Category: Family Fun

Kiddie Pool 26/01/29

Family fun for whenever

The hills are alive

• The Gilbert H. Hood Drama Club will present The Sound of Music youth edition on Friday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 31, at 4 p.m. at Stockbridge Theatre, 44 N. Main St. in Derry, according to stockbridgetheatre.com. Tickets cost $13.

Walk in winter

• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Road in Holderness, nhnature.org, holds Wild Winter Walks on some Saturdays and Sundays through March, according to the website. “Join one of our naturalists for a guided walk along the live animal exhibit trail to see our animal ambassadors sporting their winter coats,” the website said. The walks are geared toward ages 6 and up and attendees are reminded to “dress in warm layers,” the website said. Upcoming dates are Sunday, Feb. 1; Saturday, Feb. 7; Sunday, Feb. 15; Saturday, Feb. 21; Saturday, Feb. 28; Saturday, March 7, and Sunday, March 15, with walks slated for 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m. on those days. Register online.

Celebrating Christa

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord is continuing its program “Reach for the Stars: Celebrating Christa McAuliffe” through Sunday, Feb. 1, according to the Center’s website, starhop.com. “Join us as we honor the legacy of Christa McAuliffe and the STS-51L Challenger crew. Together, we remember their lives, their courage, and their enduring impact on education and space exploration,” the website said.On Saturday, Jan. 31, the center will host “Challenger: Soaring with Christa McAuliffe,” described on the website: “Journey through Christa’s life in this multi-media immersive living history performance, suitable for all ages.” Doors open at 5 p.m. Go online to purchase tickets for Jan. 31 or to purchase admission tickets for the week-long programming and reserve planetarium tickets.

Treasure Hunt 26/01/29

Dear Donna,

Just saw the Hippo paper with the Victorian chair. That makes me think one of mine may be Victorian. Am attaching photos. The red one I think may be Victorian. Got it at a yard sale a million years ago! The green one has been in my family forever. Can’t seem to Google info on green one. The poor chair’s springs are starting to poke through. Any information greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Martha

Dear Martha,

You are right, the red one is Victorian, late 1800s. It’s actually called an Eastlake chair. Most likely could have started with another chair and settee. Your green chair is in the 1920s range and in poor condition really has not much value.

Chairs are a tough market sometimes. Also on most common ones the values are low. Your Eastlake chair would be in the $50 range if you find the right buyer. The nice part for you is it looks to be in good original condition.

I hope this was helpful, Martha.

Ice carving, axe throwing

Concord holds its annual winter festival

By John Fladd
jfladd@hippopress.com

According to Jessica Martin, the executive director of Intown Concord, one of the most exciting parts of this weekend’s Concord NH Winter Fest will be the ice carving.

“They use two large locks of ice and they’re so beautiful,” she said. “They carve things like eagles and dragons and The Old Man of the Mountain on the Statehouse lawn. There will be a little preview Friday night if anybody wants to come down between 3 and 9 p.m. the evening before the event, if anybody wanted to come down and watch them.” On Friday night, Martin said, the ice carvers will recreate the logos of the Festival’s sponsors in ice, but the actual ice carving competition will take place on Saturday.

Saturday will also see food trucks on Main Street. “We have so many different food trucks that are attending this year,” Martin said. “We have Batulo’s Somalian food, we have Deadproof Pizza, we have Wicked Tasty and we have Bumblebee Dumpling and Bumblebee Tea.”

Winter Fest will include activities like curling, axe-throwing, s’mores-making, a morning matinee of the animated movie Balto with complementary hot chocolate at Red River Theatres, and an ice bar in Arts Alley.

Also on Concord’s weekend schedule are the Concord Garden Club’s 23rd Annual Art and Bloom exhibition at Kimball Jenkins (Thursday, Jan. 22 through Saturday, Jan. 24); the Winter Fest Hot Cocoa Tour at participating downtown restaurants (11 a.m.to 2 p.m.; register on Intown’s website); a family fun day at the New Hampshire Historical Society (30 Park St.) from 2 to 4 p.m., and the Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship (blackicepondhockey.com) Friday, Jan. 23, through Sunday, Jan. 25.

Concord NH Winter Fest
Where: Downtown Concord, in front of the Statehouse, plus some off-site events
When: Saturday, Jan. 24, from 11 a.m to 4 p.m.
More: Visit intownconcord.org/events

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Treasure Hunt 26/01/22

Dear Donna,

Do you know anything about this toy clown set? I recently bought this for my daughter at a flea market. Examining it closer I’m not sure if it’s not just for decoration. I’m hoping she can play with it. The vendor told me it was old but in new condition. Any information you could give me would be appreciated.

Thank you, Donna.

Tammy

Dear Tammy,

What you bought is a collectible Schoenhut clown. The German company started in Philadelphia. Good catch in wondering if it’s a toy. It actually came out in the 1990s as a souvenir. So depending on how old your daughter is, be careful. Schoenhut has been around since the late 1800s, first bringing quality-made toys like pianos, animals, circus toys, etc. Some of the early toys can bring a high value in today’s market. But even today there are collectors for any of the pieces, even souvenir ones like yours.

I would say items made as souvenirs are really more for show than for full-on playing. So careful play, as I stated.

Now on the up side, Tammy, depending on what you paid for it: The value of your clown set is in the range of $50. So maybe this could be the start of her collection.

Thanks for sharing, Tammy.

Kiddie Pool 26/01/15

Family fun for whenever

Outdoors

• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Road in Holderness, nhnature.org, is offering Wild Winter Walks Saturdays Jan. 17 and Jan. 24 as well as select Sundays and Saturdays in February and March. At 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., take a 90-minute guided walk with a naturalist along the live animal exhibit trail to see the animals with their winter coats, according to a press release. The cost is $18 per person and the walks are geared toward ages 6 and up, the release said. Dress for the outdoors; see the website for tickets.

Otherworldly

• Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye will hold a free Nature@Nite program on Friday, Jan. 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. with a presentation about “Oceans Beyond Earth” at 5 p.m. with Caleigh MacPherson, a NASA Ambassador, according to seacoastsciencecenter.org, where you can register to attend the event.

Rabbits!

Beaver Brook Association, 117 Ridge Road in Hollis, will hold “Magic of Rabbits!” for ages 6 and up on Thursday, Jan. 15, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., according to beaverbrook.org, where you can register for the class.

Open for MLK Jr. Day

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, 6 Washington St. in Dover, childrens-museum.org, will be open Monday, Jan. 19, with sessions from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., according to the website, where you can purchase tickets in advance. In the afternoon the museum will feature an artist visit with Taintor-the-Painter, who will “share the wonders of the circle as an important geometric shape and as a significant metaphor. Engage in making something colorful and fun with a variety of circle inspired hands-on activities and one, two, or more group collaborations. No experience necessary and perfect for all ages,” the website said.

• McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Manchester will be open on Monday, Jan. 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to starhop.com, where you can purchase tickets to the Center and tickets to planetarium shows

Treasure Hunt 26/01/15

Dear Donna,

Can you help me out with this tool? My sister thinks it’s for measuring melted candy. I found it in my dad’s tool box. So not sure how it could be for candy.

It is numbered 1-13 and marked U.S. Standard. So it measures something. Just what?

Thank you in advance, Donna.

Kimberly

Dear Kimberly,

You are right, it is for measuring. There is a temperature tool for candy that can look similar but has a glass thermometer.

Now you have to figure out how an early 1900s jeweler’s ring sizer got into your dad’s tool box. It was made to slide a ring onto so you could determine the size of the ring. Very helpful tool in the right hands.

The value on them in good but used shape runs around $50 plus. Simpler ones less, fancier ones a little more.

I hope, Kimberly, this helped answer the question. Have fun with it now!

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