As a center of state government with nearly 300 years of recorded history, Concord has no shortage of relics from the past – from colonial era graveyards, to grand 18th-century homes, to the fine brick row of Main Street. But the city has something of a hidden history, too, recorded by a markers that call attention to things that are no longer there or point to events that have left…

Now that the weather is warming up, it's time to come out of hibernation and start enjoying some of the neat things our state's capital city has to offer. To aid in that endeavor, we've created The Insider's Guide to Concord, a touristy-type supplement to the Concord Insider. We know what you're thinking: "Don't you do an awesome job covering that stuff in the regular Insider?" True, but this issue is dedicated specifically to having fun in Concord, which, by the way, is a great thing to do in the summer: While everyone else is heading up north or to the seacoast, you'll have Concord's 67 square…

When did fun become so expensive? According to Amazon.com, the going rate for a Nintendo Wii is approximately $249.99, and the games that go with it aren't exactly cheap either. Mario Party 8 is $46.99 - $46.99 for a game?!? I didn't even know there was a Mario Party 1 through 7. Geez, Mario, why are your parties so pricey? Who do you think you are? Paris Hilton? Well, we don't need…

The Capitol Center for The Arts, 44 S. Main St., provides a spot to listen to live music, sing along with your favorite musical, have some laughs with a comedian and so much more. Best of all, attending a show at the Capitol Center means not having to travel all the way to Boston or New York City for your theater fix. We've included a listing of the center's shows for this summer. Check out the Capitol Center's website at ccanh.com for complete descriptions, prices and updates for any last-minute changes or additions. Also, see what they have in store for fall and winter. For more information,…

The Concord Recreation Department has all sorts of fun going on this summer (read about its Splash Bashes on page 16). Here's a sampling of some more family-friendly events that will keep you and the kiddies occupied during the hot summer months. On June 13 (rain date June 14) celebrate White Park's 125th birthday from 1 to 4 p.m. by watching a baseball game, playing games and munching on some food. Hey, White Park, you're lookin' good for 125! On June 25 keep the little ones (3- to 6-years-olds) entertained at the Teddy Bear Picnic at the White Park pool from 5:30 to 7 p.m. There will be music,…

We asked our readers to tell us what they love about the capital city. Concord resident Beth Campbell rose to the challenge - we couldn't have said it better ourselves. Thanks, Beth! What do I love about Concord? Where do I start? I love the smell of the air in spring. The whole city smells new, and when the lilacs are in bloom, it's truly heavenly. I love turning onto Route 393 and being greeted by a breathtaking view of hills, trees and more shades of green than I knew existed. I love that I can walk down Main Street alone at 10 p.m. and feel safe. When summer comes, I love, love, love Market…