Lithermans did another beer collaboration
It seems like the guys at Lithermans Limited are always coming out with a new beer. Which makes perfect sense considering they’ve got more than 125 on their created list since opening a little more than two years ago. But the next one to hit the draft lines is a little different than most – and we’re not just talking about the fact it’s a cream ale flavored with blood orange and lime. The End of the Blood-Lime (catchy right!) is a...
Concord has become a hub for public art
You may have noticed a new piece of public art hanging out on the corner of Capitol and North Main streets.It’s the creation of Massachusetts sculptor Rob Lorenson and is known as Taper Deco. The large metal sculpture is pretty cool with both its smooth and tapered surfaces. If you tap on it (shh, you shouldn’t do that) it sounds hollow and you can almost make the case that from one angle it kind of looks like a C for Concord. And is...
Homemade ice cream is a labor of love
With the temperatures closing in on unbearable and the official return of that hot New England summer weather now upon us, ice cream season is about to hit its peak time. Can you think of a better way to cool down on a sweltering July day? And as you may know, Concord is home to many places to get a cone or a sundae. At the local level, there’s Arnie’s Place, Ballard’s Ice Cream, Frekey’s Dairy Freeze, Buza Dairy Bar and Granite State...
Get out to a farm and pick your own food
Getting fruits and vegetables from a local farm just has a different feel to it than stocking up at the grocery store.You know exactly where your produce is coming from, and can grub down a little easier knowing that it’s only been off the plant, vine or out of the ground for a day or two – sometimes even less.And don’t get us wrong, we don’t mind having the folks who do this for a living do all the hard work for us, while we get to...
McGowan is closing – and this time it’s for good
No matter how hard Sarah Chaffee tried, the numbers just wouldn’t match up.The cash coming in wasn’t matching the cash going out, and for a small gallery like McGowan Fine Art – or really any business for that fact – that’s kind of a crucial element to staying open. After announcing last year she would be closing the gallery that opened in 1980, she got a ton of community support and tried to give it another shot, moving to a smaller,...
Tasty Brews: The Principal at Concord Craft Brewing Co.
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of beer – especially those made right here in Concord.So when we heard about The Principal Pale Ale recently created at Concord Craft Brewing Co., we were instantly sold. Then we learned that it was part of the Ales for ALS fundraising campaign, where $1 of every pint sold would go to the ALS Therapy Development Institute.So not only do we greatly enjoy pale ales, but supporting the cause is a...
From the Crowd: ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’ is a must-see
Mention the name Mister Rogers and it certainly conjures up some fond childhood memories.For me, I spent many mornings of my youth watching the wildly popular and highly educational show on PBS. Despite the fact it debuted more than a decade before this Insider was born, it was one of those shows that just captivated your attention and drove your imagination.There was the Neighborhood Trolley, King Friday XIII, Daniel Striped Tiger...
The Children’s Place is turning 40 years old
When The Children’s Place & Parent Education Center opened on June 26, 1978, Mary Gile wasn’t so sure it was sustainable.She was one of a group of 20 parents who felt like Concord needed a place for families and children to gather – since there wasn’t anything like it in the area – but it also came with some reservations. “When we opened, we weren’t sure we were going to be there for a week or a month,” Gile said. “But there...
Food Snob: Lunch buffet at Asian Taste
If there’s one thing that gets a Food Snob excited, it’s a buffet. The mere idea of a long line of various foods all lumped together for you to create your own meal is the stuff of Food Snob dreams.That’s why we decided to hit up the lunch buffet at Asian Taste in Penacook (or is that still Concord, right at Thirty Pines?). The place is just a 9-iron shot from our office, but weirdly enough we had never Food Snobbed them before. That...
NH Master Chorale to perform ‘Time in Our Voices’ in Concord, Boston, Plymouth
The New Hampshire Master Chorale, one of the region’s leading chamber choirs, will make its Boston debut on Friday in a concert of wide-ranging contemporary music. It includes the premiere of a new work by Boston composer Oliver Caplan called “We Exist” – a plea for a universal humanity composed in response to the 2017 racial violence in Charlottesville, Va. The concert, featuring the 30-voice Master Chorale and chamber...
Penelope got a keepsake bib thanks to Janet Ulbrich
Since we first debuted sweet little Penelope a couple weeks ago, I’ve gotten lots of emails and phone calls with congratulatory wishes.It’s been nice to have that kind of response since returning to work on much less sleep than before adding our newest member of the Goodwin family. But Janet Ulbrich took things to another level. When I spoke to her about the latest bib creation she made for the Royal family, it came up that my wife...
On Display: See John Bonner’s ‘Streetwise’ at McGowan
In the last year John Bonner, known for his urban and suburban paintings, began experimenting to spark his creative spirit.Doing what he called “some wild stuff,” he reduced colors and forms into abstract compositions that didn’t quite satisfy him. An avid reader, Bonner then sought inspiration from a bit in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance – where a student discovers it’s much more helpful to the artistic project to write...
The Arts: Opening for Kimball Jenkins student show
Mill Brook Gallery Spring and Summer Through: Sept. 2 Outdoor Exhibit Through: Oct. 14 Location: 236 Hopkinton Road Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. League of N.H. Craftsmen Celebrating 85 – The Stevens Collection Opens: June 29 Reception: June 29 Location: 49 S. Main St., Suite 100 Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kimball Jenkins Student Show Through: June 30 Reception: Thursday,...
Photograph Kimball Jenkins
Do you consider yourself a photographer? Are you good at setting up shots and capturing a scene that most people just wouldn’t see?Well, then you’ll want to grab your camera and make your way over to the Kimball Jenkins Estate before June 29 and snap some pictures of the historical property.The public (that’s you) is invited to explore and capture the historical elegance and natural beauty of Kimball Jenkins – both inside and out –...
Plenty of tunes during Market Days week
Market Days week is upon us, and though that street festival will be jam-packed with music, there’s a lot more going on all week that doesn’t have anything to do with Market Days. Notably, singer Gordon Lightfoot, active since the 1950s, will bring his signature brand of Canadian folk music to the Capitol Center for the Arts on Friday.Take a look!MusicTuesdayKid Pinky at Hermanos Cocina Mexicana at 6:30 p.m.The Nevers’ Band at Kiwanis...
Red River Theatres to hold Music, Movie & Poster Sale during Market Days
Red River Theatres will be holding its annual fundraiser, the Music, Movie & Poster Sale, during Market Days. The theater will be selling gently used records, CDs, cassettes, DVDs and VHS tapes along with a selection of movie posters. The sale will take place inside the theater from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. If you are looking to add to your music or movie collection, stop in and check it out! All money raised...
Zonta Club of Concord to hold book sale during Market Days
The Zonta Club of Concord will be selling used books in front of Viking House during Market Days. All proceeds from book sales will go toward scholarships for local women seeking to continue their education. Zonta will offer novels, collector’s books, self-help, children’s books, cooking, historical, coffee table books and many more for sale. Come and stock up on books for your summer reading, and help support women in their pursuit...
Concord Eye Center surgeon heading to Haiti on humanitarian mission
Concord Eye Center ophthalmologist Dr. Erin Fogel will join SEE International (seeintl.org) and the Friends of Haiti organization, in cooperation with Haitian affiliate Double Harvest, on a cataract surgery mission later this month. While in Port-au-Prince, some in the group, including Fogel herself, will perform three days of cataract surgeries on patients in need, while others will be teaching surgical techniques to residents in a...
Well Done Awards presented to four local businesses and individuals
The Well Done Awards, offered by the Capital Area Wellness Coalition, serve to recognize efforts in Merrimack County that support healthy eating and active living. Nominations are accepted from the community and reviewed by past winners and select members from the CAWC. Ten nominations were received this year with four winners selected and awarded by Mayor Jim Bouley.This year’s recipients include: Renee Plodzik, ARPN, Fit 4 A Cause;...
Concord area businesses, volunteers honored at Pinnacle Awards
Three local businesses and a local business leader were honored June 7 at the 13th Annual Pinnacle Awards Luncheon at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord. The sold-out luncheon hosted 250 community, nonprofit and business leaders from the Capital Region who came to celebrate Pinnacle Award recipients nominated by peers and selected by a committee of last year’s winners.“We enjoy an abundance of civic engagement in the Capital...
Concord Police Department holds second annual Bike Rodeo at Steeplegate Mall
Do you remember your first bike? Where you rode it and who you rode with? On June 9, at least 100 kids got their first bike and rode with the Concord Police Department Bike Unit officers at the 2nd Annual Concord Police Department Bike Rodeo at the Steeplegate Mall. Police officers led groups of kids through stations, teaching them skills such as riding in a straight line, scanning over their shoulder while biking and avoiding hazards...
Bulletin Board: Concerts, gardening and networking event
Concert series kicks off June 26 The Summer Concerts on the Green series at Presidential Oaks kicks off June 26 and will continue weekly through Aug. 7. With the historic Odd Fellows Home as a backdrop, the public is welcome to join us and relax on the plush, green lawn in a comfortable chair while enjoying complimentary popcorn and bottled water during each performance. Opening the music season for the third consecutive year is the...
This Week in Concord History
June 19, 1807: Parliamentary maneuvering in the Legislature results in Concord being named the capital, ending several years of roving state government. June 19, 1856: One hundred booms of the cannon in Concord celebrate the nomination of John Charles Fremont, the first Republican candidate for president. The cheer goes up: “Free Soil, Free Men and Fremont.” June 19, 2000: Residents of Hull, Quebec, pedal through downtown Concord on a...
Around Town: We’ve now seen it all in this city
So one day a couple of weeks ago, we were running super late for a phone interview and instead of making up some wild and crazy excuse or trying to speed demon our way to the office, we decided to pull into the parking lot of Terrill Park and make the call. Not ideal, but at this point, we’re used to using just about anywhere as our office away from the office. On our way out of the park, we noticed something that seemed a little out...
Dan Szczesny to speak about book ‘The White Mountain’ at Gibson’s Bookstore
Over the course of one calendar year, journalist Dan Szczesny explored the history and mystique of New England’s tallest mountain. But Mount Washington is more than just a 6,288-foot rock pile; the mountain is the cultural soul of climbers, hikers and tourists from around the world looking to test their mettle against some of the most extreme conditions in return for a chance to be inspired by some of the most intense natural...
Book of the Week: ‘American Gods’
American GodsNeil Gaiman2001, 522 pages plus additional contentMagical Realism (Fiction) The man called Shadow is due to be released from three years in prison when he is told that his wife has died, and he is sent home early in order to attend her funeral. On the way home he is waylaid by the persistent Mr. Wednesday, and given a job: “You protect me. You help me. You transport me from place to place. You investigate, from time to...
Sofia Payne wants to sell you a travel cup
Sofia Payne wanted to do something different for Lent this year.Sure, she could have given up watching TV or eating chocolate, but the 6th grader at St. John Regional School felt it was important to use it as a way to help others.“We’re always talking about the ways we can make a difference in our communities,” Payne said of her school.And what better way then to help the Friendly Kitchen. Payne first thought of a food drive, but...
Crimson Care Closet looking to fill a need
The Concord High SOCK (Save Our Cold Kids) Club is always looking for new ways to help out.In March and April, the group of 40 students arranged a new sock drive that netted more than 300 pairs. Earlier in the school year, they got fellow students to create about 1,400 cards to send to military personnel overseas as part of the Holiday Card Challenge and did a collection afterwards for unused blank cards that brought in more than...
‘Richard II’ at Hatbox Theater begins Friday
When Gary Locke decided to create his own original adaptation of a Shakespeare classic, he knew exactly the avenue he wanted to take.“We were looking for a Shakespeare show that was political in nature and Richard II is certainly that,” Locke said.So he put on his writing hat and began a journey of transforming the play that was first scribed in the late 1500s into something that anyone – Shakespeare enthusiast or not – could not only...
Clara Brogan sure knows how to tell a good story
When Clara Brogan was 4 years old, she learned to read. Her father had just passed away and since he was the one who had taught her the letters of the alphabet, her mother thought it would be good for her.“She thought if I learned to read, I wouldn’t miss him so much,” Brogan recalled.Fast-forward 90 years, and Brogan’s love of books and reading has never subsided; it’s only seemed to grow.“Reading is very important to me and has been...
