Some things to check out this weekend

Not all of it; but some friendly suggestions!

Spring is in full swing on the North Shore! And this weekend is proof positive that there is a TON to do in and around Salem MA.

Salem First Friday

May 3rd 5-8PM at various locations
As part of Salem First Friday you can experience a Ghost Hunting tour at The Scarlet Letter Press, special workshops by local artist Katy Bratun at the Kensington-Stobart Gallery, a book signing by local author Matthew J. Fraser at Glass and Etc., a special gallery opening at Front Street Coffeehouse for local artists Ellen Hardy and James Bostick or just chill out to the sounds of Erinn Brown at the Salem Waterfront Hotel and Marina while enjoying 50% off appetizers. Be sure to check outwww.salemfirstfriday.com for a printable schedule listing the more than 25 participating businesses along with times and additional details. You can also find all the latest details on the Salem First Friday Facebook Page

2013 Mass Poetry Festival

The first weekend of May, Salem becomes the epicenter of contemporary

American poetry, offering rare opportunities to hear the nation's best poets read and discuss their work in intimate and engaging forums. Highlights include:

Friday evening, Tracy K. Smith (Life on Mars), winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, joins poet and memoirist, Nick Flynn (Another Bullshit Night in Suck City), and Jill McDonough (Where You Live) for an unforgettable evening of poems about the humor and the dysfunction of family, Michael Jackson and the Hubble telescope. 7:30–9:30 p.m. in the Atrium of the Peabody Essex Museum.

Saturday evening, Sharon Olds (Stag's Leap), 2013 winner of the TS Eliot Poetry Prize joins the 2010 National Book Award for Poetry winner, Terrance Hayes (Lighthead), and Eduardo C. Corral (Slow Lightning), whose first collection won the prestigious Yale Series of Younger Poets competition. The three writers demonstrate the extraordinary possibilities of poetry to reveal the personal and political experiences of American life. 7:30–9 p.m. at the First Universalist Church of Salem.

Sunday afternoon, Santa Fe-based poet Arthur Sze (The Ginkgo Light), recent winner of the Jackson Poetry Prize, joins Cambridge-based Gail Mazur (Figures in a Landscape) 2:15–3:15 p.m. at PEM's Native American Gallery.

The 1994 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, Yusef Komunyakaa (The Chameleon Couch) joins two award-winning poets with roots in Massachusetts: Kevin Goodan (Winter Tenor) and Erica Funkhouser

(Earthly) 3:45–4:45, PEM's East India Room.

The Massachusetts Poetry Festival offers poetry readings, workshops, a small press fair, panels, music, and visual arts. Panel topics range broadly from a Cinco de Mayo reading, Taboo, and the Common Threads Reading, where contemporary poets in Massachusetts discuss their literary heirs. More than 100 poets will engage with thousands of people. Admission for all weekend events is $15, $7 for students and seniors. The website www.masspoetry2013.crowdvine.com provides a complete schedule of events

Hats Off to Education Weekend - May 3rd & 4th

1. Gala & Auction - Friday, May 3, 7:30pm - 11:30pm, Hawthorne Hotel

"Hats-themed" ticketed Gala & Auction event benefitting SEF and public schools in Salem
Features: Live music performed by Henley Douglas Rhythm and Blues (HDRnB) / Food catered by the Hawthorne Hotel / Auctioneer: Erik Rodenhiser of the Griffin Theater
Incredible live auction items including the opportunity to bid or win: A VIP Group Night at the Museum of Natural History in New York City, Weekend in a lovely Truro beach house, A rare evening for 10 sampling Vintage port wines, Gourmet dinner in a historic Salem home, Golf Outings, Unique Patriots Items, Private curator tour and lunch at the MFA for 6, and MUCH more!
Wall of Wine - WOW - Half the fun of drinking wine is discovering something new. For just $20, gala-goers will have an opportunity to select a bottle from a wall of covered wine bottles and enter to win one of five cases that will be raffled off that evening
Reverse Raffle: Win $5,000! Only 200 tickets sold at $50 a ticket. Your chances to win $5,00 have never been better! Contact: Jpuleo@soucyinsurance.com (or buy on gala night - if there are any left! - winners do not need to be present at the Gala)
FUND-A-NEED - Gala-goers have the opportunity to financially support current student needs in the arts, music, sports and other areas / AND MANY OTHER SURPRISES!
TICKETS:
- $50 per person / $85 per couple / $30 per person for all Salem teachers & administrators / Volunteers attend the Gala at no charge
- Tickets may be purchase online: https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/communicate/EventTickets.action?auctionId=186435375
- An RSVP form may be mailed in along with payment information - form can be downloaded at: www.salemeducationfoundation.org/ticket
- Tickets may be purchased at the door on the evening of the event.

2. ONLINE AUCTION - NOW LIVE through May 5th! www.biddingforgood.com/sefspringauction

The party has already started online! Over 200 items including Red Sox Tickets, special weekend getaways, interior design consultation, yoga classes, handmade couture jewelry, cooking classes for children or adults, chance to have your family portrait hand painted, gift certificates to local restaurants and shops - local, statewide and national interest!!!

3. Education Day, Friday, May 4, 8:30am - 1pm / Registration opens at 8:30AM in the Salem Five Community Room on the Essex St. Pedestrian Walkway - FREE EVENT

On Education Day all of Salem goes to school - right in downtown! Experience Salem's downtown as a virtual classroom where businesses and nonprofits across the city are offering FREE workshops, presentations, live performances, demonstrations and hands-on activities for KIDS, TEENS AND ADULTS!!!
All activities are FREE to Salem Residents - but folks MUST REGISTER in order to receive their "Hats Off BUTTON" and be able to participate in a class. Registration opens at 8:30am and is ongoing ALL DAY. KICKOFF AT 9am
Some examples of activities:
- Ever wanted to learn how to make raviolis? Children ages 10-12 can meet Jean Louis of Jean Louis Pasta and join in a 45 minute ravioli making workshop and tasting.
- Ever fashioned yourself as a bartender? Learn a bit about mixology at Adriatic where professional bartenders teach some tricks of the trade! Free tasting. Adults over 21 only. ID required.
- Love poetry and art? Families can stop by the PEM for poetry activities throughout the day for all ages in collaboration with the Mass Poetry Festival.
- Want to learn how to Salsa? Folks of all ages can join Greg Coles Dance & Drum to learn how to Salsa.
- Need help brushing up your resume and preparing for a job search? High school students and adults can attend a free workshop sponsored by the North Shore Workforce Development Center to gain these valuable skills.
- Wondering how to dress for your body type? Ladies can join Modern Millie staff in a class on leveraging fashion from throughout the ages to fit your figure.

The Salem Theatre Company is organizing…A DESTINATION DANCE WALK to let everyone know: Where in the World is STC!

Join us – on Sunday, May 5 at 2pm - for our Destination Dance Walk – from Salem Commons to our theatre at 90 Lafayette Street.

What's a "dance walk?"

It's a group of happy people free-dancing down the sidewalk to the sound of great dance music! No choreography…no rehearsals…no restraints. Just fun.

WATCH the YouTube video that inspired this event:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib3Duz_6a9M

The Details:

• We'll gather at the Gazebo on the Salem Commons – on Sunday, May 5 at 2pm - boogie down Essex Mall to Washington Street, dance down to Derby Street, sashay up Lafayette to our theatre – where participants can watch a cue-to-cue in progress for our final Season 10 show – A Delicate Balance. Major photo op!

• Our Dance Walk Captains will organize and lead this joyful "happening."

• We ask participants wear theatrical (read: crazy) hats…Wearer of "Best Hat" wins a Dinner for Two at Howling Wolf!

• Bring your camera! Shoot photos and video of the event. Post on FB and Tweet!

• We'll have banners and handouts. Folks can join in on the way!

• Duration 30-60 minutes

• Please RSVP! We're hoping for at least 30 participants – or more - with cameras!