Pretty cool, but was sold out by the time we got there highly recommend getting some cool pictures…read morefrom the outside though.

Beautiful church on the outside. Strange that they charge $10 to go inside since it's a church…read more First church of Salem.

St. James is a lovely, little church in Salem. My friend was married there a couple of weekends ago…read moreand it was a beautiful service and lovely venue for the ceremony.

Very welcoming church. Everyone I met there was very friendly. Pastor Matt always has thought…read moreprovoking sermons... Visited on two occasions while in town..

From the owner: Great Rock Chruch is a non-denominational church on the North Shore of Boston in Danvers, MA.read more

Lordy, how great is TGBC! Let me tell you, I was just…read morewalking along Bridge St, trying to score me some more meth, when I wandered by the TGBC! I was drawn to it by the rich smell of righteousness and truth! Which, oddly enough smells a lot like meth cooking. I entered the glorious church and gazed in awe at the mostly empty folding chairs, the cheap industrial carpeting, and the faint stench of asbestos in the walls. It was like heaven to me. For before my addiction got a hold of me, I was getting my doctorate in Mid-20th Century Crapholes. And there, storming across the back of the dank, fluorescent light washed space was a man like no other. Pastor Brock. He was talking and chanting and raging about how "Fags and Catholics," had ruined America. And how God in heaven was not a nice god, but a wrathful sociopath who would throw you into hell for not following the religion of an obscure iron-age tribe in Asia Minor. I knew that this man spoke the truth! Women should stay at home and simply have as many babies as possible! That the world is only 6,000 years old and that evolution is a lie! What truths he spoke! Oh, and he is not just a truth teller! He is also a barrel of laughs! Every Halloween we spend all of October shouting at people in Salem! We tell them they are going to hell and that they are sinners and whores. It is so much fun! How righteous and true we are! Amen! Oh, and there is some stuff about Jesus in there too...whatever....

True Gospel is a breath of fresh air in Salem. The church and pastor are friendly and treat every…read moreone like family and actually stand on true biblical principles which is hard to find anymore.

I'm a huge fan of the Holy Ghost. My boyfriend is Portuguese, which is how I even discovered this…read morespot in the first place. If you've never been, you'd never know to go. It's a big function hall -- big enough for weddings, concerts, comedy shows, etc., with a restaurant and bar attached. The reason this place wins is because it hits the spot on all fronts. The hall is huge. The restaurant is delicious and well priced. It's almost all traditional Portuguese fare, authentic and fresh. The shrimp is to die for, the little necks are fantastic (and I don't even like little necks), the crispy bread is yummy. The drinks are beyond affordable and always made right, and they have espresso like all good Portuguese places should. My favorites? Friday Night Kareoke, Shrimp, and their cockails. What would give them that 5th star? Faster service in the dining room, softer Portuguese bread in the bread basket (it has a soft bread but its usually a bit tough), more tender steak tips. See you on Fridays!

What no one tells you about this place is the delicious sit down area they have inside. Not only is…read moreit cheap (read: REALLY CHEAP), but you get normal sized portions and the food is mouth-watering. Whether it's the steak tips that are so heavenly marinated that you don't need sauce, or the portuguese style french fries (taste home-made), you'll be leaving happy. Plus, they have booze! I don't think you can go wrong at all! Oh, but be careful as most everyone here knows each other, so if you look out of the ordinary, expect to be judged. Also, brushing up on your Portuguese a bit before going will help!

Over the past few decades, many North Shore communities saw a decline in their Jewish populations;…read moremany synagogues shrank or shut down. Yet some communities have stayed strong, like Marblehead and Swampscott. And some places offer new life to the community. Chabad of the North Shore is one many new outreach centers (nationwide and worldwide) that reaches out to Jews of all backgrounds and observance levels. Chabad has a point of view, like any group worth respecting does. It's Orthodox, an open-hearted Orthodoxy that meets Jews where they are, offering pathways to a meaningful Jewish life. They're not missionaries; rather, they inspire Jews to become educated about their own heritage, and to take a step up the ladder of observance, from wherever they are. As is traditional, some rituals are for men, some are for women; only men can be rabbis; and there is a tasteful mechitzah (divider) between the men's and women's sections during prayer services, made simply of a row of trees in planters. Women and men are both valued equally. Chabad encourages women to study Torah and Talmud, and to teach. At their community seder, the service was led equally by the Rebbetzin and Rabbi. The Rebbetzin teaches classes on Talmud and on Kabbalah. That's egalitarian, even if not Reform style. My family has been to the Chabad Community Synagogue for their community Purim party, a traditional Shabbat morning service, and to their community Passover seder. We felt most welcome! I have been to many kinds of synagogues, and what matters most is this: Is there joy? Ruach (spirit)? Does it encourage people to come to again, and inspire children to think "Judaism is worth doing, learning, celebrating." Chabad of the North Shore succeeds in this. Their Purim celebration and Passover seders were lively, and a joy. If you haven't been to one, you are missing out. The Shabbat service could use more Shlomo Carelebach-type melodies and harmonies. But that's true of nearly all synagogues nowadays. It also could use a few more moments of prayers in English, which helps keeps people involved if they don't know the format. That aside, this is a place very much worth coming to, and a worthy addition to the Jewish community of the North Shore.

Saint Peter's has a long and distinguished history going back several hundred years…read more The history of this congregation is fascinating, since it goes back to when the Puritan arrived in the greater Salem area in 1626. Today, St Peter's is still part of the Episcopal church (See Photos). They describe themselves as: "We are a historic downtown congregation that has served Salem for centuries. We are young and old, rich and poor, black and white, gay and straight. We are an intentionally inclusive congregation. We are a small but growing congregation with a sense of mission and vitality and we want to build here a place that serves God by serving others" "We are community of Faithful servants. Our Worship community gathers to praise God and build a closer relationship to God and each other. Fellowship and community building are very important to our life as a Parish. We value our relationship to the Larger community." Sunday Services are: * 8:00AM -- Holy Communion and Homily, using the traditional Elizabethan language of the Book of Common Prayer (Rite I); * 10:00AM -- Holy Communion and Homily, with special emphasis on the Taize community style of worship (Rite II); * 12 noon -- Santa Comunion/Holy Communion and Homily in Spanish with Latin Rhythms.

The pastor was literally crowd funding during a sermon telling the congregation that Jesus wanted…read morethem to buy the property next door, pressuring people to contribute more than they normally would. He's also gone on incoherent rants about astrology and generally makes no sense. Dude thinks he's a rockstar, but he's really a misguided idiot. Save your brain cells.

My family visited the church a few times. The leadership seamed to be very solid and the community…read morewas very welcoming.