The Sidecar Podcast from The Cricket

In this episode, Manchester Cricket Editor Erika Brown and Features Editor Kris McGinn bring back Bob Booth, historian and Manchester Historical Museum curator, to talk about Manchester's Samuel Lee, who rose from nothing to dominate one of Boston's biggest economic ports, Marblehead, Massachusetts.

This week, Kris and Erika talk Manchester Fire Dept budget drubbing, Skate the the Sea, Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll's visit to Cape Ann, and a little bit of GenZ and its love of fact-based news.

On this week's edition, Erika Brown and Kris McGinn of the Manchester Cricket talk Cell Signaling and its big plans for Manchester's Limited Commercial District, art, and other news.

This week, Kris McGinn and Erika Brown from the Manchester Cricket take on Valentine's Day shopping, the mystery behind the mystery books market, and how ME Regional School District is facing structural budget issues shared by many other school districts across Masschusetts.

Jen Coles is a busy Cape Ann interior designer who writes the At Home Now home design column for the Cricket.  This week, Kris McGinn and Erika Brown talk with Coles about trends in color and wallpaper and which projects are suited for the DIYer during the homey winter months.  Oh yes, and we pull Jen into chatting about some current events in Manchester.

It was no hoax, and no hallucination; it was real, as many local mariners and observers could attest.  Erika Brown and Kris McGinn, editor and features editor of the Cricket talk about a real (and spectacular) story pulled from Cape Ann's mariner history with Manchester Historical Museum executive director and historian Bob Booth.

This week, Cricket editor Erika Brown and features editor Kris McGinn talk about how Cape Ann communities are tackling a new state zoning mandate around commuter rail stations, a trip to the Galapagos Islands, and the Ecuadorian Amazon Rain Forrest.

This week, Cricket Features Editor Kris McGinn catches up with Erika Brown and talks Festival by the Sea, the recent controversy at Long Beach, and Manchester resident Martha Woods' remarkable swim across the English Channel.

This is a new thing for SIDECAR.  This week, Cricket editor Erika Brown chats with Paul Tucker, candidate for Essex County District Attorney.  Get past the long intro and you'll hear a really interesting discussion that touches on police reform, BLM, mental health and the DA's role in keeping people out of the system.

The role of pets in our lives has never been bigger.  And the role of veterinarians has changed along with that ... with more sophisticated treatment and care. What is it like to be a veterinarian, and how has it changed?  Larry Lamb, who has penned the Cricket's "Pets & People" column for 15+ years, sits down with Editor/Publisher Erika Brown.

This week The Book Shop of Beverly Farms owner Hannah Harlow talks with The Cricket's Oli Turner about finally getting COVID and using the time to catch up on that big list of books of hers.

Essex resident Peter Phippen is a hydrogeologist and coastal scientist who has worked for decades with The Great Marsh, a 25,000-acre coastal salt marsh estuary ecosystem that extends from West Gloucester to southern New Hampshire.  It's healthy and beautiful, and strategic in the face of climate change.  This week we talk invasives that are encroaching into this resource.

Manchester's Charlotte Lawrence has been writing the Cricket's Not So Ordinary Medicine column for more than a year now.  Kris McGinn sits down with Charlotte to talk about her more memorable guests, including author Annabel Streets, who wrote "52 Ways To Walk."

It's been a while since our last podcast.  The Cricket's Erika Brown and Kris McGinn play catch up.  That includes a review of Kris' stories on the Trudeaus and Wheelworks Pottery in Essex; Manchester's tearful goodbye to Andy Shepherd; four key invasive species within the 25,000-acre coastal gem, the Great Marsh; and, the latest edition of Postcards Home.

Much of the focus of Beverly Farms is on the community's charm and beauty, and its pockets of Gilded Age summer residents connected to greats in American history.  But, of course, the history of “The Farms,” is deeper and richer.  Nancy Coffey, a local historian, began researching the immigrant stories of families who came to Beverly Farms in the 19th Century for better opportunities and made big contributions to the neighborhood's story.  Nancy's stories go beyond the better-known tales of a summer playground for wealthy Bostonians and explores a much more expansive community story. 

Life restarts with a bang in September.  Summer's coming to a close, and for The Book Shop's Hannah Harlow, that means thinking about the holidays.  A lot of our buying has already been done.  In fact, she tells the Cricket's Kris McGinn, Christmas cards have already arrived.  The big question looming this year for independent book stores is the supply chain.  Where exactly will the works get gummed up?

It's a popular creed for people to decide that every book they start must be paged through to fruition.  The Book Shop's Hannah Harlow tells Cricket feature editor Kris McGinn that she used to feel the same way.  Not anymore.  There's an art, she says, to not finishing.

In this week's chat with Manchester By The Book's Mark Stolle, Cricket features editor Kris McGinn learns about a hidden obsession: vintage bookmarks.  They're big with collectors.  And surprise, surprise, as the owner of a used book shop, Mark Stolle has thousands of them.  Seemingly, each has a story.

This week, Mark Stolle from Manchester By The Book contemplates the concept of “best sellers” with Cricket Features Editor Kris McGinn.  Every week he peruses the lists in the book trade magazine Publishers Weekly.  And every week he despairs.

Of the 200,000 new books published each year in the United States, three percent of them are translated into other languages.  Of those, just 30 percent of them are translated by women.  Kris McGinn, the Cricket's features editor, talks to The Book Shop's Hannah Harlow about this phenomenon.

Artist Thadeus Beale's path to being a collected, noted fine artist has been a surprising journey, from a young partner at a white-shoe Boston law firm to the Museum of Fine Art.  Kris McGinn's feature on Beale took her to his studio in Essex, where they talked chaos theory, a passion for expression, a life of craft, and muffins.  Cricket editor Erika Brown talks with McGinn about how the story came together.

Cricket features editor Kris McGinn sits down with The Book Shop's Hannah Harlow to talk blind dates.  No, not those kind.  Harlow started wrapping books in blank craft paper, and scribbled just a gestural teaser on the outside.  She talks about how her book match making idea is working out with the folks of Beverly Farms.

Kris McGinn chats with Mark Stolle, Owner of Manchester By The Book in Manchester, MA, about his most recent contribution to The Cricket. We hear about Mark's book genre "spelunking" and in particular when he did a deep dive into books about restaurants. Mark and Kris discuss Jaques Pepin's memoir Apprentice, Waiting, The True Confessions of a Waitress,  by Debra Ginsberg,  and 1500 Things Restaurants Do Wrong, which may or may not be an actual book.

The Cricket's Erika Brown speaks with Victoria Gruenberg about her direction of Gloucester Stage Company's wonderful production of Seared. The play is set in the tiny kitchen of an on-the-verge Brooklyn restaurant.  The theater setting is Windhover Performing Arts Center, the outdoor venue that, this summer, partnered with Gloucester Stage Company to provide a creative return on Cape Ann to live performing arts after last summer's pandemic season closure. 

The Cricket's Kris McGinn chats with Manchester by the Book owner Mark Stolle about his fingerspitzengefühl, or intuitive knack, in finding great books. As always, Mark takes us to several unexpected corners of the book world and, as always, the journey is both fascinating and delightful.

Feature Writer Kris McGinn speaks with The Essex Historical Society's Executive Director Jim Witham about the restoration of the tomb of Colonel Jonathan Cogswell, an Essex hero who participated in The Revolutionary War. In 1788, he was a member of the Massachusetts United States Constitutional Convention, voting for the adoption of the United States Constitution. Jim gives details of Cogswell's life along with details as to how the tomb will be restored.

The Cricket's Kris McGinn talks with bookshop owner Hannah Harlow on her recommendations for rainy summer weather reading including The Lost Boys of Montauk, The Perfect Storm, Waves and Beaches, Swimming to the Top of the Tide, Waterlog, Migrations, and Sea Wife. 

Tom Schanley is familiar to many from a long, busy career in film and television work, in everything from Dexter to Melrose Place to Courage Under Fire. He's also a local from Manchester. He stopped by during a recent visit home to talk about his career, growing up in Manchester, his love of theater, and acting in his latest film, Charming The Hearts Of Men, starring Kelsey Grammer. In a full-circle moment, he tells the story of working as a high school student supporting a North Shore Music Theater production of Shakespeare's Hamlet, starring none other than—wait for it—Kelsey Grammer. Produced by Erika Brown and edited by Alexis Brown.

Kris McGinn, Features Editor for The Cricket, chats with The Bookshop of Beverly Farms Owner Hannah Harlow about a great summer read - The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller. From inside her bookstore on a not so summery day, Hannah explains what makes it the perfect beach book. Edited by Alexis Brown.

The Cricket's lifestyle editor visits Hannah Harlow at The Bookshop of Beverly Farms to talk about her new Young Adult book club hosted by the shop, a local YA author, and the great challenge of figuring out how to best categorize Young Adult books.  Produced by Christy King and edited by Alexis Brown. 

The Cricket's Editor Erika Brown introduces Cape Ann to our highly talented summer reporting interns. Hear from Alexis Brown, Marcella Zaffari Flammia, and Olivia Turner. Find out what projects they've been assigned to do, and how to follow their work all summer long. Produced by Christy King and edited by Alexis Brown.

Features Editor Kris McGinn turns the tables on Manchester-by-the-Book store owner Mark Stolle in asking him the question he likes to ask customers, "What is your favorite book?" The tables keep turning as Kris admits she dreaded answering the question, while Mark shares some of the best responses he's heard, and the rest of us madly take note of all the great books and stories Mark shares. 

The Cricket's Lifestyle Editor Kris McGuinn talks with Manchester By The Book store owner Mark Stolle about the question he most often gets from people in his shop: How do you get your books? Buckle up people - the answer is one heck of an adventure! 

Features Editor Kris McGinn talks with Manchester by the Book owner Mark Stolle about the latest couple of great books he read; Matthew McConaughey's autobiography and a fascinating tome on the history of the Comic Book Store. 

The Cricket's Editor Erika Brown welcomes Interior Designer Jen Coles to the Sidecar podcast to talk about her most personal column. It ventured far beyond interior design, but Jen brings it all back home again in the end. 

The Cricket's Editor Erika Brown lets Home Designer Jen Coles further explain to us when - and when NOT - to kill off our household plants as we look to refresh a room's layout and design. 

The Cricket's Editor Erika Brown gets into the weeds with Home Designer Jen Coles on why you might want to look carefully at the parts of your home NOT included in a major renovation. 

Features Editor Kris McGuinn invites Beverly Farms Book Shop owner Hannah Harlow into The Cricket's podcast studio to talk about her experience hosting a panel of authors, who also happen to be bookstore owners. 

The Cricket Editor Erika Brown talks with Lifestyle Editor Kris McGinn about Beverly Farm's Book Shop owner Hannah Harlow's participation in the 2021 Newburyport Book Festival. Hannah writes about her excitement in being asked to moderate a fascinating panel of authors who are also book store owners. 

The Cricket Editor Erika Brown talks with Lifestyle Editor Kris McGinn about the Great Marsh Brewery's owner John Collins and The Great Marsh Brewery on Main Street in Essex which John opened just before Covid. Erika and Kris discuss John, a lively character, and his passion for making “the world's best beer.” They also talk about John's journey from a tech start-up to brewer and restaurant owner, his love of music, and what things might be like for the brewery restaurant in a post-COVID (we hope) summer.

The Cricket Editor Erika Brown talks with Lifestyle Editor Kris McGinn about this local Essex farm Alprilla and its farmers Sophie and Noah Courser-Kellerman. A working farm since the 17th century and a family farm since Noah's grandfather purchased it in 1978 to raise black Angus beef, the farm is a cherished local gem. Erika and Kris talk about how the farm cares for its food and the land, and also how special it feels to visit and to get to know Noah, Sophie, and the community surrounding this remarkable farm.

The Cricket Editor Erika Brown talks with Lifestyle Editor Kris McGinn about the touching and unique friendship between two eccentric Essex residents - Bruce Fortier and David Andrews. Bruce Fortier was known as a rabble-rouser, townie, and enormously talented engineer and craftsman. David Andrews was an autistic man who had been neglected by his caretakers. When the two men met, what followed was an unlikely but unique and beautiful symbiotic friendship. The depth of which was indelibly marked by, after the sudden death of Bruce, David passed away just weeks later. Theirs is a story of love and acceptance. 

The Cricket Editor Erika Brown talks with Lifestyle Editor Kris McGinn about The Mill, a new sandwich shop in Essex, MA, and how owners Josh and Caitlin Silverstein managed to survive opening one month before the Covid lockdown. Pivoting into prepared meals with a delivery option, The Mill became a meal mainstay for many Essex and Manchester residents who did not want to go to the grocery store in the first weeks and months of Covid. Quickly reacting to the needs of the community has made The Mill not only a fantastic new place to eat (Erika recommends the Banh Mi) but a thoughtful and supportive new addition to the small town of Essex as well. 

Lifestyle Reporter Kris McGinn talks with Manchester by the Book owner Mark Stolle about popular American poets Billy Collins and Mary Oliver. Mark then takes us on a grand adventure featuring American actor Michelle Williams and her love of a mysterious Irish poet, and Casey Affleck's search for the perfect gift, which brings us all the way back around to exalting in love for poetry. A hilarious conversation not to be missed! 

The Cricket Editor Erika Brown talks with Lifestyle Editor Kris McGinn about discovering natural wines and the good fortune of having Alexis Harwood and Helen's Bottle Shop arrive in downtown Manchester, MA.  Spending time with Alexis Harwood, Kris McGinn comes to understand not only more about natural wines but the care with which they are created. Alexis and Helen's Bottle Shop want you to enjoy beautiful wines, but wines that come from farmers who care about the land, wine-makers who care about keeping wine pure, and Helen herself, who wants to get to know her customers so that she can help then find their way to wines they love.

The Cricket Editor Erika Brown talks with Lifestyle Editor Kris McGinn about spending time with fine-art photographer Dorothy Monnelly and her relationship with her subject and friend, The Great Marsh. For the past fifty years, Dorothy Monnelly has been taking her large-format camera out to the Ipswich Marsh to create breathtaking black and white images. In explaining her process, it becomes clear that she has a very special respect and love of this natural wonder -- a love that gives her images a rare depth and beauty. Her photography has been published in a stunning new book Between Land and Sea, The Great Marsh.

The Cricket Editor Erika Brown talks with Lifestyle Editor Kris McGinn about the story of a beloved kayaking business, Essex River Basin Adventures (ERBA), in the small Cape Ann town of Essex closing its doors after 25 years.  ERBA put thousands of people on the water every summer to experience the wonder of The Great Marsh, Essex Bay, Choate Island, and Cranes Beach. Local guides would share wonderful stories about the history of Essex shipbuilding, native birds and plants, and current tips about the town of Essex from Woodman's fried clams to the numerous antique shops. ERBA will indeed be sorely missed.

The Cricket Editor Erika Brown talks with Lifestyle Editor Kris McGinn about their shared love of this Gloucester gem. From the extraordinary culinary treats to the warm and familiar vibe, Erika and Kris explain why the Willow Rest is so special. The Gloucester eatery serves up outstanding breakfasts, lunches, and a variety of grab-and-go food at any time. Willow Rest also has incredible baked goods, all made in-house. Owned and run by Melissa Donati and Glen Manfra the small local restaurant offers artisanal groceries, produce, and gifts, and jewelry from local artists. There are simply a million reasons to visit The Willow Rest. Go!

The Cricket Editor Erika Brown talks with Lifestyle Editor Kris McGinn about the story of Kris's ancient and beloved car and the third generation mechanic, Ernie Nieberle of Ernie's Garage in Essex, who helped to take care of it, and her, until the very end.  A third-generation mechanic (his grandfather worked on tanks in WWI and was a POW), Ernie began spending time in the garage with his father and grandfather at age five and worked full-time by 14. A member of the Essex Volunteer Fire Department for 37 years, Ernie is a quiet hero in the community; and certainly was for Kris McGinn and her special car.

The Cricket Editor Erika Brown talks with Lifestyle Editor Kris McGinn about the sparkling work of glass artist James McLeod and the incredible world he and has created at The Bubble Factory in Essex, MA. Having opened its doors in 2019 The Bubble Factory has become a marvelous addition to the quirky and colorful town of Essex, MA. Now, James has opened Cleod, in the artist community of Bearskin Neck in Rockport, MA to sell his custom handblown glass. Kris and Erika talk about Kris's peek inside the hot shop where James and his community of glassblowers, built not only the structure, but all of the furnaces and equipment necessary to operate; making The Bubble Factory is a remarkable place for glass art, but also for the family of artists Jame's has cultivated.

The Cricket Editor Erika Brown talks with Lifestyle Editor Kris McGinn about the unique childhood story of one of Essex MA's oldest residents and the surprising connection they uncover. Sylvia tells stories of her childhood adventures in the Essex Woods, watching the trains come and go from the window of the Essex Public Library, watching the carriages take city visitors to Chebacco Lake or Conomo Point to spend the day. Sylvia explains that although they were poor, she does not have a single unhappy memory of her childhood. Her story reminds us that the simple pleasures are really what matter.