Category: Cover Stories

Gift of adventures

This year, give kids the gift of activities, adventures and experiences.

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For the holidays, give a gift to kids that allows them to explore art, nature and science through museum passes, activity gift cards, movie tickets and more.

Michael Accomando, the owner of Mel’s Funway Park, said that even though Mel’s is closed until the spring, they are still selling gift cards and Fun Packs (which include admission for all activities at the park) for the upcoming season. To Accomando, giving activities to kids is important.

“I try to keep people as far away from sitting on their phones or screens,” Accomando said. “I want to see kids outside and having fun.”

Below are a list of some area venues that offer gift cards, passes and more for kids and families to enjoy.

• Altitude Trampoline Park (360 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, altitudemerrimack.com, 261-3673) Gift cards can be requested through the website. An average jump session starts at $20 and there are multiple session passes available for purchase at the park.

• Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, nhahs.org) Membership for the full year includes a 10 percent discount in the Museum gift shop, borrowing privileges from the Slusser Aviation Lending Library, an invitation to quarterly luncheon programs and all Aviation Museum of New Hampshire events, and a subscription to the quarterly newsletter The Aeronaut. Individual membership costs $35, with family membership costing $70. Memberships can be purchased online.

• Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover, childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) The museum is offering gift cards that are one playtime pass for $12.50 for an adult and one child. A yearlong membership costs $145 per family.

• Chunky’s (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua, 880-8055; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, 635-7499; chunkys.com) The movie theater offers physical and printable gift cards ranging from $10 to $100 and an anytime movie pass for $8. There are also gift boxes starting at $22, such as the one that includes a $10 gift card, one prepaid admission and one prepaid popcorn coupon.

• Cowabungas (725 Huse Road, Manchester, cowabungas.com, 935-9659) The playground offers gift cards in any amount that can be purchased on its website.

• Crotched Mountain (615 Francestown Road, Bennington, crotchedmtn.com, 588-3668) Day lift passes start at $64 for youth ages 7 to 17.

• Fun City Trampoline Park (553 Mast Road, Goffstown, funcitygoffstown.com, 606-8807)Gift cards can be purchased at the park. Jump times start at $10 for toddlers ages 6 and younger or $16 for children ages older than 6. There is a VIP pass available online that includes two hours of fun, with a 60-minute jump time, laser tag and bumper cars. Pricing for children older than 6 is $30, $18 for toddlers.

• Granite Base Camp (300 Bloudin Road in Manchester; experiencebasecamp.org/pages/granite, 623-5962) offers annual family members (at $150 for four passes per weekend and $200 for six) or get a day pass for $20 per person. During Saturdays in winter, Granite Base Camp has ice skating, ice fishing, snow shoeing, indoor archery, STEM programs and more.

• Krazy Kids (60 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, krazykids.com, 228-7529) Gift cards start at $25 and a two-hour play session costs $15 for a child and an additional $5 for an accompanying adult.

• McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Dr., Concord, starhop.com, 271-7827) The Center features different levels of memberships that can be purchased online. Base level membership includes free admission to exhibit halls, free admission to the monthly Super Stellar Fridays series, free admission to regular planetarium shows, free or reduced admission to science centers that are part of the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) reciprocal program, free admission to partner museums and attractions, discounts on Discovery Center workshops and programs, and discounts at the Science Store. Membership for students ages 18 and under start at $30.

• McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Way, Manchester, mcintyreskiarea.com, 622-6159) They offer everything from day lifts to season passes available to purchase on the website. Prices range from $20 to $389. Gift cards are also available starting at $10.

• Mel’s Funway Park (454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield, melsfunwaypark.com, 424-2292)Email [email protected] or call to purchase gift cards or a Funway fun pack. Packs start at $38 per person and include a go-kart ride, a round of mini golf, a laser tag session, a bumper boat ride, two admissions to the laser maze and five batting cage tokens.

• Muse Paintbar (42 Hanover St., Manchester, musepaintbar.com, 888-607-6873, musepaintbar.com) The studio is offering gift cards that can be purchased online. The starting price for a gift card is $25 and sessions start at $35.

• O’neil Cinemas (24 Calef Hwy., Epping, oneilcinemas.com, 679-3529) The movie theater offers gift cards from $5 to $100. Gift cards can be purchased online or in the cinema.

• Pats Peak (686 Flanders Road, Henniker, patspeak.com, 428-3245) Gift cards start at $20, and a lift pass for juniors costs $82.

• SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St., Manchester, see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) Individual membership costs $30, membership for a family of four costs $120, for a family of up to eight is $150. Gift certificates can be purchased by calling the center’s phone number.

• Studio 550 (550 Elm St., Manchester, 550arts.com, 232-5597) The clay studio offers classes in drawing or clay work for students ages 9 and older during the school semesters and a pottery camp over summer vacation. Gift cards (made out of clay) are available and range from $10 to $300.

• Vertical Dreams (250 Commercial St., Manchester, verticaldreams.com, 625-6919) The rock climbing gym has gift cards starting at $25 that can be purchased online. A beginner lesson package costs $40 and a day pass costs $15 for children. Memberships for children start at one month for $45.

• XtremeCraze (4 Orchard View Dr., Unit 10, Londonderry, xtremecraze.us/londonderry, 404-6064) Pricing starts at $18.

Featured photo: The Aviation Museum of N.H.’s annual ‘Holiday Festival of Model Planes and Toy Aircraft.’ Courtesy photo.

An artistic present

Give the experience of a live performance this year

By Katelyn Sahagian

[email protected]

Theaters, orchestras and cinemas are offering gift cards and season memberships for live performances.

“I think when you come to a show the overall experience is elevated,” said Shannon Sullivan, the development director at the Palace and Rex Theatres in Manchester. “It’s a chance to get out and come be part of the community. We love getting people over here to the Palace and the Rex to experience it firsthand.”

Sullivan said that the Palace is in the swing of its 2022-2023 season now, with showings of A Christmas Carol throughout December, to be followed by the Piano Men tribute show in January and Broadway classic Rent coming later in the year.

The Rex will continue having live music performances and comedy shows every Friday evening, as well as tribute bands and other entertainment, like magicians and silent films. Both venues will have local and national musicians playing throughout the year.

Sullivan recommended that people purchase gift certificates or memberships to the theater. She added that tickets could be bought as presents, but they wouldn’t be exchangeable for other days due to all ticket sales being final at checkout. Memberships for the Palace and Rex start at $100 and gift cards could be for any price.

According to Sullivan, the base level of membership includes “two tickets, access to private members club at the palace … various discounts … acknowledgement in the playbill, and members are invited to receptions and dress rehearsals as a perk.”

At Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, owner Scott Hayward said that it’s incredibly important to him to give people a fantastic experience. Growing up, Hayward said, his favorite presents were gift cards to movie theaters.

“I love getting experience for that,” Hayward said. “You want to do something and now you can without paying for it.”

The Tupelo has season memberships for $250 and also offers gift cards people can purchase. As at the Palace and the Rex, ticket sales are final, and Hayward advises against purchasing tickets over the gift cards. He said the average price for one ticket at Tupelo is $42.

There’s a whole series of comedians, musicians and other performers coming up at Tupelo, Hayward said. He is most excited about Crash Test Dummies, an alternative and folk rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. They’ll be playing on Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. The ticket price wasn’t listed on the website at the time of printing.

When it comes to a choice with gifting, Hayward said that there’s nothing like live entertainment.

“You can give a physical gift but when you give them tickets or venue gift cards it’s giving an experience,” Hayward said. “You get to give them a full night out.”

Here are some organizations in the Granite State that are offering gift certificates or memberships:

• Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord, ccanh.com, 225-1111) Memberships are available starting at $120 and include exclusive access to the best seats in the house at the Chubb Theatre, members-only ticket insurance exchange policy, a 24-hour presale window, concession quick-lane pass, access to Listener Lab programming club, and free access to online content.

• Community Players of Concord (435 Josiah Bartlett Road, Concord, communityplayersofconcord.org, 344-4747) Season tickets are still available at the time of printing, costing $16 per ticket. Order by calling or by emailing [email protected].

• Chunky’s (707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua, 880-8055; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, 635-7499; chunkys.com) The movie theater offers physical and printable gift cards ranging from $10 to $100 and an anytime movie pass for $8. There are also gift boxes for $22 that include a $10 gift card, one prepaid admission and one prepaid popcorn coupon. Chunky’s also offers gift baskets for one, two or a family of four priced at $25.50, $43 and $84 respectively.

• Flying Monkey (39 S. Main St., Plymouth, flyingmonkeynh.com, 536-255) In addition to gift cards starting at $25, Flying Monkey also offers a “Prime-Mate” membership package for $250 that includes 48-hour advance notice on new shows, a $100 gift card, a copy of the “Rockin’ the Flying Monkey” photo book, merchandise, a pair of tickets to the annual anniversary bash, and special membership offers and discounts.

• Hatbox Theatre (270 Loudon Road, Concord, hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) The theater has tickets for sale for the 2022-2023 season; tickets for adults cost $22 to $25 while tickets for students, seniors and members cost $19 to $22. Memberships are still available, and prices start at $40 a year.

• Nashua Chamber Orchestra (505 Amherst St., Nashua, nco-music.org, 978-226-8575) Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors ages 65 and older, military and college students, free for students under 18. A season pass costs $50 for adults, $35 for seniors, military and college students.

• O’neil Cinemas (24 Calef Hwy., Epping, oneilcinemas.com, 679-3529) The movie theater offers gift cards from $5 to $100. Gift cards can be purchased online or in the cinema.

• Palace and Rex Theatres (80 Hanover St. in Manchester for the Palace Theatre and its box office, palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Memberships start at $100. Gift certificate pricing starts at $25.

• Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St., Concord, redrivertheatres.org, 224.4600) Gift cards can be purchased online or at the theater for $10 or more. The theater also has package deals that include two movie passes for Red River Theatres and a $25 gift card to a participating restaurant, and also a year-long membership that starts at $65.

• Symphony New Hampshire (6 Church St., Nashua, symphonynh.org, 595-9156) Memberships are not currently available at the time of printing, according to the website. Ticket prices start at $20 per show.

• Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry, tupelomusichall.com, 437-5100) Memberships start at $250 and gift cards can be purchased for any amount.

Featured photo: Margaret Kasper of Mountain Girl Clothing, based in Milford. Courtesy photo.

Old Threads, New Looks

How upcycled pieces and secondhand finds give clothes and jewelry their next fashion moment

Out with the old, in with the “new”

Upcycling used clothing into fresh fashion

By Matt Ingersoll

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Margaret Kasper of Milford was upcycling clothes before that was even a common term.

“My grandmother was a quilter, and I used to watch her save every scrap of fabric that she would use to make her quilts and then reuse it in new quilts. And I think that kind of stuck with me,” said Kasper, who has owned Mountain Girl Clothing since 2008. “I started to do the same thing when I got into sewing. I would save all the discarded pieces of fabric and use them on a new piece further down the line. … I think ‘upcycling’ is a pretty new term, and now it’s pretty trendy, but I think people have been doing it forever and probably not even realizing they’re doing it.”

A Milford native, Kasper studied fashion and textile design at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston. Launching Mountain Girl Clothing with her grandmother’s hand-me-down sewing machine, she began exploring the world of gently used and discarded textiles. Today, she operates in her own studio space in downtown Milford with the help of two assistants.

woman standing in font of brick wall modeling a colorful hooded jacket with front pocket
Margaret Kasper of Mountain Girl Clothing, based in Milford. Courtesy photo.

“There are literally tons and tons of post-consumer waste textiles and discarded clothing that you can find at thrift stores and secondhand stores and things like that,” Kasper said, “and so that’s what I really started to dive into, was looking at what I could use around me that’s not going to cost an arm and a leg. Then I would start to take it apart, transform it and make new pieces of clothing. … People just responded to it really well. Going into thrift stores is kind of like Christmas for me, because you never know what you’re going to find.”

Kasper admitted that when she’s on the hunt for “new” pieces of old clothing she can use at thrift stores, she doesn’t always have the most immediate idea of what she is going to do with it.

“I’ll be attracted to the feel or the print of the fabric,” she said, adding that Mountain Girl Clothing primarily specializes in women’s shirts, jackets, sweaters, hoodies and similar articles.

In addition to shopping at secondhand and thrift stores, Kasper has worked with a family in India for the past few years, whom she became connected with through the e-commerce website Etsy.

“They’ve been sending me their discarded textiles from India, and so I’ve been able to kind of expand what I use for materials and bring that over here to use in my pieces,” she said.

With the help of her two studio assistants, Kasper can produce about 40 to 50 new pieces every week — on average, she said, that’s anywhere from a half hour to up to two hours per piece. Once it’s ready to go, she’ll often have a model come in and wear it, or she’ll model it herself, and they’ll take pictures and create a listing for the item on the website. On Thursdays, Kasper also usually presents a shop launch on social media for her regular customers.

New to the world of upcycling, Sofia Farah launched The Tenth String Co. roughly eight months ago in her basement studio in Nashua. In fact, Farah actually just learned how to use a sewing machine in 2020, when she made masks during the early months of the pandemic.

Farah’s first upcycled project was a denim jacket, but it was one she had made just for herself.

“I posted it on my Instagram after it was done, then I went about my day and I get back on Instagram and get a ton of [messages], which doesn’t ever happen,” she said. “People were obsessed with the denim jacket and they all wanted to buy it. So then I was like, ‘What if I start doing this,’ and so I went to the thrift store that week and just found a bunch of random things.”

Upcycling started as a part-time hustle for Farah, until eventually she quit her job to wholly focus on keeping up with her orders. She is also now one of about 30 vendors that are participating in the inaugural Holiday Shoppes at Tuscan Village in Salem — find her there every Thursday through Sunday through Dec. 31, and daily during the week of Christmas.

woman modeling upcycled hoodie with multiple colored flannel sleeves and front pocket
Sofia Farah of The Tenth String Co., based in Nashua. Courtesy photo.

“One of my more popular items is the shirt and flannel combo,” Farah said. “Basically I take the torso of a shirt that might have some graphics on it, and I sew flannel arms to it, and it kind of makes this super-relaxed boxy-type fit article of clothing. … It’s the comfiest thing ever. You don’t have to button up the flannel, which is awesome. You just throw it on.”

Like Kasper, Farah finds herself often going to thrift and secondhand stores, as well as a lot of estate sales. She has even developed relationships with some local vintage clothing dealers.

In Salem, Ianna True owns and operates Fits the Vibe, a modern secondhand store that also carries some vintage and upcycled items. The business originally opened in Windham in October 2020 before moving to a larger space in Salem the following year.

True, who taught herself how to sew, also likes to create articles of clothing from graphic T-shirts and flannel sleeves, and she’ll sometimes dabble in upcycling sweatpants and sweatshirts.

Even some items like bed sheets and shower curtains can be upcycled into clothing. Meredith artist Cassandra “Sanni” Reale of Monarch Press Collections has filled such orders since founding her business in early 2021. She also likes to implement block printing into her work.

“That’s what makes me stand out a little bit more than just doing certain sewing alterations, is I’ll add that printing aspect in there, and a lot of it is some of my own designs,” Reale said. “Some of the bigger projects that I’ve done have been … flipping quilts into jackets, and also printing designs on the backs of jackets, or on pants or whatever.”

Kasper believes her customers are drawn to her pieces for several reasons. There’s the environmental benefit of reducing the amount of wasteful materials, for instance, in addition to the excitement among her buyers for being able to wear something wholly different and unique.

“I’ve always loved that you can find a T-shirt at a thrift shop and it’s sad and it doesn’t have a home, and then you add something to it or cut it a certain way and it looks like a completely new piece of clothing. And you didn’t have to go to a big department store to find it,” she said. “Another cool thing about the upcycling process is that it makes these pieces of clothing truly one of a kind. It’s something you can’t find anywhere else and can’t really be replicated.”

Where to find locally upcycled clothing

Here are a few local companies that work to breathe new life into yesterday’s clothes.

Fits the Vibe
287 Lawrence Road, Salem, 818-0598, fitsthevibe.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @fitsthevibe
A modern secondhand store that also carries vintage and upcycled items, Fits the Vibe originally opened in Windham in October 2020 before moving to a larger space in Salem the following September. Owner Ianna True works with dozens of small businesses to source their products in the store, which include everything from jewelry to upcycled clothes.

Monarch Press Collections
Meredith, monarchpresscollections.com, and on Facebook @monarch.press and Instagram @monarchpresscollections
Specializing in upcycled clothing, eco-friendly stamp making, block printing and more, all with a focus on sustainability, Monarch Press Collections was launched by Meredith artist and University of New Hampshire grad Cassandra “Sanni” Reale in early 2021. Her work is available for sale online, and she’ll also be selling her work at Wayfarer Marketplace (626 Main St., Laconia) on Friday, Dec. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Mountain Girl Clothing
Milford, mountaingirlclothing.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @mountaingirlclothing
Milford native Margaret Kasper has owned and operated Mountain Girl Clothing since 2008, specializing primarily in women’s shirts, jackets, sweaters, hoodies and similar articles. While her downtown Milford studio space isn’t open to the public, Kasper usually presents a weekly shop launch on social media for her regular customers, and she ships her products worldwide.

The Tenth String Co.
Nashua, thetenthstringco.com, and on Facebook and Instagram @thetenthstringco
New to the world of upcycling, Sofia Farah of The Tenth String Co. works out of her basement studio in Nashua. Find her at the inaugural Holiday Shoppes at Tuscan Village (9 Via Toscana, Salem) every Thursday through Sunday through Dec. 31 (except Sunday, Dec. 25) — hours are Thursday and Friday, 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. From Sunday, Dec. 18, through Friday, Dec. 23, the Holiday Shoppes will also be open daily, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and they’ll be open Saturday, Dec. 24, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thrill of the hunt

Secondhand clothes shopping offers exciting finds

By Angie Sykeny

[email protected]

Shopping secondhand can be a budget-friendly way to grow your wardrobe, but saving money isn’t the only good reason to stop in a local consignment boutique.

“To me, the thrill of the hunt itself is just as exciting as the bargain or the item,” said Elyssa Alfieri, owner of Lilise Designer Resale in Concord. “You’re gaining access to a unique selection of items … with the opportunity to shop many stores, regions, time periods and aesthetics, all in one place, and there is so much room for experimentation to find your truest self.”

At LDR, you’ll find women’s and men’s secondhand clothing, shoes, accessories and jewelry, including items from everyday brands like Madewell as well as high-end brands like Chanel, Gucci and Burberry.

circular shirt display rack in store, display of shoes, handbag and jacket on top
Chic Boutique Consignments. Courtesy photo.

“We work hard at curating our selection … and assess each and every item for condition, age, style, fabrication, authenticity and value,” Alfieri said. “We focus on … items from the highest-end brands possible, but we also can’t ignore the ‘it factor’ — when an item is good, it’s good.”

For customers, she said, that carefully curated selection provides a shopping experience that is “all needles, no haystack.”

“We cater to those who feel underserved by what traditional retail models offer,” Alfieri said. “We are for the people who can’t find trends early enough, for people who don’t have time to scour the thrift store racks. … You won’t have to search long to find things you’ll get excited about.”

Chic Boutique Consignments in Bedford also carries secondhand clothing, shoes and accessories for women, plus a small selection for men and children, in high-end brands such as Louis Vuitton, Lululemon, Patagonia and Prada.

“Each consignment store has their own niche with matching clientele and best-selling brands. … We know what our clientele is looking to purchase for their own closets,” owner Ashley Lyons said. “This is always ever-changing, so keeping up with the most current trends and hot brands is something we take great pride in.”

Consignment stores often carry unique and hard-to-find items “that aren’t going to be found walking around a mall,” Lyons said, such as luxury handbags that are out of stock or discontinued from the designer.

You may also find items manufactured years ago in older styles that are making a comeback.

“Many trends right now are vintage-inspired,” Alfieri said, “so finding the original is a great alternative to spending a lot on designer pieces that sometimes don’t live up to the real thing anyway.”

What sets consignment boutiques apart from “thrift stores,” Lyons said, is the quality of the items.

“Many people come in confusing a consignment store for a thrift store, but rest assured we are much different,” she said. “Our inventory is in pristine condition. … Most first-time customers are astonished to hear our items have been previously loved.”

Secondhand shopping tips
• Know what you’re looking for. “I tell customers to keep a note in their phone with a list of items they’re looking for so they have something to reference when they’re getting caught up in the moment,” Alfieri said.
• Inspect for quality. “Make sure everything works,” Alfieri said. “Check the fabric, zippers, buttons. If you’re thrifting a pair of shoes that look like they were never used, bend the soles to make sure they haven’t dried out.”
• Consider the care required. “Will you need to take special care when washing, wearing or storing this item? Sometimes it’s totally worth it to have an item like that, but only if you know you’ll get what you want out of owning it,” Alfieri said.
• Beware of fakes. “When buying a designer handbag, or any piece for that matter, make sure it is from a trusted reseller that only sells authentic pieces,” Lyons said. “We have seen such an influx of fraudulent designer items, so be sure to only buy from a trusted source.”
• Try things on. “Be adventurous and use the opportunity of shopping in person to try on many different styles,” Alfieri said. “It’ll be fun, and you might discover a new version of yourself in the process.”

Glam-cycling

Many ways to reuse and update jewelry

By Katelyn Sahagian

[email protected]

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but diamonds and a lot of other precious gems and fine jewelry can be extremely expensive. That’s why some stores across southern New Hampshire are reselling old jewelry or turning other objects into beautiful, affordable pieces.

At Atwood Jewelers in Salem, manager Eileen Gormley said more than 95 percent of the business is with estate jewelry, a fancy way of saying preowned jewelry. The shop will polish the jewelry, sometimes will rehouse and fix the bands, and in some cases will completely customize a new piece.

“Mostly, it’s sentimental for people. I would say our clients are mostly the older generation,” said Gormley. She added that the younger generation of clients is looking for a way to continue having sustainability, and that Atwood offers a lot of that.

hand wearing many restored rings on the fingers and one bacelet
A collection of vintage and re-set jewelry from Atwood Jewelers. Courtesy photo.

Another feature at Atwood is that people can often take family heirlooms and repurpose them. Some single earrings sold to the store will become pendants for necklaces or ‘show-stopping’ rings, Gormley said. Sometimes customers will request that the stones in the jewelry be taken out and repurposed into new designs.

“We fix people’s things up and bring them back to life,” Gormley said.

Gormley said that over the 24 years she’s been at Atwood, there have always been professional jewelers working in the store and designers, like her coworker Jio Winchell. Gormley estimated that a third of all the business done at Atwood is repurposing stones into custom jewelry.

Customizing jewelry isn’t only something for precious gemstones. Anything can be jewelry if there is enough time and creative energy put into it. Margi Lord, a contractor turned estate planner, sells costume jewelry at Antiques on Elm in Manchester.

“My jewelry making started years ago when I was working in a hardware store and I said, ‘I don’t have on any earrings,’” Lord said. She said she saw some lock washers and realized with some quick ingenuity she could make a pair of fun earrings.

Ever since then, she said, she’s seen the possibilities for different things to become fashion statements. She is most proud of a cufflink that she sanded the post down on to turn into a pendant.

Lord said that it’s important to her to make her jewelry reasonably priced. At her station at Antiques on Elm, she prices all her jewelry, even a statement piece made from an elephant belt-buckle and Ralph Lauren scarf, at $10 or less.

Lord said she likes to see young people who want to remake the jewelry into something else, or little girls who buy the jewelry she sells so they can play dress-up.

“To me, [sustainability] is really important,” Lord said. “There’s so many things that can be recycled and reused.”

heart shaped wooden pendants displayed on wooden circle with fern
Jennifer Stewart, owner of Firefly Wood Designs in Gilford, makes necklaces out of old skateboard decks. Courtesy photo.

“The colorful plywood decks are just asking to be upcycled!” Stewart said via email. “I also like finding interesting patterns in the scuffed up graphics of the boards too — they’ve made some of my favorite pendants.”

Kim Stewart, who does jewelry design for Firefly Wood Designs, an Etsy store based in Gilford that she and her sister Jennifer run, takes sustainability a step further by turning old skateboards into jewelry.

She makes pendant necklaces and earrings from colorful skateboard decks, an idea that she got from the love she and her husband had for skateboarding while they were in college. Stewart said it’s important for her to do something sustainable and while she knows this isn’t a huge thing, every little bit helps.

“It’s not much, but I know even small changes like upcycling things here and there can really make a big impact on the health of the environment,” Stewart said.

Featured photo: Margaret Kasper of Mountain Girl Clothing, based in Milford. Courtesy photo.

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Film favorites

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‘Fra-gee-lay!’

See holiday classics at a theater near you

Movie theaters will be filled with would-be blockbusters, Oscar hopefuls and underwater Avatar in the coming weeks but some screen time is also being slated for favorite holiday films so you can watch Flick get his tongue stuck to the flagpole on the big screen.

• Red River Theatres (11 S. Main St. in Concord; 224-4600, redrivertheatres.org) has special holiday screenings planned each weekend for the next four weeks. On Saturday, Nov. 26, see Ralphie pine for an “official Red Ryder carbine action 200 shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time” atA Christmas Story(PG, 1983), which screens at 11 a.m.National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation(PG-13, 1989) will screen Saturday, Dec. 3, at 11 a.m. Elf(PG, 2003) will screen Saturday, Dec. 10, and Sunday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m. And kid classic The Polar Express(G, 2004) will screen Saturday, Dec. 17, and Sunday, Dec. 18, at 11 a.m.

• Fathom Events (fathomevents.com) has several Christmas-themed movies on the schedule. It’s Christmas Again (G, 2022), a new movie about a kid who goes back in time to Bethlehem (according to the movie’s official website), will screen one night only, on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. at AMC Londonderry, Regal Concord and O’neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square in Epping.

Another new movie falling in the “inspirational” category, I Heard the Bells (NR) will screen Thursday, Dec. 1, through Thursday, Dec. 8, at theaters including AMC Londonderry, Cinemark Rockingham in Salem, O’neil in Epping and Regal Fox Run in Newington (not all theaters on all nights). Screentime is 7 p.m. on weekdays, 4 p.m. on weekends.

A holiday encore of The Met: Live in HD production of the opera The Magic Flutewill screen on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 12:55 p.m. at theaters including O’neil in Epping and Regal Fox Run.

And TMC Big Screen Classics will present that most classic of Christmas movies, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), on Sunday, Dec. 18, at Cinemark and Regal Fox Run and Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Cinemark, O’neil Epping and Regal Fox Run — see the website for times.

• The Park Theatre (19 Main St. in Jaffrey; theparktheatre.org, 532-8888) will screen a new London stage production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol starring Mark Gatiss and Nicholas Farrell on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 4, at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15

• The three Chunky’s Cinema Pubs (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham, chunkys.com) have big plans for the holiday season.

December trivia nights on Thursdays in Manchester (which start at 7:30 p.m.) are each based on a Christmas movie: Elf on Dec. 1; A Christmas Story on Dec. 8, and The Santa Clause on Dec. 22, with the final trivia night, Dec. 29, being a year in review of 2022.

On Thursday, Dec. 8, at all three Chunky’s locations, a 21+ Ugly Sweater Party screening National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation(PG-13, 1989) starts at 8 p.m. (wear a sweater to get a special surprise).

The Polar Express(G, 2004) will screen in at all three locations Friday, Dec. 9, through Thursday, Dec. 15, with multiple daily screenings Friday through Sunday and one 5:30 p.m. screening Monday through Thursday. Kids get a golden ticket when entering the theater and there is a surprise during the hot chocolate scene, according to the website. On Friday, Dec. 9, the 4 p.m. screening is a sensory-friendly screening with house lights slightly brighter and the movie volume turned down, the website said.

There are a few screenings of Elf(PG, 2003) on the schedule as well. On Sunday, Dec. 18, in Manchester at 6:30 p.m. catch a screening of Elf and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) along with a five-course meal with The Farmers Dinner, which starts at 5 p.m. The cost per person ranges from $75 to $110 (plus fees). There will be a family-friendly screening at all three Chunky’s locations on Wednesday, Dec. 21. A 21+ screening on Thursday, Dec. 22, will be held at 8 p.m. at all locations.

On Sunday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at all three locations catch a screening of It’s a Wonderful Life (1946).

Also on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 6:30 p.m., the Pelham location will have a family-friendly dinner party with a screening of 2000’s live-action How the Grinch Stole Christmas (PG). The dinner costs $75 or $99 for adults and $25 for kids (the kids dinner ends with milk and cookies).

• O’neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square (24 Calef Hwy. in Epping; 679-3529, oneilcinemas.com) will screen The Polar Express(G, 2004) Friday, Dec. 2, through Thursday, Dec. 8, with multiple screenings each day including one D-BOX screening (usually at 4:30 p.m.). Tickets, which are on sale now, cost $7 and include a bell while supplies last. The theater is also running a Polar Express-themed coloring contest, with a winner picked on Dec. 1; see the website for details.

• The Strand (20 Third St. in Dover; 343-1899, thestranddover.com) will hold its annual Christmas Break on a Budget with family activities, a story time and a screening of the movie Elf on Saturday, Dec. 17, from noon to 4 p.m. for $20 per family up to five people.

• The Music Hall (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth; 436-2400, themusichall.org) has four holiday films in the days right before Christmas. Miracle on 34th Street(1947) screens on Friday, Dec. 23, at 1 p.m. Love, Actually (R, 2003) screens on Friday, Dec. 23, at 7 p.m. On Christmas Eve (Saturday, Dec. 24) catch the animated movie Arthur Christmas(PG, 2011) at 1 p.m. and then Queen City’s own at 4 p.m. with the animated movie Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights (PG-13, 2002).

Featured photo: A Christmas Story.

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Sounds of the season

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Holiday sounds

Symphonies, choral performances and more

By Angie Sykeny

[email protected]

• The Granite State Ringers handbell ensemble presents “A Nutcracker Holiday,” a concert featuring music from The Nutcracker as well as other holiday music, at LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst) on Sunday, Nov. 27, at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 3 through 12 and are free for children under age 3. The Ringers will also perform the concert at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m. The concert at the Audi is free, with no tickets or reservations required. Visit granitestateringers.org.

• The Manchester Community Music School (2291 Elm St., Manchester) presents its Holiday Pops concert on Friday, Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $45. Visit mcmusicschool.org.

• The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144) will hold Caroling at the Currier on Saturday, Dec. 3, at noon with the Manchester Choral Society performing in the Historic Court, which will be able to be heard throughout the museum, according to the website. Hours on Saturday are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $10 for students, $5 for ages 13 to 17 and free for 12 and under.

• Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury) will host a Merry Merry Canterbury Concert and Cocktails event on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 4 p.m., featuring Symphony NH’s string quartet. Tickets cost $75. Visit shakers.org/event/merry-merry-canterbury.

• The New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus presents its holiday concert series, “Suddenly Silver Bells,” with shows on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church (3 Lutheran Drive, Nashua); Sunday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (22 Fox Run Road, Newington); Saturday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at The Park Theatre (19 Main St., Jaffrey); and Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. at The Derryfield School (2108 River Road, Manchester). Tickets cost $20 for adults; admission is free for children ages 12 and under. Visit nhgmc.com.

• The Nashua Choral Society performs its holiday concert, “Rejoice! ’Tis the Season,” on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church (216 E. Dunstable Road, Nashua). Tickets cost $20 for adults and $10 for students. Admission is free for children. Visit nashuachoralsociety.org.

• The First Congregational Church (508 Union St. in Manchester; fccmanchesternh.org, 625-5093) is holding a Christmas Cantata with Christmas carols, a choir, handbells, an orchestra, readings and soloists during the service on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.

• The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra’s brass and string quartets present a Holiday Pops concert at LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111, Derry) on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $30 for adults and $20 for children ages 4 through 12 and are free for children under age 4. Visit nhphil.org.

• Hear Handel’s Messiahat St. Paul’s Church (22 Centre St., Concord) on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. The concert is free. Visit walkerlecture.org.

• Great Bay Philharmonic Orchestra’s string quartet presents a holiday concert at the Music Hall Lounge (131 Congress St., Portsmouth) on Friday, Dec. 9, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $45 to $55. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.

• The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra performs its Holiday Pops concert at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St., Manchester) on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $55. Visit snhuarena.com.

• The Souhegan Valley Chorus performs its holiday concert, “Sharing Christmas Joy,” on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church (10 Union St., Milford). Tickets cost $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors and are free for children ages 12 and under. Visit souheganvalleychorus.org.

• The Manchester Choral Society and Orchestra presents its holiday concert on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at Ste. Marie Parish (378 Notre Dame Ave., Manchester), and on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. at Manchester High School Central (535 Beech St., Manchester). Tickets cost $30 for adults and $25 for seniors and are free for children. Visit mcsnh.org.

• The Rockingham Choral Society presents its holiday concert, “Love Shall be Our Token,” on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at First Parish Church (218 Central Ave., Dover) and on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 3:30 p.m. at Christ Church (43 Pine St., Exeter). Tickets cost $14 in advance and $15 at the door if still available. Visit rockinghamchoral.org.

• Symphony NH performs its Holiday Pops concerts on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St., Nashua), and on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m. at Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord). Tickets are free for youth under age 12 and start at $10 for students, $18 for seniors age 65 and up and $20 for adults. Visit symphonynh.org.

• The Strafford Wind Symphony performs its holiday concert at the Rochester Opera House (31 Wakefield St., Rochester) on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $8 for seniors and students and are free for children under age 12. The Symphony will also perform the concert at The Strand (20 Third St., Dover) on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $18 for adults and are free for children under age 12. Visit straffordwindsymphony.org.

• TubaChristmas performs at Timberlane Performing Arts Center (40 Greenough Road, Plaistow) on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. Visit tubachristmas.com.

• The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra presents its Holiday Pops concert at Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem) on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $5 to $8 for students, $25 for seniors and $30 for adults. Visit nhphil.org.

• The Portsmouth High School Concert Choir and Percussion Ensemble will perform its Family Holiday Pops concert at Portsmouth High School (50 Andrew Jarvis Drive, Portsmouth) on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18, at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for seniors age 60 and up and $15 for students. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.

• The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra presents its New Year’s Eve Champagne Pops concert at the Music Hall Historic Theater (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth) on Saturday, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $38. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.

Songs (and jokes) of the season

Jazz concerts, comedy shows, Celtic music and more

By Matt Ingersoll

[email protected]

From seasonal jazz and Celtic music to modern renditions of the holiday classics — and even a few holiday-themed comedy shows — there’s a performance to get everyone into the festive spirit this year.

Music

• The Trans-Siberian Orchestra presents The Ghosts of Christmas Eve, its annual holiday show, on Friday, Nov. 25, at the SNHU Arena, with shows at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $52.50 to $102.50. Check out Michael Witthaus’s interview with Jeff Plate, the band’s drummer, on page 38 of the Hippo’s Nov. 17 issue — go to issuu.com/hippopress to download and read the e-edition for free.

• Truffle’s annual Turkey Jam is set for Friday, Nov. 25, at 8 p.m., at The Stone Church Music Club. Tickets are $15 general admission, plus fees.

• Don’t miss A Piano Christmas with Robert Dionne, a special piano cabaret and sing-along event, on Saturday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. at The Majestic Theatre. Tickets are $20.

• A Kat Edmondson Christmas — “Holiday Swingin’” is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1, at Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, with two shows, at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $45.

• There will be a special holiday-themed open mic night at High Street Coffee House on Friday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m., sponsored by Boscawen Congregational Church. Admission is free and donations will be accepted.

• Enjoy Christmas with the Celts at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Friday, Dec. 2 — the doors open at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39.

• Children’s musician Mr. Aaron will hold a special holiday party and concert at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 11 a.m. Tickets are $13, including service fees.

• Seamus Egan presents a Celtic Christmas at the Chubb Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $32 to $42.

• Gary Hoey presents Ho! Ho! Hoey, his annual holiday-themed show, at the Tupelo Music Hall on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $50, plus fees.

• Cherish the Ladies, the world renowned Grammy-nominated Irish-American supergroup, presents a Celtic Christmas at the Dana Center on Friday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $45, plus fees.

• Don’t miss A Sinatra Christmas with Boston-based jazz singer Rich DiMare and the Ron Poster Band at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $29 to $39, plus fees.

• Rockapella returns to the Stockbridge Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m., featuring “buckets of catchy original pop songs and contemporary versions of pop, rock and soul classics,” according to the website. Tickets range from $25 to $35.

• Ben Rudnick and Friends will play unique spins on the classics during a family-friendly holiday concert at LaBelle Winery in Amherst on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for kids ages 2 to 12 and free for kids under 2.

• The Canterbury Singers will sing holiday Shaker songs at the Canterbury Shaker Village on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 4 to 5 p.m. Donations will be accepted.

• A Joyful Christmas with Celtic legend Eileen Ivers will take place at the Rex Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. Tickets are $39.

• See a Christmas show featuring the Granite Statesmen at Pinkerton Academy’s Stockbridge Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for kids.

• Catch The John Denver Christmas Show at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• The Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra’s production of “Christmas with the Crooners” will be at the Colonial Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. The show features a mix of traditional carols and modern holiday tunes by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams and more. Tickets range from $22 to $32 for adults and from $12 to $22 for students.

• See the Capital Jazz Orchestra’s Holiday Pops show at the Chubb Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m. Tickets range from $27.50 to $47.50, plus fees.

• Nashville-based jazz and pop vocalist Anthony Nunziata presents The Italian Broadway Christmas Show at the Rex Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $29 to $39, plus fees.

• Enjoy A Nashville Christmas at LaBelle Winery Derry on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m. The event will feature a lineup of acclaimed Christmas songs country style, sprinkled in by the likes of Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard and more. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the performance beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35, plus fees.

• The Morning Buzz Christmas Ball featuring the Greg and the Morning Buzz team along with comedians, musicians, special guests and more is happening at the Chubb Theatre on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $45, plus fees.

• The Eric Mintel Quartet presents A Charlie Brown Christmas at the Rex Theatre on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $29.

• New Hampshire’s own Irish and American folk duo The Spain Brothers will perform a mix of traditional and original Christmas songs at the Rex Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.

• See Franco Corso, a.k.a. “The Voice of Romance,” at Fulchino Vineyard on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $139 and include a three-course dinner with the show.

• David Clark’s All About Joel, an evening tribute show to the Piano Man featuring holidays and hits, will be at Lakeport Opera House on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. As of Nov. 18, limited VIP seats are available for $60, plus fees.

• The Heater Pierson Jazz Trio is set to perform the soundtrack of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at The Park Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for kids ages 16 and under.

• Ted Vigil: A John Denver Christmas will be at the Chubb Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $29.50 to $49.50, plus fees.

• Join children’s musician Mr. Aaron for a family holiday concert at LaBelle Winery Derry on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids ages 2 to 12 and free for kids under 2.

• Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Judy Collins will take the stage at the Tupelo Music Hall for a special seasonal concert, Holiday & Hits. The show is happening on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. and tickets range from $55 to $70.

• See The Wizards of Winter, a holiday rock event featuring former members of some of classic rock’s biggest names — Alice Cooper, Blue Oyster Cult, Def Leppard and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, just to name a few — at The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $49.

Comedy

• Jimmy Dunn’s Comedy Christmas returns to the Rex Theatre on Friday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25 (show is 18+).

• See a special holiday edition of Life’s a Drag, happening at Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Manchester on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 (event is 21+ only).

• Fulchino Vineyard presents Comedy Poured on Friday, Dec. 30, at 5 p.m., featuring an all-star cast of comedians like Paul D’Angelo, Dave Russo and Matt Barry, along with wine and charcuterie available for purchase. Tickets are $29.

• Comedian Juston McKinney’s annual Year in Review show returns to the Rex Theatre for two nights on Friday, Dec. 30, and Saturday, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 (show is 18+).

• Headliners Comedy Club presents its annual New Year’s Eve gala on Saturday, Dec. 31, with showtimes at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Featured comedians will include Joe Yannetty, Jody Sloane, Rob Steen and Eric Hurst. Packages start at $35.

• Comedian Bob Marley will perform three New Year’s Eve comedy shows on Saturday, Dec. 31, at 2 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets start at $46.50.

Magic & more

• Chabad of New Hampshire presents Chanukah at the Palace, a special event happening at the Palace Theatre on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m., featuring acclaimed mentalist Craig Karges and America’s Got Talent magician Jay Mattioli, along with a Chanukah musical interlude by vocalist Elazar Waldman. Tickets start at $18.

Music & comedy venues

Bank of New Hampshire Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com

Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Road, Canterbury, 783-9511, shakers.org

Capitol Center for the Arts — Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com

Chunky’s Cinema Pub, 707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888, chunkys.com

Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774, coloniallaconia.com

Dana Center for the Humanities, Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, 641-7700, anselm.edu

The Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center, 39 S. Main St., Plymouth, 536-2551, flyingmonkeynh.com

Fulchino Vineyard, 187 Pine Hill Road, Hollis, 438-5984, fulchinovineyard.com

Headliners Comedy Club, DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown, 700 Elm St., Manchester, 988-3673, headlinersnh.com

High Street Coffee House, 12 High St., Boscawen, 520-9196, boscawencongregationalchurch.com

Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, 135 Congress St., Portsmouth, 888-603-5299, jimmysoncongress.com

LaBelle Winery Amherst, 345 Route 101, Amherst, 672-9898, labellewinery.com

LaBelle Winery Derry, 14 Route 111, Derry, 672-9898, labellewinery.com

Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave., Laconia, 519-7506, lakeportopera.com

The Majestic Theatre, 880 Page St., Manchester, 669-7469, majestictheatre.com

The Park Theatre, 19 Main St., Jaffrey, 532-9300, theparktheatre.org

Rex Theatre, 23 Amherst St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org

SNHU Arena, 555 Elm St., Manchester, 644-5000, snhuarena.com

Stockbridge Theatre, Pinkerton Academy, 44 N. Main St., Derry, 437-5210, stockbridgetheatre.com

The Stone Church Music Club, 5 Granite St., Newmarket, 659-7700, stonechurchrocks.com

Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelohall.com

Featured photo: Kat Edmonson. Courtesy photo.

Bringing the Holiday Fun: Arts and crafts

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Decking the halls

Holiday arts, crafts, and more across Southern New Hampshire

By Katelyn Sahagian

[email protected]

Holiday time means letting creativity flow. Whether it’s making decorations, appreciating fine art, or shopping at craft fairs for presents, there are different ways to be artistic during this time of year. The following are some of the fine arts-related holiday events happening across the Granite State.

• Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) is hosting its annual holiday show Sleighbell Studios now through Saturday, Dec. 17. The show will have crafts and artworks for sale throughout the day at the Spriggs Shoppe, located inside the gallery. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

• “Salon 2022” is on display now at Kimball Jenkins (266 Main St. in Concord; kimballjenkins.com, 225-3932). The exhibit featured small works in all media and runs through Sunday, Dec. 18. The gallery is open Mondays through Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• “Small Works — Big Impact” is a showcase of pieces from more than 30 area artists that are under a foot in size and is on display now at Creative Ventures Fine Art (411 Nashua St. in Milford; creativeventuresfineart.com, 672-2500), through Dec. 31. The gallery is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m; Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m

• Seacoast Artist Association (130 Water St., Exeter) is holding a holiday show called “Big Gifts Come in Small Packages” now through Jan 6. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit seacoastartist.org.

• Joyful Giving at Expert Design Solutions (Ripano Stoneworks, 90 E. Hollis St., Nashua) is going on now through Jan. 29, 2023. The show features acrylics, colored pencil, oils, pastels, watercolors and photography. The works on display are also available for sale. Visit nashuaarts.org.

• The Village Store Holiday Sale at the Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road in Canterbury; shakers.org, 783-9511) will run Friday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will feature free hot chocolate and cider and tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The shore sells Shaker boxes, books, candles, local honey, maple syrup, handmade childrens toys and more, according to the website.

• The holiday fair and online shop by the Craftworkers’ Guild at the historic Oliver Kendall House (3A Meetinghouse Road, Bedford) will be up and running Friday, Nov. 25, through Thursday, Dec. 22. Find more information at sites.google.com/view/the-craftworkers-guild.

• Two Villages Art Society (846 Main St. in Contoocook; twovillagesart.org) will hold its annual winter exhibit and sale, Winter 2022 Members’ Art Show, from Friday, Nov. 25, through Saturday, Dec. 24, featuring works form more than 30 artist members in media including oil and watercolor, ceramics, prints, photography, jewelry, wearable art and more, according to a press release. An artists reception will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3, from noon to 2 p.m. and during Hopkinton’s Starry, Starry Weekend (Dec. 2 through Dec. 4) the gallery will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The regular gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

• Muse Paintbar in Manchester (42 Hanover St.) is hosting several holiday-themed painting events from Friday, Nov. 25, through the end of December. Prices range from $25 to $50 per painting session. Visit musepaintbar.com to reserve a slot.

• Firefly Pottery (72 Mirona Road, Suite 7, Portsmouth) is offering a free ornament to every customer from Friday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 27. Reservations are required. Visit fireflypotterynh.com or call 431-7682 to reserve a pottery time.

• AR Workshop (875 Elm St., Manchester) is hosting a gift making workshop on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., where participants can make one of a selection of crafts for gift giving. Prices vary. Visit arworkshop.com.

• Frisella Fine Arts (16 Deer Run Road, Candia) is having a Home for the Holidays open house on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 2 to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 27, from 2 to 5 p.m. Visit robinfrisella.comt.

• Time To Clay (228 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua) is hosting a platter painting class with holiday motifs on Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Slots cost $45 each and can be purchased at timetoclay.com.

• Join Studio 550 (550 Elm St., Manchester) for a bunch of drop-in holiday workshops on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Prices range from $15 to $35 per each workshop. Visit 550arts.com.

• The Amherst Junior Women’s Club is hosting a snowman making and open house on Tuesday, Nov. 29 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Brick School (1 School St.) Reserve a spot by Sunday, Nov. 27 by messaging the club on Facebook.

• Studioverne Fine Art Fused Glass is hosting The Art of Gifting Art, a shopping event co-hosted by the studio and Creative Framing Solutions starting Thursday, Dec. 1, and running through Saturday, Dec. 31. The gift box will have art from Studioverne as well as other local artists and is available for only a limited amount of time. Visit studioverne.com.

• Make a holiday fresh flower centerpiece box at AR Workshop (875 Elm St., Manchester) on Thursday, Dec. 1, from 6:30 p.m. For more information visit arworkshop.com.

• High Mowing School (77 Pine Hill Drive, Wilton) holds its 45th annual Pine Hill holiday fair with an artisan market for adultson Friday, Dec. 2, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and family festivities on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit pinehill.orgn.

• The winter giftopolis by the Concord Arts Market will be on Friday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 11 p.m. during Intown Concord’s Midnight Merriment, at the Atrium at 7 Eagle Square. For more information, visit concordartsmarket.net.

• Join The Lane House Arts Center (380 Lafayette Road, Hampton) for its third annual Art for the Holidays open house, open studio and gallery show. The open house and studio will be from Friday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Dec. 4, and the gallery show will remain open through Dec. 22. Gallery hours are Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. 4 p.m. See lanehousearts.com.

• Starry Starry Weekend is back in Contoocook Village from Friday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Dec. 4, starting at 10 a.m. each day. In addition to an artisan craft fair, local shops and artists will have pop-ups around town. Visit contoocookchamber.com.

• Join the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester (669 Union St.) for the annual holiday faire on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the church’s fellowship hall. Visit uumanchester.org.

• The First Baptist Church of Nashua (121 Manchester St.) is hosting an Olde-Fashioned Christmas Fair on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be handmade crafts as well as food and other activities. Visit fbcnashua.org.

• The Concord Arts Market is hosting its annual Holiday Arts Market on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kimball Jenkins School of Art (266 N. Main St.). For more information visit concordartsmarket.net.

• The annual holiday shopping day by the Picker Artists (3 Pine St., Nashua) is back this year on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with handmade gifts, live music, snacks and more, according to pickerartists.com.

• Join Main Street Art (75 Main St., Newfields) for their annual Holiday Small Works Show opening on Wednesday, Dec. 7, from noon to 4 p.m. with a reception on Thursday, Dec. 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. Additional gallery days are Wednesdays, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21, from noon to 3 p.m. Visit mainstreetart.org.

• Head to the DoubleTree Hilton (2 Somerset Plaza, Nashua) for the Holly Jolly Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be more than 70 artisans there selling their holiday wares. Visit joycescraftshows.com.

• The Great Holiday Shopping Extravaganza is being hosted by The Great New England Craft and Artisan Shows at the Hampshire Dome (34 Emerson Road, Milford) on Friday, Dec. 9, from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit gnecraftartisanshows.com.

• The New Hampshire Audubon’s Holiday Craft Fair will take place on Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the NH Audubon McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road in Concord; haudubon.org). The fair will feature local handmade crafts and other products and the food truck The Spot To Go, which serves up Puerto Rican street food.

• The light it up wood signs craft is coming back to Canvas Roadshow (25 S. River Road, Bedford) on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Registration closes on Dec. 14. Register at thecanvasroadshow.com.

• Join the Canvas Roadshow (25 S. River Road, Bedford) to make a red truck canvas painting on Sunday, Dec. 18, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Registration closes on Dec. 17. Visit thecanvasroadshow.com to register.

Featured photo: Artwork by Savannah Goyette on display at Creative Ventures Gallery. Courtesy photo.

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