Author: Matt Ingersoll

Matt Ingersoll writes about all things food and drink, covering new restaurants and following the most delicious foodie trends in the state. Reach him at [email protected].

In the kitchen with DJ Belanger

Chef Dennis “DJ” Belanger of Nashua is the new owner of Culture (75 Mont Vernon St., Milford, 249-5011, culturenh.com), a locally sourced artisan sandwich shop also offering baked goods, pastries and fresh breads out of a scratch kitchen. A native of Hudson, Belanger got his start in the industry as a dishwasher at the age of 15 and went on to graduate from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Cambridge, Mass. For nearly a decade he worked his way up the ranks at Burtons Grill of Nashua, eventually becoming the eatery’s executive chef for a time. He has been with Culture since the shop opened in August 2020, assuming the role of owner earlier this month.

What is your must-have kitchen item?

There are two. One of them is what I call a bottom feeder, but it’s really just a wooden spatula that I use to scrape and mix everything. … Other than that, I would say my Vitamix blender.

What would you have for your last meal?

It would probably be just roasted chicken with rice and vegetables. It’s one of my go-tos if I don’t know what I want to eat, and it’s one of those things that I can eat every day and wouldn’t even think twice about.

What is your favorite local restaurant?

La Santa [Tacos & Tequilas], which is literally right over the line in Tyngsboro, [Mass.]. My fiancée and I go there probably at least once a month.

What celebrity would you like to see eating at your restaurant?

Matty Matheson. He’s a chef out of Canada, and he’s pretty big in the States now, too. I feel like he and I have a lot of similarities in our styles and philosophies of food, and I just really respect him as a chef and an entrepreneur. I would love to be able to pick his brain.

What is your favorite thing on your menu?

Either the La Capra, which is our Italian sub, or the roast beef.

What is the biggest food trend in New Hampshire right now?

It’s definitely farm stuff, and just keeping things as local as possible. There’s a lot of focus on foods made from scratch and not anything that’s processed or mass produced, and that’s something that we definitely want to continue.

What is your favorite thing to cook at home?

My go-to at home is fried rice. Especially if I’ve got any leftover rice from the night before, it’s just a really good, fast dish.

Cranberry vinaigrette dressing
From the kitchen of Chef DJ Belanger of Culture in Milford

12 ounces frozen cranberries, thawed
1½ cups whole-grain or Dijon mustard
1 cup red wine vinegar
3 cups oil (half extra virgin olive oil and half canola oil)
¼ cup finely chopped chives
Salt and pepper to taste

Add cranberries to the cup of a blender and puree on high, making sure there are no chunks of berry left over. Add mustard, vinegar and salt and blend until fully combined. With the blender on medium-high, slowly add the oil into the mixture (should take about 30 to 45 seconds). Mix in chives to emulsified dressing (do not blend). Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary. Transfer to a squeeze bottle or mason jar for storage. (Note: When blending cranberries, you may need to add a little water to help get everything blended together. You shouldn’t need much more than ¼ to ½ cup. You can also substitute almost any type of frozen berry or fruit to make this dressing).

Featured photo: DJ Belanger. Courtesy photo.

Coffee and community

The Brothers’ Cortado opens in Concord

While living out in Colorado in the early 2000s, Loudon native Chuck Nemiccolo developed a newfound admiration for coffee, thanks in part to the vibrant cafe culture of downtown Denver.

“There was this really cool place called Paris on the Platte, and it was basically like a 24-hour punk rock cafe,” he said. “It was a place where people from all walks of life were coming in, having coffee and just getting along. … That was kind of like the spark for me, when I really started to care about what I was drinking and where I was spending my money.”

Nemiccolo returned to the Granite State a few years later and worked at Starbucks in Concord for a time. But he always held on to a dream of one day opening his own spot — a cafe focused on community, local products and great coffee.

The Brothers’ Cortado, which opened in the Capital City on Nov. 18, is the culmination of that dream. Chuck and his younger brother Ian Nemiccolo have joined forces to make it a reality, purchasing the former True Brew Barista storefront in Bicentennial Square and getting it ready with the help of other family members and friends.

Courtesy of The Brothers’ Cortado.

If you ever visited the space as True Brew, you’ll likely first notice that the Nemiccolos have switched entrances, utilizing what was the former location’s bar as their main cafe area. Unlike its predecessor, the Brothers’ Cortado does not serve alcoholic beverages onsite.

“It had more light to it, and it felt more open and welcoming overall on that side,” Chuck Nemiccolo said. “We felt that it kind of fit best with what we wanted for the space.”

Coffees and teas at the Brothers’ Cortado are sourced from A&E, a USDA-certified organic roaster that launched in 2001. Nemiccolo’s lineup of drinks includes hot and iced coffees and espressos. He also makes his own syrups in house.

The cafe has a namesake drink with espresso and steamed milk, while other options include a peppermint mocha, a bourbon vanilla latte and a mocha borgia with orange.

“[We have] an Ethiopian blend for our light to medium roast. It’s bright and sweet, so it will be good for people that maybe want to experience something a little bit new,” Nemiccolo said. “Our flavors that we’re [bringing] to the lattes are not … super sweet, but sweet enough. We want a nice well-balanced drink that people can enjoy.”

Tea drinkers will find a diverse roster as well, from blueberry black, green mango and golden milk teas, to an herbal blend called New Hampshire Evening.

“The New Hampshire Evening is almost like root beer. It’s incredibly good,” Nemiccolo said. “I’m not a big tea drinker but I’ve fallen in love with it. It cuts down on the chamomile taste … and it just makes it a nice smooth experience.”

The Brothers’ Cortado is partnering with Concord bakery Bread & Chocolate to serve cheese Danishes, croissants and other pastries available daily out of a refilled case. Nemiccolo also hopes to eventually begin offering sandwiches, fruit or cheese boards and other small food items.

While it will start out with closing at 4:30 p.m. each day, the goal is for the cafe to expand to being open in the evenings at least a few times a week. Performances from local musicians, as well as themed events like poetry nights, are all being planned for the space.

“We want it to be a place where people can hang out and just relax and feel comfortable being at,” Nemiccolo said.

The Brothers’ Cortado

Where: 3 Bicentennial Square, Concord
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
More info: Visit brotherscortado.com, or find them on Facebook and Instagram @brotherscortado

Featured photo: Owners and brothers Chuck and Ian Nemiccolo. Courtesy photo.

Tastes of Trinidad

Manchester’s Wild Orchid Bakery finds a new home on Elm Street

After operating a bakeshop on Manchester’s West Side for a short time last year, self-taught pastry chef and Trinidad native Shelly-Anne Storer has found a new home downtown, where she has expanded her lineup of items to include vegan and gluten-free desserts and savory meals.

Stewed chicken with potatoes, Spanish rice, callaloo and sweet plantains.

Wild Orchid Bakery, now open in the former Lala’s Hungarian Pastry storefront on Elm Street, features a wide selection of custom offerings inspired by flavors of Storer’s homeland. The bakery’s name, she said, even comes from a connection she made between Trinidad and New Hampshire — both have an abundance of wildflower species.

“I wanted to bring part of my home here,” said Storer, who is originally from Diego Martin on Trinidad’s northwestern coast but has lived in the United States since late 2013. “It’s kind of like an oasis. You come in and you see the bright colors and you hear the music, and you’re like, ‘Whoa, where am I? I’m not in the city anymore.’ … Trinidadian food is so flexible. It’s like a melting pot for different cultures, so you can taste all kinds of foods.”

Since opening the doors of her new space earlier this month, Storer has slowly introduced new items each week, from sweeter indulgences like black currant rolls and guava and cream cheese pastries to savory home-cooked meals like corn soup and stewed chicken and curry plates. Callaloo, a vegetable dish cooked in coconut milk that Storer described as being similar to collard greens or okra, and dhal, a yellow split pea-based dish that can be consumed over rice or in a soup, have also been accompaniments to her Trinidadian lunch plates. The bakery even features a selection of bagged snacks and bottled drinks you can try that are popular in Trinidad.

Other dishes like shark and bake, a popular Trinidadian street food, and saltfish buljol, a chopped fish and vegetable salad, will likely be introduced sometime in the future. Storer also has plans to roll out a Trinidadian black cake typically enjoyed around Christmas as the holidays draw near.

Jelly doughnuts.

“It’s a rum-soaked cake, and you only have one slice at a time because it’s so strong,” she said. “After Christmas we’d just have one little sliver of a piece because that was all you needed.”

In addition to cooking and baking some favorite foods she grew up with, Storer has a regularly stocked case of pastries and baked goods, which include her own line of gourmet doughnuts in a variety of flavors, as well as cookies, cupcakes, scones, pies, sticky buns and sweet breads. She also fulfills custom cake orders for occasions large and small.

Continuing a partnership she had at her former shop, Storer is once again collaborating with Mike Brown of Hometown Coffee Roasters in Manchester, offering coffees and espresso drinks with some of his blends, and she’s looking to expand on her own line of flavors.

Adorning the walls of Wild Orchid Bakery are prints and artwork from various local painters and photographers, available for sale. Storer hopes to soon acquire a liquor license, with the intent to serve island-style drinks and brunch cocktails like mimosas and bloody marys.

Wild Orchid Bakery

Where: 836 Elm St., Manchester
Hours: Monday and Thursday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (hours may be subject to change)
More info: Visit wildorchidbakery.com, find them on Facebook and Instagram @wildorchidbakery or call 935-7338

Featured photo: Assorted doughnuts, Trinidadian pastries and coffee. All photos courtesy of Wild Orchid Bakery.

The Weekly Dish 21/11/25

News from the local food scene

• Keep on brewing: Granite State craft breweries are among those across the country observing the third annual Small Brewery Sunday on Sunday, Nov. 28. The day was created by the Brewers Association as a way to encourage beer lovers to celebrate and support locally owned breweries, brewpubs and taprooms, according to a press release. The Association is inviting breweries everywhere, including those in New Hampshire, to share their Small Brewery Sunday experiences on their social media channels using the hashtags #SmallBrewerySunday and #SeekTheSeal. The industry as a whole is still working to recover from a 9 percent overall drop in craft beer sales in 2020, according to the release. The New Hampshire Brewers Association is also continuing its New Hampshire Pint Days fundraiser through Wednesday, Dec. 1, featuring limited-edition collectible 16-ounce pint glasses that are available for sale at more than 30 participating breweries statewide. Visit smallbrewerysunday.com.

• Bringing on the blueberries: Berrybogg Farm in Strafford will soon be selling a new blueberry cookbook, along with a 2022 calendar and other items like apparel and accessories, in commemoration of its 45th anniversary. According to its website, the online store will reopen on Friday, Nov. 26, with each of these items available for sale. The cookbook is expected to feature dozens of blueberry-based recipes, from simple jams and syrups to baked goods and desserts. Berrybogg Farm spans about 7 acres, growing nine varieties of blueberries over a period of roughly six weeks from mid- to late July into August. Visit berryboggfarm.com.

• Sweet deal: Loon Chocolate, a small-batch producer of handcrafted bean-to-bar chocolate based in Manchester, is moving its operations into The Factory on Willow (252 Willow St.), where it will expand its manufacturing space and add a retail space for its products. Construction on the product began earlier this month. According to Loon Chocolate owner and founder Scott Watson, he hopes to move into the space just after Christmas and have it open to the public around Jan. 29. Loon Chocolate features several types of flavored chocolate bars and has since diversified its product line into other offerings like hot cocoa bombs, cacao nibs, and a chocolate-infused elixir kit for spirits. Visit loonchocolate.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @loonchocolate for updates.

• Give thanks with beer: Join Northwoods Brewing Co. and its sister restaurant, Johnson’s Seafood & Steak (1334 1st New Hampshire Turnpike, Northwood) for a Northwoods Friendsgiving on Friday, Nov. 26, beginning at noon. The event will feature a variety of dark and seasonal brews from more than a dozen guest breweries on tap, including Great North Aleworks, To Share Brewing Co., Twin Barns Brewing Co. and Lithermans Limited, as well as live music from 5 to 7 p.m. with Cecil Abels and Rachel McCartney. Visit northwoodsbrewingcompany.com.

So Much Holiday Fun: Season’s eatings

Downtown holiday Deliciously fun events for the holidays

Experience the tastiest of what the holidays have to offer in New Hampshire this season, with cookie tours, plated dinners, holiday shopping events and more.

• Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline) will hold a snowman felting workshop and winter wine tasting on Thursday, Dec. 2, or Friday, Dec. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. each evening. Tickets are $45 per person and include felting kits plus a seasonal flight of four wines (for 21+ participants) or a non-alcoholic beverage. Additional felting kits will be available for purchase at the end of the class. Visit averillhousevineyard.com.

• Backyard Brewery & Kitchen (1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester) will hold its third annual Backyard Winterfest on Friday, Dec. 3, from 6 to 9 p.m. The outdoor event brings together multiple craft breweries from the Derry, Londonderry and Manchester areas for a night of pouring. Tickets are $30 per person and include a 4-ounce tasting glass. Visit backyardbrewerynh.com.

• Holy Trinity Cathedral (166 Pearl St., Manchester) is taking orders for its annual Polish frozen food sale, featuring pierogi, kielbasa and a few other items. Pre-orders are preferred, for pickup on Saturday, Dec. 4, between 10 a.m. and noon. Visit holytrinitypncc.org.

• Join LaBelle Winery at its Amherst location (345 Route 101) for a holiday tea party and performance of The Nutcracker with Southern New Hampshire Dance Theater, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also available for purchase will be several tea sandwiches, sweet treats and special Nutcracker-themed cocktails. Tickets are $25. Visit labellewinery.com.

• The Made in New England Expo returns to the DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown (700 Elm St., Manchester) on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event features specialty food items and unique gifts from all over New England that will be available for sale. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors over 65, $2 for kids ages 2 to 12 and free for kids under 2. Masks are required for all attendees. Visit businessnhmagazine.com.

• Zorvino Vineyards (226 Main St., Sandown) will hold a holiday sip and shop event on Sunday, Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring the opportunity to discover unique gift ideas from local vendors. Admission is free, and ticket holders who book their spot online will receive a 10 percent off coupon for use in the winery. Visit zorvino.com.

• Join the Nashua Public Library in welcoming Chef Liz Barbour of The Creative Feast in Hollis, for a virtual event on savory pies and tarts on Monday, Dec. 6, from 7 to 8 p.m. Barbour will demonstrate her favorite pie dough recipe and prepare a meat pie and a seasonal vegetable tart. Visit nashualibrary.org to register and receive a Zoom invitation link.

• St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (1160 Bridge St., Manchester) is offering a takeout only baked lamb dinner, also featuring Greek-style green beans, rice and salad. Dinners must be pre-ordered no later than Dec. 7, with pickups at the church on Sunday, Dec. 12, beginning at noon. Contact Barbara George at 623-6115 or at [email protected] to reserve your dinner.

• Get your tickets now for the annual Feast of the Seven Fishes happening at the Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford) on Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m. The dinner will feature a wide variety of hot seafood options to choose from, like fra diavolo, haddock puttanesca, and lobster and crab-stuffed sole, in addition to a chef-attended pasta station with accompanying sauces, and an Italian dessert station. Tickets are $95 per person (event is 21+ only) and reservations are required. Visit bedfordvillageinn.com.

• LaBelle Winery is hosting a holiday-themed cooking with wine class at its Amherst location (345 Route 101) on Wednesday, Dec. 8, from 6 to 7 p.m. Participants will learn how to cook a variety of holiday-themed dishes and get to take home recipe cards for each featured item, which will include cranberry punch, bacon pecan cheese logs, herb roasted potatoes and carrots, maple mustard roasted chicken thighs and eggnog pudding. Admission is $32.70 per person after taxes. Visit labellewinery.com.

• Join Birch Wood Vineyards (199 Rockingham Road, Derry) for the Birch Wood Experience, a public dinner event scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m. The dinner aims to give guests an inside view of what a typical event at the venue looks like. In addition to hors d’oeuvres and a Caesar salad, guests can choose one of three entrees (pork tenderloin, chicken piccata or stuffed poblano peppers). Admission is $50 and reservations are required (reserve no later than Dec. 1). Visit birchwoodvineyards.com.

• Great New England Craft & Artisan Shows will present their annual holiday shopping extravaganza on Friday, Dec. 10, from 5 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Hampshire Hills Athletic Club (50 Emerson Road, Milford). The event features dozens of artisan and specialty food vendors selling all types of items for the holiday season, plus holiday music and a cash bar with specialty holiday cocktails available. Admission and parking are free. Visit gnecraftartisanshows.com.

• Don’t miss the 24th annual Inn to Inn Holiday Cookie and Candy Tour happening on Saturday, Dec. 11, and Sunday, Dec. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. During this two-day self-guided tour participants visit inns in various White Mountain region towns to taste cookies and candy and get holiday recipes and decorating tips. This year’s tour stretches across nine inns, with each no more than 15 minutes from another. Advance tickets come with reserving a lodging package at one of the participating inns, but single tickets are also available for $35. Visit countryinnsinthewhitemountains.com.

• The Canterbury Community Farmers Market Association will hold a special indoor holiday-themed market on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. inside the gymnasium of Canterbury Elementary School (15 Baptist Road). Masks are required for all attendees. Visit canterburyfarmersmarket.com.

• The Currier & Ives Cookie Tour returns for its 16th year on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nearly a dozen businesses in and around the Monadnock region participate in this guided tour, providing visitors with homemade treats, refreshments, recipes and more. Tickets are $15 per person (cash only) and will be available for purchase beginning on Dec. 1. Tickets may be purchased at New England Everyday Goods (16 Colls Farm Road, Jaffrey), The Inn at East Hill Farm (460 Monadnock St., Troy) and the Woodbound Inn (247 Woodbound Road, Rindge). Visit currierandivescookietour.com.

• The Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford) will hold its next Champagne brunch on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in its Great Hall. The event features unlimited mimosas and a brunch buffet, including a raw bar, a chef-attended omelet station and a selection of desserts. Tickets are $95 per person (event is 21+ only) and reservations are required. Visit bedfordvillageinn.com.

• Enjoy holiday afternoon tea with The Cozy Tea Cart at the Gatherings at the Colonel Shepard House (29 Mont Vernon St., Milford) on Sunday, Dec. 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. In addition to a selection of fine quality teas there will be a variety of foods available to try, like tea breads, sandwiches, pastries and more. The cost is $39.95 per person and reservations are required. Visit thecozyteacart.com.

• The Culinary Playground (16 Manning St., Derry) is hosting its annual parent-child gingerbread house decorating workshops, with available dates on Friday, Dec. 17, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., 6 to 7 p.m. or 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.; and on Sunday, Dec. 19, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., 3 to 4 p.m. or 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Adults and kids will work together with royal icing and all types of colorful treats and edible decorations to design their own houses. The cost is $45 per parent-child team and registration is required (houses and treats are provided). Visit culinary-playground.com.

• LaBelle Winery is hosting a Polar Express brunch with Santa Claus on Saturday, Dec. 18, from 10 a.m. to noon at its Amherst location (345 Route 101). In addition to assorted scones, muffins and rolls the menu will feature a multi-course food offering and holiday-inspired cocktails. The event also includes a screening of The Polar Express and photo opportunities with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Admission, after taxes, is $41.31 for adults and $23.09 for kids ages 3 and up. Visit labellewinery.com.

• Join LaBelle Winery at its Derry location (14 Route 111) for a New Year’s Eve dinner on Friday, Dec. 31, from 6 to 10:30 p.m. The three-course plated dinner will be served inside the vineyard ballroom, and there will also be a featured performance by the Freese Brothers Big Band. General admission is $100 per person, plus tax and gratuity, and also includes access to the winery’s LaBelle Lights festival on the golf course. Visit labellewinery.com.

• Ring in 2022 with a New Year’s Eve Celebration at Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline) on Friday, Dec. 31, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., featuring a Brazilian-themed five-course dinner and wine pairing. Tickets are $89 per person and include a complimentary wine glass. Visit averillhousevineyard.com.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Pelham (150 Bridge St.) will host a special New Year’s Eve Dinner Party along with a screening of the 2013 film The Great Gatsby, scheduled for Friday, Dec. 31, at 9 p.m. The evening will feature a five-course menu courtesy of Ya Mas Greek Taverna & Bar of Pelham along with the movie. The party will continue with a Champagne toast and a big-screen viewing of the Times Square ball drop at midnight. The cost is $90 per person and includes the dinner, the movie and the toast. Visit chunkys.com.

Party on a board
In the Nov. 18 issue of the Hippo, Matt Ingersoll looked at the charcuterie board trend. These boards (and boxes and bowls and in at least one case jars) of meats, cheeses and other tasty items make for good snacks, gifts or party accompaniments. Find out more about the local businesses that construct this edible art in the story, which starts on page 20. Find the e-edition of the issue at hippopress.com.

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of Fig & Olive of Milford.

So Much Holiday Fun: Festive adventures

Holiday fun for the younger crowd

There’s plenty of festive fun to be had this holiday season — check out this list of storytimes, special film screenings, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus and more.

• Visit Santa Claus at Bass Pro Shops (2 Commerce Dr., Hooksett) now through Dec. 24. Free giveaways will be available while supplies last. Events are by online reservation only. Visit basspro.com/santa to make your reservation up to seven days in advance.

• The Hudson Lions Club will present a drive-thru visit with Santa Claus, who will arrive by fire truck in the parking lot of Alvirne High School (200 Derry Road, Hudson) on Friday, Nov. 26, at 1 p.m. “Elves” will be giving out goodie bags for kids. Visit nhlions.org/hudson.

• Kids can meet Santa Claus at Ya Mas Greek Taverna & Bar (125 Bridge St., Pelham), which is holding several ticketed events featuring photo opportunities, gifts, gingerbread house decorating, holiday feasts and more. Choose from an 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. seating every Saturday and Sunday, from Nov. 27 through Dec. 19, as well as Thursday, Dec. 23, and Friday, Dec. 24. Each seating has an allocated two-hour time slot. The cost is $55 for adults and $35 for kids. Visit yamasgreektaverna.com.

• Sit with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus at the Deerfield Town Gazebo (Church Street, Deerfield) on Sunday, Nov. 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. This year they’ll be roped off inside the gazebo to ensure that safe social distancing is maintained. Kids can wave to and converse with the Clauses and pose for photos on the stairs in front of them. Masks are highly recommended. Visit deerfield.recdesk.com.

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St., Candia) has once again combined its Santa’s Big Party and Lighted Winter Wonderland events into one celebration, Santa’s Christmas. Individual tickets are not being sold; only packages are available, for $249 (one package is good for up to 10 people), with various times available to visit the farm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 3 through Dec. 5; Dec. 10 through Dec. 12; and Dec. 17 through Dec. 19, and Thursday, Dec. 23. Horse-drawn wagons are divided into two sections of 10 passengers each. Attractions include a live animal Nativity, visits with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and live “reindeer,” s’mores kits available for purchase, and hot cocoa and complimentary sugar cookies provided by Mrs. Claus. Visit visitthefarm.com to check available times.

• Santa Land returns to the Gilford Youth Center (19 Potter Hill Road, Gilford) on Friday, Dec. 3, and Saturday, Dec. 4. Kids can enjoy games, arts and crafts, cookie decorating and bounce houses at several interactive stations. In small groups, they’ll also be invited to Santa’s room for photo opportunities. Admission is free. Santa Land hours are from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Visit gilfordyouthcenter.com.

• Join the Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester) for its annual holiday open house on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring children’s holiday crafts, raffles, photo opportunities with Santa Claus and more. All are welcome free with museum admission. Visit manchesterhistoric.org.

• The Hooksett Public Library (31 Mount St. Mary’s Way, Hooksett) will host its annual Santa Party on Saturday, Dec. 4. Attendees can register a half-hour time slot between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., when they can enjoy music, crafts, and photo opportunities with Santa Claus. Registration and Hooksett library cards are required.

• Join the Rodgers Memorial Library (194 Derry Road, Hudson) for an outdoor holiday festival on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to noon, featuring seasonal music, photo opportunities, games, snacks and more. Visit rodgerslibrary.org.

• St. Joseph Hospital (172 Kinsley St., Nashua) will hold its Christmas Around the World event on Saturday, Dec. 4, featuring free photo opportunities with Santa Claus, holiday-themed activities for all ages, sweet treats, live multicultural performances and more. Attendees can sign up for one of two time slots, either from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or from 1 to 3 p.m. Admission is free. Visit stjosephhospital.com.

• Back by popular demand, the Manchester Historic Association is presenting its annual American Girl Doll tea party on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester). Guests can bring their dolls for a guided tour of the museum and enjoy a tea party with refreshments and crafts. The cost is $10 per person and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Visit manchesterhistoric.org.

• Visit Santa Claus at Greeley Park (100 Concord St., Nashua) for a socially distanced photo opportunity on Sunday, Dec. 5, from noon to 2 p.m. All kids will also receive a free gift. Visit nashuanh.gov.

• Don’t miss the Jingle Bell Extravaganza, a two-day holiday event at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover) on Sunday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 12. Attendees can meet Santa Claus for a socially distanced photo opportunity and receive a special gift. There will also be readings of The Polar Express, plus hands-on holiday craft activities, a magical science experiment and more. Pajamas are welcome. Time slots are available from 1 to 2:30 p.m. or from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on both days. Tickets are $15 for museum members and $20 for non-members (free for ages 12 months and under). Families will have their photos with Santa emailed to them no more than two weeks after the event. Visit childrens-museum.org.

• The Derry Public Library (64 E. Broadway, Derry) is hosting several special elf training sessions for kids at various times on Tuesday, Dec. 7, Wednesday, Dec. 8, and Friday, Dec. 10. Sessions are about 45 minutes long and feature “elven” crafts, songs, stories and more. Registration is required. Visit derrypl.org.

• The Milford Recreation Department will host Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. inside the Town Hall Auditorium (1 Union Sq., Milford). The cost is $9 per person (free for kids under 2). Visit milfordrec.com to register.

Santa at the Aviation Museum. Courtesy photo.

• Santa Claus will arrive by helicopter at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m., where he’ll greet families and take gift requests until 1 p.m. The outdoor event is free and open to the public. Hot cocoa and cider will also be provided, courtesy of the Airport Diner in Manchester. Visit aviationmuseumofnh.org.

• The YMCA of Greater Londonderry (206 Rockingham Road, Londonderry) will host a Kids Night at the Y on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 4 to 9 p.m. The theme will be “Holiday Palooza.” YMCA staff will keep the kids healthy and active with art and STEM projects, and a pizza dinner will be served. Are all welcome, no membership required. The cost is $40 per child, and $15 for each additional sibling. Visit graniteymca.org.

• Enjoy s’mores with Santa at the New Boston Town Common (Meetinghouse Hill Road, New Boston) on Saturday, Dec. 11. Santa Claus will be on the gazebo for the tree lighting at 4 p.m. Kids can visit Santa after the tree lighting and bring an ornament from home to be placed on the town tree. Fire pits for roasting marshmallows will be open from 4 to 6 p.m., with s’mores fixings, hot chocolate and cider all provided by the New Boston Recreation Department. Visit newbostonnh.gov.

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham) will hold a Polar Express holiday viewing party at each of its three locations on Saturday, Dec. 11, and Sunday, Dec. 12, with screenings at noon, 3:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Visit chunkys.com/film/the-polar-express-holiday-viewing-party-2021 and click on your preferred theater location to purchase tickets.

• The Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth) will host a screening of the 2018 animated film The Grinchon Thursday, Dec. 23, at 3 p.m., with a children’s storytime preceding it at 2 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students, and includes access to the storytime. If you want to attend just the storytime and not the movie screening, admission is $5 per family. Visit themusichall.org.

• Ring in the new year a bit early at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover), during its annual family New Year’s Eve celebration on Friday, Dec. 31. Two time slots are available to reserve, from 9 a.m. to noon or from noon to 3:30 p.m. Museum staff will stage four “countdowns to midnight,” at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. during the morning session, and at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. during the afternoon session. Everyone will receive a noisemaker and will get to create their own sparkly party hat. Admission is $11 per adult and per child, $9 for seniors, and free for museum members and kids under 12 months. Visit childrens-museum.org.

Craft fair season
Do some shopping for artisan-made items at local craft fairs. Find listings for the coming weekend’s craft fairs most weeks on the This Week page (page 9 in this and most issues). Know of an upcoming craft fair? Let us know at [email protected].

Featured photo: Charmingfare Farm. Courtesy photo.

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