Can you help with a value on this old telescope? I’m not sure it’s still working properly but really liked the look.
Cecile
Dear Cecile,
I like the look too. Great antique decorative item.
There were several telescope manufactures and many sizes and and distance purposes. What I noticed about yours from the pictures is the leather sheathing that usually covered the brass is missing. Also, the top of the scope seems to have damage, so this could be why it might not be working. The damage could be from a fall or just wear and tear over the years. They are from the early to mid 1900s.
In the condition yours is in I would say it is just for decorative purposes and the value would be under $25. If it were complete, and depending on the maker, it would be in the $100+ range.
Recently I was at my local food coop and chatted with a friend about her gardens. She told me that she is having fabulous luck growing tomatoes, peppers and more in a bucket system she constructed. Her inspiration was a book by Vermont’s Ed Smith, who has written a number of great books, including The Vegetable Gardener’s Container Bible. And although I have used the Ed Smith system in the past, it’s good to see how another person uses it, so I visited her to see what she has done.
Susan Pillsbury has nine or 10 self-watering containers, each made from two 5-gallon buckets. Here is what she did: The bottom bucket is the water reservoir; the top bucket, which nestles inside it, holds soil mix. There is a 3- or 4-inch piece of PVC plumber’s pipe (3-inch diameter) that stands up in the bottom bucket and is full of holes she drilled in it.
The piece of pipe sits in the lower bucket and supports the upper bucket. She used a 2-inch hole saw to put a wide hole in the bottom of the upper bucket, right in the middle.
Holes in lower bucket allow watering from below and draining in times of heavy rains. Courtesy photo.
That short piece of pipe gets filled with soil mix, and because it is sitting in the water reservoir, the soil is constantly wet. Like a wet sponge, it wicks water into the soil in the upper bucket. The wicking action keeps the soil for the plant roots lightly moist. The problem with growing veggies in big pots or buckets is often that they dry out or get waterlogged.
Her lower buckets all have one-inch holes drilled just below the bottom of the upper bucket. If she gets a flood of rain, water passes through the upper bucket and out the lower bucket through those holes. This also allows her to fill the water reservoir from the bottom with a hose. Susan also drilled lots of quarter-inch holes in the bottom of the upper bucket for added drainage.
I asked Susan what kind of soil she used in the buckets. She bought potting mix and mixed it with her own homemade compost in a 50-50 mix. Because a 5-gallon bucket has plenty of soil for roots, and she uses a rich mixture, she does not add any fertilizer.
What does all this cost? Not much, really. Her biggest expense was the plastic buckets, which cost about $5 each, though they are often available free from building contractors. A big bag of potting soil might cost $10 to $12 and would be enough for three or four buckets, once mixed with homemade compost. Purchased compost would add to the cost, but most gardeners make their own. Plastic pipe is not expensive.
I noticed that Susan’s tomatoes were free of disease. Most tomatoes planted in the ground have at least some blight that blackens and kills lower leaves, eventually leaving a plant bare of leaves by September. The most common form of blight lives in the soil and splashes up onto leaves when it rains. But since her plants are in potting soil and cured compost, she has avoided the disease — at least so far. Not only that, her plants are in a fenced dog pen (to avoid deer) and no tomatoes have been grown in there in the past. Obviously blight could blow in and infect her plants, but so far, so good.
Next year Susan intends to grow corn in her self-watering containers. She will use six sets of buckets, each with one or more corn plants. Placed in close proximity, this should allow good pollination. From what she has read, she will need corn plants that are relatively small, given the amount of soil each will be planted in. I watched an online video of corn planted in 30-gallon totes with up to 11 plants in each tote. The ears were large and each plant produced more than one ear.
My Veg Trug grows peppers, herbs and flowers this year. Courtesy photo.
I called Ed Smith to see if he had any updates since writing The Vegetable Gardener’s Container Bible. He and his wife, Sylvia, still grow some vegetables in containers as well as in the ground. Ed turned 80 recently and likes using containers so he doesn’t have to bend quite so far.
Ed told me that he doesn’t bother with self-watering containers any more. He has several 2-foot by 3-foot containers he got from Gardener’s Supply as self-watering containers, but removed the baffle separating the water reservoir from the planting space, giving him deeper containers that he waters as needed from above. He is semi-retired and rarely travels, so that works for him. If you are at work five days a week, a self-watering container is probably a better idea for you.
I‘ve experimented with self-watering containers and ordinary containers. The best type I’ve used is called a “Veg Trug” and is sold by Gardener’s Supply. It is a tall V-shaped wooden bin 6 feet by 30 inches and 16 inches deep in the middle. I’ve grown tomatoes, peppers, herbs and flowers in it with good success — and no bending over. It’s made of cedar; mine is in its fifth summer of use and still going strong. I empty it each winter and put it inside, but reuse the potting soil, just adding a little compost and fertilizer each spring.
Even if you’re a city dweller with little space you can grow a few things on a deck or between the sidewalk and the street. Give it a try!
Featured photo:Tomatoes growing without blight using self-watering system with buckets. Courtesy photo.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• Stories from history: The Manchester Historic Association presents A Midsummer Night’s Cemetery Tour at Pine Grove Cemetery (765 Brown Ave., Manchester) on Thursday, Aug. 26, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The interactive nighttime cemetery tour will feature actors from The Majestic Theatre telling first-person accounts of notable figures in Manchester history, such as Frank Carpenter and Nehemiah Bean. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Tickets cost $20 for general admission and $10 for Manchester Historic Association members. Visit manchesterhistoric.org/events or call 622-7531.
• Calling women artists: Girls at Work, a Manchester-based nonprofit that empowers girls through woodworking and building, is seeking artists for its inaugural Women’s Artisan Fair scheduled for Oct. 15 and Oct. 16. Women artisans are invited to submit handcrafted fashion pieces, home goods, paintings and other visual arts for consideration, according to a press release. There is an online form to request more information about how to submit artwork. Visit girlswork.org or call 345-0392.
• Outdoor violin concert: The Suzuki Strings return to Canterbury Shaker Village(288 Shaker Road, Canterbury) on Sunday, Aug. 15, at 4 p.m. as part of the Village’s Music on the Meeting House Green outdoor summer concert series. The Suzuki Strings is a group of student violinists from all over New Hampshire who have learned to play violin using the methodology of Japanese musician and music educator Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998). There is a suggested donation of $10 per person. Call 783-9511 or visit shakers.org.
• Authors in Warner: In-person author events have returned to MainStreet BookEnds (16 E. Main St., Warner), the bookstore announced in a newsletter. Meet local author, teacher and thru-hiker Michael “Sy” Sisemore on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m. Sisemore will discuss his book In the Real World I Hike: Transformation of Purpose and Self in 5 Million Easy Steps, which features a collection of stories from long-distance Appalachian Trail thru-hikers about how hiking changed their lives. Other upcoming author appearances include New Hampshire middle-grade novelist Amy Makechnie on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m., and New Hampshire poet L.R. Berger on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 4 p.m. Call 456-2700 or visit mainstreetbookends.com.
• Last chance for these shows: Don’t miss thePrescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) summer theater production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, going on now through Aug. 15, with showtimes on Thursday and Sunday at 7 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. The show, presented by Wilcox, features a revue of songs and vignettes based on Charles Shulz’ beloved comic strip. General admission is a $5 donation at the gate, or reserved seating is available for $49 to $99. Visit prescottpark.org.
The Peterborough Players present Our Town. Courtesy photo.
The Peterborough Players (55 Hadley Road, Peterborough) continue their production of Our Town through Aug. 15, with showtimes Wednesday through Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Performances take place at the Players’ outdoor theater space, located off Phoenix Mill Lane in downtown Peterborough. The 1938 play by Thornton Wilder tells of love, life and death in the fictional small New Hampshire town of Grover’s Corners. According to the Players’ website, the company first produced the play in 1940 with consultation from Wilder himself. It has since become the Players’ most produced play to date. Tickets cost $47. Visit peterboroughplayers.org or call 924-7585.
Exhibits
SHEAFE WAREHOUSE EXHIBIT AND SALE Featuring works in a variety of media by nearly 40 artists with the New Hampshire Art Association. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, from noon to 7 p.m., now through Aug. 29. Prescott Park, 105-123 Marcy St., Portsmouth. Visit nhartsassociation.org or call 431-4230.
• NEW HAMPSHIRE ART ASSOCIATION EXHIBITS Featuring the work of painters Joe Flaherty of Portsmouth and Maryclare Heffernan of Candia during August. An opening reception will be held on Fri., Aug. 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Creative Framing Solutions, 89 Hanover St., Manchester. Visit nhartsassociation.org or call 320-5988.
• “FRESH PERSPECTIVES” Exhibit features works by New Hampshire artists Peter Milton, Varujan Boghosian, Robert Hughes and others. New Hampshire Antique Co-op (323 Elm St., Milford). On view in the Co-op’s Tower Gallery now through Aug. 31. Visit nhantiquecoop.com.
• “FASHION FORWARD: AFRICANA STYLE” Exhibit showcases Black fashion and explores connections between African American and African design aesthetics from past to present. The Seacoast African American Cultural Center (located inside the Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle St., Portsmouth). On view now through Sept. 1. Gallery hours are Monday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; visitors must reserve a 45-minute time slot in advance. Walk-in guests will be accommodated as space permits. Tickets cost $10 for the general public and $5 for Historical Society members and are available through eventbrite.com. Visit saacc-nh.org.
• “THE BODY IN ART: FROM THE SPIRITUAL TO THE SENSUAL” Exhibit provides a look at how artists through the ages have used the human body as a means of creative expression. On view now through Sept. 1. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• “DON GORVETT: WORKING WATERFRONTS” Exhibit features more than 60 works by the contemporary Seacoast printmaker. The Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth). On view now through Sept. 12. Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.
• “TWILIGHT OF AMERICAN IMPRESSIONISM” Exhibit showcases New England painters and masters of impressionism Alice Ruggles Sohier and Frederick A. Bosley. On view now through Sept. 12. Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth). Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.
• “CRITICAL CARTOGRAPHY” Exhibit features immersive large-scale drawings by Larissa Fassler that reflect the Berlin-based artist’s observations of downtown Manchester while she was an artist-in-residence at the Currier Museum in 2019. On view now through fall. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• 1,000 CRANES FOR NASHUA Featuring more than 1,000 origami paper cranes created by hundreds of Nashua-area kids, adults and families since April. On display now at The Atrium at St. Joseph Hospital, 172 Kinsley St., Nashua. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.
• “TOMIE DEPAOLA AT THE CURRIER” Exhibition celebrates the illustrator’s life and legacy through a collection of his original drawings. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• “ROBERTO LUGO: TE TRAIGO MI LE LO LAI – I BRING YOU MY JOY” Philadelphia-based potter reimagines traditional forms and techniques with inspiration from urban graffiti and hip-hop culture, paying homage to his Puerto Rican heritage and exploring his cultural identity and its connection to family, place and legacy. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Sept. 26. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• GALLERY ART A new collection of art by more than 20 area artists on display now in-person and online. Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford). Call 672-2500 or visit creativeventuresfineart.com.
• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibit in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email [email protected].
• “TENSION: PROCESS IN THE MAKING” The Surface Design Association’s (SDA) New Hampshire Group presents an exhibit featuring fiber art and textiles by New Hampshire artists. July 24 through Sept. 4. Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.
• “SUMMER HAZE” Concord artist and gallery owner Jess Barnet hosts her first group art exhibit. Gallery located in the Patriot Investment building, 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord. On view Aug. 6 through Sept. 3. Visit jessbarnett.com.
Fairs and markets
• CONCORD ARTS MARKET Outdoor artisan and fine art market. Every third Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Now through October. Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). Visit concordartsmarket.net.
• GREELEY PARK ART SHOW Annual outdoor juried art show hosted by Nashua Area Artists Association features a variety of artwork for sale. Sat., Aug. 21, and Sun., Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 100 Concord St., Nashua. Visit nashuaareaartistsassoc.org.
Tours
• NASHUA PUBLIC ART AUDIO TOUR Self-guided audio tours of the sculptures and murals in downtown Nashua, offered via the Distrx app, which uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provides audio descriptions at each stop on the tour as tourists approach the works of art. Each tour has 10 to 15 stops. Free and accessible on Android and iOS on demand. Available in English and Spanish. Visit downtownnashua.org/nashua-art-tour.
Workshops and classes
• GENERAL ART CLASSES In-person art classes for all levels and two-dimensional media. held with small groups of two to five students. Private classes are also available. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Students are asked to wear masks in the gallery. Tuition costs $20 per group class and $28 per private class, with payment due at the beginning of the class. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.
• DRAWING & PAINTING CLASSES Art House Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, Manchester. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students. Visit arthousestudios.org.
Theater
Shows
TELL ME ON A SUNDAY The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Now through Aug. 14, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus a matinee on Thursday, Aug. 5, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• CABARET The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through Sept. 5. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.
• RAPUNZEL The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Wed., Aug. 11, through Thurs., Aug. 12, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• CINDERELLA The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 17, through Thurs., Aug. 19, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• MAD HAUS The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Sun., Aug. 18, 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.
• HOOLIGANS AND CONVICTS The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Aug. 18 through Sept. 4, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Aug. 24, and Thursday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• SLEEPING BEAUTY The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 24, through Thurs., Aug. 26, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.
• IT HAD TO BE YOU The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Sept. 1 through Sept. 18, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 4 p.m., plus matinees on Saturdays, Sept. 11 and Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• TRUE TALES LIVE Monthly showcase of storytellers. Held virtually via Zoom. Last Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., September through December. Visit truetaleslivenh.org.
Concerts
• SUZUKI STRINGS Violin students perform. Canterbury Shaker Village(288 Shaker Road, Canterbury). Sun., Aug. 15, 4 p.m. Suggested donation $10 per person.
Summer Haze group art exhibition at Concord studio
Diverse pieces that capture the essence of steamy summer days will be on display during a group art exhibition at Jess Barnett Art Studio in Concord. The art is hanging now through Sept. 3, with an opening reception on Friday, Aug. 13, when the artists will be in the gallery to talk about their work.
The Summer Haze exhibition features pieces from five artists and is the first group exhibition Barnett has hosted since she opened her studio in November 2019.
“Covid kind of put a damper on [the studio opening],” Barnett said, “so this is really exciting to be able to have the group show.”
Earlier this year Barnett put out a call for entries to New England artists, asking for submissions that were based on the Summer Haze theme.
She ended up working with artists from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, plus one from New York, and between the five of them — Barnett included — there are about 10 to 12 pieces in the exhibition.
“It’s a good size for the gallery,” Barnett said. “It was pretty easy to fit everything in there and make [it] look good next to each other. It takes up one wall of the gallery, and then I have [my work] hanging on the other walls.”
Barnett’s pieces include a couple of new paintings that she hasn’t shown yet, including an abstract painting called “Lilac Season,” plus a couple of older pieces that go well with the theme, she said.
The exhibition is diverse, Barnett said, with paintings, drawings and glass art.
“I can’t really do installation art [because of space], so I wanted to have two-dimensional pieces and glass,” she said.
Karen Mehos, a glass artist from Boscawen, produces mainly stained glass and small glass works. She’s showing a glass bowl called “Small Town Sunset,” featuring a cityscape against a sunset background. It was made by melting glass in a kiln, using colored glass powders on a clear glass base, fusing them together into a flat disk in the 1,450-degree kiln, then softening them with heat again before using a ceramic mold to give it shape.
“It’s pretty innovative and cool how she did that, and she made it just for the show,” Barnett said.
Kathy Bouchard from Nashua has two acrylic paintings of kimonos in the show.
“It’s a cross between realistic and abstract,” Barnett said. “Her art is just really cool.”
The other two artists are Jason Michael Rielly of New York and Lorna Ritz of Massachusetts. Rielly’s art represents both the abstract and expressionism genres of artistic style, Barnett said. She said the work he put in the exhibition highlights these styles and communicates strong emotion, mood and vibrancy.
“They’re almost floral, but more abstract,” she said.
Ritz is a third-generation abstract expressionist-impressionist who paints landscapes.
“I paint the changing seasons as they occur, the light that emanates from seasonal color combinations that occur in landscape,” Ritz wrote about her work.
All of the work in the show is for sale, and for those who can’t make the reception and meet the artists, there will be labels with the artists’ information on the pieces for anyone who wants to learn more about them and their work.
For the reception, Barnett will be giving out a small gift bag with a piece of art to everyone who attends, and she encourages the general public to check it out.
“It’s a very laid back atmosphere. [We] aren’t snobby art people,” she said.
Barnett said she hopes to have more group exhibitions in the future, and she will invite artists of all levels, even those who are just dipping their toes into art, to participate.
“I just really feel that everyone, if they want to, should experiment with art,” she said. “Art can be a really good release for people to express emotion. … You don’t have to go to art school [to be an artist].”
Summer Haze group art exhibition
Where: Opening reception Friday, Aug. 13, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. When: Jess Barnett Art Studio, 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord. The reception is free, and light refreshments will be served. RSVPs are encouraged on the gallery’s Facebook page but are not required. The exhibition will be hanging through Sept. 3.
Featured photo: The Summer Haze exhibition is on display now at Jess Barnett Art Studio. Courtesy photo.
The wait is finally over for comic book lovers as Free Comic Book Day returns on Saturday, Aug. 14, for the first time since 2019. The annual worldwide event, postponed from its traditional date on the first Saturday in May, invites comic book shops to hand out free comic books created specially for that day and host comic-related fun like cosplay contests, door prizes, special guests and more.
Each participating local shop is doing things a little differently, so whether you’re looking to just pop in, grab your free comic and go, or don your best cosplay and spend the day celebrating all things comics, New Hampshire has a FCBD experience for you.
Customers pick up their free comics at a previous Free Comic Book Day at Double Midnight Comics. Courtesy photo.
Diversity Gaming in Hooksett, a new comic book and gaming shop that opened a month before the pandemic, is keeping the focus on the comics for its first FCBD. Owner Erik Oparowske said he placed a large order of free comics to ensure that every customer who wants a free comic can get the one they want quickly and easily. He said he’s expecting the shop to “go through most, if not all” of the comics he ordered.
“We wanted to provide an option for people who may not have half an hour to stand in line,” Oparowske said. “For us, it’s about getting the comics into people’s hands.”
Merrymac Games and Comics in Merrimack will have five comic artists on site promoting and discussing their comic books with customers.
“It adds a little something extra to the event [beyond] the free comics,” manager Bob Shaw said, “and it allows people to meet artists without having to go to a comic convention, which is nice because conventions can be really crazy and crowded, and a lot of people aren’t comfortable enough to start going to them again.”
Famous for its FCBD costume contest that typically attracts more than 100 participants, Double Midnight Comics, which has shops in Manchester and Concord, has decided to hold off on the contest this year and “keep it low-key,” co-owner Chris Proulx said, with plans to resume its usual FCBD festivities in 2022.
“We’re encouraging people to come in, shop a bit and head home with their haul,” Proulx said. “It’s a bummer not having the big event for the second year in a row, but safety is our focus this year.”
New Hampshire’s largest FCBD celebration, the Rochester Free Comic Book Day Festival, will return full-scale, with local comic creators, a scavenger hunt, vendors, prizes, a costume contest and more at businesses and venues all over the city.
“We’re doing Free Comic Book Day just like we’ve always done it in the past, nothing different at all,” said Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics in Rochester, which hosts the festival in partnership with the city. “Everybody is excited to have a semblance of normalcy to life again.”
Oparowske said he looks forward to including more FCBD activities, like the ones at Jetpack, at Diversity Gaming in the future.
“I love that Jetpack and Double Midnight and places like that have that big, carnival-like atmosphere,” he said. “I hope that, once we’ve been here longer and are more firm in the community, we can do something a little like that.”
There are 51 Free Comic Book Day titles this year: 12 “gold” titles, which are available at all participating shops, and 39 “silver” titles, of which certain ones are available at select shops. The selection typically includes a mix of independent, standalone stories; spin-offs of movies, television shows, video games and established comic book series; and samplings or previews of existing or upcoming titles.
Comic book fans can pick up not only this year’s FCBD comics but also ones from 2020, which were released and distributed by comic book shops in batches over the course of nine weeks as part of “Free Comic Book Summer,” a reworking of FCBD held in lieu of the one-day event that year. Since Free Comic Book Summer took place at the height of the pandemic, the 2020 titles went mostly under the radar, and many comic book shops still have stacks of them that they’re hoping to give away at this year’s FCBD.
“I tried doing a free comic book drive-up last year. I got 12 people,” Shaw said, “so I’m still choking on last year’s Free Comic Book Day stuff that never got distributed.”
“I guarantee there is stuff people missed out on [in 2020], so it will be new to them this year,” Proulx added. “Everyone will leave with a nice stack of comics … from both this year and past years.”
Rochester Free Comic Book Day Festival Cosplay Contest. Courtesy photos.
Though thankful to be able to host Free Comic Book Day in its traditional format again, some comic book shop owners and staff are concerned that the rescheduled August date will affect the turnout.
Shaw said this year’s event and the new date haven’t been advertised on a national level nearly as prominently as in years past.
“There hasn’t been the same kind of buzz about it that you usually hear,” he said. “I think there will be a lot of people saying, ‘Oh, I didn’t know [FCBD] was today.’”
“We’ve had tons of customers asking us when [FCBD] is going to be,” Oparowske added. “There’s been a lot of confusion.”
But, Shaw said, it’s not always easy to predict what the turnout will be — it could go either way — and despite all of the variables that may determine whether people come out or not, there is one thing the comic book shops will always have going for them on FCBD: “People love free stuff, and that’s never going to change,” he said. “You can count on that, no matter what.”
Comics vs. Covid
When Gov. Sununu called for non-essential businesses to shut down in March of last year, local comic book shops were prepared for the worst.
“We went into panic mode,” DiBernardo said of Jetpack Comics. “We thought we would be shutting down for the foreseeable future.”
Now, about a year and a half later, many shops are not only surviving, but thriving, thanks to their innovative sales strategies and dedicated customer base.
Shaw said that once Merrymac Games and Comics shifted their business online, their sales numbers weren’t much different from before the pandemic.
“Honestly, the only change for us was that we didn’t have customers in the store,” he said. “We were still fulfilling and shipping out orders every day.”
For Jetpack, DiBernardo said, the ability to offer curbside pickup was the shop’s saving grace. He went from fearing that he would have to let half of his staff go, he said, to having to pay his staff overtime to keep up with the large volume of online and curbside pickup orders.
“Curbside pickup changed everything for us,” he said. “It gave us a goal — something that we could do. Once we figured out how to do it and we hit our stride with it, it went great for us.”
The shutdown was especially tough on Diversity Gaming, which had opened just a month earlier and therefore didn’t qualify to receive the state or federal financial aid that was being offered to small businesses. Oparowske said he owes the shop’s survival to the community.
“Even though we were the little babies on the block, people had already really embraced us and were excited about our presence here during that first month,” he said.
The popularity of online sales during the pandemic has led many comic book shops to make it a permanent part of their business model.
“We found that it was a big boost for us, and it still is,” DiBernardo said. “We’re seeing the same amount of online sales now that we were seeing a year ago.”
While comic book shops may not be considered an essential business on paper, Proulx said, they are essential to many people on a personal level.
“People needed distractions from the pandemic,” he said, “and we were there for them with comics.”
Find a comic
Local comic book store staff shared comic book and graphic novel recommendations for all kinds of readers.
Best comic for someone who “isn’t a comic book person”
Ice Cream Man by W. Maxwell Prince and Martin Morazzo. A horror anthology series for fans of The Twilight Zone or Black Mirror. Recommended by Jill Stewart, comic book manager at Double Midnight Comics.
Star Wars: The High Republic by Cavan Scott A series of stories from the Star Wars universe for fans who want to get some background on where the upcoming movies might lead. Recommended by Erik Oparowske, owner of Diversity Gaming.
Stray Dogs by Tony Fleecs and Trish Forstner A dog wakes up in a strange house with no recollection of how she got there and a feeling that something terrible has happened. Recommended by Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics.
Best comic for adult comic book nerds
Reckless by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips Crime noir set in 1980s Los Angeles. Recommended by Chris Proulx, co-owner of Double Midnight Comics.
Unsacred by Mirka Andolfo A risque take on heaven and hell. Recommended by Erik Oparowske, owner of Diversity Gaming.
King in Black by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman A new twist on old characters and the making of a new god for the Marvel Universe. Recommended by Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics.
Crossover by Donny Cates, Geoff Shaw, Dee Cunniffe and John J. Hill The series sets fictional characters from different comic books in real-world modern-day Denver, Colorado. Recommended by Kyle Litchfield, staff at Jetpack Comics.
Best comic for teens who are too cool for superheroes
Radiant Black byKyle Higgins and Marcello Costa A superhero story for a new generation, this series offers a more realistic look at what would happen if teens really had superpowers. Recommended by Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics.
Life is Strange by Emma Vieceli Based on the video game of the same name, this series follows a photography student who has the magical ability to rewind time. Recommended By Erik Oparowske, owner of Diversity Gaming.
BRZRKR by Matt Kindt, Keanu Reeves and Ron Garney Actor Keanu Reeves writes this story of the next movie that he wants to star in. Recommended by Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics.
Best comic for young aspiring comic book creators
Strange Academyby Skottie Young, Humberto Ramos and Edgar Delgado Dr. Strange of the Marvel Universe establishes a new academy for the mystic arts to train the next generation of magic-users. Recommended by Kyle Litchfield, staff at Jetpack Comics.
Red Room byEd Piskor This cyberpunk tale for teens is about a subculture of criminals who livestream murders for entertainment. Recommended by Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics.
Best comic for kids who don’t like reading
Dog Man by Dav Pilkey The protagonist in this kids graphic novel series is part man and part dog-police officer and -superhero. Recommended by Chris Proulx, co-owner of Double Midnight Comics.
Batman Fortnite Zero Point by Christos Gage, Donald Mustard and Reilly Brown A collaborative comic between DC and the popular video game Fortnite that rewards readers with exclusive content for the game. Recommended by Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Saladin Ahmed and Javier Garrón Miles Morales balances school, parents and life as a teen — who also happens to be Spider-Man. Recommended by Seth Deverell, staff at Diversity Gaming.
Best graphic novels
Days of Future Past by Chris Claremont A look at the X-Men dystopian future that formed the basis for the movies. Recommended By Erik Oparowske, owner of Diversity Gaming.
Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera. Children in the town of Archer’s Peak are mysteriously going missing, and the few that survive return with stories of terrifying monsters. Recommended by Ralph DiBernardo, owner of Jetpack Comics.
Participating Comic Book Shops
For more information about Free Comic Book Day, visit freecomicbookday.com.
• The Comic Store, 115 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, 881-4855, facebook.com/thecomicstorenashua. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Collectibles Unlimited, 25 South St., Concord, 228-3712, collectiblesunlimited.biz. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Diversity Gaming, 1328 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 606-1176, diversitygaming.store. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Double Midnight Comics, 245 Maple St., Manchester, 669-9636; 67 S. Main St., Concord, 669-9636, dmcomics.com. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be sales and raffles.
• Escape Hatch Books, 27 Main St., Jaffrey, facebook.com/escapehatchbooks. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Jetpack Comics, 37 N. Main St., Rochester, 330-9636, jetpackcomics.com.The store partners with the City of Rochester to host the Rochester Free Comic Book Day Festival. Festivities including a scavenger hunt, cosplay competition, special guest comic book artists, vendors and more will take place at the store and at various locations throughout the city starting at 10 a.m.
• Khaotic Comics, 590 Central Ave., Dover, 834-9177, khaoticcomics.com. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The store will have special guest comic book artists, food and an appearance by Spider-Man.
• Merrymac Games and Comics, 550 DW Highway, Merrimack, 420-8161, merrymacgc.com. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Special guest comic book artists will be at the shop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Newbury Comics, 777 S. Willow St., Manchester, 624-2842; 310 D.W. Highway, Nashua, 888-0720; 436 S. Broadway, Salem, 890-1380, newburycomics.com. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Nex-Gen Comics, 122 Bridge St., Unit 3, Pelham, 751-8195, nexgencomics.wordpress.com. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Stairway to Heaven Comics, 109 Gosling Road, Newington, 319-6134, stairwaytoheavencomics.com. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special guest comic book creators will be at the shop.
The Nashua Silver Knights wrap up their regular season of home games at Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St. in Nashua) tonight with a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. against the Brockton Rox. Tickets to games start at $8 for adults, $6 for kids. See nashuasilverknights.com.
Thursday, Aug. 12
The 64th annual New Hampshire Antiques Show runs today through Saturday, Aug. 14, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St.). Sixty-seven antiques dealers will exhibit their merchandise, according to nhada.org. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Admission costs $15 on Thursday and $10 on Friday and Saturday, and is free to anyone under 30. See nhada.org.
Thursday, Aug. 12
It’s a weekend of Old Home Days! Hudson’s Old Home Days at Hills House Field (211 Derry Road, Hudson) kicks off today with rides and carnival games, food vendors, live music, fireworks on Saturday, competitions (including pie eating and cornhole) and more. The event is open from 5 to 10 p.m. tonight and continues through Sunday, Aug. 15. See hudsonoldhomedays.com.
Epsom’sOld Home Weekend runs Friday, Aug. 13, through Sunday, Aug. 15, at Webster Park in Epsom. Friday’s events from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. include a cookout, live music from Fuzz Box, cornhole, s’mores and more. Saturday includes more kids events and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. See epsomnh.org.
Londonderry’s Old Home Days starts the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 18, and runs through Saturday, Aug. 21, and will feature town parades, games, local vendors and more. Find them on Facebook.
Friday, Aug. 13
Watch a story about space flight under the stars at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) tonight with a screening of Mercury 13 (TV-PG, 2018) at 8 p.m. This documentary from Netflix looks at the group of women who trained for space flight but didn’t become part of NASA’s astronaut program and didn’t go to space (until this year when Wally Funk, one of the Mercury 13, joined Jeff Bezos on the July 21 Blue Origins New Shepard flight, according to Wikipedia). The screening is free and snacks and drinks will be available for purchase, according to the website, which encouraged attendees to bring camping chairs and picnic blankets.
Saturday, Aug. 14
See the Currier Museum of Art’s (150 Ash St., Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) current exhibits including “Tomie dePaola at the Currier,” “Roberto Lugo: Te traigo mi le lo lai — I bring you my joy, ” “Critical Cartography: Larissa Fassler in Manchester” and “The Body in Art: From the Spiritual to the Sensual.” Today, admission is free to New Hampshire residents as part of the museum’s free second Saturdays. Museum hours today are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 14
Enjoy music in the gardens with Symphony NH at Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) today at 3 p.m. Americana Brass Quintet will perform, and the gardens will be open before the concert. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $5 for children under 12 at beaverbrook.org, which recommends bringing chairs, blankets and a picnic dinner.
Save the Date! Friday, Aug. 27
Comedian Juston McKinney begins a three-day run at the Bank of NH Stage (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Friday, Aug. 27, with a show at 8 p.m. McKinney will also perform Saturday, Aug. 28, at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $29.50.
