Category: Featured Content

Meals with mom

Brunches and special menus for Mother’s Day

Treat mom on her special day to a plated brunch or dinner served at any one of these local restaurants, country clubs or function centers. Some, where specified, also have a takeout option.

• Airport Diner (2280 Brown Ave., Manchester, 623-5040, thecman.com) will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving breakfast all day in addition to its dinner menu with Mother’s Day specials.

• Alan’s of Boscawen (133 N. Main St., Boscawen, 753-6631, alansofboscawen.com) will hold a special Mother’s Day Spectacular brunch buffet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, featuring traditional plated meals like honey baked ham, roast leg of lamb, prime rib and baked stuffed haddock, plus an omelet station, pancakes, bacon, sausage and a variety of other breakfast items. A special dinner menu will also be available from noon to 8 p.m.

• All Real Meal (87 Elm St., Manchester, 782-3014, allrealmeal.com) is taking orders for a special Mother’s Day brunch package serving two to four people, featuring eggs Benedict quiche prepared with eggs from Hooksett’s LaValley Farms, plus maple bacon Brussels sprouts and sweet potato breakfast hash, pork breakfast sausages with apples and sage, house fruit salad and freshly baked blueberry muffins and coffee cake with wildflower honey butter. The cost is $69.95 per package. Local deliveries are available on Sunday, May 8.

• Atkinson Resort & Country Club (85 Country Club Drive, Atkinson, 362-8700, atkinsonresort.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch in its ballroom on Sunday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring a carving station with prime rib au jus and horseradish cream, and cider-brined turkey breast with sage gravy. There will also be assorted breakfast offerings, like chef-attended omelet and waffle stations, bacon, sausage and homefries; plated entrees, like grilled chicken saltimbocca, Atlantic salmon with mango salsa and herb-roasted tri-colored fingerling potatoes; and desserts, like flourless chocolate torte, mini cannolis, and assorted cakes and cookies. The cost is $80 for adults, $30 for kids ages 3 to 10 and free for kids under 3. Reservations are required.

• Atlantic Grill (5 Pioneer Road, Rye, 433-3000, theatlanticgrill.com) will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving its full menu in addition to Mother’s Day specials, like lemon blueberry pancakes, ricotta doughnuts with raspberry and chocolate dipping sauces, avocado toast, grilled boneless pork chops and roasted halibut. Reservations are highly recommended.

• Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline, 244-3165, averillhousevineyard.com) will host a special Mother’s Day high tea brunch and wine pairing on Sunday, May 8, with seatings at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $59 per person and include a cup of hot tea, a pre-set flight of four wines and a pre-set four-course high tea-inspired brunch, featuring finger sandwiches, pastries and more.

• Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford, 472-2001, bedfordvillageinn.com) will serve a special three-course prix fixe dinner for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8, from 2 to 7 p.m. in its dining room. The meal will feature your choice of a first course (bacon, shrimp and corn chowder, potato and leek bisque, pea shoots or panzanella); an entree (grilled tournedos of beef, New England seafood bouillabaisse, pinot grigio-braised veal osso bucco, pork three ways, herb-marinated grilled tofu or swordfish saltimbocca); and a dessert (cherries Jubilee, lemon curd citrus tart, chocolate pots de creme, biscuit bread pudding, or black and white sponge cake). The cost is $75 for adults and $39.95 for kids ages 10 and under. Reservations are required.

• Belmont Hall & Restaurant (718 Grove St., Manchester, 625-8540, belmonthall.net) will serve a special Mother’s Day breakfast buffet on Sunday, May 8, for parties of up to five or more — the cost is $18.99 per person and includes coffee and juices, as well as a full bar with bloody marys and mimosas. Additionally, the restaurant will be open for breakfast until 2 p.m.

• Birch Wood Vineyards (199 Rockingham Road, Derry, 965-4359, birchwoodvineyards.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, May 8, with seatings at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., featuring a variety of plated breakfast and lunch entrees. Breakfasts range from $50 to $60 and include French toast, chicken and waffles or Southwest scrambles, all with fruit salad. Lunches range from $50 to $65 and include eggplant Napoleon, chicken Toscana, braised short rib or haddock, all with mixed green salad with raspberry vinaigrette. Children’s French toast or chicken fingers plates are also available for $30.

• Bistro 603 (345 Amherst St., Nashua, 722-6362, bistro603nashua.com) will be open for brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for dinner from 3 to 9 p.m., serving various Mother’s Day specials in addition to its regular menus.

• Buckley’s Great Steaks (438 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-0995, buckleysgreatsteaks.com) will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving Mother’s Day specials in addition to its regular menu. Reservations are being accepted.

• Camp (298 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-3003, thecman.com) will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 8. Reservations are recommended.

• Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker, 428-3281, colbyhillinn.com) will serve a special three-course prix fixe menu for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8, with seatings at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. in its Grazing Room and seatings at 4 and 5 p.m. in its barn. Meals will include your choice of a first course (English pea, spring leek and ham soup, creamy scallop and tomato bisque, market greens salad, organic spinach salad or spring tempura); an entree (Cornish hen au vin, San Francisco cioppino, house saffron tagliatelle pasta, lamb chop, bison short rib Wellington, wienerschnitzel or pan-roasted monkfish and lobster); and a dessert (mimosa brulee, chocolate cake with mocha buttercream, profiterole trio or mignardises). The cost is $70 for adults and $35 for kids ages 12 and under.

• The Common Man (304 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-3463; 25 Water St., Concord, 228-3463; 88 Range Road, Windham, 898-0088; 60 Main St., Ashland, 968-7030; 10 Pollard Road, Lincoln, 745-3463; 21 Water St., Claremont, 542-6171; thecman.com) will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, at each of its locations, serving its regular menus with Mother’s Day specials. Reservations are recommended.

• Copper Door Restaurant (15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677; 41 S. Broadway, Salem, 458-2033; copperdoor.com) will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, at both locations, serving their brunch, bar and lunch menus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Beginning at 2 p.m., a special Mother’s Day prix fixe menu will be served in lieu of the Copper Door’s regular menus, featuring the option to choose two courses for $59, three courses for $69 or four courses for $79. Items include shaved sirloin spring rolls, roasted poblano corn chowder, slow roasted prime rib, coconut curry Atlantic cod, slow-roasted half-chicken, limoncello cupcakes, strawberry shortcake and gluten-free chocolate berry cake.

• Cotton (75 Arms St., Manchester, 622-5488, cottonfood.com) will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving its regular menus with some Mother’s Day specials.

• CR’s The Restaurant (287 Exeter Road, Hampton, 929-7972, crstherestaurant.com) will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving various Mother’s Day specials.

• The Derryfield Restaurant (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880, thederryfield.com) will serve a Mother’s Day buffet on Sunday, May 8, with seatings every half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $31.95 for adults, $29.95 for seniors and $18.95 for kids under 12.

• Firefly American Bistro & Bar (22 Concord St., Manchester, 935-9740, fireflynh.com) will be open for brunch on Sunday, May 8, for Mother’s Day. Reservations are strongly suggested.

• The Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille (40 Andover Road, New London, 526-6899, flyinggoose.com) will serve various brunch specials for Mother’s Day from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as dinner specials from 2 to 8 p.m. Reservations are recommended, but not required.

• Foster’s Boiler Room (231 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2764, thecman.com) will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 8. Reservations are recommended.

• Fratello’s Italian Grille (155 Dow St., Manchester, 624-2022, fratellos.com) will serve a Mother’s Day specials menu on Sunday, May 8, featuring items like seafood Sophia, baked stuffed haddock, New York sirloin, pan-seared duck breast, seafood-stuffed mushrooms and more.

• Gauchos Churrascaria Brazilian Steakhouse (62 Lowell St., Manchester, 669-9460, gauchosbraziliansteakhouse.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring the eatery’s signature rodizio dining experience, in addition to dozens of sides, traditional brunch items, a market table, pastries and more. The cost is $39.99 for adults and $14.99 for kids ages 6 to 11. Gauchos will also be open for dinner that evening, from 4 to 8 p.m., with the standard dinner price of $44.99 per person.

• Giorgio’s Ristorante & Bar (270 Granite St., Manchester, 232-3323; 707 Milford Road, Merrimack, 883-7333; 524 Nashua St., Milford, 673-3939; giorgios.com) is accepting reservations from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving their regular menu with specials.

• Greenleaf (54 Nashua St., Milford, 213-5447, greenleafmilford.com) will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving its regular seasonal a la carte menu with some featured Mother’s Day specials. Reservations are required.

• Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant (233 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-6212, hartsturkeyfarm.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day menu both for in-house dining and for takeout. Pre-orders are due by May 5 and include packages like whole roasted turkey, slow roasted prime rib and baked ham with all the fixings. Pickups will be on Sunday, May 8, from noon to 2 p.m. The restaurant will also be open for dine-in service from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day, offering a variety of specialty appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts.

• The Hills Restaurant (Hampshire Hills Athletic Club, 50 Emerson Road, Milford, 673-7123, hampshirehills.com/the-hills-restaurant) will serve a special Mother’s Day plated brunch on Sunday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring items like chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits and Korean barbecue breakfast burgers, plus a build-your-own bloody mary and mimosa bar. Reservations are required.

• The Homestead Restaurant & Tavern (641 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-2022, homesteadnh.com) will serve a Mother’s Day specials menu on Sunday, May 8, featuring items like steak and cheese spring rolls, spinach and artichoke dip with garlic toast points, grilled swordfish, roast prime rib of beef, shrimp and scallop risotto, and roasted rack of lamb.

• Jamison’s Restaurant (472 Route 111, Hampstead, 489-1565, jamisonsrestaurant.com) is taking reservations for Mother’s Day now, with seatings from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 8. A full menu of special Mother’s Day features will be available, like raspberry arugula salad, filet mignon, lobster ravioli, seared scallops, pan-roasted halibut and strawberry Champagne floats.

• Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Cafe (150 Congress St., Portsmouth, 766-3474, jumpinjays.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring items like poached eggs Benedict, bananas Foster Belgian waffles, whipped avocado toasts and florentine omelets, as well as a raw seafood bar and various brunch cocktails. They’ll also be open for dinner from 5 to 8 p.m.

• KC’s Rib Shack (837 Second St., Manchester, 627-4727, ribshack.net) will serve a special Mother’s Day barbecue buffet on Sunday, May 8, from noon to 6 p.m., featuring items like smoked spare ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, chicken breast, smoked sausage and more. Moms eat free — regular admission is $27 for adults and $14 for kids under 10. KC’s full regular menu will also be available. Reservations are suggested but walk-ins will also be accepted.

• LaBelle Winery Amherst (345 Route 101, 672-9898, labellewinery.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch buffet on Sunday, May 8, with seatings from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Offerings will include a chef-attended omelet and carving stations, plus various breakfast meats, casseroles and desserts, as well as coffee, tea and assorted juices. The cost is $75 per person and reservations are required.

• LaBelle Winery Derry (14 Route 111, Derry, 672-9898, labellewinery.com) is offering a special Mother’s Day add-on experience to its dining service at Americus Restaurant on Sunday, May 8, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The add-on is $50 per person and includes a custom wine and cheese pairing with three wines and three artisan cheeses, plus a personalized LaBelle Winery greeting card and floral arrangement, a logo wine glass and chocolate cake for dessert.

• Lago (1 Route 25, Meredith, 279-2253, thecman.com) will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving their regular menu with Mother’s Day specials. Reservations are recommended.

• Lakehouse Grille (281 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-5221, thecman.com) will be open on Sunday May 8, from 7:30 to 10 a.m. for breakfast and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. for lunch and dinner, serving their regular menus with Mother’s Day specials. Reservations are recommended.

• Mile Away Restaurant (52 Federal Hill Road, Milford, 673-3904, mileawayrestaurantnh.com) is taking reservations now for Mother’s Day, offering special meals that include your choice of one appetizer, salad, entree and dessert. Menu staples include appetizers like ham minestrone soup, Swedish meatballs, fresh fruit plates with sorbet; Caesar salad or garden salad with blue cheese, house ranch, raspberry vinaigrette or balsamic dressing; entrees like sliced roast sirloin, pork Dijonnaise, chicken Florentine, piccata Milanese, maple salmon, and vegetarian baked eggplant Parmesan; and desserts like carrot cake, bread pudding, chocolate ganache cake, lemon mascarpone cake and chocolate mousse cake.

• Mr. Mac’s Macaroni & Cheese (497 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 606-1760, mr-macs.com) will be open during its regular hours on Sunday, May 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• MT’s Local Kitchen & Wine Bar (212 Main St., Nashua, 595-9334, mtslocal.com) will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving Mother’s Day specials in addition to its regular menu. Reservations are being accepted.

• New England’s Tap House Grille (1292 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 782-5137, taphousenh.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by its regular menu. The brunch is first-come, first-served (no call-aheads) — the cost is $29 for adults and $14.95 for kids.

• Rambling House Food & Gathering (57 Factory St., Nashua, 318-3220, ramblingtale.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch menu, by reservation only, with table and bar seatings every half hour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Specialty entrees include brioche French toast, buttermilk biscuit sandwiches, Faroe Island salmon florentine, garden risotto, prime rib, and garlic and rosemary crusted lamb.

• The Republic of Campo (969 Elm St., Manchester, 666-3723, republiccafe.com and campoenoteca.com) will open at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving its full dinner menus from Republic Cafe and Campo Enoteca, in addition to locally sourced specials.

• Rig A Tony’s Italian Takeout & Catering (254 Wallace Road, Bedford, 488-2877; 13 Rockingham Road, Windham, 685-8122; rigatonysitalian.com) is taking orders for Mother’s Day brunch boxes to go, which include Belgian waffles with New Hampshire maple syrup, egg frittatas, Italian cured meats and cheeses, fresh fruit and crackers, chocolate-covered strawberries and Italian cookies. The cost is $75 per box (each feeds four to five people), with an add-on option of a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers for $25. Order by May 6. Pickups will be on Saturday, May 7, and Sunday, May 8, at the Windham and Bedford locations.

• Roundabout Diner & Lounge (580 Portsmouth Traffic Circle, Portsmouth, 431-1440, roundaboutdiner.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch buffet on Sunday, May 8, with seatings from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The buffet will feature a prime rib carving station, Belgian waffles, cinnamon bun French toast, roasted pork loin, baked haddock and more. The cost is $29.95 for adults and $15.95 for kids, and all moms also receive a complimentary mimosa.

• Route 104 Diner (752 Route 104, New Hampton, 744-0120, thecman.com) will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving breakfast all day in addition to its dinner menu with Mother’s Day specials.

• SALT Kitchen & Bar (Wentworth by the Sea, 588 Wentworth Road, New Castle, 373-6566, saltkitchenandbar.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch buffet in its ballroom on Sunday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring a New England raw bar, a chilled salad buffet, an egg and omelet station, a Belgian waffle station, an artisan cheese display, a prime rib carving station and more. The cost is $89.95 per person and $26.95 for kids under 12. The restaurant will also serve a Mother’s Day dinner from 1 to 9 p.m., offering various plated specials, like grilled filet of beef, pan-seared Scottish salmon, Bell & Evans chicken piccata and pasta ravioli with local mushrooms in a house pomodoro sauce. The cost is $69.95 per person and $26.95 for kids under 12.

• Searles Castle (23 Searles Road, Windham, 898-6597, searlescastle.com) will serve a Mother’s Day “royal brunch” on Sunday, May 8, from 10:30 a.m. to noon or from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The day will include a self-guided tour inside Searles Castle with complimentary mimosas and gourmet hors d’oeuvres, along with a brunch menu featuring items like Belgian waffles, stuffed French toast, bacon, sausage, homefries, carved roast ham, chicken piccata and chicken broccoli ziti alfredo. The cost is $85 for adults, $75 for seniors over 65, $40 for kids ages 3 to 13 and free for kids under 3.

• Stonebridge Country Club (161 Gorham Pond Road, Goffstown, 497-8633, golfstonebridgecc.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, May 8, with seatings from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Items will include assorted fruits and mini Danishes, scrambled eggs with applewood-smoked bacon and breakfast sausage, French toast casserole with a maple vanilla glaze, baked scrod with a lemon butter and Ritz cracker crumb topping, and grilled chicken breast topped with a white wine herb cream sauce. The cost is $19 for adults and $13 for kids.

• Surf (207 Main St., Nashua, 595-9293, surfseafood.com) will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving Mother’s Day specials in addition to its regular menu. Reservations are welcome for any size party.

• Tilt’n Diner (61 Laconia Road, Tilton, 286-2204, thecman.com) will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving breakfast all day in addition to its dinner menu with Mother’s Day specials.

• Town Docks Restaurant (289 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-3445, thecman.com) will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 8.

• Tucker’s (1328 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 206-5757; 80 South St., Concord, 413-5884; 360 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 413-6477; 95 S. River Road, Bedford, 413-6503; 238 Indian Brook Road, Dover, 413-5470; 207 Main St., New London, 413-5528; tuckersnh.com) will be open during its normal business hours for Mother’s Day, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., at all of its locations, serving its full breakfast menu in addition to its lunch menu beginning at 11 a.m. Seating will be first-come, first-served (no call-aheads) at each of its locations.

• The Village Trestle (25 Main St., Goffstown, 497-8230, villagetrestle.com) will be open during its regular hours on Sunday, May 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., serving its regular menus with some specials. Bob Pratte will perform from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• WECO Hospitality (wecohospitality.com) is a Massachusetts-based community of local kitchens offering farm-fresh meal deliveries to more than a dozen Granite State cities and towns, including Manchester, Bedford, Goffstown, Hooksett, Nashua, Amherst, Hollis, Londonderry, Derry, Milford and several others. They’re offering a special Mother’s Day brunch menu with items like salted caramel French toast bakes, bagel spreads, turkey hash, pecan sticky buns, “mom-osa” mixers, bloody mary mixers and more. Order by May 5, for delivery on Saturday, May 7, from noon to 3 p.m.

• Ya Mas Greek Taverna & Bar (125 Bridge St., Pelham, 635-4230, yamasgreektaverna.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch buffet on Sunday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring a create-your-own omelet station and a prime rib carving station, as well as other items like wild Maine blueberry and strawberry lemon pancakes, assorted fruits and breakfast pastries, braised lamb shank, baked New England haddock, Moroccan-spiced cauliflower, and assorted European cookies and pastries. The cost is $39 for adults and $19 for kids under 12.

• Zachary’s Chop House (4 Cobbetts Pond Road, Windham, 890-5555, zacharyschophouse.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day breakfast buffet from 8 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 8, followed by lunch and dinner service — the featured special will be an eight-ounce filet mignon, topped with lobster meat and hollandaise and served with asparagus and mashed potatoes.

Treat mom on her special day to a plated brunch or dinner served at any one of these local restaurants, country clubs or function centers. Some, where specified, also have a takeout option.

• Airport Diner (2280 Brown Ave., Manchester, 623-5040, thecman.com) will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving breakfast all day in addition to its dinner menu with Mother’s Day specials.

• Alan’s of Boscawen (133 N. Main St., Boscawen, 753-6631, alansofboscawen.com) will hold a special Mother’s Day Spectacular brunch buffet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, featuring traditional plated meals like honey baked ham, roast leg of lamb, prime rib and baked stuffed haddock, plus an omelet station, pancakes, bacon, sausage and a variety of other breakfast items. A special dinner menu will also be available from noon to 8 p.m.

• All Real Meal (87 Elm St., Manchester, 782-3014, allrealmeal.com) is taking orders for a special Mother’s Day brunch package serving two to four people, featuring eggs Benedict quiche prepared with eggs from Hooksett’s LaValley Farms, plus maple bacon Brussels sprouts and sweet potato breakfast hash, pork breakfast sausages with apples and sage, house fruit salad and freshly baked blueberry muffins and coffee cake with wildflower honey butter. The cost is $69.95 per package. Local deliveries are available on Sunday, May 8.

• Atkinson Resort & Country Club (85 Country Club Drive, Atkinson, 362-8700, atkinsonresort.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch in its ballroom on Sunday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring a carving station with prime rib au jus and horseradish cream, and cider-brined turkey breast with sage gravy. There will also be assorted breakfast offerings, like chef-attended omelet and waffle stations, bacon, sausage and homefries; plated entrees, like grilled chicken saltimbocca, Atlantic salmon with mango salsa and herb-roasted tri-colored fingerling potatoes; and desserts, like flourless chocolate torte, mini cannolis, and assorted cakes and cookies. The cost is $80 for adults, $30 for kids ages 3 to 10 and free for kids under 3. Reservations are required.

• Atlantic Grill (5 Pioneer Road, Rye, 433-3000, theatlanticgrill.com) will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving its full menu in addition to Mother’s Day specials, like lemon blueberry pancakes, ricotta doughnuts with raspberry and chocolate dipping sauces, avocado toast, grilled boneless pork chops and roasted halibut. Reservations are highly recommended.

• Averill House Vineyard (21 Averill Road, Brookline, 244-3165, averillhousevineyard.com) will host a special Mother’s Day high tea brunch and wine pairing on Sunday, May 8, with seatings at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $59 per person and include a cup of hot tea, a pre-set flight of four wines and a pre-set four-course high tea-inspired brunch, featuring finger sandwiches, pastries and more.

• Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford, 472-2001, bedfordvillageinn.com) will serve a special three-course prix fixe dinner for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8, from 2 to 7 p.m. in its dining room. The meal will feature your choice of a first course (bacon, shrimp and corn chowder, potato and leek bisque, pea shoots or panzanella); an entree (grilled tournedos of beef, New England seafood bouillabaisse, pinot grigio-braised veal osso bucco, pork three ways, herb-marinated grilled tofu or swordfish saltimbocca); and a dessert (cherries Jubilee, lemon curd citrus tart, chocolate pots de creme, biscuit bread pudding, or black and white sponge cake). The cost is $75 for adults and $39.95 for kids ages 10 and under. Reservations are required.

• Belmont Hall & Restaurant (718 Grove St., Manchester, 625-8540, belmonthall.net) will serve a special Mother’s Day breakfast buffet on Sunday, May 8, for parties of up to five or more — the cost is $18.99 per person and includes coffee and juices, as well as a full bar with bloody marys and mimosas. Additionally, the restaurant will be open for breakfast until 2 p.m.

• Birch Wood Vineyards (199 Rockingham Road, Derry, 965-4359, birchwoodvineyards.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, May 8, with seatings at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., featuring a variety of plated breakfast and lunch entrees. Breakfasts range from $50 to $60 and include French toast, chicken and waffles or Southwest scrambles, all with fruit salad. Lunches range from $50 to $65 and include eggplant Napoleon, chicken Toscana, braised short rib or haddock, all with mixed green salad with raspberry vinaigrette. Children’s French toast or chicken fingers plates are also available for $30.

• Bistro 603 (345 Amherst St., Nashua, 722-6362, bistro603nashua.com) will be open for brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for dinner from 3 to 9 p.m., serving various Mother’s Day specials in addition to its regular menus.

• Buckley’s Great Steaks (438 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-0995, buckleysgreatsteaks.com) will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving Mother’s Day specials in addition to its regular menu. Reservations are being accepted.

• Camp (298 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-3003, thecman.com) will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 8. Reservations are recommended.

• Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker, 428-3281, colbyhillinn.com) will serve a special three-course prix fixe menu for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 8, with seatings at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. in its Grazing Room and seatings at 4 and 5 p.m. in its barn. Meals will include your choice of a first course (English pea, spring leek and ham soup, creamy scallop and tomato bisque, market greens salad, organic spinach salad or spring tempura); an entree (Cornish hen au vin, San Francisco cioppino, house saffron tagliatelle pasta, lamb chop, bison short rib Wellington, wienerschnitzel or pan-roasted monkfish and lobster); and a dessert (mimosa brulee, chocolate cake with mocha buttercream, profiterole trio or mignardises). The cost is $70 for adults and $35 for kids ages 12 and under.

• The Common Man (304 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-3463; 25 Water St., Concord, 228-3463; 88 Range Road, Windham, 898-0088; 60 Main St., Ashland, 968-7030; 10 Pollard Road, Lincoln, 745-3463; 21 Water St., Claremont, 542-6171; thecman.com) will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, at each of its locations, serving its regular menus with Mother’s Day specials. Reservations are recommended.

• Copper Door Restaurant (15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677; 41 S. Broadway, Salem, 458-2033; copperdoor.com) will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, at both locations, serving their brunch, bar and lunch menus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Beginning at 2 p.m., a special Mother’s Day prix fixe menu will be served in lieu of the Copper Door’s regular menus, featuring the option to choose two courses for $59, three courses for $69 or four courses for $79. Items include shaved sirloin spring rolls, roasted poblano corn chowder, slow roasted prime rib, coconut curry Atlantic cod, slow-roasted half-chicken, limoncello cupcakes, strawberry shortcake and gluten-free chocolate berry cake.

• Cotton (75 Arms St., Manchester, 622-5488, cottonfood.com) will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving its regular menus with some Mother’s Day specials.

• CR’s The Restaurant (287 Exeter Road, Hampton, 929-7972, crstherestaurant.com) will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving various Mother’s Day specials.

• The Derryfield Restaurant (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880, thederryfield.com) will serve a Mother’s Day buffet on Sunday, May 8, with seatings every half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $31.95 for adults, $29.95 for seniors and $18.95 for kids under 12.

• Firefly American Bistro & Bar (22 Concord St., Manchester, 935-9740, fireflynh.com) will be open for brunch on Sunday, May 8, for Mother’s Day. Reservations are strongly suggested.

• The Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille (40 Andover Road, New London, 526-6899, flyinggoose.com) will serve various brunch specials for Mother’s Day from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as dinner specials from 2 to 8 p.m. Reservations are recommended, but not required.

• Foster’s Boiler Room (231 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2764, thecman.com) will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 8. Reservations are recommended.

• Fratello’s Italian Grille (155 Dow St., Manchester, 624-2022, fratellos.com) will serve a Mother’s Day specials menu on Sunday, May 8, featuring items like seafood Sophia, baked stuffed haddock, New York sirloin, pan-seared duck breast, seafood-stuffed mushrooms and more.

• Gauchos Churrascaria Brazilian Steakhouse (62 Lowell St., Manchester, 669-9460, gauchosbraziliansteakhouse.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring the eatery’s signature rodizio dining experience, in addition to dozens of sides, traditional brunch items, a market table, pastries and more. The cost is $39.99 for adults and $14.99 for kids ages 6 to 11. Gauchos will also be open for dinner that evening, from 4 to 8 p.m., with the standard dinner price of $44.99 per person.

• Giorgio’s Ristorante & Bar (270 Granite St., Manchester, 232-3323; 707 Milford Road, Merrimack, 883-7333; 524 Nashua St., Milford, 673-3939; giorgios.com) is accepting reservations from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving their regular menu with specials.

• Greenleaf (54 Nashua St., Milford, 213-5447, greenleafmilford.com) will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving its regular seasonal a la carte menu with some featured Mother’s Day specials. Reservations are required.

• Hart’s Turkey Farm Restaurant (233 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-6212, hartsturkeyfarm.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day menu both for in-house dining and for takeout. Pre-orders are due by May 5 and include packages like whole roasted turkey, slow roasted prime rib and baked ham with all the fixings. Pickups will be on Sunday, May 8, from noon to 2 p.m. The restaurant will also be open for dine-in service from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day, offering a variety of specialty appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts.

• The Hills Restaurant (Hampshire Hills Athletic Club, 50 Emerson Road, Milford, 673-7123, hampshirehills.com/the-hills-restaurant) will serve a special Mother’s Day plated brunch on Sunday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring items like chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits and Korean barbecue breakfast burgers, plus a build-your-own bloody mary and mimosa bar. Reservations are required.

• The Homestead Restaurant & Tavern (641 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-2022, homesteadnh.com) will serve a Mother’s Day specials menu on Sunday, May 8, featuring items like steak and cheese spring rolls, spinach and artichoke dip with garlic toast points, grilled swordfish, roast prime rib of beef, shrimp and scallop risotto, and roasted rack of lamb.

• Jamison’s Restaurant (472 Route 111, Hampstead, 489-1565, jamisonsrestaurant.com) is taking reservations for Mother’s Day now, with seatings from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 8. A full menu of special Mother’s Day features will be available, like raspberry arugula salad, filet mignon, lobster ravioli, seared scallops, pan-roasted halibut and strawberry Champagne floats.

• Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Cafe (150 Congress St., Portsmouth, 766-3474, jumpinjays.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring items like poached eggs Benedict, bananas Foster Belgian waffles, whipped avocado toasts and florentine omelets, as well as a raw seafood bar and various brunch cocktails. They’ll also be open for dinner from 5 to 8 p.m.

• KC’s Rib Shack (837 Second St., Manchester, 627-4727, ribshack.net) will serve a special Mother’s Day barbecue buffet on Sunday, May 8, from noon to 6 p.m., featuring items like smoked spare ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, chicken breast, smoked sausage and more. Moms eat free — regular admission is $27 for adults and $14 for kids under 10. KC’s full regular menu will also be available. Reservations are suggested but walk-ins will also be accepted.

• LaBelle Winery Amherst (345 Route 101, 672-9898, labellewinery.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch buffet on Sunday, May 8, with seatings from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Offerings will include a chef-attended omelet and carving stations, plus various breakfast meats, casseroles and desserts, as well as coffee, tea and assorted juices. The cost is $75 per person and reservations are required.

• LaBelle Winery Derry (14 Route 111, Derry, 672-9898, labellewinery.com) is offering a special Mother’s Day add-on experience to its dining service at Americus Restaurant on Sunday, May 8, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The add-on is $50 per person and includes a custom wine and cheese pairing with three wines and three artisan cheeses, plus a personalized LaBelle Winery greeting card and floral arrangement, a logo wine glass and chocolate cake for dessert.

• Lago (1 Route 25, Meredith, 279-2253, thecman.com) will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving their regular menu with Mother’s Day specials. Reservations are recommended.

• Lakehouse Grille (281 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-5221, thecman.com) will be open on Sunday May 8, from 7:30 to 10 a.m. for breakfast and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. for lunch and dinner, serving their regular menus with Mother’s Day specials. Reservations are recommended.

• Mile Away Restaurant (52 Federal Hill Road, Milford, 673-3904, mileawayrestaurantnh.com) is taking reservations now for Mother’s Day, offering special meals that include your choice of one appetizer, salad, entree and dessert. Menu staples include appetizers like ham minestrone soup, Swedish meatballs, fresh fruit plates with sorbet; Caesar salad or garden salad with blue cheese, house ranch, raspberry vinaigrette or balsamic dressing; entrees like sliced roast sirloin, pork Dijonnaise, chicken Florentine, piccata Milanese, maple salmon, and vegetarian baked eggplant Parmesan; and desserts like carrot cake, bread pudding, chocolate ganache cake, lemon mascarpone cake and chocolate mousse cake.

• Mr. Mac’s Macaroni & Cheese (497 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 606-1760, mr-macs.com) will be open during its regular hours on Sunday, May 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• MT’s Local Kitchen & Wine Bar (212 Main St., Nashua, 595-9334, mtslocal.com) will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving Mother’s Day specials in addition to its regular menu. Reservations are being accepted.

• New England’s Tap House Grille (1292 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 782-5137, taphousenh.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by its regular menu. The brunch is first-come, first-served (no call-aheads) — the cost is $29 for adults and $14.95 for kids.

• Rambling House Food & Gathering (57 Factory St., Nashua, 318-3220, ramblingtale.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch menu, by reservation only, with table and bar seatings every half hour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Specialty entrees include brioche French toast, buttermilk biscuit sandwiches, Faroe Island salmon florentine, garden risotto, prime rib, and garlic and rosemary crusted lamb.

• The Republic of Campo (969 Elm St., Manchester, 666-3723, republiccafe.com and campoenoteca.com) will open at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving its full dinner menus from Republic Cafe and Campo Enoteca, in addition to locally sourced specials.

• Rig A Tony’s Italian Takeout & Catering (254 Wallace Road, Bedford, 488-2877; 13 Rockingham Road, Windham, 685-8122; rigatonysitalian.com) is taking orders for Mother’s Day brunch boxes to go, which include Belgian waffles with New Hampshire maple syrup, egg frittatas, Italian cured meats and cheeses, fresh fruit and crackers, chocolate-covered strawberries and Italian cookies. The cost is $75 per box (each feeds four to five people), with an add-on option of a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers for $25. Order by May 6. Pickups will be on Saturday, May 7, and Sunday, May 8, at the Windham and Bedford locations.

• Roundabout Diner & Lounge (580 Portsmouth Traffic Circle, Portsmouth, 431-1440, roundaboutdiner.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch buffet on Sunday, May 8, with seatings from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The buffet will feature a prime rib carving station, Belgian waffles, cinnamon bun French toast, roasted pork loin, baked haddock and more. The cost is $29.95 for adults and $15.95 for kids, and all moms also receive a complimentary mimosa.

• Route 104 Diner (752 Route 104, New Hampton, 744-0120, thecman.com) will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving breakfast all day in addition to its dinner menu with Mother’s Day specials.

• SALT Kitchen & Bar (Wentworth by the Sea, 588 Wentworth Road, New Castle, 373-6566, saltkitchenandbar.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch buffet in its ballroom on Sunday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring a New England raw bar, a chilled salad buffet, an egg and omelet station, a Belgian waffle station, an artisan cheese display, a prime rib carving station and more. The cost is $89.95 per person and $26.95 for kids under 12. The restaurant will also serve a Mother’s Day dinner from 1 to 9 p.m., offering various plated specials, like grilled filet of beef, pan-seared Scottish salmon, Bell & Evans chicken piccata and pasta ravioli with local mushrooms in a house pomodoro sauce. The cost is $69.95 per person and $26.95 for kids under 12.

• Searles Castle (23 Searles Road, Windham, 898-6597, searlescastle.com) will serve a Mother’s Day “royal brunch” on Sunday, May 8, from 10:30 a.m. to noon or from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The day will include a self-guided tour inside Searles Castle with complimentary mimosas and gourmet hors d’oeuvres, along with a brunch menu featuring items like Belgian waffles, stuffed French toast, bacon, sausage, homefries, carved roast ham, chicken piccata and chicken broccoli ziti alfredo. The cost is $85 for adults, $75 for seniors over 65, $40 for kids ages 3 to 13 and free for kids under 3.

• Stonebridge Country Club (161 Gorham Pond Road, Goffstown, 497-8633, golfstonebridgecc.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, May 8, with seatings from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Items will include assorted fruits and mini Danishes, scrambled eggs with applewood-smoked bacon and breakfast sausage, French toast casserole with a maple vanilla glaze, baked scrod with a lemon butter and Ritz cracker crumb topping, and grilled chicken breast topped with a white wine herb cream sauce. The cost is $19 for adults and $13 for kids.

• Surf (207 Main St., Nashua, 595-9293, surfseafood.com) will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving Mother’s Day specials in addition to its regular menu. Reservations are welcome for any size party.

• Tilt’n Diner (61 Laconia Road, Tilton, 286-2204, thecman.com) will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, serving breakfast all day in addition to its dinner menu with Mother’s Day specials.

• Town Docks Restaurant (289 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-3445, thecman.com) will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 8.

• Tucker’s (1328 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 206-5757; 80 South St., Concord, 413-5884; 360 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 413-6477; 95 S. River Road, Bedford, 413-6503; 238 Indian Brook Road, Dover, 413-5470; 207 Main St., New London, 413-5528; tuckersnh.com) will be open during its normal business hours for Mother’s Day, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., at all of its locations, serving its full breakfast menu in addition to its lunch menu beginning at 11 a.m. Seating will be first-come, first-served (no call-aheads) at each of its locations.

• The Village Trestle (25 Main St., Goffstown, 497-8230, villagetrestle.com) will be open during its regular hours on Sunday, May 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., serving its regular menus with some specials. Bob Pratte will perform from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• WECO Hospitality (wecohospitality.com) is a Massachusetts-based community of local kitchens offering farm-fresh meal deliveries to more than a dozen Granite State cities and towns, including Manchester, Bedford, Goffstown, Hooksett, Nashua, Amherst, Hollis, Londonderry, Derry, Milford and several others. They’re offering a special Mother’s Day brunch menu with items like salted caramel French toast bakes, bagel spreads, turkey hash, pecan sticky buns, “mom-osa” mixers, bloody mary mixers and more. Order by May 5, for delivery on Saturday, May 7, from noon to 3 p.m.

• Ya Mas Greek Taverna & Bar (125 Bridge St., Pelham, 635-4230, yamasgreektaverna.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day brunch buffet on Sunday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring a create-your-own omelet station and a prime rib carving station, as well as other items like wild Maine blueberry and strawberry lemon pancakes, assorted fruits and breakfast pastries, braised lamb shank, baked New England haddock, Moroccan-spiced cauliflower, and assorted European cookies and pastries. The cost is $39 for adults and $19 for kids under 12.

• Zachary’s Chop House (4 Cobbetts Pond Road, Windham, 890-5555, zacharyschophouse.com) will serve a special Mother’s Day breakfast buffet from 8 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 8, followed by lunch and dinner service — the featured special will be an eight-ounce filet mignon, topped with lobster meat and hollandaise and served with asparagus and mashed potatoes

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Comic books for all

Free Comic Book Day returns

After two years of schedule changes, Free Comic Book Day returns to its first Saturday in May spot on the calendar this year with several local shops participating in the May 7 event.

The event, which began in 2002, has handed out millions of copies of special issues of comics created for Free Comic Book Day to people looking to find new stories or rediscover old favorites. Each shop has individual policies regarding how many releases one may take, and which books are available. (This year, there are more than 45 different issues scheduled to be available for Free Comic Book Day, according to freecomicbookday.com, where you can see covers and previews for 2022 comics.)

The day is intended to commemorate each shop and celebrate small businesses and their love for the art of comic books.

Double Midnight Comics, with stores in both Concord and Manchester, is hosting a couple of well-recognized guests to help celebrate this day and intrigue enthusiasts statewide. Its Manchester store will celebrate 20 years in business this July; the Concord store opened eight years ago, relocating from Main Street to Loudon Road this past October.

“[For] our Manchester store, we bill it as a big … extravaganza,” store owner Chris Proulx said. “We had people, pre-Covid, who would line up on Wednesday. There’s people [who] will camp out for a few days ahead of time. … It almost turns into a block party in our parking lot.”

Proulx has high hopes that this FCBD will enter back into the realm of normalcy, as the pandemic forced its cancellation in 2020 and rescheduling to the summer last year. Unfortunately, this led to a much smaller turnout compared to previous years. Proulx said that the Concord location will be for customers looking to simply stop by and look around at their own pace. It is more of an ideal location for younger kids in need of more of a relaxed browsing scene. Proulx looks forward to the release of The Electric Black, which was produced by New Englanders Joseph Schmalke and Rich Woodall, both of whom will appear at the Manchester store that day.

Comics for…
Five comics for kids
• Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra
• The Best Archie Comic Ever! (limited-edition issue)
• Disney Masters: Donald Duck & Co. (special-edition issue)
• Pokemon Journeys and Pokemon Adventures XY
• Sonic the Hedgehog
Three comics for Marvel lovers
• The Amazing Spider-Man/Venom (issue No. 1)
• Avengers/X-Men (issue No. 1)
• Marvel’s Voices (issue No. 1)
Three comics with action
• Tex in The Land of the Seminoles
• The Year of the Valiant
• Bloodborne (issue No. 1)

Jetpack Comics & Games in Rochester is another local shop anticipating a substantial turnout for FCBD this year. Store manager Rich Brunelle described the event as a citywide attraction, saying that they look to help promote other small businesses by hiding comics at various locations.

inside of comic book store
Double Midnight Comics in Manchester and Concord. Photos by Jack Walsh.

“We have a ton of businesses around town that are involved in it as well,” Brunelle said. “We basically treat it like a scavenger hunt, where you can go to each one of the businesses, and at each one they give you more free comics.”

Brunelle said those who take part in the scavenger hunt and pick up a comic from each business are eligible for special prizes once the search is complete. In addition to this day-long scavenger hunt, there is a cosplay contest, a mini convention hall at Governor’s Inn, food trucks and more. A couple of guests include legends Steve Lavigne and Jim Lawson, best-known for their work in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics. Brunelle added that this particular location once held the largest FCBD in the country.

After battling some hardships FCBD is back, and fans statewide should plan on attending fun events with no limitations on any of the festivities planned throughout the day.

Free Comic Book Day

When: Saturday, May 7
Where: Various participating stores statewide
More info: Visit freecomicbookday.com

Participating local stores
See freecomicbookday.com for a look at the 2022 line up of comics.

• Chris’s Comics (919 Lafayette Road, Seabrook, 474-2283, chriscardscomics.com) Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Free Comic Book Day.

• Double Midnight Comics (245 Maple St., Manchester, 669-9636; 341 Loudon Road, Concord, 715-2683; dmcomics.com) Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Manchester and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Concord on Free Comic Book Day. The Manchester store will host its annual “Free Comic Book Day Extravaganza,” featuring a tent sale, a costume contest, comic creator signings, door prizes and more.

• Escape Hatch Books (27 Main St., Jaffrey, find them on Facebook @escapehatchbooks)

• Jetpack Comics & Games (37 N. Main St., Rochester, 330-9636, jetpackcomics.com) Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Free Comic Book Day. The shop is the nexus of a citywide festival featuring a comic scavenger hunt, a cosplay contest, a mini convention hall at Governor’s Inn, door prizes, food trucks and more.

• Merrymac Games and Comics (550 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 420-8161, merrymacgc.com) Open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Free Comic Book Day, featuring appearances from a variety of local, independent comic creators.

• Stairway to Heaven Comics (105 Gosling Road, Newington, 319-6134, stairwaytoheavencomics.com) Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Free Comic Book Day, featuring sales on bagged and boarded comics, creator signings and more.

Featured photo: Double Midnight Comics in Manchester and Concord. Photos by Jack Walsh.

Reimagining art

How the Currier used the pandemic pause to revamp its galleries and make art more accessible

With a new focus on global art and a stronger emphasis on immersive experiences and community outreach, the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester has spent the past couple years revamping its galleries, enhancing its programming and planning for the future.

“Our new goal is to make sure that people know we have more than just art on the wall,” Currier Director Alan Chong said. “We have two Frank Lloyd Wright houses which are worth visiting, we have art classes … [along with] the permanent collections and exhibitions.”

The museum was able to continue running in some capacity even in the beginning of the pandemic, Chong said, and has continued to add back old programs and start new ones since then.

“We’ve had very strong support from the community,” Chong said. “The government has kept us going [with funding]. … We really depend on a whole network of support.”

PPE funds meant the Currier staff could keep working, and other grants helped support online programming and expanded museum offerings.

“Our audience has responded well,” Chong said. “Our numbers are pretty much recovered. We’ve been close to full capacity for a couple of months.”

Here’s a look at the Currier’s new mission, latest exhibitions and current efforts to make art more accessible to the entire community.

Going global

Though the Currier Museum of Art had to shut down during the pandemic, museum staff solved the immediate problem of accessing the community with online programming. The museum’s curators, in the meantime, saw their scope of work change a bit — instead of traveling the globe to acquire work, they looked inward at what they already had.

“In some ways when we were closed it gave us a lot of time to focus on the collection and reimagine [what it could look like],” Senior Curator of Collections Kurt Sundstrom said. “We all sat around on a Zoom call and talked about how we could use this opportunity.”

The Currier’s mission, he said, is to become more global, to visually show the connections between America and Asia, Europe and other parts of the world. For the Currier, that meant shifting around some of its collections. The second floor of the museum was reinstalled and looks completely different, Sundstrom said, with works from around the world paired together.

“We broke down those walls,” he said. “You can come to the museum now and see American art in the European gallery. … You look at things differently depending on where they’re hanging.”

For example, a Dutch painting that features a rug now hangs with Persian rugs from the museum’s collection, allowing for a new perspective.

“It was interesting to reinterpret how the collection could [work together],” Sundstrom said.

The Currier is also acquiring new pieces and planning exhibitions that will help it tell more of a story of global art, Sundstrom said, like an Islamic rug show, and the current exhibition that features the work of Iranian artist Arghavan Khosravi.

“When I first came here 25 years ago, there wasn’t any work here from African American artists, and there was very little from women,” Sundstrom said. “I think audiences, when they come in now, they’ll see themselves represented. You’ll have Asian art and Mexican art and works by women and everything that you would expect in a multicultural community.”

mixed media artwork by Argahavan Khosravi.
The Uncertainty, by Arghavan Khosravi (2020, acrylic on found textile and cotton canvas over wood panel, leather cord) Courtesy of the artist, © Arghavan Khosravi, 2022, photo by Julia Featheringill.

You can visit a museum many times and still never see the extent of its collection. Sundstrom said that museums typically have 2 to 7 percent of their collections on view at any given time. Paintings and sculptures can stay out longer, but photographs and watercolors will deteriorate over time when exposed to light. Because of this, a visit to the museum one year could be an entirely different experience than a visit the next. And with the pandemic giving the Currier time to make more significant changes, the overall vibe is different too.

“I think it’s much more fun,” Sundstrom said. “It’s not so static anymore. It’s not what you would expect — it’s not stuffy.”

Community connections

Programming at the Currier made strides during the pandemic too, with strong efforts to make art more accessible to the community — something it had been doing in recent years anyway.

“We do a lot more online,” Chong said. “We were already moving in that direction. … We had designed a new website in late 2019, so we were ready to launch a more user-friendly experience.”

Chong said that government grants were key in helping the Currier stay connected to the community and provide an online museum experience when it had shut down, and even after, when its hours and programs were limited.

The Currier already had its entire collection online — most museums had been looking at the digital world very intently, Chong said — but a National Endowment for the Humanities grant allowed the museum to put its two Frank Lloyd Wright homes online, including photo galleries, drawings and plans, 3D tours and historic documents.

Donyale Luna in a film still from an Andy Warhol screen test.
Screen Test: Donyale Luna [ST 195], by Andy Warhol (1965, 16mm film, black-and-white, silent, 4.5 minutes at 16 frames per second) © The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, PA, a museum of Carnegie Institute. All rights reserved.

Grants also allowed the museum to pass out kits to do art projects and enhance some of its supportive arts programs.

“Our curators and educators really worked hard on how we can respond to [the pandemic] and the racial tension,” Chong said. “[For example], a lot of people were feeling that hybrid learning wasn’t a very good way of going to school, so we formed a teen anxiety group.”

Sundstrom runs that group, using art to initiate conversations, like looking at a painting made after World War II, another difficult time in history.

“We talked about how to get through those anxious moments,” Sundstrom said.

Those groups started back in person last semester, which Sundstrom said has been an even better experience.

Chong said the museum was also able to hire an art therapist.

“I think we’ve been able to develop core strengths to support the community,” he said, noting that the Currier was the first museum in the country to offer an art therapy group for families of people suffering from opioid use disorder.

The Currier also launched a new veterans program during the pandemic, expanding what had been a small program with war photography to supportive art groups in new classrooms.

Diverse exhibitions

The Currier’s newest exhibition, Arghavan Khosravi, opened April 15 and will be on view through Sept. 5. The show features more than 20 works from Iranian artist Arghavan Khosravi, whose techniques range from using printed textiles from Iran as a canvas to creating three-dimensional components on painted surfaces, with a focus on depth and texture.

“We’re really committed to showing global contemporary artists, artwork that is innovative and interesting and sparks conversations,” said Samantha Cataldo, senior curator of contemporary art. “Her work is surrealism. … There’s almost always a woman at the center of the work and then the images themselves kind of capture memories or dreams. … She paints in a way that when you’re looking at it you can’t really tell if something is real.”

The images explore themes like exile, suppression and empowerment, which Cataldo said is drawn from the duality that Khosravi has experienced in her life, having lived in both Iran and the United States.

“The culture where she grew up, you were allowed to be a little more free with your family, but in public [you were] more restricted,” Cataldo said. “A lot of the themes [in the exhibition] are a form of restriction, [like] people being boxed in or existing on two different planes of reality. … The works don’t have a specific narrative, but there’s a symbolism and there’s clues and ideas. … [They] are really approachable and acceptable.”

A duality also exists between the works’ first impressions and their more closely scrutinized images.

“At first glance, things are colorful [and] and really inviting because they feel warm and happy,” Cataldo said. “But [what’s happening] in the scene is not so bright and cheery.”

She said the exhibition so far has been well-received, both in its themes and in its visual appeal.

“[The paintings] are exquisitely made,” she said. “They’re also quite poetic in terms of how they look and how they’re composed.”

Also on view now (through July 3) is Warhol Screen Tests, which features 20 of Andy Warhol’s black-and-white short films that he made in the mid-’60s of his friends — some famous, like Bob Dylan and Salvador Dali, and others who came to his studio in New York City.

“He filmed essentially a moving portrait,” Cataldo said. “A single subject would sit in a chair and he would run the camera on them until the film ran out, [about] 4 minutes. … You have people who are extremely aware of the camera, some who try to be totally still, some [who act] playful.”

The films are unscripted and played in a loop in slow motion, and they’re projected large-scale, which Cataldo said can be a bit unsettling.

“It feels too close to a Zoom meeting,” she said,” watching people feel like they have to present themselves in a certain way.”

Warhol’s prediction that “everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes” seems to have come to fruition to some degree, with regular people becoming TikTok or YouTube famous. And his repetitive screen prints that feature the same face over and over are reminiscent of today’s selfies.

“Everything he was doing was so far ahead of his time, so the idea of a selfie wasn’t a thing,” Cataldo said. “But the exhaustion of looking at a screen and looking at yourself — people can [now understand] that scrutiny.”

Looking ahead

While the Currier is mostly back to its pre-pandemic level of offerings, Chong said they’re proceeding with caution.

The first floor of the Chandler house. Photo courtesy of Currier Director Alan Chong.

“We feel a responsibility to the public, so we’re cautious,” he said. “History has taught us that it’s not over. We need to be flexible; we’re not going to pretend it doesn’t exist. There’s been a recent surge, so we follow all that.”

One of the upcoming projects that Chong is looking forward to is the renovation of a “new” old building.

“We took over the Chandler House during the pandemic,” he said. “It was a historic house … and it has the most beautiful interior in Manchester.”

Chong said the Currier had been looking to buy the building from the Catholic Diocese for years but hadn’t been able to make a deal because it was too expensive.

“I suspect that the pandemic pushed along that whole process,” he said.

Now the Currier will be working on finding funding to turn the building into a community center that will include offices for museum staff as well as classrooms for public programming, with the hopes of having it open by the fall of 2023.

In the more immediate future, the museum is planning to bring back its annual block party on a to-be-determined Saturday in July after a two-year absence. Chong called the day of free fun the museum’s signature event.

ARTSY OPPORTUNITIES

The Currier offers all kinds of classes and programs, both in person and online. Here are some of the offerings, according to currier.org. Visit the website for more details and the latest classes and events.

Ongoing programs

Making Art Accessible

This program is for teens and adults with developmental disabilities. The multimedia studio art class allows students to make works of art inspired by the Currier’s collections, and to visit the Currier’s galleries. The Currier regularly holds Making Art Accessible classes, and it is open to the public. Email [email protected] for more information.

Creative Connections for Teens

This program supports students suffering with anxieties related to the pandemic and related stressors. Each session provides students opportunities to connect through art-viewing, art-making and social time, and they’re led by Currier educators and curators with the support of a school counselor.

The Art of Awareness

Strangers from different backgrounds gather for a 30-minute awareness exercise and discussion to build connections with each other and art. Each week features one piece of art, chosen based on a theme. General admission is free on Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m., and this program starts at 6:30 p.m. Upcoming classes are May 5, with the discussion centered on Arghavan Khosravi’s “The Black Pool,” and May 19, featuring John Marin’s “Movement in Red.” Register online.

Art of Hope

An in-person support group for loved ones whose family members suffer from substance use disorder. It takes place on Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m., with the next groups meeting May 9, May 16, May 23, June 20 and July 18.

Art for Vets

This art-focused program offers free opportunities for veterans, active service members and their families to enjoy the Currier. Veteran Creative Cohorts allows veterans to connect through art-viewing, activities and guided conversations, with an emphasis on personal development, respite and mindfulness. Studio Art Tutorials has professional teaching artists launching online or in person art tutorials for veterans and active service members, including drawing, watercolor painting and bookmaking. The classes are for all skill levels and focus on the therapeutic nature of art. Art for Vets Family Days are offered on the third Saturday of the month, with free access to the galleries, art activities and a complimentary lunch. Veterans, active service members and their families get free admission every day, and the Currier also offers all of its art classes and vacation camps free of charge.

Immigrant and refugee programs

The Currier provides after-school art instruction for children of immigrant and refugee families during the school year and extends their learning into vacation weeks by offering free enrollment in art camps. During camps, children are given 30 hours of instruction each week and are provided free breakfast and lunch each day.

Looking Together

Explore one work of art in detail for 15 minutes with a Currier docent. Sessions are informal, interactive and focused on a different object each day. It’s offered every Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and noon.

Art After Work Tours

Every Thursday, enjoy free admission, live music and drink specials in the Winter Garden Café (open until 8 p.m.). The 30-minute adult tour is free of charge. Participants meet in the lobby.

Art Conversations from Home

Join the Currier Museum of Art’s education team for a live facilitated conversation over Zoom about the Currier’s collection and exhibitions. Sessions are informal, interactive and focused on a different work each week. Open to all, these free 30-minute adult programs run every Wednesday at 1 p.m. Register online.

Frank Lloyd Wright house tours

The Currier is the only art museum in the world with two Frank Lloyd Wright homes, and the only Wright buildings open to the public in New England. The Usonian Automatic and the Zimmerman House were both built in the 1950s. The two-bedroom Zimmerman House showcases Wright’s Usonian architectural concepts, with a compact design that contrasts narrow passages with dramatic, open spaces. It includes its original furniture and garden, both designed by Wright. The Kalil House, which was acquired by the Currier in 2019, is one of only seven Usonian Automatics constructed, dubbed “automatics” by Wright because they were easily and quickly built. Public tours of the Wright houses last two hours and are offered Thursdays through Sundays at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., as well as an evening tour on Thursdays at 6 p.m. (spring and summer only). To schedule a private tour, email [email protected] or call 603-518-4956.

Classes

The Currier regularly offers art classes for all ages and abilities. Here are some of the museum’s upcoming offerings.

Drawing from Presence with Norma Hendrix (Adult)

Online five-week class, Tuesdays, May 10 through June 7, 1 to 3 p.m.

Painting with Pastels: Finding Beauty in the Urban World with Janet Schwartz (Adult)

Online five-week class, Fridays, May 13, through June 10, 2 to 4 p.m.

Learn to Draw: Structure and Volume with Shading with Martin Geiger (Adult)

Online five-week class, Thursdays, May 26 through June 23, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Earn and Learn Teen Program

Teen volunteers will be involved in classroom assistance, art-making activities, mentoring younger students, facilitating museum visits and other organizational tasks, and they will receive tuition remission for classes at the Currier. Admission to the program is based on a review process. Each applicant must be willing to commit to two weeks minimum of summer camp. Camps run Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Apply by May 14; for more information, email Lauren Steele at [email protected].

Vacation camps

The Currier offers camps throughout the summer: Art Camp for ages 6 to 10 and Art Ventures for ages 11 to 14. The camps include classes in drawing, painting, collage, printmaking and sculpture. Every Wednesday, an inspirational tour of the museum is conducted to discover the works of art in the galleries. Weekly full-day programs run Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. All art-making materials are provided. Camps have a maximum capacity of eight to 10 students, and students, instructors and camp assistants are required to wear masks. The schedule is as follows; see currier.org for prices, updates and other information.

June 27 to July 1

Art Camp: Down the Rabbit Hole (ages 6 to 10)

Art Ventures: Fun with Fibers (ages 11 to 14)

July 11 to July 15

Art Camp: Music Makers (ages 6 to 10)

Art Ventures: Drawing Outside the Box (ages 11 to 14)

July 25 to July 29

Art Camp: The Moody Currier School of Magic (ages 6 to 10)

Art Ventures: Drawing and Painting exploration (ages 11 to 14)

Aug. 8 to Aug. 12

Art Camp: Space is the Place (ages 6 to 10)

Art Ventures: Mixed Media Painting & Printmaking (ages 11 to 14)

Aug. 15 to Aug. 19

Creatures Large and Small (ages 6 to 10)

Art Ventures: The Moving Picture (ages 11 to 14)

Events

Gregory Pierce, curator of the Warhol Museum, will be at the Currier for an ARTalk to complement the “Warhol Screen Tests” exhibition. He will discuss the impetus for Screen Tests and how they’re relevant almost 60 years later and take a deeper dive into Warhol’s creative process. The talk will be held Sunday, May 8, from 2 to 2:45 p.m. in the auditorium. The cost is $20 and includes museum admission.

Featured photo: Arghavan Khosravi. Photo by Andrew T. White

News & Notes 22/05/05

Covid-19 update As of April 25 As of May 2
Total cases statewide 308,446 311,144
Total current infections statewide 2,444 2,989
Total deaths statewide 2,475 2,481
New cases 2,253 (April 19 to April 25) 2,698 (April 26 to May 2)
Current infections: Hillsborough County 709 873
Current infections: Merrimack County 157 202
Current infections: Rockingham County 435 601
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Covid-19 news

State health officials reported 270 new cases of Covid-19 on May 2. The state averaged 393 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period, a 15 percent increase compared to the week before. As of May 2 there were 2,989 active infections and 18 hospitalizations statewide.

Foster funding

Former foster youth are being urged to apply for time-limited federal funding under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and use it for rent, utilities, groceries, education expenses and other necessities. According to a press release from the state Department of Health and Human Services Division for Children, Youth and Families, more than 300 youth and young adults up to age 22 who spent time in foster care after the age of 16 have already accessed this federal funding. “We streamlined the application process to break down barriers, providing better, faster outcomes for our former foster youth,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in the release. To provide this simplified online application process, DCYF is using its existing partnership with Waypoint, which works with former foster youth to connect them with available community resources, so people can apply through Waypoint’s online portal. “The Covid-19 pandemic heavily impacted our older youth in care and former foster youth, who are either in the process of transitioning to adulthood or are new to this phase of their lives,” DCYF Director Joseph E. Ribsam said in the release. “Through this additional funding, we have an opportunity to impact their future success.” Funding is provided on a first come, first served basis, and amounts depend on age and exit status from DCYF, the release said.

Pot legislation

Though the New Hampshire House passed a bill to legalize recreational cannabis in the state earlier this year, that bill failed in the State Senate last week. According to a report from NHPR, opponents argued that recreational cannabis legalization could lead to higher rates of use by minors, as well as more impaired drivers on the road. The bill would have allowed adults 21 and older to possess up to three-quarters of an ounce of cannabis, as well as cannabis-infused edibles and tinctures. According to the report, the Senate has never passed a cannabis legalization bill. The bill failed on a 15-9 vote, with three Democrats, Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, Sen. Donna Soucy, and Sen. Kevin Cavanaugh, all from Manchester, joining all but two Republicans to kill the measure. GOP Sens. Harold French of Franklin and John Reagan of Deerfield voted in favor of the bill. Supporters said the bill was an important step toward racial equity, as studies show that Black people are more likely to be arrested for marijuana use, despite both white and Black people using the drug at similar rates, the report said. “New Hampshire has become an island in New England, with our overly burdensome regulations of cannabis that are out of sync with what the scientific, health and social data says,” Sen. Becky Whitley, a Democrat from Contoocook, said during the debate, according to NHPR. Adults in New Hampshire can legally purchase cannabis in Massachusetts and Maine, and later this year in Vermont, but there is a $100 fine in New Hampshire for adults caught with small amounts of marijuana, the report said.

Voter confidence

Last week New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan hosted a press conference to introduce the newly formed Commission on Voter Confidence, a nonpartisan effort to discuss, educate and mitigate concerns about the apparent decline in voter confidence due to misinformation and political rhetoric, according to a press release. “Our goal is to reeducate the voting population, with the help of local election officials, on our voting procedures and help voters understand there aren’t any secrets in the election process,” Scanlan said during the press conference. Members are Richard Swett (Co-chair), Bradford E. Cook (Co-chair), Andrew Georgevits, Ken Eyring, Amanda Merrill, Jim Splaine, Douglass Teschner and Olivia Zink. “We want to hear from the people and understand what their concerns are because what they think is true is often just as important as what is not,” Cook said at the conference. The commission then met for the first time on Monday, May 2, to discuss its meeting schedule for the coming months. According to a report from WMUR, the commission will begin a statewide listening tour next week. “I am fearful that some of the partisan rhetoric and some of the anger that exists around elections will come out in the commission,” Zink said at the meeting, according to WMUR.

Boscawen Academy and the “Much-I-Do” Hose House were recently named to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places. According to a press release, the Academy was built in the Late Federal style in 1827-28, and the clapboarded Hose House was built in 1893 to shelter the town’s fire-fighting equipment. Also recently added to the State Register are the 1720s John Gregg House in Derry — one of the oldest houses in town and the only one remaining of the original 20 Scotch Irish families that settled in what was then called Nutfield — and the circa-1912 gambrel-roofed Houston Barn in Hopkinton that was part of a 115-acre farm that originally had chickens, sheep and Angus beef but focused on dairy production in the mid-20th century, the release said.

A commencement ceremony for the first-ever graduating class of the New Hampshire Career Academy Program will be held May 5 at the New Hampshire Department of Education’s office in Concord. According to a press release, the Career Academy provides students with a pathway leading to a high school diploma, an associate’s degree, an industry credential and a job interview with a New Hampshire employer over a two-year period at no tuition cost to students or their families.

The loose change that Derry Garden Club members have been putting into a “Penny Pines” canning jar during meetings has added up — so far it has paid for the reforestation of 3 acres of trees that suffered irreparable damage. According to a press release, the national project raises funds to plant seeds in the areas of the country most in need, and it only takes $68 of loose change to plant one acre. The canning jar will be out for donations at the club’s plant sale on June 4 at the Robert Frost Farm.

When nonprofits fail

Just like New England running on Dunkin’, New Hampshire runs on nonprofits. According to the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, nonprofits generate $11 billion in revenue for New Hampshire and employ 15 percent of our workforce. In our “live free or die” state, nonprofits fill critical needs in lieu of the government and their sizes range from large and complex to quite small. When one of these nonprofits fails, it has a ripple effect throughout the community and state. Such was the case when Lakes Region General Hospital filed for bankruptcy in 2020.

The Attorney General and New Hampshire Charitable Trusts Unit recently released their report of their review to determine whether LRGH’s board had breached its fiduciary duties and whether any insights could be gained from the experience. As is the case with nonprofits in general, the LRGH board of trustees owed fiduciary duties to the hospital considering its purpose. This includes the duty of care, i.e. a duty to be adequately informed when making important decisions for the charity. Breaches of duty of care include lack of attention in overseeing the affairs of the organization, poor decision-making, and waste of assets. The report did not find fault with LRGH’s attention in oversight. However, it did find that in making major decisions the board deferred too much to the recommendations of long-term executives and failed to properly challenge the executives.

The report further notes that nonprofits, like for-profit businesses, sometimes fail. In this case, long-term executives pushed through a capital expansion plan with the board despite warning signs in the local market and national health care trends. While the board was composed of many business leaders and experts in various areas, they deferred to their trusted CEO and CFO. The report concludes with solid advice for trustees of all nonprofit boards including continual training and education, respectfully questioning the CEO and holding the CEO accountable, making sure decisions are consistent with the mission, and consulting with outside experts before making major decisions.

Serving on a nonprofit board can be a rewarding experience, particularly when it fulfills a mission one is passionate about. However, with that service comes responsibility to the nonprofit and the community it serves. Nonprofits are, in fact, businesses in that they must be able to meet their financial obligations. The best decisions are made when input is received from many different perspectives, and this is a hallmark of effective boards. When trustees are not prepared or engaged, and defer to senior management, they fail in their service to that nonprofit.

Caring community

Friends and fans gather to help injured Tupelo employee

Just before dawn on April 8, Mark Shamaly was struck by a hit-and-run driver on the Everett Turnpike in Merrimack. He sustained multiple injuries, including head trauma, a fractured pelvis and ribs, and chest cavity damage. He’d stopped to help a motorist who’d been in an accident, something that surprised no one who knew Shamaly.

The director of security at Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, Shamaly is a familiar friendly figure to patrons of the venue. Owner Scott Hayward and his crew, along with Mike Smith, who books comedy there, quickly came up with a plan to help — a benefit show to raise enough money for him to have at least six months without worrying about his bills.

“It’s one of those situations where you could see how an employee has affected everybody around them,” Hayward said by phone on April 20. He noted that most of the $50 tickets have been sold, and a GoFundMe page launched by Shamaly’s wife had raised nearly $30,000. “Everybody was just really struck by this, so there’s been a huge wave of support.”

Smith was hosting a Tupelo show when he got the news, and immediately wanted to do something for him.

“Mark is such a great guy,” he said. “He loves the comedy shows and loves the comedians.”

The comics love him as well; Hayward said Smith placed eight quick phone calls and received affirmative responses from everyone.

The Laugh-A-Palooza benefit will be held on Sunday, May 1. Comics performing include Francis Birch, Jason Merrill, Matt Barry, Kyle Crawford, Kennedy Richard, Joe Yannetty, Chris Pennie and Steve Bjork.

“You’ll never see this many comedians on one show,” Hayward wrote, adding that a few special guests may also stop by.

Many of the comics got on board out of fondness for the Tupelo community, even if they weren’t close with Shamaly. Steven Bjork has worked there since its days in Londonderry.

“I jumped at the chance,” he said by phone. “Though I didn’t necessarily know all the circumstances, I knew somebody at the Tupelo needed some help.”

Matt Barry was effusive in his praise.

“Tupelo is one of my favorite places to perform, [and] in comedy you don’t always know what you’re walking into,” he said in a text exchange. “To be on a stage that’s so high-tech, with all the lights and the curtains, is a real trip. It makes me feel like Axl Rose (in a good way).”

The Manchester comic was also grateful to Tupelo for being one of the first venues in the country to do outdoor shows when the pandemic hit.

“They were looking out for performers in a time when not a lot of places were … when a venue that’s taken such good care of me over the years asked for a favor, ‘Yes’ was the obvious answer,” Barry wrote.

Birch said via text, “It feels good to make people laugh supporting an amazing cause. Tupelo and Mark have always been good to me, set me up for success. This feels like an appropriate way to do my part.”

Photographer Jerry LoFaro said of Shamaly in a post on the Tupelo Music Hall Community Facebook page, “I know when I walk in the door he’ll greet me with a big hug and a smile. We always convene and pal around a few times throughout a show, and he’s usually my photographer when I get the chance to pose with a visiting artist. It’s no surprise that he would put himself in harm’s way to help someone in need, but what a cruel price to pay.”

The Laugh-A-Palooza event will be livestreamed to Shamaly in his hospital room. For those unable to attend, or if tickets sell out, donations can be made via a special $25 ticket link on the Tupelo Music Hall page.

Laugh-A-Palooza – A Benefit for Mark Shamaly
When: Sunday, May 1, 6 p.m.
Where: Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry
Tickets: $50 at tuplelohall.com
Donations can be made at gofundme.com/f/pefyfw-hit-and-run-please-help.

Featured photo: Mark Shamaly. Courtesy photo.

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