August 2026

Aug 5
4 min read

Dear Friends,

It's August, and I'm still thinking about America250 over here. One of the freedoms outlined in the Bill of Rights (adopted to the US Constitution in 1791), in particular: That Congress shall make no law against a peaceable assembly of citizens. One of America’s superpowers is the right to assemble. We often think about that in political terms (I’m sadly thinking of riots; but rebellion against real oppression can bring forth goodness, too, I think). Assembly can also be more demure– a lecture of interest, a bookclub, a sporting competition. It is the physical manifestation of association– which is typically noted as the connecting or linking of ideas. So, we associate and we assemble.

The Cottage!

We are here mostly agreeing on the idea that we need human connection to thrive (to survive?). We are here mostly agreeing that we need to get work done– we need to contribute to something bigger than ourselves.

Complete newsletter here.

We are here, in person, together, sharing this space. We’ve assembled here. Next, we can share our weekend plans, and our KPI, ROI, or API. We can share our observations of development in the neighborhood, and our hopes, fears, and goals over lunch. And in this sharing, we create the opportunity to associate more. The superpower of America is its emphatic call to recognize human dignity through that first amendment. This is how we can build a culture– here at the Cottage we’re recalling beauty, goodness, and truth to live well. The Cottage is meant to be a place to get work done, and also to associate with one another over ideas, dreams, and common interests. This is good practice for a free society. Let’s not let that muscle atrophy!

On that note, I’ll invite you to consider coming to watch films with us in September (see below)-- exploring culture through moving pictures! Or stop into Roots for Open Mic Night (listening to human expression through song). Or pop over to St. Mary's Church for the International Festival (eating and dancing your way through cultures). So many ways for potential association and assembly!

If our culture congregates in more virtual spaces, rather than assembling in body, physically, we risk outsourcing our superpower of coming together (inherent to human nature) to a disembodied avatar. We build a culture through a filtered, mediated simulacre of reality. Thank goodness for the Cottage to re-member us in reality, and the human assembly.

POEM FOR AUGUST

What is your life?

S.E. Kiser (c. 1912)

To the preacher life’s a sermon,

to the joker it’s a jest;

To the miser life is money,

to the loafer life is rest.

To the lawyer life’s a trial,

to the poet life’s a song;

To the doctor life’s a patient,

that needs treatment right along.

To the solider life’s a battle,

to the teacher life’s a school;

Life’s a “good thing” to the grafter,

it’s a failure to the fool.

To the man upon the engine

life’s a long and heavy grade;

It’s a gamble to the gambler,

to the merchant life’s a trade.

Life’s a picture to the artist,

to the rascal life’s a fraud;

Life perhaps is but a burden

to the man beneath the hod.

Life is lovely to the lover,

to the player life’s a play;

Life may be a load of trouble

to the man upon the dray.

Life is but a long vacation

to the man who loves his work;

Life’s an everlasting effort

to shun duty to the shirk.

To the heaven-blest romancer

life’s a story ever new;

Life is what we try to make it--

Brother, what is life to you?

MOVIE NIGHTS

Thursdays at 7pm

Starting in September

Years ago, when human connection was not deemed essential, Mallory and Kate invited a few friends and family over to watch movies and chat about them afterward. It was informal. It was relaxing. It let us expound upon themes, characters, and cinematographic choices. It usually included dinner beforehand. The movies gave us a reason to gather– the conversation kept us planning more. We’re rekindling movie night in that spirit. Clear your Thursday evenings come September. We’ll make space to take in the culture-making medium of film.

What films inspire WONDER?

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

BRAD JANSEN, VOYAGE PICTURES

"Anything is possible....but not everything. Live your story with intention & wonder." - Brad

Meet Brad Jansen! This guy is a husband, father (of three boys), and the executive producer and managing partner of our esteemed and award winning Voyage Pictures. Brad has always been on the cutting edge of storytelling and his infectious optimism and thoughtful intentionality rally an equally talented crew around him for big moments and small. Like his viral marriage proposal and subsequent appearance on Good Morning America over a decade ago. (Congrats! And…look it up!)

King of offering many, many options and/or alternative solutions (ask his team about his patent pending “campfire meeting icebreakers”…), this brainstorming idea powerhouse also cultivates the discipline to see things through to the end. He recently completed his first full-distance IRONMAN in Lake Placid—and “I’m still deciding whether that proves I can do hard things or simply make questionable decisions for a very long time.” Brad leads with relationship, which is evident from the way he approaches business and in the water cooler conversations you might get to experience with him here at the Cottage.

He’s currently thinking about our relationship with technology as AI reshapes creative work. How do we use it to become more effective without losing the deeply human aspects that make stories and communication and storytelling at large.....meaningful?

COTTAGE & OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS

Opportunities for Leisure

Weds Aug 5 - Westside Wednesdays @ Las Canchas, 5-8pm; each Wednesday til Sept 30

Thurs Aug 20 - Open Mic Night, @ Roots Brew Shop, 7pm

Fri Aug 21 - West Grand Neighborhood Association happy hour, OToole's, 4-6pm - Networking oppt!

Sun Aug 23 - St. Mary's International Festival, 12-6pm, 420 2nd Street, Food, Music, & Dance!

Thurs Sept 3 - Movies at the Cottage, 7pm

Mon Sept 7 - Cottage is CLOSED for Labor Day

Tues Sept 8 - Tome Raiders Book Club (Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke) @ Cellar Bird Books, 7pm

Thurs Sept 24 - Stockbridge Business Association meeting, Noon, location TBD. Networking oppt!

Do you have an upcoming event to share, please email us (hello@cottageonturner.com) by the third Thursday of the month to be included in the upcoming month’s newsletter.