Graduation This Week at Peabody High and for 20 Students at Alternative School

Lt. Gov. Tim Murray is slated as the keynote speaker for the 3rd Annual Commencement ceremony Thursday for the Peabody Learning Academy.

While some 400 students prepare to graduate Friday in pomp and circumstance on the field at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, an equally joyous celebration will take place inside the Northshore Mall in front of Macy's Thursday morning for a much smaller group of students. The mall will host another commencement and awards ceremony for the third graduating class from the Peabody Learning Academy since the alternative school program first opened at the mall in 2010. This year's crop of grads is 20 strong, all who have completed a rigorous academic program equal to what is offered at PVMHS for general education students, but just at a different pace and schedule as needed. Last year, 22 students were able to graduate during the year. The…

• Photos (2)

$100K to Kick-Off Support of The One Fund Boston by Simon Malls

The One Fund is the central non-profit raising money for the victims of the Boston Marathon attack.

Simon Malls and Premium Outlets across New England, including the Northshore Mall in Peabody and Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers, have donated an initial $100,000 to The One Fund Boston to support victims of the Boston Marathon bombing that left three dead and nearly 200 wounded. Customers who visit the New England malls are also encouraged to donate to the fund through May 31 at Guest Services. “Simon Property Group has a large presence in Boston and the surrounding communities. We are proud to be assisting in the donation process for the families affected by the unfortunate events on Marathon Monday,” said Brian Jenkins, a vice president for Simon Property Group – New England, in a statement. “We are a part of the great city of Boston and …

• Photos (1)

Slate of New Stores to Arrive for Spring at Northshore Mall

A bake shop, maternity store, specialty shaving shop for men and more, including some big changes at Build-A-Bear.

The Northshore Mall has another lineup of new stores arriving this spring, including a bake shop, maternity store and a specialty shaving shop just for men. In addition to the new stores, Build-A-Bear is also undergoing some big changes. “These new additions are what North Shore area shoppers are looking for,” said Cynthia Kernan, a leasing representative at Simon Property Group, in an announcement. Crumbs Bake Shop, with its signature size cupcakes, is now open in a kiosk outside The Gap, along with Motherhood Maternity over in the lower level of the Nordstrom Wing. The store says its aim is to "make pregnant women look and feel good" at an affordable price.  Sleep Number® by Select Comfort, offering "sleep solutions," is also open and …

• Photos (2)

Gabe Goldman is This Year's Spelling Champ [VIDEO]

A large crowd filled the Nordstrom wing at the Northshore Mall Wednesday night to watch the top spellers at Higgins Middle School compete in the 3rd Annual Higgins Spelling Bee.

[Editor's Note: The article has been updated to reflect a correction on the judging panel for the bee.] It took 24 rounds and just over two hours for this year's middle school spelling champ to emerge Wednesday night. Sixth-grader Gabriel Goldman was rendered speechless upon realizing he not only spelled "serigraph" correctly, but he actually won the whole spelling bee as well. Gabe rose from his seat to tackle the next word in the 25th round when Bee Master Todd Bucey, smiling, informed him he could actually sit that one out since he just won. The 3rd Annual Higgins Middle School Spelling Bee, which is sponsored by the Peabody Education Foundation, was held once again at the Northshore Mall in the Nordstrom wing. Joining Bucey as Bee …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)
• Videos (1)

Mall Hosts Regional Bridal Expo Saturday

The New England Bridal Affair is coming to Peabody and offers all sorts of free advice, goodies and information for brides-to-be to plan their dream wedding.

Calling all North Shore brides-to-be. The Northshore Mall is hosting a free bridal showcase all day Saturday, Feb. 16. The 4th Annual New England Bridal Affair features food and wedding cake samples, a runway bridal fashion show, live entertainment, information on vendors and venues for the big day and more. All brides-to-be get a complimentary gift bag, chances to win raffles and prizes and enter a contest to win a free honeymoon to Paris, France. The event runs from 10 a.m - 4 p.m. in the Macy's court. For more information, contact Simon Guests Services at 978-531-3441 or pre-register at www.newenglandbridalaffair.com.

• Photos (1)

VIDEO: A 'Full House' of Christmas Cheer

Christmas caroling at the mall.

The Full House A Cappella singers from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School showed up in the Food Court at the Northshore Mall Wednesday afternoon to spread some Christmas cheer with holiday shoppers.

•  2 Comments
• Photos (5)
• Videos (1)

Black Friday Shopping Frenzy Starts at 12:30 a.m.

The North Shore's biggest mall is open at 12:30 a.m. on Black Friday.

Shoppers in search of killer deals can begin their hunt at the Northshore Mall at 12:30 a.m. on Friday. The stores inside the mall won't all be open at that time but nightowl shoppers can hit up some of the larger department stores and certain other shops starting after midnight. The mall will also hand out "survival kits" to the first 250 shoppers. Macy's, Sears, Nordstrom kick off the holiday shopping season at 12:30 a.m. on Black Friday, followed by Toys R Us at 1 a.m. JC Penney opens at 6 a.m. and Barnes & Noble an hour later. Down the road on Route 114, Babies R Us opens at 5 a.m., with Burlington Coat Factory following suit at 6 a.m. TJ Maxx, along with the West Peabody location, hold off until 7 a.m. The mall will stay open until 10…

• Photos (1)

What Should Go Here?

What Should Go Here at 240 Andover St.?

Newbury Comics is moving from 240 Andover St. to the Northshore Mall.

As you may have heard, Newbury Comics is moving up the street and inside the Northshore Mall near Macy's. The staff says the move will be completed by the end of the month. Once that happens, the sizeable storefront the shop occupies in a retail plaza on Route 114 will be empty. So what would you like to see come in to replace Newbury Comics? The store currently shares the plaza with Starbucks, FedEx/Kinko's, Big Picture Framing and Omni Fitness Equipment. Let us know your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section below.

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

DSW Opens for Business at the Mall

The new store is located in the lower level of the mall by the Food Court.

If you're in the market for designer shoeware, you're in luck, DSW (Designer Shoes Warehouse) opens its Peabody location at the Northshore Mall today (Oct. 25). The store is located in the lower level of the mall by the Food Court. The shoe retailer mainly stocks women's styles, in everything from dress, casual to athletic, but also has styles for men as well. And kid's shoes too. Store hours are Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

• Photos (1)

Container Store 'Super Fan' Gets VIP Treatment on Opening Day

The new storage solution store at the Northshore Mall opens Saturday.

Opening day has finally arrived for The Container Store, and no one is probably more excited than one local fan who will receive the VIP treatment. A company spokesperson said "North Shore Super Fan" Leslie Aznoian of North Andover was identified in a Facebook contest and on Saturday will get the first place in line, a special Super Fan shopping cart, a package of organization necessities and an actual receiving line by 60 store employees. The new Peabody store at the Northshore Mall officially opens at 9 a.m. and is the sixth location to open in 2012 (it's the 58th store overall). The company will also be donating 10 percent of its sales over its opening weekend to the Boston Children's Museum. Throughout both Saturday and Sunday, prizes …

• Photos (1)