Author: The Hippo Press

The Weekly Dish 23/12/07

News from the local food scene

• Free wine tasting: Wine on Main (9 N. Main St., Concord) hosts a free wine tasting and holiday kickoff party on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit wineonmainnh.com.

• Cookies with Santa: Meet Santa, decorate cookies, listen to a story and enjoy hot chocolate at White Birch Eatery in Goffstown (571 Mast Road) on Sunday, Dec. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. The cost is $20 per child. Reservations are suggested. Visit their Facebook page @WhiteBirchEatery.

• Breakfast with Santa: The Bedford Event Center (379 River Road, Bedford) hosts breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon. Tickets ($85 for adults, $65 for children), including a breakfast buffet, a hot chocolate station, the opportunity to meet and take your picture with Santa, a sing-along with Santa and more. To purchase tickets visit bedfordeventcenter.com.

• Holiday recipes: Taste and learn to make a variety of holiday recipes such as a greeting eggnog cocktail, candied kielbasa, deviled eggs with LaBelle Seyval Blanc filling, LaBelle red wine caramelized onion dip, baked brie with LaBelle red wine fruit compote and LaBelle wine pairings (riesling, cranberry riesling and malbec) at LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst) at their Cooking with Wine class on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 6 to 7 p.m. Chefs will make the meals in front of you and you’ll be sent home with a recipe card. Tickets start at $43.40 and can be purchased at eventbrite.com.

On The Job – Matt Lazzaro

Welder

Matt Lazzaro is the owner-operator of Matt the Welder in Derry.

Explain your job and what it entails.

There is no real typical day. Some days I’ll be making a railing; another day I might be fixing a broken plow. Part of why I like it is that there’s a good amount of variety.

How long have you been doing this?

I started the business about a little over three years ago, but I’ve been welding for close to 14 years now.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

I used to work in restaurants for a long time. And then I started having kids and the nights and weekends weren’t doing it for me. I knew a couple of welders and they seemed pretty happy. So I decided to go back to school for it.

What kind of education or training did you need?

I went to college and I got an associate’s degree in welding technologies. You don’t have to do that to get into welding, but it allowed me to get more mid-level jobs out of school.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

Usually burnt shirts and pants and boots and gloves. Even all summer long, I have to be completely covered in boots, long pants and long shirts to protect from the sparks and the heat of the welding.

What is the most challenging thing about your work?

The most challenging is the back end part of it, like the books, answering all the calls and messages and giving price estimates and stuff. But I just do my best with it.

What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?

I really wish I had known earlier how much more I enjoy working for myself.

What was the first job you ever had?

Bagging groceries.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

I wish people knew the sacrifices that it takes to get to where I’ve gotten.

What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?

To show up when you say you’re going to show up and do what you say you’re going to do.

Five favorites
Favorite book: Trade magazines, like Ask This Old House.
Favorite movie: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Favorite music: ‘90s and early 2000s rap.
Favorite food: Cheeseburgers
Favorite thing about NH: The never-ending supply of rusty metal.

Featured photo: Matt Lazzaro. Courtesy photo.

Kiddie Pool 23/12/07

Family fun for whenever

Mr. Claus travels in style

• Santa Claus will helicopter in and touch down at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry) on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 11 a.m. and hang out until 1 p.m., when he will depart on an airport fire truck, according to a press release. Families are recommended to be at the museum by 10:45 a.m. to park and watch Santa’s helicopter arrive, the release said. Santa will visit with kids inside the museum and kids who talk to Santa will get goodie bags, the release said. The event will also include free coffee and hot chocolate from Common Man Roadside, the release said. The museum will be open free of charge to visitors from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then charge regular admission from 1 to 4 p.m.

Saturday is also the opening day for the museum’s exhibit “Home of the Holidays” featuring vintage World War II uniforms and posters on loan from the Wright Museum of World War II, the release said. The exhibit will run through Sunday, Jan. 14, and also includes trees decorated with aviation-related toys. The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Regular admission costs $10 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 12 and 65+ and veterans/active military; kids ages 5 and under get in free.

Find more holiday family fun in the Nov. 23 issue of the Hippo, our annual Holiday Guide; see hippopress.com for the e-edition.

Big screen Christmas

• Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com) will begin a week of screenings of The Polar Express (G, 2004), which you can catch at all three area Chunky’s Friday, Dec. 8, through Thursday, Dec. 14, with at least one screening daily and three on Saturday, Dec. 9, and Sunday, Dec. 10. Buy a “Milk & Cookies Movie Ticket” to get a box with milk, cookies and a bell during the movies. “Dinner with Santa,” where guests will be greeted by Santa before and after the show, with opportunities to take photos with him, will take place at some screenings Dec. 13, Dec. 14, and Dec. 21.

• A Christmas Story(PG, 1983) will screen on Sunday, Dec. 10, at AMC Londonderry (4 p.m.), Cinemark in Salem (4 p.m.), O’neil Cinemas in Epping (4 and 7 p.m.) and Regal Fox Run in Newington (4 and 7 p.m.), and on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at all four of those locations at 7 p.m. See fathomevents.com.

The Art Roundup 23/12/07

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

• It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas: The Majestic Theatre (majestictheatre.net) will present the Meredith Wilson musical Miracle on 34th Street Friday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 9, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. at the Derry Opera House (29 West Broadway in Derry). Tickets cost $22 for adults; $18 for 65+ and $15 for 17 and under, according to a press release.

• More Carol: Dickens’ A Christmas Carol continues through Sunday, Dec. 17, at the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com) with performances Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and students.

• Art and song: The Mariposa Museum (26 Main St. in Peterborough; mariposamuseum.org) will present a performance by Windborne, a vocal group, at the Unitarian Universalist Church (25 Main St. in Peterborough) on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 6:30 p.m. A wassail reception will proceed the concert from 5 to 6:15 p.m. (tickets cost $20 online in advance, $25 on the day), according to a press release. While at the reception, visitors can view the exhibit “Stitching Time: The Social Justice Collaborative Quilts Project” featuring 20 quilts made by men serving life sentences at Louisiana State Penitentiary, the release said.

Handmade
Studio 550 Community Art Center (550 Elm St. in Manchester; 550arts.com, 232-5597) has holiday happenings in December. The center will host its annual Handmade Holiday Market featuring pottery and glass art Monday, Dec. 18, through Saturday, Dec. 23, noon to 8 p.m. each day (except Wednesday, when the center is closed), according to a press release. Two rooms will be filled with pieces made by more than 30 makers, including studio members and staff, such as mugs, bowls, ornaments, serving ware and more, the release said.

Members, staff and other artists have also created more than 100 cups and mugs for the Cups for a Cause display; buy one of these cups or mugs and proceeds will support the International Institute of New England, which provides resources for new Americans, the release said. The cups will be in a separate display and run about $20 each, the release said.

And when you’re in downtown Manchester in the week before the market, keep an eye out for mini-mugs and ceramic ornaments that will be hidden around town, the release said. Find an item and bring it to the market to win a prize.

• Birds: Auburn artist Deirdre Cleary will display her carved birds — which include song birds and waterfowl carved from basswood, cedar or tupelo — at Griffin Free Library (22 Hooksett Road in Auburn; 483-5374, griffinfree.org) starting Friday, Dec. 8, and running through Friday, Jan. 12, according to a press release. On Friday, Dec. 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. the library will host an artist reception to open the exhibit and Cleary will be on hand to discuss her work, the release said. Master Bird Carver Don Combs will also attend to demonstrate how to carve a bird from a wooden block, the release said.

• Music with their mouths: The a capella group Rockapella will perform Friday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. at Stockbridge Theatre (44 N. Main St. in Derry; stockbridgetheatre.showare.com, 437-5210). Tickets cost $35 to $40.

• Write it fancy: Calligraphy artist Adele Sanborn will do a free gift tag calligraphy demonstration on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St. in Boscawen; twiggsgallery.org). See Sanborn’s work at cornerstonedesignnh.com. Twiggs is open on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. and on Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pops
The New Hampshire Philharmonic’s annual Holiday Pops concert will feature the Philharmonic Orchestra joined by guest pianist Roxane Park (pictured) and Santa Claus on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. at Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive in Salem). The show will also include a classic sing-along, according to a press release. Tickets cost $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, $10 for students; see nhphil.org. There is a livestreaming ticket option for the Dec. 17 show.

• Holiday with the Statesmen: The Granite Statesmen, an a capella group singing four-part harmony, will perform their Christmas Chorus on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. at Judd Gregg Hall (Nashua Community College, 505 Amherst St. in Nashua). Tickets cost $20; see granitestatesmen.org.

• New shows: The Seacoast Artist Association (130 Water St. in Exeter; seacoastartist.org) presents two new solo shows. “Dine,” featuring the works of artist Debra Woodward, contains oil paintings featuring diners enjoying eateries around the Seacoast, according to a press release. Watercolorist Gwen Morgan will have her works featured in “Wonders of Watercolor,” the release said. The artists will be at a “Second Friday” artist reception on Friday, Dec. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. that will also feature food, wine and live music from violinists Dacha and Sava Thurber, the release said. The shows will be on display through Sunday, Dec. 24. From Wednesday, Dec. 6, through Christmas Eve (when the gallery will be open 1 to 4 p.m.), the gallery will be open daily, the release said.

• Celebration of winter: The folk-Americana band Low Lily will perform “Low Lily’s Winter Solstice Celebration” on Sunday, Dec. 10, at the Bass Hall at the Monadnock Center (19 Grove St. in Peterborough). Tickets cost $25 for adults, $15 for kids. See pfmsconcerts.org.

• Big Christmas sound: The Manchester Community Music School (2291 Elm St. in Manchester; mcmusicschool.org, 644-4548) will hold Tuba Christmas on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. featuring players of tubas, sousaphones, euphoniums and baritones, according to the website. The concert is free and open to the public. If you play a tuba, sousaphone, euphonium or baritone and would like to join in, show up at 9:30 a.m. to register (the cost is $10); a rehearsal starts at 10 a.m. For more information on participating, contact Hailley McConnell at [email protected] or 644-4548, ext. 208.

‘A Testament to Peace’
The Concord Chorale will perform a concert titled “A Testament to Peace,” focusing on themes of peace and gratitude, with brass, organ, piano and percussion as well as The Purple Finches, a youth choir from Concord Community Music School, on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m. (when there will also be a livestream option) at the South Congregational Church (27 Pleasant St. in Concord). See concordchorale.org/tickets for tickets to the event, which will also feature the chorale’s new collaborative pianist, Elizabeth Blood, according to a press release. Courtesy photo.

• Holiday concert: The Windham Community Bands will hold their 16th annual holiday concert on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. at Windham High School. The event is free to the public and will feature the Windham Swing Band, Concert Band and Saxophone Quartet, according to a press release. The event will also feature a bake sale.

• Irish dance tunes: Christmas with the Celts will come to the Stockbridge Theatre (44 N. Main St. in Derry; stockbridgetheatre.showare.com, 437-5210) on Thursday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. The show features a combination of “timeless ancient Irish Christmas carols and lively Irish dance with modern contemporary songs but with Irish instrumentation,” according to a press release. Tickets cost $30 and $35.

Quality of Life 23/12/07

Funding the show

The Community Players of Concord, an all-volunteer theater company founded in 1927, received a significant boost with a $50,000 matching gift from an anonymous donor. According to a press release, this gift is aimed at establishing an investment fund to secure the long-term future of the nearly century-old organization. The fund, named “A Fund for the Players,” requires the Players to raise an additional $50,000 to access the full pledged amount. Already over halfway to their goal, the group plans to meet this challenge before their annual meeting in June 2024.

QOL score: +1

Comment: Contributions to this fund can be made through the Community Players of Concord’s website, communityplayersofconcord.org.

Our holiday look

A “Most Popular Christmas Decorations 2023” study conducted by Lombardo Living found that New Hampshire ranks 7th among states for the most holiday decorating in 2023. The study, which analyzed Google search terms related to Christmas decorations, also indicates that the most popular decoration in New Hampshire is the window candle. This preference places New Hampshire within a unique niche of states that have chosen a specific type of holiday decoration that differs from the more commonly seen Christmas trees and lights that dominate other states’ preferences.

QOL score: +1

Comment: The study reports that 83 percent of Americans are decorating for the holidays this year, spending an average of $140 on decorations.

Jewelry thefts

The Manchester Police Department reported three mid-business-day jewelry thefts happening within a little more than a week at two local jewelry stores, according to a press release. Starting on Nov. 20, Day’s Jewelers fell victim to a “snatch-and-grab” theft of a gold chain, a tactic repeated in a subsequent theft at the same store on Nov. 25. A similar theft took place at Market Square Jewelers on Nov. 28, involving a gold rope chain, the release said.

QOL score: -2

Comment: Manchester Police Department asks anyone for information about the thefts to call Manchester Police Detective Andrew Choi at 792-5514. Descriptions and photos of the men suspected in the thefts are posted on the police department’s Facebook page.

QOL score: 87

Net change: 0

QOL this week: 87

What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?
Let us know at [email protected].

This Week 23/12/07

Big Events December 7, 2023 and beyond

Thursday, Dec. 7

Head to the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org) for today’s Art After Work (when admission is free from 5 to 8 p.m.). Tonight’s musical performer is Joey Clark & The Big Hearts. And on Saturday, Dec. 9, admission is also free then for New Hampshire residents (the Second Saturday program sponsored by The Botnick Family Foundation and E&R Laundry and Dry Cleaners). The museum is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 9

The Currier and Ives Cookie Tour will run today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and feature 16 stops at inns, restaurants, galleries and more in the Monadnock region. Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased, starting at the Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy and Frogg Brewing in Swanzey. See currierandivescookietour.com and our story on page 30. Or make a weekend of cookie adventures with the Annual Holiday Inn to Inn Cookie Tour today and Sunday, Dec. 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at nine White Mountains inns stretching from Jackson to Eaton, with inns at least 15 minutes apart. See cookietour.square.site to purchase tour tickets for $35.

Saturday, Dec. 9

The 9th annual Hollis Luminaria Stroll & Town Band Concert will start today at 10 a.m. and include more than 2,000 luminaria lanterns, a Santa tractor parade, holiday craft shopping, a chili and cornbread dinner, music performances in Monument Square, a gingerbread house contest and a bake sale. The stroll and tree lighting will be at 4 p.m. at Monument Square. Visit hollisluminaria.org for a complete event schedule.

Saturday, Dec. 9

New England College will hold a Holiday Maker Fair today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at French Hall (148 Concord St. in Manchester). The event will feature arts and fine craft made by students, faculty and others, according to nec.edu/event/holiday-maker-fair. The event is free and open to the public. Demonstrations will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the website said.

Saturday, Dec. 9

Symphony NH will hold their Holiday Pops concert conducted by Maestro Roger Kalia today from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St., Nashua), and Sunday, Dec. 10, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord). The performances will feature an assortment of seasonal works and carols. Tickets start at $10. Visit symphonynh.org.

Saturday, Dec. 9

Relax into your Saturday evening with the Dave Matthews Tribute Band performing tonight at 8 p.m. at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com, 437-5100). Tickets cost $35. Find more ticketed concerts in our Concert listings on page 50.

Save the Date! Friday, Dec. 15
Professional Bull Riding: Unleash the Beast will come to the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com) on Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:45 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 16, at 6:45 p.m. Tickets start at $25. To get the rules on bull riding and see videos of previous events, go to pbr.com/unleash-the-beast.

Featured photo: Christmas cookies.

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