Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 25/10/16

Hi, Donna.

I have a full-size antique brass bed that I would like to sell. I was hoping you would have some suggestions on who may be interested in buying it and if you had any idea of its value. Attached are some photos.

Michael

Dear Michael,

Even though your brass bed is at least 100 years old it is not a very desirable item these days. First of all, double beds are a tough sell. Then being brass makes it a constant clean and polish project. Most people, if they like brass, they want it treated to not tarnish. It seems like modern brass is coated to slow down the tarnishing process.

I think, Michael, if it were me selling it I would try like a local marketplace. This way you would get the most of the value for it. You can also send some photos to a local antique shop. Keep in mind that if — and that’s an if — they want it, the value would be at the most half to you and most likely less than that.

Now for a realistic value today, I would say in the $100 range. It’s worth that and to me more but that’s not I’m afraid what the market will bring for it. I wish I had better news for you Michael. I do hope you find the bed a new home. Thanks for sharing with us.

Donna

Kiddie Pool 25/10/09

Family fun for whenever

Some spookiness

• Haunted Overload at DeMeritt Hill Farm, 20 Orchard Way in Lee, hauntedoverload.com, offers some less scary options for families looking for haunted houses for brave but still young Halloween fans. Day Haunt sessions are described as “a great opportunity to walk the haunted trails in the reassuring light of day. See the amazing props and sets without any scares…. This is an actor-free event,” the website said. Tickets for Day Haunt are $14 per person and the Day Haunt hours are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is also a Frite Nite Lite on the evenings of Thursdays, Oct. 9, Oct. 16, and Oct. 23, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. featuring “[a]ll the lights, sounds, and effects without the scares!” according to the website. Tickets cost $25. See the website for dates and details.

• Hellwood’s Cursed Forest atElwood Orchards, 54 Elwood Road in Londonderry, 434-6017, elwoodorchards.com, is separate from the orchard’s corn maze and an also offers a Frite Lite experience, which is described as “child-friendly/sensory-safe daytime experience,” on Saturday, Oct. 11, and Sunday, Oct. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets cost $8 per person; ages 5 and under get in for free, according to the website, where you can find details about tickets and scare levels.

Fall fun

• The Warner Fall Festival, which runs Friday, Oct. 10, through Sunday, Oct. 12, in downtown Warner will hold its children’s parade on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. No prior registration is required; line up next to the post office at 12:45 p.m., according to the festival’s Facebook page and wfff.org, .

• Visitors to the Monarch & Chrysalis Corn Maze at Coppal House Farm (118 N. River Road, Lee, nhcornmaze.com) on Monday, Oct. 13, can check out the raptors from Tailwinds: Raptor Education and Conservation from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The human Tailwinds team and their non-releaseable raptors will be on site, the website said. The corn maze is open Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, Nov. 1. Admission costs $10 for ages 13+ and $8 for ages 5 to 12, 65+, military and college students with ID.

Treasure Hunt 25/10/09

Hi, Donna.

I have a full-size antique brass bed that I would like to sell. I was hoping you would have some suggestions on who may be interested in buying it and if you had any idea of its value. Attached are some photos.

Michael

Dear Michael,

Even though your brass bed is at least 100 years old it is not a very desirable item these days. First of all, double beds are a tough sell. Then being brass makes it a constant clean and polish project. Most people, if they like brass, they want it treated to not tarnish. It seems like modern brass is coated to slow down the tarnishing process.

I think, Michael, if it were me selling it I would try like a local marketplace. This way you would get the most of the value for it. You can also send some photos to a local antique shop. Keep in mind that if — and that’s an if — they want it, the value would be at the most half to you and most likely less than that.

Now for a realistic value today, I would say in the $100 range. It’s worth that and to me more but that’s not I’m afraid what the market will bring for it. I wish I had better news for you Michael. I do hope you find the bed a new home. Thanks for sharing with us.

Donna

Kiddie Pool 25/10/02

Family fun for whenever

Pumpkin time

• Charmingfare Farm in Candia will hold its annual Pumpkin Festival Saturday, Oct. 4, and Sunday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 11, through Monday, Oct. 13. Pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, take a tractor- or horse-drawn wagon ride, meet costumed characters, enjoy a children’s corn maze, watch a juggling and comedy show and listen to live music, according to visitthefarm.com, where you can purchase tickets to a specific time during the two weekends. Oct. 11 will feature a children’s entrepreneur market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $29 per person.

Author talk

• As of Sept. 29, tickets were still available to the Friday, Oct. 3, 10:30 a.m. event with Tui Sutherland at the Capitol Center of the Arts’ Chubb Theatre, 44 S. Main St. in Concord. Sutherland, author of the Wings of Fire series, is the children’s keynote speaker at the New Hampshire Book Festival. Tickets cost $8 and include a special edition of Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy, according to ccanh.com. Tickets were still available to Sutherland’s Saturday, Oct. 4, 6 p.m. Wings of Fire FanNite, which will feature a conversation with NHPR’s Taylor Quimby, a book signing, a themed gift bag and themed concessions, according to the website. Tickets to the Saturday event cost $25.

The book festival itself will also feature a KidLit Stage on South Main Street in Concord on Saturday, Oct. 4, starting at 9:30 a.m. with author panels and book signings. See nhbookfestival.org for the lineup and see page 18 for more details on the festival.

• Teen author Hemie Yao — she became a published author at age 12, according to her website, hemieyao.com — will be at Bookery Manchester, 844 Elm St., on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. with her adventure books, according to bookerymht.com.

Science!

• Doktor Kaboom will present “an action-packed morning of laughter, learning and a whole lot of kaboom!” on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 10 a.m. at the Stockbridge Theatre in Derry, according to a press release. Tickets cost $15. See doktorkaboom.com for a video of Doktor Kaboom performances.

Treasure Hunt 25/10/02

Hello, Donna,

I have some silver- and gold-plated items from 1920. They were given to my grandparents as a wedding gift, so I’m fairly certain of their age. Unfortunately, they aren’t in very good condition; I have attached some pictures. I’m curious if you can provide me with any information about them and what their value may be.

If there’s something I can do to improve the appearance of these items, please advise. Also, if it’s possible to refinish them, please let me know since someone who buys them may want to do so. Thanks so much. I appreciate your expertise and advice.

Peter

Dear Peter,

Silver-plated ware is a tough sell unless by certain manufacturers. Also they have to be a very ornate pattern and hard-to-find pieces. Being all made with base metals with a silver wash (plating), most common pieces are more work to keep clean and polished than their value. Peter, first, I wouldn’t clean them to market them. Nor would I polish them. I think instead of a value, think of looking for someone who wants the nostalgic look.

I looked through all your photos and feel safe saying the value for the lot would be under $50. You can’t compare the value to the memories they brought your grandparents. That’s priceless!

Peter thank you for sharing and I hope this was helpful. For selling them I might try a home sale, flea market etc.

Donna

Kiddie Pool 25/09/25

Family fun for whenever

Fall fun

• A Fall Fair at Joppa Hill Educational Farm in Bedford will take place Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and feature hayrides, meet and greets with farm animals, crafts, vendors, live music, food truck, apple cider doughnuts and more, according to jhef.org, where you can purchase tickets. Tickets cost $15 per person or $45 per family for up to six people, the website said.

• Thecorn maze at Coppal House Farm in Lee is open for the season Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This year’s theme is Butterfly & Chrysalis Corn Maze. This weekend, the maze is also open for a night maze from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets for the night maze cost $15 for ages 13 and up, $12 for ages 5 to 12 and are free for kids 4 and under, according to the farm’s website, nhcornmaze.com. The Night Maze ticket also includes a cider doughnut and bonfire, the website said. Tickets for the maze during the day cost $10 for ages 13+; $8 for ages 5 to 12, 65+, military and college students, and are free for ages 4 and under, the website said. This weekend teachers, first responders, police, nurses and medical profesionals can get $2 off general admission, the website said.

Plane fun

• Saturday, Sept. 27, is Girls in Aviation Day at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, hosted by Women in Aviation Boston Chapter, according to wai-bos.com/girlsinaviationday, where you can register to participate. Events, designed for ages 8 to 18, run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will take place at the Signature Aviation hanger, 1 Garside Way in Manchester, and the nearby Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Road in Londonderry, where registered participants in the day get free admission, according to a museum press release. At the museum, activities will include use of the museum’s flight simulator, a drone obstacle course, a scavenger hunt on aviation maps, exhibits from flight schools and other organizations and more, the release said. There will also be STEM displays and activities at Signature Aviation and a food truck at 11 a.m. the museum, the event website said.

• The Concord Municipal Airport will host Wings & Wheels on Sunday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring vendors associated with aviation, STEM and related fields; aircraft and other vehicles; food trucks and more, according to concordnh.gov/1713/ Wings-Wheels-Event and the city’s Facebook page.

Dogs on stage

• Puppy Pals Live, described on its website as a family fun action-packed comedic stunt dog show, will be at Capitol Center for the Arts Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord, ccanh.com) on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2 p.m. Tickets cost $36 each, with a discount available for four or more tickets purchased together, according to ccanh.com.

Making music

• The Manchester Community Music School, 2291 Elm St. in Manchester, will hold an Instrument Petting Zoo on Monday, Sept. 29, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Kids can “try out strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion” with school teachers, according to the website. See mcmusicschool.org.

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