Hawthorne Hotel

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Guest Newsletter for Sunday, May 26

Here is the Hawthorne Guest Messenger for Sunday, May 26, 2013.

The Hawthorne Hotel would like to congratulate Aimee Belliveau and Jason Alcarez on their wedding today. We are so thrilled to be a part of your special day, and we hope that you and all of your guests have a wonderful time here with us. Cheers!

On Monday, May 27 the city of Salem will observe Memorial Day with a parade beginning at 10:30am on Commercial Street. Any veterans unable to be march can take a free trolley ride through the parade route as well. Following the parade there will be a Memorial Day Ceremony at Green Lawn Cemetery at 11:00am. All are welcome to attend.

This Day in History:

On this day in 1897, the first copies of the classic vampire novel Dracula, by Irish writer Bram Stoker, appear in London bookshops. Stoker would go on to publish 17 novels in all, but it was his 1897 novel Dracula that eventually earned him literary fame and became known as a masterpiece of Victorian-era Gothic literature.

I hope to see you here!

Juli

Memorial Day Observances in Salem

Courtesy of Destination Salem, with some addresses added by Hawthorne Hotel.

Here is the schedule of Salem's Memorial Day observances for this weekend.

Photo by Leighton O'Connor

Sunday, May 26

10:30 AM . . . Wreath laying ceremony at the Veterans Section of St. Mary's cemetery 226 North Street, Salem, MA

11:30 AM . . . Mass at St. John's 28 Saint Peter Street, Salem, MA

12:30 PM . . . (Approximately) following Mass will be a naval cannon salute to those lost at sea, at Winter Island, Salem, MA

1:00 PM . . . (Approximately) Collation at the Polish League of American Veterans (PLAV) club at 9 Daniels Street, Salem, MA. All are welcome to attend.

Monday, May 27

10:30 AM . . . Parade departs from Commercial Street near North St. Free Salem Trolley ride for any veteran unable to march.

11:00 AM . . . Memorial Day ceremony at Green Lawn Cemetery. Green Lawn Cemetery is near North and Orne Streets, about 6 minute drive from the Hawthorne Hotel. Guest speaker is Gold Star mother, Christina Ayube

12:30 PM . . . (Approximately) Collation at the VFW, 95 Derby Street. All are welcome to attend.

Whether you are in the area or traveling this weekend, have a safe and enjoyable time, and please pay your respects to those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for us.

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I hope to see you here.

Juli

Such a Cute Theme

Earlier this month we hosted a darling wedding, featuring a bride who is a die-hard Yankees fan and a groom who could not be more pro-Red Sox. We thought how they pulled this off as a wedding theme was so cute that we had to take some photos, and they are all in the attached blog post.

Great Sports Rivalry-Themed Wedding

Just click on the link above.

I hope you enjoy seeing this, and of course, I hope to see you here.

Juli

Friday, May 24, 2013

Guest Newsletter for Saturday, May 25

Here is the Hawthorne Guest Messenger for Saturday, May 25, 2013.

The Hawthorne Hotel would like to congratulate Kim Catalano and Matt Lombardi on their wedding today. We are so thrilled to be a part of your special day, and we hope that you and all of your guests have a wonderful time here with us. Cheers!

This Day in History:

On this day in 1977, Memorial Day weekend opens with an intergalactic bang as the first of George Lucas' blockbuster Star Wars movies hits American theaters. With its groundbreaking special effects, Star Wars leaped off screens and immersed audiences in "a galaxy far, far away."

I hope to see you here!

Juli

Nathaniel's Spring-Summer Menu Debuts

TripAdvisor reviewers rank Nathaniel's as the Number One Restaurant in Salem, MA. Here is our Spring-Summer Menu for your enjoyment.

For reservations, please call 978-825-4311 or 4360 or reserve on-line right here: RESERVE HERE via Open Table

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Appetizers, Soups and Salads
The Demi-Portions of our Entrees also make great Appetizers

Smoked Salmon
wasabi caviar, crème fraîche, arugula, crispy lavash bread
Nine-fifty

Grilled Asparagus Mimosa
chopped eggs, fried capers, lemon aioli
Eight-fifty

Seared Sea Scallops
sweet pea purée, pea shoots, white balsamic drizzle
Ten

Ragout of Spring Mushrooms

Ragout of Spring Mushrooms
stewed leeks and garlic over grilled ciabatta bread, truffle oil, Parmesan cheese
Ten

Soup du Jour
an ever-changing creation
Seven

Caesar Salad
choice of Mediterranean white anchovies
or applewood-smoked bacon,
Parmesan cheese and garlic croutons
Eight-fifty

Steve’s Seafood Chowder
of historic proportion, our well-loved version includes shrimp, scallops, haddock, clams and potatoes in a creamy New England-style soup
Seven-seventy-five

Mixed Greens Salad
dried cherries, candied walnuts,
honey-fig Wensleydale cheese,
citrus vinaigrette
Ten

Crispy Spring Salad
fennel, radishes, celery hearts, goat cheese and arugula tossed with olive oil and lemon
Ten

Roasted Beet Salad
baby greens, pistachio pesto, Great Hill bleu cheese
Ten

Entrees

Shrimp and Scallops Sophia
Our signature dish, named for Sophia Peabody Hawthorne
sautéed shrimp and seared scallops with sauce Béarnaise, grilled asparagus, steamed spinach and herbed risotto
Twenty-nine ~~ Demi-Portion Eighteen

Surf and Turf
grilled petite filet mignon with grilled shrimp skewer, wild spring ramp butter,
garlic-mashed potatoes, steamed fresh asparagus
Twenty-eight

Pan-Roasted Flounder
Meyer lemon-butter sauce, new spring potatoes,
sautéed snap peas and julienned carrots with mint
Twenty-six ~~ Demi-Portion Eighteen

Seared Salmon
sweet pea hummus, grilled fennel and snap peas, farro pilaf
Twenty-six ~~ Demi-Portion Eighteen

Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Grilled Pork Tenderloin
New England Family Farms – natural pork tenderloin, rhubarb chutney,
new potatoes, roasted beets and wilted greens
Twenty-six ~~ Demi-Portion Eighteen

Grilled Swordfish
spring herb pistou, jasmine rice, balsamic-glazed beans and greens
Twenty-seven ~~ Demi-Portion Nineteen

Demi-Portion of Spring Lamb Chops

Spring Lamb Chops
minted three-spring onion jus, quinoa pilaf and sautéed Swiss chard
Twenty-seven ~~ Demi-Portion Nineteen

Farro Pilaf-Stuffed Yellow Pepper

Farro Pilaf-Stuffed Yellow Pepper
sweet pea hummus, roasted beets, steamed pea pods and Swiss chard
Twenty ~~ Demi-Portion Fifteen

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Early Dining Special: Guests ordering a full-sized entree before 5:30 will
receive a complimentary small mesclun salad and a Chef’s choice of dessert.
This may not be combined with any other special promotion, coupon or discount.

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I hope to see you here.

Juli

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Guest Newsletter for Friday, May 24

Here is the Hawthorne Guest Messenger for Friday, May 24, 2013.

I hope to see you here!

Juli

It is a Ferry Good Time

Coming to Salem is something you can do in many different ways. Certainly you can drive, but you can also take the train -- the MBTA commuter rail (called the Newburyport-Rockport line) comes here in 29 minutes from North Station in Boston.

The most fun way of all, now that the season is finally here, is to come here by taking the Salem Ferry.

Link to More Information about the Salem Ferry

Left to right: Bill Henning, Beverly Cooperative Bank; Thomas MacDonald, Director of Sales, Hawthorne Hotel; Alex Dominguez; Tinia Suggs, Sales Manager, Hawthorne Hotel; Jessica Wright, Sales Assistant, Hawthorne Hotel; Paul Wright; and Joe Welch, owner, TradeWinds Insurance & Financial. Our sales team members attended the kick-off voyage of the Salem Ferry this week. While the weather was a bit on the blustery side, a great time was had by all.

We think being on the water is just plain fun!

Of course, some people think they can come to Salem on a broom! What's your favorite way to get to Salem?

Whatever it is, I hope to see you here.

Juli

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Guest Newsletter for Thursday, May 23

Here is the Hawthorne Guest Messenger for Thursday, May 23, 2013.

I hope to see you here!

Juli

The Library

The Hawthorne Hotel has a number of "hidden gems" of space, including a second lobby on the second floor, and the Library which is a function room located on the lower level of the Hotel.

One of our catering sales managers pointed out to me how few photos she has of the room and asked for my assistance, so I took the following photos with the panorama feature on my iPhone. This was especially helpful for the Library since like its first letter, it is an "L"-shaped room.

The following photos were taken without the panoramic feature, by my Nikon. I do have a wide-angle lens on that camera.

I hope you enjoy seeing another view of the Hawthorne Hotel.

Juli

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Guest Newsletter for Wednesday, May 22

Here is the Hawthorne Guest Messenger for Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

Cloudy skies ruining your outdoor plans? Come hang out in our pub style restaurant, Tavern on the Green, and enjoy our cocktail of the week, our Peach Margarita. With Sauza Silver tequila, peach schnapps, Stirrings peach puree and sour mix on the rocks, it’s a little taste of summer.

On Saturday, May 25th, the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) invites you to Tracing A Line a boundary-breaking, immersive performance. Combining literary, theatrical, choral and orchestral elements, Tracing A Line marks the dramatic debut performance of the museum's composer-in-residence, Matt Aucoin.

Hawthorne Hotel guests receive the special price of $10 (regularly priced at $55)

For Reservations call 978-745-9500 extension 3011 and mention you are a guest of the Hawthorne Hotel.

This Day in History

On this day in 1843 a massive wagon train, made up of 1,000 settlers and 1,000 head of cattle, sets off down the Oregon Trail from Independence, Missouri. Known as the "Great Emigration," the expedition came two years after the first modest party of settlers made the long, overland journey to Oregon.

I hope to see you here!

Juli

Visual Upgrade

One of the challenges of running an historic hotel is that operating systems for guest comfort, such as air conditioning, and kitchen ventilation legal requirements were not even thought of at the time of the hotel's construction. So, over time, those items had to be added to the building, in the only place they could go, which is on the kitchen roof.

The drawback to that is the kitchen roof is visible from the back of the building, and from the guest rooms that have "interior" views. Add that fact to the issue that mechanical equipment is only built for function, and not esthetics, and eventually you have a hodgepodge of metal equipment to look at. This is not something we enjoy, so we figured our guests would appreciate a "visual upgrade" and we set about doing just that.

The painting contracting firm (McDonnell Painting) that we work with is so helpful, and when our Chief of Building Maintenance spoke to them about what we could do to "faux" paint that equipment so it disappears a bit from view, they came up with a sponge painting technique to apply a pattern that looks like the brick on the rear of the hotel.

Here are a couple of "before" photos.