Charlie Baker offered a culinary shout-out to Salem in one of his first public remarks since conceding the governor's race.
Via Facebook, Baker posted his list of 10 best diners and restaurants — outside of Swampscott — that he encountered on the campaign trail.
Making the list: Red's diner in downtown Salem.
"The primary criteria for this list are pretty simple — the quality of the food, the staff, the atmosphere and the customers(!)," wrote Baker, who admitted that by creating such a list he was essentially "making ten friends and hundreds of enemies."
Nonetheless, Red's was the only North Shore establishment to crack the unranked list. (For diner devotees, the compilation also included Mul's Diner in South Boston, the Owl Diner in Lowell and the Keltic Kitchen in West Yarmouth, among others.)
By the way, Baker hasn't made any announcements about his future, nor about the chances of another run for political office.
But his Facebook page may offer a hint.
Under "favorite quotations," he lists a famous line from one of the country's best-known Republican governors.
"I'll be back."
Making a difference
Salem resident Manny Cruz has been appointed to Gov. Deval Patrick's Youth Council.
He will be sworn in next month to the council, which advises the governor in making decisions and setting policy to improve the lives of young people.
"It's a real honor actually that they picked me out of so many applicants," said Cruz, 18.
Patrick created the statewide council in 2008 in response to youth-related violence. Two-year appointments are given to just two individuals (a male and female) from each of the state's 14 counties.
Cruz said he is interested in violence intervention programs and pushing for financial literacy programs at schools and colleges.
"Manny has always been interested in civic and political engagement," said Linda Saris, director of Salem CyberSpace, where Cruz attended after-school programs from seventh grade through 12th grade.
Cruz graduated from Salem High last spring. He is a freshman at Salem State University majoring in political science and is assistant treasurer for student government.
And he still makes time to head over to CyberSpace and to the Boys and Girls Club.
"Both those organizations have been great in helping me get to where I am now," Cruz said. "I want to represent the city of Salem to the best of my ability.
Dueling bananas
The fifth annual Salem Open Studios is set to take place around the city from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow, featuring paintings, jewelry, photographs, handmade paper bowls and more from local artists.
A wacky painting titled "Dueling Bananas" will be among the artwork; it was painted by Charles Lang, who runs The Art Corner with his wife, Wendy Snow-Lang.
"There are things for the young and the old," said Ellen Hardy, president of the Salem Arts Association, which organizes the Salem Open Studios.
Many artists will be doing artwork during the event, whether they are in their studios, being hosted by a business, or part of the Salem Arts Association group space in the "Purple Room" at Museum Place Mall.
"It's a chance to talk with artists about their work and to consider supporting the arts when you're spending your holiday dollar," Hardy said.
For more details or a map of locations, visit www.salemartsassociation.org.
Party down
Don't miss the Salem Children's Charity 17th Annual Christmas Party this Tuesday.
The party always draws a crowd and raises thousands of dollars through raffles and other fundraisers to provide holiday presents, winter clothing and other assistance for Salem schoolchildren and their families through the Salem Children's Charity.
Victoria Station restaurant hosts the annual charity event, which will start at 5 p.m. Admission is $15.
On the move
Kate Sullivan, the former chief administrative aide for Mayor Stan Usovicz, has landed a new job on Beacon Hill.
Sullivan is the new chief of staff for the powerful House Ways & Means Committee.
That makes three former Usovicz staffers who now report to the Statehouse for work. State Rep. John Keenan was once Salem's city solicitor. Keenan's aide, Lynne Montague, is Usovicz's former administrative secretary.
"It is great to have friends in the building, and I look forward to working with them again," said Sullivan, who was in the midst of her fourth day on the job yesterday.
After leaving Salem, Sullivan was the chief of staff at Boston EMS, which handles that city's 911 medical emergencies and disaster preparedness.
"Kate's great," Keenan said. "She'll do a great job in Ways & Means."
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