Category: Featured Content

News & Notes 23/04/06

Currier CEO resigns

Alan Chong, the Director and CEO of the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, has announced his resignation after nearly seven years in the position. “This is the ideal moment for both me and the museum to start new chapters in our work,” Chong said in a press release. “The Currier Museum has emerged from the pandemic in excellent shape, and now needs to seek innovative and exciting leadership.” Under Chong’s direction, the museum’s collection was expanded and diversified with acquisitions of sculpture and decorative arts; works by esteemed artists such as Norman Lewis and Judith Leyster; Chinese export paintings for New England traders; and, most notably, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Kalil House. Also during Chong’s leadership, the museum’s pioneering art therapy programs aimed at helping veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, helping children, adult art students and individuals with cognitive challenges, and helping individuals grappling with addiction have gained national recognition. Karen Graham, the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, will serve as interim director while the museum conducts a nationwide search to find Chong’s replacement.

School groundbreaking

Trinity High School and St. Joseph Regional Junior High School in Manchester held a groundbreaking ceremony for their expansion and renovation project on March 29 on the Trinity High School grounds. According to a press release, the goal is to combine both schools into one state-of-the-art location. The project will add 45,000 square feet to the current facility and include a media center, a new robotics lab, science labs and advanced technology throughout the classrooms. Phase I is expected to be completed by Fall 2024, and the entire project, including Phase II completion, is planned for Fall 2025. Bishop Peter A. Libasci blessed the project and the grounds during the ceremony, with more than 100 guests, including Diocesan Catholic Schools and Administration staff, clergy members, Manchester city officials, current students and alumni in attendance.

Trails grants

Nonprofit organizations, private groups or government entities that are interested in improving New Hampshire’s public trails can now apply for grants through the Recreational Trails Program, administered by the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation and New Hampshire Bureau of Trails. According to a press release, the competitive grant program provides funds for improvement projects for motorized, non-motorized and diversified trails, including maintenance and restoration of existing trails, purchase and lease of equipment, construction of new trails, development of trailside and trailhead facilities and educational materials for trail-related activities and safety. Applicants are required to attend at least one of three mandatory workshops to learn more about the program. The workshops are scheduled for Wednesday, May 17, at 1 and 6 p.m. at the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources in Concord (172 Pembroke Road) and Wednesday, May 24, at 6 p.m. at the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources in Lancaster (629 B Main St.). Applications, available at nhstateparks.org/about-us/trails-bureau/grants/recreational-trails-program, are due by 4 p.m. Friday, June 16. Funding for the program is generated from federal gas tax dollars paid on fuel purchases for off-highway recreational vehicles and snowmobiles and appropriated to the states by the Federal Highway Administration as authorized through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

Dental coverage

New Hampshire Medicaid recipients age 21 and above will have comprehensive dental coverage under the New Hampshire Smiles Adult Program, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Medicaid Services announced in a press release. The program provides preventive dental care such as examinations, X-rays and cleanings, as well as treatment, such as extractions, oral surgeries, fillings, limited gum-related treatment and more. The program also covers transportation to dental appointments and support for oral health through care management. Additionally, individuals who qualify for Medicaid under the Developmental Disability Waiver, Acquired Brain Disorder Waiver and the Choices for Independence Waiver, and residents of skilled nursing facilities, will have coverage for removable partial and full dentures. The program has a yearly benefit limit and cost-sharing on non-preventative and non-diagnostic services. Qualifying individuals can schedule an appointment by calling 1-877-248-6684.

Historic markers

Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire will unveil historic markers in Milford and Nashua during May as part of a statewide program, “Mapping Untold Stories,” which aims to showcase the rich history and contributions of Black people in New Hampshire. The Milford marker, to be unveiled at Milford Town Hall on Saturday, May 20 at 10:30 a.m., honors Harriet Wilson, the first African American to publish a novel in English. The Nashua marker will be unveiled at Holman Stadium, home of the Nashua Silver Knights collegiate baseball team, on Tuesday, May 30, at 5:30 p.m., to honor Black baseball players Roy Campanella, a Hall of Fame catcher, and Don Newcombe, a Cy Young Award-winning pitcher, who were signed to play with the Nashua Dodgers in 1946. The “Mapping Untold Stories” initiative plans to unveil four more markers in 2023. Visit blackheritagetrailnh.org.

The City of Concord Planning Division was awarded the 2023 Community Collaborator of the Year Award at CATCH Neighborhood Housing’s annual “Making Community Home” event on Thursday, March 23. According to a press release, the award is given to an individual or organization that has partnered with CATCH and demonstrated a commitment to providing safe and affordable housing throughout Merrimack County. The Division, led by Heather Shank, has supported efforts to address the challenge of affordable housing, and created and helped to implement master plans for new development through community engagement.

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, a Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, have announced their broadcast team for the 2023 season, which starts Thursday, April 6, in Altoona, Pennsylvania. According to a press release, the team includes Steve Goldberg as Broadcasting and Media Relations Manager, Gareth Kwok as Broadcasting and Media Relations Assistant, and Bob Lipman as team historian. Pat Cullen and Zach Herman will return as lead producers of Fisher Cats baseball, and all 138 games will air on iHeartRadio’s WGIR 610 AM (Manchester) and Fox Sports 930 WPKX (Rochester). The Fisher Cats will play their home opener at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester (1 Line Drive) on Tuesday, April 11, against the Portland Sea Dogs.

Merrimack County Savings Bank has announced the opening of its eighth branch in Windham, with a grand opening planned for summer 2023. The new location will feature a full range of banking and lending services, a drive-up, ATM and night drop, according to a press release.

Hospitals, beds & staff

Gov. Sununu has been fired up recently, and his target is the New Hampshire Hospital Association. The conflict was highlighted in a recent Union Leader article, with Sununu’s goal to require hospitals to accept more mental health patients from their emergency rooms. The NHHA has responded with a lawsuit against the state. The state has been court ordered to end the practice of boarding mental health patients in hospital emergency rooms.

Currently, available mental health beds statewide do not meet the level of need. As a result, when patients in crisis enter the emergency room, they are stabilized, but the hospitals have nowhere to send them as licensed treatment facilities have no capacity. Interestingly, the Union Leader article also cited that eight children and 30 adults were housed in hospital emergency rooms around the state at that time. It further noted that the state-run New Hampshire Hospital is unable to fill nearly 30 of its existing beds due to lack of staffing. Even if Sununu were successful in his argument with the hospitals, at a 2.7 percent statewide unemployment rate, the hospitals are facing the same staffing shortages as the state. In fact, WMUR recently reported that NH Hospital Association has an average workforce vacancy rate of 15 percent, but higher in key positions.

Despite these staffing challenges, the state acquired the Hampstead Hospital for juvenile psychiatric care, it is moving forward with its new 24-bed forensic hospital, and most recently it is in the approval stages of a new 125-bed mental health hospital in southern New Hampshire. While the increased capacity that these facilities offer is greatly needed in our state, one is left wondering where the staffing will come from.

While I am no expert on the matter, I do serve as President of the Board of Trustees for Fellowship Housing Opportunities, Inc. in Concord, a nonprofit that provides safe and affordable housing for people living with long-term mental health issues. Our organization has a vested interest in following current events in this arena. Just as Fellowship Housing is challenged to provide affordable housing for our residents, New Hampshire is also challenged to provide affordable housing for its workforce. This is having a tremendous impact on our ability to recruit and attract the talent needed for New Hampshire to not only prosper but properly care for our residents. As the governor and our legislature negotiate the upcoming biennial state budget, it is critical that the domino effect of this issue is understood and addressed.

Joining together

Music and food benefit Ukraine

A charity focused on humanitarian aid for a war-besieged country is the beneficiary at an event that includes traditional food and a variety of music. Voices United For Ukraine began as a way for local musician Val Blachly to do something, even from a distance, to help.

“I thought a musical event would be a really nice way of going about raising money, so that’s how I got involved,” she said. “The country’s in need with what’s been going on and we really wanted to give back, and give to the people there.”

Hot Skillet Club will headline the show. They’re a newly formed trio that includes Blachly on upright bass and a pair of musicians she’s played with in other groups: guitarist Liza Constable, part of retro-swing group Swing A Cat, and Ellen Carlson, a fiddler she began working with in Sweet, Hot & Sassy, which had a 12-year run starting in the early 1990s.

A pair of Ukrainian accordion players will serenade during dinner, followed by Northern Lights, a vocal group organized by Concord musician Peggo Hodes. Acoustic quintet Wholly Rollers follows with old-time bluegrass and gospel, and what their website dubs “sea shanties and land shanties.” Folk singer Andriy Zharkov, another native of Ukraine, will perform between sets and speak about his journey of how he came to the United States.

After looking at some venues that didn’t fit the benefit’s modest budget, Blachly approached Concord’s Unitarian Church and found a perfect match. After a sit-down meeting, “I said, ‘this is my vision, I’d love to do something for the Ukraine, incorporate music and some people from there,’” she recalled. “They both looked at each other and said, ‘Oh, my God, this is exactly what we want to do … we’ve been talking about doing something like this.’”

Ukrainian native and activist Natalia Karaulova connected Blachly to Sunflower Network, an organization that directs donations to where they’ll do the most good. Karaulova found out about them while visiting Ukraine a few months ago, after a chance meeting with an old high school friend who was working with them to bring aid to the ravaged country.

“Everybody’s trying to help each other, to help displaced people and the army, because they are fighting the fight and making sure that the rest of the country is safe,” Karaulova said from her home in Warner. “That’s how I learned about Sunflower Network, just having that personal connection.”

Asked about the dinner preceding the concert, she said, “If somebody asked me to describe Ukrainian cuisine, I’d say it’s very earthy. People still grow most of their food…. It’s very hearty.” The evening menu will include staples like borscht and cabbage wraps, along with dumplings and a special dessert.

For their set, Northern Lights will perform “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” and a Ukrainian folk song picked by Hodes with help from Karaulova. “She had Natalia assist her and the women in the group with pronouncing the lyrics,” Blachly explained. “This particular song was written by a Russian, so the pronunciation was a little different. Peggo called her in and said she really wanted to do it with a Ukrainian accent.”

Closing the show, Hot Skillet Club will draw from an array of selections. Their set will have throwbacks from the Boswell Sisters, a proto-swing vocal group at the center of Blachly and Constable’s band Honest Millie, along with Bob Wills and Asleep at the Wheel-flavored material delivered with a feminine touch.

“We’ve been listening to Swing Sisters and women that came into Western swing, the music that they came out singing, and picking up ideas,” Blachly said. “Ellen has that down on the violin, so it’s kind of a combination of the two.” They’ve also worked up a great version of Merle Haggard’s “Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down,” now up on Blachly’s Facebook page.

More recently, the trio started rehearsing gypsy jazz pioneer Django Reinhart’s song “Limehouse Blues.” The best part is the honey-sweet three-part harmonies that come easy for the old friends. “We’re all stepping up to the plate,” Blachly said.

Beyond the benefit show, there’s more on the way from Hot Skillet Club.

“It’s amazing that in the little time we’ve had together we have a fair amount of tunes,” Blachly said. “We’re so new we don’t even have our website up yet. And we already have 10 gigs.”

Voices United For Ukraine
When: Saturday, April 1, dinner at 5:30 p.m., concert 7:15 p.m.
Where: UU Church, 274 Pleasant St., Concord
Tickets: dinner $15, concert $20 per person (under 5 free)

Featured photo: Hot Skillet Club. Courtesy photo.

John Wick: Chapter 4 (R)

Keanu Reeves gets what feels like more fight scenes and even sparser dialogue in John Wick: Chapter 4.

John Wick (Reeves) has recovered from being shot by friend/Continental Hotel manager Winston (Ian McShane) at the end of the last movie (a benevolent shooting, I think?). He’s hanging out with the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne, who is still having the very best time), who gets him a new suit. And off John Wick goes to the desert, to try to get someone to lift his “excommunicado” status in the assassin world (which means that killers worldwide are looking to take him out to collect a sizable bounty).

Meanwhile, back at the Continental, the classy assassin hang-out, the High Table (the underworld’s ruling body) has decided to mark the hotel as condemned, which is even worse than when it was deconsecrated or whatever in the last movie. An hour after The Harbinger (Clancy Brown) shows up to deliver the news about the hotel’s condemnation, the building is demolished like a faded Las Vegas casino and Concierge Charon (Lance Reddick, who was awesome in everything and died on March 17 and will be missed) is, uhm, let go.

The person behind all of this punishment aimed at Winston for the crime of helping John Wick is the Marquis (Bill Skarsgard), a snootypants we will enjoy rooting against. The High Table has given him a blank check to do whatever needs to be done to put an end to John Wick, both the man and the legend. The Marquis calls into service Caine (Donnie Yen), a former assassin who like John Wick tried to leave the life behind (possibly agreeing to have himself blinded to do it?). But he has a daughter and to keep her safe he occasionally freelances, I guess. He reluctantly takes the job to kill John Wick, an old buddy.

Caine is also old buddies with Shimazu (Hiroyuki Sanada), manager of the Osaka Continental, which is where John Wick goes for help. Shimazu’s concierge and daughter Akira (Rina Sawayama) isn’t so keen on Wick’s presence at the hotel; she’s less concerned with old friendship and more concerned with their continued survival in the here and now, especially when High Table henchmen show up with Caine.

Also at the Osaka is a character we come to know as Mr. Nobody (Shamier Anderson), a contract killer with a loyal dog because somebody in this movie has to have a Very Good Boy who can do cute doggie faces in the midst of balletic violence. Mr. Nobody is in the game to get John Wick but first he wants the “getting” price to go up and helps orchestrate this bounty inflation by occasionally knocking off competing assassins.

There are several memorable set-piece battles in John Wick Chapter 4: Caine fights a series of dudes in a kitchen using motion sensors; John Wick fights guys standing in the street while fast-moving traffic flows around and between them; John Wick fights in a building as we watch from overhead, giving an illusion that we are watching a continuous shot filmed through several rooms; multiple characters fight multiple characters on a steep set of stairs with the up and down climbing and falling part of the choreography of the fight. And in between that are several scenes of smaller battles and one-on-one fights. These scenes are all exciting and extremely well-choreographed. Like, there needs to be an Oscar that recognizes the skill of creating an energetic, technically beautiful fight scene that is also believable both for two humans to participate in and in the context of the movie. There needs to be an Oscar for this and it needs to go to a John Wick movie because this is a skill.

And yet.

And yet maybe this movie could have had fewer of these scens? I can’t believe I’m saying that but I think fewer and better highlighted would have been the way to go with these stretches of the movie which, when I think back to consider them individually, really were a marvel. In the movie, however, there is a frosting on frosting on frosting effect in the way this movie piles up fight scenes without the cake that allows the punch of sugar to really come through. The original John Wick was an hour and 41 minutes long. Each sequel has been a little bit longer than its predecessor, with this one clocking in at two hours and 49 minutes. Somewhere in here is a solid, well-paced, energetic hour-and-50-minute movie. But this nearly three-hour version gets bogged down in its questing — John Wick going here to engage with this person, then there, then we’re meeting these people. This has always been a part of these stories, particularly in the second and third installments, but it seemed a little more spinning-its-wheels here than it did in previous movies. Also, I did have the sinking feeling that some of this was setting up potential side-quel elements — Caine, Akira and of course Mr. Nobody and his dog.

So, Chapter 4? Loved the Keanu, as usual; loved the Fishburne and the McShane absolutely acting to, not just the back row, but the people on the street in front of the theater. Loved the precision of the fights, loved the ideas and the cleverness that went into them. This movie isn’t the gleeful ride of its immediate predecessor but it was an overall better-than-average bit of entertainment. B

Rated R for so so so much killing (“pervasive strong violence and some language” is how the MPA describes it, according to filmratings.com). Directed by Chad Stahelski and written by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch, John Wick: Chapter 4 is two hours and 49 minutes long and is distributed in theaters by Lionsgate.

Featured photo: John Wick: Chapter 4

Eat on Easter

Brunch buffets, special meals and sweet treats for Easter Sunday

With Easter Sunday right on our doorstep (Sunday, April 9), now is the time to make your plans. Whether you’re looking to reserve your spot to enjoy a brunch buffet, or you want to bring your Easter meals or desserts home this year, check out this list of local restaurants, function halls, bakeries and churches offering specialty items. Be sure to contact each establishment directly for the most up-to-date details on reservation availability. We’ve also included candy and chocolate shops on this list that have you covered for those Easter baskets and other sweet treats. Did we miss anyone that’s serving an Easter brunch or specials menu? Tell us about them at [email protected].

• 110 Grill (875 Elm St., Manchester, 836-1150; 27 Trafalgar Square, Nashua, 943-7443; 110grill.com) will serve special brunch menu features for Easter on Sunday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in addition to its regular menus. Options will include steak and eggs Benedict, chicken and waffles, crab cakes Benedict and several assorted brunch cocktails.

• 603 Charcuterie (603charcuterie.com) is taking orders for a variety of charcuterie specials for Easter, including pink (serves 4 to 5) or purple (serves 6 to 8) charcuterie boxes filled with local cheeses, meats and other accoutrements, as well as large (serves 16 to 20) and extra-large (serves 25 to 30) charcuterie platters; charcuterie “bouquets” (serves 5 to 6) and specialty painted cookie sleeves, courtesy of Zeezee Cookies. Order for pickup at The Factory on Willow (252 Willow St., Manchester) on Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All charcuterie items are best if consumed within 24 hours of pickup.

• Airport Diner (2280 Brown Ave., Manchester, 623-5040, thecman.com) will be open during its regular business hours on Easter Sunday (from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.), serving its daily menus with specials.

• Alan’s of Boscawen (133 N. Main St., Boscawen, 753-6631, alansofboscawen.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., which will include fresh fruit, assorted cheeses and crackers, Danishes and breads, and carving stations featuring roast leg of lamb, sliced tenderloin and Virginia baked ham. Other options will include chicken piccata, tortellini alfredo, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables and assorted desserts. The cost is $34.99 for adults, and complete Easter dinners are also available to order for takeout.

• All Real Meal (87 Elm St., Manchester, 782-3014, allrealmeal.com) is taking orders for special Easter feasts, with multiple sizes serving two, four or six people. Meals include marinated baked turkey, glazed baked ham, homestyle buttery mashed potatoes, cranberry apple stuffing, almond green beans, homestyle cornbread and mixed berry cheesecake for dessert. Order online for curbside pickup or delivery on Saturday, April 8.

• Alpine Grove Banquet Facility (19 S. Depot Road, Hollis, 882-9051, alpinegrove.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9 — three time slots are available to choose from: 9 to 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Featured breakfast menu items will include assorted mini pastries and gourmet doughnuts, a local fruit and cheese display, Belgian waffles with maple syrup and seasonal compote, crepes, scrambled eggs and applewood bacon and sausage. For lunch options there will be grilled chicken breast with a honey glazed lavender sauce, baked Virginia ham with a rum sauce, slow roasted prime rib, baked macaroni and cheese, seasonal vegetable medley and more. The cost is $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, $15 for kids ages 3 to 12 and free for kids under 3. Reservations are being accepted online.

• Angela’s Pasta & Cheese Shop (815 Chestnut St., Manchester, 625-9544, angelaspastaandcheese.com) is taking orders for a variety of dessert pies courtesy of Slightly Crooked Pies of Bedford (cherry, black and blue crumble, and triple berry or blueberry lavender hand pies); dinner rolls and loaves from Iggy’s Bakery; quiches, pies and cakes in assorted flavors from The Crust & Crumb Baking Co.; and house pastries like seasonally-themed whoopie pies, shortbread cookies and more. Order by March 31. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (111 Island Pond Road, Manchester, 623-2045, assumptionnh.org) will host a walk-in Easter bake sale on Saturday, April 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. inside its church hall. Spinach peta, cheese peta, Greek cookie and pastry platters and tsoureki (Easter bread) will be available for sale in limited quantities while supplies last.

• Atkinson Resort & Country Club (85 Country Club Drive, Atkinson, 362-8700, atkinsonresort.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside its Legacy Ballroom. The menu will include chef-attended omelet and waffle stations, hand-carved prime rib, a smoked ham carving station, and breakfast options, like scrambled eggs, bacon, cinnamon swirl French toast and more. The cost is $80 for adults, $30 for kids ages 3 to 10 and free for kids under 3. Reservations are required. Merrill’s Tavern and Stagecoach Grille, meanwhile, will each be serving a special Easter menu from noon to 4 p.m. that day.

• Back Bay Boathouse (51 Mill St., Wolfeboro, 515-1002, backbayboathouse.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring an omelet and waffle station, prime rib and honey ham, fresh fruit, pastries, desserts, mimosas, mocktails and more. The cost is $25 for adults and $15 for kids ages 12 and under. The restaurant will also serve dinner from 4 to 8 p.m.

• The Bakeshop on Kelley Street (171 Kelley St., Manchester, 624-3500, thebakeshoponkelleystreet.com) is taking orders for a variety of specialty sweets and treats for Easter, including an Easter egg bread (sweet bread with colored cooked Easter eggs on top) and bottom layer carrot cake with a top layer cheesecake and cream cheese frosting. Also available to order are assorted flavors of pies, cakes, cookies, rolls, Danishes, tea and coffee cakes. Order by April 5. Pickups will be available through Saturday, April 8 (the shop will be closed on Easter Sunday).

• Bearded Baking Co. (819 Union St., Manchester, 647-7150, beardedbaking.com) is taking orders for eight-inch cakes (carrot or lemon poppy), lemon dream cheesecakes (serves eight to 12 people), chocolate flourless Parisian slices, blueberry lemon or carrot cake vegan doughnuts, and Easter candy cupcake boxes, featuring assorted cupcakes topped with Cadbury egg pieces, Reese’s peanut butter cups and cookies and cream pieces. Order by April 2. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 8.

• Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford, 472-2001, bedfordvillageinn.com) will serve a special three-course prix fixe Easter Dinner on Sunday, April 9, with reservations available from 2 to 7 p.m. Meals will include your choice of a first course (Heron Pond Farm carrot bisque, New England clam chowder with chives, poached Nellie’s Farm egg or prosciutto and fruit salad); an entree (grilled tournedos of beef, pistachio and matcha crusted Icelandic cod loin, braised lamb shank, smoked North Country ham, boneless Cornish game hen, or herb roasted cauliflower “steak”); and a dessert (mixed berry Napoleon, matcha crème brûlée, chocolate mousse dome, “blackout” tiramisu, or blueberry crisp with cinnamon ice cream). The cost is $75 for adults and $39.98 for kids ages 10 and under.

• Belmont Hall & Restaurant (718 Grove St., Manchester, 625-8540, belmonthall.net) will serve an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet on Easter Sunday, with seatings at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. The cost is $18.99 per person. Additionally, the restaurant will be open for walk-ins only that day — no reservations required.

• Birch Wood Vineyards (199 Rockingham Road, Derry, 965-4359, birchwoodvineyards.com) will serve a special Easter Sunday brunch on Sunday, April 9, with seatings at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. All meals will be served from a prix fixe menu — no substitutions. Entree options will include French toast, chicken and waffles, eggplant Napoleon, frittata, brown sugar maple glazed ham, baked haddock Newburg, braised lamb shank or slow roasted prime rib. All breakfast and lunch entrees will each be served with a salad (fruit salad with breakfasts), a variety of fresh baked breads, milk, juice or coffee, and a dessert buffet. The cost ranges from $55 to $70 per adult entree and $35 per kids’ entree. Reservations are required by April 2.

• The Black Forest Cafe & Bakery (212 Route 101, Amherst, 672-0500, blackforestcafeandbakery.com) is taking orders for pies (apple, Dutch apple, strawberry rhubarb, cherry, gluten-free chocolate cream and gluten-free grasshopper); cakes (carrot, lemon daisy, old-fashioned coconut, limoncello and chocolate mousse); and assorted shortbread cookies and Easter pastries. Order by April 5. Pickups will be on Friday, April 7, and Saturday, April 8 (the shop will be closed on Easter Sunday).

• Buckley’s Great Steaks (438 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-0995, buckleysgreatsteaks.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from noon to 5 p.m., serving its regular menu in addition to some chef specials, like carrot and ginger bisque, smoked spiral ham and baked stuffed haddock. Call or visit the website to make a reservation.

• Buckley’s Bakery & Cafe (436 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 262-5929, buckleysbakerycafe.com) and Buckley’s Market & Cafe (9 Market Place, Hollis, 465-5522) are taking orders for cakes (carrot, hummingbird, double chocolate caramel and gluten-free lemon blueberry); eight-inch pies (chocolate cream, Key lime, mixed berry crumble and lemon meringue); assorted breakfast and dessert pastry trays, Parker House rolls, cinnamon raisin bread and raspberry almond crumb cake. Order by April 5.

• The Cake Fairy (114 Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett, 518-8733, cakefairynh.com) is taking orders for nine-inch pies (lemon cream, eclair and peach); four-inch cheesecakes (strawberry, lemon and blueberry); traditional whoopie pies, nine-inch blueberry cobbler, assorted Danish boxes and Easter bunny hut cupcake kits, featuring two vanilla cupcakes, two bags of frosting, two rings and three assorted toppings. Order by April 1. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Carina’s Cakes (14B E. Broadway, Derry, 425-9620, find them on Facebook @carinas.cakes) is taking orders for a variety of specialty cupcake flavors for Easter, like Peeps marshmallow, Andes mint, chocolate chip cookie dough, Oreo, Reese’s peanut butter cup, Funfetti, toasted coconut, carrot cake and more. Orders will be accepted through April 6 or until the shop reaches capacity.

• Caroline’s Fine Food (132 Bedford Center Road, Bedford, 637-1615, carolinesfood.com) is taking orders for Easter dinners serving four or eight people, featuring your choice of maple glazed pork loin, pan seared lemon rosemary chicken breast or garlic and rosemary roasted leg of lamb. All entrees are additionally served with shallot whipped potatoes, lemon honey caramelized carrots and sauteed asparagus. Several items are also available a la carte, like prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, charcuterie platters, roasted summer vegetables with dip, baby greens salad with a red wine vinaigrette, ham, Swiss and spinach or caprese quiches, and blueberry or lemon poppyseed scones. Order by April 3 at 2 p.m. Pickups will be Friday, April 7, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Castleton Waterfront Dining on Cobbetts (58 Enterprise Drive, Windham, 898-6300, castletonbcc.com) is taking orders for a variety of to-go items for Easter, including dinner packages of spiral glazed ham or roast leg of lamb with herbs — each comes with its own sides, like vegetables, dinner rolls or carrot cake. You can also customize your Easter dinner with a la carte items, like main courses (tenderloin of beef, spiral glazed ham with pineapple raisin sauce, roast leg of lamb with herbs and roast pork loin with cranberry apple stuffing); sides by the quart (honey glazed carrots, green beans almondine, tender spring peas with pancetta, au gratin potatoes, garlic and chive whipped potatoes, roasted rosemary red bliss potatoes, merlot sauce, mushroom demi glace, lamb gravy and pineapple raisin sauce); hors d’oeuvres by the dozen (scallop and bacon skewers, crabmeat stuffed mushrooms, asparagus and asiago wraps, smoked gouda macaroni and cheese bites, petite arancini, almond raspberry brie tarts and spanakopita); and baked goods (dinner rolls by the dozen, 10-inch carrot cake and 10-inch New York-style cheesecake). Order by March 31 at noon. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to noon.

• The Coach Stop Restaurant & Tavern (176 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 437-2022, coachstopnh.com) will serve a special a la carte menu for Easter on Sunday, April 9, with seatings at noon and 3 p.m., featuring items like spinach and artichoke dip, French onion soup, bacon-wrapped scallops, roast prime rib of beef, veal Oscar, lobster macaroni and cheese, baked lamb or ham dinners, baked haddock and more. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker, 428-3281, colbyhillinn.com) will serve a special three-course prix fixe menu for Easter on Sunday, April 9, with seatings from noon to 5 p.m. and patio and lawn seating also available, weather permitting. The meal will include your choice of a first course (lemon chicken noodle soup, mushroom and buttermilk soup, spring greens and Easter radish salad, baby mizuna salad or red beet deviled eggs); a main course (Greek-style roast leg of lamb in oregano and garlic, maple and cider mustard glazed ham, prime rib smoked with pink peppercorn and rosemary, day boat scallops, rabbit pot pie or carrot spaetzle); and a dessert (Meyer lemon and raspberry chambord sorbet duo, lavender crème brûlée, strawberry rhubarb pie with ginger ice cream, maple walnut carrot cake, or an Easter chocolate trio featuring Belgian chocolate mousse, white chocolate Easter bark and a chocolate peanut butter egg). The cost is $70 per person and reservations are required.

• The Common Man (25 Water St., Concord, 228-3463; 304 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-3463; 88 Range Road, Windham, 898-0088; 10 Pollard Road, Lincoln, 745-3463; 21 Water St., Claremont, 542-6171; 60 Main St., Ashland, 968-7030; thecman.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at each of its locations, serving their regular menus with Easter specials.

• Copper Kettle To Go (39 Main St., Wilton, 654-2631, copperkettletogo.com) is taking orders for Easter dinners featuring your choice of lamb shank, ham or braised short rib, in addition to three-layer carrot cake by the slice and traditional sweet Easter pie (featuring a layered phyllo dough shell and a ricotta-orange filling). Orders will be ready for pickup on Saturday, April 8.

• Crosby Bakery (51 E. Pearl St., Nashua, 882-1851, crosbybakerynh.com) is taking orders for eight-inch or 10-inch sized pies (apple, apple crumb, blueberry, banana cream, cherry, chocolate cream, coconut cream, lemon meringue and pecan); eight-inch Bird’s Nest or limoncello cakes, seven-inch layered carrot cakes, assorted pastry and cookie platters, and savory items, like gorton (Canadian pork spread), meat pie, salmon pie, Parker House rolls, Boston baked beans and more. Order by April 5.

• The Crust & Crumb Baking Co. (126 N. Main St., Concord, 219-0763, thecrustandcrumb.com) is taking orders for a variety of specialty items for Easter, including Shaker squash or butter rolls, vanilla glazed cinnamon buns, pecan sticky buns, sour cream or raspberry lemon coffee cakes, hot cross buns, choreg (seeded Armenian Easter bread), quiches (ham and Swiss, asparagus and goat cheese, or bacon, broccoli and cheddar); French Canadian tourtiere; pork pie with apple, rosemary and sweet potato); sweet cakes (blueberry lemon mousse, raspberry coconut layer cake, flourless chocolate torte and others); and six-inch or nine-inch pies (apple streusel, forest berry crumb, maple bourbon pecan, lemon meringue, blueberry crumb, Key lime, chocolate cream, maple cream or coconut cream; the latter four can be ordered with graham crusts or gluten-free almond oat crusts). Order by April 1. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 8.

• The Derryfield Restaurant (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880, thederryfield.com) will serve a special Easter brunch on Sunday, April 9, with seatings starting at 10 a.m. The meal will feature an omelet station, a carving station with slow roast prime rib and oven-baked ham, a bread station with items like muffins, croissants and rolls, a salad station and a dessert station. On the main buffet table, there will be French toast, scrambled eggs, corned beef hash, bacon, sausage, fresh seasonal fruit, pancakes, baked beans, seafood Newburg and more. The cost is $34.95 for adults, $32.95 for seniors over 65 and $19.95 for kids under 12. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Foster’s Boiler Room (231 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2764, thecman.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., serving its regular dinner menu with Easter specials. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Fratello’s Italian Grille (155 Dow St., Manchester, 641-6776, fratellos.com) will serve a special Easter buffet on Sunday, April 9, with seatings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., featuring an egg and omelet station, a carving station with slow roasted prime rib au jus and apricot-glazed pork loin roast, and assorted parfaits, cakes and other treats. On the main buffet table there will be breakfast pastries, seasonal fruit, Belgian waffles, bacon and sausage, homestyle potatoes, chicken piccata, dill herb salmon, baked ham with a brown sugar glaze, wild rice pilaf, roasted sweet vegetable medley and more. The cost is $39 for adults, $18.95 for kids ages 4 to 11 and free for kids ages 3 and under. Reservations are required.

• Frederick’s Pastries (109 Route 101A, Amherst, 882-7725; 25 S. River Road, Bedford, 647-2253; pastry.net) is taking orders for an array of specialty sweets and treats for Easter, like bunny cookie kits, speckled robin cakes, sheep cakes, baby chick or Easter basket-shaped cupcakes, carrot cake cheesecake cups, carrot cake cupcakes and more. Advance online ordering is recommended.

• Friendly Red’s Tavern (22 Haverhill Road, Windham, 437-7251, friendlyredstavern.net) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., for breakfast only.

• Gauchos Churrascaria Brazilian Steak House (62 Lowell St., Manchester, 669-9460, gauchosbraziliansteakhouse.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring rodizio meats carved tableside, along with an all-you-can-eat selection of pastries and fresh fruit, and the restaurant’s famous chocolate fountain. The cost is $39.99 for adults, $14.99 for kids ages 6 to 10 and free for kids ages 5 and under.

• Giorgio’s Ristorante & Bar (270 Granite St., Manchester, 232-3323; 707 Milford Road, Merrimack, 883-7333; 524 Nashua St., Milford, 673-3939; giorgios.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., serving its regular menu with chef-inspired specials. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Granite Restaurant & Bar (The Centennial Hotel, 96 Pleasant St., Concord, 227-9005, graniterestaurant.com) will serve a special Easter brunch menu on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Items will include peaches and cream Belgian waffles, steak and eggs Benedict, shrimp and grits, red quinoa and farro bowls, “Amish-style” baked oatmeal with Greek yogurt, seasonal fruit and local honey, asparagus and mushroom toast, the house Centennial burger, a grilled breakfast burrito and more.

• Granite State Candy Shoppe (13 Warren St., Concord, 225-2591; 832 Elm St., Manchester, 218-3885; granitestatecandyshoppe.com) is offering a wide variety of pre-arranged Easter baskets available in three sizes each, featuring white, dark or milk chocolate selections. Other available items include milk chocolate peanut butter or marshmallow eggs, foiled chocolate eggs, chocolate-dipped marshmallow Peeps, pastel malted milk eggs, caramel quail eggs and more.

• The Hills Restaurant (Hampshire Hills Athletic Club, 50 Emerson Road, Milford, 673-7123, hampshirehills.com/the-hills-restaurant) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 8 a.m. to noon, featuring French toast, waffles, muffins, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, yogurt, brown sugar Easter ham and more. The cost is $25 for adults and $12 for kids, and reservations are being accepted online.

• The Homestead Tavern & Restaurant (641 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-2022, homesteadnh.com) will serve a special a la carte menu for Easter on Sunday, April 9, accepting reservations from 11 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Items will include spinach and artichoke dip, French onion soup, roast prime rib of beef, chicken and broccoli alfredo, baked stuffed haddock, shrimp and scallop risotto, New York sirloin, veal Oscar, roasted rack of lamb, barbecue baby back ribs, chicken Marsala and broiled salmon.

• Italian Farmhouse (337 Daniel Webster Hwy., Plymouth, 536-4536, thecman.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., serving its regular dinner menu with Easter specials. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Jamison’s Restaurant (472 Route 111, Hampstead, 489-1565, jamisonsrestaurant.com) will serve a special Easter brunch on Sunday, April 9, with items that include slow roasted prime rib au jus, oven-roasted turkey breast, pesto crusted lamb leg, stuffed haddock and glazed spiral ham. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• KC’s Rib Shack (837 Second St., Manchester, 627-7427, ribshack.net) will serve its annual all-you-can-eat Easter buffet on Sunday, April 9, from noon to 6 p.m., featuring starters like bacon Sriracha deviled eggs and fruit salad; meats, like smoked pit ham, beef brisket, pulled pork, spare ribs and smoked chicken; sides, like green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, corn casserole, cole slaw, applesauce and cornbread; and a variety of desserts. The cost is $30 for adults, $14 for kids ages 5 to 10 and free for kids under 5. The buffet is by reservation only, and the regular menu will not be available that day. The last reservations of the day will be taken at 4 p.m. Call to book parties of more than six people.

• LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst; 14 Route 111, Derry; 672-9898, labellewinery.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet at both of its locations on Sunday, April 9 — seatings are at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. at each. The buffet will feature a mimosa bar, an interactive doughnut designing station, fruit and bread display, a Belgian waffle station, an omelet station, and assorted breakfast items, like bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs and home fries. Also included will be carving stations with ham and prime rib, salad stations, and lunch items like chicken, baked haddock, vegetable pasta primavera, roasted potatoes and more. A full bar will be available throughout brunch, featuring wine, beer, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages, while desserts will include chocolate cake, cheesecake, carrot cake, pot de creme, mini cannolis and chocolate-covered strawberries. The cost is $85 for adults, $35 for kids ages 3 to 12 and free for kids ages 2 and under. Reserve your table online with a $50 deposit, which will be applied toward your total brunch cost (only one reservation per party is needed).

• Lago (The Inn at Bay Point, 1 Route 25, Meredith, 279-2253, thecman.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., serving its regular dinner menu with Easter specials. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Lakehouse Grille (Church Landing at Mill Falls, 281 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-5221, thecman.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, serving breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m., followed by its dinner menu with Easter specials from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Makris Lobster & Steak House (354 Sheep Davis Road, Concord, 225-7665, eatalobster.com) will serve a special family-style Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring items like fresh fruits and cheeses, a salad bar, a carving station with prime rib and applewood smoked ham, and other main course dishes, like maple Dijon glazed salmon, lamb souvlaki and pasta primavera with a garlic wine sauce. The cost is $34.99 for adults, $31.99 for seniors and $14.99 for kids ages 12 and under.

• Mile Away Restaurant (52 Federal Hill Road, Milford, 673-3904, mileawayrestaurantnh.com) is taking reservations now for Easter, offering special meals that include your choice of one appetizer, salad, entree and dessert. Menu staples include appetizers like corn chowder, Swedish meatballs, fresh fruit plates with sorbet; Caesar salad or garden salad with blue cheese, house ranch, raspberry vinaigrette or balsamic dressing; entrees, like roast leg of lamb, honey-glazed ham, pork Provencal, piccata Milanese, maple salmon, vegetarian baked eggplant Parmesan, or grilled duck breast with an orange berry sauce; and desserts, like carrot cake, sorbet, cheesecake, chocolate ganache cake, lemon mascarpone cake or chocolate mousse cake.

• Morrisseys’ Porch & Pub (286 S. Main St., Wolfeboro, 569-3662, morrisseysfrontporch.com) will serve a special a la carte menu for Easter on Sunday, April 9, featuring items like shrimp cocktail, spring leeks with artichoke dip, prime rib, baked country ham with pineapple chutney and homemade carrot cake. Reservations are recommended. 

• Mr. Mac’s Macaroni & Cheese (497 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 606-1760, mr-macs.com) accepts orders for both hot-and-ready and take-and-bake trays of macaroni and cheese, as well as macaroni salads, assorted green salads, desserts and more. Placing orders at least 24 hours in advance is appreciated.

• MT’s Local Kitchen & Wine Bar (212 Main St., Nashua, 595-9334, mtslocal.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from noon to 5 p.m., serving its regular menu in addition to some chef specials. Call or visit the website to make a reservation.

• Nelson’s Candy & Music (65 Main St., Wilton, 654-5030, nelsonscandymusic.com) is offering all kinds of specialty sweets and treats for Easter, like hand-poured chocolate mold bunnies, chocolate bunny pops and family-sized bunny boxes, which include assorted themed chocolates, jelly beans, molasses peanut butter zippers, chocolate-dipped Peeps, foiled chocolate eggs, fruit slices and caramel- or chocolate-covered popcorn.

• Presto Craft Kitchen (168 Amory St., Manchester, 606-1252, prestocraftkitchen.com) is taking orders for a variety of specialty items for Easter, including appetizers, like pizzagaina (quiche-like ricotta pie with Italian meats), charcuterie platters, assorted devil’s egg platters (with classic, dill pickle and bacon and chive flavors). Also on the menu are family-sized entrees feeding four to six people (classic three-cheese lasagna, chicken or eggplant Parmesan with pasta and glazed ham with creamy mashed potatoes and carrots); and desserts (macaroons by the dozen, giant breakable chocolate Easter eggs, fresh filled cannolis and “carrot patches,” featuring a dozen strawberries dipped in orange chocolate and buried in a “dirt” of Oreo cookie crumbles). Order by April 1. Pickups will be on Friday, April 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• The Puritan Backroom Restaurant (245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com) will be open on Sunday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., serving its regular menu in addition to some Easter specials, like baked ham, roast turkey and roast lamb. Reservations for parties of six or more are being accepted. Walk-ins are welcome, but between noon and 4 p.m. there will not be room for any large parties without a reservation.

• The Red Arrow Diner (61 Lowell St., Manchester, 626-1118; 137 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 552-3091; 112 Loudon Road, Concord, 415-0444; 149 Daniel Webster Hwy., Nashua, 204-5088; redarrowdiner.com) will be open during its normal business hours on Easter Sunday at all four of its locations, serving a special pit ham dinner with mashed potatoes and carrots for $15.99.

• Rig A Tony’s Italian Takeout & Catering (38 W. Broadway, Derry, 425-6116; 13 Rockingham Road, Windham, 685-8122; 254 Wallace Road, Bedford, 488-2877; rigatonysitalian.com) is taking orders for family-sized Easter dinners, serving six to eight people and including your choice of stuffed pork loin, braised short ribs or spiral ham — each dinner also comes with mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, string beans and Rig a Tony’s house pasta and sauce. Other traditional a la carte Italian Easter specialties available to order include chicken or eggplant Parmesan, stuffed shells or manicotti, lasagna, Italian wedding soup, shrimp scampi, cannolis, homemade Italian cookies, chocolate cream pie and Maine blueberry pie.

• Route 104 Diner (752 Route 104, New Hampton, 744-0120, thecman.com) will be open during its regular business hours on Easter Sunday (from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.), serving its daily menus with specials.

• Ruby Cakes (Milford, ruby-cakes.com) is taking orders for specialty flavors of cakesicles, including lemon cake with lemon buttercream frosting and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Each order consists of three cakesicles in a box. Pre-order online for pickup between Thursday, April 6, and Saturday, April 8.

• Sky Meadow Country Club (6 Mountain Laurels Drive, Nashua, 888-9000, skymeadow.com) will serve a special Easter brunch on Sunday, April 9, with seatings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. There will be assorted breakfast pastries and breads, local quiches and freshly sliced fruits, plus an artisan salad station with assorted vegetables and dressings. Lunch items will include maple brown sugar glazed ham, roasted beef tenderloin, braised leg of lamb ragu, potato-crusted haddock, honey garlic spring chicken breast, crispy eggplant cutlets with herb-whipped ricotta and Parmesan potato gratin, while there will also be assorted cakes, pastries and gluten-free desserts. The cost is $60 for adults, $19.95 for kids under 12 and $10 for kids under 5 ($10 for non-member kids under 5). Additionally, Sky Meadow will hold a bring-your-own-basket Easter egg hunt at 10:30 a.m. for kids ages 8 and under.

• St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (1160 Bridge St., Manchester, stnicholasgreekchurch.com) is taking orders for Greek Easter dessert platters, which include six pieces each of baklava, kourambiethes (powdered sugar cookies) and koulourakia (butter cookies). Order by April 7, for pickup at the church on Friday, April 14 (Greek Easter is observed on Sunday, April 16, this year). Contact parishioner Barb George at 925-330-9966 or email [email protected] to place your order.

• Stonebridge Country Club (161 Gorham Pond Road, Goffstown, 497-8633, ext. 2, golfstonebridgecc.com) will serve a special Easter brunch on Sunday, April 9, with seatings at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Menu options will include Danishes, scrambled eggs, maple sausage, crispy home fries, cinnamon raisin French toast casseroles, roasted chicken breast in a herb cream sauce, baked haddock with a lemon cream and cracker crust, tortellini tomato pesto, mixed spring vegetables and a mini pastry table, as well as mimosa and bloody mary specials. The cost is $27 for adults, $12 for kids ages 2 to 10 and free for kids under 2. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Tilt’n Diner (61 Laconia Road, Tilton, 286-2204, thecman.com) will be open during its regular business hours on Easter Sunday (from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.), serving its daily menus with specials.

• Tuscan Market (9 Via Toscana, Salem, 912-5467, tuscanbrands.com) is taking orders for a variety of items for Easter, including family-sized dinner packages, each serving six to eight people and featuring your choice of bone-in spiral ham, carved roasted turkey breast or boneless roast leg of lamb. A variety of specialty options are also available a la carte, like half trays of scratch-cooked lasagna, pizzagaina (quiche-like ricotta pie with Italian meats), pecorino-stuffed artichokes, risotto and sausage-stuffed bell peppers, chocolate chip ricotta pie, eight-inch carrot, chocolate or strawberry cakes, tiramisu squares and Italian Easter breads with two or three eggs. At least a two-day advance ordering notice is preferred. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

• Van Otis Chocolates (341 Elm St., Manchester, 627-1611, vanotis.com) is offering pre-arranged gourmet Easter baskets available in small or large sizes and featuring items like chocolate bunnies, Evangeline’s caramel corn, chocolate-dipped Peeps, foiled Oreos, jelly beans and Easter egg foils. Most of those items are also available to order a la carte, in addition to other Easter-themed goodies, like milk or dark chocolate Swiss fudge eggs with or without pecans, dark chocolate coconut cream fudge eggs, Easter-decorated chocolate-covered Oreos, and edible baskets made with milk, dark or white chocolate and filled with foiled candies.

• Ya Mas Greek Taverna & Bar (125 Bridge St., Pelham, 635-4230, yamasgreektaverna.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, starting at 11 a.m. and featuring a create-your-own omelet station, a Belgian waffle station, breakfast meats like bacon, sausage and kielbasa, and assorted cheeses, fruits, quiches, cupcakes and cookies. The cost is $29.99 for adults and $19.99 for kids. The restaurant will also hold an Easter dinner at 4 p.m., serving seasonal specials in addition to its full menu, and even has a Greek Easter celebration planned for Sunday, April 16, featuring a family-style menu of items like lemon roasted lamb, spanakopita and tiropita, Greek leek loukaniko (sausage), chicken kabobs and tsoureki (Greek Easter bread). Seatings for the April 16 celebration are available every two hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The cost is $83 for adults and $45 for kids.

• Yankee Farmer’s Market (360 Route 103 E, Warner, 456-2833, yankeefarmersmarket.com) is taking orders for holiday meats while supplies last, including pastured pork tenderloin roast, boneless leg of lamb and smoked ham roast. Order online for pickup the week of Easter Sunday.

• Wolfe’s Tavern (Wolfeboro Inn, 90 N. Main St., Wolfeboro, 569-3016, wolfestavern.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring a farmers market salad bar, a bread and pastry station, a fruit and artisanal cheese display, and carving stations with black Angus prime rib and smoked pit ham with assorted mustards. On the main buffet table will be scrambled eggs, home fries, applewood smoked bacon, sausage links, waffles with fresh berries and Vermont maple syrup, grilled chicken florentine and crab-stuffed flounder with a maltese sauce. The cost is $45 for adults and $20 for kids. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

• Woodstock Inn Brewery (135 Main St., North Woodstock, 745-3951, woodstockinnbrewery.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring an omelet bar, a waffle bar, a carving station with ham and prime rib and a wide selection of desserts. The cost is $32.99 for adults and $18.99 for kids ages 12 and under. Reservations are being accepted via phone.

Looking for Easter brunches a little farther away? Go to hippopress.com to see some additional eateries in the Lakes Region and beyond that have Easter plans of their own.

Granite State storytellers

Conversations with Concord Authors returns

By Mya Blanchard

[email protected]

Back by popular demand is Conversations with Concord Authors, produced by local authors Margaret Porter and Paul Brogan and moderated by Concord-based journalist and longtime NHPR radio host Laura Knoy. The event will return for a second year to the Bank of NH Stage on Wednesday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m.

“[Brogan] had this idea … sometime over a year ago, I think, to bring together Concord-area authors on a stage … and have Laura … interview them about not just their books but the writing process and … being part of the creative community here,” Porter said of how the event first came to be last April. “We immediately knew … that this was something that we wanted to carry on and have it perhaps be an annual event.”

In addition to the interviews there will be a question-and-answer session as well as a book signing sponsored by Gibson’s Bookstore.

Porter participated in theater growing up and went on to study film in graduate school, writing continuously on the side.

“I’ve been a writer all my life, really,” she said. “Ever since I could hold a crayon I think … I was making up stories in my head and writing them down and illustrating them.”

Writing took the forefront for Porter after she moved across the country to Colorado, where she and her husband lived for 11 years while still seasonal New Hampshire residents on Lake Winnipesaukee. She moved here full-time about 30 years ago.

Having left behind many of her radio and film contacts, Porter found herself without any projects and decided to dedicate her time to writing. Her background in film serves as the basis for many of her stories.

“A lot of my inspiration comes from real-life activities I’ve had,” she said. “I tend to write novels about people … often in the performing arts, actresses or dancers, or [books] set in the golden age of Hollywood about people who were in the film business. … Film history is an area that’s important to me.”

Porter has 15 published historical novels set in the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. Many of these stories are set in England, an area she is familiar with due to the time she spent there studying in her teenage and college years and for her husband’s job.

She has recently branched out into the contemporary fiction genre, drawing on her experiences on film sets in production and as an extra.

Porter, Brogan and Knoy have been planning this year’s event for months. In addition to Porter and Brogan, authors Kathleen D. Bailey, Sarah McCraw Crow and Dan Lawton will also be featured. While it is free to the public, reservation is required.

“New Hampshire is historically and currently a very supportive and nurturing place for creative people, and writers in particular,” Porter said. “It’s a very vibrant community and we like to celebrate that within this event.”

Conversations with Concord Authors
When: Wednesday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord
Cost: Free admission. Reservation is required.
Visit: ccanh.com

Featured photo: Local authors Paul Brogan and Margaret Porter at last year’s event. Courtesy photo.

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