Featured Content – Page 141

Try it and buy it

Made in New Hampshire Expo returns

By Alexandra Colella

The Made in New Hampshire “Try it and Buy it” expo is right around the corner — the event is due to return to the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown from Friday, April 8, through Sunday, April 10, and will feature all kinds of local foods, drinks, clothing, jewelry and more.

Now in its 26th year, the three-day expo attracts thousands of attendees. It’s the only one of its kind to showcase an entire lineup of products and services made right in the Granite State, said organizer Heidi Copeland, publisher of Business NH magazine and owner of EventsNH.

“We love to highlight that we were all about buying local before buying local was cool,” she said. “Also, this is a show where you can test drive your purchases before you buy them.”

Similar to the most recent Made in New England Expo, held in December, many businesses that will be sharing their products were launched post-pandemic and are therefore newcomers. Food companies have their biggest showings at this event. Beccari Chocolate, for example, will be presenting their handmade chocolate, while Thistle’s All Natural has a showing of its own homemade zucchini salsas and Maple Nut Kitchen has its own granola.

Other featured vendors at this year’s expo include Sunshine Baking, a New Hampshire company offering freshly baked shortbread cookies that launched last year and made its debut at the last Made in New England Expo. They’re expected to introduce some new cookie flavors at the event. Loon Chocolate, a producer of small-batch bean-to-bar chocolates that opened its first dual retail and production space in Manchester in early February, will also be attending, as well as Critical Mass Coffee, which has multiple bagged blends of organic fair trade coffee, and Destination India, a downtown Derry restaurant and newcomer to the expo.

A returning feature to the event will be a libation station, where of-age attendees will have the chance to sample all kinds of craft beers and wines New Hampshire has to offer.

In addition to specialty foods and drinks, companies will be selling everything from jewelry, clothing and personal care products to crafts, paintings, photo prints and more.

Made in New Hampshire Expo
When: Friday, April 8, 1 to 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 9, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday April 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (Expo Center), 700 Elm St., Manchester
Cost: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors ages 65 and over, $3 for kids ages 2 to 12 and free for kids under 2 ($3 per child under 2 if bringing a stroller into the hall). Tickets are only available at the door (cash or check only).
More info: Visit madeinnhexpo.com or follow them on Facebook @madeinnhexpo

Featured photo: Made in NH Expo. Photo by Matthew Lomanno Photography.

Feasts on Easter

Brunch buffets, special meals and sweet treats for Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is right around the corner (Sunday, April 17), so if you’re looking for a local place to enjoy a brunch buffet, or you want to bring home your Easter meals or desserts this year, check out this list of restaurants, function halls, bakeries and churches offering all kinds of specialty items. We also included candy and chocolate shops that have you covered for those Easter baskets and other sweet treats, as well as a few Easter-themed events like classes and tastings happening over the next several days. Did we miss anyone that’s serving an Easter brunch or specials menu? Let us know at [email protected].

• 110 Grill (875 Elm St., Manchester, 836-1150; 27 Trafalgar Square, Nashua, 943-7443; 19 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, 777-5110; 103 Hanover St., Portsmouth, 373-8312; 136 Marketplace Blvd., Rochester, 948-1270; 250 N. Plainfield, West Lebanon, 790-8228; 110grill.com) will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, serving a variety of specials for Easter like breakfast tacos, chicken and waffles, lemon beignets and more.

• Alan’s of Boscawen (133 N. Main St., Boscawen, 753-6631, alansofboscawen.com) will serve an Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., which will include a wide array of breakfast items from pancakes and pastries to bacon, sausage, eggs, home fries and a chef-attended omelet station. There will also be multiple carving stations offering meats like roast leg of lamb, sliced prime rib of beef and Virginia baked ham, as well as options like chicken piccata, tortellini alfredo and crabmeat-stuffed haddock. Call to make a reservation. Additionally, Alan’s is offering special Easter dinners for takeout, with appetizer options that include baked stuffed artichoke hearts, jumbo shrimp cocktail and bacon-wrapped scallops, and entree options that include broccoli tortellini alfredo, baked honey ham and sliced filet mignon.

• All Real Meal (87 Elm St., Manchester, 782-3014, allrealmeal.com) is taking orders for family-style Easter feasts serving either two or four people, featuring marinated baked turkey, glazed baked ham, homestyle mashed potatoes, cranberry apple stuffing, almond green beans, homestyle cornbread and mixed berry cheesecake. The cost is $65 per meal for two and $110 per meal for four. Local deliveries and curbside pickup are available on Saturday, April 16.

• Angela’s Pasta & Cheese Shop (815 Chestnut St., Manchester, 625-9544, angelaspastaandcheese.com) is taking orders for a variety of items for Easter, including freshly baked breads, savory pies and quiches, entrees, sides and desserts and sweet treats like cakes and pies. Order by April 8. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (111 Island Pond Road, Manchester, 623-2045, assumptionnh.org) will hold a walk-in Easter bake sale on Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to noon inside its church hall. Spinach and cheese petas, Easter bread and Greek cookies and pastries like baklava, kourambiethes, finikia and koulourakia will all be available.

• Atkinson Resort & Country Club (85 Country Club Drive, Atkinson, 362-8700, atkinsonresort.com) will serve a special Easter brunch on Sunday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Options will include a carving station with items like smoked ham and hand-carved prime rib; breakfast items like chef-attended omelet and waffle stations, bagels, Danishes, croissants, eggs, bacon, sausage and French toast; a salad station with multiple options like caprese, Caesar and tortellini pasta salads; entrees, like baked haddock with breadcrumbs, eggplant Parmesan with a smoked tomato marinara, and apple Calvados grilled chicken; and desserts, like flourless chocolate torte, blueberry coffee cake and other assorted cakes and cookies. The cost is $80 for adults, $30 for kids ages 3 to 10 and free for kids under 3.

• The Bakeshop on Kelley Street (171 Kelley St., Manchester, 624-3500, thebakeshoponkelleystreet.com) is taking orders for pies (flavors include chocolate cream, lemon cream, coconut cream, Key lime, lemon meringue, banana cream, Raspberry Cloud and Grasshopper); six-inch layer cakes (flavors include lemon, coconut, carrot cake and cannoli); as well as assorted Easter cookie trays, and other themed specials, like an Easter egg bread and a one-layer carrot cake topped with a layer of cheesecake. Order by April 15. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 16, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (the shop will be closed on Easter Sunday).

• Bearded Baking Co. (819 Union St., Manchester, 647-7150, beardedbaking.com) is taking orders for specialty cakes (flavors include carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and coconut lemon cake with a bird nest decoration); cupcake boxes (flavors include grapefruit poppy seed, mocha raspberry, carrot, Cadbury egg, pistachio honey rose and limoncello margarita); vegan cake doughnuts (cinnamon sugar or lemon blueberry); and gluten-free Parisian tortes. Order by April 10. Pickups will be on Friday, April 15, or Saturday, April 16.

• Bedford Village Inn (2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford, 472-2001, bedfordvillageinn.com) will serve a special three-course pre-fixe Easter dinner on Sunday, April 17, in its restaurant. Choose your first course (Heron Pond Farm carrot bisque, New England clam chowder, pea tendril and watercress or prosciutto and asparagus salads); your entree (grilled tournedos of beef, pistachio and matcha crusted Icelandic cod loin, North Country Smokehouse ham, braised spring lamb shank, pan seared Faroe Island salmon or stuffed zucchini); and your dessert (Neapolitan ice cream, lemongrass creme brulee, black rice pudding, German chocolate cake or raspberry mousse dome). The cost is $75 for adults and $39.95 for kids ages 10 and under.

• Belmont Hall & Restaurant (718 Grove St., Manchester, 625-8540, belmonthall.net) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 17, with seatings at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. in its hall. Walk-ins are welcome in the dining room until 2 p.m., for breakfast only.

• Bite Me Kupcakez (4 Mound Court, Merrimack, 674-4459, bitemekupcakez.com) is taking orders for various cake flavors for Easter, including chocolate flourless torte, strawberry shortcake and chocolate whipped cream cake, as well as dairy-free loaves (flavors include banana, lemon blueberry and banana chocolate chip) and dairy-free cakes (flavors include double-layer carrot, Boston cream pie and pineapple upside-down cake). Vegan cookies (chocolate chip or oatmeal cranberry) can also be ordered by the dozen, and cupcakes are available by request. Order by April 9.

• The Black Forest Cafe & Bakery (212 Route 101, Amherst, 672-0500, theblackforestcafe.com) is taking orders for pies (flavors include apple, Dutch apple, strawberry rhubarb, cherry, chocolate cream or Grasshopper); cakes (flavors include lemon daisy, chocolate mousse, coconut or carrot); and a variety of other specialty pastries and sweets, like hummingbird cupcakes, lemon curd tarts, and themed shortbread cookies like eggs, chicks and bunnies. Order by April 13 at 6 p.m. Pickups will be on Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16.

• Buckley’s Bakery & Cafe (436 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 262-5929, buckleysbakerycafe.com) and Buckley’s Market & Cafe (9 Market Place, Hollis, 465-5522) are taking orders for eight-inch cakes (flavors include carrot, double chocolate, gluten-free lemon blueberry, and a hummingbird cake featuring bananas, pineapple, pecans and cinnamon); eight-inch pies (flavors include chocolate cream, Key lime, mixed berry crumble and lemon meringue); assorted pastries, like dessert trays, breakfast trays and Easter macarons; and other items like Parker house rolls, raspberry almond crumb cake and cinnamon rolls with a cream cheese frosting. Order by April 13.

• Buckley’s Great Steaks (438 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-0995, buckleysgreatsteaks.com) will be open on Sunday, April 17, from noon to 5 p.m., serving its regular menu with Easter specials.

• The Cake Fairy (114 Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett, 518-8733, cakefairynh.com) is taking orders for pies (flavors include banana cream, chocolate cream and lemon cream), as well as Easter cupcakes and cookies, cheesecakes, eclairs, whoopie pies and a special kids’ Easter basket featuring a variety of treats along with two crafts and a coloring booklet. Order by April 9. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Candy Kingdom (235 Harvard St., Manchester, 641-8470, candykingdom.shop) has a variety of specialty treats available now for Easter, like solid chocolate bunnies, chocolate Easter baskets, chocolate Easter foils, boxed foil eggs and more.

• Caroline’s Fine Food (132 Bedford Center Road, Bedford, 637-1615, carolinesfood.com) is taking orders for family-style meals for Easter with packages serving either four or eight people. Options include maple-glazed pork loin or pan seared lemon rosemary chicken breast, and each comes with shallot whipped potatoes, lemon honey caramelized carrots and sauteed asparagus. Caroline’s is also offering a menu of brunch items, like prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, ham, Swiss and spinach or caprese quiches, and house-made lemon poppyseed or blueberry scones. Order by April 13 at 2 p.m. Pickups will be on Friday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Castleton Banquet & Conference Center (58 Enterprise Drive, Windham, 898-6300, castletonbcc.com) is taking orders for special dinner packages to go for Easter, featuring either spiral glazed ham or roast leg of lamb with herbs (each serves 8 to 10 people and features a lineup of sides like potatoes, carrots and rolls). A variety of a la carte items are also available to order, like sides by the quart (honey-glazed carrots, green beans almondine, au gratin potatoes, garlic and chive whipped potatoes and rosemary red bliss potatoes, to name a few); hors d’oeuvres by the dozen (like scallop and bacon skewers, crabmeat-stuffed mushrooms, asparagus and Asiago phyllo wraps, smoked Gouda macaroni and cheese bites and almond raspberry brie tarts); and sweet items, like carrot cake and New York-style cheesecake. Order by April 13 at noon. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to noon.

• The Coach Stop Restaurant & Tavern (176 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 437-2022, coachstopnh.com) is taking reservations for Easter at either noon or 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, and they’ll also be offering takeout and local delivery, serving a special menu with items like chicken Marsala, roast prime rib of beef, seafood linguine alfredo, baked haddock, baked stuffed shrimp, veal oscar, broiled salmon, and lobster macaroni and cheese with cracker crumbs.

• Colby Hill Inn (33 The Oaks, Henniker, 428-3281, colbyhillinn.com) will serve a special three-course prix-fixe dinner menu for Easter on Sunday, April 17, with seatings between noon and 5 p.m. and takeout also available. Options include farmers cheese and charcuterie boards, plus your choice of a first course (lemon chicken noodle soup, mushroom and buttermilk soup, spring greens and Easter radish salad, baby dandelion salad or red beet deviled eggs); an entree (Greek-style roast leg of lamb in oregano and garlic, maple and cider mustard glazed ham, prime rib smoked with pink peppercorn and rosemary, day boat scallops, rabbit pot pie or carrot spaetzle); and a dessert (maple walnut carrot cake, strawberry rhubarb pie, lavender creme brulee, a sorbet duo with Meyer lemon and raspberry chambord flavors, or an Easter chocolate trio featuring Belgian chocolate mousse, white chocolate bark and a chocolate peanut butter egg). The cost is $65 per person.

• The Common Man (25 Water St., Concord, 228-3463; 304 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-3463; 88 Range Road, Windham, 898-0088; Lakehouse Grille, 281 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-5221; 10 Pollard Road, Lincoln, 745-3463; 21 Water St., Claremont, 542-6171; Foster’s Boiler Room, 231 Main St., Plymouth, 536-2764; 60 Main St., Ashland, 968-7030; Lago, 1 Route 25, Meredith, 279-2253; Camp, 298 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith, 279-3003; Italian Farmhouse, 337 Daniel Webster Hwy., Plymouth, 536-4536; Airport Diner, 2280 Brown Ave., Manchester, 623-5040; Tilt’n Diner, 61 Laconia Road, Tilton, 286-2204; 104 Diner, 752 Route 104, New Hampton, 744-0120; thecman.com) is taking orders for special Easter dinners to go, featuring oven roasted ham with a honey Dijon glaze, creamy leek scalloped potatoes, sweet potato casserole, sun-dried tomato pesto green beans, maple-roasted Brussels sprouts, house baked rolls and sweet breads. Dinners for four, as well as individual sized meals, are available. Other a la carte side offerings include prime rib with au jus and creamy horseradish sauce (feeds four to six), asparagus with Bernaise, mascarpone whipped potatoes and rosemary, The Common Man’s signature macaroni and cheese, and homemade 10-inch cheesecakes. Order by April 11. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 16. Additionally, all six Common Man restaurants, as well as the Italian Farmhouse, will be serving their dinner menu with Easter specials on Sunday, April 17, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Foster’s Boiler Room, Lago, and the Lakehouse Grille will all be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. that day, and Lakehouse will also be serving breakfast that morning from 7 to 10 a.m. The Airport Diner, the Tilt’n Diner and the Route 104 Diner will be open during their normal hours. Reservations are recommended at all locations.

• 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 Easter Sunday, April 17, serving its brunch menu from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Easter specials available all day, like steak and cheese frittata, lamb sliders, a pitmaster glazed ham dinner, artichoke-crusted halibut, and “Bedrock” waffles, featuring Fruity Pebbles cereal, sliced strawberries, whipped cream, maple syrup and applewood-smoked bacon. The Copper Door’s regular menus will also be available.

• Copper Kettle To Go (39 Main St., Wilton, 654-2631, copperkettletogo.com) is taking orders for Easter ham dinners serving either four or six people, which are served with potatoes, glazed carrots and rolls. Other items available to order include cinnamon rolls, spinach and feta croissants, apple fritters and jumbo blueberry muffins. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 16.

• Crosby Bakery (51 E. Pearl St., Nashua, 882-1851, crosbybakerynh.com) is taking orders for eight-inch or 10-inch pies in a variety of flavors (apple, blueberry, chocolate cream, lemon meringue, banana cream and more); as well as savory specialties, like meat pie, gorton or salmon pie; sandwich platters, Parker house rolls, cinnamon rolls, and pastries, like muffins, doughnuts and Danishes. Order by April 13 for pickup on Friday, April 15, or by April 14 for pickup on Saturday, April 16.

• The Crust & Crumb Baking Co. (126 N. Main St., Concord, 219-0763, thecrustandcrumb.com) is taking orders for pies (flavors include apple streusel, forest berry crumb, maple bourbon pecan, lemon meringue, blueberry crumb, gluten-free almond oat crust, Key lime, chocolate cream, maple cream and coconut cream); quiches (flavors include red pepper and pepper jack cheese, asparagus, onion and feta, bacon, broccoli and Swiss or sausage and cheddar); and other assorted items, like hot cross buns, cinnamon buns, coffee cakes, biscuits, spring cupcakes, cheesecake, fruit tarts and more. Order by April 9. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 16.

• Cruzin Cakes Shop (150 Broad St., Nashua, 882-1666, cruzincakesshop.com) is taking orders for a variety of specialty items for Easter, like themed cakes, cupcakes and platters, as well as breakable chocolate bunnies and Portuguese sweet bread. Order by April 9.

• The Derryfield Restaurant (625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880, thederryfield.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 17, with seatings every half hour from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $31.95 for adults, $29.95 for seniors and $18.95 for kids under 12 and reservations are strongly recommended.

• Epoch Gastropub (The Exeter Inn, 90 Front St., Exeter, 778-3762, epochrestaurant.com) will serve a special Easter brunch on Sunday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring a protein station with slow-roasted sirloin and roasted mushroom jus, and North Country steamship ham with pumpernickel, sage, blue cheese stuffing and bechamel. Other items will include brioche French toast, bacon, sausage, cauliflower bisque, cavatelli with broccoli raab, smoked salmon, a local cheese and charcuterie spread with house-made sesame crackers, and assorted seasonal desserts. The cost is $60 for adults and $25 for kids and reservations are encouraged.

• Firefly American Bistro & Bar (22 Concord St., Manchester, 935-9740, fireflynh.com) will serve an Easter brunch on Sunday, April 17, featuring specials in addition to its regular brunch menu all day long. Reservations are strongly suggested.

• The Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille (40 Andover Road, New London, 526-6899, flyinggoose.com) will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, serving Easter specials all day long. Walk-ins are welcome.

• Fratello’s Italian Grille (155 Dow St., Manchester, 641-6776, fratellos.com) will serve a special Easter buffet in its ballroom on Sunday, April 17, with seatings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. In addition to an egg and omelet station, there will be a carving station with slow-roasted prime rib au jus and garlic rosemary-crusted leg of lamb with mint jus, as well as other items like Belgian waffles, bacon, sausage, baked ham with a brown sugar glaze, chicken piccata and more. The cost is $39 for adults and $18.95 for kids ages 4 to 11. Reservations are required.

• Frederick’s Pastries (109 Route 101A, Amherst, 882-7725; 25 S. River Road, Bedford, 647-2253; pastry.net) offers a variety of seasonal sweets and treats for Easter, like bunny cookie kits, rabbit ear cupcakes, speckled robin’s egg cakes, bunny buttercream fudge bars and more.

• Fresh AF Bakeshop (34 Church St., Unit 4, Kingston, 642-8609, freshafbakeshop.com) is taking orders for cupcakes (flavors include carrot, funfetti, chocolate, lemon, cookies and cream, coconut cream, and vegan and gluten-free vanilla or chocolate); six- or eight-inch layer cakes (flavors include carrot, lemon raspberry and chocolate salted caramel); shortcakes, featuring fresh whipped cream, house strawberry jam and fresh strawberries (small serving four to six; medium serving six to 10); macarons (flavors include carrot cake, lemon meringue pie, Cadbury egg, strawberry cheesecake, mixed berry, salted caramel, or dairy-free coconut cream or cookies and cream); as well as fresh cream puffs (chocolate-covered and traditional powdered sugar), buttercream cookies, and breakfast items, like croissants, take-and-bake cinnamon buns, and strawberry shortcake-stuffed doughnuts. Order by April 9. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 16. On Thursday, April 14, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Fresh AF Bakeshop will host a BYOB Easter-themed cupcake decorating class at The Factory on Willow (252 Willow St., Manchester). The cost is $75 per person and all skill levels are welcome. Charcuterie boards from 603 Charcuterie’s store will be available for purchase.

• Gauchos Churrascaria Brazilian Steak House (62 Lowell St., Manchester, 669-9460, gauchosbraziliansteakhouse.com) will serve a special Easter brunch on Sunday, April 17, with seatings at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. In addition to rodizio meats served tableside, there will be a breakfast buffet, a market table of fresh sides, a ham carving station and a selection of pastries, yogurts, parfaits and more. The cost is $39.99 for adults and $14.99 for kids ages 6 to 10. Gauchos will also be open for dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. on Easter Sunday.

• Granite State Candy Shoppe (13 Warren St., Concord, 225-2591; 832 Elm St., Manchester, 218-3885; granitestatecandyshoppe.com) has a variety of specialty treats available now for Easter, like baskets of all sizes filled with assorted chocolates and candies, as well as smaller individual items, like mini milk chocolate peanut butter eggs, milk chocolate yellow Peeps, chocolate bunny pops and all kinds of other unique chocolate molds.

• Granite State Whoopie Pies (Goffstown, granitestatewhoopiepies.com) is taking orders for special carrot cake-flavored whoopie pies for Easter, available by the dozen as regular or miniature sizes. Orders are due by April 9, for pickup the following Wednesday through Saturday, during open hours at White Birch Eatery (571 Mast Road, Goffstown).

• Greenleaf (54 Nashua St., Milford, 213-5447, greenleafmilford.com) is taking orders for a special Easter Sunday takeout dinner, featuring your choice of protein (North Country Smokehouse honey peppercorn glazed ham, Lull Farm chicken breast or Northeast Family Farm beef tenderloin), each of which is served with roasted garlic and herb baby potatoes, honey-glazed carrots, spring mix salad with green goddess dressing and strawberry shortcake. Other available add-ons include housemade Parker house dinner rolls, whipped molasses honey butter, and a strawberry shortcake trifle with vanilla pastry cream. Order by April 14 at 3 p.m. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 16, from 5 to 8 p.m.

• Hanover Street Chophouse (149 Hanover St., Manchester, 644-2467, hanoverstreetchophouse.com) is taking reservations for Easter Sunday, April 17, between noon and 3:30 p.m., serving its regular menu with specials.

• Harvey’s Bakery & Coffee Shop (376 Central Ave., Dover, 742-6029, harveysbakery.com) is taking orders for all kinds of specialty items for Easter, including fruit and cream pies, dinner rolls, and specialty cakes. Most pies are available in eight-inch or 10-inch sizes, while the rolls are sold by the dozen.

• The Hills Restaurant (Hampshire Hills Athletic Club, 50 Emerson Road, Milford, 721-0444, hampshirehills.com/the-hills-restaurant) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 17, from 8 a.m. to noon, featuring a brown sugar ham carving station, a build-your-own bloody mary and mimosa bar, and other items like scrambled eggs, French toast, waffles, bacon, sausage, muffins, fruit and more. The cost is $25 for adults and $12 for kids. Reservations are required.

• The Homestead Restaurant & Tavern (641 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-2022, homesteadnh.com) will serve a specials menu for Easter on Sunday, April 17, featuring items like roast prime rib of beef, chicken cordon bleu, chicken broccoli alfredo, veal oscar, baked stuffed haddock, roasted rack of lamb, broiled salmon, shrimp and scallop risotto and more.

• Jamison’s Restaurant (472 Route 111, Hampstead, 489-1565, jamisonsrestaurant.com) is taking reservations for Easter Sunday, April 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring a selection of specials that includes slow-roasted prime rib, pesto-crusted lamb leg, oven-roasted turkey breast, glazed spiral ham and stuffed haddock. Jamison’s full regular menu will also be available.

• Just Like Mom’s Pastries (353 Riverdale Road, Weare, 529-6667, justlikemomspastries.com) is taking orders for cakes (flavors include carrot, coconut and gluten-free almond flour chocolate cake); pies (chocolate cream and lemon meringue); cupcakes (carrot and red velvet); cookies (Easter decorated, meringue, jam thumbprints and chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons); quiches (ham and cheese, leek, roasted pepper and mushroom, and broccoli cheddar); and other assorted pastries and breads, including brioche aux herbes (enriched brioche loaf bread with Gruyere, sage, parsley and garlic). Cookie, brownie, pastry or whoopie pie platters are also available upon request.

• KC’s Rib Shack (837 Second St., Manchester, 627-7427, ribshack.net) is taking reservations now for its annual Easter buffet on Sunday, April 17, from noon to 6 p.m., featuring bacon Sriracha deviled eggs and fruit salad to start; a variety of meats, like pit ham, beef brisket, pulled pork, spare ribs, smoked chicken and sausage chunks; and sides, like green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, corn casserole, coleslaw, apple sauce and cornbread. A dessert station will also be included. The cost is $30 for adults, $14 for kids ages 5 to 10 and free for kids under 5.

• LaBelle Winery (345 Route 101, Amherst; 14 Route 111, Derry; 672-9898, labellewinery.com) will serve a grand brunch buffet on Easter Sunday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring your choice of chicken, baked filet of cod or brown sugar ham, plus a chef-attended omelet station, cinnamon French toast casserole, eggs and home-fried potatoes, roasted asparagus, assorted pastries and freshly sliced fruit. The cost is $75 per person, $26 for kids ages 4 to 12 and free for kids ages 3 and under, and coffee, tea and assorted juices are included in the ticket price. Wine, cocktails, beer and other non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.

• Loon Chocolate (The Factory on Willow, 252 Willow St., Manchester, loonchocolate.com) has an assortment of Easter-themed sweets in addition to its regular hand-crafted bean-to-bar chocolates. Its new retail shop is open Thursday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Makris Lobster & Steak House (354 Sheep Davis Road, Concord, 225-7665, eatalobster.com) will serve a special Easter buffet on Sunday, April 17, with seatings on the hour between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. There will be a carving station with roast sirloin of beef and glazed ham, plus a variety of fresh seafood, including seafood stuffed sole, blackened salmon and seafood Newburg. Other featured options will be grilled lamb and beef souvlaki, pasta primavera, chicken Marsala, and an assorted dessert table. The cost is $29.99 per person and kids ages 10 and under eat for half off the price. Reservations are required.

• McNulty & Foley Caterers (124 E. Hollis St., Nashua, 882-1921, mcnultycatering.com) is taking orders for various heat-and-eat items for Easter, including dinners, like glazed baked ham, spinach and feta cheese stuffed chicken, and homemade baked lasagna; and sides, like green bean casserole and delmonico potatoes. Desserts are also available, like lemon squares and pistachio brownie trifles. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 16, from noon to 2 p.m.

• Mile Away Restaurant (52 Federal Hill Road, Milford, 673-3904, mileawayrestaurantnh.com) is taking reservations now for Easter, offering special meals that include your choice of one appetizer, salad, entree and dessert. Menu staples include appetizers like tomato bisque, Swedish meatballs, fresh fruit plates with sorbet; Caesar salad or garden salad with blue cheese, house ranch, raspberry vinaigrette or balsamic dressing; entrees like roast leg of lamb, honey-glazed ham, pork forestiere, chicken pesto, piccata milanese, maple salmon, broiled scrod, schnitzel or vegetarian baked eggplant Parmesan; and desserts like carrot cake, tiramisu cake, sorbet, bread pudding, cheesecake, chocolate ganache cake, lemon mascarpone cake and chocolate mousse cake.

• Mr. Mac’s Macaroni & Cheese (497 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 606-1760, mr-macs.com) is taking orders for its take-and-bake macaroni and cheese in a wide variety of flavors, which can be shipped nationwide. Order by April 12 to have it delivered by Easter Sunday.

• MT’s Local Kitchen & Wine Bar (212 Main St., Nashua, 595-9334, mtslocal.com) will be open on Sunday, April 17, from noon to 5 p.m., serving its regular menu with Easter specials.

• Nelson’s Candy and Music (65 Main St., Wilton, 654-5030, nelsonscandymusic.com) has a variety of specialty treats available now for Easter, like chocolate mold bunny pops, and cream eggs, with flavors like chocolate fudge, peanut butter, coconut and raspberry.

• Popovers on the Square (11 Brickyard Square, Epping, 734-4724; 8 Congress St., Portsmouth, 431-1119; popoversonthesquare.com) is taking orders for Easter egg cakes, featuring a chocolate cake filled with chocolate mousse, glazed with ganache and decorated with spring flowers; and lemon mascarpone cream-filled vanilla cakes with lemon buttercream. Other items include vanilla or chocolate Easter-decorated cupcakes (can be ordered gluten-free), and Easter bunny or spring chick sugar cookies. Order by April 10 at 8 p.m.

• Presto Craft Kitchen (168 Amory St., Manchester, 606-1252, prestocraftkitchen.com) is taking orders for a variety of specialty items for Easter, including dinners, like wood-fired lamb tips, brown sugar glazed ham, shrimp and scallop scampi, and pizzagaina, or a large quiche-like ricotta-based pie filled with Italian meats. Sweeter items are available too, like giant breakable chocolate eggs, Easter egg cakesicles (flavors include carrot cake or funfetti), carrot patch (chocolate-covered strawberries in Oreo “dirt”), fresh-filled cannolis and assorted Italian cookie platters. Order by April 11. Pickups will be on Friday, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, April 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Queen City Cupcakes (790 Elm St., Manchester, 624-4999, qccupcakes.com) is taking orders for an assortment of specialty themed cupcake flavors for Easter, like carrot cake and Cadbury cream egg, as well as others like blackberry truffle, chocolate salted caramel, raspberry linzer cookie, strawberry shortcake, vanilla bean and more. Order by April 13 at noon. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 16, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Rig A Tony’s Italian Takeout (254 Wallace Road, Bedford, 262-1244; 13 Rockingham Road, Windham, 685-8122; 34 South Ave., Derry, 404-6315; rigatonysitalian.com) is taking orders for Easter dinners featuring spiral ham or roasted porchetta, pasta margarita, house mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, string beans almondine and sweet rolls. Other available a la carte items include chicken or eggplant Parm, traditional lasagna, shrimp scampi, wedding soup, and sweets like cannolis, homemade Italian cookies, or chocolate cream or Maine blueberry pies. Order by April 13.

• Salt Kitchen & Bar (Wentworth by the Sea, 588 Wentworth Road, New Castle, 373-6566, saltkitchenandbar.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring a farm-fresh egg and omelet station, a Belgian waffle station and a ham carving station, as well as a New England raw bar, an artisan cheese display, a variety of hot entrees, a dessert display and more. The cost is $89.95 per person and $26.95 for kids under 12.

• Simply Delicious Baking Co. (176 Route 101, Bedford, 488-1988, simplydeliciousbakingco.com) is taking orders for carrot cake, lemon bars, almond biscotti, lemon blueberry scones and other specialty items for Easter. Order by April 13. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 16, from 8 a.m. to noon.

• Smoke Shack Cafe (226 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 404-2178, smokeshackcafe.com) is taking orders for a variety of specialty catering packages for Easter that include your choice of smoked ham or prime rib, along with two to six sides (macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, peas, corn saute, brown sugar carrots, green beans and broccoli saute), six to 12 pieces of cornbread, and a half- to a full-sized salad tray. Smoked ham and smoked prime rib are also both available as a la carte options. Order by April 12. Pickups will be on Sunday, April 17.

• St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (1160 Bridge St., Manchester, 625-6115, stnicholasgreekchurch.com) is holding a Greek Easter bake sale, taking pre-orders for pastry platters featuring baklava, koulourakia and kourambiethes. Orders are being accepted until April 10 or while supplies last.

• Sweet Boutique (21 Kilton Road, Bedford, 222-1521, visitsweetboutique.com) has a variety of specialty hand-crafted treats available now for Easter, like milk, dark and white chocolate bunny molds, candy-filled chocolate “smash eggs” and more.

• Tammaro’s Cucina (469 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield, 377-7312, tammaroscucina.com) is taking orders for a variety of Easter specials, available in half- or full-sized trays. Options include pizzagaina (Italian meat pie), sweet ricotta pie, Easter bread, assorted Easter cookies and more. Order by April 13.

• Tiffany’s Cafe & Catering (542 Mast Road, No. 6, Goffstown, 627-6622, find them on Facebook @tiffanyscafecatering) is taking orders now for Easter dinners, featuring either roast beef or honey-baked ham with pan gravy for an entree, as well as soups and salads (chicken lemon rice soup, Italian wedding soup, garden salad and spinach salad); and sides (scalloped potatoes, roast red bliss potatoes, sweet potato casserole, holiday corn and Italian green beans). Other available a la carte offerings include devilled eggs, cheese and fruit trays with assorted crackers, pigs in a blanket, quiches, cupcakes and pies (flavors include banana cream, chocolate cream, coconut cream and pistachio cream). Order by April 15. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Trombly Gardens (150 N. River Road, Milford, 673-0647, tromblygardens.net) is taking orders for special Easter dinners featuring sugar-glazed ham with pineapple mustard gravy, mashed potatoes, maple carrots, green bean casserole and house rolls. Each side is also available a la carte at an additional cost. Order by April 10. Pickups will be on Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Tuscan Market (9 Via Toscana, Salem, 912-5467, tuscanbrands.com) is taking orders for several specialty packages for Easter, featuring your choice of bone-in spiral ham, boneless roast leg of lamb or carved roast turkey breast, each of which are served with sides and Italian wine pairings, with enough food to feed six to eight people. Other available a la carte options include half-trays of lasagna, pizzagaina (Italian meat pie), risotto and sausage stuffed bell peppers, and desserts, like limoncello tiramisu, flourless espresso cake, Italian Easter breads and more. Order at least two days in advance of picking up.

• Van Otis Chocolates (341 Elm St., Manchester, 627-1611, vanotis.com) has a variety of specialty treats available now for Easter, like milk, dark or white chocolate bunny molds, chocolate cream eggs with fillings like butter cream, coconut cream, cookie dough, caramel, Swiss fudge and raspberry fudge, and multiple sizes of Easter baskets and buckets filled with assorted chocolates and candies.

• WineNot Boutique (25 Main St., Nashua, 204-5569, winenotboutique.com) will hold a special Easter-themed grand tasting of wines on Saturday, April 9, from 1 to 6 p.m., the first storewide walk-around event at its new location. A diverse selection of more than a dozen wines will be offered. Admission is free — see the event pages on Facebook or Eventbrite for details.

• Wolfe’s Tavern (The Wolfeboro Inn, 90 N. Main St., Wolfeboro, 569-3016, wolfestavern.com) will serve a special Easter brunch on Sunday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring items that will include roasted tomato bisque, herb-crusted leg of lamb, grilled flank steak, cedar salmon, assorted homemade desserts and more. The cost is $50 for adults and $20 for kids.

• Woodstock Inn Brewery (135 Main St., North Woodstock, 745-3951, woodstockinnbrewery.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet on Sunday, April 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to omelet and waffle bars, there will be a carving station with ham and prime rib, and other items like eggs Benedict, vegetable lasagna, salmon, assorted desserts and more. The cost is $29.99 for adults and $18.99 for kids under 12.

• Ya Mas Greek Taverna & Bar (125 Bridge St., Pelham, 635-4230, yamasgreektaverna.com) will serve a special Easter brunch buffet just up the road at Chunky’s Cinema Pub in Pelham (150 Bridge Street) on Sunday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a wide variety of breakfast and lunch items available, including a made-to-order create-your-own omelet station, a brioche French toast station and a prime rib carving station, plus Greek options like spanakopita, tiropita and stuffed grape leaves, as well as an artisan cheese and charcuterie spread, and desserts and sweet treats, like baklava, lemon tarts, strawberry shortcake and more. The cost is $49 for adults and $19 for kids. Reservations are required.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Multicultural watercolors

Nashua exhibition represents faces from around the globe

Kavitha Chandrasekaran has painted every single day since she moved to Nashua three years ago, and now she’s sharing the products of that devotion in a solo exhibition at the Nashua Public Library.

“This is my first [show],” Chandrasekaran said. “I can’t believe I’ve created so many paintings.”

“Faces in Watercolors,” on display through April 30, features portraits of people from Africa, Vietnam, Thailand and India; the latter is Chandrasekaran’s homeland. She moved to the U.S. in 2013, first to Atlanta, then New York, finally landing in Nashua due to her husband’s job change.

Chandrasekaran said it was boredom that prompted her to pick up a paintbrush.

“When I came to Nashua my kids were very small, so I couldn’t get a full-time job,” said Chandrasekaran, who has a master’s in human physiology. “But when they napped I had some time.”

painting of three young boys, smiling — “Those Eyes.” Watercolor by Kavitha Chandrasekaran.

It was the first time Chandrasekaran had tried painting; previously the only art she’d done was drawing back in her early school days. She started by teaching herself how to paint with acrylics.

“[Then] I started exploring watercolor [and spent] hours scrolling on Instagram — Instagram made me try watercolor,” she laughed.

Chandrasekaran said she loves the way you can’t predict exactly how the watercolor effect is going to look when she’s working on the backgrounds for her portraits, but there’s a more practical reason why she’s stuck with watercolors.

“I don’t need lots of supplies, so when my kids wake up I can just pack up and put things away,” she laughed.

People’s faces resonate with Chandrasekaran in a way that landscape painting hasn’t; she’s tried the latter, but she said that after 10 or 15 paintings, she still didn’t like how they turned out.

Her desire to create a custom calendar with images of her children drew her into portraiture. She didn’t know how to draw figures, so she studied and taught herself the basics, then started to learn how to tell a story through the faces she paints.

“The eyes are very important to me because that is the most expressive part of a face,” she said.

For this exhibition, some of the portraits are based on photos she found on Instagram and was given permission to paint. Some she picks as a reference to start with and changes a little bit so they have their own unique look. The photos of Indigenous people in particular caught her eye.

“These photos were very expressive, and I got very attracted to their jewelry and [accessories],” Chandrasekaran said.

During this time when she hasn’t been able to travel to India, or anywhere really, for a couple of years, Chandrasekaran said immersing herself in the faces of people from around the globe has been a comfort. She is hoping, though, that she will be able to introduce her kids, who are 6 and 4, to India this summer. But for now, she’s embracing the cultures of Nashua.

“This is a foreign land to me, but I made it my home,” she said.

Chandrasekaran plans to keep painting and wants to try to submit some of her work to more galleries and become more familiar with the local art scene.

“The painting is what now keeps me going every day,” she said. “This is something that I enjoy and want to [continue to] explore.”

“Faces in Watercolors”
Where: The gallery at Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St.
When: Now through April 30 any time the library is open
Meet the artist: There will be an artist’s reception on Thursday, April 14, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Visit: nashualibrary.org

Featured photo: “Akha.” Watercolor by Kavitha Chandrasekaran. Courtesy photo.

Come together with the Ukulele

A conversation with Jake Shimabukuro and how you can join NH’s ukulele scene

Ukulele together

Jake Shimabukuro’s new album is all about collaboration

In 2006, Jake Shimabukuro played the ukulele heard ’round the world. A clip he recorded for the New York City public access program Midnight Ukulele Disco, in which he played “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” was one of the first viral video successes on YouTube, amassing more than 15 million views. Since then he’s become a global ambassador for the four-stringed instrument. In addition to releasing several albums and touring the world, he’s performed a concerto for ukulele and orchestra, scored the Japanese remake of the indie film Sideways, given a TED talk, and spearheaded a ukuleles-in-the-classroom effort in his home of Hawaii.

Jake Shimabukuro and Friends, the ukulele maestro’s most recent album, couldn’t come at a better time. This duets album features a diverse array of musicians — among them Willie Nelson, Bette Midler, Michael McDonald and Jimmy Buffett — in a celebration of the ways a good song can bring different people together.

Ahead of an appearance at Tupelo Music Hall on Thursday, April 14, Shimabukuro discussed the tour and the record in an interview via Zoom in late March.

Your latest album is a series of duets and collaborations. How did that come together and how did you pick which songs to play with which artists?

Oh, wow. Wow. So, that was a project that started about four years ago. It was a conversation I had with my manager. And he was like, ‘You should do a duets record.’ And I was thinking, wow. He started naming some artists and I was like, oh man, that would be awesome. But in the back of my head, I was thinking, oh, this is never going to happen, right? How are we going to get all these people together?

We had mentioned the project to Roy Benson of Asleep at the Wheel and he got very excited and he agreed to help me co-produce the record. The first thing he said to me was, ‘Man, we got to get you and Willie Nelson together.’ And I said, ‘Really?’ He picked up the phone, called Willie and told him all about the project and Willie was down with it. And two months later we were in the studio recording ‘Stardust.’ I mean, it was unbelievable. And so after that, it just gave the project all this momentum.

A couple of the songs on here are standards, like Willie Nelson’s version of ‘Stardust.’ What is it like to play those songs? And how did playing those songs change the way you listen to them?

Man, I tell you, when Willie Nelson agreed to do … .Well, when he said he’ll do ‘Stardust,’ I mean, my jaw hit the floor because I was like, I am going to have the opportunity to not just play, but record ‘Stardust’ with Willie Nelson, right? And I got to tell you, it was a funny story because the night before we went into the studio, Ray took me to go see Willie. And it was my first time meeting him in person. I’d seen him, we played festivals together and I watched his show and kind of seen him from afar. But I remember we got to his house and I was so nervous and he came over. He came over and Ray introduced us and I got to shake his hand and I had my ukulele in my case, on my back. And he looked at me and said, ‘Hey, so we’re going to do ‘Stardust,’ right?’ And I said, ‘Oh yeah, thank you so much. I’m so honored that you’re doing this. I’m looking forward to it. Thank you. Thank you.’ And then he looked at me, he goes, ‘Oh, OK. Yeah. Well, maybe we should run through it.’

And I was like, ‘Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. No, we can definitely do that.’ And then there was this awkward pause and then I realized, oh, he means right now. … And I was like, OK. But see, I wasn’t prepared for that because I thought he was going to play guitar on it. I didn’t realize he was just going to sing. I immediately realized, oh, OK. I’m just playing and he’s singing. So I was so nervous, but we played through it and then he looked at me and he said, ‘All right. Yeah. Sounds good. Looking forward to tomorrow.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, thank you so much.’ And then I left with Ray and I was just like, I told Ray, ‘Oh my gosh, I almost passed out.’ Talk about being put on the spot. And man, he’s such a nice individual when you’re around him. He just has such a gentle presence and vibe so I loved it.

Did you go to your collaborators or did they come to you?

Well, Jimmy Buffett introduced me to probably half the people on the record, right? So, I was very fortunate to know most of them. There were a few people I hadn’t worked with before, like Willie Nelson and Lukas Nelson. Also, Vince Gill and Amy Grant. Most of the people on the record I had worked with before, so it was a little easier to ask and reach out. Jon Anderson, that was another dream come true because I was a huge Yes fan.

And Jon Anderson’s iconic voice. Oh man. And then when he agreed to sing ‘A Day In The Life,’ it just blew me out of my seat. I couldn’t believe he was going to sing that. And then he kind of tricked me. He said, ‘Oh yeah, I’ll sing you a demo of how I like to sing it.’ And he sent me this video and he is actually singing it. But he’s also strumming a ukulele.

And I was like, I’m sorry. I called him and I was like, ‘Jon, I didn’t know you played the ukulele.’ He goes, ‘Oh, I love the ukulele.’ And it was such a moment. So I told him, ‘You have to play ukulele on the record,’ but he didn’t want to play. ‘No, no, no, you play the ukulele. I’ll just sing.’ But man, he is just phenomenal. He did a lot of, some of that percussion work and stuff on there as well and added all his layers of vocals and, oh, it’s just phenomenal.

What is it like to tour behind a solo album that’s so rooted in collaboration?

I always make a joke when I talk about the record and I introduce some of the artists that are on it. And I always say, ‘Unfortunately they all couldn’t be here tonight.’ I say, ‘We’re going to do the songs anyway.’ So we have been playing a lot of the songs from the record, obviously the instrumentals. But songs like ‘Something’ and we were doing ‘A Place In The Sun.’

When I listened to this album, one of the things that struck me was that it’s a real celebration of community and the way music can be a common denominator for a lot of different people. How does it feel to be touring and promoting this as some of the Covid restrictions are lifting and people are coming out to see live music?

I’m so grateful to be performing in front of a live audience again. I mean, it just feels so good. I mean the first couple shows when we first went back out a couple months ago, I mean, after the first song, I cried. I unexpectedly just was so…. It was so overwhelming that I actually started tearing. And I’ve noticed that in a lot of these shows, you can see people they’re just [moved]. Because for a lot of the venues that we’ve been playing at recently, we’ve been kind of their first show back. Well, back in November and December when we were touring and we were their first show back. So, I mean, you could see people just in tears, just crying, sobbing. And you know everyone has had their own unique challenges during this time. It just shows how just the healing power of music and the power of people coming together, being in the moment and just letting the music touch you, and it’s so powerful.

What can New Hampshire audiences expect from your upcoming show at Tupelo?

So I’m bringing a dear friend with me. His name is Jackson Waldhoff. He’s been touring with me for the last couple years. He’s from Hawaii as well. And just a very, I mean, honest musician. I just love his playing. Everything he plays is so pure. He’s so melodic and it just really complements the ukulele and the parts I play. We’re going to be doing a lot of bass and ukulele duets and he’s just so much fun to watch and I just love playing with him. Every once in a while you come across musicians that you play with and you just almost feel like you know where they’re going to go, what note they’re going to, how they’re going to play, and you just can read them dynamically. And I think that’s what we’re able to provide for each other and it’s really awesome, so I’m excited.

Jake Shimabukuro
When: Thursday, April 14, 8 p.m.
Where: Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St. in Derry)
Tickets: $30 to $50
More info: tupelomusichall.com

You can ukulele

Ukulele enthusiasts keep the music going

Talking about his previous appearance in the Granite State, Jake Shimabukuro shouted out the ukulele players of southern New Hampshire.

“The last time I was there, they came and they brought their ukuleles,” he recalled. “It’s so wonderful to see that. All these communities of ukulele players, just all over the world. It’s crazy.”

The feeling is mutual. “No one can shred a ukulele like Jake!” June Pinkham said in a recent email interview. As one of the co-organizers for the Southern New Hampshire Ukulele Group, she would know from ukulele shredding. Over the past decade, SNHUG has organized sing-and-strum get-togethers for ukulele enthusiasts in the Seacoast area, with bigger and more ambitious plans on the horizon.

Former Granite State resident Dan Mathis first organized SNHUG on Meetup in December 2011, appointing Pinkham as a co-organizer. Their earliest meetings were attended by five members.

“I had inherited a Martin ukulele from my father-in-law and wanted to learn to play it in his honor,” Pinkham wrote. “Little did I know where that would lead!”

The group has about 600 followers on their Meetup group, and avid members have met twice a month at the Seabrook Public.

“We have many talented members in our group!” Pinkham wrote. She describes their membership as “people from all walks of life. People like me, with no musical background, to people who are very well accustomed to playing on stage professionally and just want to have some fun.”

SNHUG’s mission includes a community service component, which involves performances and fundraising. The group frequently looks for “a way to ‘do a little good’ … bringing smiles to nursing homes, community events, farmers markets — wherever there was a need.” They have also raised money for the nonprofit Ukulele Kids Club, which brings musical instruments to children in hospitals as a form of music therapy.

“We organized the Battle of the Ukulele Bands, which took place in 2019 at The Music Hall in Portsmouth,” a “seriously complex event” that raised $23,000 for the UKC. “To date, we have raised almost $90,000 for charity — all the while having a blast!”

Check out a ukulele (literally)
You can get a feel for a ukulele by checking one out of some area libraries. Ukuleles are available at the Hooksett Public Library (31 Mt. St. Mary’s Way in Hooksett; hooksettlibrary.org, 485-6092) and from the Merrimack Public Library (470 DW Highway in Merrimack; merrimacklibrary.org, 424-5021). Call for details.

Like many ukulele groups, SNHUG had to shift their in-person gatherings to Zoom when the Covid-19 pandemic first hit. As the temperatures rose, the organizers found ways for the group to get together. “Last year we met as soon as the weather warmed up in the spring all the way through November — outside at the park, frozen fingers and all.” They were warmly greeted by members of the community and grew their community through outdoor performances at nursing homes and farmers markets. Just as ukulele sales grew in 2020, so did SNHUG’s community: “We didn’t see a change in our membership during the lockdown. In fact, I think our membership went up!”

SNHUG can help ukulele novices learn the instrument. For more information on SNHUG’s gatherings and lessons, visit snhug.wordpress.com. And keep an eye out for their annual SNHUGfest in Dover on Sept. 24.

Learn to play
Here are a few places where you can go to learn to play a ukulele.

• Let’s Play Music (2626 Brown Ave., Unit A2, Manchester, 218-3089; 145 Hampstead Road, 1st floor, Suite 26, Derry, 425-7575; letsplaymusic.com/ukulele-lessons.php) offers children’s and adults beginner to advanced ukulele lessons in person and on Zoom.
• NH Tunes (250 Commercial St., Suite 201, Manchester; 660-2208, nhtunes.biz) offers ukulele lessons for beginners to advanced players in person and on Zoom.
• North Main Music (28 Charron Ave., Suite 1, Nashua; 505-4282, northmainmusic.com/ukulele-lessons) offers in-person and online ukulele lessons for children and adults.
• The Real School of Music (10 A St., Derry; 260-6801, therealschoolofmusic.com) offers beginner to advanced ukulele lessons for children and adults in person and on Zoom.
• Steve’s House of Ukulele (123 Main St., Concord; stevesukes.com, 555-9876) Steve’s House offers Zoom and in-person lessons for beginners as well as more experienced players. Steve’s House also offers instrument rentals and sales.
• Ted Herbert Music (880 Page St, Manchester; 669-7469, tedherbert.com) John Chouinard teaches ukulele lessons in person and over Zoom for beginners through advanced players. He also leads the ukulele ensemble Ukuladies.

Featured photo: Jake Shimabukuro. Photo by Sienna Morales.

News & Notes 22/04/07

Covid-19 update	As of March 28	As of April 4
Total cases statewide	302,181	303,010
Total current infections statewide	1,020	1,033
Total deaths statewide	2,447	2,452
New cases	873 (March 22 to March 28)	829 (March 29 to April 4)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	253	281 (as of Thurs., March 31)
Current infections: Merrimack County	86	87 (as of Thurs., March 31)
Current infections: Rockingham County	164	218 (as of Thurs., March 31)

Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Covid-19 news

On March 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a second booster dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna Covid-19 vaccines for older and certain immunocompromised populations. According to a press release, these include people ages 50 and older at least four months after receiving their first booster dose, as well as people ages 12 and older (for Pfizer) and 18 and older (for Moderna) who have undergone solid organ transplantation, or who are living with conditions considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise. “Based on an analysis of emerging data, a second booster dose … could help increase protection levels for these higher-risk individuals,” Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. “Current evidence suggests some waning of protection over time.”

In New Hampshire, state health officials reported 102 new cases of Covid-19 on April 4. Last week, Covid-related hospitalizations fell to the single digits for the first time in more than a year — as of April 4 there were just six statewide.

Paid leave

The state is looking for a commercial insurance carrier to fully insure and administer the Granite State Paid Family and Medical Leave Plan. According to a press release, last week Gov. Chris Sununu and the New Hampshire Departments of Administrative Services and Employment Security, with assistance from the Insurance Department, released a Request for Proposal to administer the plan, which provides participating employees in New Hampshire with 60 percent of their average weekly wage for up to six weeks per year for specified leaves of absence. “A statewide, private-market, truly voluntary paid leave plan does not exist in any other state, and New Hampshire is leading the way,” Sununu said in the release. “After years of talk, we are finally moving forward with a viable paid leave product that is available to anyone who wants it and forced upon no one who does not.” The state is required to implement a voluntary paid family and medical leave plan as a provision of the 2022/2023 State Budget Trailer Bill, the release said. Any employer can choose to participate, and a business enterprise tax credit equal to 50 percent of the premium paid by those employers is available. “This is a critical program providing current and future workers here in the Granite State with the choice to take paid time away from work to care for family or care for themselves,” Deputy Commissioner Richard Lavers of Employment Security said in the release.

Queen City budget

Last week, Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig delivered her FY23 tax-cap budget address. According to a press release, the budget proposal includes a 3.57 percent property tax increase (resulting in a tax rate change of $0.63, from $17.68 to $18.31 per $1,000 of assessed property value), which equates to an increase in property tax revenues of $8.2 million. Approximately $4.3 million of that is allocated to the City and $3.9 million the Manchester School District. A significant increase in health insurance claims in the second half of FY22 prompted an increase of $1.5 million to health insurance in FY23, the release said, and an additional $1.4 million was allocated to merits, longevity and associated benefits — meaning 65 percent of all city employees will receive at least a 3 percent increase in pay. The budget also includes bonding renovations to Derryfield Park, and replacing the Livingston Park track and the playgrounds at Wolfe Park and Sheridan Emmett Park, as well as $4.1 million that will go toward improving 32.9 miles of streets and sidewalks. The budget also establishes a green streets tree canopy program that will cover half of a resident’s cost for a new tree if it’s adjacent to the street. It leverages private funds for upgrades to fields at Livingston, Precourt, Sheehan Basquil and Stevens parks. For Manchester’s schools, the budget covers current programming and staff, and costs associated with collective bargaining agreements, retirement and health insurance, the release said, and it supports the school district’s strategic plan to grow its learners, educators and systems. Approximately $4.4 million in bonding will be used for Capital Improvement Projects, including the purchase of five school buses, playground replacements at Bakersville and Webster Elementary and Cullerot Park access to green space for Northwest students.

Political poll

Sixty-eight percent of New Hampshire registered voters think the country is on the wrong track, according to a recent poll from the Saint Anselm College Survey Center at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. That number is down from 74 percent in January, and according to a press release, the current political environment has led to slightly improved job approval for incumbents, though President Joe Biden’s handling of the economy is the same as January, with 58 percent of voters disapproving. His job approval has increased slightly: 43 percent approval, compared to 41 percent in January. Locally, Gov. Chris Sununu is up from his career low and is now at 62 percent approval, 36 percent disapproval, and, according to the release, he leads in a hypothetical matchup against his only announced challenger, State Sen. Tom Sherman, 51 to 24 percent. The approval rating for Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is at 48 percent; Sen. Maggie Hassan is at 46 percent; Congressman Chris Pappas is at 43 percent; and Congresswoman Annie Kuster is at 42 percent, the release said. Results from the Saint Anselm College Survey Center poll are based on online surveys of 1,265 New Hampshire registered voters collected on March 23 and March 24.

TeachUNITED

The state has a new partnership with TeachUNITED to provide five rural schools with individualized professional development. According to a press release, the schools were selected based on need and instructional improvement goals. The chosen schools are Northwood Elementary School in Northwood, Strong Foundations Charter School in Pembroke, Barnard Elementary School in South Hampton, Stevens High School in Claremont and Cornish Elementary School in Cornish. The program highlights strategies for growth mindset, data-driven instruction and personalized and blended learning. “This new partnership will support teachers and rural school leaders with strategies necessary to set and reach ambitious student goals,” Frank Edelblut, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education, said in the release.

Help clean up any public area in Concord with the city’s Blue Bag Program. According to Concord’s monthly newsletter, residents can participate in the free program by filling out a release form, picking up free blue bags at the Concord General Services office at 311 N. State St., do the clean-up, leave the bags on the side of the road, and then notify General Services, which will come out and pick up the trash.

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will travel to the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner on Saturday, April 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. for “Spemki Nib8iwi: The Heavens in the Nighttime.” According to a press release, the free outdoor program will feature stargazing with an Indigenous focus, a bonfire, hot drinks and telescopes set up in the field for sky viewing. Bring your own chairs; restrooms will be available.

Street sweeping is underway in Manchester. The Department of Public Works started sweeping on April 6, according to a press release, and sweeping will take place in various neighborhoods around the city on the first Wednesday and Thursday of the month. From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on those days, vehicles will need to be parked on one side of the street on Wednesday and on the opposite side the following day. Signs will be posted, and the city has tried to inform all residents in these areas, the release said.

Hillsborough County Superior Court-South’s Adult Drug Court in Nashua has been named one of 10 national mentor treatment courts by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and the U.S. Department of Justice. According to a press release, the drug court will serve a two-year term as a model program to assist new or growing courts around the country.

Self-tribute

Heart By Heart hits Cap Center

Among tribute bands, Heart by Heart is unique in actually having original members in its lineup. Bassist Steve Fossen joined Heart when it was a Pacific Northwest club band banging out Zeppelin and Deep Purple covers. Drummer Mike Derosier played on a pair of tracks from their 1976 debut album, Dreamboat Annie, then joined full-time.

Compare that to what’s these days officially advertised as Foreigner — only guitarist Mick Jones was part of its best-known hits, and he tours with them for maybe half the year.

With singer Somar Macek and guitarist Lizzy Daymont performing the roles of Ann and Nancy Wilson, Heart by Heart is a facsimile, but one with real cachet.

“We have to call ourselves a tribute act, because people understand what that means,” Fossen said in a recent phone interview. “At the same time, Mike and I helped write the material, and we toured with it. … Actually, we’re kind of a tribute to ourselves.”

With the rhythm section at the core of hits like “Little Queen,” “Straight On” and “Barracuda,” Heart by Heart provides a faithful version of what Heart sounded like in its heyday. Though Fossen no longer dons a unitard as he did in his twenties and Derosier keeps his shirt on, the overall vibe is solid throwback.

“We try to recreate what it would be like to see a band in the late ’70s and early ’80s,” Fossen said. “The guitar players were out there doing double leads together, harmony solos, there’s keyboards blaring, drums and bass are loud. … That’s our goal.”

Fossen and Derosier were pushed out of Heart together in 1982, after the Private Audition album failed to sell as hoped. In the decades that followed, Fossen mostly stayed away from music.

“I was more into mountaineering,” he said. “I spent a lot of my time going up and down mountains, and driving all around Washington state to different wilderness areas.”

In 2008, Derosier and fellow Heart alum Roger Fisher invited him to play a few Heart songs with Macek at a Seattle party. It was the first night he met the woman who’d become both a music and life partner. His first impression was off, though, because he assumed she spelled her first name like the season.

“I thought, oh, here we go; she’s going to come in with the tie-dye dress, hairy armpits, smelling of patchouli oil, a classic hippie chick,” he said, noting that while there’s nothing wrong with any of those things, he was totally off base. “She spells her name S-o-m-a-r, she’s highly educated, and she’s been singing her whole life.”

Macek and Fossen bumped into each other a few more times and became friends.

“She had a band at the time, so I would go out and see her play,” he said. “They would invite me to sit in on Heart songs; the friendship turned into a romance by Christmas.”

He laughed at the observation that unlike Heart, whose romantic entanglements could rival those of Fleetwood Mac and then some, they fell in love before starting a band.

The two began playing as a duo at social gatherings, creating enough of a buzz that they were invited to open for Dwight Yoakam in Anchorage, Alaska. They decided a bigger sound was needed and brought on Derosier and guitarist Randy Hansen. The Yoakam gig ended up getting canceled, but the group enjoyed rehearsing enough to carry on anyway.

Their first official show was a breast cancer awareness benefit. When Daymont joined two years later, the doppelgänger effect was complete with her solid guitar skills and vocal support.

Their sets span all of Heart’s catalog, even songs Fossen and Derosier weren’t on, like “Alone,” “These Dreams” and “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You.”

“We look at Heart songs that are popular, that people want to hear, and we tried to learn those in the beginning,” Fossen said. “Obviously, with a band like ours, we want to please as many people as possible. There’s a lot of fans of that era of music, so we [play] those too.”

Heart By Heart
When: Saturday, April 2, 8 p.m.
Where: Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord
Tickets: $25 and up ccanh.com

Featured photo: Heart by Heart. Photo by Bill Bungard.

Category: Featured Content

Try it and buy it

Feasts on Easter

Multicultural watercolors

Come together with the Ukulele

News & Notes 22/04/07

Self-tribute

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!