posted July 11, 2016 #
Two friends of mine got married over the weekend in the Salem, MA area and I had a pleasure revisiting the sleepy town with the shameful
past. I thought I'd share a few items of note if you ever find yourself in the area:
- The Record Exchange - if you're into giant used record stores, this is a mecca. It's a ton of stuff but it's actually extremely organized, even the un-priced overstock.
- HausWitch - there's so much "Witch" stuff in Salem but 95% of it is incredibly cheesy. HausWitch provides Wiccan starter kits and has responsible homewares and decore; an excellent counterpoint to the typical black t-shirt + funny saying offerings throughout the rest of the town.
- Ugly Mug Diner - the food is tasty, the coffee is good but the Tarot Card Bubblegum Dispenser Machine in the lobby is really the main attraction here for me. 25cents earns you a laminated card that may tell of your impending doom-and-gloom, perfect before a big meal.
- Ponychase - Parade of Youth - though it is not a place you can visit physically, Jordan Caress (one of the lovely brides) is one of the masterminds behind this melancholy pop and everyone should enjoy it.
Short list, you say? Well, sure, it's a Starter Kit! You should also do the
Witch Museum,
Sitckwork, House of Seven Gables, The Friendship Wharf, and walk the main town drag to see folks dressed in Steam Punk outfits (or Nosferatu) if you're there for the first time. It's a surprisingly worthwhile weekend excursion.
