by Joey Phoenix The Salem Literary Festival opens this coming weekend, September 10-13, with virtual discussions and events featuring local authors, poets, and performers. Although this year presents some challenges in regards to how to have a public festival safely during a global pandemic, the Festival will maintain its longstanding tradition of hosting readings, writing workshops, panel discussions, and artistic

Cover image by the Good Witch of Salem Salem of Octobers past has been an unrestrained wonderland of street performers, haunted houses, and costumed spectacle. But this Halloween season things are going to look a bit different, leaving street performers and event managers to figure out how to do what they do and still meet health and safety standards.  “There

Photos by Espinal Creative Public artist Liz Lamanche has led a team of collaborating local artists o create new installation called “Unity Path,” on Salem’s Artists’ Row inspired by Salem’s diverse history and cultural identity which includes Latinx, African American, Indigenous, Middle Eastern, Albanian, Brazilian, Dominican, Afrohispanic, Afro-Caribbean, Puerto Rican, South Asian, and European cultures.  To celebrate the (safe) reopening

by Joey Phoenix Moody’s Home and Gifts reopened this past Saturday in their new location at 109 Essex St. in downtown Salem. Essex Street Dry Cleaners originally occupied the location, but when the owner decided to retire earlier this summer, Moody’s were able to take over the location sooner than expected. It was an exciting development in a year wrought

by Joey Phoenix The Phoenix School, whose small numbers provide a rare opportunity for in-person and predominantly exploratory outdoor learning, recently announced that they are moving to their new location at 28 Goodhue Street near Mack Park in Salem.  While teachers, and educational staff nationwide have been debating how to safely educate students this fall during a global pandemic, the

Images and Story by Joey Phoenix The Salem Farmer’s Market has been operating with business (mostly) as usual for the past month. It’s open Thursdays from 3-7. Having temporarily moved from its home in Derby Square to the parking lot at the Bentley School off Memorial Drive, the market is still brimming with fresh veggies, creative pickles, and many other

Bit Bar, one of Salem’s favorite restaurants and barcades re-opens this Thursday, August 6th. And while the game room won’t be open at first, the 800+ square feet patio will be. Plus, starting the week, your dogs will also be welcome to hang out with you while you grab a drink, some wings, and some tetris tots in the shade.

Week 3 of Salem Film Fest starts tomorrow, July 24, giving you an opportunity to watch feature-length films and shorts from all over the world! These films are only available this week, so make sure to rent them while you can. Click here to view the full catalogue or click the film titles to be directed to the streaming page.

Salem Film Fest 2020‘s virtual festival continues with week 2, bringing you a diversity of feature length and short documentaries from filmmakers all over the world. Click here to view the full catalogue or click the film titles to be directed to the streaming page. Here’s What’s Available from Salem Film Fest Week 2 Changing the Game Mack Beggs made

Salem Film Fest 2020 started this weekend. Over the next few weeks, Salem Film Fest will present 80 features and short films for streaming as part of the virtual film festival. Click here to view the full catalogue. Included in this year’s festival is RETROSPECTIVE: BLACK IN AMERICA, a selection of films that have screened at past editions of Salem Film