Franco-American Centre to host amateur cake competition
Eight amateur bakers will show off their cake decorating skills to attendees and a panel of judges during the Franco Foods Fleur Délices challenge, a new friendly baking competition and fundraising event happening on Saturday, April 9, at Anheuser-Busch’s Biergarten in Merrimack.
Countries and regions spanning multiple continents around the world will be represented, but all of them share one commonality, either their French-speaking language or French culture, said Nathalie Hirte, event organizer and office manager of the Franco-American Centre, based in Manchester. A native of Québec and an avid home cook, Hirte is also the host of Franco Foods, a how-to YouTube series on French-inspired recipes that her son Oskar directs and produces.
“We were looking to do a live event … and, pre-pandemic, we had planned a cupcake challenge that was going to be a professional competition,” Hirte said. “That obviously got shelved, and especially now that it’s all hands on deck for businesses post-pandemic, we decided to do an amateur baking competition instead. … I know too just from seeing [posts from] my friends on Facebook and whatnot that there are so many talented amateur bakers out there.”
Each of the eight entrants has chosen from a list of nearly 90 International Francophonie-recognized countries and regions, or nations where French is a primary or secondary language or has a historical connection to the culture. France, Canada and Haiti, in addition to Croatia, Belgium and even Egypt and Mexico, have all been selected, and contestants will be tasked with creating a cake that is decorated to reflect that country in some way.
“They will pre-make everything at home, and then they will be bringing that to the event and will be putting together the cake and decorating it there,” Hirte said. “There are certain rules, so for example every cake has to have a minimum of two tiers. One of the tiers must be a sponge, so a regular cake batter, and then every cake must have a buttercream element and a cookie element.”
Once at the venue, contestants will be timed — one hour for single decorators and 45 minutes for teams of two — to create their cakes, and attendees are free to watch. There will also be a cash bar and light finger food appetizers to be provided by Celebrations Catering.
The judge panel will include local chefs Alex Waddell and Matt Provencher, as well as Marie-Josée Duquette, a representative of the Québec Government Office in Boston. Waddell is the owner of Crémeux French Patisserie in Merrimack, and he also studied at Ferrandi, an internationally recognized culinary arts school in Paris. Provencher is an award-winning Manchester chef and a two-time champion of the New Hampshire PoutineFest, another Franco-American Centre event. Each will grade the cakes based on everything from taste and texture to overall appearance, creativity and representation of their country or region.
There will also be a people’s choice winner for the best appearances as voted by attendees. Prizes include an engraved cake platter and bamboo cutting board, and winners also receive bragging rights and the opportunity to be a featured guest on an upcoming Franco Foods episode.
“I think the fun part will really be getting to watch the bakers go at it,” Hirte said. “We also have two very nice baskets for door prizes. Everybody gets a raffle ticket, but if somebody really likes something and they want to win, we’ll have an opportunity to buy more tickets.”
Franco Foods Fleur Délices Challenge When: Saturday, April 9, 6 to 9 p.m. Where: The Biergarten at Anheuser-Busch Brewery, 221 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack Cost: Admission is $27 per person or $50 per couple; all attendees receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a door prize. Franco-American Centre members receive three tickets each. Visit: facnh.com/fleur-delices-challenge Reserve your admission spot to the event by Monday, April 4.
Featured photo: Scenes from Franco Foods, a YouTube series hosted by Franco-American Centre office manager Nathalie Hirte. Courtesy photos.
Meet four Concord-area writers at “An Evening to Remember”
Concord author Paul Brogan is on a mission to show locals that the Capital City area is home to talented writers of all genres — in fact, he’s using all of the royalties from his recently published book, The Concord Theatre, to pay for what he hopes will be an ongoing free series of talks that spotlight these local authors.
The first event will bring four of those writers — Brogan included — to the Bank of NH Stage for “An Evening to Remember: Conversations with Concord Area Authors” on Wednesday, April 6, at 7:30 p.m.
“There are lots of people in this area who write, who love to write, who express themselves beautifully in all genres,” Brogan said. “I want to do something that makes the people of the area understand that we have some really talented people who are writers. We know we have really talented performers [like] Seth Meyers, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, and there are [well-known] writers like Dan Brown and Jodi Picoult, but I want to showcase some of the people who aren’t selling books at that same level but who are writing passionately … [and] writing because they have something they want to say.”
“An Evening to Remember” will be led by former longtime NHPR host Laura Knoy and feature Brogan as well as authors Margaret Porter, Virginia Macgregor (who writes as Nina Monroe) and Mark Okrant.
“Laura will talk with each of us and let us tell a little bit of our story, ask questions and encourage people in the audience to ask questions [about things like] why do we do it, how we get inspired,” Brogan said.
Brogan’s writing story began relatively recently.
“I went to Catholic schools and writing was one of those things nuns instilled in you … but I never did anything with my writing for a long, long time,” Brogan said. “I was past 50 when I finally sat down and wrote my first book.”
That book, Was That A Name I Dropped?, was published in 2011, and Brogan didn’t get the writing bug again until several years later, when he was inspired by the old Concord Theatre being converted into the Bank of NH Stage. He had worked at the Concord Theatre for 27 years, starting when he was 14.
“I had such affection for the [Concord Theatre], so I wrote a book three years ago about the theater’s history and Concord’s history with movies,” he said.
The feedback he got after his latest book came out showed him how few people are aware of what New Hampshire authors have to offer, with people saying things like, “I didn’t know anyone around here could write,” and assuming that you have to be in a more metropolitan area “to have the muse hit you,” Brogan said. But that’s because most people aren’t taking advantage of local resources; Brogan calls Gibson’s Bookstore in Concord, for example, “a writer’s best friend,” with owner Michael Herrmann hosting book launches for local writers and displaying their books in a special section. He also said the NH Writers’ Project is a great resource, but “would wager that a lot of people don’t click on that website.”
So Brogan started thinking about putting on an event to spotlight local authors and spoke with fellow author Margaret Porter at Gibson’s one day, asking her what she thought about it. She was all in, and the two approached Monroe and Okrant to see if they’d be interested as well. They were on board, and Porter suggested they ask Knoy to moderate the discussion.
“I said, ‘If you can get her, she would be amazing.’ … And she jumped at it,” Brogan said.
Knoy met with Brogan and Porter recently to check out the venue.
“Within an hour I felt like we’d been friends for years, and I think she’s the perfect person to put us all on stage at ease, and put the audience at ease,” Brogan said.
They want to make sure the whole atmosphere is comfortable too.
“We want it to be [like] the audience is looking at people in a living room having a conversation and then have the audience become involved and then stay around and mingle,” Brogan said.
Porter said she’s looking forward to sharing a small sample of the creativity within the Concord region, as well as their experiences of writing and publication.
“We hope to provide helpful information, maybe even some inspiration, to anyone aspiring to write fiction or nonfiction, or has questions about pursuing a writing career,” she said.
Brogan said he wanted to make the event free so that people can check it out without making any kind of financial commitment.
“They can come see the Bank of NH Stage — now there’s no excuse not to check the place out — and meet Laura in real life. … There’s a number of reasons for someone to give it a try,” he said.
Both Porter and Brogan hope the audience will come away with new notions and ideas and a curiosity to read one of their books or to check out the section of local authors at Gibson’s.
“New Hampshire has long been noted for its literary associations, a legacy that we’re privileged and excited to continue,” Porter said.
“We hope, if it really goes nicely, we’ll do a second one next year with different area authors,” Brogan said.
“An Evening to Remember: Conversations with Concord Area Authors” When: Wednesday, April 6, 7:30 p.m. Where: Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord Cost: visit ccanh.com to register
Featured photo: Laura Knoy, Margaret Porter, Paul E Brogan. Courtesy photo.
This year’s Best of 2022 Readers’ Poll features, for the most part, five winners for each category — five favorites, the top five opinions about what makes a great place for a second date or a good spot to let the kids run wild.
All these “readers’ bests” mean lots of recommendations for places to go and things to do (and eat — as always we ask a lot of questions about eating). Along the way, we also got readers’ opinions on their feelings about Zoom meetings (the answer will not surprise you), their feelings about the best 5 o’clock drink and we even delve into one of the most heated debates of our time: is a hot dog a sandwich?
This year, we’re also offering up some quotes from readers. Because our poll asks open-ended questions — no multiple choice or drop-down menus — we get lots of funny, sweet, smart and smart-alecky answers and reading them is one of the true perks of tallying the results.
Looking for some opinions on a new place to grab a slice or a place to get that perfect cocktail? Hippo readers have some thoughts …
This survey is for entertainment purposes only and all results are final.
The results of Hippo’s readers’ poll are based on readers’ answers to a poll conducted online in February. Readers typed in the names of people and locations they voted for. In situations where the vote is tied or otherwise unclear, Hippo editorial staff makes an effort to determine the will of the greatest number of voters.
Hippo reserves the right to disqualify individual votes, ballots and/or entries when they are incomplete or unclear, do not meet the letter or the spirit of the question asked or otherwise do not meet the requirements to make them a usable vote. Hippo’s editorial staff makes the ultimate determination of the winners in the categories. Hippo’s advertising staff and its advertisers play no role in the determination of the winners. All results are final.
The Best of 2022 is a celebration of all things local and is meant to serve as a snapshot of the people and places in southern New Hampshire. Large national and international chains are, for the most part, not included in the count.
Information presented here is gathered from sources including the location’s website and social media pages. Double check with the spots before heading out to make sure times, locations and menu items haven’t changed.
Questions, comments, concerns? Did we get an address or phone number wrong? Do you have an idea for a new category? Let us know. Contact editor Amy Diaz at [email protected]. Corrections will appear on the first page of the news section in future issues. Is your favorite category missing? Categories change regularly, with some categories taking a sabbatical and new categories introduced, so please send your suggestions for a category for next year.
And, again, all results are final.
Arts
Best Performing Arts Venue
Best of the best: Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org
Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelohall.com
Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, ccanh.com
Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, 72 Meadowbrook Lane, Gilford, 293-4700, banknhpavilion.com
Bank of NH Stage, 16 S. Main St., Concord, 225-1111, banknhstage.com
Best Theatrical Production
Best of the Best: Mamma Mia!, mainstage production of the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, 668-5588, palacetheatre.org) ran Oct. 15 through Nov. 14, 2021.
The Full Monty, mainstage production of the Palace Theatre ran Jan. 28 through Feb. 20, 2022.
A Christmas Carol, mainstage production of the Palace Theatre ran Nov. 26 through Dec. 22, 2021.
Recycled Percussion, drumming group performed at the Palace Theatre Dec. 27, 2021, through Jan. 8, 2022, recycledpercussion.com.
Barefoot in the Park, performed by the Community Players of Concord at the Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) Oct. 15 through Oct. 17, 2021, communityplayersofconcord.org.
Best Local Place to Buy Art
Best of the best: Craftsmen’s Fair, nhcrafts.org. The annual nine-day craft fair hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen is held outdoors at Mount Sunapee Resort starting the first week of August. It features hundreds of craftspeople with vendor booths, plus special craft exhibitions, demonstrations, hands-on workshops and more.
Manchester Craft Market, Mall of New Hampshire, 1500 S. Willow St., Manchester, manchestercraftmarket.com. Year-round gift shop features handmade items by more than 125 local artisans.
League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Concord Fine Craft Gallery, 36 N. Main St., Concord, 228-8171, concord.nhcrafts.org. The craft organization’s flagship retail shop and gallery features a variety of traditional and contemporary crafts created by juried New Hampshire craftspeople.
The Museum Shop at the Currier, Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester, 669-6144, currier.org. The gift shop offers art supplies and gifts for artists and art-lovers, including novelty items inspired by the museum’s special exhibitions.
Concord Arts Market, Rollins Park, Concord, concordartsmarket.net. The juried outdoor artisan and fine art market runs one Saturday a month, June through October, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The first market will be held on Saturday, June 11.
Art Gallery with the Most Surprising Art
Best of the best: Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester, 669-6144, currier.org. The internationally renowned art museum, founded in 1929, has permanent and rotating exhibits featuring American and European paintings, sculptures, photographs and more by notable artists such as Picasso, Monet and O’Keeffe, as well as local and regional artists. Its next special exhibition, “Warhol Screen Tests,” opens on March 31 and will feature projections of film shot by Andy Warhol in the 1960s.
Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery, 32 Hanover St., Manchester, 493-1677, dianecrespoart.weebly.com. The gallery, owned and operated by local artist Diane Crespo, features Crespo’s oil and pastel realism landscapes and offers art classes and workshops for all ages and abilities.
Art 3 Gallery, 44 W. Brook St., Manchester, 668-6650, art3gallery.com. The fine art retail gallery features art in a variety of media and styles by local, regional, national and international artists, and offers custom framing and corporate and residential art consulting.
Art Up Front Street Studios & Gallery, 120 Front St., Exeter, 418-6286, artupfrontstreet.com. The artists’ collective features seven working artist studios, open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and hosts art events, workshops and demonstrations. Its Spring Open Studios will be held on Saturday, May 7, and Sunday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Concord Fine Craft Gallery, 36 N. Main St., Concord, 228-8171, concord.nhcrafts.org. The craft organization’s flagship retail shop and gallery features a variety of traditional and contemporary crafts created by juried New Hampshire craftspeople.
Chris’s Comics, 341 S. Broadway, Salem, 898-4151, chriscardscomics.com
Best Mini Golf
Best of the best: Chuckster’s Family Fun Park, 9 Bailey Road, Chichester, 798-3555, chuckstersnh.com. Opening for the season in Chichester on April 9.
Mel’s Funway Park, 454 Charles Bancroft Hwy., Litchfield, 424-2292, melsfunwaypark.com. Open seasonally from April to October, weather permitting.
Chuckster’s, 53 Hackett Hill Road, Hooksett, 210-1415, chucksters-hooksett.com. Opening for the season in Hooksett on April 9.
Legends Golf & Family Recreation, 18 Legends Drive, Hooksett, 627-0099, legendsgolfnh.com. Open seasonally; 2022 operating dates TBA.
Mammoth Green Driving Range & Mini Golf, 135 Nashua Road, Londonderry, 432-4653, mammothgreendrivingrange.business.site. Open seasonally; 2022 operating dates TBA.
Best Spot for Some Friendly Competition
Best of the best: The Rugged Axe, 377 S. Willow St., Manchester, 232-7846, theruggedaxe.com
Game Changer Sports Bar & Grill, 4 Orchard View Drive, Londonderry, 216-1396, gamechangersportsbar.com. The sports bar is known for its indoor cornhole facility.
Best of the best: Strange Brew Tavern, 88 Market St., Manchester, 666-4292, strangebrewtavern.net. Live local music is usually featured six nights a week, from Tuesday through Sunday, with an emphasis on blues artists. See Frankie Boy & the Blues Express on Friday, April 1, and 2120 S. Michigan Ave. on Saturday, April 2, at 9 p.m. respectively.
The Shaskeen Pub and Restaurant, 909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246, shaskeenirishpub.com. Live entertainment is featured multiple nights a week — a typical week will usually include Open Mic nights on Mondays, solo performances on Tuesdays, live music on Friday and Saturdays and a thBest emed “Rap Night” on Sundays.
The Derryfield Restaurant, 625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880, thederryfield.com. Live local performances are held at The Derryfield every Friday and Saturday evening, from 8 to 11 p.m. Next up is Blue Matter on Friday, April 1, and the Chad LaMarsh Band on Saturday, April 2.
The Goat Bar and Grill, 50 Old Granite St., Manchester, 222-1677, goatnh.com. Live entertainment is usually featured seven nights a week at 9 p.m. (21+ only starting then), with a focus on country and pop artists. Catch Rob Pagnano on Friday, April 1, and The Pop Disaster on Saturday, April 2.
The Stumble Inn Bar and Grill, 20 Rockingham Road, Londonderry, 432-3210, stumbleinnnh.com. Live music is usually featured Thursdays through Mondays at The Stumble Inn. See Jonny Friday there on Friday, April 1, and the Casual Gravity Band on Saturday, April 2, from 8 to 11 p.m. each evening.
Best Bar with an Outdoor Deck
Best of the best: The Derryfield Restaurant, 625 Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-2880, thederryfield.com
The Peddler’s Daughter, 48 Main St., Nashua, 821-7535, thepeddlersdaughter.com
The Barley House Restaurant & Tavern, 132 N. Main St., Concord, 228-6363, thebarleyhouse.com
The Wild Rover Pub, 21 Kosciuszko St., Manchester, 669-7722, wildroverpub.com
Best Weekly Bar Event
Best of the best: Ruby Room Comedy, Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. at The Shaskeen Pub and Restaurant, 909 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0246, shaskeenirishpub.com
Open Mic Nights with Nate Comp and Paul Costley, Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. at KC’s Rib Shack, 837 Second St., Manchester, 627-7427, ribshack.net
Heather Abernathy: Trivia Bee, Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. at The Farm Bar and Grille, 1181 Elm St., Manchester, 641-3276, farmbargrille.com, and Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m. at Chunky’s Cinema Pub, 707 Huse Road, Manchester, 206-3888, chunkys.com. Find her on Facebook @manchestersbesttrivia
Trivia with Steve, Wednesday nights at 6 p.m. at The Alamo Texas Barbecue & Tequila Bar, 99 Route 13, Brookline, 721-5500, alamobarbecue.com, and Thursday nights at 6:30 p.m. at The Pasta Loft Restaurant & Brewing Co., 241 Union Sq., Milford, 672-2270, pastaloft.com. Find him on Facebook @triviawithsteve
Trivia Nights with Bill Seney, Thursday nights at 7 p.m. at The Hop Knot, 1000 Elm St., Manchester, 232-3731, hopknotnh.com
Best Spot for a Second Date
Best of the best: The Rugged Axe, 377 S. Willow St., Manchester, 232-7846, theruggedaxe.com
Classes with 603 Charcuterie (various breweries, wineries and other locations; see 603charcuterie.com/classes or find them on Facebook and Instagram for the full schedule)
Copper Door Restaurant, 41 S. Broadway, Salem, 458-2033, copperdoor.com
Hampton Beach, Route 1A, Hampton, hamptonbeach.org
Best of the best: Copper Door Restaurant, 15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677, copperdoor.com
Col’s Kitchen, 55 S. Main St., Concord, 227-6778, colsplantbased.com
Revival Kitchen & Bar, 11 Depot St., Concord, 715-5723, revivalkitchennh.com
The Puritan Backroom, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com
Troy’s Fresh Kitchen & Juice Bar, 4 Orchard View Drive, No. 6, Londonderry, 965-3411, troysfreshkitchen.com
Best New Eatery
Best of the best: Tucker’s, 95 S. River Road, Bedford, 413-6503, tuckersnh.com. Arriving in the former Outback Steakhouse on South River Road in Bedford in October 2021, this is the sixth Tucker’s restaurant overall and also the largest — the local diner chain has five other locations, in Hooksett, Dover, New London, Concord and Merrimack. Tucker’s features a menu of breakfast items like omelets and scramblers, and lunch items like sandwiches and bowls, plus a rotating selection of specials, while the new Bedford spot introduced new menu concepts for the brand, like fresh juices, smoothie bowls and brunch-based cocktails.
New Hampshire Pizza Co., 76 N. Main St., Concord, 333-2125, newhampshirepizzaco.com. The latest venture of longtime Concord restaurateur Joel Harris, who opened the first Dos Amigos Burritos location in Portsmouth before coming to the Capital City four years later, the New Hampshire Pizza Co. opened in the former Crazy Goat space in January 2022. This full-service dine-in restaurant features brick-oven artisan pizzas as its centerpiece, along with salads, brunch items, cocktails, homemade ice cream and more, with the overall focus of highlighting locally produced ingredients.
Hare of the Dawg Bar & Grill, 3 E. Broadway, Derry, 552-3883, find them on Facebook @hareofthedawg. Longtime Derry couple Kevin and Lesley Decker opened this family-friendly downtown bar and grill in early January 2022, taking over the space that had long been occupied by the C & K Restaurant on East Broadway. The eatery features a wide variety of comfort foods, craft beers and cocktails, with a 24-seat custom bar built from the ground up by local woodworker Matt Daily.
The Lucky Moose Casino & Tavern, 16 Gusabel Ave., Nashua, 864-0175, luckymoosecasino.com. A sister establishment of The River Casino & Sports Bar just off Main Street in the Gate City, The Lucky Moose opened in July 2021 as New Hampshire’s newest casino, complete with daily games of blackjack, roulette and Texas hold ’em, as well as a full bar and an elevated tavern menu out of a scratch kitchen. You’ll find it in the former Bugaboo Creek Steak House in the Nashua Mall plaza — it has even kept the moose structure that adorns the roof with a brand new set of antlers.
Elm House of Pizza, 102 Elm St., Manchester, 232-5522, elmhop.com. This neighborhood restaurant and bar opened in the old Theo’s space in March 2021, channeling the nostalgic vibe of the 1970s downtown favorite of the same name among Manchester locals. You’ll find what co-founder and business partner Tim Baines calls a modern twist on the traditional house of pizza, featuring everything from house pies and appetizers to fresh seafood dinners, pastas, burgers and more.
Best Fine Dining Restaurant
Best of the best: Hanover Street Chophouse, 149 Hanover St., Manchester, 644-2467, hanoverstreetchophouse.com
Copper Door Restaurant, 15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677, copperdoor.com
Buckley’s Great Steaks, 438 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 424-0995, buckleysgreatsteaks.com
Bedford Village Inn & Restaurant, 2 Olde Bedford Way, Bedford, 472-2001, bedfordvillageinn.com
Revival Kitchen & Bar, 11 Depot St., Concord, 715-5723, revivalkitchennh.com
Best Restaurant From Which to Get Takeout
Best of the best: The Puritan Backroom, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com
Troy’s Fresh Kitchen & Juice Bar, 4 Orchard View Drive, No. 6, Londonderry, 965-3411, troysfreshkitchen.com
Col’s Kitchen, 55 S. Main St., Concord, 227-6778, colsplantbased.com
Dos Amigos Burritos, 26 N. Main St., Concord, 410-4161, dosamigosburritos.com
Georgia’s Northside, 394 N. State St., Concord, 715-9189, georgiasnorthside.com. Currently only open for catering and pop-up events. Regular operations are due to resume this May.
Best Food Truck
Best of the best: B’s Tacos & More, nhtacotruck.com. Find them seasonally outside the BP Gas Station (2 Mohawk Drive, Londonderry), usually from May to December. A brick-and-mortar location is also open year-round at 372 Kelley St. in Manchester.
Messy Mike’s Barbecue & Catering Co., messymikesbbq.com. Find them seasonally in the parking lot of Rockingham Acres Greenhouse (161 Rockingham Road, Derry) most Thursdays through Sundays.
Up in Your Grill, upinyourgrill.com. Find them parked in and around various areas of Merrimack, most commonly in the parking lot of Vault Motor Storage (526 Daniel Webster Hwy.).
Smoke N’ Butts BBQ, smokenbuttsbbq.com. Opening for the season on April 8 at The Farmer’s Wife (20 Main St., Candia); hours are Friday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pressed For Time Mobile Cafe, pressedfortimecoffee.com. Find them at Seacoast Sport Cycle (129 Rockingham Road, Derry) most Tuesdays through Sundays.
Restaurant with best outdoor seating
Best of the best: Downtown Cheers Grille & Bar, 17 Depot St., Concord, 228-0180, cheersnh.com
The Crown Tavern, 99 Hanover St., Manchester, 218-3132, thecrownonhanover.com
Best of the best: Blood orange Cosmo martini at Copper Door Restaurant, 15 Leavy Drive, Bedford, 488-2677; 41 S. Broadway, Salem, 458-2033; copperdoor.com. The blood orange Cosmo features Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Solerno blood orange liqueur, cranberry juice and freshly squeezed lime.
“Goon Glizzy” loaded hot dog at Industry East Bar, 28 Hanover St., Manchester, 232-6940, industryeastbar.com. Industry East is known not only for its specialty craft cocktails, but also for its loaded hot dogs. The “Goon Glizzy” is loaded with a crab rangoon spread, crispy wontons and scallions.
Chicken tenders at The Puritan Backroom, 245 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 669-6890, puritanbackroom.com. The chicken tenders, deep-fried with homemade dipping sauces, have long been a staple at The Puritan Backroom. Buffalo, spicy and coconut tenders are also available.
Espresso martini at Giorgio’s Ristorante & Bar, 270 Granite St., Manchester, 232-3323; 707 Milford Road, Merrimack, 883-7333; 524 Nashua St., Milford, 673-3939; giorgios.com
Pad Thai at Col’s Kitchen, 55 S. Main St., Concord, 227-6778, colsplantbased.com. Col’s Kitchen’s vegan Pad Thai features seared tofu, rice noodles, carrots, cabbage, spinach, basil and peanuts.
Best Barbecue
Best of the best: KC’s Rib Shack, 837 Second St., Manchester, 627-7427, ribshack.net
Smokeshow Barbeque, 231 S. Main St., Concord, 227-6399, smokeshowbbq.com. In March 2022, Smokeshow Barbeque moved into a new space in Concord’s South End, sharing a building with Feathered Friend Brewing Co.
Georgia’s Northside, 394 N. State St., Concord, 715-9189, georgiasnorthside.com. Currently only open for catering and pop-up events. Regular operations are due to resume this May.
Best of the best: RT’s Italian spuckie at Rig A Tony’s Italian Takeout & Catering, 254 Wallace Road, Bedford, 488-2877; 13 Rockingham Road, Windham, 685-8122; 38 W. Broadway, Derry, 425-6116 (the Derry location is due to reopen soon); rigatonysitalian.com. This made-to-order classic features Italian cured meats, tomatoes, hots, pickles, red onion, provolone cheese and seasoned oil on a house-baked roll.
The Garden at the Nashua Garden, 121 Main St., Nashua, 886-7363, find them on Facebook @thenashuagarden603. This vegetarian sandwich features tomato, cucumber, olives, bell peppers, pickles, onion, lettuce and sprouts.
Steak and cheese sub at Nadeau’s Subs, 776 Mast Road, Manchester, 623-9315; 100 Cahill Ave., Manchester, 669-7827; 673 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 644-8888; 1095 Hanover St., Manchester, 606-4411 (the Hanover Street location is inside of the Kwik Stop Mobil; 48 Portsmouth Ave., Exeter, 580-4445; 11 Eastman St., Concord, 715-1474 (the Concord location is inside of McLaughlin’s Country Market); nadeaussubs.com. The steak and cheese sub at Nadeau’s is available with either steak tips or Philly shaved steak in several sizes. You can order it plain with American cheese on a sub roll, or customize your bread or cheese type, grilled vegetables or other add-ons like bacon or grilled salami.
Super Regular at Beefside, 106 Manchester St., Concord, 228-0208, beefsidenh.com. The Regular features four ounces of tender roast beef on a bulk roll, with the option to “super” it with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise.
Banh mi at The Local Moose Cafe, 124 Queen City Ave., Manchester, 232-2669, thelocalmoosecafe.com. The pork banh mi features local pork patties, pickled carrots and daikon, cilantro, cucumbers, Sriracha mayonnaise and honey ginger mayonnaise on a house-made baguette. You can also order a vegan tofu banh mi, or a breakfast banh mi with free-range egg.
Best Subs
Best of the best: Nadeau’s Subs, 776 Mast Road, Manchester, 623-9315; 100 Cahill Ave., Manchester, 669-7827; 673 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 644-8888; 1095 Hanover St., Manchester, 606-4411 (the Hanover Street location is inside the Kwik Stop Mobil); 48 Portsmouth Ave., Exeter, 580-4445; 11 Eastman St., Concord, 715-1474 (the Concord location is inside McLaughlin’s Country Market); nadeaussubs.com
USA Subs, 66 Crystal Ave., Derry, 437-1550, usasubs.com
Bill Cahill’s Super Subs, 8 Kimball Hill Road, Hudson, 882-7710, find them on Facebook @billcahills
El Rincon Zacatecano Taqueria, 10 Lake Ave., Manchester, 232-4530, elrinconnh.com
B’s Tacos & More, nhtacotruck.com. Find them seasonally outside the BP Gas Station (2 Mohawk Drive, Londonderry), usually from May to December. A brick-and-mortar location is also open year-round at 372 Kelley St. in Manchester.
Restaurant That Can Make You Love Vegetables
Best of the best: Troy’s Fresh Kitchen & Juice Bar, 4 Orchard View Drive, No. 6, Londonderry, 965-3411, troysfreshkitchen.com
Col’s Kitchen, 55 S. Main St., Concord, 227-6778, colsplantbased.com
The Republic of Campo, 969 Elm St., Manchester, 625-0256, republiccafe.com and campoenoteca.com
Green Elephant Vegetarian Bistro & Bar, 35 Portwalk Place, Portsmouth, 427-8344, greenelephantnh.com
Klemm’s Bakery, 29 Indian Rock Road, Windham, 437-8810, klemmsbakery.com
Best Candy or Chocolate Shop
Best of the best: Granite State Candy Shoppe, 13 Warren St., Concord, 225-2591, granitestatecandyshoppe.com
Van Otis Chocolates, 341 Elm St., Manchester, 627-1611, vanotis.com
Nelson’s Candy and Music, 65 Main St., Wilton, 654-5030, nelsonscandymusic.com
Loon Chocolate, 252 Willow St., Manchester, loonchocolate.com. This small-batch bean-to-bar company opened its first retail storefront in February 2022 inside the The Factory on Willow complex, sharing a space with 603 Charcuterie.
Dancing Lion Chocolate, 917 Elm St., Manchester, 625-4043, dancinglion.us
Most Decadent Desserts
Best of the best: Buckley’s Bakery & Cafe, 436 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merri vvk, 262-5929, and Buckley’s Market & Cafe, 9 Market Place, Hollis, 465-5522; buckleysbakerycafe.com
The Red Blazer Restaurant & Pub, 72 Manchester St., Concord, 224-4101, theredblazer.com
Best of the best: Concord Farmers Market, concordfarmersmarket.com, held on Saturdays, from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Capitol Street in Concord (near the Statehouse), from May through October. The 2022 market is set to begin on May 7.
Derry Homegrown Farm & Artisan Market, derryhomegrown.org, held on Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. at 1 W. Broadway in Derry, from June through September. The 2022 market is set to begin on June 1.
Bedford Farmers Market, bedfordfarmersmarketnh.org, held on Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at 393 Route 101 in Bedford, from mid-June through mid-October. The 2022 market is set to begin June 14.
Salem Farmers Market, salemnhfarmersmarket.org, held on Sundays year-round, indoors at LaBelle Winery (14 Route 111, Derry) during the winter and early spring, and outdoors at Tuscan Market (12 Via Toscana, Salem) from late spring through fall. The market is currently indoors and runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The opening date and hours for the outdoor market are TBA.
Milford Farmers Market, milfordnhfarmersmarket.com. Indoor market runs every other Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., from November to June at the Milford Town Hall Auditorium (1 Union Square, Milford), and the outdoor market runs every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 300 Elm St. in Milford, across the street from the New Hampshire Antique Co-op, from June through mid-October.
Best Farm for Pick Your Own
Best of the best: Sunnycrest Farm, 59 High Range Road, Londonderry, 432-7753, sunnycrestfarmnh.com. Pick-your-own opportunities, depending on availability, include apples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, grapes, cherries and flowers.
Mack’s Apples, 230 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, 434-7619, macksapples.com. Pick-your-own opportunities, depending on availability, include apples, pumpkins, peaches and pears.
Lull Farm, 65 Broad St., Hollis, 465-7079, livefreeandfarm.com. Pick-your-own opportunities, depending on availability, include strawberries and apples. Lull has a seasonal farm stand in Milford and, as of last year, now also operates a satellite farm stand at Sullivan Farm in Nashua.
Carter Hill Orchard, 73 Carter Hill Road, Concord, 225-2625, carterhillapples.com. Pick-your-own opportunities, depending on availability, include blueberries, apples and peaches.
Brookdale Fruit Farm, 41 Broad St., Hollis, 465-2240, brookdalefruitfarm.com. Pick-your-own opportunities, depending on availability, include strawberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, black raspberries, blackberries, apples and pumpkins.
Best City Park
Best of the best: White Park, 1 White St., Concord, 225-8690, concordnh.gov. Amenities include a basketball court, a seasonal pool, walking trails and an ice skating rink.
Greeley Park, 100 Concord St., Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov. Amenities include baseball and softball fields, a playground, picnic areas, walking trails and a tennis court.
Livingston Park, 156 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 624-6444, manchesternh.gov. Amenities include walking trails around Dorrs Pond, as well as a baseball diamond, a running track and two playgrounds.
Stark Park, 650 River Road, Manchester, starkpark.com. The 30-acre park dedicated to New Hampshire’s Gen. John Stark, who penned the state motto, “Live Free or Die” in 1809, includes a large equestrian statue of Stark, several models of cannons and cannonballs, a memorial bench honoring New Hampshire’s Officer Michael Briggs, and a gazebo bandstand where live music is occasionally held.
Benson Park, 19 Kimball Road, Hudson, 886-6000, hudsonnh.gov. Originally a private zoo and amusement park, Benson Park reopened in 2010 as a town park for recreational use and is now a popular spot for hiking, dog walking, fishing and picnicking.
Best State Park
Best of the best: Bear Brook State Park, 61 Deerfield Road, Allenstown, 485-9874, nhstatesparks.org/visit/state-parks/bear-brook-state-park. The largest developed state park in New Hampshire, Bear Brook State Park is 10,000 acres and features more than 40 miles of trails. Activities include biking, hiking, swimming, camping and fishing.
Pawtuckaway State Park, 128 Mountain Road, Nottingham, 895-3031, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/pawtuckaway-state-park. The park offers campers a family beach on the lake and hiking trails across a diverse landscape, where they can see wildlife and natural points of interest.
Odiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, 436-7406, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/odiorne-point-state-park. The park features an extensive network of trails through 135 acres of rocky shoreline, sandy beaches, salt marsh, freshwater and salt ponds, dense forest and military and historical sites, and is home to the Seacoast Science Center.
Mount Sunapee State Park, 86 Beach Access Road, Newbury, 763-5561, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/mt-sunapee-state-park. The park is home to the alpine ski area and resort Mount Sunapee Resort, and to Mount Sunapee State Park Beach, which contains a 4,085-acre lake. Amenities include a boat launch and boat rentals, hiking trails, a playground, a picnic area, a campground and more.
Wellington State Park, 614 W. Shore Road, Bristol, 744-2197, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/wellington-state-park. Wellington State Park offers hiking trails, picnic areas and volleyball and horseshoe courts, and is also known for having the largest freshwater swimming beach in the New Hampshire state park system.
Best Campground
Best of the best: Pawtuckaway State Park, 7 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, 895-3031, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/pawtuckaway-state-park
Branch Brook Campground, Exit 28 off I-93 to Route 49 West, Campton, 726-7001, branchbrooknh.com
White Lake State Park, 94 State Park Road, Tamworth, 323-7350, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/white-lake-state-park
Greenfield State Park, 133 Beach Road, Greenfield, 547-3497, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/greenfield-state-park
Best of the best: Franconia Notch, at Franconia Notch State Park, Exits 34A to 34C off I-93, Franconia/Lincoln, 745-8391, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/franconia-notch-state-park. The mountain pass, crossed by a parkway extending from Echo Lake to the Flume Gorge, once held the iconic Old Man of the Mountain.
Kancamagus Highway, kancamagushighway.com. A 34.5-mile scenic ride from Lincoln to Conway along New Hampshire’s Route 112.
Rye Coastline. Public beaches in Rye include Jenness State Beach (2280 Ocean Blvd., metered parking from 8 a.m. to midnight, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/jenness-state-beach) and Wallis Sands State Beach (1050 Ocean Blvd., parking fee between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. is $15 per vehicle and free for New Hampshire-resident seniors age 65 and over, and parking reservations can be made online in advance, nhstateparks.org/visit/seacoast-beaches/wallis-sands-state-park).
Artist’s Bluff Trail, located at Franconia Notch State Park, Exit 34C off I-93, Franconia, 745-8391, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/franconia-notch-state-park. The 1.5-mile loop leads hikers to a peak with scenic views of Echo Lake, Cannon Mountain and Franconia Notch.
Cathedral Ledge, located at Cathedral Ledge State Park, 579 Cathedral Ledge Road, Bartlett, 356-2672, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/cathedral-ledge-state-park. The 700-foot peak offers views across the Saco River Valley to the White Mountains.
Best of the best: Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashua. This paved trail is 12.5 miles and runs along the Nashua River, connecting Nashua to Ayer, Mass.
Londonderry Rail Trail, Londonderry, londonderrytrails.org. About 6 miles of this trail runs through North Londonderry.
Windham Rail Trail, Windham, windhamrailtrail.org. The Windham Rail Trail is 4.1 miles and is a core part of the longest paved abandoned rail bed in the Granite State, as the Windham, Derry and Salem rail trails collectively run about 11 miles.
Goffstown Rail Trail, Goffstown, goffstownrailtrail.org. The 7.5-mile trail runs between Goffstown and Manchester, connecting Pinardville, Grasmere and Goffstown Village.
Derry Rail Trail, Derry, derryrailtrail.org. Running several miles through Windham and into Derry’s town center, the Derry Rail Trail is part of the larger proposed Granite State Rail Trail.
Best Hike in Southern New Hampshire
Best of the best: Mount Monadnock (with particular shoutouts to the White Dot Trail), Jaffrey/Dublin, 532-8862, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/monadnock-state-park. The 3,165-foot mountain features more than 35 hiking trails of various levels of difficulty leading to the summit.
Mt. Uncanoonuc Trails, Mountain Road, Goffstown. The North Uncanoonuc Trail, about a 0.6-mile hike, is steep in some spots and is known for its wilderness and panoramic views of Goffstown. At about 0.8 miles, the South Uncanoonuc Trail is slightly longer, also serving as a snowmobiling and ATVing trail that features views of Mount Monadnock from a distance.
Mount Major, Alton, blog.nhstateparks.org/mt-major-family-friendly-hike. The mountain’s 1.5-mile Mount Major Trail and 1.6-mile Boulder Loop Trail form a loop at its 1,785-foot summit, which offers a panoramic view of Lake Winnipesaukee to the north.
Mount Kearsarge, Warner/Wilmot. At 2,397 feet, Mount Kearsarge features two state parks, Winslow State Park on the northwest slope in Wilmot and Rollins State Park on the south slope in Warner. The quickest way to the summit is a half-mile trail that starts in Rollins State Park. Other popular trails include the 1.1-mile Winslow Trail and the 1.6-mile Barlow Trail, both of which start at Winslow State Park.
Mine Falls Park, Whipple Street, Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov. The park has around 8 miles of trails across 325 acres of forest, open fields and wetlands, bordering the Nashua River, Millpond and canal system on the north side.
Best Spot for a Mini Hike
Best of the best: Mine Falls Park, Whipple Street, Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov. The park has around 8 miles of trails across 325 acres of forest, open fields and wetlands, bordering the Nashua River, Millpond and canal system on the north side.
Lake Massabesic, off the Londonderry Turnpike, Manchester, 642-6482, manchesternh.gov. Spanning 2,500 acres in Manchester and Auburn, the lake is the centerpoint for a network of dozens of trails, including a loop to the Massabesic Audubon Center, a wildlife sanctuary situated on a historic farm site in Auburn. The trails range in length from half a mile to more than 3 miles.
Mount Major, Alton, blog.nhstateparks.org/mt-major-family-friendly-hike. The mountain’s 1.5-mile Mount Major Trail and 1.6-mile Boulder Loop Trail form a loop at its 1,785-foot summit, which offers a panoramic view of Lake Winnipesaukee to the north.
Marjory Swope Park, Long Pond Road, Concord, 225-8515, concordnh.gov. This 77-acre park features three connecting trails, including a 1.45-mile loop trail that runs up Jerry Hill, leading to scenic views of the Penacook Lake; a 0.56-mile trail that cuts through the park; and a 0.18-mile trail that passes the large granite outcrop Gilfillan Rock.
Mount Kearsarge, Warner/Wilmot. At 2,397 feet, Mount Kearsarge features two state parks, Winslow State Park on the northwest slope in Wilmot and Rollins State Park on the south slope in Warner. The quickest way to the summit is a half-mile trail that starts in Rollins State Park. Other popular trails include the 1.1-mile Winslow Trail and the 1.6-mile Barlow Trail, both of which start at Winslow State Park.
Best Spot for a Long Run
Best of the best: Mine Falls Park, Whipple Street, Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov. The park has around 8 miles of trails across 325 acres of forest, open fields and wetlands, bordering the Nashua River, Millpond and canal system on the north side.
Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashua. This paved trail is 12.5 miles and runs along the Nashua River, connecting Nashua to Ayer, Mass.
Windham Rail Trail, Windham, windhamrailtrail.org. The Windham Rail Trail is 4.1 miles and is a core part of the longest paved abandoned rail bed in the Granite State, as the Windham, Derry and Salem rail trails collectively run about 11 miles.
Goffstown Rail Trail, Goffstown, goffstownrailtrail.org. The 7.5-mile trail runs between Goffstown and Manchester, connecting Pinardville, Grasmere and Goffstown Village.
Derry Rail Trail, Derry, derryrailtrail.org. Running several miles through Windham and into Derry’s town center, the Derry Rail Trail is part of the larger proposed Granite State Rail Trail.
Best Lake to Canoe or Kayak
Best of the best: Lake Massabesic, Manchester and Auburn, 624-6482, manchesternh.gov. The 2,560-acre lake has three public boat launches: one in Auburn Village; one off Route 121 near the Manchester-Auburn town line; and one at Deer Neck Bridge off the Londonderry Turnpike in Auburn. The latter is designed for kayaks and canoes.
Pawtuckaway Lake, Pawtuckaway State Park, 7 Pawtuckaway Road, Nottingham, 895-3031, nhstateparks.org. The park offers canoe and kayak rentals at its camp store as well as a public boat launch for the 784-acre lake.
Lake Winnipesaukee, Belknap and Carroll counties, lakewinnipesaukee.net. With 71 square miles of surface area, the Granite State’s largest lake has 18 boat launches spanning multiple towns (some charge a launch fee). Local businesses can provide everything you need to hit the water, including boat rentals, cleaning, accessories and storage.
Newfound Lake, Wellington State Park, 614 W. Shore Road, Bristol, 744-2197, nhstateparks.org. A boat launch is located just outside the park, providing free 24/7 access to the 4,106-acre lake.
Squam Lake, Grafton, Carroll and Belknap counties, lakesregion.org/squam-lake. Big and Little Squam lakes are naturally spring-fed and connected by a channel in Holderness. Big Squam is the second-largest lake located entirely in New Hampshire, at 6,791 acres long with 61 miles of shoreline. The lakes are also host to 67 islands.
Best Ski Hill
Best of the best: Pats Peak Ski Area, 686 Flanders Road, Henniker, 428-3245, patspeak.com
Best of the best: Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, 27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, nhahs.org. Museum dedicated to the science, technology, history and culture of aviation, with interactive exhibits and educational programs.
Fun City Trampoline Park, 553 Mast Road, Goffstown, 606-8807, funcitygoffstown.com. The 60,000-square-foot indoor playground features trampolines, foam pits, laser tag, a climbing wall and more.
Krazy Kids, 60 Sheep Davis Road, Pembroke, 228-7529, krazykids.com. The indoor playground and party venue features a trampoline, a ropes course, slides, tunnels and other structures for climbing, bouncing and jumping.
Nuthin’ but Good Times, 746 Daniel Webster Hwy., Merrimack, 429-2200, nuthinbutgoodtimes.com. The indoor playground and party venue has a soft two-story play structure for all ages, a separate play area for toddlers, a lounge, a cafe and more.
SEE Science Center, 200 Bedford St., Manchester, 669-0400, see-sciencecenter.org. Museum focused on technology, engineering, mathematics and more with interactive exhibits, demonstrations and educational programs.
Best Outdoor Spot to Let Kids Run Around and Be Crazy
Best of the best: Benson Park, 19 Kimball Road, Hudson, 886-6000, hudsonnh.gov. Originally a private zoo and amusement park, Benson Park reopened in 2010 as a town park for recreational use and is now a popular spot for hiking, dog walking, fishing and picnicking.
White Park, 1 White St., Concord, 225-8690, concordnh.gov. Amenities include a basketball court, a seasonal pool, walking trails and an ice skating rink.
Livingston Park, 156 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 624-6444, manchesternh.gov. Amenities include walking trails around Dorrs Pond, as well as a baseball diamond, a running track and two playgrounds.
Griffin Park, 101 Range Road, Windham, 965-1208, windhamnh.gov. Amenities include a playground, basketball and tennis courts, picnic tables, walking paths and more.
Hampton Beach State Park, 160 Ocean Blvd., Hampton, 926-8990, nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/hampton-beach-state-park. Activities include swimming, fishing, picnicking and RV camping.
Best Kids Summer Day Camp
Best of the best: Melody Pines Day Camp, 510 Corning Road, Manchester, 669-9414, melodypines.com
D’Tails Dog Grooming, 178 Route 101, Bedford, 703-6288, see “D’Tails Dog Grooming” on Facebook
A Paw Above the Rest Salon, located inside American K9 Country, 336 Route 101, Amherst, 472-7282, americank9country.com/grooming/a-paw-above-the-rest-salon
Best Place to Let Your Dog Off-Leash
Best of the best: Hooksett Dog Park, 101 Merrimack St., Hooksett, 485-8471, hooksett.org
Hudson Dog Park, located inside Benson Park, 19 Kimball Road, Hudson, 886-6000, hudsonnh.gov
Derry Dog Park, Fordway and Transfer Lane, Derry, 432-6100, derrynh.org
American K9 Country, 336 Route 101, Amherst, 672-8448, americank9country.com. The dog daycare and boarding facility offers a free dog park, which is temporarily closed for construction; a re-opening date is TBA.
Wagon Hill Farm, 156 Piscataqua Road, Durham, 868-5571, ci.durham.nh.us/boc_conservation/wagon-hill-farm. Off-leash dog walking permitted from dawn to 10 a.m.; dogs must be on a leash after 10 a.m.
Best On-Leash Dog Outing
Best of the best: Mine Falls Park, Whipple Street, Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov
Hudson Dog Park, located inside Benson Park, 19 Kimball Road, Hudson, 886-6000, hudsonnh.gov
Livingston Park, 156 Hooksett Road, Manchester, 624-6444, manchesternh.gov
Londonderry Rail Trail, access points are located in Londonderry at the Interstate 93 Exit 5 Park & Ride, 4 Symmes Drive; at the south end of the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport runway, 106 Harvey Road, Londonderry; at North Elementary School, 19 Sanborn Road; and at Independence Drive, londonderrytrails.org
Goffstown Rail Trail, access points are located in Goffstown at Goffstown Parks and Recreation Center, 155 S. Mast St.; Hillsborough County Offices complex on Mast Road; Danis Park Road; and Moose Club Park Road; and in Manchester at Sarette Recreation Complex, 2 Louis St., goffstownrailtrail.org
Scontsas Fine Jewelry & Home Decor, 169-173 Main St., Nashua, 882-3281, scontsas.com
Best Independent Eyeglass Store
Best of the best: Myoptic, 204 Main St., Nashua, 880-6700, myoptic.net
Taylor & Murphy Optical, 545 Hooksett Road, Suite 23, Manchester, 622-6333, tmoptical.com
Spindel Eye Associates, 6 Tsienneto Road, Suite 101, Derry, 434-4193, spindeleye.com. Additional locations in Windham, Londonderry and Raymond.
Concord Eye Center, 248 Pleasant St., Suite 1600, and 2 Pillsbury St., Suite 100, Concord, 224-2020, concordeyecenternh.com
MacKay Vision Center, 207 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford, 668-2771, visionsource-mackayvision.com
Best Secondhand Store
Best of the best: Kelly’s Kloset, sales are coordinated through the Facebook group “Kelly’s Kloset LLC,” with pick-up and drop-off based in Hooksett, [email protected]
M&C Clothing and Gifts, 135 Route 101A, Amherst, 886-6727, m-c-clothing-and-goods.myshopify.com
Lilise Designer Resale, 7 N. Main St., Concord, 715-2009, liliseresale.com
Amanda Novak, Topknot Salon + Spa, 1 Nashua St., Milford, 213-6863, topknotnh.com. Topknot is currently closed due to severe water damage, but some of the stylists are working out of Escape Salon at 800 Turnpike Road in New Ipswich. Email [email protected] to book an appointment.
Granite Stater I’d Like to Buy a Drink For
Most picked drink recipient: Chris Sununu, New Hampshire governor
Adam Sandler, Hollywood actor, comedian and a Manchester native
Fritz Wetherbee, host of “Fritz Wetherbee’s New Hampshire” on WMUR’s New Hampshire Chronicle
Charles Keith, co-owner of The Rugged Axe, 377 S. Willow St., Manchester, 232-7846, theruggedaxe.com
John Lynch, former New Hampshire governor
Seth Meyers, late night television host, comedian and a Bedford native
Friendliest Dentist
Best of the best: Dr. Elizabeth Spindel, Spindel General and Cosmetic Dentistry, 862 Union St., Manchester, 669-9049, elizabethspindel.com
Dr. Charles Pipilas, 280 Main St., Suite 311, Nashua, 881-8280
Dr. Ray Orzechowski, 280 Pleasant St., Suite 4, 228-4456, orzechowskiarndt.com
Dr. Shannon Arndt, 280 Pleasant St., Suite 4, 228-4456, orzechowskiarndt.com
Dr. Russell Mann, Mann Family Dental, 9 Roosevelt St., Manchester, 605-1734, mannfamilydental.com
Friendliest Mechanic
Best of the best: Ralph Brutus, Brutus Auto Repair & Service, 148 Merrimack St., Manchester, 624-8881, brutusauto.com
Bill Morin, Morin’s Service Station, 1091 Valley St., Manchester, 624-4427, morinsservicestation.com
Mike Alton, Pro-Image Automotive, 254 Sheffield Road, Manchester, 644-8480, proimageautomotive.com
Bret Russell, Under the Hood Auto Service, 1580 Hooksett Road, Hooksett, 485-9032
Doug Johnson, Doug Johnson Auto Repair, 131 High Range Road, Londonderry, 437-1714
Best Local Musical Act
Best of the best: Jennifer Mitchell, jennifermitchellmusic.com. In addition to being an award-winning singer-songwriter, Mitchell is the owner of Jennifer Mitchell Music, a full-service entertainment company that travels all over New England. This weekend, Jennifer will be at Backyard Burgers & Wings in Seabrook on Thursday, March 31, at 6 p.m. and at Hill Top Pizza in Epsom on Friday, April 1, at 7 p.m.
Justin Jordan, find him on Facebook @justinjordanmusic. Jordan performs a combination of covers and originals encompassing multiple genres such as acoustic rock, pop, R&B and country across New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. See Justin on Saturday, April 2, at the Coach Stop in Londonderry.
April Cushman, aprilcushman.com. New Hampshire country artist April Cushman performs all over New England. She released her debut album, The Long Haul,in November 2021. April will play the Village Trestle in Goffstown on Thursday, March 31, at 6 p.m.
Matt the Sax, find him on Facebook @mattthesax. Matt Beaudin, a.k.a. “Matt the Sax,” specializes in saxophone and acoustic guitar and vocals.
Recycled Percussion, recycledpercussion.com. Recycled Percussion originally formed in Goffstown, later going on to appear on Season 4 of America’s Got Talent. Today they’re a nationally touring act, known for their high-energy interactive shows blending music and comedy and incorporating all sorts of nontraditional items as instruments. Recycled Percussion is next slated to play their own CAKE Theatre in Laconia on Saturday, May 7, at 2 & 7 p.m.
Best Local (-ish) Comedian
Apologies to Adam Sandler, Seth Meyers and Sarah Silverman, who are Granite Staters in our hearts but not regulars of the local comedy scene.
Best of the best: Bob Marley, bmarley.com. Maine native Bob Marley is regularly featured on Sirius XM radio and has released more than 20 comedy CDs and DVDs. He is scheduled to perform at the Palace Theatre Thursday, April 7, through Saturday, April 9.
Juston McKinney, justonmckinney.com. A former deputy sheriff in York County, Maine, McKinney traded in his badge in the late 1990s for a microphone to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. He has gone on to appear in numerous televised shows, including his own one-hour special on Comedy Central. He will be at the Rochester Opera House on Saturday, April 2.
Jay Chanoine, find him on Facebook and Instagram @jaychanoine. Manchester-based comedian Jay Chanoine is also a contributing writer for The Hard Times. He released his most recent comedy album, The Texas Chanoinesaw Massacre,in 2019.
Matt Barry, mattbarrycomedy.com. Matt Barry has been a staple of the New England comedy scene for nearly a decade, performing in area clubs, theaters and bars and appearing on Sirius XM radio. He’s opened for national acts like Tom Green, Gilbert Gottfried and Harland Williams.
Doris Ballard, on Facebook as “Doris Ballard Comedy.” Former Concord Community TV executive director Doris Ballard is now a locally performing comedian. She’s also the creator of the Laughta in New Hampsha comedy school.
Drew Dunn, drewdunncomedy.com. Originally from New Hampshire, Drew Dunn now lives in New York and has performed stand-up comedy all over the United States and Canada. He’ll perform at the Rex Theatre in Manchester on May 20.
Granite Stater — Living, Dead or Fictional — I’d Like to Have a Drink With
Best of the best: Adam Sandler, Hollywood actor, comedian and a Manchester native
Robert Frost, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
Fritz Wetherbee, host of “Fritz Wetherbee’s New Hampshire” on WMUR’s New Hampshire Chronicle
John Stark, general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution
Best of the best: The Old Man of the Mountain, Franconia Notch State Park, Exit 34B off I-93, Franconia, cannonmt.com/things-to-do/activities/old-man-of-the-mountain. The series of cliff ledges resembling the profile of a man’s face was a popular tourist attraction at Franconia Notch State Park until its collapse in May 2003. The site is now home to the Old Man of the Mountain Profile Plaza, which features seven steel “profilers” that recreate the Old Man’s visage, as well as museums with history, photos and stories of the Old Man and a gift shop. The museums and gift shop are open daily, May through mid-October, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Access to Profile Plaza will be closed Monday through Friday through late May for construction.
New Hampshire Statehouse, 107 N. Main St., Concord, 271-2154, gencourt.state.nh.us/nh_visitorcenter. The Statehouse is the oldest state capital in the country in which both houses of the legislature meet in their original chambers. Visitors can take a guided or self-guided tour of the building; view permanent and rotating exhibits about New Hampshire history, government, state agencies and tourism; and browse the gift shop, which sells a variety of New Hampshire gifts as well as state and federal flags. The Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Robert Frost Farm, 122 Rockingham Road, Derry, 432-3091, robertfrostfarm.org. The National Historic Landmark includes a two-story white clapboard farmhouse built in 1884 that was home to New England poet Robert Frost from 1900 to 1911. The grounds and trails around the house are open to the public daily, year-round, from dawn to dusk. Guided tours of the house are offered May through October and are free for all children age 5 and under, New Hampshire-resident children age 17 and under, New Hampshire-resident seniors age 65 and over, all active military, New Hampshire National Guard and New Hampshire-resident disabled veterans. The cost for paying visitors ranges from $3 to $5.
Fort Constitution, located off Route 1B at the U.S. Coast Guard Station, 25 Wentworth Road, New Castle, 271-3556, nhstateparks.org/visit/historic-sites/fort-constitution-historic-site. The site was once a military defense fortification built in 1631 and used by British colonialists until it was taken by the rebels during the American Revolution. It is also home to the Portsmouth Harbor Light lighthouse, which was built in 1878. The site is free to visit and open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, 139 St. Gaudens Road, Cornish, 675-2175, nps.gov/saga. The 190-acre park features the preserved home, gardens, studios and works of American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and was the site of Saint-Gaudens’ summer residence from 1885 to 1897. The park grounds, outdoor monuments and sculptures, gardens and wooded trails are free to visit and open to the public year-round, from dusk to dawn. The visitors center and museum buildings are open seasonally, with guided tours available, from late May through October. Admission is free for children age 15 and under and for all visitors on Entrance Fee-Free Days (2022 dates TBA). Regular admission for adults costs $10 and secures a seven-day pass.
Weirdest NH Attraction or Historic Site
Best of the best: America’s Stonehenge, 105 Haverhill Road, Salem, 893-8300, stonehengeusa.com. The 4,000-year-old stone construction, likely the oldest man-made construction in the United States, was built by an ancient people as an astronomical calendar to determine solar and lunar events of the year. It’s open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entrance at 4 p.m.). Admission rates are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $8 for children ages 5 through 12 and free for children age 4 and under.
The Old Man of the Mountain, Franconia Notch State Park, Exit 34B off I-93, Franconia, cannonmt.com/things-to-do/activities/old-man-of-the-mountain. The series of cliff ledges resembling the profile of a man’s face was a popular tourist attraction at Franconia Notch State Park until its collapse in May 2003. The site is now home to the Old Man of the Mountain Profile Plaza, which features seven steel “profilers” that recreate the Old Man’s visage, as well as museums with history, photos and stories of the Old Man and a gift shop.
Site of the reported alien abduction of Portsmouth couple Barney and Betty Hill on September 19, 1961. The event is memorialized by a state marker outside the entrance to Indian Head Resort (664 Route 3, Lincoln), and by a mural and memorabilia at the nearby Irving gas station (off Exit 33 of Route 3). Alien-themed souvenirs are sold at the gas station and at the Indian Head Resort gift shop.
NH is #1 at ___
Live Free or Die!
Drinking, which you could interpret as “Drinking Beer, having a good time, working hard,” as one reader puts it, or “Drinking iced coffee during a snowstorm,” as another reader says.
Everything!
Everything to do with our outdoors: “Beautiful landscapes, mountains, ocean, lakes,” as one reader says.
Fall, its foliage and its foliage-related excursions.
Best NH Food Product: Laurel Hill Jams and Jellies (47 Birchwood Circle, Bedford, 472-5388, laurelhilljams.com) was established in 1960 by Sue Stretch, who first started making jams and jellies with her mother as a young girl. The product list includes gourmet fruit jams and jellies like strawberry rhubarb and raspberry lavender; red, white, rose and New Hampshire-made wine jellies; spirits-inspired jellies like margarita and pina colada; and tea jellies. Each batch is made by hand using as many local ingredients as possible and with no artificial colors or flavors. Visit the Laurel Hill website to order products online or see a list of local stores that carry Laurel Hill products.
Best Massage Therapist: Bethany J. Chabot is a licensed massage therapist and the founder and owner of 444 Hands Innately Integrative Massage & Energy Therapy (36 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack, 834-2758, 444hands.com). She received her certificate for Massage Therapy and Bodywork from MacIntosh College in Dover in 2004 and her national and state license in 2005. Her services include focused massage, body work and energy therapy; focused recovery sports massage for athletes; reiki, meditation and Tibetan sound bath; aroma touch technique; and prenatal and pregnancy massage and may incorporate chakra work and essential oils. There is normally a waitlist for new clients, and referrals are required.
Best Dog Training Company: New England Dog Training Co. (978-350-6274, newenglanddtc.com) consists of a network of seven professional dog trainers throughout New England, including Manchester-based husband-and-wife team Nikki and Nick Wolak. With over eight years of experience between the two of them, the Wolaks utilize a variety of training methods to work with dogs with all kinds of learning styles in both rural and urban environments. NEDTC uses a “board-and-train” system in which the dog being trained stays at the trainer’s personal home for two consecutive weeks. Trainers commit to providing daily updates and communication with dog owners during their dog’s training session.
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.
Covid-19 news
State health officials reported 76 new cases of Covid-19 on March 28. The state averaged 126 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period, a 5 percent increase compared to the week before. As of March 28 there were 1,020 active infections and just 26 hospitalizations.
State of Manchester
On March 23, Mayor Joyce Craig gave her State of the City speech, during which she announced the launch of The Manchester Promise Program, which would enable some Manchester public school students — those who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic and wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity — to attend college debt-free. According to a press release, the program will start in the coming weeks as the city partners with Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester Community College and Duet.
Other speech highlights, the release said, included:
The formation of an exploratory committee to bring hockey back to Manchester.
In the past two years, the city has exceeded its goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 50 percent, with current reductions at 58.4 percent, in large part because of the city’s solar array.
The Manchester Police Department is focused on reducing gun crimes and has formed a community-focused gun crime problem-solving team and has deployed additional walking patrols to increase police presence and community engagement in neighborhoods, according to the release, and in 2021 the department seized 81 illegal guns off the streets.
Manchester was named a finalist for the Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge Phase 1 and submitted its Phase 2 application March 15; if awarded, the grant would provide more than $100 million in federal dollars to accelerate job creation in tissue engineering and advanced aerial mobility — potentially creating more than 20,000 jobs — and fund a pedestrian bridge over the Merrimack River connecting the Millyard to the West Side.
The Manchester Transit Authority is in the process of piloting a program for an on-demand bus service that it hopes to launch in FY23.
Manchester allocated $8 million in federal funds to develop new affordable housing and established the Manchester Housing Commission to assist in that process. Proposals for 450+ new mixed-income apartments to be built on underutilized city-owned parking lot are currently being finalized. The city has also hired its first Director of Homeless Initiatives, is working with outreach teams to address the needs of the chronically homeless, and is establishing new relationships with recovery service providers to help people enter treatment.
Redistricting
Gov. Chris Sununu has submitted a draft Congressional redistricting map that he said in his letter to legislative leaders he would sign if it reaches his desk. Sununu has said he will veto the redistricting map put forth by Republicans in the New Hampshire House and Senate, according to a report form WMUR, and his own map “includes adjustments to the current districts that would likely create a more competitive first district and a second district that still leans Democratic.” Sununu wrote in his letter that his proposed map “keeps our districts competitive, passes the smell test, and holds our incumbents accountable so that no one elected official is immune from challengers or constituent services.”
LNA training
The New Hampshire Veterans Home is accepting applications for its new Licensed Nursing Assistant course that will allow students to earn hourly wages while learning in the expense-paid course. According to a press release, the salary includes a 15-percent enhancement of the base pay available for all Veterans Home nursing positions. Students who commit to providing care at the Veterans Home will receive education in a classroom setting and through clinical hours. Successful completion of the course prepares students for the Board of Nursing license exam, the release said, and after completing training and passing the exam, students will apply for full- or part-time positions at the home. The 10-week LNA Course begins April 19 at the New Hampshire Veterans Home campus, 139 Winter St. in Tilton. Applications are due by April 7 and are available at nh.gov; click on “careers,” then “NH State Government Job Opportunities,” then type “Tilton” in the location box when searching for jobs.
The N.H. Division of Historical Resources’ State Conservation and Rescue Archaeology Program is accepting applications for its field school at Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown. According to a press release, participants will continue the excavation of a pre-contact archaeological deposit that was identified last year and will focus on additional areas that might contain pre-contact deposits. Sessions are June 6 to June 17 and June 20 to July 1. The program is open to ages 16 and up (16- and 17-year-olds must participate with a parent or guardian), and registration closes April 30. Visit nh.gov/nhdhr/SCRAP.htm or contact the NHDHR at 271-6433.
New England College in Henniker has announced that Gov. Chris Sununu will be the Commencement Speaker at its 2022 graduation ceremony in May. According to a press release, Sununu will also be awarded an honorary doctorate in recognition of his years of public service to New Hampshire.
Schools across the Manchester School District were recipients of picnic tables built by Hillside Middle School students and donated by Girls at Work. According to a press release, more than 100 middle school girls participated in the Team Build Program, building 10 picnic tables that were then painted by students in the art department. The tables were donated to Manchester schools as well as local businesses, the release said.
So often in our society, I hear how we crave opportunities for our children to explore, to tinker, and to figure out who they are in this world. We are all for our youth getting outside or into the kitchen or workshop to help make sense of what the world offers them.
What is often missing from this narrative is giving space for our kids to explore who they are and what they offer to the world. In fact, we can often find this downright threatening especially when it comes to exploring one’s race, sexual orientation, sex, gender and culture.
I see the fear of these types of examinations rippling throughout our entire public education system here in New Hampshire and our country as a whole. There are laws and policies being passed that dictate what a teacher can instruct on race, or what name a child can (or cannot) go by, and limit discussions around family structures. There are demands that parents must be notified of all that is being discussed in our K-12 schools with threats of lawsuits being made if those requirements are not met.
In Manchester, there is a lawsuit filed over chosen name practices within that district. We have HB2 in place, which white lawmakers adopted to limit discussions around race in our classrooms. In Mississippi, an administrator was terminated for reading a book titled “I Need a New Butt” to second-graders, and we cannot forget the recent legislation passed in Texas and Florida with really damaging practices put in place to further oppress LGBTQIA+ youth.
These are all motivated by fear but I’m not sure what the fear is about. Do we truly not believe our children are capable of learning more about themselves? To better understand the complexities and possibilities each of our identities hold? Is it that there is a belief that if they learned this information then they would be able to have better agency over their own bodies, their own lives, in a way that threatens the “norm”?
Our kids are beautiful and resilient humans. All trauma specialists talk about the need to build healthy resilience, which comes through conversation, connection and self-responsibility. Avoidance, unfortunately, does not get us there and stunts us against reaching our true potential.
I hope we can embrace and find the same level of fulfillment from self-exploration as we do exploration of the outside world. We can understand a lot from our children, and I believe they will be our greatest teachers in redeveloping our curiosity.
Musicians who keep coming back to the scene that gave them their start
On every highway, from I-95 to Route 66, there’s a car towing a trailer full of dreams, a van packed with guitars, amps, an electric keyboard and a suitcase stuffed with notebooks. Every musician with a shred of ambition hears the call to Mecca.
Not all have the gumption to take flight. Those who do usually find a way to hold on to their hometown. More often than not, a round trip is a necessity. Landing in a new place means finding gigs, not always an easy task.
“This city ain’t your throne, like it was back home,” singer-songwriter Amanda McCarthy wrote about the challenge. She considers herself fortunate to quit a day job after less than a year in Nashville to play music full time, but her calendar still includes several months in New Hampshire, working at her old haunts.
Tom Dixon’s country music dream eventually wore him down to just a handful of hometown shows a year, but he’s proof that though the grind may get old, the pull remains.
“The reason I come back? One answer is the fans, really,” he said. “As long as I can do it, and as long as they want me to do it, I will.”
In 2002, guitarist Brad Myrick left his home in Hopkinton on a whim to try his luck in Los Angeles. There, a chat with a fellow music school student launched him on a journey to Italy, where he met Italian musician Nicola Cipriani and began a collaboration that led him around the world.
A decade later, however, he’d returned to his foundation in the Granite State, even as he continued to travel to Europe to tour. Myrick currently runs Lakes Region recording studio The Greenhouse, and leads NH Music Collective, which fosters talent and books shows throughout the region.
“It’s beautiful when I can incorporate what I’ve learned in other music scenes into the great scene we have here,” Myrick said in 2014. Eight years later, he feels validated. The need to go through a crucible like L.A. isn’t hard to understand, but there’s no reason it can’t also be done here.
“We have the technology to make New Hampshire the next Seattle,” he said. “The people with something to say are going to find a way, and most take off for that reason. I just want that opportunity to be bigger here, and that’s a big part of why I stick around.”
Amanda McCarthy: The Long Haul
Amanda McCarthy. Courtesy photo.
For Amanda McCarthy, leaving New Hampshire was always the dream. The singer-songwriter began looking at Nashville apartments when she was 20 years old, stopping only when she learned she was pregnant.
“That changed everything,” she said. “I won’t say that set me back; I mean, everything happens for a reason. I love my daughter, but it definitely made my approach very different.”
McCarthy has been a working musician since her high school days, playing throughout her home state. Her biggest local moment came when she performed at Salt Hill Shanty in Sunapee. Steven Tyler, a personal hero of hers, was there that day, so she boldly decided to cover an Aerosmith song. He reacted favorably, leading to a weeks-long media splash.
Soon after, she made the move to Music City with a singular goal in mind.
“I really wanted to explore the world of writing music for other people,” she said. “Writing songs that might not necessarily be my style, but knowing they still have a life somewhere else.” A good example of this is “The Long Haul,” a song McCarthy wrote in the early 2010s that became the title track of fellow New Hampshire singer April Cushman’s debut album.
There are only a few places left to follow such a dream, and Nashville tops the list. That said, it’s a crowded and often daunting place to stake a claim, but the young and hopeful artist managed to find her way.
“I was a little nervous that it would be hard to break in, that people might be mean, because it’s a big city, but people are genuinely nice, accepting and welcoming,” McCarthy said. “By the time Year 1 wrapped up, I’d pretty much found who I consider to be my circle, my tribe of people who I collaborate and play shows with.”
Helping her crack the code was a realization that hosting song pulls — events where writers share their work with audiences and each other — was a great way to network.
“I got the opportunity to book some shows, and rather than billing it under Amanda McCarthy … I chose to bill it under a company that I started called Nashville Writers Collective,” she said. “I think that’s attracted a lot of people because it sounded more like an entity and an experience rather than just another songwriter.”
Currently, McCarthy has been readying a new album, Don’t Stop Me, due for release soon. All the while, she’s kept one foot in New England, traveling back to play gigs. Her next hometown appearance will be at Exeter’s Sawbelly Brewing on April 29. Initially she did it to survive; now it gives her a way to check in with home that’s not an economic necessity.
“When I got here … I didn’t have a professional network, and I didn’t really have a way to make money, whereas now I kind of figured that out,” she said. “It’s less of a crutch for me and more enjoyable… I can treat it more like a working vacation.”
Tom Dixon: Gone to the Dogs
Tom Dixon. Courtesy photo.
For Tom Dixon, the road out of New England led to some great memories, but not enough to sustain a career in music.
Dixon hit Nashville in 2013 after establishing himself as a solid draw in his home state fronting an eponymous band, but had no illusions about taking the town by storm.
“My expectations were low, but my hopes were high,” he said. “If you go into something like this expecting to be a star, you’re a fool; you hope that you will, and get as far as you can.”
Undeterred, Dixon worked to break into the scene there, beginning with his aptly titled album, Kick Start This Party, made with producer Kent Wells.
“We got that out and hit the road with it as soon as possible,” Dixon said. “Of course, my first trip was back to New England — I knew I could play there.”
Soon, he was booking tours that led from Nashville to New England, playing bars, barbecue joints, and anywhere else he could. It was lucrative, and when he arrived in New Hampshire he’d play for a large chunk of the summer. All the while, he was checking off items from his professional bucket list.
“I played all over the country,” Dixon said. “I didn’t play in all 50 states, but I played in a lot. I was able to do some big things, play some big stages, play on national television, get on radio … I wanted to do everything.” His biggest moment came after he was inspired to write a song for a veterans organization called Coalition For The American Heroes.
Eventually, though, it got old.
“I began to feel like a truck driver who stops in different towns to play music,” Dixon said. “All I do is drive and then I stop, put on a show and drive again. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven 10 hours, played a show, slept in a hotel for four hours, got up and drove 10 hours back. I ended up having some issues. My career kind of slowed down, it’s not on fire like it used to be. I’m in pain literally and I’m tired of not being home and it just wasn’t fun anymore.”
Despite that, Dixon travels home each summer to play a handful of shows for his still dedicated local fan base. He’ll be back in April at Manchester’s Bonfire and Stumble Inn in Londonderry, a New England run he’s dubbed The Good Times and Bad Decisions Tour.
Before he decided to play music full-time, Dixon had seriously considered a profession centered on his love for dogs. He’d trained his own, helped friends with theirs, and claimed it was a coin flip that led him to music. He decided to contact the Animal Behavior College to learn his options and was stunned by what the person on the other end of the phone told him.
“He said, ‘Funny story, you’re in my system already, in New Hampshire… you and I talked 10 years ago,” Dixon said. “It was a real thing that long ago, when I hadn’t started playing music full-time. The weird thing is that I’m still following a dream, but now I can follow two dreams. My career’s gone to the dogs.”
MB Padfield: California Dreaming
MB Padfield. Photo by Kristen McFarren.
When MB Padfield moved to Southern California, she didn’t receive a golden reception.
“I got broken into, and all of my songwriting notebooks were stolen,” the New Hampshire native recalled recently. “On impact, that was brutal; but since then things have been really great.”
Driven to perform from an early age — she enrolled at Berklee at 16 — Padfield traveled between coasts a lot before packing a U-Haul in early 2018. At home she gigged constantly, but playing covers wore on her.
Padfield’s songs were getting played on the radio when she was 16. Her first single, “Silly Boy,” featured Greg Hawkes of the Cars on ukulele. Her anti-bullying original “You Can’t Break Me Down” showed a maturity beyond her years. A next stop at the world’s entertainment hub was a natural choice.
“New England has really amazing players as far as musicians, and the talent there is top-notch, but there’s a mindset in Los Angeles that you want to push yourself to do more,” she said. “I don’t think moving away is for everybody, but I do think if you feel a call of an artistic vision that you don’t seem to be surrounded by currently, then it might be an option.”
For Padfield, the level of talent in L.A. is the opposite of intimidating.
“There are people that exude creativity; it’s so inspiring and motivating to be around. … That’s honestly my favorite part,” she said. “I’m not looking to be a big fish in a little pond. I want to be able to play shows and make music … representative of the person I am, [and not] a different mindset of, ‘Oh, I gotta be the best in the room.’ If you’re the best in the room, you aren’t in the right room.”
She’s currently at work on a new EP called Surface and has launched a Kickstarter campaign to cover distribution costs.
“It’s sonically very modern; I guess you would call it in the indie pop genre,” she said. “I wrote all the songs myself, and I’ve been working with an amazing team out here that’s kind of helping me bring those songs to life.”
Padfield heads back to New England in the summer and around the winter holidays to play shows but doesn’t plan on being bicoastal forever.
“Three or four months out of the year until I’m able to be full-time in Los Angeles,” she said, adding that returning to SoCal can be jarring. “There is a switch that has to be flipped, and it’s so hard sometimes.”
For Padfield’s long-term goals, her new home is an ideal fit.
“New England has such an amazing strong backbone, of cover gigs and working-class musicians,” she said, “but in Los Angeles there’s something to be said for creativity and innovation, and propelling culture. It just feels like you’re part of something bigger.”
Senie Hunt: Dividing the Time
Senie Hunt. Courtesy photo.
Senie Hunt first left his New Hampshire home for another Tennessee music mecca, Memphis. After a few months there he returned, following a breakup with his girlfriend. Heading south was always part of his long-term plan, and Hunt made the move to Nashville in April of last year.
“I wanted to be in a place that was more diverse both in terms of music and in terms of culture and race,” Hunt, who is Black, said in a recent phone interview. His new home offered the bonus of being “the least furthest away, so I’m still able to visit with my family and friends, and also stay down here.”
Hunt is an acoustic guitarist with a unique percussive sound produced by tapping the body of his instrument as he plays it. The urge to move was spurred by a need for both “a change of scenery” and a change from what had become a limiting gig schedule.
“I didn’t want to end up playing the same places to the same people all the time; I wanted to branch off,” he said. Nashville had “hundreds of places either doing live shows or open mics, showcases, recording, all of that … built into one city block. At almost every show I played, I’d meet an entirely new audience.”
Another factor that helped was having a musical style that diverged from the sound the city was primarily known for.
“Despite Nashville being a very heavy country scene, it’s starting to evolve because a younger generation is coming in,” he said. “Right now is the perfect time if you stand out in a different style. … People just create music here.”
Along with success that finds him able to book shows months in advance in his new home, Hunt stays connected to his old digs, regularly returning for area gigs. Camaraderie with the local scene was vital when his car caught fire on a recent tour, resulting in a total loss of Hunt’s vehicle and much of his equipment.
Area musicians quickly organized a benefit for him at Area 23 in Concord, a place Hunt played frequently when he lived there.
“A lot of my friends decided they wanted to pitch in and help me kind of get back on my feet and get back on tour regularly,” he said. At the show, Hunt played a Zoom set for the crowd there. “It was nice, even just briefly, to share a few songs with the folks up north.”
Resupplied with assistance from his pals, Hunt is headed back at the end of the month to play some shows; he’ll be around until the end of May. Fans can see a new side of him on April 23 in Concord, with the debut of the plugged-in Senie Hunt Project at Bank of NH Stage.
“I have always loved blues and electric, and since it is very different from my normal stuff I decided to make a new band to not throw too many people off,” he said, noting he’d begun on electric guitar in grade school. “I really only switched back to acoustic when I transferred colleges and needed to find a solo alternative, which then brought me back to my percussive guitar playing, which filled the void of not having a band around.”
Gracie Curran: Point of Departure
Gracie Curran. Courtesy photo.
In 2014, Gracie Curran moved to Memphis after experiencing the city during the International Blues Competition. She found it welcoming, both for the music and for its central location, which made touring a big chunk of the country easier.
“After the awards, we were starting to get calls to play in Omaha, in Chicago,” Curran said in February. “Mapping from Boston was a scary thought, but I realized we could reach 70 percent of our markets within an eight-hour drive from Memphis. … It was a good jumping-off point for us to put our feet in the waters and start touring.”
Soon after, Gracie Curran & the High Falutin’ Band scored a residency at a Beale Street nightclub called Rum Boogie. The singer shared cramped quarters in a city apartment, but it didn’t bother her.
“It was worth living with four other band leaders,” she said. “I was with such talented musicians that put so much work and effort into their craft.”
Another reason Curran settled in Memphis was that the band she’d formed in 2010 with bass player Geoff Murfitt was at a crossroads. Murfitt had a family, which didn’t fit well with spending time on the road, while guitarist Tommy Carroll had grown tired of touring.
“So I came down to Memphis initially to kind of start and grow the band,” Curran said, something she found easier said than done. “There are a lot of amazing musicians here in Memphis, but all the great ones are usually on the road.”
She recruited veteran Boston guitar player Chris Hersch and coaxed Murfitt back into the band with an offer to fly them from New England to wherever their dates are, while ending the Rum Boogie residency. The band is rounded out by keyboard player Scott Coulter, who’s also in Hersch’s band Say Darling, and drummer Terrell Reed.
“That’s what we’ve been doing ever since,” Curran said. “It’s been great to be able to play with them. Memphis was really everything I expected it to be; it’s truly a great musical family here, a really supportive, welcoming community … and not only that, musician supporters.”
Curran’s connection to her old home is unwavering; she returns whenever she can, and always on her birthday. She’ll be at The Bull Run in Shirley, Mass., on May 16 for an ensemble show that includes Toni Lynn Washington, Diane Blue, Gina Coleman and Erin Harpe.
“I really feel like I have the best of both worlds right now,” she said. “I have a great community here… but also in Boston. I was very spoiled in that when I first started testing the waters, we had Ronnie Earl, Mike Welch and Roomful of Blues, Toni Lynn Washington and all these amazing musicians. To have both those perspectives from musicians that played with all the greats, to be able to pass on stories and tips … these are valuable things that I am so grateful for.”
Brooks Hubbard: Back Home Again
From the moment he left New England, Brooks Hubbard knew he’d be back. In fact, that was his goal.
In early 2015 Hubbard set out for Los Angeles to grow his music career, but a stop to visit a friend in Nashville changed his mind.
“It offers the same opportunities and cuts out all the Hollywood stuff that I don’t need,” Hubbard said in early March. “Nashville welcomes you with open arms, whereas L.A. or New York seem to be closed off. … You have to work the networks to get on stage.”
Hubbard managed to leverage the West Coast connections he did have. A drummer he knew who had played with Robert Cray had introduced him to Jackson Browne’s guitarist Val McCallum during a visit there the previous year. In summer 2015, the two played together in White River Junction, Vermont, at a release party for Hubbard’s album Start of Me.
McCallum agreed to do the show via text, based on a misunderstanding that turned out well.
“He thought it was a bar gig, but it was actually a ticketed show, and I was playing all original music,” Hubbard said. “He didn’t know any of my songs, but he’s one of those players that can play anything — he has a great ear.”
After the show, McCallum was insistent that they should “do something together,” Hubbard said. “That was where the seed was planted to make a record, which we eventually got to do in 2017.”
As Hubbard had made the move right after earning his bachelor’s, he approached his new home as a learning experience.
“The first couple of years I was there was just an extension of school,” he said. “This is what I really want to do, and this is where I need to learn what people do in this industry do to make a living.”
He found that opportunity did not equate to success.
“I always say it’s the home of the greatest and the worst musicians in the world,” he said. “If you want to be one of those great artists or performers, you gotta put in the work. It’s really tough to make a buck in town there, because there’s just so many people that are doing the same thing.”
Hubbard uses the past tense because he recently re-settled in Etna, the New Hampshire town where he grew up and began playing music, inspired by his father, also a musician. He’s now married to the girlfriend he decamped with to Music City seven years ago; they’ll welcome their first child in April.
The move back came a bit sooner than expected, but the timing turned out for the best.
“It was something that my wife and I had always talked about eventually doing, but the pandemic for sure sped up that plan,” Hubbard said. “Doing livestreaming and even co-writing through Zoom made me realize that you don’t have to physically be in some of those places. If you go there and make the corrections and then keep those connections, it doesn’t really matter where you base yourself.”
See the musicians
Amanda McCarthy just released “Don’t Stop Me” co-written with fellow expat Ty Openshaw; the track will appeal to fans of Marren Morris and Kacey Musgraves. She’ll be home in late April for a round of New England shows, though her only Granite State gig is Friday, April 29, at Sawbelly Brewing (156 Epping Road, Exeter). Visit amandamccarthy.com.
Tom Dixon made his final single, “The Weekend,” in 2020, a raucous call to party that will please fans of Luke Bryan and Rascal Flatts. Though he officially retired from the music business, Dixon heads home occasionally to play for his hardcore fans. He’ll do a full band show at Bonfire (950 Elm St, Manchester) on Friday, April 23, at 8 p.m.
MB Padfield has a four-song EP called Surfaces due later in the year. Fans of Holly Humberstone will enjoy 2020’s brooding love song “Trxst” — it’s on her YouTube page. Padfield is currently booking New England dates for summer. She’ll be at Bernie’s Beach Bar (73 Ocean Blvd., Hampton) every Saturday afternoon from mid-June until Labor Day.
Senie Hunt continues to play acoustic music in his singular percussive guitar style, but will showcase an electric side during his Saturday, April 23, appearance at Bank of NH Stage ($18 at ccanh.com). For a taste of that sound check out “Lovers on the Run,” available on Tidal and other platforms. It’s a growling blues rocker reminiscent of Gary Clark Jr.
Gracie Curran & the High Falutin’ Band is a rip-roaring combo fronted by a namesake singer who channels Janis Joplin and Brittany Howard. Their next area date is a blues showcase Saturday, April 16, at Bull Run (215 Great Road, Shirley, Mass., $30 at bullrunrestaurant.com) with Curran, Toni Lynn Washington, Diane Blue, Gina Coleman and Erin Harpe.
Brooks Hubbard is a singer-songwriter in the vein of Jackson Browne, Jack Johnson and Jason Isbell. He’s putting the finishing touches on Father & Son, a collection of songs celebrating parenthood — his first child is due in April. See him Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. at The Goat (50 Old Granite St., Manchester).
Featured photo: Brooks Hubbard. Photo by Brett Berwager Photography.
