Category: Featured Content

News & Notes 24/03/28

Crime stats

Calling 2023 “a year of great progress for this agency,” the Manchester Police Department reported that “we have continued a trend of crime reduction” according to the message from police chief Allen Aldenberg in the department’s 2023 Annual Report, which is available on the police department’s website (manchesternh.gov/Departments/Police). According to the report, “the violent crime rate for 2023 decreased by 8 percent compared to 2022 and was down 32 percent compared to the 10-year average,” with 482 violent offenses reported in 2023.

The report did list 8 murders in 2023 (compared to 5 in 2022), 51 reported rapes (compared to 38 reported rapes in 2022) and 99 robberies (compared to 87 in 2022), with aggravated assault being the number that decreased in the violent crime category — 294 in 2023 to 355 in 2022.

There were 2,309 property offenses, which is a 21 percent decrease from 2022 and a 27 percent decrease compared to the 10-year average, the report said. “Overall, Manchester’s total crime rate decreased by 19% compared to 2022 and decreased 36% compared to the 10-year average,” according to the report.

Militello nominated for Poet Laureate

According to a Press Release from March 22, New Hampshire’s Executive Council has confirmed Gov. Chris Sununu’s nomination of Jennifer Militello of Goffstown as the next New Hampshire Poet Laureate. Militello will serve a five-year term beginning in April as an ambassador for all poets in the Granite State and will work to heighten the visibility and value of poetry in the state, according to the same release.

The New Hampshire Poet Laureate position includes an honorarium of $1,000 for each year of the five-year term to help the next Poet Laureate achieve their stated mission with contributions from the Walter Butts’ New Hampshire Poet Laureate Fund and coordinated through the Poetry Society of New Hampshire, which also contributes to the honorarium, according to the same release.

Militello is an acclaimed poet, author and teacher and has supported poetry in New Hampshire throughout her life, including as a founding director of the New Hampshire Poetry Festival and Director of the MFA Program in Creative Writing at New England College, according to the press release. She has written five books of poetry and won the Dzanc Nonfiction Prize, with her third book of poetry, Body Thesaurus (Tupelo Press, 2013), named one of the top books of 2013 by Best American Poetry, according to the release..

In a statement, Militello said, “New Hampshire boasts one of the richest poetry traditions in the nation, and it will be my deepest honor to celebrate and nurture that statewide love of poetry as New Hampshire’s next Poet Laureate.”

Melanie Chicoine, President of the Poetry Society of New Hampshire, said in a statement, “Jennifer’s passion for poetry is evident in all she has accomplished in both writing and teaching. … We are excited for the opportunities we know Jennifer will bring to the poetry community across New Hampshire and in the surrounding communities.” The New Hampshire Poet Laureate is an honorary five-year position and was established by the state legislature in 1967. Visit the NH Poet Laureate page at psnh.org and see nh.gov/nharts/artsandartists/poetlaureate.html.

New Arts Council logo wanted

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2025 and is seeking an artist to design and create a new logo to appear on the Council’s print and electronic materials starting in 2025, according to a press release. The logo development will be a collaborative process with Arts Council staff as they review proposals and select artists to interview, and selected artists are expected to work cooperatively with the Council staff to make necessary adjustments to the proposals.

This opportunity is open to professional artists over 18 years old, and the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts will honor the copyright and intellectual property rights of artists submitting proposals, according to the press release. A total budget of $2,500 has been allocated to commission this project, including artist-design fees, any associated travel costs, and insurance. The deadline for submission is April 5. For details and the full request for proposal, see www.nh.gov/nharts/aboutus/newnhscalogo.htm.

Poetry Out Loud

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts announced in a March 18 press release that Morgan Cole from Portsmouth High School is the winner of the 2024 New Hampshire Poetry Out Loud High School Championship, and George Fortin from Holderness School was selected as alternate champion.

Cole will represent New Hampshire at the national finals, which are scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., April 30 through May 2. Visit nh.gov/nharts.

The 10th annual “Easing Heartbreak Hill 5K: Don’t Forget Your Wings” will take place on Saturday, March 30, from 10 a.m. to noon in Concord (2 Delta Dental Drive). The event website said that this race is featured as part of one runner’s fundraising efforts for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the official charity of the 2024 Boston Marathon (Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge) with all race proceeds going toward Beth’s goal of $13,100 for cancer research at Dana-Farber. Registration is $25. Visit www.eventbrite.com/e/easing-heartbreak-hill-5k-dont-forget-your-wings-tickets-787223776507

Saint Anselm College’s women’s softball team will play two home games on Saturday, March 30, at noon and 2 p.m. against the Assumption Greyhounds at the South Athletic Fields at Saint Anselm College in Manchester (100 Saint Anselm Dr.). Games are free. Visit saintanselmhawks.com.

Tickets are on sale now to see authors Joe Hill and Michael Koryta in conversation on Monday, April 1, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua). Tickets are $10, or $39 for admission and a book, plus fees, via nashualibrary.org; admission ticket sales end March 31 and ticket-plus-book sales end March 29.

Bringing the jokes home

Comic Koutrobis films special in Nashua

One of the reasons comics decide to make a special is inertia. Unlike the case for musicians who can lean on their hits forever, once a set of jokes is committed to video, a comedian needs to write some new ones. When Mike Koutrobis greets a hometown audience at Nashua’s Center for the Arts on March 21, he’ll say goodbye to his tight 60, ready to face the blank page.

It makes sense. When Koutrobis began standup 30 years ago, he was a single guy, and the laughs came from trying to remember who was in the photos on his girlfriend’s apartment walls and being stymied by one hung with a sample picture still in it, like some kind of weird test.

These days, he’s married and a father.

“The material’s writing itself now,” Koutrobis said in a recent phone interview. “My son just turned 5 and I’m turning 53. He’s getting more active; I’m getting less active. He’s learning new ways to do things; I’m learning new ways to cope with an injury.”

Entertainment is in his blood. In high school, Koutrobis worked as a professional clown, juggling fire and riding 6-foot unicycles. Upon graduation, “I literally joined the circus,” he said. “The day out of high school, I was a performing clown at York’s Wild Kingdom in Maine.”

At 21 he started hanging out at bars, and soon was hosting karaoke.

“I couldn’t sing, so I made it funny,” he said. “I love the attention — middle child syndrome. It just kept going, and I’ve never turned back. Anything to do with entertainment or being in front of people just attracts me.”

A booking agent pointed him to an open mic night at Stitches in Boston. “He says, you’re funny, do you write jokes? I go, ‘I don’t know … I’m just being myself,’” Koutrobis said. “I went down, and I was absolutely horrible; I still have it on tape, I’ll never get rid of it. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.”

Rising to the challenge, he kept at it, studying other comics, looking for clues to their success. He recalls Boston comedy legend Patrice O’Neal complimenting him early on. “He goes … ‘I don’t know what the hell it is, but you have something.’ I thought, now I gotta figure out what the hell that is.”

Since then, Koutrobis has done a little bit of everything, appearing in movies and on television, promoting shows, teaching other comics, working as a DJ, and that’s for starters.

“I have 72 jobs,” he said. “I’m literally in a parking lot right now about to be a hospital clown at Tufts Medical Center … there’s not much I don’t do.”

When he quit his day job, Koutrobis realized that ubiquity was his key to success in entertainment.

“I need to be the guy where someone goes, ‘We need this for a party, let’s call Mike — either he does it, or he knows somebody that does.’ My business card says, and it’s my favorite quote of all time: ‘Eventually, you’ll hire me for something.’”

Koutrobis is excited to appear at the newest venue in the town he’s called home since he was a toddler. Advance sales for the show have been brisk.

“I’m already beyond what I was hoping for,” he said. “People from high school that I haven’t spoken to in years are messaging me, and they bought tickets. We’re already over 300 sold, [and] honestly, that was my number.”

A retirement party for material that long served him well had to happen, Koutrobis concluded.

“I got lazy with my writing, but when you put something out there it’s, ‘OK, that stuff’s done now.’ Look at Juston McKinney or Bob Marley, speaking of two local guys. As soon as they put out a CD, or Juston does his Christmas shows, it’s pretty rare you’re going to hear any of those jokes ever again.”

Mike Koutrobis Comedy Special
When: Saturday, March 23, 8pm
Where: Nashua Center for the Arts, 201 Main St., Nashua
Tickets: $27 at nashuacenterforthearts.com

Featured photo: Mike Koutrobis. Courtesy photo.

Buy stuff, make stuff

Classes on offer at the Manchester Craft Market

By Zachary Lewis
zlewis@hippopress.com

Jessica Moores has created a bazaar of locally sourced and handcrafted goodies at the Mall of New Hampshire.

“This is our eighth year,” Moores said. “We started just as a craft fair with different tables all throughout the mall or we had an empty store for about nine weeks where 20 people sat at their tables to sell what they’d made.”

It was a good start, but Moores was encouraged to grow.

“Someone said to me, ‘This is great, but I don’t want to sit here all day. I want to put my stuff on a shelf, and you sell it for me.’ So I came back a few months later and I told the mall I want to give people a spot to sell their stuff on a shelf and see how that goes.”

After she spruced up an old pet store she had been allocated by the mall, business continued to grow.

“We decided we needed a bigger store,” Moores said. Manchester Craft Market then moved to the space next door. This was the location where Moores started curbside pickup during the Covid years, which allowed her business to thrive, although it was an austere road at first.

“I did it all without any loans or credit cards in the beginning. I didn’t pay myself for a couple years and kept putting my money into the business, like free displays. This one here I got like seven years ago for free,” Moores said as she pointed to a glass display cabinet right next to the cash register. “I still use it. It makes me a ton of money.”

Manchester Craft Market had its first million-dollar year just a couple of years ago.

“A million dollars of New England-made products only. That was 2021,” she said.

“In 2023, in September, we moved into this space…. We grew from about 170 makers to 250. We also have a classroom space for workshops and classes,” Moores said.

The classes are a big draw for crafters and patrons alike.

“We’ve done a couple ceramic classes with fairy houses or polymer clay. People are hand-building their own mugs. Cookie decorating classes. It’s kind of its own separate little thing back there,” Moores said.

A calendar of classes and workshops can be found on their website but one does not need to be a seller here to be allowed to teach.

Another fun edition is the window display.

“I work really hard on my window display, which seems to really attract people. With our winter display people would stand out there and take pictures like it was Macy’s in New York, so that was really fun.” Moores said

How did Moores get started with this whole enterprise?

“I was a stay-at-home mom trying to pay off some student loans and I started making my own stuff,” Moores said. “I said, ‘I really need a place to sell this. Where do I sell it?’ I was walking through the mall one day and there were a bunch of empty stores at that point. I said, ‘I should do a craft fair in the mall.’ So I went to a local, like, Facebook moms group and said, ‘What do you guys think about this? Would you go?’ and they were all like, ‘Yeah, we would totally go.’ And now some of them are our regular customers….”

The support from the community allows Moores to celebrate the handmade wares of local makers, which she describes as “anything altered, designed, or with additional components. Generally, that gives our makers leeway to design an image and have it printed elsewhere to be a sticker or print. It allows them to buy different jewelry findings and assemble them to make something different. I am not asking them to silversmith, although some do.”

Moores reiterated that without the enthusiasm of these craft makers her business would not be possible.

“Every little spot in every corner in here is a different maker. It is 250 individual businesses that we are supporting. Some of them pay for their chemo meds with it, some of them pay their mortgage with it, some of them just make it for fun and make a couple bucks off of it. It is all local New England. We just have fun with it.”

Manchester Craft Market
1500 S. Willow St. in Manchester (inside the Mall of New Hampshire).
Hours: Monday through Saturday from 10am to 9pm, Sundays from 11am to 6pm.
Contact: 606-1351, manchestercraftmarket.com

Featured photo: Workshop space at Manchester Craft Market. Courtesy photo.

Classical video games

Symphony NH performs Game Over(ture)

By Michael Witthaus
mwitthaus@hippopress.com

For many years, video game companies operated like old-school movie studios. Everything was done in-house, including the music. That began to change in the late 1990s, a shift that would impact the life of Austin Wintory, a young composer studying at USC. A lifelong gamer, Wintory had always been intrigued by the scores of Final Fantasy and Legend of Zelda, but he had no interest in working 9 to 5 at a tech company.

“The whole appeal of being a composer is you make your own hours,” he said in a recent phone interview. “You pursue your own opportunities … perpetually take swings and gambles, and bet on yourself. It’s an entrepreneur-type path, like running a small business.”

One day, a fellow student invited him to work on a game he was developing. Wintory recalls it as “very humble, tiny little project” that itself went nowhere, “but it led to him introducing me to some of his classmates … in particular was this guy named Jenova Chen, who was working on his master’s thesis video game project.”

Flow, the game Chen was developing and recruited Wintory for, became an online hit in 2006. Its success led Sony to hire them to code a version for the PlayStation, which had more music composed by Wintory. It became a hit on that platform, as did a sequel (that he didn’t work on).

In 2009, the team reunited to make Journey, a game that “exploded beyond anyone’s wildest imagination,” Wintory said. “It essentially made me a so-called video game composer, even though I’ve never seen myself that way… I was always passionate about games, and always wanting to be a composer. In hindsight … they were always on a collision course.”

Journey became the first video game to be nominated for a Grammy, shoehorned into the “Score Soundtrack for Visual Media” category. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s score for Girl With the Dragon Tattoo took the prize, but Wintory set a precedent that led to the creation of a video game category 10 years later. He’s been nominated both years it’s existed.

He responds with humility at the notion that he’s some kind of trailblazer.

“I honestly find it baffling; I don’t claim to be the one who should have been the first,” he said. “Many iconic scores came before me that simply weren’t nominated.”

Over the years, Wintory has become friendly with Symphony NH Music Director Roger Kalia, and on March 23 and March 24 he’ll guest conduct music from Journey, along with the Final Fantasy Seven’s climactic finale “One Winged Angel,” a piece he sheepishly requested Kalia let him lead at the concert.

“It’s always fun to conduct more than just my own music, but I am the guest, it’s Roger’s show; I’m not trying to pull focus or steal undue podium time,” he said, adding that his selection recalls operatic works like Verdi’s Requiem. “Carlos Orff’s ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana. It’s a piece in that kind of a vein, an absolute massive grand symphonic statement. It’s a real popular one because that game was just such a landmark.”

Kalia, he continued, has conducted Journey himself several times — on the West Coast where Wintory lives, and with the Evansville Symphony Orchestra. Wintory considers the Game Over(ture) concert, which will also include music from Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Brothers and Prince of Persia,an ideal way to help expand the reach of classical music.

“What I love about these kinds of shows is they’re a real celebration of … cultural touchstones that people are likely to be imminently familiar with,” he said. “I’m a believer in the preservation of the classical repertoire, and the solemn duty orchestras consign themselves to. Making sure that this massive, particularly orchestral canon is well looked after, taken seriously, performed and continuously exposed to new audiences.”

Beyond that, though, is a need for “showcasing the music audience members are likely to have some kind of contact with or familiarity with on a day-to-day basis; not just appeal to so-called classical music lovers. Roger has a very similar mind and is a great advocate of that sort of programming. I’m incredibly lucky and grateful to be a periodic beneficiary of it.”

Game Over(ture)
When: Saturday, March 23rd, 8pm
Location: Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord
Tickets: $20.75 and up at symphonynh.org

Also Sunday, March 23rd, 3pm, Keefe Center for the Arts, 117 Elm St., Nashua ($10 and up)

Featured photo: Avatar of Austin Wintory created by Angela Bermúdez. Courtesy photo.

99 Awesome Things to do This Spring

Compiled by Amy Diaz
adiaz@hippopress.com

Spring is full of awesomeness.

Spring officially began March 19 and unofficially ends Memorial Day weekend when we start to slide into summer mode. Between now and then there are oodles of fun indoor, outdoor, artsy, music-y, foodie, bookworm-ish things happening. Here are 99 to consider putting on your calendar.

1. Golf! In a Facebook post last week, Derryfield Golf Course & Country Club (625 Mammoth Road in Manchester; derryfieldgolf.com, 669-0235) announced that nine holes would open on March 18. Call or go online to book a tee time.

2. Watch some indoor hockey action at the Black Ice Pond Hockey Championships Friday, March 22, through Sunday, March 24, at Tri-Town Ice Arena in Hooksett. The games are free to watch. See blackicepondhockey.com and the event’s Facebook page for schedule updates.

3. Skate! Kick off your weekend at Remix Skate & Event Center (725 Huse Road in Manchester; skateremix.com, 912-7661), which offers all-ages roller skating from 3 to 8 p.m. and 18+ Friday Night Flashbacks from 8:30 to 11 p.m., with a DJ — on Friday, March 22, the scheduled DJ is DJ Steve Fox, according to the venue’s Facebook page. Tickets for the adult portion of the evening cost $20 (which includes skate rental). See the website for tickets and for the rest of the week’s schedule.

4. Get kooky at the Pinkerton Players production of The Addams Family at the Stockbridge Theatre (44 N. Main St. in Derry; stockbridgetheatre.showare.com) on Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 24, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15.

5. Root for the lacrosse teams at Southern New Hampshire University. The men’s team’s next home game is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, at 1 p.m. at Mark A. Ouellette Stadium on the SNHU campus (the stadium is on Victory Lane in Hooksett) versus American International College. The women’s next home game is Friday, March 22, at 5 p.m. versus Franklin Pierce University. Regular season games are free to attend; see snhupenmen.com for the full schedule.

6. Get more maple. Ben’s Sugar Shack (8 Webster Hwy. in Temple; bensmaplesyrup.com) continues its tours of the syrup operation on Saturday, March 23, and Sunday March 24, as well as Saturday, March 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the website.

7. Catch Rivier Raiders men’s baseball on Sunday, March 30, when they play a doubleheader against Norwich at noon and 3 p.m. at Historic Holman Stadium (67 Amherst St. in Nashua). The women’s softball team plays at Raider Diamond and their first home games will be against Fitchburg State on Saturday, March 23, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Games are free to attend. See rivierathletics.com.

8. Cheer the Rivier College Raiders men’s and women’s lacrosse teams. The next home game for the men’s lacrosse team will be Saturday, March 23, at noon, on Joanne Merrill Field at Linda Robinson Pavilion when they face Dean College. The women’s team’s next home game is Saturday, March 30, at noon when they face New England College. The games are free to attend. See rivierathletics.com.

9.Watch the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen baseball team play the Saint Anselm Hawks at Penmen Field on Wednesday, March 27, at 3 p.m. The women’s softball team will play a doubleheader against Mercy University at home on Saturday, March 23, with games at noon and 2 p.m. at the SNHU Softball Field (on Eastman Drive). The women will then play American International College on Sunday, March 24, at noon and 2 p.m. See snhupenmen.com for the schedule.

10. Catch Avenged Sevenfold with special guests Poppy and Sullivan King on Saturday, March 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com). Tickets cost $34.95 through $129.95.

11. Laugh at the Mike Koutrobis Comedy Special Recording onSaturday, March 23, at 8 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St.; nashuacenterforthearts.com). Tickets cost $27. See the story on page 36.

12. Hear the Sounds of Seattle, a show featuring Five Against None (a Pearl Jam tribute band) and Song Garden (a Chris Cornell tribute band) on Saturday, March 23, at 9 p.m. at Angel City Music Hall (179 Elm St. in Manchester; angelcitymusichall.com). Tickets cost $10 for this 21+ show. See the website for Angel City’s full line-up this spring, including Legends of Rock night on Saturday, April 27, featuring tributes to AC/DC, Social Distortion and the Ramones.

13. Keep the St. Patrick’s Day spirit going at the Manchester St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 24, at noon on Elm Street stepping off from Salmon and Elm streets and heading to Central and Elm streets, according to saintpatsnh.com. The Citizens Shamrock Shuffle, a 2-mile run/walk on Elm Street, starts at 11 a.m. (with a Lil’ Leprechaun Run for ages 8 and under at 10:30 a.m); see millenniumrunning.com/shamrock for details on the race and to register.

14. Listen to author Chris Bohjalian discuss his works including his newest book The Princess of Las Vegas in conversation with NHPR’s Rick Ganley on Wednesday, March 27, at 7 p.m. at BNH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets cost $39 for one person and one hardcover copy of The Princess of Las Vegas or $49 for two admissions and one book. Author Julia Alvarez will also appear on the BNH Stage this spring on Monday, April 15, at 7 p.m. In the Chubb Theatre, also part of the Capitol Center for the Arts’ stages, author David Sedaris will talk on Sunday, April 21, at 7 p.m. and author Erik Larson will discuss his work on Tuesday, May 21, at 7 p.m.

15. Enjoy “An Evening of A Capella with Tonehenge and the Afternotes” on Wednesday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St. in Concord; theaudi.org). Admission is free, doors open at 7 p.m. Other shows at the Audi this spring include William Florian in Concord on April 13 and The Shana Stack Band on April 24.

16. Read readers’ picks! Hippo’s Best of 2024 is slated to hit streets next week, Thursday, March 28. Get all the winners in categories like best pizza, best margarita, best doughnut and some things that have nothing to do with food.

17. Thou shalt check out Cecil B. DeMille’s first crack at The Ten Commandments, the 1923 silent film that blends the story of Moses with a modern (1920s modern) story, which will screen with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis on Thursday, March 28, at 7 p.m. at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $10.

18. Watch the movies of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Friday, March 29, with a reception at 6 p.m. and screening at 7 p.m. at the BNH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). See the website for different ticket packages including an online-only option.

19. Put on your fuzzy ears and your unicorn horn for a presentation of Bubbly Beautiful Kitty-Corn by the book’s author Shannon Hale and illustrator LeUyen Pham, creators of the Kitty-Corn series, on Friday, March 29, at 6:30 p.m. at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com). Other author events this spring include Howard Mansfield for his book I Will Tell No War Stories on April 25 and Jilly Gagnon with her book Love You, Mean It on May 7.

20. Shop Concord’s Giant Indoor Yard Sale on Saturday, March 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road in Concord), according to the arena’s schedule of events.

21. Get some Saint Anselm College Hawks lacrosse. The women’s team’s next home game is Saturday, March 30, at noon against the D’Youville University Saints. The men’s team will play its next home game on Saturday, March 30, at 3:30 p.m. versus the Bentley University Falcons. Both games take place at Grappone Stadium on the Saint Anselm College campus in Manchester. See saintanselmhawks.com. Games are free to attend.

22. Cheer on the Saint Anselm College Hawks baseball team, whose upcoming home games include Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7, at noon, both at Sullivan Park on the Saint Anselm College campus in Manchester. The women’s softball team will play their next home games on Saturday, March 30, at noon and 2 p.m., both against the Assumption Greyhounds, at the South Athletic Fields on the Saint Anselm College campus. See saintanselmhawks.com. Games are free to attend.

23. Root for your faves at Road to WrestleMania on Saturday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m. at the SNHU Arena (555 Elm St. in Manchester; snhuarena.com). Tickets cost $30 to $125.

24. Enjoy a chocolate bunny or a full brunch buffet with the many Easter eats offerings. Easter Sunday is March 31; check out all the dine-in and takeout food offerings in this week’s Hippo on page 26.

25. Laugh with the Queen City Improv troupe. They will perform on Monday, April 1, at Stark Brewing Co. (500 Commercial St. in Manchester) from 7 to 9 p.m. Or catch them at Chunky’s (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com) on Friday, April 19, at 8 p.m., where tickets cost $20. See all of their upcoming shows at queencityimprov.com.

26. Listen to a conversation between writers Joe Hill and Michael Koryta, who writes under the name Scott Carson, on Monday, April 1, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua). Tickets cost $10 for general admission, $39 for admission and a book. See nashualibrary.org.

27. Try new brews during NH Craft Beer Week 2024, running Thursday, April 4, through Saturday, April 13. The week will feature more than 120 events throughout New Hampshire, according to nhbrewers.org, where you can check back for updates of events including Pint Days (April 7-13).

28. Watch lots of movies at the New Hampshire Jewish Film Festival, which will run April 4 through April 14, with a bonus week of virtual screenings through April 21. The festival kicks off on Thursday, April 4, with a reception at 5:15 p.m. at the Spotlight Room at the Palace Theatre in Manchester followed by a screening at 7 p.m. of Remembering Gene Wilder. Events take place at theaters and locations throughout the state. See 2024nhjff.eventive.org for this year’s line-up of films and events and the available film ticket packages.

29. Meet Robert Frost when actor Gordon Clapp performs as the poet in Robert Frost: This Verse Businesson Thursday, April 4, at 7 p.m. at the Stockbridge Theatre (44 N. Main St. in Derry; stockbridgetheatre.showare.com). Tickets cost $25 and $30.

30. Catch Club D’Elf on Thursday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. at BNH Stage (16 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets cost $30.75 in advance, an additional $5 at the door. The BNH Stage will feature several other concerts this spring including Senie Hunt (in the Cantin Room) on April 7, Mullett on May 18 and the Granite State Blues Challenge on May 19.

31. See Rufus Wainwright perform on Thursday, April 4, at 8 p.m. at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com), one of the venue’s many standout shows this spring. Tickets cost $54 or $59. Other shows on the schedule include Spyro Gyra’s 50th Anniversary tour (March 23 at 8 p.m.), comedy night on April 13, Tusk (Fleetwood Mac tribute) on April 20 and more.

32. Meet Pete the Cat at the Books Alive! event at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) on Friday, April 5, at either 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. and Saturday, April 6, at either 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. On both days, play sessions are from 9 a.m. to noon or 1 to 4 p.m. (the Friday also features “First Friday” play time from 4:15 to 7 p.m.). Admission costs $12.50 for adults and kids over 12 months old, $10.50 for 65+.

33. Shop the Made In NH “Try It & Buy It Expo” scheduled for Friday, April 5, from 1 to 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Center of New Hampshire Expo Center, DoubleTree By Hilton Manchester Downtown Hotel. Admission costs $8 for adults, $7 for 65+, and is free for kids under 14, according to businessnhmagazine.com/events/made-in-nh-expo, where you can purchase tickets.

34. Sing “bum bum BUM” when So Good: the Neil Diamond Experience tribute show comes to the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) on Friday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $29 to $39.

35. Hear the American Spiritual Ensemble, described as featuring singers, an accompanist and an African drummer having a “repertoire ranging from spirituals to classical to jazz and Broadway numbers highlighting the Black experience” on Friday, April 5, at 8 p.m. at the Capitol Center for the Arts’ Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com). Tickets cost $43.75. The show is one of many concerts at the Cap Center this spring including Buddy Guy on April 12, Gregorian: Pure Chants in Concert on April 20, Straight No Chaser on their Yacht Rock Tour on May 5, and Kansas on May 10.

36. Find new reads, meet authors and get tips for writing your own book at the Derry Author Fest onSaturday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Derry Public Library (64 E. Broadway, Derry, 432-6140, derrypl.org), which will feature workshops, panels and networking for aspiring authors and dabblers. Attendees can stay all day or just drop in for a session. Book sales and signings are interspersed between workshops. The day begins with a keynote address from Virginia MacGregor. See derryauthorfest.wordpress.com/schedule for a detailed schedule.

37. Shop the Capital City Craft Festival on Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road in Concord) featuring more than 100 artisans selling arts, crafts, specialty foods and more, according to castleberryfairs.com. Admission costs $8 for adults, under 14 get in free.

38. Get literary at Exeter Litfest, a free event (donations welcome) on Saturday, April 6, at Exeter Town Hall (Front Street) and Exeter Library (4 Chestnut St.). A kick-off party will be held Friday, April 5, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Exeter Public Library with a free concert by Sharon Jones. Events on Saturday include a Crime and Mystery Brunch at Sea Dog restaurant, tickets required; an event with children’s authors Matt Tavares and Suzanne Slade at the Exeter Public Library at 11 a.m.; poetry readings, writers’ panels and author talks during the afternoon; a book-swap table; and a keynote address with Andre Dubus III at 4 p.m. at Exeter Town Hall. See exeterlitfest.com.

39. Get a taste of the classical music of Spain and Spanish composers at Bolero!, a concert from the New Hampshire Philharmonic on Saturday, April 6, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 7, at 2 p.m. at the Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive in Salem). Tickets cost $5 to $35 and the Sunday show has an online option. See nhphil.org.

40. Watch The Peking Acrobats on Sunday, April 7, at 4 p.m., one of several shows coming to the Nashua Center for the Arts this spring. Tickets cost $29 to $59. See nashuacenterforthearts.com for more on this and other shows such as Preacher Lawson (April 6), Adam Ezra Group (April 20), Rodrigo Y Gabriela (May 5) and more.

41. Get eye protection. There’s going to be a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, and the Granite State will have a good view of it (weather permitting). Northern New Hampshire will see the sun completely blocked, while the rest of the state will see it mostly blocked. Get your eclipse glasses before they sell out, if you want to look at the sun during the eclipse. Regular sunglasses are not good enough.

Then, check out one of these pre-eclipse events. On Wednesday, March 27, at 6:30 p.m., the New Hampshire Astronomical Society presents “What to Expect from a Solar Eclipse” at Derry Public Library (64 E. Broadway, Derry, derrypl.org, 432-6140); register to attend at the library’s website. See nhastro.com for more events from the Astronomical Society. On Tuesday, April 2, from noon to 1 p.m. Plymouth State University professor and planetarium director Dr. Brad Moser presents a “Lunch and Learn” at the Puritan Backroom in Manchester; tickets cost $15 per person, which includes a lunch buffet and a pair of solar eclipse viewing glasses. Get tickets at plymouth-usnh.nbsstore.net/lunch-and-learn-eclipse. And on Wednesday, April 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. the UNH Department of Physics and Astronomy welcomes the public to a free informal all-ages event, “The Science of Solar Eclipses,” on the UNH Durham campus. See extension.unh.edu/eclipse for details and lots of eclipse-related resources.

If you want to go up north for eclipse totality, check out visitnh.gov/solareclipse for viewing tips, event listings, and lodging information to make a night of it.

On eclipse day here in southern New Hampshire, McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord (2 Institute Dr., 271-7827) will have eclipse activities included with general admission from noon to 5 p.m., such as making a pinhole camera, eclipse puzzles and lunar phases wheels. As of March 14, eclipse glasses were still available in the Center’s store, $2.50 per pair. See starhop.com for details and eclipse info. And in Manchester, SEE Science Center will host an eclipse viewing event at Arms Park from 2 to 4:30 p.m. with music from WZID and activities to explain eclipse science. Visit see-sciencecenter.org for eclipse simulation videos and more. SEE’s gift shop has eclipse glasses for $2 per pair.

42. Buy your peanuts and Cracker Jack as the Fisher Cats hit the field for the first home game of the season on Tuesday, April 9, at 6:35 p.m. for the first of six games against the Somerset Patriots. On the schedule for the first games: The first 500 fans at Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s games get a magnet Fisher Cats’ schedule, mascot Fungo will get a birthday celebration on Friday (April 12), Saturday’s game (April 13, 4:05 p.m.) will celebrate the team’s 20th anniversary and Sunday’s game (April 14, 1:05 p.m.) will include “Kids Run the Bases” after the game. Other promotions include: Copa La Diversión when the team becomes the Gatos Feroces de New Hampshire (April 25 at 6:35 p.m.); Wizards & Wands on May 9 at 6:35 p.m.; and the Manchester Chicken Tenders night (when the team is briefly rebranded) on May 11 at 4:05 p.m. See milb.com/new-hampshire for the schedule and tickets.

43. Laugh with the comedy of Bob Marley, who will perform five shows at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) Thursday, April 11, through Sunday, April 14. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. every day except Saturday, when shows are at 5:30 and 8 p.m. Tickets cost $43.50.

44. Get poetic at the Nossrat Yassini Poetry Festival, a free weekend of readings, workshops, performances and prize winners hosted by the UNH English Department Friday, April 12, through Sunday, April 14, at the UNH Durham campus. Get the details at unhpoetry.com/about.

45. See the Majestic Theatre’s production of the comedy Birthday Club, described as “Five women get together for their birthdays, each with her own story, to drink, celebrate, commiserate and support each other,” on Friday, April 12, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 13, at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 14, at 2 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net). Tickets cost $15 to $20.

46. Enjoy another installment of “A Distant Conversation,” a series looking at the works of two artists, when “Filippo de Pisis and Robert Mapplethorpe: A Distant Conversation” opens on Saturday, April 13 (it runs through Monday, Sept. 2), at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org). April 13 is also the Second Saturday, when admission is free for New Hampshire residents, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

47. Find comics at the Little “Giant” Comics Old School Comics Show (oldschoolcomicshow.com) on Saturday, April 13, at Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road in Concord). Tickets cost $15 for general admission, $50 for VIP admission (an hour early at 9 a.m. plus a red carpet entrance and a goodie bag), and for $125 admission that includes a dinner on Friday, April 12, with Jim Steranko (described as “one of the most prolific artists in the history of comics”), according to the website. The show features comic book vendors and comic book artists, including what the show is billing as Venompolooza, a line-up of artists who have worked on Marvel’s Venom comics.

48. Celebrate Earth Day with the Stonyfield Earth Day 5K on Saturday, April 13, at 9 a.m. The race begins and ends at Londonderry’s West Soccer Complex, near the site of the Stonyfield Earth Day Fair. The day will also include a kids’ fun run, vendors, games, a beer garden for ages 21+ and more, according to millenniumrunning.com/stonyfield5k, where you can register.

49. Take the kids to the Nashua Chamber Orchestra’s free family concert on Saturday, April 13, at 2 p.m. at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua). Kids can get an up-close look at the instruments, according to nco-music.org.

50. Catch one or both of the Candlelight concerts at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) on Wednesday, April 17. At 6 p.m. it’s “Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and More” and at 8:30 p.m. the show is “A Tribute to Adele.” Tickets to either show cost $43 to $60.

51. Join New Hampshire Roller Derby by checking out the Rookie Camp Meet and Greet on Thursday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Manchester Ballers Association (3 Sundial Ave. in Manchester), according to a post on the organization’s Facebook page. No experience is necessary. New Hampshire Roller Derby begins its lineup of home games with a mixed public scrimmage on Saturday, May 11, at 5 p.m. at JFK Memorial Coliseum (303 Beech St. in Manchester). See nhrollerderby.com.

52. See Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, which will runat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) Friday, April 19, through Sunday, May 12, with shows on Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. and Thursday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $28 to $49.

53. Rediscover vinyl on Record Store Day, Saturday, April 20, when participating stores will have special releases. Locally, participating indie stores include Metro City Records in Manchester, Music Connection in Manchester, Pitchfork Records in Concord, Toadstool Bookshop in Peterborough and Bull Moose in Salem, according to recordstoreday.com, where you can find more about the offerings.

54. Search for treasures at the Granite State Trading Cards & Collectibles Show on Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road in Concord). Admission costs $5, free for 12 and under. See jimmysplacesportscards.com.

55. Celebrate Earth Day at the New Hampshire Audubon’s Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way in Auburn; nhaudubon.org) on Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The schedule includes a bird walk, amphibian exploration, a wildlife photography tour, the “Where Does It Go” game show, Raptor Encounter, a Caterpillar Lab presentation and an afternoon nature hike as well as attractions throughout the day such as a master gardener, composting demonstrations, upcycled crafts and seed giveaways, according to the website, where you can purchase tickets for $15 for a family of four. The Walking Gourmet food truck is also scheduled to attend.

56. Discover Discover WILD New Hampshire Day hosted by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (11 Hazen Drive in Concord) on Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This free family event features live animals, big fish, trained falcons, archery, bb gun shooting, retriever dog demonstrations, kids’ crafts, hunting and fishing gear and more, according to wildlife.nh.gov/event/discover-wild-new-hampshire-day-2024.

57. Get a view of history when Howard Mansfield discusses his book I Will Tell No War Stories: What Our Fathers Left Unsaid About World War II on Saturday, April 20, at 2 p.m. at Balin Books (375 Amherst St., Somerset Plaza, in Nashua; balinbooks.com). Other author events at Balin this spring include Maggie Thrash on April 27 and Karen Eber on April 28.

58. Listen to Symphony NH’s presentation “New World: Dvorak and Sparr”featuring Antonin Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 9 in E Minor ‘New World’” and the world premiere of composer D.J. SParr’s “Extraordinary Motion: Concert for Electric Harp” with poet/co-creator Janine Joseph and harpist Rosanna Moore, on Saturday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St. in Nashua). Tickets cost $10 to $63. See symphonynh.org.

59. Picture it: Nashua. Sunday, April 21. Golden Girls: The Laughs Continuecomes to the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St.; nashuacenterforthearts.com) on with shows at 2 and 7 p.m. See goldengirlstour.com for a peek at the show. Tickets cost $52 to $72. The show will also be at the Capitol Center for the Arts’ Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Thursday, April 11, at7:30 p.m.

60. Shop the spring fair at the Craftworkers’ Guild in Bedford (3 A Meetinghouse Road in Bedford, at the bottom of the hill in the library parking lot; thecraftworkersguild.org) Thursday, April 25, through Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fair features crafters working in a variety of media; items are also available to see and purchase online.

61. Load up on books on Saturday, April 27, Independent Bookstore Day, when participating bookstores hold events and have special offerings. See indiebound.org/independent-bookstore-day and check with your favorite bookstore for updates.

62. Watch Glitches in Reality, a magic show starring Simon Coronel, on Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 28, at 2 p.m. at Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org). Tickets cost $39 to $49.

63. Learn some important comics history at Portsmouth Mini-Con 40 on Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28, an event celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Dover-born Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles featuring Turtles creator Kevin Eastman and other creators and artists including from Mirage Studios. See portsmouthminicon.com for ticket package options.

64. Eat as many tacos as you can handle at the Taco Tour Manchester 2024 on Thursday, May 2, from 4 to 8 p.m. More than 60 restaurants will serve tacos for $3 each (bring cash), according to tacotourmanchester.com, where you can find information on parking and street closures, and a tour map.

65. Nosh for a cause at Taste of the Towns on Thursday, May 2, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Sheraton Nashua (11 Tara Blvd. in Nashua), where attendees will enjoy food and drink from area restaurants, distilleries and more. Tickets cost $75 and help support Nashua Center. See nashuacenter.org/taste-of-the-towns.

66. Get a spoof of Broadway when Forbidden Broadway comes to the Stockbridge Theatre (44 N. Main St. in Derry; stockbridgetheatre.showare.com) on Thursday, May 2, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $35 and $45. See a trailer at forbiddenbroadway.com.

67. Laugh with Kevin Nealon, who comes to the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com) on Thursday, May 2, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $45 to $60.

68. Dream big outdoor dreams at the New Hampshire Farm, Forest & Garden Expo on Friday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Deerfield Fairgrounds. The event will feature industry experts, barnyard animals, a kids’ ag discovery zone, 4-H and FFA competitions, workshops and more, according to nhfarmandforestexpo.org, where you can purchase tickets for $10 per person, ages 12 and under get in free.

69. Catch one of the New Hampshire Fiddle Ensemble spring concerts in New Hampshire: Friday, May 3, at 6:30 p.m. at the Rochester Opera House (31 Wakefield St. in Rochester); Saturday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Interlakes High School Auditorium (1 Laker Lane in Meredith); Saturday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Exeter Town Hall (9 Front St.) and Sunday, May 19, at 2 p.m. at the Derryfield School (2108 River Road in Manchester). The ensemble features fiddles, guitars, banjos, mandolins, basses, harps, cellos and more, according to a press release. See nhfiddleensemble.org for tickets.

70. See Wheatus, the band known for its 2000 release “Teenage Dirtbag,” on Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m. at Jewel Music Venue (61 Canal St. in Manchester; jewelmusicvenue.com). Tickets cost $20; find a link to purchase tickets on the venue’s website.

71. Enjoy some Jane Austen live when the Community Players of Concord present Pride & Prejudice on Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St. in Concord). Tickets cost $20 for adults, $17 for 65+ or 17 and under; see communityplayersofconcord.org.

72. Take in a classic when the Nashua Theatre Guild presents Thornton Wilder’s Our Town on Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. at the Court Street Theater (14 Court St. in Nashua). For tickets see nashuatheatreguild.org.

73. Get your free comics on Saturday, May 4, Free Comic Book Day, the annual celebration of comics featuring specially published books handed out at area comic book shops. See freecomicbookday.com for a peek at some of the comics that will be on offer and for participating shops in your area such as Merrymac Games & Comics (550 Daniel Webster Hwy. in Merrimack; merrymacgc.com) and Collectibles Unlimited (25 South St. in Concord; collectiblesunlimited.biz). Both Double Midnight Comics (252 Willow St. in Manchester; 341 Loudon Road in Concord, dmcomics.com) participate in the day; in years past, Manchester’s store has hosted costume contests and other events. (See the website for updates.) In Rochester, JetPack Comics (37 N. Main St.; jetpackcomics.com) is billing this year’s townwide celebration as the final Rochester Free Comic Book Day Festival, with comics available at locations throughout downtown Rochester, an event hall with vendors and guests, a costume contest and more.

74. Go outdoors to shop the farmers markets. Farmers markets return to the outdoors starting in May, with the Concord Farmers’ Market slated to return to its spot next to the Statehouse on Saturday, May 4, from 8:30 a.m. to noon and the Salem NH Farmers Market heading back to the Mall at Rockingham Park on Sunday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. See agriculture.nh.gov for a listing of markets.

75. Run or walk the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire’s Run the Rail Trail 5-Miler on Saturday, May 4, at 9 a.m. beginning and ending at the museum, 27 Navigator Road in Londonderry. See aviationmuseumofnh.org to register.

76. Shop the Squam Lake Vintage & Makers Market at Cottage Place at Squam Lake (1132 Route 3 in Holderness; cottageplaceonsquam.com) on Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Admission is $5. The market will feature vendors, live music, food and a mobile bar, according to an email.

77. See cats compete at the Seacoast Cat Club’s Cat Show on Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 5, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road in Concord). Tickets cost $10 for adults and ages 12 and up, $8 for seniors, veterans and ages 5 to 12, according to a post on the group’s Facebook page. The event also features cat coloring books for the first 50 kids, vendors for cats and pets, a concession stand and more, the post said.

78. Catch one of the four scheduled spring concerts — titled Putting It All Together — of the New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus. The first show is scheduled for Saturday, May 4, at 7 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church (3 Lutheran Drive in Nashua). The Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; rextheatre.org) has the show on its schedule for Sunday, May 5, at 3 p.m. (tickets cost $25). Other shows are scheduled for Saturday, May 18, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 19, at 3 p.m. at locations to be announced. See nhgmc.com for updates.

79. Run the Camienne Financial Cinco De Miles 5K on Sunday, May 5, at 9:15 a.m. at a race that begins and ends near Bedford High School. After the race, 21+ racers can enjoy a Modelo Oro or Teremana Small Batch Tequila Margarita, according to millenniumrunning.com/cinco, where you can register.

80. Join Lyle Lovett and Lisa Loeb: In Conversation and Song on Monday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St.; nashuacenterforthearts.com). Tickets cost $79 to $149.

81. Run or walk in the Rock ‘N Race 5K Race/Walk on Wednesday, May 8, at 5:30 p.m. at the Statehouse Plaza in Concord. The event, which benefits Concord Hospital Payson Center for Care Care’s HOPE Resource Center, according to concordhospital.org, where you can register to run. In addition to the race, the event features food, live music and more.

82. Get caffeinated at the Northeast Coffee Festival taking place Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11, at locations in Concord. On Friday a market and live music will run from noon to 8 p.m. on South Main Street, with a workshop series on the BNH Stage. On Saturday the market and music run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with workshops from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a Latte Art Throwdown at 4 p.m., according to northeastcoffeefestival.com, where you can purchase passes.

83. Watch the magic at the Peacock Players’ teen mainstage production of Godspell Friday, May 10, through Sunday, May 19, with shows at 7 p.m. on Fridays and at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets cost $15 to $18 for adults, $12 to $15 for seniors and students. See peacockplayers.org.

84. See Catch Me If You Can The Musical presented by the Actorsingers on Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 12, at 2 p.m. at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St. in Nashua). Tickets cost $20, $18 for seniors and students. See actorsingers.org.

85. Ready thyself for the New Hampshire Renaissance Fair, taking place Saturday, May 11, and Sunday May 12, and then Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, in Fremont. See nhrenfaire.com for details and updates.

86. Load up on plants. Spring is garden club sale season, when you check out plant offerings and get tips from local gardeners. The Amherst Garden Club (amhrestgardenclub.org) will hold its plant sale on Saturday, May 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wilkins School (80 Boston Post Road). The Colonial Garden Club of Hollis (hollisgardenclub.org) will hold its plant sale on Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to noon at Lawrence Barn Field on Depot Road. The May Plant Sale for the Bedford NH Garden Club (bedfordgardenclubnh.org) is Saturday, May 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bedford Village Common (15 Bell Hill Road). The Nashua NH Garden Club (sites.google.com/view/nashuanhgardenclub) is also scheduled to hold its sale Saturday, May 18, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Nashua Historical Society. Know of an upcoming plant sale? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

87. See the Flying Gravity Circus, featuring performers ages 10 to 18, on Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 11, at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St. in Milford; amatocenter.org/riverbend-youth-company, 672-1002). See flyinggravitycircus.org for tickets.

88. Enjoy a comics and pop culture convention geared to younger fans at Kids Con New England, which will take place Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road in Concord). Tickets for kids ages 5 and up cost $15; tickets for a family of four cost $55. The day features comic and children’s book creators; superheroes and other costumed characters; creative workshops; Jedi and superhero training; magic shows; face painting; video and tabletop games; a scavenger hunt, and more, according to kidsconne.com, where tickets are on sale now.

89. Enjoy a Mother of a Comedy Show featuring comedians Kelly MacFarland, Christine Herley and Kerrie Louise at the Rex Theatre (23 Amherst St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) on Saturday, May 11, at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $30.

90. Hear French Fantasies, a concert from the NH Philharmonic focusing on the masterworks of French Romanticism, on Saturday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 12, at 2 p.m. at Sainte Marie Roman Catholic Church (378 Notre Dame Ave. in Manchester). Tickets cost $5 to $35. See nhphil.org.

91. Catch comedian Ace Aceto Saturday, May 11, at 8:30 p.m. at Headliners Comedy Club at the DoubleTree in downtown Manchester. Tickets cost $20 at the door and at headlinersnh.com, where you can see the full lineup of comedians performing at Headliners’ weekly shows.

92. Plan that Mother’s Day meal. Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12, and some restaurants are already taking reservations. At the Bedford Village Inn, for example, they’re offering a three-course Mother’s Day dinner with seatings from 2 to 7 p.m. (bedfordvillageinn.com). Keep an eye on Hippo’s food section for more meals for mom. Know of a big Mother’s Day to-do? Let us know at adiaz@hippopress.com.

93. Have fun at the Kiwanis Club of Concord’s Spring Fair, scheduled to run Thursday, May 16, through Sunday, May 19, at the Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road in Concord), according to the arena’s spring schedule. See concordkiwanis.org or find them on Facebook for updates.

94. Eat at the Greek Food Festival at St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church (500 W. Hollis St. in Nashua; 889-4000, nashuagreekfestival.com) on Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18. Keep an eye on the website for details on when and how to load up on delicious gyros, pastries and more.

95. Introduce kids to a classic story and to the stage with the Majestic Academy of Dramatic Arts’ production of Stuart Little on Friday, May 17, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 18, at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 19, at 2 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net). Tickets cost $10 to $15.

96. Shake off all the liars and the dirty dirty cheats at Shake It Off! A (Taylor’s Version) Tribute featuring the Swiftie Tribute Band playing the music of Taylor Swift at three shows at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org) on Friday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 18, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.Tickets cost $35 to $40.

97. See a New Hampshire premier production of the musical Between the Linespresented Friday, May 17, through Sunday, May 19,by Riverbend Youth Company at Amato Center for the Performing Arts (56 Mont Vernon St. in Milford; amatocenter.org/riverbend-youth-company, 672-1002).

98. Buckle up for Slabfest III, a two-day celebration of heavy noise and experimental and electronic music, at Jewel Music Venue (61 Canal St. in Manchester; jewelmusicvenue.com) Saturday, May 18, at 4 p.m. through Sunday, May 19, at midnight, according to a post on the venue’s Facebook page. Check back for ticket information; the post lists 32 bands slated to perform. See slabfestnh.com for more on the event and bands.

  1. Embrace neo-swing with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, who will perform on Saturday, May 18, at 8 p.m. at the Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry; tupelomusichall.com). Tickets cost $45.

News & Notes 24/03/21

Bears are back

The Granite State’s black bears are appearing from their winter dens and starting to search for any available food sources, according to a press release from New Hampshire Fish and Game on March 14. Bears will be attracted to a wide array of human food sources, such as bird feeders

Dan Bailey, Bear Project Leader for the New Hampshire Fish and Game, explained in a statement that “bears denned rather late last fall due to a plentiful amount of natural foods and they then remained inactive almost all winter despite fairly mild temperatures. However, spring has arrived a few weeks early, and bears are becoming active in various areas of the state. This is a common sign of spring in New Hampshire and should not be a cause for concern to residents. It simply means that it is time to prepare for foraging bears and remove or secure all backyard food sources.”

In the same press release, state officials asked the New Hampshire public to take down bird feeders no later than April 1 in all areas of the state, or earlier if bears are already present. They mentioned that backyard farmers should protect poultry, livestock and bees with electric fencing, and to remember this when acquiring new chicks this spring. Additionally, the release said residents can help prevent attracting bears by securing dumpsters and garbage cans as well as storing grills, pet food and animal feed indoors.

“Building good bear–human relationships is far more successful when people are proactive, and it is easier to avoid a conflict than resolve one,” Bailey said in the statement. “Bears have an extremely acute sense of smell, long memories, and high intelligence. We really need the help of residents to inhibit emerging bears from returning to locations where they have been previously successful in finding backyard food sources. Largely, the public can control bear behavior and activity by controlling food attractants around their homes. Human responsibility and awareness are the most important tools for preventing conflicts with bears.”

Twenty-five percent of annual bear-human encounters are directly caused by bird feeders, the release said. The same release noted that since food is plentiful for birds in the spring and summer, people should consider bird baths or flowering plants to attract birds instead.

Other top bear attractants include unprotected chickens and other poultry, and unsecured garbage cans and dumpsters, the release said.

“If the public would be willing to address these three common attractants, we could quickly reduce annual bear–human encounters by more than 80%, which would be tremendous,” said Bailey.

For more information, call -888-749-2327 (1-888-SHY-BEAR) , which is coordinated jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department or visit nhfishgame.com

Moose hunt lottery

New Hampshire’s 2024 moose hunt lottery is open, according to a March 13 press release from New Hampshire Fish and Game. There is entrance fee of $15 for New Hampshire residents and $25 for nonresidents, with applications online or available at any Fish and Game license agent, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department headquarters, and Fish and Game regional offices.

The same release said moose hunt lottery applications for 2024 must be postmarked or submitted online by midnight on Friday, May 31, and can also be delivered to the Licensing Office at New Hampshire Fish and Game Department headquarters (11 Hazen Dr. in Concord) before 3:45 p.m. that day. Winners of the 33 permits are selected through a computerized random drawing and will be announced on Friday, June 21.

According to New Hampshire Fish and Game, the current moose population in New Hampshire is around 3,000 animals. This year’s hunt will run from Oct. 19 to Oct. 27. Visit wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/moose-hunting-new-hampshire.

Conservation grants

The New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation is accepting proposals for the 2024 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant, which is funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior – National Park Service to provide financial assistance to local units of government and is administered by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and Division of Parks and Recreation, according to a press release. The LWCF program funds projects to develop, renovate and acquire public outdoor recreational spaces. It was recently approved for funding picnic area constructions, development of the new Canal Street Riverfront Park in Concord, and the replacement of playground facilities, among other projects, according to the same release. The application deadline is Friday, June 7. State Parks will determine eligibility. Visit nhstateparks.org/about-us/community-recreation/land-water-conservation-fund-grant.

Wetland restoration

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services will hold a virtual office hour on Friday, March 22, at 10 a.m. for interested applicants to learn about the more than $5.5 million available for wetland and stream restoration through the Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund for five watersheds: the Merrimack River, Pemigewasset-Winnipesaukee River, Saco River, Salmon Falls-Piscataqua River and Lower Connecticut River service areas. Pre-proposals are due May 31. Visit des.nh.gov or email des.arm@des.nh.gov. Register at atdes.nh.gov/news-and-media/more-55-million-available-wetland-and-stream-restoration.

On Thursday, March 21, at 6:30 p.m. Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord (45 S. Main St.) will host #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner as she promotes her new thriller Still See You Everywhere. According to Gibson’s website, Gardner will talk about her latest in the Frankie Elkin series with New Hampshire thriller writer Paula Munier, author of the Mercy Carr mystery series. Visit gibsonsbookstore.com.

On Tuesday, March 26, families can come together to play board games or complete puzzles in the children’s room at Manchester City Library (405 Pine St.) from 5 to 7 p.m. for Family Game Night, according to the library website. Visit manchester.lib.nh.us or call 624-6550, ext. 7628.

Salem Winter Market will be held at Labelle Winery in Derry (14 Route 111) on Sunday, March 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. Visit salemnhfarmersmarket.org.

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