Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 23/03/02

Hi, Donna,

I hope you can help me identify my antique oak chair. I would like to know the era and artist. Any information will be helpful. Thank you.

Donna S.

Dear Donna,

It’s tough to find a single maker of some Victorian era chairs. The style of yours was very popular and not uncommon. Chairs, tables and other pieces were made with the lion’s head, paw foot style.

Some pieces, depending on how elaborate, can bring high values. There are some makers as well that will increase the collectibility today. But for most common styles the value is based on condition.

As far as a value, Donna, most collectors want them in original clean condition and finish. Your chair looks to be in clean shape but not necessarily all original. I think you could put the value in the range of $400.

Thanks for sharing, Donna, and I hope you find a new home for your chair.

Treasure Hunt 23/02/23

Hi Donna,

My question is about this carriage clock. I think it is French and is in top shape. Any ideas? Thank you.

Scott

Dear Scott,

Your carriage clock does look to be in good shape.

Although the clocks used for traveling were originally French, they soon were made in many other countries. They can be very valuable in the antiques and horological (clock and watch) market. This would be for specific makers, movements, jewels and elaborate cases and so on.

There were so many made, some common and mass-produced. The value on one such as yours would be in the $100 range. To be sure, you could bring it to a jeweler and they would evaluate the movement for you.

Donna

Kiddie Pool 23/02/23

Family fun for the weekend

Vacation at the museum

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) will be open daily through Sunday, March 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with planetarium shows every hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $9 for children ages 3 to 12, $11 for seniors ages 62 and older and for students ages 13 through college. Planetarium shows cost an additional $6 for everyone older than 3.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org, 742-2002) recommends purchasing tickets in advance during winter vacation, when the museum will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays, with sessions from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m., and Sundays 9 a.m. to noon. There will be additional drop-in activities focusing on arts, STEM and stories included in the play session, according to a press release. Admission costs $12.50 for everyone over 12 months, $10.50 for 65+.

• The SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) has updated its hours for school vacation. The center will be open Monday, Feb. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in addition to being open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admission on weekdays is at 3 p.m., on weekends is at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for visitors ages 3 and older. SEE’s website also recommends making advance reservations.

• Spend more time at the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org, 669-4820) with its extended vacation hours. On Tuesday, Feb. 28; Wednesday, March 1, and Thursday March 2, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in addition to its usual hours of Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to the extended hours, the museum will have activities including a story time on Wednesday, March 1, at 10 a.m. and a flight simulator for kids 12 and up on Tuesday, Feb. 28, and Thursday, March 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission for children under the age of 6 is free, kids ages 6 to 12 and veterans and their families are $5. Standard admission for visitors age 13 and older is $10.

Movie theater fun

• Sugar up at Theater Candy Bingo at Chunky’s Nashua location (151 Coliseum Ave.) on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. The live hosted bingo night will have candy and a few Chunky’s giveaways as well as prizes at the end of each round. It costs $10 to reserve a seat (with an included $5 food voucher) and a box of candy to go into the pot. Only one bingo per customer. Visit chunkys.com to reserve a spot.

• Get dazzled by Ben Pratt at his family-friendly magic show at Chunky’s in Manchester (707 Huse Road) on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 6:30 p.m. Pratt, who has won many awards for his illusions, is a Granite State native who has performed across New England and in Las Vegas. Tickets for his high-energy magic-meets-standup comedy show cost $15 and can be bought at chunkys.com.

Winter festivities

The 31st annual Winter Carnival is on Saturday, Feb. 25, at Wasserman Park in Merrimack. The carnival will have a special appearance by Mack, the Police Department’s comfort dog, as well as the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. The event will get the family out frolicking in the cold winter air (and hopefully snow) to celebrate the season. There will be warm food and drinks to keep the chill away. The event starts at noon. For more information visit merrimackparksandrec.org/winter-carnival.

Treasure Hunt 23/02/16

Hello, Donna.

Can you help identify my glasses? They were at our table growing up. I now have inherited them. Any input helpful.

Norm

Dear Norm,

Your glasses are called Georgian glasses. I grew up with some similar but in amber. They were popular in the 1970s. A few different companies produced this thumbprint pattern in a few colors. Being very thick, a lot of them made it to now.

You can purchase today a reproduction line of them as well. Older is always better and has a story to tell.

The value on your dark green ones would be in the range of $12 each. As always, though, condition is important. No scratching, chips or cracks.

Thanks for sharing and reminding me of a memory as well.

Donna

Kiddie Pool 23/02/16

Family fun for the weekend

Night out

• Parents can get a night to themselves while kids enjoy activities like theater games, movie time and karaoke dance party at the Peacock Players (14 Court St. in Nashua; peacockplayers.org) on Friday, Feb. 17, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., according to the Peacock Players website. Kids will be entertained by the Players’ staff of performing artists and educators, the website said. The cost is $25 per child. Reserve a spot online for this Friday or for Friday, March 10.

Showtime

• See Gnomeo & Juliet (PG, 2011) at all three area Chunky’s (707 Huse Road, Manchester; 151 Coliseum Ave., Nashua; 150 Bridge St., Pelham) as part of the “Little Lunch Date” series on Friday, Feb. 17, at 3:45 p.m. Admission is free but reserve a seat with a $5 food voucher.

• The Palace Youth Theatre is putting on a kid-friendly version of the Tony award-winning musical 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Beeon Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester). The show follows the lives of young competitors at their spelling bee and the lives they lead in and outside the competition. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org

Noonan’s new book

• Illustrator and artist Peter Noonan is the featured author for the storytime and crafts event at Bookery (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com) on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 11:30 a.m. He’ll read The Bike Bus: Adventures in the Queen City, which he both wrote and illustrated. The event is free; reserve a spot online.

Winter fun

• The YMCA of Greater Londonderry will hold its second annual Winter Fest on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at LaBelle Winery in Derry (14 Route 111). The day will feature snowshoeing, snow golfing, arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt and more, according to the YMCA’s Facebook post. The event is free; donations to the YMCA of Greater Londonderry’s annual giving campaign will be accepted, the post said.

• The Londonderry Conservation Commission is hosting a family-friendly Musquash Field Day on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Commission encourages families to experience local wildlife by taking to the trails in snowshoes, sleds, skis, or mountain bikes. At The Landing, there will be hot dogs, cocoa, cookies, coffee and a fire pit. At 11 a.m. the New England Mountain Bike Association will share an introduction to mountain biking and have some bikes available for people to check out. Use the Hickory Hill Road entrance (12 Hickory Hill Road) to get to the field day. See londonderrytrails.org/musquash-conservation-area.

Vacation camp

The USA Ninja Challenge February break clinic starts on Monday, Feb. 27, at 9 a.m. Kids will learn the basics of balancing, gymnastics and parkour along with building their confidence at USA Ninja Challenge (444 E. Industrial Dr. in Manchester). One day costs $55, three costs $160, and the full five costs $225 for members, $250 for nonmembers. Visit ninjamanchesternh.com to register.

Treasure Hunt 23/02/09

Hi, Donna.

I recently purchased this cute dresser/desk from a furniture re-seller. The second ‘draw’ down opens to a desk. I’m interested in whether you’ve seen this sort of piece before and if you might be able to tell me anything about it.

Thank you.

Renee in New Boston

Dear Renee,

What a nice clean and useful find. Even though it is a later version (later mid-century to 1960s) it’s a gentleman’s dresser. They have been around for a long time; some are fancier than others. I have had a couple Victorian ones before.

Yours appears to have been taken care of and refinished nicely. How useful to have your dresser and drop-down desk in one piece. Today it could be used in other rooms in a home as well.

Renee, the value would be in the range of $200 in today’s market. I hope you found a treasure and something useful.

Thanks for sharing.

Donna

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