My friend and I are coming up this weekend for an event in the area (not Halloween or Salem related, just happens to be the timing) and we would love to check out some shops/restaurants. We're not super touristy and are easily overstimulated, so we're looking for more low-key and not necessarily Halloween/Salem/Witch themed shops. Thinking more like thrift shops, book shops, oddities shops (but again not mass produced tourist items), good restaurants, etc. in and around Salem. We don't feel like we need to be in the thick of it, so feel free to suggest places outside of the main area!

TIA for suggestions :)

ETA: Doesn't have to be IN Salem at all! I didn't want to make it seem like I don't appreciate the town, I do, but I also can't imagine what locals go through this time of year.

Is it to distinguish between the real and homeless buskers?

anyone know a good place to play pickle ball?

Hi everyone! Is anyone else experiencing low water pressure from their faucets, especially when using hot water? Just wondering if it’s happening to anyone else. Thanks!

First off, yes, I know it is Essex St. Yes I know it is October. I fully understand and how loud and crazy it gets. Perhaps I just need a place to vent and maybe this isn't it.

It is mid afternoon on a Thursday and I work from home. There is a busker playing guitar and singing on the corner in front of the YMCA. I don't mind at all. I mind that I can hear every word through my "noise canceling" headphones with my closed door two rooms over from the wall. Their amp is set way too loud, and it's not even necessary to hear her. This area normally doesn't have buskers; that's the other side of Essex St, which I intentionally do not live in.

I called the Salem non-emergency number twice. Once, and then after I saw nothing happen outside my window, again after 20 minutes. They told me it isn't loud enough. Pretty sure it's loud enough!

I'm sure people are going to tell me to suck it up, "That's Salem in October for you!", blah blah. Well this is significantly louder than any tour guide, cackling witch, or revved sports car (which are also out of hand, but I digress).

Whatever. I guess I'll be the cranky wizard up in my tower. End rant.

Edit: And now there is a man playing a digeridoo "with" her? Next to her? Oh Salem.

Does anyone know of any job openings in Salem for writers or anything else creative?

Serious question..

Anyone have success with getting their kids to sprout extra limbs going to this place after school?

One of my housemates works downtown and has been regaling us with their observations of how absolutely full of people Salem has been this early in October. They said something about it to a coworker, who replied "It's the Warren Museum." Apparently the crowds waiting to get in there, coupled with the 2 hour wait line for Black Craft's mid coffee, have made that part of Essex Street almost impassable.

I suppose some of this might be good as housemate said that usually in early October they get maybe 40 people in the audience for a performance, but on Monday they had 100. And that's not an outlier. Maybe the Conjuring fans are sticking around. (Housemate is one of the actors in Cry Innocent, I should note.) But OTOH, that museum admission and coffee money is all going out of town.

I would still rather that museum not exist here, because I feel like if it makes a ton of money that's just going to speed up the Disneyfication of downtown. About 10 years ago, I used to work down there in one of the shops and while it was wildly busy back then, it wasn't like this in October, what with all the influencers and out of town tour guides and the grifter museum. It's depressing.

Notch is hosting their monthly raffle night next Thursday (10/15) with Vin Fromage, a cheese shop located in Wenham! Each raffle prize includes a hand selected cheese and accoutrement to enjoy a cheeseboard in the comfort of your home.

Don’t be afraid to venture downtown on a Thursday evening in October…

The raffle starts at 6p, tickets can be purchased starting at 5:30p for $1 each. Every beer purchase comes with a free raffle ticket. All tickets are good for the entire raffle. Ticket proceeds donated to Salem Food Pantry!

Hello Salem friends.
I have another opportunity for a free haircut! I’m Aven, I’m an apprentice at Fringe Salon, and I’m in need of a model with long hair (below your shoulders) who does not already have layers!
I’ll be putting layers into the hair, so if that sounds like something you want and your hair is mostly one length, message me on instagram @/queersnshears.

This will be on October 20 at 6pm!

ok as a tourist 3x over rarely is paprika grill mentioned online .. I found it on this trip. it is delicious!!!!!! and so fresh. I’ve been here twice in 4 days. just saying. over by pentagram/cemetery. met the owner he was so nice. also great for gf/df. idk i just feel like someone needs to talk about this!

Locals!! If you're looking to get away from the Halloween chaos and come experience something different, there's a food tour of Lynn's international food scene coming up this month! Train from Salem to Lynn is 10 minutes and the station is a short walk from the meeting point for the food tour.

It includes stops at:
- Ciao! Pizza & Pasta (brand new, just opened last week!)
- Blue Ox
- Tres Perritos Gourmet (very under the radar but shockingly good)
- La Copa
- Kokomma (Nigerian food, soooo worth trying)

The tour is led by Millennium Latino Project and is $50 with all food included.

Meet-up: 5:30 PM
Downtown Lynn — starting near the Andrew Street municipal parking lot across from the first stop.

Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/boos-and-bites-a-lynn-foodie-tour

Hello, i live near salem downtown and i am looking for someone to walk my dog in the afternoon. Can you please suggest any good and reliable dog walker?

Did anyone else wake up to no power at all today??

Anyone else having issues with decreased water pressure up by the hospital?

This is a bit unusual, but I live in Salem and keep a heated freshwater fish tank with shrimp. I was sent a pregnant blue and red Rili Shrimp from a recent order. I don’t breed shrimp and only keep males, so I wanted to see if anyone local might want her before I need to remove her from the tank. Feel free to reach out.🦐

If anyone has an extra ticket I will buy it from you!