Free Enrichment Programs

The Phoenix School FREE Saturday Enrichment Programs for 3-6 and 7-10 year olds. Young explorers for bright, curious students. Come spend an hour and a half listening to a story, doing science experiments, making a robotic invention to solve a problem, or creating an art project. Each program will be different.

Programs take place from 10 - 11:30AM. Next dates are: January 8, 2011; February 12, 2011;
March 12, 2011. Admission is free, but pre-registration is preferred through website or by calling 978.741.0780.

Learn more about the Phoenix School here.

Video Snapshot of Salem Open Studios

Snapshots from Salem Art Association's Open Studios last Saturday, via Salem Patch.

Parent's United Annual Coat Drive

Parent's United has organized their Coat Drive once again. Receive 20% off any item when you drop off winter gear at Crunchy Granola Baby.

Donations are dropped off to local families in need. Other drop off locations are Mighty Aphrodite (244 Essex Street), and the Salem YMCA (One Sewell Street) now through February.

Promotions! Promotions! Promotions!!

Receive 15% off all purchases (including sale items!) Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Get your Holiday gifts this weekend and save big! (and we have tons of new inventory, Baby Legs, Eco-art ornament kits, and more!)

This just in from Mayor Driscoll:

As the holiday season approaches, the City is encouraging residents to shop locally and support the local business community. Today, I proclaimed the Friday, Saturday and Sunday following Thanksgiving “Local Business Weekend” to remind shoppers of the many shopping options in Salem and, to celebrate the City is offerin...g FREE parking in our two garages and at the Church Street lot. So get an early start on your holiday shopping and support our local economy at the same time!

Black Friday Promotions!

On Black Friday 62 Restaurant & Wine Bar is offering free apps to anyone who can produce a receipt of $35.00 or more from a small boutique, shop, gallery, or any other small business located in Salem.

Thank you 62!!

Small Business Saturday!

A day to come together in support of the small businesses we love.
The businesses that are the heartbeat of our communities and local economies.
That day is November 27, 2010—the first-ever Small Business Saturday^SM.
Join the movement, spread the word.
Be sure to become FB fans @ http://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday?ref=ts&v=app_165267296827487


Exciting stuff going on all around town!
Shop and dine local!!

Salem's Green Business Challenge

Last week, winners of Salem’s first annual Green Business Challenge were announced during a ceremony at Old Town Hall. The program was designed to promote sound environmental “green” practices and acknowledge companies currently incorporating strategies to reduce their environmental footprint.

The winners are:
Category One (1 owner-employee)

Best in Class: Green Tea Yoga
Honorable Mention: Acupuncture Center of Salem; Kim Indresano Photography

Category Two (1 to 5 employees)

Best in Class: Crunchy Granola Baby
Honorable Mention: The Phillips House/Historic New England; Salem Sound Coastwatch

Category Three (6 to 50 employees)

Best in Class: Armstrong Field Real Estate
Honorable Mention: Joe Green Home Solutions; Merchant Consulting Group

Category Four (over 51 employees)

Best in Class: Salem State University
Honorable Mention: Crosby’ Marketplace; Bioengineering Group



We are very excited to have won Salem's Green Business Challenge. It makes what we work so hard at even more rewarding and it gives other businesses a chance to show their commitment to the environment.



Congratulations to all the winners and to all 49 Salem businesses who took the challenge.

I am so proud to be living in a City with such an astounding focus on Green living!
Thank you!!

North Shore Clay Studio Open Studios

North Shore Bazaar 2010

The Lyceum Halloween Costume Brunch for Kids

Celebrate Halloween upstairs at the Lyceum on Sunday, October 31 from 11AM to 2PM. This event also features entertainment by the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts and Alice, goodie bags for all kids (no candy) and prizes for best costumes. Plus:

- Wicked Good Buffet Brunch 11:00am to12:30pm

- Games, Prizes and Surprises: 11:00pm to 1:30pm

• - Costume Awards Ceremony 1:00pm to1:30pm

Brunch is $10.95 for kids 4 to 12 (under 4 are free) and $21.95 for adults. Please call 978-745-7665 for reservations (before Friday, October 29). A portion of all proceeds to benefit NortheastArc. Generous donations provided by:Hip Baby Gear, Mud Puddle Toys, Crunchy Granola Baby, and Ben and Jerry's.

Trick or Treating with the Mayor

Join Mayor Driscoll for trick-or-treating in Salem on Friday, October 8! The evening begins at 5:30PM at the East India Fountain and the trick-or-treat train will travel along your favorite Salem shops, including CGB! Trick-or-Treat Bags provided and costumes are encouraged. For more details on daily Haunted Happenings events in Salem, click here.

Costume Swap!

Have you heard? CGB is proud to announce that we are helping with the Parents United Green Halloween Costume Swap!



Simply donate your little one's used costume, receive a free ticket, then go to the Salem YMCA on October 9 from 10AM - 3PM to pick out another costume! If you don't have a costume to drop off, simply donate $5 and receive a ticket to attend the event.



And did we mention - CGB is the donation center? Swing by and donate your old costume!

Celebrating nAGLY!

Join nAGLY (North Shore Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Youth) on September 30 for their 3rd Annual Fundraiser Event. There will be both a silent and live auction, live entertainment and dancing, a cash bar and great food, fun, and friends!

Celebrating nAgly will take place in the Hawthorne Hotel Ballroom from 7 to 10PM. For more information, contact Coco at 781.913.3737 or Kirsten at 617.308.8565.

Support the Shanty! (and CinemaSalem!)

A big shoutout to our friends at The Lobster Shanty, who will be featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri!

Support the Shanty by attending Cinema Salem's premiere on Monday, September 27. Doors open at 9PM and the show starts at 10PM. Check out more details here.

Celebrate the Harvest!

Celebrate the Harvest with …garden-fresh treats, wine, and raffles to benefit Salem Community Gardens, Inc.

This party takes place at Pamplemousse on Tuesday, August 31 from 7 to 9PM.

Advance tickets available at CGB and Pamplemousse, for a suggested donation of $20. Tickets also available at the door.

For more information, contact Lisa Spence at info@growsalem.org

Jennie's Baby Forecast

Local Awesomeness: Grand Opening of The Beehive

We love Roost for its funky-chic home decor, gifts, and accessories. Well, now Kate and Jamie are bringing us even more local awesomeness with their second store, The Beehive.

Just as packed with good taste as the first store, the beehive could be considered Roost's sassy little sister, with a focus on cards and the lighter side of life. Come and enjoy drinks, eats, and storewide discounts at The Beehive's Grand Opening on Monday, June 19th from 5-8 PM. And, pssst... it's right next door to Roost! We'll be there with bells on.

Cloth for the Coast: Diaper Drive for the Gulf

CGB is committed to doing our part for the environment -- whether it's by reducing waste by using cloth diapers, buying locally-made products to lower emissions and create a smaller carbon footprint, or in this case, by reaching out to places in need of some extra help.

We are pleased to announce our in-store diaper drive; CGB will be collecting microfiber towels, pocket diaper inserts, washed / used prefold diapers, baby blankets and burp cloths to be donated for wildlife rescue and clean up through LA organization Cloth for the Coast.

Bring your donations to CGB and help save the environment and the people and animals of the Gulf Coast! All diapers must be free from snaps, elastic or velcro. Bring them in by Monday, July 19th to make our shipping date.

If you have any questions, contact us at crunchygranolababy@gmail.com. If you want to make your own shipment, or you can't get to CGB, you can send your donations to:

FuzziBunz Diapers

ATTN: CFC315 Weeks St
New Iberia, LA 70560

For more info on ways to help, visit communityforthecoast.org

Local Music: Charlie Hope

One of our favorite local musicians (and winner of the Independent Music Award!), Charlie Hope, has a concert coming up that you won't want to miss. She'll be performing on Saturday, July 3rd at 10:30AM at Club Passim in Cambridge.
Featuring new songs about Frogs on Logs, Firetrucks, Naptime, New Babies, Shadows, Stars, Rocketships & more, this concert is the perfect way for your family to kick off Independence Day weekend. Buy your tickets today -- they're only $10 for adults at $5 for kids! -- and enjoy the fun.

Salem's Living Green & Renewable Energy Fair

Salem's Living Green & Renewable Energy Fair on Saturday, June 19 brings together green industry professionals and consumers from the Greater Boston & Northshore regions to discuss products, services and information that encourage healthier, more sustainable consumption and lifestyles for businesses and families.

Not only is the fair a great place to learn more about how you can go green, but it promises to be really fun.

Cinema Salem will be screening "FRESH: The Movie," Salem Cycle and SHS Science Club will present a bike rodeo, and CGB is running the Green Kids Zone, with the help of our brand new eco-friendly art teacher Courtney Fallon!

Courtney will be on hand to help the little ones make creative eco-friendly art! Courtney says, "We can help you and your child make some fun creations. Turn a paper plate into a snazzy snake. Children can stamp and press materials to make dizzying patterns on their paper plates. Or, get up and make some noise with our paper plate shakers! Watch your child beat to a different drum, or shimmy to their shakers."

We will also be offering discounts on our art classes for all who register, held at CGB, and offering in-store coupons for the weekend of the Green Fair.

Learn more about this great local event here.

US Premier: "A Breech In The System"

Ok guys, this is a good one. Really good. CGB and CinemaSalem are teaming up again to screen the United States premier of a riveting, inspiring documentary by Australian film-maker and natural childbirth advocate Karin Ecker. "A Breech in The System" is the story of a woman who fights to give birth to her breech baby naturally, despite her hospital's insistence that she get a cesarean section. We guarantee it's the most exciting movie you will ever see about a birth.

The screening will take place at CinemaSalem on Saturday, June 26th at 10AM and will be immediately followed by a panel discussion. Tickets are only $10 and available at CinemaSalem or online at www.cinemasalem.com. We expect to sell out, so make sure you get your tickets today!

We love this movie and we know you will too. Its tagline reads, "An inspiring documentary about a woman on a mission to give birth naturally against all odds." How perfect is that? We can't wait to see you there.

[ The screening is sponsored by Hamilton Wenham Family Chiropractic, hosted by CinemaSalem, and all proceeds benefit CGB's Childbirth Outreach and Education Program. ]

Welcome Mud Puddle Toys!

CGB would like to extend a warm welcome to Mud Puddle Toys, the newest addition to downtown Salem! A family owned business, Mud Puddle Toys offers safe, eco-friendly toys from thoughtful, conscientious companies that hold children's safety at a higher standard than the bottom line.

Mud Puddle Toys is open at 221 Essex St. on the Pedestrian Mall, just behind Rockafellas, but the Grand Opening will take place today - Saturday, June 5. So be sure to visit Salem for all your baby needs - this town is bursting with great shopping!