November 2013 – Salem Happenings

Friday Fun: Black Friday

Your local mall may not have zombies today, but isn't it just as scary? — Zombies or bargain shoppers? You be the judge.

If you’ve ever worked in retail, you probably already know that there’s only one Friday more frightening to the average retail worker than Friday the 13th and that Friday is, of course, today. The Friday after Thanksgiving, which is also known as Black Friday because it is the day that most businesses make enough money to start recording their transactions in the black ink that indicates a profit instead of the red ink that indicates a loss each year, is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. In fact, most stores open early (some even on Thanksgiving itself), offer sales and discounts the like of which are not seen during the rest of the year, and pray that their cashiers and supervisors will be able to maintain some semblance of order in spite of the stampedes of people that are engaged in their annual struggle to get the last item on the shelf. However, if you are one of the fine, upstanding individuals that would really rather avoid the chaos that is typically associated with “Black Friday” than throw yourself into it, you’ll be happy to know that there are other things that you can do with your family today.

First, if you’re looking for a way for your kids to get some of the gifts that they want to give to other people this year without actually stepping foot into a mall, the Boston Children’s Museum may have exactly what you need. This is because the Boston Children’s Museum is hosting UnShopping Day from 11:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. today. This event will allow children and their families to make their own holiday gifts, wrapping paper, and more, so you don’t even need to walk into a store. For more information on the Boston Children’s Museum’s UnShopping Day, please visit the Boston Children’s Museum website.

Secondly, if you’re looking for a way to keep your entire family entertained, immediate family and visiting relatives included, you may want to check out one of Zoo New England’s zoos. This is because Citizen’s Bank is sponsoring a Half Price Admission Day from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. today at the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo. As a result, you and your entire family can see all of the magnificent animals (and possibly compare each of your relatives to the animals they most resemble) for half as much as you would normally pay. For more information, please visit the Zoo New England website.

Photo credit: Jayel Aheram / Foter.com / CC BY

Friday Fun: Hunger is Not a Game

Hungry? Fear not. With Thanksgiving less than a week away, there will be enough turkey, stuffing, and other delicious treats to put you into a food coma for some time to come. However, if what you truly hunger for is excitement rather than the pumpkin pie that your mother always used to make, there is a certain hunger-themed movie coming out this weekend that you should definitely check out.

Now, I am of course talking about Lionsgate’s new movie, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. This film, which stars Jennifer Lawrence as the so-called “girl on fire”, Katmiss Everdeen, and Josh Hutcherson as Petta Melark, is the second film in the quartet based on the popular Hunger Games book series. The only difference this time around is that Katmiss and Petta are not facing average children that were simply unlucky enough to be placed into the Hunger Games but are instead facing battle-hardened veterans that have already survived some of the previous battles designed to entertain the populace and keep the rebels in check. As a result, you can expect the film to be filled with more suspense, excitement, and special effects than you’ve seen before. For more information on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, please visit the Official Hunger Games Explorer website.

If, on the other hand, excitement is not really what you crave or you’re simply looking for an opportunity to help children rather than watch them maim each other in a Battle Royale, you may want to think about donating some food to your local food bank. There are an alarming number of people who simply don’t have the means to purchase the turkey, stuffing, and other delicious treats that many of us enjoy on Thanksgiving. In fact, according to the hunger-relief charity, Feeding America, 1 out of every 6 Americans does not have enough food to stay healthy on a daily basis, let alone enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. There is, therefore, no better way to show that you’re thankful for what you have and to show the true spirit of giving than to help those who have a whole lot less to be thankful for than you do this holiday season. For more information about how to help the hungry or to locate a local food bank, please visit FeedingAmerica.org.

Photo credit: Photo by M. Rehemtulla / Foter.com / CC BY

Friday Fun: White Wedding

As I mentioned a couple of months ago, planning a wedding can be a challenge in the physical, mental, and financial sense. In fact, there are usually pounds to be shed, family members to be appeased, venues to be chosen, and a plethora of other things with which the average bride and groom has to contend. However, if you’re in the middle of planning your wedding and you’re looking for a way to find some of the things that you need to make sure that the day to goes off without a hitch, there are two bridal events this weekend that are sure to make the whole process a lot easier (and, with any luck, a lot cheaper.)

First, Pat Hoey Productions is hosting the Boston Home Show & Bridal Expo at the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal in Boston tomorrow (November 16, 2013) from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and Sunday (November 17, 2013) from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. This trade fair features representatives from bakeries, chocolate companies, travel planners and resorts, wedding venues, and everything else that you will need to plan your wedding or your honeymoon. Best of all, this fair also features a home show that will allow you and your soon-to-be spouse to see all of the appliances, furniture, and other accessories that you may need to outfit your new home. For more information on the Boston Home Show & Bridal Expo, please visit the Boston Home Show website.

Secondly, if you’re closer to NH than you are to Boston (or you really just don’t like driving into the city), the Renaissance Golf Club is hosting the New England Bridal Affair on Sunday (November 17, 2013) from 12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. This wedding showcase features caterers, DJs, honeymoon and wedding destination specialists, photographers, and a whole lot more. For more information, please visit the New England Bridal Affair website.

Photo credit: Robb North / Foter.com / CC BY

Friday Fun: Christmas…before Thanksgiving?

I have to admit when it comes to the holidays, I’m definitely a one holiday at a time kind of guy. Now, don’t get me wrong. I like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I just really prefer it when I can celebrate one holiday before I have to start thinking about the next one. However, if you’re one of the fine upstanding individuals who is already looking at the calendar thinking to yourself “forget the turkey, it’s time for Christmas”, Boston has everything you need to get into the Christmas spirit this weekend and then some (even if it is still a little early for some of us.)

First, if you’re a firm believer in the idea that nothing says Christmas like a Christmas tree and you really want to share the goodwill this season, Mahoney’s Garden Centers has an interesting program that you should definitely check out. You see, this weekend is not only the start of the holiday season (depending on how you look at it), but also Veteran’s Day Weekend. As a result, it is a time to honor the hard work, diligence, and sacrifice of all the men and women who are serving or who have served at home and abroad. Fortunately, Mahoney’s Trees for Troops® program will give you a way to not only get into the Christmas spirit, but will also give you a way to give back to our troops this holiday season. This is because each Mahoney’s Garden center store, starting on Monday, November 11, 2013 (Veteran’s Day), will give customers the opportunity to purchase a special Christmas tree that will be donated to a military family. Each of these trees only costs $24.50, and the store even has special cards that you can use to send a note with the tree. For more information on Mahoney’s Trees for Troops program®, please visit the Mahoney’s Garden Centers website.

Secondly, if you’re a big fan of gingerbread houses and Christmas crafts, the 27th Annual Boston Christmas Festival is definitely the place to be. This festival, which runs from Friday the 8th to Sunday the 10th, is a collection of all things Christmas, as it features a gingerbread house competition, over 300 artists and craftsman, and more handcrafted Christmas gifts and decorations than you will find anywhere else. In fact, the Festival will give you the opportunity to browse and purchase from an enormous selection of Christmas stockings, clothing, figurines, food, garden flags, jewelry, ornaments, wreaths, and other handmade goods. For more information on the 27th Annual Boston Christmas Festival, which is being held at the Seaport World Trade Center, please visit the Boston Christmas Festival’s website.

Photo credit: Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Friday Fun: Halloween Fun After the Fact

All Hallows Eve has come to a close, and the ghosts and ghouls have returned to their graves and/or costume closets. As a result, the kids of the land are already in the process of making sure that their teeth rot right out of their heads and that each child ends up looking more like a zombie than when they were actually dressed up as one. However, just because your kids are already on their never-ending quest to see how much sugar they can consume in one sitting doesn’t necessarily mean that the spooky fun has to end. In fact, if you missed out on the Halloween fun last night or you’re simply looking for more, here are a couple of events this weekend that are sure to keep you amused.

First, if you’re a fan of classic horror movies, the Responsible Grace Church in Somerville, MA is hosting a show tonight at 8:00 P.M. and tomorrow at 2:00 P.M. that you simply cannot miss. This show, presented by the Post-Meridian Radio Players, is a radio version of the cult classic movie that brought the whole zombie genre to life (or undeath as the case may be), Night of the Living Dead. This means that once the show begins, each member of the group will stand up on stage in front of a microphone and read each of their parts, complete with sound effects, just like War of the Worlds and all of the other radio shows of old. Best of all, this show is actually a double feature, as the Post-Meridian Radio Players will not only present Night of the Living Dead, but will also present an episode of Suspense as well. For more information and/or to order tickets, please visit the Post-Meridian Radio Players website.

Secondly, if you’re a fan of truly cheesy movies or you were always a fan of the TV show, Mystery Science Theatre 3000, the Wilbur Theatre may have the show for you. This is because the Wilbur Theatre is hosting Cinematic Titanic, which is a comedy group made up of many of the same people behind the Mystery Science Theatre 3000 series. This group, as you might have already guessed, makes fun of movies, and this show will feature the group making fun of one of the worst movies you can possible find, The Doll Squad. As a result, if you’re looking for a movie in which the most frightening thing about it is that someone actually thought it was a good idea to make it, the Wilbur Theatre has you covered. For more information and/or to order tickets, please visit the Wilbur Theatre website or the Cinematic Titanic website.

Photo credit: oskay / Foter.com / CC BY