Wedding Tasting

As part of the Hawthorne Hotel wedding packages, the bride & groom receive a luxurious wedding tasting. This is a fun evening of sampling all that we have on our menu. The room is filled with flowers from our vendors, cake samples, and photos. Linen and chair styles are showcased. And the food! Yum! Our chefs come out and present the fantastic wedding reception meals to choose from!

Above is our cappuccino station--you can have this trendy station at your wedding!

Flowers showcased by one of our vendors

Give our wedding specialists a call about your most important day--we will take care of everything! 978-825-4358

Congratulations!

Kristie Poehler

Director of Sales & Marketing

Iris Apfel Weekend at the Peabody Essex Museum

Wow! This has been such a great exhibit! It has made us think differently about fashion, has made us ooh and aah over some amazing clothes! The Peabody Essex Museum keeps surprising us with even more great Iris Apfel-related events. And here's another one.

Celebrate Iris Apfel with a weekend of hands-on fashion fun. The festivities begin on Friday night with a fashion session featuring Iris Apfel and Michael Vollbracht, followed by a live runway show. On Saturday, enjoy a full day of activities including fashion sketching, styling demonstrations, film, fashion slide shows and a live DJ. Headlining the day will be a World of Fashion panel discussion featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion journalist Robin Givhan, designer Michael Vollbracht and the legendary Iris Apfel.

It takes place December 4-5, 2009. Just visit www.pem.org for information!

And if that isn't enough, you can stay at the Hawthorne Hotel with our More is MORE Fashion Package! Included is accommodations, passes to the exhibit and gift certificates worth $75 to find your own great fashions in our coolest boutiques! Go to our Package page for pricing and to make your reservations!

We KNOW we will see you here soon!
Kristie Poehler
Director of Sales & Marketing

We Are So Proud of Our Staff and Their Children

As those of you who have read this blog for awhile already know, we are a pretty tightly-knit group of people here at the Hawthorne Hotel. We share moments family pride very easily with one another, and this is one of those moments.

Here is a link to a story in the Salem News:

http://www.salemnews.com/archivesearch/local_story_317001912.html

which was accompanied by the best photo in the actual newspaper. The photo is of Kellie Mullaney, the daughter of our accounts receivable clerk in our account office. She came in first for the sixth grade in a recent spelling bee at the Liberty Tree Mall.

Spelling correctly is one of my passions, so Rick knew that I would love learning that his daughter did so well in this bee!

Congratulations, Kellie (and proud dad, Rick!!)

Juli

A Full House in the Grand Ballroom at the Hawthorne Hotel

If you were ever wondering how many people we can seat in the Grand Ballroom for a dinner, these photos will demonstrate seating for 230 for you.


These were taken on Friday night, November 13, 2009.

Do you have a big dinner party or luncheon, or even breakfast to plan? Let us assist you by calling our Catering Office at 978-825-4358.

I hope to see you here.

Juli

The Last of the Fall Colors

This tree is located just one block from the Hawthorne Hotel in the back of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. As I walked to work last week, I could not help stopping to take this photo. It was spectacular.

 

I hope you enjoy this walker's view of Salem. And I hope to see you here.

Juli

A Busy Night in Our Cozy Tavern at the Hawthorne Hotel

The Roy family were among the guests enjoying the fireplace and the warm atmosphere in our Tavern Restaurant. John Roy works for Paul Marks Company, a purveyor of groceries that we use at the Hawthorne Hotel. He and his family live in Peabody, and they are frequent guests just because they love our restaurant's atmosphere and great food.

This past Friday night the Tavern was filled up with our 'locals' again, after a busy Halloween season.


I hope to see you here, too!

Juli

Here is our line-up for the flags which will be flying on the front of the Hawthorne Hotel this week. Our Front Office Manager, who maintains this list, is especially excited to come to work on Friday, since she is originally from France.

We fly each flag of the member countries of the United Nations, in alphabetical order, along with the flags of the states and territories of the USA, in that same order. The only exceptions are when we receive a special request for a guest in the hotel or function facility.

Monday , November 16 ~~ Estonia and Rhode Island
Tuesday , November 17 ~~ Ethiopia and South Carolina
Wednesday , November 18 ~~ Fiji and South Dakota
Thursday , November 19 ~~ Finland and Tennessee
Friday , November 20 ~~ France and Texas
Saturday , November 21 ~~ Gabon and Utah
Sunday , November 22 ~~ Gambia and Vermont

I hope to see you here.

Juli

Hawthorne Hotel's Family is Growing by Leaps and Bounds

Meet Jillian, who stopped by on her first car ride to say hello, on her way home from the hospital this week.

Jillian and Christine Turner

This was definitely the week for babies to visit the Hawthorne Hotel, and not just any babies, but 'our' Hawthorne Hotel babies.

Christine Turner, our Assistant Director of Catering, came by on her way home from the hospital this week to pick up some paperwork, and she couldn't resist letting me see and photograph her newest child. What a doll!

We love being part of our staff members' lives this way, because we do all feel like 'family' here at the Hawthorne. I hope you enjoy this little behind the scenes peek at our daily activities, which are not always 100% centered on work.

I hope to see you here, too, even if it is not on your way home with a new baby!

Juli

Something Special for Some Saturday Evenings in Salem

Here is a photo taken about this time last year, during a couple's anniversary night out on the town.


The following email is pretty self-explanatory:

From: Ruth Wall [mailto:rmgw@comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 12:38 PM
To: Hawthorne Hotel
Subject: carriage availability Saturday night

Hi,

Now that November has returned to us our quiet streets, I thought I'd let you know when my carriage will be around town. The next two Saturdays I have been reserved for a special occasion, which means I will have some availability on either side- this Saturday I have room for a customer at 6 P.M. or 7 P.M.

I often take people for a nice tour prior to dinner, and drop them at their restaurant. If you know of a guest who might have a special anniversary or birthday, perhaps you'd offer information about my service. The reservation would cost $55 for a half hour ride, for up to 4 people. Blankets are on board.

Next Saturday, November 21, I will have an unusually late night, picking up a couple at the end of their reception at the PEM at 11:45. I'd love to do another ride or two prior.

I can offer Harbor Sweets on board, calling it the "Deep Dark Chocolate Ride". That type of reservation would be $65.

Ruth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please contact Ruth directly by email to book your ride.

Juli

Jonesy Comes for His First Visit

The Hawthorne Hotel 'family' is growing by leaps and bounds right now. This is Jonesy, Kelly Lilly's darling new son.

Kelly, Jonesy and Sean

The Sales Office was all abuzz this afternoon as we got our first peek at this sweet little boy. While we certainly do miss Kelly right now, we are so happy for her.

Welcome, little one! Congratulations Kelly and Sean!!

Juli

Great Package Deals Here at the Hawthorne Hotel

If you have ever wished you could stay at the Hawthorne Hotel, but thought maybe you could not afford to do so, now is an excellent time to give us a try. We have some creative and unique packages that offer great value as well.

Here is the link to a page on our website that talks about a few of them. You can book them directly from there, or for more information, just give us a call at 978-744-4080 or 800-729-7829 (SAY STAY)

http://www.hawthornehotel.com/packages.htm

One of my favorite packages right now is the More is MORE-- Fashion Package, which includes a room in the hotel, pass(es) to the Peabody Essex Museum to see the Iris Apfel exhibit (and more, of course), and $75 worth of gift certificates to five different shops here in Salem, all starting at only $149! The gift certificates are each for $15, and carry no minimum purchase. The shops that are participating are: PEM's gift shop, Sophia's Gifts, Quint Essentials, Signatures, and J.Mode. These are all terrific shops -- each unique and not the cookie-cutter kinds of stores you might find in a mall.

Another of my favorites is the Salem Locals Package, which includes our staff-prepared booklet of all of our favorite (read secrets known to locals alone) places, and a roll of quarters. You will need them, but you need the booklet to find out why! And the only way you can get that booklet is to select the Locals Package.

So, I do hope to see you here, enjoying these or others of our great packages.

Juli

Our Guests LOVE Us! Here at the Historic Hawthorne Hotel! And we LOVE our Guests!

Running an historic hotel has its challenges, but it also has some really great parts. Sometimes things just don't get any better. This is one of those things. A great thank you note, with built-in permission to blog it, AND a great photo to put with it. These folks are practically doing my job for me. How good is that??!!

By the way, I LOVE that suit! And thank you so much for mentioning Cheryl and Claire by name. I know this will make their days, too.

Juli

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From: Mary

Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 2:49 PM

To: Christine Turner; Christine Madigan

Subject: Aubrey's Bridal Shower - Sat Nov 7th

Hello Ladies,

I wanted to drop you both a quick note and say THANK YOU for a wonderful event on Saturday. Everything went off flawlessly - the room looked beautiful, the buffet was exceptional and the bride to be was absolutely thrilled. Every detail was wonderful and I received so many compliments on the luncheon. I especially wanted to thank Claire and Cheryl - Claire answered every question I had and Cheryl (the banquet captain) was such a pleasure to work with. She was just lovely throughout the day. In fact once Aubrey met her, we asked if she could be available the night of the wedding - she is such an asset to your staff and I wanted to be sure that this was passed on to her!

When we originally booked the shower, we mentioned to Christine Turner, that Aubrey would be wearing her "Nana's" wedding suit the day of the shower. Christine mentioned that I should send her a picture so that you could place it on your blog. So I am enclosing a picture of them both from the shower. Nana was so thrilled to see her granddaughter wearing her wedding suit - 63 years later at her bridal shower. And what makes it even more special is that the upcoming wedding - Feb 6th, 2010 at the Hawthorne will also be an extra special day - it is Nana's 90th birthday. Hope parts of this thank you and the enclosed picture will find a place on your blog - we will keep watching for it.

Again, my sincere thank you and the to the staff that made this day so special for my daughter.

Regards,
Mary J

An MOD Report from the Hawthorne Hotel

In our hotel we always have a manager on duty. This is an important role that covers the gamut of overseeing the hotel when I am not here. ( No, despite rumors to that effect, I don't work 24/7, even if my husband occasionally thinks that is close to the truth!)

We have a protocol, which requires the manager on duty (MOD) to write a report of their shift. The following is an excerpt from yesterday's report that I am happy to share with you:

1pm
A guest went to the front desk and asked for a manager. I went up to speak with him. He wanted to tell a manager about what a wonderful stay he had. Apparently, this couple roams the north shore on the weekends without any plans or direction and stays in random places. Well, they landed in Salem and decided to stay with us last night.

The guests were Herman and Susan S and they stayed in room xxx. They specifically mentioned Adam at the front desk, stating how friendly and accommodating he was.

He also mentioned the Tavern staff from last night. They had left their camera in the Tavern by mistake and the staff searched them out and called their guest room to give them back their camera. They said that we are one of the most hospitable placed they have ever stayed in!

Comments like these just make our day. Sometimes people are quick to complain if there is an issue, but few are the times that guests seek us out to tell us when we succeed. Thank you, so much, Herman and Susan S. for being such great guests! We hope you won't roam too much farther than the Hawthorne Hotel the next time you are out and about the North Shore of Boston. We like your style!!!

Kind regards,

Juli

Hawthorne Hotel's Flags of the Week ~~ November 9 through 15, 2009

As always, we fly a different flag for each country of the United Nations, and for each state and territory of the USA on the front of the Hawthorne Hotel every day. Here is this week's list:

Monday , November 9 ~~ Dominica and North Carolina
Tuesday , November 10 ~~ Dominican Republic and North Dakota
Wednesday , November 11 ~~ Ecuador and Ohio
Thursday , November 12 ~~ Egypt and Oklahoma
Friday , November 13 ~~ El Salvador and Oregon
Saturday , November 14 ~~ Equatorial Guinea and Pennsylvania
Sunday , November 15 ~~ Eritrea and Puerto Rico

There were no special requests this week. If you have a special request, please call Lucie Ogeron, 978-825-4322. She will be happy to accept your request, and will do her best to fulfill it.

I hope to see you here.

Juli

Tavern Two-For Dinner Specials Are A GREAT Value

November Two Dinners For $29

(or one dinner for $14.50, all three courses)

The Tavern at The Hawthorne Hotel

On Sundays, Mondays,Tuesdays and Wednesdays From 5pm – 10pm



Tamari-Sesame Swordfish
ginger-vegetable stir-fry, jade rice


Spicy Chicken Fajita Salad
Iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, grilled peppers and onions,
avocado, sour cream, salsa, crispy corn chips

Macaroni and Cheese
prosciutto and truffle oil

Each Entrée served with a Small Mixed Green Salad
Or Cup of the Soup of the Day, Chef’s Choice of Dessert

Thanksgiving Day Buffet Menu at the Hawthorne Hotel

Thanksgiving Day Buffet at the Hawthorne Hotel
Thursday November 26, 2009 11-7pm

Carving Station

Roasted Turkey with Cranberry-Orange Relish, Cranberry Jelly and Turkey Gravy
Slow-Roasted Prime Rib of Beef, Au Jus and Horseradish-Mustard Cream Sauce

Hot Offerings

Vegetable Strata, Roma Tomatoes, Sautéed Mushrooms and Onions, Asiago and Swiss Cheese
Fresh Seafood Medley, Scallops, Shrimp, Fresh Finfish, Roasted Corn and Tomato Brodo
Steamed Basmati Rice
Winter Squash Ravioli, Smokey Bacon, Sage and Parmesan Cream Sauce
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Olive Oil and Thyme
Buttermilk–Chive Mashed Potatoes
Baked Butternut Squash with Ginger and Honey
Cranberry-Cornbread Stuffing
Traditional Sage Stuffing
Peas and Pearl Onions
Green Beans Amandine

Appetizers, Salads, Fruits and Breads

Smoked Salmon, Red Onions, Capers, Dill Mustard Sauce
Baked Brie en Croûte, Spiced Pecans. Grapes and Berries
Shrimp and Orecchiette Pasta Salad, Spinach, Creamy Herb Dressing
Autumn Vegetable Salad, Beans, Apples, Raisins, Butternut Squash, Topped with Walnuts
Macaroni Salad with Ranch Dressing, Peas and Carrots
Broccoli-Sesame Seed Salad, Water Chestnuts and Soy Vinaigrette
Mixed Grains, Grilled Chicken, Celery, Dried Apricots and Cranberries,
Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Garden Salad with Creamy Peppercorn Dressing and Champagne Vinaigrette
Assorted Fresh Fruits
Assorted Breads and Rolls

Desserts

Pumpkin Cheesecake
Apple Brown Betty with Whipped Cream
Fresh Baked Pecan, Pumpkin and Blueberry Pies
Apple Pie with Sharp Cheddar Cheese Wheel
Assorted Cakes, Pastries, Cookies and Brownies

Adults $40.95 Children $16.95

Hawthorne Hotel
On the Common
Salem, Massachusetts
For Reservations and Information (978) 825-4311

Hawthorne Hotel Participates in GLBT Travel Show in Boston

Pictured left to right are the members of the Salem contingent that participated in the GLBT show this week, held at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. They are: Daniel Whitehead, Salem Waterfront Hotel; Thomas MacDonald, Hawthorne Hotel; Kate Fox, Destination Salem; Jen Close, Peabody Essex Museum; Matt Dorman and Susan Babine, FINZ Restaurants.

Salem is well-known as a community that is very welcoming of this particular niche market of travelers, and we were happy to be participating as a group at this show.

If you have any questions, or need further information, please contact Thomas directly at 978-825-4361.

I hope to see you here.

Juli

First Anniversary Visit to the Hawthorne Hotel

Cyril and Erin Harding came to stay with us this week to celebrate their first anniversary. They stayed with us on their honeymoon one year ago, and could not wait to come back.

They are visiting us from Pottstown, PA. Both times they made their reservation right on our own Hawthorne Hotel website, which they obviously find easy to use. This time we welcomed them back with an anniversary photo frame, and this photo to put in it.

If you are planning a special celebration, be sure to let us know, even when you book online. Perhaps you will be chosen to receive some extra attention from us here at the Hawthorne Hotel.

We hope to see you here.

Juli

Pet-Friendly Does Mean Monkey Business

This guest, Judith Parsons, from Crossville, Tennessee, came to stay for the Halloween Ball weekend, and brought not only her Pomeranian, but also her pet Wedgecap Capuchin monkey, Pixie, seen in the photos here.

Pixie is five-years old. She was born in North Carolina, and Judith got her when she was only three-weeks old. She told me that since she is an only child, and has no children, that she had to be taught everything about taking care of a baby, including learning how to put diapers on a being that fit in the palm of her hand.

Judith is a doting 'pet parent' and keeps Pixie in custom-made clothing, including Halloween costumes, and special outfits for all the holidays. Pixie eats fruits and vegetables, along with monkey chow. Pixie is always diapered, because Judith is a self-proclaimed neat-nik.

Pixie is rather shy around strangers, so Judith doesn't bring her out in the hotel or in crowds, but she promises we will get a better look next year when they return for the Halloween Ball package once again.

We always enjoy getting to know more about our guests, including our pet guests.

I hope to see you here.

Juli

Plant Destruction, the night before Halloween

This actually happened the of night before Halloween (technically Halloween morning.) If anyone has any information about the guy in the red baseball cap who was doing this (we saw him but he ran off) we would love to be able to prosecute him to the full extent allowed by the law. This happened around 3:00AM on October 31, 2009.

Poor plants!!

What did they ever do to deserve this kind of treatment?

This was hardly accidental, like the damage that occurred on Halloween night. I would really like to find this person, so if you have any ideas who it might be, please let me know.

Thanks,

Juli

The Party's Over. . .

This is some of the aftermath of 100,000 people in the streets of Salem on Halloween night. They were EVERYWHERE, and keeping some semblance of decorum was pretty much out of the question. Some of the casualties were the mums in our planter boxes out front.

They were obviously mistaken for benches.

. . .and at least one appears to have gone home as a souvenir. Do people have any idea how hard it is to find winter-hardy, matching yellow mums this late in the season around here to replace all of these?

Next year, barricades. Maybe with pointy sticks and broken glass on the top of them. Grrr. . . .

Juli

Hawthorne Hotel's Flags of the Week ~~ November 2 through 8, 2009

Monday , November 2 ~~ Cuba and Montana
Tuesday , November 3 ~~ Cyprus and Nebraska
Wednesday , November 4 ~~ Czech Republic and Nevada
Thursday , November 5 ~~ Denmark and New Hampshire
Friday , November 6 ~~ Djibouti and New Jersey
Saturday , November 7 ~~ Dominica and New Mexico
Sunday , November 8 ~~ Dominican Republic and New York

We have no special requests so far for this week.

I hope to see you here.

Juli

Photos of the Halloween Ball at the Hawthorne Hotel Last Night

ROCK OF HORROR was one of the decor themes for the evening's overall "Reality Bites" event. This was done in the Grand Ballroom, by the Dining Services Department. They came in second in the decorating contest.

"Bride-zilla" was the theme chosen by the Sales and Catering Team (apropos of what they do?) for their decor in the Essex Room. Many of the guests who were having their photos taken in this room loved posing with this tableau.

The Grand Prize winner for the room decorating contest was "Hell's Kitchen", done very appropriately by the Kitchen Department

Project "RunAway" was produced by the Room's Division, who had the task of decorating the Library. I thought some of the details they created were just plain disgusting, and isn't that the whole idea?!!

"Survivor" created by the Banquet Department was displayed in Nathaniel's. I know sometimes the Banquet staff members feel a little like they have been through a 'survivor-like' challenge doing back-to-back events on busy weekends, but they never look THIS BAD!!!

More on Rock of Horror

"Frank-n-Stein" were the winners of First Place in the Group Division for our Costume Contest.

Taking Second Place for the Group Division, The Devil and his Seven Deadly Sins (l to r: SLOTH, GLUTTONY, PRIDE (with an obvious broken nose from a fall), green with ENVY, the DEVIL, LUST, WRATH, AND GREED). I gave the cash to GREED when they came up to get their award, because no one else seemed interested in picking up their award. Interesting?!!

The Tea Party won third place. Included in their group were Earl Grey, Lipton, Orange Pekoe, Sleepy Time, and Iced Tea. Their costumes were all giant tea bags, and the 'party' was made evident by their party hats and favors.

First place in the Individual Contest was this fellow, "Hell's Kitchen" which went along with the theme of the evening very nicely. You have to give a guy credit for just being able to make his way around the ball in this getup.

The Jackal won second place in the Individual Category. I can only say I'm glad I didn't meet up with this character on a dark street someplace. Yikes!

Cash for Cluckers was the Third Place Winner in the Individual Category. Topical and timely, and a great use of an otherwise standard chicken costume.

I hope you enjoy this insight into our costume ball for 2009. We've already got our thinking cap on for next year's theme, but if you have any ideas, be sure to let us know.

Juli

Photos of the Hawthorne Hotel "Reality Bites" Costume Ball

We had so many great photos this year that it took two web albums to display them all. Here are the two links:
http://picasaweb.google.com/HawthorneHotel/HalloweenAtTheHawthorneHotelBall2009#

http://picasaweb.google.com/HawthorneHotel/CostumeBallPhotosHawthorneHotelOctober312009GroupII#

Also included in those photos are a few 'before' shots, so you can see what goes on a bit 'behind the scenes' as well as some candids shot by a visiting Rotary Ambassadorial scholar with a real penchant for taking great photos -- some nearly 500 of them from his camera alone.

You can also see the various rooms in their decorated finery, carrying out the various sub-parts of the overall theme of "Reality Bites". The Tavern, outfitted as "Hell's Kitchen" by the Hawthorne Hotel's own kitchen staff, headed up by Executive Chef Steve Nelson, won the prize for the best-decorated room. This contest between the different departments is bravely fought to the last strobe light, the final spider, and the only remaining corpse.

The Dining Services team has won for the past several years, so the Kitchen was waging a grudge match to try to win back a title that they had not won in awhile. Looks like they really succeeded well with a genre with which they are most familiar -- the Kitchen. Great work, TEAM KITCHEN.

The Dining Services did manage to eek out second place, followed by a tie for honorable mention between Accounting and Banquets.

Dining Services parodied a show called THE ROCK, and Accounting did The Real Housewives of Salem. Banquets did Survivor.

I think everyone did a great job, and am really happy that we have guest celebrity judges who have to make these choices.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to a very successful event.

Juli

Toxic Assets -- A Costume Celebration of the Financial Woes of 2009

We could not help noticing these terrific costumes walking in to the lobby of the Hawthorne Hotel today. They had already been turning heads everywhere they went in Salem.

Whenever I take photos of people to put on our blog, I always ask permission first. When I approached this IT AIN'T EASY BEING GREEN group in the lobby today, they seemed pleased that finally someone was going to be taking their photo for "something that will count" when I asked about putting them on our blog.

One of the four made all the costumes himself, and some of the fabric came in their luggage on a trip back from Japan.

Those of you who are coming to our costume ball tomorrow night will be thrilled to learn that this group will NOT be coming, having a pressing need to be in another locale at that time. So, if you were worried about the competition, you can relax just a bit.

The "license plate" on the back of this hottie said "ToXicAss", but it could have as easily said something about "Caution, Wilde Load"

Ms. Global Recession, aka Robert Arrowood of Boston


Ms. Subprime Mortgage was played by Glen Lowe of Wenham.
Ms. Cache for Clunkers, portrayed by Tim Reese of Wenham

Ms. Wall Street Crash is John Kubicek of Boston

Runners' Up for Room Decor Contest

It is only a joke, the talk about the best guest room decor for Halloween contest, but I couldn't help taking these photos of different guest room doors today as I made my way through the hallways.

It seems that more than our guests, Karen and John who I profiled yesterday, are in to bringing a little Halloween decor along with them to the Historic Hawthorne Hotel.

I hope you enjoy this little look at an almost behind the scenes of the Hawthorne.

Juli

A Unique and Special Event Amongst the Crazy Halloween HubBub

Here are Kimberly and Keith. They were married today, on Kim's birthday, and came to the Hawthorne Hotel to have their post-wedding meal, their first has husband and wife. We hope they will make the Hawthorne Hotel a regular place to celebrate occasions of grace in their new lives together.

Juli

Story and Photos in the Salem News That You Should Not Miss

If you click on these two links, you will see the story that the Salem News did on a local Beverly couple who do their own make-up and costumes, in a phenomenal Hollywood-makeup artist kind of way. The first link will take you to the photos and the second to the story.

This is not to be missed!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/salemnews/sets/72157622688765328/show/

http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_302230535.html

I hope you enjoy it.

Juli

FIRST PRIZE for Best Decorated Guest Room!!

While we don't have a contest for the best-decorated guest room here at the Historic Hawthorne Hotel, I can assure you that if we did, Karen and John Marsicano of New Jersey would win it hands-down!

They brought a number of new items with them this year. There were 16 giant totes full of items.

It takes them several days to decorate their room. When I went to see the new things this year, and take photos for the blog, I couldn't help take photos of just about everything, because it is just such a fascinating collection of Halloween everything-under-the-sun (or moon.)



These 'alarm' clocks (aren't they alarming?) are made by a man who works at the Fool's Mansion, which is diagonally across the street from the Hawthorne Hotel Each one is custom made to John's specifications.

a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jxt9JfgOcB8/Sumna_EqgaI/AAAAAAAAGiE/da8GEmOhCSg/s1600-h/DSC_0021.JPG">

Another of the cool alarm clocks.

This cat is new this year.






John Marsicano surveying his handiwork -- days and days of unpacking, arranging and hanging. I have to point out that John and Karen are so careful of our hotel room, that when they leave, you would have absolutely no idea that any of this stuff was here. They get my unofficial "Manager's Award for the Most Conscientious Guest" designation as well.

Karen Marsicano telling me about the pillows and other handiwork that she made.


This is also a new piece this year.



My personal favorite is the Halloween tree, covered with custom glass ornaments, each one more interesting than the next.

This is a closeup of one of the glass ornaments on the tree.

I love this glass ornament that is a Halloween tree with ornaments on it.


This cat is another piece of Karen's handiwork with a needle.

The pillow on the left was the first piece of Halloween needlework that Karen did, and she completed it during a stay here at the Hawthorne Hotel.


The oval pieces are new this year as well as the black cat piece.



The Peanut's piece is new to the collection this year.
I hope you enjoy seeing all these photos of a very special Halloween decorations collection, in the most special Halloween central hotel in America, the Hawthorne Hotel.

I hope to see you here. There are still a few tickets remaining for our costume ball. For those, go to www.TicketWeb.com

Juli

>

Offices Get a Creepy Look This Time of the Year, at the Hawthorne Hotel

Walking through the areas where we have offices and office storage areas this time of the year really can give one a start.


We keep a lot of the Halloween decor that we use to decorate the rooms for the Ball, and when the date for the ball gets close, the various teams of the Hawthorne Hotel raid that decor storage area to claim things that they wish to use for the current year. The next thing that happens is that they find a corner of their office space to squirrel these things away so that another 'team' doesn't claim the same things.

Which is why we wind up with really creepy looking scenes that we quickly become used to in the heart of the Hawthorne Hotel

I hope you enjoy this look behind the scenes.

And I hope to see you here, on Halloween, at our awesome costume ball, "Reality Bites". If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, there are still some available. If you go to http://www.ticketweb.com/ and enter the promotional code HALL5, you will even get a $5 discount for being one of our loyal blog followers.

Juli

So How Do I Get A Reservation at the Hawthorne Hotel for Halloween Next Year?

HALLOWEEN PACKAGES FOR 2010

Q. How do I get overnight reservations at the Hawthorne Hotel for Halloween 2010?

A. We give all guests who are already staying with us over Halloween weekend the first opportunity to rebook their room for the following year. These guests have until November 3, 2009 to decide whether or not to return.


Q. So when will other guests be able to make a reservation?

A. New guests may reserve beginning on Wednesday November 4 at 9 a.m. by fax only.


Q. How do I get a reservation form?

A. You should go on our website and download the form for new guests, fill it out, and fax it in starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday November 4 at 9 a.m. The form will be available beginning Wednesday, October 28 at noon.


Q. Is there any other way to reserve for that weekend?

A. To be fair to all concerned, that is the only way to reserve a room for the Halloween Ball weekend. The fax machine time-stamps the forms.


Q. I don’t have a computer, and no access to the Internet. How else can I get a form?

A. You can pick one up at the Hawthorne Hotel beginning on Wednesday, October 28. However, you may not fax it in before the time listed on the form. If you do, it will be placed at the bottom of the stack. Sorry!
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Q. What does the package include?

A. It is a four-night minimum stay, which includes tickets to the Hawthorne Hotel Halloween Ball, a limited-edition welcome gift, and the opportunity to keep returning to the Hawthorne Hotel every year, because once you get ‘in’ you have the opportunity to rebook before anyone else can book as a new guest. It is kind of like getting season tickets to a popular sporting event.

Good luck, and I hope to see you here.

Juli

Fall Foliage Becomes Us, at the Hawthorne Hotel, in Salem, MA

The Pierce-Nichols House is one of the holdings of the Peabody Essex Museum. It is located on Federal St. at the intersection of Summer Street.




The photos that follow are of the Hawthorne Hotel, taken from the Common side, and looking at the Ballroom side of the hotel.

Here are some photos I snapped with my iPhone this morning on my way to work. The fall foliage is beautiful here in Salem right now, and the weather promises to be picture perfect today and tomorrow.

I hope to see you here.

Juli

Hawthorne Hotel's Flags of the Week ~~ October 26 through November 1, 2009

No special requests so far for this week.

Monday , October 26 ~~ China and Maine
Tuesday , October 27 ~~ Colombia and Maryland
Wednesday , October 28 ~~ Comoros and Massachusetts
Thursday , October 39 ~~ Congo and Michigan
Friday , October 30 ~~ Costa Rica and Minnesota
Saturday , October 31 ~~ Cote d'Ivoire and Mississippi
Sunday , November 1 ~~ Croatia and Missouri

I hope to see you here.

Juli

One More Reason the Hawthorne Hotel is Pet-Friendly

A good friend of mine, John Quinn, sent this to me with a note today. (To better view it, simply click on the image.) I definitely think it is worth a post on our blog. I have seen it before, and it has been around as a thought for quite some time, but it certainly still rings true today.

So if you want to travel to Salem with your pet, the Hawthorne Hotel is waiting to welcome you all.

Thanks, John!

Juli

Balloon Decor in the Ballroom

 
 
 

Tonight a local entity known as the Festival of the Dead is holding a Vampires Masquerade Ball in our Ballroom. This is a ticket-only event. We were all impressed by the balloon decor that is part of this event, and thought you might enjoy seeing the pictures.

Getting to see what goes on at various functions is a 'fun' part of what we do for a living. We hope you enjoy our 'staff's-eye-view' too.

Juli