The zombies have invaded Salem, MA. And I don’t just mean the ones engrossed with their phone screens wandering through the streets.
No, these zombies are participants in the annual Salem Zombie Walk.
There were zombies of all ages, attire and degrees of scariness. It’s never too early to get into the Halloween spirit and these people were definitely in the spirit of the season!
But, my favorite zombies have to be the families and children who have dressed up for the walk. After all, the families that stalk together stay together.
There’s nothing cuter than “zombie kids!”
The zombies arrived in a variety of different vehicles. “Witch Taxi.” How appropriate. Was her broom broken?
After a quick game of zombie kickball, they all got lined up and began the walk.
Although there weren’t any dogs in the zombie walk (although they are welcome), I did see these cute dogs on the way to the park.
Gatsby is a 1 year and 3 month old Golden Retriever.
Baloo (named after the character in The Jungle Book) is a 5 year old Pomeranian.
These two friends watched the parade from the window of their home. Perhaps I’ll see you next year…if the zombies don’t get you first!
Below are some videos from the festivities at the zombie walk.
Adults $20, seniors (65 and over) $18, students (with ID) $12, Youth (16 and under) and Salem, Mass. residents (with ID) admitted free*. (*Does not apply to youth in student/tour groups.) For late nights, $12 after 5 pm.
*events and some exhibits may be have a separate fee*
Parking: there are several parking garages in Salem ($20 to park the entire day this time of the year), The best one to park at for this exhibit is the Museum Place Mall parking garage on Church St as it is directly across from the Essex St entrance of the mall. You may also find limited street parking if you’re lucky for .75 an hour, 4 hour max.
Highlights: collection of movie posters and memorabilia from vintage sci-fi and horror films, videos and music of Kirk Hammett and Metallica
Tips:
The entrance is on Essex St (not Charter St)
You can view the impressive Yin Yu display at the museum for an extra $6 a person charge. It is worth the extra fee (and you will see why soon)
This exhibit is running until Nov. 26, 2017
Welcome to the third, and final, installment of my photos and observations from the It’s Alive! horror and sc-fi movie collection exhibit.
In case you missed it, you can find part I here and part II here.
Welcome back to my photo blog of the It’s Alive! monster movie memorabilia collection.
AS I mentioned in the previous posts, there is so much more than just posters at this exhibit.
One of the more nostalgic parts of the exhibit are the toys, figures and books. While I never had any of these specific toys or memorabilia growing up, I had similar toys and memorabilia. I had to stop myself from playing with them.
This toy figure is a must for any fish tank.
A replica of what many of the television rooms of that day where millions of families congregated to watch the movie of the week, the late late show or the aforementioned “Creature Double Feature” is set up at the exhibit.
There are also masks from classic movie monsters.
This mask is the mask Lon Chaney wore in the film Bud Abbott & Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948). The mask was made by Bud Westmore. It is made out of plaster with hair, glass, paint, sheltac and clay.
This mask is a gill-man prop head from Revenge Of The Creature (1955). It was also created by Bud Westmore. It is made from latex, rubber, paint, metal and glass. A hose was connected to the mask which supplied air to the actor’s mouth and another hose was connected to the gills to make them look as though they were opening and closing. Westmore was also credited with creating the design of the monster in The Creature From The Black Lagoon.
One of the coolest parts of the exhibit is the do-it-yourself monster movie poster machine
Last but certainly not least, there is a collection of Kirk Hammett’s guitars and guitar cases, particularly the cases that are designed in the horror motif.
Videos of Kirk being interviewed and playing the guitar are shown on a loop by his display of guitars. There are also quotes of his that are posted throughout the exhibit.
At the end of the exhibit, near the exit, there is a book visitors can sign, leave feedback and add their own art work!
Dogs aren’t the only four legged cuties in Salem during my visit. Wiggy (The Piggy) is a 1.5 year old Juliana pig. He was very friendly and he even gave his guardian kisses.
I hope you have enjoyed this tour of the It’s Alive! exhibit! Below are some videos of the video clips they show on the walls of the exhibit and one of the figurines on display.
Adults $20, seniors (65 and over) $18, students (with ID) $12, Youth (16 and under) and Salem, Mass. residents (with ID) admitted free*. (*Does not apply to youth in student/tour groups.) For late nights, $12 after 5 pm.
*events and some exhibits may be have a separate fee*
Parking: there are several parking garages in Salem ($20 to park the entire day this time of the year), The best one to park at for this exhibit is the Museum Place Mall parking garage on Church St as it is directly across from the Essex St entrance of the mall. You may also find limited street parking if you’re lucky for .75 an hour, 4 hour max.
Highlights: collection of movie posters and memorabilia from vintage sci-fi and horror films, videos and music of Kirk Hammett and Metallica
Tips:
The entrance is on Essex St (not Charter St)
You can view the impressive Yin Yu display at the museum for an extra $6 a person charge. It is worth the extra fee (and you will see why soon)
This exhibit is running until Nov. 26, 2017
Welcome to the second installment of the It’s Alive! exhibit…if you dare.
There’s no better way to get yourself in the Halloween spirit than being in Salem, MA and viewing horror/sci-fi movie memorabilia. It doesn’t hurt when you have the melodic sounds of Metallica playing in the background.
Now that we’ve covered most of the notorious movie villians (Dracula, Frankenstein, et al), let’s get to view some heroes of these film genres. Just kidding, here’s more villians! Below are some famous stories with a different twist.
In this unusual take on a Shakespeare story, Hamlet (1921) has a more violent twist.
Belle at la Bete (Beauty And The Beast) (1946).
Cats, especially black cats, play a significant role in horror movies, and not usually in a good way.
From left to right: Tomb Of Ligeia (1965) and Mysteriet Svarta Katten (“The Black Cat) (1941)
These movie posters all have a unhealthy relationship (for instance, Norman certainly loved his mom).
Clockwise from the top left: I Married A Monster From Outer Space(1958), Psycho (1960),The Horror Of Party Beach: The Curse Of The Living Corpse (1964), Island Of Lost Souls (1932), The She-Creature (1956) and The Disembodied (1957)
The following movie posters all seem to deal with the demonic or demented
From left to right: Repulsione(1966), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), The Exorcist (1973), Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962)
The following movie posters have to deal with sci-fi and alien monsters
Clockwise from left to right: Barbarella (1968), It Conquered The World (1956), the original art work for The Day Of The Triiffids (1963) The Day Of The Triffids (1962), Doctor X (1932)
These movie posters are for Creatures (people from New England, especially Massachusetts and New Hampshire, may remember from the Creature Double Feature movie shows on channel 56 on television) .
From left to right: King Kong (1933), Mothra (1962), Tarantula! (1955) and (of course) Godzilla, King Of The Monsters! (1956)
These zombie movies came out before the current Walking Dead craze began.
Clockwise from the top left: The Walking Dead (two movie posters from 1936), White Zombie (1932), Zombies: Dawn Of The Dead (1980), Night Of The Living Dead (1968) and I Walked With A Zombie (1943)
The remainder of the movie posters fell into a “miscellaneous” category.
Clockwise from the top left: The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari (1920), The Beast With 1,000,000 Eyes (1955), The Crawling Eye (1958), Metropolis (1927), The Old Dark House (1932), The Whispering Shadow (1933), The Invisible Ray (1948), King Kong Vs. Godzilla (1977), Murders In The Rue Morgue (1932), Mystery Of The Wax Museum (1933), Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman (1958), I Was A Teenage Werewolf (1957), Barnum (Freaks) (1932), The The Return Of Chandu (1934) and Notre Dame de Paris (circa 1924)
Now, lest how you think that is all that is on display at the It’s Alive! exhibit, think again.
There are also a number of statues, figures and oh, well, I don’t want to give it all away straight away.
Similar to the movie posters, the prints and artwork of the movies are displayed in a separate section. Now, these, to me, are the real art of the exhibit. While the movie posters are impressive and cool, the prints have so much detail and you can see the craftsmanship involved. I loved them.
Clockwise from the top left: The Mummy by Basil Gogos, 1969, Lon Chaney as Phantom Of The Opera also by Basil Gogos, 1958, Dracula by Basil Gogos, circa 1970, Vampyr by Erik Aaes, 1932, Dead Of Night by Frank Frazetta, 1964, The Berserker by Frank Frazetta, 1967 and Dracula Meets The Wolfman by Frank Frazetta, 1966
There are also suits and clothing from these vintage movies as well as life-like, real sized statues of movie stars and characters.
The mannequin above is a statue of Bela Lugosi. The mannequin is wwearing the jacket and vest Bela wore in The White Zombie (1932). The figure of Bela Lugosi was made of silicone by Mike Hill in 2010.
What a scary suit! This prop suit was from the movie Invaders From Mars (1953). It was made by Norman Koch, Olive Koenitz and Gene Martin of the Western Costum Company. It is made of plush cotton, zippers, metal, painted papier mache and wool. It is 7 feet in length.
This “saucer-man” figure from Invasion Of The Saucer-Men (1957) was made by Monster Effects in 2011. It is made of paint, metal and fiberglass. Paul Blaisdell created this pop collar on the suit.
Mike Hill created this Boris Karloff figure in 2010 out of silicone. The suit is the same suit Karloff wore in The Black Cat (1934).
Quite a collection, huh? Well, believe it or not, there’s more! Please join for the third and final installment of this series coming soon!
Salem was teeming with dogs during my visit (you’ll soon see why). I saw Bella (on the left), a 1 and a half year old Akita, dressed as Batman and Seger (on the right), a 2 and a half year old Cattle dog mix, dressed as a prisoner after I left the museum.
Below is a video of the It’s Alive! exhibit courtesy of Derek Millen. He’s a pretty funny guy! The video portion of the It’s Alive! exhibit begins at around the 3:13 mark of the video (I have set up the video to start at the It’s Alive section of the video).
Adults $20, seniors (65 and over) $18, students (with ID) $12, Youth (16 and under) and Salem, Mass. residents (with ID) admitted free*. (*Does not apply to youth in student/tour groups.) For late nights, $12 after 5 pm.
*events and some exhibits may be have a separate fee*
Parking: there are several parking garages in Salem ($20 to park the entire day this time of the year), The best one to park at for this exhibit is the Museum Place Mall parking garage on Church St as it is directly across from the Essex St entrance of the mall. You may also find limited street parking if you’re lucky for .75 an hour, 4 hour max.
Highlights: collection of movie posters and memorabilia from vintage sci-fi and horror films, videos and music of Kirk Hammett and Metallica
Tips:
The entrance is on Essex St (not Charter St)
You can view the impressive Yin Yu display at the museum for an extra $6 a person charge. It is worth the extra fee (and you will see why soon)
This exhibit is running until Nov. 26, 2017
Metallica in a museum. Something doesn’t sound right. But, don’t be so quick to judge. They actually go together like big hair and a hot guitar solo. But, don’t wait too long to see it. This exhibit is only being shown until Nov. 26.
Kirk Hammett and the Peabody Essex Museum, located in the heart of Salem, have teamed up to showcase his movie poster collection. Now, before you scoff at this exhibition, you must realize just how vast his collection (there are hundreds and I photographed them all). But his collection goes far beyond just movie posters. His collection includes movie props, life size figures and oh well I don’t want to give it all away just now. Suffice it to say, I want a room like this in my next home!
One of the truly interesting aspects of the exhibit is the stories behind the memorabilia. There are movie posters which were either thrown out, papered over or left behind by theater owners or production companies with little or no concept they may be sought after items so many years later. There are cheaply made movie props which are very valuable now. And there are the games and action figures most of our moms threw out when we outgrew them but are very valuable either sentimentally or monetarily. If only I held on to those Luke Skywalker figures. I even cut the hand off one so it would be more “life like” (spoiler alert).
For better or worse, depending on your point of view, you’ll be hard pressed to find a movie poster from anytime after two very successful movies from the late 1970’s. I thought it was great being a fan of older horror movies. Plus, I also found out about some movies I wasn’t aware of that I can check out now. I think this will be the case for most visitors at this exhibit which is a great thing when you think about it.
There’s also the music and some of his guitar collection. A video of Kirk explaining hs collection and samples of his music playing on a loop while you admire his sci-fi and horror movie memorabilia give the exhibit just the right feel. The music complements the memorabilia perfectly. Hearing Kirk’s riffs on For Whom The Bell Tolls…as you view the assortment of zombies, vampires and other other worldly beings is the pure bliss. One thing I noticed was how they seemed to re-use the same actors for horror films, even if it was for different movie monsters. Talk about being typecast. Poor Boris Karloff!
Metallica and movie posters equal a very happy Nomad indeed.
A couple of things. Firstly, I wanted to post this on Friday the 13th for obvious reasons. But, as I am typing this, it does not look like I will make that deadline. And, secondly, due to the vast amount of posters and memorabilia, I am going to have to break this post into two or possibly three parts.
The movie posters are hung with care by category. such as “the undead”
and darker fiction (this move scared the hell out of me!)
You would have to try very hard to not notice the advertisements for the exhibit. Of course, I couldn’t resist asking one of the staff there, “So, do you have an ‘It’s Alive!’ exhibit?” The sarcasm was not lost on her.
Upon entering the exhibit, you are greeted with a short clip of Nosferatu
You are then directed to the rest of the exhibit, where another sign states my three favorite words, yes, “photography is encouraged.” Were you expecting something else? OK, “dinner is served” is a close second.
The exhibit begins with a movie prop called a Zapatron made out of aluminum, iron, bakelite, paper, paint and casein-formaldehyde resin by Kenneth Strickfaden.
The movie poster collection begins appropriately enough with one of the most recognizable and perhaps even beloved characters, Frankenstein and the various offshoots from that movie franchise.
Frankenstein, 1931. This three sheet poster was discovered in the boarded over projection booth of a remodeled theater. It eventually found its way into Kirk’s hands.
This is another poster for the 1931 Frankenstein.
Yet another movie poster for the 1931 Frankenstein film.
Although the exhibit was set up well, it’s impossible to not have some reflections and lighting that may hit the posters in an unflattering way and , of course, using a flash under these circumstances would actually make it worse. I also had to take some photos from a certain angle that minimized glare and reflections from showing. So, it did make some of the photography challenging and time consuming as I had to check each image on my screen before I moved on to the next poster. But, I still loved doing this shoot!
In the interest of saving space and time, I am going to try to combine the photos from each genre into groups of photos. The remaining photos from the Frankenstein group are popular offshoots of the Frankenstein movie franchise like The Bride Of Frankenstein.
Clockwise from the top left: The Bride Of Frankenstein (three posters from 1935), Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman (1942), Abbot And Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Son Of Frankenstein (two posters from 1939) and Frankenstein (1931)
The next group of movie posters were related to the Mummy movies. Much like the Frankenstein franchise, mummy movies have been a staple of any horror fan’s collection.
Going clockwise from the top left: The Mummy (two posters from 1932), the Swedish release of The Mummy titled Mumien Vaknar (1933), The Ghoul (1933) and The Mummy’s Tomb (1942).
Of course, what would a movie monster memorabilia collection be without Dracula and his various copycats or copy bats? Sorry. I couldn’t resist.
Clockwise from top left: Nosferatu (circa 1931), Dracula (three posters from 1931), Blacula (1972), Mark Of The Vampire (1935) and Dracula’s Daughter (two movie posters from 1936).
Werewolves have always been a mainstay of the horror genre. This is no different when it comes to movie poster collections.
Werewolf Of London (both from 1935)
These films are not related but I grouped them together for the sake of saving space and because the posters looked similar. As a side note, I’ve been described as being like the poster on the right from time to time. OK, I’ve said too much.
London After Midnight (1927) and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1932)
These two movie posters are from movies that were based on two famous Edgar Allen Poe books.
From left to right: The Raven (1935) and The Black Cat (two movie posters from 1934)
Aliens and outer space are another common theme in this exhibit. Me thinks Kirk likes his sci-fi.
Clockwise from the top left: Invaders From Mars (1953), The Day The Earth Stood Still (1953), Invasion Of The Saucer Men (1957), Alien (1979), Star Wars (1977), The Angry Red Planet (1960), The War Of The Worlds (1953) and When Worlds Collide (1951)
Creatures, particularly creatures from under the sea, are also prominently displayed at this exhibit.
From left to right: Creature From The Black Lagoon” (1954), It Came From Beneath The Sea (1955) , Monster From The Ocean Floor (1954).
There are also some posters of explorers who experience some adversity in different ways.
From left to right: Fantastic Voyage (1966) and II 7 Viaggio di Sinbad (The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad) (1959)
Sometimes I wish I could be this guy.
From left to right: The Invisible Man (two movie posters from 1933) and The Invisible Ray (1936).
While dogs are not allowed in the museum (with the possible exception of service dogs), I did see Churchill, a 2 year old Great Pyreneese on the way to my car.
Well, I hope I have whet your appetite for more movie posters and maybe a few other types of memorabilia which I will include in part II of this movie poster series.
Thank you for reading and I’ll see you soon…hopefully!
Below is a video of the It’s Alive! movie poster kick off event with a discussion of the collection led by Kirk Hammett. (video courtesy of Radio Of Horror)
Location: 310 1/2 Essex Street, Salem, MA (about 10 minutes north of Boston, MA)
Hours: Open March 15-November 15, daily 10am-5pm
Call for Winter Hours / Extended Hours in October
Cost:
Guided House Tour
Adult $10.25 Senior $ 8.25 Child (7-14) $ 6.25 Self-guided House Tour
Adult $8.25 Senior$6.25 Child (6-14) $4.25 Children Under 6 are free
Parking: there is street parking (75 cents for a maximum of 4 hours) if you get there early. Otherwise, there are several parking lots and garages that charge $20 for the entire day of parking. Generally, I park at the Museum Place Mall at Church St since it is closest to all of the attractions in Salem and within walking distance to the Witch House
Handicapped Accessible: No
Dog Friendly: No, although service dogs may be allowed
Highlights: historical artifacts, knowledgeable staff, actual home of “with hunter” Judge Johnathan Corwin
Tips:
The entrance is in the rear of the building (off North St)
“It’s October”, a passerby yelped to a disgruntled driver as he barely squeezed his sedan into the last available street parking spot.
Yup, it’s that time of the year again in Salem, Mass.
Although Salem has proven itself to be so much more than just an autumn destination, fall is still Salem’s biggest time of the year.
It’s unfortunate much of the draw to Salem is related t the witch hunt of 1692. However, it does provide a learning opportunity and it also gives us a chance to remember the past in the hopes it won’t happen again.
One of the best places to get a no frills education about the Salem Witch Trials is the Witch House on Essex St., just one mile away from the actual hanging spot of these accused witches.
The last standing building directly related to the Salem Witch Trials, the Witch House has a dark, storied history.
As I walked around the house I couldn’t help but think of the innocent people who had been tortured into confessing and the backdoor deals that were made to avoid being accused or convicted of being a witch. In this very room, John and Elizabeth’s (his wife) parlor or best room, people’s fates were sealed. In total, 24 people would either be hung (19 in total), 1 person was pressed to death and 4 people died in prison.
The home was bought in 1675 by Corwin, a local magistrate, and his wife Elizabeth (Gibbs). Elizabeth was a wealthy widow having been previously married to Robert Gibbs. They would have 10 children together. Six of their children would die before the age of 25. Only 2 children lived long enough to have families of their own.
The other room on the first floor showcases many of the tools and herbs used during that time. As you can see in some of the photos, each historical artifact has a sign or placard next to it with an explanation or story behind the piece being displayed.
The Witch House has six rooms (if you count the foyer areas on two floors. While not all of the items in the house are directly from that time, many of the items in the building closely mimic the items of that era.
These chairs, for instance, are very similar to the chairs and tables used that time. In fact, the 5 chairs at this table are symbolic of the 5 judges (out of 9) needed to convict someone of being a witch at that time.
On the table are copies of the pages of journals, diaries and court records of the inquisitions and court proceedings.
Judge Johnathan Corwin, who resided here, was said to have questioned the accused at times using extreme measures such as tying people’s arms behind their backs to a chair similar to this one. It forced more than one innocent person to confess.
The windows and furniture featured in the house are very well crafted.
In the first room of the first floor there is a sealed off area that shows the inside of the walls. The architecture of that day may be outdated but it still holds up to this day.
Up a short, narrow, windy staircase, the second floor has two bedrooms.
In one of the rooms sits a machine for sewing or knitting.
This doll, also known as a poppet, which was found in the wall of Bridget Bishop’s home, was said to have been a voodoo doll. The catch is that most people at that time left these types of dolls in their walls as a sign of good luck. Instead, In Bridget’s case, it was said to have been used to curse others. Cute little fella, isn’t he?
Dogs are not allowed in the Witch House (exceptions may be made for service dogs). But, I met Abita, a 3 year old Lab mix, on my way to the house. Abita was adopted from the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA. What a cutie.
The video below comes courtesy of samuelaschak. It gives a more detailed historical background of the building and the historical highlights of the Corwin family and Salem.
Highlights: DrainSmart Mural Project, sights and sounds of Salem
Think twice before you drop that seemingly harmless piece of paper on the sidewalk. That is what the DrainSmart murals located throughout the city of Salem, MA, seem to be saying.
The DrainSmart Program was created to help create awareness of how littering causes so much pollution in our waters. As the murals state, everything that enters the sewers drains to the ocean.
There were 12 murals planned for the city. I photographed 5 of the best looking works. Unfortunately, I could not locate some of the others or the others I did find had been worn away by pedestrian foot traffic and the elements.
Click here to see what they were supposed to look like.
The DrainSmart murals weren’t the only works of art or signs in the area.
Halloween isn’t the only time people dress up in Salem. The Commonwealth Vintage Dancers held a Regency Dance Weekend in Salem, MA, while I was visiting. The participants all wore attire that represented the time they were recreating.
Whenever I am in Salem, I am always taken by the historical significance and the architecture of the area. This building, the Witch House, is the last standing structure with direct ties to the Salem Witch Trials. In this house suspected witches and other people who were considered witnesses were tortured and threatened to confess to participating in witchcraft or witnessing witches.
It’s also fun just walking around and checking out the sights and sounds of Salem, particularly on such a pleasant spring day. They are building a hotel on Essex St and I noticed on the side of this building an old sign for Pickman Place.
It’s always refreshing for me to see buildings that have stood the test of time and still stand today, even if they may have different tenants. I may have an unhealthy attachment to historical buildings and landmarks. They bind us together. In a world that is ever changing and making way for new and better, it’s important to keep our history close at hand as well. Imagine all of the different people who have walked those same streets, enjoyed the very same entertainers we have. These streets could tell stories.
This side street where the Salem Witch Trials Memorial stands will be packed shoulder to shoulder in a mere 200 days. On this day it was desolate.
As was the mall. There is something about the Museum Mall in Salem that seems creepy and kind of scary when there’s not a crowd there.
There were also musicians out in the warm weather. You might not recognize the second musician. He usually plays his instrument with a mask at the very same location during the Halloween season.
There were also some very cute dogs out in Salem during my visit.
Mojo is a 4 year old Airedale and Pointer rescue from Tennessee.
Duke is a 9 month old Hungarian Vizsla. I wonder if he’s related to Dennis?
Highlights: Aspiring and casual artists painting and drawing works of art
Once known exclusively for the tragic Salem Witch Trials and tales of haunted attractions, Salem, MA, has become a hub of artistic and creative expression. The “Art In The Park” event held last weekend (April 9) at Lappin Park (also known as the park with the Bewitched statue) is proof of this.
This was the first “Art In The Park” event and it was such a success another event has been planned for May (details of the upcoming event can be found near the end of this post). The idea came to a school teacher who resides in Salem, MA. And, the Salem Collective of Arts And Musicians (SCAM) ran with the idea.
Gary, one of the organizers of the event, told me, it was great seeing people from all walks of life, ages and backgrounds getting together to bond over art.
From novices to skilled artists, all were welcome to participate. This family’s work of art was aptly called, “Family.”
This work of art was a collaborative effort with at least 3 or 4 people taking turns working on it.
This work of art was created by the creator of the event, John.
Another Art In The Park event is scheduled for Sunday, May 7 at Lappin Park in Salem, MA , at 11 a.m. Minimal materials will be provided. For more details, check out their Facebook page:Art In The Park.
Below are some photos of the exterior of the SCAM building on Essex St
Although they weren’t interested in painting, I saw a lot of dogs in Salem enjoying the beautiful Salem weather.
Bella is a 2 year old rescue from Alabama. Although her exact breed is not known, her mom thinks she probably has some Lab in her. Either way, she cute’s as a button!
Nora is a 5 year old Chihuahua. Don’t you just love those ears!
As an fyi, the Salem garage (at least the one on New Liberty St where the Museum Plaza is) no longer has attendees in their parking garage. They have automated their pay system. Gone are the friendly faces that greeted you as you entered and left the garage.
Although it seems like a minor change and for the better for some, I’ll actually miss having a person taking my money and wishing me a good day instead of paying a lifeless machine. It’s funny how such a small and seemingly innocuous change can bother me so. I suppose it’s also a sign that things are changing (and I suspect there will be many more changes coming to Salem). Or, it could just be another sign the machines are taking over!
Dates Of Event: February 10-12, 2017 – usually the second weekend in February of each year (photos taken February 11)
Locations: Throughout the city of Salem
Hours:Visible 24 hours a day, until they melt
Cost: Free
Parking:Metered street parking is available and there are two big parking garages on New Liberty St and Congress St
The Downtown Garage (New Liberty St) costs $0.75 per hour.
The Waterfront Garage (Congress St) costs $0.25 per hour.
Both garages operate from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Sunday through Wednesday and from 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM Thursday through Saturday.
Public Transportation: The MBTA’s Commuter Rail has a stop which deposits its passengers right at Washington St. $15 for a round trip ticket from North Station (fares vary depending upon where you leave from and where you are going)
Handicapped Accessible: Yes, but some roads and sidewalks are not shoveled well
Dog Friendly: Yes
Highlights: 26 Ice Sculptures scattered throughout the city of Salem, many sculptures are lit up at night, some shops and businesses offer discounts as part of the event
Proving once again they are not exclusively a Fall destination, Salem Massachusetts has outdone itself with a sweet display of ice sculptures.
Widely known for their Halloween festivities, Salem has been trying to make their city a year round attraction for some time. In fact, this weekend’s festivities were the 15th annual “Salem’s So Sweet” event.
The Salem’s So Sweet festivities began Friday night, February 10, with a chocolate and wine tasting at Colonial Hall at Rockafellas ($30 tickets). Yum!
The sculptures look so much better when they are illuminated. This was only the second year they illuminated the sculptures (at 5 p.m.) and not all of them were illuminated during my visit. I was able to photograph all of the sculptures (except for the Han Solo sculpture which was not completed when I visited) and I photographed almost half off the illuminated sculptures.
The illuminated sculptures look better the later and darker it gets. So, I stayed as late as I could to capture the beauty of the lighting against the dark background. I also thought the holiday lights (still up in February) and of course the snow gave the photos a nice touch.
Since we had some inclement weather and the roads were snowy and icy, I elected to take the train into Salem. It took a little longer than driving (not taking into account any accidents that may occur) but the transfers can be a hassle, especially having to cross the street from Park Street to get the train at North Station.
In any event, the train ride is comfortable and there are some pretty views along the way.
The 26 ice sculptures (25 not including the missing sculpture) are scattered around Salem although many of them are located in about a mile or two mile radius (on Essex, Washington and Hawthorn streets/boulevard). The trickiest part is trying to get to the sculptures that are located on the outskirts (such as Bridge St and Derby St. A trolley was planned to transport visitors to each of the sculptures but due to the inclement weather that plan was scrapped this year.
It’s a great activity for families and I saw quite a few parents and children looking for each sculpture and excitedly checking the sculpture off their list. The children especially seemed to like hunting for each one. Each sculpture is clearly marked and pretty easy to find if you use the map. The Visitor Center also has bigger maps than the one on the web site and they are of course very helpful.
While they are generally located near each other by number, sometimes it’s easier to map out your own route and find them on your own regardless of the number of the sculpture which is what I did. I have included photos of the sculptures lit up as well if I was able to see them illuminated. They look so much better when they are lit up!
The first set of photographs were located at or near Lappin Park, near the Bewitched Statue. The first ice sculpture is Globe, sponsored by The Journeymasters
Han Solo is the second sculpture on their list. Unfortunately, Han’s Falcon got stuck in traffic so his sculpture was not available to be photographed.
As if you haven’t seen enough of them yet, the third sculpture is a snowflake sponsored by Laura Lanes Skin Care.
Some of the lighted sculptures changed colors like this one sponsored by Salem State University; Opening of Sophia Gordon Center.
Accross from Lappin Park, on Washington St, is the ice sculpture at Rockafella’s. The Rockafella’s Ice Bar is like a frozen patio. The cold weather and icy bar didn’t stop them from grilling and enjoying the fresh air. At least you didn’t have to worry about your beer getting warm.
Farther down Washington St is Champagne sponsored by Adriaatic Restaurant & Bar.
Sponsored by Creative Salem, Hawthorne Hotel and Retonica and located on Front St is the ice sculpture Reflections. This one was cool because you could stand behind the sculpture and act as though you are the reflection.
Next to the Reflections sculpture is Cinderella’s Carriage, also on Front St,sponsored by Maria’s Sweet Somethings. From a distance, if you look at a certain angle, you can almost see some driving the carriage with a top hat on. Go on, let me know if you see it too.
The next ice sculpture on the list is Fish sponsored by Koto and located on Washington St.
The next ice sculpture is Lobster Love located at Turner’s Seafood on Church St. This sculpture also changes colors when illuminated.
This sculpture is located by the Salem Cinema. It is called Salem Film Fest 2017.
On St Peter St at Bit Bar is Arcade.
The next group of sculptures are all located on the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and one on Central St which is an alley off the pedestrian mall walkway.
Green Tara, sponsored by Coon’s Card and Gift Shop, Penelope’s Pet Boutique and Tibet’s Art & Healing.
On the other side of the walkway, very close to Tara is Bella The Goat sponsored by Bella Research Group. Bella’s sculpture also changed colors while it was lit.
Off Essex St on Central St is the Steampunk Heart ice sculpture.
The next two sculptures are both back on Essex St Pedestrian Mall. This ice sculpture is located in front of the Peabody Essex Museum. It is called Red Stiletto with Honda Engine and it was sculpted by David Crow.
On the other side of the walkway in front of the Museum Mall Place and very close to the red stiletto sculpture is the Winnie The Pooh ice sculpture. Winnie doesn’t look very happy!
The next sculptures are located on Hawthorne Blvd and Essex St. Sweet Jane’s Sweet Savings is located on Hawthorne Blvd.
Queen Of Hearts is located across the street on Essex St.
The following ice sculptures are located on or off Derby and New Derby St. Mug is located at the Notch Brewery and Tap Room.
These two sculptures are located at the Waterfront Hotel and Regata Ice Bar. t first glance, it looks like one sculpture but they are actually two separate sculptures.
Across the street from the Waterfron Hotel is the Rumson’s Rum ice sculpture.
Candy is located in front of the House Of The Seven Gables and, aptly, across the street from Ye Olde Pepper Company (America’s oldest candy company). Yes, those are real candies. No, I did not eat any of them.
From Derby St, you would have to backtrack towards N. Washington St, near the Salem Commons to find Ruby Slippers located at the Salem Witch Museum. And, yes, I agree.
The next ice sculpture is a little bit of a walk. Bakery is located in the parking lot of Coffee Time Bake Shop (96 Bridge St). In fact, you may want to drive to this sculpture.
And, yes, of course, there were lots of dogs in Salem checking out the sculptures.
Emmett is a 4 year old Cockapoo. Look at those cute shoes!
Mattie is 7 years old. She was bundled up for the cold weather! She is also very well trained.
All of the dogs in Salem were prepared for the cold weather. These dogs had some beautiful sweaters on keeping them both warm and fashionable.
I am not sure how long the sculptures are being displayed. Between our erratic weather and hooligans who seem to get their kicks smashing ice art, I would suggest going soon to check them out before they’re gone!
Below is a video of the Bella The Goat ice sculpture changes colors.
Although Salem is known for the witch hysteria of 1692 and the commercialism that is largely based on this tragic part of their history, Salem has so much more. It really is a shame that is what people focus on. In fact with such programs as Creative Salem and the Salem Beautification Committee – who created this art program, Salem has seen a resurgence of the arts and entertainment that has always been a part of the city.
One of the exhibits recently in Salem is the Lady Of Salem figureheads located throughout the city. The nautical inspired art is meant to celebrate Salem’s rich maritime history. These figureheads are meant to closely resemble the decorated ornaments that used to be attached the front of ships.
While some artists have created more than one figureheads, they were mostly created by different artists.
Unfortunately, not all of the figureheads are on Essex St (the last in the group of photos below is on Derby St and one is inside the Salem Old Town Hall) and some have been either vandalized or removed for some other reason. Also, many of the figureheads almost seem hidden and very hard to find without the help of the map, and, even then, I still had a hard time finding them all. Add in the massive crowds this weekend and it made it very difficult to find them all. In fact, I only found about half of them. It does seem like a fun activity to do with your family.
The Lady Of Salem art display began in June of 2013 and they are brought out periodically. This past year it was on display frpm Juen until October. The figureheads are beautifully crafted and, if you look at them closely enough, you can imagine seeing them on the front of a ship, bobbing up and down.
Salem is an old city and some of the streets are cobble stone or not in the best condition. While Essex St is pedestrian friendly, some of the sidewalks in the city, such as Derby St where one of the figureheads is located, can be hard to navigaate.
Figureheads on ships have an interesting background. Figureheads on ships were all different in design and name, but they do have many similarities, particularly in their significance. Figureheads were said to embody the spirit of their ship. They were believed to placate the gods of the sea and ensure a safe voyage. Almost every prow had a carved figurehead on them. The figureheads replaced heads of animals and, at times, people that used to be placed at the front of ships in the hopes of looking out ahead for the ship’ss safety. Eventually, eyes were painted on the ships and then figureheads became the standard decorative piece. It was the best choice by far.
The figureheads vary in some respects. While they are all shapely females (it must be lonely off at sea), some are scarier than others while others seem more wholesome. There’s even a KISS-like figurehead (you’ll get this when you see them below). All of the figureheads were either sponsored by or loacted near local businesses which would explain why some figureheads have some unusual artwork on them, such as the phrase “I heart pizza.” I am not sure sea-faring people of that day even knew pizza was a thing.
The figureheads are not scheduled to be on display any longer (although I haven’t been there to confirm this). But, I am sure they will most likely be on display again in the future. They were, for a limited time, on display in the Peabody Essex Museum in Sale, MA (also on Essex St). The link at the top of the post has photos of all of the figureheads.
The figureheads below were all displayed on Essext St. during my visit.
Artist: Nick Papadimitriou.
Artist: Jean Pare
Artist: Alicia Irick Cohen
Artists: Mr. Bleckley’s 5th grade art students (Bates Elementary School, Salem MA)
Seeing people in costumes and uniforms in Salem during the month of October is not unusual. However, the people in uniform at Salem Common this past October were dressed up for a very different purpose.
The Providence Grays, a vintage baseball club honoring the original pro baseball team of the same name, were playing their rivals the Brooklyn Atlantics on a crisp fall afternoon.
The Grays became the National League’s newest addition to major league baseball in 1878 when they adopted gray flannel instead of white for their home uniforms and consequently became known as the ‘Grays.’ They would remain in the league until they folded in 1885. During that time frame they won two tiles (in 1879 and 1884),
This isn’t your modern day. Players wear wool uniforms. They don’t wear gloves. And the rules were very different.
One of the rules that is starkly differently from today’s rules is that if you fielded a hit ball after one bounce, the batter was out. Of course, this rule does not exist today and if it did exist today a lot of batters would make many more outs. Another rule that no longer exists is that batters were given 3 balls to earn a walk rather than the 4 balls which is the rule in today’s Major League Baseball. Also, the pitcher pitched from a scant 50 feet away from home plate and there was no mound. In today’s mlb, the pitching mound is 60 feet and 6 inches away from home plate and, although it may vary, the mound is not supposed to be higher than 10 inches above home plate.
Unlike their somewhat drab uniforms, the Providence Grays have a very exciting past. For instance, they were the first team to integrate.
If you asked people who was the first professional black baseball player in major league baseball was many people would say Jackie Robinson, Many people would be wrong. According to Tim Norton , the founder and president of the Providence Grays. The first black American baseball player played for a professional baseball team played for the Providence Grays. William Edward White played as a substitute in one professional baseball game for the Providence Grays of the National League, on June 21, 1879.
Some fans, like the fans of the newly crowned World Series champs Chicago Cubs, are known for throwing home runs balls back onto the field if the opposing team hits a home run to express their dismay at the other team’s good fortune. The fans at Providence Gray games did the same. But for a very different reason.
At the time the team was formed in 1878, the league was still very green and not very profitable. The fans were asked to throw the balls back so they could be re-used.
The players also didn’t wear gloves. So, they pitched underhanded and would often lob the ball as it is easier to catch barehanded that way.
I’m full of all sorts of fun facts today, aren’t I?
On the day I saw them, the Providence Grays split their double header against the Brooklyn Atlantics (aka the Atlantic Baseball Club of New York). The Providence Grays are in the gray uniforms while the Atlantics donned white shirts and black pants.
I thought this resembled a baseball card.
Looking at the players in their floppy socks and uniforms that resemble loose fitting pajamas, I couldn’t help thinking about the characters on “Field Of Dreams.”
The foliage gave a good backdrop to the field.
The teams do take these games seriously and we saw some good baseball.
If you missed them this year, don’t worry. The Grays and other teamss have been playing in Sallem Commons for about 10 years. Check their web site and Salem’s web site for future game dates.
Freya, an 18 month Great Dane (weighing in at 130 lbs already), also enjoyed the game.
New England Nomad 