The Summer Salon series kicks off this evening!

Join several storytellers who share true stories from their lives, told live without notes. The evening’s theme is “heat.” Among the storytellers will be Judy Bedell, Peter Eschauzier, Colleen Michaels, and Bill Scannell. J.D. Scrimgeour hosts.

Judy Wang Bedell came to the U.S. from Beijing, China for graduate school and then stayed in the US to live and work. She is a Salem resident and has lived in the city for 24 years.

Peter Eschauzier was born in 1940 in Modjokerto, Java, Indonesia. He grew up in the Netherlands, West Newton, MA, Roslyn, New York, and Switzerland. He served in the US Navy from 1963-68, and then worked as a pilot for many years. He served on the Board of Directors of Historic Salem and was the President of the Grey Eagles, representing the retired pilots of American Airlines.

Colleen Michaels writes poems and tells stories. She directs the Writing Studio at Montserrat College of Art, where she’s been hosting the Improbable Places Poetry Tour for 10 years. Her poems have appeared in journals and anthologies, on the ceiling of the PEM and the stairs to Crane Beach, and on bar coasters under pints.

Bill Scannell grew up in Worcester, MA and attended school there. He graduated from Skidmore College, and, thereafter, Suffolk University Law School. He is married and the father of three children.

J.D. Scrimgeour is the Chair of the Athenaeum Writing Committee.

Please join us on Fridays in July and August for one or more of these special evenings!

July 12: Storytelling hosted by J.D. Scrimgeour

July 19: Dave Williams — Polling

July 26: Margie Lavender and Dean Lahikainen— Harmony Grove Cemetery

August 9: Boston Saxophone Quartet

August 16: James R. Scrimgeour and Carl Carlsen — Dogtown

August 23: Vicky Sirianni — Palladio