An incredible gem hidden away in the heart of downtown Portsmouth. I had no idea that SAACC existed…read moreuntil I did research on organizations that support the NH/Seacoast African American population and I came across it on Google. It is tucked into the same building as Discover Portsmouth so it is easy to miss but 100% worth the visit. Their current exhibition displays photos taken by President Barack Obama's presidential photographer, Pete Souza, over the course of Obama's eight years as president. The exhibition is beautifully curated and moving. SAACC also does a commendable job of highlighting figures in the local African American community through a permanent photo display and the books and additional materials that they have for sale. I will be telling everyone I know in the area to stop by for a visit!

From the owner: Come visit the former President Barack Obama - Pete Souza exhibit. read more

The Laugh Track is a fun, fast and fabulous 90 minute play about Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll…read morejr...the writers of the I Love Lucy Show. Taken from Ms Pugh's autobiography, but with some poetic license by the wonderful Playwright, Wendy MacLeod, it recounts scenarios from Madelyn Pugh's perspective both in and out of the writer's office. Her role back then was NOT always as an equal, though she was equally as funny a writer as her male counterpart. It also hits on the dynamic between all the people involved in making that show a groundbreaking hit as well as the ultimate end of the show in 1957.

My husband and I have taken to attending every show we can at Portland Stage over the past year,…read moreand let me tell you, we have seen some FANTASTIC shows!!! So far, our favorites from the 23-24 season have been "Saint Dad," a play about intricate family dynamics and loss in rural Maine, and "Clyde's," about a sandwich shop employing an entirely formerly incarcerated staff. In both of these shows, the acting was spot-on! We usually pick a showing on a weeknight to access easy parking outside on Forest Ave. Sometimes, we come early to secure parking and get a bite to eat at Empire or Otto's before the show. The theater is super comfortable, and there is not a bad seat in the house!

Small museum with a big heart. Our guide was knowledgeable. The museum has some Tewksbury Hospital…read morehistory and some public health history...I learned things I never knew. We took a timed, socially distanced tour - it worked! We hope to visit in the spring to take the outdoor tour next time.

The museum is fine. It's nothing fancy and oddly enough, completely inaccessible to people with…read moredisabilities, and I had to search for a staff member to answer my question about an unlabeled item. But for $5 and a half hour, if you're in the area, fine. Public health is important. Anti vaxxers would hate it but that's their problem. What I am actually sad about is the tour of the hospital grounds, led by an older white woman who seemed informed enough but whose knowledge of history and psychiatric care, etc, was easily outmatched by the children and adults in our group (because the people taking a 90 minute walking tour of a state hospital are not just curious tourists, we all had a specific interest in the history of health.) She simply did not seem to have any real sympathy or empathy for the poor souls held there against their will, and her cheerful demeanor as she led us around would probably be appropriate at another historic site, but not one where people were locked up for life for the crimes of being poor or disabled. She showed us a picture of a row of fat babies in a crib, admitted it was probably staged as most of the kids would be thinner, but didn't mention the well known fact that the majority of infant inmates there died before their first birthday and that their bodies were sold to be dissected. (http://homenewshere.com/tewksbury_town_crier/article_fade0809-5eb1-5269-a6f3-9fbfcb056845.html https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/issues/tewksbury-almshouse-investigation/) To me, a disabled woman, the hospital grounds are a sacred space, a space where thousands upon thousands lived and died and suffered due to the fact that society at the time did not want to deal with them. These attitudes persist today when businesses do not want to make their stores accessible or when schools deny a disabled child needed accommodations. At the time of its opening, Tewksbury hospital was a model for the nation, and today, it has offices for Mass health, the direct model for Obamacare and one of the best public insurance programs in the nation. There is a direct link between yesterday and today, and today, our guide did not even attempt to make it. A small amount of online research makes the place come alive as it did not during the tour, because you are able to find out the actual names and stories of people - very few stories, unfortunately, but many names. This tour had no stories whatsoever, simply random facts about how at that end of that building, the more 'dangerously violent insane' were kept, and how wonderful the farm worked, and how hard people worked, (until their workshops were forced to shut down because there was a law made saying that people had to be paid. This is said as if it were a bad thing......) It is largely just the pointing out of what population was held in this building that is now used for (some program) or, in about half the case, in this building that no longer exists. (Why in heavens name is there a daycare in the building formerly used as the main asylum for mentally ill men?) It is stories that make people come alive. These people are dead, many not very long ago, and their stories are all gone with them. The tour is completely inaccessible to people with sensory disabilities. There are many sections of rotting asphalt road, many stops and starts, few near a place you can sit down, also with one exception you don't get close enough to touch the buildings and not many visual descriptions are given even with a blind person in our group. And although the museum uses up to date language - saying, for example, 'people with mental illness' as has been the standard for years - the guide doesn't bother to, because, she ever-cheerfully explains, they just said 'the insane' then, so that's what she does. It's a poor choice of language and it's a poor tour in general. I do hope that other tour guides are better than ours was. Do go down the road a bit to the cemetery and pay your respects, over 10,000 people are buried there with metal markers that peep up through the leaves. Do think about the lives they led, and the choices that were taken from them as they were locked inside those cells and crowded rooms. Do think about their death and what they mean today to you as a person who maybe benefits from the great public health system of Massachusetts.

Westbrook Community Center is quite possibly the best community center I have been a part of. The…read morestaff is friendly and personable. The instructors are well informed and good mentors for community involvement and healthy living. There are activities for young and old, athletic or not! There is a pool, a dance studio and gymnasium! There are plenty of meeting spaces available for rent for parties or meetings. A community center would not be complete without a thrift shop! Checkout all of the great programs throughout the day!

When I moved to Westbrook, I never realized how much of a staple the community center would become…read morefor me. Living in smaller towns, I never had such a place, and since I have become part of this community I have been able to witness the Westbrook Community Center grow to offer so many programs to our community and beyond. My first introduction was the child care program they have there for before and after school. This used to be called Ready Kids, and now is called Westbrook Learns. This is an affordable and structured after school option that has been great for my son. They have activities, games, crafts, reading, etc to keep the children busy after school. If interested, contact the community center to see if they have openings and I highly recommend signing up early in the summer to secure your spot. My son also attends the summer camp, where they have scheduled activities, learning, field trips, swimming, and sports going on every day. My son comes home tired! Beyond the child care, the community center also hosts sports for children including, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, dance and much more. It really helps to keep children physically challenged all year around. For grown ups, there are a ton of exercise programs including zumba, boot camp, kettle bells, etc. I know I am missing so many services as I do not utilize them all. The next activity I plan to use is the swimming lessons. My son is an excellent swimmer and they offer lessons for all skill levels in their inside pool. Other activities and offerings include: Inside batting cages, full sized gym, historical society museum, senior citizen services, a community garden, music and dance lessons, a cafe, and much more. I hope others will share their reviews to let the people of our region know of all the services this excellent facility provides.

After checking out the awesome murals in Salem, I searched for other places we could view outdoor…read moreart, and Beyond Walls in Lynn popped up! We drove over on a Saturday afternoon and easily found parking on Mount Vernon Street. The Beyond Walls website has an interactive map which we tried to follow, but it was a bit difficult, so we ended up just walking around the downtown area. We saw some really beautiful murals, and it got us out to a part of the state that I probably wouldn't have gone to otherwise. The streets weren't always the cleanest, but it was definitely worth the trek - I'd just recommend wearing close-toes shoes. After seeing a good number of murals, we hopped back in the car and parked nearer to the waterfront to walk along Nahant Beach. All in all, a really nice weekend afternoon outing in the time of COVID!

From the owner: Beyond Walls stands out as a unique nonprofit due to its integrated approach to urban…read morerevitalization through creative placemaking, with a strong emphasis on community engagement, public art, and safety improvements in our cities. Beyond Walls uses large-scale public art, such as murals, neon art, and light installations, to transform public spaces, reduce blight, and spark community pride. Unlike traditional beautification efforts, we: • Curate world-renowned artists while involving local talent. • Activate underutilized or unsafe areas (e.g., dark alleys, train underpasses). • Use art as a catalyst for economic and social change, not just decoration.

A renovated church tucked into a sleepy street in the South End, this cultural center/performance…read morespace has retained some serious spirit, and has hosted a myriad of cool, underground community events. Because of the sheer openness and shape of the space are acoustics are solid. The pulpit was converted into a sizeable stage with a broad audience area where the pews once were. There's also excellent views from the expansive two tiered balcony. When I first visited for Soul Revival in 2001 (a now defunct deep house party) the ceiling was painted midnight blue with stars, and people came together once a month to relive the reverence of its foundation through movement and sound. It was consistently one of the most beautiful experiences of my lifetime. Keepin' Jeebus proud, folks. I only wish they kept the organ.

I think this is an old church, which is now converted to a…read morerental space. ATMOSPHERE: Simply stunning space... the SPIRAL STAIRCASE that curves you from the top to the bottom floor makes for perfect photos! The STAINED GLASS windows are striking as well. THE DEAL: This is a hidden gem in Boston's South End. You can rent this superior space reasonably for the area.

In the smallest New Hampshire town by distance, only 10 square miles, you'll find the nation's…read morefirst non-profit Indonesian cultural center in Somersworth on High Street at the junction of Routes 9 and 236. This community center celebrates all aspects of Indonesian life and culture and is quickly becoming an important resource and gathering spot for the significant Indonesian population in this corner of the state. In addition to a cafe and retail store, the ICC is planning to offer job counseling and a food pantry to holistically serve the town and neighboring communities. Free events are being held weekends to introduce the center and the rich cultural fabric of Indonesian life. Come for the food and learn more!

The classes are so much fun. Teachers are always great and are offered in a lovely setting. For…read moreme, each class is a mini vacation. I am so glad Wild Salamander exists!

I recently moved back to Hollis with my young family after a ten year hiatus in other cities. I…read moremust say, this is a wonderful treasure for Hollis. Wild Salamander adds a refreshing community center to our town where families can come together in a fun and inviting environment. The owners care deeply about art, community, and education; it's great to see the area support a business like this! I only wish it was here when I was young. I've been enjoying my class on pastels, and am looking forward to more classes in the future for me and my family. The teachers too are true professionals in the area equally devoted to sharing their passions. Also! I had not realized this until going: there is a small shop with local arts and crafts that's open to the public during the day. They have unique and thoughtful gifts for Christmas, birthdays, and other events. A great option when I'm looking for something with a little more character than what I'd find on Amazon :D (Full Disclosure: I copied this from my own Google Review).

This review is just for the Kaffestugan on Saturdays from 11 AM - 3 PM. I know they have a whole…read morehost of cultural events, which I look forwrd to attending. I was delighted to find a place that has kannebuller (Swedish cinnamon rolls). First Saturday of the month is Danish, where they also serve open face sandwiches - including shrimp (yum), meatballs, and salmon. My only complaint is that I wished they had it on denser bread. They also had delicate waffles that they made to order with jam and whipped cream. Loved the snegels (Danish cinnamon rolls with just a drizzle of icing)! Looking forward to coming back!

This is well worth a detour if you are interested in contemporary art. Owner/curator, Mary Harding…read morehas a great eye and is a delightful hostess as well. A great opportunity to see regional artists as that is who she represents. If you enjoy fine contemporary art, this place should be on your radar when in the area. I will certainly be back when in New England.

Spectacular location! Very well curated. Highlights area artists, new and well established. I visit…read moreoften.