Interviewee: Alisa Sickora (she/her) In your own words, tell us about your business, organization, or initiative. Alisa has been giving this nutty world texture, absurdity and occasional catharsis for nearly three decades of making and teaching. A world builder at heart, she produces, designs, and fabricates for theatre, film, themed entertainment and immersive experiences. Specializing in performance objects in leather

Things to do in Downtown Lynn this August: the Arts & Culture Festival, a $2.1M museum reopening, Beyond Walls mural tours, and a floating-lantern night.

About What Goes Around Edition Sevening (v.): the act of showing up after seven(ish) for your people, your community, and honestly yourself in Essex County. Oh hey there, Essex County. Karma’s a whole production number this week, and honey, the choreography is tight. Last week Essex County anted up — tarot cards, board game night, music bingo, the Garbage Pail

Picture a lobster bake under a tent at Lynch Park where 90% of the trash never sees a landfill. A LEGO model of four centuries of city history, built by a guy from Beverly. A long-hidden time capsule cracked open in Beverly Cove, and a wall of names from Vietnam standing on a high school lawn. That’s Beverly Homecoming 2026

Can you believe it’s been 400 years since Roger Conant landed where the Naumkeag people had already built their home? Fast-forward to Salem Heritage Days 2026, and we’ve got nine days packed with energy: dozens of events, a tall ship, a parade making its comeback after thirty years, and a whole fleet of cardboard boats ready to race. Learn more

The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival 2026 returns to Salem Willows on Saturday, August 15, and it’s the kind of day that tells you exactly what the North Shore values. Six-plus acts. Eight hours. One free waterfront stage. Two Grammy-touched headliners. A full education tent. More than 25 artisan vendors. And a ticket price that has stayed at zero for

Improv comedy in Marblehead returns Aug 1 — AOP’s Keg-n-Komedy at Marblehead Little Theatre with unscripted laughs and complimentary Bent Water craft beer.

For years, I’ve watched the lights go down on opening night at North Shore Music Theatre. There’s still nothing quite like it. The stage sits in the round, so no seat is far from the action. This August, that round becomes Hollywood’s Sunset Strip. Rock of Ages at North Shore Music Theatre runs August 12 through 23, 2026, in Beverly.

About Playing Edition Sevening (v.): the act of showing up after seven(ish) — for your people, your community, and honestly yourself in Essex County. Still not sure what any of this means? That’s okay, just told someone the other day. The full definition’s playing in our About Time Edition, waiting patiently. Oh hey there, Essex County. Time to ante up, honeys.

Interviewee: Janelle Rolke (She/Her) In your own words, tell us about your business, organization, or initiative. We bring hands on climate education into local classrooms to create lifelong environmental stewardship and action. Tell us a bit about you and why you do what you do. Share your passions for your business, organization, or initiative. The vision for Change is Simple