r/SalemMA

I know and like the Gas Station and Bambolina (two ends of the spectrum). What else do people like?

Read some really gross and hateful comments this morning on this sub directed towards groups of tourists who did nothing wrong but exist as tourists in Salem in October.

This city is welcoming and many of you chose to live here because of that reason. You can be upset with individual tourists for doing dumb stuff and disrespecting the city but so many of you are comfortable with blatant prejudice against southerners etc

So many of the comments this morning sounded exactly like MAGA talking points but swapping out foreigners for tourists.

I get tourism can be frustrating especially in October but you chose to live here.

Salem is a welcoming community for everyone who respects it, keep up that spirit and be better.

I am a north shore native so I appreciate a good roast beef sandwich. Just moved to Salem after being away from the area for quite some time. Where should my go to be in Salem? Thanks in advance.

Follow up comment: much love to everyone who posted about the north shore staple of the roast beef sandwich.

I am definitely going to modern butcher.

Just a funny observation that no one mentioned Kelly’s. 🤷

I am a little sad because I grew up on supremes in Danvers, I haven’t had it since I heard it changed ownership so I have no opinion on it based on that. I have had nick’s in Beverly since moving back and it didn’t disappoint 🤘

I don't mean for this to be another complaint post, I genuinely want to know if anybody has any ideas.

It's obvious every year we get more and more visitors all within the same timeframe. Every year it becomes less sustainable. People who don't do their research either culturally or on anything to do with trip planning come down in October and proceed to complain about lines, wait times, the homeless, pride flags, locals being mean, etc.

Where do we go from here? What do we do? How do other major tourist destinations manage their influx of visitors? Every year since the pandemic I've noticed more and more disrespectful, rude, uneducated people here. People demanding businesses remove pride flags or signage, demanding locals cater to their needs, demand that the "noisy" homeless be removed so they don't have to see them. It's incredibly frustrating and makes me so sad.

This isn't even getting into the sheer volume of people all coming at the same time to the same place. The MBTA is overworked, businesses are far over capacity both in and out of doors. I love the visitors. I love this city and I love being able to share how nice it is with others, but there has to be something to help, right? When do we say it's too much? How do we say it?

If your lack of license didn’t already identify you as a carpetbagger tour guide, your ridiculously incorrect script (yes, we could hear you through the door & we hope that your tour could hear us making fun of you right back) and that you had the gall to block actual local employees from just doing their job sure did.
Next time we won’t just passive aggressively shove past you & through your group to leave, but we’ll call you out on your shit in front of your tour. And who knows, maybe report you.

Hello! I posted a couple months ago about starting a romance/fantasy/romantasy book club (no horror/spooky themes-Salem has that covered plenty).
A group of us met for the first time and agreed we could add a couple more members if anyone is interested! Let me know if you’d like to join our discord. To give some context we read “Love Felt Like This” by Julie Olivia and November’s read is Between Tides and Thunder.

Ideally you’re 35-45ish and bonus points if you like crafting/creating as most of us are transplants looking to make friends in the area.

Is the Pickering wharf area mid week October (this month) crazy crowded ?
Specifically a Wednesday around 1 pm
Coming in through the ferry and staying the area
Around maitland farm and far from the tree

Hey-now! We are officially a month away from celebrating Robevember! What is Robevember you ask? Well, it's a robe-wearing themed pub crawl that will take place in Salem on the 2nd Saturday in November. Halloween will be in the rearview so let's re-immerse ourselves into the neighborhood with some leisurely cocktails. Here is what you need to know if you would like to join in on the fun:

Be in Salem around 3:30ish on 11/14/26 (Starting Point may be Tradehouse on Derby St but more details to come)

Wear your most comfortable robe/sleepwear attire

Be cool

Willing to be gracious to our servers

Invite a friend/be willing to make new friends

Have fun

What do you say, want to have some comfortable good times? Join us then! I will be providing updates as the date approaches

Forager Fabrics is now open at Mills 58 in Peabody Saturdays and Sundays 10am-4pm!

We have a selection of new and secondhand fabrics and sewing notions (including staples like interfacing, thread, buttons, zippers etc!). We will also print your large format PDF sewing patterns for $5/page.

If you’d like to learn how to sew or hone your craft, we offer beginner sewing classes and garment workshops. We also host a monthly sewing club where you can bring a project you are working on and make some sewing friends!

Come see us at 58 Pulaski Street, Suite A-4 10 in Peabody! 🪡

I lived farther out from the madness last year and the year before and I often just was going to Beverly and Danvers and I'm originally from Providence - so I get crowds and tourists and what comes with living in a touristy area - but I just got back from back to back work trips that had me miss the first couple days of October andddd I am utterly shocked by the amount of tourists. I am very extremely not a crowd person and I am loathing the crowds and crowds of tourists as I assume most others that live here do.

I'm lucky that my job has already given me permission to work from home during October but I'm wondering what you other locals that live in Salem and work in the area do to stay sane and still have some semblance of a life in the midst of the tourist takeover?

- How are you guys getting your errands done? How do you Getting groceries? Are there times that are at least a little better to actually use your car to get out and do your necessary errands? Does everyone just have to order groceries and have them delivered?

- If you want to go out and grab a drink or a bite is there a way to actually get a spot? Are there go-to spots for locals if we wanna not wait 2 hours to go to our own favorite restaurants and bars or feel like we're covid-confined to our homes for the whole month?

These are just a couple of questions I have as someone who moved to a way better apartment, but now am in downtown Salem (makes sense now why it was the cheapest AND best...🥲)

Would appreciate any tips, suggestions and funny stories from fellow locals on how you guys get through October.

And of course if you don't want to divulge any of your spots or secrets to tourists going to this subreddit for xyz suggestions of then just private message me.

😬😬

​

Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo announced today that the City of Salem is offering a free 30-day Bluebikes membership for anyone who lives or works in Salem. The membership includes unlimited 45-minute rides for up to 30 days and is available effective immediately. There is a $0.10 per minute charge for each additional minute after the first 45 minutes. Passes are limited and will be provided on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. Please note that e-bike rentals, should they be available, are not free of charge - they would be charged at $0.10 per minute.

"We're excited to partner with Bluebikes to again offer free October rides to Salem residents for the fifth year now, and to offer the program for a fourth year in a row to people who work in our community," Mayor Pangallo said, "I am grateful to City Staff members who have worked to make this happen, and I encourage residents and workers to take advantage of this offer for another way to get around in Salem during the busy month of October."

Bluebikes came to Salem in 2021 with funding from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Salem State University, and the MassDOT Shared Streets & Spaces program. The system has since expanded to 17 stations at key destinations throughout Salem's neighborhoods. As a convenient and affordable transportation option for residents, workers, students, and visitors, ridership has continued to expand each year since the program's launch.

To claim the free 30-day membership, residents and workers should email Transportation Planner Eric Gemperline at egemperline@salem.com with your name and address (if a Salem resident) or your name and the name and address of your employer/workplace (if employed in Salem), for verification for your free code.

Please allow up to 24 hours during regular business hours for a response. Qualifying residents and employees will receive a code to use at bluebikes.com or on the Bluebikes mobile app to claim their free 30-day membership. A valid credit or debit card is required, and the program is limited to riders aged 16 and up. Visit City of Salem Transportation page for details.