Interviewee: Christina Brandano (She/her) In your words… Tell us about your organization, business, initiative. The Merchant’s design and ambience pays homage to the rich history of Salem, while offering guests modern updates and amenities. We hope to connect guests with local businesses and artisans to offer a true Salem experience. Tell us a bit about you and why you do

From Destination Salem, Salem Main Streets Celebrate the arts, culture, creativity, and community at the 13th annual Salem Arts Festival June 4 through 6. This free and popular family-friendly event will feature a variety of art, music, dance, and theatre performances throughout downtown Salem. This is the first arts festival on the North Shore since COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed.  The

A Commemoration of the first execution in the 1692 Salem Witchcraft Hysteria “You can tell a lot about a community by the way they treat their dead.”  Join in live via Instagram from the 1692 Salem Witch Trials Memorial for a commemoration of the 329th anniversary of the execution of Bridget Bishop, the first victim of the Salem Witchcraft Hysteria.

May is for Makers! We’re highlighting some Creative Collective Business Members this month who creating some beautiful work in the area. If you like what you see, consider supporting these small businesses by picking up things from their shops or following them on social media. If you would like to learn about how you can be featured for #MeetTheMaykers, head

by Joey PhoenixImages provided by Mass Poetry The Massachusetts Poetry Festival returns this weekend for the first time since its 10 year anniversary celebration in 2018 with four days of readings, performances and workshops occurring virtually and at limited exhibitions occurring in person in Salem. The festival, now a biennial event, will take place May 13-16, 2021 at https://festival.masspoetry.org.  Although

By Joey Phoenix This past Winter, The Peabody Essex Museum launched its new wellness initiative: Being Well, which seeks to improve the physical, emotional, and spiritual well being of local and global communities through mindfulness, movement, meditation, art-making, and storytelling.  Being Well was created by Bethany Beatrice (she/her/hers – Manager of Public Programs), Danielle Olsen (she/her/hers – Associate Director of

From the Peabody Essex Museum The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) today announces that Lynda Roscoe Hartigan will become PEM’s next Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Executive Director and CEO. Hartigan will assume her role on August 23, 2021 and become the first woman director of the nation’s oldest continuously operating museum. Currently the Deputy Director for Collections & Research and

Behind every family are origin stories. And stories are for telling. On Friday, April 30, from 6 to 7 p.m., join others for some fun, virtual rounds of Ancestral BINGO. The House of the Seven Gables will host this interactive event. To learn more or to register, check The Gables’ events listings under Visit on the website. Each Ancestral BINGO participant will

We continue Episode 21 of the PEMcast with Part 2, an episode dedicated to PEM’s new Climate and Environment Initiative. The episode features Mary Malloy, a classically trained musician and performer who taught American maritime history and culture at The Sea Semester program out of Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Malloy has spent her career looking at how historic sea voyages affected

by Joey Phoenix (they/them/theirs)Images provided by Daughters of Darkness and Widdershins Stories Daughters of Darkness is happening virtually again this year on the last weekend in April, bringing three days of dark market explorations and intriguing events – including The Death Café hosted by Kristin Harris (she/her/hers) of Life After Midnight and a special storytelling event from Widdershins Stories, live