The Hippo Press – Page 18

This Week 26/01/29

Thursday, Jan. 29

The SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) will host Dancing With the Stars: Live tonight beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $85.

Thursday, Jan. 29

The Granite Stage, a community talent showcase celebrating New Hampshire’s artists, musicians, dancers, comedians and creators from Rhythm and Roots Studio (rhythmandrootsstudiollc.com), will take place tonight at the Rex Theatre (823 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $30.

Friday, Jan. 30

Queen tribute act Almost Queen will perform at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $46.

Saturday, Jan. 31

Boogie Wonder Band will take the stage at Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50.

Saturday, Jan. 31

Red River Theatres in Concord will host a screening of The Testament of Ann Lee, a film starring Amanda Seyfried as Ann Lee, founder of the Shakers, today at 4 p.m. and tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 1, at 10 a.m., with both screenings featuring post-film dicussions with the Canterbury Shaker Village Museum’s curator of research & collections and archivist. Tickets are available at redrivertheatres.org.

Saturday, Jan. 31

Join Main Dunstable Elementary School PTO for a special Parents’ Night Out Clean Comedy Fundraiser in the Auditorium at Nashua South High School (36 Riverside St., Nashua) tonight at 7 p.m. Headliners Comedy Club will bring comedians Kyle Crawford, Judy Sloane and Rob Steen to the stage for a fun, feel-good evening filled with laughs that everyone can enjoy. General admission tickets are $25, and all proceeds benefit the Main Dunstable School PTO.

Sunday, Feb. 1

The Majestic Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester, 669-7469, majestictheatre.net) welcomes the Scott Spradling Band, a 12-member big band, this afternoon at 2 p.m. The performance will be held at The Majestic Theatre Studios, 880 Page St. in Manchester. Tickets are $28.

Sunday, Feb. 1

Two-time Emmy and Grammy Award winning comedian Kathy Griffin will perform at the Chubb Theatre (Chubb Theatre at CCA, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) as part of her “New Face; New Tour” tour tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $49.

Wednesday, Feb. 4

The Dover Public Library will present Bob Sheppard and his program “My Father, the Tuskegee Airman” about his father, Master Sergeant James A. Sheppard Jr., today at 6:30 p.m. in Room 306 of the McConnell Center, 61 Locust St. in Dover, according to a press release. The event is free and open to the public. See library.dover.nh.gov.

Save the Date! Saturday, Feb. 14
Emo Night Brooklyn, a late-night DJ-based dance party blasting emo and pop-punk jams, will take place Saturday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St., Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com). This is a general-admission open floor show. Ticketholders must be 18+. Tickets start at $26.

Featured photo: The Testament of Ann Lee will screen at Red River Theatres.

Quality of Life 26/01/29

St. Patrick’s Day Parade canceled

According to its website (saintpatsnh.com), Manchester’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, originally scheduled for Sunday, March 29, has been canceled. An announcement on the website read, “The St. Patrick’s Parade committee was recently met with the logistical challenge of shortening the parade route and changing the staging areas for the parade. At this time, as a small committee, we do not feel that we are equipped to handle the changes to be able to safely stage the parade in an organized manner…. We hope to be able to take this time to plan, recruit additional, knowledgeable volunteers and be able to safely host a St. Patrick’s parade in 2027.”

QOL score: -2

Comment: An announcement from Millenium Running, organizer of the Shamrock Shuffle, a 2-mile road race usually staged in conjunction with the Parade, read,”[W]e are currently in the process of possibly reworking the Shamrock Shuffle for a possible course and/or a date change. ” Visit millenniumrunning.com/shamrock.

Chicken with listeria

According to a Jan. 16 notice by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, more than 13,000 pounds of chicken products have been recalled in seven states, including New Hampshire, due to possible listeria contamination. “The ready-to-eat grilled chicken breast fillets were produced on October 14, 2025,” the notice read. They were produced by Sozanna’s Kitchen, a company in Norcross, Georgia. “There have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of these products,” the notice said.

QOL score: -1

Comment: See fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/suzannas-kitchen-recalls-ready-eat-grilled-chicken-breast-fillet-products-due to see the product label.

Saving for a rainy day

According to a Jan. 4 report by the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (nhfpi.org), a recent analysis by the Urban Institute (urban.org) reported that “nearly one in four New Hampshire households lacked $2,000 in savings for emergencies…. About 23 percent of New Hampshire households did not have non-retirement savings, such as money in a checking or savings account, totaling more than $2,000 in 2022.”

QOL score: -1

Comment: To view the data from the Urban Institute analysis, visit apps.urban.org/features/financial-health-wealth-dashboard.

QOL score last week: 58

Net change: -4

QOL this week: 54

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

News & Notes 26/01/29

Bob Baines

Bob Baines, who served as Manchester’s mayor in the early 2000s, died last week, according to a statement from his family posted on current Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais’ Facebook page. The statement, posted Jan. 23, reads: “With heavy hearts, the family of Robert ‘Bob’ Baines shares the news of his passing. Bob left us peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. We kindly ask that you keep the Baines family in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly challenging time.”

Baines was elected mayor in 1999 and his tenure is listed as 2000-2005 on the city’s website. Baines was currently a member of Manchester’s Board of School Committee, representing Ward 9. Baines, who was born in Manchester, taught music at Alvirne High School from 1968 to 1977, was the principal of Manchester High School West from 1980 to 1999 and was named New Hampshire Principal of the Year in 1990 and Educator of the Year by Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce in 1996, according to manchesternh.gov. “Mayor Baines married Maureen McCaugney of Nashua in 1974 and they have three children: Christina, Timothy and Catherine,” the city’s website said, and the Union Leader reported that they also had four grandchildren.

In the Jan. 25 issue of “Day By Day,” the Substack newsletter by local author and Hippo co-founder Dan Szczesny, Dan shared his memories about Baines: “His years as mayor coincide with myself and my two partners creating and launching HippoPress … Back then, one of our first stops … even before the paper had launched, was the mayor’s office. … Much to our surprise, he welcomed us enthusiastically. … [During] that first meeting with him (maybe the second or third) he was blunt about our chances of success, in particular because he hated the idea of the paper being called The Hippo. ‘That doesn’t even make sense!’ he’d say. We went with it anyway and the name stuck. And every time any of us saw him after that, he’d just smile and yell ‘Hey, Hippo!’ … He was a good guy. That’s it, that’s what sticks and this has played out after his passing as friends, officials and lawmakers from ever side of the political spectrum have come out to sing his praises.”

Interim chief

Deputy Chief Barrett J. Moulton has been named Interim Chief of the Concord Police Department effective Jan. 24, according to a Concord city newsletter. He takes over for Chief Bradley Osgood, who retired Jan. 23, the newsletter said. “Chief Moulton has more than 27 years of experience in law enforcement. He grew up in New Hampshire and attended Northeastern University. He joined the Concord Police Department in 2006 after serving as a Police Officer and Sergeant with the Town of Loudon,” the newsletter said.

The New Hampshire Audubon is holding an open house for raptor biologist Chris Martin, who has retired after 35 years with NH Audubon, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the McLane Center, 84 Silk Farm Road in Concord, according to an Audubon newsletter. RSVP by Jan. 30 at nhaudubon.org.

Capitol Cross-Country Ski Day, featuring races, gear demos and free lessons, will take place Sunday, Feb. 8, at the Concord Community Nordic Trails at Beaver Meadow Golf Course in Concord, according to skithebeav.org, where you can register for the races and clinics for youth and adults.

The Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St. in Nashua, will hold its first-ever metal concert with the local death metal band Cytokine on Friday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. in the Chandler Wing, according to a press release. The concert is free and all-ages. See nashualibrary.org.

Season of Music — 01/22/2026

on the cover

French fries are a perfect food. Maybe not, like, nutritionally or whatever, but a well made french fry is both a delight on its own with just a sprinkle of salt and a delivery system for an equally tasty world of seasonings and dips. John Fladd looks at what goes into making a great french fry in this week’s cover story. Above and on the cover, french fries from River Road Tavern in Bedford. Photo by John Fladd.

Also on the cover: Have you voted? Vote now in Hippo’s Best of 2026 readers’ poll, where you can vote for your favorite tacos, pizza, chicken tenders, ice cream and cocktails — plus non-food faves. See hippopress.com for a link to the survey.

And it’s Concord NH Winter Fest in downtown Concord! Check out the story on page 15 for details about Saturday’s event and see page 7 for information about Art & Bloom, the art event happening concurrently at Kimball Jenkins this weekend.

Read the e-edition

News & Notes 26/01/22

260122 Featured Content News

Celebrating Christa McAuliffe The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord will hold “Reach for the Stars: Celebrating Christa McAuliffe” Saturday, Jan ...

Quality of Life 26/01/22

260122 News Quality Of Life

A school project with wings According to a Jan. 13 online article by WMUR, an airplane built by students at ...

Pats in Denver Sunday

260122 News Sports

The Big Story – Pats Win: Been saying it all year, and did it again Sunday — how are they ...

This Week 26/01/22

260122 Featured Content News This Week

Thursday, Jan. 22 “Art and Bloom,” a show in collaboration with the Women’s Caucus for Art, New Hampshire Chapter, and ...

French Fries

260122 Cover Stories Featured Content

A look at the making of the tastiest of foods By John Fladdjfladd@hippopress.com As with most wonderful things that seem ...

Carrying on

A ghostly looking woman performs an intricate ballet.

260122 Art & Theater Featured Content

Ukrainian ballet tour comes to New Hampshire By Michael Witthausmwitthaus@hippopress.com The Grand Kyiv Ballet Company was forged through the crucible ...

Treasure Hunt 26/01/22

A small wooden toy set with a clown and balls, painted bright colors of blue red and yellow.

260122 Family Fun Treasure Hunt

Dear Donna, Do you know anything about this toy clown set? I recently bought this for my daughter at a ...

Ice carving, axe throwing

A beautiful carved ice statue of a griffin.

260122 Family Fun Featured Content

Concord holds its annual winter festival By John Fladdjfladd@hippopress.com According to Jessica Martin, the executive director of Intown Concord, one ...

The Weekly Dish 26/01/22

260122 Food

By John Fladdjfladd@hippopress.com • Whiskey 101: Arts Alley (20 S. Main St., Concord, 406-5666, artsalleyconcordnh.com) and Tamworth Distilling (15 Cleveland ...

The Miller’s Tavern opens

A black and white sign in a city saying, "Miller's Tavern".

260122 Featured Content Food

A new restaurant brings lessons from one Elm Street corner to another By John Fladdjfladd@hippopress.com For 15 years, The Farm ...

Like a park, but with cappuccino

260122 Food

Village Play Cafe offers a place for parents and kids to relax By John Fladdjfladd@hippopress.com The target demographic of Village ...

Fog Cutter

A tall yellow drink with ice and a blue umbrella.

260122 Drink Food

Here is my take on this classic. 1½ ounces light rum — On this occasion I’ve used Captain Morgan’s Sweet ...

Album Reviews 26/01/22

Djrum, Under Tangled Silence (Houndstooth Records) & Hoaxed, Death Knocks (Relapse Records)

260122 Albums Pop

Djrum, Under Tangled Silence (Houndstooth Records) It was way past time to cover this one — seven months to be ...

A Wooded Shore, by Thomas McGuane

Book cover for Into the Midnight Wood by Alexandra McCollum

260122 Books Pop

(Knopf, 177 pages) Thomas McGuane’s 18th book, A Wooded Shore, fits nicely on a shelf in a man cave. Comprising ...

The Music Roundup 26/01/22

260122 Music This Week

• Bon voyage: There are changes ahead for Concord jamsters Andrew North & the Rangers. With drummer Dale Grant moving ...

Bringing the funk

A group of men dressed in black and a red-headed woman in white pose in a brick alley.

260122 Featured Content Nightlife

Fox and The Flamingos hit BNH Stage By Michael Witthausmwitthaus@hippopress.com Female-fronted funk will be in the spotlight when Fox and ...

This Week 26/01/22

Thursday, Jan. 22

“Art and Bloom,” a show in collaboration with the Women’s Caucus for Art, New Hampshire Chapter, and Kimball Jenkins Estate, 266 N. Main St. in Concord, will open to the public today from 2 to 4 p.m. with an opening reception scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. The show will feature floral arrangements interpreting the works of Kimball Jenkins’ winter show “Apricity: The Warmth of Winter Sun.” The show will also be open Friday, Jan. 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (during the Concord NH Winter Festival; see page 15). See kimballjenkins.com.

Thursday, Jan. 22

The Manchester Community Music School (2291 Elm St., Manchester, 644-4548, mcmusicschool.org) presents Stick Figures, a percussion-focused concert featuring faculty member Adam Cahalane tonight at 7 p.m. This concert is free and open to the public.

Thursday, Jan. 22

Dynamic drum troupe and visual spectacle Drum Tao will perform at the Chubb Theatre (Chubb Theatre at CCA, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com) tonight beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $44.25.

Friday, Jan. 23

The Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts will present Seussical the Musical, Jr. at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry, 404-2928, derryoperahouse.org) tonight at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 24, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m. This production stars children and teens of The Majestic Academy. General admission tickets are $17. Visit majestictheatre.net.

Friday, Jan. 23

Laugh Attic at Strange Brew Tavern (88 Market St., Manchester, 666-4292, strangebrewtavern.net) presents The Interview tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. This is a comedy showcase where Human Resources asks the comics things you’ve always wanted to know. Tickets are $20 through eventbrite.com.

Saturday, Jan. 24

One of the premier Beatles tribute acts, Beatlejuice, will perform at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 through the Tupelo’s website.

Saturday, Jan. 24

There is a Winter Wonderland Masquerade Party at the Jewel Music Venue (61 Canal St. Manchester, 819-9336, jewelmusicvenue.com) tonight from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. with special performances by Wettybop, The Artist Graves, Sokomodo, SPVNYVN, and Jephirsun Danger. There will be a masquerade costume contest with a $100 cash prize. Find the event on Jewel’s Facebook page for the QR code to scan top purchase tickets.

Sunday, Jan. 25

Granite State Generosity (gsgnh.org) welcomes the start of ski and snowboard season today with the Ninth Annual Bob Gilman Fun Run Ski and Snowboard Race at McIntyre Ski Area. Visit mcintyreskiarea.com/acitivities/bobgilman to register.

Save the Date! Thursday, Jan. 29

Dancing with the Stars will burn up the dance floor at SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com) on Thursday, Jan. 29, with special guest Danielle Fishel. Tickets start at $76 through gotickets.com. A VIP package is available.

Featured photo: Horton, Clover, the Grinch and the Whos!

Quality of Life 26/01/22

A school project with wings

According to a Jan. 13 online article by WMUR, an airplane built by students at Manchester School of Technology has arrived at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. “Students have been working on the aircraft since 2023,” the article read. “It’s the second airplane built at the school through a partnership with the Manchester School District and nonprofit Tango Flight. The plane will be inspected and go through flight testing before receiving certification that it’s airworthy.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: According to a post on the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire’s website, “the aircraft, a two-seat Van’s RV-12iS recreational plane, will undergo FAA inspection followed by a ‘fly-off’ procedure supervised by an approved test pilot. “ Visit aviationmuseumofnh.org.

A cheer heard from here to Foxboro

As reported in an online article by WMUR, the New England Patriots Cheerleaders are led by a Londonderry native. “Driss Dallahi was one of the first male cheerleaders on the team,” the story read, “and now, he’s managing the squad. He joined the team in 2019, becoming one of the first male cheerleaders on the squad in nearly three decades. He was recently appointed manager.”

QOL score: +1

Comment: “Dallahi said preparing for a playoff game looks a lot like the regular season, just with more intensity,” the WMUR article said.

Eagles conserved

As reported by the Boston Globe in a Jan. 13 online article, “bald eagles are making a comeback in New Hampshire. According to the State’s most recent Wildlife Action Plan, released in December, “[The eagles’] recovery has been notable enough that they’re no longer considered a ‘species of greatest conservation need,’” As reported in the Globe article, “128 bald eagle pairs were documented in the state in 2025, 13 more than in 2024.”

QOL score: +1 for the eagles

Comment: On the other hand, five new species of shorebirds have been added to the list of those in need of conservation: Black-bellied Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper,Short-billed Dowitcher and White-rumped Sandpiper. Visit wildlife.nh.gov/wildlife-and-habitat/nh-state-wildlife-action-plan.

QOL score: 55

Net change: +3

QOL this week: 58

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?

Let us know at news@hippopress.com.

Author: The Hippo Press

This Week 26/01/29

Quality of Life 26/01/29

News & Notes 26/01/29

Season of Music — 01/22/2026

This Week 26/01/22

Quality of Life 26/01/22

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!