Category: Family Fun

Kiddie Pool 21/11/04

Family fun for the weekend

Getting out while the getting is still good

All but the south-southeastern-iest parts of the state are decidedly past peak foliage, according to the state’s foliage tracker (visitnh.gov/seasonal-trips/fall/foliage-tracker) on Nov. 1. But there are still some fun autumnal views worth viewing out in the natural world. (And, as of Nov. 1, WMUR is predicting a mild weekend in the low 50s.)

• Find a list of the New Hampshire Audubon’s 39 wildlife sanctuaries across the state at nhaudubon.org/lands/sanctuaries. The sanctuaries are free and open to the public for “passive recreation” (like hiking) and rules about dogs vary by location. Find locations, descriptions and maps for the sanctuaries on the website.

• Beaver Brook Association’s (117 Ridge Road in Hollis; beaverbrook.org) 35 miles of trails and 12 themed gardens are also free and open from dawn to dusk, the website said. Find trail guides on the website, as well as (on the “visit us” page) descriptions of four stroller-friendly hikes.

• And get some art and nature at the Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13 in Hollis; andresinstitute.org) open daily from dawn to dusk. There are printable trail maps online, where you can also find a rundown of all the sculptures in the park and view the sculptures on each trail.

Science on their day off

• Looking ahead to next Thursday, Nov. 11, when many schools may be closed: Check out the SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org, 669-0400) from noon to 2 p.m. when the UNH students from Team Cooke, who are taking part in a research project that will go to the International Space Station, will be at SEE to discuss doing science experiments in space and lead hands-on activities, according to the website. Make reservations for museum admission online; sessions are available at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Admission costs $10 for visitors ages 3 and up. The center is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Planetarium (2 Institute Dr. in Concord; starhop.com, 271-7827) is open Fridays through Sundays (with admission times at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.) during the school year. It will also be open Thursday, Nov. 11. Go online to reserve a time slot; admission costs $11.50 for adults, $8.50 for children (ages 3 to 12), $10.50 for students ages 13 through college and for seniors.

More midweek entertainment

• The Pembroke Town Library (313 Pembroke St. in Pembroke; 485-7851, pembroke-nh.com/library) will present the Toe Jam Puppet Band Variety Show in the library’s parking lot on Thursday, Nov. 4, at 1 p.m. Dress warmly and bring chairs for a show with the “wacky and wild” band, a release from the library said.

• The Palace Teen Company will present The Little Mermaid on Tuesday, Nov. 9, and Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. The show will feature actors ages 12 to 18, according to the website. Tickets cost $12 to $15.

Kiddie Pool 21/10/28

Family fun for the weekend

Halloween fun for everyone

In last week’s (Oct. 21) issue of the Hippo, we looked for all the Halloween fun we could find — from events geared to the littlest goblins to events geared more toward teens (and older folks). Looking for your town’s scheduled trick-or-treat times (page 11), area haunted houses and attractions (page 12), happenings particularly geared toward kids and family (page 10) or events with a more general audience (page 14)? Head to hippopress.com; you can see last week’s e-edition. (And, if you can get a babysitter, check out the live music and costume contests planned at area bars and restaurants; the listing starts on page 15.) Here are some of the highlights:

In-town trick-or-treats

Speaking of trick-or-treating, the kids can get an extra opportunity to put on their costumes — while you can get a chance to browse local businesses or just hang out in your town’s center — at trick-or-treats in area downtowns.

• Milford holds its Trick-or-Treat on the Oval Friday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The town Recreation Department and businesses on the Oval will be handing out candy and small toys to kids in costume. See milfordrec.com.

• Head to Manchester’s City Hall (1 City Hall Plaza) on Friday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. to meet Mayor Craig and get a free book from the library’s Bookmobile. Participating local businesses will also have goodies to hand out during downtown trick-or-treat at that same time. See manchesternh.gov for details.

• Intown Concord will hold its Halloween Howl on Friday, Oct. 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Main Street. The evening will feature family activities and trick-or-treating at participating businesses as well as a trunk-or-treat element for businesses and organizations that don’t have a Main Street storefront. See intownconcord.org.

Sounds of Halloween

Local children’s music star Mr. Aaron will hold a Halloween Bash at the Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St. in Concord) on Sunday, Oct. 31, with shows at 10 a.m. and noon, featuring Halloween songs and more. Costumes encouraged. Tickets cost $10; see mraaronmusic.com.

Halloween in nature

Beaver Brook Nature Center (52 Brown Lane in Hollis; beaverbrook.org) for a Halloween Enchanted Forest Walk on Saturday, Oct. 30, with time slots starting every 15 minutes from 3 to 5 p.m. The marked trail is an “‘unscary’ Halloween walk,” according to the website and the event will feature a campfire with cider and s’mores. The cost is $12 per person (a $150 private time slot is also available); register online.

See some real characters

Meet the Witch of Weston Tower, which will run every weekend in October (Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.) at McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Way in Manchester). For $15 per person ages 9 and up (kids 8 and under get in free), get transportation up the mountain, a hayride to the tower, and a chance to meet the witch and play games, according to manchesternh.gov.

Kids are encouraged to dress in costume at the CHaD Storybook Tablescape Tour at the Bedford Event Center (370 S. River Road in Bedford) on Saturday, Oct. 30, with entrance times starting at 11:30 a.m. Costumed characters will greet attendees as they arrive to check out tabletop scenes from fall- and Halloween-themed books, according to ChaDStorybookBall.org. The event will also include sweet treats, live performances and a silent auction. Tickets cost $10 for everyone over 2 (kids 2 and under get in free) and must be purchased in advance, the website said (which also says that masks, of the Covid and not just Halloween variety, will be required).

Kids who don’t mind some creepier characters might like the all-ages Zombie Walk in Dover on Saturday, Oct. 30, starting at 2 p.m. at the Dover Chamber of Commerce parking lot (550 Central Ave.) and proceeding down Central Avenue, ending at Rotary Arts Pavilion. Participants will get a bag of goodies, according to dovermainstreet.org. Non-zombie costumes are also welcome.

Run off that candy energy

There’s still time to register for the Amherst Orthodontics Trick or Trot 3k scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m. in Arms Park (10 Arms St. in Manchester). Runners ages 9 through adult can run in the race, which crosses Notre Dame Bridge. Kids age 8 and under can run in the 3K if they’d like as well as a little-kid-friendly Stonyfield Lil Pumpkin Fun Run. (Photos at millenniumrunning.com/trick-or-trot show both kid and adult runners in past years taking to the course in costume). Register online by Saturday, Oct. 30; the cost is $25 for adults, $20 for ages 12 through 20 (and for a virtual option), $15 for kids ages 9 through 11 and $10 for the Lil’ Pumpkin Runs, according to the website.

Treasure Hunt 21/10/28

Dear Donna,

If you could help me identify what this piece of furniture is, I’d appreciate it. I thought it might be something to store sewing items as there’s a dowel missing from the top, although the picture doesn’t clearly show it. I would like to sell it but don’t know the value of such a piece.

NH resident

Dear NH resident,

Even though some sewing cabinets could be the same size, what you have is a smoking stand. This is why the inside is lined with copper — to prevent the scent of tobacco from being absorbed into the wood, and as a fire deterrent.

Smoking stands were placed on the side of a chair or sofa, or anywhere one would relax and smoke. Yours looks to be from the 1940s era. The bar across the top could have been used to hang a towel for your hands.

The value in complete original condition would be in the $50 range. Without the original bar, it could be a lot less, and smoking paraphernalia seems not to be of interest to collectors these days, so it may be hard to find a buyer.

Treasure Hunt 21/10/21

Dear Donna,

I was given this many years ago. I love it but have never been able to figure out what it actually is or what it was originally used for! There are no markings on it, but I think it’s brass. It’s 9 inches long, 6 1/2 inches high and 3 1/2 inches wide. I’d really appreciate your thoughts on my little catch-all.

Diane

Dear Diane,

At first glance from the photo I thought maybe it was a gravy boat, but after looking more it really couldn’t be. It is definitely silver-plated (silver over a mixed metal). You can see wear inside the dish, down to base metal (possibly brass).

It’s Victorian style (mid to late 1800s) with the north wind face on the side, goose, bird footed and design work. It may have even had a beautiful glass bowl insert at one time.

It is a very sweet catch-all. I think the original with or without a glass insert was a decorative basket. The value would be in the range of $40.

Without marks it is tough to tell when it was made and by whom. So we just have to look at the piece for what it is now to evaluate it.

Treasure Hunt 21/10/14

Dear Donna,

Can you provide me any information on this item? It’s a wood church bank with a slot on the side to insert coins. The bottom has paper that has been torn to reveal a spot to remove the coins. It’s 4 inches by 5 inches and appears to be in great shape. Wouldn’t hold much, though.

Edith

Dear Edith,

You kind of answered all your own questions. I’m just going to wrap things up for you.

Your sweet wooden church bank looks to be in great shape. You are right; it wouldn’t hold too much.

Some of these were made in Germany and others in Japan. The age frame is after the 1920s through the 1940s. They fall into a couple collectible categories: one for miniatures and one for banks, and it’s a miniature bank as well.

They were manufactured and have several different printings on them. So there could be more to collect if you’re looking for a fun collection. The value on one like yours in great condition would be in the $30 range.

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!