Year: 2024

Connect with the natural world

Tanglewood Hollow offers classes, products and time with nature

Growing up, Allyson Speake developed a fascination with and appreciation for the natural world, something that she wanted to bring to others in the community. In March of last year Speake established Tanglewood Hollow, an educational supply store offering classes on a variety of nature-oriented topics for kids, toys and more on Storrs Street in Concord, to do just that.

“My grandfather was a naturalist and he grew wild cottage gardens for attracting wildlife and so I spent … many years alongside him as he taught me more about wonder and curiosity and seeing nature through that lens,” Speake said. “He just opened my eyes to what an amazing world we live in, and his home was called Tanglewood Hollow, so that’s … where the name came from.”

As a former teacher, Speake noticed that kids were struggling with what she called nature deficit disorder, and she wanted to find a way to foster natural curiosity and help them find connection to the natural world. Prior to opening Tanglewood Hollow, Speake would teach groups of homeschooled students from her home. She wanted to find a way to reach more of the community.

“I think it’s absolutely vital for us to build that relationship with nature,” she said. “If kids aren’t given that opportunity or are uncomfortable getting outside, how can we expect for them to really be the next stewards of our Earth and care for it and love it in that same way? Right now, it’s of utmost importance to care for our Earth and to do things to help it, so really I would say that’s probably the overall mission for us [is] helping to build the next stewards of our Earth.”

At Tanglewood Hollow, kids get hands-on experience during classes in the Nature Lab on topics like microscopes, dissecting owl pellets, raptors, making slime as well as nature crafts and activities. In one class, children were able to build a rotting log community where they could hold creatures like beetles, millipedes and pill bugs before adding them to the community to observe the breakdown. They will also have the opportunity to see the leopard gecko, Berry, and the jumping spider, as well as Clementine the corn snake, who sometimes comes out for interaction.

“I’m a big proponent of teaching kids to love the unloved things, and these creatures are things that are very often misunderstood, and people are scared and fearful of them,” Speake said.

“We try as often as we can to get [Clementine] out with the kids so they can have a good, positive experience.”

Many items are available in the shop, such as stuffed animals, life cycle kits, rocks, minerals, foraging tools, bug catching nets, butterfly kits, and curiosities, which are monthly mystery boxes that contain four different items from nature, previously including North American porcupine quills and fossils, that come with a newspaper written by Speake that gives information about the items.

“We would love to do some special things for the solar eclipse that’s happening in April, some star viewing at night … [and] more off-site classes for children and families,” Speake said. “We’ve got lots of plans for things. … You never know what you’re going to find here.”

Tanglewood Hollow
Where: 93 Storrs St., Concord
When: Open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m to 5 p.m.

Featured image: Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 23/01/11

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

• At the Currier: It’s the final days to view “Sanaa Gateja: Selected Works,” an exhibit of “large-scale compositions … primarily created using beads made from recycled paper, which Ugandan artist Sanaa Gateja rolls, dyes and affixes to bark cloth,” according to a newsletter from the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org). The exhibition is open through Monday, Jan. 15 (when the museum will be open for Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations). Catch tours of the exhibition on Thursday, Jan. 11, and Friday, Jan. 15, the newsletter said.

Coming up later this winter are the exhibitions “Kara Walker: Harper’s Pictorial History of the Civil War (Annotated),” which opens on Thursday, Feb. 29, and “I Live A Journey of A Thousand Years,” featuring about 20 works by Raphaël Barontini, which opens on Thursday, March 7, the newsletter said.

Returning through April are the “Art Conversations From Home” Zoom conversations about Currier collections and current exhibitions, according to the newsletter. The events take place Wednesdays at 1 p.m., are free and last 30 minutes; registration is required (go online), the newsletter said. On Wednesday, Jan. 17, the planned discussion will focus on “Santa Casilda, after Francisco de Zubaran” by Roméo Mivekannin, which is on display in the Contemporary gallery, the newsletter said.

• At Cue Zero Theatre: On Friday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. Cue Zero Theatre (cztheatre.com) will present a reading of two new plays — Murder in Residence by MT Cozzola and Meeting Mr. Right by Stephen de Ghelder — as part of the Laboratory Series. The reading is pay-what-you-can and takes place at Arts Academy of New Hampshire (19 Keewaydin Drive, No. 4, in Salem). The playwrights will be available for a brief talk-back after each reading, according to a press release.

Also on the schedule at Cue Zero is Cue Zero Cabaret with the theme of villains and anti-love songs on Friday, Feb. 9. Cue Zero is also offering a workshop series, starting with an introduction to directing on Sunday, Jan. 14, with Dan Pelletier and Crystal Welch and a “foundations of improv comedy workshop” on Sunday, Feb. 18; register online (the cost is a suggested donation of $40), the release said.

The mainstage season begins with a production of Blood Relations that will run Friday, March 1, through Sunday, March 3 (shows at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday). Tickets cost $15.

• More at Mosaic: In addition to its new exhibition “This Is Us Plus Some,” the Mosaic Art Collective (66 Hanover St., Suite 201, in Manchester; 512-6309, moasaicartcollective.com) has several events slated for January. Music night is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 20, from 7 to 10 p.m. and will feature Abner II (take a listen at instagram.com/Abner_ii) and Regals (hear them at regalsrock.bandcamp.com), according to a press release.

On Thursday, Jan. 25, learn eraser printmaking with Jackie Hanson from 5:45 to 8 p.m. The cost is $35.

On Friday, Jan. 26, Mosaic will host an artist talk with Gary Samson, filmmaker and photographer, from 5:40 to 7 p.m.

MLK Day at the Currier
The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) will open on Monday, Jan. 15, with free admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and programing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., according to the museum’s newsletter. At 11 a.m., a curator-led tour “Black Abstraction” will be led by Bruce McColl, director of engagement, and a paper bead-making workshop (which will run until 2 p.m.) will take place in the Green Studio on the Lower Level. At noon, Rachael Kane, curator of education and interpretation, will hold a tour of Kara Walker’s works, the newsletter said. At 1 p.m., chief curator Lorenzo Fusi will lead a tour of “Sanaa Gateja: Selected Works.” At 2 p.m., the Racial Unity Team of NH will offer a spoken word performance and screening of the “I Have A Dream” speech, the newsletter said. The museum will also offer free programing on Thursday, Jan. 11, from 5 to 7 p.m. related to King. At 5 p.m. Kane will offer the tour of Kara Walker’s works on view. At 5:30 p.m. Fusi will tour “Sanaa Gateja: Selected Works” and at 6 p.m. the Manchester Community Music School will offer a special performance.

• New show: “Nature In Focus: Images of Flora, Fauna and Landscapes of New England” was slated to open Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road in Concord; nhaudubon.org) and will be on display through Friday, March 8 (an artist reception for the show was scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 4 to 6 p.m.). The show features nature photography by Bob Fleck, a New Hampshire author and photographer, according to a press release. Visit the exhibition Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Art opening: The Nashua Area Artists Association will hold an artists’ reception for the exhibit at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua) on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The show, featuring works by local NAAA artists, will be on display through the end of January, according to a Facebook post about the event. Find out more at nashuaarts.org.

• Join the choir: The Manchester Community Music School (2291 Elm St. in Manchester; mcmusicschool.org) is putting out a call for an Adult Community Choir that will meet Thursdays 7 to 8:30 p.m. starting Jan. 25, according to a press release. The choir is open to ages 18+ and tuition costs $200, the newsletter said. There is no requirement to read music or audition, but you will be asked to sing for the conductor to determine your choral part and singers should be able to meet the time commitment and have the ability to match pitch, the newsletter said. For more information email [email protected] or, to register, [email protected].

• Upcoming show and a call for art: “Blossoming Beyond,” an exhibition that “showcases work that embodies the resilience, strength and beauty of both the natural world and the LGBTQ+ community,” according to queerlective.com, will open Wednesday, Jan. 24, at the New Hampshire Audubon Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn). The NH Audubon is partnering with Queerlective for the exhibit, which is taking artists’ submissions for the exhibition through Monday, Jan. 15, at 11:59 p.m., according to the website, where you can find details about how to submit work. The exhibit will be on display through Saturday, March 30, with an opening reception Saturday, Jan. 27, from 2 to 5 p.m.

• Just keep auditioning: The Palace Youth Theatre will hold auditions for performers in grades 2 through 12 for its upcoming production of Finding Nemo Jr. on Saturday, Jan. 13, with slots at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. at Forever Emma Studios (516 Pine St. in Manchester), according to an email from the theater. Rehearsals will be Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons in January and then Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays until the production on March 13 and March 14. Come prepared to sing a short section of a song a cappella, according to the email. Schedule an audition time by emailing [email protected] with the performer’s name, age and preferred audition time, the email said.

• Call for teen musicians: Ted Herbert Music School will hold auditions for its Ted Herbert Community Big Band for ages 13 to 19 on Sunday, Jan. 14, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Ted Herbert Music School and Rentals (880 Page St. in Manchester). Students in the band can rehearse, perform and learn in an ensemble setting and will be mentored by professional working musicians, according to a press release. The audition will feature sight reading and improvisation, the release said. Auditions are open to kids who are not students at Ted Herbert Music School. Band rehearsals will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month from February through June, the release said, with a final performance held on June 9 at the Majestic Studio Theatre (at the Page Street location). Reserve an audition spot by emailing [email protected] or calling 669-7469. See tedherbert.com for more.

• Author talk: Concord author and doctor Lloyd Sederer will discuss his book Caught in the Crosshairs of American Healthcare at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com, 224-0562) on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 6:30 p.m.

• On stage at the Players’ Ring: The original surrealist drama You, Me and The Woodsmoke, by Catherine Stewart, finishes a two-week run at the Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St. in Portsmouth; 436-8123, playersring.org) on Sunday, Jan. 14, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. In the play, which runs two hours and has an intermission, two women are on a camping trip to rekindle a long-lost friendship, but the forest holds secrets, according to a press release. Tickets cost $28, $25 for students and 65+.

Up next at the Players’ Ring is The Poor Rich, written and performed by Gemma Soldati, on Friday, Jan. 19, and Saturday, Jan. 20, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. See a trailer for the show, which is billed as 18+, at gemmasoldati.com/work/thepoorrich. Tickets cost $28, $25 for 65+ and students.

‘This Is Us Plus Some’
Mosaic Art Collective (66 Hanover St., Suite 201, Manchester; 512-6309, mosaicartcollective.com) was slated to open its exhibit “This Is Us Plus Some” with an opening reception scheduled Saturday, Jan. 13, from 4 to 8 p.m. The show features “the distinct voices of select board members and esteemed guest artists” and “highlights the power of unity, shared passion, and the profound impact of art on communities,” according to a press release. The exhibition will be on display through Monday, Jan. 29.

• On stage at the Rep: This is also the final weekend for Cheap Thrills, a show billed as “an evening of Janis in concert” featuring Alyssa Dumas and The Stu Dias Band recreating the music of Janis Joplin, at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St. in Portsmouth; seacoastrep.org, 433-4472), according to a press release. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11; 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 12, and 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13. Tickets start at $37.

Next up at the Rep is Children of Eden, running Thursday, Jan. 25, through Sunday, Feb. 25. The website describes the production as “the story of Genesis from Adam and Eve through Noah” and a “compelling blend of theater and tech, where ancient stories meet modern possibilities.” Tickets start at $37. Shows are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sundays at 8 p.m. and Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m.

• On stage at New Hampshire Theatre Project: The New Hampshire Theatre Project (959 Islington St. in Portsmouth, nhtheatreproject.org, 431-6644) will present In the Garden of Z (tagline: “Family. Propaganda. War.”) written by Sean and Jelizaveta Robinson and directed by Sean Robinson from Friday, Jan. 19, through Sunday, Feb. 4, with shows Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 4 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. The play “tells the story of a Russian girl’s reaction to the horrors of the war in Ukraine,” according to the press release, which says the Jan. 19 show will be the play’s world premiere. Tickets cost $28 to $32.

• See the queen in (New) London: The Center for the Arts (centerfortheartsnh.org) will present Queen Victoria at the Fleming Center at the New London Barn Playhouse (84 Main St. in New London) on Sunday, Jan. 21, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sally Mummey portrays the queen for the program, which uses Queen Victoria’s diary and letters to reveal “the personal details of a powerful yet humane woman,” according to a press release. Tickets cost $23 per person ($5 for students). Make reservations at [email protected] and purchase tickets at centerfortheartsnh.org, the release said.

• Tax help for artists: Queerlective (queerlective.com) will present “Taxes for Artists, Freelancers, and Creative Businesses with Hannah Cole,” a virtual workshop, on Thursday, Feb. 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. See bit.ly/taxes4artists to register; the workshop is free with a suggested donation of $15.

• Join the Granite State Choral Society: Registration for the Granite State Choral Society will be held on Sunday, Jan. 14, at the First Church Congregational (63 S. Main in Rochester), with rehearsals set to begin the next week, Sunday, Jan. 21, from 4 to 6:30 p.m., according to a press release. The chorus is open to singers of all levels ages 12 and up, the release said. Annual membership dues cost $100, according to gschoralsociety.org, where you can find all the details about joining and chorus membership. Scheduled performances are April 28 and May 5, the release said.

Make it a game night

Find fun and competition at area trivia events

Looking for an activity with your friends or a way to make new ones?

Weekly trivia nights abound at area restaurants, breweries and even a movie theater. We talked to two experts about how to put together a team and how the games are crafted and we give you a listing of some of the spots to find trivia. (Know of a trivia night not mentioned here? Let us know at [email protected] to get added to our weekly trivia listings that run in the Nite section.)

Ready for some white hot competition? Sharpen those pencils…

Game maker

Heather Abernathy, a Manchester-based trivia host, runs general knowledge pub trivia at The Farm every Wednesday and themed trivia at Chunky’s every Thursday. In this Q&A, she discusses her transition from player to host, her process for crafting trivia questions, strategies for keeping the atmosphere lively, and how she deals with answer disputes. Additionally, Heather provides advice for aspiring trivia hosts. Her experience spans various themes and formats, catering to a wide range of trivia enthusiasts.

How did you get started with hosting trivia nights?

headshot of woman making funny face
Heather Abernathy. Courtesy photo.

I have such a wealth of random trivia knowledge, probably from watching Jeopardy! with my grandfather every night as a kid. … I was always that person you wouldn’t want to play against in Trivial Pursuit. … I got started at The Farm in Manchester, because I was a player there. I played pretty consistently for about four years. And when the guy who was hosting before me decided he was done, the owners told him, ‘If you can find somebody you think would make a good host, we’ll hire them.’ He reached out to me and said, ‘You’re smarter than I am … and you’re here every week anyway, so why not get a guaranteed paycheck for it?’ So after a bit of hesitation, I decided, ‘What the heck,’ hung up my playing time, and switched over to hosting. That was in January of 2019.

What do you enjoy most about hosting trivia?

For my real job, I work in health insurance, and I work from home. So, it’s boring, and I don’t see a lot of people. Trivia is my way to get out, to be sociable. I’ve also made some good friends along the way. I really enjoy the interaction with the people that come out and play every week.

Can you describe the type of trivia you host?

At The Farm I mostly stick to general pub trivia, because that’s what my players like. I have thrown in themes once in a while, and my regulars tend to skip those because they prefer coming in and knowing they could be asked anything. Whereas at Chunky’s I do a different theme every single week. For example, tomorrow night, in honor of the new Mean Girls movie, I’ll be doing trivia on the original Mean Girls movie. But once a month I do something more music-themed. This month my music theme is The Beatles, but in the past I’ve done ’80s and ’90s music, which always sell out. Taylor Swift was another big one. And then once a month at Chunky’s on Sundays — because my Thursdays at Chunky’s are a 21-plus event — I do a family-friendly trivia where all ages are welcome. You can bring your kids, and I tend to do more family-oriented themes. So this month, for example, I’m doing Disney music as my family-friendly theme.

How do you create questions for your trivia nights?

For themed trivia, it’s easy. If it’s a movie, I will watch the movie and throw on my subtitles so I can make sure I’m getting quotes or spelling correctly. As I’m watching I’ll think, ‘Oh, that would be a good thing to ask.’ So I jot down what I’m thinking. For the general knowledge trivia, I do a lot of scouring the internet for what strikes me as a good question. One unique thing about my trivia, which I can’t take credit for because I took the format from the guy hosting before me — if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it — is when I ask a question, I follow it up with a song. The song serves two purposes: it gives time for players to hand in their answers and it also acts as a hint for the question. Some weeks I really want an excuse to play a certain song, so I’ll work backward and figure out a question that matches with the song. So for example, last week I asked a question … ‘Who was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year for the very first time in 1927?’ The hint song that I played for that was REO Speedwagon’s ‘Time for me to Fly.’ … Charles Lindbergh was the answer to the question.

How do you maintain a good balance of topics and difficulty levels in your trivia questions?

I have a kind of mental checklist. For example, if I’ve already asked a geography question I’ll move on to science, then maybe something pop culture-related. Generally, as the game progresses, at least for the bar trivia, Round 1 questions are easier than Round 3 questions. Also, my music hints might become less obvious as the game goes on. … My rule of thumb is if I wouldn’t have known the answer, odds are I won’t ask it.

What strategies do you use to keep participants engaged and ensure a fun atmosphere?

The music is a big part of keeping participants engaged. Sometimes I’ll play a hit song and, without realizing it, strike a nerve, and next thing you know half the bar is singing along. I do my best to engage with people. Anyone who knows me knows that I speak fluent sarcasm. I try to let my own personality come through, like engaging in banter with the players. … I just try to keep it light and breezy.

How do you handle disputes or disagreements over answers during trivia nights?

It does come up, because I’m human. There’s a real chance that I might come up with a question and not be right, or there could be an alternate answer. If someone comes up to me with a dispute, I respect that, because when I played I was that person who challenged the host. I’ll do a spot check with my phone or laptop right there while hosting. I’m always open to being corrected. If it’s determined that an alternate answer was acceptable, I’ll admit it, award the points, and eat crow if I have to. On the flip side, if someone’s answer is close but not accurate, I might say, ‘Close enough isn’t good enough,’ and not give points, or I might give half points for being close. I try to be flexible, because the goal at the end of the day is to get people to come back.

What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a trivia host?

My biggest piece of advice is to have fun with it. … You’ve got to have the confidence to go with it. Just get out there, have fun, and get to know your players. That has been key for me, because after hosting for so long these people are not just random attendees; many of them are now my friends. Establishing that rapport with players is crucial for retention. If people are having fun, they’re going to come back. So try to relax, have fun, and when you see people returning that’s always a good sign.

Game player

group of people sitting around table at crowded event, leaning in to take selfie, some wearing patterned Christmas sweaters
Amy Leal (third left) and her trivia team. Courtesy photo.

Amy Leal, 51, from Salem, participates regularly in themed trivia nights at Chunky’s in Manchester. She talked about her involvement in trivia since August 2020, her methods for forming and preparing her trivia team, the competitiveness of the games, challenges faced by the team, and some memorable experiences from the trivia nights.

Can you share a bit about yourself and how you got involved in trivia?

I just like collecting random information about various things. I’ve always enjoyed trivia-type games. For this particular weekly event, I got involved during Covid in August of 2020. Chunky’s couldn’t show movies, so they were hosting a Disney Pixar trivia event. My sister, knowing my interest in trivia and my love for Disney Pixar, saw it and thought I would be interested, so I went with my cousin Trish, who’s the same age as me. We thought, ‘Let’s check this out.’ We loved the format. It was a way to have a night out, kind of low-key during Covid, and do something fun. … Three and a half years later we’re still going just about every week.

How do you go about forming your trivia team?

For this trivia, you can have from one to eight people. Initially it was just my cousin Trish and I regularly. Then, when she couldn’t attend, I invited another friend, who has been going with me ever since. She brought a friend from high school. I also asked a few more cousins, and we all joined based on the themes Heather announced. We base our participation on our interests and strengths. Even if some of us don’t know the specific show or movie, we go just to have a night out. Our team can range from two to eight players weekly, depending on the theme and what’s happening in our lives. We have a diverse team, with people into music, movies, TV series and different genres. Everyone knows a little about everything, and some are experts in certain areas. So, for building a trivia team, the key is finding people interested in a wide knowledge base and looking for a night out, who can commit to more than once or twice a month. It’s about sharing interests, being competitive, and a commitment to winning and being together.

What’s your strategy, and how do you prepare?

Our approach for themed nights, especially if it’s something we’re not familiar with, is to watch the movie or TV show. We’re lucky to know the theme a couple of weeks in advance, so we can plan to watch a movie or brush up on it. If it’s a movie we haven’t seen in 20 years, we rewatch it. For a TV series with multiple seasons, like The Office with eight seasons, different team members will watch different seasons. It’s all just for fun; you can’t remember everything. Our strategy is to watch the content and then have a group chat where we throw out questions to each other for practice, just to keep it top of mind.

How competitive do things get?

Our group is pretty laid back, and we enjoy being together and having something to look forward to every week. But there are times when we get competitive, especially if we disagree with how a question was phrased. We’ll challenge the answer. Ultimately, Heather, who hosts the trivia, has the final say. Sometimes we feel that an answer wasn’t accurate or was a bit twisted, but it’s all in the context of the content. There’s some competitiveness, especially since there are repeat teams. Since August 2020 about six teams have been regulars, and we’ve all gotten to know each other, often on a first-name basis. We congratulate other teams when they win, but we also feel like it should have been us, especially if it was our game to lose. Sometimes we go in overconfident, and depending on the questions we might blow it or win. But at the end of the day it’s a game. We all want to win, but not everybody can.

What kind of hurdles do you run into with trivia and how do you handle them?

A challenge for us is that we don’t always have the same people available every week because life happens. When we’re missing someone we really feel it, especially if it’s a question they would have known. We had a phase where we won almost every week for six to eight months, placing first, second or third each time. It felt great, especially since we won gift cards for Chunky’s, which we used for meals. But not winning can be a downer, and we’re in a bit of a slump right now due to inconsistent team availability during the holidays. We need to get back up and overcome this slump.

Do you have any memorable moments or stories from trivia nights?

Around February 2021, it was my cousin Jamie’s birthday, and we had become friendly with Heather, the host. I sent her a childhood picture of Jamie, the classic school photo with the laser background, and asked her to put it up on the big screen in the theater to wish him a happy birthday. It was hilarious, and she even showed it a few times after just for fun. There was also this funny moment during a music round. We couldn’t remember the artist of a song, so all I pictured was a white guy wearing a vest with chest hair sticking out. That’s what we wrote as our answer. When Heather was reading the answers, she read ours out loud and it got a big laugh in the theater. Now, when we can’t remember something, that’s become our signature answer. And it turns out the artist for that song wasn’t even close to what I was picturing.

Trivia nights

Liven up your weeknights with some fun and games. Know of a trivia night not listed here? Let us know at [email protected].

Monday

  • Pub Quiz at Shaskeen (909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246, shaskeenirishpub.com) at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday

  • Able Ebenezer Brewing (31 Columbia Circle, Merrimack, 844-223-2253) at 6 p.m.
  • Sea Dog Brewing (5 Water St., Exeter, 793-5116) from 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Second Brook Bar & Grill (1100 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, secondbrook.com) at 7 p.m.
  • Lynn’s 102 Tavern (76 Derry Road, Hudson, 943-7832, lynns102.com) at 7 p.m.
  • Gibb’s Garage Bar (3612 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, gibbsgaragebar.com) at 7 p.m.
  • Geeks Who Drink trivia at Peddler’s Daughter (48 Main St., Nashua, 821-7535, thepeddlersdaughter.com), from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday

  • Community Oven (845 Lafayette Road, Hampton, 601-6311, thecommunityoven.com) at 6 p.m.
  • Brews & Qs, 21+, at Feathered Friend (231 S. Main St., Concord, 715-2347, featheredfriendbrewing.com) at 6 p.m.
  • Spyglass Brewing Co. (306 Innovative Way, Nashua, 546-2965, spyglassbrewing.com) at 6 p.m.
  • Earth Eagle North (Barclay Square, 350 Route 108, Somersworth, 841-5421, eartheaglebrewings.com) at 6 p.m.
  • Popovers (11 Brickyard Sq., Epping, 734-4724, popoversonthesquare.com) from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
  • The Greatest Trivia in the World at Revolution Taproom and Grill (61 N. Main St., Rochester, 244-3042, revolutiontaproomandgrill.com/upcoming-events) at 6:30 p.m.
  • Don Ramon (6 Whitney St., Merrimack, 420-8468) from 7 to 9 p.m.
  • KC’s Rib Shack (837 Second St., Manchester, 627-7427, ribshack.net), sponsored by Mi Campo in Manchester, 7 to 9 p.m..
  • The New England Trivia Co. at City Hall Pub (8 Hanover St.,Manchester, 232-3751, snhhg.com) 7 to 9 p.m.
  • World Tavern Trivia at Fody’s Tavern (9 Clinton St. in Nashua, fodystavern.com, 577-9015) at 8 p.m.

Thursday

  • Reed’s North (2 E. Main St. in Warner, 456-2143, reedsnorth.com) from 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Mitchell BBQ (50 N. Main St., Rochester, 332-2537, mitchellhillbbq.com) at 6 p.m.
  • Station 101 (193 Union Sq., Milford, 249-5416) at 6:30 p.m.
  • Music trivia at Day of the Dead Taqueria (454 Charles Bancroft Hwy. in Litchfield, 377-7664) at 6:30 p.m.
  • Geeks Who Drink trivia at The Barley House (132 N. Main St., Concord, 228-6363), from 7 to 9 p.m.
  • Themed trivia at Cheers Bar & Grille (17 Depot St., Concord, 228-0563) at 7 p.m.
  • Hart’s Turkey Farm (223 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-6212, hartsturkeyfarm.com) from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
  • Opinionation by Sporcle trivia at Uno Pizzeria & Grill (15 Fort Eddy Road in Concord; 226-8667) at 7 p.m.
  • Hop Knot (1000 Elm St., Manchester, 232-3731, hopknotnh.com) at 7 p.m.
  • Shooters Sports Pub (6 Columbus Ave., Exeter, 772-3856) at 7:15 p.m.
  • Liquid Therapy (14 Court St., Nashua, 402-9391) at 7:30 p.m.
  • Game Changer Sports Bar (4 Orchard View Dr., Londonderry; 216-1396, gamechangersportsbar.com) from 8 to 10 p.m.
  • Strange Brew (88 Market St., Manchester, 666-4292) at 8 p.m.

Friday

  • The Biergarten Anheuser-Busch (221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 595-1202) from 6 to 8 p.m.

Sunday

  • Mountain Base Brewery (553 Mast Road, No. 111, Goffstown, 315-8382) at 4 p.m.

Other trivia nights

  • Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Manchester (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com) holds regular 21+ trivia nights on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. with varying themes:
    The Beatles on Thursday, Jan. 11.
    General Knowledge on Thursday, Jan. 18.
    Barbie on Thursday, Jan. 25.
    Chunky’s also hosts family-friendly trivia nights. Next up is Disney Songs on Sunday, Jan. 14, at 6 p.m.
  • Take part in Schitt’s Creek trivia night on Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 6:30 p.m. at Vine Thirty Two (25 S. River Road in Bedford; vinethirtytwo.com).
  • Trivia at Fody’s (9 Clinton St., Nashua; fodystavern.com) the first Thursday of each month at 8 p.m.
  • Trivia on the first and third Thursday of every month trivia at To Share Brewing (720 Union St., Manchester, tosharebrewing.com) at 6:30 p.m.
  • Trivia at Park Theatre (19 Main St., Jaffrey; 532-9300, theparktheatre.org) on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

Featured Photo: Courtesy photo.

Quality of Life 24/01/11

Butterfly in the sky

The New Hampshire Audubon’s 2023 monarch butterfly tagging initiative has yielded promising insights, with a notable 40 percent return rate on detections from the 50 nanotags deployed. According to a press release, this research, building on the previous year’s work, has revealed significant migration distances, including a record detection close to 850 miles away, enhancing our understanding of monarch butterflies’ journey and informing potential conservation efforts. The repeated detection of monarchs along the same routes over consecutive years opens new avenues for targeted conservation strategies, marking a positive step in preserving these vital pollinators.

QOL score: +1

Comment: This is especially significant given the monarch butterfly’s status as a species of concern due to declining populations in recent years, the release said.

Better bills

The Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) has announced a 26 percent reduction in its base electric rate to 8.1 cents per kWh starting February 2024, maintaining its position as the provider of the lowest residential energy supply rates in New Hampshire for the third consecutive rate period. According to a press release, this new rate is expected to yield $5.3 million in benefits for member communities. Serving over 120,000 customers in 28 cities and towns, with more joining soon, the Coalition offers cost-effective energy options, including choices for 100 percent, 50 percent and 33 percent renewable power, and provides savings to residential and mid-sized commercial customers.

QOL score: +1

Comment: In March, an additional 12 communities will join the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH), expanding its reach to more than 50 municipalities.

Seeking a stage

Steeplegate Mall in Concord is set for a transformation into a mixed-use development, requiring tenants without long-term leases, including the Hatbox Theatre, to vacate by the end of January, NHPR reported. This redevelopment marks the end of Hatbox Theatre’s tenure at the mall, where it has been a part of the local arts scene since its inception in 2016. While some businesses like JC Penney and Altitude Trampoline Park remain unaffected due to long-term contracts, Hatbox Theatre faces immediate closure, disrupting its planned season, which included 15 scheduled productions, ranging from musicals to local playwrights’ works.

QOL score: -2 for the upheaval, particularly for Hatbox

Comment: Hatbox, which was slated to have its final show at the current location on Jan. 10, is looking for alternative locations. See hatboxnh.com for updates.

QOL score: 48

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 48

The Quality of Life meter resets for the new year. Let us know what’s affecting your Quality of Life at [email protected].

This Week 24/01/11

Big Events January 11 and Beyond

Saturday, Jan. 13

Enjoy the music of The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Troggs, The Searchers, The Dave Clark Five, Herman’s Hermits and others at “The British Invasion” tonight at 7 p.m. at the Majestic Studio Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net, 669-7469). Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased by phone, online or at the door. Performers slated to embody the music of the mid-1960s include Dale Byrd, Emerson Carracedo, Glynn Cosker, Robert Dionne, Jonathan Flower, Kate Flower, Angelo Gentile, Kristin Grant, Bo Guyer, Cady Hickman, Karen McGraw, Jim Rogato, The Rockin Daddios, Brynn Susi and Bruce Williams, according to a press release.

Saturday, Jan. 13

Today is the Second Saturday at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org), the monthly Saturday when admission is free for New Hampshire residents (the museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. head to the Creative Studio to learn how to make recycled paper beads in the style of artist Sanaa Gateja, whose show is currently on view, according to the museum’s website.

Saturday, Jan. 13

Catch some Southern New Hampshire University Penmen basketball when the women’s team takes to the court at 1:30 p.m., followed by the men’s team at 3:30 p.m., both against Southern Connecticut State University. The games take place at Stan Spiro Field House (at the Southern New Hampshire University campus, 2500 River Road in Manchester); regular season games are free to attend. See snhupenmen.com.

Saturday, Jan. 13

Symphony NH and the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps present “Brass to the Max,” a show at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St. in Nashua) today at 7:30 p.m. “The program will be visceral and high-energy. Be prepared to feel this one all the way through your bones with great music like Aaron Copland’s ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’ and ‘Celebrate’ by Kool and the Gang,” according to a press release. Tickets cost $10 to $60 and are available at symphonynh.org or by calling 595-9156.

Sunday, Jan. 14

As of earlier this week, WMUR was predicting a 52 degree high and rain for Saturday, Jan. 13, and a 32 degree high today (Jan. 14), when you can hit the streets of Bedford for the 3-mile HPM Insurance Snowflake Shuffle at 9:30 a.m. Registration costs $35 ($30 for under 21). See millenniumrunning.com.

Monday, Jan. 15

Cellist Roric Cunningham will hold a solo recital (with pianist Elizabeth Blood) today at 7 p.m. at the Manchester Community Music School (2291 Elm St. in Manchester; mcmusicschool.org). Tickets cost $15 for adults, free for students under 21, according to the website.

Save the Date! Saturday, Jan. 20
The New Hampshire Audubon Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn; nhaudubon.org, 668-2045) will hold a class on “Winter Sowing of Native Plants” on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. with presenters Donna Miller, UNH Extension Advanced Master Gardener, and Stacey Scaccia, UNH Extension Master Gardener, according to the website. The cost is $15 per person and you will “leave with a pot of native perennial seeds that will grow all year and be ready to plant in your garden next fall,” the website said.

Featured photo: British Invasion

Huge week for HC of NEPs

The Big Story – Bill Belichick’s Future: After the season ended, what happens to Bill Belichick was the raging local question and would be until the answer comes, which may have happened by the time you read this. So stay tuned.

Sports 101: Name the four teams who’ve never played in the Super Bowl.

News Item – NFL Wild Card Weekend: The biggest national story is the opening of the NFL playoffs. The three most intriguing side stories are these:

Miami at KC: Tyreek Hill’s return to Arrowhead Stadium.

Cleveland at Houston: It pits the team involved in bringing DeShaun Watson to Ohio against the one that not only now has the better QB anyway in CJ Stroud but also has all those draft picks Cleveland gave up for Watson.

L.A. at Detroit: Round 2 of who got the better of that Matthew Stafford–Jared Goff deal. Round 1 went to L.A. when they immediately won the SB with Stafford. But the Lions are now thriving with the much younger QB the Rams dumped and have a brighter long-term future thanks to the boatload of picks that came with Goff. A win for Detroit tilts the arrow toward them.

News Item – College Football Championship Game: The game between Big 10 Michigan and (not for long) PAC 12 Washington would have been played on New Year’s in the Rose Bowl a generation ago. And while it’s exciting for many, the two things that strike me are that it’s the swan song for the PAC 12 Conference, and UM’s coach is there despite being suspended twice for cheating this season. Oh, and semifinals-losing Texas had a back-up QB (Arch Manning) who made $3.2 million in NIL money as a freshman. Welcome to college football2024.

The Numbers:

7.8 – eye-popping yards per carry average (on 103) by rookie Miami back De’Von Achane.

15 –secondbest in the NFL rushing TD’s done somehow by quarterbacks Josh Allen of Buffalo and Jalen Hurts of Philly.

236 – last in the league points scored by the pathetic offense of your New England Patriots.

… Of the Week Awards

Shot of the Week – Nikola Jokic: The big fella delivered a 40-footer off glass as time expired to make Denver 130-127 winners over stunned Golden State. Though I ain’t buying Joker’s claim he called the bank, so if it’s H-O-R-S-E Nuggets lose.

Thumbs Down of the Week – NFL and NBC: For its sign of what lies ahead in putting Saturday’s KC-Miami wild card game only on NBC’s pay TV streaming service, Peacock.

Random Thoughts:

Disgruntled Patriots tackle Trent Brown wants to be elsewhere next year. Fine with me.

Speaking of Hayward: While durability is always his issue, if he’s bought out by Charlotte, he’d fit perfectly as an affordable point forward, 3 and D option off the Celtics bench.

Sports 101 Answer: Three of the Super Bowl-less teams — the Lions, Browns and Texans — can end their streaks this month, while Jacksonville missed again.

Final Thought – Coach B:

Here’s what my thinking on Coach B would be if I owned the Patriots.

Biggest Problems

Picking Talent: The player evaluation and draft strategy has been mostly awful since 2014. And the big free agent spending year of 2021 was a gigantic bust. It’s left them devoid of talent, especially on offense.

Strategic Approach: He just doesn’t seem to get how important a dynamic wide receiving threat is in 2023.

Can It Be Fixed? Yes, but it means a personnel chief must come in from the outside.

Biggest Issues Determining Whether Bill is the Guy to Fix It

(1) Is he willing/able to work with someone else picking the groceries?

(2) Can he adjust offensive strategy?

(3) Can he still coach them up?

(4) What’s more important: winning SB 7 or him breaking Don Shula’s record as a Patriot?

Answers:

(1) Doubtful, and who from the outside would want to do that?

(2) Maybe, since he did the same adding Randy Moss and Wes Welker after being run over by Peyton Manning in the 2006 AFC title game. Or if the unemployed Josh McDaniels (who was in Bob Kraft’s suite Sunday) comes back as OC.

(3) Given all the crazy penalties, unnecessary timeouts and questionable game management moves the last few years I wonder about that.

(4) For me the wins record is the final exclamation mark to the dynasty, so it tops SB7.

Bottom Line: While I think he’s leaving, if he accepts Issue 1 and brings back McDaniels I give him one last year. As for who has the stature to be Bill’s boss, I give Tom Brady a minority share of the team to nix his Raiders deal and put him in charge of football operations. Then we’re on to 2024.

Email Dave Long at [email protected].

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