admission.

For more information, please visit: www.pem.org

Start Date: 2009-04-04
End Date: 2009-04-05

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