Where else can you see a steampunk-pride crossover costume? Black lace parasols coupled with rainbow feathers? Well, in Salem Massachusetts of course! Witch city, witch witch city.
Aisha and I arrived late for the parade, but met up with Ian and Alex at the post-parade festival in Salem Common. It was a beautiful day, and the busiest North Shore Pride I’ve seen. So many people! Vendors! Food trucks! Flying Saucer Pizza ran out of regular pizza so Aisha and I tried slices with vegan cheese. Worth a try, but I probably don’t need to eat vegan cheese ever again.
After the festival, we went to the rooftop bar at the relatively new Hotel Salem. Loved the retro decor, and the rooftop bar was cool, not literally though. It was hot. Sun-beamin’ hot. Extra-sunblock hot. We watched rain clouds roll in, which was neat to see, until they reached us and we had to duck for cover. Thankfully just a sprinkle.
I had heard that the Friendship of Salem was finally back at Derby Wharf and I wanted to go see it, if only to prove to Aisha that it actually exists (on our first date in 2016, I suggested we walk to the wharf to see it, only to find the boat straight-up missing — removed for renovations!). On our way to the boat, we stopped by Modern Millie to oggle all the adorable dresses and The Coven’s Cottage for some incense.
Well, the Friendship is back, but it’s missing all its masts! The intricate masts are what make it majestic in my opinion, so it was kind of underwhelming in the end.
We then went to the Pride After Party at Brodie’s Seaport. Had some drinks, danced some, avoided eye contact with people we’ve dated because gay north shore is too small. The space and bar was also too small to support the volume of pride-goers. But hey, unlike anywhere in Boston, there was no cover. Can’t complain.
When we needed real food we went to the new Casa Tequila, coincidentally located where the pride after party used to be, back when it was Murphy’s. The tacos were so good. After a successful pride day, we rushed to catch the train back.